Getting ready for "The Robbo Show"

Nothing is bigger in Robbo than "The Robbo Show". It is our Village's "once-a-year" opportunity to show off. And for the individuals to tell tall stories about the heaviest rain we remember, the thickest fog, and who won the Spud Race, when, and who was tripped up on the last bend, in the fog, and by whom.

All else is meaningless, in this village, if the Show is not a success.

And it always is! We make sure of that!

Today the Show Committee, and their band of volunteers
began fitting out the Show Pavilion for the 2008 Robertson Show.
It will be held on Friday 29 February, and Saturday 1 March 2008.

This coming Friday and Saturday, these Show benches will be laden with Cut Flowers, and the famous Robertson Show Vegetable Competition. The 54 separate window panels of the glass show cases were polished, inside and out. I will have you know that means 108 separate surfaces to clean (guess who did half them?)

These show cases will hold the Cakes, including the "Group 5 Rich Fruit Cake Competition" (from which the winner will proceed to the Zone Final, and in turn the winner of the Zone will proceed to the "Sydney Royal Easter Show"). This is serious stuff, folks. There will also be the Champion Decorated Iced Cake (award and ribbon), the Champion Sponge, and numerous other classifications of cakes, scones, biscuits, pies and home-made chocolates. There are 56 classes in all, just for the Cookery section. No wonder I had to polish the glass in all those windows!

Tapestries, lace-work and needle-work,

knitting and hand-weaving will be displayed here.

I thought I would let you see what the Show Pavilion looked like before the Show got underway. Next weekend you can see what it looked like when the Show is in full swing.


This is the scene from this morning, with cars belonging to the Committee, and volunteers.And in keeping with the tradition of theatrical "dress rehearsals", we even organised the fog to turn up, on cue - in preparation for the real event. Here is the view, in the afternoon, of the gateway to the Robertson Showground, as the fog gathered strength.

And my favourite Fog image:
a giant Radiata Pine, looming out of the fog, this afternoon
in readiness for the 2008 Robertson Show. God Bless the Robertson Show, and the Fog;

and all who participate in them both.

Robertson Village Music Society

Today I attended a very pleasant Chamber Music concert, put on by the Robertson Village Music Society.
The concert started with performances by Bellatrix (a recorder quartet) The members of the group are Alana Blackburn, Laura Bell, Alicia Crossley, and Felicity Clark. They performed a range of pieces from the baroque to modern.

Here is an image of Laura, playing a Bass Recorder.

They were followed by a violin duo - April Kelson and Jamie Pollock.
After an interval we heard Gabriella Pusner who performed Beethoven's Sonata in A Major for violin and piano (Op. 23), in conjunction with Jamie Pollock (on Violin).
Then Gabriella combined with April Kelson to perform Brahms' Sonata in D Minor for Violin and Piano (Op. 108).I found the Beethoven familiar (at least in style), but I was quite taken by the Brahms piece with which I was not familiar.

Robert Goldsack is very pleased with the sound of the Kawai Grand Piano, which the Society has acquired.
The Robertson Village Music Society will host visiting concert performers four times a year, on the last Wednesday of February, May, August and November. Inquiries may be made to Robert Goldsack, of Meryla St.

First Communion for Lucy's kids.

On the Liturgical Calendar, today was the Feast of Christ the King. I happened to call in and visit Lucy, just in time to meet her taking the kids off to St Peter's Church, in Burrawang where the children were about to make their First Communion. That is an auspicious occasion, so I decided to tag along.

The kids were all dressed up (somehow it is more apparent with the girls).

Here is Meg, with her certificate, as presented by the priest.And Charlotte

And George.

After the mass was over, I took photos of each of the kids, before they ran off to eat the lollies and chocolates which kind members of the parish had given them. It was very interesting to note how supportive and encouraging the members of the Burrawang community were towards Lucy and the kids. I am not very familiar with this parish community, although I knew some of these people, from other community groups of which I am a member.

Here is Meg in all her finery. And Charlotte, looking sparkling, as usual.

And George.
Actually I think George had started on the chocolate already
and was trying not to choke, laughing, while I tried to take this photo.

Lucy rounded the kids up for a quiet moment,

when they laid some flowers on the grave of their father, Julian.Here is Julian's gravestone. He died in September 2001.

After the Mass, Lucy invited Mary and Trevor, and four of their kids, and me, back to her house, for a celebratory dinner, which was very pleasant.

Miriam Margolyes - guest speaker at Robbo Railway Station.

Miriam Margolyes was the guest speaker today for a special event to help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of "Rail in Robertson", held at the Robertson Heritage Railway Station (RHRS). I hate the term "veteran actor", but Miriam uses the phrase of herself. You can read about Miriam, her life and interests, as well as her professional roles, on her website.

In case you are wondering about Miriam's connection with Robertson, she fell in love with the place, when she came here, during the filming of "Babe", for which film she provided the voice of "Fly", the mother Sheepdog. Miriam has subsequently built a house on the edge of the escarpment, near Knight's Hill.

Before the event got under way, Andy Ford introduced Miriam to a particular fan of her work.
Steve Carey, President of the RHRS Committee, welcomed everybody to this event.Andrew Ford, a local resident, Composer, and presenter of the ABC Radio National Music Show, was the interviewer for the discussion with Miriam. Andy is a very experienced interviewer, and he shows here, why - as he frames his next question - with an acute sense of humour.
Miriam gave the crowd a taste of the work which she is currently touring in Australia - her show "Dickens' Women" which is opening tomorrow in Melbourne, and will be playing in Sydney from October 15 - 21.

Miriam, "in character".

Andy and Miriam had a very informative, and entertaining conversation, which was followed by some questions from a clearly appreciative audience.

Steve then presented Miriam with a commemorative "Golden Spike" award. A gilded spike, is a relic from the clean-up of the original railway site. The original spikes were used to fix railway tracks to the wooden sleepers. Miriam, who clearly has a delightful sense of humour, quipped something about: "When I heard about this award, I wasn't sure where I would put it". But her look says it all!

Here is the Golden Spike.

A good day was had by all. The catering was done by the Pirouette Cafe, and the Robertson Inn provided the drinks.

One of the surprising moments of the day was provided by the crowd, when they spontaneously clapped when a goods train thundered by, just outside the tent where we were listening to Andy and Miriam's conversation. Normally Robertson people just shut their ears to these huge diesel locomotives, which thunder through the village, pulling limestone, or coal, or wheat to Port Kembla. But, the applause was an echo of the greeting by the people of Robertson, when the first train arrived in Robertson, 75 years ago.

More of the Fungal Queen's loyal subjects

Well, I managed to get Penny upset, with my comment about a "none-too flattering" portrait of myself - the other day, at the Queen's Birthday picnic at Lucy's place.

Today she sent me a few "sweeter" photos of the group at Lucy's place. These are indeed somewhat sweeter. Thanks, Penny.

Anni, Andy and Steve
Steve cannot resist blowing the photographer a kiss.
Nice Camellias in a vase, by the way!
Anni is concentrating on what Emma, beside her, is reading out loud to the group.


Emma, looking very natural, is reading through one of George's creative writing projects.

George, Lucy's eldest, has a very natural writing style, and Emma was reading sections of his story out loud.




Here is George (in front, doing a "boy thing" with his fingers), pictured on his birthday, back in February.

He doesn't always look like a talented writer, but looks can be deceiving - especially at one's own Eleventh Birthday.


Lucy and Meg
Lucy is looking very relaxed, which itself is a triumph, seeing she was our hostess, at the party.




And finally, the photographer, Penny, herself, with a grandson, Luca.

Penny, in a photo taken by her grandson, Jeht.

Persons who managed to avoid Penny's lens were Celeste, Sarah, Brita and Jeht.

The Lantern Procession

Swinging lantern.
Last night the people from the Robertson CTC organised a Lantern Procession.


Jane had been working with the kids over a number of weekend "workshops" guiding them in the making of their own lanterns.


The Cow Lantern
This is evident from the variety of fabrics and designs in the spectacular lanterns.

Few were as original as Jasper's Cow Lantern. Her own design (note the grass drawn under its belly, and the tail). Such typical Jasper attention to detail.



Colourful lanterns.
Many members of the Robbo community turned up.

Everybody, with or without a lantern, walked around through the gardens at the Robertson Common, in a sinuous, but delightfully colourful procession.



Paired lanterns.
It was a visual highlight of the events of the long weekend's activities, as part of the Robertson Fair. It was a lovely event to take part in (even without my own lantern).

Next year I shall join Jane's workshops, and make my own. I want to be a full participant in this event next year.


Optical illusions? Am I dreaming? Is Queen Nefertiti's spirit inside the left-hand lantern?

The spectacular Mermaid
I had no idea how imaginative, and creative one can be with some coloured paper, bamboo cane, and a candle.






Purple and gold
A simple design, apparently, but very colourful, and effective.

*****

I have been inspired now, and will be in there next year, with a Peony Lantern.

*****

Red, Red Waratah

But I doubt it that even that lovely flower would look as good as this Waratah lantern, which Jane made.


I am happy to say that I successfully bid for one of three such lanterns, at an auction which was held later in the evening.


It will be used to adorn any evening barbeques on my deck, later in the season.

Life on the Robertson Common

When the Robbo Spring Fair starts, the Robertson Heritage Railway Station comes alive with the annual Railway Fair. The long weekend in September/October is the usual date.

This year, we were blessed with stunning clear skies, and mild weather. How lucky we were. (Last Sunday all the tents would have been blown to Albion Park!)






David Tranter was selling his spectacular Waratahs.


In addition, hundreds of Waratahs which he has personally planted, were flowering all around the Railway Station, on the Common, and across the Railway line.








There was red everywhere.









Bones was singing the Blues,

against a blue background,

and under blue skies above.





Blue everywhere.


Out on the main street (Hoddle Street), the double flowered Pink Japanese Cherries were at their peak.

In several days time, the annual pink snowstorm (of fallen Cherry blossom petals) will cover the grey bitumen, but for now, the trees are wonderful.





The simple joys of Spring in Robertson.

The Panoramic Nature of Robertson

This is Robertson, as seen from a local ridge. This image shows how it is nestled down in a valley, and is surrounded by rounded basalt hills. Indeed the physical nature of Robertson is determined by its basalt origins. The distant views show the surrounding (lower-level) sandstone plateaux with glimpses of such sandstone clifflines in the Kangaroo Valley and the Shoalhaven River Valley.

This panoramic image is an amalgam of 7 photos, overlooking Robertson, from the north-west. This image spans about 150 degrees of the skyline, from due east (left) round to the south-west (on the right hand side).

The photos were taken from the tip of Trig Station Lane, in Kangaloon. This road runs from Kangaloon Road, back along the top of the local range, heading south-east, back towards Robertson. It is a narrow road, and a no-through-road, so if you drive out there, please take care, drive slowly, and respect the tranquil nature of this lovely area.

*****

The view starts from almost due east (left) looking towards the Radio Tower, on Mackey's Lane, and spans across just to take in the distant Knight's Hill (with the TV antennas). Knight's Hill is on the very edge of the escarpment, overlooking Albion Park, with a clear view along the coast, north to Wollongong (which explains the TV towers).




The next view is over the Showground area on the north of Robertson. The Showground is hidden behind a stand of large Eucalypt trees. You can clearly see some of the newer houses on May Street (west).






The third view is over the centre part of the Robertson village. The railway line runs a little way, alomost directly towards my vantage point on the hill, but it then turns to my right, and runs below the hill (outof sight below me).

Look at the end of the straight run of track. There is a large white square box (or sign) and two white posts. The white posts are the "Boom Gates", where the main road crosses the railway. So, Hoddle Street (a.k.a., the Illawarra Hwy) can be made out to run, to the left, behind some pine trees, then reappear, with a line of houses on either side. That is the start of Robertson's main street.

The large, rounded hill on the horizon, in the mid-distance is Bells Hill, one of the largest of the local basalt cap hills in the Robertson district. Bells Hill is used both for cattle grazing, and for growing potatoes. It is a typical Robertson Hill, with patches of rainforest on top, and cleared on the lower slopes for good farming land. The trees below the hill are tall Eucalypts.

The fourth view takes in the southern slopes of Bells Hill, and then it shows a glimpse of the Sandstone Clifflines, in the Upper Kangaroo Valley area (down river from Carrington Falls). These cliffs are about 10 Kms away (directly).





The fifth view looks over the rural areas south of Robertson, with distant glimpses of the higher parts of the sandstone plateau, either the Buddero Plateau, or perhaps the Barrengrounds area, and then, a separate mountain, which might be the top of Camberwarra Mountain, east from the village of Kangaroo Valley. These distant mountains are also on the edge of the coastal escarpment, with steep cliffs on the far side, running down to the coastal plain, around Berri and Nowra respectively.


The sixth view is looking south-west. The ridge of hills on the left is along Pearson's Lane. The view looks towards the Fitzroy Falls area, and on to the lower Kangaroo Valley, near where it meets the Shoalhaven River valley. There are distant sandstone cliffs visible, on the south side of the Kangaroo River valley.





The final view, just a bit further south-west, shows the sandstone cliffs in the Kangaroo Valley still visible. Passing to the right, you run into local hill line which would take you across to the village of Burrawang. The local hills and trees do not allow you to see as far around as that.

*****

The physical nature of Robertson is determined by its basalt origins. The local rounded hills are all basalt caps. The basalt was laid down as a result of relatively recent volcanic activity (that is "relatively recent" in geological terms - some 60 to 70 million years ago). The volcanic activity brought the liquid basalt material from deep within the earth's crust.

It is easy to "read" from the local terrain, that the volcanic activity occurred by eruptions of material through the pre-existing layers of sandstone. That sandstone, (a much more ancient form of stone) is clearly visible in the plateau country which surrounds Robertson.

So, the local popular scenic places of Carrington Falls, Belmore Falls and Fitzroy Falls are all places where the sandstone plateau is exposed. It is eroded by rivers, creating these dramatic waterfalls. More importantly, from a geological point of view, the geological history of the region can be "read" while looking down into the exposed sides of these valleys.