Sixty Not Out – January 2014

An update from Fifty Not Out

The 50th year progressed well -60 was some time in the future……. I knew that I had to face the acknowledgement of my 50th. My gift to myself was a Huon Pine cabinet, which I had made by a craftsman in Stanley, Tasmania. It was freighted by sea to Sydney, and finally arrived in May 2004.

My birthday luncheon was held at Bistro Fax, a café in the Radisson Plaza Hotel, Sydney in early January 2004.   My guests donated money, which was used to buy gifts for World Vision – 1 cow in Cambodia, 12 chickens in Ethiopia, 2 blankets to Uganda, 1 bicycle in Vietnam , and 1 sewing machine to Ghana.  Bonnie, and I celebrated our January birthdays with Harold at the Novotel Hotel in Coffs Harbour. Bonnie gave me a lovely necklace, which was the page of a book – very symbolic of my future career.

Harold and I travelled, in mid- January 2004, on the 3rd sailing of the Spirit of Tasmania from Sydney. Upon our late arrival in Devonport, Tasmania we then had to drive to Stanley in the north west. We had the opportunity to travel to Strahan to do the West Coast Railway, and to see other sites on the West Coast .One night we did a tour in Stanley to look at the baby penguins.

My Dad, after a number of strokes, announced in March 2004 that” he was coming to live with me. “

On February 25,2004, I learned that I would not have to contest the March 27, 2004 Council election. I had been returned to Council unopposed. The new Council could only be an improvement on the previous one.

My Dad was 90 on July 11, 2004. Twenty one guests attended his surprise birthday party, which was held at my place.  I organised with the Southern Sydney Early Holden Car Club for a red and white 1961 Holden   to take him to Kurnell and back .(My Dad had owned a 1961 Holden, 2 tone grey,  until late 1990) Christine accompanied my Dad, and I travelled in another vintage car, which was owned by a friend.

I was guest speaker at the Old Girls Dinner at my old school, Hunter Girls High School in Newcastle on September 18 2004. My topic was “My Life After School “.

My Dad fell and fractured a bone in his back in late January 2005. His villa was sold in April 2005,   and by June 2005, I had the huge job of emptying the property .

In late May 2005, I almost lost Annabella, my 1980 Toyota Corolla, in a nasty car accident at the top of my street.  I found a wonderful panel beater, who did a brilliant job in putting her back together again. We were still dutifully attached at 318,500lkms.

On October 29, 2005, I attended the reunion of the 1985 HSC class from St George Girls. High School.

Kogarah Council’s new Library opened on November 26 ,2005.  I strongly supported the Library, and was delighted that it had finally been built.

Time was taken up increasingly with matters to do with my Dad during 2006. On September 26 2006 he was admitted to St George Hospital with what appeared to be a broken bone at the base of the spine.  He went to a Nursing Home, then changed to another Nursing  Home – I brought him home on Melbourne Cup Day,  as he was so distressed.  It was a very difficult journey from this time forward.

I enjoyed my birthday in January 2006. Christine and other friends joined us to visit the Viking Exhibition at the Maritime Museum and to lunch in the Queen Victoria Building. The next day I was on a tour of the MS Statendam, a cruise liner in Sydney for the first time; at night time I attended a Sydney Football Club match . A somewhat different birthday…..

In January 2006, I visited Coffs Harbour and attended the Navigators Cup with Harold on Botany Bay,   January 21, 2006 to recognise Australia Day. In late April 2006, Harold and I visited the Outrigger Resort at Salt, and attended the Anzac Day Service at Kingscliffe.

I attended the 90th Anniversary of St George Girls High School at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre in April 2006.  It was a pleasure to see so many of my former students at the function.

On May 12, 2006, I was honoured to receive an Edna by WEL for Services to Women in Local Government  .

I completed 2 Chapters of my Moorefield Racecourse History for the inaugural Ron Rathbone Local History Competition . The presentation was held on June 3, 2006 at Lydham Hall, Bexley.   (Ron died in early January 2007; I had served on Council with him from 1991-1999)

Whale watching out of Sydney Harbour took place in early July 2006 – a magnificent experience.

October 28, 2006, I attended the 20 year reunion of the 1986 girls from St George Girls, High School.

November 3 , 2006, Christine and I attended the prestigious black tie farewell at Old Government House in Parramatta for the Honourable Barry O’Keefe, President of the National Trust.  This was a memorable evening to recognise someone, who has a passion for heritage, and the advocacy skills to lobby and network to achieve results.

Mavis Field, a relative by marriage, died on October 26, 2006 at 90 years of age. I flew to Melbourne to attend her funeral , which was held on Tuesday , October 31 , 2006.( Mavis was my link to my great grandfather’s third wife)

January 2007, was huge blur for me due to my father’s declining health. My Scottish cousin, Pauline was here from Norwich , England with her partner, Dave to travel, and to see the cricket . I made a quick visit to Melbourne to join them for a one day cricket match at the MCG.

My Dad had had enough – he was blind, hard of hearing and had many other problems. He starved himself to death over almost one month, and I had to watch him do it.  I wrote a moving Eulogy for my late father. The Leader newspaper printed an obituary on February 15,2007.

I had to begin the journey of accepting my Dad’s passing and this has been unbelievably hard. I miss his  guidance, direction and ability to talk about many things.

March 18, 2007 I dressed up as a 1930’s lady to walk across the Harbour Bridge . A former Rockdale City Council colleague, and I walked across the Harbour Bridge to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Harbour Bridge.

I visited Coffs Harbour, April 9, 2007 and then flew to Perth on April 13,2007 for a few days . My school friend from Newcastle, Anne had relocated to Perth to live. I visited Adelaide on April 27,2007 and October 11, 2007.

I attended the Dawn Service at Martin Place, Sydney on April 25 2007. My Dad was an ex- serviceman, so I thought it a fitting tribute. He was based initially at Fort Scratchley in Newcastle, and then went to Darwin as a member of the Coastal Artillery after Darwin had been bombed.

On July 11, 2007, my late father’s birthday, I presented  2 chairs to the Salvation Army Home, Macquarie Lodge  in memory of my late father.  A presentation morning tea was held.

September 12 , 2007 the Social Science staff enjoyed a champagne afternoon tea at my place after school.  September 29, 2007 Moorefield Bowling Club was 50 years old, and I was invited to speak at their celebratory luncheon.

October 19, 2007 a friend and I flew to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup –I backed first and third in the Caulfield Cup. ( My parents had attended the 1947 Caulfield Cup, which Columnist , a Moorefield horse won . ) I was on a winning streak in 2007 – first and third in the Victorian Derby ; second in the Melbourne Cup  and I won the $5 sweep at school . Divine intervention from my late father …..

I announced my retirement from Kogarah Council in late January 2008 in the St George Leader.  I had sailed on a week – long cruise to Noumea on the Pacific Dawn on January 18 2008.

Travel during 2008 included visits to Adelaide on January 26 , early February  Coffs Harbour, Townsville on February 8 , June 6 to Adelaide , Coffs Harbour  October 7-8  and again on November 22-24.

On July 4, 2008 my tri Cavalier King Charles Spaniel , Angus McTavish passed away of heart failure. To this day, when I see a rainbow, I think of Angus McTavish – a beautiful animal.

On August 23, 2008, my Finnish penfriend since 1974, Ismo was in Sydney  on a business trip . We caught up briefly.

I ran as a number 2 in the Council elections in North Ward in September 2008. Unfortunately, my number one candidate, Chris, was not elected.

September 29 ,2008, I flew to Hong Kong for my first visit.  I enjoyed Hong Kong and also had the opportunity to catch up with Connie, a former 1980 HSC student from St George Girls High School.

October 2008 I attended the 20 year reunion of the girls I had taught in 1988 at St George Girls High School .

I was still involved in chairing the Volunteer Heroes Project for Kogarah Council throughout 2008. This project recorded significant people in Kogarah’s history over the past 40-60 years.

My birthday was celebrated with a lunch in Paddington with Margaret and Christine. January 5, 2009 I was in Coffs Harbour , and on January 16, 2009,I flew to Perth to stay with Anne.

January 23, 2009 Christine and I attended the 250th anniversary of Scottish poet, Robbie Burn’s birthday at a dinner in the City.

On April  7, 2009, Kogarah’s Volunteer Heroes were  successfully launched in the foyer of Kogarah Library.  Mark Norman, Library Manager and myself were invited to address Rotary Club of Kogarah on November 23 2009, in respect of this project .I also talked about Moorefield Racecourse.

May 25, 2009, I addressed Year 7 History at James Cook Boys High School .My topic was Moorefield Racecourse. This speech has been posted on my 2 web sites  :   annefield.net.au and annefield author.com.

June 21, 2009, and I went whale watching with Christine on a yacht outside of Sydney Heads. It was rough,  and  we saw plenty of whales.

July 13-15, 2009 I visited Genevieve in Adelaide and on July 24-26, 2009 Christine and I travelled to Shoal Bay, and to Canberra on October 14-15, 2009.

I submitted an entry to the Ron Rathbone History competition . I entered the history of my former unit in Dunmore Street , Bexley,  which I had lived in from 1977-1985.

Christine and I attended a National Trust fundraising function at Kirrribilli House  on October 24, 2009. And on November 1,2009, I took a former Rockdale Councillor colleague as my guest, to attend Jack Mundey’s  80th birthday in Leichhardt Town Hall .

2010 was the year of travel –Wagga January 7-8 ;  Canberra on February 27 for Art Exhibition Masterpieces from Paris ; Perth May 14-16, Coffs  Harbour  August  5-7  and September 18-19; September 27-October 1 Shoalhaven Heads; November 1-2  Melbourne Cup ; November 5-7 to  Perth ; and November 12-13 to Coffs.

During Heritage Week, on April 14, 2010, I did a behind the scenes tour of the Westin Hotel . On June 13 2010, I paid a visit with Marilyn and Ralph to the lights in Macquarie Street, Sydney. This was to acknowledge 200 years since Governor Lachlan Macquarie was Governor of NSW. On August 22, 2010, I attended the Macquarie Exhibition  at the State Library.  Christine and I flew to Melbourne on October 5 2010 for the Titanic Exhibition.   We caught up with Prue, my Melbourne cousin , who joined us for lunch.

I was nominated for the NSW Woman of the Year and attended a function on International  Womens Day , March 8, 2010 at Parliament House.  Joanne came with me as my guest.

On April 6, 2010, and September 21 ,2010, I was fortunate to be able to go to early morning track work at Randwick Racecourse. I was able to attend  with my girlfriend, Margaret , the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 2,  2010 . I backed first and second in the Cup. (My father  and I had attended  the 1988 Melbourne Cup ,where he backed the winner winner, Empire Rose.)

The World Cup was held in 2010. On June 14, 2010 Christine, Harold and I got up early to drive to the Rowers Club, Arncliffe to watch Australia and Germany play.

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2011 was to be a very eventful year. – Harold’s passing in late September, and my last year at school.

Christine and I visited Townville and Newcastle in January 2011. I was in Darwin in July with Anne, my Perth friend, and Harold; Melbourne in November   to visit Malmsbury for the 150th  anniversary of the Shire; and to Coffs Harbour, a number of times.

Harold became seriously ill in late July 2011, and was diagnosed  with cancer. I was with him when he died on September 30, 2011 at Calvary Hospital in Kogarah. My life was always going to be different as Harold and I had been together almost 36 years.  It was a very painful period of my life.

In October 2011, I attended both the 1980 and 1981 St George Girls High School Reunions.

On  September 19, 2011, I  taught my last year 12 class; in mid- November  2011 I wrote my last report ; and I taught my last lesson in mid- December  2011 – 36 years of teaching were at an end on December 20, 2011.

November 12-26, 2011, a friend stayed in Coffs Harbour. I travelled to Coffs with her by bus on November 12 , returning to Sydney on November 13.  I returned to Coffs on November 26 2011.

My birthday lunch in 2012 was held in Wollongong. Christine, Rhonda , Kevin and myself attended lunch at a local Club overlooking Lake Illawarra.

I made a number of trips by road or air to Coffs Harbour in early 2012.   Christine, Mary, Maree and Maria made separate trips with me.   Karen, Harold’s daughter and Rob travelled to Coffs as well.  Christine and I drove to Coffs in late February 2012, and stayed overnight in Wingham, so that I could catch up with Field family relatives.

On March 4, 2012, I met with John Bingham to begin to set up Harold’s Memorial Award at Dapto Dandaloo Fury Football Club in Wollongong.

March 12, 2012, 100 years to the day that my Grannie left London, I made contact with Mark in Albany , Western Australia.

I received a Notice of Motion on March 27, 2012 in the NSW Upper House and was presented with a framed copy of this by Shaoquett  Moselmane , MLC  on March 29, 2012 in the Sir Henry Parkes Room, Parliament House, Sydney.

On April 17, 2012, I flew to Perth to stay with Anne. April 18, 2012, I flew to Albany and went out to sea on April 19 ,2012 to put my bottle overboard ,60 nautical miles  south of West Cape Howe ,  the most southerly point in Western Australia. My bottle washed back in and was found by a fisherman on the beach at Bremer Bay, which is east of Albany.  My bottle contained my Grannie’s history .On April 23,2012 I visited the Manse in Balmain, Sydney- my Grannie had married here on April 24, 1912.

Christine and I drove to Coffs –staying at Forster en route and attending the Anzac Day Race meeting at Tuncurry.  We stopped overnight at Taree on the return journey and caught up with my Wingham relatives.

June 2, 2012 at 2pm Annabella , my 1980 yellow Toyoto Corolla was sold  to a young man, an apprentice mechanic, Kavel , who lived in the Blue Mountains . She had travelled 340,808kms in my care. I shed a few tears as Kavel drove her away; Annabella had been part of my life for a long time.

In early July 2012, I contacted the CSIRO in Hobart to seek their advice as to where I should recommit my bottle to the ocean .Eden was the response,  and so planning had to be undertaken for Eden…..

July 17, 2012 I photographed the last substantial remaining Moorefield Racecourse stables in Burlington Street Monterey. Kirsten Broderick, Local History Librarian at Rockdale City Council joined me on August 2 ,2012 to complete a more substantial photo shoot.

July 27, 2012 I flew to Perth to reclaim my bottle from Raelene, wife of the fisherman , who had found my bottle as flotsam on the beach at Bremer Bay, Western Australia.

August 4-9, 2012 I was in Darwin again –this time to attend the Darwin Cup on August 6 ,2012 and to see some more tourist attractions. Sadly, my beautiful William, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel , had to be put down on August 6 ,2012. I will never forget this day. William had been with me since March 17 2002; he was buried on August 11,2012 with the letter I wrote on the plane flying from Darwinto Sydney.  William, a scallywag, was a great dog, he had attitude…..

September 18,2012 I said goodbye to my old Year 11 class, who were now Year 12, and who were about to sit the HSC.

On September 27, 2012, Maree and I left for Nowra- for the bottle’s recommittal . September 30 2012 at around 8am two bottles were recommitted to the ocean out of Eden. Another exciting “bottle adventure”.

Local residents contacted me in late September 2012 in relation to Griffith House, St George Hospital campus. We had to mobilise quickly to form a team of committed local residents – Friends of Griffith House to fight to retain the property.

In early October 2012, I presented the inaugural Harold Ward Memorial Award at Dapto Leagues Club. This award was the Rookie of the Year Award for the under 21 football team.

On October 8, 2012, my new baby Harry arrived. Harry was a rescue dog – an absolute gorgeous Cavalier, a Blenheim, who soon fitted in well to his new home. He was given Harold’s birthday –May 28 and was named after Harold and Prince Harry.

In late November 2012, I flew to Perth to see my Aunt , who was terminally ill .

December 12, 2012 attended the ballet, Swan Lake at the Opera House.

December 19, 2012 marked 10 years since my mother’s passing.

I spent Xmas in Coffs  Harbour ; Trish, a friend from Tweed Heads joined me for a few days holiday in Coffs Harbour. Rob and Karen then came for a week’s holiday.

2013 started and I hoped for a better year. I celebrated my birthday with Ken, Nan , Phillip and Manuel  from Brussels , Belgium at the St George Motor Boat Club in Sans Souci.

I returned to Coffs Harbour in mid -January 2013.

On January 9, 2013 I met Peter , a heritage architect ,with whom I would work for many months,  along with 3 other people to produce an on -line heritage guide.  This guide was formulated as a result of the loss of the heritage building Griffith House, St George Hospital Campus in early May 2013. It was launched on November 10 2013 by Barbara Perry, Shadow Minister for Heritage at Linnwood House, Guildford.

The Griffith House campaign continued –this took up a lot of my time drafting letters to MP’s and  Letters to the Editor etc.

On February 5, 2013 I resigned from  Rotary after 24 years  ; having been  I believe, the first female President of any Rotary Club in Sydney, in 1991.

I received confirmation on February 23, 2013 of Harold’s football celebrations in Wakefield , Yorkshire, England . My ticket was booked for a May 16, 2013 departure and a June 11, 2013 return with a stop-over in Hong Kong.

Raine, my beautiful Cavalier , King Charles Spaniel passed away on March 31, 2013 – I had had her since September 16 2001. I adored her, and I miss her so much. She was a toffy- nosed Cavalier , who has given  me so much pleasure since 2001.

I wrote a letter, dated April 2, 2013, to Prince Harry to tell him, that my new Cavalier, Harry was named after himself and my late partner, Harold. I received a confidential reply, dated April 26, 2013,from Prince Harry’s Press Secretary.

Black Caviar raced at Royal Randwick for the last time on April 13, 2013. I did not make Randwick Races , as I attended Open Day at Tempe House.

On April 13, 2013 I met Jeanette at Tempe House. She later interviewed me in relation to my Bottle Story and a You Tube was made of my story . It was on public viewing on You Tube by late August 2013. The You Tube is titled “Anne’s Adventure “.

Annabella ,my old 1980 Toyota Corolla, went to car heaven on June 27,2013 . She was written off after a car accident in the Blue Mountains.  It was soul -destroying for me to see photos of her as a wreck ….

July 16, 2013 You Tube was set up ( by link )  and July 19, 2013 my blog annefield.net.au was set up .

I started swimming in early September 2013 –finally the get fit campaign ……

On September 12, 2013, I had the opportunity to attend with a few friends , an ATC Members only tour of the new stand at Randwick  Racecourse, Sydney.

October 27-30, 2013 were spent on the South Coast at Greenwell Point, near Nowra for a few days with Harold’s daughter, Karen .

I attended the 1983 St George Girls High School Reunion on November 2,2013 at the Motor Boat Club.

On November 10, 2013 two Heritage publications were launched at Linnwood House ,Guildford. November 18, 2013 my Heritage site, saveheritage,com.au was set up . The document appears on annefieldauthor.com , in the heritage section.

Early November 2013 ,   Community Engagement Committee, St George TAFE Committee and in early December 2013 , I was appointed to Rockdale City Council Library Advisory Committee.

December 9,2013 You Tube of Anne’s Adventure reached 1000 views

January birthday, no 60 was celebrated in Newcastle at a wonderful  restaurant, Surfhouse,  overlooking Merewether  Beach . Maria and I had a 3 day weekend in Newcastle.

I am now moving along through the Sixties –hopefully  to be  my creative decade ……