What a beautiful summer’s day we’re having but I must say I’d love a good rain storm. It is so dry here in Tasmania.
BOOK OF THE WEEK
I just finished a really good Tasmanian book. I really liked it. I mentioned it before. It is called My Heart at Evening by Konrad Muller. The author grew up in Melbourne, studied Arabic in Egypt and was an Australian diplomat posted in Cairo and Tel Aviv. He now works on a small family vineyard in northern Tasmania. This book is his first novel.
The story: In 1832, Van Diemen’s (original name of Tasmania) land. A troubled emissary narrates his journey north from Hobart Town to Circular head (in the northwest of state) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the suicide of Henry Hellyer- surveyor, amateur botanist, artist and friend to the wife of the Chief Agent in the north. There he navigates the horror of a fledgling nation.It is an irresistible foundational story and observation of the forces that shaped Tasmania, and Australia more broadly from power, to mateship, sexuality a nd isolation-forces we still recognise today (book blurb).
From Chat GPT- Henry Hellyer was an English surveyor and explorer who played a crucial role in opening up the remote north-west of Tasmania (then known as Van Diemen’s Land) in the 1820s.
Why he matters in Tasmanian history
1. Surveyor for the Van Diemen’s Land Company
In 1825, the powerful Van Diemen’s Land Company was granted vast tracts of land in north-west Tasmania. Hellyer was appointed chief surveyor. His task was to:
- Explore and map rugged, heavily forested country
- Lay out farms and townships
- Plan access routes and infrastructure
2. Founding of key settlements
3. Overland exploration
He cut tracks through extremely dense bush between the north coast and the inland plateau — an extraordinary feat at the time. His journals describe:
- Thick rainforest
- Difficult river crossings
- Encounters with local Aboriginal Tasmanians
- Harsh weather and isolation
His work was physically punishing and psychologically demanding.
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Henry died of suicide and Governor Arthur at the time wanted to know the circumstances around his death. The book is about the narrator going to the northwest of the state and trying to get the story. The writing is beautiful. I loved this man’s writing. The history is anything but dry. It is an easy read for learning so much about this time period and this man.
MY COMMONPLACE JOURNAL
I came across this type of journal recently and I am really enjoying writing one. I enjoy seeing how others use it.
A commonplace journal is a personal notebook where you collect and organise useful or meaningful information—such as quotes, ideas, observations, and excerpts from things you read. Instead of recording daily events like a diary, it serves as a curated reference of knowledge and inspiration you want to remember and revisit
While reading the Henry Heller book I took notes of places in Tasmania I wasn’t sure of location. I had some 1800s clothing vocabulary I didn’t know. There was a quote a man uttered under his breath about another I didn’t know what it meant. I jotted these words/quote down. At the end of my reading session I looked them all up and wrote it in my commonplace journal. I had a lot of fun doing so as I love research and the rabbit holes that follow.
I’ll share a couple of examples.
- While walking in a garden the flowers Delphiniums were mentioned. I couldn’t remember what they were. When I looked them up and saw the photo it was a forehead slapping moment. Of course I know what those are.
- Describing a woman’s. clothing the word “pelisse” was something she wore. What the devil is a pelisse? Turns out it is a long or short dress/garment with a tightly fitted bodice, often with embroidery decoration.
- The names of two children were Walterus and Carolus. Why not just Carol and Walter. I wanted to know the origin. Turns out it is of a Latin origin. It was then shortened. It is of English/Dutch origin.
- One man in authority, talking to another man who is a freed convict (not as good as him, of course) mutters under his breath at the end of the conversation “Iscariot!” Why call a man an Iscariot? Turns out it is a reference to Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus. Iscariot has become a permanent reference to a man who betrays another.
- I wondered why Emu Bay was called that. Are there emus in Tasmania? Not now but supposedly at one time there were. I need to look into that one a bit more.
I had a lot of fun looking these terms up and I wrote them in my Commonplace journal and then I illustrated them with my five year old’s drawing skills.
I now have this terminology committed to memory. Ha!
With an older brain it is lovely to know there are tricks to keeping one’s memory of something one reads!
PHOTOGRAPHY:
I haven’t done any photography this week but our photo group is going to a wetlands area on Friday morning. I understand there could be a platypus there as well as birds and who knows what else. So stay tuned for a couple of photos from this wetlands I never knew this wetlands is where it is, a 25 minute drive away tucked behind a hotel.
So all the best for the rest of the week and I’ll catch up again.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Are you going anywhere this week you’ve never been before? I find it’s always a fun thing to do. Maybe shop, maybe enjoy a. New nature walk, maybe a new place to have a coffee or a meal. If not why not do so.
Travellin' Penguin 