Interview of OAM recipient, Charters Towers 2013, Shirley Symes by Maria Caesar

According to the Australian Government’s “It’s an Honour” website, the main purpose of the Order of Australia is to recognise, by national honour, those who have made outstanding contributions that benefit their communities, and ultimately our country.

Maria Caesar of the Bush Curlews interviews the Charters Towers 2013 OAM award recipient, Shirley Symes.

Various groups Shirley is involved within the community

During the 1970s there was the restoration of the Stock Exchange Arcade. More recently was the Zara Clark museum, which had been closed down a few years ago. In both instances, Shirley gathered groups of interested people to save the National Trust buildings.

The Don Roderick Gallery had also been closed down until Shirley gathered a group of volunteers to re-open it. The gallery is now a great incentive for local artists to display their work and every year they have a competition, bringing in artists from out of town.

Shirley has always been fond of writing so she is a member of the Bush Curlews. She has had a lot of interest in the schools and was on the Advisory Board of All Souls St Gabriels School for seven years. Shirley’s husband used to own horses so she became involved with the Charters Towers Amateur Race Club, another club that needed reviving as it was very close to closing down.

In her younger years, Shirley played basketball in a team called the “Red Wings”, travelling out of town for several competitions. She was also a member of the Charters Towers Dramatic Society performing in plays in the Theatre Royal before the building was torn down after the war.

It was the loss of this “beautiful timber building with great acoustics” and several other valuable buildings within the town that ignited Shirley’s passion for reviving and restoring historical premises. Nowadays, the heritage structures that grace the town’s central business district are a major drawing card to tourists and movie-makers visiting the region. Shirley says she likes to “encourage people to preserve what we have and to bring about an awareness” of the importance of keeping history alive.

Coming to Charters Towers

Shirley was born in the Burdekin. After the death of Shirley’s father, her mother moved to Charters Towers. Shirley’s great aunt, Mary Palmer, also known as “Maude”, was the proprietor of the Occidental Hotel (located where the Commonwealth Bank is now), then later the Excelsior Hotel and then The Australian (now the Rix Hotel). Aunt Maude was a very elegant, artistic woman and Shirley had always looked up to and admired her.

Shirley was only seven years of age when they came to Charters Towers and has been here ever since.  She worked in a goods and produce agency called Bartlams Ltd (located where the Zara Clark Museum is now), until 1952 when she got married. Her stepfather had been the managing director of Bartlams Ltd until he retired.

Shirley's main achievements

There has been great satisfaction in rescuing and restoring the old buildings but generating awareness amongst other people of what we have is the hardest thing to do. When the group was working towards the restoration of The Stock Exchange Arcade many people were against it. The group constantly asked: “Why restore a building that broke so many people’s hearts?” There was a lot of vitriolic letters going back and forth in the paper. But now it is done most people appreciate the restoration.

You won another Australia Day award in a previous year. What award was that?

It was the Senior Citizen Cultural Award in 2011. As with the Order of Australia Medal, Shirley would have been nominated for the award by the community.

School life 

Shirley attended All Souls Saint Gabriel’s School, but during the 1940s when the war was on the Americans came to Charters Towers and many of the schools were confiscated. All Souls Saint Gabriel’s became a hospital. Some boarders were sent to Richmond, but Shirley’s parents didn’t want her to go out of town so she went to Blackheath & Thornburgh instead.

Charters Towers was a garrison city and there were two airstrips here during the war. The only schools in the city not vacated were Saint Mary’s and Blackheath & Thornburgh.  The military had taken over Mount Carmel – their students moved into the Park Motel. The military used many of Blackheath & Thornburgh’s playing fields as a defence base, keeping artillery there.

It was scary times, but when you are young you can’t quite comprehend the degree of danger. They had an air-raid shelter in the backyard and they each had a little suitcase with clothes and food. Her stepfather was an air-raid warden and used to walk around with a little cap, looking like a character from Dad’s Army.

Hobbies and Interests

Shirley enjoys painting and she tries to do so once a week. She also enjoys writing. Shirley loves music. She used to play the piano and also used to sing in the Eisteddfods every Easter. Shirley was a member of the Charters Towers Philharmonic Choir – there were about thirty people in the Choir. Gardening, beauty and colours all appeal to Shirley’s artistic nature.

Shirley has travelled abroad, visiting San Diego, New Zealand, the UK and Canada but her favourite holiday destination is Paris. She has been there twice, once in the spring and once in the winter and she fondly recalls the cars buried by snow as their windscreen wipers waved back and forth futilely.

Education has always been a main interest to Shirley and she believes that Charters Towers “is a wonderful educational centre. It’s a shame there was never a university located here.”

Shirley cherishes her role as great grandmother. Her first great grandchild was born just before Christmas 2012 and in 2013 she will be a great grandmother again, this time to twins, which is “very exciting”.

Overall, Shirley admits that she loves her life. She has met many wonderful people and has achieved a lot within the community, having saved numerous local heritage properties. It is with thanks to the efforts and dedication of people like Shirley that Charters Towers is now known as a town rich in history, and will continue to be so for many generations to come.

Writers of North Queensland flock to Charters Towers

The Bush Curlews added an extra little twist to their Awards Presentation Ceremony for their annual literary competition.

    This change was inspired after a few of our members attended a couple of informative writing workshops earlier this year. During those workshops we met many wonderful people, learnt heaps & had lots of fun. So the Bush Curlews decided to return the favour and invite our new literary friends to Charters Towers.

     On Sunday, 26 May 2013, authors from Townsville, Home Hill and Ayr journeyed to Charters Towers for a sumptuous lunch buffet, to attend an enlightening awards ceremony and to challenge their imaginations in our writing activity session.

      In total, there were approximately 22 participants during the writing challenges with many additional guests showing their support during the presentation of the awards.

       It was another successful event. The Bush Curlews look forward to more interaction with our fellow North Queensland writers over the coming months and years.

Bush Curlews entertain diners at the CT Civic Club

We are authors not performers, more comfortable seated at a desk with a computer or a notepad or pen. So when the Bush Curlews were invited to entertain diners during the Charters Towers Civic Club’s annual country style feast our response required much deliberation.

     Our Club bravely accepted the challenge. Several members had never before used a microphone, so multiple practice sessions were in order. With the assistance of Dr Kett Kennedy, long term supporter of the Bush Curlews, we learnt how to perform our work not just read it out loud. Adding expression and enthusiasm to our words helped bring our stories and poems to life.             

      On Wednesday, 1 May 2013, several members of our group presented their poems and short stories to a large gathering of patrons during the Ten Days in the Towers festivities. The dining hall had been booked to full capacity. The crowd was wonderfully attentive, laughing and applauding and eagerly listening to every word.

      The event was a huge success and helped to bring our talented authors out of their shells and into the community.

The Judges' Scores

Extract from Maria Caesar’s speech during the 2013 Bush Curlews Literary Awards Presentation, 26 May 2013

Overall, the scores were very close. Only 6 points separate the first Commended award from the first place in the open poetry section. And only 7 ½ points separated the first commended prize from the first place position in the open short story category.

Most of the time, scores between the judges were similar, however others….

Well, we discovered that the gender of the audience plays a big role in the response to a story or a poem, so it good that we have male and female judges for both the poetry and the short story categories.

One of my own stories was a classic example of this. Marnie and Jenny both gave it very high scores, however Kett’s score was more than 10 points less (and no, Kett "will not live that down"). Clearly, that particular story has greater appeal to a female audience. That is just one of many reasons why receiving feedback on our writing is so important. 

Once again we would like to thank our judges for the many hours of hard work required to judge and comment on each entry received in our competition.

Out of curiosity, after compiling the judges scores to determine the winners we thought it would be interesting to see which entrants received the highest score from each individual judge.

Each judge had given a highest number of points to a different entrant.

In the poetry section, both Allan & Sarah's highest scores were tied to two separate entrants.

Allan Georgee's highest score went to Shirley Syme's poem Old Bob and to Cherelle Murphy's poem Bluey.

Sarah Callcott's highest score went to Terry Slack's poem Fields of Green and to Christine Stewart's poem Two-faced.

In the short story section the judge's

Had again given their highest scores to three different entrants.

Kett Kennedy's highest score went to Jeanyne Whitmont Sekel of Nowra, NSW for her story A junior vikingess. Kett comments that Jeanyne's story "a riveting piece, well presented, well constructed and poignant".

Marnie Niemi's highest score went to Maria Caesar of Charters Towers The Final Page.  Marnie said she "enjoyed this light hearted, amusing and very unusual story with a surprise ending"

And Jenny Schaefer's highest score went to Sandy Bogilevu of Charters Towers for her story Suspended Memories. Jenny commented “the writing with its vivid and varied descriptions is an excellent reflection on another’s experience and is able to evoke in the reader an understanding of a new way of life”. 

I just have one final message for all of our authors, published or un-published, prose or poetry:

“Inspiration can be found everywhere and Writing is a process of discovery”

2013 Literary Awards Competition Results

Open Poetry

1st Place = Fields of Green by Terry Slack (Charters Towers)

2nd Place = Thinking by Cherelle Murphy (Ayr)

3rd Place = A Dog’s Dinner by Brooke McReynolds (Mackay)

Commendations:

1 = The Brumby Bay by Shirley Symes (Charters Towers)

2 = ‘Tis Meant to Be by Terry Slack (Charters Towers)

3 = Two-Faced by Christine Stewart (Ayr)

4 = The Outhouse by Cherelle Murphy (Ayr)

5 = Old Bob by Shirley Symes (Charters Towers)

Junior Poetry

1st Place = Waves of Indecision by Michael Lowe (Charters Towers)

2nd Place = The Perfect Place for Me by Jacklenn Dart (Charters Towers)

3rd Place = A Lonely Widow by Charly Burge (Charters Towers)

Commendation = Moving to the City by Logan Guldbransen (Charters Towers)

Open Short Story

1st Place = Kathy Doesn’t Live Here Anymore by Lori Hurst (Townsville)

2nd Place = The Doors by Christine Stewart (Ayr)

3rd Place = The Final Page by Maria Caesar (Charters Towers)

Commendations:

1 = Voices in the Night by Kerry Lown Whalen (Varsity Lakes)

2 = Hannah’s Dilemma by Carole Phillips (Charters Towers)

3 = Days of Diamonds and Stones by Carole Phillips (Charters Towers)

4 = Emily by Maria Caesar (Charters Towers)

Junior Short Story

1st Place = Man’s Best Friend by Kirsty Healing (Charters Towers)

Additional Prizes (courtesy of Dr Kett Kennedy, administrator of the Siriol Kate Giffney Estate):

A $50 cheque to the Highest score for local Junior Short Story entry = Kirsty Healing

A book to the Highest score for local Open Short Story entry =

Maria Caesar

Writers of North Queensland work together

Earlier this year (2013) the Bush Curlews were invited by WITS (Writers in Townsville) to participate in a new and exciting joint project. WITS are putting together an anthology.

     The finished product will include stories and poems from members of writers groups based in Townsville, Charters Towers, Home Hill and Ayr. The anthology is due for an official launch in October as part of the annual Queensland Writers Week celebrations.

     Each group provided submissions based on the theme of promoting their home towns. To keep with page limitations, majority of the accepted stories will have approximately 500 words, whilst poetry will be restricted to 30 lines. Depending on space, quality and topic repetitiveness, there may be a few exceptions to the rule.

    Members of the Bush Curlews worked furiously to meet the project’s deadline. Several of our members have been notified of their successful submissions.  The group is looking forward to flicking through the pages of the final product. 

Bath Time by Maria Caesar

This story was inspired by Terry Slack's poem "Black Pussy"

Bath Time

     I sat on the floor shaking and soaking wet. My thick dark hair was matted to my skin. Worse still, I felt slimy. I needed a bath. My head tilted as I scanned my body: waist, hips and legs intact and accounted for, every inch of me was coated n a jelly-like clear substance.

     There was a heavy panting noise nearby. I glanced over in anger rather than fear, poised for a fight. Instead of a snarl I was encountered by an oversized goofy grin.

“Don’t give me those puppy-dog eyes”, I called out angrily.

     Meanwhile, in the corner of the room Mr and Mrs Watson sat with mouths agape. Mrs Watson held a shaky hand to her chest whilst Mr Watson simply shook his head.

“I thought you were a ‘gonner’ for sure,” Mr Watson remarked as he eyed me up and down. “Looks like you’re down to eight of your nine lives, Lucy.”

Mr Watson picked me up and plonked me onto his wife’s floral dress lap.

“Ewwh,” Mrs Watson squealed. “She’s covered in saliva.”

     That’s what you get when you go for a ride in a dog’s mouth. I should be dead but I am actually alive. Only my tail had remained un-gooey as it had dangled freely between the big oaf’s lips. I shivered. God, this is going take a while to get over!

“Poor cat’s freezing, Love. Better give her a bath,” Mr Watson suggested.

“Finally,” I replied. “I’m not going to lick my fur clean with that mutt’s spit all over me!”

 Rover watched Mrs Watson cart me off to the laundry tub. His tail wagged furiously as he followed us.

“Bad dog!” Mrs Watson admonished him. Bad dog, indeed, I scowled. 

Black Pussy by Terry Slack

I’ve got a little pussy, as black as black can be,

she’s never ventured outside, has never climbed a tree.

I left Noel my husband to look after her one day.

The first thing that he did was to let her out to play.

We have a big mongrel dog, Noel says he’s man’s best friend.

So full of false bravado, that never seems to end.

Hubby says he’s what we need to keep us safe at night

If a robber did break in the dog would die of fright.

Had a lovely day at ‘Craft Club’, made a lovely hat,

full of strings, bows and things, there is no denying that.

Got home and there is Hubby, still on the chair asleep

searched and called my pussy but I did not hear a peep.

I screamed at my hubby, “Did you let my cat outside?”

He said, “Don’t fuss woman she’s got lots of spots to hide.”

When his dog comes trotting in black tail between his lips,

Hubby just yelled, “Put that down” his hands upon his hips.

That very thing had happened, the thing that I most feared

but that dog opened his mouth and pussy cat appeared.

‘No’ not a scratch upon her just covered in dog spit.

My stressed mind in such a state I nearly had a fit.

All in all it worked out well, my pussy has a mate.

They play well together when I open up the gate.

Pussy knows what to do when she’s had enough of that,

make a b-line for the door and hide beneath my hat.

The Thing in the Hall by Christine Betts

I woke suddenly, not really sure what had startled me. I felt uneasy; all of my senses were on full alert. I listened; all I could hear was the usual traffic noise and the soft hum from the aquarium filter.

What was that? I could hear something. It wasn’t loud and it stopped and started. It almost sounded like something being dragged along the passageway. I was alone. Nobody should be in the hall. I froze. Should I get up, confront who or whatever was out there? I sat up and then lay back down. I pulled the covers up over my head. I couldn’t hear anything now. That was even scarier. I needed to know what was happening.

I sat up again. I couldn’t sit here all night listening to the noise, waiting for whatever! I slowly stood up, thinking about what was to hand I could use for a weapon. My umbrella was in the cupboard. I slowly, quietly as possible, opened the door and retrieved the umbrella.

I listened. There it was again – shurrt – shurrt. I placed my hand on the door latch and pushed down softly and slowly, my umbrella firmly clasped in my other hand. There the noise again – shurrt – shurrt.

I slowly opened the door. I could see nothing in the dim glow from the street light. I flicked the switch for my bedroom. The light flooded the hallway. I looked up and down the passageway: nothing. I listened: nothing. Then I heard it – shurrt – shurrt. I looked down. A small piece of paper moved slowly on the wooden floor in the breeze from the ceiling fan left on in the living room. Shurrt – shurrt.

The Bower-Bird's Arbour by Shirley Symes

Underneath the branches, up against the trunk,

A little pile of sticks and twigs and what you might call junk.

Coloured glass and shells and pegs gathered in a heap.

A little shiny whistle that’s forgotten how to beep.

The arbour is enticing – a fancy work of art.

It must have taken ages – the design is very smart.

Tall springy bits of boughs and even leafy fronds,

Does he have a blueprint or just some magic wands?

Today I saw some bottletops scrounged from someone’s yard.

Although he flies around a lot, it must be very hard

To find the pieces, big and small, that decorate the floor,

The task must be rewarding for he gathers more and more.

So I check up on the playhouse, sometimes catch a peep,

Of that Oh so busy Bower-bird as he takes another sweep

Of the rubbish heaps, the garden beds, even the quiet house,

For yet another trophy to show off to his spouse.

A treasure house of colours, a monument to love.

What pride in his possessions as he circles from above.

Guarding special tokens with loud and strident squawks,

Scaring off attention from the Lousy-Jacks and Hawks.

The energy and pattern that’s devoted to the play,

The habits and performances that’s repeated every day,

Nature is a wonder and this Bower-bird does inspire,

I’m just a nosy parker, privileged to admire.

This work of art, this temple, underneath the tree,

A testament to nature and the rules that help us see,

The wonderment, the ritual, of creatures large and small,

We should appreciate and understand the beauty of it all.

The Local Hall by Terry Slack

Poor old Dave he had a house,

straight behind the hall.

When they had a 'do' on there

in summer or the fall,

the men instead of lining up

waiting for the loo,

would duck behind the hall

when they had a job to do.

 

The place would stink for days and days.

Dave could not stand the smell.

And so he planned a trap for them,

so legend there will tell.

He strung an electric fence wire up,

about two feet off the ground.

Won't be too long now before,

the offenders will be found.

 

The local dance was on that night,

and things were going well.

The beer was flowing cool and sweet,

soon the drinks would tell.

Charlie thought it's time to go

outside and have a pee,

and see how many stars

in the sky that he could see.

 

His pee hit Dave's electric fence

and threw him on his arse,

just as 'Shirl' and Mavis

two Blue Nurses tried to pass.

"Quick," Mavis said. "I'll start mouth to mouth,

as you give help a shout."

Shirley said, "You've blown too hard,

you've blown his dickey out."

 

Shirley said, "I'll take hold of it,

and put away his pride."

"Although to tell the truth,

he hasn't very much to hide."

Just at that moment the

photographer for the local rag,

took his best shot ever

to put into his mag.

 

Splashed across the front page,

for all the world to see.

A picture that surely would

fill Charlie's heart with glee.

The caption read two nurses saved

Charlie's life last night.

But why did Mavis blow so hard

or Shirley hold so tight?

 

Well papers sold like hot cakes,

they were lined up at the store.

Then by ten o'clock that day

they had to order more.

Did not see 'Shirl' or Mavis

around town for a while.

When they did the ones they saw

gave them a knowing smile.

 

Slowly as the days went by

the talk soon settled down.

Peace and calm returned again

to our country town.

Dave he bought another house

a few miles from the hall

And Charlie said, "Well bugger me,

I slept throughout it all."

 

 

This poem is from Terry Slack's book "Blue Gum". Please contact the Bush Curlews if you would like to purchase a copy of one of Terry's books.

 



 

 



The Ten Days in the Towers and The Country Music Festival by Maria Caesar

     Over the period during the end of April to early May there is an annual event in Charters Towers known as The10 Days in the Towers. The ten-day celebrations also include two country music festivals: the All Australian Jamboree and the Charters Towers Country Music Festival.

     Jeans, boots and an Akubra hat become commonplace on the streets of Charters Towers as the entire township dress up for the occasion. Store windows feature bales of hay, corrugated iron and various country knickknacks as they compete for the prize of best themed display. Country music can be heard in the town’s many hotel bars and on the streets of the central business district as buskers entertain shoppers and passers-by.

     Locals and visitors can also participate in line dancing, bush poetry and the talent quests during this period or attend the popular markets and various historic tours. Many of the town’s clubs, groups and local businesses host special events such as workshops and dinner shows, so it is an ideal period to explore the many activities and creative opportunities available within the town.

     The Charters Towers Country Music Festival was first held in 1978. The annual event has since grown to become Australia’s largest amateur country music festival.  A parade down the main street made up by numerous floats and hundreds of costumed students representing each local school kick off the three-day country music event. Several hundred contestants make their bid for fame in the talent quest each year. Some of the biggest names in the country music industry are showcased in special cabarets during the first weekend of May. It’s not surprising that thousands of country music fans and performers from throughout Australia and overseas flock to north Queensland to attend each year. 

Many Clubs, One Community by Maria Caesar

     Several years ago my evenings were spent at home watching a DVD and with little interaction other than with the characters on the television screen. Then one day I decided to step outside my comfort zone and meet new people. I enjoyed reading books. Perhaps there was a group of readers in town? I went to the local library and before long I had joined a book club. Afterwards, the book club provided connections to a writers group called the Bush Curlews. Writing stories just so happened to be another hobby of mine.

    From then on I was made aware of various other local clubs and art groups based within the town. There were several painting groups, the Pottery Club, the Towers Players, the Choristers Choir singing group, the Friends of the Theatre and the Don Roderick Gallery group, just to name a few. I soon discovered that Charters Towers has an abundance of clubs. It seems that almost every hobby and interest is catered for.

     If you like to paint, sculpt or photograph, read, write or act in a play, then there is a club that can be joined. If you prefer sports then there are numerous groups that cater for that category as well. From cricket to tennis, rugby to soccer, netball to basketball, swimming clubs, fishing clubs, dancing groups or the pistol club......the list goes on.

     Groups can meet daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly and new members are always welcome. There is never an excuse to be bored while in Charters Towers; all you need to do is ‘join’.

The Tors Drive-In Cinema by Maria Caesar

     With only a handful of operational drive-ins left in the country, the residents of Charters Towers and surrounding districts have access to a movie experience that most Australians can only dream about.

      Construction of the Tors Drive-in began in 1965 as the result of a bet between Jack Feldt, owner and general manager of Feldt’s Theatres Townsville and Charters Towers, and a fellow exhibitor. Almost everything used in construction had been second hand – bricks, iron, timber and even the cafe counter. A railway line was used to construct the screen tower which is why it hasn’t fallen down despite the battering of the elements and the passage of time.

     The Drive-in was officially opened on St Patrick’s Day, 1966. The opening went well until the Tors was struck by a hail storm during the interval, leaving dents in the roof that are still present today. One by one the local theatres closed down. Eventually the Olympia and Royal Theatre closed their doors, leaving the Regent and the Tors Drive-in as the main theatres servicing the town.  On 25 June, 1983, the Regent held a final farewell screening. Five hundred patrons packed into the theatre to watch “Gone with the Wind”.

      When imagining the hills and troughs of a drive-in cinema, with speaker boxes on rows of white posts and a giant outdoor movie screen, most people immediately think of scenes from movies like Grease or popular television series like Happy Days or That 70’s Show.

      I have many fond memories that came about whilst watching a double feature in the Tors Drive in. Sitting in the front (or back seat) with speakers propped on the open car windows is only one option. Some people like to utilise the seating located outside the cafeteria, but I’ve found the ideal viewing position is from upon an old mattress laid out on the inclined bitumen with a mate or two and a blanket to ward off any chills.

     One weekend, six of us crowded onto the back of a ute. Thankfully we had enough cushions to go around. Though various movies may come and go, I’ve always found that a drive-in experience is a hundred times more pleasantly memorable than a seat in a crowded indoor cinema.