Verna Joyce was a weapon. She was a Bristol Beaufort, but Australian from end to end, built by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermens Bend in Melbourne in 1942.

The Beaufort brought the Australian manufacturing industry together as it had never worked before. Just over 700 Beauforts rolled off the production lines in Melbourne and Sydney. She was designed in the 1930s as a torpedo bomber, the latest word in modernity and speed, but by 1942 the design was looking distinctly vulnerable. 

It was common practice to name your personal aircraft, and this one was named after the young wife of one of the Pilot Officers. Once she roamed the skies over New Guinea, based on Goodenough Island, serving with 6 Squadron RAAF. She belonged to, or was flown by a chap named Jack Russell who took her into battle against the Japanese. 

I visited Jack in 2007 to hear his recollections of those days, to see his logbook and record his photograph album. My dad had also served in 6 Squadron during the war as an air gunner and I had taken his logbook with me to show Jack. He reverentially went through dad’s book, pausing to make the occasional comment of recognition as he scanned the individual aircraft numbers and pilots.”

Knew him. Good pair of hands.” “Ah, that aircraft was from ‘B’ flight.” Suddenly he did a double take. “Hey - that’s my signature!” Jack had signed my dad’s logbook as commanding officer for the flight. It had made his day, and he realised the last time he had held it was more than 60 years ago. He became even more interested then, poring over the trips dad had done, describing the locations in vivid colours and terms, far more detail than my dad had ever mentioned; it was a sort of epiphany for both of us. You could see the memories flooding back. “I remember dad talking about the native belles” I commented. Jack opened a page in his photo album.”Thats what called them alright and I have some pictures of them here.”

A little later Jack’s wife, a friendly little old lady brought us in a cuppa. Her name?Verna Joyce. As I was leaving Jack commented: “You know, I don’t often have days as good as this.”

Since George Townsend’s earlier letters to Una Jones a slight familiarity has developed between them. Una Jones is the girl he met on the train. Other people have noticed their relationship. It took a tram ride to St Kilda for him to learn what others were thinking.

Kew
24th October 1914

Dear “Little Girl in the Train”

Everybody is out, and I am writing this at the Mater’s desk, with her pen, which only makes my deplorable scribble worse.
When I got home my brother said that he was going down to the St Kilda baths, so I went down and told my coach (Mr Thom) that I would not be going to Ivanhoe.
Then he asked me what train I had caught home and winked.
He then went on to tell me what he thought of me and finally said that I might have done a good deal worse.
I asked him what he meant and I found out that he had caught the same train home.
I believe I went red and looked silly, but after a short heated argument, he said that you looked “One out of a hundred”and actually had the audacity to say he liked my good taste.
Then I went for him, and the next statement he made was that you had showed rare discrimination.
I gave him up after that.
Coming home in the tram, I saw a pretty little girl in blue get in at Balaclava and, “Well it wasn’t”
My actions had attracted the attention of My Brother, who began to think he saw me in a new light.
However, I soon lulled his suspicions.
Enough of horrors.
I can’t just imagine you tracking out this afternoon, looking, well as you always look, and going about a hundred yards then getting a car-load of pure dirt in each ear and another down your neck.
I wish you joy.
(Here the inevitable headache comes on as a handy means of winding off).
Trusting to see you on Monday afternoon.

Yours Truly
Geo Townsend

P.S. If you are unable to decipher any word or words, I shall be only too happy to do so.

Una Jones has met George Townsend on the evening train from Flinders Street Station to Hawthorn. It is 1914. As well as their daily meeting on the train George has begun writing to Miss Jones. In this, his second letter to her, he mentions friends they have in common. We do not know who Heckle or Dorothy Holden are. Nor do we know what she has written to him. These letters were discovered in a building that was demolished some years ago.

23rd Oct 1914

Dear Miss Jones
(Since you would have it such) I hope you are quite well.
Heckle was quite interesting when I saw him again last night, and judging by his reports, Dorothy Holden must be somewhat after the same stamp as yourself.
Heckle states most emphatically that she is the prettiest, sweetest girl imaginable, only to meet with a contradiction from yours truly, who, I might say, has his own idea as to who would fill that particular bill.
Still, we don’t quarrell, being both more than satisfied.
I was determined to demand my … Photo last night, but my courage failed me, and now I have become reconciled to my loss.
Still, what is one’s loss is another’s gain.
I was rather surprised, however, that in the light of recent events, you did not wish for your letter back.
I feel a headache coming on so perhaps I had better stop before it gets out of my control.

Yours Truly
“Dear Mr Townsend”
(Save the Mark)

PS After seeing your handwriting I am just about ashamed of my scrawl. GT.

Historic Milparinka Courthouse and Police Station

Until recently drought-ravaged Milparinka (1400 km from Sydney) in Corner Country, New South Wales, didn’t have much to look forward to. Population was down to seven and the small but historically significant collection of heritage buildings were facing neglect. There were not enough people to staff the tourist office located in the restored Old Police Station.

While it hasn’t rained for years in Milparinka there has been a deluge of another kind. Volunteers by the car, caravan and camper load have answered a very unusual call from local pastoralist and avid historian Ruth Sandow. People have travelled from all over Australia to spend time in this tiny town to act as tourist information officers. Ruth is the driving force behind the Milparinka Heritage and Tourism Association that devised a simple and successful answer to the staffing problem. Visiting Volunteers now spend a few days or a few weeks looking after the historic precinct and providing passing visitors with information.

She says most Volunteers are city people who find the chance to sample outback life a real buzz. Most find it a practical way of giving something back to a remote outback community.

Awaiting restoration.

The Visiting Volunteers Program has resulted in another significant building restoration too. The Old Police Kitchens have been restored and now provide self-contained cottage accommodation, thanks to a Federal grant that funded the restoration.

Restored: Old Police Kitchen now self-contained Volunteer accommodation.

Ruth says that she now has a full roster of volunteers for the upcoming 2008 tourist season. So if you’re heading for Corner Country you’ll probably bump into one or two Visiting Volunteers in Milparinka.

If you’re interested in volunteering go to: http://www.outbacknsw.com.au/Volunteering%20at%20Milparinka.htm

It’s was a typical outback solution to a modern day problem. Donald Campbell arrived at Lake Eyre, South Australia, in the winter of 1964 with a dream to break the land speed record in his 4250 hp Bluebird jet powered car. While its Bristol Siddely Proteus gas turbine engine powered all four wheels it wasn’t what you called a 4WD as we know it. So getting the beast through the sandhills around Lake Eyre was the problem.

An oxy welding kit, some lengths of old railway line from the Ghan, axles and tyres and voila! You have a transporter to piggy-back Bluebird out onto Lake Eyre. Bluebird can zip across Lake Eyre at 650 kph. World land speed record done and dusted.

After 43 years this historic contraption is rusting quietly in the outback sun near the southern shore of the lake. Without it there would have been no world record.

Announcing the launch of a new website about our history.

Our History brings together stories about people, events and interesting moments in Australian history. It’s a bit like opening an old trunk in the attic, what with photos we find, people we get to know and letters we discover.

Many stories are by people who were there. Eyewitness views of events always seem more interesting. Our History stories are about experiences in war and in peacetime, life on and off the land . Especially interesting are the human interest stories of the past; the struggles, romances and challenges that individuals faced.

We invite you to post your thoughts and comments as well. This way we all get to learn a bit more.

Our History is the product of Keith Webb, Richard Leigh and Roger Clarke. When we’re not trawling through some sort of archive we’re making TV documentaries and producing DVD programs. Mostly about our history.

How could a contraption like this be involved in Donald Campbell’s 1964 land speed record attempt in Australia? Check the here.