Northern Rivers Local News
Saved her royal china from the flood
Saved her royal china from the flood
By Samantha Elley
When Linda Barney Dowdall had to evacuate her Coraki home from the February floods, some of her items high on her priority list to save, was her royal memorabilia.
Now at the passing of the second longest reigning monarch in the world, Queen Elizabeth II, those items have become even more precious to Linda.
“It has staggered me how (Queen Elizabeth’s death) has affected me,” she said.
“I know she has looked so fragile for the last few days, but it still came as a shock.
“I am 70 years old this year, so I am a platinum baby. I love telling people that. She has always been there.”
Linda unashamedly admits to being an ardent monarchist, along with her parents before her.
“I come from East London and both the Queen Mother, and the Queen had visited there,” she said.
“When Harry and Meghan got married, we threw a high tea and now we live at Kyogle (in evacuation accommodation), we had a Platinum Jubilee high tea.
“I love an excuse for a high tea.”
Despite the floods destroying all Linda’s books on the royals, the China was saved.
“A couple of friends rescued all my China,” she said.
“I had them all covered in sewage-flavoured mud, so I rinsed them with warm soapy water, then rinsed them with white vinegar and warm water, dried them and they came up beautiful and all sparkly, so I didn’t have to throw them out.”
Her collection includes cups and saucers from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a mug from the Silver Jubilee and even a cup and saucer from the Coronation.
“Every time I’ve been home to London, I’ve picked up a few pieces or I get friends to bring some in their hand luggage when they come to Australia,” she said.
Plans are already in the pipeline for the upcoming funeral.
“I might invite my Coraki friends here and talk about the good aspects of the Queen,” she said.
“Effectively we will show respect and have a small wake.
“The last time we had a high tea for the Queen we wore tiaras, I think this time I will make halos.”
***
Local historian Helen Trustum of Bentley is another ardent monarchist whose collection of royal memorabilia extends over five decades.
“(This is) a very sad day indeed, losing our beloved Queen,” she said.
“I have been collecting souvenirs for 50 years.”
Helen has a number of favourite pieces from her vast collection.
“The Royal Dalton pieces are beautiful, of the Queen’s wedding and Coronation,” she said.
“The China plate with the Queen Mother with Elizabeth and Margaret is another favourite.”
As a young student at Tuckurimba Public School Helen remembers honouring the Queen.
“Memories of school days when we would sing God Save the Queen,” she said.
“Our teacher Jim Ormond would hit the tuning fork ready for us to start singing.
“I also remember the time of the Coronation when they had a Queen competition in Coraki.
“I was only eight (and) we had a Prince Phillip, Charles and Anne. I was Queen Elizabeth.”
Helen remembers the Queen and Prince Phillip arriving in Australian in February 1954 and all the Tuckurimba School children were taken to Coraki to see her drive through from Evans Head.
“That night we went to see her (in Lismore) as she came out on the Gollan Hotel balcony,” she said.
“Our generation are feeling it this morning because the Queen has been so much of our lives.
“In fact, practically part of the family.
“RIP Your Majesty.”
Breakout story – Longest serving monarchs
- Louis XIV of France reigned from 14 May 1643 to 1 September 1715 – 72 years, 110 days.
- Elizabeth II of British Commonwealth reigned from 6 February 1952 to 8 September 2022 – 70 years, 214 days.
- Rama IX of Thailand reigned from 9 June 1946 to 13 October 2016 – 70 years, 126 days
- Johan II of Lichtenstein reigned from 12 November 1858 to 11 February 1929 – 79 years, 91 days
- Muhammad Jiwa Zainal Adilin II of Kedah (Malaysia) reigned from 15 February 1710 to 23 September 1778 – 68 years, 220 days
City landmark falls to start $29.5 mil project
By Tim Howard
A Grafton landmark has disappeared in the past week, but it’s proof that a much awaited facility is on target for a December 2024 opening.
The Grafton Memorial Pool waterslide which dominated the landscaping of the pool grounds for decades has come down and heavy machinery has begun tearing up the pool structures and surrounding ground to begin stage one of the $29.5 million project
The head contractor, Bathurst firm Hines Constructions Pty Ltd, has promised Clarence Valley Council it will complete stage 1 of the project, known as the Regional Aquatic Centre, by December 2024.
The first stage will include the indoor facility, which includes two 25 metre pools.
The 50m outdoor pool will be part of Stage 2 of the project
The start of construction will rule out any use of the Grafton Pool site over the summer.
Heavy machiney at work beginning to demolish the pools as part of stage 1 of the Regional Aquatic Project.
In 2022-23, despite the closure of the pool, the water slide was opened at selected times.
The pool has a close connection to the Grafton community
It’s origins go back to December 11, 1943, when 13 Cub Scouts drowned in the Clarence River returning from a picnic on Susan Island.
Findings from the tragedy revealed most of the boys had not learned to swim and the community resolved to raise funds to build a pool so children could learn to swim at an early age.
The name Grafton Memorial Pool was a reference to the boys that died on that day almost 80 years ago.
After fundraising, construction of the pool began in 1954 and it opened in 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympics.
In the pool’s first year of operation it was visited by a touring squad of Olympic swimmers which included Sport Australia Hall of Famer, Jon Henricks.
During the visit Henricks competed in the 50m freestyle at a club event which he won in 25.60 seconds before going on to Melbourne to become Australia’s first ever Olympic 100m freestyle champion and set a new world record.
Bathurst builder Hines Constructions won the contract for the $29.5 million build of the Regional Aquatic Facility.
Henricks’ record, which stood for 60 years as the fastest 50m in the Grafton Olympic Pool, was beaten in 2016 by local swimmer Charlie Steele in a time of 25.11 seconds.
Over the years the addition of the waterslide and diving pool turned the facility into a regional attraction which brought visitors to the city.
But the past decade revealed issues at the pool, which included a massive water leak.
It is believed the water escaping from the pool into the ground around it has created a sinkhole responsible for the structural instability which forced the council to close the pool ahead of the 2022-23 swimming season.
The council had developed a shovel-ready plan for the Regional Aquatic Centre, which has been used for the current project.
Future stages will include the 50m outdoor pool and two waterslide.
For more local Grafton news, click here.
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