CASSANDRA POMROY IS GOING AWAY WITH NO WORD OF FAREWELL
SHE has, however , left these stunning creations on her FACEBOOK for those of you who are her FRIENDS and she does know how to make and sustain friendships. Off to Britain. Her male sibling is in Germany and her cousin Kati B weeps for losing her cousinal twin.
 |
 |
THE END OF OCTOBER
SPRINGTIME 2008.
DRAT ! I like October. it always passes too swiftly for my taste and then I am into the bedlam which can be my summers. The wild winds have kept up for most of this springtime as they are today. Last weekend Izzy’s son and his new wife came to stay. The winds dropped and we set them up in the Art Gallery courtesy my DOS.(Discerning Owner). Iz had 3 gigs on the weekend which was not a bad arrangement for a first meeting with a 40 year old replicant son. Could have gone any which way, so it could – but it became a very emotionally delightful experience all round. Despite the shellback ticks and the snakes.
IZ has acquired a family of magpies who feast on our bagels and speak with him and wake us earlier than I intend to be awoken. It comes from all his years in Illawarra suburbs. I, myself, am many years on the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast and well accustomed to BIRDS. I am fond of birds. Very fond in fact but do not share my bagels with them.
We battled our way into my birthday. I am 20 years out of relationship and bring minimal skillbase into being in one. At one stage we had planned a night in WADEVILLE with a party at Jiggi but matters of self esteem and mutual respect led to the plans being altered. We went to WADEVILLE a couple of days earlier and it is great place. http://www.kyogleweb.com.au/wadeville/index.htm WADEVILLE WOOLIES they call it with brand new accommodation for only $40 a night and LIVE MUSIC. We will be returning to show the Boss how to use his yAMAHA recording studio.
October then – hmm ! tense moments with PhD disputes and UOW. A tupperware party in Kalang. Train trips between Grafton,Urunga and Tweed Heads. Visits with kids in far off places. TOO MUCH WIND and an aching homesickness. Loyalty and steadfastness to which I am unaccustomed.
Tomorrow we launch into November with a visit to Dunoon and some very old friends. Well not that old but very longterm and plans for Grafton next week then south and west. A housewarming on Lake Macquarie and perhaps one on St Georges basin. November is to bring the Daughter back for early Xmas shopping. Its the Rose’s 9th birthday and a trip to Armidale is scheduled for week 3 of November. This time we might take the New England Highway and a brief look at family history . As for this last day of October , let the ghosts haunt. Let the zombies walk. I am tired and troubled and frightened far more by the tangible than the in.
FROM MELINDA KENDALL
BELLAMBI’S LAKE
Tired out and quite weary; sick of the strife
Of this hard, bitter war, this fierce battle of life,
I wandered about through wood and through brake,
Till I found myself near Bellambi Lake.
It is true that the heart its own bitterness knows;
What stranger will care for its throbs or its throes?
Indeed, it’s a solace to some when they try
To hug their own sorrows, when no one is nigh.
I thought of my loved ones that were, and are not,
When we stood all together on this very same spot.
It was well we knew nothing of what was in store,
‘Twould have marred all the joys in those gone days of yore.
I felt quite alone, like an old withered tree,
With a leaf scarcely left that might shelter a bee;
My boughs have been gradually lopped one by one;
Thus, despoiled of my branches, I stand here alone.
Now a murmur came up from the blue looming sea,
And the weirdlike Gobburras laughed loud on the tree;
While a glamour unearthly seemed stealing around,
And broke up the silence, before so profound.
A strange feeling came o’er me; I felt something near,
And the winds were all whispering loved names in my ear;
I started, and trembled, I looked round, afraid,
As I fancied a hand on my shoulder was laid.
Pale shadowy phantoms stood round me in tears,
I knew them – the ghosts of departed dead years;
Ah! yes, we were part of your substance, they said,
But despised and neglected from you we have fled.
Now we dwell in the limitless spaces,
Far away in the ether sublime,
Where is no upward or downward,
Nor record or limit to time.
I stood up and looked round, there was nought to be seen,
It was only a part of a hideous dream;
I looked down at my dog, and saw with surprise,
There were tears in his loving, pathetic brown eyes.
This thought gave me comfort – his friendship is true;
And the true friends we find in this world are but few;
We could not exist on this earth without some,
So the love of a dog is far better than none.
I turned to the mountain, ‘neath which stood my home;
To this ghoul-haunted lake, never more will I come.
My dog understood, and walked briskly behind,
So I shook of this glamour, threw care to the wind.
(Illawarra Mercury, September 6, 1884)
Quote of the Day:
Reason often makes mistakes, but conscience never does.
–Josh Billings
THOUGHTS OF THE PAST
many a thought of the bygone years comes over our souls at night.
from an article in the BRISBANE COURIER in 1894.
I am a little a la bygone past this week as I again reach for the unarrived future.
NEW SITE FOR DR CLAY DJUBAL’S ALTER EGO – HAVE GRAVITY WILL THREATEN
About HGWT
Originally founded in Armidale (NSW) as S.T.D. Music, Hire and Promotion (1983) by Clay Djubal, Have Gravity Will Threaten (HGWT) is an independent specialist publisher of music, plays, poetry and images from writers, musicians, composers, bands and photographers who emerged out of the New England region of New South Wales during the ‘pub rock’ era of the 1970s and 1980s. After being based in Sydney during the mid- late 1980s HGWT was re-established in Stafford Heights (Brisbane) in 1993.
URUNGA IN THE NLA HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS.
My parents came to URUNGA in 1948 for their honeymoon. Met, fell in love, were engaged in 3 weeks and married in 3 months. Stayed married for 53 years when my Mum passed away. Every Christmas holidays we spent in URUNGA. Then in the 1970s, we began to move one or two at a time from SYDNEY north to URUNGA and make our homes there. That led to marriages and births and then on to all the makings of an extended family life. Careers and deaths and etc, etc, etc. This morning I decided to take a look at URUNGA in my beloved NLA HISTORIC NEWSPAPERS. There seem to be only 116 entries for URUNGA but we will see.
Unfortunately, quite a few of these mentions refer to other matters. The NLA DIGITISATION PROJECT is a beta version – warm to my anarchistic, socialist, non-capitalist soul – provided free of charge unlike many of the historical sources which require financial reimbursement for public information ( usually sugar coated in their explanations of why this is necessary but the outcome is the same as being unable to afford a dentist). What the NLA does is offer the scans of the newspapers along with a column on the left of electronic transcription which is often gobbledygook. Then, without any obligation to do so at all, you are invited to assist them in this massive project by a wee bit of editing or tagging or commenting.
When it comes to URUNGA, the first entries refer to such things as LACE, or electronically translates ORANGE into URUNGA. Nevertheless, onto the next articles.
The first article I find which actually mentions URUNGA appears to refer to a horse in the SUBURBAN HANDICAP in, I think, Melbourne.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1599378
The Argus Monday 9 October 1916, page 5. Detailed lists, results, guides
Then later in 1916, an A.S. ATKINS of URUNGA is listed as dying of illness during WWI.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1590293
The Argus Friday 12 January 1917, page 8. Detailed lists, results, guides
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1634123
The Argus Saturday 19 January 1918, page 21.
GEMBROOK, URUNGA.-Comfortable Accommo-
dation, farm produce, nice position, near sta-
tion, fern gullies. – E. Smith.
I suspect this URUNGA in Melbourne papers is someplace in Victoria and not OUR URUNGA. The other URUNGA which is mentioned often is a ship of some description which I shall look at some other time.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1906206
The Argus Saturday 8 March 1924, page 13. Family Notices
Percy Brown’s mother, ELLEN BROWN, died in Geelong.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3847469
The Argus Tuesday 5 April 1927, page 17. News
SWEPT OUT TO SEA.
TWO MEN IN ROWING BOAT.
Dredge Seaman Drowned.
SYDNEY, Monday – A telegram from
Urunga, 305 miles north from Syd
ney, states that two members of the
crew of the dredge Bellinger, who were in
a rowing boat, got into difficulties at the
entrance to the Bellinger River on Satur
dav afternoon Charles Butt, a single man
and a native of England was drowned and
Duncan Dees suffered so severelv from im
mersion that he was admitted to the dis
trict hospitalThe men set out from Urunga to row to
the dredge, which was moored near the
north bank of the river. The tide was
running so strongly that no headway could
be made, and the boat was swept seaward
Llfe-savers threw lines from the break
water, and Dees managed to scramble
ashore. A heavy sea, which was running on
the bar upset the boat and Butt was carried away and not seen again.
EARLY RADIO DAYS.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1213438
The Canberra Times Friday 20 May 1927, page 12
RIVALS IN RADIO GOOD OR BAD ANNOUNCER
From Urunga, North Coast, came
word: “Canberra programme clearly
heard by large audiences, including all
the children.” A message from Youngstated: “Congratulations and apprecia-
tions on Canberra broadcast. A great
number of townspeople were delighted
with the transmission.”So there you are-apparently every
listener claims the right to hear for
himself and express his own opinion
emphatically
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3977357
he Argus Monday 24 December 1928, page 6. News
STRANDED STEAMER NAMBUCCA.
SYDNEY, Sunday.-The position of the steamer
Nambucca, which ran aground on the south
spit at Urunga (Bellinger Heads) on Thursday night
is favourable, and the master (Captain Gould) is
hopeful that the vessel will be refloated at hightide to-morrow mowing;. The vessel is in a pro
tectedl position, and has moved into deeper water
as the result of the several efforts made so farto refloat her.
The Nambucca is a twln-screw wooden steamer
of 415 gross tonnage, and is owned by the North
Coast Steam Navigation Company
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1019963
The Canberra Times Thursday 28 November 1929, page 2.
FIRE AT URUNGA
Buildings Destroyed
URUNGA, Wednesday.
A block of buildings was totally des-
troyed by fire to-day . Four buildings
were involved, including Brldge’s store.The bucket brigade prevented the fire
from spreading.
FOR MORE URUNGA NEWS CHECK THE NLA WEBSITE.
- A GYPSY MOTH AEROPLANE ATTEMPTS TO TAKE OFF FROM THE GOLF COURSE. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2268435 IN DECEMBER 1929
The Courier-Mail Tuesday 17 April 1934, page 13. News 215 words
… SOUTH EXPRESS HELD UP Goods Train Truck Derailed GRAFTON, April 16. The Brisbane to Sydney express tram Is held up to-night at Raleigh as the result of the derailment of a truck on a goods train between Urunga and Nambucca. The axle box on a truck attached to the’ Taree-South Grafton goods train…
ABORIGINE’S DEATH Post Mortem Ordered SYDNEY, Wednesday.
The Canberra Times Thursday 28 February 1935, page 2. News 79 words
… ABORIGINE’S DEATH Post Mortem Ordered SYDNEY, Wednesday. The police have been informed that Ernest Taylor, 53, a full-blooded aborigine, rigine, after having dinner with his family at Urunga last Sunday night, suddenly collapsed and died, and that a. doctor declined to give a certificate of death….
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2503138
The Canberra Times Wednesday 28 December 1938, page 3
Shark Victim Feared
SYDNEY, Tuesday.
Daniel, Grahame. 19. of Deervale,
near Dorrigo, disappeared whilstswimming in the surf at Northbank,
two miles from Urunga.He was swimming not far from the
beach when he threw up his arms and
sank. , It is believed that he was
taken by a shark
- PTE J P BRADLEY WAS LISTED AS MISSING IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2567165 The Canberra Times Tuesday 14 July 1942, page 3. Detailed lists, results, guides
-
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2641536 URUNGA BECOMES THE SETTING FOR EVENTS WHICH LEAD TO A CAPTAIN OF THE 9th DIVISION BEING COURTMARTIALLED. IT APPEARS THAT SAID CAPTAIN AND AN AWAS STAYED AT THE SAME HOTEL ON THE SAME NIGHT. 1942
-
URUNGA DONATED THE REMARKABLE SUM OF 33 POUNDS TO THE CHRISTMAS HAMPERS FOR THE SOLDIERS. THE COMFORT FUND. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2649258 The Canberra Times Thursday 16 September 1943, page 3.
-
IN THE 1940s THE URUNGA SOLDIERS ARE FEATURED IN CASUALTY LISTS. They include the Vaughan boys and Marting and Lowe.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2635012
The Canberra Times Monday 9 July 1945, page 2. News
ARMED HOLD-UP OF
OLD MAN IN HUT
NEWCASTLE Sundav.
Armed with a pearifle and a hand-
kerchief over his face a man held up
Richard Strange, 72, in a hut in the
bush three miles from Urunga, on theNorth Coast, on Saturday evening.
“This is no joke. Stick them. up.
Your money is in your pocket,” the
bandit is alleged to have said.Strange ran into his hut and he
told the police that two shots were
fired, one entering the roof.Detective Pollick is investigating.
Strange told the West Kempsey
police that he had £10 in his trouser’s
pocket at the time but he had notbeen robbed.
He said that the intruder was about
l8 years old and of medium build.
WHO WAS THAT YOUNG MAN ?
DEATH.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article969388
The Argus Wednesday 5 September 1945, page 2
COLLIE.-On September 3, at Urunga,
North Coast, New South Wales, Frederick
Charles, son of the late Joseph and JessieCollie, beloved twin brother of William Rus-
sell.
- http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2722234 SECOND PRIZE IN THE STATE LOTTERY WENT TO MRS PATERSON OF URUNGA AND HER BALCK CAT SYNDICATE. The Canberra Times Saturday 9 August 1947, page 4.
- THE POLIO OUTBREAK WAS EXTENDING AND A 32 YEARS OLD URUNGA MAN HAD DIED AS A RESULT.
- http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2822232 The Canberra Times Thursday 22 February 1951, page 4
AND TO WRAP IT UP, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSONS INVOLVED WERE ONLY COMING TO URUNGA EN ROUTE TO KEMPSEY, THIS IRRESISTIBLE WEDDING PARTY;
WEDDINGS.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1115503
The Courier-Mail Tuesday 5 September 1933, page 18. News
Knauer-Whitmore.
At St Mark s Church of England
Warwick on August 19 the marriage
was solemnised by Canon Neal of Mr
V C (Jim) Knauer (second son ofMrs K Knauer Frederickton Kemp
ey New South Wales) and Miss Edna
Lilian Whitmore (eldest daughter of
Mrs Whitmore Commercial Hotel
Warwick) Miss M Anstey presided
at the organ. The bride wwho was
given away by Mr R W Potter (Bris-
bane) wore a gown of old gold romaine
made on directoire lines and on the
shoulders a series of frills were ar
ranged to form epaulettes. Her pale
gold filmy veil was inlet with gold
lace and she carried gold and red
flowers. Her two sisters, Misses N
and I Whitmore who were the
bridesmaids wore tomato red frocks
with turbans of old gold Romaine
They carried muffs of red and gold
flowers. Mr O Free was best man
and Mr Cliffoid Walsh (Adelaide) was
the groomsman. The reception was
held at the Commercial Hotel On
leaving for Brisbane and Urunga en
route to Kempsey the bride wore a
travelling frock of navy blue with a
hat to match in fur felt.
VERY DASHING INDEED ! WINNER OF SAHARY SEAL OF APPROVAL.
AND IN TRUE URUNGA TRADITION – UP THERE WITH OYSTER CUTS IN THE FOOT AND SANDLFY BITES IS THE STORY OF THE FISHHOOK.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1167453
The Courier-Mail Tuesday 6 February 1934, page 12
FISH HOOK IN EYE
Man May Lose Its Sight
GRAFTON, February 5.
A Sydney visitor to the seaside re-
sort at Urunga, Mr. J. Highbrow, may
lose the sight of one eye as the result
of an accident whilst fishing.Mr. Highbrow’s companion was pull-
ing the line in when the end of theline flicked upwards and the hook
entered the ball of Mr. Highbrow’s
rieht eye. The hook was so firmly em-
bedded that surgical assistance had to
be sought, a delicate operation being
performed to remove the barb. The
injured mani left for Sydney to consult
a specialist, but it is believed that he
will lose the sight of the eye.
OCTOBER WINDS
BELMORE METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL.
People in the North talk of AUGUST winds. Here on the Hill, the winds seem to be taking up a lot more months than just August. The Dos has taken the garbage down. We have been shopping Murwillumbah and I am looking for a wee pied a terre in Bellingen for access to Children and Co. This weekend there is a big wedding on down South as well as one in Dorrigo with reception in Coffs Harbour neither of which we need to attend but best wishes to all involved. We stand at one marriage apiece, Iz and me. Chidlren of the 40s. I had a very strange wedding as an idealistically non bride. Some of my friends had fine weddings like LEE and GAIE CONDON in Kalang in the 70s. A beast on the spit and sarongs and creeks. It was good. Chris Page and MARGIE MCGIRR had one even more strange than mine. I do have fotos someplace of Chris in thongs of different colours and all of us Drummoyne hippies at a lavish do at Watson’s Bay in the 70s. They went on to have twins called GIMLI and DANIEL and I believe they moved to ELANDS up back of Taree. My sister had 2 weddings. 2 marriages in fact. I am still planning a big wedding – bring your own – someplace delightful. I am no longer sure whether its a wedding or a funeral I am planning or an NA convention. But I am planning something. Not my birthday. That will be in 16 days and I don’t know quite what I wish to do this time.
My sister’s weddings were good. I had something more like them in mind when I decided to marry although I don’t mind the church bit – I would prefer a cathedral. I do not want what Pat Lamir’s brother in Boston had with the envelopes of butterflies which people accidentally sat on. My sister’s first wedding was to a boy who had been called up in the early 70s Vietnam draft. Married men were far less likely to be sent to Vietnam and it worked for them. He just cooked in Australia and they had to live at Liverpool for a time which is probably not an ideal start to a marriage anyways. The wedding actually was in a church which wasn’t easy for My Sister who had turned from any God following the deaths of her pets as a child and being told by the local Methodist Sunday Teacher that pets didn’t go to Heaven. Nevertheless – into the church for the wedding to the radical socialist soldier – I still don’t know where that Methodist Church was or why we went there instead of BELMORE METHODIST CHURCH where we attended Sunday School each week.
We wore CLOGS. Heavy wooden clogs as I recall and she had long mediaeval Camelot robes.Then we went back to 27 PAXTON AVENUE BELMORE – built by my father Bruce – double brick – for the reception which my mother JOYCE catered for and had a fine time. The second wedding was years later in Bellingen behind the Courthouse by the Clerk of Petty Sessions. That was a good one too and I have fotos of that as well.
Mine was in Bellingen Anglican Church with a reception at the BELLINGEN BOWLING CLUB. SAY NO MORE ! This weekend one of our children is marrying. The others remain – unmarried. My two remain in love and partnered but – inspired perhaps by the marriage of their mother and father – they resist the tempting lure of clogs in a church aisle. Be that as it may – we are not going to weddings this weekend. Jamie Laura Jacob and Bronte are. Kate and IMM are. Mad O’Brian and co are not.
For us it is Luffley Cafe in Murwillumbah tonight and a meeting for me up the Hill at the UNITING CHURCH which brings back the childhood memories of Belmore Methodist. There could well be dancing in the street as there often is although SCRUBBY is away at SCOTTS HEAD lolling on the beach. For me its back into the 19th Century where I am VERY HAPPY despite the 21st Century winds tearing at the Cottage on the Hill. For me its looking for the caravan, tent or wee flat in Bello to rent for my visits south. Its pointing the statue of Big Buddy who might well be the compassionate goddess Kuan Yin, across the Valley with a gardenia in her lap to reduce the impact of the world out there.
Perhaps I will do the washing. Last did it in Kate’s smooth machine in Kalang and hung it on the Hills Hoist – where later I hung the rat.
In the meantime I shall see what wedding fotos I do have and make a slideshow.
2 NEW BLOGS
|
Well – one is new. The other is new to WORDPRESS but I set it up years back because it is about the very essence of my life. OF DRUNKS AND DRUG ADDICTS WAS HERE. And now I bring it over to WordPress at this address: DRUNKS AND DRUG ADDICTS ARE IMPRESSED.
|
|
MONDAY IN BILAMBIL
Today I have chosen the Shabbos experience. Once I get busy I tend to keep right on rolling but I have learned over time to SHABBOS. Stop. Settle down and become contemplative even as the winds rise here on The Hill.
OCTOBER BEGINS
Back in BILAMBIL after 10 days down south and less than pleased to be here. Seems to me I am destined to become a NORTH COAST NSW specialist whether or not I like it. Despite the endless green desert viewed from STARWAGON and train windows or roaring through the dark night from CASINO to TWEED HEADS in a fully crowded COUNTRYLINK coach with a DVD of GARFIELD 2 hypnotising the Desperadoes of 21st Century public transport. Some people cross the oceans and some people do fine restaurants in the Cities – and I go up and down the North Coast crossing big rivers. Encountered major heat on day 1 heading south. Unexpected heat. School holidays has begun as well. The familiar Queensland NSW overlap and cars were hither and thithering just like a true Xmas time which it wasnt. We stopped outside the Big Pineapple in Ballina. Avoided the BIG PRAWN which is now a mere shade of pink. I asked one thing – Iz says I – please don’t stop at TALLIMOBLE. So – with aches in his limbs he stops at BEEKEEPERS rest stop at TALLIMOBLE. With the gravity pulling Eco-Loo.
Why ? Iz ? Says I? WHY ?
Nevertheless , being one to learn from any circumstance – I looked for the Good in the Situation . I am still looking for the good in the situation. They did have a very well embedded table for picnickers and resters. Very strong it was.
I have been Looking for the Good in situations for a long time. I usually find something but its a DISCIPLINE to do so for me. I once knew a man – a young man whose name I shall not at this time use- and it was not a DISCIPLINE for him to LOOK FOR THE GOOD. It seemed to come naturally to him. It was a lovely thing to be close to.
Once when we were sitting at Bondi Beach – I said of a situation – ” I think this is worth a try even though it will be difficult “.
He said – ” Oh ! What I was thinking was ‘ THIS COULD BE GOOD ! ‘ “
For me, 20 years later – I still expect the Difficult. And in consequence, I frequently get the Difficult. However – sometimes I get the naturally joyful and unexpectedly good. Like the GATEWAY CARAVAN VILLAGE in Grafton West.
We headed on down to Gateway and took up residence in Van 255. Hot enough to swim so it was and I did so.
I am living in a place where I don’t wish to be. The Getting Away breaks that up and takes me back to my HomePlaces and my own People. Time in Kalang and Armidale and family around me. I wanted this time to go south to Laurieton and the Manning and explore there. But Izzy has music which is his passion and so he was back to Bilambil way before me. He had LUFFLEY CAFE in Murbah dressed as a jazz musician and then Sunday at Carool at ILNAM WINERY.
We did spend days in Armidale with my Kinfolk. Makes my step a little lighter and my heart brightens considerably. Then I myself spent more days in Kalang with my girl and her young man. We even did a Tupperware party – a matter which I will not discuss in this time of possible global depression. Suffice to say I do not like rip-offs and am anarchistically disinclined to Tupperware Parties and the people who dwell therein.
We ate brekkie at the BLACK BEAR CAFE in BELLINGEN where Kati B is cooking. Hello Sofi, Dave and Kate. IMM is building Bello houses and making Ortho Chairs from beautiful timbers. And me in sadness is looking for a wee pied-a-terre in my own world where they are. My Mum and Dad’s flat is for rent so i see on the REALESTATE.COM.AU. At a price I can pay – but there is familial complications there which could make things between me and mine more difficult and sad than they now are and I don’t want to risk further estrangement. Sure would like a home base however. And some new routines. I have never been able or inclined to STAY PUT and do the same things over and over. I have been here – stayed here- a wee bit too long.
One more drive down Kennedy Drive to park in the same carpark and meet the same people and I am thinking of necking myself. As Pat the Rat Gelahar of the Langton Centre would say. Izzy said this would be an adventure requiring a travel blanket and I am ready to ride camels across the desert but this becalmed state is sending me feral.
