Tomerong School of Arts.

The official opening of the School of Arts was held 90 years ago on the 15th october 1926.

The occasion was celebrated with a great gathering of people from the surrounding districts. The opening of a community School Of Arts was a big milestone in any community.  It took many years of planing and fund raising before the building was realised.  The building would soon become the centre for entertainment, dancing, singing, debating, community gatherings and local government, to which end it still serves the community today 90 years later. Built of weatherboard and iron by Mr. Jas Muller for a local commitee,  the dimensions on opening measured 40ft by 30ft overall,  Inside there was a timber dance floor and a 12 foot stage for entertainment. The building cost approximatly 300 pounds and another 150 pounds expended to provide a pianola, water tank and other conveniences. A proportion of the cost was met by fund raising over many years,  and the balance was granted by three local public spirited citizens – Messrs. J. Watt, H. Watt and McGuire.

The official opening took place on a Friday night in the presence of a packed gathering.  Every house in the neighbourhood was said to have been present at the ceremony.  Cr. W. Watt, President of the Clyde Shire presided, and amongst the visitors Messers. J. A. Perkins,  Federal member of Eden Monaro,  and Mr H.J. Bate,  one of the state members for Goulburn.

At the time of the opening Tomerong’s local band consisting of eleven players,  played their first public appearance and was a great success.   Solos,  Duets, and a quartette were rendered by members of the Watt family, a couple of ballads by Mr. McDonald,  of Wandandian,  a piano selection by Miss E. Mc Donald, a comic element was supplied by Charlie Chaplin, from the Naval College,  who was regarded as an artist above the ordinary,  was recalled several times. A burlesque, “The Tomerong Farmers Club,” was staged by half a dozen local men,  each artist was met with hearty approval by the large audience. After the official opening ceremony where Mr Bate declared the School of Arts open, refreshments were provided and served up by local ladies,  the hall was cleared and dancing indulged in for several hours,  the accommodation being taxed to the utmost. The official opening was regarded as a great success,  socially and finacially. ” Heather Bell ”

Here is a letter penned by a young girl that wrote stories to the Albury Banner and Wodonga Express under the name of “Heather Bell”  she lived at Tomerong at the time of the opening and wrote  this letter to a newspaper collumist that went by the name of “Uncle Geoff”.

Dear uncle Jeff, – It is some time since I wrote to the Page, but we have had quite a busy time lately.  It turned out very hot for the children’s day during  ‘Back to Shoalhaven Week.” but we still enjoyed it.  One lot of maypole children could not do their dance owing to a number of them becoming ill through the heat,  but the other ten did.  The verious costumes looked so pretty. Now our School of Arts has been opened there are entertainments every week.  At the opening I played a piano solo called  “A night in Venice.”  I sat for my High School Exam in October,  but will not know the results until after Christmas. I like my school very much,  but I certainly am pleased Christmas is close; we always have such a happy time,  and I’m longing to get to the beach.  We have had such hot weather lately.  I am learning “ Alice Where Art Thou” with variations on the piano now,  and have just finished  “Moonlight on the Hudson, ”    I do enjoy Carnival Bell’s stories.  Wishing yourself and all your cousins a Merry Christmas -  I am your fond neice,  ‘'’Heather Bell.”   Continue to other fun and fascinating stories by “Heather Bell”

Today the hall still provides a place for dancing, music and community activities and  meetings.  Every third  Saturday of the month, 8am-1pm the community markets are held in Tomerong and the hall is an historical feature of that event. Continue reading about the history of Tomerong.

Outside Jervis Bay.

Today I had the fortunate opportunity to be asked if Id like to shoot some pictures of the headlands and coast around Jervis Bay. Here are just a few from today….If you get the opportunity to take one of the cruises don’t hesitate.

The wreck of the St Martin De Porres,  high and dry on the inside of Longnose Point.

Looking at Point Perpendicular from the northern approaches.

A few of the seals perched above the water on the rock ledge at Drum and Drumsticks.

One of many unique and beautiful landforms you can see outside the bay.

These are just a few of the wonderful sections of coast in and around Jervis Bay.  Some have an old story to tell of past shipwrecks and survival, others have a more current story to tell of destruction and untimate conservation.   It’s a fascinating journey, which ever way you would like to come at it,  some of the stories have been covered in detail on this blog, as well as in displays within the wonderful Jervis Bay Maritime Museum.  All you have to do is take the time to explore.

Cape St George Lighthouse..

Under this simple heading coastal shipping movements were reported in newspapers right around the country.  Lighthouse keeper and other ship master observations concerning ship movements along the coast appeared daily in newspapers. Information could travel faster than a ship and these entries were sometimes the only means waiting relatives, ship owners and merchants had of knowing where the vessels were. Cape St George Lighthouse keepers played an important part in keeping the information flowing about passing vessels of all kinds. The keepers were expected to keep a constant watch and if need be communicate by flag signals to these vessels.  Hours of observation, and in the case of Cape St George standing exposed to the elements in all sorts of weather.  These obsevations were then passed onto Sydney via telegraph and then they would be reported in the local papers.

Examples of the sometimes simple entries that helped keep people informed of ship movements.

Sydney Morning Herald 1872. Sydney Morning Herald 1873. Sydney Mail 1873. Sydney Morning Herald 1873. Sydney Morning Herald 1874. Maitland Mercury 1875. Sydney Morning Herald 1875.

This following article from the Sydney Morning Herald in 1899 is very interesting, it shows how the information from the lighthouse keepers was regarded with the utmost importance and any break down in the chain of information was of grave concern..

The article below shows how the break down of communication  between the coasting vessel Torridon, and the Jervis Bay light keepers was taken seriously and in this case led to an investigation by the Marine Board.

Shipping being the fastest and most efficient method of moving people and cargo over long distances, meant information about new light houses or other maritime infrastructurer as advertised below in the Sydney paper Empire in 1860 was of great importance to the general public, maritime authorities, mariners and ship owners. For us, the newspaper entry provides  fascinating information about the workings of such an important if not ill conceived and controversial piece of local maritime history,  which was the Cape St George Lighthouse.

Remains of the Lighthouse as seen in 1979.

Dredge M.V.Botany sinks off Jervis Bay.

1936.

Continue Reading - Previous post about the sinking of the Bucket Dredge W.D Atlas.  The dredge foundered off Jervis Bay with the loss of 13 men in 1966.

Point Perpendicular Lighthouse.

The fire on Beacroft Peninsula was caused by a backburn operation that quickly went out of control yesterday and provided holiday makers and locals alike with a spectacular light show last night.  The fire at one stage was heading straight for the historic Point Perpendicular Lighthouse.   Backburning by the Bushfire Brigades created a barrier and the threat was averted. I was up very early this morning and looked for another vantage point to shoot the fire.  To say the vision was amazing is an understatement.

Pre dawn long exposure,  The headland was shrouded in smoke which was being blown out the sea.

The sun was still just below the horizon when I shot this picture. The fire was burning right to the edge of the cliff.

Wide view showing the wide spread fire front. The light was just spectacular.   The sun was just above the horizon but subdued by the smoke. Point Perpendicular stood out as a large dark mass compared to everthing around it.  Quite amazing to see.

Summer Bush Fires.

You know when summer is approaching the whole atmosphere changes for anyone who lives near or surrounded by the bush.   Today the first bushfire of the season is burning in the Beacroft National Park just east of Honeymoon Bay.  It looks pretty intense and with a stiff north westerly breeze behind it appears to be moving fast… It’s causing quite a stir for the holiday makers.

Bushfire by Night. 6th October 2016

With a freshening westerly wind the fire picked up and started to spread. I took these photos around 8pm tonight.  ther were huge rotating fire clouds being generated and towering hundreds of meters in the air. It was quite spectacular and highlights to potential dangers of a hot dry summer.

People looking on in amazement.

Massive rotating clouds projecting hundreds of meters into the air.

Across Currambene Creek

“DO or Die” - S.S. Walton Hall 1926

26th April. In the grip of a fierce storm, pounded by huge seas the Walton Hall battles for survival just off the coast of Jervis Bay.

“It was do or die” and for 24 hours the gallant engineers of the Walton Hall  "kept her moving."  in accordance with the skippers instructions.

The Steamer Walton Hall bound from Freemantle to Sydney became disabled amid tempestuous weather condition while off the entrance to Jervis Bay.  She was in such a bad way she signalled for assistance. The S.S Walton Hall was caught by a strong southerly gale and high seas which was sweeping along the south-east coast. The distress messages telling of her plight were picked up by many steamers along the coast as well as units of the Royal Australia Navy, who were fortunately at station inside Jervis Bay.  Cruiser H.M.S Delhi and Destroyer H.M.A.S. Anzac were dispatched to the vessel's aid and in a short time were heading out through mountainous seas.  Conditions were that grim the Anzac was forced to turn back and leave the task to the Deli.

Cruiser H.M.S Deli. H.M.A.S Anzac.

When the Deli reached the Walton Hall she found her rolling fearfully.  Her deck rail forward as she heeled over was only a few feet above the water,  and every few minutes huge seas were shipped. The steamer was in very light trim being only in ballast having discharged her cargo at Freemantle. From the outset to Sydney she battled through bad weather which reached it's climax when she was off Jervis Bay at 6.30 a.m.  She had been having engine trouble and it was at the height of the storm the engine troubles became acute.  The high-pressure cylinder failed,  and her engineers set about the task of compounding two of the engines.

"If we can stop,  we can get at it"   the chief engineer,  Mr. J.J. Rowan  reported.           “We simply can't stop chief,  Do your best," replied Captain Reid.

The captain new if the vessel had stopped in such high seas she would have been swamped.  She heeled over with every sea and many of them washed the deck. The steamer came within five miles of the shore,  The engines were doing their work well,  three knots, then four, with headway their hopes rose. The arrival of the Deli was hailed with relief.  The cruiser came within half a mile and signalled that she had come to stay, for with the engines as they were,  there was no telling what might happen. Commander G.D. Williams Deputy Director of Navigation in Sydney,  dispatched a message to the master of the Walton Hall,  offering the services of a tug if necessary,  but at 3 o'clock the reassuring message was received that the Walton Hall making four knots,  was headed to Sydney and was not in need of further assistance. The ship was rolling to an angle of 45 degrees,  the men in the engine room surprised the master with their performance.   The chief engineers,  Masers, G. Brown and Redman worked below to keep up the slow speed,  seven knots was the best they could do. The engineers had to watch the engines the whole time during the slow passage to Sydney until she berthed.  For 24 hours.  The third engineer, Mr Henderson was in his bunk through it all,  with his lifebelt handy at all times. He was ill and left for the hospital soon after the Walton Hall berthed. During the laboured passage up the coast the Cruiser Deli stood by,  almost 24 hours after the distress call the Walton Hall reached Sydney Heads at 6.45.a.m.  The Deli followed her in and her duty done she anchored in Farm Cove.  Two tugs took the Walton Hall to the coal berths at Pyrmont.

Left to right – Fourth engineer Redman, Chief engineer Rowan, Second engineer Brown.

Understating the whole affair the captain said. We had a little engine trouble.  Apart from that there was nothing to report. He was philosophical.  " There was a bit of a blow." he said,  "with a little east in it at first.  'If life at sea were to easy,  then women would be manning steamers" Captain Reid had been at sea 31 years,  in good humor he told his interviewer that he was 30 years to late for a good story. He explained that in his youth he was prepared to talk,  but now he was older he shunned publicity. Bad news awaited Captain Reid. On arrival in Sydney recieved bad news,  which stated his father had died. The Officers on the Walton Hall had not been back to their home country England in over 23 months. Jonah on board. The men on the Walton Hall humorously declared that there must be a Jonah on board.  Their suspicions have fallen on an officer who joined the steamer in New York. He joined because his steamer,  the City of Florence,  was at the bottom of  the harbour.

Woollamia Estate 1928