January 2011 Friends of Chauncy Vale Inc. Newsletter

Issue 240

Inside this issue: Editor’s Cave

Editor’s Cave 1 Happy New Year Friends threads. format is fine). of Chauncy Vale! Thank Just a few newsletter Photos must be high reso- Member news 1 you to all those who sub- housekeeping bits: Please lution and good quality. If mitted articles for this can we keep to a few photos are higher than Cave Etchings 1 newsletter. It was certainly newsletter guidelines. All 6mb in size then please interesting fitting it all in articles are to be 250 send them in separate Cave Talk 2 this time! Keep them com- words maximum (less is of emails. If you are sending ing as I love a challenge. course fine). In future, photos to be published Management Committee 2 Throughout the beginning articles longer than this please ensure that you are months of this year you will not be accepted. the copyright holder of Chauncy Vale Art Group 2 will begin to see changes in All articles will be credited these photos. All photos the IT area including more will be credited to the pho- Cave Business 3 to the author. information being up- The meaning of the article tographer (or copyright Children’s Cave Hideout 3 loaded to the website. will not be changed by me. holder). Christian has set us up with I will however, correct If you are unsure about any History and Heritage 3 a facebook page. Thank spelling and grammar and of the above please e-mail you Christian and to Alex the format of course will me. Chauncy Vale Calendar 3 Green who has started us change to fit into the Thank you, looking for- off with some Photos. This newsletter. To save on my ward to receiving your Presidents AGM report 4 is a perfect forum for many part, please construct your newsletter gifts! different types of discus- article with as little format- March newsletter items are sions. Feel free to start ting as possible (plain due by February 25th 2011. Member news your own discussion word

on facebook auncy Vale riends of Ch FOCV Inc. members Search for F ok.com were saddened by the Cave Etchings www.facebo news of the death of Richard Lord. We would On the 6th of December chid. This was Denna Kingdom, Alex like to express our Heather accompanied Mi- the first time heather had Green and Andrew Bonnit- chael Todd up to the caves. deepest sympathy to found it there. They also cha for new initiatives over Michael is doing his thesis found Donkey and Leop- the past year. The renewed Richards family and on the Masked Owl in Tas- ard Orchids. Story courtesy enthusiasm and energy in friends. mania. The first male to be Heather Chauncy. both the management spotted perching in one of An article written by John his roosts was found with committee and FOCV is Biggs about Richard will be uneaten pellets underneath. A covenant has been regis- the most encouraging for in the next newsletter. Observations are recorded tered. Thank you to Matt the future of Chauncy vale. On a happy note: for 2-3 months. Taylor and Tasmanian Congratulations to Tim Heather and Michael then Land conservancy. I hope you have a very Eldridge who recently went of for a walk over the happy 2011. married! top of the caves where they I would like to thank Courtesy Heather Chauncy. found the small Duck Or- Page 2 Friends of Chauncy Vale Inc. Issue 240 Cave Talk Thinking of an umbrella The futures meeting reflected this We thought the idea of a ‘pool of Article by Chris Harman mix as there were representatives resources’ could be more efficient from a number of local groups, en- in the long run and put less burden terprises, agencies and organiza- on any single group trying to pro- At a recent meeting about possible tions, all with an interest in support- vide their own. Maybe a couple of futures for Chauncy Vale some of ing positive approaches to main- pre-packed trailers stored at the us started to entertain an idea for taining the natural environment. Council yard. creating an umbrella resource group There were people from Tasmanian to service outdoor activities in the We imagined an organization made Land Conservancy, The Southern southern midlands region. up of representatives of each group Midlands Council Chauncy Vale meeting, say, once or twice a year to The question we started with was Management Committee, Friends talk about activity programs, adver- ‘What plant, equipment and services of Chauncy Vale, Bonorong Park, tising and general resource plan- do we need to gather up in order to Local regional Arts Group, and ning, grant submissions and possi- support outdoor activities in people with private reserves such as ble common needs such as insur- Chauncy Vale?’ Stony Rise. We think there are ance. Hence the Umbrella idea. All As some of you may know, over the many more – farmers, Parks and the actual ‘work’ would happen years there have been a range of Wildlife, State Government Re- back with the group or groups insti- activities and events held in serves, and other conservation en- gating the activity. Chauncy Vale which have involved terprises such as Woodfield Lodge We thought this idea was consistent organizing the use of tents, extra in our region. with the wishes Nan and Anton toilets, generators, kitchen equip- So it seemed to us that we should Chauncy. In fact we thought the ment, lighting, sound equipment, a start answering our initial question name of the new Umbrella group mobile stage, display systems and by thinking about how all the ought in some way acknowledge many other resources. groups could best work together to Nan and Anton. All of these resources have been realize their individual aims and our At the moment we are exploring borrowed from wherever we can or common goals. We realized by the possibilities of using established have been supplied by groups asso- working together there could be associations which may meet the ciated with the activity. For example advantages in setting programs, general aim. the mobile stage came with the sharing information, advertising and What are your ideas? dance group who wished to per- marketing activities throughout the form in the Vale. In other words we region, creating a pool of plant and have always relied on a ‘network’ equipment and working together to made up of individuals, other com- seek private and public funds to Chauncy Vale Art Group munity groups, private enterprises increase the value of shared re- and public organizations. sources to meet our common aims. All Welcome

First session on the 9th Jan Management Committee 2011 from 10am onwards. Report Then, 2nd Sunday of every month. 2nd picnic area Report by Alex Green. Photo courtesy Dan- ielle Madden-Hallett (undercover, inside and out) I would like to thank Friends for the at Chauncy Vale Wildlife opportunity to contribute to this Meetings Sanctuary. newsletter. The Management Com- Agenda for the tiny informal mittee has secured funding in excess meeting 16th January 2011 No joining fee, no costs, turn up and paint/draw anything of $20,000 for works on Day Dawn, Family fun day final details including restoration of the deck with any medium. BYO (now completed) underpinning of Future Meetings equipment including easels. the structure and construction of In future all meetings will be held BYO lunch and drink. BBQ drains. My aim was to have the pro- on the 4th Sunday of the month, available for cooking. For ject acquitted before Christmas. The Bi-monthly at Chauncy Vale, fol- further information contact house will be open for the open day! lowed by a working bee. Andrew. Page 3 Friends of Chauncy Vale Inc. Issue 240

Cave Business History and Heritage

President -Newsletter Editor Can you help Jill? Margaret Eldridge Danielle Madden-Hallett 43 Manning Ave 124 Marlyn Road Jill Cassidy is president of Sandy Bay 7005 South 7004 the Oral History Association E: [email protected] E: [email protected] , , and Secretary Caretaker has an interest in old mills. Tim Eldridge (Chauncy Vale Wildlife Sanctuary) Milford Mill was operating by 2 Pillinger Drive Andrew Bonnitcha Ph 0362686365 1834 and was driven by a Ferntree 7054 E: [email protected] 40-foot water wheel. This is E: [email protected] an immense size and if the Treasurer Publications: mill building was near the Patricia Rogers Copies of Nan’s books are available double-storey house called 1256 Nugent Rd to order these can be posted: Sorell 7172 They Found a Cave $15; $8; Milford on the highway, E: [email protected] $8. Also, the Biog- which is likely, the dam raphy of Nan Chauncy “A writer’s must have been some dis- Promotions Officer’s life” by Berenice Eastman $15 and tance away with fluming -IT/Web Support ‘They Found a Cave’ DVD $15 leading the water to the top Available at a much reduced price is Christian McKenzie of the wheel. Jill is hopping the VHS $10 (RRP $30) 124 Marlyn Road Order by email from the Treasurer. to find someone whose fam- South Hobart 7004 ily passed on the story of E: [email protected] where a dam once was, or indeed may still be (dams Children's Cave Hide-out often stay long after the Kids poem/story: Kids Joke: reason for their building has gone). So someone who At a recent meeting at Chauncy As two caterpillars were crawling grew up at Chauncy Vale Vale Wildlife Sanctuary, Matilda along, a butterfly flew overhead. One Ball needed a small break from a turned to the other and said, may just have heard such a story or even remember a fairly lengthy meeting. Matilda "You'll never get me up in one of dam remaining in their life- walked down to the river only to those things!" find the area by the ‘old tree’ be- time. ing occupied by a mother wallaby Kids Art Competition: and her joey drinking from the We Like your pictures featured in the ’re on the web river. next newsletter? Send entries to the ww !! w.chaun editor by the 25th February 2011. cyvale. Thank you Matilda for this little snip- com.au pet. Chauncy Vale Calendar “Day Dawn” January 2011 February 2011 Chauncy family home Working Bee Family Fun Day Open on the 1st Sun- Jan 16th. An informal 6th Feb. 12pm Music, day of each month FOCV meeting will also visual art, poetry read- from 2-4pm. Other be held. From 10.30 am ing, guided walks, na- Eucalyptus cup moth caterpillar days by appointment. to 1pm and includes a ture displays, face (3mm in length). Photo: Danielle Entry $2. To book BBQ courtesy of the painting. BYO Picnic Madden-Hallett. phone Andrew. management committee. or BBQ. Refreshments available. Page 4 Friends of Chauncy Vale Inc. Issue 240 Presidents AGM report: September 26th 2010 It is my pleasure to offer this report to the 2010 thank Denna and offsider Danielle for their ef- bers offering to take our places either! I hope that AGM of Friends of Chauncy Vale. I am happy to forts with the workshop both professional and will change today as executive positions are avail- see you all here and especially to welcome some voluntary, and for her ongoing interest in able. I am happy that the workshop I mentioned who have not attended a previous AGM. Since a Chauncy Vale. earlier produced some younger people who ex- number of our stalwarts are away it is good that Going back to Day Dawn, the treasured home of pressed an interest and hope that they will stay you have come! There are many positives for Nan, Anton and Heather Chauncy, I am pleased involved. In particular it was good to welcome Chauncy Vale and I will start with the Family to report that the iPod commentary which offers Greg Irons and friends from Bonorong Park. Day held in February. There was a good atten- information to visitors, was launched earlier in They are keen to form a closer relationship with dance and a great atmosphere. It is fortunate that the year and is up and running. It can be Chauncy Vale and hopefully this can be explored we are able to provide a focus for a number of downloaded onto iPods from TLC and Council in more detail. At the general meeting later today, other like-minded groups to join us at our be- websites. It is great that we can make use of tech- we can talk through some of the ideas we dis- loved Chauncy Vale. The Under-storey Network, nology in this way, especially since we cannot cussed at the workshop. One which can be put Baby Animal Rescue and Tasmanian National access electricity! This year we have been pleased into action today is that we return meetings to Parks Association shared the day with us along to table the Management Committee’s minutes at the daytime at Chauncy Vale instead of town. with people who had never been to the Vale, our regular meetings. Similarly our minutes are Maybe the meetings could be combined with a people who had not visited it for many years and tabled at the Management Committee meetings. working bee and a bbq so that there is an oppor- others who visit it often. A breakdown meant There are renovations to hand to the veranda, in tunity for getting to know people. Providing this that the vintage cars did not make it to the hut! sympathy with the original structure. Having brings better attendance at our meetings, I would There was something for everyone and we are been one of those who sat on the old veranda be happy if a member moved a motion to that grateful to Weetbix with Syrup and the Hobart with Nan and Anton, enjoying a glass of sherry effect at the general meeting. Recorder Group for providing some beautiful and good conversation, I am delighted to hear it It is clear that we need to prepare our own vision music. Both these groups have indicated they is to be repaired. Applications for grants have statement for what we as Friends want to accom- would like to be part of next year’s family day been prepared and I thank the Management plish for Chauncy Vale and we can perhaps make and we have a sculptor who would like to display Committee for their input and our representa- a start on that today. Obviously there will need to some very special sculptures. Harlequin, the me- tives, June and Alan, for their willingness to rep- be a refining of ideas and input from those who diaeval music group, entertained us superbly also. resent us on the committee. It is good to know are unable to be here today. We can then marry Chauncy Vale is a lovely venue for the arts and that urgent maintenance has been done on the this up with the vision of the Management Com- lends itself to the magic music creates. road to the hut. We look forward to working mittee and other stakeholders. In discussion with Heather led the walk to the caves as usual and it closely the Management Committee to protect Denna, who has put a huge effort into moving us was well attended and enthusiastic comments and publicise our much loved Chauncy Vale, and forward, it is clear that we need to have short were exchanged afterwards. The house was bringing more people to experience its delights. term and long term goals which are achievable opened and, as always, delighted visitors espe- In this respect I remind you of a working bee at and can be assessed. She talked in terms of the cially as Eve Masterman was present. More of Chauncy Vale on 16th October. It’s open to all acronym SMART, that is objectives which are Day Dawn later. The sausage sizzle was popular and should be fun. I shall be in Kuala Lumpur! specific, measureable, achievable, realistic and and the stalls attracted customers and added to The DVD of They Found a Cave is now selling timely i.e. that they have a specific timeframe our income. The photographic display was excel- and recently the printed insert was expanded. I whether it be one year, five years or fifty years. In lent and captivated those present. Thanks to showed it to two groups of people when I was this regard we need to consider what we think Chris and Kay and friends for organising and travelling in Canada and on my return to Bris- Chauncy Vale will be like when many of us are setting it up at Chauncy Vale. The two craft stalls bane. It fascinated them so I encourage you to no longer around, and how we would like it to be donated half of their takings to Friends of buy a copy if you have not already done so. It for subsequent generations. With that in mind we Chauncy Vale. Although the main purpose of the would make a good Christmas present! Next year need to make plans and have specific objectives. Family Day is not fundraising, the stalls did just is the fiftieth anniversary of the filming of They In other words we have a lot to think about and that and every little helps. Overall it was a great Found a Cave and it would be good to celebrate do. day and I am sure we can build on this next year. this in some way especially with school children. I would like to thank those who have attended My thanks to all who worked hard to make the Thanks to Patricia Rogers for her tireless efforts our meetings regularly over the last year and Family Day a success and to all who offered their to get the DVD produced and to Kay Harman those who have supported us in our efforts to services, time and energy. for working on the insert. The web page has also preserve Chauncy Vale and maintain this unique We have an enthusiastic new tenant/caretaker in been developed and provides appropriate links place for future generations. Thank you to the cottage, Andrew Bonnitcha who is proving and should alert more folk to the delights of Heather for her generous hospitality at meetings his worth in many ways. He provides an excellent Chauncy Vale. Thanks also to those who made at her home. My thanks to Chris for her contri- narrative for visitors, having “really done his input into the production of the guide leaflet for bution as secretary and special thanks to Patricia, homework” according to June. He also produces Chauncy Vale. This can also be accessed via the who has put so much work into Friends of a monthly report including the number of visi- web page. There is still a problem with trail bikes Chauncy Vale over the years in a variety of posi- tors, (285 in July), bird observations and weather and June reported that there has been damage to tions including treasurer. She has taken many statistics. Thank you Andrew! The Management the tracks where they have been churned up by initiatives including obtaining the rights and pro- Committee reports that the cottage mortgage is the bikers doing “burnouts”. Moss and vegeta- ducing the DVD of They Found a Cave. She has paid off and so additional funding is now avail- tion have been destroyed. Trail bikers have made plugged gaps, taken on more than was reasonable able for Chauncy Vale. This is wonderful news their own tracks across Jack’s Flat. Efforts by and been a most committed Friend of Chauncy because I am sure, you, like me, have a wish list several people have been unsuccessful in identify- Vale. I am hopeful that there will be a way of for Chauncy Vale. A recent meeting which ing the perpetrators but hopefully they will be reducing the demands on her by allowing her to Denna Kingdom from the Tasmanian Land Con- caught in the act before too long and appropriate focus on being treasurer and delegating other servancy organised at Chauncy Vale, showed very measures can be taken. Their access point has work such as production of the newsletter, which clearly that there are people keen to develop its not yet been identified but there are plans to she has done by default because no-one else assets and bring it to the attention of a wider replace the burnt gate, allowing walkers access offered. circle of potential users. The meeting drew peo- but not trail bikes. It is sad that there are people We have a lot to be thankful for in regards to ple we had not met before and their enthusiasm who are prepared to spoil Chauncy Vale for the Chauncy Vale and providing we can build on was palpable. I hope that they will help us inject sake of their own selfish pleasure. what has already been achieved and what is that enthusiasm into Friends of Chauncy Vale Those of us who meet regularly at Heather’s planned, I believe this special place has a vibrant and develop some of the ideas which were put home to deal with matters relating to Chauncy future. I very much want it to be better known forward and discussed at that meeting. Our asso- Vale have long been concerned that some of us and appreciated for the wonderful opportunities ciation with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy is are getting visibly older and fewer people attend it offers as a destination for adventure, wonder, extremely valuable and I would like to publicly the meetings. There have been no younger mem- research, education and fun.