Australian Tales - by Craig Hill

Professor Fred Hollows was an eye doctor (opthalmologist). In his lifetime Fred gave thousands of people, all over the world, their eyesight back. Fred Hollows was born in New Zealand in 1929. His family was religious, and Fred thought he'd like to be a missionary, but he changed his mind afte...

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Caroline Chisholm was known as 'the emigrant's friend', having earned the title for her work with poor migrants to Australia in the 1800's. But despite all her work and her fame today, she died poor and forgotten after such an amazing life. Caroline was one of Australia's most outstanding women. ...

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The Sydney Opera House is located on Bennelong Point, named after the first Indigenous Australian to have intimate contact with Europeans. However, the story of Bennelong is also the amazing story of a true statesman, diplomat and bush politician. The 25th of November 1789, almost two years ...

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Edmund Barton was born in Glebe Sydney in 1849 to William and Mary Louise (ne Whydah). A clever boy with a love of literature, music and art, Barton was educated at Fort Street Model School and Sydney Grammar School. It was at Sydney Grammar that Barton first met Richard OConnor. The lives of B...

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The content on this site is written and mediated by Craig Hill Go to Craig Hill's home page for information about corporate training courses, university preparation courses and writing services available ...

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Fred Hollows	Nancy Bird-Walton	Rolf Harris: Master Entertainer
Sir Henry Parkes: Father of Federation	Caroline Chisholm	Woollarawarre Bennelong: Bush Diplomat
Edmund Barton: Australia's First Prime Minister	Post End Text

Fred Hollows

December 1st 2011 04:55

Professor Fred Hollows was an eye doctor (opthalmologist).

In his lifetime Fred gave thousands of people, all over the world, their eyesight back.

Fred Hollows was born in New Zealand in 1929. His family was religious, and Fred thought he'd like to be a missionary, but he changed his mind after doing some work at a mental hospital.

Fred decided to become a doctor and eventually specialise in eye surgery.

In 1960, Fred got a job in Australia. Five years later he was head of the Eye Department at a Sydney hospital.

Fred always believed strongly in equality for all people. He was told about the need for Aboriginal health services in Sydney. He took up the cause, and helped set up the first Aboriginal Medical Service. There are now more than 60 across Australia.

In 1993, Fred died at home surrounded by his friends, his wife Gabi and their five children.

Adapted from the detailed biography of Fred Hollows at the link above

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Nancy Bird-Walton

January 13th 2009 07:43

Australian aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton died today at her Sydney home, aged 93. Named a Living National Treasure by the National Trust of Australia in 1997, she was one of Australia's aviation pioneers, and the first female pilot in the Commonwealth to carry passengers.

Born in Sydney in 1915, Nancy wanted to fly almost as soon as she could walk. "I had this reputation of climbing fences and trees and calling myself an eppy plane. You know, jumping off fences and waving my arms."

Nancy left school early to work in her father's general store in the country. "With my hard-won savings I bought myself a leather coat, helmet and goggles, because I was going to learn to fly."

Nancy was thirteen years old when she flew for the first time while at an air pageant. She paid the pilot a bit extra to do some aerobatics! "My sister said I came down a little green - but on the other hand it became the ruling passion of my life."

In October last year, she attended the inaugural Australian landing of Qantas' first super passenger jet the A380, named the Nancy Bird Walton in her honour.

"There's a wonderful quotation 'whatever you can do or dream, begin it'."

Adapted from the detailed biography of Nancy Bird-Walton at the link above.

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Rolf Harris: Master Entertainer

November 29th 2008 02:17

Rolf Harris CBE, AM is almost unique among Australian entertainers, in that he excels in many different areas of the arts. A musician, singer, composer, TV host, sportsman and painter, he even painted an official portrait of the Queen.

Rolf was born on 30th March 1930 in the Perth suburb of Bassendean, in Western Australia to Welsh immigrants, Crom and Agnes Harris. He is also the nephew of Australian artist Pixie O'Harris. He was named after Rolf Boldrewood, an Australian writer that his mother admired.

Harris started on television in it's early years in Perth, with his rapid drawing style and flair for amusing entertainment. He moved to England as an art student at City and Guilds Arts School, Kennington, South London at the age of 22, notably illustrating Robert Harbin's Paper Magic (1956). He also had a few acting roles in British television programs and film as Harry in The Vise and as Pvt. Proudfoot in the 1955 film You Lucky People.

In October 2008, Harris announced he would re-record his 1969 hit "Two Little Boys", backed by North Wales' Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir, to mark the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Adapted from the detailed biography of Rolf Harris at the above link.

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Sir Henry Parkes: Father of Federation

November 23rd 2008 02:25

Sir Henry Parkes is known in Australian history as the Father of Federation, following his famous 1889 Tenterfield speech. Sadly, having worked so tirelessly to make Australia independent from Britain, he died before the dream became reality.

Henry Parkes is considered one of the great men in forming Australia into the country it is today. In recognition, his picture was on the old Australian five dollar note for over twenty years. The town of Parkes in Central New South Wales is named in his honour.

Sir Henry Parkes Australian Father of Federation

Henry Parkes was born to a family of yeoman stock in Warwickshire on 27th May 1815. Unfortunately, falling wheat prices forced the family to leave the land and seek employment in Birmingham. In 1836 Parkes married Clarinda Varney and they applied for assisted passage to Australia, the death of two of their infant children and a failed business venture influencing their decision.

Arriving in Australia, he found work as a farm labourer, but low wages did not appeal! Renewing his old interest in politics, he went to work for the Customs Department in Sydney. Over the next few years he went into business for himself and at one stage owned the Empire newspaper. Through this period be became very influential and played a major role in the cessation of transportation of convicts to Australia.

Parkes faced personal tragedy and more criticism after marrying Eleanor Dixon about a year (6 Feb 1889) after the death of Clarinda (2 Feb 1888). This marriage was never recognised by his family. Eleanor died in 1895, leaving Parkes with young children and in a declining mental and physical health. He then married Julia Lynch who nursed the old warrior until his death on 27 April 1896 at the age of 80 years and 11 months.

Adapted from the detailed biography of Henry Parkes at the link above.

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Caroline Chisholm

November 22nd 2008 11:12

Caroline Chisholm was known as 'the emigrant's friend', having earned the title for her work with poor migrants to Australia in the 1800's. But despite all her work and her fame today, she died poor and forgotten after such an amazing life.

Caroline was one of Australia's most outstanding women. Her portrait was on the five dollar note for more than twenty years.

Caroline Chisholm was born in England in 1808. Even as a young girl she was interested in helping people. Her parents' home was always open to everyone, no matter how rich or poor.

When she was twenty-two years old she married Archibald Chisholm, an officer in the British Army. Early in their married life the Chisholms decided to move to Australia. When they sailed into Sydney it was still a convict town.

Unlike other army wives Caroline didn't stay at home. She took walks around the small town of Sydney, and was shocked at what she saw. There were many women living on the streets. Forced to travel out on filthy, overcrowded ships, they'd come to Australia looking for a better life. But when they got to Sydney, there were no jobs or places to live.

In 1846, Caroline Chisholm went back to England to work on another scheme for migrants. She talked the government into giving the families of former convicts a free voyage from England to Australia.

In 1877 Caroline Chisholm died at home in England. By then she was very poor and almost forgotten. But Australian history recognises Caroline Chisholm as one of our greatest women.

Adapted from the detailed biography of Caroline Chisholm at the link above.

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Woollarawarre Bennelong: Bush Diplomat

November 19th 2008 10:51

Woollarawarre Bennelong Aborigine Australia

The 25th of November 1789, almost two years after the landing of the First Fleet, was a remarkable day for Australia, just as it was equally remarkable for a certain individual who went by the name of Woollarawarre Bennelong. It was on this day that two Aborigines, Bennelong and Colby, were lured by some fish down to Manly Bay and, once close enough, the two men were bundled into a waiting long boat and taken to the settlement of Sydney. Governor Phillip had ordered the kidnapping of some Aborigines because he was under strict instructions from King George III to 'endeavour, by every possible mean, to open an intercourse with the natives, and to conciliate their affections, enjoining all our subjects to live in amity and kindness with them'.

Time and time again, Bennelong exhibited skills of determination, diplomacy and resolve that could be likened to that of an astute and seasoned politician. He was considered a vital link between the white settlers and the Aborigines because of his ability to speak both languages and behave accordingly in both cultures.

Woollarawarre Bennelong died on the 3rd of January 1813 at James Squire's orchard at Kissing Point (Meadowbank) on the Parramatta River at the approximate age of 50.

Adapted from the detailed biography of Bennelong at the link above.

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Edmund Barton: Australia's First Prime Minister

November 17th 2008 13:30

Edmund Barton was born in Glebe Sydney in 1849 to William and Mary Louise (née Whydah). A clever boy with a love of literature, music and art, Barton was educated at Fort Street Model School and Sydney Grammar School.

It was at Sydney Grammar that Barton first met Richard O’Connor. The lives of Barton and O’Connor would run parallel courses; each dedicated to the cause of Federation, both members of Australia’s first Federal Cabinet, and, ultimately, both would sit on the nation’s first High Court.

Edmund Barton First Prime Minister Australia

In January 1920, at the age of 70, Edmund Barton died suddenly of heart failure at Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains.

Adapted from the detailed biography of Edmund Barton at the link above.

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Post End Text

January 1st 2008 12:01

The content on this site is written and mediated by Craig Hill

Go to Craig Hill's home page for information about corporate training courses, university preparation courses and writing services available

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