Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Union Church
With the approaching 100th anniversary of the opening of the Mangrove Mountain Union Church building, the following is offered as a reminder of the celebrations to come.
From:
The Gosford Times, Friday, September 1, 1911.
District News
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS]
MANGROVE
The annual general meeting of the Mangrove Mountain Union Church was held on Sunday last, when there was a large gathering of members present. The President (Major W. Cowlishaw) presided, and offered apologies for absence from Revs. P. Davis and W. G. Clarke-Duff, both of whom had services elsewhere. The Secretary (Mr. Hugh P. Hallard) in his annual report pointed out that the Church was formed in August, exactly a year ago. Representatives from the Church of England, Methodist and Presbyterian denominations had conducted services during the year, and at the present time regular services were being conducted. The Minister for Lands had approved a 2 acre block as a site for the erection of the church, and the committee had accepted the tender of Mr. Gibson for £182 10s, and would result in a suitable edifice and make a further landmark in the progress of the district. During the year in the absence of a Church building service had been held in the residence of Mr. W. H. Kelynack, J.P., and thanks are due to the gentleman and Mrs. Kelynack for their kindness in offering their home for this purpose. The Treasurer (Mr. G. Hunt) read a very satisfactory balance sheet. The President in an address foreshadowed that the Church (which would hold 80 persons) would be completed by Xmas, and urged all to further the success which had so far been attained by co-operating heartily, both financially and otherwise. Election of officers resulted as follows:– Committee, Messrs. W. Cowlishaw (President), G. Hunt (Treasurer), W. H. and L.A. Kelynack, J. U. Wood, W. H. Roughley, and H. R. Hallard (Secretary): Auditor, Mr. W. H. Kelynack: Trustees, Messrs. Hunt, Cowlishaw and Hallard.
Burrawang, home of the Kelynacks
Annie and William Kelynack at Burrawang
[These pictures can be found, along with many others of local interest, at the Local Studies page of the Gosford City Council website.]
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Dogs' Deserts
Major dog attacks on livestock have been a feature of local concern recently on the Mountain. An incident in which both sheep and a local resident were mauled highlighted the seriousness of the situation. Depredation by foxes is also increasing.
The following is timely action.
Click images to enlarge.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Some Things Don't Change
Roads in a state of neglect, dangerous dogs on the loose and progress of the district to be “attained by co-operating heartily”*.
*Report of the Union Church AGM. September 1, 1911.
*Report of the Union Church AGM. September 1, 1911.
Some extracts from The Gosford Times, August, 1911.
It was a time when many new residents were taking up land for farming on the Mountain, establishing homes and creating a community. The name of the districts was well established by then, and although there are one or two who are trying to change it, this heritage is enduring.
August 11, 1911
MANGROVE
[From our Correspondent]
[From our Correspondent]
Things are looking bright here just now, and the young orchards are making a fresh start.
Craft Brothers are making good progress with their contract. Mr. C. Lackersteen has let a clearing contract on the Penang* to Mr. C. Hobbs.
Some of the residents on the Mountain devote their Saturdays to clearing the Church site. Yet we want more willing hands.
What has become of that other motor lorry, the one that was going to run in opposition? If it does come, then what will Arthur do?
Mr. C. Winterbottom has started his cottage on the Mountain. Mr. Colman has also taken up his residence here – the more the merrier.
Mr. Hawkins has just about finished his fencing contract.
Craft Brothers are making good progress with their contract. Mr. C. Lackersteen has let a clearing contract on the Penang* to Mr. C. Hobbs.
Some of the residents on the Mountain devote their Saturdays to clearing the Church site. Yet we want more willing hands.
What has become of that other motor lorry, the one that was going to run in opposition? If it does come, then what will Arthur do?
Mr. C. Winterbottom has started his cottage on the Mountain. Mr. Colman has also taken up his residence here – the more the merrier.
Mr. Hawkins has just about finished his fencing contract.
* In the obituary of Henry Pile (first to settle and build a house at Somersby – followed by the Dodds, the Howes, the Robinsons and the Hunters) in the Sydney Morning Herald 1927, he is described as an orchardist at Somersby who “went to the Gosford District when the Penang Mountains were virgin bush.”
The term The Penang or Penang Mountain(s) was used originally for the area between Gosford and Mangrove Creek, but was replaced by Somersby as the mail was sometimes sent to Penang in Malaya by mistake.
Sighted newspaper articles 1892 to 1942 refer to both “Somersby” and “Somersby on the Penang Mountain”. The Gosford Times still used the term in the 1950s, but the ABC broadcast from Somersby School in 1953 was titled “Somersby, the School on Mangrove Mountain”.
In 1892, W. D. Dodds objected to the site surveyed for a school at “Somersby”.
The term The Penang or Penang Mountain(s) was used originally for the area between Gosford and Mangrove Creek, but was replaced by Somersby as the mail was sometimes sent to Penang in Malaya by mistake.
Sighted newspaper articles 1892 to 1942 refer to both “Somersby” and “Somersby on the Penang Mountain”. The Gosford Times still used the term in the 1950s, but the ABC broadcast from Somersby School in 1953 was titled “Somersby, the School on Mangrove Mountain”.
In 1892, W. D. Dodds objected to the site surveyed for a school at “Somersby”.
August 18, 1911
MANGROVE
[From our Correspondent]
[From our Correspondent]
We are badly in need of a maintenance man on the roads here just now, as the holes and ruts are wearing deeper and wider. Mr. Saxton is having a cottage erected on the Mountain.
We hear that Mr. Colman has purchased the property known as Keston on a satisfactory price.
Writer would be obliged if the chap who got away with those pumpkins would return them. Strange how sawn timber and pumpkins walk out this way!
The shooting party from Narara made great havoc among the wallabies a week ago.
Round about Gosford the people are complaining about dog poisoners. There are some mongrels out here that, if they swallowed a bait, would not be a menace to the safety of travellers, especially cyclists.
We hear that Mr. Colman has purchased the property known as Keston on a satisfactory price.
Writer would be obliged if the chap who got away with those pumpkins would return them. Strange how sawn timber and pumpkins walk out this way!
The shooting party from Narara made great havoc among the wallabies a week ago.
Round about Gosford the people are complaining about dog poisoners. There are some mongrels out here that, if they swallowed a bait, would not be a menace to the safety of travellers, especially cyclists.
Wallaby (kangaroo) sausage with pumpkin mash and onion gravy.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Dreaded Mangrove Mountain
Apropos our current weather.....
The Brisbane Courier
Saturday, 22 February 1930
The Brisbane Courier
Saturday, 22 February 1930
"The following road information from country districts was broadcasted from station 4QG last night by, the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland:
Early in the week fairly heavy rain fell over most of the districts mentioned in this report.
The coastal route to Sydney is now one of the best to use, but when adopting this route do not go into Sydney via Dungog, West Maitland, Cessnock, Wollombi, and Wiseman's Ferry, rather travel by way of Newcastle, Gosford, and Wiseman's Ferry, this being very much the better road. The dreaded Mangrove Mountain, between Gosford and Wiseman's Ferry, can be avoided by taking what is known as the Green's Wharf road - this turns off to the left at the top of the range and rejoins the main road again near the Mangrove Post Office at the bottom."
Early in the week fairly heavy rain fell over most of the districts mentioned in this report.
The coastal route to Sydney is now one of the best to use, but when adopting this route do not go into Sydney via Dungog, West Maitland, Cessnock, Wollombi, and Wiseman's Ferry, rather travel by way of Newcastle, Gosford, and Wiseman's Ferry, this being very much the better road. The dreaded Mangrove Mountain, between Gosford and Wiseman's Ferry, can be avoided by taking what is known as the Green's Wharf road - this turns off to the left at the top of the range and rejoins the main road again near the Mangrove Post Office at the bottom."
Green's Wharf Road, AKA Green's Deviation, The Deviation and The Divvy is the section of Wisemans Ferry Road between Pembertons Hill Road and Mangrove Creek Road.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Cooling off
In the current humid weather, when you are left feeling enervated or if politics are geting you hot under the collar, a glas of cold water is just what you need. Not so for Mr. Douglas.
"Mr. W. Douglas, sen., a very old resident of Mangrove, died at Ourimbah, at the residence of Mr. E. Mead.. The cause of death, was inflammation of the bowels. The deceased was accompanying his daughter, Mrs. Mead, home to Ourimbah from Mangrove, and the day being very hot drank cold water, which brought on the illness."
"Mr. W. Douglas, sen., a very old resident of Mangrove, died at Ourimbah, at the residence of Mr. E. Mead.. The cause of death, was inflammation of the bowels. The deceased was accompanying his daughter, Mrs. Mead, home to Ourimbah from Mangrove, and the day being very hot drank cold water, which brought on the illness."
From:
Australian Town and Country Journal
March 5 1892
On a brighter note in the same issue:
"The Mangrove Amateur Minstrel Company gave an entertainment there in aid of the local cricket club, which proved a great success, the hall being full."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)