ALFRESHCO A History with Recipes released for outdoor fun

'ALFRESHCO foreshore flavour' follows and expands on previous books; 'THROUGH THE HEADS to Balmoral, Sydney' and MOSMAN MEANDERS & foreshore flavours'.

Outdoor eating, whether a backyard BBQ, an elegant alfresco supper or a picnic at the beach, is about the pleasure of sharing food with friends.

I explore the process of adapting and developing through our First Fleet legacy of portable industrialised food, the early influences on food and tastes, the introduction and inspiration of world cuisines and the birth of the modern food industry.

WITHOUT GREAT PRODUCE THERE CAN'T BE GREAT FOOD. 

Caprese Skewers P 90

Simple finger food ideal for alfresco / picnics, this salad includes traditional ingredients ie 180g baby bocconcini, 8 cherry or grape tomatoes and 1 cup fresh basil. 
Simply toss in a dressing of 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar, 1 tsp sugar or honey, and 2-3 tbsp olive oil, seasalt and freshly ground pepper then thread on skewers.

Enjoy - Claire

Aussie cockies keep us supplied with fabulous produce

Our land of extremes

As Dorothea Mackellar expressed so well in her poem "My Country",
Australia historically is a land of extremes, as the farmers well know;
devastatingly depressing, as they struggle with stress and anxiety,
loss of hope and collectively the loss of millions of dollars in income.

My Country 

by Dorothea Mackellar (1885 - 1968)

The love of field and coppice,

Of green and shaded lanes.

Of ordered woods and gardens

Is running in your veins,

Strong love of grey-blue distance

Brown streams and soft dim skies

I know but cannot share it,

My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains.

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel-sea,

Her beauty and her terror -

The wide brown land for me!

A stark white ring-barked forest

All tragic to the moon,

The sapphire-misted mountains,

The hot gold hush of noon.

Green tangle of the brushes,

Where lithe lianas coil,

And orchids deck the tree-tops

And ferns the warm dark soil.

Mackellar was an Australian poet and fiction writer.  My Country, was written at age 19 in 1904, while homesick in England. 

From - The Australian Jan 11   2011 - Floods in Queensland.

Mental health organisation, Lifeline, is preparing for a surge in rural depression as, after years of drought, farmers watch their bumper harvests being washed away by floods.'

New standards are obviously needed to prevent urban development in flood prone areas. The environmental and social consequences are often overridden with the primary interest being the economic value of the land. Farmers today understand their forefathers didn't farm appropriately for Australian conditions but today's farmer has a different appreciation.

Hopefully, the following years with full dams and replenished underground water storage, will be more positive for the Aussie cockies who keep us supplied with fabulous produce and by the way, they are not subsidised. Flood can follow drought but even if there is little rain in the period to follow, good harvest will normally occur due to the underground storage and moist soils.

"We need the Rains"

Clara waxes lyrical - "We need the Rains"

 360 degrees horizon 

Following a visit to catch up with G's family in Dooen - Wimmera - Victoria
Dooen Pub is alive and well today and still fulfills a vital purpose as a meeting place for farmers, residents and travellers to tell their tales, share time with others to renew their faith that the arid earth will be quenched in time. Clara

Wheat silos near Dooen


 

Dooen Hotel opened in 1876
 (Photographed 2004)

 

 



"We need the Rains"
Clara -  Easter 2001  - for G

Dooen Pub

What'chya been doin' all this time

Since they built you in 1876?

On a vast dry plain beside this endless road
Only silos to interrupt the wide horizon.
"We need the rains," you must have said,
and still do now.


You've quenched the thirsts, heard the tales
Of those brave folk who toiled and sweated
Endured the drought yet kept their faith 
That the parched earth would yield its golden bounty.
"We need the rains," they must have said,
and still do now.


Horse and cart; semi-trailers, cars 
Bring a thirsty crowd to drink, to tell their tales 
Share time with others to renew their faith
That this arid earth will be quenched in time
"We need the rains," they must have said,
and still do now.

'Drought, flood & bushfire' - biblical constants

Drought dried waterhole became a bog

Sheila in the Bog (Sheila - Australian slang for 'woman')

A glimpse of bovine terror -
Rolled back eyes and flared nostrils
Showed your intense and overpowering fear
Of sinking further into the mud


Drought dried waterhole
Circled by frantic calf, desperate to connect
Sensed disaster removing prime security
Yet respected danger there


It’s hungry demands had led you to
Seek scant remaining water
Violent efforts to reach familiar foothold
Immersed you even deeper


At your peak of terror when it seemed
your struggle for survival had been lost
Help arrived in human form
Backed up with red tractor


“Hook the noose around the horns
Hold the horns - keep the head steady.
Don’t want to break her neck!
Come on Girl - you can make it!”

“Well done Men, - I knew

We’d get the sheila out of the bog”

Mates back in the army on duty again!

They got her out - she didn't last the night. We feel for the livestock and native animals trapped in the floods. 


Clara - Stanthorpe Queensland -
October 2002





Aftermath - following September 11, Bali bombings Undermined human security

Terror

Bovine terror in your eyes -
Your familiar foothold
No longer there.
Structure of security changed
Threatening the fibre
Of your survival.
Drought is your terrorist--

Sydney Harbour Bridge completed during the Great Depression

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge construction started in 1924 and took 1400 men eight years to build at a cost of £42 million. Six million hand-operated rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction.  It was officially opened on 19 March 1932 in the midst of the Great Depression.

Before Paul Hogan (from the movie Crocodile Dundee) became famous,
he worked on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a painter.

Construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge

Capta
Captain Francis De Groot, a member of the proto-fascist New Guard organisation,
preempted the bridge’s official opening, riding up on horseback and slashing
the ribbon with his sword. De Groot was dragged from his horse by police
and later convicted of offensive behaviour. 

Jack Lang cutting the ribbon

Fathers Day Gift Suggestion

The Island   David Boddam Whetham

We live in a friendly and safe community nestled in a very beautiful harbour-side locale of historical and cultural importance.   It’s worth reflecting on how special Mosman is and how important it is to preserve what we have. This sentiment has been wonderfully captured in two books written and   published by local resident Claire Mitchell – ‘Mosman Meanders and foreshore flavours’ and ‘Through the Heads to Balmoral, Sydney’.   They’re great reminders of our past, present, geography and history together with beautiful illustrations and interesting facts, walks, stories, and recipes.   Prof Dennis Bobyn                                              Claire Mitchell    0421 319 496   http://mosmanmeanders.blogspot.com

Snapshots of content which may appeal to the special men in your lives. Fishermen ‘In the Know’- Balmoral Wharf is still an excellent fishing spot where you might be lucky enough to catch the following:-  Dec/Jan – Salmon/Kingies;   Mar/Apr-Jewies;  May/Aug – Trevally/John Dory;  Sept/Oct-Tailor…  The occasional Eastern Rock Lobster can also be found with the help of a waterproof torch. Messing about in boats In 1857 the ‘Dunbar’ was wrecked off South Head.  Some of the timber salvaged from the wreck was used by boat builder, Dan Sheedy, to build a yacht of unique design.  The yacht, The Australian, was designed by Richard Hayes Harnett,  who ignored all previous and current hull forms and led the world in yacht design by studying the shape of a mackerel.  After it was launched in 1858, he sailed it into Mosman Bay. Underwater diversity SIMS ‘Sydney Institute of Marine Science’ is an innovative multidisciplinary marine science facility located in historic buildings at Chowder Bay and Georges Heights, the location ideal for marine research.Photo - A 360 degree underwater camera system off the Sydney Coastline.  1923 - 1950 Order of the Star of the East  Amphitheatre Built to view the returning Christ walking on the waters through the rugged heads; replaced by a re brick citadel “Suburbanisation had conquered all.” ‘The Manor’ in Clifton Gardens  was bought in 1925 by The Theosophical Society (The Order of the Star), after leasing it since 1922 for a community of 50 people, headed by the notorious occultist, Charles Webster Leadbeater. (The story surrounding the amphitheatre is one of extreme controversy, doctrine splintering and radical breakaway factions .  Its membership included such people as, Prime Minister - Alfred Deacon; architect - Walter Burley Griffin; with Yeats, Oscar Wilde, Joyce, DH Lawrence and Gandi influenced by it.)  Available from Outlets -   Pages & Pages;  Oracle Bookstore;  Frenchy’s, Mosman Art Gallery - $29 ‘Through the Heads to Balmoral’ is available  an e-book through your favourite online bookstore - $9.90

PROMENADE – “Concrete mad”, they all said.

BALMORAL PROMENADE WALKWAYS, PAVING AND SEATING WORKS – SOUTH OF BALMORAL RESERVE

Monday 6 August – Friday 30 November 2018 

Council Contractor, Design Landscapes Pty Ltd will be undertaking the seating works at the southern end of the Balmoral Reserve between the Public Dinning Restaurant/Swimmers Club/Kiosk Building and Children Play area.This work will be undertaken during the period of August to November 2018.

With the work on the promenade progressing well it's interesting to look back to the 1930's when the promenade was first built as a Depression employment project.

Extract from 'THROUGH THE HEADS to Balmoral, Sydney'  

The Tramp Tramp Tramp of Workless Men 1929 'The Great Depression seized the world An economic 'ogre' crippled industry,Threw workers to the streets - and having vent its worst fury,lingered in the shadows until WW11. Hardship endured, depression employment yielded the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Balmoral beautification scheme; Rotunda, Bathers Pavilion, Promenade. "Concrete mad!" they all said. “…  Later, a promenade was built, which made a big difference to the area. .. they used to have to shovel the sand off the tramlines after heavy winds and rough seas…” Ted  Pethebridge The public campaign of opposition to the development meant that many councillors did not survive at their next election, being accused by the electors as being ‘concrete mad’.  Not everyone welcomed the exchange of the great sand dunes and the cutting of many more trees, for an English –style promenade. “Well, it was our beautiful sand dunes.  To spoil it with that cement structure was shocking. The same as we hated when they built that monstrosity there.  We thought the bathing pavilion, was the ugliest thing we’d ever seen.” Margaret Ewart   ‘Mosman Voices’

However, many did grow fond of the promenade from the baths to the pavilion, with the beach on one side and the Morton Bay and Port Jackson Figs on the other.

Safe from future threats of council amalgamation?

I am in agreement with Penelope Pryke (Mosman Daily July 5  2018 – Your Say) that the threat “is far from over”. See transcript below.

In the Newsletter 04 Sept 2017, on the MAFA2016 site, it’s stated that “We are very much relieved and pleased that Mosman has avoided council amalgamation.  However,  we should not be complacent  and convinced that the current state of affairs is necessarily permanent.”   

Reasons are given as to why MAFA remains wary, concerned and  prepared to reactivate its anti-merger campaign. Dennis Bobyn on behalf of the MAFA team, looks to our new council to continue to defend Mosman and build our community  to be ever more efficient, strong, safe and enjoyable.

Claire Mitchell   Foreshore Flavour

TRANSCRIPT

Last year, an Upper House Bill on banning future council mergers, including Mosman, without community plebiscites was defeated by the Berejiklian government.

David Snedden (Your Say, 28/6) says that the council amalgamation “threat has passed”. David, the threat is far from over. A Liberal state government election win will mean Mosman will once again be threatened. The Premier has denied this and Felicity Wilson will too but the coalition promised no mergers before and deceived us. Communities know the Government listens intently to the Property Council, the Urban Task Force, Committee for Sydney and Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, all supporting future council mergers and expanded development.

The only barrier to that is Mosman volunteers who fight consistently for us. Let’s not forget the hard work of now Mayor Carolyn Corrigan, councillor Tom Sherlock and council staff who prevented us being delivered to Willoughby and North Sydney decision making.

Council safety work wasting money? No. State Government? Yes. Road work spending is peanuts compared with your taxpayer’s money on local government reform of over half a billion dollars to make Mosman, North Sydney, Ku-ring-gai etc do what their developer mates want.

Penelope Pryke, Mosman

Great news for our harbour slopes

Hi there

Great news for our harbour foreshore slopes as explained in the article below from the Mosman Daily 28/7/2018.

The Harbour Trust and Mosman Council along with the vigilance of local residents have protected our 20 km of beautiful, natural foreshores from inappropriate development but this was threatened by recent legislation which meant that there was no longer a need for a development assessment for some one or two storey houses. 

Thanks go to Kate Eccles on behalf of Mosman Parks & Bushland Association and to MP, Felicity Wilson, for her support in ensuring that our valuable foreshores continue to be considered and preserved, by the extension of collaboration with Mosman Council. 

Cheers Claire

Cooking was my mother's way of showing love

So many of my childhood memories are associated with food and the love which was put into it's preparation.   

The earliest food memories are when I was probably about four, in a rambling old house which Dad was renovating. Endless happy hours were spent on the swing suspended from the walnut tree — that is when we weren’t eating the garden produce. This consisted of a glorious bounty of fruit trees: apples, peaches, apricots, gooseberries. I still recall our red stained fingers and mouths as we devoured raspberries warmed by the summer sun and the taste of sun ripened tomatoes from the vine.  

Mum made all her own jams, chutneys, pickles and bottled fruit and Dad was pretty good at it too, his pickled mushrooms being my favourite.There was always a fragrant offering simmering on the blackened top of the fuel stove, with cakes, biscuits, coconut ice, and amazing chocolate cake all appearing with miraculous regularity. Obviously Mum had a sweet tooth, so consequently struggled with her weight but cooking was her way of showing love. I was her greatest fan, praised for my enthusiastic efforts and held up as a fine example to my sister who had a poor appetite. 

Early tastings 

“Bluff oysters are said to be the most flavoursome in the world because they are slowly grown in the cold, clean waters off the southern island of New Zealand. They would be collected from the rocks by the sackful. Dad would open an oyster and throw his head back to scull from the shell. Of course, I would do the same, in my role as intrepid taster;  however I must admit to an initial sense of misgiving, reinforced by my sister’s horror.

This brave act was followed up by the tasting of Mutton Bird — valued by Māoris. The birds which are brined and stored in their fat, are said to taste like mutton with some describing the strong flavour as ‘duck crossed with anchovies’ — not for the faint palated.

Extract from my new book, 'Alfreshco - foreshore flavour'  soon to be published. 
Visit -    http://fitinyourjeanscuisine.blogspot.com  for healthy tasty alfresco ideas.

ANZAC biscuits - an ideal treat for picnics

The wives and mothers of Australian soldiers first came up with the recipe for these biscuits during World War 1. The original ingredients were chosen because they didn’t spoil and didn’t need refrigeration: this means the biscuits are particularly good for picnics.

1½ cups traditional rolled oats, 1 cup plain (all-purpose) flour, 2/3 cup brown sugar, ¾ cup desiccated coconut, 1 cup golden syrup, 125g   butter, 1 tsp bicarbonate of (baking) soda, 2 tbsp boiling water.
Preheat oven to 160°C.

Place the oats, flour, sugar and coconut in a bowl and mix to combine. Place the golden syrup and butter in a saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring, until melted. Combine the bicarbonate of soda with the water and add to the butter mixture. Pour into the oat mixture and mix well to combine.

Place tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto baking trays lined with non-stick baking paper and flatten to 7cm rounds, allowing room to spread. Bake for 8–10 minutes or until deep golden. Allow to cool on baking trays for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

ANZAC DAY 

ANZAC Day Dawn Service, Sydney

April 25th marks the day on which Australians come together to commemorate all men and women who fought for the country since the First World War –  it is the anniversary of the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli in 1915. This year also marks 102 years since the first Sydney commemoration of ANZAC.