My Articles

SWEET OLD SYDNEY

SWEET OLD SYDNEY

Have you ever visited Angel Place, just off Martin Place in Sydney?  Its hanging birdcages  are a touching memorial to the city’s lost birds, forced ever westward over the years of white settlement. If you listen carefully you can hear their recorded songs and calls over the

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THE CRANKY CORMORANT OF BLACKHEATH

THE CRANKY CORMORANT OF BLACKHEATH

JUST LET ME BE! Honestly, the resident pied cormorant at Blackheath duck pond  is the crabbiest looking creature imaginable. I have no idea if this cormorant is  male or female.  I presume  it finds a partner and breeds each year, but as far as I can see

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An Old Weber Never Dies.

An Old Weber Never Dies.

As with most Australians, the  ubiquitous Weber bar-b-que was part of my life for many years. And yes, it even produced our Christmas turkey on a couple of occasions   In all its glory     The following photo of my partner  Rob was taken in the

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VEGEMITE – 100 YEARS OF DELICIOUS ‘RUSTY NAILS’

VEGEMITE - 100 YEARS OF DELICIOUS 'RUSTY NAILS'

HAPPY 100 YEARS VEGEMITE  !💋💋🍾 Vegemite was first produced  by Australian businessman Fred Walker, in opposition to the UK’s Marmite. It was first sold in October 1923  I was amused to discover that  he briefly marketed it as Parwill  (as in Pa will, Ma might.) Walker’s chemist

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GUARDIANS OF THE SILVEREYES

GUARDIANS OF THE SILVEREYES

Many years ago one tired little traveler apparently  found it all a bit much, and took a break in Sydney’s inner city. The following article appeared in The Sydney Sun on January 28 1932. IT SLEPT ON MR PLOD’S CYCLE Alighting on the handlebars of a constable’s

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EDITOR DES UNDER ARREST!

EDITOR DES UNDER ARREST!

Hello, Editor Des here. I have to be very brave about writing this, because I am still a bit traumatized. Well I went to Sydney with my guardian Pauline Conolly this week week. She wanted to do a bit of shopping and other stuff at the big

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PRAVISSIMA – WHAT A WATTLE!

PRAVISSIMA - WHAT A WATTLE!

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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ESKBANK HOUSE – THE BARTON PARK EXHIBITS

ESKBANK HOUSE - THE BARTON PARK EXHIBITS

I was fortunate to visit Eskbank House Museum in Lithgow before the pandemic put a stop to my adventures.. The oldest part of the colonial Georgian  house  was built circa 1842, from local sandstone.  Its original owner was Mr Thomas Brown, who established the Eskbank Colliery. There

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TO SINGLETON – UP THE PUTTY ROAD

TO SINGLETON - UP THE PUTTY ROAD

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 ANTIQUES CENTRE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

THE VICTORY ANTIQUES CENTRE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

THE VICTORY….HEART OF ‘OLD’ BLACKHEATH The Victory Theatre opened in 1921 as The Arcadia picture house. 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 to put

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