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Free Copy In This Edition: Page Page Geelong Telegraph Station 2 House Safety Holiday Tips 4 Online ShoppingIs It Safe? 5 James Cowie 6 The New Geelong Golf Club 8 Cholera-The Paupers Plague 9 Pride and Prejudice 10 The Golden Lion Tamarin 12 Wallace Anderson 14 Adventure Golf 16 A Maze N’ Games 17 English is Stupid! 18 ANZAC Biscuits 19 Phantom Cats of the South 20 Geelong Gas Company 22 Energy Drinks 24 Alexander Riley 26 Mayors Word Search 29 The Gorgon 30 150 Years Ago 31 Then… & Now 32

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Free Copy

In This Edition: Page Page

Geelong Telegraph Station 2 House Safety Holiday Tips 4 Online Shopping– Is It Safe? 5 James Cowie 6 The New Geelong Golf Club 8 Cholera-The Paupers Plague 9 Pride and Prejudice 10 The Golden Lion Tamarin 12 Wallace Anderson 14 Adventure Golf 16 A Maze N’ Games 17

English is Stupid! 18 ANZAC Biscuits 19 Phantom Cats of the South 20 Geelong Gas Company 22 Energy Drinks 24 Alexander Riley 26 Mayors Word Search 29 The Gorgon 30 150 Years Ago 31 Then… & Now 32

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Nestled into a back corner of the Geelong Botanic Gardens is the oldest building in Victoria—the original Geelong Customs house. Built in 1838 it served on the Geelong waterfront for 7 years before being replaced. A future edition of Geelong Pocket will tell the story of the Customs service in Geelong. However, the original building in question also served as Geelong‟s first Telegraph Office when the wire service first came to Geelong in December 1854. In May 1855 the service moved to a more substantial brick building in McKillop Street. This was still considered a

temporary site, (located “too far out of the centre of town”) until a more permanent home could be built in Ryrie Street.

Most likely designed by prominent Colonial architect, Henry Ginn, the Telegraph Station was finally constructed in 1857 by builders Patterson and Bell, using Barrabool freestone. It was the centre of communications for the Geelong district for many years. At the suggestion of the Harbour Trust, a time ball was erected on the Telegraph Station tower in 1862. (see opposite page)

In 1870 the telegraph business was amalga-mated with the post office and the telegraph building was handed over to the postmaster for use as a residence. It was used for this purpose until 1881. The building then remained unoccupied for several years. Subsequently it was occupied by various government depart-

ments until it was vacated by the Health Department in 1971. For the last 40 years uses include a tourist informa-tion centre and a photographers studio.

Next time you are in Geelong, why not stop and admire the beautiful stone craftsmanship of the Geelong Telegraph Station, in Ryrie Street between the old Post Office and the Mechanics Institute.

Geelong Telegraph Station in 1882

Victoria’s oldest building, and Geelong’s first Telegraph Office

An early telegraph Morse Code transmitter

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It is a Time Ball.

Since 1829 time balls were situated near important harbours across the world to give mariners a chance to reset their chronometers (clocks) which were used to determine longitude and help them navigate safely across the world. Eventually the use of time balls to establish accurate time was aided by telegraph signals. Hence, the link with Geelong‟s Telegraph Station, which was clearly visible to ships on the harbour 150 years ago.

How a Time Ball Works

Time balls are usually dropped from the top of their pole at 1pm (although in the USA they are dropped at 12 noon). They are raised half-way 5 minutes earlier to alert ships, then with 2 minutes to go they are raised to the top. The ball is then dropped at 1pm by an electrical signal sent directly from Greenwich, England. The time is recorded when the ball begins to descend, not when it reaches the bottom.

The first time ball was erected at Portsmouth, England in 1829 by its inventor Robert Wauchope, a Captain in the British Royal Navy. By 1833 a time ball was installed at the Greenwich Observatory in London by Astronomer John Pond. Scientists throughout the world recognized that worldwide official time-keeping is kept by the Greenwich Observatory. Since its installation in 1833 the Greenwich time ball has dropped at 1pm every day.

Geelong‟s time ball was built in 1862 as part of the Williamstown to Geelong telegraph line. The time signal was received from Williamstown on the electric telegraph and relayed to the people of Geelong, including ship-masters, by the releasing of the ball at 1pm daily (except Sundays).

The historic time ball on the tower of the Geelong Telegraph Station was rebuilt and dropped for the first time at 1pm on January 12, 2006. The ball, measuring about 1.5m wide, sits on top of a flag pole surrounded by a cast iron barricade. The new ball is a slight deviation from the original metal ball; this time made from fiber-glass because it‟s safer and will survive longer. Although seen often in the raised position, it appears that Geelong‟s time ball is now only dropped on special occasions.

Geelong Telegraph Station today

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. The time ball is clearly visible

on top of the building.

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An overflowing mailbox can be a sign that you are away from

your house. If you are away, make sure your mailbox is cleared regularly and that you cancel the delivery of your newspaper. The post office can assist by holding or redirecting your mail. A lock on your letterbox can also prevent the theft of your mail. This can reduce the incidence of identity theft—having your personal identity assumed and used by someone else for financial gain.

Don‟t leave boxes from newly purchased goods on the nature

strip. Break up large boxes and place them in your recycling bin. Ensure you shred or destroy all personal information on bills and banking statements before placing in the recycle bin. A rubbish bin left out well after rubbish collection can indicate that you are not home. Ask a trusted neighbour to bring your bin in if you are going away.

Your fence should not provide an opportunity for offenders to

hide behind. The fence should allow passersby and neighbours to see what is happening in your front yard. Secure doors and gates with strong locks and keep them in good repair. Gate hinges should have capping hinges so they cannot easily be removed. Ensure your side gates are locked with a quality padlock. Wheelie bins located near gates can make a good ladder for a thief.

Trees and shrubs should be trimmed around windows and doors to limit conceal-

ment for burglars when breaking into your home. This also allows passersby to notice any suspicious behavior at your home. Ensure your garden is well maintained to ensure your property looks lived in. If you are going away on holidays have a trusted friend or neighbour mow your lawn.

Get to know your neighbours. Knowing your neighbours

is a key element to home safety and security. Neighbours who are friendly and polite towards you are more likely to keep an eye on your home and report suspicious activity.

Ensure your home is adequately lit. Consider the

installation of external sensor lights. Correctly positioned lighting can be a deterrent to potential thieves as it increases the likelihood of being detected. Do not light areas that are concealed as this can assist an offender breaking into your home without the need for a torch.

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Online shopping is a convenient

and often rewarding way to shop, however it can also be a breeding ground for fraudulent people to steal your hard earned money. According to the Victorian Police, to reduce the risk of online fraud or misunderstandings there are several things you can do to protect yourself. Before clicking “I Agree” or handing over your credit card details you should ask yourself some important questions—

What do I know about the company?

Do I really know what I am buying?

What are the delivery details, return policies and warranty details?

Have I made a written record of my purchases?

Are there any extra fees or charges? i.e. Postage.

Is my transaction secure?

When will my goods arrive?

What happens if I am not satisfied with my purchase?

How will my personal information be treated?

Have I taken steps to protect myself from online scams?

The main risks involved with shopping online are: Personal credit card information may be intercepted and used fraudulently. Cyber-space companies on the internet may appear to be bigger or more credible than they really are. This means you risk dealing with bogus companies, buying products that are misrepresented or of inferior quality and paying hidden fees and charges.

What can I do to protect myself? 1. Choose a secure password to protect your personal details. Try to use a

combination of upper case, lower case and numbers. e.g. LwT54kz.

2. Know the company you are buying from. Have any friends or family members bought from them? Have you heard of them? If you are unsure, research the company. i.e. Google search, check customer feedback.

3. Know the full price you will be paying and check it with a bank statement as soon as possible.

4. Make payment via third party payment facilities. i.e. PayPal.

5. Keep records of all payments, transactions and order confirmations.

6. Always try to use your own personal computer as details can be saved on public or friends computers without your knowledge.

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James Cowie was born on January 9, 1809 in Falkirk, Scotland, the son of a brewer. He was educated by a private tutor before being apprenticed to a saddler and harness-maker in London. Seeking adventure, in 1840 he sailed for Australia arriving at Port Phillip in December 1840. Cowie then went to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), but on July 8, 1841 after only a few months he returned to the Port Phillip District thinking that Geelong offered greater opportunities.

He began a business in North Corio as a saddler and harness-maker, but success quickly brought expansion. By 1848 he owned a general store managed by his brother William at Elephant Bridge (Darlington: 120km west of Geelong), where he issued 5s. and 10s. denominations (equal to 50c and $1) in his own paper currency which was regarded in the district as equal to any banknote. He also opened a shipping agency and took the lead in introducing steamers to the Geelong trade.

Cowie was associated with many local activities. He took an active part in establishing orderly local government in Geelong and in 1849 was among those who put up £4000 security so that the first works of the Geelong Town Council could be carried out. In 1850 he was elected to the first council.

When gold was discovered at Ballarat in 1851 Cowie was an early visitor, and placed the first steam engine on the goldfield. Despite the lure of quick riches in Ballarat, James chose to continue living in Geelong and, in 1852 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the town. In addition, on November 9, 1852 he became the third mayor. While mayor he helped to establish the Geelong Chamber of Commerce—an organisation that still operates in Geelong today to further business and trade throughout the region.

By October 11, 1853 Cowie had amassed enough fortune to retire, but continued to pioneer development in the Geelong District. In 1853 he became a member of the provisional committee of the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Co. In 1854 he also became a director of the Geelong and

Merchison Hall, in Garden Street, East Geelong was built by James Cowie in 1856.

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Western District Fire and Marine Insurance Co.

James Cowie’s parliamentary career began in August 1853 when he was elected for Geelong to the Legislative Council. The following year he resigned and briefly returned to his home in Britain. On the return voyage in December 1855 he was shipwrecked on the Schomberg off Cape Otway, being rescued by lifeboats belonging to the passing Warrnambool trader the Queen.

In 1856 Cowie once more involved himself in politics. He was elected to the new Legislative Council as member for the South-Western Province. In 1857 he published A Bill for Regulating the Construction of Buildings & Party Walls, and for the Prevention of Mischiefs in the Town of Geelong.

In 1858 he failed to gain re-election when opposed to George Coppin, but in 1859 he was again in parliament, this time representing Geelong East in the Legislative Assembly until 1860. Not very active in debate, Cowie opposed convict transportation and state aid to religion but favoured land reform, the secret ballot, the establishment of a state bank and mint, the National school system, and, even in those early days, was an advocate of Federation.

In the years following the death of his wife Eliza in 1871 he sold most of his properties in Geelong and moved to the suburb of Fitzroy in Melbourne. He died at Glenmore, St George's Road, Elsternwick, on November 14, 1892, and was buried in the Eastern Cemetery at Geelong beside his wife and five of his seven children.

James Cowie was truly an outstanding pioneer and advocate for Geelong.

How James Cowie is remembered in Geelong: An electoral division for the local Geelong City Council is named the Cowie Ward. The area now known as Corio was originally named Cowie’s Creek, after him. (The named was changed to Corio in 1913) Cowies Creek still starts near Lovely Banks and passes under Melbourne Road in North Geelong just near the Ford Factory. The mouth of Cowies Creek has been modified to form Corio Quay, where ships dock to load logs and woodchips. Cowie Street runs off Melbourne Road next to Cowies Creek in North Geelong.

James Cowie was one of the original 30 members who constituted the first Legisla-tive Assembly of Victoria in 1856. When he died in 1892 of, according to the Argus newspaper, “a general break up of the system,” he was the last of the original group to die.

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Golf had its first introduction to Geelong late in the year 1864, when any-one interested in playing or learning to play could, for a subscription of one pound, hire the use of a set of clubs and set off around a course estab-lished in open paddocks.

With Links Group‟s newest proposal being accepted by the Geelong City

Council recently, construction of the new residential estate comprising 191

house lots plus a retirement village for 120 further smaller dwellings has

begun. The golfing theme will continue. Whilst retaining trees, fairways,

greens, and tees, where possible, the Geelong Golf Club will add a new

nine hole golf course (Par 33) complete with a driving range, putting green

and clubhouse, not to mention indoor and outdoor lawn bowls greens, a

café and also a general store. The lot will also include walking and bicycle

paths, a picnic and BBQ area and a children‟s playground.

Designed by highly respected architect Graham Papworth, the new golf

course will present a serious challenge to good golfers whilst acknowledg-

ing that the less experienced still need reward for effort.

Thompson Road

Bal

lara

t Road

The Feminine Side of Golf The colony‟s first ever ladies golf match was played

at the Geelong Golf Club against the Melbourne

Golf Club on August 30, 1893. The Geelong team

captained by Miss Timms achieved a convincing 46

to 0 hole victory.

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On January 12, 2010 the small Caribbean nation of H a i t i experienced one of the worst earthquakes in human history, with 227,000 people dying as a result of that disaster. Little did the authorities know that Haiti‟s traumatized survivors would continue to experience ongoing tragedy—in the form of cholera.

Described as the “paupers plague,” cholera flourishes in poorer countries with little or no sanitation facilities. When the earthquake hit Haiti, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced, forced to live in tent cities or squalid ruins of buildings. With poor sewerage disposal, it was only a matter of time before cholera reared its ugly head. The disease first surfaced in early October 2010. By October 25 over 3,000 cases had been

reported with 253 confirmed dead, yet health offi-cials were confident that the worst was over. How wrong they were! By Christmas the number of dead had ballooned to 2,600 and by March 2011 fatalities had reached 4,750. Twelve months after the disease started 469,967 cases had been reported with 6,595 confirmed dead. When the dying will stop, nobody knows.

What is cholera? Cholera is an infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae. The bacteria release a toxin that increases the release of water into the intestines, causing severe diarrhea. Cholera is typically transmitted by contaminated water. The source of the contamination is usually other cholera sufferers when their untreated diarrheal discharge is allowed to get into waterways or into ground water or drinking water supplies. Drinking any infected water or eating any foods washed in the water can cause a person to contract an infection.

Children are more susceptible to cholera, with two to four years olds having the highest rates of infection. Persons with lower immunity such as persons with AIDS or children who are malnourished are more likely to experience a severe case if they become infected. However, it should be noted that any person, even a healthy adult in middle age, can experience a severe case, which can lead to death within hours if not quickly treated.

In most cases, cholera can be successfully treated with oral rehydration therapy, which is highly effective, safe and simple to adminis-ter. [See box: Treating diarrhea] Antibiotics are also available to shorten the course of the disease and reduce the severity of the symptoms. It is not essential to take antibiot-ics if correct rehydration is maintained.

The World Health Organization continues to plead with governments to give priority to eliminating water-born diseases.

Diarrheal diseases claim the lives of around two million children each year. In the 5 minutes it will take you to read this page, another 20 children will die from this type of preventable sickness.

Treating diarrhea If commercially produced oral rehydration solutions are too expensive or difficult to obtain, solutions can be made from basic ingredients at home. To 1 litre of boiled water, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 6 teaspoons of sugar stirred in well. A mashed banana can be added to improve the taste.

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Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813.

Austen began writing the novel after staying at Goodnestone Park in Kent with her brother Edward and his wife in 1796. The novel was originally titled First Impressions.

In 1797 Austen's father sent a letter to London bookseller Thomas Cadell to ask if he had any interest in seeing the manuscript, but the offer was declined by return post. Austen made significant revisions to the manuscript for First Impressions between 1811 and 1812. She later renamed the story Pride and Prejudice.

Though the story is set at the turn of the 19th century, it retains a fascination for modern readers, continuing near the top of lists of 'most loved books'. It has become one of the most popular novels in English literature, and receives considerable attention from literary scholars. Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramatic adaptations and an abundance of novels and stories imitating Austen's memorable characters or themes. To date, the book has sold some 20 million copies worldwide

The story follows the main character Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education and marriage in the society of the landed gentry of early 19th-century England. Elizabeth is the second of five daughters of a country gentleman, living near the fictional town of Meryton near Longbourne

The narrative opens with Mr Bingley, a wealthy young bachelor, moving into Netherfield Park in the neighbourhood of the Bennet family. Mr Bingley is soon well-received, while his friend Mr Darcy makes a less favourable first impression by appearing proud and condescending. When Elizabeth Bennet overhears herself slighted by Mr Darcy, she forms a prejudice against him. Mr Bingley singles out Elizabeth's elder sister, Jane, for particular attention and it soon becomes apparent that they have formed an attachment to one another.

On paying a visit to Mr Bingley's sister, Jane is caught in a heavy downpour, catches cold and is forced to stay at Netherfield for several days. Elizabeth arrives to nurse her sister and is thrown into frequent company with Mr Darcy who begins to perceive his attachment to her.

Mr Collins, a clergyman, pays a visit to the Bennets. Mr Bennet and Elizabeth are much amused by his self-important and pedantic nature. It soon becomes apparent that Mr Collins has come to Longbourne to choose a wife from among the Bennet

sisters and Elizabeth has been singled out. At the same time, Elizabeth forms an acquaintance with Mr Wickham, a militia officer who claims to have been very seriously mistreated by Mr Darcy, despite having been a ward of Mr Darcy's father. This tale, and Elizabeth's attraction to Mr Wickham, adds fuel to her dislike of Mr Darcy.

In a 2008 survey of more than 15,000

Australian readers, Pride and Prejudice came first in a list of the 101 best books

ever written.

Jane Austen

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At a ball given by Mr Bingley at Netherfield, Mr Darcy becomes aware of a general expectation that Mr Bingley and Jane will marry. The following morning, Mr Collins proposes marriage to Elizabeth, who refuses him, much to her mother's distress. Mr Collins recovers and promptly becomes engaged to Elizabeth's close friend, Charlotte. Mr Bingley abruptly quits Netherfield and returns to London, and Elizabeth is convinced that Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley's sister have conspired to separate him from Jane.

In the spring, Elizabeth visits Charlotte and Mr Collins. Elizabeth and her hosts are frequently invited to Rosings Park, home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr Darcy's aunt, and soon Mr Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam arrive to visit. Mr Darcy finds himself, again, attracted to Elizabeth and proposes to her. Elizabeth, however, has recently learned from Colonel Fitzwilliam of Mr Darcy's role in separating Mr Bingley and Jane and she angrily rebukes him. During a heated discussion, Elizabeth charges him with destroying her sister's happiness, with his disgraceful treatment of Mr Wickham, and with having conducted himself in an ungentlemanly manner. Mr Darcy responds with a letter clearing himself and showing that the blame lies with Mr Wickham. Regarding Mr Bingley and Jane, Mr Darcy claims that he had observed in Jane no reciprocal interest in Mr Bingley. Upon reading the letter, Elizabeth comes to acknowledge the truth of Mr Darcy's assertions.

Some months later, Elizabeth and her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner visit Pemberley, Mr Darcy's estate, believing him absent, when he returns unexpectedly. Although surprised to find her there, Mr Darcy appears gracious and welcoming, and treats the Gardiners with great civility. Mr Darcy introduces Elizabeth to his sister and Elizabeth begins to realise her attraction to Mr Darcy. Their renewed acquaintance, however, is cut short by news that Lydia, Elizabeth's youngest sister, has run away with Mr Wickham. Elizabeth and the Gardners return to Longbourne, where Elizabeth grieves that her acquaintance with Mr Darcy will end because of her sister's disgrace.

Lydia and Mr Wickham are soon found, married and pay visit to Longbourn where Lydia discloses that Mr Darcy was present at her wedding. Elizabeth finds that Mr Darcy was responsible for finding the couple and arranging their marriage, at great expense to himself. Soon after, Mr Bingley returns to Longbourn and proposes marriage to Jane, who immediately accepts.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh makes an unexpected visit to warn Elizabeth against marrying Mr Darcy. While confused by Lady Catherine's suspicions, Elizabeth refuses to comply. Mr Darcy, upon hearing this, realises that Elizabeth's opinion of him may have changed and again proposes. Elizabeth accepts, and both of the elder Bennet sisters are married.

Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen star as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice

In 2003 the BBC conducted the largest ever poll for the "UK's Best-Loved Book" in which Pride and Prejudice came second, behind The

Lord of the Rings

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Also known as the Golden Marmo-set, the Golden Lion Tamarin is native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil. It is an endangered species with an estimated wild population of more than 1,000 individuals and a captive population maintained at approximately 490 individuals.

Physical characteristics As its name would suggest, the lion tamarin is a reddish orange to golden brown in colour. Its hair is longer and darker around the face, forming a mane on top of the head and on the cheeks and throat. Its limbs are slender yet capable, with sharp claw-like nails (called tegulae), befitting its strictly arboreal life (lives in trees). Although quite long, its tail is not prehen-sile (not used for grasping objects). The tail and forepaws of this monkey may have a black coloration. Its body may be up to 335mm long and its tail up to 400mm. The male reaches a maximum weight of just 700 grams in the wild though higher weights can be found in captivity. The pregnant female may weigh up to 790 grams but a non-gestating female typically weighs closer to 550 grams.

Behaviour Golden lion tamarins are diurnal (active during the daytime) and form small groups patrolling a territory of around 400,000 square meters (100 acres). Fighting between groups is avoided by scent marking and “ritual encoun-ters”. By night, the tamarins sleep in abandoned nesting holes in trees, or in large bromeliads (a plant type with over 3,000 species of which the pineapple is one).

The group is cooperative in the rearing of young. However, only the dominate female usually breeds. The males are responsible for the bulk of rearing duties, with the mother nursing and providing transportation for the infant during its first weeks of life. Resources are shared among the groups, as are predator surveillance duties. The young are well cared for until adolescence. Unlike other primates, both males and females leave the group. Their rate of survival is low, as less than one quarter successfully integrate into a new group or establish themselves in an unoccupied territory.

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Fully mature at 56-75 days, the golden lion tamarin is able to breed at 18 months of age. The breeding season is from September to March. Gestation lasts for 126-136 days, usually ending in twin births. There may be up to two litters annually. The young tamarins are weaned after just 90 days. Less than half of the infants survive their first year of life. If they do, a lifespan of about 8 years can be expected. The oldest recorded tamarin died at the age of 31 at the San Antonio Zoo (in Texas) in 1999.

Distribution and habitat Most of the wild population is confined to the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve, a protected area of swampy forests in the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is an important bastion of the golden lion tamarin, as only 2% of forests in the monkey’s original range remains. Furthermore, its existing habitat has been broken up by logging and agriculture, leading to isolated populations and inbreeding, a combination likely to result in extinction.

A high canopy with dense tangles of vines is required by the golden lion tamarin. Other than providing a home, the labyrinthine forest affords some degree of protection from its many predators, mainly large cats and snakes. The canopy also provides an important source of food. The omnivorous (eats both plants and small animals) lion tamarins rely on insects concentrated in reservoirs of bromeliads and other small animals inhabiting the bark of trees. Fruit is also a favourite. In one nature reserve more than 160 species of fruit were observed being eaten.

Conservation status This species was first listed as endangered in 1982, rising to critically endangered in 1996. By 2003 the successful establishment of a new population at União Biological Reserve enabled downgrading the species to endangered, but the IUNC warns that extreme habitat fragmentation from defor-estation means the wild population has little potential for any further expansion.

In an attempt to curb the golden lion tamarin’s precipitous decline, several conservation programmes have been undertaken. The intent is to strengthen the wild population and maintain a secure captive population in zoos worldwide.

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Walking down Gheringhap Street beside Johnstone Park one day I stopped to admire a relatively small sculpture beside the footpath, The intricate detail of the „Spirit of Anzac‟ was stunning. Another man stopped beside me. “You know,” he reflected, “I have walked past this sculpture hundreds of times and never stopped to look at it properly. It truly is a wonderful work of art, isn‟t it.” I had to agree.

A plaque at the foot of the sculpture noted its creator as Wallace Anderson—but who was this talented Geelong artisan?

William Wallace Anderson was born on January 20, 1888 in Dean, Victoria, about 15km north-west of Ballarat. He was sent to Geelong College in 1902 before attending the Gordon Technical College in 1904, to study engineering. 1914 was a busy year for Wallace. He attended night classes for life drawing given by Charles Richardson at the Victorian Artists Society, as well as drawing at the National Gallery School, while teaching art at Sunshine Technical School.

World War One had started, and so, in 1915 age 27, Anderson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He served in France as a lieutenant in the 23

rd Battalion. The British War Journal „Pegasus’ records that Lieutenant

Wallace Anderson was wounded in 1917. In April 1918 he was appointed museums officer and sculptor to the A.I.F. He was based in the Australian War Records Section in London, with sculptors William Bowles and Web Gilbert. Anderson toured famous battlefields in France, Egypt and Palestine, making models of the landscape and gathering records for later use.

Anderson returned to Melbourne in 1920 and continued his job with the Australian War Museum, producing models, dioramas (three-dimensional landscape models) and sculptures in the Exhibition Building.

From 1930 he engaged in private practice as a sculptor. Later, from 1944 to 1946 he moved to Canberra and worked for the Australian War Memorial. When he returned to Melbourne he taught sculpting at Footscray Technical College for

The ‘Spirit of Anzac’ in Johnstone Park.

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a short time before returning to private work.

Anderson has produced a number of bronze war memorials and memorial portraits for Melbourne and Victorian country towns. One of the earliest was ‘Spirit of Anzac’ (1928), which had caught my eye in Johnstone Park. However, Anderson‟s most famous work is that of the ’Man and his Donkey’ (1935), which he completed after winning a competition conducted by the Victorian Division of the Australian Red Cross. The work stands at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

In 1937 Anderson completed a life sized, bronze statue of King George V for Geelong. It stands behind the library, the second of his works to grace Geelong‟s Johnstone Park. Between 1939 and 1950 his works included a series of nine busts of Australian Prime Ministers for the Botanic Gardens, Ballarat and a figure of a soldier in bronze, outside the Box Hill Town Hall.

Wallace Anderson‟s work will continue to stand for future generations, not only to admire his artistic skill, but to reflect on the tragedy of war, and its place in Australia‟s history.

The Man with the Donkey sculpture at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

‘King George V’ in Johnstone Park.

Anderson met war artist Will Dyson sheltering in the same shell hole near the front line at Bullecourt, in northern France. This meeting was to lead to an interview with C.E.W. Bean and an appointment as an official war artist. Twenty three years later, he wrote to John Treloar on September 3, 1940: “It was at my first meeting with Dr Bean when I was called out of the front line to meet him and Will Dyson at some village behind the lines in France...It was a strange experience meeting such people and hearing what they had to say of the Australian soldier, and the ideas they both expressed about immortalizing the 'Digger' in an Australian War Museum. Shortly after-wards I was appointed Museum's officer and so the collections were started, and later on from a further talk with Dr Bean the model scheme evolved. It was that first meeting with Dr Bean that fired my imagina-tion, and it still goes on.”

Wallace Anderson married Gladys Ada Andrews in May, 1916. They had a son and two daughters. Anderson died on October 7, 1975 in Geelong, aged 87. His body was cremated.

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Bellarine Adventure Golf is located on the corner of the Bellarine Highway and Grubb Road, Wallington. Set on six acres with beautifully landscaped gardens, this is not your average mini golf. At Bellarine Adventure Golf there are two magnificent 18 hole courses, a large function room and a BBQ area. The Mountain course snakes through beautiful gardens with a scenic yet challenging course. The Mill is a journey up a two story pole building where tunnels could take your ball anywhere. These courses are great for any weather with both providing plenty of shelter from the sun or rain.

Each course incorporates sand and water hazards to keep you on your toes. People of all ages can play these courses and we have putters to suit the smallest of kids through to the biggest, or feel free to bring your favorite putter along. At Bellarine Adventure Golf there is a

large function room that can be fully opened up to enjoy the beautiful weather or can be fully enclosed for when the weather turns nasty. There is a large undercover BBQ next to the function room available at very reasonable rates, or for that special occasion, they can arrange a fully catered spit roast. There is also a large grassed area behind the function room where you can arrange to have a jumping castle or other games and activities for your group if you wish. For bookings: Ph 5250 3777

Course Cost 18 holes 32 holes Adult $11 $17 Concession $10 $15 Child under 12 $8 $12 Child under 5 $4 $7

Open Hours Sunday: 10:00am to 5:30pm Monday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: Closed Thursday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm Friday: 12:00pm to 5:00pm Saturday: 10:00am to 5:30pm During school holidays Bellarine Adventure Golf is open 7 days a week from 10:00am until late.

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A Maze „N‟ Games is located on the

corner of the Bellarine Highway and

Grubb Road, Wallington. It contains one

of Australia‟s largest timber mazes, an

18 hole mini golf, puzzles, a café, BBQ

facilities and two playgrounds.

The challenge of the maze is to find the four different colour flags. Once you have located all four flags you must then try and find your way to the exit. The maze is a fun time for people of all ages however young children should be accompanied by an adult and emergency exits are located around the outside of the maze. The shop includes an extensive range of clever gifts including puzzles and brain teasers for you to try. A Maze „N‟ Games is a great place for fully catered parties at a cost of $14.50 per child. Party food consists of fairy bread, party pies, party sausage rolls, mini hot dogs, frog in a pond sundaes and cordial. An ice

cream cake and lolly bags can also be purchased at an additional cost. A Maze „N‟ Games has a large undercover BBQ area which is terrific for a special lunch with family and friends. The BBQ‟s are operated by tokens which can be purchased for $1 each at the shop.

A Maze ‘N’ Games offers one of

Australia’s largest timber mazes

consisting of 15,000 linear

metres of timber, 630 posts,

22,000 nails and 200 nuts,

bolts and screws.

Admission Cost Maze Golf Both Adult $10 $10 $14 Child $8.50 $8.50 $10 (Under 16) Family $30 $30 $40 (2 Adult & 2 Children) Open Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm

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Loo

Dunny

Toot Potty

Can

Little Room

Dumpster

John

Bathroom

“Powder my Nose”

Outhouse

Throne Room

“Spend a Penny”

Thunderbox

Privy

Water Closet

Lavatory

Latrine

Long Dropper

Washstand

Tooshie

Commode

It’s just a “TOILET”!

The person “DIED”!

Croaked It

Eternal Sleep

Bit the Dust

Digging for Worms

“God Needed Another Little Angel in Heaven”

Gone to God

Passed Away

Departed

Long Sleep

Six Foot Under Perished

Expired

Ascended

Conked

Passed On

Kicked the Bucket

Lost Him/Her

Gone

Is No More

Breathed One’s Last

Finished

Gave Up the Ghost

Deceased Resting in Peace

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ANZAC Biscuits—An Aussie favourite!

The ANZACs were World War 1 soldiers from the Australian and New Zealand

Army Corps.

ANZAC biscuits were originally called “Soldiers’ Biscuits” and first made by

women on the home front. Wives, girlfriends, mothers and children would bake

the biscuits and send them in food parcels to the Australian troops overseas.

A lot of thought went into creating the ANZAC biscuit. The families wanted to

send something nutritious, but packages weren’t refrigerated during the voyage

across the ocean. So any food sent needed to remain edible for long periods of

time without spoiling.

Ingredients

123 grams (1/2 cup) butter

1 tablespoon golden syrup

1 teaspoon carbonate of soda (baking soda)

2 tablespoons boiling water

¼ teaspoon salt

150grams (1 cup) plain flour

85grams (1 cup) desiccated coconut

220 grams (1 cup) caster sugar

85 grams (1 cup) rolled oats

Method

Preheat oven to 160 C (320 F)

Combine butter and golden syrup in a saucepan and stir over a low heat until

butter melts.

Dissolve the carbonate of soda into the boiling water. Add to the butter mixture

Sift the flour with the salt and add the sugar, coconut and rolled oats

Stir the butter mixture into the dry ingredients until it forms a stiff dough.

Drop small lumps of dough onto a lightly greased baking pan. Press down on

each with a fork. Make sure you leave enough room between biscuits for them

to expand.

Bake until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven

and let the biscuits rest for a minute or two. Then carefully remove the biscuits

from the racks for cooling.

Store in an airtight container. Makes about 36 biscuits. ENJOY!

Note: There are no eggs used in ANZAC biscuits. Eggs were scarce in war time, so

the binding agent in ANZAC biscuits was golden syrup or treacle.

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“About 3 years ago I went for a walk along Anakie Gorge with my wife and two teenage daughters. Naturally, the girls wanted to run ahead. After a few minutes they came running back down the track toward my wife and I, with terrified looks on their faces. Our eldest daughter was adamant: „There was a big black animal that crossed the path just in front of us.‟ It took some time to reassure our daughters that they were safe, and we continued our walk, but we

kept very close together.”

If an experience like this can happen to me, it can happen to you too. This is just one of hundreds of reported sightings of ‘panther-like’ big cats across Victoria

and South Australia.

While there are reports of big cat sightings across Australia, the phenomenon seems to be most concentrated in the southern areas of the country, including around Geelong. While the various governments remain non-committal or even sceptical, there is a growing movement of people who believe without a doubt in

the existence of an Australian big cat species.

While there is yet to be a specimen captured, reports of sightings usually point to the same physical traits, backed up by the occasional photograph: a large creature, slightly bigger than a large Alsatian or Rottweiler, that is black or

mottled in colour and extremely sleek, muscled and fast.

Simon Townsend and John Turner are two men who have made it their mission to obtain irrefutable evidence of the existence of these large cats, specifically in their native Victoria. They established a website (www.bigcatsvic.com.au) and use up most of their spare time collecting reports of sightings and documenting attacks on livestock. Perhaps most compelling are their photos of mauled

carcasses with bite-marks compared to puma dentations.

Theories abound

There are several theories as to how big cats may have come to live on Australian shores: the ‘marsupial lion’ that never really became extinct; zoo or circus escapees left behind; even that the lions that served as military mascots of the US army were never taken back to the States after they were stationed

here during the WWII.

For now, the mystery remains, but perhaps one day soon we’ll have a definitive answer as to whether or not Australia’s moggies have an older, more sinister

relative lurking in the bush…

Photos like this one taken by Susan Heron near her home in Lara last September

continue to fuel speculation that big cats exist near Geelong.

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“OTWAYS' resident Connie Whistance claims she has proof big cats roam our bush after catching remarkable footage of an unidentified animal from

her hand-held video camera yesterday.

Ms Whistance said she has been stalked by the creatures over the last two years, sighting them on numerous occasions on her property. But yesterday's vision, taken near Binns Track on the edge of the Otway National Park, was the first hard evidence she had to prove to sceptics big cats were in fact prowling the region.

Ms Whistance said she watched the feline-like black animal wander around farmland about 500m from her home. "It was there for a good 15 to 20 minutes," Ms Whistance said. "It looked down like it was eating something and eventually it went back into the swampland."

Ms Whistance said she first spotted a big cat outside her home near Barongarook in April 2008, and was so paralysed by fear that she was eventually forced to move house. Since then she said she has seen several panther-like creatures in various sizes and markings.

"(In 2008) the cat's and dog's behaviour had been erratic and they wouldn't go outside. Then one night I pulled into my driveway and I thought an alien was looking at me," Ms Whistance said. "I didn't know what to do, it had these big green eyes." The mystery of the big cat has baffled experts and residents in the region for years.”

(Geelong Advertiser January 30, 2010)

This photo of a panther shows the powerful long legs and long tail that make it appear different from large

feral cats.

Alexander Riley—Clues to his finding the body of Desmond Clark (from Page 28)

1. When lost or hurt any two-year-old boy will cry– hysterically at times; yet with hundreds of searchers scouring the area, no-one had heard a thing. Thus the boy was either dead, unconscious, or located down a hole or crevice where his young voice could not be heard. If killed by an animal (e.g. a snake bite) his body should have been easily found, but it was not. Thus, the boy had wandered away and likely fallen down a hole, mineshaft, or crevice.

2. The first night that the boy was missing the moon was clearly seen in the sky. Any lost boy would naturally walk toward a light source he could see, hoping it would lead him to other humans. Thus it was most likely that the boy was to be found toward the east of his home, the direction the moon rose over the horizon that evening.

3. In thick scrub, it is difficult to make out a light source (the moon). Therefore, the boy would have tried to get a better view, by climbing a tree, or nearby hill.

Desmond Clarks remains were eventually discovered where he had fallen into a chalk pit, toward the top of a nearby hill, in an easterly direction from the boys home—an area poorly covered by the search teams. Despite the clues, it still took Riley and his two assistants 12 hours of searching over two days to locate him, a testament to his endurance, dedication and skill.

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The Geelong Gas Company was a private company set up to produce and distribute town gas in the city of Geelong. From a gasworks in North Geelong it converted coal into town gas for use in homes and industry. The company was founded in 1858 and existed until 1971 when Geelong was converted to natural gas and the company was bought out by the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria. The first attempts at establishing a reticulated gas supply in Geelong was made in 1854. However it was not until July 1857 that a meeting was held at the National Hotel to establish a gas company in Geelong. The first official meeting was held on August 20, 1857. April 1858 saw the company start its search for land to erect the gasworks on. The first site chosen was in central Geelong at the corner of Bellerine Street and Brougham Street (the current site of Harding Park). This site was rejected by nearby homeowners, as well as government representative, MLC M.J. Strachan, due to the health issues of having the plant in the town. The Gas Company Act of June 4, 1858 prohibited gas production in the Corporation of Geelong leaving the company to find another site.

Land on the western side of the railway station at North Geelong was purchased from the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company for the gasworks. The sale was accepted in March 1859, and 6 acres were acquired for £1,200. A railway siding for the gasworks was provided in September 1859. It became the first private railway siding in the Geelong area.

By the end of World War I capacity at the gasworks was stretched. A new head office was built in Ryrie Street in 1920 and the gas works were rebuilt with new technology in 1924. 1925 saw the first industrial use of gas, which before this, was primarily used in households.

The first gas lamp connected to the

system was tested on May 3, 1860.

Three weeks later on May 24 there

was an official event marking the

first gas lamp in Geelong.

The Geelong Gas Company under construction in 1858

Before gas came to Geelong, street lamps were fueled by Sperm Whale oil. However, by 1894, the town of Geelong and surrounding areas were lit by 356 gas street lamps. By 1913 most of the major street lighting contracts had been lost to electricity.

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In 1957 the No. 5 gas holder was erected in Riversdale Road Newtown at a cost of £110,000 to serve proposed gas main extensions south of the Barwon River. By 1958 the company had 18,000 customers and 290km of gas mains throughout Geelong which grew to 400km of gas mains by 1963. A new gas holder of 1 million cubic feet capacity was also commissioned during 1964, built by the Power-Gas Corporation Australia Pty Ltd. During the 1960‟s production of gas from coal became an obsolete technology. By 1963 the Geelong Gas Company had changed production methods, using a Onia Gegi reforming plant to convert hydrocarbon gases from the Shell oil refinery at Corio into town gas. The new reforming plant was visited by many other gas companies as an example of modern Syngas technology. (The former coal carbonising equipment was only used when coke—a by-product of the gasification process was required.) How-ever, the new technology was very quickly out-dated. The towns gas production was shaken by the discovery of abundant reserves of natural gas in Bass Strait. On March 16, 1967 a letter of intent was signed by the Geelong Gas Company with Esso Exploration And Production of Australia Ltd and Haematite Petroleum Pty Ltd to buy natural gas from their Bass Strait gas fields for a 20 year period. The cost of conversion of the Geelong system to natural gas was estimated at $2.5 to $3 million, with the likely completion date of 1971. The conversion entailed building a new pipeline from Melbourne, purging the old gas from the mains, change over all the burners in all the gas appliances, changes to valves in the distribution network to permit the higher pressures, and removal of the now unneeded gasworks. The main natural gas pipeline between Geelong and Melbourne was finished in February 1971. Costing $1.7 million, the pipeline was designed to operate at a maximum pressure of 1000psi, and carry 60 million cubic feet of gas a day. Con-version of homes to natural gas commenced on March 15 1971, starting at sub-urbs furthermost from the gasworks, and was completed in August that year. A takeover bid by the Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria was made in 1970, offering shareholders in the Geelong Gas Company $3.40 per share. The takeover was successful when 70 per cent of shareholders accepted this offer, and the Geelong Gas Company ceased to exist on June 30, 1971.

The Geelong Gas Company in 1926

The gasworks were demolished in September 1972, but the railway siding and the concrete foundations of a gas holder are still visible on the site today, on Slevin Street, North Geelong. The company offices in Ryrie Street are now listed on the Victoria Heritage Register.

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Energy drinks are drinks designed to increase stamina and improve

physical performance. Some energy drinks are designed especially for

elite athletes, but most are produced and marketed for the general

community.

What are their main ingredients?

The main ingredients in energy drinks are carbonated water, caffeine

(often in the form of guarana), taurine and glucuronolactone.

Some new drinks on the market also contain opium poppy seed extract or ephedrine. Some

contain high levels of sugar but many brands offer artificially sweetened 'diet' versions.

Guarana—Best known for its fruit, which is about the size of a coffee bean. As a dietary

supplement, guarana is an effective stimulant, it contains about twice the caffeine found in

coffee beans

Taurine*—is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. Amino acids help to build

protein. They are also believed to detoxify and cleanse the body of harmful substances. In

times of stress and high physical activity, the body can lose small amounts of taurine.

Some people use energy drinks to try and replace or build up their body’s level of taurine.

Glucuronolactone—also occurs naturally in the body. It is a natural metabolite and

carbohydrate formed when glucose breaks down, and is believed to be helpful in ridding

the body of harmful substances and providing an instant energy boost.

Caffeine—is a stimulant which acts on

the central nervous system to speed up

the messages to and from the brain so

that the person feels more aware and

active.

*A popular misconception is that taurine is derived from the testicles of a bull. While the word taurine has its root in the Latin word Taurus, meaning bull, it was originally found in the bile of an ox (an ox is a castrated bull). Taurine can also be isolated from the urine of female cattle. Commercially though, the taurine in energy drinks is made synthetically.

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What are the health effects of energy drinks?

The producers of energy drinks make many

claims about the health effects of their products.

They say that their products can increase physi-

cal endurance, improve reaction time, boost

mental alertness and concentration, increase

overall well-being, stimulate metabolism, improve

stamina and help eliminate waste from the body.

Many of these claims are unsubstantiated.

Caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone occur

naturally in the body, but the fact that they are present in much higher doses in energy

drinks may be cause for concern. Scientists say that caffeine can have an effect on the

growing brain and that it may cause a decline in the body’s immune system. For now,

health authorities have determined that energy drinks are generally safe for consumption,

with some caution.

Who should avoid energy drinks?

Children—Research shows that children and young people who consume energy drinks may

suffer sleep problems, bed wetting and anxiety.

Pregnant women—Women who are pregnant are advised to avoid energy drinks (especially

during the first three months of pregnancy), as high amounts of caffeine can increase the

risk of miscarriage, difficult birth and delivery of low weight babies.

Active sports people—Unlike sports drinks such as Gatorade that replenish minerals and

water lost during exercise, energy drinks with caffeine can cause dehydration. The

combination of dehydration and exercise can be dangerous.

The verdict on energy drinks

Evidence is beginning to emerge that energy drinks

may be harmful to some members of our community.

It may be best to avoid giving these drinks to children

under age ten years. With older children and young

people, watch closely the amount of energy drinks they

consume as well as any effects on their mood or

behaviour. If you are unsure or would like further

advice, consult your doctor or other health professional.

High caffeine intake can

produce insomnia - delaying

the onset of sleep and

reducing total sleeping

time. Lack of sleep is a

dangerous condition that

can lead to growth

problems in children,

accidents at work, and

mood disorders.

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“Help! My Grandson is missing!”

At around 10am on Christmas Day in 1940, two-year-old Desmond Clark wandered away from his home where he was living with his mother and grandfather near Baradine, a small farming community nestled in the hilly, Pilliga scrub in North-Central New South Wales.

Later that same day a search party was quickly formed to find Desmond, but darkness set in without success. The hunt went on through the night, lit by a waning moon in the clear sky above. By the next morning the search party had grown to number about 300, directed by police and including 70 men riding on horseback. Determined to find the lad as soon

as possible, a highly trained blood-hound dog named Disraeli was rushed from Sydney, but the thick scrub on the hills surrounding the boys home continued to hamper the diligent efforts of all concerned.

Meanwhile, two hours away to the south, the Superintendant of the Dubbo Regional Police Force, Claude Oakman, heard the news of the boys disappearance. He immediately turned to the one man he thought most capable of finding him—Alexander (Alec) Riley!

“Nothing Compares to What I Saw Alec Do!” Alexander Riley was born on May 26, 1884 at Nymagee NSW, 200km west of Dubbo, the son of labourer, John Riley, and his wife Mary. Alec was part-Aboriginal and, as a young man, started work as a station-hand, eventually developing into a skilled horseman. However, from an early age it was Alec’s gift for tracking through the bush that caught the eye of the authorities. Thus, on June 11, 1911, aged 27, he joined the New South Wales Police Force as a tracker, being based at Dubbo. He settled into the Talbragar Aboriginal Reserve, by the Macquarie River, near Dubbo and for the next 39 years, Alec bewildered the police, criminals and the general public alike, by his uncanny ability to follow a track which no-one else could see.

Superintendant Oakman witnessed first-hand his amazing ability. He comments: “Alec was more than a tracker. Where he learnt his craft I don't know, but he knew every bird and beast, knew their calls, what they did, how they reacted. He could track any signs - marks, footprints, anything. But he also had the knowledge of what those tracks meant. He could deduce what that person was doing, whether he was running, walking, whether he was ill, whether he was hurrying away, or if fatigue had set in. He had that happy knowledge or ability of finding which way that person or thing that he was tracking was travelling; where he would go if he was lost, if he was injured, thirsty or dying. I’ve seen many other trackers at work, and other

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experienced bushmen follow tracks across the land, but nothing compares to what I saw Alec do!”

Riley managed to track down lost children, as well as cattle thieves and desperate murderers trying to evade capture. Even experienced bushmen like Roy Governor, reputedly the last of the ‘bushrangers’ who had avoided capture for over three months in 1923 while hiding out in the bush, fell victim to Riley’s skills when given the task of finding him. But of all Alexander Riley’s achievements, the event that affected him the most was the disappearance of little Desmond Clark.

“I Don’t Want Any Blacks on My Property!” Upon learning of the boys disappearance, Alec assured Superintendant Oakman that he would be able to find him. In those days Oakman carried out his duties on a Harley-Davidson motorbike with sidecar. So, with Alec as passenger, the two of them travelled the 180km north to Baradine, where Oakman introduced Riley to the local policeman in charge of the search, as well as the boys grandfather. The old Cocky was not impressed. Pointing at Riley the grandfather ordered Oakman to remove him from the search area: “I don’t want any blacks on my property!” he insisted.

No amount of pleading on Superintendant Oakman’s part would change the old man’s mind, and so they had no choice but to return to Dubbo. Alec was devastated! He frantically begged Oakman to let him secretly return and locate the boy. Oakman considered Alec his friend, and wanted to help, but knew that his hands were legally tied by the landowner’s refusal to give consent to enter his property.

Over the next few days the 300-strong search party was joined by a total of 35 police from as far away as Sydney. After four days of fruitless searching the police began to suspect foul play. Perhaps Desmond had been kidnapped, or maybe he had been molested and left for dead by some unknown attacker? After a full week without any luck, the police start scaling down the search, confident that “every inch of a 10 square mile search area” had been checked repeatedly… but then they found a suspicious clue.

Blood was found beside the road about 1.5km from the boys home, leading police to conclude that young Desmond had wandered into the path of a vehicle and had been fatally struck. Perhaps the scared driver had then hid the boy’s body out of fear of reprisal. An appeal was made by police for anyone who had knowledge of such an accident to come forward... but it was met with silence. It proved to be a false lead.

Missing Boy

Google maps

Dubbo

Gilgandra

Coonabarabran

Baradine

over

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The Trail Grows Cold… Or Does It? Eventually most of the search party gave up and they returned to their normal occupations, yet a few hardy souls continued to search, including Desmond’s mother and grandfather. Finally, on January 28, 1941, some 34 days after the boy went missing, a sock and shoe were discovered which Desmond’s mother identified as being worn by her son when he disappeared—but there was still no sign of Desmond.

When no more clues were forthcoming, eventu-ally the family had to concede that young Desmond could no longer be alive, and the search was abandoned. The tragic loss of the young boy was felt, not only by his family and

the Baradine community, but also by Alexander Riley who remained convinced that he could have found the boy– perhaps while he was yet still alive.

Six months later, news filtered down to Dubbo that Desmond Clark’s grandfather had died, most likely from a broken heart. When Riley got to hear it, he again begged Superintendant Oakman to let him go back to Baradine and find the boys remains. Thus, in early August, accompanied by two cadet trackers, Riley travelled back to Baradine and began his search. The next day, Tuesday, August 5, 1941 Alexander Riley discovered the remains of young Desmond Clark in a chalk pit some 5km from where he was last seen alive.

While the authorities were amazed, and quickly promoted Riley to the rank of Sergeant (the first Aboriginal to hold the rank) Alec remained upset and disturbed for the rest of his life; that an old man’s prejudice could contribute to the death of his own beloved grandson.

Alexander Riley retired from the NSW police force on July 13, 1950. He eventually died on October 29, 1970 and was buried at Dubbo with full Anglican honours. He was survived by his five sons and three daughters. An official report for the NSW police force summed up his service to the Australian community: “Riley's long service has been marked by exceptional loyalty, astuteness, policemanship and an amazing ability as a tracker.”

Alexander Riley outside his home on the Talbragar Aboriginal Reserve with his wife

Ethel, whom he married in 1924

How Did Alexander Riley Manage to Find Young Desmond Clark’s Body? When initially approached by Claude Oakman to join the search for the boy, all Riley had to go on were the facts recorded in the opening two paragraphs of this story. Yet, he expressed confidence that he had enough information to find him! Read the opening paragraphs again and find the clues that led Riley to young Desmond’s body. If you remained stumped, turn to Page 21 for the answers.

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H K E E G H K B O E H G O A H R L R

I K Y I W D C C R R L E H B I H O A

E I L S W O W H E E R R S L R M O H

T F N O D O W L I N G H A E F H E R

R R A I R W C B L P D N N Y A O L W

R A E R K R J T Y P O N A H I D B N

A E U K L A N C A K O N T E L J M H

S B E L C H E R B C S A E E C T U J

L L E O L U K M I O S N I G G I H E

R B B G V E D I M C T F I E D N R P

A S J H R U H M M H H J J K I I R P

P M N N H E E C O C D A M T P B F O

S I O U H R Y M T T A R R A G O K C

B T S I S H S U S I E A A D L S H E

R H E S M O R L I H M B A U S T I N

T D E M N C K L D J O H N S T O N E

R T T H K H S I V R A J R N R C N N

T S O L O M O N C H I O S C W K O O

Geelong Mayors Word Search

ABLEY

AUSTIN

BAYLIE

BELCHER

BELL

BOSTOCK

BURROW

CONNER

COPPE

COWIE

CRUTCHFIELD

DOWLING

DUCKER

FIDGE

FYANS

GARRETT

GREY

HARWOOD

HIGGINS

HITCHCOCK

HOPKINS

HUMBLE

JACOBS

JARVIS

JOHNSTONE

KERNOT

KONTELJ

MARTIN

MCMULLIN

MEAKIN

MITCHELL

PARKER

PRICE

SMITH

SOLOMON

SOMMERS

RICHARDSON

THOMSON

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In Greek mythology, the Gorgon was a terrifying female creature. It derives from the Greek word gorgós, which means “dreadful.” While descriptions of Gorgons vary across Greek literature, the term commonly refers to any of three sisters who had hair of living, venomous snakes, and a horrifying gaze that turned those who beheld it to stone.

Traditionally, while two of the Gorgons, Stheno and Euryale were immortal, their

sister Medusa was not, hence Perseus was able to kill her by cutting off her head while looking at her in the reflection of a bronze mirrored shield he got from Athena.

From the blood that spurted from her neck sprang Pegasus and Chrysaor, her sons by Poseidon. Other sources say that each drop of blood became a snake. Perseus gave the head, which had the power of turning into stone all who looked upon it, to Athena, who placed it on the shield called Aegis which she gave to Zeus. According to another account, Perseus buried it in the marketplace of Argos.

According to other accounts, Perseus used the head of Medusa to freeze Atlas into stone, transforming him into the Atlas Mountains that held up both heaven and earth. He also used it against a competing suitor. Ultimately, he used it against King Polydectes, who originally had sent him to kill Medusa in hopes of getting him out of the way, while he pursued Perseus’ mother, Danae. So the story goes, Perseus returned to the court of King Polydectes, who sat at his throne with Danae. The king asked if Perseus had the head of Medusa, to which he replied “here it is” and held it aloft, turning the whole court to stone.

The fangs of the Gorgons are those of snakes and are likely derived from the guardians closely associated with early Greek religious concepts at the temples of oracles. In some cruder representations, blood flowing under the head of the Gorgon has been mistaken for a beard or wings.

Gorgons, especially Medusa, have been a common image and symbol in Western culture since their origins in Greek mythology, appearing in art, literature and elsewhere throughout history.

Medusa—by Italian painter Caravaggio in 1597.

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About this brochure: This brochure has been produced as a community service by participants in the Work For The Dole scheme at Workskil- Corio branch office. This is part of a Job Services Australia initiative. All comments and views expressed in this publication are the opinions of the participants in the scheme and not necessarily the views of Workskil or Job Services Australia. If you have any comments about information contained in this brochure, or suggestions for future issues please write to: Workskil WFTD Unit 1001 Corio Shopping Centre.

Bacchus Marsh Rd. Corio 3214 Ph: (03) 5245 3000

Geelong– 150 years ago this month

“On Saturday afternoon, the

annual demonstration of

singing and drawing by the

scholars of the various

Denominational Schools in

Geelong took place at the

Mechanics Institute, Mr.

I’Erson, music-master, and

Mr. Lasse, drawing-master,

being in attendance with

their pupils. There was a

very large attendance of

juveniles and their friends, the large hall being literally

crammed.

The children generally seemed to be well and neatly dressed,

and to exhibit every symptom of good health and spirits, and

their performances gave a good

guarantee for the efficiency of their

teachers. The scene altogether was of a

most gratifying description, and must

have amply rewarded those in whose

training the young minds have for

some time been.”

(The Argus: Tuesday, December 17,

1861 p.6)

The Geelong Mechanics Institute in Ryrie Street during the 1860’s

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c.1912

Courtesy: Brawlermatrix.com

The Eureka Hotel—Little Malop Street Opened in 1912 by Thomas Dorgan (likely pictured at front with wife and sons). Coming from a strong catholic background, Thomas had earlier settled at Portarlington where he started his family and became active in community affairs. When the Portarlington golf club was established in 1909 Thomas was elected as a vice-president. However, a voting scandal at the Federal Election in 1910 where he was accused of vote-rigging in Portarlington was perhaps behind his move to Geelong and the hotel business. Although undergoing expansion and renovations, the Eureka Hotel still operates today.