Gresford News December 2022

News of the communities of the Paterson and Allyn River Valleys

TheG resford News

Look out because Santa is coming to a location near you on December the 18th. The Gresford Rural Fire Brigade is transporting Santa on his travels to see children around the area so come alongand say hello to Santa and receive a treat.

Find out where Santa will be stopping on page 5

The Gresford News is a Gresford District Community Group project. Circulation 800 – Donations appreciated and most welcome. Thank you!

Gresford News Notices

Coming up this month

gresford Community Carols

Hosted by Gresford Public School 8 Dec, 6pm. Traditional carols and school class items. A Tombola Raffle. P&C BBQ & canteen on the grounds. All welcome.

gAps Carols 18 Dec at Paterson Rotary’s “Carols in the Park” Tucker Park, Paterson

Dungog shakespearience 2022

Fri 9 & Sat 10 Dec, Wangat Lodge

Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' will be staged locally in a unique outdoor location. The audience will be guided by the characters through the woods and back again. The backdrop is amongst the beautiful forest of Chichester River valley at Wangat Lodge. The performance will not just be seen, but lived. This is the best way to experience 'Dream'!

Gresford News online link

Gresford News is available online at www.issuu.com/gresford-news. Email us to recieve a monthly reminder: gresfordnews@iinet.net.au

Thanks to all who have contributed, read or donated during 2022.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Jane Richens Brian Doherty and the Gresford Community Group

A picture perfect day was afforded the Gresford Community and visitors who attended the Gresford War Memorial in large numbers to commemorate Remembrance Day on the 11th November.

Gresford RSL President Graham Hudson OAM, described the day as quite remarkable and a credit to the RSL Sub Branch and Gresford Community Group.

Mr. Hudson the Sub Branch President officiated on the day and firstly made welcome and introduced Chelsea Crow from Gresford School, who gave the traditional Welcome To Country. Mr Peter Dreyer from the Community Group then spoke about the sacrifice of so many and the remarkable contribution Australia made to the war effort given our Nations small population from 1914 to 1918.

The RSL Vice President Robert Richardson recited the ODE and officiated during the Last Post, with the Reverend Mary Horn offering the Prayer for Remembrance and the Lords Payer.

The Gresford Public School Captains Pearl Ropata and and Samual Field narrated the Prayer for the King; and the

National Anthem was sung magnificently by Megan Edwards.

On completion of proceedings the RSL President presented Mr. David Crouch the second highest RSL award one can receive, that being Life Membership. Certificates of honour recognising a group of people who have supported the Sub Branch for many years, particularly on Days of Commemoration were also awarded to Jennifer Crouch, Matthew Crouch, Julie

Crouch, Graeme Redman, Pam Redman, Bevan Crouch and Tammy Crouch.

The RSL Sub Branch passed on their sincere gratitude to SGT Garry Taylor and members of the Catafalque Party from RAAF Base Williamtown, Gresford Public School, Megan Edwards and LINQ Bus Company for transporting the school children to the Memorial and return. Sincere thanks were also extended to Reverend Mary Horn.

L-R Graham Hudson OAM presenting David Crouch with his Life Membership Award

santa to visit gresford – sunday 18 December

Look out because Santa is coming to a location near you on December the 18th. The Gresford Rural Fire Brigade is transporting Santa on his travels to see children around the area so come along and say hello to Santa and receive a treat.

The itinerary (Santa Stops) for the event are as follows -:

• Arrive at Lostock at 2.00 pm

• Arrive at Mount Rivers at 2.30 pm

• Arrive at St–Mary–On–Allyn Church at 3.00 pm

• Arrive at St. Anne’s Church at 3.30 pm

• Gresford Fire Station at 3.45 pm

• Arrive at Orana Park at 4.00 pm

• Arrive at Breckin Close at 4.30 pm

For further information please contact Brigade Secretary Glenn Wall on 4938 9462 or 0428 389 462

On Monday, 28 November the new Archinal’s Bridge, between Eccleston and Upper Allyn, was opened. The new bridge replaces a timber bridge which was built in 1940 for £2000, and was named after the Archinal family, whose land surrounded the original bridge.

The attached photos show Ruby Lawrence (nee Archinal) as a six year old opening the original bridge in 1940, and Ruby, now 89, and her brother Jim, now 97, at the recent ceremony. Also in the photo are members of the Archinal family, Member for the Upper Hunter, and Mayor and General Manager, Dungog Shire.

The new concrete bridge costing $1 million, is part of a 23 bridge, $19 million, replacement program for Dungog Shire funded through the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program.

The next meeting of the Gresford District Historical Society will be held at the Therese Doyle Hall on Saturday, 10 December at 5 pm. The Gresford Heritage Museum, also in the Therese Doyle Hall, is open 10 am to 2 pm on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Sundays of the month.

gresford public school – Local history Excursion

Year 5/6 from Gresford Public School rounded off their Local History studies with an excursion to Tocal and the Paterson Museum guided by Dr Cameron Archer.

Indigenous studies, Colonialism,

Settlement, convict influences and the impacts of dispossession, were all on display in one area. Tocal is recognizing 200 years of colonial settlement 18222022 this year and our tour began in the 'Pumby Brush', a section of reconstructed rainforest planted along Webbers Creek,

where we gathered some useful indigenous plants.

We moved onto the sandstone convict built barn, built 1830, within 8 years of James Webbers arrival. Some of the oldest stables in N.S.W, brick silos and a

Scar Tree at Tocal College.

convict built toilet were all in metres of an Aboriginal 'axe grinding' stone.

The huge 400 year old moreton bay fig on the creek blurs the lines of time. We all agreed it would have been a very significant tree pre-settlement as it is today.

Travelling around campus we saw a scar tree, convict quarry with visible wedge markings and remains of furrows from the first vineyards in the colony.

Walking on the river bank at 'Old Banks' at Lemon Grove we imagined what the military outpost there would have resembled and discussed the overlapping of songlines and possibilities for reconciliation at this tidal high ground gathering site.

Next was the Courthouse Museum and Cameron Archer entertained us with court proceedings, evidence, statements, witnesses, punishment and floggings. An insight into the harsh reality of life in the colony.

A special thankyou to Dr Cameron Archer and Tocal College for allowing us to experience this unique Local History

Dr Cameron Archer showing axe grinding grooves at Tocal College

Announcing new website launch

www.pmcountryestates.com.au

New listings on their way.

Back in action, excited and listing properties since September, 2022.

I am enjoying working with Vendors doing all the preparation to put properties onto the market.

445 Gresford Road, Paterson sold on the first day of inspections for full price $1.79 Million for 9.9 Acres.

Very happy to speak to any owners thinking of listing their property For Sale.

Free, confidential appraisals

sting's big adventure

'Sting' (caged juvenile Giant Stinging Tree) and local artist / biodiversity farmer Jane Richens went for an art adventure to Sydney recently to participate in a performance work called 'Hundreds + Thousands' with artists Luke George & Daniel Kok & other plantitas for Liveworks at The Performance Space. Don't worry no trees or humans were harmed during this adventure. Sting received a lot of curious attention and was even featured in an ABC Arts story by Anna Freeland.

Sting peeked out from the safety of it’s cage in a foreign space and within the surrounds of strange species. Now it has so

above: Sting and Jane Richens at Carriageworks, Sydney.

far left: Curious interspecies interactions – who was being protected... Sting or the humans?

left: The comically large heart-shaped bright green leaves of Dendrocnide excelsa.

many stories to tell the forest of it's art adventure in the big city. Sting started its quest for light amongst leaf litter on top of a galvanised iron roof of a timber shed and now sits happily along the creek back with family and friends.

About Sting Caged Juvenile Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa). Comically large heart-shaped bright green leaves punctuate the canopy of the rainforest. They look velvety and at times lacy from beetle attack. But don’t touch! The leaves and branches sting even when they are dead and brown on the forest floor. Juveniles are caricatures of a kooky tree with long spiked petioles holding out oversized jagged leaves. Mature trees are emergents. They reach out above the forest canopy growing to 40 metres and are held up by fluted buttresses that sound like a drum when tapped. They are an important pioneer species in a rainforest ecosystem colonising light on the forest floor, growing fast and tall and cycling nutrient. And in death they cycle very quickly. Their trunks turning to watery sponge in a very short period of time. Alas this is a misunderstood and maligned species and are often chopped and burnt out of existence.

Visit www.tabbilforest.com.au for videos artworks and family portraits of some other Giant Stinging Trees from our local rainforest and a link to the ABC Arts story.

Compliments of the season to the Upper Hunter Electorate!

Have a Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy and safe start to 2023.

Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter 20 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook 6543 1065 upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Authorised by Dave Layzell MP, 20 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook NSW 2333

Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.

Food chat with Fiona...

The weather is warming up and it is time to get our salads going.

When you think of Morocco you probably think couscous or tagines, the real treat though is their fantastic fresh salads. Each meal starts with a salad of some kind before you have a meat dish or Couscous on Friday (like a Sunday roast special idea), then finished with fruit.

The simplest is a mix of fresh chopped vegetables and a squeeze of lemon juice but there are a whole range of more complex mixed salads.

Here is a favourite. It uses those preserved lemons I put away in lemon season. Last time I made it I used some of my broad bean crop. Steam them in a little water, splash of olive oil, garlic and thyme to heighten their flavour, or use cooked butter beans or borlotti.

Roasted Peppers and bean salad with preserved lemons.

Red capsicum char them over a flame or in the oven until all gnarly and black on the outside, let them sit under a tea towel to cool down, then rub the black charred skin off and you have luscious roasted red capsicum. Cut it into strips.

Heap it on a plate, add cooked beans and make a dressing from fine diced preserved lemon, garlic, lots of parsley, olive oil and lemon juice. Sumptuous and refreshing with the bright pops of preserved lemons.

The garden is starting to produce a summer feast, we need lots of recipes to honour its’ bounty. Feel free to contact me if you have questions

Fiona fiona@creative-arts-safaris.com

Best wishes – Fiona

Linq Buslines is looking for bus drivers to join our Gresford Team.

As a Linq Buslines member you will be operating our vehicles to transport passengers including school children on specified routes including school and charter services with the highest of safety and service.

Minimum MR licence, NSW Driver Authority and Working with Children Clearance (or the ability to obtain). We are looking for people who have:

• Good communication skills

• Good driving history

• Good customer services and dealing with people.

• Happy to work a flexible roster including broken shifts.

For further information or to apply please contact us on 0249 389 394 or email info@linqbuslines.com.au

Fresh food market- Erfoud, Morocco. Photo: Fiona Wright

On the Shelves...

by Glenda Smith

The Marriage of Opposites

by Alice Hoffman

This is one of the CWA book club choices from recent years, and has recently turned up on the shelves. It is an imagining of the life of Camille Pissarro’s mother, based on extensive historical research. We are also treated to an insight into the artistic life of Pissarro himself, but he is of secondary importance in this tale.

From memory, this was deemed an excellent choice by the book club. It has a richness endowed by the artistic observations and depth of character, as well as a fascinating delving into the history of the Caribbean island of St Thomas. Rachel Pizzarro (the artist changed the spelling of his name) was born into a family of Jewish refugees from Europe, who were granted protection from the Inquisition on the island. With this protection came some very rigid rules, but Rachel was very much a free spirit passionate and intense.

The difficulties that both women and poor artists faced in this 19th century world, in the sheltered life of St Thomas and also in Paris, are depicted in colourful detail. This is a book to be reread.

All books reviewed are from the CWA library on a separate shelf in the library so they are easy to find plus the reviews are in a folder. Also have a look in the street library.

sculpture on the farm online now

The Sculpture on the Farm Committee is delighted to present for sale a selection of sculpture from our 2018, 2019 and 2021 Prize and Award winning sculptors, including: Braddon Snape, Felicity Cavanough, Carolyn Rendle, Peter Tilley, Hugh McLachlan, Gavin Vitullo, Shannon Stone, Sam Anderson, Jimmy Rix, Katherine Castillo Alferes, Scott Ingram, Patricia Wilson Adams and Greg Salter.

The Online Exhibition is LIVE until 31 December 2022. All sales will be via the new look website using e-commerce. Simply make your choice and pay online and then arrangements for delivery of the works can be made. Any questions please email info@sculptureonthefarm.com

See you ONLINE this year by visiting our website and 'Back on the Farm' next year over the October Long Weekend at "Fosterton", Dungog, NSW.

Gala Opening Friday 29 September 2023 Exhibition Saturday 30 September to Monday 2 October 2023 www.sculptureonthefarm.com info@sculptureonthefarm.com

Philippa Graham and the SOF Committee

get behind the scenes at the James theatre... a

Many people know the James Theatre is a great place to see a film, hear a band or attend a talk by a guest speaker. But fewer people know that it is a band of volunteers that enable most of those things to happen.

The Theatre is owned by the Dungog Council, managed by a committee of volunteers appointed by Council and assisted in fundraising and running events by the Friends of the James Theatre incorporated, which coordinates a team of some 30 volunteers.

The COVID lockdowns meant the Theatre was very quiet for a while but this year the James has opened it’s doors and come alive again. In the next few months there are some very exciting developments under way.

The first will be an Open Day on Saturday December 17 when the doors will be open between 4 and 5pm for everyone to come in, look around and find out about this historic building and how it works. You can take a walk around the projection room and ask questions from the volunteers that work on the ticket booth, kiosk or operate the sound and lighting.

Dungog ChiropraCtiC

CliniC

I treat most musculoskeletal complaints including back and neck pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines and limb pain and pins and needles. HiCaps and eftpos facility is available so patients can claim direct from their healthfund and just pay the gap.

Located at Dungog Community Hospital on Hospital Road in Dungog phone no: 4992 3766

Shane Moss B.Sc. M.Chiro.

community run venue

And we hope that some people may even be inspired enough to join the team. The Open Day will be followed by a sausage sizzle between 5 and 6pm... and then why not stay and watch Ticket To Paradise (M), featuring the stellar combination of George Clooney and Julia Roberts at 7pm.

Due to the success of a NSW Government funded grant the Friends of the James Theatre Inc. will be able to provide volunteers with relevant training and development opportunities in early 2023 and we will be looking more generally at how value can be added to the volunteer experience.

In the end, this adds up to more rewarding cultural opportunities and a fabulous venue for anyone to hire for just about anything you want to do... talks, presentations, a masked ball or an experimental movement group!

But don't stop there... Bring us a list of 20 people or more who want to see a specific film and we will investigate putting it on for you. And while we are talking films check out the great selection of family films we will be

RICHARD WELLS UPHOLSTERY

showing over the school holidays: Sat 17 Dec, 7pm ticket to paradise (m)

Thur 12 Jan, 11am strange World (pg) Sat 14 Jan, 7pm Avatar: the Way of Water (m) Thur 19 Jan, 11am Lyle Lyle Crocodile (pg)

and dates being confirmed for: Seriously Red • The Fabelmans • Banshees of Inisherin • What’s Love got to Do with it... and more!

Use the Contact Us form on the website to:

• put on a film or your own event

• become a member or a volunteer

• get put on the email list... www.jamestheatre.com.au

Lounges

Automotive Antique Restoration French Polishing Canvas Annexes Horse Rug Repairs

For all your upholstery needs ring Richard on 4938 9324 GUARANTEED QUALITY & SERVICE

Pick up and delivery

PETER EVANS & ASSOCIATES SOLICITORS

‘Looking after people is our business’

Peter Evans is descended from a farming family located in the Gresford area prior to 1840 We are keen to assist you with all your legal needs.

We can help you with: Conveyancing, Family Law, Business Law, Criminal Law, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate and more …

Call us on 02 4926 4788 www.evanslaw.com.au

Level 3/97 Scott Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 reception@evanslaw.com.au

Brian Doherty, Chairperson, Friends of the James Theatre Inc.

government Activities update By

martins Creek Quarry expansion

It has been a big month for the opposition to the Martins Creek quarry threefold expansion culminating in a two day hearing held by the Independent Planning Commission at Tocal. The hearing started with a presentation by Daracon: this included, in my opinion, untruthful and misleading statements covering the economic benefit and additional employment to New South Wales: neither of these benefits exist.

The Department of Planning and the Environment’s (DPE) presentation paid scant regard to the significant social, financial and environmental adverse impacts of the expansion on the Paterson Allyn valleys and its residents. Ignoring these adverse impacts was a material omission and showed the DPE put private interests firmly and squarely ahead of the public interest.

Many residents spoke excellently against the expansion. Well done all of you. Especial thanks to those who spoke for an extended time, namely James Ashton,

Cameron Archer, Stephen Snedden and our mayor, John Connors. We now await the outcome of the hearing in approximately 2 months.

Lostock glennies Creek pipeline

Two meetings took place in November with the irrigators on the Paterson and Hunter rivers.

Basically the irrigators are being wooed to accept the Lostock Glennies Creek pipeline and the offtake of water from the Paterson river - probably at Paterson Road bridge where a water treatment plant may also be established. The proposal is basically that water is taken from the Paterson valley to the predicted populations of Maitland and Newcastle.

One interesting aspect of the proposal is that the Department of Water will own the Lostock Glennies Creek pipeline and that Hunter Water will own the offtake infrastructure at Paterson. This will make Hunter Water the customer of the Department of Water for the water so taken off at a price which will enable Hunter Water to pass on to their

Chris Wokes

customers and, also, make it feasible for the Department of Water to spend what may be half a billion dollars building the Lostock Glennies Creek pipeline.

Despite representations to government, there is still no assurance that the irrigators and the environment will not be adversely affected by the proposal.

The final business case is in progress and it is hoped to be finalised sometime in 2023. If this is positive, then a full Environmental Impact Statement will follow.

Meanwhile consultations continue. The next meeting is to be held on 5 December at Tocal from noon to 3pm. A repeat meeting will be held at 5.30pm for those unable to make a daytime meeting. No registration is required and a free BBQ is available at both times.

There will also be a meeting held at Gresford School of Arts Hall, 42 Park Street, East Gresford on Wednesday 7 December 2022, 9 am 4pm and at Singleton Council Library, 8-10 Queen Street, Singleton on Tuesday 6 December 2022, 9 am 4 pm

Anglican Parish of Gresford Paterson

Weekly Services 10.30am Sundays at St Annes

COVID safe practices in place

CONTACT

Fr Peter Rothnie 0438 413 007, email priest@gpanglican.com.au

gresford news December Crossword

Gresford Congregational Church

30 Durham Rd Gresford

Services Each Sunday 10.30am

ALL WELCOME

Enquiries to Pastor Roy Waters Ph 02 4938 9348

St Helen’s Catholic Parish of Gresford and Sacred Heart Summer Hill

Saturday Vigil Mass at St. Helen's church Sat. evening at 5:30 pm ( except 2nd Sat. of month).

Weekday Mass Thursdays at 9.30am

Sunday Morning Mass at Summer Hill on the 2nd Sun. of each month at 11:30 am.

All enquiries to Fr. Derek Garner, Parish Priest, on 4992 1477.

November 2022 crossword answers

Crossword kindly provided by Russel Jessop.

ONE’s luxury apartments with marketleading-sized floorplates are designed to create a beautiful sense of retreat from the demands of daily life.