newsletter of the putty community association...
TRANSCRIPT
Putty People April 2018 Newsletter of the Putty Community Association Inc. PUTTY MUSICAL VARIETY CONCERT By Margaret Ferguson. Once again, it was a concert to be remembered by everyone who attended the Putty hall on Saturday 24th March. A light lunch, drinks at the bar and music followed by refreshments, made spending this Autumn afternoon at the hall a perfect occasion.
Entertainment included brackets of music performed by the Sydney Mandolin Orchestra as well as a trio from it’s group. Songs by vocalist, Nicole Hulett and Irish ballads by The Celtic Duo, Princess and the Bodyguard - including a tune played on an Irish tin whistle, rounded off the concert - all efficiently stage managed by our Putty friend, Julie Millard. The Sydney Mandolin Orchestra, originally formed 1932, regularly performs in and around Sydney
and now in Putty. These days, mandolins, guitars and a double bass more than 200 years old are instruments played by the current orchestra dedicated to keeping alive the tradition of mandolin music.
To close the concert and help with words on cue cards, the audience, with much enthusiasm, joined Nicole and Martha in singing, “I Still Call the Putty Home.“ Peter Allen’s original version just forgot to mention the Putty wildlife, bush fires, flies, heat or police patrol cars on Putty Road! Musical concerts are held annually in the Putty hall and we thank Martha Babineau, one of our Putty residents, for her dedication in organising these events for everyone’s enjoyment.
Photographs courtesy of Tim Spooner
WILD DOG BAITING COURSE By Margaret Ferguson The Local Land Services held a 1080 and Pindone baiting course along with a Candid Pest Injector Course at Putty Hall at the beginning of March.
It was well attended by local landowners who now have the qualification to handle these baits for a further five years.
Local Land Services are keen to establish a new group to get rid of wild dogs which have been reported in the area recently.
Please report any sightings of feral animals such as dogs, goats, foxes, pigs and deer. Any animal, domesticated or not, is considered feral if it strays from its owner’s property.
Contact Matt Kennedy from Local Land Services on 0428 686 178 to report sightings or for further information.
PUTTY HALL'S CENTENARY GIFTA gift to commemorate Putty Hall's Centenary, will be a repaint of its interior, which we believe was last done in 1986. The PCA is in the process of sourcing painters and getting quotes, choosing a colour scheme in keeping with its heritage.
Putty People Newsletter April 2018, Page 2 of 6
VALE - Debbie (Payne) Davis 12.02.1957 - 4.04.2018 It is with sadness that we advise the passing of Debbie Davis, a former resident of Putty. She and partner, Paul Davis relocated to Bulga in late 2016 followed by a year of celebrations with a house warming and their wedding in September last year
when they finally decided to tie the knot after many years together.
Family and friends remember Debbie as a fun loving, caring and helpful person. While living in Putty she assisted at the Putty
Hall and raised funds while a helper on the Putty Roads Committee. Deb was an active member of the Putty Rural Fire Brigade and was often part of a crew on fires and patrol mop-ups.
She worked for several years at Fitzgerald Aged Care Centre where she enjoyed caring for patients.
After a short battle with cancer Debbie lost the fight on Wednesday 4th April 2018. She was just 61 years of age. She will be missed by all those who had the privilege to have known and loved her.
Her funeral will be held on Tuesday 10th April at White Lady Funeral, 80 Maitland Road, Mayfield, commencing at 2pm.
Personal messages of condolence may be sent to 77 Wollemi Peak Road, Bulga NSW 2330
Condolences are extended from the Putty Community Association to Paul and to Debbie’s family.
FIREY NEWS In a Media Release the NSWRFS declared an end to the Bush Fire Danger Period on the 31st March 2018. From the 1st April 2018, fire permits will no longer be required for the Singleton and Muswellbrook Local Government Areas.
Members of the public must still abide by the law when conducting fires.
Even though a fire permit is no longer a requirement residents must still notify their neighbours and the local fire control office 24 hours before burning.
People should also check whether they need a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate or environmental approval and have sufficient equipment to control and contain the fire to their property.
Despite these milder conditions there is always the potential for fires to threaten life, property and the environment if not managed correctly.
Your local fire station or Fire Control Centre can provide advice on how to safely undertake hazard reduction work and how best to prepare yourself, your property and your family for the next bush fire season
To give notification of a burn or to arrange a Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Certificate contact: Hunter Valley Fire Control on 6575 1200
Margaret Ferguson Secretary PRFB
LANDCARE NOTES - Endless Summer. By Ian David
Biodiversity Conservation Act The last issue of Putty People generated a lot of interest from Landcarers concerning the state government’s newly minted Biodiversity Conservation Act. The idea that we will have our land assessed for its environmental value well in advance of any disputes that could end up in the Land and Environment Court seems to be welcome as long as the assessments are valid and just. The introduction of an Offset Scheme for landowners, similarly, seems to have merit in theory, but how does it work in practice? Many people wanted more information and to that extent Three Valleys Landcare will be inviting a Local Land Services officer to our next Field Day to answer your questions.
Putty People Newsletter April 2018, Page 3 of 6LANDCARE NOTES - Continued. Weeds & Drought
This summer has been brutal, coming off months without rain followed by an extended summer of above average temperatures. To make matters worse, the recent rain has created conditions tailor-made for toxic weeds. Hunter Local Land Services is urging landholders to watch their cattle closely for symptoms of kikuyu poisoning, after more than 100 deaths in the region in recent weeks. Kikuyu poisoning has been confirmed on more than a dozen properties, with some producers losing up to 20 head of cattle in one herd.
Hunter Local Land Services District Vet Digby Rayward said farmers need to stay vigilant, as further poisoning cases could still occur, “Generally cattle will avoid the affected kikuyu pasture and the poisoning occurs when they have no other feed options. Wherever possible provide alternate feed sources such as round bales or silage, or leave gates open to allow access to paddocks with other pasture types. Clinical signs that may be seen in cattle with kikuyu poisoning include drooling, sham drinking, dehydration, abdominal pain, distended
Hunter LLS will be holding a Kikuyu Poisoning Community Information Session next Thursday, April 5th, 2018, between 10am and 11:30am at North Court 3, Tocal Agricultural College. Morning tea provided. Registration: Hunter LLS website. For anyone wanting to follow up on the most recent information on weeds, Hunter Local Land Services has produced a new Drought and Weed Guide. You can get a copy at your nearest office or by clicking here.
https://hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/803294/A3-weeds-and-drought-factsheetfinal.pdf
Field Day - Putty Creek & Environs In conjunction with Lower Hunter Landcare Network and Local Land Services, we will soon be holding a Field Day for Putty people - details in the next issue of Putty People.
For membership enquiries contact Jane Robinson: [email protected]
or Ian David: [email protected]
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING This year’s AGM will be held on Sunday, April 22nd, 3pm at the home of Geoff and Pam King, The Grange, 180 Burnt Arm Rd, Putty. More details next issue.
THE NATIVES CALLED IT B’POOTY By Margaret Ferguson
Chapter 19 (d) - The Harris Family Cemetery at Howes Valley ……… Continued
Catherine and her husband George lived at Long Swamp Putty and it was there that Catherine died in November 1930. It was a very hot afternoon when Lloyd Turnbull and his father Vic drove to Singleton to pick up a coffin for Catherine. On the return trip the car had problems. The lights failed, so the trip continued over the dirt road by moonlight, until at Boggy Swamp Creek it stopped. Tommy Cross who lived there at the time was woken up and asked to saddle up his horse and ride on to Putty to explain the delay. On returning to the car they tried to start it again which it did. Driving onwards to Putty, they overtook Tommy, and sent him back home. The next day they transported Catherine to Howes Valley for her burial. Just three years later, George Henry Gibbs joined her there.
Putty People Newsletter April 2018, Page 4 of 6
Elsie Vera, daughter of Catherine and George Gibbs married Walter Erkless Merrick. He and Elsie were the parents of Henry Erkless Merrick, husband of Madge.
Walter served in the Great War and returned home in 1919. Perhaps life in general became too much for him after his return as he ended his life ten years later with the aid of strychnine poison.
I was told that Paul Henry Hicks, was someone who was “just around”.
Dying as a young man of 18 years of age he was obviously worth remembering.
In 1999, the grandchildren of William and May Harris placed a memorial plaque in the cemetery grounds on which was listed the names their nine daughters followed by the epitaph:-
In Loving Memory of William James and May Elizabeth Harris (Farlow), Forever grateful for your guidance and impact on our lives.
God bless you.
In Memory ofGEORGE HENRY GIBBS
DIED 27TH DEC.1933AGED 65 YEARS
In Loving Memory of CATHERINE
Beloved wife of GEORGE HENRY GIBBSDIED 28TH NOVEMBER 1930
AGED 71 YEARS
Mary Jane was Catherine and George’s daughter, mother to Mildred, Barbara, Marie, Etti, Doreen and Catherine.
The Harris Family Cemetery at Howes Valley cont.
Putty People Newsletter April 2018, Page 5 of 6
PRAYER, BIBLE STUDY & SUNDAY
UPCOMING EVENTS
Our Lady of the Valley Services at the Putty Hall
Every 4th Sunday of the Month 9am SERVICE, 10am BIBLE STUDY
and 11am SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Harris Family Cemetery at Howes Valley continued With the help of other people and historical records I have found eleven cemeteries in the Putty, Boggy Swamp and Howes Valley areas, some officially recorded, others not. It is the ones not recorded that are at risk of being forgotten. I don’t believe I have found all the hidden grave sites of the pioneers who arrived in the district from about 1825 onwards or their extended families but I will keep looking. Many are buried in the Bulga, Whittingham and other Singleton cemeteries and names are included in the well documented records of both.
I hope the results of my discoveries mean that many of the pioneers will not be forgotten. Although some of them may not have passed on peacefully when old age overtook them, my wish is that they now all rest in peace in the places chosen for them. Margaret Ferguson © 2016
It is notable for the first major use of tanks by the Germans, who deployed fourteen of their twenty A7Vs and for the first tank-versus-tank battle in history.
A counter-attack by two Australian and one British brigade during the night of 24 April partly surrounded Villers-Bretonneux and on 25 April the town was recaptured. Australian, British and French troops restored the original front line by 27 April.
If you are interested in helping to coordinate the Putty ANZAC Day service please contact Jane Eggert on 0407 953 353 or email [email protected]
FRIDAY NIGHT DETOUR AT THE PUTTY HALL 6 - 9PM. The PCA invites you to catch up with friends or meet new ones in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Bar closes at 9.30pm.
Delicious meals are available at reasonable prices from 6 - 8.30pm. The Putty Community Association practices the responsible service of alcohol. All profits support Putty Community activities.
ANZAC DAY - 25 APRIL 2018 REMEMBRANCE SERICE Putty’s Remembrance Day Service will be held at the Putty Hall starting at 10am, followed by morning tea. It will commemorate the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux. This battle (also Actions of Villers-Bretonneux, after the First Battles of the Somme, 1918) took place from 24 to 25 April 1918, during the German Spring Offensive, against the Allied lines to the east of Amiens.
For all your building & home Improvements
* New Homes & Cottages * Alterations & Decks * Bathroom & Kitchen Renovations * flats
Jason Bomski - BUILDER
TRADES AND SERVICES
NEWSLETTER CONTACT
PUTTY PEOPLE ADVERTISING In publishing these ads, the PCA is not
endorsing or recommending any product or service advertised below.
Putty People Newsletter April 2018, Page 6 of 6
PUTTY VALLEY ONLINE Putty’s Community Website contains many interesting links including:
• Trades & Services Directory at: www.putty.nsw.au/whereis
• The PCA with a link to the membership form at:
http://www.putty.nsw.au/pca/membership/
PCA FACEBOOKFor news as it happens. If you haven’t already signed up to our Facebook page, you can do so by clicking Like at: https://www.facebook.com/PuttyCommunityAssociation
Post your pictures and stories!
ADVERTISING: [email protected]
Please call with any news, activities or photographs to include in our
monthly newsletter. Martha Babineau, phone 6579 7000
SOUTH FAIRVIEW NORTH Mar 18 67.25 mm 50.08mm 136.00mm _________________________________________ Mar 2017 180.25mm 277.00mm _________________________________________ Mar 10 yr 97.00mm 125.00mm average Year to date Mar 2018 165.25mm 181.05mm 296.00mm Mar 2017 261.20mm 10 yr av 300.30 mm
Recordings were taken at Fairview-Putty Central (with reference to www.bom.gov.au) “The Top Place” Putty Valley Road - North “Fairview” Putty Valley Road - Central “The Grange” Burnt Arm Road - South
If it rains at Putty, residents are encouraged to post their rainfall on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/PuttyCommunityAssociation so weekenders will know if they need to water their gardens.
PUTTY RAINFALL MARCH 2018
Munro’s Meats
Fresh Food winner of the Australian Small Business Champion Awards 2013. Royal
Easter Show award winning ham.
King Road, Wilberforce Shopping Centre Ph: 4575 1961
FULL POWER
0455 120 544
OFF THE GRID SOLAR SYSTEMS
FULL POWER
0455 120 544
OFF THE GRID SOLAR SYSTEMS
FARMERS WAREHOUSE SINGLETON Supplier of quality products for the farm or home. Stock feeds for all animal needs, seed, fertilizer, fencing gear & vet products. Friendly reliable service at Farmers Warehouse at 47 Magpie Street,
PAULLS RICHMOND MOWERS Sells outdoor equipment for residential and commercial use, operates a fully equipped workshop, which offers service and repairs to all makes and models and spare parts.
293 Richmond Street, Richmond 02 45478 1033