DT's IS LOOKING BEAUTIFUL

DT's Hotel at 164 Church Street Richmond, formerly Naughton's Hotel and then Citizen's Hotel was built in the Renaissance Revival style in the 1870s. It is architecturally significant and I'm happy to report that I have watched with interest over the past few months it's utter transformation from drab Emerald Green to its former glory. It's been a laborious slog for workers who draped the exterior with chemical strips and then painstakingly removed the remainder of the paint that resisted the peel. The result is stunning and DT's is now back to her former glory. She is covered in Thatch brown paint and wears her light brown, orange and green tiles with much splendour. More photographs of her transformation below. All photographs by Julie Clarke (c) 2018.

DEBORAH CONWAY, WILLY ZYGIER, SAL KIMBER

I'd been feeling rather confined during the heatwave. Sure, I could get out in the mornings and go to the gymnasium and do a little shopping, but then, because of the radiant heat and temperatures souring above 30C degrees I was trapped inside. It might have been intolerable except that the test cricket was absorbing and although Australia won 3/0, it may have been due to Pakistan's pathetic fielding. Anyway, yesterday I thought it was going to be more of the same, but the cool change occurred around 12.30 and I headed off to the Victoria Gardens shopping centre to check out some post Christmas sales. When I came out of the centre I crossed the road determined to walk along that small walk bridge that traverses the Yarra. It didn't happen due to my balance issues and my slight fear of heights. It's still one of my challenges for the year. I felt at least that I'd achieved something when I took a photo of this wonderful example of urban inscription on a wall near a large empty block in Victoria Street. You will notice the iconic Skipping Girl sign in the distance.

Urban Inscription. Photo: Julie Clarke (c) 2017

I'd planned to go and see Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier who were performing for Sunset Sounds a free City of Stonnington music event and so I took a tram down Chapel Street to High Street, Prahran and then walked the four blocks up to Victoria Park. I was a little disappointed that instead of 6pm, Deborah and Willy were scheduled to begin their performance at 7.30, meaning that I'd be travelling home after dark. However both she and Willy were in the audience and I took a couple of candid photographs of Willy playing his guitar and one of Deborah, Willy (and friend?).

Willy Zygier. Photo: Julie Clarke (c) 2017

Deborah Conway, Willy Zygier and friend? Photo: Julie Clarke (c) 2017

Although I couldn't stay for Deborah and Willy's performance I did hear half a dozen songs from Sal Kimber and The Rollin' Wheel. Sal's music takes listeners on a journey through country, fold, rock and pop. I could tell by the lyrics of her songs that she is greatly moved by people in country Victoria.

Photo: Julie Clarke (c) 2017

She was wonderful and sang with such passion. I took a couple of photographs of her singing, but my favourite is the one I took of her hydrating before she began.

Sal Kimber before the performance. Photo: Julie Clarke (c) 2017

It was a lovely atmosphere in the park. Hundreds of people sitting in what looked like an amphitheatre in the amply shaded park, which was built in 1887. I had never been there before and was amazed that such a beautiful oasis was tucked away in an otherwise built up area.

Crowd in Victoria Gardens. Photo: Julie Clarke (c) 2017

Citizen Park, Richmond, Christmas Celebrations 2014

Last night I went over to the Richmond Christmas celebration at Citizen Park and took a few photos. The Mayor of Richmond was there:
Brian Nankervis was the MC, but behind the scenes this conversation looked intense.

There were hats, some Christmassy, some not:

People shading their eyes from the sun

Blue hair:

Red hair:

And some intimate moments:

and the Choir mistress doing her best to conduct the young singers from one of the local schools:

Remembrance Day Richmond 2014

I was still at home at 10.55am this morning and rushed down to the Richmond Town Hall hoping to be part of REMEMBRANCE DAY in which many people stop what they are doing to remember not only those who had participated in WW1 (the population of Australia at that time was about 4.9 million, and about 429,000 Australians enlisted), but the moment when the hostilities ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day or the 11th month in 1918.

I arrived with a minute to spare and heard the last stanza of the Ode of Remembrance, which is always poignant.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

The bugler played The Last Post and a woman sang Advance Australia Fair. I took some photos as the hands of the clock turned 11am. You will notice that Adam Bandt, Federal Member for Melbourne Greens was in attendance.



Afterwards all the members of the public and dignitaries who turned up for the event were treated upstairs to refreshments, sandwiches and other assorted brunch type fare. I hadn't been in that part of the Richmond Town Hal before so I was delighted to see the amazing Art Deco interiors. I spoke briefly with the only men there who were wearing medals. One had served in Malaysia in the 1950s, the other was a Vietnam Vet. Overall it was an enjoyable, if not solemn occasion.