HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2010 ISSUE No. 12 STATE GOVERNOR OPENS NEW WING AT HOBBY’S REACH The Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir, AC, CVO recently officially opened the Sadler Wing at Hobby’s Reach Centre, the home of Blue Mountains Historical Society.

Building of the new wing was made possible because of a bequest from the late Geoff Sadler, a former treasurer, membership secretary and public officer with the assistance of ArtsNSW.

The new wing contains Geoff’s extensive book collection also gifted to the society.

Speaking at the opening, society president, Graham Warmbath, said: “Now we have a lending library as well as a dedicated research collection and interpretation of historical information.

“Hobby’s Reach research centre houses local, personal and business histories, books, photographs, maps and provides information for authors, historians, Council’s Heritage Review students and community groups. by Felicity Blaxland - Senior “It is open to the public every week of LEP 1991 Strategic Planner, BMCC of the year and is attended by a Firstly, I would like to introduce LEP 1991 and the investigations research officer and librarian, both myself as a new team member of into the formation of a heritage volunteers,” said Mr Warmbath. the City Planning Branch of Blue advisory committee. Mountains City Council (BMCC) Among the new acquisitions for the to your organisation and other Council staff have been progressing society’s library are three books historical societies in the Blue a heritage review to support a published as part of the celebration Mountains who may read this proposed Amendment to LEP 1991. of 150 years of self-government in newsletter. A number of items and conservation NSW. areas have been recommended to I commenced with council in be listed as having local heritage Pictured is Professor Bashir February this year as a senior significance through heritage unveiling a commemorative strategic planner and have been studies undertaken by Associate plaque with former Mayor, Cr working in local government for Professor Ian Jack and Associates. Adam Searle in the background. the past 10 years in various positions including both Further research on other For contents of this development assessment and significant areas has been strategic planning roles. Since completed this year by Dr Jim edition of HERITAGE joining BMCC I have become Smith. A grant received from the see page 2 more involved with heritage Heritage Office of the Department of related projects such as the Planning has assisted funding of review of heritage items under this work. Continued page 12

HERITAGE 1 November - December 2010 Contents...... From the president’s pen...... HERITAGE November-December We remember those who 2010 were slaughtered in battles *1 State Governor opens new wing at Hobby’s planned by stupid generals Reach *1 Council’s Heritage War is abhorrent to most decent The excavation would later provide a Review human beings. Down through the ages vivid and startling glimpse into the *2 We remember those there has always been and most horror of World War 1 as the bodies who were slaugthered in probably always will be war. had been preserved in the same battles planned by stupid position they were thrown into the generals There should never be any future mass grave. *3 ‘Only in Australia can attempts to glorify war. men read their name on a World War 1 was a military conflict war memorial’ However, we must honour those who centered on Europe that began in the *4 The Light Horse made the supreme sacrifice on the summer of 1914. The fighting ended Interchange battlefields, often in foreign lands. in late 1918. *4 Woodford Academy student survived We must also respect the wishes of More than 70 million military Beersheba charge those loved ones left behind and their personnel, including 60 million *5 ‘The rainy season has descendants who may wish to Europeans, were mobilised in one of begun and the cold cuts recognise these heroes and ordinary the largest wars in history. us through’ soldiers with Remembrance services, *7 Their names are on the marches, wreath laying ceremonies More than 9 million combatants were honour roll at Glenbrook and other activities on special days. killed, due largely to great Primary School technological advances in firepower *8 A Springwood soldier This edition of HERITAGE features without corresponding ones in laid to rest at Fromelles 94 articles about World War 1. years later mobility. *9 One man’s These articles are not so much about A generation of innocent young men, dedication the battlefields, but rather about local *10 Two Woodford their heads full of high abstractions men who served – some came back brothers killed like Honour, Glory and Country, went and others now lay buried in foreign *11 More than just an old off to war to make the world safe for building fields. democracy. *13 The Cambodian These articles are published near to exhibition -- Hurry, Hurry, They were slaughtered in stupid Hurry, No time to lose Remembrance Day observed around battles planned by stupid generals at *15 Welcome to new the world by those nations who the behest of egotistical politicians. member soon to celebrate participated in this horrific conflict. 25 years existence Those who survived were shocked, *15 Obituary - Hugh Traditionally these services are disillusioned and embittered by their th th Bickford conducted on the 11 hour, of the 11 war experiences, and saw that their *16 Doug Knowles elected month of the year, the Armistice as it real enemies were not the Germans, to lead Glenbrook was then known having been signed at but the old men at home who had lied Historical Society that time in 1918. to them. *16 History of Lawson Hall should not be ignored These well researched stories also They rejected the values of the *17 Honorary life member- touch on the anguish of those left society that had sent them to war, and ship for two at Mt Wilson behind – mothers, wives and girl in doing so separated their own *17 Professsor Reynolds friends; the emotions– the pain of generation from the past and from takes leave separation, the grief of loss and the their cultural inheritance. *18 Glen Davis great joy of reunion. *18 Book launched at Irish Unlike many of its Allies, in World War gaol They touch on the discovery of the 1, Australia did not conscript its *19 Elevating the mass grave, pinpointed through the soldiers to fight in the Great War - all empancipist research of a Victorian school teacher, Australian soldiers were volunteers. Lambis Englezos. It was to be the war to end all wars. The work of Englezos an amateur historian, was confirmed in 2008 by a John Leary, OAM team of archaeologists led by Dr Tony President, Blue Mountains Pollard of Glasgow University. Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc.

HERITAGE 2 November - December 2010 ‘Only in Australia can men read their name on a war memorial’ This article is an extract from a presentation by, Arthur Delbridge at the 2007 Remembrance Day memorial service held at the war memorial in Mt Wilson. Arthur is a former president of Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine Historical Society and early this year was awarded honorary life membership of that organisation.

Professor Delbridge in 1987 was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of his service to education particularly in the field of linguistics and as editor-in chief of the Macquarie Dictionary.

The Mt Wilson, Mt Irvine and Bell returned soldier, a notable classical “Comparatively a smallish number. Soldiers Memorial was erected in scholar who had been gassed in the But it reflects the fact that a high Mt Wilson in 1919 and in 2001 two Great War. proportion of those volunteers came societies the village’s Progress and from the faculties of medicine and Historical, began a series of “He had the most cracked voice, the engineering: they were directed to services of remembrance. most awful fits of coughing, the serve where their special skills were worst temper and the sweetest needed. Mt Wilson resident, Arthur smile at unexpected moments –he Delbridge, AO presented the was a post-war wreck physically, a “When in the early 1920s Sydney addresses for the first years while returned soldier who never got over University began to plan its Alison Halliday is carrying on in his experience of war. memorial it was ‘for those who have Arthur’s tradition. The following is given their lives...as well as for an extract from Mr Delbridge’s “Fred Mann and George Valder both those who have voluntarily engaged address in 2007. came back to Mt Wilson. Both of in active military or naval service’. them could have read their own “I believe it was a response to a names on our memorial, and “What the university finished up with feeling shared around the Australian possibly did. for its WW1 memorial was a carillon community that war and the other of 47 bells fitted into its clock tower faces of terror were necessarily now “But Professor Inglis, in Sacred to be played from a rather special bulking larger and more urgently in Places stated quite firmly that ‘Only sort of keyboard. our consciousness than they had in Australia could most men, home for some time past. from the war, read their own names “I could speak at length about the on its memorials’. Elsewhere, various ways, from that day to this, “As a result the national official especially in Europe memorials that the carillon has kept alive the memorial services in our cities were were exclusively to the dead and memorial function it was intended to becoming ever better attended, and the “missing”. achieve from its first appearance. the marches more sombre, and overseas the memorial services at “And in Australia at first that “It’s enough now to say that its ANZAC Cove and many other seemed to be right and fair. But biggest bell weighs 4.2 tons, the military cemeteries were attracting then a strong movement emerged in smallest bell just a few pounds. A more and more visitors, with favour of listing also the names of carillonist can play on it virtually any increasing numbers of young returned soldiers. Sir John Monash, tune or theme, and harmonise it into Australians making the long journey who commanded the Australian two or three parts, with bells playing to them. divisions in France, declared ‘We simultaneously. Its principal function were all men of one nation—and all is memorial. “Possibly also revisitings, especially volunteers!’ That was the key to it. by old soldiers, to war sites where “In 1938 I took lessons in playing they had fought and their mates “Of course not all volunteers were this great instrument and became a been killed. accepted when they had tried to member of the carillon family, a enlist, for either health or small group of appointed players “Today I thought I would speak occupation reasons. And who between them provided carillon about two of our local soldiers, who volunteering didn’t necessarily get music for occasions in the university did come back when the war was you into the front line, where most year, particularly celebrations of over. casualties occur. national days of the allied countries of World War 1. “What effects, if any, did their war “Behind the front lines are many experience have on the rest of their lines of command and support “So there is no limit to the structures lives? Perhaps this is, for them (and essential to any engagement. For that can serve as war memorial, be for us) an unanswerable question. example, in WW1, 1800 graduates they hospital, club, park, plaque, Maybe no visible effect. and undergrads of Sydney pillar or post—or carillon! Inglis University went on active service says that there are 4000+ war “But I have vivid memories of being and 197 of these were killed in memorials in Australia. taught Latin in high school by a action. Continued page 4

HERITAGE 3 November - December 2010 The Light Horse Interchange The Australian Light Horse has The steel plumage at the top of made a rich and continuing each pole represents the emu contribution to our sense of national feathers of the troopers’ slouch hat. heritage. The symbolism is rich in detail, Perhaps the latest example of this is even to the significant absence of the Light Horse Interchange, the any figure of a horse, reminding us point at which the Westlink M7 that quarantine regulations motorway intersects with the M4, prevented the return of any of the west of Sydney. troopers’ horses.

Here a great sculpture is revealed But why put the sculpture right to motorists as they flash by at 100 here? Research has established the kph: four sets of red steel poles, significance of the local area in the radiating from a tall central mast, all history and recruitment and training representing the Australian Light of light horsemen. In World War II Horse on parade. The red colour of they were based at a major training the poles is for sacrifice. camp at nearby Wallgrove.

A spokesperson for Conybeare spark their interest so they want to MT WILSON Morrison, designers of the sculpture find out more about what the explained that it is designed “to let sculpture represents. WAR people know they are approaching Source: Sydney Morning Herald, a major intersection but also to May 2, 2006. MEMORIAL The men who made the last great wartime cavalry Continued from page 3 charge [Beersheba] were mounted infantry – “Ours [at Mt Wilson] is one of the simplest sort, but none the worse Australian light horsemen. As “Bushmen” at the Boer for that. Many of them take the form War they had won high praise. At Gallipoli, of utilities — a hospital, a dismounted, they fought gallantly and died community hall, a church, a sports The Australian Light Horseman by Ian Jones ground, that could be undertaken in tragically… the expectation of getting a government grant in terms of subsidies and tax concessions for Woodford Academy student the donors.

“But no such thing happened here. survived Beersheba charge The local impetus was from A former Woodford Academy The battle at Beersheba was the generous gifts of land and material, student John Lyons was at the critical element of a wider British plus determined community effort. Beersheba charge and survived offensive as the Third Battle of The crucial gift was the piece of (see story page 5). Gaza aimed at breaking the land cut off from the Dennarque Turkish defences from Gaza on the estate, given for just this purpose by The charge at Beersheba on Mediterranian shore to Beersheba Flora Mann, the mother of the Fred October 31, 1917 is often reported an outpost 30 miles inland. Mann whose name is with others, as ‘the last cavalary charge in engraved on our memorial.” history’ although cavalary such as Earlier in 1917, two previous the Polish cavalary continued to attempts to breach this line had exist into the early phases of World failed. War 2 and took place in operations before being rendered obsolete. Since the earlier failures the British forces in Palestine had undergone The charge at Beersheba took a major uphreaval with the place as part of the Sinai and replacement of General Murray Palestine campaign during World with the distinguished cavalary War 1. commander General Allenby.

The Australian 4th Light Horse The Australian force was led by Brigade under Brigadier William Lieutenant General Sir Harry Grant charged more than 4 miles at Chauvel who went on to be one of Mt Wilson, Mt Irvine & Bell the Turkish trenches, overran them Australia’s most distinguished Soldiers Memorial with Gregson and captured the water wells at soldiers Memorial Obelisk to the left. Beersheba. John Leary, OAM

HERITAGE 4 November - December 2010 “The rainy season has begun and the cold cuts us through...” by Neryl Medcalf a past volunteer and member of the former Friends of Woodford Academy The words used in the headlines above were in a letter written on December 12, 1917 from Palestine by Private John Lyons Gray of the 6th Light Horse Regiment to Mrs Edgeworth David of Woodford.1

John was a former student of Woodford Academy, a private venture boys’ boarding school in the Blue Mountains.

He had just survived the battle of Beersheba at not quite 19 years of age, and was one of 48 students from Woodford Academy identified as servicemen during WWI.

Many of those students’ names are on the roll of honour that is still displayed over the door to the schoolrooms.

Headmaster John MacManamey accepted boarders at the school from Sydney or from country areas mainly on the Western rail line, while others were day students The Woodford Academy World War 1 Honour Roll restored several living in the Blue Mountains. years ago and returned to its place above the doorway to the schoolrooms. Some boys intending to become There is evidence of army cadet He went on to add a bar to his MC doctors or lawyers came to training at Woodford Academy and 3 months later at Ville Sur Ancre Woodford Academy to be assisted students were quite aware of the “Private Giles volunteered to swim with Latin or Greek, necessary at war situation. Corporal Reg Lewin across the river with a dispatch, the time for Matriculation. Basil of Katoomba, was killed in action at under an intense artillery and Kennedy, a student in 1907, Lone Pine Gallipoli in August 1915. machine gun barrage, returning matriculated, became a doctor, through the same barrage with an joined the Australian Army Medical Schoolboy Bert Tom from Parkes answer...” Corps, served on Karoola the wrote to his father “ We saw by the Australian hospital ship, then at a papers that there had been three A second Military Cross winner was field ambulance hospital and by boys killed from Parkes and several Fred Brown of Sydney 8 (1907) who 1918 was senior medical officer wounded including Russel Watts. was wounded in France, became a with the rank of lieutenant colonel at Evidently the Parkes boys must lieutenant served as an intelligence Hurdcott Military Hospital in have been in that great push in officer , was mentioned in England.2 France or Palestine. My word it is dispatches then won his MC at time they brought Conscription in Amiens in August 1918. Likewise, Dr George Hay (1907)3 isn’t it?”6 from Katoomba and Sid Rosenthal Alan Giles7 (1913) was another boy (1909) - whose family changed their from Parkes who not only made his name to Rosebery in 19154 - and mark on the desks of Woodford medical student William H Ward Academy, but also made his mark (1908)5 of Springwood who with 5th The Military as a stretcher bearer on the Field Ambulance served as a Western Front at Villers Bretonneux Cross stretcher bearer in Egypt and in April 1918 and was awarded a France before returning to Australia awarded Military Cross for his effort... “..he and completing his medical studies. dressed and carried wounded for bravery Dr Ward also served in WWII. continually for four days through Indeed, at least eleven former extremely heavy shell and machine students on the roll of honour went gun fire,” on to serve again in WW2.

HERITAGE 5 November - December 2010 Not all the Woodford boys won medals, but many were wounded or killed Fred Brown’s brother, Douglas of 18th Battalion had died of wounds the year before. A third award winner, Second Lieutenant Robert Murray of Wentworth Falls9 (1907), left a copy of his will in his pay book, in which he bequeathed his microscope and five pounds to Keith Faulkiner Potts, his mate from Woodford. Robert won a Military Cross on the Somme in February 1917, but was killed at Messines in June of that year. Keith returned safely to Australia in January 1918. Other boys whose names appear on the school roll of honour may not have won special medals, but they volunteered and performed their WOODFORD ACADEMY FOOTBALL TEAM 1909 various duties in the army as Back: K Potts, D Stuart, D Kilpatrick, Principal J MacManamey, V Hay, bombardiers, gunners, bicycle R Peacock, GE Botting. couriers and sappers. Middle: B Paravacini, R Howard, S Rosenthal, K Mackey, R Lewin, A Hannam, H Hart. Many were wounded, sometimes Front: C Storm, K Bowden, A Harkness, W Ward. (Underlined twice, some were gassed, many identified as having enlisted in WW1.) spent time in hospital, some went he was invalided to hospital in John Gray, the letter writer, who AWOL, some caught sexually England where both of his legs survived at Beersheba returned to transmitted diseases, and at war’s were amputated.10 Australia and joined up once again end were discharged on their return in WWII - as major, ending his war to Australia to take up civilian life ‘Old Boys’ kept in touch with their service in 1947 after a stint in the once more, after serving their headmaster sending him warmer Pacific waters of Morotai country well. photographs of themselves in and Balikpapan.12 uniform. Only one former student, George Considering the war experiences of Shaw, a radio operator in civilian Frank Berry a student in 1910 from a group of boys who shared some life, is known to have joined the out west at Trundle, became a of their schooling in the Blue Australian Flying Corps as an air Sapper in the 10th Field Engineers Mountains in the years before 1914 mechanic. and was one of six former students focuses us on the disruption, still able to attend an Old Boys adventure, accidents, courage, Walter Carroll from Katoomba, reunion in 1982 at Woodford mateship and the futility and waste private in the 45th Battalion, was Academy with Gertrude of war. returned to Australia early in 1917, MacManamey, daughter of their having been so affected by the cold Headmaster.11 (End notes) and exposure in the trenches that 1Woodford Academy archives, Woodford NSW. 2 National Archives of Australia: B2455,7363478. 3 NAA:B2455,4736559. 4 WA Archives: Corr.with Mark Maddox, 2005. 5 AIF project,UNSW@ADFA2003-2005 6 WA Archives,student file: donated by Mr W Tom of Parkes,2003. 7 NAA:B2455,5008305 8 NAA:B2455,1796303. 9 NAA:B2455,7990599. 10 NAA:B2455,3210405. 11 WA Archives. 12 NAA:B883,6137452.

An old boys reunion at Woodford Academy in 1982.

HERITAGE 6 November - December 2010 Their names are on the honour roll at Glenbrook Primary School In his book Comrades in Arms the late Walter J Venn wrote: “When writing the stories of these 1914 -18 soldiers I have been reminded that the exigencies of the service influence the chance of one’s survival. One simple decision at a desk in Sydney could, in some circumstances, result in the degree of a soldier’s exposure to danger”.

WJ Venn’s research provides information about those on a World War 1 honour roll at Glenbrook Public School. The following are extracts from his publication:

Private Alexander Dick – He was assigned to the 19th Battalion. In April and June 1916 the battalion took part in the operations in and around Armentieres.

In July they played a central role in the bloody fighting at Pozieres and later that month in the attacks on Pictured above, courtesy Australian War Memorial is the church at Pozieres Heights. Villers-Bretonneux which was all but destroyed in fighting on the Western Front. The battalion’s casualties during Private Keith Douglas Robinson – He was discharged in Sydney in this period were 13 officers and 440 Assigned to the 18th Battalion he October 1919. other ranks. Alexander Dick was joined his unit at Gallipoli on August killed on August 1 and is buried at 16, 1915 suffering a gun shot Lieutenant Clarence Hansby Read the Sunken Road Cemetery, wound to the head six days later in – Born in 1879 he appears to have Contalmaison, France. the battalion’s very first operation. joined the Royal Australian navy as a boy in 1897 possibly as a Lieutenant Cecil Beaumont Mills Surviving the wound he was sent to midshipman. He was a lieutenant in – His unit the 23rd Infantry Battalion the Western Front, where he the RAN Reserve when he served took part in a joint raid on enemy reported sick with a carbuncle on in the Australian Naval and Military lines near Armentieres in late June his neck. On July 22 he died in No. Expeditionary Force in 1914-15. In 1916. 14 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne September 1914 he was in of spinal meningitis. command of the naval detachment Cecil was killed in action. Some of at Madang in Kaiser-Wilhelmland his personal possessions were Corporal Edward Hugh Oprey – (German New Guinea). recovered the next day and placed He had served his apprenticeship in a tin in a nearby trench, but were as a blacksmith and was with the In January-February 1915 he was never seen again. NSW Railways Commission at executive officer at Herbertshohe, Glenbrook when he enlisted and the former German capital of Nu His body, if ever found, was not was assigned to the 6th Light Horse Pommern (Great Britain) on the identified and his name was Regiment, training in the Middle Bismarck Archipelago. included on the long list of East. casualties suffered by his brigade. In March 1916 he embarked on the Hugh ran foul of the authorities for HMAT Ballarat for the voyage to the Private Howard Keith being out of bounds (twice) and for Suez Canal where his unit the RAN Macpherson – A draughtsman in using threatening language to the Bridging Train carried out work in the Land Titles Office, NSW he sergeant of the guard. several tugs and lighters for bridge enlisted in the Australian Army building, building of piers and Medical Corps served on the In March 1918 he was attached to wharves hospital ships Kanowna, and the Desert Corps as an acting lance Karoola, then serving in casualty corporal only to be reprimanded For some time he was attached to clearing stations in France before again for filling a water bottle from a the 29th Battalion, but rejoined the transferring to the Air Flying Corps. stream. A common enough practice RAN and appears to have survived He arrived back in Australia in for any Australian boy, but a No! No! the war. August 1920. in Egypt. .

HERITAGE 7 November - December 2010 A Springwood soldier laid to rest at Fromelles 94 years later by Shirley Evans, Springwood Historian Pamela Smith and I attended the launch of Glenbrook Historical Society’s Comrades in Arms which was composed of short biographies of Glenbrook men who had served in World War I.

We were inspired to begin researching and writing about the men who were listed on the Springwood District World War I Honor Roll.

This proved to be very much more difficult than we had thought, but in the five years it took to complete the task we became very close to our World War I veterans and mourned those who had died in that dreadful The last of the exhumed soldiers being carried to his last resting war. place at Fromelles. In October, 1915 the Nepean Times (by far the largest occupation In his introduction to our book, reported a farewell to new enlistees, group) and, as a fettler, he must Remembrance: Springwood District J. Reddall and E. Hope. They were have worked in various parts of the Honor Roll 1914-1919 John Low both presented with wristlet watches Blue Mountains. wrote: “Their research has rescued from the Springwood people. the men recorded here from the He was born in Kingswood in 1887 creeping anonymity that would have Part way through our research the and was orphaned in 1898 when his been their fate and given them back National Archives of Australia mother, father and infant sister all to their community as individuals digitised the World War I died within a few months of one who lived and breathed their own servicemen’s records making it very another. special human uniqueness.” much easier and less expensive to access and check as they were now A young sister, Florence, and he These men (and they were all men, available on the internet. were presumably cared for by no women) were certainly to a relatives. He named Florence as degree anonymous with the board Prior to that, we sometimes wasted his next of kin when he enlisted. hung inconspicuously on a side wall time and money purchasing records in the Springwood Civic Centre, and for the wrong men. With only an Edward was allotted to the 54th with many of the men proving quite initial for the first name shown on Battalion which was predominantly difficult to identify. the honour roll it was easy to make composed of men from NSW. Half a mistake. of them were Gallipoli veterans . A very few of them bore names we recognised from our research for The new recruits left Australia on The Making of a Mountain the Aeneas on December 20, 1915 Community: a Biographical joining the rest of the battalion at Dictionary of the Springwood Tel-El-Kebir for training on February District, but quite a number we 16, 1916. discovered in the Nepean Times reports of Springwood in the war They embarked on the Caledonian years. for Marseilles in June, fighting their first major battle on July 19, 1916 at One of these names was Ed Hope Fromelles. They suffered casualties (proved to be Edward James Hope), equivalent to 65 per cent of the born and reared in Kingswood. He battalion’s fighting strength. It was was employed by the railway as a here that Edward died either on the fettler at the time of his enlistment 19th or 20th. 1,547 British and 5,533 and we found that his name Australians were either killed, appeared on the St Mary’s Roll of wounded, taken prisoner or Honour in Victoria Park and also on Private Edward Hope reported missing. This was the Blue Mountains District War Edward was one of 17 railway Australia’s bloodiest day in military Memorial Hospital, Katoomba. employees on the Springwood Roll history. Continued page 9

HERITAGE 8 November - December 2010 False hope that brother may not have been killed Continued from page 8 I was so disappointed to get the There has not been universal Florence, Edward’s sister, was wrong watch and having received approval of the reburial of men notified that her brother had been nothing at all up to the present time. buried in mass graves at battle taken prisoner. This information Yours faithfully, sites. came from a Red Cross F.M. Hope (Miss) communication resulting from Kingswood In The Sydney Morning Herald, information provided by the Via Penrith February 5, 2010, Neil McDonald, Germans. N. S. Wales historian and film critic, stated that “Exhuming and reinterring the war Later the Royal Prussian War Office It was very important to the wives, dead in more ‘suitable”’sites always Medical Section corrected this and parents and siblings to receive risks distorting history”. But I feel Florence was informed of Ed’s something of their loved ones back that still grieving relatives will gain death and probable burial in the from the war – something personal, great comfort from knowing that neighbourhood of Fromelles. not just an official medal. We can their lost loved ones have been laid Florence, like many grieving and assume that Edward’s “Presentation reverently to rest in a beautiful bereaved relatives wrote to the silver wrist watch” was the one place, close to where they can be Army Base Records in Melbourne: presented to him at Springwood at visited and remembered. Dear Sir - the time of his enlistment. My brother No 4188 Private Edward REFERENCES James Hope, 54th Batt. Is Offically Florence was required to confirm Australian War Memorial reported to have been Killed in that she was Edward’s closest living www.awm.gov.au Action on July 20th (previously relative before she received his Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau Files, reported missing) – He was my medals and that seemed to be that. 1914-1918 War Battalion Histories. nearest Relative and if you could Evans, Shirley and Smith, Pamela forward me some details of the However, in 2009 through the Remembrance: the Springwood and manner of his Death I would be efforts of descendants of Fromelles District Honour Rolls 1914-1919. grateful. soldiers lost in the battle, and with National Archives of Australia & Oblige the support of the British and World War I service records. Miss F.M. Hope Australian governments and the Nepean Times. NSW Register of Births Deaths and encouragement of the French, a Kingswood Marriages. Nr Penrith massive initiative began to Springwood Historians The Making of a N.S.Wales investigate known burial trenches at Mountain Community: a Biographical Fromelles and exhume the remains Dictionary of the Springwood District. The Australian Red Cross Society of British and Australian troops, Sydney Morning Herald. endeavoured to record eye-witness identify them by modern scientific accounts of deaths and woundings methods and rebury them in a and Private J. Freehan, 4775 special military cemetery. ONE MAN’S recorded the following at Etaples on DEDICATION November 4, 1916: “Hope was of The Sydney Morning Herald my Co.[company] He was seen published photographs of the first Determined to honour those who killed by several of the Co. who 85 diggers identified in the died on that faraway battlefield, reported the fact at roll-call in my Weekend Edition, November 7 - 8, 94 years ago, the Melbourne hearing.” 2009 and Private Edward Hope was teacher and amateur historian, one of these. The last of these Lambis Englezos, AM set out to Early in 1917 the “effects” of exhumed soldiers, one who had not research documents and records Edward Hope were sent to been identified, was buried on July of authorities around the world. Florence. They consisted of a wrist 19, 2010. watch and cover. She wrote the But little has been said or written following to the Officer in Charge, His remains were transported in a about Lambis Englezos, AM Base Records: gun carriage drawn by horses and whose tenacity saw him go Dear Sir – accompanied by military personnel, public with his theory of a In connection with the wrist watch Australia’s Governor General, missing mass Allied grave. The forwarded to me as Next-of-Kin to Quentin Bryce, and Britain’s Prince Fromelles story began to emerge the Late 4188 Pte E.J. Hope 54th Charles, both of whom delivered from the fog of history in 2002 Battalion I have to inform you that moving addresses. when Englezos went public with this watch did not belong to my his theory. Evidence from Brother – He had a Presentation But the most moving were the short German archives, documenting silver wrist watch with his name addresses given by descendants of such a burial ground, convinced inscribed on back. The one I those fallen British and Australian Australian authorities a search received was a gunmetal. I soldiers. was worthwhile. managed to clean some of the rust off the back of watch – it has an They read letters very similar to It is one of the darkest, most inscription not very distinct, but those written by Florence Hope, heroic days in Australian history. plain enough for me to see that it expressing the fears and wishes of Yet it barely rates a mention in belongs elsewhere. I will forward both the soldiers and those who our history books. . this watch to you per post. waited at home. ... John Leary, OAM

HERITAGE 9 November - December 2010 Two Woodford brothers killed Curiosity has lead Woodford residents of 10 years, Rhonda and Terry Flowers to research details of the four soldiers listed as killed in World War 1 on the Woodford War Memorial and HERITAGE thanks them for the following contribution.

“During the past ten years we became aware of a structure marooned between the railway line and the Great Western Highway at Woodford.

“We were curious but never seemed to find the time to inspect the site.

“As the juggernaut of the current Woodford War Memorial - To those who for King and Empire enlisted highway widening was imminent we from this village for service in the Great War 1914 - 1919. were afraid that the structure might been fighting at ANZAC, Beauchope A cablegram has been received disappear forever before we could Hill, Fisherman’s Hut, Suvla Bay, stating that Lieutenant Clarence discover what was its purpose. and Hill 60, the farthest point Herbert Dakin has been killed in reached by the expedition, France. “Our motivation to visit the site was performed the ceremony of curiosity and we were more than unveiling the Woodford roll of The deceased was the only son of surprised to find the structure was a honour.’ Captain H. Dakin, secretary of the war memorial initially constructed National Rifle Association of N SW by Thomas Thomas and others of The Australian War Memorial (NRA), who is at present engaged the village of Woodford as a website reveals that Private John in the Riverina enrolling recruits for commemoration.‘’ Fiddling (Jack) was killed in action the NRA. 150 unit of on June 6, 1916 and his brother reinforcements, which he proposed On the east face of the memorial we Private Charles Fiddling died of to take to the front. found the following names of those wounds in France the following who died IN World War 1: CH month July 19, 1916. The young officer, who was 22 Dakin, C Fiddling, J Fiddling and years old, enlisted as a private two lJ Wheeler. Private John Fiddling is buried in years ago, saw service at Gallipoli, France, 83 Brewery Orchard and won his commission in France.’ In The Sydney Morning Herald Cemetery Bois-Grenier. Saturday, August 25, 1916 under “In all there are over twenty names the heading MEMORIAL SERVICE Private Charles Fiddling is buried of those who served in WW1 AT WOODFORD the following France, 768 Estaires Communal recorded on Woodford War appeared: Cemetery. Memorial. They are not just names.

The memorial service for the Lieutenant Clarence Herbert was “They were once the living youth of brothers Privates Jack and Charles killed in action on April 14, 1917 the tiny village of Woodford who Fiddling, sons of Mr and Mrs W near Noreuil, France and was worked in dairies and orchards and Fiddling, of Woodford, was held in buried where he fell. No trace of his walked the same streets we walk the grounds of the Woodford Red gravesite has been found and he is today. Cross Convalescent Home recently, commemorated on the Villers- about 200 being present. Bretonneux Memorial, France. “In researching each name, on the Woodford War Memorial, through Every town from Katoomba to Private John Edward Wheeler was the National Archives of Australia, Valley Heights killed in action October 5, 1916 and National Library of Australia online was represented. is buried Belgium 127 Railway newspapers and the Australian War The service was Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Memorial we hope to ensure that if conducted by the Farm) Zillebeke. one day Woodford War Memorial is Rev EC Robison, destroyed by an ever widening of Wentworth Falls. Private John Edward Wheeler highway the names of the youths of Captain Chaplain brothers Stanley and Frederick also Woodford who served in WW1 are Parker read the served in WW1 but returned. never lost,” Rhonda and Terry said. lesson, and Captain McKoan, a In The Sydney Morning Herald on returned wounded Thursday, May 3, 1917 the following soldier, who has appeared:

HERITAGE 10 November - December 2010 More than just an old building By John Low Travelling by train, I’ve always enjoyed charting the progress of my journey to and from the flat lands by the familiar natural and historical landmarks along the way.

In recent times, however, under the relentless ‘up-grade’ of the Great Western Highway, the familiar has been subjected to serious disturbance. Demolition, removal and erasure have muddied meaning and context, often beyond retrieval, and it has all been very disturbing.

Decisions to alter the historical landscape, no matter what benefits may result, always bring loss. Lawson especially has been affected, losing almost completely The Macbrair Building a plain, commercially functional design which its old commercial centre and all the may not be cause for architectural excitement now a victim of the intangible associations these old Great Western Highway road widening. shops had with the village and people who worked and lived there. business and community service, became one of the principal being elected with a large vote to stopping places for travelers and This is not a matter to be taken the Blue Mountains Shire Council in stock using the road that was lightly. Buildings, even largely 1922 and purchasing that same constructed across the Blue uncelebrated ones, become part of year the block of vacant land Mountains in the wake of the 1813 a place and when they die more fronting the highway. expedition. than just the bricks and mortar dies with them. I think it was John Interestingly, when the land came As these watering places began to Ruskin who, speaking of old into his possession it appears to be named according to their buildings, said something to the have not been completely empty for distances from the Nepean River, effect ‘that we may be able to live the council rate books of the day Christmas Swamp became ‘24 Mile without them but we can’t record it as “vacant land and ruin”. Hollow’ and from the late 1820s an remember without them.’ This “ruin” adds an extra layer of illegal ‘hut’ servicing the needs of historical meaning that links the site weary travelers prospered for a Many of us would probably feel we to the earliest days of the town. number of years. can live without such an old and outwardly unprepossessing building The recorded history of the place When legal inn-keepers, Henry and as that which bore the name of we know today as Lawson began on Sarah Wilson, formerly of the Macbrair and, until recently, Thursday, May 20, 1813 when Scotch Thistle Inn at Blackheath accommodated several shops on three gentleman farmers turned and the Welcome Inn at The Valley the highway opposite Lawson explorers – Gregory Blaxland, near Springwood, acquired a 100 Railway Station. William Lawson and William acre portion of land at 24 Mile Charles Wentworth – accompanied Hollow in 1843 they built a Yet, while its plain, commercially by four assistants, three horses and permanent hostelry and were functional design may not be cause five dogs, “… encamped at 12 granted a license to operate under for architectural excitement, I do o’clock at the head of a swamp of the sign of ‘Blue Mountain’. regret its passing and when my train about three acres covered with pulls in to Lawson I feel its absence. rushy coarse grass with water Such early inns became landmarks running through the middle of it.” along the Western Road that As its façade proudly declared, the measured the progress of a journey building was built in 1923 for “The horses”, wrote Blaxland, “by and the Blue Mountain Inn became Lawrence Macbrair, a successful necessity lived on the coarse well known to travelers. businessman who, following the swamp grass or rush. Nothing else First World War in which his two could be got for them”. Indeed, the location of 24 Mile younger sons were killed, sold up Hollow was soon being referred to his interests in North Queensland It was as a source of water and feed as ‘Blue Mountain’, a name it and came south with his grief. that ‘Christmas Swamp’ (so named retained until the town that later by Surveyor-General John Oxley in evolved became Lawson in 1879. In Lawson he found solace and a 1817, probably because of a local renewed zest for life through profusion of native Christmas Bells), Continued page 12

HERITAGE 11 November - December 2010 ‘The Blue Mountains Parrot’ a popular local identity Continued from page 11 foundations, still survived when the A plaque on a ‘heritage’ sandstone The building itself survived until land was acquired by Macbrair in plinth can never be more than a 1917 and was located in what is 1922. makeshift recognition of what has now the playground of the public gone but, done properly, it can school. Described by the local newspaper in preserve the significance of a site 1923 as “one of the town’s finest”, and alert passers-by to the layers of For a period in the 1850s and the new building sadly was not long community memory that exist there. 1860s the Wilson family leased in Macbrair’s hands. Aged 74, he their inn at Blue Mountain and lived passed away in 1925 and was While other lost Lawson buildings elsewhere but, astute business mourned by the town in which, his equally deserve their stories to be people that they were, returned obituary recorded, “he displayed so told in this way, I hope some such when the Western Railway line much practical faith”. marker will eventually be erected arrived in 1867 and a small platform where the Wilsons and Laurence was constructed a short distance The plain, business-like architecture Macbrair (and many others) did away. of the Macbrair Building spoke of business all those years ago. more than just small town Note: While no referencing for Within a few years (1875) they had commerce and its demolition quotes etc. has been included built another inn closer to the removes another ‘footprint’ leading this can be supplied on request. platform, transferring both the back to connect us with our past. license and the ‘Blue Mountain’ name. It was located on the block later purchased by Laurence Council’s Heritage Review Macbrair. Continued from page 1 Council staff will then be consulting Unlike most of the Western Road Council staff are currently working with the various historical societies inns, the Blue Mountain prospered with council’s heritage advisor, of the Blue Mountains on the in association with the railway. Christo Aitken, to complete proposed heritage items under the Trains stopped opposite to take on information required to inform this review. water and passengers were glad of heritage review. the opportunity for refreshments A workshop will be scheduled in due while they waited. The proposed Draft LEP course to be held at council to Amendment will comprise three inform all historical societies of the The Wilson’s youngest daughter main elements being the deletion of review process and what input the Adelaide would be waiting on the some items from the LEP Schedule historical societies may wish to station to welcome them and 2 (due to the fact that they are no contribute to this process. Once a suggest a walk across the road to longer considered to hold heritage date and time for the workshop are the inn or the purchase of coffee, significance); insertion of new items set, invitations will be forwarded to tea and sandwiches from her stall into the LEP Schedule 2 as historical societies. on the platform. supported by the heritage studies; and consolidation of separate sites The extent of the review is currently She became a popular local into conservation areas in key areas limited to areas identified under identity, known to all as “the Blue such as Mt York. LEP 1991 and does not include Mountain Parrot”. Whether this areas covered under LEP 2005 related to her verbal facility or The new items proposed to be listed (main village and town areas). A colourful dress I’m not sure! in the Draft LEP Amendment review of heritage items located in include private residential houses, Her brother Affriat, who lived in the LEP 2005 will be undertaken in the historic monuments and items of de-licensed inn up the road, also future, after progression of the heritage significance located in attracted attention as a naturalist, Review of LEP 1991 items. natural areas such as historic being especially skilled in the walking tracks. Further details The Draft LEP Amendment for capture and handling of snakes. His regarding the precise nature of all heritage is currently being clients included a number of proposed heritage items will be undertaken as part of the new Part museums. provided to historical societies by 3 ‘Gateway’ process. The city On Henry Wilson’s death in 1880 council in due course. planning team is currently working the inn’s license passed to Sarah with the Department of Planning in Initially council staff will be who subsequently transferred it to a progressing this LEP through the consulting with land owners on the new Blue Mountain Hotel built next required planning process. information developed to support door by the end of the decade. the proposed listing of sites to seek I look forward to working with the The 1875 inn ceased to trade and their support. This includes private various historical societies on this its condition gradually deteriorated. land owners (a small number), and heritage project. Should you require It was eventually demolished in state government agencies. A any further information on the 1906, though the rate book entry number of council owned and /or heritage review, I am available on quoted earlier suggests that managed areas are also proposed Mon- Wed on (02) 4780 5774 or something at least, perhaps its for heritage listing. email [email protected]

HERITAGE 12 November - December 2010 The Cambodian exhibition Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, No Time to Lose By Peter Stanbury, OAM, Phd.

Force of circumstances is a powerful master. It sometimes happens that normal planning is not an option and an exhibition needs to be up and running in an impossibly short time. How to do it?

Faced with such a situation one needs confidence and a list of logical steps. The confidence is necessary to give others confidence and the list of logical steps enables one to delete a step or two without causing undue panic.

I recently undertook five weeks voluntary work at the National Museum of Cambodia. The work was arranged through Australian Advertise your exhibition outside the Museum. Business Volunteers, an leave immediately after and only a It is important to plan because organisation in Canberra that limited few would be available for without a written plan it is difficult to provides opportunities for the second exhibition. determine which items can be Australians to exchange skills in omitted at a moment’s notice developing Asian countries. The So there were three weeks to plan because of resource limitations volunteer contributes time and and find funds (no staff to help) and (time, availability, funding). expertise, the organisation one week (with some limited help) contributes the airfare, to refurbish the exhibition space, I hope my list of notes may be of accommodation and $20 per day for physically mount the exhibition, use to others planning in a similar subsistence. For more details arrange publicity and have an hurry. Don’t expect to be able to do please see www.abv.org.au/.) opening. everything on the list, but at least recognise that you are skipping I was expecting in early July to Pidan means ceiling in Khmer. some items rather than forgetting change some textiles that had been Complex pictorial woven silk them. on display for too long, to advise on textiles, often depicting scenes in suitable storage space for some the life of the Buddha, are hung or Items to be exhibited recent donations and to discuss painted above or near the principal Availability health and safety issues. I had it all Buddha of a temple, hence the Size and shape worked out - a leisurely, informative ceiling reference. Group compatible items month away from the usual routine Hanging or display mechanism and winter weather back in Australia Pidans are never worn but are Conservation requirements designed and woven to On arrival in Phnom Penh the demonstrate skill and to acquire Room assignment suddenly changed: merit by the donation. Hanging or display context please would I set up an exhibition Security of temple hangings (pidans). They require months to weave and Does room need repainting? were becoming rare even before the Lighting But not just yet, because all staff Pol Pot regime destroyed much were busy on an international tradition. Very gradually NGOs and Arrangement of items and scope travelling exhibition that was due to others are trying to re-aquaint of story open in three weeks – all staff weavers with the necessary skills to How best to tell the story would be busy with that so there weave and market both wearable Placement of primary labels would be only a week or so to set silk goods and items of religious or Secondary labels up the temple hangings before the traditional significance. Take away information leaflets exhibition was to open at the end of Brochure or booklet the month. I was very lucky to find a Japanese Posters, handouts, banner group of friends of an NGO that Will you need carpet or arrows to And as there was no money left, were prepared to invest around direct visitors? consequently funds would need to $1,000 in the exhibition. be found. And another thing, staff Continued page 14 had been working so hard on the The rest of the preparation time was major exhibition, some would be on spent planning.

HERITAGE 13 November - December 2010 The Cambodian exhibition Continued from page 13 Two hours before Research Check entrance to What is the main idea behind the museum exhibition? Check museum Who has told a similar story and Check director and how? opener Research and writing Check exhibition, Focus of exhibition (in the room and flowers, food visitors) Change into Contact those who may be able to appropriate clothes contribute and invite participation If raining have umbrellas, towels, Education receptacles for wet Does the exhibition relate to gear handy primary, secondary tertiary studies? Calm others Can the exhibition be related to involved in the special interest groups? exhibition and allow Is written program for such groups them time to get appropriate? dressed. Advise groups; invite participation Explain how your objects are made or arrived at the museum. Opening Who will open – firm commitment? Who will be invited? Speeches: MC, director, opener Refreshments Gift for opener Gift for guests (good publicity) Invitation lists and mail out Source tables, glasses, plates, As pidans are often found on the cups, napkins for opening ceiling, we used the ceiling for Explain the exhibition to children display as well as the walls. Publicity and devise activities. Prepare photographs and press release Local press and radio (photographs/ The author gift/novelty angle) Dr Peter Stanbury, OAM (pictured at right) who National press and electronic media last month returned from Cambodia has been a (photographs/gift/novelty angle) volunteer in various organisations for many years Local inhabitants, similar institutions and has been an executive member of BMACHO Free ‘what’s on’ listings since its inception. He has been a volunteer with Posters Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) for a Banner outside museum number of years and has worked as a volunteer in many countries including Egypt, Cambodia and Actual work Peru. He was formerly the director of Macleay Clean space Museum at Sydney University. He was awarded Hang or mount objects the ABV’s annual Altruism Award for 2009. Mount and carefully position labels Sort lighting (remember conservation issues) Mediterranean diet for World Ring or visit journalists Position / distribute posters Heritage List!!! Hang banner There is a tendency to only think of traditions, performing arts, social Buy flowers and food for opening heritage buildings, wilderness practice, rituals rock art and areas, magnificent landscapes, festivals. Day before ancient castles, Greek temples and Arrange microphone monoliths such as Egypt’s pyramids Among other nominations, a Wrap present for opener when one thinks of UNESCO’s submission from the Italians is Double check labels World Heritage List. being considered for listing this year Remind journalists of the Mediterranean diet, with its Ask director and opener if they But the World Heritage List includes mix of fresh fruit and vegetables, require anything sites ranging from the birthplace of grilled fish and lashings of olive oil Arrange cleaning of area Buddha to the Tower of London and favoured in Greece, Italy and Spain. lesser-known list of “intangible” Guardian News & Media cultural heritage covering oral

HERITAGE 14 November - December 2010 WELCOME TO NEW MEMBER SOON TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS EXISTENCE The Lithgow and District Family national sources, many produces a Journal “Lithgow History Society Inc. which will photographs, copies of Pioneer Press” three times a year. celebrate its 25th anniversary next Governments Gazettes and local year is the latest group to join newspapers as well as IGAs and Researchers can attend the library BMACHO. Birth, Death and Marriage records during open hours and receive on CDs, Fiche and reels. Convict, assistance to work through the President of the society, Eleanor shipping, immigration and census extensive indexes of much of the Martin said the group was records are also held. resources for a small fee.Open established in 1986 to allow local times are every Friday 10am - people and others to research Social gatherings and bus trips to 4pm. Tuesday 6pm - 9pm and first their family lines and to learn their cemeteries and archives as well as Saturday 10am - 4pm of each family stories. workshops and seminars are month except January arranged to assist people to The society of volunteers has research and store their Contact number is (02) 6353 1089 established a library, now situated information, source identification during open hours e-mail: at the Corner of Tank and Union and display their family trees. [email protected] website http:// Streets to store the extensive www.lisp.com.au/~ldfhs P.O. Box resources of local cemetery Some records are available for sale 516 Lithgow NSW. 2790 records, local and family histories, upon request and the society journals from international and Vale -- Hugh Manners Bickford (1927-2010)

Sadly, long-time member and public In the mountains, Hugh was active lighting and being available to admit officer of Blue Mountains Historical in the Wentworth Falls Probus Club tradesmen. Society Inc., Hugh Bickford, passed becoming president as he also was away in Katoomba Hospital for the Wentworth Falls Autumn Hugh was the speaker in July 2001 September 13, 2010; he was aged Garden Festival. when his topic was “The Wreck of 83. the Admella”, an event which But in recent years it has been the occurred in 1859; the gist of his talk Hugh was cremated at Leura on restoration of his treasured veteran was reported in Hobby’s Outreach September 21, 2010 and the Blue Austin car that has consumed much (Aug/Sept. 2001, p.4). Mountains Historical Society was of his time, that vehicle having been strongly represented at the funeral opportunistically acquired for the Two years later, in June 2003, Hugh service. second time after a long period in addressed the society on the the hands of another motorist. subject of “Cockatoo Island Condolences were extended to his Dockyard Wartime Industrial Role” wife Janet, who is well known to Of his own accord, from 1986 Hugh being a place which he had visited many, and to his sons Mike and Tim kindly started to mow the lower frequently whilst his father was in and their families. slopes of Hobby’s Reach, initially charge of Cockatoo Island. with a hand mower but from 1988 Hugh had a long and distinguished using a ride-on mower which he Hugh was a softly spoken person career working for CSR, latterly as even drove until he suffered a with a wealth of knowledge which property manager and company stroke earlier this year. he willingly shared with others. He valuer, and after retirement in 1986 was a most delightful gentleman he was asked to return as a However it was not until 2001 that whom all shall miss greatly. consultant which he did for a further he joined the Blue Mountains decade. Historical Society, becoming a Contributed by Peter Rickwood. member of the management Text approved by Mrs Janet In 1984, while Hugh and Janet lived committee in 2004 and then Bickford. in West Pymble, they purchased president for two years between land at Wentworth Falls – the 2005 and 2007. Kung fu heritage property adjacent to Hobby’s Reach Shaolin temple, the Buddhist and a home was built which they In 2008 he became the public monastery that is also the birth- then used as a weekender. officer and in August that year he place of Chinese kung fu, has was awarded an honorary life been added to the United Nations’ In 1988 they changed the location membership of the society. list of World Heritage sites of their Sydney residence to Pennant Hills, but in 1996, after For many years Hugh informally UNESCO has named historical Hugh’s second retirement, they acted as a caretaker, responding to monuments near Dengfeng city moved permanently to Wentworth sudden activations of the security including the Shaolin. Falls.

HERITAGE 15 November - December 2010 Doug Knowles elected to lead Glenbrook Historical Society...... The new president of Glenbrook After being involved in landscape and District Historical Society Inc., construction for about 30 years, he Doug Knowles can claim that his made a career change accepting a association with Glenbrook could be job with TAFE, teaching horticultural said to start back in 1924 more than skills including plant propagation, a decade before he was born. plant recognition and botany. Doug says this was probably the most His grandmother, Vera Dare came rewarding and interesting 20 years to Glenbrook on a holiday in 1924 leading up to his retirement. and later purchased land and a cottage in the town. Doug says he has always been interested in local history and joined However, Doug did not come to the Glenbrook and District Historical Glenbrook until 1946 when his Society about 8 years ago. parents built a new house in the Doug Knowles mountains village. “I especially enjoy the society’s “The property would be an ideal regular ‘Walks & Talks’ to historic venue to stage exhibitions such as He started his schooling at sites in Glenbrook and relating the the display of railway heritage Glenbrook Primary School and went places and events to the individuals photographs. Many of the society’s on to finish his secondary education involved; many of the people having photographs are from the Nolan at Hurlstone Agricultural High children, grandchildren or great family collection and were taken School, Glenfield before taking up grandchildren living in the area. before 1920. an apprenticeship to Hazelwood’s Nursery at Epping. “The society is currently negotiating “The society is also currently with Caltex management to secure promoting Whitton Park as the Completing his apprenticeship he community use of the Pointsman’s ‘village green’ and fighting off soon found there was plenty of work Cottage,” Mr Knowles said. attempts to have the land fenced for in landscape construction and selective group use.” green keeping in the Lower Blue Mountains. In his spare time he did Doug Knowles takes over the general cartage including bags of presidency of Glenbrook and flour from the Glenbrook Railway District Historical Society from Tim Station to McCall’s bakery. Miers who has held the position since the society was formed during Doug recalls, “clearing and lopping the Glenbrook Primary School trees in the 1950s which provided centenary in 1992. lots of firewood which he sold for £3/10/- per ton for stove wood Doug is also a management The Pointsman’s Cottage - [people still cooked on fuel stoves committee member of the Blue Photograph by John Leary, OAM in those days].” Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc. Doug also recalls that in 1957 trees to the north of the Glenbrook HISTORY OF LAWSON HALL Bowling Club (established a few years earlier) were casting shadows SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED on the turf bowling greens. Mid Mountains Historical Society function was narrowed for Inc. has written to Blue Mountains approximately 3 years to that of a As a horticulturist, he was City Council expressing the strong youth centre before its regrettable contracted to lop the trees and opinion that the past history of the closure in 2004. settled his account when insufficient Old Community Hall at Lawson funds were available by accepting must not be ignored when “The closure of the hall deprived debentures in the club. He claims to determining its future. societies and community groups be possibly the only person to have such as the Mid Mountains debentures in the club and not be a In her letter, society president Historical Society of an important member. Nance Cooper stated it becomes conference venue. evident that for the major part of its In 1976, needing more space for his history since its opening in 1903, it “It has been impossible, for nursery at Glenbrook he purchased has been a centre for community example, for this society to take a a 5 acre block at Valley Heights, activities. part in the annual History Week selling his Glenbrook property conducted by the History Council ending 50 years association with “There had been 98 years of of NSW,” said Nance Cooper. the village of Glenbrook vigorous community life before its

HERITAGE 16 November - December 2010 Honorary life membership Professor for two at Mt Wilson Reynolds takes leave Professor Barrie Reynolds who at the annual general meeting earlier this year stood down from the position of secretary, a position he has held since BMACHO was formed, has taken 6 months leave from the organisation until the end of March 2011.

This follows his hospitalisation last month for emergency surgery. Barrie has asked that he not be contacted concerning BMACHO matters until he returns from leave.

He had accepted an executive role on BMACHO’s management committee and was involved in a number of new initiatives at the time of his illness.

The idea of BMACHO was Pictured are Mt Wilson & Mt Irvine Historical Society president, Des conceived by Barrie and Barrett, honorary life member, Arthur Delbridge, AO and vice president, enthusiastically embraced by Darell Conybeare. Pictured below is Bruce Wright who now lives in those who attended the 2004 West Australia and was unable to be at the presentation. Blue Mountains Local History Conference at the Carrington His leadership and direction over Hotel in Katoomba at which he several years set the society’s was stressing the importance of standing in the community, ensured having a cultural heritage the preservation of significant strategy for the city. heritage sites and established regular avenues for wide Barrie has had the ability to distribution of historical information. gather around him individuals, both professional and amateur as Bruce Wright was not able to be at well as heritage organisations to the meeting to receive his award. provide a voice for cultural heritage and to encourage and In his absence research officer, assist cultural heritage activities Mary Reynolds spoke warmly of of member organisations. Bruce’s many contributions to the development of the society and the Barrie has worked tirelessly for Bruce Wright Turkish Bath Museum over the the recognition of cultural society’s first 10 years. heritage; it has been the Arthur Delbridge, AO and Bruce motivation, contagious White were honoured at a recent The citation on Bruce’s certificate enthusiasm, academic expertise annual general meeting of the Mt stated: In recognition and and professional acumen Wilson & Mt Irvine historical appreciation of his many years of displayed by Barrie that has Society. dedicated support for the driven much of what has been restoration and establishment of the achieved by BMACHO in its Darrell Conybeare was on hand to Turkish Bath Museum. formative years. present Arthur with his framed certificate. His professional skill and Members of BMACHO will wish commitment to archaeological Barrie a speedy recovery and will The citation for Arthur stated: In research and development at the respect his wish not to be recognition and appreciation of his Turkish Bath building and precinct contacted concerning BMACHO many years and dedicated support and to the administration of the matters until he returns from for the founding and continued society in the early years were leave. development of the society invaluable.

HERITAGE 17 November - December 2010 The shale oil ghost town of National Oil GLEN DAVIS Pty Ltd. Glen Davis and its people Renowned mining historian and In spite of the efforts of the former Glen Davis resident Leonie Commonwealth authorities to shut Knapman has launched her much down the retorts they mysteriously awaited history of Glen Davis. kept working to prevent their dismantling. The authorities removed Leonie lived at Glen Davis in the Blue the power fuses to force the retorts Mountains from 1940 until it was out of action but they were replaced auctioned off and removed by 1954. just as quickly and shale for the retorts seemed to appear from Leonie has presented papers on the nowhere. history of the township to groups and mining conferences around Australia, The day the strike ended was an Tasmania, and in 2010 Greymouth in emotional one. A large crowd of New Zealand. families and visiting miners waited as the men emerged on electric loco After leaving Glen Davis in hauled transports. Unfortunately their December 1954 Leonie thought often efforts and discomfort were in vain. of the first 14 years of her life spent in as it had been since the 1800s, a far the beautiful Capertee Valley and the The closure still took place. It was the cry from the turbulent fourteen years thousands of people who lived and last straw for the residents who of National Oil Pty Ltd. worked in the town. thought their homes and jobs were secure. Glen Davis has been stripped of its Most of the hard times of the town’s town status. It is as if the government residents passed over the heads of Today, over 50 years later, the valley had tried to wipe it off the face of the their children and it was after has returned to farming and grazing earth. researching the history of Glen Davis to write a book that Leonie appreciated their frustrations. Families were coming out of the Book launched at Irish gaol depression into a wartime situation and a life of rationing of petrol, tyres, food and clothing. This was further compounded by drought followed by almost 30 floods.

Leonie looked at what makes people choose the mining life and live in remote areas foregoing the comforts of life in the larger towns or cities.

Men came from all walks of life searching for work and not all were familiar with the physical grind of the mining industry and its drawbacks.

While the Glen Davis works was partly a response to the unemployment of the depression years of the 1930s the works took on Lord Mayor of Cork, Michael O’Connell, Suzanne Voytas, Christina a greater significance with the onset Henri, Roses from the Heart and Australian Ambassador to Ireland, of war when the vulnerability of Bruce Davis at the launch. Australia’s oil supplies was clearly Blue Mountains Family History The biographies of the women, demonstrated. After the war Glen Society president, researcher and detail their achievements, their Davis was living on borrowed time. author, Suzanne Voytas has struggles to live in a foreign land recently returned from Ireland, and to be part of a new social When the government mooted where her book Elizabeth 1828, structure while raising their colony closure of the company it sparked the worst and most turbulent was children. state wide controversy and workers launched at Cork City Gaol. took matters into their own hands. Copies of the book can be On the night of June 12, 1952 The book details the lives of the obtained from Suzanne Voytas, fifty two miners began a stay-down 194 Irish convict women, who details on the website: strike lasting 26 days. It was the together with 16 of their children www.elizabeth1828.com RRP $35 longest stay in strike in Australian were transported on the ship plus $10 postage. history. Elizabeth, which sailed from Cobb, County Cork on August 28, 1827.

HERITAGE 18 November - December 2010 Elevating the emancipist ...... While Macquarie believed in the Known as the exclusives, they punishment of convicts he also believed convicts, even when believed in their reformation. emancipated, had no place in respectable society and to readmit He saw no reason why emancipists them would upset the existing social (convicts who had served their time order or been pardoned) should not be readmitted to their former rank in The rising number of pardons by the society if they were of good Governor, and his injunction to character and standing. magistrates to limit flogging as much as possible, increased their In fact he came to the conclusion alarm. that some of the most meritorious and public-spirited men in the So scandalised were the officers of colony were emancipists. the 46th Regiment that they entered The first to benefit from Macquarie’s a pact not to fraternise with anyone liberal measures were Simeon Lord In adopting this radical policy he who had arrived in the colony under and Andrew Thompson whom he appointed emancipists to positions sentence of transportation. made magistrates in 1810. of authority and trust and even invited them to dine with him at Macquarie would not back down. Others included William Redfern Government House. who was made assistant principal In 1813 he told Lord Bathurst that surgeon, James Meehan, who Although receiving qualified support while most of the free settlers would became acting surveyor and Isaac from Lord Bathurst, the new undoubtedly prefer never to admit Nichols who was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies, emancipists to equality with superintendent of convicts. he aroused the hostility of a group themselves, it was after all a convict Extract from The Governor. Lachlan Macquarie of influential landholders and colony and if they were too proud to 1810 to 1821, a State Library of NSW publication. ISBN 0 7313 7203 4. military officers. associate with convicts they should move to another country.1 1 Macquarie to Bathurst, 28 June 1813, Historical Records of Australia 1/7, p.775 BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. REGISTERED OFFICE 14 Bunnal Ave, Winmalee 2777 MEMBERSHIP The following organisations are members of E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] BMACHO: Blue Mountains City Library, Blue Mountains Website: www.bluemountains.heritage.com Cultural Heritage Centre, Blue Mountains Historical Society Inc., Blue Mountains Family History Society Inc., Blue Mountains Tourism Limited, Blue Mountains World Heritage THE ORGANISATION Blue Mountains Association of Institute, Cudgegong Museums Group Inc., Everglades Cultural Organisations Inc. (BMACHO) was established Historic House & Gardens, Friends of Norman Lindsay in April 2006 following a unanimous response to a Gallery, Glenbrook & District Historical Society Inc., proposal from Professor Barrie Reynolds at the 2004 Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society Inc, Lilianfels Blue Blue Mountains Local History Conference which sought Mountains Resort, Lithgow and District Family History Society from Blue Mountains City Council the creation of a Inc., Lithgow Mining Museum Inc., Lithgow Regional Library – cultural heritage strategy for the city. Local Studies, Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum Inc, Mid- Mountains Historical Society Inc, Mid Western Regional BMACHO in its constitution uses the definition: “Cultural Council Library, Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens, Mt Victoria and heritage is all aspects of life of the peoples of the Blue District Historical Society Inc., Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine History Mountains which was later changed to cover Lithgow and Society Inc. (including Turkish Bath Museum), Mudgee the villages along the Bell’s Line of Roads. It therefore Historical Society Inc., Mudgee Regional Library, National involves the recording, preserving and interpreting of Trust of Australia (NSW) - Blue Mountains Branch (including information in whatever form: documents, objects, Woodford Academy), National Trust of Australia (NSW) - recorded memories as well as buildings and sites.” Lithgow Branch, Scenic World – Blue Mountains Limited, Springwood & District Historical Society Inc.., Springwood The objectives of the organisation are: Historians Inc., Transport Signal and Communication Museum i. To raise public consciousness of Inc., The Darnell Collection Pty Ltd, Valley Heights the value of cultural heritage. Locomotive Depot and Museum, Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd. ii. To encourage and assist cultural The following are individual members: Ray Christison, heritage activities of member organisations. Associate Professor Ian Jack, Joan Kent, John Leary OAM, iii. To initiate and support cultural John Low, Ian Milliss, Professor Barrie Reynolds, and Dr Peter heritage activities not already covered by Stanbury OAM. member organisations. COMMITTEE The committee for 2010-11 is: John Leary One of the aims of BMACHO is to bring the various (president), Ian Jack (vice president), Jan Koperberg bodies into closer contact, to encourage them to work (secretary), Kathie McMahon-Nolf (treasurer), Jean Arthur, more closely together and to provide a combined voice Joan Kent, Doug Knowles, Dick Morony (public officer), on matters of importance within the heritage sector. Barrie Reynolds and Peter Stanbury.

HERITAGE is BMACHO’s official newsletter. HONORARY AUDITOR: Sue McMahon, B Comm CPA. AFFILIATIONS BMACHO is a member of the Royal Australian Historical Society Inc.

HERITAGE 19 November - December 2010