FAMILY FUN

We packed a lot into 4 days! Yum Cha, picnics, coffee and some interesting Footy finals. And, of course, Grandparents day which is blogged separately.


Picnic at the local park, a cheeky monkey and some adventurous twins!

Some games

And ... of course, a clean up before bed.

Four days went so quickly, we're home now and the garden and animals have all survived, with the help of our neighbour.

GRATEFUL GRANDPARENTS

The prime reason for our Melb sojourn was to perform Grandparent duties at Charlotte's school. Having Grandchildren spread around the country it is not easy to get to all these days, but we were thrilled to share Charlotte's day with her.

The school had gone to a lot of trouble to entertain us (oldies) ...


we helped with scrunchies and pasting and played games in her classroom. 


Thanks to Charlotte and family for having us and allowing us to share the day with her.  Mama and Bop!

HEIDE HO

Just back from Melb and some terrific blogs ahead.


To start we went to Heide, a Museum of Modern Art but historically an absolutely fascinating part of Australia's art and social history. Wandering the original house and gardens you just wonder at what the situation was like there when artists like Sidney Nolan and others (see extract below) were painting and living their bohemian life. To me, having visited Melb many times I can't imagine why we didn't visit earlier. A real must do when you're there. More details at heide.com.au

And .. the beginnings and setting where Nolan painted his "Ned Kelly" series of paintings.

Early history

The museum is situated on a site that was originally occupied by a dairy farm, the farm house was built in the 1880s-1890s. The Yarra River and surrounding hills east of Melbourne provided an ideal setting for many artists, writers, poets, etc, exemplified in the formation of the Heidelberg School at Heidelberg, Montsalvat in Eltham and various artist camps in locations such as Box Hill and Warrandyte. Thus, the area was frequented by artists since the mid-19th century.

In 1934, the farm was purchased by John and Sunday Reed, passionate supporters and collectors of Australian art and culture, and named after the nearby town of Heidelberg. The Reeds established one of the finest private libararies in Melbourne at Heide, containing many of the most important and lavish art magazines and journals from Europe and America. Access was open to all Heide visitors and provided much inspiration for visitng artists, writers, musicians and the Reeds' other creative friends.^[3] A loose grouping of Australian artists who became known as the "Heide Circle", began living and working at Heide, counting amongst their number many of Australia's best-known modernist painters.

A number of modernist artists came to live and work at various times through the 1930s, 40s and 50s at Heide, and as such it became the place where many of the most famous works of the period were painted. Albert Tucker, Sidney Nolan, Laurence Hope and Joy Hester, amongst others, all worked at Heide. Nolan painting 26 of his original 27 Ned Kelly works in the dining room of Heide I.^[4]

The Heide Circle continued in their primary commitment to Figurative Modernism through the 1950s and 60s, with several of the artists forming the Antipodeans Groupand taking a stand against the new abstract art. The Heide Circle became well known for the intertwined personal and professional lives of the people involved. Sunday Reed conducted affairs with a number of them, with the knowledge of her husband.

In 1964, the Reeds commissioned Victorian architect David McGlashan to design a new residence, initially intended to be "a gallery to be lived in". It is designed with simple L-shaped walls that interlink to form a sequence of internal and external 'rooms' in Mount gambier limestone, white terrazzo, treated pine and glass. The Reeds moved into Heide II in 1967 and it served as their residence for some time.

In the mid 1960s Heide's much loved kitchen garden was created by Sunday Reed in a bare cow paddock.

SMALL WORLD

Just have to let you all know about this amazing experience today.


I am currently going through some old family "boxes" sorting out things for my Ancestry addiction. In one of the boxes was a citation that I found when we first moved to Wahroonga. It is a CMG awarded to Admiral John Bryan Stevenson. I emailed an ex naval friend who passed on my email to a friend of his in the Naval Historical society. In turn, he passed my email onto a Jo Morrice (who coincidentally worked at Barker - I think as the Burser, while I was there and remember him quite well). Jo, as it happens knows the Admiral's son JP Stevenson (of Melbourne fame) who is now 90 and lives in Burrado not far from Jo!! Jo also served with Steve on one of his Captaincies. 


Jo gave me his phone number, I called a little while ago and had an amazing conversation with him. He was extremely bright and recalled many memories of the house. He had lived there as a child and later after he married.


I can recall being told by my parents after they bought the house that a small area at the rear corner of the house had been called "The bridge" by the former owners. We called it that as children and also through our ownership, even after it became our ensuite! Steve confirmed the story was true. 


Steve asked what had become of the house. I explained that it had been sold and moved to a new site in Millfield - not far from us here in the Hunter!!


Truly amazing.


I will be packing the citation and sending it to him shortly. He wants to see us next time we are in the Southern Highlands. I'm sure there will be many more stories and memories to share. I think it's made an old (90) man very happy.

Sorry about the sideways pics, haven't mastered the turning system yet!

PROTEST

Well, for the second time in my life I have joined in a public protest! The first time was about a year ago when a coachload of Broke people headed to Sydney and protested outside the AGL AGM. It was a great experience and our actions have actually forced AGL to have their AGM in Melbourne this year. So much for grey and activist power!


The reason, of course is Coal Seam Methane Gas. We have been threatened in this area by AGL and their lying and conniving ways for over 5 years. The wine industry in the Hunter is truly threatened by CSG mining in this area. AGL seem to be hellbent on proceeding here, despite increasing public pressure and an awakening Govt interest. BUT, we are yet to see the Govt keep their pre-election promises and follow the SA and WA Governments and legislate to exclude the "iconic" wine producing areas from CSG exploration and production.


Here I am with our "Grim reaper" in Gunnedah on Wednesday. We had another busload of protestors there for the Food Security conference. Thanks too to Alan Jones who is championing our, and the many other threatened areas in Australia, cause.

GREAT TRIP

We're back home, in our own bed - always a great feeling, but with some great memories of our trip to Wagga Wagga and Jindabyne.


Wagga was great, full house and lots of family fun. The licorice factory was a big hit with the kids and adults alike who all came away with new goodies.


Bethy thought her black gloves, as well as keeping away the cold, were pretty scary.

And, Pumpkin was keen to show her musical talents - looks good anyway!

So off to the markets on Saturday, loaded with a haul of Knights meat we headed to Jindabyne to see Judy's new house. Just finished, and very spacious and comfy. Watched the rugby and survived a serious case of the "wobblies" - just hope we can do better against the All Blacks this weekend! A great piece of Angus rib eye fillet on the BBQ, thanks to Mr Knight.


Didn't realise it but it was a big deal that weekend that they were opening the floodgates on the dam and flooding the Snowy river. Quite spectacular.

So, safely home on Monday, animals survived and glad to see us.


Thanks everyone for a great time.