Jack’s shock family history

By Jennifer Kent

FROM the shock discovery of his father’s history upon his death, came the inception of what would decades later turn into Jack Wilcox’s seventh and final published book, ‘Unwed and Pregnant – 1903: Annie’s story’.

Perhaps a little left field in Jack’s anthology - his previous works touching on the history of Maleny through Rotary, tennis and weather, as well as his autobiography about his longspanning career in Government - ‘Unwed and Pregnant – 1903: Annie’s story’ is about the horrific treatment of single mothers by society, government and the church around the turn of the twentieth century, torn between seeing the need for help but fearful of being accused of supporting immorality. A want to explore his own family history led to years of research which was initially intended to be limited to just one article for his family, however, with a history many others potentially share, Jack felt it was a topic worth delving

“It’s a story, a history, and a local contribution which would otherwise be lost,” he said adding that one author he researched asserted that ‘everyone’ has at least one ancestor of dubious parentage.

Upon his father’s passing, Jack went into the office of the Sydney Morning Herald, to put a notice in about his death. To Jack’s surprise he learnt his father’s name was not, in fact, Wilcox and he was registered as the bastard child of spinster Annie Murphy; Father not known.

All the players in this saga are now dead; the rawness of this discovery has healed over time and Jack has left it to his 90th birthday to publish this story.

His last book, about a father he loved dearly.

“My sister researched a huge amount into the Wilcox family for family circulation,” Jack explained.

“But the more I research it, the more it revealed about the hate and shame these women endured.

“I made many enquiries, and researched dozens of references to the way in which women in Annie’s position were treated [young, unwed and pregnant] to produce this slim volume.”

As Jack learnt, the options for women of that time were very few, however Annie was one of the lucky ones who, although found herself unwed and pregnant at 23, had a stable family relationship.

“The full blame for the pregnancy was given to the mother and at the time the shame was so great that there were few options available to these mothers,” he explained.

“What became popular at the time was infanticide. The other options were ‘baby farms’ or they were taken by the Government and adopted out.

“It was shocking treatment and for many of these women, they were forced into prositution as the only means to provide for their child.”

Jack shared that since Annie’s time, “the full emancipation of women has stalled - it is still a work in progress”.

This slim volume is a limited, numbered edition which will not be reprinted. Copies will be available at Rosetta Books and Maleny Bookshop.

Weekly Card Night - CWA Hall

DO YOU like playing cards but don’t have anyone to play with? The Beerwah community card group meet weekly to play 500 and Canasta. Card games such as canasta offer brain boosting power by stimulating higher functions in areas of the brain, while playing games with others provides valuable social interaction and helps combat social isolation.

You are invited to join your local card night at the QCWA Hall, Simpson Street, Beerwah. Every Thursday night from 6.45pm to 10pm. The community card group has been running in excess of 10 years at the QCWA Beerwah hall, and new players are always welcomed. The cost is $3 per night with supper provided by members in turn.

For further details please email: qcwabeerwah@gmail.com

Story Dogs visit View Club

Contributed by Janet Kitchin

GLASSHOUSE Country View Club held their February lunch last week – during the meeting vacant committee positions were filled for the year by Glenda who continues as assistant treasurer and now also delegate, and Janet who continues as publicity officer these positions were officiated over by President Sandra who is now our Sunshine lady also.

Our guest speaker was Maree from Story Dogs who gave a very interesting talk on their work. This organisation

Valentine’s Day at Maleny Dairies

Contributed by Janette Barnes was formed in 2009 in NSW and now 600 volunteers with their dogs assist children in schools to gain confidence in their reading skills by reading to dogs. This is a self-funded organisation with sponsors paying for books, insurance and whatever else is needed to enable them to function. 3,000 children each week benefit from this scheme in 358 schools. Thank you Maree for talking to us – a certificate of thanks was presented to her by club member Esther. On the 1st March we will have an outing to Caboolture Art Gallery where we will meet at 10.15am – the current exhibition includes “The Tulip Project” this will be followed by lunch at The Coffee Patch Café.

THE GLASSHOUSE Country Senior Citizens Club had their first meeting for 2023 on Valentine’s Day.

It was great to catch up with other members and to make plans. The highlight of the meeting was an informative presentation by Sally and Ross from Maleny Dairies. We all had delicious samples of fruit yoghurts and custard. Subsequently, there is now scheduled a barbeque and tour of Maleny Dairies in the near future. Watch this space as more trips are being planned!

After our meeting, we adjourned to the Beerwah pub for lunch.

Next month, our guest speaker is Nikki Breslin, who will impart her considerable knowledge of all things herbs and spicesincluding their beneficial remedies.

GCSCC meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 9am, Beerwah Community Hall. Please contact 0448 762 637 for further information, seniors 50 and over, are very welcome.

Any ladies who are interested in coming along to one of our events or would like to join our club should contact either Adrienne on 0408 486 124 or Janet on 0448 845 303. www.view.org.au

CWA International Womens Day

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The QCWA Beerwah branch is proud to be hosting an IWD Breakfast on March 8th from 7am to 9am at the QCWA hall in Beerwah.

The theme for IWD 2023 is #EmbraceEquity for the social, economic, cultural and political advancement of women. The breakfast event is limited to 25 to ensure an intimate experience and will be fully catered featuring delicious and healthy homemade recipes inspired by the QCWA Country Kitchen initiative.

You are invited to join the QCWA Beerwah members and their inspiring panel of local women for discussion and a delicious hand prepared breakfast.

QCWA member Gail Farlow, and local businesswoman will facilitate the special guest panel; Emily Sweet – Complex Manager, Bunnings Caboolture, Lyn McDonald – Principal, Beerwah High School, Patsy Lee – President, QCWA Nambour and North Coast division, Jenny Broderick – President, Glasshouse Mountains Chamber of Commerce and Dana Thompson - First Nations Community Development Officer at Caloundra Community Centre.

Limited tickets available: https://www.trybooking.com/events/ landing/1006452

Council doing its job

FEELING rather strongly about the recent closure of the iconic One Tree Hill wedding photography venue, I felt compelled to pen a letter of complaint to the Council.

Within a few days, a representative from Council rang to explain their position and duty of care and once you have the other piece of the puzzle, it all makes sense.

I now feel obligated to write to the paper to offer a more balanced perspective on what I can see is a rather “hot potato” (and one-sided issue) for many people.

The wedding photography per se at the venue was never the issue!

So, what was, you may ask?

The two complaints arose from a misuse of the intended purpose of the venue – AND without the consent or knowledge of the property owner(!!)

What could possibly be going on?

The problem that has developed over time is that this very popular site has morphed into much more than just a beautiful site for wedding photography –but for the wedding service itself(!!)

That is a commercial venue and, as such, needs a special licence.

Council has to monitor and assess the likely risks and hazards of the increased traffic (and pedestrians) to the area –with many vehicles being parked at the side of the narrow road in places where vehicles are not supposed to park (as well as pedestrians crossing where cars don’t expect to see them).

Council has a duty of care to 1) investigate; 2) educate; and 3) to seek compliance in areas especially those infringing on health and safety areas.

NB: the land owner chose to withdraw their venue from any further use as a site for wedding photos – NB: it was not council that ordered it to be shut down.

Further, Council stated that the report re: “tens of thousands” of dollars in donations being sent to local charities is a fabricated claim and is more in the order of hundreds of dollars.

So, it pays to fact-check everything –especially those issues which easily stir up community sentiment and dissent – I have learnt my lesson.

PS. I too am one of many who has had a family member choose to use this beautiful One Tree Hill venue for their wedding photos.

Another revision

Lynda Utting Beerwah

David Lowry (GC&M News 14 Feb 2023) comments on my previous letter stating that I am “confusing weather and climate” when I said that average global temperatures have actually cooled over the last eight years.

There is a natural climate explanation for this as 2015/16 was a hot El Niño year followed by three La Niña years which have caused global cooling.

The 450+ billion tons of manmade CO² emitted over those eight years strangely caused no warming at all.

According to the IPCC, manmade CO² is only 5% of all natural CO² emissions but as the natural system is in equilibrium, humans are causing most of the warming.

This is debatable as unpredictable volcanic eruptions including undersea volcanoes which we have little knowledge of, emit vast amounts of CO² and other gases which randomly affect the climate.

It is now well established that the extra CO² in the atmosphere is greening the earth and plant and tree growth measured by satellite in 2016 showed a 14% increase over the previous 30 years so it will be much more now.

Recent studies show that evapotranspiration from increasing vegetation growth causes more clouds and rain which also help to cool temperatures.

As David says, “climate science is alive and well”, when it is constantly revised.

Sel Hopley Maleny

Cult in tact

I note over the last few weeks in the paper that the local chapter of the global warming cult have been feverishly in research mode as they desperately look for anything that can back their Global Warming theory. The most recent piece of gold that they have found is that one year in the recent past was average just over .5 degree celcius warmer that other years. Good for them, the cult remains in tact and they have proven the science with out doubt. WOW.

Shane Daly Peachester

Perpetuating myths

Shane Daly (GCMNews 7 Feb) listed 12 instances of “climate alarmists” supposedly getting it wrong. If Shane’s aim is to make me think that all climate projections (particularly alarming ones) should be ignored, he will have to try harder.

None of the headlines are derived from scientific publications—they are all journalists’ click bait.

And much of it is misleading or irrelevant.

For example ozone depletion was truly alarming in 1974, but politicians,