A Landmark or Two …

A Landmark or Two … details the buildings constructed by Peter and David Rodger, many now heritage listed, several of them notable landmarks in their area.

Peter Rodger arrived in Melbourne in July 1885, aged 23 years, settling with his family in Williamstown. He established his construction company in 1889 to work on Government contracts in country Victoria. He and his brother David lived in the local towns and became part of the community by joining the local orchestra and giving charity performances.

The company continued to grow with major constructions including the Bairnsdale courthouse, Camperdown clocktower, Hobart GPO, Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station and St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane.

Vanessa Kiessling has brought together details of the many contracts the Rodger brothers undertook, illustrating them where possible with images both historical and current.

Heathmont Sketchbook

History and sketching are not necessarily linked. But they certainly can be linked, as is illustrated in this book, for history is not just research, it is also communication. It is a story of continuity and change, and everything has a story, and the story is to be told, and pondered over, and enjoyed.

Heathmont Sketchbook brings together 35 sketches and accompanying descriptive notes to depict in a very accessible format a range of aspects of the life of this suburban community in Melbourne's outer east—sporting facilities, parks, churches, schools, historic homes, shops and the suburb’s only factory.

With a useful map included, this book lends itself to being used as a guidebook to explore Heathmont.

Y (paperback edition)

Late one night Nurse Ann Chambers discovers a strange light being emitted by the Scarab her grandmother found while serving in the Middle East during WWII.

Following examination of the scarab Professor Adrian Black, an eminent archaeologist, realises the scarab must be returned to its place of origin. Setting out together they discover the resting place of the Egyptian Goddess Isis and are swept up in an adventure beyond imagining.

Along the way they learn the reasons for many myths and legends and are pursued by bandits to a hidden cave deep in the desert that contains wondrous ancient technologies …

Eagle and Lamb

Leonard Kentish. aged 35, was the only Australian captured by enemy forces in Australia during World War 2. In January 1943 he was travelling on a naval supply vessel in North Australia when it was bombed by a Japanese floatplane. The pilot, believing his superiors wanted information, landed on the ocean and captured Kentish. Why only one prisoner? Why him?

Within his story is that of his wife, Violet, and their son and two daughters. It describes her courageous struggle as a sole parent to raise their children during her three-year quest to find him and an account of the War Crimes tribunal that brought three criminals face to face with the consequences of their action.

Written by his son, drawing from family records and public sources, Eagle and Lamb combines personal memoir, history and biography.

“Noel Kentish’s book tells a powerful story, one of faith and love overshadowed, though not extinguished, by acts of bastardry almost unique in the Australian experience of war … it would be fitting if one day Len Kentish’s name, and those of his fellow civilians who died in the Pacific war, could be acknowledged in the national memorial to Australia’s war dead." – Prof. Peter Stanley, UNSW Canberra

Fighting for the Trees

Fighting for the Trees details the history of the Blackburn and District Tree Preservation Society since its inception in 1959 up until the end of 2016. During this period, far-sighted residents, initially in Blackburn, but ultimately throughout the City of Whitehorse, believed that community action, political lobbying and perseverance could, and would, preserve and enhance the local and wider environment for the benefit of all.

Whitehorse residents owe these people a deep sense of gratitude for the green and leafy character of Whitehorse today—a jewel in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Most of the material for this book was gleaned from the 230 or so tree society newsletters, and thus it salutes the newsletter editors for their sterling efforts in recording and reporting tree society activities accurately and conscientiously.

Seeing The Light

When the primary school rang to say her youngest son had collapsed, Sharon Simpson’s life was turned upside down. With five children at home and an increasingly distant husband away at sea for months at a time, she was struck with fear and paralysis. Why had this occurred to Jack? Why did Vincent escape? What does it mean for studies of identical twins when one so young is suddenly diagnosed with Juvenile MS, Cancer and Epilepsy?

Following a near death experience she became aware of something other than her own humanity. This awareness manifested as light, centred round the visionary Australian Religious Sister, Mary MacKillop and the extraordinary request from Jack to try and save himself. Supported by a community willing to stand up and support them, a tortuous pathway of human endurance was forged, culminating in a healing that was without precedent in human medical history.

All who knew Jack were overwhelmed by Doctor Kornberg’s amazing statement regarding Jack’s miraculous recovery, leading to Sharon, her children and a choir journeying to Rome for the canonisation of Australia’s first Saint, Mary MacKillop.

Weeds, Plants and People

What is the perplexing category of plants that we call ‘weeds? Why do some people spend so much effort trying to eradicate plants in certain circumstances, while other people nurture those very same species for food, medicine, or simple enjoyment of their beauty? Could there be a better way for us to live alongside the many wild plants we encounter in our gardens, farms and landscapes, than to wage war on them?

John Dwyer wants to change the way we care for our environment, how we connect with nature, and what we think and do about weeds.

Weeds, Plants and People traces the fascinating history of many common plants that we now treat as weeds. From the thistles and thorns that appear in the Bible, to the seeds eaten by Stone Age people, and the grasses and flowers brought to Australia by European settlers, the story of the relationship between people and weeds is a complex and intriguing one. Here it is told in a lively and engaging way for readers with or without botanical knowledge. Anybody interested in gardening, agriculture, the natural environment, medicinal herbs or cooking will glean a great deal from John Dwyer’s account of some of the most ancient plants known to humankind.

World War II Radar Station, Grassy Hill, Cooktown

During WWII, RAAF radars were erected, operated and dismantled under top secret conditions—No 56 Radar Station was installed on Grassy Hill, Cooktown. Personnel were sworn to secrecy … few people knew of their existence until long after the war.

This book brings together a 1996 paper written by the last CO, Flight Lieutenant Frank Sharp, and Ian McKellar’s own research into not only the technical aspects of radar but also the personnel involved, to honour No. 56 Radar Station and the men who served there. It gives a brief account of that station, and includes personnel lists supplied by the Office of Air Force History so that readers may be able to identify and give due credit to relations who were reluctant to recall their wartime service because of their oath of secrecy.

The William Gladman Story

Author Valmae Davenport, about The William Gladman Story, writes:

“This book has been in the making for over 20 years and every effort has been made to ensure information in this family history story is true. The information has been provided by various Gladman family members and legal historical recorded resources available to the public …

“Hopefully, I leave this as an historical record of a most remarkable family who managed to create a society of their own in a new land, Australia, in times of ignorance, intolerance, mind numbing poverty, wars, famine and depression. These pioneers turned adversity into success. They lived full and happy lives, raised children, who married and had their own children …”

Risk a Smile

Risk A Smile is the author's own selection of his poems addressing a wide variety of themes and ideas, and depicting a wide variety of styles—from haiku to long narrative poems; from observations of people to discussion of life issues; from gentle humour to touching emotion.

“David knows how to touch minds and hearts by what he says, often ever so subtly, about love, loss, the passage of time, human futility (symbolised by figures gambling their money away), and the parting of death … David’s poetry is always precise, powerful and subtly evocative.”

At Home

“A home is more than a house, it is a place where there is a loving and caring family.”

Alfred Prosser said to his granddaughter Marj that he had many homes during his life. The story of his parents, David and Martha Prosser, may explain his statement.

Brother and sister, Geoff and Jeanette Duggan have written the story of their great grandparents from their extensive family history research.

An Old and Respected Colonist

The names of the witnesses at the marriage of her great grandparents, James Ford and Hannah Sullivan, seen in the ‘Help Wanted’ column of  newspaper, led to Carol Darroch making a journey of discovery about her ancestor. An Old and Respected Colonist is a result of that journey, a story that touches on the earliest history of Portsea, on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula.

Together Again – In Print

In the final years of his life, Lin Freemantle recorded memories of his early life—largely for the benefit of his descendants. In his entertaining style, they form a fascinating picture of boyhood in rural Victoria in the 1920s and 30s, and the life of a young man during the war years.

Joan Freemantle has supplemented this with some quirky observations on life, and ended the book with her account of her husband’s final days.

The First Stage of Happiness

“The poetry of Jean Cornell is modern … the poetry of concentrated, descriptive, heartfelt and personal expression … As readers, we enjoy sharing feelings with her, yet we always know that really she is writing for herself, expressing herself in a way that is fresh and natural.” (Gerry Robinson)

Jean Cornell was born in 1935, but only concentrated on writing poetry after retirement from her career as a primary teacher and integration aide. This is her first book of poetry.

dreams from a suitcase

In his work, poet and dramatist, Joachim Matschoss converges on minute details of the actual world as he experiences it, but he also explores deeper and darker regions on his many real and imaginary journeys. It’s as if we have to play catch-up to stay in touch with this prolific, warm and playful voice.

his yelping suitcase

bursts with dreams in stock and store

who nicked the corkscrew?

(TERRY McDONAGH)

The structured form of the haiku in this new collection allowed Matschoss to create poignant snapshots of his journeys and experiences. (PAUL MURREY)

Poems and haiku rooted in ordinary life are at the heart of this new collection but there are also weird and amusing imaginings and observations that extensive travel seems to prompt. (FRANCINE McGLYNN)

Frederick S Cox

Frederick Stansfield Cox was born at the home of his parents in Taylor Street California Gully on 23rd January 1907 … Fred was ‘it’ so far as the spare parts department at Cowlings was concerned and was highly thought of by others in the trade. He was recognized for his knowledge of the numbers and names of Ford spare parts …

Beverley Wendelken, eldest child of Fred and Jean Cox, has written this biography of her father for “Fred’s grandchildren and great grandchildren who have already heard much of him, but also those generations who are still to come … They were not wealthy in a material sense, but rich in the things that mattered and they gave freely, not only to us as family but to all with whom they came in contact.”

Cheerio and love to all

The letters in this book were written between 1940 and 1961, mostly by Joan Ellemor (née Hooke) to her mother. Through her words we gain a valuable picture of life in Darwin, and on Milingimbi and other island mission stations during a significant period in the social history of this region.

It is a great tribute to Joan and her mother that the letters exist and have survived to tell Joan’s story.

“The strength of Joan’s faith emerges from her writings; a faith that survives the frustrations of mission administration, the dangers of war, and the challenges of living remote from services … she is an astute observer of life on the mission stations, especially the complexity of race relations.” Associate Professor Renate Howe AM

Looking Over My Shoulder – volume two

Not for public distribution.

This book traces the history of the author’s Maternal Grandfather – Joseph Reilly – starting with his Grandfather – Richard Taylor.

It is a companion to Looking Over My Shoulder which is a collection of family history and memorabilia of the Edwards and Weston descendants, the story of the author’s Maternal Grandmother’s family history (Olive Reilly, nee Weston).

Basil Watson – Pioneer Aviator

Today we take aviation for granted as a part of modern life. But do we know the stories of early Australian pioneers whose courage and commitment made flying possible?

Carole Winter has written about Basil George Watson who was one such pioneer and, as it happens, her ancestor. Basil led a courageous and action packed life as an early test pilot and flier at the time of the First World War.  Sadly he died all too young in pursuing his passion—aviation.

This is his short story.

Mutee Head Radar Station North Queensland 1942–1950

No 52 Radar Station at Mutee Head is unique because:

• It is the only remaining WWII intact radar station in Australia

• It is one of 145 stations established in 1942–45

• It is one of 32 sophisticated radar stations donated to Australia by the British

Here is its history related by Doug Dowe, a radar mechanic who served on this station in 1943 and two radar operators who also served here in 1944–45. Background information was collected by Ian McKellar, an historian who has specialised in RAAF radar stations of WWII.