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Monthly Archives: February 2017

What would you take?

08 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by RuthsArc in remembering / musing

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

history, Tasmania

There is a fascinating exhibition as part of the commemorations for Black Tuesday about items that real families took when they left their homes, fleeing the bush fires.

There are stories of hidden jewellery, war medals later found in the rubble, precious items that survived heat that could melt a telephone. Furniture and possessions piled out in the front yard.

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One mother packed a small case filled with toys and cardigans for the children, nappies for the baby and the family photograph album.

As the drama unfolded for the adults, the children at Sorrell School were evacuated to open ground. A circus was in town and camped there. So the children remembered the excitement of seeing elephants wading at the water’s edge. One of their best school days ever. A total contrast to other memories of the day.

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One unexpected item that many young women took with them was their contraceptive pills. It is something my generation and my daughter’s generation take for granted. We forget how revolutionary it was, how it gave women real control of their fertility for the first time in history. For women born in the 1930’s, forty percent had nine or more pregnancies. The Pill changed that. It was introduced in Australia in 1961, but was still controversial at the time of the fires. Many doctors would only prescribe it to married women, it was relatively difficult to obtain, so it was a precious possession.

What would you take?

Black Tuesday

07 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by RuthsArc in remembering / musing

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

history, Tasmania

50 years ago today, Tuesday 7th February 1967, Tasmania experienced its worst ever bush fires. Temperatures rose above 39°C. Winds gusted over 220 km per hour.

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64 people died, 900 injured. Nearly 7,500 people were homeless, with 1,293 houses and cottages destroyed. Schools, churches, factories, post offices, hotels, bridges, telephone and power polls ruined.

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Destruction widespread in agricultural communities as well as towns and Hobart city, 1,600 vehicles, 1,700 farm buildings destroyed, 62,000 farm animals were lost, 2,400 km of boundary fencing burnt. The total area affected by fire was 182,000 hectares, across twelve municipalities.

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These are archive photos and memories of people who lived through that day.

“The noise of the fire”. “The wind”. “The sky and the heat”.

“The sky was mustard yellow with an orange sun”. Later in the day, “the sky was orange with a dark red sun”. “Then the sky was black with smoke”. “Hot ashes blowing around”.

Children were sent home from school. “At home we helped fill the gutters with water, blocked the down pipes with tennis balls”. “We filled the bath with water, any containers we could find, soaked towels and sheets to cover ourselves”.

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People left their homes and waded in the water on the beach, to get as far away from the flames and smoke as possible.

Whole streets were burnt out, with just the brick chimney stacks left standing.

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An incredible day of tragedy and heroism and community spirit.

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Weekly Photo Challenge – Solitude

05 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by RuthsArc in weekly photo challenge

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

books, photos

What does solitude mean to you?

Getting lost in a good book?img_6432

Solitude in nature? This stranger was not actually alone, she was having a face to face conversation with someone on her phone.img_6396

Fishing – A solitary past time?img_6410

Solitude

House Auction

04 Saturday Feb 2017

Posted by RuthsArc in 52 challenge, photography

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

me

Today I went to a house auction for the first time. Just for the experience.

We had a quick look inside the three bedroom house built in 1890. Large rooms with such high ceilings.

The auction process took place out on the pavement and street. Bidders had to register and therefore had a number card to raise. The auctioneer gave out the legal details, deposit amount required today, completion in forty five days. The bidding started at $500,000 increased in $10,000 jumps, a few people dropped out, increased further in $5,000 jumps, then in $1,000. A couple of agents were on the phone representing bidders from interstate or overseas. The house sold at $640,000.

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It was a fascinating and exciting process, an interesting way to sell a property.And I’ve ticked another thing off my “new things to do” list.

 

Thursday Doors – Rosny Barn

02 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by RuthsArc in photography, remembering / musing

≈ 16 Comments

Tags

architecture, doors, history

Rosny Barn is a gem in the heart of Hobart suburbs. The stone building dates back to 1818, just fifteen years after the first European Settlers arrived in Tasmania.

It is constructed from round river stones, sea shell mortar, with sandstone blocks on the corners and around doorways. The roof is made from wooden shingles.

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It is believed the barn was used to store hay. The height of the barn and the two sets of double doors opposite each other would have allowed hay wagons to drive through for easy loading and unloading. The vertical slits at the top of the walls would have enabled air to circulate, reducing the risk of fire.

The overall site is Rosny Farm, with a mix of stone, brick and wooden buildings, ruins of stables and farm outbuildings. The farm well is marked out as a circular bench.

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Rosny Cottage was built around 1850 and was the home of farmers and labourers.

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The School House is a replica from 1890 and is now a small gallery.

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The barn now hosts performances and exhibitions and has beautiful wooden doors.

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I’m linking this to Norm’s Thursday Doors Series

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