Doing a De Groot — but the dogs don’t look too impressed
Incredible confusion surrounded the re-opening of the upgraded Semaphore jetty, so a group of community-minded residents took matters into their own hands and declared it officially open.
Despite newspaper and radio reports that Transport Minister Pat Conlon would be opening the jetty on Friday July 16, nobody had been able confirm it.
Local social history videographer Peter O’Grady knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to do a De Groot and he could record it.
At its official opening on 19 March 1932, before NSW Premier John ‘Jack’ T. Lang could cut the ribbon to open the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Captain Francis De Groot, of the right-wing political group the New Guard, dashed forward on his horse and slashed the ribbon with his sword.
De Groot believed that the only person to open the bridge should be a member of the royal family. There was a scuffle with police, de Groot was detained, the ribbon was tied back together and the Premier then officially cut it.
“I’ve checked with the Port Adelaide Visitor Information Centre and staff at the office of Mark Butler MP and they say that Minister Conlon’s staff said they knew nothing of an official opening of the jetty today,” said Peter.
“So let’s get some ribbon and scissors and just go down to the jetty and open it unofficially.”
[Read more …]
Aaron Machado
Conservation SA, the state’s peak environmental body, has announced Semaphore resident Aaron Machado of Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue and the Year 5 students of Grange Primary School and their teacher Sue Reynolds as joint winners of the annual Jill Hudson Award for Environmental Protection.
Conservation SA also presented its Unsung Hero Award to educator, environmentalist and campaigner Richard Smith.
The Jill Hudson Award recognises people who have made an outstanding contribution to environmental protection over the previous 12 months and faced significant challenges in doing so.
Aaron Machado, 31, was recognised for his exceptional work in the area of marine wildlife rescue; he is in the United States at the moment helping wildlife rescuers in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sue Reynolds and her students from 2009 were recognised for their work in raising community awareness about the impacts of stormwater pollution on Adelaide’s coastline with a short film on Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline called Leave Only Footprints, which was shown at a community forum. The film has also been nominated for a National Land Care Award.
Julie Pettett, CEO of Conservation SA, said “We were absolutely delighted with the strength of the nominees for this year’s Awards.
“As is the case every year, the breadth of work undertaken by both individuals and groups is inspiring and a testament to the strength of community effort to bring about good environmental outcomes. The winners of the Awards this year are truly worthy of Jill Hudson’s legacy.”
Richard Smith, of Torrensville, received Conservation SA’s Unsung Hero Award for his commitment and dedication to some of the most urgent environmental issues of our time.
He plays a key role in the environment movement in South Australia and is a worthy recipient of the award.
While Council construction workers were continuing with major paving works on Semaphore Road, young Jack Clee decided to make the most of it and create his own beach before the pavers arrived.
So his mum, Tracey, a volunteer at the Semaphore Information Centre and Eco Info Exchange, bought him a bucket and spade and let him build some castles from the pavers’ sand layer.
Jack’s beach was appropriately located outside Sandy’s Sea Change Cafe on the corner of Jagoe Street, where the workers will install a street chessboard with black and white pavers so enthusiasts can play with these large pieces.
Graham Shaw of Hot Tonto Gallery in Swan Terrace made these chess pieces, which are about as tall as Jack, from recycled metal.
The ABC’s Collectors production team were in Semaphore this week recording a new segment on Graham’s work.
Eager diners at the traditional long table
The annual Polish Night feast at Phore Seasons Restaurant on Semaphore Road was — as always — a huge success.
Here’s just one of the dishes they were waiting for
The feast featured a variety of dishes, including pierogi, golabki and chocolate mousse prepared by restaurant owner and one of Australia’s leading chefs, Judyta Musolino, and her kitchen team.
Phore Seasons’ star chef Judyta Musolino
Judyta was one of a team of of seven South Australian chefs, including Namit Mangal of Spice N Ice, Port Adelaide, that won a bronze medal at the Oceanafest Restaurant of Champions Awards in Perth.
The SA chefs were competing in a star-studded field from Australia and Asia, with a team from Hong Kong taking out the gold.
Australian Culinary Federation president and team member Tze Khaw, of the Adelaide Convention Centre, said the award was “quite a coup” for South Australia that gave aspiring young chefs goals to aim for.
[Read more …]
Dave and Matt with Steve Foster at Semaphore Surf Lifesaving Club
Semaphore was blessed with a superb outside broadcast of the popular Matt and Dave show on ABC Radio 891 Adelaide throughout the morning of Thursday May 6.
Many local residents participated in the excellent analysis of the past, present and future of Port Adelaide, Semaphore and other parts of the Le Fevre Peninsula in South Australia.
The show took place on the beach, in the dunes with environmentalists and finally the Semaphore Surf Lifesaving Club where a large group of community leaders and local residents participated in an entertaining discussion.
Local singer/songwriter Steve Foster sang two songs, including his ballad about the clipper ship City of Adelaide.
You can hear it here.
Local community leaders and residents study aerial maps and other information about the district
Join other visionaries, leave your prejudices and worries behind and join us for a taste of the future at the first Winter Solstice Feast in the Masonic Hall on Semaphore Road on Tuesday June 22.
Experience Semaphore hospitality and conviviality and discover a brighter plan for our future, led by the western suburbs, with support from local government.
This enlightening event will be hosted by the Semaphore Information Centre and Adelaide Eco Info Exchange.
Following a thought-provoking welcome from Kaurna elder Auntie Josie, who made Kevin Rudd think a little, guests can tuck into a memorable feast of fresh local food and fresh local ideas.
New education minister Jay Weatherill will provide a glimpse of more community-focused education.
Dr Mike Bossley will tell us why the health and wellbeing of whales, dolphins and the Port River are so important to our future.
Dr Paul Downton will explain why and how the Christie Walk Eco Project is providing timely, on-the-ground answers to the really big sustainability questions.
[Read more …]
Some of the extensive foreshore dunes running down to Largs Bay taken from the Semaphore Palais Hotel
A regular visitor to Semaphore, The Extraordinary Tourist was born in the town of Whyalla in South Australia in 1970; his parents are English migrants — mum is from Farsley and Dad is from Pudsey, (Leeds area) in West Yorkshire and they moved to Australia in 1967.
Originally they lived in Elizabeth, a suburb of Adelaide, where his older sister was born.
His real name is David Arandle and it is only online that he is known as The Extraordinary Tourist. Most people just call him TET.
The name is from the book The Accidental Tourist, which was later made into a film staring Gina Davis and William Hurt; David liked it and adopted it as his own.
He describes himself as an artist but there’s more to him than that — he writes stories, poems, comedy, articles, paints, draws cartoons, designs and codes websites, programs computers and creates animation, video and multimedia presentations.
Sometimes he’s a photographer, a model and a problem solver and at other times he invents things, designs games, builds stuff and manages people.
Here’s a blog post he’s just done on Semaphore.
Bob and Nana of Kafé Dom
Many Semaphore residents, traders and regular visitors from across Adelaide are saddened by the closing down a few days ago of the popular Kafé Dom, but a new café called La Caz Creole has already opened in the same premises — different owners and a very different menu.
Bob and Nana offered a wide range of eastern European food and, some say, the best coffee on Semaphore Road; they will be greatly missed.
New owner Anna Michael with her husband and chef Kevin have introduced a new menu and we wish them well in their new venture.
They ran the Lipson Café in Port Adelaide at night for a while while Julie Sellick was the owner — and Anna says they make great coffee too.
Chef Kevin Michael of the new 'La Caz Creole'
