The actual date is disputed, but a lot of people think TODAY is the 70th anniversary of the release of The Wizard of Oz. Was a better movie ever made? I don't know what terrified me more....the Wicked Witch of...

Australia's Play School celebrated its 50-year anniversary with the special retrospective documentary, Big Ted's Excellent Adventure: 50 Years of Play School.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/44008 This image was scanned from a photograph in the University's historical photographic collection held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. If you have any information about this photograph, or would like a higher resolution copy, please contact us or leave a comment.

Convict Gang Macquarie Barracks Sydney Courtesy State Library NSW A Petition from The Chain Gang at New Castle To Capt Furlong The superintendent praying Him to Dismiss a Scourger Named Duffy from the Cookhouse and appoint a Man in his Room Francis MacNamara 1st With reverence and submission due, Kind sir those words are sent to you, And with them a good wish too. Long may you reign, And like Wellington at Waterloo Fresh laurels gain. 2nd Your petitioners are under thy care, In mercy therefore hear our prayer, Nor let us wallow in despair, But soothe each pang, But allow no flogger to prepare Food for your gang. 3rd 'Tis said that by your ordination Our late cook lost his situation, And Duffy is in nomination His berth to fill; But has not got our approbation, Nor never will. 4th Your judgement Sire, put to good use, Nor burthen us with foul abuse, Full long we've drunk the dregs and juice Of black despair, Yet we can find another screw loose Or two somewhere. 5th Our jaws now daily will grow thinner. And stomachs weak, as I'm a sinner, For Duffy is a human skinner, Most barbarous wretch. Each day I'd rather have my dinner Cooked by Jack Ketch. 6th It matters not whether salt or fresh, Even his touch would spoil each dish His cooking we never can relish - We'd rather starve. For be assured tis human flesh He best can carve. 7th To any rational being I appeal, Whether he's fit to cook a meal For a vile caterpillar or a snail, Or a beast of prey. Men he has scoured in every gaol In Botany Bay. 8th I know the damned devils when they sit To dine, will long for a savoury bit. Now Duffy's just the person fit To boil their kettles, To send him to the Bottomless Pit To cook their victuals. 9th But did he even touch our meat. A furnace our coppers wouldn't heat, And every knife, fork, spoon and plate Would cry out Shame, And in the midst of our debate Would curse thy name. 10th Or if Saints Matthew, Mark, John and Luke, With Moses who wrote the Pentateuch Consented to make this flogger our cook. I'd say 'tis foul; If I wouldn't swear it on the Book, Hell seize my soul. 11th Now sir, your petitioners great and small On bended knees before you fall; Nor let us in vain for redress call, Drive Duffy away, And as in duty bound we all Will ever pray. 'Tis needless to say the prayer was granted. Notes Transcribed from the Trimingham manuscript State Library NSW The Sydney Monitor Monday 15 January 1838 p.2 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/32158675 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. Friday, January 12, 1838. Colonial Secretary's Oflce. Sydney, 6th January, 1838. HIS Excellency the Acting Governor has been pleased to appoint CAPTAIN RICHARD TASKER FURLONG, of Her Majesty's 80th Regiment of Foot, Assistant Engineer and Superintendent of the Ironed Gang at Newcastle, under the provisions of the Acts of Council 3rd William IV, No. 3, and 8th William IV, No. 1. By His Excellency's Command, E. DEAS THOMSON. The Sydney Herald Friday 8 February 1839 p.2 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/1525450 Birth. At Newcastle, on the morning of the 6th instant, the lady of Captain R. T. Furlong, 80th Regiment, of a daughter,

A dingo pup found close to death on a outback track could help answer "ground-breaking" scientific questions.

This photograph is from the collection of Barry Howard, who was an Electrician at local coal mines such as Hebburn No. 2 and Northern (Rhondda) Colliery, and at Saxonvale Colliery, further up the Hunter Valley. Mr Howard has very kindly permitted us to to publish these photographs on this website for the benefit of researchers and for those who served in the mines and their families. If you have any information about the photograph, please contact us or leave a comment. We greatly value your contribution. Please contact us if you are the subject of the image, or know the subject of the image, and have cultural or other reservations about the image being displayed on this website and would like to discuss this with us.

On the night of November 14, wander outside and gawk up at the sky.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46416 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Christmas shoppers in Sydney, Australia - December 1935. Photo: H.H. Fishwick/Sydney Morning Herald/Fairfax Media

A fellow quilter and guild member asked me the other day if I was contagious – passing on the quilting bug to all my friends. Well, it certainly seems that way. I am proud to introduce my friend Angela’s amazing Wizard of Oz quilt. She picked up the fabric from the internet and the local quilt shop and had questions about how to put it all together so that the different tones and colors would work well. We had lots of fun going through my extra fat quarters to find colors and prints that played well with the theme fabric. After that I said, Add pieces until the blocks are all the same size, very vague instructions, I know. But Angela’s an experienced seamstress and crafter and she knew just what I meant, took it and ran with it. The finished top is 66 x 90 and absolutely stunning. I don’t know yet who the lucky recipient will be.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46394 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes Architect James Henderson built this hotel for Walter Sidney. The Cenennial Hotel goes throught to Hunter Street, where it is two stories high. It consisted of 60 rooms, 4 bars, a large dance hall, central heating, hot and cold running water and flushing toilets. In this image the Air Force Club ( also known as Longworth Institue and Wood's Chambers) has been built. Click the link below to see an earlier Ralph Snowball image: www.flickr.com/photos/uon/3237444241/ Click the link below to see a modern image: www.flickr.com/photos/uon/4286805176/in/set-7215762323919... This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46393 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46413 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/4517 This image was scanned from a negative in the Bert Lovett collection. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46423 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes Image shows a large group of men standing in front of the Cardiff Hotel at Cardiff. Women and children can be seen standing on the balcony. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46407 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46382 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes Image shows the workers of the Hunter River Meat Preserving Company, or the meat works as it was commonly known, standing next to a pyramid of products. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46378 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes Image shows children swimming in Lake Macquarie, and standing on the foreshore at Speers Point. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46387 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

This image was scanned from the original 35mm slide in the R.W. Miller/J and A Brown Collection, held in Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle Library, NSW, Australia. Please contact Cultural Collections if you are the subject of the image, or know the subject of the image, and have cultural or other reservations about the image being displayed on this website and would like to discuss this with us. If you have any information on the photograph, please contact Cultural Collections.

Claudia Karvan discusses the rollercoaster of being a working mother. She openly discusses motherhood, mastitis and making it in this article book extract

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46425 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. Notes Image shows a group of people standing in front of the General Roberts Hotel at New Lambton. Several horse-drawn carriage can also be seen in the foreground. The sign hanging from the balcony reads: "This hotel is now kept Phillip Byrne, who is so well known for the best of spirits wines beers etc." If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46424 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes Image shows the a group of people standing in front of the General Roberts Hotel at New Lambton. Several horse-drawn carriage can also be seen in the foreground. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46371 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes Image shows quarry workers standing around a large crane, in the quarry owned by William Whiteman. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

From Georgian town to modern metropolis, Sydney buildings have been bulldozed, rebuilt and built again.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46390 Jane Hardy (née Falcus) was the licensee during 1884, 1885, 1886. Her first husband, Thomas Hardy, held the licence 1880–1884. Her second husband, Arthur Gower held the licence 1887, 1888, and then Jane Gower, widow, held it 1889–1892 inclusive. Information kindly supplied by Christine Ryan of Newcastle, NSW, great-great-granddaughter of Thomas and Jane Hardy. This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes The sign above the door reads: "Jane Hardy, licensed to retail fermented & spirituous liquors". This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46386 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46420 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46421 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

Ladies Twisted Front Tee Dress has capped sleeves and comes in a shorter length, just at the knees. Deep turquoise and chocolate brown spiral summer dress. **Please note: I make each tie dye separately by hand so... yours will be very similar to the picture above but will also be a one of a kind piece. Processing time of 2-3 weeks is normally a worst case scenario, many of my items ship much faster. Contact me if you would like an ETA. Made of 100% lightweight 5 oz. cotton Jersey which drapes beautifully on the body. With a dress that has this much volume, you want a lightweight jersey. Not too heavy for summertime. After dyeing, the dress is totally opaque. There are shaped seams under the bust to give the dress body hugging fit. Serged necklines. Turned & stitched armholes & bottom hem. Flattering full swing skirting glides over the hips. Very pretty flattering dress suitable for bridesmaids or how about some ballroom dancing? Size Chest Length S............36.......40 M...........37........40 L............38.......42 XL..........40.......43 2XL........44.......44 3XL........50.......46 Machine washable and pre-shrunk, according to the manufacturer the sizing on these dresses do run a bit small. Machine wash in cold/warm water with like colors line dry, NEVER add bleach! ~Measurements are taken with garment laying flat. *Deep Turquoise and Brazil Nut

Looking for the perfect high-quality hoodie? This unisex hoodie is a mix of comfort and function. Soft and cozy on the inside, sleek and stylish on the outside. • Unisex fit • 80% cotton, 20% polyester blend fleece • 100% cotton face • Fabric weight: 8.5 oz./yd² (280 g/m²) • Jersey-lined hood • Split stitch double-needle sewing on all seams • Twill neck tape • 1 × 1 ribbing for cuffs and waistband • Metal eyelets This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

Source: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/46373 This image was scanned from the original glass negative taken by Ralph Snowball. It is part of the Norm Barney Photographic Collection, held by Cultural Collections at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Notes Image shows the buildings of the Cockle Creek smelter (owned by the Sulphide Corporation Ltd.) in the background. This image can be used for study and personal research purposes. If you wish to reproduce this image for any other purpose you must obtain permission by contacting the University of Newcastle's Cultural Collections. If you have any information about this photograph, please contact us or leave a comment in the box below.

By challenging myths about indigenous foodways, Bruce Pascoe helps Australians rediscover their true culinary heritage.

Craigieburn Library in Hume, Victoria has been named public library of the year award following a cross-continent competition – here are nine more amazing library buildings across Australia

Halloween is quickly approaching. I've already missed my opportunity to add Halloween or fall pieces to my shop but do need to make a costume for the small boy. My son is obsessed with the Wizard of Oz and for the past few weeks he told me he wanted to be the Tin Man. Since he is 4 and rather fickle, I ask him about every third day as I ponder a plan for how to construct his costume. Today, when I do my 'verification of Halloween costume', he informs me he wants to be the scarecrow...... alrighty then, change of plan, now I start to develop a plan for the scarecrow. In reality, I will devise a costume for both characters and wait until I have just enough time to finish them before I even start construction. He's allowed to be fickle, he's 4 (yes, I continue to remind myself of this fact as I write), but now I realize why the past couple of years I just broke down and bought his costume. Ah, the joy of motherhood! :o)