Blackwater High School opened its doors to students for the first time on 29 January 1973. The Queensland Department of Education, predicting an initial enrolment of about 140 students, appointed 13 teachers, including the principal, to the school’s inaugural teaching … Read More
You may have heard of Alpha (Queensland), but have you heard of Beta? What is their connection? Alpha and beta are the first two letters of the Greek alphabet. Is this significant? Alpha is a small town in central Queensland, … Read More
If you’re going to have a heart attack, the best place to have it is an airport or sports stadium in a big city. Well, that’s what I was told after I had a heart attack at the Melbourne Airport … Read More
For more years than I like to count, the Bavarian Castle tapestry has hung in a prominent place in our home. In our first home, we hung it in the lounge room; in our second home, we hung it at … Read More
Most of what I know about my father’s World War II army service I’ve learnt since his death in 1999. My father rarely spoke about his wartime experiences. Growing up, I knew very little about what he actually did during … Read More
The time has come for us to say “Goodbye”. Your leaving has been imminent for some time – But I’ve been in denial. I didn’t want you to go. We’ve worked together for more than 48 years – What will … Read More
This story is about a three-day sojourn my husband and I had in January last year at Welzow, the home of one of our “snow angels” (Silvia). It’s the second part of a two-part series. The first part, Snow angels … Read More
This Christmas, in the spirit of giving, I want to bless you by sharing our recipe for Brownie’s Brownies. You’ll find it at the end of this post.
This story reveals how one Australian family experienced Christmas in the year 1934. All of the family’s preparations for Christmas that year came to nought. For this family, Christmas 1934 was long remembered as a very “un-Merry” Christmas. NOTE: A … Read More
This post, which features the Cradock War Memorial and Memorial Garden, is my tribute to the people of Cradock, South Australia, and the men and women of the Cradock district who served in Australia’s defence forces during the Boer War, … Read More
My mother’s pumpkin scones recipe is one of my son’s favourite recipes. He has been using the recipe for years and it never fails. It’s a special reminder of a much-loved grandmother who was a gifted home cook. You’ll find … Read More
In my family archives, I have a number of old letters. One is a 3-page letter my father wrote to my mother, brother and me 70 years ago, while a guest at the Sea View Hotel, Townsville, north Queensland. I … Read More
This story is a tribute to the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary on 11 August 2022, and the Kingaroy Branch, which is also celebrating its centenary in August this year. The Kingaroy Branch of … Read More
In 2019, during a visit to Birdsville, my husband and I explored the Birdsville Cemetery. It’s an iconic site. The Birdsville Cemetery is not only a sacred place but also a window into the town and district’s remarkable history. Buried … Read More
Who would have thought that a story about my great-grandparents and the house my great-grandfather built on “Mons” would create so much interest and add to my Beaumont Family history? Thomas Bloomfield Beaumont and Elizabeth Mary Ann Beaumont (nee Tancred) … Read More
