Back to Culloden
OLIVE’S FIFTH POST.
Good Morning everyone. Olive here again. It’s such a lovely morning. There’s a bit of autumn in the air. Mike has been very busy with my outback days about when I was a station cook. He’s going to type my Culloden story soon he says.
Mike here. Olive has often told me about her time as a station cook in the thirties. I think the year was 1937 and she would have thus been 38 at the time. She worked on what the Americans call cattle ranches, cooking for the men who muster cattle.
1937 found her at Culloden, a large station belonging to the Spence family in Queensland. I had often wondered if that station still existed. Three nights ago night I googled the name, Culloden, and while not coming up with the station itself, the tiny town of Muttaburra appeared. Must be nearby, I thought. Muttaburra seemed to have no shops, just one pub, The Exchange.
So, working on the theory that the local pub would be a good source of info, I phoned the Exchange hotel and was soon speaking to the publican, Fiona Turnbull, who assured me that Culloden does still exist and was a mere 70 kms away, which is like being just around the corner in Queensland.
Fiona was eager to help when she heard I was searching for Olive’s past. Without hesitating for a second, she gave me with the phone number of the present owners and even numbers for descendants of the Spence family who had owned Culloden in Olive’s time. Here’s the hotel today
Here’s Fiona Turnbull who runs the pub, with Nev. Bullen one of the town historians. Fiona thinks Nev. can find rare photos.
A few hours later, I was speaking to the son of the owner Tom Spence, now 85 and thus 22 years younger than Olive. I guess he was rather suprised by my question. “Do you remember a cook who worked for your family round about 1937?”
Well, to my astonishment and delight, Tom remembered Olive and her children well. Barnie and Evelyn were about his age. He’d even thought about Olive from time to time, the stick they used to call her she was so thin, though no news of her had come through for 70 years. Of course he had assumed she was long dead.
Isn’t it fantastic to be able to reach back in the past, 70 years, and fill in a chapter of Olive’s life, eventually perhaps to even find photos? I am mailing Tom a copy of the film about Olive today. His jaw will drop!
Now, two days later Olive is still digesting the news that Tom Spence has been tracked down with the aid of internet and phone. “Oh, Gawd,” she said when I told her.
But I could see in Olive’s eyes as I boasted of my about my detective work, a flash of caution and even fear. It’s a bit scary to have the lid of your past, supposedly closed forever, just popped open like this. But then, when I assured her that Tom had fond memories of her, the stories about her year as a station cook at Culloden began to flow, getting funnier and feistier as she warmed to the task.
How to illustrate the story? Sadly, Tom reports his own photos were all washed away in a flood some years ago. But there is hope that his two brothers, Bill and Arthur, may have some images of the family homestead from that era.
In the meantime, here is a great photo from the Bicentennial Copying Project, State Library of New South Wales which helps. It could easily be Barnie and Tom in 1937, though it’s not them. They would have looked like these two. I’m sure. Both rode. Both worked as stockmen. Tom, the owner’s son and Barnie, the son of the cook, were mates.
Also looking for photos, is the present owner of Culloden, Karen Halbert. Karen is actually teaching herself how to load pictures onto an email to help tell Ollie’s story. Karen’s sending images of the homestead as it is today, also the shearing sheds, Karen herself, and a kerosene fridge with three doors. Why I want the old fridge photographed, is a secret for the moment.
Here’s the house today with Karen, the present owner, at the gate.
The old shearing shed’s holding a secret. Now they run cattle. No more sheep.
Talking to Tom, Fiona and Karen, I get the impression of strong cheerful people in a place so remote, that me, a stranger on the phone with a weird request, is a welcome thrill.
Equally excited is Fiona Turnbull who you saw above. Her pub, the Exchange in Muttaburra, is 70 km from Culloden. Fiona’s looking for photos of the old days of Muttaburra itself, the town where Olive stayed overnight in 1937 on her way to Culloden.
We know she and the kids went to the open air pictures that night in ‘37 on their way through. We dont know what they saw, but know that the screen was framed with the leaves of a rubber tree trained to be decorative, and that the Hall sisters played the piano for the silent movies, fast tunes for the action scenes and soulful melodies for the love interludes.
I am assured that a photo of the screen under the stars with its deck chairs which sometimes collapsed if you sat down too hard, will be found. (That hope of a photo is now fading)
A picture of the region as well as the people is beginning to emerge. 1000 kms inland from Rockhampton on the Capricorn Highway, past Emerald, past Alpha, past Barcaldine, almost as far as Longreach, this is indeed a remote land, and one that’s cut off by the wet season from November till April.
During those months the rivers are over flowing, or they used to be, and the dirt roads turn into muddy bogs. It was not until the appearance of four wheel drive vehicles after the 2nd World War, the army surplus Jeeps and then the early Land Rovers, that you could get around at all in the wet.
For some reason, Tom Spence says the women seemed to always like to have their babies in the wet season and it was the devil of a job to get them to a doctor or hospital with the roads impassible.
He remembers flying one woman, she was due any moment, in a tiger moth to the doctor at Muttaburra. Huge storm columns had to be skirted by the tiny open cockpit two seater with the expecting mother holding in the baby and shouting against the wind, ” Tommy, cant you go any faster?” To which Tom replied, ” there’s only one speed on this thing, Luv!” as the biplane bounced around the stormy sky.
Tom’s first plane was also a Tiger Moth, purchased for 350 pounds, and later pranged (wrecked) on a stump, hidden in the long grass of an improvised landing field. But his planes and prang came after Olive’s time at Culloden.
Tiger moth takes off dramatically (Queensland Digital library)
I’m forming a picture too of huge properties, some as big as small European countries. Culloden is now only 88,000 acres, having been divided up and bits sold off years ago.
One imagines the long hours in the saddle for the station hands, moving the sheep over vast paddocks, the men kept going by the hearty 5 am. breakfast that Olive had cooked for them as the sun came up, herself up at 4 am to get the wood stoves going.
Nobody uses horses anymore, says Tom wistfully. (thanks to the National Archive for this photo)
Olive claims she worked seven days a week as did daughter Evelyn, cooking both for the station hands in their own eating hall, and for the family in their posh dining room. This family dining room had an elegant table and a fine sideboard. Evelyn carried in the simple food wearing a neat apron and a cap, a touch of class in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes there would be wine.
But this is Olive’s blog and I should let her tell you the Culloden story in her own words, so again, be patient. She has told me the story. Now I must transcribe it.
Several more photos have just arrived from Karen, the present owner of Culloden. The homestead appears, sitting on the flattest of plains, it’s metal roof baking in the sun. In the tower, a water tank.
Lost in a vaste plain under under the great blue canopy.
The generator hut beside the back gate. Clumps of trees give some share and shelter.
karen herself, of Italian background sultry, with spiky black hair, looks across her shoulder in a way that’s more nightclubish than outback. I’ve asked for another photo in her working clothes.
Karen’s sultry photo. Not what I expected.
Karen drives off to muster cattle across her 88,000 acres. They don’t use horses any more.
Thursday, March 8th, 2007 at 9:50 am
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76 Responses to “Back to Culloden”
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March 8th, 2007 at 10:14 am
Oh my, she will be truly amazed that you were able to get in contact with someone who remembers her from those days!! How exciting! Please do tell us what her reaction was:-) All the best to you from Ontario, Canada!!
March 8th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Mike, that sounds like a wonderful story! I hope you can get Olive to tell it - I would love to hear from her perspective.
March 8th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
It’s pretty amazing you have contacted those who remember Olive after all these years! I hear a new charming story every time I visit.
-Kurt in California.
March 8th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Oh, Olive is going to be so surprised. I do hope that she can take a trip out that way or be able to meet with the family again for a little reunion. That would be awesome!
March 8th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Mike,
What wonderful news.
I admire you for what you are doing for Olive.
Also I thank you and, especially Olive for sharing her life with us in the blogoshere, or should I say bloboshere?
Many Thanks from Central Illinois, USA
March 8th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
That’s exciting news! I’m sure Olive will be very pleased to hear it. How lucky that you were able to find someone from the cattle station that knew Olive. I’ll look forward to hearing her reaction. Sounds like you’re having a lot of fun Mike
March 8th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
What great detective work! I’d love to hear about Olive’s time there.
March 8th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Greetings and Salutations from Durham, North Carolina!
Wow, that would be an amazing story; if a meeting between Tom and Olive can be arranged, that would be even more wonderful. Can you just imagine the spate of “do-you-remembers” that would be generated by such a meeting!
Please do keep us updated on this - it would be wonderful to be a fly on the wall for this one.
March 8th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Hello ,I stumbled on this ‘blob ” by accident ..I”ve so enjoyed reasding Olives stories …It’s always interesting to hear stories ..more so if you can visulize the area or grew up there .Thanks Olive .
March 8th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
That sounds awesome! I’m sure Olive will be pleased when you tell her! P.S. I did check out the TheHill88 at youtube.com! = )
March 8th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Mike, that is great. Olive is sure to be surprised and pleased when you tell her. Please don’t wait too long to tell us what she says.
March 8th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
That sounds great
Also wanna say thank you for the meat pie recipe. I wanna try making some pies soon. I`ll let you know.
March 8th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Mike, I think you are doing wonderfully with Olive’s Blob. What a lovely thing you are doing for her going to all that trouble to track down people from Culloden Station.
All the very best to you both in the future.
As for my parents’ dial up, people keep sending them emails with large files and their computer spits the dummy and refuses to download them! Talk about something out of George Orwell!
However, I will ask them how long it takes to get onto the net and if I remember (losing marbles??) I’ll let you know.
Cheers
Robyn
March 8th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Wow Mike! Can’t wait to read more
March 8th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Dear Grandma,
Hi I’ts me Sonya your great-granddaughter. Barbara’s daughter, your website is so cool, your great, great grandkids Darcy and Carmen are looking at your website as well. Mum rang me tonight to tell me about it. If you can send me your email address I will send you some photos of me and the kids. It is a shame we live so far apart I would love to see you. Love Sonya xxxxxxxxxx
March 8th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Dear Olive and Mike,
Greetings from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I enjoy reading your stories very much. They are educational as well as heartwarming, as are the comments from around the world. Thank you for bringing us all together.
March 8th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Hello to you from the middle of Germany, Rhine-Ruhr-Area:
I just got the 63th as a friend of mine mentioned your nice blog. I read it with great interest being astonished about these charming lines full of spirit and humor.
I beg you: please continue as long as possible. me and my friends will read it all.
God bless you.
With the best regards
yours
Guenther
March 8th, 2007 at 11:08 pm
What a wonderful surprise for both of them. Good luck with this adventure.
March 9th, 2007 at 3:04 am
olive, thanks for your courage to embrace the technology of the day to share your stories.
this month i will welcome my second child into the world and it provides an amazing contrast to think of the two perspectives on life. keep up the amazing work and may God continue to bless you.
michigan, usa
March 9th, 2007 at 4:31 am
Oh Mike, you are such a wonderful friend to Olive…I do hope you can get them together in some way (if only by phone)! I’d love to be a fly on the wall with that conversation! Please keep up the ‘blobbing) for her! LOL! Karen UK
March 9th, 2007 at 6:23 am
That is good news for Olive.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Groetjes 10
March 9th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Well done , Mike, your a bloody ripper as the Aussies say.
Olives BLOB! is great thanks to you.
I have everyone reading it and just love it.
Just wish our old mate Roy Fox had lived long enough to set up a BLOB! too. He had some great stories to tell too.
I have a old friend who lives local ( on the Central Coast) and he can tell you incredible stories and history of Gosford and surrounding areas having been born and bred in the area.
I think I had better set him up with an Olive style BLOB! so you can all read some of his stories. Keep up the good work Mike, just loving the Olive blog ……………..
March 9th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
thank you for this.
March 9th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
oi friend! its blog is very pretty, that God always blesses to it! desire the vc and to all its family, much peace, health, joy and that all its dreams if carry through, or at least a good part of them! I will be very happy in receiving its visit, ok! an excellent end of week, and a kiss in its heart! congratulations per the international day of the woman! I wait its visit.
March 9th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Dear Mike, I’ve managed to get a scanned image of the brazilian magazine that mentioned Olive. Unfortunatelly I’don’t have time now to translate it, but I’ll try on this weekend.
I’m lookin forward to know how she’ll react to your surprise!!
March 9th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Hi from Seattle, Washington. Thank you both for doing this. It’s the best thing I’ve read online in a long time. So interesting and in no way are the stories too long. Olive’s grandchildren, the greats, and the great-greats are so lucky to have this.
Best wishes!
And the great great Grand children are still emerging. I got photos of great great gand children who olive has never seen, sent to me last night to pass on to her. Mike
March 10th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Greetings from the west coast of France !
March 10th, 2007 at 1:45 am
And the plot thickens! I hope Olive will be willing to share a recipe or two
Hi Michelle, you really have become a regular responder. I have tried to get recipes from Ollie but she’s dismissive. “Just good plain food,” she says. Yes, but what, Ollie? “Oh, roasts, you know, that sort of thing.”
This is not France, Michelle not Italy either. Whilst Australia is now full of good restaurants and good cooking, all of that post dates Olive’s era. In her day you just applied heat to the ingrediants and that was about it. It is remarkable that we have hardly a single national dish, except a dessert named after a Russian Bellerina, the Pavlova. That’s why the meat pie assumes its undue importance.
I once ran through all the international dishes we now take for granted with Olive and was astonished to discover how few of them she had ever tasted. In the film we made together, I have her eating Chepatis and explain they are similar to what people eat in the Hunza valley, a famous longevity area in Pakistan, the orginal Shangri la. She finds them quite tasty but is not about to add them to her diet. Mike and Ollie.
March 10th, 2007 at 3:50 am
I am so enchanted to find this beautiful
blog with a colorful author!
The template is wonderful as well!
hugs!
Sophie, we have to thank Wordpress for the template and Gerard O’Farrell of Silvertrees for putting it together.
I have already told the story in another reply of how I found an old dress in Maleny, Queensland, which provided the strip which runs down the side of the blog and seems to blend well with Ollie’s own dress. Works well, I think, don’t you? Mike and Ollie
March 10th, 2007 at 8:38 am
This is astounding!!!! What a treasured gift this shall be for Ollie’s family! What a gift for all of us!
Alison in Nova Scotia, Canada
March 10th, 2007 at 10:17 am
it’s amazing!
i’m a chinese and i have a blog on Blogger. it’s so nice to see you!
I support your blog!even though you have an old age but your heart is beating high!
Come On !
Thank you Dawn form Olive. Mike the helper
March 10th, 2007 at 10:24 am
I’ve just read the updated version of the post. I can’t wait for the stories! I check this blob every day and I get so excited when I find something new. I recommend Olive’s blob to everyone, and have a link to her on my own blob. Keep up the great work, mike!
March 10th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Hi Mike, It is fantastic to hear all these stories from the past which give us such an insight into history. I am so excited about your latest discovery. Ross thinks it’s amazing that you have found someone from so long ago who still remembers his Nan. We can’t wait to hear more of her stories from those days. Lynne- wife of Ross, who is Olive’s grandson. (Bulli, Australia)
March 10th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Will look forward to hearing about your experiences working on that “ranch.” Reminds me of stories about the big wide open spaces in our own U.S. Texas where people speak of the land they own in hectares unlike the term “acre” used by many of the rest of us with some smaller plots of land. keep on blobbin’!
Joared in Southern Calif. USA
March 10th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Hi! It’s Devin from Las Vegas again. I can’t wait to see the pictures of the ranch. I grew up in the Sonoran Desert in a town called Wickenburg in Arizona. We had ranches all around us. I miss hearing the cows while riding on horseback as we would take them to the watering hole. I haven’t been back home for 11 years! I am thinking about revisiting my past this year as you have yours.
I wanted to ask, have you been to the United States? I have a friend who grew up in Oz and remarked the similarities between the two. Beef consumption being one of them. Maybe someday I’ll get to Australia. It has been a dream of mine for a time now.
Well, it’s almost 6 PM here and I must make dinner.
Peace and Love Always!
P.S.
Do you have a MySpace?
March 10th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Hi.
Its very good to see the people with that you work in a long time, and still you find her friends form Culloden Station.
Best Regards
Patrícia Oliveira
March 11th, 2007 at 2:46 am
Hello again!! What a wonderful idea!! I bet that Olive will be really surprised by the fact of taking a “journey to the past” like that. Wow… it’s amazing how time passes by and we don’t notice the things and people we leave behind. It may sound strange but this blog gives me hope and puts a smile on my face whenever I read it, because it makes me believe that there is still hope for this crazy world we are living in. Thank you Olive and Mike for such a wonderful thing. Much more to come (sorry if there are mistakes in my writting but I’m spanish)
Lots of kisses, Olive!!
March 11th, 2007 at 3:11 am
It is really interesting and sometimes funny to read you
And thank you - Olive - for the smile that appeared in my face after visiting you blog.
By the way am writing from Istanbul/Turkey
March 11th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Hello! I posted a message some hours ago but it has been deleted. I don’t know why. Anyway… I just wanted to say that I’m really happy for Olive to be able to experience so many wonderful things. As I always say: age is in the heart, and Olive’s one is still young and full of life. I really love this blog; I think it’s the sweetest thing that I’ve ever seen. Lots of kisses from Spain to Olive and Mike (you are doing a great job).
Sorry, Monica, but Olive and I needed a rest over the weekend. So, no got answered or posted. Mike the helper.
March 12th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Hi Olive,
Congratulations, this blog is very very good. I use to write on a web italian magazine (made by other young guy) as a hobby. We think that your blog is quite interesting, so we would like to have a little interview with you.
Is possible to do that via e-mail?
Thank you so much
Regards,
If you send some questions, we can arrange an Inerview, Marco. Mike
Marco Sansalone
info[at]marcosansalone.com
March 12th, 2007 at 2:58 am
How exciting!! You are a good detective! I am looking forward to reading more!!
Rachel in Kentucky, USA
March 12th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Hi I agree that is fascinating reading. Reminds me of the best … what am I saying ONLY romantic novel I have ever actually finished the THORN BIRDS which I thought was excellently written really brought life on a (this one was a sheep) station alive.
PS If you want to be entertained click the purple Beefight hornets video link on mine. I think that is the best piece of internet film I’ve ever seen …
All the best 2u both. I think you have a lovely “blob” …
Hi Gledwood, I did have a look at your bee film and it is fascinating. (you’ve certainly got a bee in your blog) Everyone else who can run moves on their computer should have a look to. No use showing it to Ollie, her eyes are not good enough for that detail. Mike ther helper
March 12th, 2007 at 9:24 am
This is an excellent blob. I’m looking forward to reading more.
I’ll be putting a link to you on my blog. I live in Woy Woy and post pictures of the Peninsula and Brisbane Water.
March 12th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures from Iceland. I too want to visit there. I very much look forward to reading more of Olive’s stories. I do hope that Olive gets lots of rest in between all of this excitement. With best wishes, Elena from Victoria, Canada
March 13th, 2007 at 2:46 am
Olive -
I stumbled on your “blob” today, and I must admit I have had the most enjoyable morning reading through your story.
I almost spit coffee because I was laughing so hard at the story of your walker and your bell at your great grandson’s house.
May the day find you in good health, and keep smiling. The world is smiling with you.
Bethany in Minnesota USA
Hi Bethany. There has been a pause, we’re a victim of our own success. Olive has wonderful stories of Culloden and I am detirmend to get pictures and that is proving a long business. I guess we should work with what we have. Mike the helper.
March 13th, 2007 at 2:58 am
Olive:
“Are you going to have something or not? You’re annoying me.”
LOL!
Thanks so much for sharing your story on your “blob”, Olive (and Mike). Most heart-warming stuff I’ve read in a long time. Keep kickin’ Olive, the whole world is listening now! Speak your mind, and tell it like it is!
(neatorama.com published your link, so you’re about to get a flood of new visitors; get ready. Ain’t the Web grand!)
Yes that’s a good line, Isn’t it? “you’re annoying me” Sometimes I do annoy the old girl. Making the film with her a few years ago she got very testy with me and it ended up on the screen. Mike the helper
Sincerely,
Robert
New Jersey, USA
March 13th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Hi Ollie and Mike,
I just found your blob and I absolutely love it. Ollie, you tell great stories and you’re funny. I loved the pictures of you swimming and was very interested in the lettuce story. I’d be interested in hearing how that turns out.
Blob on!
Greetings from Munich!
Carrie
Carrie, yes we are still waiting ior news from the lettuce man. Mike the helper.
March 13th, 2007 at 7:33 am
It seems there isn’t a lot of wisdom left in this world and I am glad Olive is still here to share it with us! I am so grateful to have found your blob. Working with the elderly has been my life’s goal since a young age, and beautiful people such as Olive (and you, Mike) make it that much more fulfulling. Keep writing!
Hugs in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
That’s a good goal, Chandi. have you achieved it? Mike the helper
March 13th, 2007 at 10:11 am
Dear Olive,
It is with much happiness that I read your messages here on the blog. They bring me much cheer and joy. I wish you all of the very best! Do you ever have the opportunity to visit with any Penguins?
Cheers!
Gruntie
Drear Gruntie, we love your name. It’s half way between Auntie and grunt, Grunt means to make a sort of animal sound in English. Do you make such sounds?
No, we have no penguins near here. There used to be some but they disappeared years ago.
We have a lovely little movie theatre near the beach at Avoca and one hot night, a penguin walked in the back door which was open for the sea breezes. I wonder if he enjoyed the movie. Maybe not. He never came back. Ollie had her 104th birthday at that same theatre. Mile and Olllie
March 13th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Hi Olive and Mike,
I’ve really enjoyed the Blog and look forward to hearing more stories from Olive. God Bless, John
You are welcome anytime, John.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Hello you two…. I am from Brazil (but I am rarely there, once I travel a lot around the word because of my work).
Just wanted to say that I loved the “blob”!! It is amazing all the stories and fascinating..I am loving it! Already in my favorites.
Hope I can bump into you when visiting some good friends in Oz!
Keep it going!
Much love
Love to meet you Marcia next time you are in Oz. Mike the helper.
Marcia
March 13th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
God bless you Olive! This blob has touched me in such a wonderful way. I admit that I spend a lot of time poking my way thru CNN and wish I had something better to read. My father passed away 2 years ago, and he and I used to talk about his days gone by and even though I miss him dearly I still have those memories he shared with me. Mike you’re a wonderful inspiration to others. We need to stop and listen every once in awhile.
Love from the middle of the USA! Des Moines, Iowa.
Nathan, there are lots of old people with stories to relate waiting for a kindly ear. Find them while they are still here. Mike and Ollie.
March 13th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Big hugs and kisses from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! Love your blog, Olive!
Thanks, Heather. I wish Olive could see your magnificant coastline. Mike the helper
March 13th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Mike I just wanted to thank you for sharing Olive with us. She reminds me of my grandmother. Strong women always seem to find a way to get their stories heard. Olive thanks for letting the world get to know you.
Lots more to come Cindy if i can keep the pace. I’m having to learn a lot about doing this. Mike and Ollie.
March 13th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
What a great stories you both have written! I got here not knowing what this blog is about, but I`ll definitely come back to read more of Olive`s stories.
I wish good health to Olive and enough time for both of You.
Mairita from Latvia, Europe
Mairita. You are the first from Latvia. Welcome!!!. My wife’s father lived in Riga for 20 years. She says you have lots of weather vanes on old roofs. Roosters who spin in the wind. I wonder if anyone ever invented a rooster who crowed, activated by the wind? Mike the helper
March 14th, 2007 at 1:13 am
I am totally amazed! And of course love the stories!
Good health to you, dear Olive and many-many happy years ahead!
Mike! You are a great man caring for her like that. Oh, by the way I can remember your film - Me and Vincent. Loved it
Greetings from Hungary!
Vica
Where did you see the film about van Gogh, Vica? I havent shown it to Olive yet. Broken Hill where she came from, has a lot of outback artists who paint the strange red landscape, plein aire as he painted, and have galleries all over town. Unlike Vincent, they sell very well. Pro Hart was the most famous. He died recently.
There is a connection with Vincent in that our critics never took Pro Hart seriously. He was ingnored as Vincent was ignored. As you know, only Vincet’s brother, Theo, seemed to apprecate his work.
I found Vincent a very touching character. His letters are as amazing as his paintings, perhaps more so. For the film, it’s called Vincent and Me, by the way, I did about 30 copies, a spooky experience. It was like having in him looking over my shoulder as I slashed away at the canvas late at night. I should hang one in Olive’s room.
March 14th, 2007 at 4:52 am
Hi Olive! I’ve really been enjoying reading your entries and I can’t wait for the next one. I think it’s wonderful you are sharing your stories with us. On a side note, I think I am related to Fiona Turnbull! I know I am part of the Turnbull clan from Scotland, and that there are Turnbulls in Australia. It’s a small world, eh?
Hugs from Victoria, Canada,
Natalie
March 14th, 2007 at 10:47 am
As so many others I just want to say how great it is to hear stories from Olive! As I read theough your blob* (*its gonna be an international hit hehe)I started wondering why I haven’t talked more to my own great grandma…So now I have resolved to visit her as soon as I get back from my studies in England to my very own beautiful Norway
That sounds like a great idea, Renate. let us know how you go talking to her. Mike and ollie.
March 14th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Olive, your stories are amazing and I find myself fascinated with Australia, even more than before. I look forward to more and more stories and the photos are wonderful, too!
Dont get too romantic about Australia, Kenju. In some way it is an infuriating country. Did you read what the local council is doing to the lettuce man at Mc Master’s beach. It’s in post no. 2. Mike
March 14th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I am so happy to have found this wonderful blog!
It was featured on http://www.cynical-c.com
Olive, your stories are so interesting and this blog is something completely unique.
Thank you for sharing yourself with the world, I look forward to many posts to come!
Carly in New York
Thanks for the link, Carly, Mike and Ollie.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Pictures are amazing!!!!!
Such a wonderful job Mike to find all those old memories… I think we have to thank Karen, Tom and Fiona for being so helpful! If you talk to them agian pass my these words, please.
I hope Ollie loves the surprise and the pictures.
Regards
Marcia, the Brazilian hehehehe
Shall do, Marica. Maybe they’ll see your comemnt. Mike and Ollie
March 14th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
Hello there Mike and Ollie!
The news about your blog have reached Norway as well. Keep up the good work! Sending you two a big hug, siskan:)
March 15th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Mike, world is really small! I know that there are quite many Latvians living in Australia, but I`m not so sure about weather vanes and roosters
Riga has changed a lot.
Mairita
Not many weather vanes here, either, Marita, though at country fairs you see them for sale made by old men in the garage as a hobby. Mike the helper
March 15th, 2007 at 12:12 am
Hello, dear Olive.
I’m from China, I read your story from the newspaper.
My birthday is 20th, Oct,too. Though I was born in 1981 and you was born in 1899, it’s so luky to have the same birthday with you, isn’t it?^_^
When I saw your picture, I found you are a charming lady. Thank godness, you seem so happy and peaceful.
My grandma is 94 years old, she told me one thing that I will never forget. She said no one’s life could be smoothly always, when you were old you should thank God that you are still alive, because only the stronger can bear the hard life and enjoy the happy life.
Give you my best wishes, and hope you have a wonderful day.
Dear Sissy, thank for all you thoughts and good wishes. Your grandmother is right bab ut things no always going smoothly in a long life . It is very hard to get Olive to talk about things that went wrong in her life , though. And since it’s her blog and not mine, i dont push hard. Mike the helper.
March 15th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Dear Olive and Mike,
I think that there are some mistakes in my expression maybe. If I confused you, I was so sorry about that. My English is poor, I will try my best to express correctly.
In my opinion, you are the one of the strongers. Because you live in the world happily and peacefully. It is not easy.
I appreciate of you so much that I wrote to you yesterday. The simply philosophic theory of life is happy everyday. We are not necessary to bring the life’s vexations to ourselves. What you have wrote in the blog bring us so much happiness, that is enough. Thank you.^_^
Sissy, dont worry about Mistakes. Olive is very happy that you like her blog. Mike the helper.
yours sincerely
sissy hanhan
March 16th, 2007 at 1:05 am
Greetings from Ontario, Canada! This is such a rare find in Blogworld, truly one of a kind. Thanks for sharing your interesting stories and thanks, Mike for facilitating! Very fascinating! Pies look good too!
March 16th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Mike and Ollie, what a wonderful story. I’m glad you were able to get some info on Culloden Mike. I did some asking around and most people had heard of Culloden Station but that was all.
Have a wonderful St Patrick’s Day both of you.
Regards
Robyn
We are going to be on Longreach AbC radio, EWed morning next week, or al least I will be, Ollie is a bit sick. Maybe some info or photos on Culloden will appear as a result. I”ve also send a copy of Olive’s film to the pub at Muttaburra, c/o Fiona. Prsumably they will have a public screening and that might spark some finds. Tommy, the son who knew remembered , has been sent one too. We’ll see what turns up. Mike the helper.
March 19th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Hi! a find you site in google, it’s nice! I have no own homepage… somestrangetextvista is
March 21st, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Dear Olive, no dought you would remember the Wedgwood family that lived next door to you at Culloden, they lived at Burslem which was renoun at the time for their tennis parties and race Horses.
Just to let you know, we are still here.
My Granmother on my mothers side was Berrie Logan who’s maiden name was Wedgwood.
Berries mother was Kate Wedgwood and her father was Robert.
Kate and Robert Wedgwood are both buried here at Burslem station.
Have enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to reading more of your great stories.
Regards
Sandy Browning
Sandy, this is just what we were were hoping, news from the area. Sadly, she does not. She does remember a horse breeder in the area who was actually a relative of hers, Harry Evans. Mike.
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:46 am
hello olive~
I heard your story about your blog.
you so old, but you have passion.
here are South Korea.
see you~
July 11th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Hello Olive,
I am the nephew of Bill, Tom, and Arthur and grew up with Tui and Peter Spence in Pastoria and Culloden before returning to America. I lost touch with my family many years ago and would like to re-establish contact with them. Could you please forward my email address to anyone that may help?
Thank You,
Carl Lewis
Carl, How exciting to be able to help you get back in touch your relatives. I’ve sent you Tom’s phone number privately. I do hope you’ll share with us any appropriate anecdotes about getting back in touch after a long time. Mike the helper
July 13th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Hello Olive and Mike
This is Bill & my sister Dorothy here two of Bill Spence’s four children. Our father is Tom’s younger brother and we think was about 14 when you were at Culloden.He remembers you well. We were raised on Culloden and remember the old homestead well and you were right that the photos do look a bit different as the house has changed quite a bit over the years. We remember the mystery fridge well, we used to, as tipical bush kids, pinch the centre out of the B loaf bread stored in that very fridge. Skin and hair use to fly if we got caught. Our family moved from Culloden in 1962 to “Gue” which our father bought and owed till 1997.He is retired and now living in Muttaburra.
I, Bill, am still living on a property in the Muttaburra area, and have my sister visiting at the moment. On showing her your web site we noticed you had a letter from Carl Lewis. Both my sister and I remember Carl as he and his brother were on Pastoria when we were kids on Culloden. We would much appreciate if you could pass Carls e.mail address on to us as we would like to get back intouch. We have enjoyed the trip down memory lane and will try to find some photos of Culloden to share with you.
Cheers
Bill and Dot
Dear Bill and Dot, so interesting to get your message and the news about the old days. I hope I can phone you and do a more in depth interview. I gave Carl your phone number and that of Tom, thinking you folks did not have email. I will now find his email and send it to you. Mike the helper
August 4th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
How wonderful to get in touch again with people who knew Olive in 1937! And thank you, Mike, for all the interesting information about life on Culloden then and now.
You are welcome, Ruth. Mike the helper
September 8th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I’m Mary Spence’s daughter and William Srn. and Mary (Anges)Spence of “Culloden” were my grandparents.
Hello Bill and Dot! Strange meeting up with you on a website.
If anyone is interested, the dining room tables and chair and the sideboard along with other items were inherited by my mother. Sadly, they were lost in a house fire in 1967.
My mother owned “Pastoria” at one time, and I remember Butch and Carl Lewis (Hello to you too!) when they were living with Peter and Tui. I have Peter and Tui’s wedding photo - Tui was a beautiful woman.
Family - please feel free to contact me via this site.
Hi Sharon, very happy to play postman. But do you think all these folks will see it. How will they know? Mike the helper
September 8th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Good point Mike - please pass on my email address to Carl Lewis. I know where Bill lives.
Thanks.
I’ve already sent it to you, Sharon. Mike the helper
July 29th, 2008 at 5:24 am
I can’t believe that you got in touch from people that she knew in 1937! Thats amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!