SHIPPING REPORTER LAUNCHES ANOTHER GIANT SERVING OF QUALITY SHELL GRIT

Still trumpeting the glories of  the  Greetings from  Magnetic Island  Souvenirs Exhibition in  the  Magnetic Museum, Picnic Bay, our besotted waterfront roundsman, the only one  north of  steamy McMurdo  Sound ,  Antarctica , plucked  this  yarn  from  his  kitbag.

Showcase  displaying  a wide variety of   island souvenirs and collectables produced  on  and   gathered  over  many years , a large baler shell  and a  model  protective Curlew with a chick on top , another  Curlew inside , a turtle shell . There is a photo album with  interesting  views, shell items. 

The china  section includes salts, plates, pin dishes , cups  and  saucers, a jug, a shaving mug   decorated  with  island views , for  such places as  the Palm  Walk  Guest House, the Arcadia  Guest House  , the   Arcadia Life Saving Club   and  Alma  Bay .

The  popular   Mandalay Guest House, long gone,  is   covered  in an interior postcard view   and by a  stencilled  Shelley cup  and  saucer. 

No souvenir  collection would be complete without an array of teatowels . 

There  is a   drinking   glass   with  the engraved name of a man   connected with  a family which quarried island  granite  in  the early 1900s  for  major  Townsville buildings.

Display boards  cover  a  stunning array of   subjects  , one  being the  July 18, l955  Townsville  luncheon  menu for the MV Manoora ,  which  included  smoked New Zealand  blue  cod, steak and onions, prawns, liverwurst  sausage, roast veal and  lamb .

  

Somehow,  the  1789 mutiny on  the HMS Bounty under skipper William Bligh , and  a leering   pirate   were  incorporated  in  the  design for a  sweater ,above,  which stated  the  wearer had  survived Horseshoe Bay, probably from  Captain  Kidd's  Treasure  Chest , especially as it includes  what could be the  Cockatoo  that  inspired the name of the  business. 

In 1952,Townsville jeweller  Don McAlister advertised a range of Magnetic Island souvenirs-serviette rings, paper knives , tea, jam and sugar spoons .

Meanwhile, back in  the  seashell   section , there is a photograph, above , of  an artistic  woman , Verda "Val" Valentine  , who made  shell jewellery  and  novelties, sold  at stalls  at  Alma Bay Beach and her home . Seems she had contact  with the New Zealand  Communist, author , feminist  and   activist , Jean Devanny, married to a Kiwi miner ,  who  spent time  on  the island ,  wrote about her  time there. Devanny supported striking Italian canecutters and  brilliantly captured  the  North Queensland working and social  conditions through her writings.   She  died  in  Townsville, aged  68 ;  railway workers lined up in respect  as  her body  was  transported  by  train  south  for  cremation.  

Another interesting author who spent time on the island  was Ernestine  Hill  who  wrote  about  her  travels in  Australia ,  one  book  dealing  with  the  Northern Territory .

 UPCOMING :  Possibly the last  part  in  this  offbeat series which  may have  already  left  readers  shell-shocked.