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'Mind your health'
Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in May by reaching millions of people in the United States through the media, local events, and screenings.(copy and paste bit done)
This is now a Global campaign and awareness is indeed needed.
My thoughts after the last year or so we have had that helped no one through anxiety or other mental health issues was to give a moment to try and create an image that was my representation of the awareness campaign in lightpainting.
The translation of the shot will be different for everyone but the message is the same!
Volume 1 - Origin of Powerhouse: Issue #1
Flicker Fighters
It had been six months since Ben and his Mum had moved to Advent City. It was a big transition in both their lives moving from the Scottish countryside and into the big city. However, with his Mum being CEO of ‘Imagine’ he wasn’t surprised to hear she wanted to manage the company in person. Six months later, and Ben had only made one friend who he really liked, Connie. She was in the same college class as him studying Biomedical Sciences and she was also new to the city. They didn’t really have much in common other than that but, they both had the same personality and enjoyed one another’s company. They could talk about anything and always had a good laugh. Ben contemplated asking her out but he didn’t want to ruin such a good friendship and break the bond that they had, should anything happen. She was a total nerd for mech suits and it just so happened that the new branch opening in ‘Imagine’ was developing some. It was supposed to be kept a secret until their grand unveiling later in the year, but Ben knew Connie wasn’t exactly going to go around telling everyone. Therefore, he arranged to surprise her and set her up for a tour of his Mum’s company. She was more than excited for the day, and Ben struggled not to reveal the surprise. He planned to keep it for the end of the tour and then lead her through the storage facility, where the armoured suits are kept. Ben saw the suits and their designs, half of them were all ready to be showcased. However, his Mum planned to reveal them as a complete set on display once the others had been built. Ben was far too excited to show her the suits, so much so he was going to make her suspect something if he kept smiling like a lunatic.
Ben makes his way through the bustling crowd and is about to check his phone and ask where she is. She was supposed to be outside the main entrance. Although with the way he’s getting bumped about by the city crowd, he figures she got overwhelmed and went inside. She was probably chilling on her phone in a corner, the same thing he’d be doing to avoid the large crowds. He enters the building and there she is, exactly where he thought she’d be. As if she knows he’s watching, she looks up from her phone and smiles waving. They walk towards one another as she slips her phone back into her pocket.
Ben: “You ready for the best tour of your life?”
Connie: “Yeah, I got my camera ready like Peter Parker.”
Ben: “Well I can assure you there’s no radioactive spiders here. I asked my Mum to get some, but apparently it’s a ‘safety hazard’.”
The two shares a laugh and Ben begins to lead her through the tourist exhibits based on all of the new technology. Ben had heard about most of it when talking business with his Mum. Some of the projects were just frivolous crazy things for rich people with far too much money to purchase. Such as nanotechnology paint that allows you to decorate your room with micro robots. They can be remotely controlled to change colour, pattern, and even display images from the internet. Which meant you could paint a wall with these devices and have something different everyday. Then there were more useful pieces of technology for medicinal purposes. The kind of technology which would allow the replication of synthetic tissue and allow it to be ‘filled’ with a false but functional nervous system. It sounded like something from a Sci-Fi show. But that’s why the company was called, Imagine, they create technology that could only have been plucked from wildest of imaginations. Connie was overjoyed as Ben showed her some of the exhibits and the more excited she got the more he felt himself hurrying to show her the grand finale - the mech suits in storage.
Ben: “Come on, I got something cool to show you in the back. My Mum said as long as you keep it a secret and don’t take any pictures it’s okay.”
Connie: “Ooh, something top secret?”
Ben: “For the next year or so, yeah. Now come on, you’re going to love it.”
Ben leads her away from a bustling exhibit, he had to stop himself from pulling her to hurry. He knew she was going to love seeing these suits, she loved that sort of thing. She was a nerd just like him when it came to this stuff. As they are making their way through the crowd Ben turns, beaming a smile. However, someone in the building screams from just down the corridor. The overlapping conversation of the crowds around them fall silent. The scream echoes up the corridor, soon followed by other terrified shrieks. A large crashing sound causes a tremor to quake throughout the exhibit. People begin to murmur amongst themselves and others start to make their way to the exits.
Connie: “What the hell was that?”
Ben: “Um, I’m not sure. We should probably-“
An automated female voice blares from the speakers in the roof, “Emergency! Emergency! Everyone please evacuate the building in a calm and orderly fashion.”
Everyone begins pushing and shoving as they stampede towards the exits. Connie gets shoved to the ground by a larger man who doesn’t bother to look her way as she cries out. Ben yells in protest and struggles to make his way through the sea of panicked people to get to her. He loses sight of her as she’s engulfed by the mob. He knew she was on the floor, probably getting trampled on by all these people. They were scared but so was she, she was probably hurt as well. It was like the videos he had witnessed on Youtube of people going nuts over deals on Black Friday. Doing anything they can to be the first ones in the door - or in this case, out of the door. Eventually, the numbers of the crowd thin out and he sees Connie curled up in a ball on the floor, in a foetal position. Ben rushes towards her as the automated voice continues to repeat the order to evacuate. He kneels beside her and places his hand on her shoulder, she is trembling.
Ben: “Connie, we gotta get out of here.”
She doesn’t say anything and uncurls herself hesitantly. Ben’s heart sinks as he sees boot imprints on her hands and broken finger nails from being trampled on. Her cheek is red and swollen and her lip is busted in the centre. He forces a reassuring smile and lifts her to her feet pulling her towards the exit. Only to feel the building shudder with another tremor. Debris leaks from the ceiling and Ben looks up seeing a crack tear it’s way through the ceiling. His eyes widen and he continues to haul Connie to the exit. The building shakes one last time and the fracture in the ceiling pries apart. Chunks of rubble and debris rain down in front of him crashing against the ground, just inches away from them and blocking the exit. Ben begins to panic but remembers the emergency exit down the corridor. He turns and holds up Connie as she stumbles alongside him. As they make their way down to the corridor he hears something. At first he thinks it’s another tremor but no, it’s more structured with its sound - coordinated. They were footsteps. Loud, thundering footsteps from just one set of feet. Whoever it was, they were big or wearing steel boots and they were heading right for them.
Ben: “Something tells me that isn’t someone coming to help.”
The Rochdale Pioneers Museum is housed in the building where the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society started trading on 21 December 1844. The museum is regarded as the birthplace of the modern co-operative movement.
The museum is a recreation of the original shop, containing its rudimentary furniture, scales, items that were sold at the store, etc. Moreover, the museum transmits the influence of the co-operative movement on issues such as women's rights, poverty, education, fair trade and social reform. The museum is owned by the Co-operative Heritage Trust, and managed by the Co-operative College.
In the last few years, the museum has been refurbished to make it more accessible to all. The improvements carried out in the museum include reinterpretation of the collection, an education space available for schools and social activities, digitalisation of the materials and a new website.
This postcard was issued by Packard Industries Inc. of Niles, Michigan in 1988 to promote their Systems Furniture, Workstations, and Movable Office Partitions.
My friend Erica took a few pix of me after we had dinner at Freddie's last month! I had to give her a lesson in using the zoom lens to fit all of me in frame for the next pic after this one! She's a fast learner! Thanks, Erica!
My outfit for the evening- my sparkly shattered glass print tank style minidress from coquetryclothing.com, Hanes Alive Barely There support hose from onehanesplace.com and my black peep toe ankle strap platform pumps from venus.com.
To see more pix of me in other tight, sexy and revealing outfits click this link: www.flickr.com/photos/kaceycdpix/sets/72157623668202157/
To see more pix of me in clothes from Coquetry Clothing click this link:
www.flickr.com/photos/kaceycdpix/sets/72157626739774869/
To see more pix of me in pink & fuchsia ensembles click this link: www.flickr.com/photos/kaceycdpix/sets/72157622518296496/
To see more pix of me out & about click this link: www.flickr.com/photos/kaceycdpix/sets/72157632318953102/
To see more pix of me with friends and acquaintances click this link: www.flickr.com/photos/kaceycdpix/sets/72157622620508143/
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AZO - Four triangles, pointing up in stamp box - these were issued - 1904 to 1918. Real Photo postcards are cards that have been produced in the darkroom on photographic paper.
The above real photo postcard shows a view of John Stewart's summer cottage on Victoria Avenue at White Rock, British Columbia. He was the proprietor for 20 years of the "Old Country Boot Shop" which was located in the 700 Block, Columbia Street in New Westminster, B.C.
Clipped from - The Victoria Daily Times newspaper - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada - 20 August 1917 - Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stewart (his brother) of Victoria, have been guests recently of (his brother) Mr. and Mrs. John Stewart, "Ardgowan," White Rock.
Clipped from - Surrey Leader newspaper - Surrey, British Columbia, Canada - 7 July 1937 - John Stewart A resident of White Rock for eight years and former proprietor of Old Country Boot Shop, 700 Block Columbia Street, New Westminster, John Stewart, died at his home in White Rock, on Sunday, July 4th. The late Mr. Stewart was born in Scotland and is survived by his wife, one daughter, Mrs. Gad Swain, Victoria; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Sam Campbell, Nanaimo; and a brother, Robert Stewart, Victoria. The funeral was held on Tuesday. July 6th. from the Chapel of S. Bowell and Son, New Westminster, to Fraser cemetery.
Clipped from - The Vancouver Sun newspaper - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - 5 July 1937 - John Stewart - NEW WESTMINSTER, John Stewart, 77, formerly of New Westminster, died at White Rock Sunday morning. He was born In Scotland, and had been a shoe merchant in New Westminster for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Gad Swain, Victoria; a step daughter, Mrs. Sam Campbell, Nanalmo, and a brother, Robert, Victoria. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. from S. Bowell & Son. New Westminster, to Fraser cemetery.
Clipped from - The Vancouver Sun newspaper - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - 5 July 1937 - STEWART PASSED AWAY ON JULY 4. 1937, at his residence. John Stewart of Victoria Ave., White Rock. He leaves to mourn his passing, besides his wife, one daughter. Mrs. Gad Swain of Victoria. B. C : stepdaughter, Mrs. Sam Campbell, Nanaimo. B.C.. and one brother, Robert of Victoria. Funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 6. at 2 pm, from the funeral home of S. Bowel! & Son to the Fraser cemetery, the Brethren officiating.
Clipped from - The Province newspaper - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - 12 May 1944 - Ardgowan - White Rock, real revenue producer 6-room permanent home, large, attractive living-room with large British India rug, fireplace, dinette: furniture Including new chesterfield suite and chair. 2 lovely bedrooms, bath, cheery kitchen, enameled Gurney range, plenty clothes closet and cupboard. Has lower suite, 4 rooms, with hot and cold water, closets and cupboards, good view; everything spic and span and open; apple tree and grape vine, all bearing; close to beach, stores, churches.
Clipped from - The Province newspaper - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - 14 July 1944 - "Ardgowan" White Rock, Real revenue producer, 6-room permanent home. Large attractive living-room with beautiful fireplace, dinette. 2 nice bedrooms, bath, cheery kitchen. Bright glassed-in sun porch, lovely water view, ample clothes closets and cupboards. It has also a lower 4-room suite with hot and cold water, furnished complete, all newly painted and decorated, fruit and grape vines. Close to excellent bathing beach, stores, schools, churches. Price $3200 cash, early possession.
John Stewart
(b. 17 August 1859 in Kilbarchan, Renfrew, Scotland – d. 4 July 1937 at age 77 at White Rock, British Columbia) - the family arrived in Canada in 1906 from Scotland.
His first wife - Sarah (nee Hughes) Stewart
(b. 1858 in Scotland - d. 3 November 1924 at age 66 in New Westminister, B.C.) - LINK to a newspaper report about her estate - www.newspapers.com/clip/108253341/mrs-sarah-nee-hughes-st...
His second wife - Jane Malcolm (nee Cooke) Smith / Stewart
(b. 7 March 1879 in Paisley, Scotland - d. 10 August 1947 at age 68 in Nanaimo, B.C. / Victoria, B.C.) - they were married - 1 July 1925 in Edmonds, British Columbia - LINK to their marriage certificate - search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8b... LINK to her death certificate - search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/64...
His daughter - Agnes Meikle (nee Stewart) Swain
(b. 1887 in Greenock, Scotland - d. after 1958) - LINK to her marriage certificate - search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/1b... LINK to the newspaper report about their wedding ceremony - www.newspapers.com/clip/108250834/swain-stewart-wedding/
His son-in-law - Gad Swain
(b. 2 October 1876 in Trowbridge, England - d. 9 August 1958 at age 81 in Victoria, British Columbia) - he was a salesman in his father-in-law's shoe store. They were married - 14 July 1911 in New Westminister, B.C. - occupation - Shoe Merchant - LINK to his death certificate - search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/d3... - LINK to his Find a Grave site - www.findagrave.com/memorial/156911013/gad-swain LINK to his newspaper obituary - www.newspapers.com/clip/108252689/obituary-for-gad-swain-...
His stepdaughter - Margaret Cook (nee Smith) Campbell
(b. 22 April 1905 in Ayr, Scotland - d. 16 May 1989 at age 84 in Nanaimo, British Columbia) - LINK her marriage certificate - search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/d6...
- LINK to her death certificate - search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/e0... (she married Samuel Campbell - 24 April 1929 in New Westminster, B.C.)
His brother - Robert Stewart
(b. 1865 in Kilbarchan, Scotland - d. 21 March 1942 at age 77 in Victoria, British Columbia) LINK to his newspaper obituary - www.newspapers.com/clip/108271268/robert-stewart-obituary/ - LINK to his funeral - www.newspapers.com/clip/108271017/the-victoria-daily-times/
John's sister-in-law (Robert Stewart's wife) - Agnes Kennedy Stewart
(b. 1860 in Johnstone, Scotland - d. 10 April 1932 at age 70 in Victoria, B.C.) - LINK to her newspaper obituary - www.newspapers.com/clip/108259449/agnes-kennedy-stewart-o... - LINK to her funeral - www.newspapers.com/clip/108270583/agnes-kennedy-stewart-f...
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Alfred Broe was a photographer in British Columbia, Canada before moving to Blaine around 1910, about age 24. He later migrated to Portland, Oregon where he lived with wife Margaret. LINK to the complete article - oppositethecity.wordpress.com/2014/07/31/home-grown-two-p...
Alfred Broe
(b. 13 March 1887 in British Columbia, Canada - d. 30 March 1960 (aged 73) in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA)
1st wife - Margaret G. (nee Sweeney) Broe
(b. 29 April 1882 in New York, USA - d. 15 April 1942 (aged 59) in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA) - they were married in 1914.
2nd wife - Rhoda Jane (nee Jackson) Broe
(b. 12 December 1896 in Robinson, Benton County, Arkansas, USA - d. 15 August 1950 (aged 53) in Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon, USA) - they were married in 1943.
3rd wife - Helen M. (nee Ziegenfelder) Broe
(b. 8 September 1895 in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, USA - d. 13 November 1957 (aged 62) in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon, USA) - they were married in 1951.
LINK to a newspaper article - Alfred Broe, who has acquired a collection of 150,000 fountain pens - Fountain Pen History - www.newspapers.com/clip/108211825/alfred-broe/
One of my favorite photos of this train. Here UP 1983 sits on the main after discovering some issues with another motor in their consist. I like this angle, because you can see their entire train to the right of the locomotive's nose. Shot on the Union Pacific River Sub just west of Lexington, MO. 3/7/2015
A street artist works on one of his many paintings at Place du Tertre, in the Montmartre district of Paris.
With its many artists setting up their easels each day for the tourists, the Place du Tertre is a reminder of the time when Montmartre was the mecca of modern art. At the beginning of the 20th century, many penniless painters including Picasso and Utrillo were living there.
All the year round, numerous painters and portraitists are working in this place to exhibit and sell their famous paintings. The artists who are allowed to put up their easels own a special concession that must be renewed by the city of Paris. These painters have one square meter to issue their paintings and must share this small space with another artist.
Le Montmartre - Place du Tertre L'Espace Salvador Dali, a museum principally dedicated to the sculpture and drawings of Salvador Dali, can be found a few steps from Place du Tertre.
After over 15 years of construction, extensions, issues, and taxpayer dollars, Long Island Rail Road's "East Side Access" project finally opened to customers on January 25th, 2023.
No expense was spared on advertisement or fanfare either, as the first train bound for the new Grand Central Madison enters Jamaica Station.
This 12 car train of M9s brought the first railbuffs and politicians into the new terminal, commencing a new era of communting in the State of New York.
This is dedicated to my friend BossBob50. Check out his CD cover set: www.flickr.com/photos/bossbob50/sets/72157607782882854/
AND don't miss this take off on my pic above:
www.flickr.com/photos/bossbob50/5997870813/
I suppose this could be the cover of a Blue Note issue, one of those classic jazz albums produced by the creative people at Blue Note Records back in the hard bop days. At least that's what it reminded me of when I was getting into this. Perhaps something by their main tenor man Hank Mobley or their brilliant trumpeter Lee Morgan ... ?
Selon sa composition, un curry peut être très doux ou bien très épicé, et il est généralement très parfumé
Thor traverse le ciel à l'aide de son char, tiré par deux boucs nommés Tanngrisnir et Tanngnjóstr (« Dents grinçantes » et « Dents étincelantes »)..
Enfin ce palais de reine a des issues secrètes.
Après quatre années merveilleuses de recherche, ce dessin est enfin achevé.
Qu'il soit vu par beaucoup ou par quelques uns ...
my new layout for my 205s requires a gentle curve. Hinge bricks are useful in this, though the next issue is getting the platforms to work...
The colourful front cover of the monthly issue of the popular Meccano Magazine, issued by the famous toy manufacturers who owned this product and the associated Hornby Trains and Dinky Toys - the Liverpool based Meccano Ltd. It shows a scene from their home city that even the article admits "soon the line may cease to run, and may even be demolished, for their is a crisis in its affairs".
There was indeed a crisis in that years of under-investment in repairs had led to the structural steelwork in this very American style "elevated" railway being in very poor condition and sadly closure came a month after this article and demolition of the line did occur the following year, the same year that the city's famous tram system also finally closed. It is often considered that the closure was a great loss to what is now a major tourist destination although the docks and harbour it ran alongside and served have to all intents and purpose also gone - although regeneration of much of banks of the River Mersey has and is, in places contentiously, occurring. As the article concludes "it will be a sorry day if the thrilling run along the Overhead with its unique views of shipping in the Docks or out on the Mersey, can no longer be enjoyed".
The cover, based on a photo by W S Garth of Tyldesley, Lancashire, depicts a train along with a signal head seen against the backdrop of three of the great buildings adjacent to Pier Head, the Mersey Tunnel ventilation shaft, part of the Cunard Building and the Liver Building.
Here's a throwback issue! A gem from the golden age of the League of Heroes, and it is in mint condition! On these aged and yellowed pages is the first appearance of Mr. Kite's Diabolical Circus of Crime. Committing the ultimate act of treachery, the Circus of Crime kidnaps Kid Electron, and hold the young hero hostage under their deadly big top in hopes of goading the League of Heroes into a titanic confrontation.
The original roster of the Circus of Crime consisted of the always saucy and seductive Blue Bombshell, the ballistic Bullet Point, and the hypnotic master magician Mez-Marr the Magnificent!
*** Just a fun idea that I had to do something silly and retro. I hope you all enjoy!
*** Bullet Point belongs to Andhe. For some reason, I really like throwing this guy into my stories. Thanks again Andy for creating such a fun character!
This was built for the Lego League of Heroes Flickr Group: Suit up, Sign up! www.flickr.com/groups/llh/
Melisa, one of Bath's regular Big Issue sellers, usually found on her pitch in Burton Street, adapting to the heavy crowds visiting the Christmas Market on Milsom Street.
#295 / 365 - #2119 / Year 6 - 18.12.2013
Volume 1 Issue 6 - To be worthy...
According to Lei and the prophecy, an Iron Fist is a chi energy source found in the soul of an immortal being named Shou Loa. He only grants the worthy a chance to beat him in a fight for a portion of his Iron Fist energy. Millennia ago Shou Lao was allowed to roam free over these mountains, terrorising the villagers here. This was until a band of warriors fought him of and trapped him in a cave a few miles away from here. These warriors took some of his Iron Fist power leaving him weak. He is now only able to take his true form in front of those worthy. When your father came to me six years ago he wanted the power of the Iron Fist. Despite all his training I could not grant him a fight with Shou Lao as he was never worthy. He only wanted it for himself, not to help other people...." I interrupt him "my father was a good man, he ONLY wanted to help people. He was never a selfish man!!" I argue back at Lei. "Then I obviously did not know your father like you did. But he hunger for the Iron Fist can corrupt the weak, and strengthen the worthy." Lei leads Dani out of the attic and down a flight of stairs. "So when do I fight this Immortal Shou Lao?" Dani looked up at Lei, he bag an to laugh out loud until he noticed Dani was serious."oh, well it could take months, even years to prepare you for a fight with Shou Lao, let alone beat him" Lei was still smiling, but Dani looked down at her feet, almost wanting to burst into tears again. She would have to wait years before she could save her father. What happens if he's killed in that time. Lei must've noticed the sadness in Dani's eyes. "Don't worry Dani, you will see your father again, because you will beat Shou Loa in battle." Dani looked up, seeing how serious Lei's face was. "How can you be so sure?" I ask him as we approach the next flight of stairs. "Because I am going to teach you how to fight."
The next years seemed to fly before your memory's eye: Lei Kung devotes himself to you, as you devote yourself to your studies, and under the thunderers tutelage, you grow into a warrior....a living weapon.
In these past few years Dani had grown into a powerful woman, and also the cream of the warrior crop. But like most students, their teachers were never 100% impressed with them. "Harder Dani! Raise that right arm when you go for a jab! FOCUS!!" Lei's voice shook the room, Dani had found out why they called him the thunderer. "You may be one of the best warriors in this city Dani, but if you do not focus you will be hopeless in your upcoming fights!" Dani try's to find Lei's weak spot as they spar each other. She spots an opening for a right handed jab to the stomach, but as her hand reaches his stomach he parries her hand away. He then follows up with a couple of jabs to her stomach, winding her. She coughs, spitting out some flem. Then advances. This time her punches are more focused and less sloppy. "Good Dani, good focus" Lei shouts as he continues to parry away her jabs. She continues to advance on him, pushing him back until he's backed into a corner. Lei knows the only way to get out is to fight. He swings his leg, pivoting on his standing foot. His kick should've clapped into the side of Dani's face like a brick, but her lightning fast reactions catch his swinging foot. With all her strength she flips the massive body of Lei onto his back and pins him down, fists raised. "Focus Lei, you'll get yourself into trouble if you don't focus" she smiles, and he smiles back. Suddenly someone claps from the other side of the room. A man in a dark green robe is stood by the door clapping his hands. He was old, a long grey beard hung from his jaw. Lei quickly shoved Dani off him, got to his feet and bowed. "Rise master Kung." Lei lifts his head and waits for a response. "You have taught this girl well Lei, she is a formidable opponent for any man. She will be your contribution to the Contest of Champions?" Dani was about to talk but Lei raised his arm as if he were telling her not o bother. "Of course master Yu-Ti, she will be ready." They both bow to each other again and Yu-Ti looks over to Dani, "Good luck my dear, you will need it." A smile stretches across his face as he turns and leaves the training room. Lei turns to Dani. "That is master Yu-Ti, he runs this training facility, and was my old master." Lei walks over to a table to have a sip of water. "What did he mean by contest of champions Lei? You haven't told me anything about some contest?" Lei turns to her whilst sipping from his bottle. "The contest of champions is a tournament held every couple of years. Each Kung-fu master nominates their best pupil. Whoever wins is granted anything that we can provide them. I have entered you because if you win you can wish to fight Shou Lao and save your father. I entered you because you not only stand a very good chance of winning, but you are strong enough, in my opinion, to face Shou Lao." Dani's jaw dropped, "You serious?" Lei nodded whilst drinking. "So when's this tournament? Like a couple of weeks or what?" Lei sets his bottle down, "urm well that's the thing, it's tomorrow. Tomorrow at noon."
The Mount Elliott Mining Complex is an aggregation of the remnants of copper mining and smelting operations from the early 20th century and the associated former mining township of Selwyn. The earliest copper mining at Mount Elliott was in 1906 with smelting operations commencing shortly after. Significant upgrades to the mining and smelting operations occurred under the management of W.R. Corbould during 1909 - 1910. Following these upgrades and increases in production, the Selwyn Township grew quickly and had 1500 residents by 1918. The Mount Elliott Company took over other companies on the Cloncurry field in the 1920s, including the Mount Cuthbert and Kuridala smelters. Mount Elliott operations were taken over by Mount Isa Mines in 1943 to ensure the supply of copper during World War Two. The Mount Elliott Company was eventually liquidated in 1953.
The Mount Elliott Smelter:
The existence of copper in the Leichhardt River area of north western Queensland had been known since Ernest Henry discovered the Great Australia Mine in 1867 at Cloncurry. In 1899 James Elliott discovered copper on the conical hill that became Mount Elliott, but having no capital to develop the mine, he sold an interest to James Morphett, a pastoralist of Fort Constantine station near Cloncurry. Morphett, being drought stricken, in turn sold out to John Moffat of Irvinebank, the most successful mining promoter in Queensland at the time.
Plentiful capital and cheap transport were prerequisites for developing the Cloncurry field, which had stagnated for forty years. Without capital it was impossible to explore and prove ore-bodies; without proof of large reserves of wealth it was futile to build a railway; and without a railway it was hazardous to invest capital in finding large reserves of ore. The mining investor or the railway builder had to break the impasse.
In 1906 - 1907 copper averaged £87 a ton on the London market, the highest price for thirty years, and the Cloncurry field grew. The railway was extended west of Richmond in 1905 - 1906 by the Government and mines were floated on the Melbourne Stock Exchange. At Mount Elliott a prospecting shaft had been sunk and on the 1st of August 1906 a Cornish boiler and winding plant were installed on the site.
Mount Elliott Limited was floated in Melbourne on the 13th of July 1906. In 1907 it was taken over by British and French interests and restructured. Combining with its competitor, Hampden Cloncurry Copper Mines Limited, Mount Elliott formed a special company to finance and construct the railway from Cloncurry to Malbon, Kuridala (then Friezeland) and Mount Elliott (later Selwyn). This new company then entered into an agreement with the Queensland Railways Department in July 1908.
The railway, which was known as the 'Syndicate Railway', aroused opposition in 1908 from the trade unions and Labor movement generally, who contended that railways should be State-owned. However, the Hampden-Mount Elliott Railway Bill was passed by the Queensland Parliament and assented to on the 21st of April 1908; construction finished in December 1910. The railway terminated at the Mount Elliott smelter.
By 1907 the main underlie shaft had been sunk and construction of the smelters was underway using a second-hand water-jacket blast furnace and converters. At this time, W.H. Corbould was appointed general manager of Mount Elliott Limited.
The second-hand blast furnace and converters were commissioned or 'blown in' in May 1909, but were problematic causing hold-ups. Corbould referred to the equipment in use as being the 'worst collection of worn-out junk he had ever come across'. Corbould soon convinced his directors to scrap the plant and let him design new works.
Corbould was a metallurgist and geologist as well as mine/smelter manager. He foresaw a need to obtain control and thereby ensure a reliable supply of ore from a cross-section of mines in the region. He also saw a need to implement an effective strategy to manage the economies of smelting low-grade ore. Smelting operations in the region were made difficult by the technical and economic problems posed by the deterioration in the grade of ore. Corbould resolved the issue by a process of blending ores with different chemical properties, increasing the throughput capacity of the smelter and by championing the unification of smelting operations in the region. In 1912, Corbould acquired Hampden Consols Mine at Kuridala for Mount Elliott Limited, followed with the purchases of other small mines in the district.
Walkers Limited of Maryborough was commissioned to manufacture a new 200 ton water jacket furnace for the smelters. An air compressor and blower for the smelters were constructed in the powerhouse and an electric motor and dynamo provided power for the crane and lighting for the smelter and mine.
The new smelter was blown in September 1910, a month after the first train arrived, and it ran well, producing 2040 tons of blister copper by the end of the year. The new smelting plant made it possible to cope with low-grade sulphide ores at Mount Elliott. The use of 1000 tons of low-grade sulphide ores bought from the Hampden Consols Mine in 1911 made it clear that if a supply of higher sulphur ore could be obtained and blended, performance, and economy would improve. Accordingly, the company bought a number of smaller mines in the district in 1912.
Corbould mined with cut and fill stoping but a young Mines Inspector condemned the system, ordered it dismantled and replaced with square set timbering. In 1911, after gradual movement in stopes on the No. 3 level, the smelter was closed for two months. Nevertheless, 5447 tons of blister copper was produced in 1911, rising to 6690 tons in 1912 - the company's best year. Many of the surviving structures at the site were built at this time.
Troubles for Mount Elliott started in 1913. In February, a fire at the Consols Mine closed it for months. In June, a thirteen week strike closed the whole operation, severely depleting the workforce. The year 1913 was also bad for industrial accidents in the area, possibly due to inexperienced people replacing the strikers. Nevertheless, the company paid generous dividends that year.
At the end of 1914 smelting ceased for more than a year due to shortage of ore. Although 3200 tons of blister copper was produced in 1913, production fell to 1840 tons in 1914 and the workforce dwindled to only 40 men. For the second half of 1915 and early 1916 the smelter treated ore railed south from Mount Cuthbert. At the end of July 1916 the smelting plant at Selwyn was dismantled except for the flue chambers and stacks. A new furnace with a capacity of 500 tons per day was built, a large amount of second-hand equipment was obtained and the converters were increased in size.
After the enlarged furnace was commissioned in June 1917, continuing industrial unrest retarded production which amounted to only 1000 tons of copper that year. The point of contention was the efficiency of the new smelter which processed twice as much ore while employing fewer men. The company decided to close down the smelter in October and reduce the size of the furnace, the largest in Australia, from 6.5m to 5.5m. In the meantime the price of copper had almost doubled from 1916 due to wartime consumption of munitions.
The new furnace commenced on the 16th of January 1918 and 77,482 tons of ore were smelted yielding 3580 tons of blister copper which were sent to the Bowen refinery before export to Britain. Local coal and coke supply was a problem and materials were being sourced from the distant Bowen Colliery. The smelter had a good run for almost a year except for a strike in July and another in December, which caused Corbould to close down the plant until New Year. In 1919, following relaxation of wartime controls by the British Metal Corporation, the copper price plunged from about £110 per ton at the start of the year to £75 per ton in April, dashing the company's optimism regarding treatment of low grade ores. The smelter finally closed after two months operation and most employees were laid off.
For much of the period 1919 to 1922, Corbould was in England trying to raise capital to reorganise the company's operations but he failed and resigned from the company in 1922. The Mount Elliott Company took over the assets of the other companies on the Cloncurry field in the 1920s - Mount Cuthbert in 1925 and Kuridala in 1926. Mount Isa Mines bought the Mount Elliott plant and machinery, including the three smelters, in 1943 for £2,300, enabling them to start copper production in the middle of the Second World War. The Mount Elliott Company was finally liquidated in 1953.
In 1950 A.E. Powell took up the Mount Elliott Reward Claim at Selwyn and worked close to the old smelter buildings. An open cut mine commenced at Starra, south of Mount Elliott and Selwyn, in 1988 and is Australia's third largest copper producer producing copper-gold concentrates from flotation and gold bullion from carbon-in-leach processing.
Profitable copper-gold ore bodies were recently proved at depth beneath the Mount Elliott smelter and old underground workings by Cyprus Gold Australia Pty Ltd. These deposits were subsequently acquired by Arimco Mining Pty Ltd for underground development which commenced in July 1993. A decline tunnel portal, ore and overburden dumps now occupy a large area of the Maggie Creek valley south-west of the smelter which was formerly the site of early miner's camps.
The Old Selwyn Township:
In 1907, the first hotel, run by H. Williams, was opened at the site. The township was surveyed later, around 1910, by the Mines Department. The town was to be situated north of the mine and smelter operations adjacent the railway, about 1.5km distant. It took its name from the nearby Selwyn Ranges which were named, during Burke's expedition, after the Victorian Government Geologist, A.R. Selwyn. The town has also been known by the name of Mount Elliott, after the nearby mines and smelter.
Many of the residents either worked at the Mount Elliott Mine and Smelter or worked in the service industries which grew around the mining and smelting operations. Little documentation exists about the everyday life of the town's residents. Surrounding sheep and cattle stations, however, meant that meat was available cheaply and vegetables grown in the area were delivered to the township by horse and cart. Imported commodities were, however, expensive.
By 1910 the town had four hotels. There was also an aerated water manufacturer, three stores, four fruiterers, a butcher, baker, saddler, garage, police, hospital, banks, post office (officially from 1906 to 1928, then unofficially until 1975) and a railway station. There was even an orchestra of ten players in 1912. The population of Selwyn rose from 1000 in 1911 to 1500 in 1918, before gradually declining.
Source: Queensland Heritage Register.