Saturday, December 14, 2013

Nelson Mandela

From: Upworthy Website

Watch This Grocery Store Erupt In Song For The Man The Entire World Loved

Story by:  

When the news broke that beloved and revered civil rights icon Nelson Mandela had passed, it felt like the entire world took a collective sigh as we mourned the loss of one of the greatest heroes of a generation. The Woolworths in South Africa was planning a Christmastime fundraiser with a flash mob. At the last minute, they dropped the Christmas song they were going to sing and chose to pay tribute to "Tata Madiba." The song they chose is by British musician Johnny Clegg called "Asimbonanga," which was written in the 1980s calling for Mandela's release from prison. I can think of no better way for this flash mob to honor the legacy of a man who for many represented the heart and soul of the fight for freedom.



This beautiful tribute to the late Nelson Mandela at the Woolworths South Africa store was performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir





Vale Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918-2013)


Monday, October 14, 2013

We have had a few beautiful days of rain and cool weather so thought I'd try and 
capture some of the roses with the raindrops on them.












Friday, August 23, 2013


The Curlew Song 

The viewless blast flies moaning past,
Away to the forest trees,
Where giant pines and leafless vines
Bend 'neath the wandering breeze!
From ferny streams, unearthly screams
Are heard in the midnight blue;
As afar they roam to the shepherd's home,
The shrieks of the wild Curlew!
As afar they roam
To the shepherd's home,
The shrieks of the wild Curlew!

The mists are curled o'er a dark-faced world,
And the shadows sleep around,
Where the clear lagoon reflects the moon
In her hazy glory crowned;
While dingoes howl, and wake the growl
Of the watchdog brave and true;
Whose loud, rough bark shoots up in the dark,
With the song of the lone Curlew!
Whose loud, rough bark
Shoots up in the dark,
With the song of the lone Curlew!

Near herby banks the dark green ranks
Of the rushes stoop to drink;
And the ripples chime, in a measured time,
On the smooth and mossy brink;
As wind-breaths sigh, and pass, and die,
To start from the swamps anew,
And join again o'er ridge and plain
With the wails of the sad Curlew!
And join again
O'er ridge and plain
With the wails of the sad Curlew!

The clouds are thrown around the cone
Of the mountain bare and high,
(Whose craggy peak uprears to the cheek --
To the face of the sombre sky)
When down beneath the foggy wreath,
Full many a gully through,
They rend the air, like cries of despair,
The screams of the wild Curlew!
They rend the air,
Like cries of despair,
The screams of the wild Curlew!

The viewless blast flies moaning past,
Away to the forest trees;
Where giant pines and leafless vines
Bend 'neath the wandering breeze!
From ferny streams, unearthly screams
Are heard in the midnight blue;
As afar they roam to the shepherd's home,
The shrieks of the wild Curlew!
As afar they roam
To the shepherd's home,
The shrieks of the wild Curlew!


by Henry Kendall




Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Let's Help Our Planet

This is a VERY important video to watch, important for our planet and how we can do something about stopping climate change through diversity of the ecosystems.  I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I did.

Green Gold

Thursday, April 25, 2013

ANZAC DAY - WE WILL REMEMBER THEM



They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Some of  my family members who served their country:

WORLD WAR 1

William James 'Will' STRINGER (1886-1948)
Service Number:            No number listed
Date of Enlistment:        20 Jul 1915
Date of Birth                  03 Jun 1886
Place of Birth                Ballaarat East, Victoria, Australia
Roll title:                       2 Coy, 4th Depot - 71st Infantry (City of Ballarat Rifles) at Seymour, Vic
Rank:                            Sergeant
Conflict:                        First World War 1914-1918
Statement of Service:   12 Oct 1915  Discharged from Seymour being appointed Acting Staff Sergeant Major

Leslie Frankland ‘Les’ STRINGER (1896-1985) - My Poppa
Service No/s:                V359143/2036
Roll title:            6th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement (1-9 Reinforcements, Dec 1914-Sep 1915)
Rank:                            Private
Date of Birth                 16 Aug 1896
Place of Birth                Ballarat East, Victoria, Australia
Conflict:                        First World War 1914-1918
Date of Embarkment:    17 Apr 1915
Place of Embarkment:   Melbourne
Ship embarked on:        ‘HMAT Hororata’
Ship No:                        A20

**Les was wounded at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli on 7 Aug 1915 and that was just 9 days before his 19th birthday. He was taken to Hospital in Malta where his right foot was amputated, but he later had to have his right leg amputated (below the knee) after being transferred to Wandsworth Hospital in England.

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Charles Robert ‘Robert’ MORTOMORE (1888-1917) MM
Service Number:                          632
Rank:                                           Private
Date of Birth                                abt 1887
Place of Birth                               Malvern, Victoria, Australia
Unit:                                             37th Battalion (Infantry)
Service:                                        Australian Army
Conflict:                                       1914-1918
Date of Death:                              27 Feb 1917            [Killed in Action, France]
Cause of Death:                            Died of wounds
Cemetery or memorial details:      Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, France

War Grave Register Notes:           
MORTOMORE, Pte. Chares Robert, 632, M.M. 37th Bn Aust Inf. 
                        Died of wounds 27th Feb 1917. I.F.15
Source:            AWM145 Roll of Honour Cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

**Pte Mortomore enlisted in the AIF on 20 Mar 1916 and served with the 37th Infantry Battalion in France where he won the Military Medal in Dec 1916.  He died of wounds on 27 Feb 1917.
“Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 116 - Re Military Medal (M.M)
At ARMENTIERES on the night 25th/26th December, 1916, while acting as a scout, he displayed great daring in getting through the enemy wire and obtaining information preparatory to a raid on the enemy trenches. When the scout next to him was wounded he carried him back across No Man's Land to our lines, and then returned to his work. When a party of the enemy commenced repairing the damaged wire, he watched from a distance of five yards, and sent back information which proved of great value to our raiding party.” 

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George Robin ‘Robin’ CUTTLE
Rank:                     Lieutenant
Unit:       50th Battery Royal Field Artillery and (2nd Lt.) C Flt. 49th Squadron Royal Air Force (RAF)
Service:                 Royal Air Force
Conflict:                1914-1918
Date of Death:       9 May 1918
Place of Death:      Near Wiencourt
Cause of Death:     Killed in air combat as Observer
Cemetery/Memorial details:  Arras Memorial Cemetery, France

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WORLD WAR 2

Harold Ernest 'Harry' MORTIMORE (1914-2005) - My Dad
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      VX16042
Date of Birth                           10 May 1914
Place of Birth                          WARBURTON, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  21 May 1940
Locality on Enlistment            WARBURTON, VIC
Place of Enlistment                  CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin                             MORTIMORE, MARJORIE
Date of Discharge                   3 Jun 1947
Rank                                       Lieutenant
Posting at Discharge               2/14 Australian Infantry Battalion
WW2 Honours & Gallantry    None for display
Prisoner of War                       No

**Harry rose through the ranks quickly: Private, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant. He fought in the Middle East - Syria, Palestine etc with 2/14 Infantry Battalion From 7 Jun 1942 he commanded 12 Platoon - 39 Infantry Battalion on the infamous Kokoda Track. On 24 Dec 1942 Dad was evacuated to 2/9 Australian General Hospital with Malaria he was then transferred to X List.  On 3 Jun 1947 Dad was demobbed from Army after completing his Army Service at Victoria Barracks, St Kilda Rd, Melbourne.

Samuel Henry 'Snowy' MORTIMORE (1904-1981)
Service Number:       CV 35647
Rank:                        Grader Driver - Civil Constructional Corp
Date of Birth             01 Aug 1904
Place of Birth            WARBURTON, VIC

**Because he had previously lost an eye breaking in horses Samuel was, of course, unfit for the armed forces. Uncle Snowy then served his country in the Civil Constructional Corps, grading roads, air strips etc within Australia and in particular in the Northern Territory.  He was seconded to the Department of Interior at Alice Springs on 21 Mar 1943.  Uncle Snowy was discharged from the CCC on 13 Feb 1946 when the Corp was disbanded.

Robert Leslie MORTOMORE (1925-1984)
Service                                   Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number                     137561
Date of Birth                          14 Feb 1925
Place of Birth                         MELBOURNE, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  6 Oct 1943
Locality on Enlistment            DARLINGHURST
Place of Enlistment                 SYDNEY, NSW
Next of Kin                            MORTOMORE, CYRIL
Date of Discharge                  14 May 1946
Rank                                       Leading Aircraftman
Posting at Discharge               2 STORES DEPOT
WW2 Honours & Gallantry    None for display
Prisoner of War                       No

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Robert George WERNER (1916-1980)
Service                                    Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number                      142217
Date of Birth                           2 May 1916
Place of Birth                          COTTESLOE, WA
Date of Enlistment                  28 May 1943
Locality on Enlistment            WARBURTON, VIC
Place of Enlistment                 MELBOURNE, VIC
Next of Kin                             WERNER, PRISCILLA
Date of Discharge                   24 Jan 1946
Rank                                        Leading Aircraftman
Posting at Discharge                7 OPERATIONAL TRAINING UNIT
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

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Stanley Reginald GOLDSMITH (1891-1982)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      V361498
Date of Birth                           25 Jan 1891
Place of Birth                          BALLARAT, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  Unknown
Locality on Enlistment            WAUBRA, VIC
Place of Enlistment                 BALLARAT, VIC
Next of Kin                             GOLDSMITH, MARY
Date of Discharge                   31 Oct 1945
Rank                                        Lieutenant
Posting at Discharge                20 BATTALION VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

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Leslie John Louis ‘Les’ ROMERO (1891-1947)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      N173209
Date of Birth                           6 May 1891
Place of Birth                          MELBOURNE, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  28 Apr 1942
Locality on Enlistment            ARTARMON, NSW
Place of Enlistment                 WILLOUGHBY, NSW
Next of Kin                             ROMERO, JESSIE
Date of Discharge                   14 Sep 1945
Rank                                        Corporal
Posting at Discharge                VDC ENGRS
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No 
           
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William James Andrew WEBB (1906-1977)
Service                                      Australian Army
Service Number                        VX1669
Date of Birth                             14 Jan 1906
Place of Birth                            NEW ZEALAND
Date of Enlistment                    20 Nov 1939
Locality on Enlistment             THORNBURY, VIC
Place of Enlistment                   ALBERT PARK, VIC
Next of Kin                              WEBB, E
Date of Discharge                    11 Apr 1944
Rank                                         Sergeant
Posting at Discharge                 HQ SIGS FIRST AUST ARMY
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

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Edward Frederick ‘Fred’ STRINGER (1901-1979)
Service                                     Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number                       55998
Date of Birth                            16 Apr 1901
Place of Birth                           BALLARAT, VIC
Date of Enlistment                   18 May 1942
Locality on Enlistment            HAMPTON, VIC
Place of Enlistment                  MELBOURNE, VIC
Next of Kin                              STRINGER, MOLLIE
Date of Discharge                    23 Nov 1945
Rank                                        Leading Aircraftman
Posting at Discharge                EASTERN AREA HEADQUARTERS
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

Edward James 'Eddie' STRINGER (1917-1988)
Service                                     Australian Army
Service Number                       VX25709
Date of Birth                            18 Nov 1917
Place of Birth                           BALLARAT, VIC
Date of Enlistment                   12 Jun 1940
Locality on Enlistment            RED CLIFFS, VIC
Place of Enlistment                  CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin                              STRINGER, IVY
Date of Discharge                    24 Oct 1945
Rank                                         Gunner
Posting at Discharge                 2/3 AUSTRALIAN ANTI AIRCRAFT REGIMENT
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

Norman Leslie 'Norm' STRINGER (1921-Liv)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      VX15638
Date of Birth                            28 Jun 1918
Place of Birth                           BEAUFORT, VIC
Date of Enlistment                   17 May 1940
Locality on Enlistment            RED CLIFFS, VIC
Place of Enlistment                  CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin                              STRINGER, L
Date of Discharge                    6 Dec 1945
Rank                                         Corporal
Posting at Discharge                 2/14 Australian Infantry Battalion
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

Owen Franklin 'Frank' STRINGER (1923-2011)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      VX69514
Date of Birth                           22 Jun 1922
Place of Birth                          RED CLIFFS, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  23 Dec 1941
Locality on Enlistment            NEWPORT, VIC
Place of Enlistment                 CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin                             STRINGER, LESLIE
Date of Discharge                   3 Apr 1946
Rank                                       Trooper
Posting at Discharge               2/5 AUSTRALIAN COMMANDO SQUADRON
WW2 Honours & Gallantry    None for display
Prisoner of War                       No

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Charles Edward BALL (1906-1981)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      W82396
Date of Birth                           21 May 1906
Place of Birth                          KINGSWOOD, ENG
Date of Enlistment                  20 May 1942
Locality on Enlistment            BASSENDEAN, WA
Place of Enlistment                 CLAREMONT, WA
Next of Kin                             BALL, DOREEN
Date of Discharge                    16 Aug 1944
Rank                                        Private
Posting at Discharge            SWANBOURNE VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS 3 BATTALION
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

Harold Charles BALL (1920-1942)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      VX48388
Date of Birth                           29 May 1920
Place of Birth                          MILDURA, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  6 Jul 1940
Locality on Enlistment            MERBEIN, VIC
Place of Enlistment                 CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin                             BALL, GEORGE
Date of Death                          9 Feb 1942 - KIA (Singapore)
Rank                                        Private
Posting on Death                     2/9 Field Ambulance
WW2 Honours & Gallantry    None for display
Prisoner of War                       No
Roll of Honour                        MERBEIN

**Prior to the war Harold played football for the Melbourne Football Club.

Charles Frederick Francis BALL (1920-  )
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      VX48498
Date of Birth                           13 May 1920
Place of Birth                          BEAUFORT, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  12 Aug 1940
Locality on Enlistment            KYABRAM, VIC
Place of Enlistment                 CAULFIELD, VIC
Next of Kin                             BALL, HEATHER
Date of Discharge                    8 Jan 1946
Rank                                        Corporal
Posting at Discharge                2/14 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

Joan Elizabeth BALL (1925-2006)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      VF396921
Date of Birth                           13 Feb 1925
Place of Birth                          MILDURA, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  29 Dec 1942
Locality on Enlistment            MERBEIN, VIC
Place of Enlistment                 MELBOURNE, VIC
Next of Kin                             BALL, G
Date of Discharge                   1 Apr 1946
Rank                                        Corporal
Posting at Discharge                AUSTRALIAN WOMENS ARMY SERVICE
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

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Herbert CUTTLE (1891-1959)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      V360489
Date of Birth                           18 May 1891
Place of Birth                          FITZROY, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  28 Feb 1943
Locality on Enlistment            ROBINVALE, VIC
Place of Enlistment                 ROBINVALE, VIC
Next of Kin                             CUTTLE, EDITH
Date of Discharge                   7 Aug 1945
Rank                                        Lance Corporal
Posting at Discharge                21 Battalion
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

Ronald CUTTLE (1899-1963)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      N383542
Date of Birth                           4 Mar 1899
Place of Birth                          MELBOURNE, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  30 May 1942
Locality on Enlistment            JUNEE, NSW
Place of Enlistment                 JUNEE, NSW
Next of Kin                             CUTTLE, AIMEE
Date of Discharge                   1 Oct 1945
Rank                                        Lieutenant
Posting at Discharge                17 BATTALION VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

Pamela Leonora CUTTLE (1920-2006)
Service                                    Australian Army
Service Number                      VFX96682
Date of Birth                           15 Dec 1923
Place of Birth                          ULTIMA, VIC
Date of Enlistment                  16 Mar 1945
Locality on Enlistment            SOUTH YARRA, VIC
Place of Enlistment                  3 AUST R D, VIC
Next of Kin                              CUTTLE, EDITH
Date of Discharge                    8 Apr 1947
Rank                                         Private
Posting at Discharge                 118 AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL
WW2 Honours & Gallantry     None for display
Prisoner of War                        No

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