The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

ISBN: 1846660149

"To sit on rocks; to muse o'er flood and fell;

To slowly trace the forest's shady scene;

Where things that own not man's dominion dwell;

And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been!

To climb the trackless mountain all unseen;

With the wild flock, that never need a fold;

Alone o'er steeps and foaming falls to lean;

This is not solitude: 'tis but to hold

Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unrolled."

  Byron.

                                                                                                                      

And so we are introduced to the wonderful Centenary re-issue of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, aptly preparing us for what is to follow.

Author Edith Holden was born in Kings Norton, Worcester, England in 1871. But it was in the small village of Olton in Warwickshire that she wrote and illustrated her famous diary in 1906. Reflected in her exquisite paintings, Edith Holden's love and perception of nature is obvious. It is a wonderful record of the diversity of the English countryside in the early 20th century, through her eyes.

The exquisite beauty of her paintings touches your soul, with wonderfully blended colour and minute attention to detail.  Her favourite poems are included, to enhance the theme or mood of the illustrations. Her diary entries are fascinating insights into the changing delights of nature brought forth by each season.

Handwritten in Edith's beautiful copperplate handwriting, the text adds to the authentic feel of this book and the era in which it was penned.

This volume would be a wonderful addition to the library of any lover of historical naturalist artwork- or of the abundance of nature itself!

Old Wilpena Station, Flinders Ranges

In northern South Australia is a remarkable, spectacular National Park called the Flinders Ranges National Park.  One of the most historically fascinating places in the Park is the Old Wilpena Station which was still a working station within until the mid 1980's.

Situated not far from the towering mountains of the Pound itself, and within walking distance from the Resort and caravan park, this area is one of the more lushly vegetated areas of the Park.

But its real charm lies in the relics of past lives and farming in the region.  One of the unique aspects of the station is that the buildings are in excellent condition, due in part to the excellent caretaking of its past by the last residents, the Hunt family.

Rather than just demolish old buildings as was done on a lot of country properties, or allowing them to fall into ruin, they kept restoring them as needed and using them as station outbuildings, over the years. 

Book-Keepers Cottage

There are also many old items and fittings still present which give a unique insight into the workings and life on an outback property.  These include lots of old farm machinery,
blacksmiths bellows, tools and made items, hanging 'mouse proof' shelves in the old store and a fascinating herringbone pattern wooden floor and sack ceiling in the book-keepers cottage.

 Mouse-proof Shelves in the Store.

Food and other stores for the shepherds and other station workers were kept here and doled out in set amounts.

The Store Building.

Blacksmiths Workshop

Inside the Smithy

Old tools and items made by the blacksmiths still in situ.

Blacksmith's Cottage

More recently, as the station precinct reverted to National Park, mush renovation has been done on the main Homestead and it is now the Park Headquarters/ ranger station.  

The outbuildings and other historical features have also had some restoration at various times.

Visitors to the Park are fortunate in that they can stroll through the Homestead gardens and outbuildings, amongst towering gum trees and the Wilpena Creek nearby.

Emus, kangaroos and various birds are bound to be seen abundantly in the area.

The Homestead and Garden

The gardens are based on "Old English" style gardens, with a number of rose bushes, irises, violets, bulbs and a fruit tree orchard.

The Friends of the Flinders Ranges group maintain the garden, as well as help with various restoration and maintenance issues in the precinct. 

A replica of the old swing used by the hunt girls as children has been lovingly created by one of the Friends founding members, Athol Jackson.  In a corner near the gate grid is a special little spot... the Pet Cemetery where their beloved cats and dogs are buried, with their own cement monument 'stones'.

Behind the outbuildings is also a small people cemetery where a couple of people who worked at the station are buried.  

A 'meat safe' building lies behind the house, as do chicken coops.  There's even a more recent addition of a compost heap - courtesy of the Friends.

'Friends' compost heap used for garden green waste, returned to the garden as rich compost.

Some distance from the main homestead area is the old shearers quarters and shearing shed.


The Old Wilpena Station is a good reminder of the simpler more basic ways in which people lived in years gone by.  Lives dictated by the seasons and their environment... a harsh unforgiving environment at times.

They grew/produced a lot of their own food, water was taken from the spring, windmills pumped water to the stock and a wind power generator was situated on the top of a nearby hill with power lines running down to the house.

Water is still used from the spring to provide water to the Wilpena Resort and Homestead areas and a large solar power array has provides a portion of the power for both for many years... even before solar became popular in suburban areas- as well as a more recent smaller solar array providing power to the Oraparinna ranger station further north and one at Rawnsley Park station, as the power source for their wonderful Eco Villas. 

Solar Array at Rawnsley Park station.

Windmills are still dotted through the area, and on neighbouring stations.

Windmill on Neighbouring Rawnsley Park station.

Reminding us of others who lived simple lives, even more in harmony with the land, is 'Ikara'... the meeting place in Adnyamathanha, the local indigenous tribe of the region... which is a fascinating monument in honour of the traditional owners of the Flinders Ranges.

The 'Ikara" Monument at Old Wilpena station precinct.

There's an almost spiritual beauty about this place... towering mountains, ancient red gums, eagles soaring overhead, days ended with spectacular sunsets.

A visit here will give you a new appreciation for the brave hardy families who made their homes in this wild location. 

Tickets of entry are available in the Wilpena Information Centre, near the campground.  

Not to be missed if you are visiting the area!

A Lens on Nature

Photographic Projects Capturing The Wonders of Nature


Nature makes a marvellous photography subject, so here are a few ideas for going out and capturing the natural world with your camera.


Spirit of Endurance

A famous photographer, Harold Cazneaux, once took a photograph of a huge old gum tree in Australia, that had battled on and survived through fires, drought, the coming of white man and no doubt much more. 

He called it “The Spirit of Endurance.”

It won the photographic competition he entered it in and brought him much acclaim.

If you ever get a chance, you can still visit this magnificent gum tree, with a display containing a copy of his photograph and some information.  It is located in the Flinders Ranges, just outside of Wilpena SA. 

It is your task to make a display of photographs showing things in nature which display “The Spirit of Endurance”. Things that have survived against odds… things that are fighting for survival. 

This could be photos of plants that are growing in amazing places… where you wouldn’t think they could grow… or at incredible angles out of cliffs etc.

Maybe photos of insects or animals surviving in harsh or polluted environments.

Perhaps photos of very elderly people, or people who have survived through immense trauma or difficulties.

Photograph whatever you can think of to fit the theme.

When you have your photos selected and printed, create your “The Spirit of Endurance” display.

It may be in a scrapbook, a collage of photos on a poster or several individually framed pictures.

You could even display the photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label each picture with its location and how it gives you the impression of having “The Spirit of Endurance.”

Infinite Diversity

Within one type of thing, there is incredible variety! 

Choose a theme to delve into, and take photos to represent the amazing diversity within the theme. 

Your theme should relate to nature... for example, don’t choose cars.

Your theme should ideally be one thing, or collective things that make up a particular theme.

Some suggestions:

• Trees
• Rocks
• Wetlands or Rivers
• Mountains
• Flowers
• Leaves
• Creature homes
• Webs
• Clouds
• Sunsets
• Moon scenes
• Cats or another specific animal



You can choose to work on more than one theme if you like.

After you have printed your chosen photos, display them.

You may choose to make a poster type collage of pictures, or individually framed photos. Or maybe a display folder or scrapbook.

You could even use a display on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label your photos, including location, and some comments on the diversity you have found.

Hidden Beauty 

Things of great beauty can be hidden where they are not immediately obvious. Just like a pearl in an oyster, you can find amazing things under, inside or otherwise obscured from immediate view.  

Your task is to take photos of some of the hidden beauties and wonders you can find.

• Photos of things growing in hidden spots, inside logs, in rock crevices etc.
• Things growing inside something, like a sprout inside its seed.
• Or a butterfly in its chrysalis… Don’t open! Just the outer view is fine.
  Though if you can also get it emerging later, great!
• Photograph things under something… like a beautiful beetle or tiny skink.
  Take care when looking under things… Spiders or even snakes could live there!
• Photos of a fascinating or very pretty rock, hidden under a coating of soil, or crystals hidden on the inside of a plain looking rock.
• Photos of underground wonders, such as caves.

No doubt you will come up with many other ideas you have for suitable photos.

Once you have printed your chosen photos, create your display.

This might be a scrapbook, poster type collage of photos, or maybe individually framed pictures.

You could even use a display on your computer, using a program such as Microsoft PowerPoint.

Label your photos with location and any relative details.

Sunrise, Sunset

 Sunrises and sunsets are magical! 

Make a series of sunrise photos, and a series of sunset photos. 

Do it each day, if possible, for several days, from the same location.

Display your photos, with information including:

• Whether it is a sunrise or sunset photo
•  Time each photo was taken
• Location of photo
•  Weather conditions
  

Record your thoughts on the differences in appearance between sunrises and sunsets. Which do you like best?  Why? 

What effect does the weather have on sunrises and sunsets?

You could also do a photographic record of sunrises and sunsets as above, but using a different location for each.

Natures Magic: A Different Light

Many good photographs use light as an important feature.

Your task is to take a selection of photos of nature, enhanced by light.

You may like to choose one scene and photograph it at different times of day to show the changing light, or on days where the light is different because of sun, clouds, mist etc.

You may like to do a series of sunset or sunrise photos.

You might choose to photograph reflection off water.

Or the sun glinting off water or other shiny surfaces.

This can also be made interesting by the use of a photographic star filter, if you have one.

You may like to do a series of photographs of different coloured light reflecting off the clouds.

Or maybe photos using moonlight.

Or the light from stars “star trails” with time lapse photography.

The possibilities are many.

Once you have printed out your chosen photos, make up your display.

Maybe a scrapbook, a poster type collage of photos, or individually framed photos.

You could even use a display your photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label your photos with the location, relevant facts such as time of day, weather conditions etc., and what the “feel” of the photo is to you.

Colours of the Earth 

When looking at the Earth you may just think that it is brown… or green if covered with vegetation… but there is actually an immense variety of hues if you look for them. 

Your task is to take photos showing this great variation. 

Find areas where there are different soil colours, or the vegetation gives a different coloured impression. 

You might find colours varying from white sand, pebbles, red earth, yellowish earth, brown or almost black earth, and all kinds in between.  Take photos showing this variety.

  
Plants may give a pale or dark green impression, silvery or white, or blue or olive green and many other shades.

A very mossy area, or bright orange lichen, will colour an area.

If there’s a mass of flowers or coloured leaves they will dominate the scene.  Photograph this amazing kaleidoscope of colour!

Once you have chosen and printed your photos, create your display.

It may be in a scrapbook, a collage of photos on a poster or several individually framed pictures.

You could even display your photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label your photos with location, the predominate colouring shown and any other details you would like to include.

An idea to add something a bit extra to your display, is to collect a sample of each coloured soil, and to display these with the photos, or even create a frame by gluing the soil onto a card border for each photo.

You could take leaf samples from the vegetation areas (if allowed) and press these, or microwave dry them (this often retains colour better) and use these in your photo display too.

Colour My World 

The world around us is made up of a myriad of different colours and hues, some of them obvious and in-your-face, others more subtle or almost unnoticed amongst stronger colours. 

Choose a colour and create a photographic display to represent it. Get out and about with your camera! Try to get all kinds of variations of the colour, both in different shades and different intensities and textures.

Here's a few simple suggestions to get you started:

GREEN
Leaves, Lichen, Moss, Water, Hills, Enviro Bags, Tree Frogs, Lorikeet

BLUE
Water, Sky, Blue Loo Toilet Cleaner, Budgie, Azurite, Ford Logo, Eyes

RED
Fire Engine, Post Box, Car, Robin, Hibiscus, Holden Blimp, Rose, Traffic Light

ORANGE
Sunset, Fire, Marigold, Monarch Butterfly, An Orange, Glowing Cliffs, Autumn leaves

YELLOW
Sunflower, Duckling, Custard, A Lemon, A Crayon, Daisies, Cheese 

WHITE
Clouds, Shell, Rabbit, Lily, Snow, Rice, Flour, Cottage Cheese

BLACK
Night Sky, Cat, Desk Chair, Licorice,  Leather,  Paint,  T-shirt, Beetle

Be creative and imaginative... use something a bit different, something unexpected.

Make a collage poster, or a PowerPoint presentation, or whatever you feel is the best way to display your work.

You could then try the process again with a different colour. This could even develop into an ongoing project to cover as many colours as possible. Don't be afraid to add photographs to each display if you find something that fits in nicely, at a later stage.

Scavenging Photographic Style

A Photographic Collage

It’s great to have a keen power of observation.  See how you do on this Scavenger Hunt!

Get together with friends and work as a group, challenge someone to find the items before you, or just do these alone at your leisure.

See if you can find all the items on the list.

(Score 1 point each item found)

Each item can only be used in one category.

You don’t have to complete the hunt at one time.

Make sure you check with an adult if you wish to go out and about searching.  They may wish to accompany you.

Also, do not enter private property without checking first!

 This is a Photographic Hunt.



You may use either things you find naturally, or set things up for the photos.

Print and label them, and explain your choice of subject.


SCAVENGER HUNT LIST
Take photos to represent the following.

Something very old.

Something very young.

Something very tiny.

Something huge.

Something tubular.

Something with many colours.

Something man made.

Something showing Nature’s power.

The most beautiful scene you can find.



The most disturbing or horrible scene you can find.

Something yummy.

Something growing.

Something edible that you don’t like.

Something very fast.

Something very slow.

Something captive.

Something free.

Something that shows survival against the odds.

Something that shows man’s destruction of natural environment.

Something that shows conservation efforts.

Something growing inside something else.

Something very tall.

Something up high.

Something dried up.

Something expanding.

Something melting.

Something about to bloom.

Something of the night

Something flying.

Something blowing.

Something floating.

Something you can fit inside.

Something you can’t.

Using Photography as a Learning Tool

Observe... Capture... Create...

Photography can be beneficial in learning in far more ways than just learning to use a camera. In fact, photography activities can be used to enhance any formal subject area, plus can be a valuable personal development tool as well. Viewing things through the lens of a camera gives students (of any age!) the chance to see things from a different perspective. They learn to look more closely at what is around them, to focus on what's actually there, to see things from various angles and develop creativity.

Students also develop good critical judgement and comparative skills as they look at their work and choose photographs that best fit their need. They learn visual balance and pleasing aesthetics in framing their subjects, as well as developing appreciation for colours, shapes, textures and forms. Also may come an awareness of how to create different "feel" to an image, by using different lighting, filters, colour etc.

They often also learn patience, as they wait for the perfect moment when the sun casts the right light... or in trying to capture a bird in flight or a great goal at the footy... or as they work with animals or people in getting the shot they want.

Taking photos is also fun and hands on, not a dry seemingly "boring" way of approaching the world. It can also be challenging, and require some overcoming of obstacles and perseverance- all of which are usually undertaken gladly as the student photographer strives to get "just the right shot" to portray what they are trying to get across to the viewer.
Photography can be very creatively satisfying, and a great confidence booster- especially useful for students who may not excel in sporting type activities, or are not highly academic- as the photographer can take pride and pleasure in what they have achieved, and the appreciation, from others, in their work.

Below are some suggestions for incorporating photography into various learning areas.

• Photography can be a great way to illustrate procedure for various experiments or projects. Students can not only show how they carried out their own work, but create Step-by-Step guides for other students who wish to recreate the experiment.
  
• Ask students to find and photograph scientific principles and processes at work, such as- leverage, energy conversion, geological features, or the life cycle of a plant.
  
• Nature provides endless possibilities for biological and environmental science illustration.
  
• Photography provides an accurate way of recording change over time.

• Plenty of opportunity here for using various computer technology in the form of photo editing software, printers etc.
  
• The camera itself is a piece of technology and students can learn about the various technical details, parts, accessories etc and how they work.
  
• Have students create photographic displays of various technology related things.

• Use for creating historical records, such as buildings, landmarks or monuments.
  
• Photographic recreation of a historical event.
  
• Using photo editing techniques to give old time look to recent photos of old buildings etc- what shouldn't be in the scene? And what should be that is not?

• Students take photos and then paint, draw, weave, model, sculpt or any other art or craft form to depict the photograph, in whatever style they wish.
  
• Reinforce perspective and visual elements through the "eye of the camera".
  
• Take photos to represent a piece of music (with or without lyrics), and be played during it to enhance the experience.
  
• Take some photos, then write music/song which helps express the images.
  
• Have students take photos to use as dramatic inspiration for dance themes and moves.

• Get students to explore shapes with a camera. Just how many different triangles can they locate?
  
• Have young students help you create a number book or poster by taking their own photos of objects to represent each number.
  
• Assign students mathematical principles to illustrate... and see how creative they can be!

• Have students take photos of objects to label- either in English (or your native language) or a foreign language.
  
• Illustrate stories or poems- either their own or published authors- with photos. How creative can they be in how they portray them?
  
• Get students to take a photo, or photos, then write a story or poem inspired by their photos.
  
• Create a regular class magazine/newsletter and encourage students to write about school or local events, with photos as illustration.

• Ask students to portray a certain culture or segment of their community through photographs.
  
• Get students to report on a significant event or proposal which will affect the community, with photographic illustrations.
  
• Create a "time capsule" with student photos of daily life, school life, and other elements that represent the time you live in.

• Sports photography creates challenges of its own... challenge the students to photographically represent a school game or their favourite sport.
  
• Get students to create a step-by-step "how to" of a sport, or a dance routine, or martial arts move etc in photos.
  
• Have your students track their own results of an improved diet and exercise plan with progressive photos of themselves. (not necessarily shared with whole class, if some students are sensitive about their appearance.)

These have just been a few ideas to get you started on using photography to teach, enhance, inspire and motivate your students in their learning journey. Come up with some of your own! Maybe even challenge your students to devise some photography learning ideas for themselves.

Seen through the eye of the photographer, the world can take on enchantment anew!

Volunteering- The Friends of the Flinders Ranges National Park

Do you have a love and respect for the part our National Parks play in protecting wildlife, ecosystems, natural beauty and in giving people an opportunity to immerse themselves in some of nature's most significant places?  Do you think you'd like working as part of a team actively doing your bit to keep these magnificent areas safe for future generations?  Do you like getting away, into the 'Great Outdoors'?

Then why not join a Friends of Parks group?  There are many such groups, all over South Australia... and beyond! 

The Friends of the Flinders Ranges National Park (FRNP) is a great example of people doing just that.  

The FRNP is a large area in Northern South Australia, consisting of spectacular mountain scenery, diverse wildlife and flora, as well as significant geological, historical and indigenous components.  It is also a popular tourist destination. 

As only a small number of Rangers are employed in this vast Park, the Friends play a vital role in all kinds of aspects of Park maintenance and protection.  

Some of the kinds of projects the Friends undertake are:

• Weed removal
• Seed collection
• Revegetation
• Herbarium collection
• Maintenance of the Old Wilpena Station garden
• Ruin stabilisation and restoration
• Park database information collection
• Park photography

The Friends have also undertaken various training to make their work in the Park safer and more effective.

Friends members run the school holiday Seasonal Events program in the Park, including putting on their own activities such as the extremely popular 'Discover the Wonders of the Night Sky' telescope evenings. 

It's not all work though... 
although work in such a marvelous area, in agreeable company, is usually a most enjoyable way to spend a few days anyway!

However, the Friends also have more relaxed social events such as barbecues and tours of areas of the Park with Rangers and Friends members or guest guides with specialist knowledge.

Most of the active members are from Adelaide, and travel up to whatever working bees they can manage to attend.  In 2015 working bees are planned to be mostly 2 months apart and will run for approximately a week's duration.  However, people who wish to attend are welcome to come along for a shorter time, if they can't make the full period. 

Accommodation is provided free of charge in the well appointed Oraparinna Shearers' Quarters.  Membership of this Friends group is $20 a year per family and includes a monthly newsletter.
For more information and a joining form please visit the Friends website.