Mount Morgan Argus Volume 14, Issue 2

VOLUME 14, ISSUE 2

13-27 FEBRUARY 2019

WWW.MOUNTMORGAN.ORG.AU

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY MOUNT MORGAN PROMOTION & DEVELOPMENT INC. ABN 21 391 526 801 | 1 RAILWAY PDE, MOUNT MORGAN, Q 4714, AUSTRALIA.

Spire Visit...Pg 2

Flag Flying... Pg 6

Collection hits 1/2 million...Pg 8

ALL WRAPPED UP AND READY

Story Page 2

GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL DINE IN OR TAKE AWAY MEALS

PH: 07 4938 1269

SPIRE VOLUNTEERS VISIT MOUNT MORGAN

Pictured above: Alexandra, Dana, Del, Sandra(behind), Allan, Helen (front), Sheryl, Karen, Fran, Kit, Gloria and Mount Morgan Visitor Information Centre volunteer, Ken Winter. Below: Rockhampton Regional Council Tourism Officer, Krystal Caton and volunteer Clare played a few tunes on the Beale Piano while on their Mount Morgan Visit.

Mount Morgan Visitor Information Centre and Historical Railway Museum hosted two groups of volunteers from the Capricorn Spire in January.

The Spire Volunteers were treated to a light morning tea, a guided tour of the musuem and the 3D

movie on the Rack Railway.

The Mount Morgan Visitor Information Centre is an accredited centre. The volunteers, as well as providing tours to museum visitors also supply information to organisations and individuals from around the world.

Providing information and tours to other centres is vital to maintaining the accuracy of information.

The groups visited various sites in Mount Morgan including the Pte Victor S. Jones Memorial Bridge, the Frank Golding and Arthur Timms lookouts.

Wrapped and ready From Front Page It’s not every day that a person can say, “I helped wrap a real-life railmotor and carriages”. But the painters from Swadling Painting Contractors, can.

Renovation works at the Mount Morgan Historical Rail Museum and Visitor Information Centre started on 4 February and one of the first orders of business was protecting the rolling-stock on the platform.

This involved wrapping the camp wagon, fettlers’ display carriage and railmotor in black plastic to protect it from damage and paint splatters while the contractors cleaned and spray painted the overhead steelwork. Renovations are expected to continue until mid to late April.

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS DISCLAIMER The Mount Morgan Argus is published by Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc, 1 Railway Parade, Mount Morgan. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishers. MMPAD reserves the discretionary right to alter, omit, reclassify or postpone publication of articles, photographs or advertisements in the Mount Morgan Argus.MMPAD takes all possible care with the publication of news, names and other information sourced by MMPAD representatives. It does not, however, take responsibility for erroneous information or spelling supplied by external sources. Please take care and ensure that information is correct and names are spelt correctly before submitting any items to this publication. MMPAD Executive

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MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

13 - 27 February 2019

13-27 February 2019

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

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FLYING THE FLAGS

MOUNT GETS NEW SUPPORT SERVICE Mount Morgan has a new health support service.

ITEC Health is a disability support service that operates in Rockhampton and Mount Morgan and is accepting enrolments for clients with a disability that are eligible for National Disability Insurance Scheme.

ITEC prides itself on the ability to deliver client focused disability support services and encourages people to visit one of the two offices in Mount Morgan and Rockhampton, especially if you have a loved one with a disability, ITEC Health is located at 59 Morgan Street in Mount Morgan and at 1/240 Canning Street in Rockhampton. Phone Jenny on 0436 621 870 for further information.

VALE - BRIAN DAVIES Recently we learned of the passing of Mr Brian Davies. Brian was the local chemist in Mount Morgan for many years, and will be fondly remembered by his friends and customers.

Mount Morgan Visitor Information Centre and Historical Railway Museum was recently presented with new Australian, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander flags by ALP Candidate for Flynn, Zac Beers (pictured above with volunteers, Pat Bandholz and Ken Winter).

The flag was presented on behalf of Senator for Queensland, Chris Ketter.

The previous flags could not be flown because their condition had deteriorated and according to the Australian Flag Flying guidelines, the flags can not be flown if in a dilapidated condition.

“It’s great to be able to provide new flags to community-based organisations,” Mr Beers said.

Phone 07 4807 5139 Open from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm 7 days a week.

Hot chips! Hand crafted Pizza from $5.00.

Phone and save time. EFTPOS AVAILABLE Page 4

Over the years Brian employed younger chemists, namely, Gavin Keyes, Duncan Stewart and Morrie Farmer, who I am sure valued his knowledge and help as they all went on to have successful careers in the Pharmacy industry.

Brian, with his pleasant personality and cheerfulness, gave service of the highest standard to his customers.

He was also actively involved in community organizations. To his two daughters and son and their families we extend our sincere sympathy in the loss of their Dad, a fine gentleman.

SANTA PHOTOS The Santa photos that were taken at the Christmas Magic are still available for collection at the Mount Morgan Visitor Information Centre at the Mount Morgan Historical Railway Museum.

These photos are free of charge

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

13 - 27 February 2019

13-27 February 2019

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

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Collection hits half million

REGIONAL CLINICS PROTECT DOGS Rockhampton Regional Council’s Microchipping and Vaccination clinics have seen hundreds of dog owners taking advantage of Council’s work to help keep dogs happy, healthy and safe. Over 250 dogs were microchipped and 376 vaccinations were administered across the four clinics that took place between October and February.

Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Committee Councillor Ellen Smith said the clinics provide C3 vaccinations against three core life-threatening viruses: parvovirus, distemper, and infectious hepatitis, as recommended by the Australian Veterinary Association.

Mount Morgan’s “Container for Cash” depot has now taken in over 500,000 items since starting on 1 November 2018.

The depot is located at the Golden Mount Store.

Owner, Kelly Webster said the half million mark was reached on 2 February 2019.

She said the response received over the past few months has been terrific with people from Mount Morgan, Wowan, Gracemere and even Rockhampton bringing their empty softdrink cans, bottles and popper containers into the Mount Morgan facility.

In November the depot processed 127,000 containers, 170,000 in December, 182,000 in January and the required 21,000 containers to make the half million was achieved on 2 February.

Pictured above: Lachlan Adams from Suez loads the January haul.

Festival News Welcome to 2019 from the Golden Mount Festival Association. We have hit the ground running this year, holding our Annual General Meeting on 12 January.

All positions were open, with some of the residing executives submitting their notice to resign at previous meetings to dedicate more time to their families.

Outgoing were Aaron DonaldPresident, Tillea Tull – Vice President, Kym Baker – Treasurer, Cassandra Donald Page 6

“We are really pleased with the amount of dogs we have been able to vaccinate and microchip. Our community is a proud community of animal lovers, but it’s vital that we all take responsibility to keep our pets healthy and safe.

“Across the Rockhampton Region there are now hundreds more dogs protected against life threatening viruses, and owners can take comfort in knowing that if their dog goes missing they will be very easy to find again thanks to the microchipping.”

Cr Smith thanked all the different agencies involved, saying the clinics wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration with community groups and local businesses. “I really do have to commend our Local Laws officers for pulling together such an excellent program, and thank those who have collaborated with us to make the clinics a success including Paws for a Purpose, Torenbeek Vets, and Alma Street Vets.”

– Secretary. All have selflessly served the community and have worked hard to keep the Golden Mount Festival alive over the past four festivals years, and their efforts are much appreciated, and we look forward to their ongoing assistance.

Due to limited members, it was touch and go as to whether there would be a Golden Mount Festival at all this year. Volunteers are few and far between, existing members have health issues, work, study and family commitments, and it was not expected that the event would take place! The reluctant MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

new committee comprises of Dianne Coburn – President, Kirra Swain – Vice President, Dick Needham – Treasurer, and Jess Hare – Secretary, and we thank them for stepping up.

The theme for this year’s event is “Out of This World!” Think UFO’s, alternate realities, fantasy kingdoms, space travel, futuristic earth, mythology, or legendary realms.

The Committee hopes to see lots of floats entered in the Festival Procession and Morgan Street Continued on Page 7 13 - 27 February 2019

Festival News... From Page 6

shopfront windows getting in on the action! The program will be released soon, and entry forms will be available in March from the website.

We hope the Mount Morgan community will once again, come out in droves to support this wonderful 42 year old event.

If anyone is able to assist in anyway, be it with muscles, time, logistics, prizes or sponsorship, or join up as a member, please contact us at goldenmountfestival@ gmail.com, or phone 0457 561 711.

Articles from Ray Young Over the next few editions of the Mount Morgan Argus, articles submitted by Ray Young, a former Mount Morgan resident, will be published. In the first edition, Ray establishes his ancestral links with Mount Morgan.

My (Ray Youngʼs) first link with Mount Morgan goes back to 1889 - nearly 130 years ago - when my great- grandparents, William and Mary Ann Bates, made it one of their whistle-stops, during their roughand-ready journey around south-east Queensland.

They, and four of their children - they eventually had 13 - were among the 645 passengers who made the 100-day, non-stop voyage from England on board the sailing ship, Great Queensland, which arrived in Hervey Bay on 27 June 1874. They were transshipped to Bundaberg, where they set up camp on the banks of the Burnett River. William was a London cabman, his father an ostler, and his father-in-law a wheelwright, which meant that he was well tutored and skilled in handling horses, harness and horsedrawn vehicles, giving him a head start in making the transition to an antipodean bushman.

Over time, William became a contract scrub-clearer, ringbarker, timber cutter, dam maker (earth ones, shaped using a horse and scoop), and bridge builder (at least one of which - near Miriam Vale - is still in use). To prove that he wasnʼt a slacker, he also worked in gold mines, contracted to gouge out railway cuttings (using a horse-and-scoop), and had a farm (known from the time he sold it, as Batesʼs Paddock) at Miriam Vale. William was consumed with wanderlust and roamed from Bundaberg, south to Kyogle, NSW, west to the upper Burnett, and north to Canoona, with Mary Anne and their everincreasing brood in tow.

Wherever they went they would set up camp on a creek bank (water was essential for survival); and it seems that at every creek they stopped at Mary Anne gave birth to another child. Six of the nine children born in Queensland had the name of a creek as their place of birth; one of the sons was my grandfather, Walter Bates - my motherʼs father 13-27 February 2019

- who was born at Brownʼs Creek, in the Caboolture district. The twelfth child was born on a creek-bank at the Canoona goldfield - in January 1887. A Birth Certificate shows that the thirteenth child, a daughter (my great-great-aunt) was born on 15 August 1889 at Dee River, Mount Morgan - no doubt in a bush camp of some sort, set up close to the river, that William would have knocked up in a trice. Sadly, the poor mite, named Mary Anne, lived only one day.

Why, you may ask, wasnʼt she born at, or taken to, the hospital? The short answer is there wasnʼt one: the Mount Morgan hospital didnʼt open until twelve months later, on 30 August 1890.

Although William suffered from silicosis (from working in gold mines at Kilkivan, Gympie, Canoona, Mount Morgan, Cania and Many Peaks), it should be fair to say that he flogged himself to death through sheer hard work. Remarkably (for those times) he lived till he was 82, dying in Baralaba in 1925. Williamʼs second-eldest son died in Mount Morgan eight years earlier (in 1917), the sixth of Williamʼs children to pre-decease him.

As for Mary Ann, the old saying that ʻadversity does not define character, it reveals itʼ, fits her to a T. A special medal should have been struck to honour her fortitude, strength of character, and steadfastness in the face of the unbelievable, unenviable hardship foisted on her through Williamʼs wanderlust. Mary Continued on Page 8

Mane Street Hair Studio 57a Morgan St, Mount Morgan

For Bookings: Phone: 4938 1261 Online: Facebook via the BOOK NOW button

Walk in's are welcome, but appointments are preferred

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

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Music and food It’s all about that base Hi, it’s Cambo from Cambo’s Cafe here. Just to clear the air. We have had a really rough start to opening the Cafe. From delays with opening through to the last few weeks where we had a person sabotage our shop by disabling the phone so people thought we were closed!

Now we look at clear sailing ahead and hope to get the support from our wonderful community. Our opening hours through summer are from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm seven days a week. We offer free wifi and toilet facilities and free ice water with no obligation. So if you’re passing by and want to listen to music, relax for awhile or have a cool drink, that’s all part of why we’re here.

MOUNT MORGAN WAR HERO Herbert Patrick Gordon Hare was a Lieutenant in the 3rd Brigade of the Australian Field Artillery.

He was born in 1877 in Waterford, Ireland and came to Australia as a child.

He worked in various places around Queensland before coming to Mount Morgan.

It was here he became a Minister of the Mount Morgan Methodist Church.

In 1914, at the age of 37, he enlisted in the Australian Army and was sent to France where he saw action.

He died on 8 August 1916 and is buried in Puchevillers’ British Cemetery (Somme, France).

Article supplied by Mount Morgan Historical Museum.

Ray Young Articles...From Page 7

died in Gladstone in 1907, at the age of 60. During the 33 years Mary lived in Queensland - with time at Kyogle, NSW, tossed in, for good measure - she gave birth to nine children, lost five of them (an unnamed, stillborn male child; a five-week-old daughter; her eldest son, who was accidentally shot; a son who, with his wife, perished in desert country while ʻrunningʼ the dingo fence, along the Qld.-NSW Page 8

Now Food - Our pizzas are the best. They are thirteen inches with the dough hand-made and rolled with fresh ingredients. Check out our menu on Facebook. We now can knock out a pizza in 10 minutes but order ahead as we do get busy. Phone: 4807 5139 We are open for breakfast lunch and dinner, and you will be served with a smile and good vibes. Hot chips are $5.00 per kilo served with gravy and cheese only $1.00 extra each.

Coming soon is our “Deep Fried Chicken” made with our own special batter. Some of you have had taste tests and the feedback received is that “it rocks”.

On Sundays Cambo’s will have music sessions with myself, Suzie and or invited guests. We are BYO so bring a bottle of wine, have a feed and enjoy. We look forward to seeing you at Cambo’s Cafe soon. Submitted by Peter Camm border; and her Mount Morganborn Mary Anne). In her years of meandering with William and her tribe of kids, the often-pregnant Mary endured the discomfort of travelling for days, over rough bush tracks to the site of Williamʼs next job, where she would have to set up camp and, somehow, feed her family. Knowing of Mary Annʼs life of hardships, I am apt to give short shrift to anyone prattling on about ʻthe good old days;ʼ and even more so those who disdainfully brush off the hardships endured by Mary and her ilk (which includes those who played their part in founding the town of Mount Morgan) by touting the lame excuse: ʻlife wasnʼt meant to be easy.ʼ We must pay special tribute to the likes of Mary Mackinlay who, in 1860 (thirty years before Mary Ann Bates set eyes on The Mount), settled in to a lonely existence on the Box Flat out-station of Hugh MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

Robinsonʼs Calliungal run, which was managed by her husband, William. Mary reared five children in the rough bush hut she called home and suffered, along with William, when his life was shattered through finding, then losing out on, the gold in Ironstone Mountain. What could well have become Mount Mackinlay became Mount Morgan instead.

My great-grandparents, William and Mary Ann Bates, and their tiny, short-lived daughter, Mary Anne, are my earliest link with the Mount - a link that came at a price: an unenviable mix of hard graft, adversity and sad times.

Above: Ray’s grandparents - MaryAnn Bates and William Bates.

13 - 27 February 2019

EVENTS CALENDAR

Curiosities Old and New

By Graeme Meade

Little Blue Bottle This is a little poison bottle dating from around the late 1880s to early 1920s; with my limited knowledge of bottles it’s hard to date it closer.

Around this time poison bottles were usually brown or blue. This bottle is about 10 cm tall and 3.5 cm square. Has on the front ‘Poison Row & Co Dispensing Chemists Rockhampton’ as well as a ‘R’ monogram in the middle, on the base is a stamped ‘W’. The W means the bottle was manufactured by Whitall Tatum Company, this was one of the first glass factories in America, and was in operation from 1806 through to 1938.

The bottle was made for Row & Co Dispensing Chemists Rockhampton, this shop was started by Mr E R Row in 1868 or 1880, and it was still trading in 1922.

The blue colour is Cobalt Blue, which is made by using cobalt oxide or carbonate into the glass melt.

Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc is currently gathering event listings for 2019. This events calendar will be a “living calendar” and will change as events are listed. This not meant to be an ultimate list of events, but rather an important planning tool to assist community organisations and bodies to plan ahead and avoid clashes where possible. This calendar will be posted on the Mount Morgan Community Noticeboard and on a monthly basis in the Mount Morgan Argus. Please email your events to mmpad@bigpond.com. Events will also be listed in the “Save the Date” column in the Argus.

3 March

Clean up Australia Day

Mid March

Fingerling Release

23 March 30 March

MMPAD - Progressive Dinner Gentlefolk Single-speed, Fixie and Old Bike Society Mount Morgan ride Easter Egg Hunt at Mount Morgan Railway (if renovations complete)

20 April 25 April

ANZAC Day

3-6 May 5 May

Golden Mount Festival Mount Morgan Rodeo

This blue colour has been used for thousands of years in glass and pottery and blue items are very popular still today for house décor.

6 May

Family Fun Day

11 May

St. Mary’s Mothers’ Day Cent Sale.

9 June

Sunday Bike Show and Swap Meet

To view the colour image of this bottle, visit www. mountmorgan.org.au where you’ll find the latest edition of the Mount Morgan Argus.

22 June 13-14 July

MMPAD Trivia Night CQ Crane Hire Gold Rush Hill Sprint

10 August

Mount Morgan Show

25 August

Legends and the Locals - Troy Cassar-Daley

7 Sept

Wattle Day

16 Sept

Start Buy Local Progam

7 Dec

Christmas Tree Festival

21 Dec

Christmas Lights Competition

Join Mount Morgan Promotion and Development for a

Progressive Dinner

on Saturday, 23 March 2018 Phone: 4938 2312 for bookings.

Bookings required by 18 March 2018 13-27 February 2019

SAINT MARY’S SENIOR CITIZENS VILLAGE COMMITTEE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Thursday, 14 March, 2019 at 4 pm.

Saint Mary’s Church Hall, Gordon Street, Mount Morgan.

New committee members welcome - for details phone 4938 1036 RHONDA RAMM (SECRETARY)

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

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THE ORANGE DOT

By Larry at Fox Video

Movie Review LADIES IN BLACK World-conquering Aussie Director Bruce Beresford (Driving Miss Daisy, Breaker Morant, Barry McKenzie and some 30 other feature films) had a good friend and co-student at Sydney University named Madeleine St John. Clever Madeleine penned a best-selling novel that was published in 1993, taking you by the hand and waltzing you back through time to a wonderful, funny and nostalgic place, Australia in 1959.

(1950’s fashions were terrific, as is shown in this lovely film and another recent fine coastguard adventure and true story starring Chris Pine called The Finest Hours. Bring them back I say...)

Bruce loved her book Ladies in Black and promised Madeleine that he would one day turn it into a film, hopefully a great one. It may have taken him almost 25 years but Bruce kept his word.

He wrote the screenplay for and directed a sincerely sweet bundle of nostalgic joy, which at the same time deftly deals with important social issues as relevant today as they were in 1959.

As she grows from a bookish schoolgirl into a glamorous, confident and positive young woman, the impact the Ladies in Black have on each other will change all of their lives forever.

Ladies in Black is set in the summer of that year, when the impact of European migration and the rise of women’s liberation is about to change Australia forever.

Leslie, aged sixteen takes a holiday job (where she prefers to be called “Lisa”) at the prestigious Sydney department store, Goodes.

Angourie Rice (Spiderman: Far From Home) is Lisa, Shane Jacobson (Kenny) is great as Dad, Susie Porter is the caring Dad-duping Mum, Rachel Taylor is Lisa’s friend Fay and Julia Ormond almost steals the show as the cultured sophisticate with the heavy Hungarian accent, Magda.

There she meets the “Ladies in Black” when she is assigned to assist sales ladies Patty and Fay.

The magnificent Noni Hazelhurst was nominated for the AACTA Best

Beguiled and influenced by Magda, the vivacious manager of the high-fashion boutique within the store, Model Gowns, Lisa is awakened to a world of possibilities, especially as she is accepted and swept up

by Magda’s urbane group of continental European friends

Supporting Actress Award for her role as Mrs Cartwright.

Ladies in Black is one hour and forty-five minutes inside the beautiful world of our parents and grandparents, and it is rated PG for “mild coarse language”.

Ladies in Black... Loved it!

YESTERDAY’S EDEN

by Pat Alexander - Part 7

The crystal wireless set needed a long wire aerial, but the main component was a small glass cylinder mounted on a board. At one end, a small metal toggle protruded from the cylinder and on its enclosed end, a fine loosely coiled wire called a cat’s whisker was bedded into the other end of the cylinder; a pair of earphones were plugged into the device and voila! Radio! It had a few drawbacks though, for even two Page 10

heavy footsteps nearby could dislodge the cat’s whiskers from the live spot and the culprit would become the butt of some sharp words from the listener. Since it was a one-person receiver Father sometimes committed a great sin of falling asleep while listening, snoring away with the headset clamped to his ears while Mother fumed.

His protests that he was just MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

resting his eyes were never believed. All that Mother heard on the radio she would recite to us the next day. All the plays, the serials and even the plots of operettas were passed on.

Our handsome new radio ran on three dry batteries renewed yearly and an accumulator that had to be recharged every two weeks. One night when I was in my late teens Continued on Page 14 13 - 27 February 2019

Pride in Your Town

This edition is a little history of the Archer Brothers, Gracemere and the Archer family. The history of this one family is astounding.

The Parents, Mother Julia and Father William were of Scottish decent and they traded with their own ships as timber merchants.

In the long and costly war with Napoleon many of their ships were sunk and so they left Scotland and immigrated to Norway where they raised nine sons and four daughters.

They brought their sons up to seek their own fortunes in the world – chiefly in Australia.

The first son to arrive was John in 1833 and after his management of a sheep station with his brother Thomas, John soon returned to his occupation as a sailor and lost his life at sea.

David who managed a sheep station in Queensland around the Woodford area of today handed over the management to brothers John and Thomas. David after guiding the family business for almost twenty years returned to Norway and did not return to Australia. John of course went to

sea. Thomas went on to become Agent General for Queensland.

Charles and William received extensive knowledge from Dr. Leichardt and then decided to go on an exploring trip in Queensland. The most northern settlement at that time was at Rannes. The brothers journeyed on going a little east and then came aross and followed the Dee River (which they called the Stanks for its smell) till they came to the Dee Range. From this point the noble panorama opened up their eyes. They saw a large river and named it the Fitzroy, in honour of the Governor of the Colony, Sir Charles Fitzroy. The brothers descended the Range making towards the river and of course came to what is now Gracemere.

After making camp at Gracemere they pushed on exploring the river and coming to the rocks were delighted to view such an expanse of water. (Of course we know the Fitzroy is the largest river on the East coast of Australia).

The name Gracemere (mere, a Scottish word meaning lake) originated because Thomas Archer’s wife was called Grace.

The brothers realized it was an ideal place for their sheep station and so Gracemere begins. The Archer Brothers were pioneers of the area and it is fitting that Mount Archer is named in their honour and the statue of Charles, on his horse at the front of the Pilbeam Theatre recognises his input into the city of Rockhampton.

It was Colin who constructed the homestead at Gracemere and developed the magnificent gardens. The homestead was an L-shaped building facing the lagoon.

It had a living room with fire place, bedrooms, dining room, pantry and of course the furniture was of the best timber.

Sadly, today the homestead and gardens need attention.

Colin also explored the Fitzroy River by buying The “Ellida” a 13ton ketch and found the mouth of the Fitzroy and was the first to navigate the entire river. After his Australian adventures Colin returned to Norway and became a successful shipbuilder. The other brothers, Archibald, Thomas and Alexander all became very involved in politics, business and the development of both Rockhampton and Queensland. A truly remarkable family.

Think Clean - Be Tidy.

Submitted article.

SAVE THE DATE! TROY CASSAR-DALEY 25 AUGUST 2019 - MOUNT MORGAN MORE DETAILS IN FUTURE EDITIONS

Discover the difference!

Meet Angela Douglas: •Local area agent •Knowledgeable about the local community •Listens to your needs •Proven results over and over •New logo, same great person •Free, no hassle appraisals

Deslea’s Cutz for Mutz Mobile Dog Clipping Phone Des: 0447 275 402

Angela Douglas: 0401 953 882 13-27 February 2019

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

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TV Antenna Sales & Installation Mount Morgan Extra TV Outlets and Cabeling TV Tuning Telephone outlets and extensions

Eric Stevenson Ph: 0417 006 591 ACMA License No. T 14409

New Homes Extensions Restumping Car Ports

Colin and Michelle Dean Fitzroy Funerals 187 Musgrave Street Rockhampton 24 Hour Contact 4922 5422

Renovations Alterations Decks Driveways

FULLY LICENSED QBCC: Lic. No. 19514 FOR HIGH CARE & DISABLED OPEN PLAN BATHROOM REBUILDS RAMPS STAIR LIFTS

colin@fitzroyfunerals.com.au

Stanley Constructions Home Renovations Clinic 1st Tuesday of the Month •

•

We specialise in general carpentry repairs & steel Fabrications From design & planning to simple handyman services, we do it all.

Phone Gordon Lee today: 0418 886 997

Tony Harney Plumbing

M.A.W Mowing & Handyman Services ABN: 30 706 300 266

Available for all domestic and commercial work.

Blocked drains, leaking taps or any other maintenance issues

Now offering Ironing & Housecleaning Services

Phone Tony

0429 669 499 Servicing Mount Morgan ABN : 76 171 835 370

Mark Williamson 0403 571 561 Email: mawmowing@live.com

QBCC 1110090

Mark Humphreys’ Electrical 8 Baldwin Street Mount Morgan 4714 Electrical Lic. No. 74711

Phone: 0439 727 609 FAX: 4938 2885

Domestic, Rural, Commercial Installation and Repairs,

The Railway Hotel

Drive Through Bottle Shop Meals Fri $12 Roasts-6pm-8pm Raffles Friday Night

Saturday Afternoon 2.30pm Third Sunday each month 3pm RAOB Raffles

Promptly Servicing

Mount Morgan & Wowan Districts Page 12

QBSA 735099

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

90 James Street Mount Morgan Phone: 4938 1082 13 - 27 February 2019

That Truck & Bobcat Bloke

SUNBRIX SAND & SOIL

ABN: 35347197734

Call Geoff: 0411 707 741 Based at Razorback, MOONGAN gnarnold226@gmail.com

Landscape supplies

Soil Garden blend Sand Sugar cane mulch Hardwood chip Decorative rocks Builder’s blend (sand & 10mm rock mixed) Cement bags and blocks, Pavers and MORE!

Small acreage clean ups, land clearing, fence lines, fire breaks, shed pads & more.

Post hole borer & spreader bar

Stewarts Towing

& Service Station

PHONE 0418 542 961

Old Bouldercombe Brickworks 53622, Burnett HWY.

6 Central Street, MOUNT MORGAN Phone: 4938 1283

24 Hour Service - 7 Days a Week

Passmore Refrigeration

GOLDEN MOUNT

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

TAXI

Split system installations Commercial and Rural

0459 131 008

Finlayson & McKenzie Funerals

Sandi Wood (nee Inslay) from Mount Morgan was born and raised within the Mount and is well aware of the needs of the Mount Morgan community.

Bob Wheeler 0419 663 277 Po Box 91 Mt Morgan

5 tonne tipper truck Excavator & Kanga Tractor, Slasher & Poison Sprayer Licenced Poisons Contractor 13-27 February 2019

Sandi is Mount Morgan’s funeral consultant and is available for all funeral advice.

Contact Sandi for more information and competitive prices with burials, cremations or prepaid funerals.

Sandi Wood your local consultant Phone: 4922 1269 fmckfunerals@live.com.au

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

Page 13

Yesterday’s Eden...From Page 10 we woke to loud barking and snarling and found the dog had cornered some wild animal in the radio cabinet.

After two days of trying to lure the animal out we decided it would have to be shot. I aimed very carefully and while the radio was undamaged, I have always regretted the death of that little animal. For it was not the possum we expected, but a spotted quoll, an Australian native spotted cat.

The only one I have ever seen.

Toe Rags It was typical of the Toe Rag Gang members that the pastimes that we enjoyed the most were those that took us almost to the brink of extinction. Thus, we looked forward eagerly to 5 November and all of the explosive thrills of Cracker Night. We made a Guy Fawkes by stuffing a suit of worn out working clothes with dry grass while Father built a bonfire well within the limits of safety.

Then we gleefully grilled poor old Guy at the stake. The tomthumbs were shared out amongst the small fry and we blew up jam tins etc with all the satisfaction of hardened anarchists. Not for us was the heavy artillery, the double bangers, the sky rockets and basket bombs. They were the toys of the grown-ups. Still we managed quite well with the materials we had.

But it was the misfires and the near accidents that linger in the memory. The sky rockets that fell over at the point of ignition and set everyone stepping high, and the Catherine wheel that came adrift from its nail on the fence post and whirled into orbit about our ears.

And who could forget the sight of Mother running for the scrub with a crazy jumping jack in close pursuit. The race was almost even until Mother lost both her shoes.

Then her rate of acceleration had to be seen to believed!

For the jumping jack, unable to Page 14

keep up the pace, self-destructed in sheer frustration.

proved to be a mistake for drought put an end to the Lucerne).

Mother had the smallest feet in the family and being frugal, wore our outgrown school shoes in the yard without the least regard to size or fit. She provided us with a pantomime we replayed again and again for years afterwards.

Always hunting the prospect of more pocket-money, I was suddenly struck with the daftest idea I ever had – after all any fool can dig a hole!

The next morning, we were out of bed early noodling the site of our revels for any squibs that had failed to explode the night before.

Once unobserved, little brother found a dynamite sized squib and quickly stoked a fire around it. He huffed and puffed and still it refused to perform. Then it suddenly exploded with a mighty roar and Mother rushed down stairs convinced that her youngest child’s little white head was blown off his shoulders. Not he! At the right moment he had wandered off to find some more fuel for his fire.

Mother declared it was a miracle and I, from experience was bound to agree.

Hadn’t I seen our little lad coat a cousin’s piece of toffee with pepper, and live? Yet, questioned about the mantle of safety that seemed to surround him, who could say whether the aura was perfumed by the sweet breath of angels or just the merest whiff of brimstone.

When cracker night was later banned by law to the relief of both man and beast, the Toe-Rags advanced another step towards a dull and sober adulthood.

The six weeks holiday from school at Christmas time always seemed to sour towards the end.

We had been there, done that and boredom set in with its squabbles and bickering.

Weary and at the end of his tether Father blew his cool and ordered us to find some work to do. He went on to list all the jobs awaiting his attention while we sat about under his feet and fought. One of his future projects was to build a dividing fence across the creek flat to make a Lucerne patch (This MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

“How much a posthole?’’ I asked Father.

“Sixpence,’’ he answered wearily and instantly gained two employees. We found a small and slim bar light enough for me to handle, but we had to reject the posthole shovel as it was too long for either of us to use. This we overcome by using the bigger half of the Town Talk tobacco tin as a scoop.

The day was hot, but we were determined. I have always been sturdy, but at the age of ten my hands were soft. So at the end of a long morning they were blistered and jarred from the stones of the old creek bed.

Brother had done a good job to keep the hole clear of dirt, but his hands had raw patches and broken nails. To reach down into the hole he had to kneel first, then lie down as it deepened. He had bindies in his knees and green ant bites on his belly.

When the hole was big enough and the correct depth reached, we held a stop work meeting and a deliberation of one was elected to approach the boss to explain the hazards we had met. Then we made a bid for a rise in pay as a bonus. We were sacked immediately!

But the experience was not wasted for that summer we learned three truths 1. The blue-collar worker has to work damn hard and suffer much for his pay; 2, The man with the money rules the world; and 3. We could squabble and argue just as well on the track to the town Continued on Page 15 13 - 27 February 2019

Yesterday’s Eden...From Page 14 swimming baths and generally disagree in poverty and freedom.

GOLD! GOLD! When the summer storms came with all the heart-stopping thunder and lightning that only mountain country can produce, the gully sweetened with new green grass and great carpets of white crocus flowers. The rocks and leaves shone from the washing of the heavy rain.

The frog chorus along the creek sang their operas from dusk till dawn and always a lone curlew’s eerie call would raise the hair on the back of the neck just as the howls of the dingo pack back in the hills would raise when they answered the mine’s midnight hooter in frosty midwinter.

With the summer storms there was a stirring too among the human males.

The shed was turned out to locate mislaid prospecting gear as gold fever took hold. All conversations seemed to begin with “Have you seen...?” or “Do you know where?”

Cupboard drawers were raked over in the hunt for a cork or stopper that would fit any of a dozen essence bottles hi-jacked on their way to the bin and stashed in the shed.

Lastly the waterbag was put to soak for a Saturday safari into the bush. Strange as it seems, in three generations of prospectors no show of gold was ever found in Shepherds Gully or Mt Victoria while Father preferred Stony Creek, but I believe any gold gained was just an added bonus to an enjoyable day in the bush.

Mt Victoria, nearly five miles south, west of Mount Morgan was a small gold mine that had a short unproductive life from 1890-1896.

Its settlement included a school, a store, butchery and baker. It also boasted a smithy, a bush racecourse and a two-storied hotel.

13-27 February 2019

All of these were demolished long before our time. All we knew was the main drive into the heart of the mountain and the mine debris of discarded wood and iron that littered the area.

There was also the remains of a small dam across the creek and both the main gully and its side gutters still yielded flakes of alluvial gold.

Stony Creek is just that, a narrow stony waterway that repays the time and toil of the amateur alluvial prospector. It lies beyond the high sandstone escarpment to the west of the Mount Morgan Mine.

The scenery along the way has an attraction all of its own. from the head of Shepherds Gully the track travels along the narrow ridge bewtween the Mundic Creek and Cattle Creek basins then mounts to the high escarpment by a rising sandstone track only a couple of yards wide in places. On either side lies a sheer drop into the depths.

One day, close to sunset my brother and I were returning down this narrow ramp when our dog was almost taken by a wedgetailed eagle. It was enormous. As it glided nearer we could hear the wind whistling through its strong wing feathers. Only a sense of self preservation in the dog and our shouting while we waved our arms and jumped up and down saved him from a horrible death.

He continued to live on to a long and pampered old age.

The wedge tail disappeared out over Mundic Creek, the late sunshine gleaming on the brassy feathers of its big body and great soaring wings.

Saturday would dawn to the bustle of cutting cribs each to his or her own preference plus a sandwich for the dog. In the case of my old golden collie, it meant a whole cut lunch complete with sauce or pickles.

He even merited his own drinking mug. Those ragged old bush hats MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

would never have held water and then, most probably that overindulged canine would never have relished drinking from such ruins. He would wag his tail with enthusiasm when the dinner time fire was lit and sit watching the tea billy. Everyone knew when it boiled!.

When we were young, a trip to Mt Victoria meant a temporary migration of grandparents, parents and various offspring of assorted ages and sizes. Later Grandad sometimes escorted the Toe-Rags himself and from him we learned to scratch out rock crevices in the creek and the right way to pan off the scratchings.

Like a lot of old time prospectors we never used those big prospectors’ pans. They are too heavy to carry any distance and what counts more in dry country they needed a river of water to sluice in. But once the art of panning off is learnt, anything pan-like can be used.

We used medium sized frying pans without handles and I have been told by one who used it, even a vehicle hub-cap will suffice if the enthusiasm is there. When the Toe-Rags began to prospect, I am sure, that like me they were expecting pans full of nuggets the size of marbles and a few pans of duffer they lost interest.

Feeling cheated, I complained to Grandad.

He finished washing his own full, then took mine and after a brief look he told me I was blind. Then he pointed out one tiny fly speck of gold in the fine film of sand.

How wonderful grandfathers were!

Not only could those tired old blue eyes locate that tiny speck of gold that you had to strain your optic nerves to see, he could point out your speck months later in a bottle containing hundreds of identical specks.

And how deftly those stiff old fingers could introduce, undetected, that same gold speck to an otherwise barren pan.

Page 15

SAVE THE DATE! Feb 19: Dee River Oldies Group meeting. Starts at 1 pm held at St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall, Gordon St. (At back of church).

Feb 23: CWA Cent Sale, multi-draw and raffles start time 2 pm. CWA Hall.

Feb 23: Blue Care Trash and Treasure, Gordon Street, start 9 am. (February only - $3.00 bag of clothes and shoes $1.00 pair).

Feb 27: Dee River Oldies Group morning tea.

Commences at 10 am for morning tea and guest speaker at 11 am. St Mary’s Anglican Church Hall (at back of church).

Mar 1: World Day of Prayer. Slovenia.10 am Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mount Morgan.

Mar 3: Clean Up Australia Day. Mar 9: Baree School of Arts Markets, Baree. 8 am to 12 noon.

Mar 23: Blue Care Trash and Treasure, Gordon Street, start 9 am.

Mar 23: MMPAD Progressive Dinner. Phone 4938 2312 for further information.

Apr 20: Blue Care Trash and Treasure, Gordon Street, start 9 am.

April 27: CWA Cent Sale and raffles. Start 2 pm. CWA Hall.

May 3-5 Golden Mount Festival.

May 5: Mount Morgan Association Rodeo, Mount Morgan Showgrounds. Gates open 6 am.

May 6: Family Fun Day. Mount Morgan Showgrounds.

May 11: St Mary’s Anglican Church Mothers’ Day Cent Sale. Great prizes, raffles and multi-draw, lucky door.

St. Mary’s Hall Gordon St. Mount Morgan. Commences 2 pm. Afternoon tea before commencement of Cent Sale.

May 18: Blue Care Trash and Treasure, Gordon Street, start 9 am.

Hoy every Wednesday at CWA Hall, East Street Will recommence 6 February 2019.

CLASSIFIEDS PAINTER: Semi retired. W. Cruickshank Phone 0488 104 774 or 0488 105 257.

QBCC No-75608.

GUNS & AMMUNITION: MOUNT MORGAN. ERIC J. STEVENSON. Dealer Licence 5000149.

PHONE 0417 006 591 ALL COMPUTERS & REPAIRS: Your local computer specialist Nathan. Phone between 10 am to 8 pm. PHONE: 4938 2451 Monday to Friday

Wanted Known: House Whisperer - Home and garden maintenance. Lawn care, garden edging and mulching.

General handyman services. No job too small. Call Ben on 27 March 2019 0409 343 755.

MOBILE HAIRDRESSER: Available Mount Morgan. Joey - 0487 332 941. Her experience in the hairdressing industry spans 26 years.

REUNION: Mount Morgan State High School Class of 1969 (Year 10). Calling for past students interested in participating in this reunion. Phone 07 4938 1036 or email wramm@bigpond.net initially.

Blue Care Trash & Treasure, Gordon Street.

Open every Friday from 9.00 am. (Feb only - $3.00 bag of clothes and shoes $1.00 pair)

PENTECOSTALS OF MOUNT MORGAN

Meeting at the Dee Bowls Club 10 am Sunday for Church Services.

All welcome.

Contact: Pastor Owen Kurth for further details

0421 641 428

MOUNT MORGAN PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT INC

UNLIMITED MOVIES

Ask us How

Open 10:00am - 8:pm Tuesday - Sunday

LATEST RELEASES

$5* 3 or More

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, 27 March 2019 6 pm at Mount Morgan VIC and Historical Railway Museum Eve-lyn Rogers - Secretary

Next Argus:

Wednesday, 27 FEBRUARY 2019 All inclusions required by: Tuesday, 19 February 2019 by 4 p.m.

Ph: 4938 2312 Email: mmpad@bigpond.com

Page 16

MOUNT MORGAN ARGUS

13 - 27 February 2019