CORAL SEA MUSING

Cairns . Shipping Reporter 

 

RARE HERMANNSBURG MISSION CORRESPONDENCE

 A drawing of  a kangaroo hunt  by dogs and two letters written in  Western Arrernte  by children from the Finke River  Lutheran mission at Hermannsburg, via Alice Springs,  in l942-44, are included in the latest list  from  Douglas Stewart  Fine  Books, Melbourne . The letters include  English translations. 

They were sent  by  Maxina Malbunka  and Milton Elatjia to a young boy from a Lutheran family in Kyneton, Victoria, Gordon John Gerhardy (1933-2023), as part of a pen-pal exchange. Later in life Gerhardy would himself serve as a  Lutheran missionary in Papua New Guinea.

Maxina was born at Hermannsburg on 24 July 1931, the first child of Alwin Malbunka (Malbangka) and his wife Franziska. In a letter written to T.G.H. Strehlow from Haasts Bluff, 10 February 1958, Pastor Albrecht mentions that Maxina’s father Alwin had collaborated with him on a translation of the Book of Amos.

Milton was born at Hermannsburg on 17 February 1932, the oldest child of Manasse Elatjia (aka Armstrong) (ca.1905-1979) and his wife Eva. Much later, in the early 1960s, Milton’s father Manasse would become one of the first group of Hermannsburg potters.

Read More

SUCCULENT BLOSSOM TIME

 

BRITS RULED THE WAVES BUT SCOTS RULED THE EMPIRE'S FLOORS

Containing 58  examples of  inlaid  lino for l929-30 , this sample book   floated  about  Australia  until bought  by  this  blog  at an an antique market many moons ago .  A recent online   search  revealed  that  the  cover  has  been turned into a 400- piece  jigsaw  puzzle  featuring the name  Kirkcaldy , Scotland, once  billed the  inlaid linoleum  capital of the  world, also the town that  floored  the world .  One factory  there covered 55 acres and  employed 4000 people.  Barry's  was  another  factory  which  cashed  in on the   demand. The region switched to making goods for the war effort. 

STARK NORTHERN TERRITORY IMAGE

 

GOOSE OF THE YEAR

Vallis.

 

ENTERING PORT