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Autumn 2012
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Bic and her parents at the book launch.
Photo Shane AmbryJoffa and Adam Blair promoting Purple Day
Treble Tones choir in the 1970s Robert on his ‘Ride-on mower’,
powered by TimoshenkoPlanting the juvenile pine April 17, 2011.L–R George Mackenzie, Life Governor, Shrine of Remembrance,Tom Thorpe, Chairman, Wattle Park Heritage Group and (the late) Rev. Lawrie Styles.
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Selected articles from Burwood Bulletin No.124
(Autumn 2012)
CWA Fraser Group Craft Display returns
True-Life Terror Inspires Local Author
From Hartwell Kitchen to the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria
Return to Fisher’s Shoeing Forge
A New Lone Pine for Wattle Park
For articles from past issues see our Archives page
CWA Craft Display returns after 10 years!
Saturday March 17, 10am-4pmThe Ashburton Presbyterian Church hall, High St, Ashburton,
(near cnr. Warrigal Rd, next to the Sports Medicine centre, 330 High St).
Wheelchair friendly and convenient parking.The CWA Fraser Group Crafts Display features an Antiques and Heirlooms display, unique crafts created by members, a raffle, Devonshire Tea and the famous C.W.A. Cookbooks will be on sale.
Featured are two judged categories named in honour of well known Burwood Branch members who were very active in the community: The Elizabeth Porter Award for Best Embroidery and the Nell Saunders Award for Recycled Objects Crafts.
Other categories include Scrap Yarn Projects, Novelty Tea Cosies, Multi-Purpose Aprons, Creative Coathangers, Kid's Corner, Men's Crafts, Crochet, Knitting, Beading, Jewellery, Poetry, Photography, Paper Crafts and more.This is the first Fraser Group Crafts Display open to the public in ten years; come and support your local Country Women's Association and enjoy what may be a one-off event.
Fraser Group incorporates 4 Branches including Burwood and Glen Waverley.
Entry $3, children under 16 free. Devonshire tea with hot scones, homemade jam and fresh cream, $4.
Bic has a Story to Tell
By Rosemary Feneziani
Bic Walker’s story began in 1974 in a village in Vietnam called Rach Gia, south of the Mekong Delta, and continues today in suburban Ashburton, where she lives with her husband and two young children. Bic’s life is one of purpose, advocacy and creativity, however it has not always been serene and comfortable.
Born towards the end of the 20-year Vietnam War, Bic was the youngest of three children. Living under the communist regime, her family suffered greatly. In 1975 her father was imprisoned for two years for siding with the non-communist party. The family lost their home, Bic’s parents lost their jobs and they were constantly under the watchful eye of the communists. The future looked bleak, and Bic’s parents knew that supporting their family was going to be difficult. Her mother wanted a more prosperous future for her children than Vietnam was able to offer, thus began a desperate and secretive plan to escape.
When Bic was five years old and her siblings were 9 and 11, the family boarded a tiny row boat in the dead of night. It was 1979.
The events that transpired were horrendous and terrifying. Their boat was attacked by pirates and any possessions, including the clothes off their backs, were taken. Bic’s family, together with the others on the boat, were left for dead. Had it not been for the crew of a Canadian oil tanker, they would surely have met their end in the ocean. Bic’s fate saw her transported to Australia via Malaysia, where they found a safe haven after their rescue at sea.Her life after arriving in Australia resonates with many refugees and other migrants: a life of hard work, assimilation, discrimination and determination to succeed and to be acknowledged.
Bic’s experience as a refugee was the catalyst for her book, A Safe Place to Live. This somewhat autobiographical picture book also contains her paintings, which serve as the illustrations. Often she would recount her experiences to her kids as bedtime stories, but she felt that documenting it would cement the memories and keep the story flowing.
The book also serves as a resource for children, teaching them about the plight of refugees–past and present. Bic hopes that the book generates discussion of an issue that is both current and controversial. She also hopes that it teaches children the importance of embracing differences in people and adopting a compassionate attitude towards new arrivals. Although a picture book, the story will appeal to people of all ages as it is evolving, inviting and intriguing. Younger children will find the pictures and words relating to pirates fascinating, while older children will be able to understand its emotional content.
As the text is simple, Bic believes it is a book that can reach migrants with a limited grasp of the English language, thus allowing others to use it as a platform for sharing their stories and feeling comfortable in doing so.
Through her story of suffering comes triumph, and in telling it in simple words and pictures, Bic wants children to realise that Australia is truly a lucky country and that with resilience and education, goals are achievable. She wants multiculturalism to be celebrated, as she believes it is what makes Melbourne a special and colourful city.
Refugees are not people to be feared or seen as threatening. Instead, they are people who have fled desperate situations, looking for another chance at life and, as Bic’s book states, a safe place to live. Bic is currently working on another book about the plight of an orphan child whose parents died from HIV/AIDS.
A Safe Place to Live is available at Readings.
From Hartwell Kitchen ... to The Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria
The early 60s were dark days for people living with epilepsy and there were some incredibly tough times as the families involved built the Epilepsy Foundation from nothing into an organisation that helps thousands of Victorians every year.Mary Davis occupies not only a pivotal place in the history of the Epilepsy Foundation, but that of all Victorians living with epilepsy. The enduring legacy of her commitment came from her love for her son Roger and a parent’s passion to right the wrongs that epilepsy had brought to him.
In January 1964 Mary and four other people met with the intention of forming a self-help group for individuals and families dealing with epilepsy. The first public meeting was held on 15 May 1964 with 80 people attending. This produced the Victorian Bureau for Epilepsy, now named the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria.
Mary was a key influence in the work and growth of the foundation. Early days saw her operating from her kitchen table in Hartwell, dealing with other families or fundraising activities. Later she served on the Committee of Management, was President, honorary Education Officer and a community speaker. Mary was honoured with a Community Service Award by the Victorian Council of Social Service in 1975 and with an MBE for services to the cause of epilepsy in 1976.
Epilepsy Help Line 1300 852 853, or www.epinet.org.au 818 Burke Rd, Camberwell. 9am–5pm Mon–Fri.
How the Epilepsy Foundation can help: A telephone call, a visit or an email to the foundation will put you in touch with an Epilepsy Foundation Client Services Counsellor, who will support you with a range of services, including the following:
- Assistance with questions about access to government benefits, equipment loans and information about other community resources
- Practical support and counselling about epilepsy and its effect on physical, mental and social well-being
- Ongoing support for individuals (and families) whose epilepsy is difficult to control, and assistance and support in getting the range of services they require
- Hospital visits and seizure clinic participation, working in partnership with neurologists specialising in epilepsy
- Assistance with questions about practical everyday issues such as driving and medication
- Assistance for rural Victorians living with epilepsy (and their families) who need to attend epilepsy-related appointments in Melbourne
- Developing individual epilepsy management plans and seizure first-aid diaries to help people manage their own epilepsy, and coordinate their needs with schools and sporting clubs or in their workplaces
- Working with schools, employers, community organisations, and government departments to breakdown any misunderstandings and prejudices about epilepsyIn-school support with Student/Program Support Group meetings and development of health and education plans for children with epilepsy
Purple Day 2012 Kicks Off
This year, Purple Day will fall during Epilepsy Awareness week, on Monday March 26, to increase awareness of epilepsy and raise vital funds. Supporters across the world are invited to wear purple and host events to raise funds and help spread the word about epilepsy awareness.
Purple Day was founded in 2008 by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada. Motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy, Cassidy started Purple Day in an effort to get people talking about the disorder, and to inform those with seizures that they are not alone. She named it Purple Day after the internationally recognised colour for epilepsy, lavender. Over 100,000 students worldwide have been wearing purple on 26 March along with hundreds in workplaces and organisations who have also joined the campaign, wearing purple to work and hosting Purple Day events and promotions.
With the help of Boost Juices, St Monica’s College, in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, slurped up a storm last year to raise funds for Purple Day and promote epilepsy awareness throughout their school and community. The company delivered hundreds of juices to thirsty students at lunch time, while the giant juice mascot hopped around to entertain the audience. Five eager Year 11 students organised the entire day, which St Monica’s will recreate this year with similar activities to support Purple Day.
To Sue from Riversdale Dental, promoting Purple Day “gives me strength when I am able to help others.” After recently being diagnosed with epilepsy, Sue was touched to see the team at Riversdale Dental wearing the merchandise to support not only Purple Day, but also her diagnosis.
Further north, long-time Epilepsy Foundation supporter Tracey Bush swamped the small town of Corowa with Purple Day merchandise. Eagerly taking 16 full boxes of pens, badges and ribbons to sell, Tracey was determined to get the word out there in memory of her son, Andrew, who passed away owing to complications from epilepsy.
This year kicks off Epilepsy Awareness week (March 25–31) with Purple Day supporters Melbourne Storm clashing with the Roosters at AAMI Park. The game will be dedicated to the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria and Purple Day.
Through the month of March, the Foundation will also be holding an auction through it’s eBay store, of signed purple merchandise. Currently there is merchandise donated from the Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Kings, with much more to come. The Foundation is aiming ‘bigger and better’ for 2012 and hopes to have more Purple Day heroes to help put purple on the map. With new additions to the merchandise range and an exciting new website, this Purple Day is set to be the best yet.
Here are some of the ways you can help:
- Create your very own Purple Day fundraising page at www.everydayhero.com.au/event/purpledayvictoria; send the link to your friends.
- Host a Purple Day event, e.g. morning tea, casual-clothes day, trivia night.
- Sell Purple Day merchandise.
- Buy your own Purple Day merchandise.
- Wear purple to show your support on March 26.
Entertaining The Troops (Danny Webb meets Vera Lynn)
A wartime memory by Dan Webb
Comilla is a town in north-east India, in what used to be Assam, but is now Bangladesh. During WWII, at the start of 1945, RAF Squadron 238 was based at Comilla. We were flying two missions a day over the Arakan Mountains carrying reinforcements and supplies to the 14th Army. British troops had broken out of the siege of Imphal and were pushing the Japs hell-for-leather down the valley of the Irrawaddy River. Bruno was the pilot of our DC3. Steevie, the Canadian, was navigator and I was the wireless operator.We were taxiing out for our second flight of the day when a ground-crew bloke stepped in front of the Dakota aircraft waving his arms above his head.
“Go down the back and see what that silly bastard wants,” growled Bruno, jamming on the brakes. I opened the cabin door and–stepping between bags of ice and boxes of ammunition–I got to the open rear door. None of the squadron flew with the big back door on in those days; it was easier to load and unload the Dakota without it.As I went down the back I could see the ground-crew bloke standing where the door should have been. He had a “chick” with him. The engines were running, propellers still turning, and the wind was blowing in her hair. When I got near enough the ground-crew guy yelled, “You’ve gotta passenger–Vera Lynn”. And with that he lifted her to his shoulder and shoved her into the plane. I couldn’t believe it! I’d never seen Vera Lynn, but everyone knew her songs: ‘We’ll meet again, dunno where, dunno when . . .’. I went to help her to her feet but she was already standing, waiting for me to lead the way up front to the cabin door.
It was an uphill walk through all the cargo. I went in first, holding the door for her and shouting “Vera Lynn!” Bruno took the brakes off and beckoned her with his head, signalling her to take the second pilot’s seat alongside him.“Ave yer flown before?” Bruno growled, concentrating on taxiing the aircraft to the end of the Comilla runway. “Gotta passenger,” he told the tower, and a voice came back telling him Miss Lynn was to go to Magwe. “She’s entertaining troops down there.”
“Do I have ter bring her back?” asked Bruno. “Nah...they’ll tell yer when yer get there,” came the voice from the tower.
We were now at the end of the runway, Bruno revving the engines; checking for “mag-drop”. As the roar subsided, Bruno looked at his passenger in the dicky-seat and asked, “Yer ever flown before?” Vera nodded. “Yer ever felt squeamish?”
“Bit,” she whispered, nodding and looking at Bruno.
“See that window beside yer?” questioned Bruno. “That slides open. If yer wanna chuck, stick yer head downwind and chuck!’ he commanded. “A pretty girl sh’d never chuck into wind.”Vera Lynn smiled and nodded. Bruno revved the engines and, speeding down the runway we took off, setting a south-east course and soaring high above the Arakan Mountains and down to Magwe, east of the Irrawaddy River.
Footnote: When Vera Lynn was made a Dame in 2009 I wrote to congratulate her, reminding her of the flight to Magwe and telling her of Bruno’s passing in that year. Vera wrote back, sending her condolences and saying how “terrified” (crossed out and the word ‘excited’ substituted) she was on that flight with us...something she would never forget!
Treble Tones Celebrate 50 Years of Song
By Margaret Venning
The Treble Tones, a locally based ladies choir, delight in entertaining audiences at retirement villages, senior citizens’ venues, church groups and community service organisations around Melbourne and in regional Victoria.Their annual concert is held each May at Burwood Uniting Church. This year’s concert, Golden Memories–50 Years of Song, marks their 50th anniversary, and will include a selection of favourite songs performed over those 50 years.
Fifty years ago, six ladies from Burwood Methodist Church met socially each week to sing. The founding Musical Director, Jean Cavell, nurtured the sophisticated singing style by which Treble Tones are now known and, with the assistance of accompanist Alma Reid and singers Ethel Aitken, Bess Whelan, Lucy Ward and Daphne Murton, produced a program to share with appreciative audiences.
Within three years the choir had become known as the United Ladies Choir, membership had swelled to almost 50 voices, choral competitions from Ballarat to Adelaide had been won and many community audiences charmed.In the ensuing years membership was between 24 and 38, and engagements averaged 20 each year. The choir name changed to Treble Tones in 2001; today membership is 25 and during 2011 they sang at 30 establishments. From small beginnings in 1962, Treble Tones have earned an unsurpassed depth of affection from their 6 musical directors, 17 accompanists, 11 compres and assistant compres, and the 187 choral singers.
For the past 14 years Treble Tones has operated under the expert guidance of Musical Director Lorraine Pollard. Piano accompaniment has been skilfully handled by Marcella Petersen since 2005. Members of the choir–12 sopranos, 6 second sopranos and 6 altos–are very fortunate also to boast Ted Pople as resident violinist. Ted, Marcella, and several solo artists from within the choir, provide extra variety to performances.Treble Tones have always tried to reach out to their varied audiences and over the years the repertoire has broadened to include in its program something for everybody—classical, sacred, folk and seasonal songs, and musical theatre.
Since 2005, Treble Tones have presented an Encouragement Award to a vocalist at the annual Manningham Eisteddfod. The recipient is invited to perform at the choir’s annual concert in the following year. The choir have regularly supported various worthy organisations, the most recent being the Andrew Dean Fildes Foundation, which assists children in overcoming language and learning disabilities.
From the beginning, strong friendship has been a feature of the choir. This support has been valued by all in many of life’s challenges. Maybe because of this harmony, the choir have attracted the assistance of many remarkable people who have tirelessly given of their expertise and time.
Golden Memories–50 Years of Song will be performed at 2pm on Saturday May 26,
at Burwood Uniting Church on the corner of Warrigal Rd and Hyslop St, Glen Iris (Melway ref 60 G6).For more information about the concert, call the secretary on 9889 4003.
To book Treble Tones to entertain your community group, contact the booking secretary on 9544 8546.
Fisher’s Forge Revisited
The Reverend Robert Houghton, now in his mid-eighties, writes about his parents, his childhood in Mount Waverley and his annual visits to the blacksmith’s forge in Ashburton . . .
My father, William Sherwood Houghton, was born in Stirling, a mining town on the Haunted Stream, in his father’s pub on 5 January, 1890. After moving around from pub to pub the family settled in Cassilis, on Swift’s Creek, not far from Omeo, and bought a beautiful farm overlooking the flats of the Mitchell River.
Eventually my father moved to Melbourne and worked for a solicitor while he completed the Articled Clerks course at the Melbourne University Law School. This must have been about 1910. Soon after, he joined the Light Horse and became a citizen soldier. When WWI started, he joined the infantry and served in the 29th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force. Wounded in battle, he found himself in a hospital converted from a manor house at Le Treport, in France. There he met my mother, Gladys, who was serving in the Volunteer Aid Detachment (VAD). They were married at All Saints on 4 October, 1919 and came back to Australia on a troopship.Dad had finished the war as the Corps Legal Officer on General Monash’s staff, and on his return to civilian life, became a member of the firm Mills & Oakley, remaining with them for the rest of his working life (until 1950). He bought a humble weatherboard home in Kooyong Rd, Caulfield, where I was born, as were my four siblings. Mother was very happy, caring for and bringing up her family. However, Dad was not! He was a country boy at heart, never reconciled to suburban living; and in 1934 he bought a 25-acre property in Mount Waverley. On Sunday, 1 May, Dad drove us out to see his new purchase in our family car, a 1927 Sunbeam. It was my eighth birthday and I remember the day clearly. I was feeling very resentful as I had been given a Meccano set and I wanted to get home and play with it!
We finally moved into our beautiful home in 1937. There were huge gum trees on the block. Sadly, Dad had them all cut down and taken away. He fenced a large home paddock, two acres or more, and planted lawn and exotic trees. He bought a three-foot horse mower and a draught horse to pull it. That was my job. I sat on the mower and did my best to steer it round the trees and taps in the lawn. The horse’s name was Timoshenko, Tim for short, named after Marshall Timoshenko of the Army of our glorious Russian allies.
It was also my job to take Tim every year to Fisher’s Shoeing Forge, in Ashburton, to be reshod. It was quite a long way. Tim trundled along slowly, but he had a broad and comfortable back and we always got there and back safely. At the end of High St, just down from the corner of Warrigal Rd, the blacksmith’s yard boasted a splendid oak tree that provided welcome shade in the hot summer. The shop itself was a large shed, dominated by a big forge. There was fuel for the fire–coke, I think, which made for a very hot fire–as well as the tools and the metal he used in plying his trade. I loved watching him work, seeing the bellows fiercely blowing up the flames and hearing the heavy clang as he shaped the shoes.
Years later, in December 1977, I was inducted as vicar of the parish of St Matthew’s in Ashburton. The vicarage had a carport and a drive running down to High St, just where the blacksmith’s shop had been. The shop was no longer there, but to my delight, the noble oak still flourished in its old place. The tree was removed last year, but its memory–and that of the forge–lives on.
Footnote: Fisher’s Shoeing Forge was established in 1871 (from A History of Camberwell by Geoffrey Blainey). St Matthew’s Church opened in 1947.
Acknowledgment: Thanks to Susan Webster for her assistance with this article.
A New Lone Pine for Wattle Park
By Tom Thorpe
The story of the Lone Pine tree that grows in the Patriotic Area in Wattle Park dates back to Turkey in August 1915, when the Anzacs fought one of the bloodiest battles of World War I to capture the heavily fortified plateau of Lone Pine (Plateau 400) on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Both the 23rd and the 24th Anzac battalions took part in this bitter campaign.
One solitary pine tree, a Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia), was left standing after the Turks cut down trees to shore up and cover their trenches. This tree provided a valuable landmark for both Turkish and Anzac troops and led the Anzacs to name the plateau Lone Pine. The tree was demolished by artillery fire early in the battle, but its memory and its descendants live on in the Wattle Park tree.
Private Thomas Keith McDowell, a young miner from Wonthaggi and a soldier of the 23rd Battalion, souvenired a cone from the remains of the actual last tree standing, and carried the pine cone in his haversack until he was sent home because of ill health. He gave the cone to his wife’s aunt, Mrs Emma Gray, saying ‘Here Aunty, you’ve got a green thumb, see if you can grow something out of this’. It was 12 years after the cone was collected that the seeds were planted, and five of them grew. One seedling subsequently died.
The first of the seedlings was planted on May 7, 1933 at Wattle Park, the home ground of the 24th Battalion. The second seedling was planted at the Shrine of Remembrance six weeks later. The third seedling was planted at the Soldiers Memorial Hall at The Sisters, near Terang, and the fourth seedling was planted at Warrnambool.
Unfortunately, like old soldiers, these trees have suffered the ravages of time; and as a safeguard and to continue the memory of Lone Pine, a new seedling grown from a seed from the original Wattle Park tree was planted at an impressive Anzac ceremony last year. This tree will be nurtured alongside its parent and continue to be a living memorial to those courageous souls who have fought for their country in the terrible carnage of war.
This year’s Anzac Service will again be at the Lone Pine in Wattle Park on Sunday, April 22 at 1pm. This special service is being conducted by the 24th Battalion (AIF) Assoc. Inc, 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion Assoc, 7th Battalion (1939-45) Assoc, 2/7th Australian Infantry Battalion Assoc, Hawthorn RSL Sub-branch, Melbourne Tramways Band and Parks Victoria. Everyone is welcome to attend.