ELEPHANT LADY IN TOWN

Little  Darwin  recently  received  the  surprise  gift  of   the  above   two   elephants  from  a  lady  passing through  on  safari  from  way up  north . They  were  made in  Vietnam  and  are   from  her  large   collection  of  elephants  scattered   about  her  garden . The  herd  numbers   more than  30 , bought  at   garage  sales  over  many  years. About the only  thing  not  visible  in  the  cluttered  Little  Darwin  den  is  elephant  dung.  

(Elephants. Vietnam. Collection. )

SHIPPING REPORTER BACK ON DECK

 

After a period in medical drydock , our extremely weathered waterfront  roundsman  sent   in   these  photographs   of  Townsville  port  activity.

(Shipping. Townsville. Reporter.) 

EXPLORING MUSEUMS , GALLERIES

 

A  small sample  of  North Queensland  attractions. Zara  Clark is  in Charters Towers. The Museum of Tropical Queensland  ,Townsville, is  located in one of  the  above  buildings.The white building  was bought by Australian  billionaire businessman and  politician  Clive Palmer who wants to build a replica  of  the Titanic to  make a maiden voyage by June  2027. This has led to wild speculation that a giant white  imitation  iceberg  will be  anchored   off Townsville. 


(Museums. North. Vallis.)

EARLY MORNING RUN TO MAGNETIC ISLAND

Townsville  , Sara  special  photograph. 

 (Queensland.  Scenic . Sara.)

THRIFTY GHOSTS OF CHRISTMASES PAST

An adventurous Little Darwin  correspondent  has been looking for long- lost  treasure   in  a  secret  location  in   a   Queensland  coastal  area.

 While no  encrusted   gold  bars  have   been  located  so  far , of   late  he  has  found  a  sprinkling   of  early  threepenny silver   pieces , such  as  the  1920  one  below. 

 

 It  is surmised  these  thrippences  are from  the  days when  it  was common  to  stuff  Christmas  puddings  with  coins .

Another  Little  Darwin  correspondent   has been  probing   parts of   Darwin   with a recharged  metal detector , turning  up  a small amount  of  modern  coinage. However, he  is  hopeful  that   a  former  much  used community  site  will   prove  more  rewarding. 

He is a frequent  watcher of, and  inspired by,  the British television show, The  Detectorists,  about  guys  obsessed with the idea of  finding a   rich Saxon   burial    trove  with  their  metal  detectors.  

(Ghosts. Treasure. Detectorists.) 

ON THE RED BRICK ROAD TO POPULAR SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Townsville  .

 

(Queensland . Sermon .  Abra. )

NORTHERN VISTA

Mount Whitfield Conservation Park, Cairns, view by Aeronautical Correspondent   Abra.

(Conservation. Cairns.  Abra.)

FISHPOND FOLLIES

 

Vallis pix.

(Fish. Townsville. Vallis.)

FROTHY PUB

Heady display of  bougainvillea  at  Daly  Waters  Pub, Northern Territory. Photo  by Sara. 

(Pub. Display. Territory.)

KOOKABURRA AND FRIEND

Pal  on  top  could  be  a  Leatherhead .

 (Birds. Tree.  Abra.)

TIME TO BUZZ OFF WITH ROAMIN' NUMERALS

 (Clock. Flies. Buzz.)

BOOKS FOR THE MASSES

A   Little  Darwin researcher   recently  obtained   the  above  book  about British publisher  Joseph  Malaby  Dent , founder of  Everyman's  Library  , described  as  the   greatest popular  library  of   the  world's   best  books, offered  at  prices  which  working  class  people  could  afford.

While doing genealogical research  on  a  New Zealand female  relative, it was  discovered   that  the  woman ,  Eleanor   Dumper , a   schoolteacher , had  once  been  married  to  Dent's  brother , Hugh, a  Christchurch  bookdealer . 

Further  research  resulted in the  University of  North Carolina  kindly supplying correspondence   between   Dumper  and  the  publisher,  who  died on  May 9, l926, revealing   their strong  religious beliefs. .

Near  death

Dent  sent  her  a   typed  letter  on  February 9,  1926  , after a long illness, near death,  a  doctor having told him  he would never  leave  the bedroom again. Yet  he  was  able  to  get up and go to the office for  a day  or two , very weak. 

It  appears  that   he  had   varying   views  on  the  Bible , matters  religious , and  the  world  than  Eleanor, whom  he   called  My dear  Sister. 

In part, he  wrote  : The world is  far  bigger  than   you have imagined it and the care of the Almighty  is a far greater thing than you have imagined .  I  do not know if you have  watched  the development of science and thought of late, but  it  has   been proved  and  understood that  there is only one  world   and  one universe  ; that  all  the world   is one great   creation spreading  over all the space  and  what  the development   of  that  great world  may be  I cannot tell .

There  would , he hoped,  be  a "  great wide development "  for  all  people .

Sins  of  Charles  Dickens 

 He said he was one of those who "  care for the good things and I humbly lie down in this belief  that somehow  the old hymn that Charles Dickens  used to quote  contains the  great  (following)  truth . "

My sins are heavy, but Thy Mercy far  Outweighs  them every one .       

Dumper , living in Auckland , expressed the  view  she thought Joseph had  done  wonderful work spreading "good clean  literature" throughout  the  world . 

She  recounted   in  great detail " the  last hour on earth "   of  his  brother  Hugh  .   A  friend  had  been present  with  them and they sang  his  favourite  hymn, How Sweet  the  Sound  of  Jesus   Sounds.

She also said a  schoolteacher  friend  had   visited  London   and  had  been  well  received  at  the  publishing  house .  In 1925 , under the  auspices of the   Overseas  Education  League , 100  teachers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand visited the London  publishing  headquarters  and were  welcomed  by  Dent,  described  as  the  Chief. 

The  book  at the top  is  a presentation  copy  to  R. A Beckett , signed  by  Hugh  Dent , the   publisher's   son , dated  May 25, 1933. 

In  l928 ,  the  London  Sunday Times  ran  the following   extraordinary  tribute to  Everyman's Library  by  English  poet, author, biographer and critic,  Sir Edmund Gosse . 

"A cosmic convulsion might  utterly destroy all the other printed  works  in the world, and still, if  a complete set of Everyman's Library floated upon the waters, enough would be  preserved to carry on  the unbroken tradition   of literature.  Everyman's Library is  a  very remarkable phenomenon  , and  one  that  does  credit  to our civilisation."

There were more than 800  volumes in the  library which covered  English and  foreign  literature, fiction,  biography, classics, essays ,science and travel, with  at  least  400   authors . It was so extensive that  it required storage  space  for  two million  volumes .

The  above small run of Everyman's Encyclopedia  recently floated to the surface  in  a  Townsville  op shop.

(Publishing. Dent. Carolina.)

MORNING MOSAIC

 

Cairns.  Aeronautical Correspondent  Abra. 

(Cairns.  Morning.  Aba.)

SAUCY FRENCH DANCER INVOLVED IN CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER MIXUP

 First  published  in   Sydney on  January 31,  1880, The  Bulletin  became the  longest  running  magazine in  Australia , closing  in  January 2008.

It  was founded  by  talented  journalists  John Feltham   Archibald   and  John  Haynes . 

Present  at  hangings.

Archibald's   prior experience   had  included  working   for a mining  supply company in  the  North Queensland  Palmer River  goldfield, Melbourne  court  reporting, being present at  an  1875  hanging in Pentridge  Gaol and making  a 300 kilometre  trip in a Cobb and Co. coach  from Sydney to Mudgee  with  a  hangman  ,  his  assistant  and  knotted  rope,   to  attend  the  hanging of  a man  for  rape in  l879.

He  was proficient in shorthand  and  would  later attend  and  write a graphic account of the hanging of  bushranger  Captain Moonlite, the son of an Anglican minister, in  Darlinghurst Gaol  on  January 20,l880 . 

Haynes was the editor of a  proposed new  Catholic newspaper, The Express, which was to be produced  in a  Sydney printery from  which he and  Fitzgerald  planned  to  also   launch  a   joint  publication  of  their  own .

This was to be The Bulletin , the name said to be inspired by  the  San Francisco  Evening Bulletin , founded in l855, which  campaigned against political corruption and covered  literature and drama , the founder  assassinated  .    

It was arranged  for the Catholic archibishop  of   Sydney, Roger Vaughan,  to  ride  to the  building   and   bless  the  new  publication  and  the  printery . 

The ceremony involved all hands  kneeling around the stone, sprinkling holy water  about the office ; some printers  even  kissed  the prelate's  ring.

Bulletin  Blessed 

At some stage, a  bundle of  papers  from a nearby  printing   press ,  identified as  being The  Express, were duly blessed  by the  archbishop . They  were , however,  The  Bulletin .

An eagle- eyed  priest  who  was   with the  archbishop , later noticed   there was  a  story   about  a  celebrated  French  dancer  in   the   blessed  pages  and was  shocked  to  think that  the  archbishop could be  linked  to  such a  story  in  a  Catholic  publication.   

Haynes hastily  explained  it was the front page of the publication he and   Archibald  planned  to  launch.

Nevertheless , the priest , with another cleric , firmly instructed the head  printer not  to handle  any  material  from the   two  journalists  and they  were  told  to  vacate  the  office.

With very little assets,  about 140 pound , they  had bought  a small  case of old display   type , put a  deposit on a  second hand press  and  set up office  in rundown premises which had been  a  dance  venue known  as  the  Scandinavian  Hall,.

The first edition, consisting of  eight pages , cost fourpence, sold  3000 copies . 

During its first few decades The Bulletin reportedly played  a significant role in fostering nationalist sentiments in Australia. Its politics were also anti-imperialist, protectionist, insular, racist, republican, anti-clerical and masculinist—but not socialist. It mercilessly ridiculed colonial governors, capitalists, perceived snobs and social climbers, the clergy, wowsers (puritanical moralists), feminists and prohibitionists.

 It upheld trade unionism, Australian independence, advanced democracy and White Australia  It ran cartoons mocking the British, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Jews, and Indigenous Australians.

Early in its long  , influential  life , The Bulletin  could have been forced  to    close due to a libel  case.  Although  they  lost  the  case , damages were  delared   at   a  mere  farthing. 

However,   in l882,  Archibald  and Haynes ,unable to pay the court  costs , were   imprisoned  in   Darlinghurst  Gaol .  

They were photopraphed  on   the lawn   in prison , Archibald on the  left,    and even allowed to have  a  bottle of  whisky and  a chair  and  table from which  to  write  items  for  the   magazine .

Friends and supporters   raised  funds  for  them and  they  were eventually released  from   prison . 

The Bulletin  went  from strength to strengh, became known as the Bushman's Bible, attracting contributions  from  writers  and  artists who became   well  known national identities   , while the  Catholic newspaper,The Express,   folded  after   seven  years. 

 Over  the  years The Bulletin  changed ownership  several times, became more  conservative , and  was once part of  Consolidated Press , headed  by  Sir Frank Packer, during which time it was amalgamated with the international magazine  Newsweek.

                            

The   above  cover  of the  joint venture  highlighted  a   report  from  Northern Territory  journalist    Paul Toohey  about the   Uluru- Ayers Rock -  sale. Toohey was recently seen  floating about in  an  Indonesian  jukung  . 

Australia's   top  art  prize  for  portraiture  is   named  after  Archibald . There  is  also  an   Archibald   fountain  in  Sydney . 

( Bulletin. Archibald. Hangings. ) 

FLY-BY WALKATHON

 Light plane  making   early morning  flight  over  Cairns  Esplanade . Photograph  by Aeronautical  Correspondent  Abra.  

( Plane. Cairns. Esplanade.)

THE LURE OF REEFS , BYGONE TOUR

Charles Darwin book published l910. Followed  by  weathered  l928 itinerary for  extensive Great Barrier  Reef tour  from  Townsville starting in June  which included  fishing , shell  and  orchid  collecting, dugong, turtle and  alligator  hunting , a  visit to  the  Dunk Island home of   author and naturalist Edmund James  Bamfield who wrote  Confessions of a  Beachcomber , game shooting , a  wonderful  exhibition  of   Aboriginal  and Torres Strait islander  dancing  on  Palm Island .

 

(Reefs. Tours. Coral.)

THE URGE TO TRAVEL

(Travel . Posters. Shipping.)

SPECTACULAR ART EXHIBITION

Part of  Notes for Palm Sunday by Christopher Bassi who has matrilineal link to Torres Strait  Islands.

 

Above display by Maljah Cathy Snow, born  Normanton in Gulf of Carpentaria. Maljah is her bush name which means lightning in her grandmother's dreaming. Her grandfather's  name  meant  floodwater, which inspired   her  to  create artworks  about water and  water  themes .  

 Small  sample of  impressive works in Cairns Art Gallery, part  of  Cairns  Indigenous  Art   Fair. 

(Art. Indigenous. Cairns.)

ORIENTAL TOUCH

 

Cairns Botanical Gardens  .

(Botanical. Cairns. Abra.)

ON THE TRACK OF AUSTRALIA'S BIGFOOT

A large footprint   found in  an  outback  rainforest  has raised the possibility that  the  hairy , grotesque  North  American  primate , Bigfoot , also  known as  Donald Trump, is related  to  Bluey, the  popular   Australian  Blue  Heeler   star   of    kids  television  .

This  shock  conclusion is  because of the colour  of  the footprint  , shown exclusively  above, taken by an  obvious  bumblefooted  photographer .

The  huge  footprint  was   found  in  a  Jurassic Park -like   secret  location in  North Queensland  by  a   wandering , shabbily-dressed   mushroom   picker  .

Through the  swirling  mist , the  now  very nervous discoverer ,  snapped  what  he  thought  looked  like a giant, hairy  monster, below ,in the distance ,  before  it  disappeared , with a  blood-curdling  scream. 

(Bigfoot. Footprint .Spoof.)

CLOSELY CROPPED TOP END PHOTOGRAPHER ENHANCED

 

Veteran photographer and graphic designer  Barry Ledwidge, 79, who should write his memoirs , is shown  in the  Darwin  Smith Street  Mall   recently  pointing out  where he  had  open  heart surgery .  Bazza  is  an  old  friend of  this  blog , so  we   retrieved  a   special   post , below, run in   2015,  to  flesh him out, as  it were , and  to  further  rock  our  readers. 

ACE PHOTOGRAPHERS CAPTURED NORTHERN TERRITORY CYCLONE DEVASTATION  AND  LIFESTYLE

Top  End photographers, Beat   Erismann , left, and  Barry Ledwidge , were present when  the massive  Cyclone Tracy smashed  Darwin on  Christmas  Eve 1974 and their record of the event is captured in the booklet below .

In the case of  Ledwidge  he has  had many rare adventures  , some  hair raising  and  shaving experiences,  in  his career . One such memorable occasion was  the time as a 17 -year- old photographic cadet at the Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser,  he sat in a  darkened room  in a motel and watched in wonderment the Moon walk  with the editor , Geoff Dixon,  the man destined to become the Qantas chief.  

Dixon   later  sent  Barry  to Darwin  with  the Australian News  and  Information Bureau  where  Bazza   became a  famous newspaper  reporter, celebrity , rock sitter ,  official  photographer at Charles Darwin University  for 22 years .

Beat, 62, worked at  the Northern Territory News at the time of Cyclone Tracy and became a TV cameraman  freelancing  for Swiss television  for  25 years . He and Bazza have had a long and colourful  relationship.

One of the many unusual shots in the brochure shows Ledwidge sitting on a toilet seat in a ruined building photographing Prime Minister Gough Whitlam holding an open air  press conference .The  dramatic  photographs present  a unique view  of  the  natural  disaster .

 More of Barry's camera  magic is displayed in this booklet produced in connection with an exhibition at the Northern Centre  for Contemporary Art, Darwin .The cover photo is of Vivienne Paspaley, matriarch of  Paspaley Pearls.

NEXT:  Bazza  ,  Rocksitters and  solar  powered  cars.

(Ledwidge. Photography. Darwin  )

ESPLANADE EXTRAVAGANZA

 

Cairns special by Aeronautical  Correspondent  Abra. 

(Cairns. Esplanade. Abra.)

EPIC TAXI TRIP RESUMES , PICKING UP A DYNAMIC AUSTRALIAN PASSENGER

Fascinating additional  information has  surfaced   about  the  Scottish  mining engineer , writer, eugenicist  and  stamp collector, James Herbert  Curle ,  who  in  l939 hired  a  Whites taxi to drive him  1200 miles from  Darwin to Mount Isa, Queensland , for  two  shillings  a mile . 

A newspaper account of the  Australian record making journey  made the suspect  claim  that   Curle  had  travelled   2,000,000 miles  in  40 years.

However , this blog  discovered   that   when  Curle  wrote an  unusual   book  -  Eskimo Pie- published by Methuen, London, in l942,  a  reviewer described  him  as  a  modern  Marco Polo, one  of  the  most  travelled  authors  of  the  day .

He had much to say about humankind all over the globe  and the direction in which it  seemed to  be  heading , 

The book presented  "arresting pictures" of people and places in many lands , including   Britain, Germany,  America  , the Far East  and   Australia .

In respect of Australia,  the reviewer  said  Curle admired the  country  and new it  intimately .

Curle's  wide ranging   observations  about  America included  the  fact that it had become the manufacturing  hub of the world  , was hooked on  oil, and  was reaping the benefit of being a melting pot of peoples , against the  beliefs  of  eugenicists .

In  1926 he had published  To-day and To-morrow: The Testing Period of the White Race  in which he surveyed the races of the world and argued that the white race was being out-bred by other races and its purity being eroded through inter-breeding with other races.

It  was a  surprise  to  read  that   Esko Pie  had been  dedicated  to  G. A. Richard,  of  Brisbane.

Online research  revealed  this was  George Alfred Richard, an Australian metallurgist, 1861-l943, who studied assaying, chemistry and metallurgy  at the  Ballarat School of Mines . He went on to become  a  major influence  in  large  scale mining  operations in  Australia.

He worked on  Victorian  goldfields  and then joined the large  Mount Morgan  Gold Mining  Company in  Queensland, becoming its  general manager  . 

In 1901 Richard  toured Australian, North American, European and South African plants, examining copper-smelting  and iron and  steel processes.

Money  from Mount Morgan  helped set  up the  Anglo- Persian   Oil Company  which  became  British  Petroleum  in  l954.

According to  the  Australian  Dictionary of   Biography , Richard was interested in the Queensland militia, technical reading , education and billiards. 

He had joined the volunteer militia in late 1887 as provisional captain and was widely known as Captain Richard, especially after he led volunteer troops during  the shearers' strike of 1891.

Richard presided over the 1899 and 1910 meetings of the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers at Rockhampton and Mount Morgan; in 1910 he gave an erudite presidential address, 'Statistics and economics'. He was a strong and active supporter of the Mount Morgan Technical College and advocated  a  centralized  Queensland School  of  Mines. 

(Taxi. Mining. Curle.)

PARADISE PORTRAIT

Spectacular   early  morning  view  of Townsville waterfront, a thrownetter in the shallows, with Magnetic Island in background. Photo by Aeronautical Correspondent  Abra. 

 

( Waterfront. Special . Abra.)