On June 5 Blanchetown will come alive as people gather to mark the centenary of the Foundation Stone Ceremony at Lock 1. This was the official commencement to the program to harness the Murray River with the construction of locks and weirs. Over 100 politicians caught the train to Murray Bridge before boarding the PS Marion for the rest of the trip to Blanchetown on June 5 1915.
Watch this space for updates on the day’s events. The book ‘Harnessing the River Murray: stories of the people who built Locks 1-9, 1915 to 1935’ will officially be launched. The book comprises over 240 pages and has over 150 old photographs illustrating the work and lives of the lock builders and their families. RRP is $44.95 Order your copy here.

Only seven weeks to go to the launch of “Harnessing the River Murray, stories of the people who built Locks 1 to 9, 1915-1935” by Helen Stagg.

On June 5 2015 at Lock 1 Blanchetown, SA, there will be a re-enactment of the ceremony which took place one hundred years ago to lay the foundation stone for the commencement of Lock 1 and of the great scheme to harness the River Murray. Helen Stagg’s book which is the culmination of over five years of research will be officially launched and will be on sale. The book comprises over 250 pages of history, including oral history, as well as more than 130 photos from the time. RRP is $44.95 (plus postage of $17.50 which covers up to 3 books.)

On 23 October 1924, an unspeakable tragedy occurred at Lock 2. Ten year old John Henry Bugg, whose mother had died when he was seven, was visiting his uncle Leonard John Welsh at the lock camp. In the unfamiliar environment of the river, the small boy had fallen into the river and drowned. The resident engineer lodged an official report on the incident and stated that due to the isolation of the locality, he had arranged for a coffin to be made so that the body could be sent to Adelaide.

I am very excited to welcome 2015. This is the year I have been working towards with my writing. Planning to launch my book in June. Watch this space. Click Follow if you want to be alerted about my progress with the history of the workers on the Murray River Lock and Weir Construction.
2014 09 12 mildura weekly Helen_s article
MW Page 19

Further to my previous post regarding “Can you help with a song” I have exciting news to share. On re-visiting a lady who attended school at Lock 7 between 1930 and 1934, and asking her again if she could recall the item the girls performed, she thought for  a minute before  a flash of insight dawned and she said Wynken, Blynken and Nod! I was overjoyed. Here is the text.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe —
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
“Where are you going, and what do you wish?”

The old moon asked the three.
“We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!”
Said Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in that beautiful sea —
“Now cast your nets wherever you wish —
Never afeard are we”;
So cried the stars to the fishermen three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam —
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home;
‘Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought ’twas a dream they’d dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea —
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one’s trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.[2]

Last week, the Mildura Weekly printed an article about my research and proposed book. Click on the two links below to read the article.

MW Page 18 MW Page 19

L to R: Les, Evelyn, (my mother) Sid, Walter,Gladys. Probably Lock 1 Blanchetown, c 1921