My Articles

THE GRACE HOTEL

THE GRACE HOTEL

Recently I paused and looked skyward at this wonderful Sydney building. At street level it’s hard to appreciate its full, 300ft glory, sheathed in glazed cream, terra-cotta tiling. Somehow it reminds me of the toy blocks I played with during my 1950s childhood. However, it was built

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CATS CALLED THE HARBOUR BRIDGE HOME

CATS CALLED THE HARBOUR BRIDGE HOME

Around Christmas 1950, twin white cats were spotted atop the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There they remained. It seemed the pair had decided it was the best location in the city, with world class views. Well really, who could blame them? The snowy residents

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POOR LITTLE PARROT!

POOR LITTLE PARROT!

Max the parrot’s life could have ended before it really got going. We drove into our Blue Mountains property a couple of weeks ago and almost skittled him. He was nibbling on an acorn, completely oblivious to any danger. I had to hop out and shoo him

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PETER PAN ….THE HANDSOMEST HORSE

PETER PAN ....THE HANDSOMEST HORSE

The 1932 Melbourne Cup was truly an occasion to remember. It was won in extraordinary circumstances by a three year old stallion called Peter Pan. The horse was drop-dead gorgeous. His light chestnut body contrasted with a blonde mane and tail. He was owned by Mr Rodney

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EDITOR DES AND THE BOWERBIRD…..MISTAKES AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS

EDITOR DES AND THE BOWERBIRD.....MISTAKES AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Editor Des has been bird watching with me for the last few months, and becoming quite the ‘twitcher’. Unfortunately he has a lot to learn, which recently led to a head injury…. and a severe knock to his confidence. It should be remembered that a male satin

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A CRICKETER & A CUP DAY PIE PRANK

A CRICKETER & A CUP DAY PIE PRANK

South Australian Victor Richardson was a talented all-round sportsman. He excelled at tennis, golf baseball and Australian Rules Football. He captained Australia in cricket and played in the infamous ‘Bodyline’ cricket series alongside Don Bradman. With this in mind, perhaps we can forgive him for a bit

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OH NO….SEPTEMBER SNOW!

OH NO....SEPTEMBER SNOW!

SUEPRISE SNOW……It’s weird when you wake up at the crack of dawn and open the front door to find the whole landscape has changed. Trousers might have been a sensible idea, Editor Des. What one earth! While we were sleeping the snow was quietly falling. We don’t

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LIFE’S UPS AND DOWNS FOR A LITTLE KING PARROT

LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS FOR A LITTLE KING PARROT

Driving into our Blue Mountains property after visiting Sydney recently we almost ran over a juvenile king parrot. I had to hop out of the car and shoo him off the driveway. He was too busy with an acorn he’d found to think about the dangers of

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DEATH BY STRYCHNINE & A ‘WILL’ TO FIND JUSTICE

DEATH BY STRYCHNINE & A 'WILL' TO FIND JUSTICE

Mrs Margaret Roche was a hard working, shrewd business woman. She rose from the position of barmaid to become the owner of considerable property. Included were two hotels in Queensland; the Telegraph Hotel at Charleville and the property she lived in, the Claren Hotel, in the small

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A CRIME AT THE YORK STREET CIGARETTE KIOSK

A CRIME AT THE YORK STREET CIGARETTE KIOSK

York Street runs parallel to George Street in the centre of Sydney. Just after World War II it was the scene of a brutal murder.   The victim, Jeanette Wicks. In 1935,  Jeanette Wicks divorced her husband  of seven years on the grounds of desertion.  She  subsequently

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