Continuing the theme of my previous post with memories of summer, I’ve selected this time some excerpts from oral history interviews focussing on milk in summer – keeping it cool (or not) and drinking it. Pat Connor was a dairy Read More …
General stores were a central feature of most country towns. They provided a wide range of goods and services, and were run by local families. The general store in Meadows, in the Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia, was built Read More …
As the school year comes to a close and we approach the summer holidays, it is interesting to look back over some of the pastimes that children used to enjoy – many of which were outdoors. Barry Ellis grew up Read More …
Some of the funniest stories I’ve come across in oral history interviews have been about attempts to get to a sporting match on time. Not all attempts have been smooth sailing! Allan Hartwell talked about how his Meadows B grade Read More …
When we take the time to stop and enjoy our surroundings, we can be richly rewarded with beautiful sights that leave lasting memories. In 2008 I was fortunate to interview Lyn Bartlett, a keen bird watcher. She described for me Read More …
There’s something special about having the opportunity to design and plant a new garden. But how does one choose what to plant? What style of garden? And how does the garden evolve with time? Lyn Bartlett and her husband moved Read More …
In an earlier post I introduced Sam Smith, the blacksmith who wrote poetry. Sam was born in 1870, and worked as a blacksmith in Meadows, in the Adelaide Hills, for at least 50 years until about 1953. He died in Read More …
Blacksmiths used to be very important members of local towns, making tools, shoeing horses and repairing farm equipment. Anthony Brookman was 94 when I interviewed him in 2008. He could remember travelling as a boy from his family’s property, Burbrook, Read More …