Saturday, August 29, 2020

Walter Withers Grave St Helena Cemetery

Walter Wither's Grave at St Helena Cemetery also known as St Katherine's Anglican Church Cemetery, Anthony Beale Reserve, 279 St. Helena Road, St. Helena, Victoria.



The Beale family lived on the property named St. Helena, with Anthony Beale's wife, Katherine Rose, dying on 5 August 1856. To her memory Anthony erected in his front garden, this beautiful place of worship which he named “The Rose Chapel”. For some two years after her death he used the chapel for long periods of meditation and prayer, much of which he recorded in his diary, now in the State Library of Victoria. After his death on 4 September 1865 the chapel was willed, with three acres of land to the Church of England. It was consecrated St. Katherine’s in 1876 by Bishop Thornton of Ballarat.





Friday, February 7, 2020

Golden Wattle Australia's National Floral Emblem


The Golden Wattle is Australia's National Floral Emblem and September 1st is National Wattle Day the day for all of the nearly 1,000 species of wattles in Australia. 

Wattles come in all shapes and sizes from prostrate varieties through to small to medium shrubs and up to tall trees

 Australia's national colors, referencing the wattle, are green and gold, popularly considered so since the 1800s and formally proclaimed and made official in 1984.





Wattle species are ideally suited to Australia's harsh environment being able to withstand droughts, winds, and bushfires. This resilience is thought to represent the spirit of the Australian people.


 The Golden Wattle is considered to be a symbol of unity bringing all Australians together.

 Most of Australia's fertile regions are dominated by the Eucalyptus species and their cousins, but from late Winter to Summer the countryside is blessed with the Wattle's bursts of yellow and gold.
Best wishes to everyone who is able to experience the flowering of the wattle for another year let's make sure we are all here again next year to be greeted once again by this natural delight. 

Best wishes also to everyone else wherever you are and whatever seasonal change you are experiencing such as the coloring and falling of the fall/autumn leaves let's make sure you are here to experience it again next year as well.