The bush was grey A week today Olive green and brown and grey; But now the spring has come this way, With blossoms for the wattle. By Veronica Mason. One of my favourite trees is Acacia pravissima, also known as The Oven’s wattle. It can withstand the
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I visited Eskbank House Museum in Lithgow recently. The oldest part of the colonial Georgian house was built circa 1842, from local sandstone. The original owner was Mr Thomas Brown, who established the Eskbank Colliery. There is a lot of early Lithgow history on display, but
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What a privilege it is to be part of New South Wales History Week. It’s an opportunity to speak on subjects close to my heart, and this year a chance to see a part of the state I have never visited before; Singleton in the Upper Hunter.
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THE VICTORY….HEART OF ‘OLD’ BLACKHEATH The Victory Theatre opened in 1921 as The Arcadia. Locals even enjoyed an early form of 3D. It is now a vast antiques centre. The bear (Editor Des) is not for sale, though sometimes I am sorely tempted
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Sydney born Harley Cohen was one of the first to enlist in WWI. His service number in the 4th Battalion was a very low 37. He was a slight figure, only 5′ 3″ tall and weighing in at a shade over 8 stone. He was university
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BLUE MOUNTAINS TWITCHER Introducing myself…Editor Des. After a bit of training I’m now a master bird watcher in the beautiful Blue Mountains. I was originally banned from this pursuit by my guardian Pauline Conolly, because I kept chattering and scaring Mr Satin Bowerbird. For heaven’s sake,
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GODFATHER OF A MILLION CHILDREN These days Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt is best remembered for the mysterious circumstances of his death by drowning in 1967, at Victoria’s Portsea. However, in Robert Menzies’ government during WWII he served as Minister for Labour, and was responsible for
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Hello, Editor Des here. Well I like visiting medical museums. In fact, I quite fancy myself as a doctor. Last year I performed a little operation on my neighbor Fred, after he carelessly lost a second leg. It was reasonably successful. These museums can be
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One historical event I really wish I could have attended is London’s Great Exhibition of 1851. Those inventive, enthusiastic Victorians put on a display that dazzled the world. It was housed in a building so innovative it scarcely seemed real; the remarkable Crystal Palace. Of course eventually
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I rather like misty days, they remind me of cool flannels being placed on fevered brows. Our property adjoins the Blue Mountains’ National Park and sometimes bushwalkers become disoriented, blundering into my garden. I point them in the direction of Govett’s Leap, with a gentle warning to
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