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t-IOBB)!'S OtA.TREACt-1 Blue Mountail'\s +·Hstol"'ical Socieiy il'\c. PO Box 17 WEN1WORTH FALLS 2782 "HOBBY'S REACH" 99 Blaxland Road WENTWORTH FALLS Vol.9 No.5 Jan,Feb. 1999 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE President Coral Ewan 47841831 Clyde Francis 47591774 Vice President Roberta Johnstone 4757 2024 Valerie Paddock 47572332 Treasurer David Dodd Bruce Adam 47591022 Secretary Shirley Jones 4757 2270 Michael Finlay 47571584 SUB.COMMITTEE CO-ORDINATORS Resaardl Gwen Silvey 47821292 Tarella Coral Ewan 47841831 Book Sales Helen Kershaw 47573283 Hobby's Outreach Roberta Johnstone 4757 2024 Bldg Maintenance Clyde Francis 47591774 Garden Bob Henron 47572£75 Hobb'f's Reach Helpers Valerie Craven 47573433 Garc1en -Native NoreenS~llam 47571845 CALENDAR OF EVENTS - JANUARY, FEBRUARY 1999 Saturday 2 Jan No General Meeting - Monday 11 Jan No Excursion in January Tuesday 19 Jan Research activity days resume Tuesday 26 Jan Research activity day Tuesday 2 Feb Research activity day Saturday 6 Feb Meeting - Speaker: Prof. Arthur Delbridge Subject: ''The Macquarie Dictionary: The History of an Enterprise" See page 2 for details Monday 8 Feb Excursion - Mitchell's Pass See page 2 for details Tuesday 9 Feb Research activity day Tuesday 16 Feb Research activity day Tuesday 23 Feb Research activity day Tuesday 2 Mar Research activity day Saturday 6 Mar Annual General Meeting See special notice Monday 8 Mar Excursion - Sunny Corner Please note that Research activity days are no longer held on the last Saturday of each month. However, the Research Room is open to members and to the general public on each Tuesday from 1Oam till 2pm, or at a time arranged with the Research Officer, Gwen Silvey. COMING EVENTS Feb 6th - General Meeting "The Macquarie Dictionary: The History of an Enterprise" Professor Arthur Delbridge, a distinguished academic, has undertaken to let us into the mysteries of dictionary compilation. How one would even commence such a task is quite beyond the comprehension of this lowly mortal. If you too are puzzled, come along and all will be revealed! Meetings commence at 10.30am but members are welcome to gather for a sociable tea br coffee from 1O.OOam onwards. A light lunch of soup and rolls is available, at a modest price, after the meeting. February 8th - Excursion Mitchell's Pass DATE: Monday, Feb 8th TIME: 10.00am MEET AT: Mt Victoria Railway Station DURATION: Usual day trip GRADE: Moderate grade walking - bring picnic lunch and drinks March 8th Excursion will be to Sunny Corner. Details in the next newsletter. Tarella Open Days We have early news of our Easter Open days and would be grateful if members, who feel they may be available to help, would take note of the following dates. Easter Openings, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 3rd, 4th, 5th April Autumn Festival, Saturday and Sunday, 17th, 18th April and Saturday and Sunday, 24th and 25th April. These events will be fully publicised in the next edition of the newsletter. BLUE MOUNTAINS WALKING TRACK HERITAGE STUDY Bushwalking has always been one of the most popular activities in the Mountains, yet it is only now that a comprehensive and definitive study is being conducted to identify the cultural heritage aspects of the Mountain tracks. The National Parks and Wildlife Service held a public meeting, on Nov. 14 '98 at the Hydro Majestic Hotel, at which a number of Society members were present, and the draft reports of the study were officially launched by the State Environment Minister, Mrs Pam Allan. Local historian, author and member of the Society, Jim Smith, whose research, together with that of heritage consultants, Musescape, forms a large part of the study, addressed the meeting and showed slides of many of his unique early photographs of the area. In the afternoon, the Leura section of the extensively upgraded Federal Pass was officially re-opened by Mrs Allan. Copies of the two draft reports have been purchased for the Society's library and there is a NSW Heritage Database which includes historical notes, references and locality maps which may be accessed. 2 CHRISTMAS PARTY This year1s party was noteworthy, not only for the extra entertainment, but also because those who attended were very comfortably seated. The remainder of the Society1s purchase of arm chairs from the Gospel Hall at Wentworth Falls were available to us just in time! We feel these historic chairs, originally used in the Trocadero at Katoomba, have found their rightful place! A lunch, of delicious contributions from members, was served and a· great deal of socialising carried on. We were then given a brief respite while the hall was re-arranged before the special events. Many members took this opportunity to visit the Cottage Shop for last minute Christmas gifts. We were joined, on this special occasion, by invited guests, Carol and Bruce Taylor, Josephine and Peter Mclaughlin, Prudence Mclaughlin, and Lenore and David Mathieson, all members of the family of our benefactors, Beryl Mclaughlin and Ida Lane. A special meeting followed at which Kevin Bennett unveiled the foundation stone of the original Hobby1s Reach Museum - almost thirty years after the building was erected. Formalities over, it was on with the dance - or in this case, a melodrama from the Tarella Players. The following unbiased review will tell all you need to know! REVIEW "Maria Marten 11 or 11 Murder in the Red Barn" The Tarella Players · Hobby1s Reach Theatre There was a full house for this production - it seemed that more than a few members were determined not to miss this (as advertised) "lifetime opportunity"! Appropriate scenery and attractive costumes contributed to the quality of this production which was in the capable hands of that well known theatrical identity, Mrs Susan Warmbath. The restrictions placed on the actors by the limited stage area did not in any way dim their enthusiasm. It was inspiring to see the vigour with which the villainous squire, William Corder, distorted his malevolent visage, swirled his satin lined cloak and threatened the timorous heroine in terrifying tones. It would seem that the actor, Michael Finlay, was very comfortable in this part. The role of Maria was imaginatively executed by our shy and retiring member, Mrs Olwen Henson. Piteous became her plight as the poisonous plot thickened and the final scene was played out in its full horror. A shocked audience sat stunned before breaking into thunderous applause! _ A word of praise must be given to the "Boy" whose scene changes were expertly handled, although I would suggest that he does not give up his day job! "Cyclops" fill ~ 3 TALKS ANO WALKS OCTOBER EXCURSION - Lithgow A late report on an interesting day - just full of Jack Austin surprises! A small but enthusiastic group set off from Mount Victoria for the first of these, an airfield site on the plateau overlooking Oakey Park! Then on to wander around a collection of anti-aircraft gun emplacements, armament storage sites and positions for searchlights on the other side of the road. From there to Scenic Hill, part of the original road, and a wonderful view of Lithgow. The Lithgow Blast Furnaces were next on our tour - history pamphlets provided - but more fun to listen to Jack's entertaining explanations! The incredible sculptures formed by the remains of the slag furnaces never cease to amaze. Thomas Mort was with us once more when we viewed the site of his freezing works - the first in Australia. A visit to the old pottery site is always interesting, and the potters. now in residence, always hospitable and willing to throw a pot for our edification. We picnicked in the beautiful Queen Victoria Park, saw the huge railway yards that served the Zig Zag Railway, learned much of the history of the city and those who founded it, and finally headed right to the head of the valley to see an old mine head. Some continued on to see the interesting art deco buildings of the brewery - now the Spring Water plant - then to town to indulge themselves with a visit to the '-...../ antique centre, and finally home. Another Jack triumph! NOVEMBER MEETING - Grose Valley History Andy Mcqueen, author and Society member, was our welcome guest at this meeting. His book "Back from the Brink - Blue Gum Forest and the Grose Wilderness" has been reviewed in the newsletter (Jan, Feb . '98) and highly recommended as an excellent history. Andy's talk was an expansion of much that is contained in the book, in so far as he was able to add even more interesting details about events and personalities involved, and to answer questions from those who knew the area. We were treated to a little theatricality when Andy adopted the persona of one of the early bushwalkers and gave accounts of events seen through his eyes. The slides of the magnificent Grose Valley and Blue Gum Forest were particularly interesting as many were "before" and "after11 photos, and his account of the fight to save the Blue Gum proved that unremarkable people can accomplish remarkable things! The Grose Valley, explored, or viewed only from one of the many lookouts, _is ' so awe inspiring that one wonders at the calibre of those who ventured into it. The ~ accounts of the explorers and visitors are. well documented but Andy spoke of the many commercial enterprises attempted in the area. Stories of timber getters, cattlemen, prospectors and miners, of government attempts to find a route up the valley for a railway, and of the fearless recreational walkers and canyoners, made for a most entertaining morning! NOVEMBER EXCURSION - Hat Hill Road. Blackheath A misty meeting at St Aidan's Anglican Church, the second built on the Mountains, began our walk through history.