Heritage Newsletter Jan-Feb 2009
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HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. MAY - JUNE 2013 ISSUE No. 27 GOVERNOR CONTINUES HER SUPPORT FOR BLUE MOUNTAINS HERITAGE HER EXCELLENCY, Professor Marie Bashir, AC CVO earlier this month continued her close support of Australia heritage with yet another visit to the Blue Mountains, when she officially launched Hazelbrook historian and author, Ken Goodlet’s latest book Blue Mountains Journey. Professor Bashir said it was a privilege to have been invited to be the bicentenary patron and praised Blue Mountains Journeys as a “glorious book” and ”a gift to Australia”. She said she was pleased that Australians were embracing their history. NSW Governor, Professor Marie Bashir congratulating author Ken Goodlet. Photograph: David Hill BMLOT Three years of Crossing events gets underway THREE GRANITE boulders in the which includes Blaxland, Wentworth re-enactment walk by descendants Hartley Valley have been placed in and Lawson’s journey through the of the three explorers along the a new position in symbolic area in 1813. route taken by Blaxland, Wentworth preparation for the bicentenary of and Lawson, to a mass flyover the the first European crossing of the The NSW Governor, Professor region by civilian and military Blue Mountains into Hartley Marie Bashir will “inaugurate the aircraft, fireworks displays and the rocks on June 1, the date when it is presentation of holey dollars to The boulders were taken from the thought the explorers passed close school children. property of Hartley resident Dick to the school’s location. Austen and transported to the Meantime, 200 years to the day on grounds of the Hartley School to Hartley District Progress May 11, 2013, on the site, once the commemorate the valley’s history Association secretary Ramsay property of Gregory Blaxland in St Moodie said the commemorative Mary’s, NSW Governor, Professor rocks also acknowledged the Bashir farewelled descendants and special geology of the valley from other participants on a trek --- one high sandstone escarpments down of the more innovative activities the to its granite base. Blue Mountains Blue Wave - authentic re-enactment. Events big and small, some conceived five or more years ago Professor Bashir said the first and some in recent weeks have recognised European crossing of started to get underway across the the Blue Mountains in 1813 not only region and in other parts of the provided fresh farmlands for the country to commemorate the starving colony and a pathway to bicentenary of the Western future gold, sheep and wheat Crossing. wealth, it represented the enormous string of achievements throughout Local sculptor Henryk Topolnicki The Hartley Valley rocks memorial Australia’s history and the world- overseeing the placement of the is only one of many such events renowned “Aussie” quality of granite boulders. ranging from the magnificent mateship. HERITAGE 1 May - June 2013 Contents......... An opinion from the editor....... HERITAGE Three years of festivities May - June 2013 and commemorations *P1 Governor continues her have begun with little support for Blue Mountains heritage help from government *P1 Three years of crossing As one of the largest the political advertising under the events gets underway commemoration and celebrations guise of public information in the *P2 Opinion - Three years of ever to occur in this region gets run up to an election for just one of commemorations and under way it is worthy to note that its projects, then the economic festivities have begun with the ideas, planning and gain to this region through tourism little help from government organisation of most of these alone would have been by John Leary, OAM events has been the result of tremendous. *P3 New faces, new ideas for dedicated individuals, community BMACHO management groups assisted by the RAHS.. As it is, it has been the generosity committee of people like Philip Hammon and *P5 Blue Mountain Education Had it not been for the Tom Colless, those associated with and Research Trust a new enthusiasm, dedication and local business houses and other member of BMACHO ingenuity of these people there individuals who have so far funded *P6 1813: The four sumpter would not have been this iconic many of the bicentenary activities horses of Blaxland, Lawson series of events to commemorate while groups like Blue Mountains, and Wentworth by John and celebrate the bicentenary of Oberon and Lithgow Tourism Low OAM the first European crossing of the (BLOT) and Business Supporting *P12 Grant to research Woodford Blue Mountains in 1813 by the the Bicentenary (BSB) have made Academy students who party led by Blaxland, Wentworth there contribution through served in World War 1 and Lawson; the subsequent entrepreneurial skills. It is not too *P13 1813: A tale that grew in the surveying of the route across the late for government to accept the telling Great Dividing Range by Evans in challenge of a substantial funding *P14 BMACHO support for 1814 which lead to the opening of for events planned from now until Thompson Square National the golden west to allow the 2015. Heritage Listing nations great pastoral wealth to *P15 Scenic World sculpture contribute to the country’s There are many exciting events exhibition stands well in economic stability for most of the which are occurring as part of the heritage rain forest 19th and 20th century; and the commemoration and celebration in *P16 Mt Victoria museum building of the road by William Cox May and June 2013. However, the creates new displays and his party of convicts which prize for sheer guts and *P16 Powerhouse Museum allowed Macquarie to travel inland determination against all odds for a Movable Heritage to a site where he proclaimed brilliantly conceived authentic re- Fellowship 2013 Bathurst as a town in 1815. enactment which has captured the *P16 Museums workshop imagination of large numbers must *P17 Newspaper and genealogy There has so far been a dismal go the John O’Sullivan and his *P19 From underwear to failure of government to contribute small group of volunteers. hardware more than a token amount of *P19 Funds for flagging works at funding to either the overall The NSW government Woodford Academy commemoration or the multitude of bureaucracy should hang its head *P20 A moment in time...a events so far planned for the next in shame for its shambolic remarkable exhibition at three years as celebrations roll attempts to stifle both the Hartley from St Maryd to Bathurst. It participants in the Blue Mountains *P21 Festival to recall appears so far that the Australian Blue Wave re-enactment 21 day bushranger Ben Hall’s 1863 government has contributed very trek and for ensuring that campsite raid on Bathurst little while the NSW government locations were kept secret for fear *P22 Cable clerical index online has done little better and local that too many people might turn *P22 Trust walk on Cox’s Road government despite all its rhetoric out to meet with the participants, *P22 Hazardous to heritage was never expected to come to the some of them descendants of the *P23 Bradman house wins Trust party with loads of money. three explorers. This over award governing of our lives has reached *P23 More accolades for This Opinion hastens to be the height of ridiculousness and HERITAGE grateful for what government has full marks must go to those who *P23 BMACHO will promote contributed but far more funding persevered with the pioneer spirit members events should have been forthcoming for along the pioneer way. *P24 Western crossing 2013-15 this magnificent opportunity to John Leary, OAM - *P25 Beam holds clue to Mayan promote this region. Had President, Blue Mountains calendar government provided funds to say Association of Cultural Heritage 1/10th of the budget expended on Organisations Inc. HERITAGE 2 May - June 2013 New faces, new ideas for BMACHO management committee NEW FACES often bring fresh ideas “Pamela certainly deserves credit recent years probably would not to an organisation, as will no doubt for many of the things that she and have occurred. be the case with the four new Jan were able to do and which members of BMACHO’s certainly brought credit to the “Jan is well known among members management committee. association. of historical societies and admired for her attention to detail. Following the recent annual general “In particular Pamela’s proactive meeting of BMACHO, Kevin approach to many of the advocacy “Societies often comment Frappell of Glenbrook, Wendy issues on the periphery of our favourably about the up-to-the- Hawkes of Lithgow, Patsy Moppett organisation’s aims and objects was minute information over wide range of Yetholme and Jean Winston of Mt most admirable. of topics, so promptly conveyed by Victoria became members of the e-mails to societies which are committee. “I certainly admired her part in trying members of BMACHO. to save the Springwood civic centre John Leary, OAM has returned to and her support of the Better “In the absence of a treasurer for the presidency following a break Planning Network lobby group. the past year or more, Jan has also due to illness after 5 years as the diligently filled this role and for this I inaugural president “I strongly believe BMACHO should am very grateful,” John Leary said. be involved in advocacy although it Associate Professor Ian Jack may be in a limited fashion. “It goes without saying that any continues for the 8th year as vice historical or heritage group that has president, while Jan Koperberg was “Of course the crowning glory of the the support of Ian Jack is indeed re-elected unopposed as secretary. two years must be the effort Pamela fortunate. Others re-elected unopposed for put into finding speakers for the 2013-14 were Dick Morony, Doug Blue Mountains History Conference.