MENACING FAMILY PUBLIC ART HAS TENTACLES AND BITES

 

Townsville.Vallis.

RSPCA ALERT : BULLDOG BOXED IN

 Little Darwin's pet headless bulldog is now  housed  in a   crowded   new kennel -the  top shelf of  a bookcase, The space  includes a  mounted collection of tin  badges and medals , a celluloid  duck  clothes brush , a carved  wooden canetoad, a  miner's relic from the  Pine Creek  goldfield in the Northern Territory, a kangaroo  bookend , a  perforated Swedish wooden spoon, a Canadian totem pole ,a piece of Darwin trench art featuring  bullets , a Chester Imp  doorknocker from King's Cross, Sydney ,  mineral specimens, some Pete Steedman tapes.

Readers of this strange blog will recall that the  bulldog -minus its head -was   aptly found  by an English woman digging up an old dump at Saddleworth, South  Australia .

WET SCOTTISH NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

 Lang may  yer lum reek!

Attention  grabbing signs  for  Scottish  bars  sent  from  a  sober , kilted  Territorian .

HEADING NORTH

 

Photos by Aeronautical Correspondent,Abra.

CLOUD BEAT

TOWNSVILLE IN THE BULLRUSHES AND FROM THE BEACH AT PALLARENDA

 

Vallis.

LOCH NESS MONSTER DOWN UNDER

Townsville . Magnetic Island in background. Vallis fantasy.

 

SHIPPING REPORTER BOXING DAY SPECIAL

 Our waterfront  roundsman  was present  when , without fanfare , a  luxury  cruise ship carrying  nearly a thousand passengers  arrived in  hot  and humid Townsville  on  Boxing Day  and said there were many interesting  human  interest  stories.

A  passenger from Texas   remarked on  the   heat ; another woman  from Vancouver   said  it  could  get  hot  and sticky back in  Canada.

A  couple  from   Sydney said they had  splurged on the  cruise  . However, the husband said he would rather be back in  Sydney  attending  the Boxing Day sales . 

Passengers  disembarked for  trips to Charters Towers, up Castle Hill  overlooking Townsville , Magnetic  Island , Hidden Valley. There were  17 stalls at  the  terminal  offering  a variety  of  goods  and  services . Locally made  earrings  and  scarves   some  of  the  items   bought.    

Later in  the  day the ship departed  for  Darwin , Indonesia  and  other ports. 

The cruise ship season  runs from November through to March , four  ships due that  month.

When the  2024 cruise season commences  next November  it will  include larger P&O vessels  carrying  2000  passengers. 

TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL SCULPTURE ATTRACTS APPRECIATIVE ARTY NATIVE BEE

 

Constructed as part of the 1988  Australian Bicentenary Celebrations  at Rowes Bay, Townsville, overlooking  Cleveland Bay ,with Magnetic Island in the background, the  sculpture  attracts much attention -the information  plaque  inspected by  a  native bee  ,far left in  above  illustration, when Vallis viaited  the site  and  took  many photos..

The striking  piece of art , built in eight days by the  three prominent  sculptors  ,was commissioned by the Soroptimists  Club  of  Townsville .  

Made from  mild steel, stainless steel and an assortment of timber  and stone, the sculpture is said to reflect the surrounding environment and was designed  especially  for children .The artists said the  sculpture referenced the local environment as a basic representation of  a  jetty or  pier .

The fine craggy lines  resting on the beam  mirror  mountain ranges  in a work which  captured the power of  the sea  and  the  rhythm  of  waves. 

After leaving the park, photographer  Vallis, wanting to see more of the  natural environment, experienced  wave like  action -bounced about  by corrugations and  potholes in the bushtrack along the Townsville Town Common  - which   forced  the  Uber  driver  to  turn  back .

HOUSE OF LORDS LOST TREASURE TROVE

 

Following  closure of  Little Darwin's cluttered  den  and the subsequent  heroic attempt to knock  the greatly reduced contents  into  some  kind of order,  the  above worn Justus van Maurik cigar box , caterers to the House of Lords, filled  with an array of  nearly   forgotten items  collected  over  the years, some  posted  in  this  blog, has  surfaced.

The above photograph shows the  box  being aired  with  some of the   interesting ephemera on display. There is a postcard of an early  New Zealand football team which beat England ; a souvenir bookmark  sent out by the Over Seas League Tobacco Fund of London  to  provide wounded WWll soldiers  with cigarettes  and cheer ; a  whimsical postcard  dealing with the problem of  long  Welsh  names; color slides of  Portuguese Timor when oil was discovered there by an American  drilling company supplied from Darwin  ;  a slight glimpse of an Aboriginal  family posing with  an impressive  looking  pedal car .

Buried  deep  inside was a menu for a March  22, 1876  private dinner at the Adelaide Club  which included  oysters, mutton , fillets of beef, roast turkey and ham, braised ducks  and devilled pigeons. 

NEW THREATS AFTER CYCLONE JASPER

 Voracious  grasshoppers  and  rampaging  split  personality  jumbos.

Little Darwin's  fine display of Magnetic Island   Rain Orchids  has been attacked  by  a whopper  grasshopper  which  devoured  the  drooping white  blossoms , which  correctly  indicated rain was on the way.

And during a  wildlife safari on the  outskirts of  Darkest Townsville  the  above  trumpeting  elephant- which  thinks  it  is  a  Zebra-  was  encountered by a startled big game hunter, who was  so frightened he dropped his  Mauser, causing it to  discharge and  plug  the  large star atop a nearby community Christmas tree.  

CLOUD PASSING PARADE

 

Townsville.

ALADDIN'S CAVE SURVIVES JASPER / ISLAND GALLERY CHANGE

Good to hear  that   Spencer and  Murphy  Booksellers,  Yungaburra, on  the  Atherton Tablelands , rated by Lonely PLanet  as  Far North Queensland's best  bookshop,   was   not  damaged  in  the  deluge. 

However,  during the heavy rain , a   van   being  fitted out  for touring ,  caught  alight. The  emporium  now  houses  about 30,000 books and a wide range  of  collectibles .   

As from  January, Magnetic Island's popular  Batuta  Gallery,  at  Picnic Bay , will  close  its  door , but   continue  online  trading  .  

UNCLE SAM RECEIVED UNIQUE FESTIVE SEASON CARD FROM DOWN UNDER

This circa l903  postcard  expressing  best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,  featuring  a gumleaf   stitched onto an outline  of  Australia , without  Tasmania and no mention of Darwin ,  described as   a  land under  the  Southern Skies,where the Mopoke cries in the bush , was sent to  America.

It was mailed , with love, from Madge  Magarey  of   Park Terrace, Wayville, Adelaide, South  Australia, to  Mrs Julian Barclay , 2116 University Road Avenue , University  Park , near  Denver , Colorado , U.S. A.

WET WEATHER AHEAD

Moved from Magnetic Island to Townsville, the above Rain Orchids  burst  into  flower  two day go-  an  indication  of   rain  soon ;  it  is currenty  raining , with a  promise  of  more  to  come . Sara  snap .The Queen of the Jungle said her hanging  Rain Orchids  on  the island  had produced a fabulous dsplay , the best  in  years .  

RUDOLPH THE RED -NOSED , SOFTAILED HARLEY DAVIDSON

 One of the many  bikes   in   the Townsville  Christmas Toy  Run    which included  the  Magnetic  Island   stretched  Jeep . Sara special.

BOOK PARADISE

 The  Long Room  Library ,Trinity  College, Dublin .

Stretching  65 metres,  with 200,000 of the oldest books , it is one of the  most impressive libraries in the world .One of its many treasures  is the Book of Kells, a ninth century lavishly  illustrated four gospels  manuscript of the New  Testament, in Latin.

The Book of Kells and many other fabulous book collections were mentioned  on  the  ABC's  Late Night Live  in an entertaining  interview   by  Phillip Adams of  Christopher de Hamel ,academic librarian and  expert on mediaeval  manuscripts , author of The Posthumous Papers of the  Manuscript  Club . 

Long Room Library photo supplied  by  Aeronautical  Correspondent  Abra  , taken   during   a   recent  overseas   trip . 

BIRDS OF A DISTINCTIVE FEATHER

Whistling  Ducks ,Townsville . Vallis photo.

 

EXOTIC LOCATION FOR CICAD PARTY

 

 

Townsville . Vallis.

DAME EDNA'S RUSSIAN IMPERSONATION

 In 1969  Barry  Humphries  featured in  a zany article  posing  as  both a Moscow reporter named  Beria  Humphivich  and  a  persecuted    Australian  writer  about  to  set  himself  alight .

The madcap piece , headed REIGN  OF  TERROR  FOR  AUSTRALIAN  WRITERS  AND  ARTISTS, appeared in Broadside, a national independent  magazine  edited  by  Pete Steedman , published in  Melbourne.

Humphivich-our man in Moscow-stated that a terrifying document signed by many Australian artists, writers and  intellectuals  had just been smuggled into Russia.

He said  it  told the horrendous  story of talented men and women whose works were being suppressed  by the State,their livelihoods in jeopardy.

They were being forcibly restrained from fleeing to the free world .One young satirist had  recently turned himself into a  human torch  as a gesture of protest. 

Hundreds of stories like this were pouring into the Soviet Union, he added.

Because of special taxes on the arts, many writers were forced to bury their manuscripts and bank statements  underground, but they were rapidly dug up  and  examined by  trained  seeing-eye-police kangaroos.

An Aboriginal wrestler and intellectual  who managed to elude  customs officials  tried to swim to Siberia , but was washed up on the Bulgarian coast , groaning and bleeding. 

Unable to speak, he could only feebly point to  a  bloodstaind badge which  stated he was a frizzy-haired, overpaid  artist. He then expired at the feet of  his rescuers.  Puzzled Moscovites  and residents of  Moonee  Ponds undoubtedly  wondered  what  the  hell the  story  was  about . 

RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE , TEMPTATION IN QUEENSLAND GARDEN OF EDEN

 Tottering  through  Townsville's  Anderson  Gardens  , an  old   sinner  we know , obviously  in  need  of  a vitamin C  injection  and other medication,   experienced  sound  advice  and  strong   temptation . 

 A  crumpled, soggy  piece  of  paper  on  a  table top    contained  a message  to never forget the power of prayer  , with a reference to Psalm 18.

But nearby, the Devil  entered the scene, in  the   Tropical Orchard , many of its  citrus  trees  laden with fruit  , some on the gound .  With all this   tasty fruit  hanging  about , our sinner got the urge to  pocket  some .

However , God  was  watching  in the shape of the Townsville City Council   and could zap  you with a  bolt  of   lightning if  you succumbed  to temptation .

                                    

                                

Fair dinkum, with all that  fruit  on display, it  was like   Adam   being  urged  by a snake  to  sink his  fangs into  a  (custard)   apple  in  the Garden  of   Eden.  A  sticky  sign  in the orchard  is  designed  to catch insects, part of  a  campaign  to  protect  Aussie  citrus  trees . 

Hard to  resist temptation.  

                            

CHRISTMAS NUT FEAST

Red-tailed  Black  Cockatoos , The Strand, Townsville.

Vallis .

SEA FEVER TAPESTRY

Shipping Reporter.

NEW LIFEGUARD ON PATROL

 Seagull  warns  about  marine  stingers , swimming . 

The Strand ,Townsville, Magnetic Island in background.

ESCAPING SHARKS AND THE HEATWAVE

Massive  crowd  at Sydney's Coogee  Beach , December 10, 1929.

 The  mercury had hit 36.9 during the day  which caused residents  to "rush" the beach  with its recently officially  opened shark nets  for  relief.  Three ambulances were kept busy  during the night  coping with people hit by cars, overcome by the crush  and collisions  in  the congestion, there being  an estimated  50,000  people  in  the  area.( NSW State Library photo ).

There were about  20,000 on the beach. It cost a penny   to  swim in the safe area, threepence  to  stand  on  the  pier.

FRACTURED FICKLE FINGER OF FATE

Excavated on Magnetic Island. Sara photo. 

 

1878 AUSTRALIAN LADIES ANNUAL

 The only issue of this rare gathering of colonial Australian women writers, with contributions by Jessie Couvreur (Tasma), Ada Cambridge, Louisa Anne Meredith, Hannah Newton Baker and  others.. Reserved in  latest Douglas Stewart Fine Books, Melbourne , list.

Contributions by ‘Tasma,’ H.N.B., Mrs. J.A. Bode, Mrs. Dampier, Mrs. Cross, Mrs. Meredith, ‘Sylvia,’ Mrs. T. P. Hill, ‘Little Rosebud', Miss Donnelly, Miss Cheeseman, ‘Constance Craig’, Miss Card, and others. Melbourne : M’Carron, Bird & Co., 1878. Quarto, gilt-lettered cloth over bevelled boards, corners rubbed, lightly flecked, upper hinge cracked, title page printed in red and black, pp. 148, ruled borders in red, text block cracked, light foxing, a good copy.

ADVENTUROUS , MUSICAL ITALIANS

 On  August 5 , 1915 , the Kwanto Maru  arrived in Darwin with 30  Italians   from  Argentina , lured to the Northern Territory  by  the promise of  work  and  land  by the  Commonwealth Government .

Details of  the group , described as " Italian Patagonian immigrants ",  are contained  in  interesting articles   by   researcher Ruth Sheridan  in  Progenitor, journal   of  the  Genealogical Society of  the   Northern Territory .

Sheridan pointed out that  despite high hopes of  doing  well in  the  Territory , by 1922 most of them were on government rations , there being little work, partly due to closure of  Vestey's  meatworks  in 1920.

They failed in a  bid to be repatriated back to South America.  Work was sought for them on Queensland   cane  farms . One became a  cook   and  storeman  in Cairns, a  labourer  in Innisfail. An  Italian  was  in  a group  which  found   a new  mica  deposit  in  the Territory. 

Sheridan also wrote  about Swiss -Italians, many of them trained  carpenters  and stonemasons,  who came to  Victoria  during the  goldrush .  

Particular mention is made of  the   Traversis in the Territory, Victoria and   New Zealand  .  Mrs   A.  Traversi ran  The  British and  Foreign Hotel  at The Shackle  mine   township  at   Yam Creek , in the  NT , from 1875-l876.

There was the Traversi Hotel  at Daylesford, Victoria,  Carlo Traversi , who played the viola , ran a well known orchestra and dance hall in the town . In New Zealand the Traversis   were enterprising.  There was   the  Bull and Mouth Hotel at Ross , on the  west coast , run by  Antonio Traversi , which was destroyed by a  fire in l881, everything  lost except a piano.  He later ran the  Golden Eagle Hotel  in  Greymouth.

He had been born in Switzerland in 1827. After   15 years in the Victorian gold diggings  he  moved to New  Zealand  where  he also   taught music

It is said he made the headlines in 1864  for refusing to admit a woman who paid for a ticket  to a ball in his hotel  becaue she had been a prostitute  and could  not  call herself  a  lady.  He  lost  the  court  case  over  the  refusal .   

Sheridan compiled  a substantial amount of information about   Italians who  were involved   in mining   in  Central  Australia   and   various  businesses  in  Alice Springs.   There is a  front cover photograph on Progenitor of mica miners  working  underground  in the Strangways Ranges , 43 miles from Alice Springs, during  WWll. 

HEADING TOWARDS JASPER

 

Flying  from Townsville to  Cairns ,  by  Aeronautical Correspondent  Abra .

FLOWERY MOTH GARDEN

Vallis.