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Interpreting Ingham History

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23.01.2022 If anybody would like listen to the last 2020 Colin Roderick Memorial Lecture JCU given by Professor Henry Reynolds it is at this link. He supervised my B. Arts Honors Thesis all those years and ago inspired me to keep writing north Queensland History. His contribution to north Queensland history is inestimable: https://www.jcu.edu.au/founda/colin-roderick-public-lecture

23.01.2022 Just letting you know that Dr Betty Lee's wish for Eric Feldt and the Coastwatchers to be better known is coming to fruition. The Education section at the Australian War Memorial has recently completed a publication titled Patriotism - stories from the home front of the Second World War. This is the next in the series of publications for Years 6 8 students based around the qualities listed on the 15 stained glass windows in the Hall of Memory at the Memorial. It will be se...nt to every school in Australia. There is a section on Eric is on P24 of the booklet. This is a link to the booklet. https://www.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/Patriotism.pdf Unfortunately Eric’s date and place of birth are incorrect in the article but they are correct in the bibliography. Betty was looking to see if that could be amended. Do go and have a read. Congratulations Betty! Great to see Ingham and its achievers getting the recognition they deserve. See more

23.01.2022 Do yourself a favour and visit this great little museum. Great to see that they are using the funding to hire professional historian Dr Janice Wegner to assess the collection.

23.01.2022 If you live on a farm on a river bank - and it is a farm that has had 100 years of habitation there will be long disused household dump sites and washouts filled with discarded farm machinery. These household dump sites are rich with historical artefacts from broken crockery and figurines to bottles and coins. So it is with ours and even the very headland and driveway reveals strange oddments when there is a heavy downpour of rain. These items were thrown up in yesterday’s downpour: a small piece from a figurine; a broken piece from a cup and a cassette tape a Festival Records recording of John Williamson!! I wonder what items other people have come across in old dumps or long buried in their driveways or in their paddocks or headlands on their farms?

23.01.2022 Mark the date: this Saturday 29 May, 10.30 the opening of the exhibition - Seasons of Change - at Tyto Art Gallery. Featured are 5 more remarkable life stories to add to our Window in Time oral history collection.

22.01.2022 Our second podcast guest is local businessman, Felix Reitano, of Felix Reitano Real Estate. Our podcaster, Ashley Sartor, recently sat down with Felix to discus...s his life and his family's history in the Hinchinbrook area. This is a great opportunity to learn more about yet another local who has done great things for his community. Have a listen tonight, at 8pm. Click the link below to have a listen: https://soundcloud.com/yw-alana/felix-reitano

22.01.2022 Hearty congratulations Mario and Millie.

21.01.2022 Ann Vardanega and I took a Townsville Italian language school group through the Seasons of Change exhibition today. Make sure you go to the Tyto Art Gallery to see this exhibition. It's up for a while longer. It was very gratifying to see the families of Alban Bligh, George Skinner, Catherine Piastri, Mary Milanovic and Joe Zammit our five Window in Time interviewees attend the launch on Saturday 29 May. With these five who were so gracious to share their memories we have ad...ded to our multi-cultural oral history record bank: from Nwaigi man Alban Bligh to George Skinner, descendant of one of the first small farmers in the Valley, to 101 year old Catherine Piastri whose family was part of the first group of Italians to arrive in the north on the Jumna to Mary Milanovic, one of the women who took to the field in World War 2 when her father was interned to Joe Zammit, whose ancestors were amongst the first Maltese immigrants to this district. See more

21.01.2022 Make sure you go to see this exhibition. How lucky are we to have the chance to see it again?

20.01.2022 Good to see old skills aren’t dead.

20.01.2022 BRETT LYON The Lyon Saving the Lion The Lion Hotel has sat quietly in Macknade since it’s glory days during the 20th century. A former Hinchinbrook resident, Br...ett Lyon, is working hard to restore the pub to its former glory, as the last vestige of his great-grandmother’s vast Macknade empire. Although he lives in Victoria now, Brett has taken on the mammoth task of renovating the cyclone damaged rural pub, whilst sacrificing time and money to ensure that a piece of his family’s history survives. Brett Lyon was born in Ingham in 1964 and grew up in Halifax. At seven years of age, he moved away after his father passed away and his mother remarried. Relocating to Victoria at such a young age, Brett could not return to the region very often and lost touch with his northern relatives. Although having left the region so early in his life, he still has vague memories of visiting the family-owned pub, which had a skating rink in it’s heyday. Brett said that he remembers the pubs of the region being lively, As I rode past the pubs, overflowing with soot-covered cane farmers. The days of back-breaking work in the cane fields, remedied by a visit to the pub may be mostly over now with the introduction of harvesters and haulouts, but there still remains a little pub in Macknade in need of restoration, for future generations to enjoy. Brett came to North Queensland to visit his family seven years ago. Whilst reconnecting with family members and his family's history on a tour of the region, a relative pointed out the pub and said to Brett, Your great-grandmother built this. It wasn’t until Brett returned to Victoria that questions started to swirl in his mind, Who owned the pub now?, Was anyone taking care of it?. To Brett, The Lion Hotel represented more than just an opportunity to own a pub, but an opportunity to restore a remnant of the vast estate his great-grandmother, Emily Phyllis Lyon, had once owned. Emily, who passed away in 1944 at the age of 85, was the matriarch of the large, Macknade based, Lyon family. She owned an estate with vast land holdings in the Macknade area, six houses, a large boat, and rented property on Hinchinbrook Island, as well as building her own hotel. Some of her land was donated to establish Macknade State School, and the lasting remnants of her estate were sold after her passing. Now, more than a century later, the Lion Hotel still stands as a stoic reminder of her legacy. When Brett saw the pub however, it was in desperate need of restoration post-cyclone Yasi. After making inquiries, Brett bought the Lion Hotel in 2013. He has slowly restored the pub whenever he has had time and money to spare. He explained that living in Victoria has presented him with difficulties, such as the challenge of trying to manage building works from so far away. This has limited his ability to do work to the pub until he is physically there. As part of the restoration, the Lion Hotel now has a new paint job, a new verandah and new doors. Brett has also renovated a bedroom within the pub, and his next project will be to restore the rotted bar area as it cannot be salvaged. Although Brett is not sure what the future for the pub holds, he added that he would Love to see it up and running someday. For now, he gets visitors to the pub whenever he is back renovating, and he is pondering future plans of what he can possibly do with the pub to breathe life back into it. If one thing is for sure, locals remember the pub fondly. In the early 1960’s, Hinchinbrook local Marilyn Pavetto frequented the pub between the ages of ten and thirteen. She recalled that when she visited, the pub was run by John Waddington. The skating rink out the back, opposite from Halifax Rd, was the most popular attraction (for the children anyway), at the very busy and lively pub. At the time, the region had not mechanized yet and the populations in Macknade and Bemside had swelled so much that the area sustained two very busy hotels to accommodate the plethora of local mill workers. Another local, Gloria, remembers begging her father for months and months to go to the skating rink at the pub. Her family lived close by at the time and the rink was popular. Her father didn’t want to let her go, telling her that if she went she would break her leg. Finally, he relented. Gloria did two laps of the rink and, as luck would have it, broke her leg. Although she was afraid to tell her father at the time, she is now thankfully able to laugh when reminiscing about her afternoon at the Lion Hotel. Whilst, for some, the Lion Hotel was a place of employment and the start of something new. At sixteen years of age, Pat Casanovas was introduced to John and Marge Waddington of the Lion Hotel, Macknade. Marge asked Pat to work for them and this was the beginning of Pat and Frankie Casanovas. The two wedded soon after when Pat was seventeen, and together they had three daughters and one son. The Lion Hotel, although time and weather-worn has played host to some important memories for locals over the years. Brett Lyon graciously agreed to jot down his own perspective: "It's been nearly 45 years since I left the Hinchinbrook area and although some memories are vague, I often reminisce on the ones I have. Returning to the Hinchinbrook area feels like returning home, and every time I return, new memories do too, mostly good but some not so good. I remember my childhood life as very active and very family orientated. Our Lyon family is very large. My grandmother, Emily Lyon, was a big part of my childhood. My father would take me to to work with him, he was a cabinet maker and his workshop was under grandma Emily's house at Macknade. So while he worked my grandmother would try and keep me occupied. Our little house in Halifax hasn’t changed much apart from a huge tree being removed from the front yard. I would ride my push bike around the town, and I remember peering into the pubs in the Main Street, they'd be full of the cane cutters pouring out of the doors and onto the front verandas. There was an incredible hum of conversation and laughter. The cane cutters seemed so happy to be having a cold beer, they looked like they had earned it. The colour of the cutters were black from the cane soot. Another fond memory was the Lion hotel at Macknade. There was a roller skating rink out the back, I recall roller skating at night, then dodging cane toads on my way back into the pub to see my father who would buy me a soft drink. I felt like a king sitting up at the bar. Not long after this stage of my childhood my dear father passed away, after driving off the bridge crossing the Herbert river in Halifax. Soon after this family tragedy my mother remarried and moved to Victoria, thus losing nearly all contact with the Lyon family and my life growing up in North Qld. I am now 55 years old and married to one of the nicest people in the world. We have two beautiful children Brianna and Tom, and a grandchild Harvie, and hoping for another grandchild soon. Several years ago we, as a family, visited north QLD to catch up with the Lyon family. This was a very emotional visit. I also learnt a lot about my family history ie: Lion hotel amongst other things, and learnt that my great grandmother built the Lion hotel. The pub was closed and in poor condition. Returning back to Victoria I started thinking about the lost time with my family and the history so I decided to buy the Lion hotel. I managed to purchase the hotel and now I'm in the slow process of restoring it. Hopefully one day I will sit at the bar with the people of Hinchinbrook and feel like a king once more." -A big thank you to the Lyon family for so graciously answering my questions and providing photos for this article. Please let us know in the comments below if you have any stories or photos to share about The Lion Hotel. We would love to see/hear more!

19.01.2022 A visitor to the Herbert in the plantation days.

19.01.2022 I recommend the following page to anybody of Chinese descent or anybody interested in Chinese history and heritage. The page is run by Dr Sandi Robb. Together with the Ingham Family History Association Inc. Dr Robb mounted the impressive BUK TI exhibition at Tyto Art Gallery in 2019. In relation specifically to Ingham she has written together with Dr Janice Wegner "Chinese in the Sugar: a case study of Ingham and Halifax in the Lower Herbert district" in Rediscovered past : Chinese tropical Australia. (East Ipswich, Qld. : Chinese Heritage in Northern Australia Inc., 2014), 4-13. https://www.facebook.com/sandi.robb.NQCHH/

18.01.2022 Lovely to see historic traditions continue Ingham Region Catholic Parishes

17.01.2022 I mentioned that I would put up on my blog Interpreting Ingham History excerpts from Brother Vincent Doran's History of Abergowrie (compiled with the assistance of Christopher and Vivienne Parry). The new blog is their introduction to Brother Doran's little history and is a biographical piece. In this time when many are struggling with disenchantment with the Catholic Church because of the actions ofthose persons of responsibility in the Catholic Church who have failed in their duty to protect and nurture the most vulnerable it is comforting to read of those, like Brother Vincent Doran, who were so selfless and took their vocation very seriously. Go to my blog to read a little about this fine man. https://interpretinginghamhistory.blogspot.com//a-remarkab

16.01.2022 Does anybody know the whereabouts of Henrietta (Hetty) Shaw who wrote Lucinda NQ Yesterday and Today in 1978? Her husband Trevor was the Principal of Lucinda State School from 1974. Alternatively does anybody own a copy of the book and would be happy to give it a new loving home?I would be happy to have it/buy it. Also she obtained her photographs form many private sources - the list at the back of the book is quite lengthy. Does anybody know who owns the photographs of the opening of the Lucinda Road in 1932? I attach the page of the book here with the relevant three photographs. I would appreciate any help on all three enquires.

16.01.2022 Just a reminder! Do go and see the Seasons of Change exhibition at the Tyto Art Gallery mounted by Dr Ann Vardanega AIF director 2021. It features the five interviews I conducted for the Window in Time project: Alban Bligh, George Skinner, Catherine Piastri, Mary Milanovic and Joe Zammit. It also features a display depicting a cane cutters barracks installed by the Herbert River Museum Gallery and photographs from the AIF collection depicting many of the nationalities who contributed by their cane cutting labour to making this district a successful sugar growing region. Here I am pictured giving a talk at the launch of the exhibition.

15.01.2022 Great to see traditions continuing ...

15.01.2022 The things you stumble across! Did you know this was hidden away in the foyer of the HSC Offices?: https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au//106118-50th-annivers

15.01.2022 Have a look at this YouTube recording made of me explaining Mercer Lane Mosaic. It was made by Dr Claire Brennan of JCU for her history students. https://youtu.be/mc4vNZt322w

14.01.2022 Treasure No 28 is James Cassady’s Notebook (1864-1879). I wrote the piece for it.

14.01.2022 School group Ingham 1945/6. Neil O’Sullivan second row, far left. Photograph kindly shared by Catherine O’Sullivan. Would be nice to know who the other children were.

14.01.2022 Nice to see this History page created by the Ingham Regional Catholic Parishes. It has excerpts from my book Portrait of a Parish: A History of Saint Patrick's Church and Parish Ingham 1864-1996. The book has lots of photographs and stories of identities of the Parish up to 1996. I believe there are a few copies left at the Parish Office and I am sure they are now being sold at basement prices! The Parish History page is at: https://inghamcatholic.com/parish-history/

14.01.2022 Hooray, there's a new post up at the Interpreting Ingham History blog. Have you ever wondered about the origins of the name of the place where you live? Have you noticed that in recent times there's been a movement to change the names of places. Have you wondered why place names are changed. Go to my latest blog to read a little discussion about place names in our district. https://interpretinginghamhistory.blogspot.com//whats-in-n

14.01.2022 Credit to Caroline Kane for finding this and sharing this.

11.01.2022 Here’s a good read just published at at the Conversation about Annie Etinside/Etonside (Gosling) former resident of Halifax and remarkable woman. I am grateful for the assistance provided by Rachel and Albert Garlando. It is Rachel’s original research that provides the base of this article. https://theconversation.com/hidden-women-of-history-melanes

11.01.2022 Australia's best moments brought to life in stunning colour | Australia in Colour airs Sunday, 7.30pm #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe

10.01.2022 Shared courtesy of Ann Vardanega

10.01.2022 Our beautiful Laneway! Come read the story on the Cane Cutter’s history through mosaic! It’s seriously an amazing piece of artwork in our town!

09.01.2022 A blog about the article I wrote about women living in the Herbert River district in the plantation era is now up on the Blog of the Australian Women's History Network: http://www.auswhn.org.au/blog/women-race-plantation/

07.01.2022 EL ARISH CELEBRATES 100! Hundreds of locals and visitors turned out for a commemorative service at the town's war memorial, to mark refurbishment of the cenot...aph and 100 years since El Arish's foundation. Servicemen returning from the horrors of war drew ballots for farms in the settlement and were faced with leeches, mosquitoes and impenetrable rainforest, which had to be cleared by hand in hot, humid conditions. A century on, many proud descendants of those early pioneers still live and farm sugarcane and cattle locally.

07.01.2022 A pioneering farmer- a lasting tribute- his contribution to the industry he was passionate about .

06.01.2022 A successful collaboration. Mark and Judy Evans of Paronella Park are maintaining this unique historic site for posterity in an innovative and respectful way. It was a pleasure to undertake an internship with them during the last months of PhD studies. https://aprintern.org.au/case-study/paronella-park/

06.01.2022 For decades, John Coburn's stunning tapestries, which were hung as curtains in the Sydney Opera House throughout the 1970s, have been hidden away in their basement. | ABC Arts

05.01.2022 Shared with thanks to the Family History Associstion of NQ

04.01.2022 Also see the wonderful photographs from the AIF collection and State Library Collection and the stories of 5 members of our Herbert River community whose lives have been so entwined in the sugar industry.

04.01.2022 What a great read. A good initiative of Humans of Hinchinbrook - catching these stories before they are lost.

03.01.2022 The Queensland State Library is a treasure Trove for images relating to our district. Not all photographs held there are digital copies of photographs held in the Hinchinbrook Shire Council Library Photograph Collection. This is one such photograph which is described as having come from the collection of C. W. MacPherson and given to Brisbane John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. I hope it can be shared and the children and location identified. Perhaps the location is the Gardens outside Halifax? The online handle is: https://hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/251239

03.01.2022 Amongst those who found their way to the Herbert River Valley in the late 19th century were Irish immigrants. Like immigrants from other countries who arrived here they were fleeing poverty and starvation. Others were fleeing religious or racial persecution, or conflict. This is an interesting read about one group of Irish who came to Australia and why.

02.01.2022 The latest edition of my book Gentlemen of the Flashing Blade can be bought here: https://www.thereallygoodbookshop.com.au//Gentlemen-of-the

01.01.2022 David Robino, Ingham canegrower with his 1970 Bedford truck, bought from Brisbane and driven up to his farm where it lives and works to this day! Originally use...d to truck cattle to the Stuart meatworks from a Crystal Creek farm, it's now used to haul fertiliser bags around the paddocks. Have you got an old-timer (a vehicle, we mean!) around the farm that still does an honest day's work?

01.01.2022 Mark this on your calendar.

01.01.2022 For those interested in trains here is a great read about passenger trains on narrow gauge. There is a good bit about the Lucinda Point Tramway and Stone River Tramway and there's a good photograph of what the Decauville carriage used for the train rides with the train Homebush would have looked like with its First Class sign and curtains. https://www.zelmeroz.com/album_mod/NGpassenger/NGpass-1.pdf