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You Must Wear a Mask
In 1918-1919, when the Spanish influenza pandemic swept the globe, Australians – with their peculiar sense of humour – devised unique ways of dealing with the apparatus and cures popular at the time. For example, hideous faces were painted onto the face mask, or kewpie dolls and huge wire spiders hung from the sides. However,…
Shopping in the Days Before Supermarkets
In the days before supermarkets, housekeeping had a pleasant leisurely and personal flavour. The Sunday joint was delivered by the butcher, who usually had time for a chat, at the back door – he used the tradesman’s entrance, of course. The Chinese market gardener went from house to house, carrying his vegetables and fruit in…
Lest We Forget . . . The Salvos
With Remembrance Day upon us, and marking 100 years since the end of the First World War, we pay tribute to the amazing work done during the war. Many millions of soldiers have served in war, and many lost their lives. Yet there were others who made brave contributions at the front, without even entering…
“Wymston”, Blackwall Point Road, Chiswick
A prominent Sydney physician, Dr George Fortescue, bought an estate on the Parramatta River in 1851. He named the area “Chiswick” after the village on the Thames River and his home “Wymston” after the Fortescue family estate in Devonshire. Blackwall Point Road was laid out in the late 1870’s but few houses were built in…
The People on Australian Banknotes (final)
Reverend John Flynn Reverend John Flynn (1880-1951), born in Moliagul, Victoria, was a Presbyterian minister who was instrumental in founding what is today known as the Royal Flying Doctor Service. In 1911, at age 31, John was ordained into the ministry. He volunteered in rural areas and completed a survey of the Northern Territory, writing…
Back in the Day (2) . . . Everyday Life and How it Was Lived a Hundred Years ago.
Preserving Food: Have you ever heard your grandparents call a refrigerator an ‘icebox’? Have you ever wondered what an ‘icebox’ was? How did people keep food fresh back in the old days without modern preservatives and refrigerators and all that fancy stuff? You probably thought they were talking about the little box you take on…
