In the Dark
Tilligerry.com likes to get right in under the stories that are of interest to residents and, over the years we've been able to cut throuugh the corporate mumbo-jumbo, flim-flam and drivel dished out by those wanting to confuse us with the double speak, lies and spin that George Orwell spotted all those years ago. Donald Trump is a master of it and AI makes it almost impossible to sort the chaff from the wheat....including doctored photos and videos.
Having said that, we needed industrial strengthened metaphorical chain saws and well honed machetes to hack through the jungle of verbiage thrown at us at trying to find out what the mysterious boxes were. They have been joined to power poles in the shire.
Former Deputy Mayor Steve Tucker puts it like this:
Ratepayers want simple explanations and get angry with those trying to lead them up the garden path with self serving tripe which they can't understand.
One explanation is that they store power in batteries during times of excessive collection from solar panels and pump it back into the grid when the demand exceeds supply. Another is that they are telecommunication nodes.
Photo: One of the boxes outside outside the Anglican Church in Strathmore Rd Mallabula. But what is its function???
Vietnam Veteran Remembered
We have just commemorated the 60 th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan where a small Australian force survived an onslaught of an estimated 2000 North Vietnamese . Eighteen Aussies died and the victory was achieved through artillery bases 'walking' their barrage right to the edge of the dug in Australians.
These fire bases were an important part of the military strategy and local resident Vic Hartman in another incident, helped repel a force of the enemy in hand to hand combat.
If you look inside the alcove on the right hand side of our RSL beside the front doors you will see his name on a small plaque of remembrance.
Above all Vic is remembered as a 'one off' colourful character the likes of which we no longer see. Vic was a drainer. The Chinese kitchen at the Bowling Club had a problem over Christmas and were desperate to have it repaired. They turned to Vic who fixed it sort of!
After they were in full swing it exploded and the kitchen was covered with sweet and sour pork, fried rice and spring rolls. Vic was charged and fined.
Another incident saw him shine, where a new single storey house was built partly on the wrong block at Mallabula. The builder had the thing 'towed' to where it should have been and Vic had to burrow underneath to reconnect the plumbing.
It was however on a trip to Manly Warringah the Vic once again came into his own. He was an official with the local Rugby Union Club and after the kids were billeted out he wandered into the Dee Why RSL for a drink.
Flashing his RSL badge, the curious attendant asked him where Lemon Tree Passage was. Quick as a flash he drew a makeshift map on the counter with his finger. Well, he said, When you come past Soldiers Point, you head for Rocks Awash, go past them and through the oyster racks at Bull Island. Lemon Tree is just in behind them on the right.
The hapless official didn't want to display his ignorance and replied. Er...um...yeah, It's good fishin there I believe...
It was the the glorious individuals such a Vic that added so much character to our town. They, like Vic are all gone now leaving us much the poorer for it.
Photo: Tilligerry RSL. The memorial grotto is on the right of the entrance.
A Brush with Fame
Locals like to link our town with famous people and, over the years, we have had more than our fair share of them. This was highlighted just this week when a former first grade Manly player and ABC footy commentator hit the headlines. The 70 year old has cancer.
Years ago Johnny Gibbs and Fatty Vautin came up from Sydney to present the Mallabula Panthers with their annual awards. They did it for free. At the time, Gibbsy was a teacher at a Northern Beaches school and Fatty the school groundsma
n. On top of this, Mark Bryant, a local junior, went on to play in a Manly premiership winning team.
As far as soccer goes, Lemon Tree Passage was the home of Reg Date who captained the Australian team and still holds the record total of goals scored in club games.
We've had a couple of decorated war heroes, a famous doctor and a former school principal who exposed a ring of paedophile priests which saw some jailed and an archbishop of the church convicted of a cover-up.
The notorious Russian spy, Wally Clayton lived amongst us. Aboriginal artist Alison Buchanan stayed a while. At the time she was the most highly paid indigenous painter with her large original canvases commanding $30 000 from the corporate world and with her postcards being the most widely sold in Australia.
Our marina too has had it's fair share of fame. The yacht 'Winston Churchill' was on the slips only to sail away and lost in the notorious Hobart race of 1998 with the loss of life. David Lewis the epic Antarctic solo navigator moored here seeking shelter from heavy seas. The Bintang Siang made its last port of call here before being wrecked on a South West Rocks beach when a tow line broke. It was an imitation Macassan Prau used by 'Z' force to infiltrate Japanese held waters during WW2. The former naval vessel HMAS 'Banks' worked out of the marina as a tourist boat before going to Queensland only to be wecked on a reef.
We have featured these people and events over the last 20 years and you can learn more using google or AI if they interest you or by contacting our family history society which can steer you in the right direction.
Photos: Reg Date, HMAS 'Banks' and Johnny Gibbs in an old school staff photo. Can you spot him?
Spies in the Sky
Feel like pinching some mud crabs out of the professionals' pots up Tilligerry Creek? They bring $90 a kilo in the markets. If this thought has crossed your mind, think again!!!
You see, Fisheries NSW has been moving with the times and don't just make random patrols to catch thieves and illegal fishers. They now have unseen drones which transmit images back to their base stations. Suspects can be intercepted by land based officers and hefty fines, even jail can follow their arrest. Night vision cameras ensure 24/7'365 surveillance.
On top of this, stationary recording cameras, camouflaged and fixed to trees near launching sites complete the dragnet.
Want to know exacty how it works? Go to ABC iview and watch the 'Landline' segment screened on 2nd August which also looks into research on the mulloway (jewfish) in our estuarine system.
Oyster farmers too are moving forward with the changing technology, using their own drones to check out suspect thieves in and around the leases.
The message is simple for law breakers: You can run but you certainly can't hide!!!
Picture: Farmer Paul North with his drone.
Sitting Pretty
With electric cars very much flavour of the month, Club Lemon Tree is sitting pretty with its four recharging bays operational. What's more it is the only recharging point in Tilligerry. And that's not all. The 400 solar panels on the club roof reduce its power reliance on the grid.
The Federal Government has been caught short with limited fuel storage and supplies reduced by the Middle Eastern war. It has therefore been desperate to cut fuel use with a $20 million advertising campaign. They advocate using public transport, taking roof racks off cars, driving slower, cancelling unnecessary travel and inflating tyres.
At the state level, the NSW premier has promised an extra 1000 recharging stations to help with the transition to renewable energy.
Opponents say that the electricity comes from coal burning power stations so in the long run it makes no difference. What's more the solar panels come from China and they are made from Newcastle sourced coal which fires the furnaces.
Club President Kevin Colman OAM said that the charging bays were something of a windfall for the former bowling club.
We are very much a club looking to the future and were ahead of the power game. This sudden surge in demand saw us perfectly placed to take advantage of the changing situation, he said.
On another issue, we posted earlier a story of how silver has skyrocketed in price. It rose in sympathy with the record gold price of around $A7000 per ounce. This in turn has sparked a modern day gold rush with hopefuls heading west to the old gold mining towns of Sofala and Hill End near Bathurst. Of a weekend their population doubles as fossickers scour the creeks and river flats with their detectors and wash the river gravel with their pans. Their only real problem is affording the fuel to get them there.
Pictures: The charging bays at our club....and fossickers wash for gold in a western stream.
Tilligerry Community Library Open Day
Have you ever driven past and thought "I wonder what goes on in there"? Now is the time to find out. Our local library is an amazing, friendly place to come and browse/borrow some books, use the computers and print out your documents (for a small fee)
We have a regular volunteer on Thursdays that can help you with your phone, your emails, maybe your social media or even online shopping. This service is FREE!!
Come down and meet us and see what we have available for you. We are opposite the motel in LTP and open from 10am-12midday 6 days per week.
Keep Your Eyes Open
The discovery in Pt Stephens of two giant petrels infected with the deadly H5 virus has authorities seeking help from the public to report any suspected cases.
The disease has been brought up from the Antarctic regions by migrating birds and has decimated penguins, other avian species and seals.
The sandflats at LTP, Tanilba Bay and Mallabula are feeding grounds for many migratory birds and it is feared that they and other native species could spread the infection throughtout our birds, animals and the poultry industry.
Dog walkers, fisherfolk and anybody who frequents the tidal sandflats are asked to report any sick or dead birds on 1800 675 888. Do not touch touch them as in rare cases humans can also be infected.
A sign in the carpark beside the amenities block on Tanilba's waterfront identifies the birds that frequent our tidal area. Some venture as far north as Russia to breed before returning. They 'bulk up' on the worms and nippers found here before setting out on their journey.
Picture: The sign on the waterfront.....Report any sick or dead birds.
Farewell to Lachie
Long time Tanilba resident and community worker Lachie McKinnon has relocated to Morpeth to be closer to family.
He and his wife Judy were stalwarts of the Baptist Church. Lachie was an elder and for many years taught scripture at Tanilba Bay School. He was a retired school principal, his last posting being Gillieston Heights. Most of his service was in schools west of the Great Divide and he was granted early retirement due to impaired hearing.
Judy is currently in care at Raymond Terrace and Lachie still drives to see her regularly.
At 88, I'm slowing down and the village I'm buying into is close to my son's home and there will be minimum maintenance , he said.
We loved the 36 years at Tanilba and have made many friends which we will greatly miss, he added. I wish them all the best for the future.
Picture: Lachie at his Tanilba Bay home.
Awards Inspired Author
Now over 20 years old, the 'Port Stephens Literature Awards' are open for entry.
The Tilligerry Lions Club oversee the short story competition which has inspired budding writers over the years.
Phil Murray was one such writer who went on to publish his own book about his legendary father 'Gelignite Jack' to popular acclaim.
The competition is for short stories on any subject up to 2000 words . It costs $10 to enter with cash prizes and certificates for the top 20.
You can Google more details or ring Kevin Colman on 047 279 844 for more details or email him on: kevin_colman@yahoo.com.au
Photo: Phil Murray flanked by Steve Tucker and judge Lloyd Hogg at a previous presentation.
OAM's for the Tilligerry
There must be something in the water here on the Tilligerry Peninsula. We have 2 local residents who received OAM's in the Kings Birthday Honour List.
Sue Hamilton, our local volunteer, was celebrated for her long term support to the Tilligerry Peninsula. Sue has volunteered with a variety of organisations for almost 30 years. She has worked with Tilligerry Adult & Community Education Inc (TACE), Tanilba Bay Public School and the school's P & C, Tilligerry Community Association (Homework club, newsletter and community showcase at the festival), 1st Tilligerry Scouts, Tilligerry Football Club and now for Port Stephens Council as a volunteer in our local community library. Sue loves helping the community and particularly enjoys helping locals use their mobile phone, email account, social media accounts and printing.
The other local recipient, Gregory Budworth, received his for his work with social housing.
tilligerry.com congratulates them both!!
Trash or Treasure
'One man's trash is another one's treasure'...This old adage can be true when it comes to the world of art as some Tilligerry residents have discovered. The reverse can also apply.
A local second hand dealer attended the police auctions in Newcastle. These are held to dispose of unclaimed good which have been handed in or found in the possession of thieves.
He bought a painting for $800 and had it checked out by art experts. It turned out to be an early colonial painting by one of the Heidlberg school and he sold it for more than $100 000!!
Remember when we put out all of our rubbish on just one or two days each year? It was during this time that scavengers now called recyclers worked the area with their trucks, getting anything of value before the council contractors turned up. One such bloke found several William Dobell original sketches worth a lot of money.
Dobel won the Archibal prize in 1946 but a celebrated court case challenged the decision asserting that it was a caricature, not a portrait as required by the rules. He won but was left a shattered man who found it impossible to paint for several years.
On the other hand, ordinary paintings by famous people can change hands for a fortune. Britain's PM during the war, Winston Churchill had one sold many years after his death for over $10 000 000!
It works the other way too. A former Mallabula resident bought an early Rolf Harris painting she valued at many thousands of dollars. After he was exposed as a paedophile it became virtually worthless.
Picking through junk jewellery in charity shops can unerath the odd valuable gemstone and our Vinnies store is very much aware of this. At Tanilba Bay they always have the trinkets valued before putting them out on display.
Photo: A former Mallabula resident with her original Rolf Harris painting....now virtually worthless!
The Good Old Days
Tilligerry.com is very much alive and well but it is now a shadow of its former self and there is a reason for this. To understand why we must back-track to the 1980s.
You see, this is when we were part of TACE and based in the Plaza which has now been bulldozed for our new seniors village.
A shopfront became vacant and TACE was transferred from the old LTP school site to the plaza. These were the early days of social media and the base became a virtual internet centre as few people owned mobile devices or PCs. Indeed, our counter averaged over 2000 hits per month for our news service as it was the only one in town.
Today it is very much less than that as all local groups seem to have their own pages. We no longer have a counter as a virus corrupted our site so we just deleted it.
When the LTP library agreed to let us set up there, we moved and the Local Lions Club built desks to house our computers. It also saved us the costs of rent and increased the use of the library.
Indeed, as the other community groups based at the old school became independent, TACE was wound up but still publishes our news. It also has volunteers available six days per week to help locals and visitors photo copy and transmit documents. Of a Thursday, Sue Hamilton gives free time to help residents and visitors with their mobile devices and computers. PSC pays all costs for servicing the electronic gear.
A detailed history of both TAC and TACE has been given over to our local Family History Society for those wanting to know more. It is freely available on request.
The pictures show the the Lions donating to TACE at the Plaza....Our advertising near the bus stop.....Sue Hamilton and Helen Mizrachi being honoured for their years of service....and the Lions accepting a cheque for our residual cash after TACE was wound up.
Too Many Gum Trees
There was a time many years back when sand miners just turned up, mined their leases and left, leaving a mess behind them. This was the case when Mallabula, Tanilba Bay and Oyster Cove were mined for rutile and zircon in the 1960s -'70s. So much of the rare metals were in the sands that the dredge couldn't cope and it was worthwhile to return and mine it again. By this time they came under strict environmental laws and left the area in a better state than they found it.
Pure white silica sand is hard to come by as the NSW glass industry depends on it. Tanilba Bay and Oyster Cove have heaps of it, but ACI was told to mine behind the golf club first where it is not very deep and large trees had to be bulldozed to get at it.
After this was mined they were granted leases to the deep deposits between Tanilba Bay and Oyster Cove.
The company employed an honours graduate botanist to oversee the rehabilitation and a large cash deposit was lodged to ensure that this happened.
They were supposed to put it back the way it was before mining which included understorey species as well as the big eucalypts. Initially these were grown in the company on-site nursery but a direct seeding technique was found to be more efficient. The large blackboys were removed before clearing by a front end loader which used the bucket like an 'egg slide' to transfer them to the already mined areas. Seed bearing siftings from the plant were trucked back and mixed with the stockpiled topsoil and spread over the strip mined sections. It worked very well, indeed too well to the extent that the large gums dominated the landscape. Subsequent bushfires saw these trees seed even more.
The mine still operartes under new owners but extracts less sand from its northern dune leases as cheaper imports dominate the industry.
Pictures:The direct seeded gum trees at an early stage....the mined area some 40 years later....and the floating rutile dredge at Mallabula.
Gone Cuckoo
Forget about seeing koalas, they are almost gone out our way and anyhow, they are nothing to look at just a furry ball asleep in the fork of a tree. If you bash the tree with a sledge hammer they wake up and look around but they are more active after dark. What's more they are nocturnal!
Nature lovers flock to Tilligerry to look for other native species particularly birds. The sandflats host migratory birds that use our summer to bulk up and return to Asia to breed.
PSSC has erected signs along Peace Pde near the new amenities block for easy identification. Sadly their numbers have declined over the years as many of their stop - off feeding grounds in Asia have been built over with tourist complexes and they have starved.
Avian enthusiasts (twitchers) regulary turn up in Tilligerry to find many of the species that are rare and interesting. In
deed behind Mc Cann Park in LTP a chain wire fence was erected to preserve the breeding site of a pair of 'thick knees' (stone curlews). It has since been removed. Google them for ID).
Another interesting but ugly parasite is the channel billed cuckoo. This migrant from New Guinea, lays its oversized egg (some times two) in the nests of currawongs and magpies. The 'surrogate' parents rear them as their own despite no resemblance to the parent and being two or three times the size.
So there you have it. Get your field glasses and cameras. Forget the koalas and get up close and friendly with our Avian migrants.
Photos: The ID signs at Tanilba waterfront...and a channel billed cuckoo waiting for its currawong 'mother' to feed it at Mallabula.
Toxic Logs and Bushfires
Treated pine logs were once used for children's playgrounds and decking. This was banned some 20 years ago as they were impregnated with copper chrome arsenate. This protected them from rot and insects. The arsenic co
uld be transferred to humans from contact or by breathing in the smoke.
You can get all the info from the EPA site on AI or on google.
That brings us to the pine boardwalks between Mallabula and Tanilba Bay.
This scrub is the most burnt out bushland in Tilligerry as schoolkids fire it up in the holidays. Indeed they forced the evacuation of our school one presentation night due to the smoke. The fires also destroyed the hardwood decking in the 'Habitat.
PSSC owns the foreshore strip along the rim of the bay and its insurers foot the bill for replacement. The Habitat is responsible for the land from there up to the bike track near the School.
Former Councillor Steve Tucker is a burnoff advocate but the Council refuses to cool burn or slash near the bay. They cite a rare frog (which nobody has ever found there) as a burnoff could threaten its habitat.The wallum froglet i
s thought to live in the swamp and if it does it could be at risk.
The 'Habitat' volunteers are currently rebuilding some boardwalk but this begs the question: 'Will it all go up in smoke?' The answer is 'Yes', and there is a reason for this. You see PSSC and the RFS point blank refuse to burn it off on environmental grounds so the next fire will gobble it up.
Our local firies see it from a different angle as Life Member Richard Osborne OAM explains:
There are no fire trails in this scrub and it's very hard to get trucks in there. Also there are no water mains for high pressure hoses to tap into.
We were lucky last time as it was high tide and our fire boat and a mobile pump could fight the fire from the water.
So dear reader there you have it: Our little frog would stand a greater chance of survival if the area was cool burned in winter when his swamp was full of water. In summer he would be fried as the the wetland is bone dry. Our firies would be much more able to fight the fires if a fire trail broke the scrub into sections and if activists campaigned for cool burning the RFS and PSSC might just change their minds.
Photos: The wallum froglet....Dave Knight at a deliberatele lit fire....and Richard receiving his Life membership award.
Lift for Library
But where is it? This is most asked question by those wanting to borrow books in Tilligerry.
The town public library is situated on the main road opposite the Lemon Tree Passage Motel and when open, has a 'library' flag fluttering from a pole in front of it.
It's been there for decades and is staffed by volunteers and operates from 10am until noon six days per week. (Monday to Saturday).
A big makeover a couple of years back saw new carpet, reader friendly furniture and a slick paint job spruce it up.
What's more, a heavy cull of the least read books and an injection of new stock has something for everyone, including children.
Tilligerry Men's Shed workers have just removed the old overgrown sign and have carved a new one which is much more visible.
Business is more or less back to normal after a year or so of roadwork disruptions and the construction of a new police station two doors away. Council have taken over the computer access and has 2 brand new computers. A new scanner is on order and you will now be able to print A4 colour pages.
The library augments the mobile service which visits the villages of Tanilba Bay, Mallabula and Lemon Tree Passage on a rotational basis.
Both services have now recovered from the Covid lockdown restrictions and are back up to pace.
Photos: The LTP Library after the makeover......and the new sign giving it better visibility.
Book Donations
Tilligerry Community Library has always enjoyed the support of the community donating their books. Whilst we do appreciate them, we can only accept them with prior consultation. Our hours are 10-12 noon Monday to Saturday and our phone number is 4982 3477 if you wanted to call up or pop in and check with us before bringing them in. Please dont leave them at the door.
More than Just a News Service
You've seen our illuminated sign 'tilligerry.com' beside the main road near the golf club as you drive into town at night.
With news services moving away from the print media, tilligerry.com for over 10 years now has moved with the times and gives local residents the news that they can't get anywhere else. Indeed, those travelling around Australia or internationally can keep up to date with a click on a mouse or a mobile phone.
Before our 'hit meter' broke down we were averaging around 2000 views each month. We have a few businesses supporting us but we really don't want advertisers as we are a not for profit community service.
It gets even better. There are constant requests, usually from residents new to the area, for general information about available services and organizations out this way.
We now have an extensive community directory listing some 80 of these which includes: churches, clubs, social groups, cultural events, schools, tourist information, community support, JPs, medical services, play groups and pre schools.
Photo: tilligerry.com more than just news.
elebrating the re-opening.
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