December - Merry Christmas Everyone

We had a visit today from Giulio Mirabella, East Gippsland Shires Community Facilities Officer. He has been on a fact finding, putting faces to names familiarisation expedition for the last little while.

It was good for us to also have a face that can be connected to a name and spent a little time in getting to know what the each of us do. How we can assist one another to make these volunteer maintained features of the East Gippsland region even more interesting and valued by resident and visitor alike.

It was an informative and interesting meeting of like minded people.

Christine Reddish, Giulio Mirabella, Howard Reddish

Giulio may not have seen this region at it's very best, but it would be close.

In a land that is generally renown for being very dry, Cassilis and the surrounding area has had a very substantial rainfall total in the last week and just over 160 mm in December. This is very welcome, filling dams and laying down some deeper soil moisture because the rain had time to soak in rather than is the case in a thunderstorm situation, where most of the rain runs off.

We are all aware a week of hot weather and a little wind and we will find ourselves in conditions too dry again. But for now things are wet and the world looks vibrant. A few more showers and we can look forward to a green Christmas. Ho Ho Ho........ Merry Christmas to Everyone.

October 2014 F[route] Brekky

October 2014 F[route] Brekky

Food is the glue that allows people of all nations and cultures to come together openly.

Tasting delicious dishes handed down from generation to generation, just created or worked on over a long period by trial and error or just put together on the spur of the moment by people who love food, has a special meaning.

Food brings people together by feeding more than the body. Because to appreciate food you have to taste and to taste it must be shared and your opinion of it's taste and meaning to you can then be voiced. The smell of a country kitchen, a grandmothers favourite dish, something that was a child's delight and special treat.

Versatile Apples

The f[route] breakfast gatherings are like that, sharing of food and opinion of food and ideas on just about every subject freely and willingly.

With good food and a warm or hot beverage in hand, people move round and talk to anyone who happens to be free to do so. In an atmosphere of well being, friendly sharing, reminiscing, querying and learning something more about each other.

A camaraderie which may only last while in the presence of and the food lasts. Nevertheless an interesting moment in time.

It is a taste of different food and conversation and most participants walk to their cars and drive back into their lives with the thought. This was good.

A Lovely Day in October 2014

A pleasant, sunny day working at the Cassilis recreation reserve and we had some welcome visitors to the Cassilis cemetery.

Ross and Meredith enjoying
the sunshine at Cassilis

Ross and Meredith wandered round it's precincts and made the most of the day and arguably the best day we have had this season so far.

They chose the day well, and we hope they enjoyed the sunshine, though they probably would have enjoyed it more had we not been making a noise as we worked in the recreation reserve.

We also have to make the most of the best days, and there are a couple of functions scheduled for the Recreation Reserve so we are trying to get some pending things done.

It's a busy time of year. Spring is always lovely. Though in truth, every season and every day of each of these has a special appeal at the location Ross and Meredith visited today.

A Day in May.

A working bee for a few hours. We went over and attended to some things that were probably pressing, but have not had a chance to do anything about them till we all decided we would leave all else and just do a bit at least.

Looking like autumn.

The recreation reserve and cemetery look a treat with some timely autumn rain. there have been less kangaroos, but they have not been in abeyance completely and by the looks of things someone has been over shooting some. That's not what we want, but it being on private land beside the recreation reserve, there is not a great deal that we as a committee can do.

The road is holding up really well, and we hope the shire have no plans to grade it and create an unstable surface that nothing but four wheel drives will be able to slide along.

The autumn leaves are not yet all gone. The balmy weather holds some on the tree, especially of the ornamental pears. It's been a strange year weather wise, but that's the norm now. A strange year weather wise is really no longer relevant.

Busily working.

We feel confident, or daring enough, that we can get some plants to grow, apart from the obvious trees. So bulbs are being put round memorials in the cemetery and trees in the recreation reserve.

As well there is a plant area constructed round the pine tree in the cemetery. A place to sit and enjoy the atmosphere and allow the spirit to become soothed and the worry to be taken away. It's a lovely place to relax and a wonderful place to have a working bee.

The irises in the cemetery require a surround as well. They will probably occupy a larger area than they do now in time. We'll have to decide if that's a good thing or not.

If anyone has ideas that they would like to see implemented or things that might work in either the cemetery or the recreation reserve please let us know and we'll float them at committee and trust meetings.

Something of History

Abstract

History is extremely vexatious because it's so biased by the chronicler of the information, and their diligence or otherwise. In this documentation we will attempt to flesh out with foolish conjecture what might have been the case and the circumstances of actions where they appear to be sparse or bare bones with some missing.

The time line was supposed to begin from 1871, the supposed naming of Cassilis. However, Howard mentioned an 1851 gold rush in his http://cassilis-history-stories.blogspot.com/2012/04/cassilis-victoria.html?showComment=1335998048349#c1853445486840983207 

This had me chasing up the newspapers of the time in Australia at least to see if I could get some evidence of it. One would imagine that there would be something? But nothing for Cassilis Victoria was found for that date, but it was found for Cassilis NSW, which was established and recognised much earlier than our Cassilis in Victoria.

So we begin at 1851.

It was reported that gold was found in Cassilis NSW:

[quote: Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer. Previous issue Saturday 7 June 1851 Page 2 ]

ANOTHER ALLEGED GOLD DISCOVERY - A gentleman who arrived in town from Cassilis on Thursday has shown us a sample of gold mixed with quartz, and which appears to be the matrix. It is a beautiful rich colour, and is pronounced by competent judges to be the REAL THING. The quantity shown us was small, but the party assures that there is dray loads of it to be had near Cassilis, where the sample was taken from. Several of our neighbours are out gold hunting about this district; we wish them every success.

-Ibid.

[end quote]
Article identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59772628

Page identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page5434485

APA citation

MINING INTELLIGENCE. (1851, June 7). Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW : 1845 - 1860), p. 2. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59772628

MLA citation

"MINING INTELLIGENCE." Bell’s Life in Sydney and Sporting Reviewer (NSW : 1845 - 1860) 7 Jun 1851: 2. Web. 18 Apr 2014 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59772628>.

2.1 This also:

[quote: The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser Previous issue Saturday 14 June 1851 Page 2]

The Search for Gold. - We are still without any positive information that gold in quantity has been found in this district, but intelligence, apparently authentic, has been received by letters, that gold has been found near Cassilis, the locale being stated to be some seven or eight miles from that township, on the western slope of the Dividing Range (at that point a comparatively gentle and rounded chain of hills), on the head of the Talbragar Creek, which flows into the Coolaburragundy River, a tributary of the Macquarie. Several small samples of gravel and stones have been brought into Maitland during the week, but all have been condemned as containing no gold. A letter will be found in another column respecting supposed discoveries near Dungog.

An active search is now going on throughout the district, which will, we hope, prove successful, and the more places the better. Mr. Isaac Gorrick and a party, and Mr. James Solomon and a party, left town several days since, separately, to visit special localities first, and if there unsuccessful, to be determined by circumstances how far they would prosecute the search. Other parties are also out, including, we are informed, one which consists entirely of California diggers.

[end quote]
Article identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article682532

Page identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page126968

APA citation
COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS. (1851, June 14). The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), p. 2. Retrieved April 18, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article682532

MLA citation
"COMMERCIAL AND MARKETS." The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) 14 Jun 1851: 2. Web. 18 Apr 2014 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article682532>.

This was reported at least around June in 1851, so maybe Howard's reference in the comments refers to this not the gold found in or around Cassilis Victoria?

I haven't found any reference to Cassilis, Victoria, much less any gold found there. I suppose that if it's true, and John Kennedy only named Cassilis in 1871, there would be no reference to it in 1851?

1898

1 January 1898

Cassilis and Brookville (Vic), formerly known as Long Gully and Sheepstation Creek, are situated ten and twenty miles respectively from Omeo in a south-easterly direction, and are now a scene of unusual activity. Mining is the only industry. Twenty-three years ago Mr. P. F. Forsyth came into the district, and was the pioneer of quartz mining, prior to which only a little alluvial had been done. He was successful in finding a reef that promised to pay the expense of a battery, and as plenty of water was available, he erected the first in the district, on the present site of Gum Forest. One of our illustrations shows this battery, Mr. Forsyth being the centre figure in the foreground.

He had since sold the battery to a syndicate, who crush for the public, and it is constantly employed. Four years ago. G. W. Forsyth, a son of the pioneer, discovered the Highland Chief Mine. He took out three crushings, totalling 30 tons, which yielded 6oz per ton. He sold out to Mr. Dickens, who struck better gold, and got 13oz per ton from 45 tons, and a further crushing of 38 tons yielded over 8oz per ton. The present owners, an English company, are now erecting am extensive cyanide plant and battery. The prospects are most encouraging. They have over 1000 tons of quartz ready "for crushing as soon as the battery is completed.

The Highland Chief is situated one and a half mile from Brookville, and is the mainstay of the place, employing sixty men. Several good lines of reef are near. The Janmayme has averaged l½oz gold for 500 tons. The stone is very easy to get, and the mine is under offer to Mr. C. R. Pender; a mining speculator, who is putting in 500ft of a tunnel, with a view to purchase.

The Try Again, Williams and party, on the same line of reef, and which has averaged 2oz per ton, will be included in the purchase. The Central Wombat, Shelton's Perseverance, and Richmond's are all on payable gold. The township of Brookville is insignificant, and presents a very deserted appearance, as nearly all the men live at the mines. The country is very rough, and being at a high altitude, snow is not unusual. The timber is very heavy; the gulleys full of sassafras and fern-trees. Cassilis is much lower, and being older, has a larger population.

The Warden is the principal mine, and connected with its battery is a
chlorination plant, which is being further enlarged. South of the Warden Ryan Brothers have a very good property, which, has given excellent yields the last six years.

The Cassilis Gold Mining Company, on Morning Star Hill http://www.msgold.com.au/about-mco/history/morning-star-goldmine (This is now at Woods Point. Did it start life at Cassilis?) are now putting up a battery and chlorination plant, having recently crushed 40 tons for a result of l62oz. An excellent future is anticipated, as the reef is 6ft wide at a depth of 60ft from the surface, and as soon as the battery is completed dividends may be expected.

1.-Pack Team of Horses and Mules, Cassilis. 2.-Highland Chief Mine, Brookville. 3.-Miners Crossing the Nicholson River on a Wire. 4-The Warden Battery and Chlorination Works, Cassilis. 5.-First Battery Erected in the Cassilis District. 6.-Fern Gully, Brookville. 7.-Miners' Hut, Brookville.

Additional Tree Guard Height

The dwarf apples have been growing well. Today the tree guard height was increased because the trees were at the top of or above the existing tree guard. It will probably be another year or more before the apples appear on the trees, when they will have to be netted to keep the birds off from eating the fruit. There are quite a few eastern as well as crimson rosellas in that area, and they are fond of apples.

The committee is pleased to see these birds around the recreation reserve and the cemetery, just like its wonderful to see a flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos eating the cones from the pine trees in the cemetery. The birds make a colourful addition to landscape.

During the F[route] breakfast a flock of about 30 yellow tailed black cockatoos visited the pine trees, and had everyone who had a reasonable camera attempting to take pictures of these beautiful birds who have the reputation of being a harbinger of rain. It was certainly the case.

It hasn't been the best year though the spring was very good, the summer created a worry with a long stretch without rain enough to keep the trees going, and problems with the trailer upon which the water tank was fixed. Then trying to find places along the creeks where enough water could be found to pump out. Usually any water holes were drained. Though they recovered after a few hours.

The trees were not only challenging the committee members to supply enough water for their survival, but there was the hot wind and the very fierce sun that burnt the leaves off some of the tree. Sugar maples seeming to be the most susceptible to the combination of wind and heat leaf burn.

This might be the way that each year will treat the trees? There is a real worry regarding the effects of global warming, which will have an impact. It might be a situation that the area receives more rainfall, but if it's not spread over the whole year it may not be so good.

The crimson century in the cemetery are also changing colour as autumn marches on ahead of the winter which is visiting but not yet in residence. Those trees have done very well during the harsh weather conditions during summer. Which has been pretty amazing. They will not present their best autumn leaf shades this year because of what they had to endure, but just surviving is already enough. So we'll be happy with what they can do this year and hope they might put on a better display next autumn.

F[route] breakfasts...........

I didn't write anything about the F[route] breakfast on the Sunday of 6th October 2013. It was as it is always, pleasant and a great opportunity to catch up with people even if we can only stay a short time. A great opportunity for the community of interested people to get together. All are welcome.

There is another happening in the F[route] breakfast events happening tomorrow, the 6th April 2014. Maybe we'll see you there, hopefully anyway.

Through the gaps in the cloudy sky, the sun above that fragmented moisture layer delivered shards of brightness and warmth upon the gathering of the F(route) breakfast at the Cassilis recreation reserve during the morning.

Breakfast in the pure open air.

The F(route) breakfast has become a twice annual event in March and October for, not only those from the local community, but many from far afield. Followers of the F(route) route and others who are just interested in the local manifestation of the concept, which pulls people together on all the various interfaces that creates social cohesion and interest. Those of art, cooking, food growing and generally being conscious of and tapping into our planets many energies and maintaining them, meet in this area at the Cassilis Recreation Reserve.

The F(route) breakfast get together is a great opportunity to meet community members and discover a little more about those who make our area as unique as any other location in the world. The breakfast attracts more people on each occasion and even less than ideal weather has not deterred the cooks, artists and others who make up this eclectic mix of people and ideas.

The gathering is enjoyed by all as recipes, ideas and news are exchanged between people who generally don't get together other than a fleeting wave or a few words spoken in the street, because of the differences that makes everyone interesting but unable to connect otherwise.

Picture of Cassilis, but if so Where...........

This picture was given to us by Rose Gallagher and she seemed to think that it was a picture of Cassilis somewhere.

Where in Cassilis might this be?

It was painted by a lady whose name Rose thought was Pat, but not certain, though she was sure her surname was Trist.

We wonder if anyone has any idea where this view might be. It was painted in 1975 according to the date on the back and it is called Golden Sands, which seem to suggest something of a Queensland Beach.

However, we think it might have been the mullock left behind after the gold was extracted from the crushed ore?

We are on the lookout and as was suggested to us, we might find a clue if we can discover the horizon somewhere? Though it might not be true at all, there is a good chance that it is. The form of those mountains would not have changed so much even after all those decades. Mountains have a tendency to endure.

More about the trees of Cassilis cemetery and recreation reserve.....

Has anyone seen and enjoyed the solar lights in the recreation reserve and cemetery at night. We hope you may have and if not maybe have a look? The committee and trustees are always looking for ways that will make the cemetery a place of interest and new ideas to be enjoyed.

Rain by golly bliss bombs as some cartoon character might say. Late but better late than never, or if never, then we would be long gone, because enough people almost died after the few days of hot weather we had recently. So something to think about.

The rain is great for the trees, but not so good for other reasons. Because if the soil is too warm, grasses won't grow, but plants out of place may germinate, but we can hope that early autumn rains will come also and that will have everything growing like mad at the end of the growing season before winter cools the soil and stops growth.

As far as the cemetery and recreation reserve trees are concerned, this will be nice.

Howard, Marie-Louise and I have watered the trees on a few occasions during the hot dry period and though they've not come away unscathed will do well now that rain has fallen, though will this rain be sufficient till the next falls? That's in the hands of the gods. So for now, as the Chinese saying goes: “when fortune smiles who doesn't and when fortune doesn't, who does”. So lets smile.