Like their Mum before them

The next generation is now working at the Cassilis Recreation Reserve. Like their Mum before them, before the recreation reserve was again revived and a committee was formed to once again manage the reserve. The twins Mum and uncle was their age, when they played on the recreation reserve. It was a playground for the local children and the children who came to visit their parents.

After a committee was formed and picked up the maintenance and care of the reserve, the twins mother helped with planting trees, weeding, watering and general maintenance. The twins are now playing and helping their Mum and Nanny with maintenance at the recreation reserve. The photo shows them helping to fill buckets and take them to trees that are too dry, leaves dropping worse in the heat. They and their older brother have known the recreation reserve as a place of enjoyment, where there is no work, just fun doing things.

Three direct generations of one family have now cared for and maintained, and are still caring for and maintaining the Cassilis Recreation Reserve. The reserve is the venue for birthdays, mothers days, and just time spent in all weathers. The recreation reserve and cemetery are a favourite place to go to have some fun weeding and watering plants, playing games with too much running for we older and old folk.

Over the years the trees have been watered by all the members of the Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management members and some interested persons: who saw what was needed to save them. The reserve is a community project and owes it's survival to the communities that surround it, and the East Gippsland Shire council that supports them.

Thanks to East Gippsland Shire Council

Each year the East Gippsland Shire Council bestows upon the Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management a maintenance and forward improvement grant.

The members of the committee of management appreciate and value this financial accord with the Council. The committee of management continue to maintain and improve the amenity, which is available for, not only residents of the shire, but visitors as well.

The Cassilis Recreation Reserve is a natural area that has no infrastructure or resources which allow watering of the ground. It is a natural space that is controlled by the conditions the natural world dictates. This may not make it unique in Victoria, but certainly unique of its ecological type. It also presents an area where the local wildlife can find forage and in some cases shelter.

So we would like to thank the East Gippsland Shire Council for its continued support of our philosophy.

Saving The Trees

Two of us, who are part of many who love trees, went to the Cassilis Recreation Reserve today.

A camper vehicle was there and people sitting at the picnic tables having their breakfast obviously, so we didn't go and disturb them. Instead we went straight to the water tank that is filled from the run-off from the toilet roof and started filling our buckets and watering can to water the trees. The trees that are smaller and stressed rather more because they have not been in the ground as long as the other, larger trees. We were too late for some, that had more than likely already perished. Though we hope the roots might still have some life, holding fast till/if the rain comes.

This watering was not to try to have the trees return to full leaf or show any signs of vigour, it was a water merely to help them hold on a little longer. To give them a small amount of moisture to be going on with, till some precipitation arrived. Because many of these had few leaves, so even if a shower, rain being a tease, presented itself, they would not be able to take advantage of moisture, because their leaves were on the ground. Being blown, today anyway, all over the country by the wind.

The large trees would most likely be all right. They had been in the ground sufficiently long to have roots that went to depths this particular dry period would not deplete. Further to that, they are on the cusp of being dormant for the winter. A dormancy a little earlier than most years they had been resident in the ground in the ambience of the area. Manifest by the inability to fully bring out the colours of the leaves with which they would normally be clothed in autumn. However, survival must come first, and to endure will at times require some sacrifice.

There was wind today, unfavourable to our efforts, drying out any water bestowed, that wasn't immediately absorbed below the surface and as the day wore on the wind became more fierce, drying everything out even more, if that was possible. Dust storms top dressed our paddocks, our roofs, solar panels and any other thing that has a flat, or stippled surface to cover. Quite often we get 10 mm of rain and 50 mm of wind to evaporate, in a very short time, the small quantity that blessed us, but that is also part of being here. This wind had little in the way of moisture to blow away.

The apples on the trees are almost ripe. Good enough to eat even now and we treated ourselves to a reward.

Some farmers were foolish enough to plough their paddocks in such dry conditions, as have been experienced over the last three months. Ploughing would cause considerable erosion to these disturbed paddocks if the rain was heavy, and of course today, blew away any ligneous, fibrous, water holding element in the soil into the air and delivered it to places where others would certainly appreciate it. Though possibly not so much on their roof.

Now we wait for rain to be delivered by an indifferent nature.

Family Day Working Bee

The day was beautiful, for the work to be accomplished possibly a little warmer than preferred, but no complaints as everyone rolled up to the Cassilis recreation reserve. Then their sleeves at the working bee and hooked in to get some more, better, longer lasting tree guards that protected a greater area round the trees in place.

Our thanks must go to the East Gippsland Shire Council who contributed financially towards this work. To guard the community sponsored trees that are beautiful and will be even more beautiful and supply shade to the many visitors to this wonderful ambiance. So preserved so because the land round it has been retained as non residential. Thus keeping it for everyone in the community and all visitors.

A family day, some scones and cream, also water, the drink of a wise man, to quench the thirst of the workers.




Thanks Christine, Howard, John, Alison, Patrick, Daniel, Jimmy and Claire for their help and being there to fill the day with joy.

Tree Maintenance........

A little tree maintenance needed to be done on new years eve, as there was a tree invaded by a borer. These are prolific, and vigilance is required to ensure the minimum amount of damage.

The black tips on the leaves at the end of the branches probably had nothing to do with the borer, because this was also evident on the branches below the entry of the caterpillar.

It was unfortunate that the main trunk of the tree was invaded, but of course it was the only section that was large enough in circumference to give the borer sufficient real estate to be protected and live relatively safely. Anything thinner and the branch would have been weakened and could easily break off.

The sugar maples are particularly susceptible to borer infestation and two years ago the one in the pic had to have the same drastic operation performed. It was a much larger tree. A branch was selected that would become the main trunk as was done on this occasion.

Christmas approaching............

Christmas is approaching, and Cassilis Recreation Reserve has found itself with a little extra cheer.

The idea of Christmas is everywhere, and the spirit of Christmas will follow, but not last as long as one might hope.

In autumn, the colours of Christmas will be displayed in the leaves, but for now it will have to shown with tinsel on this tree.

Welcome

What is History - Really?

This place and what it suggests, is history even as each word hits the screen.

Suggesting, as some have, that history is an accurate, objective recording of events in the distant or very recent past is credible only, when there is an event which has a time and date recorded against it. Or heaven forbid, when someone erects a statue.

In reality compiling such a record impossible of course and in most cases it's not even attempted, and neither is it attempted here. Who would put themselves through the mill of gathering information and trying to get it right from every eye that saw it, ear that heard it, whispers that inferred it and every point of view built from what could only possibly be a personal interpretation?

Voltaire was right in this attributed to him: “Indeed, history is nothing more than a tableau of crimes and misfortunes.” ....Voltaire

There are many concepts of history, and each who have information declare and argue they are correct. Much like religion, there is only one religion and yet there are many who propose theirs is the one, even though different from the others. History is tales of the past of even recorded events that are interpreted and told differently by each individual. We are fortunate to be so blessed.

Various versions of events even from their own lives from observers with photographs, means that there is nothing that can be cast in iron and set in stone. Different angles and interpretation of major events and general occurrences are the norm and the meat of those who would like to know more. So what of accuracy one might ask? There is a saying attributed to Erich Fromm: “The quest for certainty blocks the quest for meaning.” The quest for objective accuracy is for the court of law, in life it may be a hindrance and an opportunity lost for interesting speculation and extrapolation.

However, a general idea which is the only possible result and usually achievable and adequate for us to fill any gaps with imagination. Accurate history is an assortment of stories about the same thing from different people. Each story/experience biased in some way by the teller of the tale, even about what many call “important” events.

Milestone events do exist. The miles themselves are the stories of everyday life from people, and the stones are how an event was seen or experienced by them and their telling, and of course what audience feedback is forthcoming. Milestones like fame and notoriety are manufactured by people who find other things more interesting than those of their own lives. Not everyone remembers the moon landing or the rise of communism. These markers are created by the interested prejudiced audience.

As we know, if more than one person sees an event being played out, each will see something different, tell the tale with a different slant and be amazed when hearing others tell of the same event and discover how different it was from their own experience or wonder how they missed something another noted. Then above and beyond all that, there is the interpretation of events and what was seen, as well as the passing of time and the way memory erodes or embellishes and highlights what has been observed or felt, changed by that factor alone.

Quoting The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906) of Ambrose Beirce:

HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools.

Possibly the above is all that needs to be said about history, about life within and outside our own milieu upon which each individual places a certain importance. There are many who say Australia was built by the mining and agricultural industry. Exporting what others wanted and bringing in monetary wealth into the country. It is also good to consider how Australia would have been built had it been settled by people who were not so obsessed with monetary wealth and were more caring of their environment? Much like our first nation people.

However, the time has slipped away to make history like that.

Timeline Mining Cassilis Author: Keith Streames - 74/02291/T - 1979

1890 Robert Howard discovered a reef of gold.

Within the Schistose sedimentary rock of extremely complex sulphides seven major reefs of gold were found. A 400 foot reef found in Cassilis was the most extensive and in that day and age an easy, uncomplicated extraction of the gold was not available from the heavy mineralised ore.

1894 The discovery of gold instigated the installation of a 5 head stamp battery and chlorination plant Installation of a 5—head stamp battery and chlorination plant. Main shaft at 174!

1895 Plant closed due to installation of larger chlorination plant.

1896 Perplexities of Cassilis ores could not be overcome and mine was closed.

1897 Formation of Cassilis Gold Mining Company. Worked on Homeward Bound lease. Intensive exploration work undertaken. Chlorination plant improved.

1898 Takeover of Cassilis North Mining Company, Shamrock and Sons of Freedom leases. Sons of Freedom thought to be poor producer but after takeover proved the richest reef in Cassilis.

1899 Obtaining 1000 oz./350 tons of ore. Halley table and Berdan pan increased values of extractable concentrates.

1900 Mt. Hepburn company closed. Cassilis Gold Mining Company purchased 20—head stamper battery.

Completion of gravity tram line.

Jacques rock breaker purchased l9 cwt/ton from crusher and 8 cwt/ton from chlorination. Furnace proving incapable of handling ore quantity.

1902/03 Enlarged and improved equipment slowly introduced. Mine closed, shortage of water and backlog of residues waiting to be treated by furnace. New compressor installed. Negotiations to buy Brave George Battery and secure water rights of Swifts Creek.

Dam built in Powers Gully with 800,000 gal. capacity.

Foundry furnace converted to oil fired. Inclusion of cyanide plant.

200 men employed directly by Cassilis Gold Mining Company and 100 more indirectly in the town.

1903 Wood shortages - boilers required 9 cords of wood/day for continuous operation cord = (l28 cubic Feet) or a stack - 5' x 5' x 5'.

Plant was under powered due to inferior wood being burnt. Estimated that only 2 years supply of wood was in sight.

1905 Company purchased Consols mine. Fuel was conserved by installation of 20 h.p. fuel engine. Hydro electric scheme suggested to operate from Victoria River. Scheme planned and given go—ahead.

Increase capacity boiler purchased.

5 week output — 1075 tons of ore extracted for 1,214 ozs. of gold (selling at £4/oz.) 916 ozs. from battery 114 ozs. cyanide plant 184 ozs. concentrates.

Hydro electric scheme, based on dynamo at Victoria Falls driven by water turbine. Water was brought 3.5 miles around a hill then down pipe way for over 300' to the power station . Power produced was transmitted 15 miles to battery site in Powers Gully.

1907 Final change to electrical power completed in 1909. Plant was reckoned to be the most modern and efficient in Victoria.

1909 150 men employed in mine and 50 in battery. Tonnage of stone mined began to decline. New electric motors replaced all engines.

1910 Chlorination plant abolished — wet slimes plant installed. Very dry season.

Mine closed for 6 months due to water shortages. Mass exodus of miners from Cassilis and Tongio West began.

July 1910 57 men employed at mine. Slimes plant a failure due to ore material being contaminated with arsenic dust.

1912 6 miners employed.

1913 Mine closed again due to water shortage. Grandiose schemes mooted but nothing attempted due to lack of water in Victoria River.

1914 Tunnel from Cassilis mine pushed through to Ceresa. Outbreak of war - loss of men due to enlistments.

1915 30 men employed to build dam above generating station to circumvent the recurring water shortage problem. Ore extracted from mine reduced by 50%. Main shaft to be sunk another 400'.

1916 Heavy rain washed out dam. Mine ceased production August 1916.

The Cassilis Gold Mining Company produced 3½ tons of gold from 1898 until it closed in 1916. However, the huge recurring costs of machinery, coupled with errors in management and the fickle weather sapped her profitability.

The difficult nature of the Cassilis ores were not initially understood, making drastic changes in plant necessary as knowledge of them increased.

A total of 93,572 ozs. of gold was returned from the Cassilis mine, making it the highest gold producer on the Omeo goldfields.

Mount Hepburn — King Cassilis Mine

1888 Work commenced and ore was crushed at Brave George Battery. Values proved to be low but lode was largest in area.

1893 Installation of Otis_crusher (a ball mill) and completion of tramways from mine to mill. 6 months produced 1000 tons of ore.

Efficiency of crusher was low — 58%. No ancillary appliances were used with crusher, though separators or vanners could have increased gold recovered to 80%.

1894 Throughput of 140 tons of ore/week. 6000 tons of ore had been treated.

1897 Otis mill discarded as being not suitable for the complex Cassilis ores.

1896 Australian Gold Recovery Company installed cyanide plant. 60 men employed at mine.

1897 20-head stamp battery installed though poor results obtained.

1898 Mining ceased - 30 men laid off.

1900 Mining company wound up. King Cassilis founded to work Mt. Hepburn leases.

1902 New plant installed, Krupp dry crusher, new furnaces and rock breaker.

1905 28-men employed but mine closed due to shortage of capital.

1907 Company wound up.

Lost Things, Yet to be Found...

The Cassilis cemetery is a special place for many. It is also in flux. Possibly visited more by people who had loved ones and acquaintances buried in that ground when Cassilis was thriving because gold was being ripped from the ground in any way possible. Processed to make money for individuals that sat in fancy restaurants and boardrooms all over Australia. The trustees have working bees to keep it reasonably maintained while they also try to go about their own lives and attempt to discover more about the people who lived in the area during those days on enterprise, which destroyed much of the landscape.

The people who buried family and friends in the cemetery were not people who lived in the Cassilis region because it was a great place to be, or marvellous for their children. It was because they were trying to make money, and as much money as they could while the gold was coming out of the earth. Once the gold ran out, so did the people, leaving much of what they had built. Also what they destroyed and buried.

So how terrible was the destruction of the cemetery once the people had left, really. It appears to be sacrilegious, and yet, it was just ground where people had left the remains of people who died in varying circumstances. There were gravestones that told a very short story, pardon the pun, the bare bones about a life. These physical markers for people to visit on occasion and remember, for a little while, the person who could no longer be touched in any other way.

Today, in this day and age, the cemetery is a point of interest to try to get a grasp on what life was like in the area known, in this instance, as Cassilis, a mining area. Much has been lost with the theft and/or destruction of the grave stones and any surrounds that have gone missing. This is to be lamented and is like burning the only copy of a book that few people have read, and even fewer alive who remember, even parts of it.

This is also the reason that the Cassilis Cemetery Trustees attempt to learn more and maintain what is left of the site. Truly it is just ground, it is the cover of the book, enticing the reader who, upon opening it, finds it mostly devoid of any material, turning enticement to a tease. There is information still around. However, it's in the wind in the main, ephemeral, or lost or soon lost if not collected, blown away and scattered widely. Spread into far reaches where it may have been caught up in corners and means nothing on it's own, just a thread separated from the tapestry in which it belongs and completes.

It becomes a challenge for any who wonders why information was lost? In the case of the burial records of Cassilis cemetery, in a fire. Henry David Thoreau asks, “how important is something that can be forgotten?” We ask ourselves, how important is something, not protected and so easily destroyed?

Natures Helpers..........

Something which most visitors to the Cassilis recreation reserve and cemetery are unaware, is the grass during the autumn, winter and early spring period, is usually kept in check and nicely trimmed by the many kangaroos who feed on it and live in the forested areas round about. This is the way nature works and we who manage the reserve and cemetery, are pleased they do so. It means not having to use blades, and fuel to drive them to cut the grass. Something that's never as good for the grass as the natural way of the kangaroo.

The grass itself is fuel, for kangaroos and other wildlife that frequent these two public places. An added bonus is that the animals who feed on the grass also fertilise it and over the years it has grown richer and more dense.

Conversely, the feral grazers and browsers also feed on the grass and would feed on the larger trees if they weren't protected. However, they to fertilise the ground. They do not want anything without some payment made either. We are learning to live with these, as we must, because they are now naturalised wildlife. They have been introduced into the country the same as the white settlers, convicts and their keepers before them, and like these they are now part of our landscape.

During the late spring and summer months, the wildlife are generally unable to keep the grass of these public areas neatly trimmed, so we have to assist with a mower. However, the wildlife save us a considerable amount of money all year round, and assist by keeping the grass trimmed and in good health.

Cemetery Comfort

The DELWP workers putting in place some comfort for visitors to the Cassilis cemetery.

The picnic table in this position to take advantage of shade and shelter.

In the shade of the beautiful Algerian Oak that has been providing a cooling influence over the Cassilis Cemetery, in the hottest of summer days, for a considerable time.

It may be fanciful. However this tree has been here for so many years, who would gainsay that it was not brought back with a returned soldier from a conflict of which he was a part?

A little fantasy can be entertaining and might be very close to the truth. One assumes these trees in the Cassilis cemetery were deliberately planted, as there are no other like them in the area.

There is an Algerian oak in the gardens of Parliament House in Melbourne:

http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/5241/download-report

[quote]
In February 1890, an Algerian Oak (Quercus canariensis) was planted in Melbourne's Parliament House gardens, by the Premier of New South Wales, Sir Henry Parkes. The planting commemorated the Australasian Federal Convention, which was then underway in Parliament House. The convention was a breakthrough in the move towards federation, in that the colonies actually agreed to federate and to hold a national convention to consider drafting a constitution. The tree is now known as the Federal Oak.

Henry Parkes is an important and colourful figure in Australian political history. He initiated numerous reforms during his time in politics in New South Wales parliament, and from 1889 was a key figure in the federation movement. He is popularly regarded as one of the 'Fathers of Federation'.

Heritage Victoria is currently undertaking a national survey of heritage places associated with federation. The Federal Oak is just one of many places that have already been identified and included in a database of federation places.
[end quote]

The Cassilis cemetery oak does not have a trunk as thick as the one mentioned above, but if it was from an acorn carried in the pocket of a soldier interested in trees or flora in general and grown to size that could be planted here. it would be about the right age.

Regardless of where the trees came from, and what far sighted individual saw how they might be appreciated by future generations. There is now a place to sit and contemplate whatever takes the fancy of the visitor.

Preparing for more visitors.

With the assistance of grant money from the Department of Social Services, Community Grants Hub which paid for the materials. The DELWP staff constructed two picnic tables with benches attached and are installing them on site.

This is government and community working together. A synergistic cooperation that benefits all community members and visitors to the area alike.

Attracting people of all ages to participate in the enjoyment of the outdoors. The Cassilis recreation reserve benefits the community and it's visitors through open air experience of the natural world environment and flora and fauna discovery.

There is much for which to be thankful.

The Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management has a good relationship with the Swifts Creek DELWP.

The committee hopes that when the baits for foxes and feral dogs are dropped. The DELWP are mindful of the fact that many local people as well as visitors take their companion dogs to the Recreation Reserve for a run and play.

People have asked about the baiting of animals, and if it is distant from the reserve, and it is not certain, but should be, that the baits are not a danger to companion animals that accompany their owners to the Cassilis reserve area.

Next Task...

These small apple trees at the recreation reserve already produced apples. They were being pillaged, probably by possums, and the committee of management always knew they would have to be protected not only from the possums but birds as well. So tree guards and netting frames will need to be developed. The latter to make it easy to slide the net over the fruit trees as the fruit is ripening.

The netting should have been done earlier and more fruit would have been served, but there is always something else that needs doing. But we have a chance to see some of these apples ripen, as they are vegetative material taken from sports that grew in the Omeo area [Dwarf Apple Wild Granny] the have a connection to the place. It will also be interesting to see how they develop.

Working Bee At The Cassilis Recreation Reserve

It was a beautiful day to be out in the wider world and the atmosphere and ambiance of the Cassilis recreation reserve and cemetery yesterday.

The president invited people to enjoy the day there with us. Rickey did just that, even though his house is being built and he assists with that. The committee members who were there: Christine, Marie-Louise, Howard and Charlie much appreciated his help, and were sorry he was unable to stay for the sausage sizzle.

There would have been one other to join us, but unfortunately on the way home from a trip his car broke down and he had to stay on the other side of the mountain to have it repaired.

The inside of the men's and women's toilet received it's first coat of paint from Marie-Louise and Christine.

Another memorial tree was planted by Howard. A King Cole apple to complement the small stand of apple trees already growing in that area, which have all been sponsored by people who are friends of the Cassilis Recreation reserve.

The sausages, asparagus etc., were cooked superbly and to perfection as always, by Howard, whose locally renown cooking skills are always in demand for such occasions. A huge success, getting some work done and lunching in the open air, in sun supplied warmth.

It was sad that not everyone was able to attend and enjoy it with us.

Some Notes On The King Cole Apple Variety

From: http://www.loriendale.com.au/midlate_seson_apples.htm

King Cole This dual purpose apple is medium-size and with a bright red flush. It is firm, juicy, subacid and a fair keeper. It was raised in Lang Lang Victoria by R.G. Cole and is a cross between the Jonathan and Dutch Mignonne apples. In earlier times, this apple was extensively exported. It is good to eat and very good cooking apple.

As well, the Cassilis Cemetery Trust and Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management were the grateful and pleased recipients of three donated fruit trees by:

Neville and Elaine Medhurst

Orchardists

Who have been kind supporters and friends of the the Cemetery Trust and Management Committee by way of substantial discounts for trees in the past.

Both the Cassilis Cemetery Trust and Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management members, thank them on behalf of the community.

Second Class Citizen Internet...

When the internet was finally made available as Dial UP to the Cassilis community, it was well received, but by any standards, very slow. It did demonstrate to residents in the Omeo, Cassilis, Swifts Creek and environs we lived in an isolated back water. Certainly as far as electronic communications were concerned. It was slightly better than nothing.

TPG was the company that placed a point of presence for the internet in Swifts Creek and all who wanted to embrace this new age technology were pleased. This was assisted by the National Farmers Federation supplying really good quality modems with which the connection to the world wide web could be made along the often less than desirable underground copper telephone line.

The thing that brought home the disadvantage to this area, was that everyone who had computers in most cities in Australia, because of their faster speed and greater bandwidth, could send quite large text, graphic and video files that could take hours to download through the slower conduit of copper telephone line and Dial Up Internet “service”. So the residents of this area who took 75 minutes to download a 10 MB file, usually went onto their webmail account and deleted these large files. Nothing demonstrated to the residents of the region more, how disadvantaged they were still. According to subsequent governments, there were not all that many people in these areas of Victoria and they were, in the majority, old and would not readily take up new ideas.

Later of course satellite came on the scene, much slower than ADSL and mobile phones were now commonplace. Hardly practical because of all the black spots over huge tracts of land that this didn't bear thinking about as a communication alternative. This is the case still.

At a meeting in Omeo in those early years, the head of Telstra in this area started the information day saying that in the plains and desert like country of Victoria, the telco could put up towers with enormous distances between them. So when it was suggested that Telstra should put up the towers that it didn't use in those areas in the mountainous areas around Swifts Creek and Omeo. It was quickly stated that it didn't work that way. At this time, what most people associate with this area is, it is without mobile/wireless reception in huge areas.

Now we have the Sky Muster satellite system, and there has been little improvement. Luckily the landline telephones work still, so that the people connected to this very ordinary and flaky internet system, not service. Can ring round and ask their neighbours if they are able to get an internet connection, and be told they are missing out as well.

Our politicians do nothing of consequence to change the situation. The Minister, Hon Mitch Fifield, keeps telling the media that the system is being rolled out on the time target and on budget. But what sort of a system is being rolled out? A half baked satellite system certainly.

This very suspect system was devised in the short, cut corners, Abbott government time with the assistance of the communications minister who has now been raised past his level of competence to Prime Minister of this country. Having said that, there is no way the current Minister can duck or weave his way out of this, below third world standard of internet delivery. It is his job to make certain that he improves on the rubbish he inherited.

The disgrace of this is evident, not only in the amount of outages this area has to suffer, we know not why? It could be flaky equipment, less than adequate number of technicians, lower standard of technical ability or something else. Something more with in the Ministers purview?

The residents of this area, like those in the city need to fill in many forms online, or print them off the web to fill them in and if they have an unreliable, unpredictable internet system to attempt all this, they are severely disadvantaged.

So much is moving over to the digital age and yet as ever, the Cassilis area and the towns that surround it are way behind.

Not being able to pick up any working leases all evening and night, I will have to do what had to be done back in the 80's, go to the community centre and post this text there.

Memorial tree

Christine's Mum and Dad's tree and daffodils in spring.

Howard's family memorial tree with Daff's.

Bens Crossing Bridge

Bens crossing bridge is being replaced. Some people will be pleased with this change of traffic conditions, as the old bridge was always looked upon as being technology and materials of the past and looked in disrepair. Because of the way and materials from which it was constructed and appeared, it made people pause before crossing it. The bridge planking was sometimes damaged or broken. A sign suggested that cyclists, dismount and walk their treddly's over the bridge rather than ride them where the wheels of their mode of transport might get jammed between the planks of the bridge and send the rider flying over the handlebars.

There have been band aid repairs to the bridge forever, and as time wore on and took its toll it was narrowed down, to what particular purpose? The reason unknown to this scribe. Possibly protecting people from driving through it's old railings into the abyss.

Now the bridge will be pulled down and another constructed in it's place. One of these very modern concrete bridges one assumes? Changing the bridge, and thereby the road conditions that now apply, might appear like a good thing at face value. One assumes it will allow traffic to flow both ways over the bridge and circumvent vehicles slowing down to check if there is traffic coming from the other side to which one may have to give way. It will allow more speed and less attention to be paid to the road in that area at least, and probably cut a couple of seconds of the trip along the distance of the Cassilis road. More time even if another vehicle was on the bridge when trying to cross it.

So is that an improvement? Allowing greater speed to be maintained and removing the caution that was once part of using that bridge, reducing the need for the visitor to be mindful and read the signs and be cautious coming toward and leaving the narrower bridge?

At face value it looks like an improvement, but it's something to ponder just the same.

So who was Ben that this crossing was named after him? Is that lost in the detritus of time and human memory? Does anyone have an idea about who Ben could be? We could conjecture, think it was a person who lived on the Cassilis side of the creek [Gray's Creek] and had to cross it often? Gray's Creek only brings up another question. Trying to discover who was Gray?

Were these the first people who settled in that Cassilis/Tongio area, along the creek which Ben had to cross often enough for people to name the crossing after him and this activity?

This http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/AUS-VIC-GIPPSLAND/1999-06/0928416879 This history gives us a bit more of an insight into what was there at that location, but not who Ben was and why the crossing was named after him. We assume him because it appears to be a mans name?

Here is a bit more general information that might be useful http://www.victorianplaces.com.au/cassilis-and-tongio-west.

Mysteries remain for the moment.

For the Love of Jack.....

A tree, a Crab Apple - Malus ioensis 'Plena', has been planted at Jacks memorial today [Sunday 21 August] by Lenore. It is hoped it will flourish and be a living part of the memorial for Jack, that will reach far into the future for grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The crab apple tree will be another interesting addition to the Cassilis Cemetery memorial arboretum. So many interesting trees already populate that area.

It's a difficult place to grow a tree of any kind. The challenge is to get them established. Once that has been achieved they will reward all visitors to the cemetery with their beauty and add to the quiet, restful ambiance of the cemetery.

The act of planting a tree is acknowledging ancestors. Declaring a hope for the future. As it grows a pleasure to be enjoyed by children of future generations.

Climbing in the branches of these trees; children will look out through the leaves into a world where they too can grow, blossom and become centred and complete.

Autumn Colours...

It's the time of year where many living things in the natural world plan for a rest, the trees retrieve some of the nutrient from their leaves and cause them to colour up, no longer needed in the winter months. As the leaves fall to the ground they are food for all manner bacteria, small creatures and fungi, that consume them. The waste from these becomes nutrient for the tree during the quickening of spring. New clothes, fresh and without blemish to harvest the rays of the sun and manufacture a different type of nutrient.

The colours in the small valley in which lie the Cassilis recreation reserve and cemetery are beginning to show trees settling in for winter. Not all the trees of the same type are colouring the same. It is assumed that each tree has tapped into a different source of nutrient. Some trees have smaller leaves than others of their kind, that also demonstrates a deficiency, either in nutrient or genetics. Though they all looked the same in the autumn they were bought and planted, they, like every living thing, are all different.

Each tree is unique and the beauty of this is a year when some will be colourful and others may not. Another year we might see the trees that looked to be rather plain this year, will be the feature of a new season.

However, whatever eventuates, what swing or roundabout we see each autumn, there is no doubt that we will see something startling each year as the trees grow. We have to thank and are grateful to the sponsors of these trees for giving us something to look forward to each season.

The Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management and Cassilis Cemetery Trust are attempting to create a colourful picture and participation environment with trees and other plants.

There is much to do and consider when attempting to create a congenial environment. One to be enjoyed by all visitors, in its entirety or just sections that draw people into such pleasantries as picnics or just laying on the grass on a blanket taking in the wildlife and ambiance for which this small area is so famous - while chasing the clouds from the sky.

Swallows..........

We love swallows. They are just one of the many bird varieties that can be seen in this area. Watching a wedge tailed eagle, just one of the beautiful birds we have in this area, soaring leisurely, high in the sky on earthy air currents. Looking from the heights far above this place to the coastline and out to sea or deep into the mountain range from, if not an unrivalled vantage point, certainly one which allows 360 degree vision.

Swallows use the element the eagle glides on differently and are no less graceful though appear busier. Because they are swift, they are controllers of insects. Exercise for our eyes with their considerable velocity and turns that beguile the mind as we try to track them moving in, out, over and under one another. They are indeed beautiful, stationary or in flight. Another of natures evolving creatures.

When they come to rest at night, unfortunately in a place where the Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management wish they would not. They tend to supply the ground under their roosting area with fertiliser of a quality that is very desirable and priceless. However when left to dry for a few days this valuable plant food sticks to the concrete floor and is difficult to lift, also leaving a stain as evidence of its presence, much like a natural graffiti.

Visitors who like to have a relatively clean place to sit and eat or just sit, do not desire to do so amongst this growth promotant. So we have placed a net ceiling in the shed to deter the swallows from resting during the hours of darkness in this place. Where they will go is of no notice to us, nature is indifferent, and we cannot do anything to ease their dismay at finding what they thought was night accommodation erected for their ease, is now off limits. We block our mind from the fact they may find themselves in a place where a predator may also be able to find them and hope they will be safe for at least the first night of dispossession and reconnoitre another, better on the second evening.

We washed the floor, table and chairs and hopefully this will remain relatively clean. At least free from plant fertiliser in the future and wherever the swallows have gone, their fertiliser will be appreciated.

Maybe they have gone to Capistrano? If so, the soil there will be much improved.