We passed through Bakers Swamp without noticing anything. Then reached our last dot on the map for this trip - Larras Lee and saw this. The roadside monument says: In Memory of WILLIAM LEE (1794 - 1870) of "Larras Lake" a pioneer of the sheep and cattle industry and first member for Roxburgh under responsible government (1856 - 1859). This stone was erected by his descendants. --- 1938 --- This is a repost from a few days ago. Thinking I would use this for this week’s Taphophile Tragics post I dug a little further into William Lee’s story, it’s a very colonial Australian one. William was born of convict parents, living his childhood years around the Sydney region. In his early 20s he was issued with some government cattle, recommended as a suitable settler and granted 134 acres at Kelso near Bathurst. He was one of the first in the area and did well. A few years later he was granted a ram and an inc...
I would like to know more about the people in Australia. I confess I never heard about Wiradjuri. Great sign.
ReplyDeleteMost Australians are not terribly familiar with the indigenous nations that populated the areas where they live but there is a real effort these days to acknowledge them and for us to understand more.
DeleteI recently posted a story relevant to the Wriadjuri people. The Wiradjuri nation once covered an area larger than most European countries. The extent of this country is acknowledged in signage in inland areas of New South Wales http://thecastlereagh.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/war-on-frontier.html
DeleteYou always know when you hit Lithgow that you're on the other side of the mountains.
ReplyDeleteJust as Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson did in 1813!
DeleteWas it controversial because the town is industrial?
ReplyDeleteWas it controversial because the town is industrial?
ReplyDeleteWas it controversial because the town is industrial?
ReplyDeleteGolly, Winam is insistent today? No. No, not industrial. It became all political. Rubbing of feet under desks, masonic handshakes and stuff. Not based upon the merits of the individual town cases, but upon influence and geographic balance.
ReplyDeleteYou can't find the link, because I took my labels off. I was not using them properly and they became a mess.
The controversy was manufactured by a few malcontents. Lithgow is a beacon for Keep Australia Beautiful. It was an industrial town that totally changed its image over a period of 20 years. Lithgow also provides a model for other towns as its numerous Tidy Towns successes are based on community networking and community action. I was proud to lead one of the community groups that hosted 2011 Tidy Towns awards in Lithgow last November. Hundreds Tidy Towns delegates from all over New South Wales were gobsmacked by what the Lithgow community has achieved in areas such as environmental management and heritage, and the things the community continues to achieve. Community alliances in Lithgow are strong, active and achieve great things.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can't think too many American towns would earn or care about being tidy. People love to throw their trash.
ReplyDelete