Category Archives: Festivities

TROVE TUESDAY: April Fool’s Day… then and now

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jester_hatI’ve never been much of a prankster except for a few times I stuck a sign on one of my brother’s back reading “kick me”. Not real original.  Now my mum just loved April Fool’s Day which I wrote about briefly HERE.

This year I’ve been musing over where mum got her sense of humour and whether, in days gone by, our ancestors also played jokes on April Fool’s Day.  With it being Trove Tuesday… to the old newspapers I headed.

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Back in Time

I remember mum saying that her mum, my Nana (Elizabeth Mary Murray Evans Allan) was not just a feisty woman but also quite a jokester, so I decided to check out the Port Pirie newspapers which is where she would have been living at that time, with her first husband and two of her three children.

There was no joy to be had there as the Port Pirie Recorder was full of doom and gloom, not the least of which was the huge miner’s strike taking place in Broken Hill and affecting many workers, and industries including those in nearby Port Pirie.

Banner. The Port Pirie Recorder

STRIKE AT BROKEN HILL. 2 Apr 1913. p1. The Port Pirie Recorder, South Australia, Australia
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/9100940

There was no sense in checking out newspapers in other locations, for most of my maternal ancestors lived in surrounding districts and would have been similarly affected by the miner’s strike. So a general search for April Fool’s Day 1913 was my next port of call and these items in the Adelaide Advertiser, although not published in 1913, drew my attention.

AN APRIL FOOL’S DAY JOKE. 2 Apr 1914. p8.   The Advertiser: Adelaide, South Australia.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5422591?searchTerm=April

ALL FOOLS’ DAY. 31 Mar 1919. pg.6.  The Advertiser: Adelaide, South Australia.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5640730?searchTerm=April

Logging on this morning I found that even the “techy big kids” have been at it this April Fool’s Day

April Fools’ 2013: The best techy pranks of the day. ZDNet. 1 Apr 2013
http://www.zdnet.com/april-fools-2013-the-best-techy-pranks-of-the-day-7000013324/?s_cid=e551

This is my favourite… I wonder which is yours? Just click on the link above  to check them all out   :-)

My favourite IT April Fool's Day joke for 2013

My favourite IT April Fool’s Day joke for 2013

Many thanks to Amy Houston for setting up the Trove Tuesday meme and also to TROVE… where would we be without you?

TROVE ~~~~~~~~~

map-south-australia

Here we are… Port Pirie is north of the capital city, Adelaide (just above the ”leg”) and Broken Hill is in NSW, just over the north east corner of South Australia .

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Copyright © 2013. Catherine Ann Crout-Habel

Easter Bilbies & Bunnies…

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Bilby_largeWill it be Easter Bilbies or Easter Bunnies appearing around your home this Easter, bearing loads of yummy chocolate and candy Easter Eggs and all manner of tasty treats for young, and older, alike?

Maybe it will be both Bilbies and Bunnies?…

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Easter Bilby.2013

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EASTER BILBY BIG REUNION

HOLLY PETERSEN
holly.petersen@news.com.au

“VISITING wildlife parks with her parents as a child is how Rebecca Dunbar a then little known native marsupial heading towards the endangered species list. 
   In  bid to gain exposure for the Bilby’s plight, the then eight year old gathered signatures from class mates and sent a heartfelt letter to local chocolate makers Melbas and Haighs asking them to help – and the Easter Bilby was born.
   This year marks 20 years since the Easter Bilby became a chocolate icon in Australia, and Mrs Dunbar, of Gawler, says when she sees the bilby brought out for Easter, she stilll has to pinch herself.  “I’m humbled,” Mrs Dunbar said.
   “I’m still really amazed an idea could be ongoing and so influential in the public eye.
   ”To be a young person…and hear about a cause…and be part of that change and find you made a difference is exciting and empowering.”
   Melba’s founding director Graeme Foristal said the company had been considering adopting the Bilby in 1993, but credited Mrs Dunbar for giving Melba the push to get it done.
   “The bilby changed Easter in Australia,” Mr Foristal said. “We were very unsure and then when the letter came we just couldn’t resist it. It was so cute.”
   Mr Foristal tracked down Mrs Dunbar this year through the threatened species network which help create the Easter Bilby, to include her in the 20th anniversary celebration and to unveil the new look bilby to the woman who inspired it as an eight year old.
   “It was very exciting – it was like seeing a long time family member,” Mr Foristal said.

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Easter Bilby.2013.Haighs

HAIGH’s will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its chocolate bilby this Easter.

In 1993, Haigh’s Chocolates joined forces with the Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia (RFA) to help increase awareness of the not-for-profit organisation’s programs.

Haigh’s Chocolates chief executive Alister Haigh said more than 500,000 chocolate bilbies had been made since the partnership started.

“We are determined to do more for a cause that is so important,” Mr Haigh said.

RFA president Nicholas Newland said the initiative raised money and awareness of the threat posed by rabbits.

“We all need to be vigilant against the threat that wild rabbits pose to our biodiversity, landscape quality, farmers, horticulturalists and foresters,” Mr Newland said.

Part proceeds from the sale of Easter bilbies go to the RFA’s work to protect the environment from wild rabbits.

Haigh’s Chocolate’s bilbies are available at its Parkside, Glenelg and CBD stores.

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FEATHERDALE Wildlife Park wants the Easter bilby to be as loved as the Easter bunny.

IT’S the worst rabbit plague in Australia since the 1995 release of the calicivirus from Wardang Island.

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Easter Chocolate gets the “taste test”…

Easter Chocolate Tasting

… and the winners are:

Easter Chocolate Score

Tasty chocolate is tasty chocolate… regardless of it’s shape    :-D

hotcrossbuns.humour

HAPPY EASTER

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RESOURCES and FURTHER INFORMATION:
Bilby_bw.description

Educational resources, such as this Worksheet, can be accessed at:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/marsupial/Bilbyprintout.shtml

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrotis

Save the Bilby:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/save-the-bilby/story-fn6bmg0w-1226039278316

Worst Rabbit Plague Since 1995:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/worst-rabbit-plague-since-1995-could-spiral-out-of-control/story-fn6b3v4f-1226043214057

Haighs Easter Bilbies – 20th Anniversary:
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/parksides-haighs-and-rabbit-free-australia-celebrate-the-20th-anniversary-of-the-chocolate-bilby/story-e6frea83-1226601238407

Eight year old girl from Gawler, South Australia, creates the Easter Bilby:
http://digitaledition.nrmessenger.com.au/#folio=22

Students give Easter chocolate – 2013 – the taste test:
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/chiil-junior-students-blind-test-chocolates/story-e6frea83-1226609152245

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Copyright © 2013. Catherine Ann Crout-Habel

TROVE TUESDAY: St Patrick’s Day in the times of my Ancestors…

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ShamrockAs the St Patrick’s Day excitement and celebrations  were coming to an end… the flow of green beer drying up and the green wigs shoved back in the cupboard to await their re- birth in 2014, I reflected on St Patrick’s Day past.  Despite growing up in a family  closely, and proudly,  identifying with the Irish Diaspora I have no memory of celebrating St Pat’s Day.  Curiosity aroused I turned to Trove for some answers.

Always fascinated by the daily life of my Ancestors  I’ve found Australia’s free digitised newspapers, on Trove, as a perfect way to satisfy my curiosity and have decided it will be fun  to share these discoveries with readers by participating in Amy Houston’s, theme of Trove Tuesday.

Back in Time

The first to catch my eye was from the Broken Hill “Barrier Miner” in 1897. After arriving from Ireland in 1855, as an 18 year old, my maternal Great Great Grandmother, Susan Kelleher Nicholls Rowen settled in the mid-north of South Australia. Thirty two years later, and 10 years before this article was published,  Susan had separated from her husband and moved with her children to Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia which is just over the border in the North East corner of South Australia.

What a delight to read how she may have spent St Patrick’s Day, as a 51year old Irish immigrant, 116 years ago.

Banner. The Barrier Miner

ST PATRICK'S DAY. B.H.MINER. 1897.re Adelaide

The first article to appear was in regard to the celebrations way down south in Adelaide, South Australia. The final sentence was a little confusing re: “no counter display” until I remembered that, at that time, in the South Australian mid north town of Laura my Great Grandmother (Susan’s daughter) was being abused as she walked through the town and called a “filthy Irish bitch“… mmmhhh…

The next article, also appearing on page 1, described the sports activities held at nearby Silverton. As my great great Aunt Susan’s husband was a manager of the mines in Silverton I expect the family living in Broken Hill and Silverton may well have attended these celebrations.

ST PATRICK'S DAY. Broken Hill. 1897

Twenty seven years later my Nana, Susan Kelleher Nicholls Rowen’s grandaughter  Elizabeth Mary Murray Evans Allan, had left her husband and three children in the mid-north town on Port Pirie and moved south to Port Adelaide with my Grandfather, Frederick Alexander Allan, and 12 months after St Patrick’s Day my mum was  born… “on the other side of the blanket”… so I looked to the Adelaide newspapers to see what was happening there on St Patrick’s Day 1924.

Banner. The Register

ST PATRICK'S DAY. Adelaide.1924.(1)ST PATRICK'S DAY. Adelaide.1924.(2)ST PATRICK'S DAY. Adelaide.1924.(3)

Clearly they celebrated St Pat’s Day in great style, in Adelaide 1924, and unlike today it seems to be largely a Catholic celebration.  My mother certainly would never had been included because, being illegitimate, was unable to take up the Catholic faith and would have had to listen to her cousins, who all went to Catholic schools, talking about their celebrations, dressing up, performances and parades. Must remember to ask Helen about it.  Now I understand why St Patrick’s Day celebrations were never a part of my childhood experiences.

Thankyou Trove!!!

TROVE

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RESOURCES:
 Barrier Miner, Broken Hill, NSW. 18 Mar 1897. Pg1.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/44184711

The Register, Adelaide, South Australia. 15 Mar 1914. pg9.  

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/64206807

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Copyright © 2013. Catherine Ann Crout-Habel

International Women's Day: The Gender Agenda

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Reblogged from A SILVER VOICE FROM IRELAND:

Click to visit the original post

"The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum" is the theme for International Women's Day on Friday next 8, March.

The story of how this annual celebration came about is  so worth repeating as it is in itself a triumph  of ' The Gender Agenda' and an inspiration to all of us girls who want to celebrate the road  travelled in our name, or raise awareness of  paths that still need to be trod on behalf of our sisters across the world.

Read more… 461 more words

Memories of New Year Celebrations Past…

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Semaphore, South Australia - War Memorial clock. Wikipedia.

Semaphore, South Australia – War Memorial clock. Wikipedia.

As the year 2012 was coming to a close my mum’s beautiful eyes danced before me as, once again, she related those childhood memories of the 1930′s when each New Year was brought in, on the foreshore of Semaphore beach here in South Australia, surrounded by her mum’s HUGE Murray family.

She loved to tell how on the stroke of midnight, and as regular as that big old clock kept ticking away, Uncle Stan would chuck his ‘baccy pouch in the gutter and declare:

“That’s it, I’m giving up the smokes!!!”

Auntie Hilda, one of my Nana’s younger sisters, would just as regularly quietly reach down and tuck her hubbie’s ”baccy pouch” into her handbag to give back the following morning when he’d be raging around the house demanding to know what had happened to his tobacco.

It seems that every year the whole family would wait for this scenario to be played out and, as the clock struck twelve, they were never disappointed.

Seeing in the New Year - 2013, on the Semaphore foreshore.

Seeing in the New Year – 2013, on the Semaphore foreshore.

The New Year continues to be heralded in, on that same foreshore. Nowdays it’s not so much the tick of the clock which announces that a bright new year has begun but a magnificent display of fireworks previously unimagined.

May the New Year bring much joy to you, your loved ones, and all whom inhabit this world of ours. 

New Year 2013

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Many thanks to the South Australian Advertiser: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au for these last two photos.

To take a walk through Semaphore’s Historic Precinct just click HERE

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Copyright © 2013. Catherine A. Crout-Habel

A Precious Christmas Gift…

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Cousin Geoff (c) 2012 G.Embleton

Cousin Geoff (c) 2012 G.Embleton

Dear Catherine,

Look, I very well know that you must be the most distant relative I have ever found. But somehow that does not really matter. We have so similar philosophies with our family tree quests. I just love it.
It’s a funny thing that all of what you have said and shown via the modern communications these days has made, for me at least, this year more “christmassy” than I can remember for a long, long time.
 
So Catherine, thank you so much. I and with my brother Brian and sister Maureen send you all good wishes. And also wish you all the first cousins seven and now eight times “removed” a Merry Christmas.
 
Geoffrey
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Thankyou Geoff for a Christmas Gift which brought more pleasure than I can say… Many thanks also for happily giving permission for me to publish your message and photo.
 
Copyright (c) 2012. Geoff Embleton.

I won’t be home for Christmas

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Christmas in the post-War United States

Christmas in the post-War United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The shopping is done, the presents are wrapped, the house decorated and lights up. The fridge is bulging with food and drinks. Just a few more ”sleeps” and my loved ones will be here to spend a day full of fun, laughter, sharing of family memories and good cheer. What a joy and what a delight but still there is a sadness in my heart.

Of course I miss my mum and dad and memories of some sad times surface but there is a deeper sadness in my heart this Christmas. Without knowing it, my eldest son tapped into this perfectly with his blog post:  http://cullenofadelaid.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/christmas-and-recipe-for-gravy.html

Happens that just a few days ago I got confirmation of something I was dreading. i.e. that a dear friend, and distant relation, will not be home for Christmas as we were hoping. The Parole Board is yet to make a final decision as to whether to grant him release, “on parole”. He wrote “LOOKS LIKE I AM ‘IN’ FOR CHRISTMAS 2012. Ooo HHH WELL”.

I know he’s giving the impression of “toughing it out” but also know how devasted he is because of the high hopes we’ve all shared that he will finally be spending Christmas again with family and loved ones. Children have grown up, grandchildren have been born and it’s well over time for the family/ families to be re-connected.

Paul Kelly describes this situation so perfectly in this song which Cullen posted on his Blog without even being aware of the present situation with his distant cousin.

May we all remember those who are far from family this Christmas and open our hearts.

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Copyright © Catherine Ann Crout-Habel