Papuan eharo mask

Three weeks ago I was  interviewed by the West Australian Museum’s Assistant Curator of Anthropology and his assistant regarding my  donation of a rare Papuan head- dress called an eharo.  I had donated it to the museum whilst on leave from Papua New Guinea in 1963.   The language group of villages where my school was, was the Elema.  I was HT of their primary school in the village of Arehava for almost three years.  I had heard about their 7 year dance cycle, which at the end of the cycle, all the head dresses were destroyed and a new 7 year cycle commenced.   Unfortunately the Christian missionaries disapproved of this as definitely non-Christian and in my time in Arehava village no dancing of that type was practised.  I read of an anthropolgist’s book, The Drama of Orokolo (F E Williams 1940) and on my first leave back to Western Australia found a copy of the book at the W.A. state library. 

Upon returning to Arehava after leave, I searched out an old mask maker and we agreed on a price to recreate an eharo for me.  The agreed price was, I believe, 12 pounds Australian.  My part in the construction was to shoot a number of Sulphur Crested cockatoos for the feathers surrounding the top of the mask.     As I remember, it took a couple of months and at completion the entire village accompanied a male dancer with the eharo delivering it to me.  I was a bit concerned that a nearby mission station might think ill of me encouraging the dancing and the eharo mask, but I didn’t hear any complaints.   I had the eharo boxed in a wooden crate made by a tame carpenter at the Government Station at Ihu and took it by plane back home next leave.

The recent interview by Xavier and his assistant Karen was thorough and interesting. Some of the questions about the villagers and their traditions and indeed, how I decided to start a career in teaching in PNG were among things I had forgotten but pleased to recall.

Xavier and Karen are working to set up an exhibition of anthropological artefacts with background stories in the soon to be opened new W.A. Museum.  Hope I am still around for that.

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Put a Church Key in your pocket

One of my Fav artists is Tom Waits.  In his Blue Valentine album my  favourite track is Kentucky Avenue.  As I understand it, it is perhaps a moving eulogy to a friend...quite likely imagined; who is crippled.

One of the lines near the end of the song is...

‘Just put a church key in your pocket, we’ll hop that freight train in the hall’

Some time ago I found out what a church key is.....

UWA Prosh Day

Tomorrow, the University of Western Australia has its traditional Prosh day.  The tradition has been an annual event since 1931, raising money for charities in this state.  A satirical newspaper is designed, printed and sold on the streets of Perth and the money collected distributed to chosen local charities.    Be prepared if you are visiting Perth City tomorrow.

A Prosh stunt in London Court, Perth City circa 1961 featured my late wife Joan seen holding the leash of a dog.  I met her about four years later at Bridgetown High School where we both taught.

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46 years together

Today, at approximately this time, seven years ago, I lost my dear wife Joan to the bastard disease cancer.   We had 46 wonderful years together.

The Lock family adventures in Papua New Guinea

My wife Joan and daughter Helen on a wire rope bridge in Papua New Guinea 1972.

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A little bit of WW2 history

During WW2, Fremantle Harbour in Western Australia became the largest submarine base in the southern hemisphere.  170 submarines of the British, Dutch and American navies used ‘Freo’ harbour as their base making 416 war patrols out of Fremantle.

Across the harbour entrance was an anti-submarine ‘boom’ net which was lowered when friendly shipping entered the harbour and kept raised at other times.  The Fremantle boom defence net was a buoyed wire mesh net with a central gate opened by a winch on the North Mole, and two buildings were constructed on the western end of Victoria Quay for the naval boom defence operating unit.

The remnants of the lowering/raising machinery are still to be seen on both sides of the harbour entrance.  Click images to enlarge them

Harbour entrance

Winding machinery...Sth Mole

Winding machinery...Nth Mole

U.S. subs with mother Ship

HMS Adamant and Brit subs

Wartime photos taken by Saxon Fogarty

                           

Happy times at Fremantle Cemetery

My brother Graham pointed out this Happy notification.  I guess it seemed like a good idea???

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Typhoid Martin

42 years ago this Lock family returned from a six year stint teaching in Papua New Guinea.  Our son Martin was born in Wewak hospital after a somewhat hazardous river crossing en route from Maprik to Wewak a distance of approx. 80 miles on a dirt road.

It was all good and Martin was born without complications.

Four years later the family, Kevin, Joan, Helen and Martin flew out of Port Moresby and home to Perth at the end of our contract in PNG.   We had purchased a lovely colonial house the previous year whilst on leave and we moved into our house and welcomed friends and family to a couple of parties.  Martin fell sick and eventually was diagnosed with Typhoid and interned in the infectious disease ward at Fremantle hospital.   Some 60 people had been in contact with Martin and the local health authorities had a big job contacting those people and allaying any fears of spread of the disease.   After five weeks Martin’s situation was declared safe and he came home to us.

Newspaper clippings at the time....click to enlarge

Nice gift

Daughter Helen brought around a bottle of bubbly given to her by the family of one of her Pre-Primary pupils.  The lad was her best pupil of 2017 and the message on the bottle is rather cute.

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Bushfire hazard

I have been having a morning walk lately, through and around my suburb.  On the northern fenceline there is what was meant to be a nature strip featuring Grass Trees, Eucalyptus trees and other native species, however no maintenance has been done on this strip in years and it is ready for a firebug to toss a lighted match in and create a firestorm.

The Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea) in a non political correct era were called Blackboys.  In that past era young lads would set fire to them and we are now fortunate that iPhones, iPads et al keep kids busy and not setting bushfires.

Young Grass Tree

Meal planning in the early 1960s

Drama on Christmas Day

I went to my brother’s house for Xmas Day.  All of his family and partners were there and after a huge spread for lunch, bro did a Santa Claus and gave out the presents.  Mine from brother Graham and his partner Carole was a bottle of Chandon which I will look into tomorrow when my daughter Helen returns from their trip to Queensland.   Right at the end of pressie time bro Graham dropped to one knee and called his partner to centre stage.  I could see some drama unfolding there.  Bro told her that he hoped that she would accept this gift...sighs from a few people and Carole opened the new ear rings and put them on.

As it turned out, Carole knew what bro was going to do.  Laughs all round. 

Great Danes

Daughter Helen has been looking after friends' dogs.  They are Great Danes....gentle giants; almost big enough to ride.

The Ford/Simca Vedette sedan 1960 model

Sorting through piles of photos and negatives I found this pic of the rear of a house that we purchased in 1975 whilst on leave from teaching in Papua New Guinea.  The pic was taken circa 1960 and I wondered what make of car was in the photo.  It has an American look to it.      Just yesterday I saw a story on line about French cars and recognised the mystery car as a Simca Vedette.  

The American style is because the first models were made in the French Ford plant and sold as a Ford Vedette.  The  French company Simca took over the Ford plant and built more Vedettes, the last model being as pictured below.

Birthday pressies

For my recent birthday I received a few great pressies.  Another one was from a wonderful ex-student of mine, Krissy.

She hand-crafted me a wall hanging, suspending a vase with a plant.  I am not really a plant person so I am unsure of what kind of plant it is.  I am more familiar with edible plants.

Krissy’s mother is a skilled artist and she is interested in illustrating a short story my late wife Joan wrote some 40 years ago. The story is named ‘Another Way Home’ and I believe it is well worth publishing.  It is loosely based on Joan’s farming family in country Western Australia.  

Green Almonds

A couple of days ago I heard very loud screeching from around 15 native black cockatoos as they demolished my neighbour’s almond crop.  I took a short video and sprayed them with water to send them off and yesterday at the local market I saw green almonds for sale. I have never in my 78 years seen green almonds for sale.  Come to think of it, I have never seen almonds sold in shells before.

Turn up your sound.

And so, Mr Google gave me a few tips for eating green almonds.  After I lightly fried them with a seasoning of salt and pepper, I consumed them tasting nothing but the seasoning.

Probably get a better result from lightly fried block soap.

78

Today I turned 78 years of age. I have had a fortunate life and hope to have a few more years without losing much more of my mind.

Papua New Guinea expats gathering.

On Friday I attended a Xmas gathering of Papua New Guinea expats.  There were 20 of us who had worked and lived in PNG pre independence...teachers, public servants, Patrol Officers, commercial people and plantation people.

This is a pic of we oldies, minus me; as I took the snap.

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The angry orchid

Getting a bit lazy...this is from my Facebook post

This lovely orchid in my garden gets angry when I get close.
crucifix orchard....Epidendrum ibaguense

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Willetton SHS 20th year reunion Class of '97

This last Friday night I attended a reunion of the class of ’97 from Willetton SHS.  WSHS is the largest Government HS in Western Australia and rides high on its reputation.  Many families have bought houses in its catchment area to have their children attend the school.  I was privileged to have taught there for some 14 years.

I have been to five reunions from my time as a teacher there and each one has been wonderful seeing ex-students as successful adults.   This latest reunion had just two ex-teachers attending; that year’s Year Person and me.

A few Pics of attendees.

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These 'kids' are 37 and I'm 78 next week

A wonderful night. Looking forward to the 30th.