stoney creek gazette - carwoolacarwoola.org.au/files/stoney creek gazette_1806.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 32: Issue 6, June 2018
STONEY CREEK GAZETTE Circulation: 565
Carwoola Website: www.carwoola.org.au The Stoney Creek Gazette is a publication of the Carwoola Community Association Inc.
It is distributed to mail boxes (where possible) from the Kings Highway turnoff along the Captains Flat Road and in Wanna Wanna, Green Acres, Clydesdale, Stony Creek, Radcliffe, Molonglo River Park, Widgiewa, Carwoola, Woolcara, and Primrose Valley, with
limited distribution in Hoskinstown and Forbes Creek. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of its editors, the Carwoola Community Association, or of
the Gazette's advertisers.
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Explorer Edward John Eyre: an addition to the history of Carwoola
(By Dr Jill Waterhouse)
Edward John Eyre (1815-1901) is best known for being the first European to cross southern Australia from east to west, travelling across the Nullabor Plan from Adelaide to Albany, but his property ‘Woodlands’, later part of ‘Carwoola’, adds a local claim to his fame.
Eyre, a skinny 17 year-old, arrived in Australia in October 1832 on the same ship as Mrs Lucia Elizabeth Abell of the Balcombe family who were to establish the property Briars near what is now known as Captain’s Flat Road. Eyre decided to buy land in the same area from Henry Gilbert Smith, a merchant. In years to come, this land became part of ‘Carwoola’.
On 24 March 1834 Eyre saw his property for the first time. Pleased with its park-like appearance, he named it ‘Woodlands’. In a letter to a friend, he confessed to feeling homesick for England, but he had nevertheless succeeded beyond his expectations and was fully occupied. He was satisfied with building a slab home: few in the locality boasted anything else, even the relatively prosperous Campbell family had completed their Duntroon homestead as recently as 1833.
Life at Woodlands. Although the exact location of Eyre’s farmhouse is not known, he recorded something of his life at there. He had been assigned convicts, his overseer being an Irishman John Baxter, formerly a farm bailiff in England and a good carpenter and cooper. He was also joined by a friend, another Irishman, John Morphy. Together with the Morphy and the Balcombes, he amused himself with horse racing, although Morphy often left Woodlands to court a young lady, Elizabeth Ann Styles. Eyre dreaded becoming boorish in the bush; it was lonely at night sitting reading the classics with no-one to discuss them with.
Robert Campbell offered 3,000 sheep to Eyre and Morphy on a partnership basis with him. On Eyre’s way to collect the sheep from Liverpool Plains, he attended the 1834 Royal Ball in Sydney. This was to be his
last trouble free time for two years. He found the flock was infected with scab. This disease, though not fatal, destroyed the value of the wool.
In 1836, realising that it was impossible to recover the loss from the scabby sheep, he decided to sell ‘Woodlands’, the purchaser being William Rutledge of Parramatta. Eyre’s only consolation was that he was allowed to keep ‘Woodlands’ for a year to make good what losses he could, but his troubles increased rather than decreased when his sheep were stricken with epidemic catarrh and heavy frost damaged the wheat.
Eyre’s was not altogether a hard-luck story. ‘Woodlands’ had cost him £256 and after only two or so years, he sold it for £800.
Over Christmas 1836 he made up his mind to embark on a new venture: to overland stock to Port Philip and later to South Australia. The Rutledges enlarged ‘Woodlands’ by buying various holdings, including land from the Balcombes.
Reference: Jill Waterhouse, ed. Edward Eyre, Autobiographical Narrative of Residence and Exploration in Australia, 1832-1839, London, 1984.
(Dr Waterhouse kindly submitted this extract to the Gazette, hoping it would be of interest to the inhabitants of Carwoola)
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From the Corner
Schedule of Conditions — When a Development Application (DA) is approved, the approval will be accompanied by a Schedule of Conditions. These conditions provide detail relating to how a particular development should be undertaken. For the most part, these conditions will simply be references to working conditions or standards that apply to the development in question. The Schedule may also include directives relating to additional works that need to be undertaken in conjunction with the development. In such cases, the applicant will often be required to provide additional, specific information about how they intend to satisfy these directives before work commences. From time to time I am contacted by a resident who has fallen foul of an inspection or sign-off process because they have not complied with the Schedule of Conditions or have not provided necessary information before commencing work.
In a column a few years ago, I discussed a case where a resident took advantage of a contractor working in the area to cut in a new driveway to their development. Unfortunately, they did this before receiving their approval paperwork, which, as it happened, included specific detail relating to how such work needed to be undertaken. First of all, they put their driveway, the entrance in particular, in a different location to that indicated in their application. In this case, this was not a major problem, but it added another non-compliant element to an already difficult situation. In general, however, a roadway entrance needs to be located where there is appropriate visibility (as determined by council, generally in consultation with NSW Roads and Maritime Services) and minimal potential for conflict with other vehicles that might be entering or using the roadway.
Next, while the driveway works satisfied basic council requirements for an unsealed roadway (maximum gradient 15%), they did not satisfy the requirements laid down by the Sydney Catchment Authority (maximum gradient 10%) that were applicable in the area in question. These conditions were all laid out in the DA approval paperwork, a good reason to have waited for it
before starting. The result was a requirement to seal the ‘above gradient’ section of the road, or build a new one, either option incurring considerable additional expense.
More recently, I encountered a situation where, having received the approval paperwork, a resident had constructed a new driveway but had not undertaken drainage works in accordance with stated requirements. In this case, it was evident to someone with local knowledge that the solution achieved the overall objective by improving the situation that existed prior to the works, but after the event it was no so obvious and, of course, it was not in accordance with the approved plans. Seeking approval for the variation before works commenced would have avoided this problem.
Note that, for the most part, the purpose of an inspection is to ensure that works comply with approved plans. If there is a variation in the works that has not first been approved, the inspection may fail, not because the works do not comply with the relevant standards but because the works are not as specified in the approved plans. Obviously, there is some latitude here, but it’s a good idea to check with council first, to seek their advice on whether any amendment needs to be submitted for approval prior to the commencement of works. And, of course, if the Schedule of Conditions indicates that additional details must be provided before work commences, it’s a good idea to follow those instructions and resolve any disagreements up front.
There are times when the old adage ‘It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission’ applies. There are others when seeking permission first can save a lot of time and expense, not to mention aggravation.
The QPR Blog—New or related entries in my Blog (http://peteharrison.id.au/blog) include:
Principle Certifying Authorities (May 2018) Development Approvals (May, 2013) More on Earthworks (Jun 2012)
Cr Pete Harrison Ph. 6238 3640 Mob. 0427 711 028 Email: [email protected] Website: www.peteharrison.id.au
[This article is provided for information purposes only and does not represent any recommendation or formal position of the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.]
DEADLINE for the July 2018 STONEY CREEK GAZETTE: 5pm, last day of June
(the deadline is usually 5pm, last day of each month)
Please send CONTRIBUTIONS, ADVERTISEMENTS, CLASSIFIEDS to the Gazette Editor, email: [email protected] (phone 0417 488 723)
All emails get a response confirming they were received. Inclusion of articles is dependent on space available
Carwoola Community Association and Stoney Creek Gazette are not registered for GST
Advertising in the Gazette
Business:
Full page $75.00
Half page $40.00
Quarter page $20.00
Local part-time business:
Quarter page $15.00
Classifieds (non-business) are free
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An Australian wedding (by Peter Quinton)
The leaves were falling, and the killing breath of winter was not far off.
She had brought him to the park to sit on the old bench in the afternoon sun. He grumbled, but with a practiced tone she reminded him that he liked the park, and that once he had bought his own family here. Once. He grimaced, a time so long ago he could not remember. She was like the other nurses back at the home, and he knew that any complaint would be ignored, so he saved his breath.
The warmth soaked into his frail pores, and he drifted into a gentle sleep. He grumbled as she rocked him awake, explaining with excitement in her voice, “Look, Bob! A wedding. Here in the park.” He shut his eyes in annoyance, but she described the party gathering a little way from them, an uncomfortable mix of men in suits that had been hired for the occasion and women dressed in last year’s fashions. A squeal from a loud speaker heralded the marriage celebrant and a fall of more leaves. He opened his eyes and grumbled, “I do not care for weddings. Never saw the sense in them. Loud noisy things.”
But she just laughed at him, pointing out the cameras and the groom standing uneasily in the centre of a group of young men. She said, “They are so young. Oh, what a treat!”
Moments later a bridesmaid walked a couple of feet in front of them, turning and catching her eyes with an embarrassed half smile whispered, “The bride is coming.”
Her eyes opened and she reached over to him and said, “Stand up Bob. Please. We have to stand for the bride.” He sighed, and then with her help, stood uneasily on the dry grass
A rush of people trooped past, followed by the bride and her mother. They paused nearby to free the bride’s hem from a catch of concrete. She, waited till they had freed the garment, and whispered a loud, “Good luck!” The young woman turned and smiled at the old couple, nodded her head and headed to the head of the small crowd and a scattering of applause.
He said, “A bit stout for me. In my day brides were...” And he tried to remember, but he saw a tear in her eye. He said, not unkindly, “Get off, what’s that for? No need for tears.”
She sniffed, “I was enjoying the sun and the leaves. But a wedding as well! What a joy.”
She turned and strained towards the crowd, trying to make sense of the noise coming from the loud speaker. After a long moment he shook his head and sat down. She took out a tissue and blew her tears away, in a noisy trumpet.
He cautioned her, “No need to interrupt them. They will have reason to rue this day. Mark my words, they will be sorry before the year is out.” But she hushed him, ignoring his mumblings. He tried a different tack, “What is happening now?”
She turned and sat next to him, “They are making their vows. He has promised to give up his Space Trek collection and to respond to all of her texts.” He shook his head, wondering what that all meant, the words slipping from his grasp. He hazarded, “Sounds reasonable. What about her?”
She said, “I could not hear, she was too quiet.”
He jumped in, “Probably vowed to give up housework.”
But she was listening again, holding her hand in the air to ward away the sun.
He noticed the gold band on her hand, and wondered what she had vowed.
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FLAME TIPS June 2018 www.stoneycreek-rfs.org.au
www.facebook.com/stoneycreekruralfirebrigade
It’s darn dry – and dryer than you might think. You would think that now the cold weather is finally here that we can relax the fire awareness a little bit. But no. The whole area is still strangely dry – so much so that there was a reignited agricultural burn fire up on Mount Molonglo just last week that was burning much better than might be expected at this time of year.
We also did a small training burn on a patch of green blackberries early in May. We spent some time explaining to our members that the blackberries were unlikely to burn well, especially as it was also early in the morning and there was still dew on them. However, we were wrong and the green blackberries burned alarmingly well. So, please do not under estimate how dry things are when you get ready to light up.
Operations: We have only had a couple of callouts this month:
24 May, as mentioned above, Stoney Creek was called to a smoke sighting off Woolcara Lane on Mount Molonglo, which was putting up quite a bit of smoke. Two Stoney Creek units and two Queanbeyan units responded but were held in a staging area and were not required as property manager had situation in hand.
29 May, Grass fire Harolds Cross Rd. Stoney Creek 1 was called off en route. A 20 x 2 m area of grass was alight but dealt with by Captains Flat 1 and 7 and we were able to go home.
Some recognition for Stoney Creek! The big event for us this month however was on 4 May when 10 of our members were invited to travel to RFS HQ in Sydney for the annual RFS St Florian’s Day awards (St. Florian is the patron Saint of firefighters). Stoney Creek was awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation (Unit) in recognition of our work with our Carwoola community after the Taliesin fire.
Out of around 2200 Rural Fire Brigades around NSW, there were only a couple of dozen commendations awarded, half of which were for individuals, and, listening to the other citations, we felt proud to be in some pretty impressive company. This award speaks to a great team effort by our members for the community we love and are a part of.
Carwoola Rural Fire Brigade. By the time you read this we should have held our formal name change ceremony and we will no longer be Stoney Creek RFB, but Carwoola RFB.
We are hosting a major event for our Brigade on Friday 1 June 2018 at which we will formally transition our name, present some of our members with long service medals, present awards and have a blessing of the new Carwoola fleet by the RFS Chaplain, Ken King. More on this in next month’s Flame Tips!
You should all see our rebadged Carwoola RFB tankers driving around and a brand new sign on the fire station after 1 June! Feel free to come down and have a look – we are open most Sunday mornings around 9am.
Fire Station Upgrade. The last few months we have also been working through revamping the inside of our fire station. It had been put together by a great volunteer effort about 30 years ago but really needed a refresh to see it through the next 30 years. Thanks to everyone who has put in so much great work on this. Still a work in progress though!
ACEFA Conference. In mid-May Stoney Creek had the opportunity to tell our story of the impact on the local Brigade after a major disaster at the RFS’ Community Engagement conference in Coffs Harbour. This and another Brigade’s story after a similar disaster (Pappinbarra, about a week earlier than our fire in Carwoola) has prompted a lot of questions and discussion in the RFS Community Engagement space. Let’s hope it does something to help some other community handle the inevitable next disaster.
David Hanzl Captain, Stoney Creek Rural Fire Brigade 0423 596 583
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Message from Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
Waste Strategy Working Group Council is seeking expressions of interest for members on a Waste Strategy Working Group that will assist in the development of a Waste Management Strategy for QPRC. Council is seeking two residential users from urban areas, two residential users from rural areas and two business and industry users, along with councillors and staff. The working group will meet four times over a period of approximately eight months. The meetings will generally be up to four hours in duration and may be conducted during or outside business hours. More information is available on the Council website at: www.qprc.nsw.gov.au/wastestrategy Delivery Program, Operational Plan, Fees and Charges, Revenue Policy Council’s integrated plans have been open for comment since 30 April and comments close on 4 June. The plans include the Delivery Program 2018-21 which lists the capital projects Council plans to undertake in the next three years, as well as a more detailed look at the 2018-19 year in the Operational Plan, Fees and Charges and Revenue Policy. The submissions, as well as responses to the submissions, will be presented to the Council meeting on 27 June before the documents are finalised. View the documents at https://yourvoice.qprc.nsw.gov.au.
Captains Flat Rural Fire Station Council approved the tender for the design and construction of the Captains Flat Rural Fire Station. This tender is for the first stage of the Fire Station and Council will continue to seek funding for the second stage. The first stage includes the design and construction of the main shed, carpark, basic amenities and associated works. The facility will house three fire trucks, equipment and provide training and logistics facilities for the Captains Flat Rural Fire Brigade. Christmas in July Preparations are gearing up for Christmas in July at the Queanbeyan Showground. There will be over 200 market stall holders with all the delights of a midyear Christmas gathering. Don’t miss the great food and a whole lot of community festivity. All are welcome to a Winter Dream at the Queanbeyan Showground, 29 July. The day includes Christmas-inspired food, gourmet treats, beer and wine, handmade Christmas gifts, an artificial snow area, Dachshund races and fashion show, an art exhibition, a play area for your elves, carriage rides, outdoor obstacle course, bubble soccer, Santa pet photos and a giving tree.
Gardening by Wanda Egan
Keep an eye out now for Bindii. It is best sprayed in early winter with a selective herbicide. Bindii spray® or
Kamba®, a spray that contains Dicamba is best used for this weed and other flat weeds in your lawn. If you
have a species of lawn related to buffalo, read instructions as some of the buffalo species of lawns need a
particular spray. Please follow directions as it is a waste of product and time to ‘double the dose’. You may
have to do a second treatment too so keep an eye out for Bindii later in the season.
Clean your house and shed gutters of any autumn leaves and put in the compost or straight onto the
garden. With all the fallen leaves on the ground, I place them back onto the garden and use as mulch.
It’s time to divide Peonies and other deciduous plants for added colour in your garden. If you have some
extra plants, trade them for colours that you don’t have or just give them away. Who doesn’t like getting a
gift of a flowering plant? Peonies love a sweet soil so add some lime and turn into the soil before planting.
Divide and plant Asparagus and Rhubarb crowns over winter into enriched soil where you won’t need to
dig around as these plants once planted, like their roots left alone.
It would be a great idea to mulch any of your gardens, vege patch or ornamental flower garden with mulch
at this time of year if you haven’t already. Any type of mulch will do. Something is better than nothing!!!!
If you are not using your vege patch, cover with composted manure and then Pea straw or Lucerne mulch
thickly (100 mil) to leave till you start your patch again in late winter/early spring. This helps the soil stay
warmer for longer, increases the microbe activity, and keeps the weeds at bay.
Plant your Asian greens and lettuce in 2-4 week intervals for many months of winter greens supply. Liquid
fertilise with worm juice or Seasol for quick growth.
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STONEY CREEK COMMUNITY HALL HIRING FEES
(for the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018)
We do not accept bookings for 16th, 18th or 21st birthday parties, school-end-of-year functions, or youth farewell parties. No exceptions.
All fees include GST except bonds, which are GST-exempt.
Community Groups ................................................................................................................ $24
Community Groups – regular hires (12 or more hires/year, booked in advance) ................... $20
Fund-raising functions ........................................................................................................... $130
Private hiring (local residents) .......................................................................... $130 + $250 bond
Private hiring (from outside the local area) ................................................... $300 + $1,000 bond
Heating (between 1 April and 31 October) ..........................................................$6/hr or $55/day
Cleaning fee (if hall is not cleaned) ..................................................................................... $49/hr
To hire the Community Hall, email [email protected]
NEW TO THE AREA?
The Carwoola Community Association has produced an Information Pack for new residents.
It contains lots of information that will help you to adjust to rural life more readily, and tell you who to ring or where to go if you have a problem.
If you would like a copy, please phone Christine or Lynton Bond on 6238 2368.
CLEAN WATER
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Metal covers supplied and fitted
Water treatment - tank & house lines
Filters supplied and fitted
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The Weed Patch
Diary of a dedicated non-poisoning weeder: Rose-Marie Johnson
It’s been such a dry Autumn the pastures have been grazed low so the weeds are more obvious and easier to
find. It amazes me how I’ll suddenly recognize a seeding tussock of African Lovegrass that must have
been there for months. During the Wintry cold there will be little grass growth and weeds will have the
advantage, especially as continued grazing will further reduce the ground cover, leaving space for more
weeds to germinate. So it’s important to keep up the weeding effort even though few are flowering.
At this time of year, with less urgency to the weed situation, it’s a good time to do what I consider Winter
jobs – mulching over dense patches of deep-rooted weeds, particularly St John’s Wort and Skeleton Weed,
ringbarking the roots of Blackberries, suppressing Briars and Hawthorns, moving fallen branches to
where they help inhibit erosion or protect self-seeded saplings, and moving loose rocks from where they
could be a slasher hazard to where they are useful. They’re good for filling stump hollows (more visible
now while the grass is short), which are a stumble hazard for running horses or a driving hazard for the
electric ute or tractor. The smaller stones are good for reducing erosion in stock tracks that run downhill
(arranging them in downhill curves across the track is most effective) or to prevent pugging by horse hooves
in the soft moist soil of the septic trench.
Where there are dense infestations of weeds, for example the little weeds like Storksbills, Shepherd’s
Purse and Scarlet Pimpernel, it’s much more efficient to hoe or trowel them out while they’re not
flowering, because they don’t need to be taken away and solarized. Leaving them also has the advantage of
providing cover for the disturbed ground and leaving the organic matter to improve the soil. So it’s quite
worthwhile to do as much of the dense infestations as possible before they flower. Sheep’s Burnet is a
harmless non-native with similar frond-like leaves to Storksbills when small, but the pairs of leaflets overlap
along the stem. Great Mullein, or Aaron’s Rod, is poisonous to horses so is on my Winter list to dig out as
soon as it’s found. Red-flowered Mallows are a Winter priority even though they are not flowering,
because they continually spread by runners. Thistles, Small-flowered Mallows, Wild Sage, Swamp Dock,
Curled Dock, Green Mullein, Fat Hen and Horehound grow deep tap roots, so it’s easiest if they are dug
out as soon as possible while still small. Sheep’s Burr, is worth chipping to keep the prickly seeds out of
socks and fleeces. Dandelions invade moist areas and are worth keeping under control. Unfortunately there
are so many Flatweeds that I wouldn’t make significant progress with other weeding if I tried to eradicate
them, but if I can afford the time I dig out the largest clumps. Rosettes of the native Scrambled Eggs could
be mistaken for small Flatweeds, but are paler, smoother and glossier. Also Austral Bear’s Ear looks similar
to the small Paterson’s Curse rosettes, but has slightly rippled edges and a silver underside. I’ve also been
keeping an eye out for Paspalum and checking dead Paspalum sods (used to cover bare ground) to remove
any seed heads that have opened up since they were chipped out. Serrated tussock has turned its typical
yellow-blond Winter colour, which more clearly shows out from amongst the other grasses, in contrast to the
grey-brown of dried Poa tussock and Snowgrass stalks, making it so much easier to find at this time of year.
Where I left a bag of Serrated tussock solarizing some years ago there was a concentrated patch of seedlings,
confirming that solarizing isn’t enough to kill all the seeds. To be on the safe side, after solarizing I now
bury seeds of the worst weeds (like St John’s Wort and African Lovegrass) in deep holes under any animals
that we need to bury.
Since the weeds I’m currently looking for are generally small and not flowering, at this time of year I walk
patrol lines that are closer together – about four metres apart. Since there are fewer weeds, a complete patrol
of the property can still be done in a reasonable time despite the extra walking (which is good exercise).
Although the weeds aren’t urgent at this time of year, there are more than enough to keep anyone busy and if
we don’t slack off, the effort put in now will pay off in making it much easier when they are urgent!
Other weeds to look out for include Prickly Lettuce, Fleabane, Blackberry Nightshade, Salsify,
Goatsbeard, Willowherb, Hawksbeard, Senecio, Wild Turnip, Mustard Weed, Umbrella Sedge,
Narrow-leaf Clover, Peppercress, Amaranth, Wireweed, Yorkshire Fog Grass and Sandspurry.
It’s certainly the weather for wrapping in warm Winter woollies when out working, to still enjoy the healthy
benefits of being outdoors!
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Carwoola Weather and Birds for May, 2018 (by Martin Butterfield)
Weather
Temperatures oC (Jan 1993 to date)
Current year Max Min Average
May 2018 22.9 -2.3 9.0
Past years Max Date Min Date
May 27 12 May 2007 -8 7 May 1997
All Months 45 24 Jan 2001 -10 02 Aug 1997
Rainfall (mm) (May 1984 to date)
Current year Past years
Total Average Max Min
May 22.8 36.9 155 1
Annual total 370.6(pro rata) 672.2 1004.5 409.7
This table was compiled before the end of the month. A final and detailed report on the weather in May will be posted to my blog http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/ early in June.
Birds
The most interesting group of birds this month have been Birds of Prey, with 9 species reported. The most exciting was a Black Falcon seen on the Plain near Briars Sharrow Rd. As this follows a sighting in Bungendore a few weeks earlier a bird may have taken up residence in the area.
Other less common birds include Pink-eared Ducks and the continuing flock of Red-necked Avocets and Pied Stilts (formerly known as Black-winged Stilts) and continued reports of Banded Lapwings from the Plain.
A full report will be posted to http://carwoolabirds.blogspot.com/2018/05/may-2018.html (and links circulated on the residents email list and Facebook pages) in early June. Please pass on interesting sightings to me by email to [email protected].