Avoiding extreme weather?

In the past few days S-E Australia has really been battered by wind, rain and snow, while we have had spring-like conditions. But it seemed our turn was coming. Checked the Bureau of Meteorology just now though:

A strong cold front from the Southern Ocean is currently crossing southeastern Australia. Conditions in New South Wales have eased during the night, but winds will remain fresh and gusty in many districts today.

The Severe Weather Warning for the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory forecast districts has been cancelled, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary.

Wind gusts to 150 km/h were recorded at Thredbo Top Station on Thursday afternoon. Cooma, Bombala, Goulburn, Nerriga and Canberra reported average speeds near 65km/hr…

Remnants of front approaching a few minutes ago – from my window.

My mother’s memories

I am obliged to Jim Belshaw for his post Train reading – introducing H R Carter’s The Upper Mooki Valley.

There is also a connection with our own small blogging village. Neil Whitfield’s grandfather taught at Braefield, a small school near the Mooki Valley. Neil described this experience in a family history post back in 2008, More tales from my mother 3 — Braefield NSW 1916-1923. Note the picture of the phaeton in that post. I will come back to that in another post.

My mother was born 20 July 1911 and passed away in 1996. With World War I being quite a topic this month her memories of several country places in NSW at the time are worth visiting. See also More tales from my mother 2 — Felled Timber Creek.

Just after the outbreak of World War 1 Dad was sent to a place with the lovely name of “Felled Timber Creek” which was six miles — walking — from Dalton and about twelve miles from Gunning, the nearest rail head…

A classmate drops in

I had an email the other day from a very eminent Cambridge scientist.

Neil,  I just, by some sort of accident, came across the piece you wrote about me and included my biog. from Alan Macfarlane.  It is indeed a long time since we interacted. I am in Cambridge most of the time, but come to Sydney rather often — at least once a year.  It might be fun to communicate before my next visit and maybe meet up during it…

He is referring to Nobel prize winner’s obituary triggers memories (2013). I hadn’t realised that Herbert is younger than me by about 5 months; I was one of the younger ones in the SBHS class of 1959, though our dux, Ted Oliver, was definitely the youngest. I remember him turning 16 at Sydney University!

Wollongong transforming

Those who have known Wollongong will remember the Oxford Tavern, derelict now for some years and allegedly haunted. Last Wednesday I took a photo of the ongoing and now rapid demolition.

Meanwhile the new shopping centre on the intersection of Keira and Crown gets closer to completion. I’ll do some more shots maybe today, or next week. See GPT’s hunt for 800 Wollongong retail workers.

To help the new businesses find staff, GPT has created an online employment shortlist with digital recruitment company Workible.

GPT Group’s development manager Steven Turner said the opening of the shopping centre would create the equivalent of 800 full-time jobs.

“This is one of the single biggest recruitment drives the Illawarra has seen,” Mr Turner said.

“We’re very proud that we’ve been able to create such a significant number of job opportunities and to be able to invite the community to apply for these positions.”…

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the news of 800 jobs was adding “social capital” to the city.

“These 800 jobs will increase the financial security for many in our community, stimulate economic activity and is the best weapon in the battle against poverty,” Cr Bradbery said.

“I congratulate GPT on their commitment and confidence in our region.”