Meredith and Don on their A van travels in Western Australia

  Hi Again,

After Exmouth we had an overnight stay at the Nanutarra Roadhouse, along the

Ashburton River.  We then spent 2 nights at Onslow where we met up with one

of the Western Australian A'vanners who was staying there for 3 months.  We

drove to the Old Onslow Townsite where the Police Station and Gaol are still

standing but being restored.  Don also caught some fish from the Groyne.  We

then spent 2 nights at Karratha where we took a helicopter ride over the

Archipelago Islands and saw 100's of Turtles swimming around.  We drove into

Dampier and saw the statue of Red Dog. On our way to Port Hedland we drove

to Point Sampson and enjoyed lunch at the Whim Creek Hotel. We had a site at

Port Hedland overlooking the Pretty Pool Creek.  We saw several Turtles from

the Turtle Viewing platform and Don caught two fish and threw two more back

from the Town Jetty.  We watched some iron ore ships coming in and going

out.  After 3 nights at Port Hedland we started to see some Boab trees on

our way for a 1 night stop over at the Willare Roadhouse, (with cows making

a racket until about 10.00 p.m.). Then we were on our way to Derby for 6

nights. We drove to the Jetty several times but the only thing Don caught

was a seagull by its wing.  We flew by sea plane for the 24 Hour Horizontal

Falls Tour which included feeding the Sharks, a Helicopter ride, a 3 hour

fishing adventure and, of course, in and out the wide and narrow openings of

the Falls several times in a Jet boat.  Our accommodation over night was on

a house boat which accommodated 12 people.  Don caught 2 Coral Trout and a

Snapper which we ate for entree with our evening meal.  It was a great trip.

Of course, we paid a visit to the Boab Prison Tree, Myalls Bore and Cattle

Trough and the Old Derby Gaol. Each evening we went to the Jetty to watch

the sunset. 

From Derby we are on the down hill run heading back south for 4 nights at

Barn Hill with lovely sunsets and the view of the sea.  The roofless toilet

blocks are made of corrugated iron.  Our kettle kept tripping the meter even

though it was the only appliance on at the time.  During our 5 night stay

at Eighty Mile Beach we had 2 ukulele sessions with a lady from Bussleton

and another lady from Waterways, just around the corner from where we live.

We also performed a couple of brackets of four songs each at the Wednesday

Afternoon Market.  We introduced Mah Jongg to 3 young folk from Germany.

From the beach there Don caught two fish which he was very pleased about. We

are now back at Port Hedland for 6 nights on the same site as before.  We

saw several Turtles today and all being well we will be off to Marble Bar

next Tuesday. We will then continue making our way south towards home

staying as many or as few nights along the way and taking as much or as

little time as it takes.  So far we travelled 12,974 klms with plenty more

to go and have seen lots of animals and birds including a fox, camels,

cattle, sheep, emus, pelicans, corellas, Port Lincoln parrots, Alpacas, a

frog in a toilet bowl, another frog hiding behind the power board in the

annexe, cormorants, kangaroos, turtles, sting rays, rabbits, a dingo, wedge

tailed eagles, lorikeets, peacocks, budgies, Ospreys, galahs, Major Mitchell

Cockatoos, ibis, bustards, plovers and lots more. We have also seen several

Wind Farms.

Our attachment shows you that we are not in a hurry to get back to the

Melbourne weather.

Hope you are all well and coping with the cold weather, while we are still

enjoying the warmth of northern Western Australia.

Regards,

Meredith and Don

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Deutsch Vereinbarung

German settlement in Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Klemzig - German Village on the Torrens"

Main article: German Australian

German settlement in Australia began in large numbers in 1838, with the arrival of immigrants from Prussia to Adelaide, South Australia. German immigrants became prominent in settling South Australia and Queensland. From 1850 until World War I, German settlers and their descendants comprised the largest non-British or Irish group of Europeans in Australia.

Contents

• 1 Kinnear winegrowers - April 1838
• 2 The Prince George and Bengalee group - November 1838
• 3 The Zebra Group - December 1838
• 4 The Catharina Group - January 1839
• 5 The Skjold Group - October 1841
• 6 Hermann von Beckerath Group - 1847
• 7 San Francisco Group - October 1850
• 8 See also
• 9 Further reading
• 10 References
• 11 External links

Deutsch Fritz

Korn und knoblauch Fritz

Krach ein ei in eine schussel hinzu zwei essloffel mehl,schlagen wohl mit gabel bis mixen,hinzufugen korn,knoblauch,reiben ingwer und karotte,ppeffer tu geschmack.

platz bratpfanne an herd mit erdol,sichern bestandteil grundlich mixen schopfloen hinein bratpfannel und koch biz zu braun.

Meist dienen eine glas von Barossa wein.

BarossaDeutsch Tim

Karen vorschlagen zwei glass von Barossa wein

Fooling round with the Currancies

For my trip to Germany I will need money, At present the A$ is riding high in relation to US$,I thought it time to change to Euros.Also my Visa traveller cheques are developing dogs ears,I should check if they are cashable.
On the bus I meet Noel a fellow traveller,we chat about currancies,he advised I change my A$ in Chinatown as I would get a better rate.
He showed me his range of bank cards and insisted I get a debit card.We discuss my ANZ passbook account of 40 years,which charges me to keep my money safe so they can use it profitably,Noel is in disbelief.
On the train all passangers are watching their mobiles.I ask the lady across the isle what she is reading?
"my work shedule for to day,it is 9.45am so I realise the office has moved on to the rail,bus, or ferry services with more flexable hours
Once in the city I go to the exclusive Deutschbank,with its groundfloor restaurants and fountains.I speed to the 16th floor,where I am told on the intercom this is a wholesale bank,I query "do you have contact with Deutschbank in Germany" yes is the reply 'can you tell me if Deutschbank can cash my travellers cheques ?
No.
I cross the road to CBA and enquire can I change money.The suited official looks stunned we move to a counter which has Macquarie Bank on its front.I apolagise and get directed 10 meters along, to the CBA which I recognise,it has been here 100 years.
I obtain a rate for Euros,for my A$2,000 I will get E1285 plus a fee of $19.99
Applying the rule it is always best to shop around for the best rate I take a bus to Chinatown,locate Noel's store opposite The Bank of China
In my travells I have always found I get a better rate on the street than in the bank.
The young man behind the glass cubicle offers me E1300 for my A$2000, no commission.
I duly count out 2000 dollars and pass it under the glass,he in turn recounts it and puts it his drawer.He is then on his phone and says ,we dont have enough Euros,when I ask for his phone no. so I can ring to find out if they have enough Euros,he says no.
What sort of game is this ? I get my money back,walk up George Street I enquire at several kiosks for their Euro rate,they are all worse than CBA bank.
Was Noel right ?
The next day I am having lunch with the family at Eastwood ,I ask Superforex their Euro rate,they give be E1310 for my A$2000,the best rate of all.

Grandchildren's Xmas cards Gallery

Doctor Dolittle goes to Hamilton

Its my granddaughters birthday on the 25th July,so I want to send her an interesting present,something that has  links  to  my childhood. Doctor Dolittle !
As an 8 year old I read about the exploits of Doctor Dolittle,and the amazing things he did,almost effortlessly.
My father was away at the war,with the 2/5th Field regiment as a gunner in Syria,digging trenches and ducking bombs,so I sought comfort in reading Doctor Dolittle and learning about his family,the Pushmepullyou,,Gub Gub, Polenesia, Jip, Dab Dab,Too Too, Chee Chee, and Whitey.
He did a lot of travelling and went to Africa where he met the King ,I've been to Africa but did not meet a king or a  queen.
Doctor Doolittle told the king about the postal service,and  the king put post boxes on street corners,so his citizens could write letters to friends all over the world. They just had to put a stamp on the envelope, before slipping the envelope into the post box.
The magic ended when when a cow scratching his body against a post box pushed it over,and all the letters were revealed.
Malia lives 172 k's away,so I don't see her much,but I see her school reports,and her teacher says her approach to her school work is tenacious ! Wow I am amazed and impressed. My school report was just the opposite,.williams is slow,needs constant encouragement,but does have ability.
What will Malia think about this ? The book is 75 years old scribbled on ,lost its cover,but inside are pictures of Doctor Dolittle with his big round nose,carrying his leather bag,rushing off to do good ,somewhere.
In the parcel there is a birthday card signed by her uncle Josh and grandfather Tim with love and kisses,
conveyed by 7 $1.00 stamps to get it there on time.
Grainfed grandfathertim

ATTENTION HARVESTORS

After visiting half a dozen Community Gardens it was now becoming clear to Harvestors there are a number of components necessary for a successful Community garden.
1.An enterprising and skillful co-ordinator
2.An enthusiastic community who benefit from  their activity.
3. Location where garden beds can be built.
4.Watertanks to collect rainfall,and distribute to plants.
5.A garden shed to store equipment,shovels forks,rakes,hoses,gloves,and seeds.
6.A co-operative council authority.
7. A legal structure for documenting the gardens authority,payment of membership annual fees,insurance,
compliance of regulations,and records of trial plantings.
8,Sunshine
9.Compost bins.
Each of the gardens visited yesterday varied in its approach to these factors.
The Ultimo Community Garden in McKee street park,was without a protective fence,and occasionally is raided by delinquents,without community spirit.It is surrounded by Eucalyptus trees,which creates an appealing location,but restricts sunshine especially in winter.




Photos of construction
The harvestors walked 2k's from Ultimo along Wattle street past woolstores with old cobblestone entrances,through Wentworth Park with its very very old Moreton Bay fig tree with weeping root system,passed high rise development,but no dog racing.
StHelens Community garden at 184 Glebe Point Road  is located in the grounds of                                                                                                                                                                                                                

providing space to establish garden beds,80 participants, a bonus worm farm.Its possable it owes its establishment to a persistant and determined co-ordinator Jock Mustard who batteled the Council authority for two years to gain permission to erect garden beds and compliance to operate.









St Helens Garden is adjacent to a outstanding example of late Victorian double fronted Italianate villa built round 1900-1902.the house is double fronted with bay windows and central tower. It has a hipped roof,central classic turret with fluted balustrade ,roof clad in slate and featured corbelled chimney corbelled eaves bracket and rosettes. Front veranda has a bullnose profile clad in corrugated steel metal and features cast iron colums cast iron brackets fringe valance and tessilated tiles.Front door centrally located arched portico and 5 panelled glazed with fanlights windows double hung,rendered sills and security bars.
In the rear is a two storey brick addition.

Over half an hour with the Department

My drivers licence is due for renewal,I complete the green form which asks about my health.Do i have
certain conditions that would restrict my driving,No I tick,am I an Aboriginal, No I tick,do I take drugs ? not the medicinal that other funny stuff, No I tick.
Under the"Fair go for Safe drivers scheme you may be eligible for a 50% discount " Do I ? No.
How long do you want your licence for ? 3 years I state . Cost $134.00 I write out a cheque.
The operator feeds this information into the system, the system does not accept the information,
the Supervisor is called,he performs his magic, the process continues.
I must have my photo taken,gazing into a bright light,I protect my vision looking up,Not satisfactory
the bright light is switched off,instructions are to look straight ahead.Close your lips,are the instructions,
I comply.
Time is slipping by,I call over the Supervisor,explaining I have an appointment which I want to keep.
He states they can make an appointment for another time, I suggest that if I have provided all the information they require,I go now and they process the information when the computer can,and they post my licence to the address on the licence. Not possible says the Supervisor.
We are standing in an office that has recently had extensive renovations and new equipment,finally after a phone call to another department the system digests the information.
The operator prints a receipt and says" we will post your licence in a weeks time " I laugh because that is what I suggested 1/4 of an hour ago.

Are we now victims of the dream that computers will improve our lives ?Formerly you could renew your licence in 15 minutes now it takes twice that time,we have dispensed with half the staff and spent a large fortune on renovations. What do you call this ? Progress ?

Sally Dumplings Thuy Family Recipts

Cruising round the Eastern bazaar

For our day out there were several choices,we could go to the flicks at Paddington,take in a meal and movie at Newtown or head west into the exotic,we chose to head west.

We both like sampling middle eastern food,I prefer to take mine with a glass of wine,but after peering into the dark sombre bunker called a pub,we headed up Auburn road ,our sights being tantalised by sultry olive skinned females,in long loose fitting dresses and hejab.

A pleasant change from tight fitting jeans and fat bottoms.

We were in one of the most multicultural communities in Australia. The traditional Anglo-Celtic European population has slowly been replaced by a high percentage of migrants from Turkish,Lebanese and Vietnamese backgrounds.

Could we be induced to buy golden spiderweb designed necklaces, or stacks of giant sized stainless steel cauldrons,suitable for cooking for an extended family.

Photo of shops

We were attracted to several cake shops displaying in their sliding shelf cabinets,intricate delicate designed cakes almost too attractive to eat.But finally after walking most of the shopping area we arrived

at Khaybar restaurant,where Mustafa formerly from Kabul greeted us

We chose to eat at the outside paved area,so not to miss any passing pedestrian traffic.on a bright sunny day.

After considered advice we chose ,bulanee  kachalu, aush and  large buranee badenjan ,which meant we ate potatoe flavoured flapjack,garlic flavoured noodles and vegetarian curry with dolops of yoghurt.very satisfying.

The only distraction to our visual senses was we were overlooked by Salim Mahaja's giant tower under construction.Totally out of place in a street scape of two story shops .

What possesses an individual to break planning laws to submitte the public to such a monster ?

Our magic carpet ride was extended by a favorable airline ticket price to Europe.

Photo of 

shopfronts

31.4% of the population of Auburn born in Australia, 13.3% born in China,6.2% born in Turkey, 5% born in India 4% born in Lebanon according to the 2011 census. 42% are of Islamic faith 12.6% catholic and 12.3% no religion.

Overwhelmed by all of this we took our coffee and biscuits on the train,for an Opal ride  cost of $2.50

Train travel in Germany

Train Travel in Germany

I don’t know Michael Portillo,but he sure keeps me entertained on Saturday night SBS TV,with his train travels through Europe.From Dresden in the south to Hamburg in the north,with his colourful range of jackets from lime green to scarlet red this man would have to be an extravert.

My last visit to Germany was in 1960 cycling through Lower Saxony with three rugby mates,on our summer trip from London to Oslo. We left Delfzijl in Holland and passed through Wilmshaven, Bremerhaven,Hamburg and Lubeck,battling headwinds on our second hand British bikes,staying at Youth Hostels and living on a diet of brot and strube.

This time it could be quite different,following Michaels’s model most of the travel could be by Deutsch Bahn,sitting in a comfortable seat being propelled at speed,enjoying a beer and possably chatting to other travelers.

My planned trip could start in Hamburg,visiting the sights and calling on Horst and Evelyn,old woolclassing mates in Balmstedt,

I have discovered an antropoligical site at Schoningen,where four ancient wooden spears found in an opencut mine are about 400,000 years old,this Saxon settlement is thought to date back to 737AD. I can get there by train to Helmstedt and possably by bus to the site,where a museum opened in 2013. Its called the Palaon,,the rear of the building overlooks the existing coal mine.

I am heading in a southeasterly direction,hoping to meet son Josh and partner Lin at Wartburg Castle in Luther country.near the town of Eisenach.

This UNESCO listed castle,founded by Ludwig der springer,and first mentioned in 1080, commands a hilltop view.

Martin Luther arrived in May 1521,excommunicated by the Roman Catholic church and declared a  heretic,he spent  14 months translating the  new testament from Greek to German vernacular for Protestants .After exploring the town the plan is to head south to the Thuringia Forest where there is a 168 km historic path wending its way through pine,birch and larch forests  called Rennsteig  it receives heavy snow falls in winter.There a several small villages to explore, Horschel ,Schmalkalden and Baumkronenpfad.

Heading further south east we should explore Leipzig,where Michael got a tour of the railway station.This city was controlled by the GDR till 1989 so is now casting off the communist regime . There are opera house Museums and Markets to explore.

We are now heading north east to Wittenberg or as it is now known as Lutherstadt,on the banks of the Elbe river,where  in 1508 the Augustinian monk Martin Luther arrived to study at the university. There is a marketplatz with a statue of Luther,a Lutherhaus ,and a collection of treasures including Luther’s desk,pulpit,first editions of his books and paintings.

Its now back on the train for a 90 ks ride to Berlin.Where we will have to organize accomadation,possibly Airbnb,tours of the city,cycle hire and visits to the Reichstag,

Brandenburg Gate, and the remains of the Berlin Wall,not forgetting to sample the Bratworst.

High on my list of things to see are some of Albert Speer’s architecture,the 1936  Olympic stadium,where my uncle David visited for the Olympic games.Also the inner suburbs of Schonberg, Mitte,Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain..The Horshoe Estate built in 1925 ,designed in the shape of a horseshoe by architect Bruno Taut holds some fascination.How do the Germans design and build such innovative architecture,whereas we conform to the same rectangular shapes.

Could we also experience a swim in the River Spree ? but by this time the weather could be getting colder, also a visit to Tiergarten and Potsdam are essential    If time allows I would like to see Haus am Bogensee Villa  ,located on 17 hectares of forested land located near Wandlitz  15ks north of Berlin and once the home of Dr Gobbles.                             .Auf Wiedersehen  !!!                     

GRUNFLACHE

A new Australian invention ,called a Harrington Seed Destructor has just been released after 5 years trial.Because weeds contain a gene resistant to herbacide Glycosate there is a need for addition action to destroy them.Farmers for years have relied on Roundup ready to kill annual Rye grass,Wild Radish and Broom grass.
Ray Harrington a grain farmer from Western Australia has studied this problem which was consuming much time energy and money,so he devised a machine that can be retro fitted to harvesters,that pulvarises these seed weeds after passing through a cage mill while harvesting ,so over a period they finally disapear from regrowing.
The Harrington Seed Destructor is being manufactured at de  Bruin Engineering  255/261  Commercial Street in Mt Gambier South Australia  Phone 61 88721 3000 and sells for A$100,000
Experimental work is taking place at Bayer Frankfurt due to a co-operative GRDC five year $45 million agreement between Australian grain grower and Bayer called Herbacide Inovation where post graduate Australian scientists are working with company scientists to resolve weed problems.
Trials are continuing at Horsham in Victoria.

Grainfed Grandfather Tim

N X 14522

Fred joined the A.I.F. at Paddington with Slop Arnott in 1940.He trained with the 2/5th Field Regiment(  Gunners ) wheras Slop joined the Cavalry.Dad  did his training at Holdsworthy and Bathurst.They were sent to Syria to fight the French.

 .

He and Slop spent their leave in Tel Aviv drinking beer and talking.

Because a gunners life was pretty tough ,digging trenches and being bombed by an opposition airforce ,so at 42 years of age he transferred to the Australian Canteen Service ,when he returned to Australia.

He was sent to Rockhampton  Queensland to manage the depot there.

 discharge cert.

Dad's medals included the Africa star,a six pointed star,granted for operations in North Africa from June 1940 to May 1943,of yellow copper-zinc alloy.The 1939-1945 6 point star design is copper zinc alloy with a ribbon of dark blue representing naval forces and merchant marine a red stripe army and light blue for the air force.

Defence medal awarded for 6 months service  in Syria incorporating areas subject to enemy air attack.This medal is cupro nickle. King George v1 ribbon is orange, green outer stripes representing the islands of the UK,black for blackouts.

The AIF kit bag was first issued in 1914,made of canvas,and used a pillow at times.The Australian war memorial is unable to name the designer or details if it is still issued to our troops. the units color patch was dark brown, red and green ,which Dad said symbolised "through the Mud and Blood to the Greenfields of victory

In 1945 Mum took Lindsey and me to Rockhampton by train, a distance of 1,300 kilometres It was a three day trip,requiring we change trains in Brisbane,.as the Queensland rail guage is narrower than NSW for the trip to Rockhampton.

We stayed at Yeppoon beside the beach about 30 k's from Rockhampton,living in a house next door to the Far West home run by Matron Jacobson,the next town was Emu Park.

Dad had some friends from the American Canteen Service called Scoff and Hovey who would call occasionally.

I spent my time digging tunnels under the lawn in the backyard,when the ground caved in I think I was unpopular.Dad collected us after the holiday in a Army truck,and was driving back to Rockhampton when we were stopped by the Military Police.Mum was in the front cabin and Lin and I were in the back with the spare wheel.

This may have ended Dad's career in the Army.

When he was discharged from the Army he used his defered pay to buy an X Army disposal International  truck,probably over a ton, metal cabin and canvas top over a timber back,with dual back wheels.

This was to be his work horse for the next 7 years.

Because of his prewar experience in the motor trade and his connections with Charlie Price,a spare parts traveller,he established a auto spare parts supply in the north of the state of NSW.

Travelling north on the Pacific Highway he established customers in garages,and motor repair organisations up to Murwillumbah in the north of the state.Because auto spare parts were in short supply at this time he had eager customers along the way.His return journey was down the New England Highway commencing at Tenterfield.

On one trip he took me along a 14 year old. At Taree he was serving a customer,and asked me to park the truck,which was old and cantankerous.

The ring gear on the starter motor was worn and damaged,if the motor started with the first depression of the starter pedal,fine. But if the ring gear didn't engage, you had to put your toe under the starter pedal,lift the lever and start again.

This day I started the motor, engaged 1st gear,after a double shuffell,this was not a synchromesh gear box,let out the clutch,edging forward to a parking spot a few meters ahead.

The town at the time had veranda posts supporting street awnings,customary in old Australian towns.

Because of inexperience,as I edged the truck into the parking spot,because of the camber of the road,the front left mudguard hit an upright post,damaging it. 

What was I to say to my father ?

I found him down the street,and said " Are you feeling strong " ?

He took it well,and instead of bursting into anger,came back to the truck to examine the damage.

When in Sydney Dad stayed at 16 Milson Road Cremorne with his Aunt Scott. This was a solid old two story brick building on the shores of Sydney Harbor,divided into two flats.Upstairs were Bunty and Neil an elderly retired couple,Neil had a thick Scottish accent,its possible he spent time in the navy.

Downstairs lived aunt Scott and uncle Jack,Dad's mum's sister.

The only thing separating the property from the water was a concrete walkway which connected Mosman Bay with Neutral Bay. There was also a swimming pool constructed in the harbor.

The Scott's flat had a large living room French windows on to a large wide veranda overlooking the harbor. Three bedrooms a small old kitchen and a tiny dining room.

There was a sandstone basement incomplete with no electric lighting,where Dad stored his automobile spare parts.

When he was preparing for another trip to the country,I would travel by ferry on Sunday to help load the truck,this involved carrying rolls of brake lining ,cartons of grease nipples and brass fittings up the path,then up the stairs to where the truck was parked in Milson Road.

There were no shelves in the truck, we talked about fitting them as it would make storage and access easier,but it never happened.So cartons were placed on top of one another,you required a good memory to know where parts were located.

I was 15 at the time,my sister never came,sometimes we worked till 7pm without completing the job.

Then aunt Scott would give us dinner,always two courses,main meal meat and two veg.followed by sweets,often with ice cream.

It was Dad's job to wash up,and mine to dry.

This was a very slow process, for some reason Dad would meticulous scrub each piece,spoon, fork, knife,plate and bowl,while I would stand waiting ,flicking the tea towel,and chatting to aunt Scott.

Aunt Scott would sometimes talk about her childhood,living on a farm at Twist creek, Yackandanda
Victoria where they grew tobacco and employed Chinese labor. Dad would then walk me down to the ferry warf for my trip home to Double Bay.

These were not joyful times for my father,he was going through a divorce,had very little social life,few friends,and his job took him away to the country for months at a time,staying in third rate hotels, the only thing that kept him going was he was starting to make money,a commodity that had eluded him for years.He also made friends with some of his customers who were probably returned service men and they would share a bond over a beer at the local hotel or RSL after work.
On Anzac day the 2/5th Field regiment held its reunion in the basement of the Town Hall.There beer would be drunk stories rekindled,including how the unit repaired Dad piles by turning him upside down to do the job.


Photo of Dad escorting Lindsey down the isle at St Marks Church Darling Point, at her marriage to
Warren Wright

Probably his proudest moment..He is wearing a new suit purchased for the occasion.

When Aunt Scott died in 1959,Dad had to find somewhere to live.and he choose where he spent his weekends as a youth,HARBORD
Hey presto 31 Hill street,possibley the oldest timber house in the suburb,very decrepid,very cheap.





Photo of Dad's Peaugot 202 car. The original owner was the Gillette company. The car was sold to me by John Cunningham a sales representative. I had the car for several years when working in shearing sheds. It had a fourth gear or overdrive which allowed the car to maintain a high speed on long trips to and from the country. Because of its suspension it also allowed one to take sharp corners at speed. The car developed rust and was in need of maintenance when I sold it to Don McLarty a grazier. He had the car extensively repaired including its universal, differential and the rust problem. So when Dad bought the car's its condition was vastly improved, except for the exhaust system which sounded raucous.

Once while driving home to Harbord, Dad noticed a Police officer following him, he was heading downhill to the Spit Bridge so very little acceleration, once he got on to lever road and then up the hill on the other side he had to accelerate, with the result the exhaust sound began to crackle

The Police officer pulled him over, and pointed to the exhaust, Dad played deaf, the officer asked what he had been doing and Dad responded with showing his pick and shovel in the back of the car.

Not satisfied that Dad understood the problem he got down on the roadway and pointed up at the exhaust, indicating it needed repairing. Not only did Dad not get a ticket (infringement notice ) but he had a chuckle on his way home.

                                Stuart Wright and Fred Williams . Middle grandchild.

Round 1965 I bought a house in Foam st Harbord and Fred sold his Hill street house and bought at auction 3/5 Morrell street Woollahra another timber ruin. The family helped him demolish these two houses and have Peter Hall design an attractive 3 bedroom courtyard house. He attempted to build it himself but realised the task was too great and had it built by a builder after some difficulties.

The final result was a glassed walled interior looking into grassed courtyard,white painted brickwork,polished timber floors,open fireplace and tiled roof.With a double garage on to the street and brick wall along the front boundary.A design all the family liked.Some time later Fred bought a private company Camera reproductions,to use as an investment vehicles.One of their investments was The Beef Machine.

 

 Round 1984 after my divorce I thought it a good idea to take all the family,Josh,Guy,sister Lin and father Fred to see New Zealand utilising a camper van to travel the North and South island,during the school summer holidays as a way of forging closer relations. 

We hired the van in Auckland and set off north for Russell and the bay of Islands,finally reaching Cape Reanger,turning south we called at most big cities. Including Invercargill in the south of the South Island.

Photos of van trip

At age 85,1987,he and his close neighbour in Spicer street, Mrs Mardi Tarlinton took a flight to London and visited all his previous old haunts,they visited Europe and used the trains as their hotel,boarding late evening and travelling sleeper class overnight,next day disembarking in a different city,and repeating the exercise for several weeks.

The following year Fred came to Hawkesbury Agricultural College on open day,where I was retraining taking a Horticulture certificate,which he enjoyed.

In 1988 at age of 86 dad died at his home in morrell st.