My Articles

THE TRIBULATIONS OF A MUSEUM CURATOR

THE TRIBULATIONS  OF A MUSEUM CURATOR

To be honest, Mr Wall, one of the Australian Museum’s pioneer curators, does not look well or particularly happy  in the above photo. Let’s hope he had been more cheerful on his wedding day. On Friday, April 30 1841 The  Sydney Advertiser announced; On Thursday, the 29th

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TASMANIAN FOOTBALL FOLKLORE

TASMANIAN FOOTBALL FOLKLORE

 AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL RULES I grew up in the small Tasmanian town of Ulverstone, where Australian Rules Football was the sport we were passionate about.  Ulverstone’s colours  have always been  black and red, hence their name, The Robins. In the 1960’s football was untainted by the corporate sector and

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POISON PACT OR MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE?

POISON PACT OR MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE?

I first heard of the Wheeldon case in July 2017, on The Australian Broadcasting Commission’s Radio National. The  story  looked back to a day in 1986. Retired Macquarie University professor Peter Mason had gestured his daughters Diedre and Chloë  to play an  old video.  He could only gesture because he

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THE BLUE MOUNTAINS’ TUBERCULOSIS SANATORIUM

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS' TUBERCULOSIS SANATORIUM

In 1903 tuberculosis was rife in Australia, as it was  in much of the world.  The Queen Victoria Sanatorium was established at a remote area near Wentworth Falls, in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.   The property  on Burragarong Road  (now Tablelands Road) had been

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THE SHOOTING OF DONALD BUNYAN

THE SHOOTING OF DONALD BUNYAN

On  the afternoon of August 18 1937, Mrs Dorothy Bunyan  of Lithgow attended a  funeral. It was a particularly  sad occasion; the child of Mr Brown,  of one of the  local  school teachers, had died. She hurried  home  because her nine year old son Donald was due home from primary school. 

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THAT GINGERBREAD PLACE!

THAT GINGERBREAD PLACE!

Hello, Editor Des here. Well today I went to my favourite restaurant in the whole of the Blue Mountains.  I took along my camera to show you what it’s like; Do you know what? It’s in an old church, so I think it might be specially blessed.  I

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PROFESSOR CHAPMAN; HIS SHOCK DEATH AND THE REVELATIONS THAT FOLLOWED

PROFESSOR CHAPMAN; HIS  SHOCK DEATH AND THE REVELATIONS THAT FOLLOWED

FOR THE FIRST PART OF THIS STORY CLICK HERE.   On May 25, 1934, Professor Henry Chapman was suddenly taken ill while at work in the Physics Building at Sydney University. He  was rushed to hospital, but could not be revived. Initially it was assumed he had suffered a

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THE RISE AND FALL OF PROFESSOR CHAPMAN

THE RISE AND FALL OF PROFESSOR CHAPMAN

HENRY CHAPMAN, STAR STUDENT Professor  Henry George  Chapman was born in England, in 1879. When  his family migrated to Australia, Henry attended Melbourne  University on a scholarship.  He  studied medicine,   graduating with first – class honours and excelling in anatomy, physiology and pathology. He was described as being

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TRAIN ROBBERY ON THE BLUE MOUNTAINS LINE

TRAIN ROBBERY ON THE BLUE MOUNTAINS LINE

Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, April 8 1930,   what has been described as the most daring robbery in the history of Australia took place.    The  heist  was conceived by Roy Wilkinson, a 24 year old  railway porter. Wilkinson had been  serving as  escort on the mail train from Sydney to Mudgee, which

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THE LARCOMBE CHAIRS; TASMANIAN HISTORY

THE LARCOMBE CHAIRS; TASMANIAN HISTORY

My great grandfather William Larcombe arrived in Launceston, Tasmania  in December  1856 aboard the ship Alice Walton. William was then aged 25. He was accompanied by his 20 year old  wife Sarah (nee Parker) and their two small children; Leah and Thomas. The family were  from Devon,

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