Saturday, March 04, 2017

Aussie, Kiwi stop bickering - and write


Today I have the great pleasure of unveiling to the world the fine artwork of Tiffany King for the cover of Gone is the Dream, the newly published book in which I have collaborated with former New Zealand screenwriter David Cooper.
So you can see that while absent from this site I have not been idle. A new blog will detail our project. Gone is the Dream is part-one of a trilogy, Morton Mains Saga.

Friday, January 06, 2017

Artist Iris Taxis leaves mystery behind paper mask


It's the image that the artist wished no one would see. It has been a great surprise for a buyer of paintings from an op shop.
Two paintings by the Baroness Iris Taxi - which the buyer found in a dusty pile in an op shop about two decades ago - have multiplied into a trio.
The first painting that "jumped out" of the mix of hobby art and prints to catch the buyer's eye was a stunning "mother and child" in a gypsy setting (below).
Nearby in the op-shop pile was a depiction of three horses.

Some time after the acquisition the buyer realised the back of the horse picture was loosely covered with paper and several
tears indicated another image.

This image also showed a mother and child but with an an ambiguity that may have prompted Iris to mask the signed work. 
Iris Taxis was a highly talented artist who branded some of her works with her title, name and address in Kensington, London. 
Little has come onto the web about her but her works have featured in auction lists:

http://www.askart.com/artist/Baroness_Iris_Taxis/11133281/Baroness_Iris_Taxis.aspx
I would be happy to publish any information about this great but little-known artist if someone could help fill this gap in art history with any info about her. Contact me through the comment link.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Class of '89 gives youthful display at reunion


OH, what a night. The nostalgic feel of that 1970s pop song seems to sum up the upbeat mood at one of the city's popular nightspots when  dozens of Redlanders shrugged off any depression about advancing into middle age and boogied into the early hours.
Now in their early 40s, the former Cleveland High School students showed they still had the verve of youth as they converged on Elysium Lakeside for an important reunion.

MARKING the 25th anniversary of the 1989 year 12 graduation, about 60 people joined the throng, with the numbers gradually dwindling to a dozen or so stayers who partied on until closing time, 2.30am.
The organiser, Francene Neundorf, was there, of course, until the last farewell wave and sentimental smile, and says she crawled into bed at her Carbrook home at 3.30.
Francene revels in the happy mood when her old schoolmates get together; she has become quite passionate about their reunions, having previously organised 10-year and 20-year get-togethers.
The Grandview Hotel was the venue for the first and Victoria Point Sharks Club, the second.

FRANCENE says she knew the tendency of  the revellers to “kick on” late, so the closing time was important when she chose a venue for the third reunion.
She started promoting the October 25 event in the Classifieds Public Notices several months ago, and also uses social media to keep in touch with the group.
“The numbers dwindled a bit as some have dispersed around the world but  it was a great night,” she says.
“We danced and talked at lot. If you didn't talk to them at school, you would have had a chat on the night.
“CEOs and politicians? No, we weren't that good but we had a police officer, builders, an IT specialist, a journalist, an author, engineers, an accountant.
“There were four or five teachers, some people who left school in year 10 and a couple who used to smoke cigarettes behind the toilet block.
“Many still live in the area and some who now live in other areas were able to stay the night with their families who are still here.

IN the tradition of the romantic theme of the pop song, some teenage sweethearts of the class of '89 married and are still together, Francene says.
“Those that come along are positive in their lives,” she says.
The prospect of high school reunions seems to evoke mixed reactions – that is, former students may be either wildly enthusiastic or scornfully distasteful, but Francene has no doubts.
She says she enjoys organising such events “just to see old faces and catch up with the old days”.
“I just enjoy seeing people get together and enjoy themselves,” she says.

This column has appeared in the Redland City Bulletin.


Thousands to stay 'calm' during city's festivity

Image: 2008 Classie Corner report on Christine Burke.
 
HE'S peeking out of advertising brochures and grinning on the TV screens. That ubiquitous old man has shaken off his Melbourne Cup hangover, brushed his beard and togged up for Christmas 2014.
Kids are getting excited and parents twitchy. Santa's on his way. The jolly ambassador of retail is again riding high over deep religious culture.
Of all the Christmas experiences, however, one can underscore all the sentiments and beliefs, and bring a tear to the eye of even the most opportunistic, profit-oriented retailer.


UNITING with thousands in a good old singalong and hearing dedicated musicians express their Christmas spirit at a civic celebration such as Redland City Council's carols night is indeed a memorable experience.
A crowd estimated between 10,000 and 12,000 attended the 2013 Redland event, so Capalaba Regional Park in Pittwin Rd will be an amazing scene on Saturday, December 6, for Christmas by Starlight 2014.
Behind the warm and fuzzy feeling at such events, armies of specialists deal with all the details. Last year a home-grown contractor, Calm Event Management (CEM), worked with the council to ensure the night's success, and the firm has the mission again this year.


CALM proprietors are Victoria Point couple Christine and Patrick Burke, who have been mainstays of the Redland music scene for many years.
Both have careers as performers and are also known through their ownership of music store and school The Sound Shed, at Capalaba.
Christine says CEM grew from the couple's event management under The Sound Shed banner and now manages events up and down  the east coast between Townsville and Melbourne.
The enterprise is getting a burst of Christine's energy. She says she now has more time to spend on Calm events, with her daughter Kathryn studying science at the University of Queensland and son Sean preparing to start a music degree.


AS part of the repositioning, the Burkes have advertised the Capalaba store for sale. Reflecting on their 15 years on the site, Christine says, “I would like to think we have had an impact on the community and touched a lot of lives.
“Students we taught at seven or eight years old are now young adults and walk up to say 'G'day'. I think that's a good legacy.”
The council's “all-age, family-friendly event” will open at 4pm with free children’s activities and a visit from Santa. Community groups and licensed commercial operators will run food, drink and merchandise stalls.


A SPECIAL children’s show at 5.45pm will start the music program including Luke Kennedy, Naomi Price, Alexa Curtis;  Jal Joshua, Kiara Rodrigues, Leah Lever, Adeline Williams and Ali Crane, accompanied by Redland Sinfonia Orchestra and the City Choir. The event will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display.


This column has appeared in the Redland City Bulletin.

Love blossoms as tiny dog helps ailing owner

Image: The first-aid symbol, courtesy wikipedia. 

CANINE tails can wag over a relatively tiny increment of the data that emerges from the never-ending analyses of internet usage.
Today, our best friends can receive a special pat with the announcement that dog-related stories have consistently rated in the top five subjects in the online version of this column over the past eight years.
The website, www.classiecorner.blogspot.com, is  just a speck in a virtual universe but nevertheless illustrates the amazing relationships between human and canine.
This, indeed, is Love (capital deserved).


ONE tail that can wag faster than some others is that of Ruby, a Chihuahua-silky terrier cross, which lives at Capalaba with Lynette Pickett and her partner, Mick.
Mick bought Ruby for Lynette as a birthday gift, and she now describes the tiny two-kilogram dog as “my little mate” and her saviour.
Lynette says she had an athletic and active life before her health deteriorated. An Australia Post courier, she felt unwell for “quite a long time” and symptoms worsened. Her nausea became so bad during work hours she had to stop her car to vomit.
Three years ago she had brain surgery. “I have two aneurysms (bulges in the blood vessels) and three stints,” she says. “My life has changed considerably.”


LYNETTE says the arrival of Ruby in her life 18 months ago marked a turning point, giving her an interest and an incentive to keep up the battle against her health problems.
“I was quite sporty before all this and I got quite 'down' in recent years,” she says. “Walking is good for mental health and it's the only thing I can do now.”
Walking with Ruby on Ney Road on September 25, Lynette blacked out and fell to the pavement.
When she regained consciousness, a group of people was around her. One bystander looked up the 'last number' from the call records  on Lynette's phone. The number was Mick's, and he was there within five minutes.


LYNETTE placed a Classified notice thanking “everyone involved” in helping her and taking care of Ruby.
She can remember few specific details of the incident but wanted the people to know she appreciated and was grateful for their care.
Lynette says she previously had a black-out at a shopping centre. “The ambulance crew told me that two men who went to help me had almost come to blows while I was unconscious.
“One fellow tried to roll me into the recovery position and the other thought that was the wrong thing to do. They apparently had a very heated argument.”


THE message may be that the population needs to know standard first aid. Perhaps the high schools should make a bigger contribution to lifting the bar on this.


This column has appeared in the Redland City Bulletin.

Brightness appears in recesses on darkside

VIOLENT fury presents a terrifying face – eyes that could fit into a horror script and a mouth that sprays saliva with threatening noises.
Put them on top of an adrenaline-charged body and the handbrake that stops a mind from running out of control can flip off.
What comes next is often told in court when documenting the circumstances of injury.


A MAN in his 50s tells of a frightening experience several years ago at the bus stop outside Redland Hospital. A couple standing near the hospital boundary caught the man's eye.
The woman was heavily pregnant; her companion had his arm around her shoulders, appearing to comfort her.
Thinking she was about to have her baby and that he might alert the emergency staff, the witness called, “Are you okay?”


THEN the companion, a tall and fit-looking young man, turned and charged, with fists raised and screaming like an angry bull, “You mind your own f...... business.”
The  'helper' raised his hands in a surrender pose and walked backwards, saying “I was only trying to help”, but the man didn't stop.
The woman screamed, “Don't ... don't,” as the man's fists shook in front of a white face, wide eyes and gaping mouth.
Just then two hospital security men walked into the assailant's field of vision. He dropped his hands and turned away.


THE fury in that face will haunt the man (me) for life. On a later visit to the hospital, I told one of the security officers I would now think carefully before offering help to any strangers apparently in need.
He replied that the chances of a nasty incident were still pretty rare and it was wrong either to deny help because of such fear or to make presumptions based on quick observations.
The officer said that on one occasion three tough bikies had delivered a carton of beer after he lent them a wheel brace. That showed you can't judge a book by its cover.


READERS of the Classifieds often see expressions of gratitude from the hearts of those who have been helped by strangers.
The Thanks column is evidence that a society with a big chunk of negatives such as aggression and violence also has a very bright side.
For many generations, such columns have allowed people to state their heartfelt sentiments to someone they don't know but who cared.
At other times, the notices honour the individuals by publicly identifying them.
Lynette Pickett, of Capalaba, recently placed a notice thanking people who helped her. Her story will feature in the next edition of this column.



This column has appeared in the Redland City Bulletin.

Old man winter retreats to cave

HOORAY – that cranky old man called winter has finally backed off into his air-conditioned cave after delivering some terrible shivers.
Now, as we enjoy a beautiful spring, we may wonder how the old man, desperately needing relief from the building heat, ensures his air conditioner works when it's needed.


THE chances are that in the Redlands at least, he calls in someone he knows and trusts, such as Lemine Pty Ltd, a family business that has operated in the area for 33 years.
The proprietors, Neville and Robyn Wright, featured in this column in 2007, after they welcomed the birth of their first two grandchildren.
Their lives have become considerably busier, as the new generation now numbers eight and Lemine's client list also continues to grow.
Robyn says she and Neville are very proud of the business they created. The childhood sweethearts grew up in Belmont and moved across the council border to Birkdale to build their family in the Redlands.


NEVILLE did his apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker with a Brisbane air-conditioning company about 50 years ago but now  focuses on designing and quoting for residential and commercial systems.
After thousands of installations and maintenance calls during more than three decades, Robyn says Lemine employs only qualified technicians and subcontracts associated work to trusted tradespeople.
The firm services “all brands” but supplies mainly Panasonic systems, “ideal for the salt air conditions in the Redlands”.
Of  the many Redlanders who use the Lemine services, the bay islanders must be among the most appreciative.


ROBYN says she and Nev have always  tried to ensure the islanders get the best possible service.
She says Lemine makes regular trips to service Club Macleay and has clients on all the  islands.
While the Lemine vehicles are often seen on the barges, the Wrights are also among the passengers to North Stradbroke Island as their daughter and son-in-law, Leanne and Damien Stewart, manage the Anchorage Resort.
Robyn says the firm has  an exceptionally busy winter with Redlanders taking the opportunity during the chill to have their systems serviced.
She says proper maintenance does save money through early detection of faults and prolonging the life of a system and spring is still the best time.


A MAJOR problem for air conditioning in Redland City is the 'foreign gecko', Robyn says.
Lemine is finding a growing incidence of costly damage to printed circuit boards after geckos get into air conditioners over winter.


This column has appeared in the Redland City Bulletin.

 

Wednesday, October 01, 2014

Jazz at Aunty Alice's, Russell Is, Queensland, Australia

THIS was the happy scene a few weeks ago when Viki Carryl and I performed at Aunty Alice's restaurant and cafe on Russell Island. 
The singer on the right is Ned, the cafe proprietor and an accomplished musician who plays a menu of stringed and keyboard instruments and sings with jazz pianist Eddie A'Bear at Alice's on the third Sunday each month. 
We were playing Norah Jones' Don't Know Why when Ned seems to have dropped the plates and hopped into the harmony. 
Great experience. Surrounded by such lovely ladies including my wife Jenny on the other side of the camera and my daughters with their partners and mybaby grandson, who was asleep and didn't hear the song I dedicated to him.  What a great Father's Day! :) :)!!
Viki and I are back there this Sunday, first of the month, noon start.

Our first performance last month features in the list at http://www.localnotices.com.au/notices and in  its video at http://youtu.be/w7lq6mNdu8Q

Monday, September 22, 2014

 'Weird feeling' leads to expert care after heart attack

GOOD fortune is often said to come from being in the right place at the right time. Thornlands refrigeration mechanic Ray Hackett says Redland Hospital and the morning of Thursday, August 28, met those two criteria for him.
About 3am on Wednesday, Ray rang the ambulance after he felt a sensation of pressure in his chest build to pain then subside.
“It was a weird feeling, like someone put an air hose in my chest,” he says.


RAY had another episode after the paramedics arrived. In hospital, Ray patiently waited for the full assessment of his condition, then bang, that building and fading pain again.
“The top cardiologist in Brisbane, Dr Gill, was doing his rounds and he's apparently only at the hospital for a few hours once a week,” Ray says.
“He walked into my ward just as I had a turn.
“They put the machine [electrocardiograph monitor] on me but couldn't see anything unusual.
“Dr Gill leaned over and said, 'I'll show you – this man's trying to have a heart attack'.
“He said it was the top artery and it was blocking and releasing.”


RAY says Dr Gill directed a transfer to Princess Alexandra Hospital where staff said he was fortunate to have come to the attention of “the number-one heart doctor, the numero uno”.
On Friday evening, Ray was in the operating theatre to have a stint put in the faulty artery. He was told during his discharge briefing on Saturday morning that his quick reaction to the first burst of pain meant he had escaped major damage.
He advises anyone with such a “pressure and pain build-up” to seek medical attention immediately and not to ignore such a warning sign.
On Sunday evening, he said he felt “as good as gold”. The health emergency, however, had made him  think seriously about retiring after 54 years in the workforce and about 50 years in refrigeration.


RAY Hackett Refrigeration Services features in the Bulletin's Trade Services Classifieds and has been familiar to many Redlanders since he moved from Victoria about 15 years ago.
He plans to have a few weeks off work to think about the future. Undoubtedly, he will dab brushes onto canvas. Painting has been Ray's relaxation for about 25 years.
He has been with Stephen Holliday's art group but missed Sunday's scheduled Art by the Boardwalk exhibition and demonstrations at Raby Bay.
This spring brings the first anniversary of the boardwalk event, which runs on the first Sunday of the month.
Let's hope Ray will show a new painting or two on October 5 as well as practise his skills at the easel under the watchful eyes of the spring browsers.

This column has appeared in The Redland City Bulletin.

'Slice of your life' gives feast of memoirs

THE often quarrelsome relationships between dog and cat seem to set a style for other branches of the animal kingdom.
In many cases of canine-feline coexistence, each appears to hate the other other with a passion, fighting over food and territory, and often having a nip or swipe at the other for no clear reason.
In the human world, journalists and teachers may behave in a similar manner, blaming each other for the perceived drop in literary standards among the younger generations.
With a little apprehension and bated breath I fronted up this week to interview a retired teacher about writing, and was relieved when Rowena James, despite devoting her life to lifting English standards, proved to be not only a gentle critic but also an inspirational one.


ROWENA's early retirement last year must have meant a sad loss to the teaching profession as she enjoys sharing her deep knowledge and understanding about writing, and  can do it with an endearing sense of humour that must have helped her students remember their lessons.
After three decades teaching in south-east Queensland high schools and holding four positions as deputy principal, Rowena now lives at Victoria Point, enjoying walks with her beloved Pomeranian, Max.
“When I retired I felt lost,” she said. “I had brought up my kids as a sole parent and they had left home.
“I had worked all my life but the job had gone and all my friends had been connected with the job.”
Rowena said she had joined the Victoria Point Library book club for something to do, and “I haven't looked back − opportunities I hadn't dreamed of have opened up”.


ONE of those opportunities has been the RedWrites Memoir Group (Redland City Bulletin, Public Notices, August 13) ), which offers “peer to peer critiquing”, welcomes beginners and undoubtedly benefits from Rowena's experience.
Rowena has already written about 100,000 words of her memoir and is ready with tips to help those who feel they need it.
“People may need encouragement to tell their story,” she said. “A lot aren't very confident, but there is a lot to be gained from telling your own story.
“I have learnt a lot about myself.”
She said a memoir was not the full story, as an autobiography might aim to tell, but rather was “just a slice of your life”, making it an easier writing project.
The notice advertised a memoir workshop at the library today (August 20) from 2pm to 4pm − with more on the third Wednesday each month. The writers' group, RedWrites Redlands, meets at Capalaba Community Centre on the first Tuesday each month.

This column has appeared in The Redland City Bulletin.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Screen gazers have window on world some can't see

1812 image of Luddites courtesy wikipedia.
TWO centuries ago they went on violent rampages smashing machinery but the Luddites of today are more likely to nod off for a snooze during an Attenborough doco.
There's not much fight left in those who inherited a social label from an anti-technology movement of old.
The archetypal modern-day Luddite is battle weary after a generation of a computing advance that trumps 19th century industrial mechanisation, not only in scale but in general social significance.
Still refusing or unable to own or use computers, our Luddites can only sigh as the world's population transforms into an army of screen gazers – in the street, on the buses, outside the restaurants and probably on the loo – and wonder what the hell they are doing.
It's no joke to be 'on the other side' in this revolution. The resistors are slowly and steadily losing their rights.


THE struggle by septuagenarian 'Bob' of Ormiston to complete normal day-to-day tasks without a computer (Classie Corner, May 30) touched a chord for Redland City tax preparer 'Harry', who asked for his identity to be withheld.
As taxpayers of all levels of technological skills wrestle with their moment of truth to the ATO, the 'Luddites', who are usually retired seniors, face some further difficulties.
Harry says financial statements of many types are now available only online as the paperless militia continues its march and in other cases some banks charge for printed statements.
He cites share holdings and social security payments as two examples where his recent clients have run into difficulties.
Just making a request for a printed statement is, after all, another task and can put someone on a telephone roundabout that is not always user friendly.


AFTER working on computers for many years and with a background in commercial accountancy and the public sector, Harry says he not 'anti technology' but rather questions society's obsession with it.
“Things are getting bulldozed through and people's rights and privileges are being taken from them,” he says.
“We could be talking about one-third of the adult population being marginalised. There is hurt and suffering.”
Harry says computer users are being forced into software upgrades that can mean painful readjustment because of the degree of change in the interface, without apparent reason.


ON the social level, a 'competition addict' in his family complains that almost all the contests are now online, leading to his concern about privacy and the sharing of email addresses, while the 'cloud' concept of data retention also creates issues.
Bob said he had thought about starting some sort of Luddite club but rejected Harry's offer to get involved, apparently preferring to suffer in
Redland City Bulletin. silence.
However, Harry says the modern-day Luddites already need support and the 'ageing population' means the issues will persist.

The text above has featured in the Redland City Bulletin.

Friday, August 01, 2014

Research looks into processes of grief, mourning

THE attack on Flight MH17 and the death of so many justifiably dominates the news, slamming home the human fragility and throwing the world into grief.
The vision of the wreckage and the fleeting shots of the passengers' personal items undoubtedly have brought tears to the eyes of many millions in many countries.
Just as certain is that the emotional flood will slowly fade and retract from those with no connection to the victims but condense in relatively few who knew and loved them.
The tragedy will be just an event in history for most but leave a vacancy in the heart for some. Death prompts wonder at how the grief-stricken will ever get over their loss.


MUCH has been documented about grief and mourning but a 2010 article in The New Yorker expressed an interesting view.
“New research suggests that grief and mourning don’t follow a checklist; they’re complicated and untidy processes, less like a progression of stages and more like an ongoing process – sometimes one that never fully ends,” the article by Meghan O’Rourke said.
“Perhaps the most enduring psychiatric idea about grief, for instance, is the idea that people need to 'let go' in order to move on; yet studies have shown that some mourners hold on to a relationship with the deceased with no notable ill effects.
“In China, mourners regularly speak to dead ancestors, and one study has shown that the bereaved there suffer less long-term distress than bereaved Americans do.”


EVERY week the Bulletin, as newspapers have done for many generations, carries a collection of expressions of grief under the heading, In Memoriam, showing one way our culture  handles the nagging grief that never fades.
For the reader, the touching verse and images may evoke questions about the deceased and those represented in the lists of names: 'What was he/she like as a person?'
Several notices appeared recently, marking the 10th anniversary of the death of Peter Cawthray, who was born in Coominya in the Somerset district in 1941 and moved to Thorneside in 1963, later living in other Redland suburbs before his death in July 2004.
“He was a good bloke,” Peter's brother-in-law, Richard Harvey, said.
“For a while now we have been putting an annual memorial notice in the local newspaper to remember a very special member of our family.
“We have certainly never forgotten him as he still pops up in our memories and our day to day lives, which says a lot as to what sort of special person he was.”

The text above has featured in the Redland City Bulletin.
 

In this anniversary month, Richard has written about Peter Cawthray.

He was a good bloke ...


HIS name is Peter Ross Cawthray and he was born in 1941 at the little rural Queensland town of Coominya, west of Brisbane. The third son to Stan and Edna, he joined his older siblings Laurie and Eddie and was later followed by little sister Julie. They lived a hard but happy life on the land and it was from here Peter gained a lifelong appreciation and affinity for people working on the land.

In the early '60s the family moved to the Brisbane bayside area of Thorneside and Peter often spoke fondly of his childhood there, including catching the steam train to Cleveland (Raby bay Station) to go to the “pictures” at the theatre in Middle Street.

He attended Wynnum High School and later started his working life at K.R. Darling Downs Bacon Factory at Murarrie where his Dad also worked.

He had a great love of sport, played competitive tennis for many years and was an avid Wynnum Many Rugby League supporter. I have many fond memories of going with Peter and his mates to Koogarai Oval on a Sunday afternoon to cheer on the mighty Wynnum Manly. Later on when the Broncos came along, he became a big fan of theirs also.

ONE of the sporting highlights of his life was to be present at the Gabba on that great day in March 1995 when Carl Rackemann took the catch and Queensland won the Sheffield Shield for the very first time. He would often show us in photos where he was sitting in the grandstand when “we won the Shield”!

Peter married Janny in 1963 and for a while they lived in Mooroondu Road, Thorneside. They later moved to their own first home at Napier Street, Birkdale. They were blessed with three lovely children, Peter junior, Suzanne and Michelle.

In the ensuing years Peter and Jannys children attended Birkdale Kindy, Birkdale State School, Saint John Vianney's at Manly, Mount Carmel College in Wynnum and Iona College at Lindum.

Tragically, Peter and Jan lost Suzy in 1980 in a bicycle accident, a loss no parent can possibly dare to think of, let alone endure, like they have.

OVER many years Peter and Jan had a penchant for a bit of “property development”. This saw them buying /refurbishing/building/selling, shall I say, on a few occasions like, at Mount Cotton, Thornlands (3 times), Cleveland and Redland Bay. Note, the properties were always in the Redlands; Peter once said to me, “You’d be bloody mad to want to live anywhere else, wouldn’t you?"

On top of the property things they were doing, they also ventured into small business, first with a partnership with Roy and Judy in a fruit shop and health food shop in Cleveland then followed a produce agency at Beenleigh.

PETER ended up going back to his “old trade", the meat industry, when he joined Teys Brothers at Beenleigh, and later  Ambrosia Meats, where he was working when he retired due to health reasons in 2004.He passed away not long after from lung cancer in July 2004.

Over many years, Peter often spoke of the really nice people he has been associated with throughout his life and I would like to mention a few of them, I’m sure he would not mind.

Some of them are from early families in the Redlands. The Stariha boys,  Apps family,  Crabb family, the McCullaghs, the Cranes, the Finneys, the Bandieras, the Callaghans, the Manganos, the O’Briens (a must on Saturday morning for the tips),the Pattermores, the McLellands, the Boyles, the Franklins, the Barrs, the Schmidts, the McMillans, the Salles family, the Dickees, the Melrose family, Romaine and Kath.

PETER would not seek attention or credit; he was happy to live a good life; he loved family get-togethers and barbecues. He had a special spot for babies and children. He enjoyed a cold XXXX or a glass of chardonnay and he loved Aussie things such as fishing, vegie gardening, having a beer and a yarn at the bar and Slim Dusty singing, “Gum trees by the roadside, willows by the creek”.

I mentioned at the beginning he often pops up in our memories. Well, two classics for us are one, whenever we have a roast pork dinner, someone will say, "Make sure you leave enough crackling for Uncle Peter”. He loved it!

And secondly, if ever we’re outdoors for a picnic or camping and dark clouds start to form someone will bring up Peter's famous quote from years ago when the Cawthrays were camping at Bells Farm, “There will be no rain on this day of our Lord.” Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t!

Peter, after all this time, you are still sadly missed by all of us, not only, but in particular by

Jan,” Little Peter” and Michelle & their families

Eddie, Fay & Julie & their families

His Grandchildren, Nieces & Nephews

Jan’s Family