XMAS NEWSLETTER 2021

Dear friends and relatives,

My newsletter is late this year , as a result of letter boxing for the December 4 Council election and then a few days away enjoying some R and R.

GUEST TALKS

My first Moorefield Racecourse talk of the year was on January 4 to Kurranulla Probus at Cronulla Golf Club. A gentleman in the audience spoke to me at the conclusion of my talk. He had been in the same class as the legendary race caller, John Tapp at Kogarah Intermediate High School. He recalls John doing a phantom Melbourne Cup call with his back to the class! I reported this back to John and he said that “he vaguely remembers this. “

My next Moorefield Racecourse talk was on March 16 to Kogarah Probus, at Sans Souci Motor Boat Club. On May 15, i took my 10 display boards on aspects of Moorefield Racecourse with me, and did a talk on Moorefield in the historic Tempe House, Wolli Creek. My next talk on May 12 was to Ramsgate Senior Citizens. I talked about my trip in late September 2019 to Hong Kong, Amsterdam and then my tour of Scotland. A number of members had been to Scotland, and were able to relive some of their memories from both my talk and power point.

On June 1, i addressed a very large group at John Bosco, Engadine in their wonderful new meeting hall. This time my topic was Message in a Bottle. In April 2022, it will be 10 years since i first committed my bottle to sea out of Albany, Western Australia and then recommitted it out of Eden, on September 30 2012. I hope to return to Eden, a scenic spot on the far south coast of NSW during late 2022. My You Tube on this adventure is called Anne’s Adventure, and had had 3499 views on December 7 2020. Now on December 20 2021 it is up to 3605.

TRIPS

April 19-21 Teddy and i were in Karuah, which is near Tea Gardens. I had to collect my rug on April 20 from Sue, who lived in Tea Gardens. Sue and Penny had hooked my rug, which had been a kit for 30 years – had dropped it off to them in late November 2020. Sue had learned how to hook when she lived in the USA for a few years. The pattern on my rug is somewhat like the Astra Zenica symbol . On April 21, we drove to Scone, and then on to Gloucester – a lovely town. Teddy and i caught up with Kathleen Moss for lunch at the Wyong Milk Factory Café on our return trip to Sydney.

June 15 -20, Teddy and i were in the Hunter Valley. On June 15, we stayed at Quorrobolong, near Cessnock. Scone was to be the next destination. A farming friend from Gulargambone, John then joined us in Scone. John and i did a day tour of horse studs with Craig Benjamin, tour leader and 4 Tasmanians; Teddy went to doggy day care at the vets in Muswellbrook. We visited Kelvinside, Vinery and Woodlands studs. They were simply amazing and the horses were extraordinary. I have a report on this day trip to the horse studs on my website, annefield.net.au.

On June 18 we drove to Gundy, and then to have a look at Belltrees. In the afternoon, we visited Muswellbrook Art Gallery. Each night we ate in the Royal Hotel in Scone, which is now owned by friends of mine from Mudgee. Teddy particularly enjoyed Friday night when there was a singer!

On June 19 Teddy and i drove to Cessnock .The shops had all shut by early Saturday afternoon! Sunday i returned to Sydney via Kurri Kurri.

December 12-15 Teddy and I, post December 4 Council elections went to Karuah for a few days. On December 13 we travelled to Stroud where i bought a lovely quilt in the craft shop; in the afternoon we drove on to Dungog. December 14, we drove to Tea Gardens and then over to Hawkes Nest. I found a lovely beach Bennetts Beach in Hawkes Nest. We detoured into Umina on December 15, to catch up with Kathleen and Barbara Moss on our return trip to Sydney.

In February 2022, Teddy and i are hopefully returning to Umina for a few days. And in autumn, Lillian, Teddy and i are driving to Orange. We have accommodation in Bathurst, at an Orange winery, and a house at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains. We are doing a tour of doggie friendly wineries with Nicole from Country Food Trails and i hope to see a friend, who previously lived in Arncliffe, but now lives in Carcoar, a National Trust listed town. On the return trip to Sydney, we are calling in to Bathurst to catch up with Jo Ryan, a former English teacher at St George Girls in the early 1980’s. Rosemary Mikes, former German teacher, has been invited, as she lives approximately 2 hours out of Bathurst. And a couple of former St George Girls, who are lecturers at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, will join us.

SOCIAL OUTINGS

January 15, Teddy and i caught up with Roma and Gladys at the Stanmore Hotel. Dorothy, Teddy and i lunched at the Black Fish Café in Como. February 11, I caught up with Hannah Hilberts, ATC Archivist, who was in attendance on the evening.

Jenny and i lunched at Hazelhurst Art Gallery at Gymea. Ken organised a belated January birthday lunch at his mother’s place in Carlton on February 12.

After the launch at Tempe House of a book on Tempe House , Wolli Creek , and one on Lydham Hall, Bexley , for which i was a consultant , Ken , Phillip and I had lunch at The Rowers Club , Wolli Creek .

March 10, Peter and i attended a Sydney Football Club match at Jubilee Oval. Lynette and i caught up in a café near Devonshire Street, Sydney for lunch on March 19. I was taking my 2008 Hong Kong jacket to the nearby Culla Change to be dyed. Sadly, the material had developed rust marks, and the only way to hide them was to dye the coat black.

April 19, Steve and i lunched at The Clubhouse Kogarah -wonderful food. May 6 Dora, Marianthe and lunched at Ramsgate RSL. May 31, Stacey and i lunched at the St George Motor Boat Club Bistro. June 2 i again had lunch with Ken and Nan in Carlton I took my rug with me to show Ken and Nan.

On June 3 Lillian and i, drove to Berry, South Coast on an inclement day, to have lunch with Nyrie at her Retirement Village. (Nyrie a journalist in her working life had worked many years ago with Ita Buttrose – many a story she can tell) Lunch with Olga at Pinos on June 8 and then the lockdown came …….No more social activities ……. It was with some excitement, which my exercise class met for Xmas lunch on December 2, at Pinos in Kogarah.

During the year i also caught up with Patricia and Denis at varying times.

THEATRE, TOURS, RACES, HISTORY COMPETITIONS, EVENT LAUNCHES, ANNIVERSARIES.

Kogarah Community Services on March 11 launched their Intergenerational Video to acknowledge International Womens Day. i was interviewed for this video

On April 8 i attended an evening talk in the ATC Function Room at Randwick Racecourse. Two young trainers, Annabel Neesham and Adrian Bott spoke. I caught up with Hannah Hilberts, ATC Archivist who was also in attendance,

On May 1, Lillian and attended a play at the Drama Theatre “Home I’m Darling”. We had a good laugh.

Georges River Council held the opening night of “Striving for Gold -the Olympians of St George” at Marana Hall. Bruce Sharp, a friend, was included in the exhibition as a 1956 Olympic gymnast.

May 18 the Historic Marker of the Steam Tram Terminus at Kogarah Station was launched. I had nominated this marker for its significance to Moorefield Racecourse. Kogarah Historical Society had also nominated it.

Marianthe, Dora and i had a day out at Randwick Races. I have not been back to the races this year.

On June 9, i attended a Review of the Heritage Act at the Masonic Club, Sydney which had been organised by the National Trust. I sat with the Godden Logan Mckay staff, as i am friends with a staff member.

And on June 22 Lillian, Maria and i did a wonderful tour of the State Theatre, Sydney. This was a behind the scenes tour – the dressing rooms, the art work etc. A magnificent building with such character.

On August 10 2021, it was 20 years since my Constitutional Convention Role Play to honour Federation, was held in Kogarah School of Arts. I bought myself a beautiful bouquet of flowers to acknowledge this significant day. I contacted two former St George Girls, Alicia Tripp and Hansika Bhagani, who had played a part, and was delighted to hear from them. .

During August and September, i worked on my entries to Kogarah Historical Society Local History Competition and the Ron Rathbone Local History Award at Bayside Council. I decided to submit the August 10 2002 Constitutional Convention to Kogarah Historical Society as my entry. My report has been produced in memory of the late Jim Searle, Director of the Guild Theatre, Rockdale, who helped script part one of the programmes. I then completed a report on my time as a Committee Member and then Chair at Lydham Hall (1995-1999) for the Ron Rathbone Award.

DEATHS

Steve and i , and a few of Cliff’s friends, gathered on January 17 at Riverwood , to honour the 12 months since Cliff’s passing on January 17 2020 .

On January 18, i received a funeral card from the Netherlands, to indicate that Topsy has passed away on August 24 2020. She was born in Cobar, NSW in 1929, and passed away aged 91. Topsy had left Australia by sea as a young lady, and travelled overseas. She married a Dutch man and settled in The Netherlands. She had a close family connection to former jockey and horse trainer, Maurice McCarten.

She found me through my website and we have had a wonderful email correspondence since 2016. I met Topsy in my hotel in Amsterdam in early October 2019. I am so pleased that i got to meet with Topsy and her daughter.

I had learned in mid -November 2020 that Maxine Shaw, the long term canteen lady at St George Girls, had passed away. Her memorial service was to be at Moss Vale on January 30. Due to a flat tyre, i had to watch it on Zoom.

In late February, Jenny Rowse, former Principal (1985-1992) of St George Girls passed away in Maitland, Hunter Valley. I watched the March 3 service on Zoom. I have fond memories of Jenny – she was strict, but fair and she had a great personality.

On March 10, i could not attend jack Mundey’s State Memorial Service at Sydney Town Hall. I watched the moving ceremony on Zoom. Carla Zampatti’s funeral service was on April 15, and i watched this on Zoom from St Mary’s Cathedral .

May 30 , Lismore Rose , the koala i had sponsored through a Xmas present from a friend sadly passed away. I visited Lismore Rose in September 2020 at the Koala Hospital , Port Macquarie. I now sponsor Hockey Luna.

On July 1, Ken Sutherland passed away. Ken had served with me for a number of years on Kogarah Community Services Board. And on August 19, Hazel Atkinson from Yorkshire passed away. Her mother, Gertie had been a neighbour to Harold’s mother, Muriel. We have been in touch for many years.

September 2 Marty Morrison passed away. Marty was married to Bill Morrison, who was a local Federal MP, and later Ambassador to Indonesia. Bill served on Council at Rockdale with me from 1991-1995.

On September 30, it was 10 years since Harold had passed away, and one year since Harry, my Cavalier had passed. I arranged to get a lovely arrangement of flowers in blue, yellow and white – Leeds United colours. Harold was a life- long Leeds United supporter. (i am an Arsenal supporter) and would have been so pleased that they are back in the English Premier League I recently reconnected with Professor Dave Waddington , author of the book on Harold’s team . He was pleased, that as a Leeds supporter i had chosen the right colours! Harry has lovely flowers on his grave – he was such a beautiful boy.

In early December, horse racing journalist, Barry Parkes passed away, a very knowledgeable man on racing. Barry had attended my book launch in October 2016.

WEBINARS

During the year, i have watched some interesting webinars. One which stood out was the one to honour 20 years since September 11. US General David Petereus Retired and Australian Major General Duncan Lewis Retired discussed the event and what had happened since then.

EXERCISE

Exercise class was held by zoom from July and in late October, i moved to Kate .as Judy returned to face to face teaching. It will be back to face to face exercise classes in 2022. And soon back to the pool, as the speedos come out of temporary retirement.

TEDDY

Teddy, my 8th Cavalier, came into my care on December 15 2020. He has had a busy 12 months, and particularly a busy social life with visits to cafes, doggy holidays (he loves to travel) and his daily walk. He has a beautiful quilt to sleep on, and has toys to keep him company. Teddy is a good snorer –he sounds like the steam train going through Kogarah.

Mel, whom he loves, has been his new dog groomer at Barklys in Dolls Point, since June 10. She always takes a lovely photo of him when he has been washed and pampered. I entered Teddy into a photographic competition, which Bayside Council held to highlight how we dealt with Covid.

Teddy’s Christmas Present from a craft shop in Stroud

Teddy has given much love and has received copious pats from others during the year. He can however be a naughty boy. The song “On the Prowl “ by Frankie Holden from Ol 55 is very appropriate to Teddy – he takes glasses, shoes , my Speedos , newspapers, and other items which take his fancy.

COUNCIL ELECTION

The Council elections in NSW were scheduled for September 4, but were transferred to December4, due to the lockdown. I was delighted to be asked to be Andrew Tsounis no 2 on his Third Ward independent ticket. This was to be my 7th campaign ……

We did what many other candidates in Bayside Council area did not do – we put leaflets into resident’s letterboxes detailing our achievements and platform for Council. We did this substantially 3 times .Third Ward stretches from Ramsgate Park , the former Darrel Lea site, to Spring Street , Arncliffe , includes that part of Kogarah south of Princes Highway , Rockdale , Banksia , Bexley , Bexley North , Bardwell Park which is a huge area to cover . I letterboxed south of the Illawarra railway line, and Andrew and his family did the other side. Time was moving along, and i also needed help on my side of the railway line. This was sheer hard work. We had missed very few letterboxes,.

It was not a traditional campaign as a result of Covid – no doorknocking, and regulations on polling day were different along with distance from the entrance to the polling booth to helpers handing out, if this was permitted.

It was an election of social media, along with their dummies writing comments on their behalf. I am still waiting to meet Ms Andrews, Ms Berg and Ms Flipps- not their real identity! Some misleading and nasty material was being circulated on these platforms.

There were no Liberals permitted to run in Bayside Council elections, as a result of a factional fracas a few years ago in Arncliffe to which the Police were called. This had a huge impact on the overall Council result that no Liberals were officially endorsed candidates. Some candidates, who were elected this time, may therefore have a short tenure. This term will be 2 years and 9 months only. At the next election, it will be there after a 4 years term.

The I-vote was trialled for the first time with a view to it being used at next year’s Federal election. It was not kind to Independents, who had no party tag attached to their name.

The high levels of informals were disappointing. It was the same in Georges River Council and many other types of Council. Some people chose to deliberately vote informal, only to get their name marked off the electoral roll – scrutineers indicated that there were many blank ballot papers. Elderly people may have had difficulty in knowing what to do along with NESB people. In State and Federal elections instructions are written in numerous languages to assist residents; this does not happen in Local Council elections. A loss of a right to have a say in one’s local area by not voting correctly is poor form.

Andrew Tsounis, the number 1 candidate on the Independent ticket on which i was also a candidate, was re-elected on December 20, when the poll was finalised. We had a Independent team run against us with their head candidate also of Greek background – a real estate agent, whom others called Ms Botox. This team we believe had been set up to reduce Andrew’s vote. Politics is a dirty game.

Anne and Teddy, Trevor and Albert, Andrew and Leo (Bayside Council Election Ward 3)

ODDS AND ENDS

St George Girls

Cathy Raper, a 1988 Year 12 student from St George Girls was appointed as Australia’s Ambassador to South Korea in February . Jenny Ware, one of my Year 12 students from 1988, is challenging for Liberal Party preselection in the Sydney Federal seat of Hughes. And, Christina Jamieson nee Petrakis HSC 1991 was elected to Mortdale Ward on Georges River Council, at the December 4 Council elections. Christina and i spoke on a number of occasions throughout the year. On January 26 2022, it will be officially a decade since i retired from St George Girls High School. My life after has been both busy and full of challenges.

Matters Moorefield and Racing

On May 25 i caught up with a member of Billy Lappin’s family at Caringbah. My Moorefield book is dedicated to Billy Lappin. Later on in the year, Pauline Weate from Bundaberg in Queensland provided memories of her brother, George Weate and his riding career.

The Racing Prospectus from Hyderabad Race Club, India finally reached me in early September. The Club is celebrating the Golden Jubilee Year of the running of the President of india Gold Cup and the Deccan Derby. Brian Foy, an Australian jockey rode the winners of both, and the photos feature him on the front and rear covers, as well as on the inside of the Prospectus. I put Siraj, from this race club in touch with Brian Foy, courtesy of friend who has many racing contacts. A lovely tribute to Brian Foy and his time in Hyderabad. Siraj is now working on the History of the Madras Race Club, which will keep him busy for sometime. I hope that he unearths some Australian jockeys riding in Madras.

Message in a Bottle

Next April 2022, it will be 10 years since i committed my bottle to the mighty Southern Ocean. My bottle washed in at Bremer Bay and i collected it back again in Perth mid- year. I recommitted it to the ocean east of Eden in late September 2012. Grannie is by all accounts still at sea. And hopefully, doing a Scottish jig. I hope to return to Eden in late 2022.

Websites and Moorefield Racecourse Facebook site

My websites are viewed in many overseas countries and across Australia. My Moorefield material is popular, both overseas and within Australia. My Moorefield Facebook site has received more likes this year. During the year i have received some wonderful comments about my blog and website. I am pleased that so many people enjoy my writing.

The Lockdown

I coped well with the lockdown as i did gardening, repainted the extensive number of garden statues, wrote articles and walked Teddy. Exercise class was by zoom.