All things Woy

Umina Kite Cam

2012-01-06T18:13:00.000-08:00

Every time the wind gets up you will find these crazy buggers out on Ettalong Point getting some air time on kite boards , found this video on YouTube that deserves a few more hits

A while back there was an unfortunate chappie who got blown into the beach at high speed , dragged up to the road and face planted a No Standing sign at 80km/ph , the poor bugger had half his face cut off .

Basalt Railway Trek

2011-12-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

From my old blog January 2008

I was going to use my mum's photo's for this story but they are old colour photo's from 1976 ( before Gwen Dundon's photos ) and are not really scanable ( did I just invent a new word ? ) So I decided to go get some updated digi pics and set off on a small hike up Woy Woy Tip last Sunday morning.
Packed a small pack with supplies : water , map , mobile phone , knife , 2 x Chomps ( sugar hits ) , body parts bag ( hey you don't know what you may find ) , digital camera and a lighter.
Headed to Woy Woy tip and parked outside of gates and notified garbage guy at the weighbridge of my intentions and possible return time , then set off up the track to Dillions Farm , once you hit the first corner just go along a bit and look over the right side and start looking for the raised soil that was the foundation for the small gauge railway that ran from the top of the tip ( the old loco shed site is now buried under tonnes of landfill )
Once you are on this raised path you will get familiar with it's shape and you will hit the first creek crossing soon after , here it's just a small bridge with some retaining stones still there and a concrete foundation , also some nice red yabbies and some kind of lizard that can hold it's breath longer than my patience !
About 30 metres further through some really dense and scratchy bushes you will come to the best bit which is the big trestle bridge that crosses a creek , here there are several foundation blocks and 2 large piers made of concrete spanning across the sandstone creek bed ( you can see this from Google Earth ) I then climbed up the other side and continued to follow the raised path again through some spectacular bushland as it wound its way round the mountain curves.
Another couple of small creek crossings and after about 15 minutes I was at the end of the top line at the crusher chute site , here you can see the old remains of the crusher chute which ran down a 45 degree slope to the crusher bin just near the sewerage treatment works ponds , I bit the bullet and headed down the steep incline ( knowing I had to come back up argh ) and checked out the crusher bin site , the cutting for the lower line and the other big trestle bridge site , here it is thick with lantana so take a machete ! As I was heading back I went down a different path and found the last remaining piece of rolling stock left , an old skip car - the same one my mum had pics of , so a took a few piccies and headed back up that bloody hill !

Then off to part 2 of the mission - to investigate an alleged ammo dump from WW2 that the NPWS mention in a tour brochure , heading down and across another valley I came to the top of the tunnel and began to work my way down when I came round a corner into a large cave on the hill overlooking the railway line, the first thing I see is an army ammunition box ! geez talk about bingo I thinks before seeing the rest of the cave contents - it was obviously an old hobo's home and from the items around I'd say he was living there around 10 years ago, the ammo box was from 1953 and had a newspaper from 1998 in side so that discounted it being WW2 vintage , I scratched around in the dirt on the floor and found a Halfpenny from bloody 1942 to confuse things even more !

I then set off to look at the intended area , a small tunnel directly above Woy Woy Tunnel , here I took more pics to send off to Pete from Ozatwar.com who I annoy every now and again and who was interested in seeing it as there were actual plans to blow certain tunnels and bridges in WW2 if the Japs ever landed.
By now the old legs were getting like jelly so I headed back along my original path and stopped for a breather at the first trestle bridge , sat in the creek with my feet in the ice cold water and had a Chomp , filled my water bottle up with new cold spring water and hit the scrubby bit on the way back , all the time being circled by evil looking crows
I was back by about 1.30 so it was about a 5 hour journey and without the tunnel detour you could just do the railway walk in under 3 hours if you wanted to , just be careful to get out before they shut the tip gates at 4pm !

Woy Woy Files article on the Basalt Quarries Ltd railway here
Blog entry on the WW2 Woy Woy Tunnel Demolition plan here

Woy Woy by Night

2011-11-23T00:43:00.000-08:00

Taken back in 2008 , much to the amusement of by-passers who thought I was some kind of pervert with a camera lurking around in the dark corners of town ..
I have long been a fan of the art of Jeffery Smart , I discovered his work when I was an apprentice working at the Art Gallery of NSW , I have tried to emulate his style in these photos.

This is the new Catholic church on Blackwall affectionately known as the " biscuit tin " , you can't see the tin bit in this photo , this is a side view of the air conditioning ducts that had nice shadows of the trees on them.
When the church first opened I had to add a little commentary to my old blog

Recently the new church on Blackwall Road was opened and the new set of bells were brought into action for the first time. For years the local parish saved up and purchased the mammoth set of 3 bells that first roared out over the Peninsula just before Christmas.
The beaming Reverend John Hill was quoted as saying " These bells kick arse ! for years my poor parish has been bombarded in their homes by the local heathen population playing Black Sabbath and Megadeath at ungodly hours , but come Sunday there will be final atonement as these babies kick in ! "
Obviously the bretheren had done their research as the pastor detailed...
" We had the bells cast overseas in the same factory as the bells used by AC/DC on the Hells Bells Tour and Sister Mavis was trained to use the state of the art computer controlled bell ringing software that drives the 3 bells we have nicknamed
" Big Bopper " " Left Scrote " and " Right Scrote "

The Sentinel , lamp post with rarely monitored security camera K-Mart carpark

Silo 8 - well Fire Stair 8 K-Mart carpark

Air Lock - top of staircase K-Mart carpark , sorry to the lady I scared the shit outta while taking this pic hehe

Car Park - I like the colours in this one , I should of taken the time to walk down and move those bloody trolleys outta shot :|

The Shaking Poles of Woy Woy Town

2011-11-23T00:33:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the last story and in need of some better pics , I headed into town last Saturday night to do some shooting.
It's hard to get some different looking pics to the usual fare , so I figured no one had taken night photos of Woy Woy before and set about my task , much to the bewilderment of some locals ( it's called art not stalking ffs )
Anyway when I get to this building my memory comes back and I am reminded of a tale from long ago ............
It's brisk and bitterly cold winter morning at Woy Woy station , waiting for the 5.17 am train to Central , my fellow travelers stand fast on the platform with backs to the waters of Woy Woy Bay in hope that the sun may come out just a tad earlier and warm our souls up.
There is always one lark who will wear shorts to work everyday ( even in mid winter ) , he stands there grinning as folk say to him " Aren't you f#@king cold mate ? " and replies " nah it ain't f#@king cold enough mate ! "
One morning this lark says to our assembled group " check out the flagpole on that building across the road , one is wobbling all over the place " and it was true , one of the twin flagpoles was going berserk wobbling like a giant had just flicked it with it's thumb !
Mind you there was no wind present and the wobbling did not slow down , we noticed this event for many mornings over the next few months. Theories abounded on what caused the pole to rattle , there was no wind or passing heavy traffic , it shook in cold or warm weather - maybe some sort of magnetic influence ?
The shaking became so evident that the staff inside the building noticed it and the pole was secured according to another bystander on the platform at Woy Woy , so that's the story of the shaking poles - only known by a few until now !

June 2008 - This is an old post from my Woy-Woy.net blog , I need to clean up that web space so I will be moving selected stories from dat one to dis one over the next couple of weeks

Easter Island Secrets Revealed

2011-10-28T03:51:00.000-07:00

This pic showed up on Facebook and the debate was whether it was real or not , I did a bit of Googling about and it seems to be real , taken back in the 70's.
It shows that some of the statues on Easter Island are bigger than first thought and extend underground up to 30 feet
To me it explains the relaxed expression on the faces of the statues , under the cover of the soil they are secretly scratching their nuts

Hello where have I been ?

2011-10-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Skulking back into my dashboard I can only say it wasn't me , I was hibernating for the winter , I did lurk about tho ...

I battled on the cyber battlefields at World of Tanks , a hugely popular free online game that has many Aussies playing and lot of them are older players like myself who have a chuckle at destroying tanks commanded by impatient teenagers

I also seen some photos of cars being shipped to Africa for the new Mad Max movie....

And pondered mysterious Aboriginal carvings near Woy Woy , maybe a line of defense ?

and thought I better mow that lawn before Chewy disappears

History Channel visits Kariong

2011-05-21T18:52:00.000-07:00

This is the portion of the latest Tony Robinson doco entitled " Digging up Australia " that was shown on the History Channel on pay TV a couple of weeks back.
As they investigate early arrivals to Australia before Captain Cook , they have a look at the possibility that Egyptian sailors may have made it here and of course that would lead them to the infamous Kariong Glyphs.
As paying for TV is an utterly ridiculous idea to me , I waited for it to be uploaded to YouTube.
I was originally approached by the producers to supply some background info on the site and possibly offer them a sacrificial lamb to be interviewed , they wanted a " believer " and not a sceptic like myself , alas I will have to get my 15 minutes of fame from somewhere else.
As Rex Gilroy and other assorted fruit loops would not appear on camera , I suggested they might like Jake Cassar who subscribes to the Egyptian theory and that they did.
Poor old Tony is seen to be biting his tongue , rolling his eyes and in the end says " the whole idea is very , very daft "
Kinda glad it wasn't me now hehe

Postcard from Umina

2011-05-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

I am still alive just been crook , busy and to shitty to post for ages now , this made me laugh the other night , sometimes it hurts to say you live here , what the hell

Snake in the hills

2011-02-12T00:49:00.000-08:00

A member of Elvina found this stone arrangement some time ago and recently found out you can see it on Near Map quite clearly , so here is the Woy Woy Tip snake from space.
It is noted on a 2006 survey of the area as Aboriginal and I have no doubts that it is as there are stone arrangements on top of a lot of the ridges in this area.
Situated 800 metres east of the current land fill depot at South Woy Woy and at over 15 metres long it quite impressive.
It bugs me that people spend a lot of time pondering the Gosford Glyphs when great mysteries like this are in abundance.

Help from above

2011-02-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

This is becoming a regular event , again on Saturday night the big Ambo chopper buzzed in from Sydney and landed on Ettalong Oval , here's a video I took a couple of weeks back showing the path it takes right over my house , it's a bit blurry as I used my digi cam to grab the footage , still haven't worked out the focus on that bit yet lol

Hot for Dogs

2011-02-09T19:24:00.001-08:00

40 degrees.... geez

Mad Max 4 Fury Road - Inside photos !

2011-02-03T20:48:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to recieve some photos in the mail the other day from a friend working on the new Mad Max movie , as you can see we will be treated to the usual variety of modified trucks , cars and bikes.
The vehicles are a bit more hardcore looking than MM2 and not as " earthy " as MM3 , these are big block mean machines !
As a treat to my regular readers these will only be online for the next 48 hours - enjoy !

Hero Car - a highly modified off road racer of some sort by the looks

Another modified 4WD with an old Ford Mecury body shell attached , stripped paintwork is different

Close up of the new tanker showing how the cab has been made up from 2 car bodies ( landcruiser and a PT cruiser mebbe )

Monster truck practising some jumps

Fighter World - Williamtown RAAF

2011-01-24T21:57:00.000-08:00

Took my nephew up to the local RAAF base that has a museum called Fighter World , lotsa boys stuff thought yas might like a looksee

A look at the main hall Meteor , Sabre , Macchi , Vampire

Gatling gun with a drum mag the size of a large garbage bin , tried to nick it .........next time !

This was a donated model collection , over 300 models all built from scratch over 40 years , frikkin impressive work

My very stoked nephew and I test out the cockpit of a Macchi trainer jet , well worth a visit just to see the smile on his dial

Mad Max 4 - Inside the new movie shhh !

2011-01-12T21:24:00.000-08:00

It's baaaaaaccckk ......

My bland old job takes me to many places and I meet the occasional rich and famous person along the way , this week I am working for someone who has inside knowledge of the new Mad Max 4 movie ....
As you might have noticed I am a massive fan of this movie and dream of roaming the wastelands in the Interceptor ..
So I thought I'd glean some info from this chap - glad I did !
With the aid of his iPhone I was shown pre production footage of some of the stunts being worked on for the movie and lots of pics of the vehicles being used , lots of them in the wicked post apocalyptic style we loved from the second movie ( purists will tell you there was no Mad Max 3 )

The Vehicles
I saw lots of cars , bikes , semi trailers , monster trucks all MM2 style , they seem be using lots of old vintage stuff with Model T / old Ford Mercury looking cars but of course with massive V8's in them , my source tells me that they all have real motors in them this time and a lot of cash has been spent on building them , one car is a converted off - road racer that cost over 100 grand to build and " glides like a bullet through the scrub " he said.
He also remarked there was to be no " jap crap " cars in the movie except for one in the beginning that gets destroyed by a giant boulder ( I can hear the cheer in the audience already ! )
Another video I seen was of the novel way they are going to use to transfer actors between vehicles at high speed , this is going to be awesome but I was told this is Top Secret so I'll won't divulge what it is ( ner ner )
I then saw a photo of the informant leaning on the old Interceptor from MM2 , " An old pic ? " I asked
" Nope we bought up about half a dozen already converted Interceptors from members of the public / fans to be used in the new movie .... "
" S S So the Interceptor is back ? "
" Yes it is " ( oh shit yes ! )

The Story
The story starts off where we were left at the end of the second movie and follows the tale of what happens to the group as they move out of the badlands and look for a better life.
It looks like the story does not connect in any way to the 3rd movie , but follows on from MM2 , this is what the fans wanted from 3 originally , yes Beyond Thunderdome was shit , everyone agrees.
I think this movie is going to deliver everything the die hard fans want and more , it is going to be a " road movie " , rolling non stop from start to finish and here's some more , our travellers seem to end up back in the badlands from the 2nd movie !

The Cast
An unknown English actor will play the lead character and he may even be taking the role of the original Max ..
Charlize Theron will play a role in the movie , and I'm gonna leave this as a surprise , a popular character from MM1 makes a return ! ( o man this is going to rock ! )

The Location
I'm not telling , but if you have read this article closely it ain't half obvious ....

Why is it taking so long ?
The movie has been on the go for many years now , originally it was to be filmed in Namibia back around when 9/11 happened , actors and crew were reluctant to travel by air , and they ran out of time as director George Miller had other commitments ( Babe 2 )
So the project was locked up in storage and later canned altogether , at this stage some 40 bikes and 20 other vehicles had been delivered to the desert location and a small town had been built for filming.
Last year pre production filming took place and filming was to begin this year except one thing has halted them - the desert is too green after all this rain !
So we wait again ..........

Keep away from my chicken

2010-12-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

Some have commented my last post may have been a lil harsh , heres what my mate Mick reckons .........

Umina's Chook Nazi

2010-12-24T00:28:00.000-08:00

I was hoping to leave this year on a light note , but after tonite my faith in the goodness of man has been tested once again.
I'm a single guy and have been rushing about all day doing my christmas shopping , I'm buggered and can't be arsed cooking tonite so I thought I'd pop into the Charcoal Chicken at Umina to pick up half a chicken and a loaf of fresh bread to make some chicken sangas for dinner , something light and easy.
At the shop there are 7 full chickens on the cutting tray waiting to be purchased , I ask for a half and the young guy goes " Um err " and whispers to an older employee hiding in the back of the shop... " No you can't have half a chicken , we don't want to cut one up "
Well fuck me dead Mrs Chook fucken nazi ! , is that the thanks I get for years of loyal patronage of your shop ?
How dare you put a pissy couple of dollars profit in front of the needs of a customer ?
I never even complained when you cunts sold me a dried out rubber chicken carcass from under the counter one night , but you have got me riled now .........
.

Xmas 2010

2010-12-17T01:20:00.000-08:00

Some sort of bad accident on the Rip Bridge on Thursday , from what I heard a car went under a truck , this big chopper hovered over my house before landing at Ettalong Oval to pick up the unfortunate victim

The crazies are out this time of year , read on lol

Due to many emails landing in my box asking what has happened to Spike , we will have to list you M.I.A , search party has been dispatched

Fan Mail No.1

2010-12-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

I have recieved in the last 24 hours 2 requests to write a book , if this keeps up I may consider !
This is one of the best emails I have ever had and had to share it wif yas , unedited , scuse caps.

STEVE, MAAAATE, YER GOTTA WRITE A BOOK! I HAVE SAT ON ME ARSE FOR 8 YRS WONDERING ABOUT THE WOY, GOSFORD, AND SURROUNDING AREAS. I SAT ON ME ARSE ON THE TRAIN AND WONDERED ABOUT THE CAVES UP THERE, AND THEIR HISTORY. I WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ABORIGINAL HISTORY AROUND HERE, KNOWING WE MUST HAVE BUMPED THEM OFF_ SOMEHOW. SINCE I AM NO CHICKEN ANYMORE, AND THE THOUGHT OF SNAKES n SPIDERS OUT THERE IN BUSHLAND SCARES THE BE JESUS OUTTA ME, I JUST SAT ON ME ARSE AND WONDERED. FUCKED IF I KNOW HOW I FELL ACROSS YER PAGES, BUT I WANNA KNOW MORE. I WOULD BUY YER BOOK FOR SURE JUST TO BE ABLE TO SIT SOME MORE :) PLEASE CONSIDER.

LARD ARSE
MARREE

Thanks Maree or Lardy ?
Comments like yours are the only worthy payment for my efforts , I'll send you a shitload of links so you can begin the journey ....

Facebook shitfight

2010-11-30T22:02:00.000-08:00

Deary me ........

Joanne XXXXXX 20 November at 08:50
Geez you're a touchy fella. Am deleted

Steve S 01 December at 16:52
Firstly " Geez you're a touchy fella " this might be calling the kettle black dont you think ? , you are still hurting over something I have been alleged to have done over 6 months ago and have left unsavoury comments on my public wall no less than 3 times.
Lets get this straight - I have never accused you of " being backward "and have not placed any terse comments on your wall have I now ? , I think this may go back to when I posted that LMGTFY link yes ? I thought you would enjoy that link and enjoy the small humor of it , but then again I have no sense of humor as you have accused me of before ......
So let me clear that up for you as well , I have been online since 1999 and have seen every bogan racist abo joke email ten times over , to me I got a slight chuckle the first time I saw these but to be honest this kind of humour is low brow and not my cup of tea - sorry !
Also , I belong to a local history research group that is currently researching the fate of the local Aborigine population , because this needs to be taught in local schools , shit we never learn't anything about our local area at school did we ?
You will be pleased to know that we first shot and killed the local Aborigines like dogs , and then introduced the first case of germ warfare being used in Australia and deliberately infected the Aborigine population with smallpox , those that weren't killed from this were massacred in a single night by a posse of soldiers who rode camp to camp and shot men . women and children while they lay asleep.
I have an account of over 200 Aboriginal skeletons being found at Pearl Beach in 1890 , the poor fuckers were so weak they couldn't bury their own dead , so forgive me if I am slightly passionate about this subject.
You might be interested to read about what I have researched so far or even print out a copy for your kids or even shove one in the face of the teachers at your local school http://home.iprimus.com.au/blazelands/woywoy/bungaree.htm
Anyway I hope you apreciate the fact I have taken the time to explain my actions clearly and if you feel that you may have been a little out of order and might want to offer the slightest apology then please re add me
Merry Christmas

Postcard from Woy Woy Part 2

2010-11-22T00:20:00.000-08:00

Traditionally summer is my quiet time on the net , I slack off on my blogs and sites that I frequent , this year started a bit earlier as work has gone into overdrive and a lot of that has been in Sydney making the days long and short of free time.
Expect a burst of activity around Xmas when I go on hols.

Beiber Heads
A seen a flock of Beiber Heads in Umina last night as observed them while I was waiting for my burger to get cooked.
A group of young lads were seated outside of the takeaway shop , they all sported Justin Beiber-esque type hair cuts and every now and again they would jerk their heads to one side to adjust the hairline , one wonders if this habit will continue unintentionally into adulthood and eventually cause some kind of RSI type injury of neck muscles.

The Lanies
I am a member of a unique group of people who live in the dunny lanes of Woy Woy town , back in days of old when you had a backyard outdoor dunny , the dunnymen used to drive their trucks down the specially built lanes at the rear of everyones house at 4 a.m in the morning.
They would sneak in via your back gate and change the tin over in your dunny , then would take the full one out and load it onto the truck and dump it in the National Park in an approved dump that eventually leached into the local water table doh
Years later in the 80's a zoning change meant lot's of people with quarter acre blocks wacked a fence across the middle and turned their back garages / sheds into "studio apartments " and rented them out.
I am renting one of these studio apartments , it's rough and cheap but it's big , well big enough to park 3 cars in ....
Lot's of other folk live in my laneway , we are all single it seems , but that's not by choice , it's because our leases won't allow more than 1 person to live on the property.
We keep an eye out for each other and close unattended gates when we accidentally leave them open and block the laneway traffic , on Tuesday night we all wheel our bins down the lane to the end and back up the street to park them outside the front property of our respective units , I'm lucky I only live 6 houses from the end so I only have to wheel my bin for the distance of 12 houses.
A couple of weeks back some one was getting chased by the cops and he tried to take refuge in the lanes , a wrong turn led him into a dead end blocked by the council to stop people pissing off from the cops worked to well and he ended up going through a fence and into some guys swimming pool , the fence got rebuilt before I could get some pics - bugger !

Military Modelling
I have had to slow down on building models as my eyesight is completely shot , 10 years of pissing about on my computer every night , playing wargames and just old age I guess is to blame as well , time to get some glasses - bugger !

Woy Woy
Is sporting 2 rather large cranes that are being used on the new car park extensions at Deepwater Plaza , the view from them must be fantastic , I will try and do a run round the place and get some pics of all the new constructions and demolitions that have been going on

Alan Dash speaks about the Gosford Glyphs

2010-10-15T23:22:00.000-07:00

Once again we are drawn back to the mysterious Gosford / Kariong / Woy Woy / Egyptian Hieroglyphs , due to new research being undertaken by retired geologist and fellow Elf John Byrnes I chanced upon a lead and was able to contact the first person documented to find the glyphs - Alan Dash
Alan worked as a surveyor for Gosford Council for many years and I spoke to him recently , here for the first time we have an account from someone who witnessed the creation of the glyphs site over a couple of years in the 1970's.

Alan first found the glyphs around 1975 ( he is unsure of exactly what year
but said " early 70's " ) , at the time he was surveying the water easement
for Gosford Council and had to make a line to Lyre Trig.
While working he noticed a chap emerge from a hole in the rock wall and walk
over to the old Gilford house , this old home long abandoned had become the
home of "derelicts" Alan said.
The Gilford home was built in the 1920's and was the home of EF Gilford.
Thinking that he may have been growing pot and curious , Alan went to have a
look in the hole and found the carvings on the western wall in the cleft , the
east wall was bare at this time.
Six months later he took a co worker into the cleft and found that the eastern
wall was now completely covered in carvings as well.
About a year late he brang a group to the site and found a second lot of
glyphs had been added some 50 metres from the cleft along the rock wall ,
these are much smaller and " rougher " Alan describes.
In 1979 the Gilford house was destroyed in the bush fires.

Alan was quite accurate with his descriptions of the sequence of carvings appearing at the site , this was important to my research and puts an end to any thought that these were created pre 1900's
It also puts an end to the 60's schoolboy theory , the WW1 diggers theory , the Gilford family theory.
Funnily enough I made a remark about them being done by time wasting hippie pot growers looking to " freak some people out " , looks like I wasn't far off the mark !

Alan Dash now works as a guide for the NPWS

2GO away please

2010-10-07T02:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes while working on a building site you have to come to a compromise on what radio station everyone listens to.
I prefer 2JJJ which is has no ads and plays a variety of unheard of stuff usually , this doesn't gel with the average tradie and usually gets a response of "Whatsthisfuckenshitwearelisteningto"
This week we have been listening to the sad old local stalwart 2GO , what shits me about this radio station is that it seems to be stuck in some bad 80's shit music time warp , music from around the time all your school mates got married and had kids.
For them life ended and to relive those heady teenage years they listen to the last good music they were exposed to before the parenting life began.
2GO has Bon Jovi on high rotation and in the afternoon they play "What Bon Jovi song is that ?"
I need to remind 2GO of some facts.....
Bon Jovi has not toured here in years
Bon Jovi has not released an album in years
Bon Jovi is not currently rating in any music chart
No one from Bon Jovi has died
Please release the zombies from the time warp you are brainwashing them into for goodness sake !

Swimming season starts early

2010-09-25T02:24:00.000-07:00

Some pics from an unfortunate local Facebooker who discovered there is a bit of a drop off at the end of the boat ramp at Empire Bay , a hazard of using local council owned ramps.

Yes that is a washing machine floating off to Davistown

At least it's clean now !

Baldrick comes to Woy Woy

2010-09-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by the producers of an upcoming documentary this week , they are doing a short historical piece about Australia.
One of the subjects they wish to cover is the infamous Gosford Glyphs and after lenghty research the producer thought they would get in contact with me after reading my articles about the subject.
The series will be narrated by Tony Robinson who is famous for his role in Blackadder and more recently shows like Time Team which is a personal favourite of mine.
Hopefully I will get an invite up there on the day of filming , I spent a good half hour on the phone giving the producer a good background on the glyphs and have offered to guide them into the site.
I won't hold my breath though , recent dealings with media types like NBN 3 and the Central Coast Express Advocate have been a waste of time.

I'll be famous one day and get out of painting ........

Sorry about my lack of posting lately but I have been getting my other blog off the ground , funny it took a few years to get any sort of decent traffic to this one and yet in 2 weeks I have respectable readership and 2 followers on the other one

Funny Dat

p.s This post was originally titled Blackadder comes to Woy Woy - my mistake lol

Anzac Plastic

2010-08-17T00:46:00.000-07:00

I have decided to blog about my military modelling stuff on a dedicated site - Anzac Plastic - another blog type arrangement , of course I will post updates here , but I can go into it all a bit more on the other ok ? cool !

Pilgrimage for Pop

2010-08-12T02:53:00.000-07:00

Just a small follow up from the last post on the Ourimbah Pop Festival , as with most subjects I post on the Elvina mail group , Bob Pankhurst had something to add.
Bob has been an invaluable source of information for a lot of enquiries from myself since joining , quite simply the bugger seems to know everyone and has done everything !
I intend to post more snippets from him in future posts

Bobs memories on the Ourimbah Pop Festival

I was asked by the organisers of the concert, which was on land which
today is part of the Hidden Valley complex but in 1970 was part of Major
Mc Nicholls dairy, to be part of a security team of horsemen patrolling
the hills above the concert site to stop people gaining access from the
Somersby plateau. I was racing motorcycles then and was racing that
weekend at Taree so I could not do it for them. I wish now I had gone
down there and been a bush ranger at the concert.
The Nutwood Rug Band purchased a property at Ourimbah which belonged to a friend of mine, they bought it around 1965 -68 or so I think the place was called Sunnybank, it is about 400 m north of the University at Ourimbah on the crest of the hill. My friend’s name was Len Barlow and I first got to know him through the Pony Club. Len was an officer in the Pioneers during the war and he was a bomb disposal expert, he had worked all through the London Blitz and then during the Libya and Tobruk areas unscathed and came home in about 1943 after all this to be blown up while delousing a small rifle grenade which blew nearly all the fingers off one hand and blew his face to pieces completely taking out one eye. He was rebuilt by plastic surgeons and nursed back to health by his wife Dorothy. Len was an orchardist and also a brilliant engineer, one of his buildings still exists in Ourimbah in Glen Road, it was originally the picture theatre and is now owned by the University.

It is one of those ex army Quonset hut type buildings and was in use as a hall until a couple of years ago. Whilst working in his orchard he used to get bad rashes on his face due to the citric acid reacting with the explosive residue still in his system. He once had an abscess on his tooth which when x-rayed turned out to be a piece of shrapnel from the grenade. A truly marvellous gentleman.
I well remember the Nutwood Rug Band as until they came we in this district had never seen what is now described as hippies with their long hair and weird clothes, of course they were Americans and must have had plenty of money to buy Len’s orchard in the first place. They used to cause uproar when they walked down Gosford’s main street. Now of course they would not rate a second look
Bob

Ourimbah Pop Festival

2010-08-07T17:03:00.000-07:00

A chance find of an old box of photos in a rubbish pile at Wyong has uncovered an important part of Australian music history and local history in general , the chap who found them recognised the slides as being taken at the Pilgrimage for Pop festival at Ourimbah in 1970.
This was Australia's first outdoor rock festival , Sunbury was not the first as often quoted , it took place on private property at Ourimbah on 24th and 25th January 1970.
The concert was organised by the Nutwood Rug Band and local promoters , the Nutwood Rug Band was a bunch of American acid rockers who left the USA in 1967 to dodge the Vietnam war draft.
This was to be Australia's answer to Woodstock and the organisers even sent off an invite to John Lennon and Yoko Ono , evidently they got the invite some time after the gig and never made it.
The bill featured a line up of Australian artists including:

Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs
Tamam Shudd
Jeff St John and Copperwine
Tully
Wendy Saddington
Doug Parkinson and Focus
Leo De Castro and Friends
Levo Smith Clefs
Stevie Wright and Rachette
Nutwood Rug Band

The first day attracted over 6000 concertgoers and this number swelled to around 10,000 by the Sunday , there were around 30 arrests for minor offences but all in all the media and Police commented on how well behaved the crowd had been

Tully

Stevie Wright

Wendy Saddington

Billy Thorpe

View all photos here

Latest models

2010-08-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Finally completed my latest project " 9th Division Egypt WW2 " , a diorama depicting vehicles used by the Aussies using research from Anzac Steel

Here, for the first time in the Middle East campaign, an Australian Cavalry Regiment was equipped with modern armour, in the form of British Crusader Mark 2 Cruiser tanks, M3 Stuart Light tanks as well as the ubiquitous Machine Gun Carriers. They provided two squadrons for the protection of the Headquarters of the 9th Australian Division, becoming involved in several tank versus tank engagements. During these actions several Universal Carriers were destroyed and some Crusaders were damaged.

Models are from 1/72 scale Hasegawa and were fun to make , some minor flaws but most parts fitted well
The base is part of an Imex 1/25 scale display case , it has clear plastic top that clips on to keep it dust free

Return to days of old

2010-07-26T03:36:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed me posting pics of the odd tank every now and then , I am collecting the Deagostini Combats Tanks Collection which consists of over 100 1/72 scale model armoured fighting vehicles dating from WW2 onwards.
I joined the collections'forum and have been amazed by some of the static models that the members build , back when I was a kid my favourite hobby was to save up $2.50 and go to Ettalong newsagents or the toy store at Woy Woy and buy a good old Airfix model.
I built models for years and some of the last ones I built in the 70's were Star Wars ones.
Then I discovered girls and surfing , a couple of weeks back I was in the toy store at Erina and decided to buy a few kits and have a crack at it again.
I had already been working on a large scale remote control tank , I have 2 of these and they are a large scale at 1/24.
This project is the conversion of a VS Tanks Abrams M1A2 to and Australian M1A1 AIM , I decided to build Australian armour as there are few if any ready to build examples on the market and I enjoy the research that goes with it.
The Abrams required removal of some pieces and addition of some sfter market accessories , I am still waiting on some red kangaroo decals for it before I finish painting the model , here's a pic of it so far

Next project was the making of a diorama for the 1/72 scale German " Maus " , I bought the Maus as a pre made model ( Easymodels ) and painted it up , as all my other small scale tanks are in plastic display cases I decided to whack this one in one as well , found some at the model shop for a reasonable price.
As the case was rather largish I decided to make a diorama and bought a packet of tiny German ( Italeri Anti Tank Crews ) soldiers to go on it as well.
The Maus was the largest tank built during WW2 and 2 of them were made , both broke down before they got into battle and were blown up by their crews , the Russians nicked one and it is on display at the Kubinka Tanks Museum

Back to the Aussie theme my next project was the Crusader Mk 11 , these tanks were used by the Aussies in WW2 in North Africa ,so it is painted up in desert colours , it is a 1/72 scale kit from Hasegawa and was fun to build , I had to modify the turret a bit as it was a Mk III.
I plan on doing another diorama for this and have ordered an Stuart Light Tank to accompany it as there is plenty room.

This weekends project was the Matilda Mk 11 ( 1/72 Italeri ) as used by the Aussies in New Guinea in WW2 , again I had to modify it a bit to represent the type we had and I am quite happy with the result , this one will go in a diorama as well and I have something cool in mind this time.

Next project will be the ASLAV-25 , this is a current vehicle and I think I will do the version that was used early on in Iraq and it is in a bigger scale of 1/35 which will give my poor old eyes a break

I was thinking of doing another blog just for the modelling , can I be arsed tho ?

While on tanks , my story called Grandads Tank helped out Mike from the USA who owns a shell casing similar to mine

Bambara Road Saga

2010-07-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

Last Friday the Lands and Environment Court released it's decision on the current development application by Glenndining, Minto and Associates to build 7 dwellings along Bambara Road at Kariong - the DA was knocked back much to the delight of the 2000 + members of the Save the Sacred Lands at Kariong group on Facebook and other concerned folks.
A hint of the impending decision was the sudden appearance of 2 blocks of land for sale at Bambara Road a fortnight ago , some guessed it was the owner trying to cash up before the banks moved in or trying to catch someone out before the final verdict made the blocks virtually un buyable ( is that a new word ? spellchecker dun like it )
One must now ask how the owner got inside info on the decision before it was made public and was able to list some of the lots for sale .......
So now it is time for Gosford Council and the NPWS to make good and buy the lots , let's hope this time it actually happens.
In the meanwhile interest has not subsided on the nearby Glyphs site , I have had a couple of comments so far on my last update , mostly by what I call " believers " who have left rather terse comments and then not replied once challenged to present valid proof of their " theories "
I think this page will be entertaining for some time

Views from Home

2010-07-01T04:43:00.000-07:00

A few of my favourite pics from over the years to celebrate my new blog layout

Woy Woy Bay

Church Blackwall Rd

Tesselated Rock Patonga

Wet young Lorikeet

Red Moon

Postcard from Woy Woy

2010-06-19T03:01:00.000-07:00

I drive down the road at 6 P.M to get some takeaway , a young father with a can of Jim Beam in his hand steadies a shopping trolley with his other hand , in the shopping trolley is his daughter standing up as they wheel down the road into oncoming headlights.

An old guy with his small dog on a lead bends down to pick up a hubcap that has come off a passing car , he props it up against a telegraph pole so that the owner may find it on his next pass.

Four pre teen boys gather outside the BP servo and pool their money together to buy several cans of the energy drink called Speed

Several bewildered English tourists from the large resort stand on the footpath in Ettalong wondering where the hell they have landed and where is everyone

Teenage girls wearing hoodies walk down the main streets staring into the screens of their mobile phones.

The little takeaway I get smoko from went upmarket , I used to get a bacon and egg roll , a slice of banana cake and a Chocolate Oak for $9.80
Now I get a breakfast wrap , a Byron Bay cookie and a Chocolate Oak for $12.80

F**k it's cold

2010-06-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

Woy Woy Tunnel demolition plan revealed

2010-06-01T02:46:00.000-07:00

Back in 2008 I visited the top of Woy Woy tunnel to photograph a suspected war time ammunition dump , it was mentioned in a local bushwalking guide and I was unable to gain any further information.

An email to Pete Dunn at www.ozatwar.com set me on the trail when he tracked down mention of demolition plans for the Brooklyn area tunnels and bridges in National Archives records.
The area in question was a small tunnel directly above the main tunnel at the Newcastle end of Woy Woy tunnel , I have known about this tunnel since childhood and have been there a few times , we always thought it was just part of the tunnel construction or an old mine.
When I joined up with the Elvina group recently I was acquainted with a geologist by the name of John Byrnes who runs a site that I have visited on more than one occasion.
John has an interest in interesting rock formations and I sent him photos of what I suspected was a basalt seam in the roof of this little tunnel.
John set about researching this tunnel a bit more and came across some interesting information.
During WW2 with the threat of Japanese invasion quite real , a national defense plan was set into action.
Part of this plan was to disable the railway system so the Japanese could not use it if they invaded along the coast.
The Americans were in charge of coastal defenses in 1942 and trialled demolishing railway tunnels with explosives at an old tunnel near Otford on the South Coast.
Explosives were lowered down an air shaft and detonated , successfully collapsing the tunnel roof , it was proposed to repeat this plan at several other tunnels along the coast including Woy Woy tunnel.
Small tunnels about 6 foot high and 30 feet long were dug above the main entrances to the tunnels , explosives would be placed at the end of each tunnel and the following explosion would collapse the main tunnel mouth rendering it useless.
The tunnel could be repaired later by this method , the trial at Otford collapsed the middle of the tunnel making it extremely hard to repair afterwards.
The demolition tunnels were dug by Railway workers and the Army was billed for this work in 1943.
2,400 pounds of A.N 60 Gelignite was stored in a magazine nearby to be used for the demolition of Woy Woy tunnel in 1942 , as the war in the Pacific turned the plan was abandoned and the tunnels were fitted with strong wooden doors and padlocked.

Secret documents reveal wartime plans

Google Models Feedback

2010-05-23T01:58:00.000-07:00

My Google models seem to be quite popular , it's getting into the hundreds of downloads , I got a comment on one of them a while back that I have been meaning to post

Woy Woy Theatre

Lovely to see you attempting this. My family owned the theatre for a considerable time until its demolition. I spent virtually every Friday and Saturday night there unti I was 16. I helped clean it; I worked in the biobox. While much of the sketch is correct, it misses some important points--at least from the time when I was there. Most important was that there was a small lolly shop to the left(as you face the building) of the long line of front doors as you have depicted them. On the right the wall was used for posters of coming attractions--there was no window into the lobby. You would be interested to know that there was an upstairs "smoking lounge" for the customers who afforded to sit in the upstairs Circle. Also upstairs but at the rear of the building was a reasonable size meeting hall given over to meetings of the Rotary. The windows of that room overlooked the Woy Woy sports field--and the rather smelly loos against the back fence.
Lee Shipley.

The theatre model was my first attempt at modelling on Google Sketchup , so it's a bit plain looking , I made a few other models soon after , you can find them here , if you have Google Earth you can view them in 3D

More Tanks !

2010-05-17T01:33:00.000-07:00

Latest additions to the armoury , I've been meaning to post them as I get them , but time slips by .........

M2 Bradley (USA 1991)

Cromwell Mk. IV (UK 1944)

Flakpanzer Gepard

M13/40 1942

M26 Pershing (USA 1945)

Full collection here

Real old stones

2010-05-05T02:38:00.000-07:00

After all ths fuss about rock engravings lately , I took time out to visit some bona fide olden carvings done by early settlers to the area.
Having visited this spot on numerous occasions over the span of my life I have never noticed these , first I heard of them was via a member of the Elvina group which I joined recently.
They are located on the site of the old Ettalong Hall and are possibly the marks of James Webb and another unkown person.

The James Webb initials are portrayed like a cattle branding iron ( backwards ) , there may have been a 3rd letter that has fallen off over time.
The James Webb theory is just that , to me it looks like a definate T with a decorative curl , I have seen similar styles in lower case but never in upper case.

No one seems to know who PWS was , but you can see that the elaborate carving style is definately 1800's , James Webbs property was called Mullbong Farm and was about 40 acres taking up half of Blackwall Mtn and part of what is today Orange Grove.
He settled there in 1823 and set up a farm , in fact James Webb was the first land owner in Woy Woy.

Myth Busting

2010-05-01T02:01:00.000-07:00

Freshly cut east wall 1983

Some more information about the Gosford Glyphs has become available since my last post , after observing my discussions at Save the Sacred Land at Kariong , a concerned citizen sent me a zip file containing some interesting photos.
These are copies of the original photos taken by the NPWS in 1983 when they conducted a full scientific evaluation of the site.
From the photos you can see the entire east wall has been recently cut and more importantly you can see that the ears on the Anubis glyph are not quite finished , some time afterwards the artist returned to finish up.

Anubis 1983

Anubis 2007 - note ears now finished

The freshly cut glyphs show spalling chips around the outline of each figure , this is unavoidable when carving sandstone unless you have proper tools and running water.
I now have a timeline of pics of this Anubis fella from 1983 to 2010 and there is no evidence of it being entirely re carved since then.
Another part of the myth is the several set of stairs carved into the rock around the site , a quick email to the boffins at Elvina confirmed that these stairs were carved by E.F Gilford back in the 1930's.

Stairs carved by E.F Gilford 1930's

As mentioned in my earlier post , Mr Gilford was quite in awe of the local Aboriginal carving around his property and carved the stairs for the many visitors he took on tours around the bush from his farm near the site.

Gosford Glyphs 2010 Update

2010-04-16T23:26:00.000-07:00

The discussion about the Egyptian Heiroglyphs have surfaced once again as the developers try to move into Bambara Road at Kariong in 2010
Many are happy to dismiss them as fakes and just as many believe they are real and many people believe those people...
Of course if they were real our history would have been re-written long ago , but rumours and people's beliefs cloud our judgement some times ( not all of us though ! )
Once the story of the glyphs reached the web it also garnered a new following of "new agers" and self declared experts and theorists , for which the carvings validated their beliefs in nice colour photographs.

Despite being presented with valid scientific proof and reports from a variety of experts , it seems some will reject all and continue with the myth.
Most of this seems to stem from a man named Ray Johnson who supposedly translated the glyphs and sent the results to a few experts overseas and the local authorities in Australia.
While we have copies of the letters he sent , we do not have any of the replies , so the translations have never been verified or acted upon.
Ray Johnson claimed he had written 4 volumes about Egyptian heiroglyphs and language and that it was accepted by the Musuem of Antiquities in Cairo.
In the letters I have Ray never states his qualifications other than the fact he is a researcher.
This all happened nearly 15 years after the NPSW , Gosford Council and Sydney University carried out studies and declared the work fake.

All the experts agree that the symbols are badly done and are probably carved by someone who was studying Egypt or was copying what he saw in a book.
So it is true some of the symbols actually are real and spell out words , this must not be confused as them being translated into the story as told by Ray Johnson
It also doesn't mean that they were carved by the Egyptians either , nearby dated Aboriginal carvings are around 250 years old and are much more eroded.

A property located within 60 metres of the glyph site existed from around 1929 , the owner was E.F Gilford who was so fascinated with the local Aboriginal carvings , that he wrote an article for the local newspaper in 1931.
E.F Gilford scoured the land around his home and recorded many sites unknown to anyone at the time , later in 1960 he was aided by a local researcher B. Pankhurst and they mapped and photographed every Aboriginal site in the Kariong area.
Remember Mr Gilfords property boundary ( in red ) was only 60 metres away from the glyphs site and he lived there for over 25 years.
2 other private holdings were in the area owned by Follan who had a pig farm and the Camerons who had a house and farm.
By that time the area had been extensively surveyed for roads , power lines , mineral and scientific explorations , the army in both wars and Lyre Trig was built just 120 metres away from the carvings.
With all that activity not one person or valid report exists of the glyphs prior to 1975
Parish maps of the area note the locations of Aboriginal sites but not the glyphs in every edition.

As the popularity of internet forums grew the topic of the glyphs arose on several sites , this brought the attention of Egyptologists like Dr Meltzer who was actually paid to examine the glphs via correspondence , while he agreed that the symbols spelt out names and words he never offered a full translation.
Later on as people informed him about the local history of the area and prevoius reports he began his own research into the background.
I note in his final posts he pleas for valid information on the status of the glyphs pre 1980's , but never gets a reply.
He is also sent a confusing letter from Ray Johnson offering to send him his translations , he remarks later on that he cannot agree with Ray Johnsons " archaic theory "

Private website owner A. Keating made a website based on the report on Ray Johnson findings by a Dr Gilbert.
Dr Gilbert also called the glyphs forgeries.
After that report was published online , Paul White who had help place Ray Johnsons story online and had a written an article , distanced himself from the whole affair.

On the Ancient Lost Treasures forum in 2004 a member ( Tom Walter ) contacted the Gosford History group and was told the carvings were done by a schoolboy in the 60's , the Elvina group has recently contacted members of that group who verified the story again in 2010.

Since 2007 all discussions involving Dr Meltzer have ceased , many sites have stories on the glphs and all use parts of the story from different parts of the web , no new reaseach has taken place since.

In October 2010 I personally contacted the first person documented to find the glyphs and spoke to him on the phone at length , Alan Dash worked as a surveyor for Gosford Council and discovered them in 1975 , he also witnessed them being created.
Read the full account here

To get a better picture of the story I've made a timeline with all relevant links included:

1825
- First land surveys carried out in Brisbane Waters

1923
- Woy Woy Road built

1929
- Gilford , Follan and Cameron purchase blocks at Bambara Rd
- Parish map of blocks here

1931
- Gilford writes article on nearby Aboriginal carvings
- Article here

1955
- Bob Cummins visits site and notes carvings are present but faint - rumour not confirmed ( see letter from R Johnson to Gosford Council 1997 )

1960's
- Students from Gosford High School carve/re carve/ add to glyphs - rumour confirmed by Tom Walter* in 2004 and Elvina group* in 2010 after contact with members of the Gosford Historical Group

1964
- University students visit site and carve/re carve/ add to walls - rumour not confirmed ( see letter from R Johnson to Gosford Council 1997 )

1975
- Council surveyor Alan Dash notes site
- Alan Dash notes site being added to - Read interview here

1983

- Article in Central Coast Express
- Mr David Lambert Rock Art Conservator of the Cultural Heritage Division of the NPWS visits site
- Pictures taken in 1983/1984 by the NPWS
- Photographs of the hieroglyphs were sent to Prof. NageebKanawati, head of the Department of Egyptology at Macquarie University, Sydney.
- Prof. Nageeb Kanawati replies and declares the carvings as fake

1984
- Ranger Neil Martin catches old Yugoslavian man carving at site
- Ranger Neil Martin notes additional carvings being added afterwards

1994
- Ray Johnson visits site with Dr Whitehouse and Yahn
- Ray Johnson sends letter to Dr Abou - Gazi Director of the Museum of Antiquities Cairo
- Copy of letter here

1996
- Paul White writes article for Exposure magazine Vol 2 No.6
- Copy of article here

1997
- Ray Johnson writes to Gosford Council
- Copy of letter here

1998
- A. Keating establishes contact with Dr Gilbert and creates website here
- Dr Gilbert denounces carvings as fakes
- Article here
- Paul White rejects his own story and agrees with the forgery theory
- Bambara site under threat from developers - letters of support from local Mp's

2001
- Hans-Dieter von Senff writes to Carmel Tebutt assisting the Ministerfor National Parks and Wildlife [Refschauge]
- Carmel Tebutt confirms carvings are fake based on NPWS study
- Carmel Tebutt confirms air shaft / underground chamber not present in 1983 inspection
- See post at Ancient Lost Treasures

2003
- Article written by David Coltheart in Archaeological Diggings Vol 10 No 5 Oct/Nov 2003 Issue No 58
- Article here

2004
- Tom Walters contacts Philippe Tabuteau of the Gosford Historical Group
- Philippe Tabuteau confirms carvings were done by persons known to him
- Dr Meltzer discusses the glyphs online at Ancient Lost Treasures
- Last post at Ancient Lost Treasures

2005
- Don Hitchcock maps writes article here

2007
- Dr Meltzer discusses the glyphs online at the Glyph Doctors
- Dr Meltzer receives information from Ray Johnson
- Dr Meltzer dimisses Ray Johnsons "archaic theory"
- Last post from Dr Meltzer here

2008
- Glenndining, Minto and Associates apply to build at Bambara Rd
- DA rejected by Gosford Council

2009
- Developers launch appeal in Lands and Environment court

2010
- Court hearing April - decision reserved to a later date
- Elvina group contacts Tabuteau family member
- Tabuteau family member suspects carvings were done by a pupil/s from Gosford High School in the 60's
- June - Land and Environment court rejects current DA by Glenndining, Minto and Associates
- Alan Dash confirms carvings done between 1975 and 1983
- Blocks in the area are offered for sale again , Council does not buy them

Busy lad

2010-04-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

The No Ship at Avoca mob managed to stall the scuttling of the HMAS Adelaide last Saturday at the last moment just 2 days before it was due to be towed up from Sydney and sunk.
They were unable to lodge an appeal until Minister Garrett approved the order to sink , which he seakily done on the Wednesday afternoon.
The No Ship group lodged an appeal next morning on the Thursday and were granted a 1 month stay until the whole proposal can be looked at properly this time.
Supporters of the sinking met last Sunday at Terrigal Skillion and they numbered about the same as the anti - ship mob did a couple of weeks back.
Due to an all out flamewar on Facebook the No Ship mob shut down it's page leaving bewildered trolls nowhere to go for the evening.
Whatever happens it looks like the ship won't be sunk for over a year now until it all goes through court.
We await Round 2

I joined this group at Facebook " Save the Sacred land at Kariong " , these guys are helping stop the proposed development along Bambara Rd at Kariong and I thought I'd lend them a hand.
The developers have been trying to get at this land for decades and Gosford Council has usually opposed any propsals , the NPWS has tried to buy back the land but the owners want more than they can afford.
This time the developers have enlisted a consulting mob who know the game so things look a bit of a worry , this land is still recovering from farming activities in the early 1900's and should be left as it lies near Aboriginal sacred land and carving sites.
As well as that there are hundreds of native species of flora and fauna living in this area and it is in a bushfire danger zone.
Just outside of this area are the infamous Kariong Heiroglyphs
We await Round 1

Finally I have laid my hands on a copy of King Bungarees Pyalla , a small book with stories told to the author by the local Aborigine legend Bungaree who was from the Woy Woy tribe.
A local researcher , Kay Williams was kind enough to photocopy the entire book for me and I've been reading it the last couple of days.
Like Kay , I was hoping this may give an insight into the life and history of the local Woy Woy tribes , but was semi disapointed when it only contains stories relating to animals and some folklore like the Bunyip , later in the book there are stories told by the author about the Aborigines of the time.
The names and places mentioned are unknown to me , they sound like they could be out west near Parramtta at the time.
One of Bungaree's traits does show out though and that is they way he modified some of his tales to suit the white man by giving the characters English names and comparing things to English customs and way of life , he was a great interpreter and could change his persona to suit whatever company he was in at the time.
The last 2 stories are told by the author and tries to portray the kind side of the Aborigines who on a couple of occasions used their tracking skills to find lost white children.
The author also knew of the impending doom of the Aborigines and writes this in the first pages of the book ...

" the legends I have chosen , from the Pyalla , are only a few of the many I heard in childhood , but they may serve to give some sort of idea of the style of stories existing among a people , who , with their legends and romances , will have soon passed away forever ""
Mary A Fitzgerald Sydney December 1 , 1891

Kay also put me onto John Byrne , a geologist who owns this fascinating site - Geological Sites around Sydney , I've been to this site quite a bit while searching for info on various things , well worth a look

John turned out to be a nice bloke and we have been exchanging bits of info all weekend , and he invited me to join the Elvina group , there are some great pics on this site as well
Funnily enough the bloke who runs the Elvina group knows my mum from the old scouting days back in the 70's ( six degrees of separation ? )
John has an interest in the things called "snames" , you cand find out about em here

Another member is Anthony Dunk who has this bushwalking page which is another "add to bookmarks"

All those links should keep ya busy til next time !

Random Things

2010-03-14T03:14:00.000-07:00

No real subject to this weeks post , just a couple of tidbits
In the forums there has been minor activity as 2 members have been visiting some sites I've written about and reporting back.
I feel somewhat chuffed at inspiring people to get out and have a walk in the sun , get fit and gain knowledge , a few have remarked that over the years they have downloaded my maps and instructions and headed off into the scrub - good stuff !

2 emails this week on the same subject - Bungaree the Aboriginal legend who was born locally and went on to become one of the most famous Aboriginal figures of our early history.
Not that Gosford Council will be of any help in telling his story , they are flat out denying any knowledge of the Brisbane Waters Aborigines and denounce the existence of the coastal Guringai clan which are the traditional land owners of this area , the Darkingjung Land Council are currently claiming to be the owners and with enough white washing and passing of time they hope the real story will be forgotten.
But it won't be as the last remaining Guringai descendants record their story for prosperity , this week I spoke to Kay Williams from Pearl Beach who is currently writing a piece about Bungaree although she spells it the correct way which is Boongaree , a very knowledgeable lady who took the time out to contact me with an offer to have a look at a copy of King Bungaree's Pyalla a book published in 1891 with stories translated from the man himself.
When I get copies of this I'll post some bits here , Kay also thanked me for placing the real story online for the public to see and is frustrated by the lack of recognition Bungaree has been shown by the local council ( Mr Holstein hang your head in shame ) and by the fact that local school kids don't know anything about this great man.
Hopefully one day this will change and with help from people like Anne Jones who emailed from Bribie Island this week as well it looks it will eventually.
Anne is preparing a display for the Seaside Museum in the suburb of Bongaree , Bribie Island , I gave her some tips on acquiring a decent photo of Bungaree for the upcoming display which will tell his story

I've added the Peninsula Womens Health Centre to the links page on woy-woy.com as per requested by email enquiry - your links can be added for free just email me

Found a new shop at West Gosford that sells radio controlled models etc and had to buy myself a 1/24 scale Abrams M1A2 tank - quite a nice looking beastie straight out of the box , later on I'm going to modify it to look like the Aussie M1A1 AIM version we have

Made a video to show the lads on the tank forum

and while I was testing the focus on my webcam for the video I captured rare footage of the Chewy looking a bit worried ( he doesn't like the tanks especially the one that shoots plastic BB'S at him lol )

No Ship !

2010-03-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

As final preparations are being made to sink the HMAS Adelaide off the coast here , a group of Avoca locals have rallied at the last moment to stop the sinking.
The HMAS Adelaide ferried Australian troops to the first Gulf War in 1991, to peacekeeping operations in East Timor and back to the Gulf in 2001.
The Adelaide was to be sunk off Terrigal for recreational divers to visit , as there was no environmental impact statement undertaken the public was kept in the dark on the project for some years.
Two weeks ago a large yellow buoy was placed in the water marking the spot where the ship is to be scuttled , the location was no where near Terrigal , but instead it is to be sunk 1.7 km's off the centre of Avoca Beach.
The whole time the public was told it was to be sunk " a couple of kilometres out to sea " but when you see the yellow buoy you suddenly realise that this is alarmingly close to shore , the locals are worried about possible leaching of toxic chemicals from the ship , the effect on sand movements on the beach , increase of sharks closer to the beach and the effect on the world class surf break itself.
With the 140 metre long vessel due to be sunk on the 27 th of March , the No Ship action group has little time on their hands but the ball is rolling , 600 concerned residents met on the beach on Saturday to formulate a plan of attack.
Drag it another couple of k 's out to sea and no one will give a shit , personally I think there are enough real wrecks along the coast to dive on , this is a bit of a worry

Visit the No Ship at Avoca site
Article in the Sydney Morning Herald
Article in the Central Coast Express Advocate

Tanks mate

Coupla more tanks for the collection up to 22 now

Leopard I A2

StuG. III Ausf. G (Germany 1944)

Rest of the collection here

Glyphs Revisted

2010-02-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Got an email earlier this week ...

Dear Don:

I'm an archaeologist here in the US working on a one-volume encyclopedia
tentatively titled "Encyclopedia of Speculative Archaeology" which deals
with a host of archaeological fakery. I am including an entry on the
so-called Gosford Glyphs. I am writing to request permission to use one of
the photographs of the glyphs that appeared on your website
(http://home.iprimus.com.au/blazelands/woywoy/carvings.htm). (It's the image
at the bottom of the page, a close up of the glyphs).

Thanks for considering my request.

Ken Feder
Anthropology

Sounds legit so I sent off a few photo's and shall await my free copy , cheers and my name is Steve mate.

A couple of pics I took last visit , many people have downloaded my map to the site and visited since I done the article on woy-woy.com , my directions take them the safe way in and not trampling through the National Park nearby.

The best preserved carvings , the other wall is more weathered

The dog headed Egyptian figure , a later addition from the 80's , badly done

The dog headed dog creature emerges from it's lair

Been a while since I added a link to the local businesses page , but got an email from the mob at Happy Herbs who have a new store at Erina and Woy Woy - check out tha erbal mon !

Breaking News

2010-02-19T13:25:00.000-08:00

Pope announces that Mary McKillop is to be cannonised this year ...

Tiger Woods says sorry to everyone who will believe him ...

Japs fail at using pepper spray on the Sea Shepherd crew and shoot themselves !

Meanwhile at home I finally found out what is making all that noise late at night in the kitchen , it seems that a large Eastern Water Skink has taken a liking to my dogs' food and is sneaking under the gap in my front door , pigging out and sleeping it off under the fridge , then doing the bolt back out the door at day break !

Combat Tanks Collection

2010-02-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

NOTICE
I am updating this collection on my new blog - for updated Combat Tanks Collection information go to my other blog Anzac Plastic

Latest additions to the armoury from Deagostini models , comes with a magazine fortnightly via my local newsagent , the collection will have up to 60 vehicles with the possible addition of another collection as well taking it up to 90 models , going to need more room !

The British Churchill Mk.VII

The Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer

My collection so far:

The latest update on the collection order , 110 issues and models are planned at this stage , as of last year due to request from CTC Forum members models from the Deagostini Panzer Collection are being merged into the CTC , the Panzer collection comprises of some 60 AFV's

1) Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. E (Sd.Kfz. 181 ) 13./Pz.Regt “Grossdeutschland” Neuhammer (Germany) -1943
2) Challenger 1 UK Mainland Division ( United Kingdom) – 1984
3) M4A3 Sherman 756th Tank Battalion 5th Army ( France) - 1945.
4) Jagdpanther (Sd.Kfz. 173) Sch Pz.Jg.Abt 559, (Luxembourg) - 1944
5) M1A1HA Abrams 1st USMC Tank Battalion (Iraq) - 2003
6) T-34/76 130th Tank Brigade 21st Armoured Corps (USSR) - 1942
7) Pz.Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. A (Sd.Kfz. 171) 1.SS-Pz-Div. «LSSAH», Normandy (France) - 1944
8) Chieftain Mk.V BAOR, Brussels (Belgium) - 1979 Paint scheme is dark green and black
9) Merkava Mk.3 188 'Barak' Armoured Brigade (Israel) - 1990
10) M48A3 Patton 2, 1st Marine Tank Battalion, USMC, Da Nang (Vietnam) - 1968
11) Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf.G (Sd.Kfz.141) Sidi Rezegh (Libya) - 1941
12) Leclerc T5 501-503‘eme RCC (France) 1977
13) T-54 Czechoslovakian Army Vitava River Sector (Czechoslovakia) 1978
14) Centurion Mk3 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars Seoul (Korea) 1950
15) C1 ARIETE 132 Brigata Corazzata “Ariete” Norvara (Italy) - 2002
16) Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 161/1) 20.Panz.Div. Kursk, (USSR) - 1943
17) AMX-30 501éme RCC (France) - 1982
18) T-55A Polish Army Prague (Czechoslovakia) - 1968
19) Churchill Mk.VII 6th Guards Tank Brigade, Normandy (France) - 1944
20) M109A6 2nd Infantry Division (Mech) (Germany) - 1994
21) StuG III Ausf.G (Sd.Kfz. 142/1) Fsh.Pz.Div.” Hermann Goring” Nettuno (Italy) - 1944
22) Leopard 1A2, 4th Regiment Carri Brigata Meccanizzata “Centauro” Bellinzago (Italy) 1998
23) M26 Pershing 33 Armoured Regiment, 3rd Armoured Division (Germany) - 1945
24) M2 Bradley 24th Mechanized Cavalry Division (Saudi Arabia) - 1991
25) Cromwell Mk. IV: 11th Armoured Div (France) - 1944
26) Flakpanzer Gepard RDF Army Leipzig (Germany) - 1979
27) M13/40 Divisione Corazzata “Littorio” El-Alamein (Egypt) - 1942
28) Type 61 10th Tank Battalion, 8th Division, (Japan) – 1993
29) Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma 11.SS-Fw-Pz-Gren-Div “Nordland” Narva (Estonia) - 1944
30) T-80BV 4th Guards Tank Division (USSR) - 1990
31) Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger II Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182) s.SS-Pz.Abt 501. (Ardennes) - 1944
32) Cruiser Mk. VIA Crusader II: 1st Armoured Div., Tripoli, December 1942
33) AAVP-7A1 1st USMC Division (Kuwait) - 1991
34) LVT (A)-1 Alligator: US 708th Tank Battalion, Saipan (Mariana Islands) - 1944
35) T-72M1 1st Guards Armoured Division (USSR) - 1981
36) M3 Grant Mk.1 8th Army Tactical HQ Tripoli (Libya) - 1943
37) M60A3 5th Infantry Division (Germany) - 1985
38) Matilda MkII 7th Royal Tank Regiment Bardia (Libya) - 1941
39) LAV -25 "Piranha" National Guard New Orleans (USA) - 2005
40) IS-2 104th Arm. Regiment 7th Guards Armored Brigade. Berlin (Germany) - 1945
41) Leopard 2A5 Einsatzbataillon 1 Mechanisiertes Baterie. Orahovac (Kosovo) - 2000
42) Panzerjäger Tiger (P) Elefant (Sd.Kfz. 184) 1.Kp.Isch.Pzjg.Abt.653 Anzio (Italy) - 1944
43) Sd.Kfz 7/1 with Sd. Ah 51 Trailer: 24.Pz.Div Don River sector (USSR) - 1942
44) SU-85 13th Polish Artillery Regiment Berlin (Germany) - 1945
45) Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G (Sd.Kfz. 161/1): 19.Pz.Div Sgfonovo (USSR) - 1942
46) Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf.B (Sd. Kfz. 186) Jagdtiger sch. Pz.Jg.Abt.653, Heidelberg (Germany) 1945
47) KV-1E 109th Armoured Division 43rd Army, Bryansk (USSR) - 1941
48) Sd. Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. D 12.SS-Pz.Div. “Hitlerjugend” Cliff (France) – 1944
49) Sd. Kfz. 250/5 Afrikakorps Tobruk (Libya) - 1942
50) Chieftain MK V, British Army off The Rhine, Berlin (Germany) 1984
51) Steyr RSO 0/1 + Pak 40 anti-tank gun 2.Pz.Div Normandy (France) - 1944
52) FAMO (Sd.Kfz. 9) - 88mm FLAK 37 26.Pz.Div. - Netuno (Italy) 1944
53) Somua S-35 1st DLM Saint-Ouen (France) - 1940
54) Sd.Kfz. 234/4 Pz.Jg.Abt.294 Ukraine (USSR) – 1944
55)Sturmmörserwagen “Sturmtiger” Pz.Stu.Mr.Btr. 1002 Miden (Germany)- 1945
56)IS-3 Heavy Tank. 21st Armoured Division, Ismailia (Egypt) - 1973
57)Sd.Kfz.232 Schwerer Panzerspähwagen (8 Rad) 5.Le Div. Agedabia (Libya) - 1941
58)Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger II Ausf. B (Sd.Kfz. 182), Porsche turret, sch.Pz.Abt.503, Normandy (France) 1944
59)Sd.Kfz. 7/2 PanzerKorps “Grossdeutschland” (USSR) - 1944
60)Steyr 1500A/01 + 20 mm Flak 38 Pz.Gren.Div. “Grossdeutschland” Poltawa (USSR) - 1943
61)Jagdpanzer "Hetzer" (Sd. Kfz. 138/2) Pz.Jg.Abt.744, Moravia (Czechoslovakia) - 1945
62)AMX-30B: Academy of Armoured Troops (Greece)
63)Sd. Kfz. 222 10.Pz.Div. Tunis (Tunisia) – 1943
64)Panzer IV L/70 (Sd. Kfz.162/1) Pz.Gren.Div. “Feldherrnhalle” Budapest (Hungary) - 1945
65)88 mm Flak 37 2.Pz.Div – Moscow area (USSR) 1941:
66)M21 193rd Tank Battalion 10th Army (Germany) - 1945
67)Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. F (Sd.Kfz. 121) 21.Pz.Div Gambur (Libya)
68)Hummel (Sd.Kfz. 165) Pz.Div Feldherrnhalle, Budapest (Hungary) - 1945
69)Krupp L2H143 (Kfz. 69) + Pak 35/36 3.Pz.Div. Berlin (Germany) – 1938
70)Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär (Sd.Kfz.166) Stu.Pz.Abt.216 . Rome (Italy) - 1944
Useful Links:

The Combat Tanks Collection UK
DeAgostini UK

The Combat Tanks Collection Australia
Bissett Magazines Australia

The Combat Tanks Collection NZ
Combat Tank Deliverys for New Zealand Subscribers

DieCast72 Panzer

DieCast72 Combat Tanks Collection

Altaya Panzer (France)

Altaya Chars de Combat (CTC Fance)

Combat Tanks Collection Forum

NOTICE
I am updating this collection on my new blog - for updated CTC pics go to Anzac Plastic

Brooklyn Battery WW2

2010-02-04T21:04:00.000-08:00

The Brooklyn Battery was located in McKell Park , Brooklyn NSW , mainly an anti - aircraft battery , this battery was made to protect the Brookyln river area and the Hawkesbury River railway bridge , artillery was located across the bay at Little Wobby in purpose built fake houses and an anti submarine net was placed from the tunnel mouth to Dangar Island.

This week I located the Brooklyn Battery that I had read about a few times lately , I spotted what I thought was the gun emplacement from Google Earth. There is no map that shows it's position readily available so I thought I would just wing it down to Brooklyn on a day off and have a look myself.
As it didn't look like to much of a hike I decided to take my mutt Chewy with me , he likes an adventure too , as long as we don't go to far or into to much thick bush , once the little bastard has had enough he just parks and waits til I carry him out.

Chewy on our last mission , tail down / tongue out / one ear starting to droop = he's good for another half k then I'm gonna have to carry him !

So I headed to Brooklyn and the marina area in the centre of town , took a right hand turn up the steep road to the headland and into McKell Park.
In what was one of my most easiest treks , Chewy and I meandered across the park and took a trail down to the point , while keeping an eye out for any concrete formations in the bush I noticed there were many hobos and backpackers encamped in the overhanging sandstone cliffs along the headland , in fact every cave had a pair of legs hanging out of it - talk about hobo central geez !

I get to the lookout and feel a bit downhearted as this is the hexagonal shape I saw from Google Earth "Damn it's just a bloody lookout" I think to myself , then I have another look at the raised centre with a iron nub in the middle , I then notice that the concrete part of the lookout is a lot older than the rest , in fact it's the same style of formed concrete I've seen a lot ...
So I sit down on the seat provided and have a think , then I look down and see this ....

Bingo , just a small tad of info left there by someone who knew people like me would visit

... the anti aircraft battery , which consisted of Bofors AA guns on Mckell Park overlooking the river and one AA gun on each side of the first railway bridge. A 3 inch gun was placed on Flat Rock Point - Noel Johnson 1993

A few pics later and my mission is done , the gun positions on the old rail bridge are probably long gone as they built a new bridge in 1940 - 46 and it lies on railway property so entry verbotten !

A 3 inch gun that was used by Coastal Defense units in the USA , Australia had the same guns and the big clue is look at the base - it's hexagonal just like the concrete base of the lookout

A Bofors 40mm AA gun , you will probably find one of these in the gardens of your local RSL Club , every town had one or 2 during the war , there's one in the carpark at West Gosford RSL and I think the little club in Springwood Avenue still has one out the side , also theres a rather nice one at the front of The Entrance RSL Club kept undercover.

Looking downstream from the gun emplacement , the furthest point on the left is Juno Point , home of another gun battery and on my mission list !

Seen this old Navy landing barge moored at Brooklyn , looks like it's the local garbage scow now going by the dozen or so Otto bins on deck , thought I'd post this one for Spike , who likes a good boat pic and is strangely absent from the blogging scene lately .... hurry back Spike !

Coast at War

2010-02-01T01:27:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a new Google Maps tour thingy titled The Coast at War - this will give you a tour of military sites along the coast between Sydney and Newcastle listing coastal fortifications , airfield and radar installations , sites of plane crashes / forced landings and shipping losses.
In compiling this information I have come across several fascinating stories like :

The laying of mines along the coast by German submarines which resulted in several ships being sunk.

The stalking of merchant vessels by a Japanese submarine over a period of 2 months , this vessel fired upon Newcastle and Sydney as well as sinking a number of ships

Secret coastal forts with giant naval cannons only 10km from Woy Woy peninsula

The fatal crash of a Spitfire fighter off the beach at Wamberal

Survivors from ships attacked by the Japanese turning up on the beach at The Entrance

Secret landings on the coast by Japanese and German seamen during the war.

The last days of the 3rd mini sub that attacked Sydney Harbour , Fort Records from Brooklyn note the sub in the area in the week after the sinking of the Kuttabul , at one stage it was even stuck on the mud flats at Patonga before disapearing again , were the crew still alive ?

I will go into detail on each story as the year goes by , so much info to sort through yet , I must thanks the lads at Fishraider forums for helping with some fort locations , an inspired peice of detective work if I must say so myself lol
How would I find these hidden bunkers along the coast ? Who would know ? The National Parks mob don't divulge much info as they want these sites protected and the National Archives won't let go of info easily without me having to actually visit them and fork out some cash.
So after a bit of a brainwave I'm thinking the local fishos would know because they spend the time in the water looking at them quite often , so after a quick post on the forum I had the info I needed within 48 hours !

When it gets cooler me and the bro will be visiting some of these coastal forts and getting some pictures , it will involve a bit of bush bashing and detective work , should be fun.
First visit will be to Brooklyn where I think I have spotted the hexagonal foundations of a gun emplacement on Brooklyn Point , Brooklyn Battery is mentioned in a few old Fort Records books at the National Archive , apart from that there is no mention of it anywhere else.
Also planned is a run to the Sport and Rec camp at Brooklyn to visit the site of the Juno Point gun battery , this is just around the headland from Patonga , and after that we will head to West Head at Pittwater to locate the extensive fortifications that watched over Broken Bay

Tanks Traps at Stockton Beach NSW
During WW2 thousands of concrete tank traps were placed along the length of Stockton Beach near Newcastle to thwart any atempt by the enemy to land there , today many are still there hidden in the sand dunes and under the water causing hazards to local surfers and fishos.
Weird to see this sign on an Aussie beach in 2010 ....

Grandad's Tank

2010-01-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

When I was about 10 I was staying at my grandparents place in Sans Souci while mum was in hospital having a major operation , I was in an alien world away from my mates and my town , there was no beach nor block of bush to go play in nearby.
The only solace was when grandad came home from work , he was an Ambulance driver for St John's , while not saving lives he liked to tinker in his sheds and make wooden toys for kids , many hours were spent in those sheds gazing at the variety of tools and gadgets , one day while going through some boxes of junk ( treasure to me ) he handed me this object.
" What is it grandpa " I asked
" It came out of a French tank in World War 1 , keep it and don't ever lose it ok ? "
It was a spent shell casing about 16 cm long and I did manage to hold onto it all these years , nearly lost it at school once and had the Bomb Squad called by an over cautious teacher until I explained how real ammo doesn't have the bullet part in it once its been fired.

Recently I have been collecting the Combat Tanks Collection via my newsagent , a fortnightly magazine that comes with a 1/72 scale model die cast tank each issue , I decided to have another look at the shell casing and see if I could use the internet to verify grandads story.
Firstly I took some pics of it and posted them on a couple of online forums , there are a variety of markings on the base of the shell which should be enough to ID it :

Markings as follows from top: K 10 JUNE 1918 ( maybe 13 ) Sp 255 119A and on the firing pin 6 or G Kp

Starting with the date June 1918 , I looked up what French tanks were on the battlefield at that time in WW1 , the FT-17 had just come into service that year and fielded a 37 mm Puteaux cannon as main armament , the shell casing is 37mm

The first replies to my forum enquiries were coming in , one guy had Googled the specs and gave me a link to this page

DE-ACTIVATED 37 mm MAXIM SHELL DATED K 19 AUG 1918.
Here we have a re-assembled shell for the famous 'Quick-Firing' 37 mm MAXIM GUN. Known as the POM-POM.
The dates on the bottom of the ...(Fired)...shell case tell us the story......They read......K 19 AUG 1918 Sp 255 119A.
"Quartermaster's Comment" The Maxim was a 'Dual Purpose' Quick Firing Gun......Often used on ships against Aircraft. This Shell is some 16 cms long and weighs in at around 550 grams. The Shell Head would appear to have been taken from a shell that had not been fired......(and is in very good condition)......but the base of the shell shows firing......in that the pin has struck the cap.
All Round a Nice Item.

Not the result I wanted but it got me closer to what I was looking for , surely grandpa wasn't telling me a porky pie.

Another reply pointed out that this type of ammo was commonly used by most armies and in a variety of guns over 2 wars and led me to this site

The first pair in this PHOTO: 37mm Hotchkiss/Maxim (37x94R), Vickers 1 Pdr Mk III (37x69R).
The Hotchkiss round is the daddy of them all in terms of automatic cannon development. Following the Declaration of St Petersburg of 1868, which banned explosive shells weighing less than 400g, it was calculated that 37mm was about the right caliber for a weapon firing shells at least this big. Hotchkiss first developed a 40mm six-barrel rotary gun (based on the Gatling but using a refined mechanism), but rapidly switched to a five-barrel 37mm and achieved huge commercial success. It was the first fast-firing shell gun in the world. Larger weapons in 47mm and 53mm followed, but they never matched the 37mm in popularity. So it was natural for Maxim, when he decided to scale up his machine gun to make a shell-firing "pom-pom", to choose the same 37x94R ammo. It was also used in a variety of small manually-loaded guns, including the ones fitted to the French FT light tanks. It was STILL used in some small French tanks in 1940, albeit with a better loading with a hard-core projectile with a much higher velocity.

Here were pics of 37mm Hotchkis type ammo used by the German and French armies ,this ammo was also used in the FT-17 Renault tanks and then the story took another twist ...

The markings on the base explained :

K means it was made in the German city of Karlsruhe and Sp255 means it was inspected in Spandau , the Kp on the detonator plug means it was made by Krupp another German manufacturer

So what do I have ?
It looks like I have a shell from a French FT-17 tank circa 1918 using captured German 37mm rounds , a scenario not entirely unfeasible as this kind of thing happened during the fog of war.
German had used captured Allied tanks in the battle on the Western Front on a few occasions .
The FT-17 was the first tank with a revolving turret and they proved effective in battle , I can imagine a young soldier wanting to souvenir a piece of this wondrous new weapon back in 1918.

Which led me to another question, where did grandpa get it from ? , he worked as a carpenter in the Peace Corps in WW1 and never left the country.
A late night phone call to mum answered the question , grandpa's brother was stationed in France during WW1 near Passchendaele , scene of some of the most desperate and bloody battles against the German forces.

This battle is remembered by the New Zealand Division in particular as a slaughter. Wire remained uncut before stoutly defended German positions and the New Zealanders were killed and wounded in hundreds. The mud of a small river valley below Passchendaele bogged most of the Third Australian Division and German machine-gun fire delayed the centre of the attack. A trench manned by 35 Germans and four machine-guns was charged by Captain Clarence Jeffries and a dozen men of the 34th Battalion (New South Wales) which allowed the advance to continue for a while. Captain Jeffries led several more attacks on machine gun emplacements until he was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Between the beginning of August and the end of November 1917 the five Australian divisions suffered 38,000 casualties out of a total for all British forces of 475,000. More than 11,200 Australians were killed in action or died of wounds, 6,405 of them in October alone. Indeed, October 1917, with its more than 26,000 Australian battle casualties was the worst single month of the war for Australia. The struggle for Passchendaele, because of the awful conditions in which it was fought, became notorious and the entire ‘Flanders Offensive’ is more popularly called ‘Passchendaele’. In the spring of 1918, the Germans attacked at Ypres and all the ground gained in late 1917 was given up.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

From John McCrae, ‘In Flanders Fields

I can imagine my uncle grabbing this off the battlefield for his brother who loved his gadgets , a small souvenir from a place far far away , I shall keep it forever and pass it down to my nephew when the time is right

Lest we forget.

Ghostbusters

2010-01-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

Recently I was asked by the owner of a Facebook group called SPOOKS Paranormal Investigation Service to comment and analyse photos that are submitted to the group from time to time, while I'm no photo expert I reckon I can spot a good photoshop job a mile away , and can expalin some common camera type errors.
All of the photos I have looked at are mostly dust and moisture specs causing an orb like effect etc and can be easily explained , but this one takes the cake ....

Look between the legs of the 2nd and 3rd ladies from the left , this photo was taken with a mobile phone and appears un edited , the child in the foreground is the only child in the room according to the owner of the photo.

Can't explain this un

Back to the grind :|

2010-01-05T00:43:00.000-08:00

My brief holiday is now over this week I returned to work , not to bad I'm working on the edge of Cochrone Lagoon at Mc Masters beach , the house I'm painting used to belong to the old postmaster back in the 20's , it's next door to the old post office ( of course )

Some pics from years back at the lagoon

timing...

And what's up with people stealing my shit off my sites ? It's not like I'm uncontactable ffs !
Firstly the Peninsula News helped themselves to one of my stories , sure I've written for them before , but a quick email would have been nice , I would have written up a special article like I have before ...
Secondly some kids from Facebook pinched some of my pics and stuck them in a public gallery they own
The correct procedure is to ask the site owner if they could use some photos and return the favour by linking back to me the owner.
But since they just helped themselves and then had the audacity to argue the point , I demanded they remove them .. ffs !

Had another bash at stop motion animation , takes bloody ages !

I like to follow the exploits of the Sea Shepherd mob each year as they take on the Japanese whaling fleet , this year they have 2 boats , the Steve Irwin and a high tech ocean racer called Ady Gil , the Ady Gil is also known as the Earthrace bio diesel yacht that visited the coast just over a year ago , it's been painted black - the team colour of Sea Shepherd
The Japs have wised up this year and have been giving the lads a hard time playing chase the tail in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary ,but on last report they have finally turned the upper hand and are out running the Jap security vessels , better still they have located the main whaling fleet are are now at full steam towards to thanks to a new mysteriious player in the whale wars - Taz Patrol.
No one seems to know who Taz Patrol is , it seems that they are Aussies who have aquired a vessel and are mounting their own campaign against the Japs.
They have been tracking them since just after xmas and have finally hunted them down only to run low on fuel so they are returning to port , but not before handing over the co ordinates to Paul Watson , Captain of the Sea Shepherd
All I can find on Taz Patrol is this Twitter page , they sound like Aussies ...

# Reached EEZ limit. Starting search for whaling security vessel. 10:17 AM Dec 30th, 2009 from web

# Happy New Year to everyone except the whalers. To those scum: head's up, we're coming for ya. 8:18 AM Dec 31st, 2009 from web

# Conditions been difficult recently. One large wave hit side on. The old girl is handling amazingly well. We continue our search. 12:34 PM Jan 1st from web

# Radar Contact!!! As yet unknown vessel 4:17 PM Jan 1st from web

# Whaling vessel found! Nearly 300nm south Tasmania. NOT Shonan Maru 2 visual shows superstructure is one of Yushin Maru class (1, 2 or 3) 7:19 AM Jan 2nd from web

# Fuel situation required us to head back to port soon after confirming contact.Over half way back to port now running at most efficient speed 8:30 AM Jan 3rd from web

They sound almost military and I love the bit about old girl is handling amazingly well sounds like an old war movie

Go Taz Patrol ! you are getting a following !

Holidays

2009-12-24T02:11:00.000-08:00

At last some time off , well a week or so , can't afford much more lol
My Christmas is usually like this ........

Had to buy the nephew this massive Nerf gun ,it's full auto with a belt feed lol , despite his mother's and grandmothers wishes that he not be given "gun "toys.

I had to feel sorry for the little chap when I visited him at Mum's place a few weeks back , Mum had made him a Robin Hood outfit complete with bow and arrow to run around her bush block with.
By the time I had got there he had amassed 40 or so of these clip together pencils and built himself a large Halo type rifle.
Boys will be boys I'm afraid so I told him I'd get him a decent gun lol
Enjoy Tommy and fer christs sake don't shoot yer bloody mum !

While researching a bit more about Nerf I found there is the usual plethora of YouTube videos featuring Nerf gun modifications , Nerf battles and more I found this video which amuses me so

On another note...
No your car does not look like a fekking reindeer with those stupid clip on antlers mmmkay ?

Merry Christmas Spike and my other blog reader lol

December already

2009-12-06T00:12:00.000-08:00

My how time flies , must be all this work , I've had little time to commit to anything lately , too buggered after work , too hot to sit near the p.c ( must get some free insulation )
Speaking of , I dunno whats going on here but someone broke into my brothers house and installed insulation in the ceiling about a week back , no one see who done it despite him being on a main road , I spose he will have to wait to see who tries to bill him or maybe some dodgy buigger has already worked out a way to scam dollars doing this = weird anyway...........
Been working at Palm Beach and Paddington for the last couple of months , hence my lack of blogging , a long day heading down the old F3 everyday , but after several years all 3 lanes are now open , hasn't made the traffic flow any better , dickheads still hog the fast lane and the bottleneck at Wahroonga reaches the Big Dipper every day now :|
Got bored last saturday nite it was so fucking hot so I downloaded some stop motion animation software and made this lol

Dammed if you do - dammed if you don't

2009-11-04T02:33:00.000-08:00

Exhibit A

Case closed

iWankery

2009-10-15T01:12:00.000-07:00

Had to have a chuckle a the recent attempt by Vegemite to call it's new blend iSnack 2.0 , massive fail all round as you may have read in the media , it's now called Cheesybite , I thought Cheesymite would have been a natural choice though
Anyway I've had enough of the iWankery that advertisers carry on with to sound hip and weblike to the younger set, but really nothing has changed over the years ,every decade has it's buzz word.......
The 60's - Fantastic was the most common used term to enhance a product , from cartoon heroes to vacuum cleaners
The 70's - Super was the word most commonly used to describe the latest hippest objects of desire like cars and rock bands
The 80's - Turbo was the in word , geez there was even turbo disposable shavers , and of course with the demise of the V8 temporarily due to the fuel crisis and recession , every little 4 pot jap car had one.
The 90's - Mega was the latest incarnation for this decade , it was street hip with the kids and fast food outlets.
The 00's - yes sadly after the ipod there was ifucking everything , still have a chuckle at the iVibe though ......gawd

Your tin roof ..............dusty !

2009-09-23T23:16:00.001-07:00

Whoa mother of all dust storm hit us at dawn yesterday , sand blown all the way from inland smothered the eastern seaboard for most of the day , a hellish red dawn awaited us as we woke.

I was working at The Entrance and got these pics before we packed up and called it a day , I was going to get some local ones on the Peninsula but decided I didn't need the asthama attack and headed indoors.
Evidently some smart arse bought a box of paper dusts mask and was selling them for a nice profit at Woy Woy Station

The local car wash and house washing businesses shall do a roaring trade no doubt in the coming weeks

Best pies on the Peninsula

2009-09-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to do this for a while now , I like a good pie and have tested all that are offered in the area several times over the years.
These ratings are based on the standard meat pie / and any other accruments available

2/5 Colonial Bakery - Woy Woy - Not a bad pie , the meat tastes a bit too gravyish to me , pastry to thin for my liking , they also make pisser jam donuts and are nice blokes to boot.

3/5 Umina Mall Bakery - Umina - Nice pies , consistant quality , mincey but not too much gravy , sometimes a bit salty, nice pastry. I find the cakes they sell are usually a few days old and getting a bit chewy

4/5 Umina Bakehouse - opp OB Hotel Umina - Good pies , nice chunks of meat and good flaky pastry. Nice selection of fresh cakes as well

4/5 Bremmens Patisserie - Umina - Big pies , lots of filling , nice pastry , but I find the fillings a tad bland and the filling to pastry ratio is outta whack. Award winning pastries but sometimes not up to scratch , especially my fave choccy donuts :|

5/5 Ettalong Pie Shop - Ettalong - The pie eaters nirvana , people travel from all over the coast to sample the wares , street crediblity is there as most pie lovers know exactly which shop we mean, the pies are tasty and big , pastry perfect and the ham and cheese puffs are the shitzbah
Ain't had a jam and real cream scones like these since grandmas , I could eat the whole shop
Service is great and the twin brothers who make the pies are truly grand chefs.

Found a new local site which is promoting an upcoming town event at Umina which includes some sort of pie eating comp , looks interesting hmmm go to www.uminabeachvillage.com.au

Flight of Fancy revealed ........

2009-09-17T00:23:00.000-07:00

A while back when I first downloaded Google Earth I discovered a shot of a jet flying what appeared to be very low along Mooney Creek , I posted my find on the Google Earth community forum and it was identified as a cargo plane belonging to a courier mob ( DHL I think ) and I forget what type it is
anyway ....... to me it looked like it was damn low considering it's size compared to a nearby oyster barge it even looks like you can see its reflection in the water but after the forum post I was informed its some kind of digital imaging glitch , so I kept a copy knowing that one day the whole map will get updated and that scene will be gone , and it has a few months back.

* Note size of plane in relation to the oyster barge which could be at most 30 - 40 feet in length

While working one day at smoko break , I was talking to a carpenter who had been working on a house at Mooney recently , he mentioned one day at smoko time he looked up and spotted a jet flying at about 100 feet above the water ( if that ! it was level with the house they were working on the point there ) by the time hed had alerted his work mates it was long gone , it was then I told him about the pics , we were both relieved as both of our stories are now validated

* Plane located between Cheerio Point and Snake Island , Mooney Mooney Creek , Pacific Highway in lower left hand corner

Some bugger in a jet flying cargo into Sydney is flying low level ala Star Wars Death Star run style up Mooney Creek regularly ! and it's been going on for years it seems

Onya ya buddy thats one way to beat those working blues !

Greetings Ettalong

2009-07-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back , finally online again after moving house in the last 2 weeks , as we all know moving house sucks and this occasion was no exception.
Firstly I had the flu and no bastard turned up to help me so I spent about 11 hours carting all my shit to the new joint , lucky I had the work ute.
After settling in on Sunday night I went to plug into the phone socket and it fell off the wall ! - the fucking thing wasn't even wired up or screwed into place , so after a week's arguing with the Real Estate biatch I finally hooked up on Friday , no ADSL for a few more days tho :|
On the bright side my new place is approximately 3 times the size of the last one , slightly more grubbier and expensive , a nice big yard for the mutt who seems to be relaxed in his new surrounds , close the the little midway store on Barrenjoey Rd ( $ 1.50 hot dogs expect to see more of me ) and within reasonable stumbling distance to the Ettalong Pub.
Technically I am now on the border of Blackwall , Ettalong and Umina , I have moved away from the bad side of town , no more train noises late at night , nor kids pelting the corrugated iron house across the road with eggs , or abuse from the old skrag who walks her dog down the road with a long neck in her hand.

and before I forget ....
A few weeks back this happened to me - I was driving home from Gosford and was sitting behind a truck carrying large sheets of glass , being trained as a glazier as an apprentice I took extra notice of the large panes secured to the A- frame rack on the back of the truck - something didn't look right I thought to my self and then remembering that scene from the movie The Omen , I then shook my head and said to myself why be so morbid , overtook the truck and headed on home.
On the way I stopped at the bank in Woy Woy , by the time I got to my street I could see a bit of commotion ahead and slowed down - the glass truck I had been following had dropped it's entire load right on the corner of my street !
I won't tell a lie when I tell you my heart skipped a beat !

Saturday Morning TV

2009-06-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

Youtube has a treasure trove of golden memories from my youth , here are some of my faves

Classic - The Phantom Agents

The Banana Splits

H.R Pufnstuff

Space 1999

*Had to love this comment on the page
ooooOOOO0000OOOOoooo (1 day ago)
Well 1999 came and went. Still no moonbase motherfuckers. I guess you were to busy fighting terrorists or some shit.

Tanks for dropping by

2009-06-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

Been a tad slack on the blog front lately , time gets by some times.
Last few weeks have been a drama as my landlord has decided to sell and I have to fucking move camp.
Some of the dumps I have looked at so far are terrible , I'm determined to get a nice place this time , this brothel I live in now is soul destroying.
I could even end up in Ettalong , things are that bad lol , I won't live east of O.B road ever again - promise ! I'd really like to get back onto the strip ( Trafalgar Avenue ) my karma is good there.

Computer blew up finally and I was offline for another week , I took it into the shop and expected to wait another week or 2 for it to be repaired.
2 hours later on a Saturday morning the shop guy rings up and informs me the p.c is ready to rock , they even cleaned all of the dog hair out of it !
Big thanks to Albatross Computers across the road from Woy Woy Station - highly recommended !

Small pleasure is the magazine I have began buying called Combat Tanks , each issue comes with a die cast model tank , evidently there is some 100 issues and about 60 or so tanks to collect , I joined the obligatory site forum and smartened some poms up for good measure ( hehe )

10 Points to my boss who decides on the 2 coldest days in fuck knows when , to waterblast a 2 story house on the edge of the cliff at Killcare.
/facepalm

Back probably after i move shop and go thru the dramas of waiting weeks to get back online - wish me luck

Also I'm after a cheap fridge :)

Ozi Cosy

2009-05-16T00:49:00.001-07:00

Who in their right mind would buy one of these , I like to be warm , but these are so bad I'd rather freeze !
Sometimes I like to do photoshop , this time I couldn't help myself

Swine Flu

2009-04-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

New pandemic hits town - part swine flu and part bird flu
I cannOt believe nobody has used this yet .........

Flying Pig Flu Outbreak !

You heard it here first ;)

Your parents are Bogans if .........

2009-04-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

1. Your name is Harley.
2. You have a rats tail and mullet hair cut and mum thinks it looks cool , kids at school bash you .
3. They buy some new artwork for the loungeroom wall - a Jim Beam poster.
4. They wear fake Chinese made Harley Davidson gear , but don't own a Harley or even a car.
5. On Sunday night the whole family rides down to the Salvos store to scab through the donations left outside over the weekend.
6. You have spent more than 2 hours outside of Woy Woy courthouse on a Tuesday.
7. Lots of people come to your house at all hours and only stay for 5 minutes.
8. Your real father is in gaol ( or " working in Western Australia on an oil platform " as mum says )
9. You only have to clean your room when D.O.C.S visits.
10. They buy a pet for the kids - a pit bull x bull mastiff.

Australian Rhyming Slang Addition

2009-04-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

After trialling it live in several venues I have declared my " live beta testing " complete.
My new addition to the Aussie rhyming slang dictionary -
Keith Urban / Bourbon ( I'll have a Keith Urban and coke thanks ! )

Here but lurking

2009-04-14T00:05:00.000-07:00

Apologies to anyone who regularly drops by and has noticed a lack of posts , I'm sure you checked out all my links and old posts anyway ........
Work and the pain in the arse of having to change my business structure twice this year has kept me busy , the time I do make it to the puter is for relaxation only and I've been playing War Rock again ( or pwning nubs as they say ) and visiting Facebook and making silly groups like Bring back Cheese Um Pringles ! , Mirror photos - your camera has a self-timer dickhead ! and the most popular one so far - If you don't like Woy Woy .....Fuck Off back to Sydney !
Over 150 people joined it last week - feel the power lol

Bit of a hiatus on writing new articles for the Peninsula News or doing any local research of walks for now , but that will resume later on.

Some local gossip though from my man in the bottlo ...
Evidently there is some mysterious artist person living in the old Masonic building in Woy Woy Town , if you drive by you can see the occasional open window and the erection of steel concrete mesh inside the lower floor.
Wonder what he's up too ?

I always wanted to buy the place and turn it into a nightclub , my ingenious idea was to change the lettering on the building facade so it said Sonic Club instead of Masonic - clever eh ?
Ah dreams .......

Cheese Ums

2009-03-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

Long ago you could buy Cheese Ums Pringles , you know those fancy chips that come in a cylinder all stacked on top of each other. Then for some reason they stopped importing just one flavour - Cheese Ums , the ones in the orange pack , why on earth they did this I will never know ( unless I mail them I spose ) , years passed and I missed my cheesy friends immensely , sometimes I would try the red packet or the green one in a vain hope they just changed the packaging but alas Cheese Ums were gone......
Then came the age of the internet and I discovered that Cheese Ums still existed in the real world , it's just that they weren't making to our shores.
Often I would get confused and ask myself " why why why ? " while wandering aimlessly in the snack foods isle at Coles in Woy Woy , surely this was a cruel and unusual form of punishment
A couple of week back I was in one of those cheap arse stores that sell cheap arse crap for 2 dollars , some of these stores also sell out of date or damaged food stock.
Then like a beacon I noticed a familiar shade of orange ......could it be ? yes like an Indiana Jones Lost Treasure there they were - a whole shelf full of Cheese Um Pringles
Trembling , I examined the container , for I would not be fooled again and get stuck with some weird ass Pringles flavour , the wording was in some kind of Asian language , I scanned the store for an Asian person to translate the text for me ..... no luck there.
Surely the orange colour was a standard Pringles colour that bounded all languages and denoted that cheesy heaven lay inside , I bit the bullet and decided that 1 dollar would be have to be invested in my search for the truth.
Later that night I opened the can of Pringles and was soon swimming in a familiar euphoria of cheese laden delight that I had not experienced since the mid 90's - nirvana at last !
I have decided to keep the location of such Pringles secret from those who would buy up all of my favourite fare , so just sit there and drool at the supplied photo - you ain't gettin buckelys out of me !

Feedback

2009-03-02T00:38:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back I received an email from Esse Newman a descendant of the Davis family from Blackwall and Davistown. Esse had seen my article on Rock Davis the shipbuilder in a recent edition of the Peninsula News and was after any information I had. Esse was tracing back her family tree as a gift to her grandmother Rhys Davis and I passed on what I had , most of my story came from the memoirs of Ephraim Ward which were re told in Swancotts book Good Old Woy Woy , this book and others he penned are invaluable research tools.
My mother purchased these books in the 60's from the man himself , in fact she used to wheel me in the pram down to his house in Booker Bay and sit there and listen to his stories with me on his lap , the books I now use are signed copies and are very rare.

And last night I received an email from Dave Coggins who was researching his relatives, Jerry and Addie Mahony , funnily enough my last article for the paper mentions this colourful old Woy Woy character who seemed to attend every town event.

Dave also sent me a link to the website he has built which contains photos and stories about his family in Woy Woy in the 1900's , Addie Mahony had guest houses at Spion Kop and then Woy Woy Bay , the site is an absolute treasure trove of old time reminisences and photos of the old Railwayview guesthouse , definately worth a visit so do click on this link , you won't be disapointed http://www.mahony.id.au/

Thanks Dave

Commuter Blues

2009-02-27T21:12:00.000-08:00

A lack of posting denotes that I'm working in Sydney and don't have enough time or inspiration to do so , basically getting up at 4.30 am daily stuffs you
This making me angry , especially more when a dickhead in a White Camry overtakes you on a blind corner on Woy Woy Road , just scraping past a line of 3 cars and lordy what comes by the other way about 5 seconds later - a front end loader with it's bucket down , I hope you realise what may have happened if you were a tad slower , I doubt I would have stopped to help you ( I've had to do this before on the same corner )

and to top things off

Something happened on Bulls Hill on Friday , coming in all the way from Kariong to the top of the hill the traffic was turned back and we had to head down the hill into West Gosford , it took me 1 and a half fucking hours to get home as every man and his dog piles into Gosford at this time of day.

Serenity now ( actually 4 bourbons done the trick )

Unlikely Heroes

2009-02-13T15:22:00.000-08:00

As the death toll from the Victorian bush fires last weekend rises to near 200 , this amazing video emerged of a firefighter helping a disoriented koala , Sam the Koala and Mr.Tree his saviour are now international celebrities

For more detailed information on the fires check out This isn't Sydney

Another local history article for the Peninsula News has been submitted for the next edition , be sure to grab a copy

Smoke on the water

2009-02-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

This weekend will be remembered for a long time , record temperatures in the southern parts of the country have resulted in devastating bushfires in Victoria , over 25 people have been killed so far and the count is set to rise.
The coast has not been spared and a large fire started in the Peats Ridge area on Friday afternoon , a wind change brought the smoke down from the hills and onto the coastal strip , so thick was the smoke that a game was delayed at Bluetongue Stadium on Friday night.
I took a drive towards Gosford to get this photo at Koolewong at about 6 pm

Spears Family - Gosford

2009-02-07T01:11:00.000-08:00

Recently I recieved a call from Craig Spears , he had read my article on the Woy Woy WW2 airfield and in particular noticed the mention of the top secret Bombi radar installation.
Craigs family has been in the area since the early 1800's , they lived in Gosford and one of the decendants was the licensee of the Pier Hotel in the 1900's which was located next to the Police station.
Prior to that the family had lived where the railway line now passes through Gosford town , George Spears had passed away long before the line was put through , Mr's Spears would not be moved from their home and bluntly told all " I will not shift until I am carried out ! "
The navvies working on the track continued blasting the sandstone near the residence with her permission " they can blast " she said.
One day rocks came through her roof at landed at the foot of the bed , poor old Elizabeth Spears died not long after.
Over a cup of tea Craig told me about his father who had worked for the old Brisbane Water County Council as an electrician during WW2.
One day they were told to report to the Bombi Radar installation to work on the site , after passing a checkpoint with armed guards they made their way down a long track to the facility.
As for telling of what went on there you must understand that in those days it could be considered an offense to discuss in public matters concerning Bombi.
But being a small town , it was no secret and Craig recalls local kids saying to his father " Hey aren't you the guy working at the secret radar station ! "
Craig says that the radar did register an enemy presence on at least one occasion.
Craigs mother told of seeing a prisoner of war train pull up at Gosford station one day and she saw dozens of strange faces peering out of the wagons " they looked like little monkeys " she recalls.
She also remembers air raid sirens going off on at least 2 occasions during the war.
Thanks Craig for the interesting chat and insight into old time Woy Woy

Latest Models

2009-01-25T01:54:00.002-08:00

I've made 2 more models for my Woy Woy Historical Buildings collection at Sketchup this long weekend. I'm finding the whole thing quite enjoyable as I get to use my intimate knowledge of old buildings to help me in my projects.
You see I've been a painter since I was 16 and have spent countless hours working on older buildings , years of sanding and painting barge boards and finials have left their distinct shapes and colours permanently etched in the old grey memory bank.
If a detail in an old photo is a bit blurry then I can usually guess what goes where and picking the old colour schemes are a snap

My first project for this weekend was Gilan's Refreshment Rooms , located in the Boulevarde at Woy Woy , now long gone I used old photos to rebirth her , originally a big old house it seemed to have been renovated once and was replaced by a brick building at some stage , though keeping the original facade.
I gave it a nice green period paint job , it could have been a pink or beige colour as well.

Gilans sold pastries and drinks of all kinds , as well as having a Tobacconist , Barber and Fishing Tackle store at one end of the building , noting the stripey posts on the left in the old pics.
As I finished that one fairly quickly and had spent a few hours working out the positions of the buildings in the Boulevarde , I decided to knock up the first Post Office recorded in Woy Woy.

Handily it is located right next door to Gilan's and it was also a test to see if I can get the models to sit side by side nicely in the correct location.
Again working from old photos I managed to build it in a couple of hours , I also used bits that others have made it this one.

The good thing about sharing with Sketchup is that others have made things that you can use in your own model.
I needed an old style gas lamp for the awning on Gilans and found one on the site , for the post office I nicked a tree and planted it in the correct spot according to the photo.
I painted the P.O a brown colour but for some reason it looks as though it could have been painted dark blue or green , both of these colours would make the model hard to view in detail so I've used a lighter period colour
I must say that painting the finished product is truly pleasurable like icing a cake , if only painting in real life was as easy as point and click !

All my models are here , you can download them and place them in Google Earth , all models should load into the correct location apart from the Picture Theatre and the Masonic Hall , you can locate them yourself and save the position in your copy of GE if you are handy with editing and right clicking , I may post a tutorial on this once I fully understand the process !
Interesting to note that in the 24 hours these new models have been up , they have each been downloaded by up to 10 people already

and..

Happy Oz day - don't get too pissed - good to see all the aussie flags in yards along O.B road today

Why not drop in and check out Grumpy Old Journo , another local , and Spike is always a good read

ah I just noticed demolition fencing being erected around the Masonic Hall , could this be the end ? I wonder if they will find any freaky shit in the long closed upper level like human leg bones ( this actually happened when they demolished another old Masonic Hall years back in Sydney , evidently it was used in ceremonies ! )

ooh and grab a copy of the Peninsula News with my article on Rock Davis that I wrote just before Xmas , will do some more soon once the shock of returning to work subsides !

Woy Woy Bay Walk

2009-01-16T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today I took a hastily arranged hike with the members of the National Parks Association of NSW around Woy Woy and Phegans Bay , I spotted the details of the hike on Friday and rang up to get a place for Saturday.
Meeting at 9 a.m in Mr Della Bosca's front yard , we got ready and I introduced myself to all , I quickly noticed that I seem to be the youngest possibly and I was under- equipped , also everyone seemed to be looking rather fit ( fitter than me )
We set off straight up the hill at a cracking pace and I soon fell to the back of the mob as my asthama kicked in , luckily the hill climb was short and it levelled out as we headed around the top of the ridge overlooking Phegans Bay

Then we short cutted through some back streets and headed along the ridge above Horsefield Bay to a place known by rock climbers as Gnomelands , not finding any gnomes but spectacular views of the bays and Peninsula instead we headed off back tracking to the top of the road leading to Woy Woy Bay

We then went down an old track (now called a fire trail) which leads to the bottom corner of the bay , I could tell that this was a very old track by the rock works and that there would have had to been something worthwhile at the end for all this effort.
At the end of the track I found some old retaining walls from a garden around an old home site.
Old parish maps for this area show a few land holdings along the waters edge , the largest being of 40 acres at the head of a creek formerly known as Scotts Creek , this land was owned by R . J Scott.

Records say that R . J Scott was a health inspector for Woy Woy Shire Council in 1929 , I had been looking for Scotts Creek for some time after seeing an old photo

At the Scotts creek site we found the remains of an old wharf that I figure would have to date to the 1800's from it's construction , we also saw on old lemon tree nestled amongst lantana ( a sure sign of human habitation ) , evidently these lemons taste great still if you dare to wade into the scrub to get one

On the way out I examined a pile of cockle shells and what would appear to be clay lumps surrounding the pile , this would appear to be remains of a lime burning kiln , the clay being the kiln walls and the shells left over still inside , there also seemed to be fish traps made from sandstone blocks lying in the nearby mangroves.
Lime was produced for the building industry in the 1800's by gathering shells and burning them in large cone shaped kilns , shells were sourced from the many aboriginal middens and deposits around the waters edge , later on they were dug by hand out of the mud.

Further on we visited some more old home sites along the waters edge , someone had spent hours making sandstone retaining walls that led up the hillside , with the moss growing on them they looked very " Indiana Jones " apart from the odd concrete formed stairs , I date these sites at around the 1920's

We made our way around the waters edge across a small creek in a nice rainforest remnant and emerged into civilisation at the end of Taylor Street , a 7 k walk that took around 3 hours.
Thanks to the walkers of the NPA for having me along and I recommend that if you want to try bushwalking then go with this mob because they ran a professional operation.
Hopefully I will return to do future walks or possibly join up in the future , the next local walk will be to the Basalt Quarry Railway site so check the website in you are interested.

View all the photos

Post Office Model

2009-01-12T01:29:00.000-08:00

My latest Sketchup model is the first official Woy Woy Post Office opened in 1922 , located in the same position as the current one today , it was demolished in the 70's.
I used an old black & white photo to model from and was quite pleased that I got all the roof angles done nicely , you can download all my models for use in Google Earth and Sketchup ( both free ) rite here

Belle and Billy's bees

2009-01-11T23:04:00.000-08:00

I recently recieved an email from a reader who stumbled upon my blog for March 2008 titled " Shakespeare of Blackwall "

I am a grandson of the mentioned Belle (Margaret Isabel) Jaquet (nee Shakespeare) she only recently departed us, see this link. http://www.thepeninsular.net/News/03/03Jun17/Jaquet.asp

She and husband Walter (dec. circa 1965) lived in the family farm at South Woy Woy (all the land bounded by the golf course, mountain, Veron Road and the railway line) almost until her death, with her half-brother William or Billy. Billy built and owned the block of flats next to the church you mentioned,continuing to inflict bees upon his tenants from that location. It was previously the site of the Shakespeare family home that Billy inherited upon the death of their father. Given the proximity of that and the Monkhouse residences, you would have to suspect that your conclusions are very likely accurate
The history of the Shakespeare family going back is quite interesting. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110722b.htm.
Many of the Shakespeare resting places of choice can be found in the Point Clare cemetery.
The local history going forward is just as interesting. Belle and Walter had two daughters, Dawn and June. Dawn (my mother) is still hail and
hearty and living in Sydney. June married Norman Dillon (son of George, nephew of Lou) whose name continues in Dillon’s Farm; still owned by Norman’s son Kevin. June is still alive and living in Umina. Many of the Shakespeare/Jaquet and Dillon resting places of choice can be found in the Point Clare cemetery.
Best regards,
David Marshall

Thanks Dave !

New models for Google Earth

2009-01-04T01:23:00.000-08:00

I've completed 2 more Sketchup models to be used in Google Earth and uploaded them to the site for public viewing , the Noonan building was recognised by Google and it now being reviewed by moderators , if it passes the criteria it will be added to the 3D database
While they aren't to scale one could say they are "artists impressions" , I just used old photos to model them from

The Masonic Hall was my second project and took 2 nights , I learnt how to do the curvy bit at the top , and was lucky in re-creating the fancy entrance with roman style columns , I couldn't be arsed adding all the side windows as they take ages to draw and are a bastard to align
I'll probably rebuild these early ones later down the track to be more accurate.

Reference Photo

The Noonan building was built in one night within a few hours , I'm getting used to the program and downloaded all the add-ons for it including a window maker ( yay ) I spent quite a bit of time on the top turret details and it paid off , also I painted it in what I think was a close period colour scheme
The shop front is also period , just a guess as I had no early pics of street level to work from

Reference Photo

You can download these models from my Sketchup page here , feel free to edit them or use them however

Holidays 2008 - 2009

2009-01-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

Time for an update in the last days of my summer break as I slip into my old ways and assume the working position.
Christmas was nice and low key, a visit to mum at Branxston near Cessnock where a nice policeman relieved my wallet of 120 dollars for forgetting to bring my license along.

I affirmed to myself that yes my new neighbours were indeed of the feral variety and feel compelled to record the outbursts of F this and F that and place it on Youtube - just like I did to my last foul mouthed neighbour some years back

( Warning: this video contains very very foul language that may upset gentler folk and non residents )

Meanwhile I taught myself to build 3D models for Google Earth using Google Sketchup which is the best 3D design program I've come across , no headaches, just straight into modelling.

For my first model I decided to build the old Woy Woy picture theatre , using this old photo

and came up with this

The idea is to model all the old buildings in the main drag and around town to eventually have a 3D walkthrough of old time Woy Woy , of course you will need Google Earth to view all this. I'm starting off with the more basic looking type buildings as I hone my skills , I intend to build a re-creation of the Alecia Tearooms before the Commonwealth bank cut it into bits and am currently working on the Masonic Hall ( which is looking pretty fucking dandy if I say so myself lol ) You should also be able to download these models from the Sketchup site once I upload them

Big thanks to the folk in Gallipoli Avenue who left this washing machine out on the kerbside , yes it does work fine. Thanks for replacing my washing machine that blew up just before Xmas , another bill I didn't need !

Christmas Lights

2008-12-18T01:37:00.000-08:00

Pity the neighbours

It's baaaaaack !

2008-12-16T00:24:00.000-08:00

Just when you thought it was safe to enter the water.....
Last night I woke up about 11pm and needed a drink of water so I stumble out to the kitchen tap , in the dark I noticed the water pressure was down and turned on the light .......
Lucky I did because I was just about to drink this shit

I seem to have missed the public service annoucement about the quality of our drinking water being crap again ( have I ? )
I thought they fixed it all up ages ago ........ hmm wtf

Wacky Weather

2008-12-14T00:06:00.000-08:00

Getting all sorts of weather here sun , rain , wind , my heater and pedestal fan have co existed next to each other for 2 months now
Big rainstorm came over the other night and my 2 parrot friends came in under the awning for some shelter and a left over cup cake

They left the young one in the bottlebrush tree next door while they pigged out - life sucks for some !

Merchant ship losses WW2

2008-12-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

A recent ceremony in Wyong last week in memory of a sunken merchant navy vessel off Norah Head during WW2 got me searching for more info , read all about this very secret part of the war here

Fidgetty Sara

2008-12-08T00:02:00.000-08:00

That weather girl on Channel 7 news keeps annoying me with her hand gestures while she reads the weather , it looks like some kind of part sign language part homie style gesturing thang , anyway you watch her and see for yourself
Mind you shes a bit of a spunk but just has damn annoying habit .......

Timing ...........?

2008-11-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

My second article has appeared in the latest edition of the Peninsula News ( Nov 24th ) , this one tells the story of the Kariong Heiroglyphs and funnily enough the Express also ran a similar story a couple of days before , mine was more imformative and factual of course ( har har )
Thanks again to the PN team for publishing my stuff

A picture of the glyphs in question , as a bonus I also captured what appears to be the Woy Woy Tiger just out of shot to the right .............

Falling rocks

2008-11-20T01:42:00.000-08:00

Work has just been completed on the road widening at corner of Memorial Drive and Maitland Bay Drive , the road has been moved away a bit from the crumbling hillside , there are some big rocks up there about to come tumbling down one day......
The section of the mountain here was not always like that , in fact you may have noticed a few areas where man has taken chunks out of the hill side along Memorial Drive.
Ever since the Peninsula was settled people have quarried sandstone and fill materials from the sides of the hill , the area being made up of old sand dunes needed a solid base before you could build on it , some of the older houses in the area sit on stumps made from solid chunks of sandstone quarried from Blackwall Mountains edges.
The old Woy Woy Shire Council used it as a quarry for years , most of the mountain lays in landfills at Woy Woy Oval at the waterfront when the lagoon was reclaimed .
The section in question today actually has been recorded as being the area where the sandstone was quarried for the construction of Ettalong Hall for Mrs Cox way back in the 1800's , a gang of workers camped at the base of the hill for the duration of its construction.
Another feature nearby is the Railway Workers Cave just up the hill a bit round the corner , during the construction of Woy Woy Tunnel , workers travelling to and from the main wharf at Blackwall and the tunnel site would stay overnight in the shelter of this large natural cave.

Grab a copy of

2008-11-12T22:19:00.000-08:00

the Peninsula News this week and you can read my first article for them about the old WW2 airfield on Trafalgar Avenue .
The paper is free and is placed at various strategic points around town , always a good read
and thanks to Clare and co for the small blurb about me and the site within the article
veh cool !

Woy Woy to Wyong

2008-11-12T21:37:00.000-08:00

Living in Woy Woy all ones life is like being in a pair of your most comfortable shoes ( or flanno shirt for some : ) There is something about this place that makes it special , a long time ago when the first settlers arrived some sort of local pact was made never to employ convict labour on the Peninsula , it was only to be occupied by free men.
Various characters arrived and made their marks , there was a jovial mood among this mixed bunch of settlers as they all contributed eagerly to their new area's development.
The oddballs and the heroes gained respect and notoriety equally , there was a real sense of caring for your fellow man that perpetuates to this day .......
I am reminded of a time when I moved out of town north to the Wyong Shire , Lakehaven to be exact one of those new mega hectare suburbs that popped up overnight in the 80's
I had met a nice lass and had decided after a year to move into her home up there.
Leaving Woy Woy gave me an empty feeling and it felt like I had lost something when I did finally move.
While moving my stuff into the new house at Lakehaven , I had driven onto the empty block next door to drop my dog's kennel over the fence into the backyard.
While driving off the block I got the old Dodge ute bogged in the soft clay / muddy soil that pervades Wyong, bugger !
So I get the shovel out and set to task and spend quite some time digging , jacking , piling lumps of timber under the wheels and after several attempts I got the beast mobile and scarper onto the tar - much to the amusement of a few local kids and neighbours peering over their fences ....
Fast foward 4 years of domestic bliss followed by a sudden return to singledom on Valentines Day 2000 ( that is another story .... )
and I am returning to my old family home at Woy Woy , while moving my stuff back I kept looking at this tasty EH Holden sedan for sale at the end on my street.
On one of the last loads back I decide to pull over and check the car out ( maybe this could be the new single mans chick puller mobile I thinks to meself )
"Six thousand bucks for that ! it's got bog in it bah !" I imagine myself saying to the owner if he was there and walk back to the Dodge.
I then find myself bogged in the sandy soil out the front of this guys house, part of an old sand dune in my street.
I get out and walk down to my new house which was about 8 houses away and grab a shovel and walk back muttering to myself " de ja fucking vu or wot "
I get to the rear wheels and am about the throw the first shovel when a light table top truck pulls over and the driver leans out the window.
" Need a hand mate ? " he asks
" Sure do ! " I reply
In a few minutes we hook up a chain to the uterus and she is pulled clear , I thank the truck driver and I'm on my way.
I think back to the near exact event that happened 4 years ago , shake my head and say to myself " Welcome home "

Calamity Street Terrigal and poo by the sea

2008-11-05T23:23:00.000-08:00

There must be one or perhaps two unlucky buggers living in Campbell Crescent , Terrigal.
A couple of weeks back a large truck mounted crane toppled over and cut power to Terrigal for some hours , and today a cement mixer has capsized and while on it's side the cement inside it set causing a major dilemma , at every attempt to right the beast , the set concrete in the tumbler caused the truck to tip back over.
Evidently some poor bastard had to climb inside and jackhammer it all out , that would have been fun today in the 30 degrees temperature we had , bet the neighbours loved the sound of that jackhammer clanging away all day
Pity they couldn't re create that Mythbusters episode where they faced the same dilemma , except these guys just put some gelignite inside and bam! - problem solved
I wonder if both these vechiles were working on the same job , I'll ask my tradey contacts around Terrigal.

Latest News from NBN 3 - Ettalong Beach has been declared unsafe for swimming by the EPA for having a higher than normal feceal coliform content ( shit ) This has been caused by runoff from stormwater drains that deposit right in the middle of the beach ( handy)
I suggest that Gosford Council extend the foreshore upgrade and piss that old stormwater drain off for once and all ...........

Culinary differences

2008-10-31T01:17:00.000-07:00

I've been toying with this idea for a cartoon all week after the poo in the chocolate desert incident at Coogee Bay Hotel Bistro recently .......
p.s ask a surfer what a Bondi cigar is ........

Click image to see the big copy

Enemies in the Freezer - feeling cold ?

Stuff

2008-10-29T03:05:00.000-07:00

Just a few bits n pieces

Hi to Ann Marie from Calvary Funerals your link has been added to the growing local business and links directory

Hi to Kev from the Watersedge Motel in Woy Woy , nice looking site there

To the lady who wrote into the Peninsula News recently about the local ferry service dropping surfers off in the "middle of the ocean" to surf the Box Head breaks , don't be alarmed.
These guys would only have to paddle for longer through some dodgy shark infested channels if the local ferry master wasn't so kind as to offer this service.
Points awarded to whoever thought of this idea , and lets encourage our youth to do more healthy activities , sitting safe behind a keyboard is not an option
I've done the paddle out there myself many times when I was a young fella and still here to tell the tale , in fact no one has ever lost their life out there surfing the break , which is often called the best left hander on the east coast when it is working , the waves are never ending and you can ride a wave for near 500 meters or more in big swells.
It can take near 30 minutes to paddle to the break from Ettalong Point , and the same to return , many a time once we made it to the beach we'd just colapse exhausted in the sand and wake up sunburnt a couple hours later
I'm sure the Captain ensures the surfers deploy safely into the water and their added bonus is that he will be coming back that way within an hour or so if trouble does arise.
Surf on I say

Ahh and I joined Facebook and have found half of my family and many other Spillards who are possibly related
I also joined two Woy Woy Facebook groups : I survived Woy Woy High School and Woy Woy South Primary School
and there a a few pages more of Woy Woy groups like:
Drivers on the Woy Woy Peninsula are dangerous and stupid! - I feel your pain yes.
I reserve the right to get "woy woy" tattooed on my chest - fair enough , group has 1 member
Woy Woy is eating away my soul! - for emo kids who don't like the sun , salt water or sand
I was a slave @ Kmart Woy Woy - teach you not to finish your School Certificate then eh lol
Woy Woy Leagues needs to get some1 who actually knows how to run a bistro - 3 members - disgruntled former employees ?
I WENT TO WOY WOY HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 80`S-90`S AND LIVED - sadly only 2 people survived to join this group
I am proud to say I went to the Asylum and drank test tube shooters!! - 63 members who got pissed at Woy Woy Leagues Club woot !

The Fruit Man

2008-10-20T01:12:00.000-07:00

My parents moved to Woy Woy in 1964 , they purchased a block of land in Gallipoli Avenue at Blackwall and built a fibro house.
Dad was from the river country around Albury , Echuca , Wodonga and Mum was born and raised in Sans Souci , a suburb in the southern shire of Sydney.
Often we would pack the old Holden station wagon up and go visiting my Grandparents in Sans Souci , a fairly long journey in those days before all the new highways were built.
Before I could remember when I was around 3 years old on a return trip from the city , my father pulled over to help a stranded motorist near Mt White.
After giving the guy a lift home to get parts and return from his farm at Somersby they managed to get his car going and they parted ways as it got late in the evening.
Some weeks later the farmer turns up on our doorstep with a giant basket of produce from his farm , oranges , apples and other fruits , this was to continue for many years , every season we would be rewarded with a basket of fresh farm fruits.
I moved out of home when I was 20 , my father passed away when I was 22 , my then girlfriend left me when I was 28 and I found myself sitting on the front step of the old house at Gallipoli again ( albiet temporarily )
A car pulls up and a young lad aged about 18 gets out , opens the back door , leans in and lifts out a washing basket full of fruit and walks up the driveway grinning.
I stand up and greet him and he hands the basket over , my memory flashes back and I say to him " Mate you guys have been doing this for years it's bloody awesome "
He says to me " My dad died years ago and he told me to keep dropping the fruit off here in repayment for being helped out all those years ago , I don't even know why or what really happened "
I told him I was too young to remember the events of that night and we laughed , shrugged shoulders and he left on his way.
I never seen the fruit man again after that day , but if you are reading this - Thanks mate

Woy Woy's Haunted locations

2008-10-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

A Halloween special tour of some locations around town that could be haunted by lost souls from long ago .........

1. The Rip ( formerly known as Webb's Reef ) a treacherous part of the entrance to the Brisbane Waters - in 1871 the ketch " Tim Whiffler " capsized in rough weather , trapped under the vessel was Mrs. Watkins and her fifteen year old daughter.
Men from the Rock Davis shipyard sailed to the scene in a whale boat and rescued the passengers on top of the upturned vessel and then turned their attentions to the trapped women , they could hear them banging on the hull and decided to cut through it with an axe.
Tragically this action allowed air to escape from the hull and it sank immediately , Mrs. Watkins made it out of the vessel as it sank , her daughter didn't.

2. Phegans Bay Public Wharf- In 1834 a local boy Ron Inman aged 14 , dived off the wharf and straight into the mouth of a large shark and was killed

3. Correa Bay - in the 1830 a body was found floating at the end of Woy Woy creek , it was buried at the " head of the creek " , locals later referred to the area as Deadmans Creek up until 1968 when it was decided to change the name to make the area more appealing to visitors and land buyers.
Another local man was buried here as well after a tragic accident , Angelo Lazzarino died after his gun exploded while trying to get through a fence while hunting wallabies , his body was not found for some weeks and because of his rumored connections to the Black Hand Society ( Mafia ) many thought he had neen murdered.

4. Bogan Rd , Ettalong - a small cemetary existed here , marked today by two large Pine trees , the last person was buried there in 1910 , by 1920 the land had been bulldozed over and sold to an unsuspecting buyer.

Buried here were:
Mr and Mrs Bogan - former residents whom the road was named after.

Nine victims of the infamous Maitland Bay shipwreck in 1898 , the bodies were recovered by men from the Rock Davis shipyard and brought to Ettalong for burial.

A man named Mr Bushell

Mr and Mrs Booker - Booker Bay was named after the original land holders.
The graveyard was never officially " sanctified " records show.

5. Ettalong Point - 3 persons from the ketch " Southern Light " were buried " on the rise at the back of the beach " in 1864. Rock Davis had found the badly decomposed bodies washed up on the beach and parts of the vessel which he could easily identify as he himself had built the craft some years earlier

6. Mt Ettalong - in the early 1950's a group was having a picnic at the lookout above Pearl Beach , one of the group decided to lay back on the rock after his meal , looked up and began to go into hysterics.An ex serviceman had chosen the tree above him to hang himself from some months before , all that remained was a bleached skeleton dangling there above him.

7. Woy Woy Rail Bridge - Before the road bridge was constructed along Brisbane Waters Drive , people used to cross the Woy Woy Bay inlet via the rail bridge , a dangerous task considering there was no footway - In January 1921 a mother and her 4 children and another male adult were halfway across the bridge when a train struck them , only one child survived by laying flat between the tracks , the rest including a 2 year old baby were killed.

8. Woy Woy Tunnel - In August 1940 a gang of 60 men were replacing the rails inside Woy Woy Tunnel when two trains simultaneously entered both ends of the tunnel , 7 men were run down , 3 died in this tragic accident

Take the Google Map Tour

View Larger Map

Peninsula News

2008-10-09T01:33:00.000-07:00

Last week I got an email from Clare at the Peninsula News asking if I was interested in submitting some stories to them , sure why not I thought , anything that may help lead me away from my poisonous pastime of being a painter and decorator gotta be worth a shot.
First article has been sent for the next deadline , hopefully I'll be able to bash out a fair few more over the next while or so
So pick up a copy next time you see one at various points around the Peninsula

Hi to Jenny from www.impressionablekids.com.au who has been recntly added to the links page at Woy-Woy.com, they make those lil plaster casts of kiddies feet and hands , pretty cool.

The Ghost Plane

2008-10-04T01:38:00.000-07:00

In the early 80's an aircraft engine washed up on the beach at Umina , It was reported in the local paper at the time and the motor was dumped at Woy Woy Tip.
I decided to do some research at ADF Serials and see if I could find a list of aircraft crashes in that area and stumbled across this most amazing story.........
It was Tuesday the 5th of August 1955 and Anthony Thrower had just landed his Auster J/4 Archer at Bankstown airport when his motor stalled at the end of the runway , he decided to hop out and manually start the engine by hand turning the blade ( a push start for a plane ) . the engine kicked into life and the plane moved off with a bump - trouble was Tony was not in the cockpit but running alongside trying to grab a wing strut !
Much to his horror the plane gathered speed and started down the runway and took off , it circled the field in tight banks and at one stage the control tower was evacuated as the plane swooped close by before heading off into the sky towards the coast........
At 9.30 am a call was sent out to the R.A.A.F to assist in bringing the aircraft back to earth as it was now headed towards Sydney , a Wirraway trainer was sent up to shoot the plane down once it had reached the ocean and it was found about 5 miles off the coast at 9000 feet , the pilots hands were so cold in the Wirraway that he was unable to operate its guns so it turned back
In what was now becoming something from a Monty Python movie a second aircraft was deployed - a Meteor jet fighter was sent to shoot it down but it's guns jammed.
At 10.15 a.m 2 Sea Furies on loan from the Royal Navy were sent out to bring down the rogue aircraft , guided by the radar installation at South Head they intercepted the plane at 10.000 feet about 7 miles east of Broken Bay and it was shot down into the sea.
The Civil Aviation Authority later described the incident as a billion to one happening !

Truck rollover on F3

2008-09-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

oh no not again!

thanks Joanne !

Woy Woy virtual tours

2008-09-28T01:58:00.000-07:00

A project I started last xmas involving sitting down and reading through C. Swancotts books , the archives of Gosford Council and anything else I could lay my hands on , marking down points of interest on Google Earth , then transferring it all over to Google Maps for your viewing pleasure.
Some of the placemarks contain links to photos on the web , I haven't re edited most of the tours so some links may not work - just paste them into your browser.
I may update these files at some time in the future or if you are handy you can copy my tour and add to it then send me the new files
Anyway enjoy
Here is the first one as an embedded tour on this page showing the location of the old Woy Woy R.A.A.F wartime airstrip , taxiways and hangar locations ( estimated positions based on National Archive files )

View Larger Map

Other virtual tours ( click on em ) :
Old housing estates and land holdings
Old tracks and Trails
Old residences and boarding houses
Old shops and utilities
Old wharves and shipyards
Miscellaneous places of interest

A post about a post....

2008-09-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

I keep meaning to do a story on this post I found , it's attached to my carport and I've been walking past it for the last 8 months thinking " I must do a post on that post "
So anyway last Christmas I was painting a house on the main beach at Pearl Beach and I spotted something in the surf , the waves that day were unusually big combined with a king tide.
Later on I looked out and spotted the object again on the beach right in front of where I was working , from what I could see it seemed to have been turned on a lathe , I sent the 2 young blokes I was working with down to retreive it next smoke break.
What they brought back was a 14 foot long post made of hardwood that had been turned on a lathe , it weighed a ton as it was still sodden with sea water. To me and the carpenter working next door it looked like an old verandah support post - a fancy one that would have been near 100 years old , another chippie reckoned it could have come from an Indonesian fishing boat as some of these craft have elaborate timberwork.
As I have painted many an old house I reckon it's Aussie and very old and probably washed down Hawkesbury river at some stage , then washed up on either Lion Island or the rocks between Patonga and Pearl Beach and sat there for ages until the high tides and surf dislodged it for it's final journey to Pearl Beach and then on my ute racks to my joint.
I arrived at this conclusion as there was no seaweed or things growing on it , so it it hadn't been in the drink for long.
So if you have lost a post or want this post then contact me , until then I have a dandy garden ornament !

Fascinating Aboriginal art discovered

2008-09-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

You may have seen the latest discovery of Aboriginal rock art in the news lately, researchers have uncovered thousands of drawings depicting all manner of European objects including ships , guns and aircraft , as well as older Maccasan trading vessels.
You can read up on the full story here , and view a slideshow of the drawings here.
The diagrams are being documented as there seems to be mining companies lurking into the area to continue the great tradition of destroying Aboriginal history
The Woy Woy area is also rich in Aboriginal rock art and paintings , sadly most of these are ageing and vandalised by the successive local councils and flannelette wearing bogans , large portions of the Bulgandry site were closed off to the public in the late 70's to preserve it and all reference to other carving and painting sites were slowly removed from new maps of the area.

The destruction caused by sandstone quarries , road building and general development to Aboriginal sites on the coast is kept hush hush , as the sites aren't well known anymore then no one will know.........
Take the Bora ground at Patonga for example , firstly it had a road blasted through it in the 30's for the new road to Patonga , and now the NPWS and any other local government department use part of it as access to a fire trail , I cannot contain my disgust at seeing large tractor tyre marks scarring the rock surface of this site less than 20 metres from a carving.

Because of the road edges being washed off during rain the whole area is being silted up and large parts are now unnaturally vegetated , covering carvings and the unique tessellations.

I think Gosford Council and the NPWS should wake up and fix this up immediately.

10 things in my junkbox

2008-09-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

Rainy day , closet cleanup , old stuff in box , 10 things that tell you something about their owner:

1. Old "Woolstar" pump action pesticide sprayer , you used to fill it up yourself and use it to spray bugs , highly dangerous because you had to handle the chemicals , kids loved em cause they made dandy water pistols , but who ever washed them out first , no wonder young Timmy developed a nice set of breasts when he was 13 !

2. Dingoblue mousepad - they were the coolest ISP ever , they gave you free stuff , never overcharged , always had the best connection - and they went broke ! ...... go figure :

3. A cannon shell from a French tank , picked up off the battlefield in France in World War 1 by my grandfather and handed down to me when I was 12

4. My original Coca-Cola yo-yo from 6th grade at Woy Woy South Primary School , I bought it at Bourke Road shop for 50 cents I think , a good mint one will cost you $20 - $50 bux now on Ebay

5. Iraq's Most Wanted playing cards - the first thing I ever bought online , I got em just to test out my credit card during the last invasion of Iraq , they gave these to the troops to identify the top 50 most wanted Iraqi's - Saddam was the ace of spades

6. A drumstick from the band Iron Maiden - I caught 2 of Clive Burr's sticks during a concert at the Capitol Theatre in the 80's , last tour they arrived in their own 747 piloted by the lead singer Bruce Dickinson

7. Signed copies of Charles Swancott's books on Woy Woy , Gosford and the Hawkesbury River

8. Airforce badges and patches given to me by my grandfather and uncle , the patches are from the Australian jet fighter squadrons " Top Hat and Cane " and " Black Panther " my uncle flew Super Sabre jets back in the 50's before he went to Quantas

9. No home would be complete without a tin of Goanna salve , handy for dandruff , excema , lumbago - you name it !

10. An original Rubiks cube from the 70's - still unsolved all these years - it was one fad I didn't get into , as you can see I considered peeling all the stickers off and doing it that way , but even that was too time consuming !

Jeanne - Davistown

2008-09-03T02:06:00.000-07:00

I've worked as a painter and decorator for all of my working life and get to work in some interesting places , occasionally I will take the camera to work to record a particular job.
This is a job we done a couple of years back and the photos have sat unexplained in my albums at Webshots.
We had a call from a lady in Sydney who needed help with her grandparents old house at Davistown , Gosford Council had ordered her to remove all the decaying lead based paint from the house as it was polluting nearby properties.
The house was built in 1914 by her grandfather using a kit imported by sea from Canada , only the brick foundations , out buildings and roof were locally sourced , it comprised of 2 bedrooms , a living/dining area and rear laundry/bathroom , we were unable to work out where the kitchen was though as there was no stove or fireplace inside.
Inside the walls were made from timber panelling and the former owner had gone to great trouble decorating the inside , hand painted friezes around the ceiling depicting all manner of water craft on Sydney Harbour , hand painted dado lines with cut out fishes also painted by hand adorned the lower walls.

We figured the guy worked as a painter for the Government somewhere , possibly the Ferries or Garden Island as the painting style was similar to how they painted up the old train interiors , I wish I had my camera the day we were allowed inside to see the house.
Outside as we slowly stripped through an estimated 20 - 30 coats of paint of all colours , we cursed the old bastard who must have re painted the house every year in a new colour , and imagined him having a laugh at us poor bastards suited up like spacemen undoing his handy work.

The timber panelling around the lower walls was all cedar and in perfect condition , the gables were adorned with 2 cut out Rosellas that were lovingly hand painted , like the fish inside and the house name Jeanne was painted similarly , maybe this was the lady of the house's name.
So after 2 months and much cursing and sweating we had removed every square inch of paint from the entire house , the owner had run out of money and didn't even have enough to pay us to at least put a primer coat on all that now bare lovely timber , it stills sits there bare and rotting to this day.

Going over another man's work like we did gave us an insight to who he was and his love of his house by the way it had been maintained , to see it wasting away like that is a shame and I'm sure the old painter who owned it would agree.

Annoying local ads

2008-09-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

I was listening to 2GO today and a station jingle stated that " we are as coasty as the twin stacks at Munmora Power Station " ........great so it's you dickheads who have been belching out tonnes of pollution in the airwaves
A free Pepsi voucher to the marketing section at 2GO
Another ad that is getting annoying is the ones for Brentwood Village , harmless enough , but with it's blanket media campaign it's all getting tedious.......
You know the ads , the ones about old ducks and rambling gardeners
I often have a giggle when the ads come on for different products for the cattle industry on NBN " I must get a drum of that for Chewy " I often think to myself.