From a Tin Shed in Gulgong to the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo – Michelle Bromley’S Inspiring Story of Resilience in Her Quest to Become an Olympian

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

From a Tin Shed in Gulgong to the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo – Michelle Bromley’S Inspiring Story of Resilience in Her Quest to Become an Olympian FROM A TIN SHED IN GULGONG TO THE OLYMPIC STADIUM IN TOKYO – MICHELLE BROMLEY’S INSPIRING STORY OF RESILIENCE IN HER QUEST TO BECOME AN OLYMPIAN. Gulgong is a beautiful 19th-century gold rush town in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, located about 300 km northwest of Sydney with a population of 2,521. This former gold mining town still feels like it might have in the 1870s when people came here seeking quick fortunes. It has been famous for the great Australian writer and bush poet Henry Lawson, who spent his childhood in this gold town, which appeared on the first Australian $10 note. Now, it is famous again for Australian Table Tennis Hero and Tokyo Olympian - Michelle Bromley. On 28 July 2020, to mark one year to go, the Australian Olympic Committee confirmed the selection of four table tennis players for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Michelle Bromley, who grew up in Gulgong, secured her place on the Australian Table Tennis Team, after her performance at the team selection trials in January 2020, where she won the event. "It is fantastic to welcome these four athletes to the Australian Olympic team," said Ian Chesterman, Australia's Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission. "Congratulations not just to the athletes, but their coaches, supporters, families, friends, sporting institutes and table tennis community who helped them achieve this fantastic milestone and continue to support each other on their Olympic journey. "I also want to thank Table Tennis Australia for its work to grow table tennis and develop athletes from the grassroots level to the elite athletes named to the Olympic team.” Michelle is excited to be representing Australia against the world’s best in the table tennis competition in Tokyo. But her journey to Tokyo has been far from easy; it took three generations and more than two decades to achieve it after she missed out on securing a place at the past three Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016. Her success comes from trying, trying and trying again and never giving up. “I often get asked why I didn’t just give up, or what kept me going all these years, despite the setbacks. For me, I just never felt like it was my time to quit. I could always feel that I was getting better year on year. I would get selected in teams for World Championships, or have a breakthrough win against a girl who was ranked above me which would keep me motivated to keep pushing. Not to mention, it’s an amazing sport to be part of, and to play at the highest level.” An eight-year-old Michelle Bromley training with her late father, David Beaumont. Table Tennis has been a family sport for Michelle Bromley. Both Michelle’s grandparents competed at a National level even into their 80s, and her parents met at a table tennis club in Sydney. Her family moved to Gulgong from Sydney in 1989 when Michelle was just two years old. As a six-year-old, Michelle started to hit the ball up against the kitchen wall at her home for hours. One year later, in 1994, Michelle played her first State Primary School Competition where she won her first trophy. Initially, Michelle played under the guidance of her mother – Glenys Beaumont, with her father more focused on her two older brothers in the sport. She would practice with her mum for short bursts at a time, so that she didn’t get bored with it. Michelle made her first NSW State Team as a ten-year-old, and in the first year of competing at the National Championships, gained a top 5 ranking in the country for U/14 girls. It was then, that Michelle’s Dad saw the potential in her, and took her under his wing. Father and daughter combined for the next 14 years as coach and player at all state and national events. Michelle won her first National Junior Championships at 13 years old in 2001. In the same year, Michelle was selected to represent Australia internationally in Under 15 Test Match event against Singapore. This kick-started Michelle’s career on the international scene and inspired her to chase her dream of representing Australia at an Olympics and Commonwealth Games and to be the best in the country. Michelle has been training for more than two decades to achieve her dream of being an Olympian. “The Olympics is the pinnacle of the sport. It’s been a dream of mine since I was 10 years old,” she said Until 2005, Michelle always trained with her father as her sole training partner each night in their garage at home in Gulgong. Her father drove 4 hours each way with Michelle and her brothers down to Sydney to compete in State Tournaments every few weekends. Her father was also her warm-up partner and coach at every competition she played, right up until a month before her father passed away from cancer in 2012. But her father’s legacy continued to be a driving force in her career as she chased her Olympic ambitions. Michelle says her father instilled in her the determination, strength and attitude that has seen her qualify for her first Olympic Games, when she makes her debut at Tokyo 2021. Michelle juggles her sporting ambitions around a full-time Marketing job at Nestle. This means very long days, with all her trainings being conducted of an evening after work. “To compete at the highest level in sport requires commitment and dedication. It’s quite a selfish path to take, and means you often have to sacrifice catch-ups with friends, and spending time with your partner in pursuit of sporting greatness. I’m lucky I have an extremely supportive partner who has accepted coming second behind my sporting pursuit, and is head chef in the Bromley household, as I often don’t get home until 10.30pm on weeknights.” Michelle’s Olympic dream combines sweat, hard work and sore muscles. Her routine training includes on-table training involving around 18-20 hours a week of footwork drills, ball placement practice, third-ball attack drills and specific skill training. She also spends 3 to 4 hours on strength and conditioning, with an extra hour a week dedicated to the mental side of the game. It's an exhausting schedule for her with full-time work. Michelle’s journey to the Olympics has been a long and tough one, but the ‘never give up’ attitude showcased by an athlete who personifies persistence and determination can be traced back once again to the influence of her father. Michelle said: “While it hasn’t been the shortest of journeys to get to where I am today, I am grateful for the path I have taken, because it has made me the player and the person I am today.” She continued: “There were definitely some tears when I qualified for the Australian Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Team. The fact that it has been such a long journey for me to get here, has made this achievement that much more special. I have fought hard for my position over the past 22 years, and to have the hard work, persistence and dedication all finally pay-off, it’s the most rewarding feeling in the world.” Vice President of Table Tennis New South Wales (TTNSW), Ted Davis, congratulated on Michelle’s achievement and said: “I have known Michelle’s father and family for 50 years. TTNSW is so proud of this achievement by her family’s three generations and two decades’ effect. All their hard work, day after day and year after year has actually paid off. Absolutely an amazing dream come true." Michelle thanks all her family, friends, training partners, coaches, the community of Gulgong, and supporters from across Australia who have followed her sporting career, for their support over the past two decades. “I can’t wait to compete in Tokyo and share this special experience with everyone who has watched my journey – the setbacks, and the triumphs. I hope to play my best table tennis and make everyone proud.” Michelle is very pleased to see that eight 10 - 11 years old NSW junior players were selected into the 2021 National Hopes Squad by TTA and the National Selection Panel on 10 May 2021. Michelle extends her congratulations to all junior players on their selection for an outstanding display of table tennis from the youngest age group. For any junior players wanting to follow her footsteps, Michelle provides one piece of advice: “With dedication and persistence, you can achieve great things. Don’t shy away from your dreams if they don’t happen overnight. There is no shortcut to any place worth going.” President of TTNSW, Tony Aduckiewicz said “I may be a little biased as Michelle’s uncle but TTNSW is proud of the achievement of Michelle and her family after more than two decades’ journey. We are working closely with TTA and all the table tennis community to support and develop more athletes from the grassroots level to the elite level to represent Australia in international competitions such as Olympic Games in the future.” The journey and achievements of Michelle Bromley are summarised as but not limited to: Junior Events & Achievements: • Debut for Australia: Australia V Singapore Test Match in 2001 • World Junior Championships in 2002, 2003, 2004 • Australian No.1 Ranking in 2001, 2003, 2005 • National Junior Girls Singles Champion in 2001 (U14), 2003 (U16) • National Junior Girls Doubles Champion in 2000 (U14), 2002 & 2003 (U16), 2003 (U18) • National Junior Mixed Doubles Champion in 2000 & 2001 (U14), 2001 & 2002 (U16), 2005 (U18) • Oceania Singles Champion in 2008 (U21) Senior Events & Achievements: • National Women’s Doubles Champion in 2010, 2014, 2015 • World Team Cup in 2010, 2015 • World Team Championships in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 o Winner Division 2 in 2012 – promoted to Championship Division • Commonwealth Games in 2018 o Quarter-finalist Women’s Doubles o 4th in Women’s Teams Event • Oceania Women’s Doubles Champion in 2018 • World Individual Championships in 2019 • Commonwealth Championships in 2019 • Olympic Games in 2021 Michael Li thanks Michelle Bromley for the discussion, support and advice for this article.
Recommended publications
  • NSW Police Gazette 1879
    This sampler file contains various sample pages from the product. Sample pages will often include: the title page, an index, and other pages of interest. This sample is fully searchable (read Search Tips) but is not FASTFIND enabled. To view more samplers click here www.gould.com.au www.archivecdbooks.com.au · The widest range of Australian, English, · Over 1600 rare Australian and New Zealand Irish, Scottish and European resources books on fully searchable CD-ROM · 11000 products to help with your research · Over 3000 worldwide · A complete range of Genealogy software · Including: Government and Police 5000 data CDs from numerous countries gazettes, Electoral Rolls, Post Office and Specialist Directories, War records, Regional Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter histories etc. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK www.unlockthepast.com.au · Promoting History, Genealogy and Heritage in Australia and New Zealand · A major events resource · regional and major roadshows, seminars, conferences, expos · A major go-to site for resources www.familyphotobook.com.au · free information and content, www.worldvitalrecords.com.au newsletters and blogs, speaker · Free software download to create biographies, topic details · 50 million Australasian records professional looking personal photo books, · Includes a team of expert speakers, writers, · 1 billion records world wide calendars and more organisations and commercial partners · low subscriptions · FREE content daily and some permanently This sampler file includes the title page and various sample pages from this volume. This file is fully searchable (read search tips page) but is not FASTFIND enabled New South Wales Police Gazette 1879 Ref. AU2103-1879 ISBN: 978 1 921416 11 8 This book was kindly loaned to Archive CD Books Australia by New South Wales Justice and Police Museum http://www.hht.net.au/museums/jp/justice_and_police_museum Navigating this CD To view the contents of this CD use the bookmarks and Adobe Reader’s forward and back buttons to browse through the pages.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Gulgong High School Annual Report
    Gulgong High School 2019 Annual Report 8546 Page 1 of 26 Gulgong High School 8546 (2019) Printed on: 24 February, 2020 Introduction The Annual Report for 2019 is provided to the community of Gulgong High School as an account of the school's operations and achievements throughout the year. It provides a detailed account of the progress the school has made to provide high quality educational opportunities for all students, as set out in the school plan. It outlines the findings from self–assessment that reflect the impact of key school strategies for improved learning and the benefit to all students from the expenditure of resources, including equity funding. School contact details Gulgong High School Belmore Street GULGONG, 2852 www.gulgong-h.schools.nsw.edu.au [email protected] 6374 1201 Page 2 of 26 Gulgong High School 8546 (2019) Printed on: 24 February, 2020 School background School vision statement Our aim at Gulgong High School is to encourage excellence in lifelong learning in a school that is safe, supportive and that values individual difference. We believe in a collaborative and respectful environment where students and staff have the opportunity to reach their full potential whilst working in partnership with the school community. School context Gulgong High School is a comprehensive co–educational secondary school located in the central west of NSW. It has a student population of 230 with 34 Aboriginal students that are supported by Equity Programs. The school is part of the Cudgegong Learning Community and is well resourced with the library recently undergoing a significant refurbishment.
    [Show full text]
  • Mudgee and Gulgong Urban Release Strategy
    Mudgee and Gulgong Urban Release Strategy Prepared for Mid-Western Regional Council December 14 Mudgee and Gulgong Urban Release Strategy QUALITY ASSURANCE Report Contacts LOUISE BOCHNER BSc (Macquarie), M. Urban & Regional Planning (USYD), MPIA Senior Consultant [email protected] Quality Control This document is for discussion purposes only unless signed and dated by a Principal of HillPDA. Reviewed by: ……………………………………………….. Dated: 18 December 2014 DAVID PARSELL M. Public Administration (USYD), M. Environmental Planning (Macquarie), B. Commerce (UTAS) Principal Planner and Practice Manager [email protected] Report Details Job Ref No: C14185 Version: Final Date Printed: 18/12/2014 Ref: C14185 HillPDA Page 2 | 113 Mudgee and Gulgong Urban Release Strategy CONTENTS Executive Summary .............................................................................. 7 1 Introduction ................................................................................. 21 Purpose of the Strategy ............................................................... 21 Strategy timeframe and Review .................................................. 21 Strategy Area ............................................................................... 21 Strategy Methodology ................................................................. 25 Land Supply Monitor ................................................................... 26 2 Demographic Trends ................................................................... 27 Population...................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mudgee Visitor Profile and Satisfaction Report
    Mudgee Visitor Profile and Satisfaction Report The following information is based on a sample of 154 people who visited Mudgee during June 2006. The researchers noted that wet weather in the region during the survey period may have affected visitors’ experience of the destination. The top two reasons for visiting Mudgee were: • ‘To experience the region’s wineries’ (53%). • ‘To experience the food or local produce’ (36%). What do the visitors to the destination expect? • ‘Relaxation and rejuvenation’ (87%). • ‘An opportunity to tour around and explore’ (84%). • ‘A place to spend quality time with partner/family/friends’ (84%). • ‘An opportunity to experience wineries’ (83%). • ‘An opportunity to experience regional food/local produce’ (82%). What are visitors experiencing in the destination? • ‘Just walk or drive around/taking in the sights/general sightseeing’ (73%). • ‘Visit winery/cellar door’ (72%). • ‘Eat out at a hotel/restaurant/clubs’ (71%). • ‘Go shopping (pleasure)’ (55%). Were they satisfied with their experience? • The majority of visitors to Mudgee (79%) were ‘satisfied’ with their visit. The experiences anticipated either ‘met’ or ‘exceeded’ their expectations particularly for those who expected Mudgee to: • Offer an opportunity to experience wineries – 60% of visitors stated the wineries were better than expected. • Be a place to spend quality time with partner/family/friends (56%). • Offer an opportunity to experience regional food/local produce (56%). • Offer luxury and indulgence (55%). • Offer relaxation and rejuvenation (50%). • The key strength of Mudgee was the ‘wining and dining’ experience (local wine/wineries, local produce/ regional food, and food and beverage services). More than three quarters of all visitors rated this experience as ‘important’ in terms of their expectations of the destination.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Directory Volume I 2003 - 2016
    Standards Community Directory Volume I 2003 - 2016 The Standards Review Program has been developed by Museums & Galleries of NSW and Museums & Galleries Queensland and funded by Arts NSW and Arts Queensland. 2 Welcome to the Standards Community 2017 What is the Standards Review How do I use the Standards Program? Community Directory? This program, implemented by Museums & Galleries of NSW The Standards Community Directory features a profile of each (M&G NSW) in 2003, and since 2005 in partnership with museum and gallery that has gone through the Standards Review Museums & Galleries Queensland (M&G QLD), supports Program. The profile includes a description of each organisation, museums and galleries through a process of self-review and contact details and how they benefitted from participating in the external feedback. Standards Review Program. It provides an exciting opportunity for museums and galleries Each organisation listed in this directory: to assess their practices and policies against the National • Is promoting its unique profile to the “Standards Community” Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries. The program and wider audiences aims to establish a long term network for sustainable community • Is available to assist and answer any questions you may museums and galleries as well as acknowledging the hard work have as you undertake each stage of the Standards Review undertaken by volunteers and paid staff to maintain Australian Program heritage. • Is contactable via the details and hours as per their profile page What are the key components? • Will share with all other “Standards Community” members (including new members) their achievements and outcomes • Working with regional service providers to develop ongoing from participating in the Standards Review Program support for museums and galleries • Has provided words of support and encouragement to new • Self-assessment by participants guided by the National participants in the Standards Review Program.
    [Show full text]
  • North by North West a Northern Nsw Odyssey by Private Train
    IN 2021 NORTH BY NORTH WEST A NORTHERN NSW ODYSSEY BY PRIVATE TRAIN With Scott McGregor and Friends 9 - 14 SEPTEMBER 2021 • WAUCHOPE • PORT MACQUARIE • ARMIDALE • WERRIS CREEK • • COONABARABRAN • MUDGEE • GULGONG • 600 Class Railmotor at Craboon on the Gwabegar branch line - photo Wayne Eade INTRODUCTION From coast to inland plains, volcanic ranges and classic country HIGHLIGHTS towns this adventure celebrates the variety that the northern regions of NSW have to offer the Railway Adventurer. From the • Travel through NSW on your privately chartered 1960’s window of your trains and coach, an ever-changing vista of railmotor from the Rail Motor Society our coastal and country landscapes will be on show. For most • Enjoy a scenic evening cruise with dinner and drinks in of the tour you will be rolled along on rarely visited country rail Port Macquarie lines on board a comfortable classic 1960’s heritage double- • Explore the delightful towns of Bellingen, Binnaway, ended Railmotor, the pride of the fleet at the volunteer-run Rail Motor Society at Paterson in the Hunter Valley. We will visit Dorrigo, and Gulgong them along with a wonderful long list of special museums, • Soak up Dorrigo National Park at the Rainforest Centre homesteads, and observatories together with charming • Enjoy lunch at Werris Creek and visit the national country cities, towns and villages. railway monument and museum • View the grand old Homestead of ‘Booloominbah’ in The route we take begins with the boarding of our Railmotor Armidale for the journey up the coast to the popular holiday city of Port Macquarie. We introduce the legacy of the timber industry • Take a guided tour of the Siding Springs Observatory and and the associated connection with narrow gauge railways view the Warrumbungle Mountains at Coonabarabran at Wauchope before ascending the ranges via Bellingen to • Explore the towns of Mudgee and Gulgong and enjoy Dorrigo and along the Waterfall Way to Armidale.
    [Show full text]
  • THE HOLLOW LOG Issue 52, June 2018 the Hollow Family Researchers’ Newsletter ISSN 1445-8772
    THE HOLLOW LOG Issue 52, June 2018 The Hollow Family Researchers’ Newsletter ISSN 1445-8772 The Hollows of Canadian Lead This couple were married in Sydney in 1858. He a Cornish stonemason, she an Irish girl of 18 years. They moved to the gold mining area around Mudgee and Gulgong, New South Wales. They searched for gold, they selected, cleared and farmed a plot of land, and they had fifteen children. This map may provide the context of the area they lived in. Inside This Issue Hollow Spotting Hollows doing things from around the globe. Page 11 The Hollows of Canadian Lead This is a big story, so big it has taken over the rest of this issue. And it is just about the first two generations of the family. Page 3 The Hollow Log 1 ============================================================================================ Tom’s family have been in New Zealand for six generations Hollow Spotting and were featured in Hollow Logs 35 & 36. Photographer Hollows Married I have recently Kate Hollow marred Lenka Melanie Gawron at Clifton Park, come across two Rotherham, near Sheffield, U.K. on 17 Mar 2018. Kate has Hollows, Matt taken on Lenka’s surname, a polish name meaning ‘crow’. Hollow and Tom They have a daughter, Ada. The wedding coincided with the Hollow, who are arrival of the a second cold snap called the ‘ Mini Beast from both photographers the East’. The original “Beast from the East” had savaged on different side of Britain two weeks previously. On the positive side it did the planet. provide for dramatic wedding photos. Matt Hollow, full name, Matthew Edward Wallis Hollow, lives in London and qualified at the British Institute of Professional Photography.
    [Show full text]
  • A Critical Biography of Henry Lawson
    'From Mudgee Hills to London Town': A Critical Biography of Henry Lawson On 23 April 1900, at his studio in New Zealand Chambers, Collins Street, Melbourne, John Longstaff began another commissioned portrait. Since his return from Europe in the mid-1890s, when he had found his native Victoria suffering a severe depression, such commissions had provided him with the mainstay to support his young family. While abroad he had studied in the same Parisian atelier as Toulouse­ Lautrec and a younger Australian, Charles Conder. He had acquired an interest in the new 'plein air' impressionism from another Australian, Charles Russell, and he had been hung regularly in the Salon and also in the British Academy. Yet the successful career and stimulating opportunities Longstaff could have assumed if he had remained in Europe eluded him on his return to his own country. At first he had moved out to Heidelberg, but the famous figures of the local 'plein air' school, like Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton, had been drawn to Sydney during the depression. Longstaff now lived at respectable Brighton, and while he had painted some canvases that caught the texture and tonality of Australian life-most memorably his study of the bushfires in Gippsland in 1893-local dignitaries were his more usual subjects. This commission, though, was unusual. It had come from J. F. Archibald, editor of the not fully respectable Sydney weekly, the Bulletin, and it was to paint not another Lord Mayor or Chief Justice, First published as the introduction to Brian Kiernan, ed., The Essential Henry Lawson (Currey O'Neil, Kew, Vic., 1982).
    [Show full text]
  • Pobox 156 Mudgee Nsw 2850 26,867Ml
    POBOX 156 MUDGEE NSW 2850 86 Market Street MUDGEE 109 Herbert Street GULGONG 77 Louee Street RYLSTONE Ph: 1300 765 002 or (02) 6378 2850 Fax: (02) 6378 2815 email: [email protected] Linda Shreeve Is :F0710037K:\Assets\Environmental\Waterways & 10 March 2011 Catchments\Murray - Darling Basin Authority\Addendum to Submission to Murray - Darling.dot The Committee Secretary House of Representatives Standing Submission No: .. Committee of Regional Australia PO Box 6021 Date Received:....^ Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 Secretary: ADDENDUM TO SUBMISSION TO MURRAY-DARjJNG BASIN AUTHORITY - REGARDING THE GUIDE TO THE PROPOSED BASIN PLAN (MACQUARIE - CASTLEREAGH REGION)^ FROM MJDj/VESTERN. REGIONAL aOUNClL_AND_CUDGEGONG yALLEY_WATER_USERS GROUP, Mid-Western Regional Council (MWRC) and the Cudgegong Valley Water Users Group recently attended as witnesses for the Public Hearing of the Standing Committee held in Dubbo on 16 February 2011. As a follow-up to that Hearing, the Chairman requested that additional information be forwarded to the Committee in support of the written submission and witness statements to clarify in particular the actual allocations of water as distinct from the licensed amounts issued. The following data has been supplied by NSW State Water. Year Releases from Bulk Water Extraction in Allocation in Notes W'mere Dam Transfer Cudgegong Macquarie/Cudgegong (incl BWT) ML ML ML General Security % 2009-10 13120 0 5346 0 2008-09 12264 0 5600 L!0__ 2007-08 6933 0 4092 5 1 July 2007 WSP was suspended. Restricted alloc
    [Show full text]
  • 'Settling in the Land of Wine and Honey: Cultural Tourism, Local
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Southern Queensland ePrints ‘Settling in the Land of Wine and Honey: Cultural Tourism, Local History and Some Australian Legends.’ Christopher Lee University of Southern Queensland Rural mythology has historically provided an important focus for cultural explanations of Australian national identity. Since the early 1960s, however, rural myths – especially those represented through the Australian Legend -- have been subjected to searching critiques from different positions in and outside the Academy.1 The adoption of theoretical models during the 1980s and early 1990s that were interested in the politics of identity exposed the racial and gender bias of the rural legends associated with key Australian writers from the 1890s in particular.2 At the same time the apparent adoption of a form of identity politics in government policies related to migrants and the indigenous community, along with a simultaneous enthusiasm across the political spectrum for privatisation, deregulation, and globalisation, enabled a populist identification of the academic and intellectual class promoting these critiques with politicians, their policy advisers and the forces of global capital.3 Commentators in the metropolitan press and the academy have tended to argue that the new ‘racist’ and anti-intellectual political force mobilised by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation phenomenon represented an outdated anglo-celtic conservatism, which could be sourced to provincial
    [Show full text]
  • Cycle Mudgee Region
    CYCLE MUDGEE REGION TOURIST INFORMATION MUDGEE REGIONAL MAP This booklet has been produced in Mudgee Visitor Information Centre response to the increasing number of 84 Market Street, Mudgee 2850 cyclists visiting the Mudgee region who Ph: (02)6372 1020 Fax: (02)6372 2853 enquire about "good places to ride". Email: [email protected] Web: www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au It also aims to encourage residents to Open: 9.00am–5.00pm, 7 days a week explore and enjoy their local area by bicycle. A group of local, experienced cyclists Gulgong Visitor Information Centre have selected 20 rides, with a good 109 Herbert Street, Gulgong 2852 cross-section of grade and distance, Ph: (02)6374 1202 Fax: (02)6374 2229 one or more of which will suit the ability Open: Monday to Friday 8am-5.00pm of most cyclists. (Closed 1.00pm–1.30pm on weekdays) Saturday 9.30am-3pm In compiling the many routes for this Sundays & Public Holidays 9.30-2pm booklet, an attempt was made to avoid busy roads where possible, so that cyclists could experience the many Rylstone Visitor Information Centre quieter, pleasant country back roads in 77 Louee Street, Rylstone. this region. Ph: (02) 6379 0100 Lastly, there are a number of wonderful Open: Monday – Friday 8am – 4.30pm venues worth visiting along some of (closed 1pm – 1.30pm on weekdays) these rides - wineries, cafes, galleries - Weekends: @ Lakelands Tasting so please check with the Visitor Room, cnr Louee & Cudgegong Sts, Information Centre for their opening Rylstone. Ph: (02) 6379 0790. times. Open: Saturday, Sunday & public holi- March 2008 days 10.00am – 4.00pm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This booklet was compiled by various local riders and funded by Mid-Western Regional Council.
    [Show full text]
  • HENRY LAWSON WAS HERE Celebrating the Life of a Famous Australian
    HENRY LAWSON WAS HERE Celebrating the life of a famous Australian LOWELL TARLING HE WASN’T BORN IN A TENT that blew down in a storm. Contrary to legend there were no thunderclaps and there was no flood on the night of 17 June 1867. On the contrary, it was a calm and frosty night in Grenfell in western New South Wales when Henry Lawson was born in a log cabin that served as a temporary community hospital. Henry’s father, 33 year old Niels Larson, was a Norwegian-born miner. His partner in the One-Mile diggings claim, Wilhelm Slee (later Chief Inspector of Mines for New South Wales), was a member of the Grenfell Hospital committee and not the kind of person who would see his mate’s vulnerable 19 year old girl-wife give birth in a tent. But an older, more famous Henry was happy to go along with the tale that he was welcomed into the world with a torrent of wicked weather. Henry’s parents, Niels Larsen and Louisa Albury, met at the goldfields of Pipeclay (now Eurunderee NSW). They were married at the Wesleyan Parsonage Mudgee, eleven months before Henry was born. On the birth of their first child the family name was Anglicised. Louisa registered Henry as ‘Lawson’ and Niels followed suit, also changing his given name to Peter. Peter Lawson’s tombstone in the Hartley Vale cemetery at the foot of Mount York, bears his original name - Niels Hertzberg Larsen, ‘father of Henry Lawson, Peter, Charles, Gertrude and Henrietta’. Henry may not have been born in a tent, but a sturdy well-reinforced tent was certainly his first home.
    [Show full text]