Day 60 – Still Pilbaraing!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at 08:53AM Ok so how many of you have been over this way? How much do you know about the area? I always try to understand a little about where we go, it makes you appreciate where you are a little more (if that makes sense).
So I have been doing a bit of investigation into the area. Now with all due respect to the traditional owners of the country I will start from when white men came here, because there is just too much aboriginal history for me to know or even start to write about…… Oh and don’t think this is a history lesson, it’s just a few things I was interested in.
The first thing that brought settlers here was farming, imagine how they felt in later years when they realised what was just below their cows feet!
The first explorer to come up here was a bloke called Francis T Gregory in 1861? How many of you have heard of him? My Gunnedah High School history teacher never mentioned him!
Then the pastoralists moved in…. For Brad Atkins benefit, a pastoralist is a farmer mate! Firstly with sheep, then cattle. But there were no roads & very little supplies so it was a tough life, basically they were just “Surviving”.
Some pastoralists (Farmers Brad) couldn’t make it just on Pastoralism (Farming Brad) so they started collecting pearl shells & this led to the pearling industry starting in Cossack, but eventually moving up to Broome.
Things got a bit easier with the establishment of Port Hedland, as regular supplies could be delivered from Perth.
Gold was discovered in the Pilbara by my mate Francis T Gregory…. Now hang on a second, in a previous blog I wrote that Paddy Hannan & his two mates (What were their names again?) discovered gold in WA? Am I missing something here?
There were a couple of 4 year droughts in the early 1900’s…. I can’t imagine it being drier that it already is!
Whaling was also a big industry up here until 1963 when it was banned.
I said I wasn’t going to mention aboriginal history….. But it is worth knowing that some tribes just “Disappeared” after white settlement in the Pilbara, and as aboriginal history is mainly passed down through generations by telling stories…. It is hard to know what really happened to these people.
Asbestos mining started in 1943….and we all know where that ended up! Thanks Mr Hardie!!!
Iron ore then started in the 60’s by my other mate Thomas Price….and he died before he could see the industry really get up & running.
Also in the 1960’s we tried to integrate the aboriginal kids into schools, the kids (White and indigenous) were all for it, and the aboriginal parents were too. Pity the white adults didn’t agree with it so they were fighting a losing battle (not much has changed really)
And then we get to today’s mining “Boom” and along with that we have tourism & now LNG(Liquid Natural Gas) projects popping up everywhere. If any of you want to make money….get up here now! But at what cost? To your family & to the planet? I honestly think my husband is becoming a greenie! You only hear half of the stuff he rabbits on about… Not that I am complaining, I think it is great, just didn’t expect it from him.
Reader’s Comments & messages
Happy birthday to Sonya B, hope it is warming up in Shepparton Sonya? Have a great day & year ahead. Happy B’day Boad’s. Vx
Heather has a Japanese exchange student staying for a week…. Now that is a reality TV show that I would watch. Can you imagine the stories she will take back to Japan with her?
Annie’s Blog
Today was a fun day. Mum & Dad & me all stayed home for most of the day, I mean I had to go out with Mum in the morning to get some salad, and then again in the afternoon to go to the computer shop….but apart from that we stayed home. Dad read his car books and did some phone calls to his work peoples. Mum did some cooking & some computer work to her work peoples. I wonder if they are the same work peoples?
Nobody has sent me a message for a while…..I hope all my friends are ok. Speak to you another night.
Hope my friend Edward had a great birthday party on the weekend...he was one!
Best hugs to all of you
AnnieInAVan…..XXXXXXX
Reader Comments (3)
Hey Annie - Did you get my message about the most Awesomest Birthday Party Ever?!?! I sent it a few days back . . . Maybe mum forgot to put in the silly words to make sure it posts?!?!
Anyway in case you didn't - the day was so much fun. There were hundreds and hundreds (it felt like) of people there . . both big ones and little tackers like me. Mum and Dad were super busy all day i didn't get to see them much but my granny, grancha, grandma, Pa, Nanna and Great GrandPa were all there to keep me busy. Loads of mothers and bubbas from the clubs were there and I got so many lovely gifts that mum says she'll never need to buy me another thing to play with for years!
I have a new trike that i am so happy with... When we go walking i get to 'fat arm' it and grab all the trees and bushes and i can pat Bruce (our boxer) as he can reach me for kisses and pats. How cool is that? When you get home I'll show you my trike and see if you can get one too . . they're awesome fun.
So am catching up with Jack and his piggy on monday - Will see if i can let him out like your Daddy wants . . Should be fun! I like chasing things so I'll do my best x
Heaps of others have parties coming up now and mum and dad say they have no time on the calendar for any of their social activities as I have so many . . i must be a celebrity or something?
Keep the blog and pics coming . . . See you soon (ish)
Edward x
Thanks for the history / social science lesson this morning with my coffee - felt SUPER BRAINY all day...if only I had an opportunity today to sprout my new found knowledge - oh well tomorrow is another day.
Mate, I just have one question..........................what's a pastoralists?
P.s. a Big kiss for you Annie XXX