The last day in Year 6

Tom rocks

Whole of school graduation walk

Tom and I at the Year 6 Dinner Dance

Tom centre stage

Nicholas joins in

Year 6

Tom had a great time in the end, enjoying his school friends company at the Year 6 Dinner Dance, the final assembly with it's song of Friends Forever and the final walk through the school tunnel to freedom.

Alex at the A Day Awards Night

Mrs Stephenson gave Alex his award for Academic Excellence - in recognition of his perfect scores for reading, maths and writing this year. It is only Yr 3 and Alex has a long way to go before he writes his first mathematic proof, but this is the first step towards that moment.

Christmas Concert 2008

Year 6 sang All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey

Tom looked cool in black

Year 3 sang a lot of carols including We Need A Little Christmas

Alex looked happy and festive

It was an entertaining two hour concert that a lot of kids put their energy into. Not to mention some frenetic teachers conducting choirs and moving props.

Year 6 Surf Education

Suf ski work.

Warming up

Beach run

When the kids arrive they form into groups and the Coaching Life Savers put them into rashie vests that are matching - then it's a quick run and warm up and into the exercises.
NSW Surf Life Saving is a great organisation and deserves our support, for more info...

www.surflifesaving.com.au

3L Class Picnic

The children came to the park to farewell Ms Stephenson who has taught them for Third Grade. One family baked a special 3L cake, others barbecued and had drinks and nibblies. Ms Stephenson has taught two of our boys, and she is especially good at teaching the reading of novels. In particular those written by Roald Dahl. There were two pets at the party, Ruby the tri colour beagle pup and Stretchy the long necked turtle.

Skatepark

Tom is on to his second skateboard now. It is a Girl skateboard and he has a Protec helmet. This has rather upped the stakes and he is keen now to learn how to skate on the ramps of skateboard parks. Fortunately for Mum's - Monster Skateboard Park in Homebush will provide one hour clinics with a Pro. I'll keep you posted on how he progresses.

It's beginning to feel a lot like the Holidays

The Pre Schoolers running around Hyde Park

The Elfville noticeboard

Nick looks at the window displays

This is hard to read but it really does say Santa's snail mail

And in a kingdom in a land far far away a sleigh was being prepared to travel to all the kids in all the world in one night.........

Nick visited the children's windows at David Jones in the City. He was quite captivated by their puppetry and many delights. The following day we returned with his class from Pre-School. I have never seen children enjoy a visit to Santa so much. He was very good at answering their questions about his reindeer and where his mouth was in his beard. Even I who have never let my own children believe in Santa Claus was moved to tears.

Retreat Reserve

The Snake Man

The Snake Man came to Nick's pre school this week. There was an assortment of reptiles and insects to look at and touch.

The children are very accepting of snakes as you can see. Above is an olive python, which was handled quite expertly and never let out of the snake man's reach. We didn't learn what the olive python eats for dinner, but I am imagining that it likes possums among other things. At one point a cane toad was released onto the floor. The screams were quite loud as it jumped towards the children. Two blue tongue lizards did the rounds of the room, giving everyone a feel of their smooth cool skin.

From Lavendar Bay to Luna Park

Nicholas had never been to Luna Park and seen it's large face at the entrance, so one morning this week we set off on the public art walk between Lavendar Bay and Luna Park.

There is a series of sculptures based on children's literature and cartoons. I particularly liked the Magic Pudding or Albert as he is otherwise known.

The expression on his face was just perfect.

1932 Penman Walker Violin

Today Jon and Thomas went to pick up Uncle Stephen's violin originally made by Penman Walker in 1932, from David Glanville of The Sydney String Centre. It has had a new bridge and chin rest, it has been restrung and cleaned.

It's good to see it brought back to life. It has a new case now which will travel to and from High School with Thomas next year. And in a while we might have some ensemble performances that it will appear at too.

Away

Hi to regular readers of Possum Home On The Range, I am on sabatical for a while and will not be posting again until next month.

When you are away and not with me remember that I am always thinking good thoughts about you and look forward to when we can share some time again. Under the beautiful Sydney skies - on Sydney Harbour beaches and coves, with the native trees and birds overhead.

John Saul

This is a post modernist expressionist oil painting by John Saul titled Idol, first exhibited at the Holdsworth Galleries in Sydney in February 1970.
I discovered this painting at a garage sale where it was being given away and needed some repairs to the frame.
When I brought it home the only resource in Australia that I could find on the artist was held in the National Library of Australia so I sent away for a photocopy of the press clipping - for John Saul - Artist.
When I received the clipping I discovered a photo of John and a review of the exhibition that the painting came from. Also that he played Dave in the radio series Dad and Dave from Snake Gully that ran for 16 years in Australia.

Here is the National Film and Sound Archives catalogue listing of the serial-
DAD AND DAVE FROM SNAKE GULLY Series: 140345 Summary: Radio serial centring around the story of two Australian families living at Snake Gully. Big national events such as Australia Day, the Royal Easter Show and the Snake Gully Cup are featured in some episodes. Contributors: George Edwards (PDR), Wrigley’s Gum (SPO), Maurice Francis (SCR), Lorna Bingham (SCR). Cast: Loris Bingham (Mum), George Edwards (Dad, Alf, Ted Ramsey, Hans, Tim Reilly, Joe Matthews), Nell Stirling (Mabel), Margaret Christensen (Mabel), Lorna Bingham (Annie Morton), Eric Scott (Bill Smith), John Saul (Dave), Pat Penny (Dave), Thora Lumsdaine (Lola Vincent). Label: Columbia, EMI Episode duration: 30 mins Episodes produced: 2276 Broadcast details: 1937-1953 ; first broadcast on 31st May, 1937 on 2UW, 2KO, 2G2, 3BD-LK, 4BK-AK, 5DN-MU-P1, 6IX-WB; Final episode broadcast December 29, 1953 on 2UW, 3DB, 4BK, 5AD, 7BU, 7HT; Monday to Thursday on 2UW at 7.00pm NFSA Holdings: Eps 3-2275 (slightly incomplete)

Coincidentally Dad and Dave was Granma's favourite Australian story of all time. Good art always has a provenance.