CANBERRA100.COM.AU COMMUNITY MURUMBUNG This is one of a series of YURUNG five Centenary of Canberra MURRA publications which capture CULTURAL the essence of the year-long TOURS celebration “The opportunity to partner with C100 to develop the Murumbung Yurung Murra Cultural Tours has been a huge “One of the great achievements of learning curve for the the Centenary of Canberra, in my ACT Parks Aboriginal Rangers. The tours have mind, has been the unearthing of opened the potential community and city pride. This is for us to develop a new tourism venture as something we must carry forward as well as the provision of a legacy—the means to a permanent cultural awareness and appreciation sessions” departure from Canberra bashing More than 1,500 and self-deprecation about our city. Deb Melaluca people participated in Partnerships 55 cultural tours led by ranger Adrian Brown. A city brand is far more than a logo. Coordinator The tours will continue It’s a collective idea—and a collective Indigenous Programs beyond 2013 enriching ACT Parks and the wider community advocacy—about who we are and Conservation with local Indigenous knowledge. what we have to offer” Service Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, 2013 Blackfriars Lecture at the Australian Catholic University “When we devise and launch a program, it’s only ever a blueprint. Our success is measured by how people pick up that program, run with it, and make it their own” Robyn Archer AO, Creative Director IMAGE: SUPPLIED BY HHO EVENTS PORTRAIT OF A NATION The following passage was written before settling in Petersham in Sydney. crop production. His duties included by Russell Wenholz and was the Harold attended Sydney Boys High travelling NSW to persuade farmers winning entry in the Portrait of a School. According to family legend, to plant newly-developed seeds for Nation competition as part of the Harold’s father told him he was the their crops. He was frustrated by the online Portrait of a Nation project. clever one of the family so he could repeated response of the farmers: “No look after his own education. thanks, what was good enough for my Wenholz Street father is good enough for me.” In 1908, Harold, a Methodist, married “Most of the streets in Farrer are Mary Curtin, a Catholic, who was During World War II, Harold and named after recipients of the Farrer a ‘ladies maid’ in his father’s house. his team, in cooperation with Memorial Medal: an award made for They had two children: Leslie, in Commonwealth Food Control, were distinguished service in agricultural 1908, and Marie, in 1925. Harold responsible for vegetable production science. My grandfather, Harold obtained a Bachelor of Arts at Sydney for allied troops stationed in Australia. Wenholz, won this medal in 1946. University then, with a New South During war years at least one of We were raised to believe that Wales Department of Agriculture Harold’s brothers changed his German “Wenholz” is a corruption of the scholarship, he was one of the first name to Reynolds. Harold chose not to. four to graduate in Sydney University’s German “von holz”: “von” meaning “of” He died in 1955, the year I turned 14. Agricultural Science Degree in 1913. and “holz” meaning “wood” and that My older sister and I were his eldest Harold spent most of the next three our ancestors were carpenters rather grandchildren. We remember him as years working at the Department than landed gentry owning a forest. a quiet, serious man who spoke softly of Agriculture’s experimental farm and slowly, with frequent “...err’s…” in Harold Wenholz’s grandfather came at Grafton. On returning to Sydney his conversation. from Hamburg in Germany to Ararat he was the Department’s expert on in Victoria in the 1850s: the time of maize breeding and summer crops. Of course, we were all pleased when the gold rushes in that state. His son In 1927 he became the Department’s a street was named after him in Farrer (Harold’s father), George, was born in first Director of Plant Breeding. In and, over the years, all our relatives 1855. He moved to New South Wales the following years he established have come to Canberra and had their and became a school teacher. He world-wide contacts and gathered photographs taken under a Wenholz “Portrait of a Nation married in 1880 and Harold – the fourth Street sign.” plant seeds – mainly wheat – from More than 350 contributions of eight children, seven boys and one all over the world and developed has helped draw attention were made to Portrait of girl – was born in Mudgee in 1887. The new varieties of grain more suited a Nation, an online portal family moved to West Maitland, where to Canberra’s often to Australian conditions. This work to explore the lives of the Harold spent most of his boyhood, resulted in a significantly increased overlooked unique exceptional Australians acknowledged in the names of road and place naming the streets, suburbs, parks and system which provides places of the national capital. a wonderful tapestry of the history, culture and character of our nation” Bill Hirst Surveyor-General of the ACT PARTIES AT THE SHOPS “The Parties at the Shops concept is a great idea and taps into a unique aspect Twenty-nine Parties at the Shops Shops involved events were held throughout the of Canberra’s culture – the year from Hall to Calwell, with Bonner Hughes local suburban shops being more than 13,500 people joining Calwell Isabella Plains at the hub of life in this in the celebrations. Twenty-five Charnwood Kambah city. We love the Parties of the events were held in March Chifley Latham at the Shops concept and 2013 as part of the Canberra Chisholm Lyneham “I’ve never done anything like this before. would happily work with Day celebrations, with a further Cook Manuka four events celebrating suburban I’ve never had the opportunity” Curtin Narrabundah PARTIES AT the community to make milestones later in the year. Each Dickson New Acton YOUR PLACE it happen in 2014 and event was unique, created by and Lucille Downer O’Connor beyond. We hope to inspire for the local community. resident of aged persons unit A series of 30 events were others to join in making Garran Scullin held for puplic housing (assisted urban artist Geoff this a community learning Hackett 50th Waramanga tenants, including aged Filmer in painting murals on experience” Higgins Wanniassa persons’ units, across Hackett Watson the back of the complex’s Canberra to celebrate the Joan Cornish Hall Yarralumla community room) Centenary. Parties at Your Place was delivered in partnership Watson event IMAGE: GEOFF FILMER with a number of community coordinator service organisations. “It was our great pleasure to honour PARTIES IN the amazing work of YOUR VILLAGE More than 1,100 past each and every one of and present residents you who has helped and friends of the ACT’s ‘villages’ – Hall, Stromlo re-green our burnt Settlement, Uriarra, Tharwa, Oaks Estate landscapes over the and Pialligo – came together to celebrate past decade.” the Centenary. Greening Australia newsletter 10 May 2013 IMAGE: AMY DUNHAM IMAGE: AMY DUNHAM CANBERRA IN SO KICK UP YOUR HEELS MANY WORDS: HOME “Canberra is home to many ‘Home’ means not just the Filipinos. It is a great honour domestic space but the town, the city and the nation we live in. for them and the Ambassador to As part of the big birthday celebrations held in March, Australia that we participated in 18 culturally diverse communities this once in a lifetime event” created art installations and celebrated what home means Kotch Velasquez to them. “Kick up your heels & The Roaring Twenties One social dance a month, packed to the rafters, to Ball was certainly represent each decade since 1913: Canberrans dressed up and Canberra’s best night danced up in numbers not seen out in 100 years!” for 30 years: • 3,000 people attended. Vaughan & Alison Liddicoat • Eight sold-out events. IMAGE: DYLAN KOVACEVIC The International Dance Studio IMAGE: PENNY BRADFIELD CANBERRA CENTENARY SPECIAL OLYMPICS NATIONAL SWIM MEET From around Australia and Canberra’s sister cities, swimmers showcased their personal best with more than 400 athletes competing in front of their family, carers, friends and fans, at the Australian Institute of Sport. ACCESS CLASS ASIA PACIFIC & AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS The special feature of the 2013 Access Class Asia–Pacific and Australian Championships is that although 80% of the sailors have some form of disability, the competition is open to all, making this one of the few sporting opportunities where athletes with a disability can compete on equal terms with and against able-bodied athletes. IMAGE: SPECIAL OLYMPICS COMMITTEE IMAGE: SEAN DAVEY “It was regarded a very successful regatta by sailors of all skill IMAGE: JAMES BELCHER levels, from novice to Special Olympic world champions to Para Olympic Gold medal winners. Without Centenary funding the event would have been dead in the water” ENABLE CANBERRA Terry Peek THE CENTENARY LOOP BUS Website created to provide accessibility information to allow people with Sailability The free Route 100 Centenary Loop special needs to plan a trip to Canberra’s top venues. ‘hop on/hop off’ service operated every 30 minutes from 9am to 4.30pm seven days a week and stopped at the “I have used your Enable Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, Old Parliament Canberra website for our House, Parliament House, Albert Hall, clients, who are rehabilitating National Library of Australia, National Museum of Australia and the National from neurological conditions. Film and Sound Archive. They found it very useful and • Total passengers to end November – 115,029.