John Olsen

One of my favourite Australian artists is John Olsen. I was fortunate to spend a weekend working with him in the days that Adult Education organised workshops at The Grange in Campbell Town. He is an excellent teacher.

We visit Franklin House with cousin Thora.

Thora Fisher and Edward in the back garden of Franklin House.

This morning we took Thora to Franklin House. It is a beautiful National Trust house with delightful gardens as well as a beautiful interior. Thora enjoyed her visit.

Cousin Thora Fisher pays us a visit

Edward, Michael Fisher, Thora Fisher, Carolyn Fisher

Today Noel and I drove to Devonport to collect cousin Thora, who is visiting relatives in Tasmania. Thora is originally from Tasmania, but she now lives in Sunbury. We collected her from her grandsons home in Devonport before driving through to Launceston. As she had not been back to Tasmania for several years, we deviated from the highway and took the older roads through the smaller towns including Deloraine, Westbury and Hagley.

We visit the Library in Melbourne

Some Victorians.

A huge pumpkin!

This is a unique post card image of a house built partially from a fallen tree.

A photograph of a farmer with his team of horses pulling a binder.

A statue of St George near the main entrance to the Library building.

A view of the reading room in the library.

The ceiling of the reading room.

Kelly's death mask

We spent an enjoyable time at the Library. There was an excellent display of old books. We also enjoyed looking at the objects and images that make up the Victoria exhibition. Seeing Ned Kelly's armour brought back memories of my first trip to Melbourne in 1948. At that time, Kelly's armour was displayed at the old Melbourne aquarium.

Hespa playing her guitar

Hespa has recently began having guitar lessons. She is making excellent progress. she played several tunes for us.

Federation Square

We always enjoy our visits to Federation Square in Melbourne.

Married Life

Lunch with the Dewar family

We spent a fun filled few days with Bernie and Tony Dewar at their Brahma Lodge home. Today we had lunch with them. Their son Stephen, his wife and two children also joined us for the meal.

We lived next door to the Dewars when we were based in Madang, Papua New Guinea. That was in 1971-73 and I was lecturing in Visual Arts Education at Madang Teacher's College.

Around Adelaide

A huge squid at the Museum.

A statue in the grounds of the Migration Museum.

The Grand Lodge building.

Steps and entrance to the Grand Lodge.

Main entrance to the Art Gallery.

An architectural detail.

Looking towards the entrance to the Museum.

We visited the Migration Museum, the South Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Grand Lodge.

Female Agents

Pigs in Rundle Mall

As we were walking through Rundle Mall, we stopped to photograph some sculptures of pigs

When Did You Last See Your Father?

Ayers House

This morning we visited Ayers House.

Ayers House is named after Sir Henry Ayers who lived in the house during the latter half of the 19th Century. Sir Henry Ayers was a distinguished politician and financier, who became Premier of South Australia seven times during the nineteenth century.

Constructed of local bluestone, the house is attributed to the work of colonial architect Sir George Strickland Kingston. Built on the site of a small cottage, the house evolved in several stages from a nine-roomed brick house built by William Paxton, a chemist and early Adelaide entrepreneur who returned to England in 1855.

We meet Ryan Kelly

We were walking along a street in Adelaide, heading for Ayer's House, when a young woman popped out and spoke to us : Noel and Edward ??! Well, we had no idea who the young woman was until she told us that she was Ryan Kelly. It is several years since we had last seen her. She attended our little primary school in the early 1980s. Ryan is studying in Adelaide. It was a wonderful surprise to meet Ryan after so long.

Vale Christopher Strong

Christopher was a wonderful friend and colleague. He was passionate about the environment and education on a global level. I first knew him as an energetic and trail blazing headmaster of Launceston Church Grammar School. I also worked closely with him as a committee member of the World Education Forum Tasmania. Christopher touched people of all ages with his spirit of encouragement and generosity.

The Savages

Vale Margaret Thompson

Margaret Thompson
May 20,1926 - July 29, 2008

We were saddened today to learn of the passing of a dear friend, Margaret Thompson. We will remember her for her generosity of spirit, her zest for life, her superb embroidery skills and her love of nature.