History & heritage

A reader has questioned the appropriateness of the place name ‘Munyang’ in relation to the Snowy Mountains, as referenced on the new sign at Farrans Lookout on the Great River Road ... "My research goes back to notes I discovered in the Mitchell Library in Sydney written in 1838, a few years after Europeans first entered the district": John Murphy.

Narrandera's Gary Myers and his son Jake have been chosen to run for the Street Machine of the Year awards with their famous Mustang and they are hoping for your vote ... The GM176/S1CKO Mustang gave Gary his first win in 2001 and it’s seen a few guises since his son Jake took up burnouts in the car, although it's always rocked blown 302 Windsor power.

Well, here’s something that may interest you. Over the past four or five years former Elphinstone State School students have discussed holding a reunion of some sort … Looking back at the School’s history...

Wooli Public School welcomed more than 170 kindergarten to Year 2 students from several Clarence Valley schools when they hosted the 2023 K-2 Traditional Indigenous Games at Wooli Sports Oval on September 6 … participants took part in a number of modified activities and games which were based on the skills and learning resources taught to First Nations children hundreds of years ago.

Residents who successfully campaigned for heritage listing of King Neptune are calling for the spirit of Two Rocks and Atlantis to be retained … Two Rocks residents told Hannah Beazley, who is Parliamentary Secretary to Planning and Lands Minister John Carey, of their concerns the community could lose the public open space east of King Neptune if RAAFA WA is successful in having the public open space shifted.

Men’s Shed Week is being celebrated from September 3 to 9. It’s an annual event that aims to raise community awareness, knowledge and interest in Men’s Sheds around the country.  Men’s Sheds are vital community investments delivering programs and activities that foster community spirit and contribute to building a more inclusive Australia.  

After two decades of research Kim Winter has launched her debut novel, a testament to her dedication and commitment to the craft of writing ... ‘Cedar’ is a beautifully written story that meanders from pre-WWI outback station life to the terrors and heroics of the battlefields of WWI ...

Recently, two mature peppercorn trees in White Cliffs were removed to make way for water pipes. Shirley Evans (nee Riley), who now lives in Wilcannia, was born under one of those trees in 1937. She says, 'When I was an adult I went back to that tree a few times with Mum ... I was really disappointed to think that they'd cut that tree down.'

Bullockies from around Australia will compete for the prestigious Teamsters Trophy while goats in harness will vie for the inaugural Little Teamsters Trophy at the 2023 Good Old Days Festival at Barellan in southern NSW on September 30 - October 1. The festival is the nation’s largest gathering of draught animals working in harness as they did on Australian farms over a century ago.

The Legacy Torch Relay will pass through Horsham carried by a local Donald identity and war veteran, Brian Williams, in support of veteran families and widows, of which there are nine remaining in the township of Donald.  

This is the first of what is intended to be an ongoing series – a history of old Maldon and surrounding area families … Charles Collard: born Somerset England 1811, died Baringhup Victoria 1891 … The story of Charles and Mary is a classic one of people who travelled to a far land to make their fortune...

Rathmines-based No 11 Squadron suffered the loss of a Catalina amphibian and seven crewmen in a night crash on Lord Howe Island on this day ... Local residents Roy Wilson received George’s medal and Bill Davies received MBE for their bravery.

They contacted the Tarrangower Times to ask, “What’s with the markings on the stone wall outside the Maldon Masonic Centre?” Our immediate response was probably similar to yours, ‘What stone wall? What stone wall markings?’

These are the crimes, murders and tragedies from across western NSW that made headlines around Australia decades and decades ago but are long forgotten – until now. A new book to hit the shelves today, Bush Tragedies, is a compilation of short stories from dark pockets of Australia’s history, recorded in stark, descriptive detail by award-winning journalist Bill Poulos.

Escorting convicted criminal George Lorie from Walgett lock-up to Narrabri railway station was no easy task for Carinda police constable William Noble. Lorie was found guilty of stealing more than fifty sheep from Quilbone station, a 10,000-acre spread near Quambone in western NSW ... As Lorie was escorted down the courthouse steps, he noticed Veech and threatened to kill the old pioneer.

Today is the first day of spring in Australia, a day we celebrate as national Wattle Day ... we use today to celebrate a wonderful species that is, with a few exceptions, unique to our landscape. But to professional foresters, a recognition of wattles only reminds us of the deleterious effects of changed land management practices after millions of hectares of actively managed state forests have been converted to reserves since the 1990s. The effects have been compounded by massive wildfires that have occurred over that time.

Recent DownsSteam steam engine trials have been successful through Wyreema, likely to be followed by passenger journeys in the region as soon as 2024. A couple of weeks ago, C16 Steam engine 106 went on its maiden trip having departed Drayton station at 10am before a large crowd of train enthusiasts.

Toby Henson, famed for restoring the Pyap at Swan Hill, was joined by fellow skipper, Frank Tucker, in delivering the boat from Murray Downs to Moama … The addition of a bow thruster has made manoeuvring the Temeraire less stressful than just relying on the rudder.

More Australians have a better quality of life because they are bravely confronting the reality of death, according to a documentary filmmaker. All About Me Films founder Dan Thomas says after scores of interviews with people dealing with grief one thing has become increasingly clear - the more open to the reality of the end of life, the more likely we are to make the most of it.

A plan that sets out to protect, conserve and enhance The Bluff has been adopted by the City of Victor Harbor. The Bluff Master Plan was developed in collaboration with community over the past 18 months.