Mining plant...........

This 1930's mining plant:

http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/4342

Old plant, Cassilis, March 1930

Contributor

Monash University. Faculty of Arts. School of Humanities, Communication and Social Sciences. Centre for Gippsland Studies

Subject: Cassilis

Subject: Gold mining

Date: 1930

Abstract: Two men stand in front of the remains of the buildings of a gold mine.

Centre for Gippsland Studies Images

Identifier: http://arrowprod.lib.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/25162

Identifier: BV0020

Identifier: http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/4342

Identifier: monash:4342

Format: 1 photoprint :b&w ;12 × 16 cm.

Relation: Baragwanath Collection.

Rights: Copyright expired under Copyright Act 1968 Commonwealth of Australia as at 19/09/05.

Source: Item held by Centre for Gippsland Studies, Monash University

Something from 1878.........

SALE, TUESDAY.

At the Police Court to-day Barnard Reeves, was fully committed for trial on a charge of obtaining £800 from English, Peck, and Co. by false pretences, and perjury in connexion with the fraud. The evidence, which was very clear, was to the effect that the prisoner represented to prosecutors that he had purchased 200 steers from Cassilis Station, near Swift's Creek, and had paid a deposit thereon, and wanted cash to complete the transaction.

He agreed to give a mortgage over the cattle, also over the Marthavale Station and stock thereon, and did so, and at the request of Mr. English made a statutory declaration that his representations were true. Hayward and Liapp, of Cassilis, from whom prisoner said he had purchased the steers, deposed they had had no transactions with him for years. Prisoner, who, meanwhile, assumed the name of Owenson, had been arrested at Mount Gambier, whither he had levanted after cashing the £800 cheque. The Bench fixed the amount of bail and personal recognisances at a total sum of £1,600.

Article identifier

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5926513

Page identifier

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page249011

APA citation

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES. (1878, March 27). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved August 13, 2013, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5926513

The Fairies

It is hard to track down the Lairds of Cassilis and get them to contribute to our little project in Cassilis Victoria Australia.
God bless her ladyship the Marquess of Ailsa's Mother who was so gracious to us when my wife and I visited the Kennedy home some years ago.
But I have to admit her tale of the Fairies was enough for me to write a very silly ditty.
Apparently when the influential Kennedy's decided to build a new home (Castle) they were to build it in the most obvious place. That is on the Doonans (downs) overlooking their vast Estate.
The Fairies didn't like it so every time more stone was added to the Castle the fairies would knock it down under cover of darkness. (Fairy nuff I say).
Robert Burns has more to say on the subject in his epic poem "Halloween"
But I do digress. My ditty is based on the notion that the fairies of Cassilis had a friend and protector living under the old rickety rackety bridge over the river Doon.
That friend was a Troll. A very bad tempered sort of half man half beast that is listed as such on the internet.
Some of you may have a song that features a Troll and wanting to eat people for his supper. A terrible idea as it would give a Troll terrible indigestion. No wonder he or she would have an appalling temperament.
So here is my ditty and to those of you who have heard the song my ditty shares the same tune.
In my ditty I happen to mention the word sandwich which may be the wrong word as it was the Earl of Sandwich that invented the sandwich and not the Troll.

Song: I’m A Cassilian

CHORUS:

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian

I’m going to eat your factor.

I’m going to eat his smelly feet,

Even though there ain’t much meat,

 I’m going to eat his smelly feet,

And put them in a sandwich

CHORUS:

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m going to eat your Mother.

I’m going to eat her flapping ears,

And wash them down with 20 beers,

I’m going to eat her flapping ears,

And cook them on the barby.

CHORUS:

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m going to eat his Lordship.

 I’ll cook him in the fairies tower,

Because they have electric power,

I’ll cook him in the witch’s tower,

And turn him into haggis.

CHORUS:

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian

I’m going to eat you Kennedy’s. Burp!

I’m going to eat your tiny brains,

I will wait until it rains,

I’m going to eat your tiny brains,

With garlic and red pepper.

CHORUS:

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

I’m one in a million,

I am a Cassilian,

You think of me suspicious,

You really are delicious.

Julie's Trees........

The picture shows Julie planting one of the two silver birch trees that she has sponsored at the Cassilis recreation reserve. She said that her mother would have liked this place. Julie mentioned the lovely effect of the white bark of the silver birch, which of course will stand out even more against the backdrop of the eucalypts and the view of the hills in the distance.

Julie planting a silver birch.

The day was ideal for planting as the overnight rain prepared the ground with moisture enough to entice the tree roots to reach out further into its surrounds as it warms with the coming spring. The blustery wind was warm while the tree was being planted and turned cold at the time of leaving almost seeming sad and then petulant that we were going.

The residents of, and the area surrounding Cassilis are, through the medium of recreation reserve and the tree sponsor program, cleaning the atmosphere and environment as they honour and remember loved ones. The trees being a real link to those buried in the Cassilis cemetery and elsewhere in Australia or world wide.

Contemplating

The Cassilis recreation reserve and cemetery located cheek by jowl have always been special places and their uniqueness is being enhanced by the tree sponsor program of the reserve, encouraging the committee and trust respectively to increase their particular attraction.

Many who have come to visit Cassilis where their ancestors lived, worked and in some cases died, even on their first visit have sponsored a tree to make this place even more meaningful in their lives. A family hub of sorts.

To view a larger version of the photos, click on them and they will come up on their own.

The slope which is the backdrop of the picture where Julie is planting her tree can be seen in this early photograph of another gathering at the Cassilis recreation reserve. This is supposed to be in the 1800's and could well be the case from the dress of the people.

Cassilis circa 1897

The trees on the slope have changed and if the time period is correct, then the mines would have been working just about full on when there was water sufficient to allow them to process the ore.

The population of Cassilis would have been far greater as can be seen, though one would imagine some of these people in the photo would have come from the surrounding area for a day out, to catch up and to just enjoy the company of others. The life on any goldfield is not easy. Everyday life would have been hard and the mining companies would not have been over generous with wages and conditions.

TidyTowns..........

TidyTowns Judge Ron came up today and had a look at the Cassilis Recreation Reserve and the Cemetery. The sun was shining, but at this time of year there was little warmth. We have long time ago realised that being closer to the sun doesn't mean there is more warmth.

The cemetery road was a mess, a real mess a few days ago was slightly better because without more rain the surface a some time to dry out.

But anyone with a reasonable sort of car was best served to leave it back at the Cassilis road and that's just what Ron wisely did.

This is not the worst section, but the straight actually running alongside the recreation reserve was worse. The reason being that there is more shade, so it only dries out when there is a combination of sun and wind.

Anyway, with a four wheel drive drive, we all managed to get in and another day or two of sun and it will be navigable once again till the next rain. An ongoing saga of which the shire has been aware for some years.

There have been some repairs to the road surface promised by the shire, sometime this month, and that's a great start, but if the repairs to the road are just a band aid, the likes of which have been seen so often it will be of little benefit. Hope continues to be evident, but doesn't grow where this road is concerned.

The next picture is of Alison, the President of the Cassilis Recreation Reserve accepting the TidyTowns certificate from Ron.

From left: Howard - Marie-Louise and Patrick - Alison accepting the TidyTowns certificate - Penny - Christine - Ron presenting the TidyTowns certificate and Bob

Ron was taken round by Howard who explained what the Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management and the Cassilis Cemetery Trustees had achieved since the new committee and trust took over in 2012.

Future plans were also outlined and the discussion over cups of coffee, scones and cream created a congenial atmosphere in the tranquil environment of the this place that has used by people for meeting and discussion since the 1800's.


Tuesday 2 July 2013

The road is slowly drying out and is once more possible to drive over for anyone. Which is particularly good for the school holidays. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, the cemetery, recreation reserve road will be brought up to the standard of an all weather road, so more timid and less confident drivers from the city can get to the facilities there without being traumatised, or abandoning the intent entirely.

The (f)route breakfast

This Sunday, 7 April 2013 morning, another (f)route breakfast brought

together a group of people who enjoyed the fruit and fruit products for sampling at the Cassilis Recreation Reserve and Cemetery. It was a great way to catch up. Like autumn leaves in a gentle breeze, people moved round, got caught up in a group and then gently disengaged and drifted into another collective of people.

It was possible, even recommended, to go without breakfast and have a breakfast at the gathering, that extended into brunch. Consisting of all the wonderful fruit and fruit based food on offer.

No one had an excuse to go away hungry, it was impossible in fact to go

away hungry with all the delicious temptations available. It's assumed by this scribe that everyone went away sated with all manner of dishes containing fruit, fruit juice or syrup.

The food was engaging to every palate, lovely quince dishes with raisins, or

just quinces that tempted and captured all who ate them. Muffins, flavoured with pineapple, banana and raspberry and such to delight even the most finicky taste buds. Preserved fruit which tasted even better than they looked in the jar. Lemon flavoured sago for which everyone went back for a second helping but found it gone, eaten before they could indulge in greater amounts. There was a delicious apple cake and fruit crepes and so the list of breakfast treats went on. Every new taste texture and sensation guided the sampler to move to the surprise of the next tantalising dish, almost impossible to talk at the same time.

There was cream and home made yoghurt, fruit bread to complement many of the tasty and healthy dishes as well as peppermint tea produced from local peppermint, muesli and of course fresh fruit.

There was a bagpipe recital of Waltzing Matilda that pleased everyone. All in all it was a pleasant Sunday morning with everyone being embraced by the fine weather and a sense of community.

Things Going Ahead Apace?

Everything is finally going ahead. The East Gippsland Shire Council has supported this project with a grant and now it's finally going ahead.

There have been some holdups though none with the council, with them everything went sweetly in the main. But with Christmas and various holidays, the shed people not supplying all the documentation that we required to get a building permit, and a few things like that months have slipped past.

John almost finished screeding

The concrete pour went without any problems today, and as always people from the local community were involved and many hands made light work, so it went well.


The shelter for visitors to the Cassilis recreation reserve is starting to take shape.

The slab looked a treat when finished and then there was a wait while it was permitted to cure and finally the work started once again. The shelter materials had arrived and waited for assembly for weeks strapped together on a trailer.

We'll start the pictures of things happening with John's dog Crikey who loves to play and have a stick thrown that she can chase. She goes with John to the jobs he manages, a good friend of building site and home comfort.

Top dog - wood worker

John started the assembly of the frame of the shelter that had been ordered from JBT Constructions in Bairnsdale, who are agents in this area for Eureka sheds.

Though there was a bit of a problem with not having the specifications for the building permits which tended to hold up the building inspection of the slab preparation and the pouring of same and within that chain of events, the assembly somewhat.

It was ironed out after a few telephone calls to Eureka via JBT Constructions. Nicki being very helpful.
  
The Frame

John putting it all together on the slab as he went along and working mainly on his own.

Without the help of Crikey or anyone else at this stage. Then with a hand just to hold the gable assemblies when they had to be put in place.

Coming together

Things were starting to get up above the level of the concrete slab.

It was starting to look like something and some of the Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management members came to give a hand when needed for work that required more than one pair of hands.

This was becoming a project that had many hands laid on and it was nice to see. The committee wants people to get involved and know they have a connection to the project.

In the afternoon the frame was up, standing on it's own and looking good.

Standing and John making certain it will remain so

The building was a little different to what the diagram showed. The centre gable assembly not shown in the brochure. Probably added to give greater stability and it wasn't too much of a worry for the purpose for which the shelter would be used.

But was a bit different on the plan. So it did take a moment to work out what these extra sections were and John being a top tradesman wanted it to be correct  in every aspect.

Just to make certain that everything was as it should be, Kane from JBT Constructions, the company from whom the committee had purchased the shed to become shelter, came up from Bairnsdale to check things and he gave John a hand to put the cladding on the walls.

This was good follow up on the product and customer relations from JBT Constructions and it makes all the difference.

John and Kane getting on with the work

It was coming along very well and it was so described by the Treasurer, Marie-Louise and Howard a member of the committee when they came to offer any assistance that might be needed, and to make certain that John and Kane had all they required.

Then they left because it was obvious that anyone else on site would be in the road.

There will be more photographs of progress to follow.

Remember if you wish to see the photographs enlarged a little just click on them.

The shelter is all but finished, just a few final touches and the job is done. Now the work really begins.

Almost done

John has almost finished the shelter, and being the top tradesman that he is, he will make certain that the work is to his satisfaction.

He is much valued around the district for his attention to detail in his excellent work. The Cassilis Recreation Reserve Committee of Management are pleased to have been able to engage him to do, and with the work he has done.