The story of HMAT Boonah in WWI should have prepared us better for the challenges of the Covid pandemic. Arthur Thwaites was a chemist’s assistant from Parramatta. He enlisted on October 15 1917 as part of the medical corps, but was not called for overseas service until
Read more →In June 1889, an American woman called Edith O’Gorman (her married name was Auffray) visited Launceston while on a world lecture tour. She professed to be an ‘escaped nun’, who had fled a New Jersey convent in 1868 and converted to the Protestant faith. The most colourful
Read more →Celebrations in Australia for the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth were on a scale it’s hard to imagine these days. Every town and city in the nation strived to do the occasion justice. The Blue Mountains, where I now live, certainly stepped up. At Katoomba there was
Read more →The remote ‘Hydro Electric’ town of Bronte Park had two events to celebrate in June 1953; the Coronation of Elizabeth II and the official opening of the Pine Tier Dam. For two local youngsters it was also a celebration of their birthdays. Margaret Fiddes turned 8 and
Read more →My guardian Pauline Conolly and I were digging a hole for a little maple a few weeks ago when we found buried treasure…and that’s no yoke, I mean joke (sorry) .😛 It was hidden under dirt and decaying leaves. Pauline told me it might be one of
Read more →The luxurious Hotel Metropole was built at the intersection of Young, Bent and Philip Street, Sydney, opening on January 14 1890. The following image appeared in the Sydney Mail on January 18; Along with mosaic tiled floors in the entrance areas and lavish stained glass windows, the
Read more →My associate Editor Des feels he is defined by his jumper, which is the item of clothing he has worn almost constantly throughout his 23 years (no pants, and only rarely a hat). Unfortunately he has always hated having TEDDY across the front; excruciatingly juvenile he believes.
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