Wattle Park fountain in a sad state of disrepair

Wattle Park in Burwood is a large park which has some lovely native bush and forest areas in addition to a sport oval and a playground.

Over the years I have visited the derelict fountain which is located to the west of the Monsborough Drive, the narrow rode inside the park.

The fountain is in a state of disrepair. The main fountain was impressive but lies in fragments today.

I cannot find any significant historical records about the fountain, its creation and demise remain a mystery.

The fountain in its heyday, circa 1900. Source 

Wattle Park fountain, circa 1950. Source

Wattle Park fountain, circa 1980. Source.

In August 2020, the fountain is in ruins, only fragments remain.

Links

• Wattle Park, Victorian Heritage Database 
• Wattle Park - a tramway tradition, Melbourne Tram Museum
• Wattle Park History - Friends of Wattle Park
• Wattle Park - Victorian Places 

Sam Bear is closing, the end of an era

I called by Sam Bear, the great clothing and footwear shop located at 225 Russell Street near Latrobe Street in Melbourne.  The shop has been operated by Trevor Bear for many years, but the building - a rare single story in this part of town - is being renovated.

Trevor has been selling off his remaining stock as he prepares to move out.

He has been offered retail space when the building works are completed, but he is not sure he will return after several decades in retail.

The shop was established in 1972 and is a Melbourne icon.  I will be very sorry to see it go.

Trevor paid for some advertising in the 1981 edition of "Rocks in the Head", the Latrobe University Mountaineering Club journal that I edited while at Latrobe Uni.

Over the years, I have bought work cloths, boots, bags and camping equipment from the shop. I even bought a Drizabone coat for my dog Sam, which he still enjoys wearing in the winter.

Trevor told me that retail in Melbourne is getting harder as many online businesses are operated out of garages and don't pay expensive rent.

Trevor has employed a lot of people over the years in his shop.

Drop by to get a bargain.  You might never have another chance.

Remembering Peter Hay Campbell, my father's uncle

My father Douglas Campbell and his brother John both mentioned they had an uncle named Peter Campbell who was a pilot who died in World War 2.   There is some talk that I was named after him.

I have had some difficulty tracking down information about him, but I have now had some success.

Here is his photo.  There is some resemblance to early photos of my father Douglas.

I located his death certificate from Colin Campbell, one of my father's cousins.  This specifies he died on 26 July 1942.  His RAF Sergeant number was 1100642.

The details were that he was "Accidentally killed when the glider of which he was the pilot under instruction crashed out of control own to structural failure."

He buried at Seafield Cemetary in Edinburgh, Scotland. Plot: Sec. E. Grave 119. [link]

His death had a major impact in my family.  Seventy years later, his descendants still remember it.  This single death highlights to me the long ramifications that war and associated deaths have.

Rest In Peace, Peter Hay Campbell.