My Articles

THE ACROBAT WHO TOOK REFUGE IN BLACKHEATH

THE ACROBAT WHO TOOK REFUGE IN BLACKHEATH

Following WWII,  Swiss trapese artist Eugene Lambart and his wife Fritzi formed an act with a young Norwegian strongman, Arne Selfors.  They looked about for an acrobat to complete their new show and came across two young sisters in Berne. The girls’  father, Mr Broenimann  was a

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DEATH AT SEA; ‘I ONLY GAVE HIM PLUMS AND BISCUITS!’

DEATH AT SEA; 'I ONLY GAVE HIM PLUMS AND BISCUITS!'

This case was so bizarre that it was recalled thirty five years later. IN THE BEGINNING… On February 16 1901,  the S.S. Talune was moored at the wharf in the New Zealand city of Wellington.  It was ready to leave for Sydney.  A young woman who had

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MAD ABOUT MAGPIES – IN A GOOD WAY!

MAD ABOUT MAGPIES - IN A GOOD WAY!

My inspiration for this story on the Aussie magpie was an amazing piece of free-form machine embroidery by Lynda Worthington. For someone like me who struggles to take up a hem, it was mind-blowing. There is enormous affection for magpies in Australia. They are so engaging and

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AUTUMN CARPETS FROM NATURE AT BLACKHEATH

AUTUMN CARPETS FROM NATURE AT BLACKHEATH

Carpets of autumn leaves are truly the Axminsters of the earth. I know there are wonderful carpets of blossom in spring,  but autumn is definitely the  main period for appreciating Mother Nature’s work. It’s one of the main reasons I moved from Sydney to the Blue Mountains

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S.S. TALUNE AND A DEADLY CARGO OF FLU VIRUS

S.S. TALUNE AND A DEADLY CARGO OF FLU VIRUS

Struggles around the world with the Covid19 virus have  reminded us of the terrible flu epidemic that began in the final weeks of WWI.  Good grief, as if there hadn’t been enough suffering! Then as now, quarantine measures were of paramount importance. There was one South Pacific

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AUTUMN BIRDS OF BLACKHEATH

AUTUMN BIRDS OF BLACKHEATH

Autumn is a busy time for the birds in our Blackheath garden.  So many seeds to snack on, so many fallen leaves to scrabble about in.  And I swear there are those who  just  know they look good against a blaze of colour. The cheeky rascal below

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STEAM TRAMS OF OLD SYDNEY

STEAM TRAMS OF OLD SYDNEY

 STEAM POWERED PEOPLE MOVERS FOR SYDNEY We learn that the Works Department is making arrangements for the construction of a temporary tramway from the Redfern terminus to Hunter-Street, to be used by visitors to the International Exhibition. They expect to be able to get the motors from

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AN AUSTRALIAN ABOARD THE TITANIC

AN AUSTRALIAN ABOARD THE TITANIC

Evelyn Marsden (picture above) was always a spirited type.  Growing  up in rural  South Australia at  Hoyleton she became an accomplished horsewoman.  She spent holidays on a farm at Murray Bridge. It was here she was taught to row on the Murray River, even fighting her way 

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THE KATOOMBA ART UNION AND THE ‘BABY’ ROLLS

THE KATOOMBA ART UNION AND THE 'BABY' ROLLS

A THOUSAND POUNDS FOR A SHILLING! In 1920, an art union lottery was established in the Blue Mountain’s town of Katoomba, conceived and administered by Mr Edgar Booth. The object was to raise money for the improvement of the local showground. First prize was originally a  £1,000

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‘PARK-GATE’ – MEMORIAL PARK, BLACKHEATH

'PARK-GATE'  -  MEMORIAL PARK, BLACKHEATH

  The  Park Avenue entrance gates to  Blackheath’s Memorial Park were funded by public subscription.  They were officially opened on May 18 1938, by  Minister for Works and Local Government Mr Eric  Spooner. The  project  commemorated the reign of King George V (1910-1936). 300 people turned up

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