© 2018 Greg & Sylvia RAY
Read more about the article Margel Hinder’s Newcastle Civic Park fountain
Civic Park Fountain, Newcastle. Photo by Barry Shoesmith.

Margel Hinder’s Newcastle Civic Park fountain

In these iconoclastic days, when statues are being hauled down and thrown into rivers, it's hardly surprising that some people have raised the question of whether Newcastle's Civic Park Fountain ought any longer to be named the "James Cook Memorial Fountain". In the days before the fountain . . . As a matter of fact, I'd be surprised if a very large proportion of Newcastle people even knew the famous fountain was named for the British explorer, whose reputation is now being revised in some quarters, mostly because of his negative attitude towards Australia's indigenous inhabitants…

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Two odd tales of shifting gates

On March 21, 1907, thousands of citizens of Newcastle, NSW, attended the Upper Reserve (nowadays more commonly known as King Edward Park) to witness the grand opening of a special gift to the city. The donor was businessman Joseph Wood, best remembered for his involvement in the city's Castlemaine Brewery but active in many other spheres. Mr Wood had donated a pair of splendid ornamental gates to mark his 50th year in Newcastle, and these were officially opened in the evening. Festoons of electric lights were strung from the gates at the top of Watt Street…

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Read more about the article Elva delivered the ice, rain hail or shine
Fred Princehorn's ice truck

Elva delivered the ice, rain hail or shine

During World War II Islington ice carrier Fred Princehorn had trouble getting employees to help him on his run. Not surprising, since most employable men were either in the armed forces or in protected industries. Luckily Fred had his 15-year-old daughter Elva at home, and she put up her hand to be his delivery assistant. It was a job Elva loved, despite the early mornings. Elva's dad would wake her at 1am, they'd have breakfast and hop on the truck for the trip to Dark's ice works in Newcastle where they would load up with blocks…

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