Dear Relatives and Friends,
Another year is almost over and the Festive Season is upon us.
For me it is significant, as my first year out of school, and more significantly, a year without Harold. It has been the year of the bottle story; my fledgling return to my local history research , and a year of very diversified activities.
I celebrated my January birthday in Wollongong with lunch with Rhonda , Kevin and Christine. I had many trips to Coffs Harbour in January to empty the villa –Maree, Mary and Christine came with me on some of the trips.
Christine and I drove to Coffs on February 21 and called into Wingham on the way home to catch up with my relative Sandy and her husband , Ray.
In early March ,I made contact with the Professor of IT at Sheffield University . He is writing the history of Harold’s champion winning Yorkshire football team from 50 years ago – next year he plans to launch the book on the date from 50 years ago, that the team won the trophy . There will also be a celebration dinner.
On March 4, I caught up with John Bingham to sort out Harold’s Memorial Football Award with Dapto Dandaloo Football Club ; Christine and I then attended the March 10 pre-season launch of the Football Club at Dapto Leagues Club.
I was invited to attended Kogarah Council’s International Womens Day Breakfast at Carss Park on March 8.
On March 13 , I had my initial contact by phone with Mark in Albany, Western Australia – this was to be an important contact in view of what was to be my Bottle Story. Margaret and I enjoyed my retirement luncheon on March 23 at Pendolinos in the Strand Arcade, Sydney.
A Notice of Motion, of which I was the subject , was tabled in the NSW Upper House on March 27 ; I was presented with this framed Notice of Motion at an afternoon tea in the Sir Henry Parkes Room at Parliament House on March 29.
On April 17, I flew to Perth to stay with Anne, my school friend . Then on April 18, I flew Skywest on to Albany where I stayed for a few days. On April 19 ,100 years to the day that my Scottish Grannie sailed past Albany, Western Australia, I went 60
nautical miles out to sea to put a bottle overboard with my Grannie’s history in it . ( I have my Grannie’s 100 year old log ) Mark and Jenny took me out to sea in a 50 foot boat . There was a 4 metre swell in the Southern Ocean – it was exciting, very rough, and certainly not an adventure for the faint hearted. I did not get sea sick .
My wine bottle unfortunately surfaced again after maybe 31 days at sea at Bremer Bay, 180 miles east of Albany on May 21. It was found as flotsam on the beach by a Perth fisherman, who lived one street away from my cousin, Rosanne in Jane Brook , Perth . Russell and Raelene contacted me and asked me what I wanted to do with the bottle –“ keep it as I am coming to Perth to collect it.”
On April 23 I visited, with Ken, the Church and Manse in Balmain . The Rector very kindly showed us through – my Grannie married in the Manse on April 24, 1912, a day after arriving in Sydney. My grandfather arrived 3 years prior to her.
Christine and I left for Coffs Harbour on April 24 –staying at Tiona Park and attending the country race meeting in Tuncurry on Anzac Day . On the return trip from Coffs we stayed overnight in Taree.
I attended the Sydney Theatre Company on May 12 to see Yes Prime Minister .Ramsgate Primary School invited me to present a speech at the School Council presentation on May 11 .
Annabella, my yellow 1980 Toyota Corolla, was reluctantly posted for sale on May 14 on the Toyota Car Club site. She and I had been happy companions since February 1981. Annabella left me with my shedding of tears, at 2pm on June 2 for her new home . She had been driven 340,808 kms in my care and had never let me down . The new owner, who is an apprentice mechanic , is doing the car up to show her at the Toyota Car Club. I have been promised that I can see Annabella again on June 2 2013.
On May 23 I attended a luncheon at the Police and Justice Museum – Andrew Tink, a former MP, gave the guest talk on Lord Sydney. Maree and I travelled to Newcastle on May 26 and 27 for the weekend. – we enjoyed the sights of Newcastle.
June 10, I saw Nutcracker On Ice at the Capitol. I attended a luncheon at the Swiss Hotel on June 11 to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. On June 15, Maree and I attended the English National Ballet at the Concourse in Chatswood.
On June 19, I made contact by phone with a Bass Strait fisherman . I needed to discuss with him if Bass Strait was the correct place to recommit my bottle to the ocean. I have had many conversations with Geoff over the past 5months or so –ultimately he said to me to try Eden , as he feared that the bottle would wash back in again . My trip to the Prom/ Bass Strait will now take place in mid 2013.
I contacted, in early July, the CSIRO in Hobart to seek their advice. Dr Griffin, one of Australia’s leading oceangraphers, told me that the bottle needed to be recommitted at Eden, so that the East Australian current would push it forward.
June 26 Trish, Claire and I had lunch at Brighton Le Sands RSL. On June 27 I caught up with Kathlyn for lunch in Brighton Le Sands . July 1 Kathryn and I had lunch at the Concourse in Chatswood , and on July 5 Christine and I attended a function at Parliament House to recognize the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
On July 8 ,Christine and I watched Dapto Dandaloo Fury play at their home ground . Karen , Harold’ daughter joined us for the match in which the Under 21’s showcased their talents. Unfortunately, I did not get to see them win the Grand Final, as I was in Eden.
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Kathryn and I attended Barry Humphries’ Eat Pray and Laugh at the Capitol Theatre on July 13 . A wonderful night to farewell Dame Edna ! And on July 26 Angela , Phillip and I attended The Mousetrap at The Sydney Theatre Company.
July 17 I photographed the last remaining group of Moorefield stables in Burlington Street , Monterey. Kirsten , Rockdale Council’s Local History Librarian also photographed the stables on August 2 2012. They were to be demolished in late August.
On July 27 I flew to Perth to reclaim “my bottle “ from Raelene. This took place after lunch on Saturday afternoon , July 28 in Swan View , Perth . Raelene had taken the bottle back to Perth wrapped carefully in her sleeping bag! I carried it back across the continent in a towel.
August 4-9 I was in Darwin for the Darwin Cup on August 6, and to see some more sights. On the morning of the Cup, August 6 I had to give consent to the vet in Wollongong to put my wonderful Cavalier , William down . It turned out that he had tumours on the windpipe. William has been with me since March 17 2002-he was a scallywag and a loveable character. William was buried on August 11 near Angus McTavish, who died in mid -2008.
My friend, Carmel made sure that I had a good time in Darwin given the difficult circumstances. The Darwin Cup was great – racing Northern Territory style. It must be the only racecourse in Australia where patrons are invited to dance on the race track at the end of the day’s racing .
In mid -August I was finally back to my Moorefield work – finishing the Council Minute Books. The next job is to check dates on Trove,a historic search engine . ( I have had so many interruptions to my work this year)
September 8 was Council Elections in NSW. Claire and I helped a friend of mine to be re-elected by walking many kms in letterboxing in the weeks beforehand.
September 15 Marilyn and I did an interesting walk around Oatley This had been organised by Kogarah Council’s Local History Librarian.
On September 18, I said goodbye to my old year 11 class – now Year 12 at St George Girls. I had seen them last on June 26 to wish them well for the Trial HSC- their final year flew by.
On September 27, Maree and I left for Nowra for an overnight stay and then travelled south for Eden – an extraordinary week . On Sunday September 30, I put 2 bottles out to sea off Eden . At 5.45am on September 30 Richard, the deckie and I were on our way out to the Continental Shelf ; 16 nautical miles to sea. It was much smoother sailing out of Eden –in the distance you could see the spray from the humpback whales, who were travelling to Antarctica. The albatrosses and mutton birds from Siberia were overhead . A very special and unique environment ….
One bottle contained my Grannie’s history, and the other contained my great grandfather, William Field and Harold’s history –as they both came from Wakefield , West Yorkshire, England. I included an acknowledgement in the bottle to my beautiful Cavalier, King Charles Spaniel , William, whom I named after William Field .
At 8am, and 8.10am , at 37 degrees south my bottles were put overboard – hopefully they will stay in the ocean quite some time and end up on a Pacific Island or in South America.
In late September, I was contacted by Kogarah residents to lead the campaign to save Griffith House , a heritage listed property on the St George Hospital Campus. The NSW Health Department wants to demolish the building. The fight is ongoing.
I was honoured to do the presentation of Harold’s Rookie of the Year inaugural award on October 6 at Dapto Leagues Club . A 16 year, left half back, won the award – not bad when you play in the Under 21’s. The winner received a lovely certificate , a cheque, and a small trophy . Their name is also inscribed onto a much larger trophy.
Kathryn and I saw the exhibition and also heard the Curators talk on the Sydney Stadium at the Museum of Sydney on October 7 . On November 10 , Kathryn , Mary and I visited the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay.
On October 8 my new Cavalier , Harry, aged 3 arrived. He is absolutely gorgeous , a mischievous and an affectionate dog – both a good snorer and an excellent eater. Harry always wants a morning tummy rub-another pampered pooch.! Harold would have adored him.
October 29 was the one year anniversary of Harold’s Memorial Service. I went to the front of Primrose House , Dolls Point where Harold worked for some time during the 1980’s, and threw some roses into Botany Bay.
In late November, I made a quick trip to Perth to see my Aunt who is not well . Sadly the cancer , which was diagnosed 4 years ago, has now spread to her lungs. Joan was in good spirits when we caught up for lunch.
Next year will be one of disciplined historical research and writing for me. There is no “Bottle Overboard” to provide diversions – I trust that they are still happily bobbing along in the Pacific Ocean. Griffith House will have also been resolved .
May I wish you all the best for the Festive Season and a prosperous, healthy and happy New Year.
Best Wishes ,
Anne
