Trees & Creeks

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They are two of my most favourite things; trees and creeks.

No doubt my love comes from the mountain. Both of the mountains, I’m sure. The mountain in Lower Portland where I was born and the mountain in Green Pigeon where I grew up.

Trees & creeks make me feel safe, calm, and peaceful. That’s not to say that I wasn’t ever afraid on the mountain, but it was never the trees that frightened me. Sometimes it was the creeks; you might remember some of my stories about floods. What scared me most was what, in my imagination, was hiding behind the trees! I remember dreaming up some dark and scary tales for our young visiting cousins and scaring the jebeesies out of them!

I swear jebeesies is a word, but I can’t for the life of me find the correct spelling or definition for you. Maybe a homemade Australianism.

I was more afraid of what was hiding behind the trees than the snakes, goannas and other infamous Australian critters.

Trees and creeks, can transport me to another place/time. I literally think they are magic.

Bubble, gurgle, rush, lap, rage, whisper, twinkle, glint, swell, hush, ripple…

Love.

2023 – My Utopia

Acrylic on canvas 30.5cm x 30.5cm (12×12 inches) by Arwen Munro, November 2023. Upstairs Music Box, Ambleside, West Vancouver, Canada.

I always meant to go back to this painting and finish it, but I haven’t, I guess that means it’s finished.

I’m sure one of the reasons I love West Vancouver so much, is because of the trees and waterways. Burrard Inlet fills our view and sparkles from our apartment, Capilano River is just out our back door, and we are blissfully surrounded by trees! Love, love, love.

Have a wonderful day! 🌱

Painting at Sunset

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Now we leap forward in time to mid-2023, when Lil and I arrived in Vancouver to begin our North American adventure. Could we have been more excited!

Michal picked us up from the airport, and after a quick stop at our temporary accommodation, we set out exploring the city.

West Vancouver stole our hearts.

Once settled into our new home, I went searching for my people. I found a painting class: Drawing & Painting: Beginners Acrylic Painting at Sunset. Located in one of the old weatherboard buildings on the waterfront in Ambleside, called The Music Box, which is right next door to another building from a similar era, called The Silk Purse. Could we have landed in a place more like one you’d find in ‘Arwen Land’? For those of you who don’t know me so well, it would be fair to liken ‘Arwen Land’ to ‘Disneyland’, but perhaps with more nature, mountains, beaches, trees, glistening water, snow…

Our first lesson was on colour. Oh boy, I have much to learn!

2023 – “Autumn Leaves and The Silk Purse“

Acrylic on canvas 30.5cm x 30.5cm (12×12 inches) by Arwen Munro, October 2023. Upstairs Music Box, Ambleside, West Vancouver, Canada.

Green is a word that springs to mind, not in the colour sense of the word, but in the sense of being a beginner/novice.

Thank you for joining me on my painting adventure. These early ones feel uncomfortable, but I was so happy to be learning. I hope that joy springs out.

Have a wonderful day! ☀️

Wanaka with Mum

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The next painting I want to share with you is another older one, a quick one done in Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

Quick because it was cold!

Mum was visiting, and from our cozy little cottage in Wellington, we’d dashed down to Cardrona for a snow/mountain adventure. This particular day, we’d driven to Wanaka, it was an overcast, gloomy day, and very cold. We found a picnic table and set up the painting materials for some speed painting.

Surrounded by the majestic Wanaka mountains, cloaked by low-lying clouds, and Wanaka Lake glistening gently behind me, I painted my little girl sitting across from me.

Her little owl hat still makes me smile; we bought it at the market in Woolgoolga, Australia, during our Easter trip earlier that year. You can see it poking out in the photo below.

I’ve learnt that this type of outdoor painting has a name, en plein air or plein-air painting. It’s fun to be immersed in and at the mercy of the great outdoors. That day in Wanaka, we were racing the cold, trying to finish our paintings before we turned into icy poles!

2013 – Lillian in Wanaka (5 years old)

Acrylic on canvas 24cm x 33cm by Arwen Munro, August 2013. Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand.

We didn’t freeze, we made it safe and sound to a coffee shop for lunch and to thaw out.

Another gorgeous sunny day here today, but the weatherman is predicting quite a run of rainy days ahead!

I hope you are having a wonderful day! 🌱

The Seeds

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Growing up, we were surrounded by creativity. From the creative construction of our home, to arts and crafts of every flavour. Not to mention nature’s creativity.

Painting, pottery, stained glass, knitting, crocheting, weaving, hammering, carving, sanding, sawing, gluing, fabric, needlework, sewing…

Seeds planted.

It was sewing that captured me. We were gifted a little portable sewing machine, the cutest little Elna you’ve ever seen, from my stepfather’s sister (or mother?). It had flaps that folded up, perfectly protecting, into its own carry case. How I loved it, thoughts of the time spent sewing on the little Elna still fill me with joy. But my sewing adventures are another story, for another day.

My mother’s painting and arts and crafts filled our world, and now her garden too, great life-size sculptures in bronze and ceramics.

My father was an artist too. Some of his work is iconic in Sydney.

And my Nan too! I have a piece of hers that I treasure. She painted beautiful Australian east coast beach-scapes.

My brother picked up painting, many years ago now. I loved watching each new creation evolve on our visits to Moonbie Street when close, or remotely from afar.

Jumping forward in time to our arrival in Canada in June 2023, I went looking for my tribe. I found a beginner’s acrylic painting class. It’s this journey that I want to share with you.

Before we jump into my paintings done in Vancouver, I did a couple of paintings with my mother when my daughter was young.

Let me start with this one:

2010 – Woolgoolga Beach: Arwen & Lillian (2 years old)

Acrylic on canvas 20cm x 25cm by Arwen Munro, April 2010. Woolgoolga, NSW, Australia.

Before my family was splintered, we would gather every Easter in Woolgoolga. The four siblings and mum, with our young families. These memories, though full of sunshine, hurt my heart. I usually have these memories stored safely away, too painful otherwise.

But let me take you briefly to that day. It was another gorgeous sunny Spring day in Woolgoolga, a beach town on the east coast of New South Wales, Australia. We’d been to the beach and we were all encrusted with salt and sun. Too early for beer o’clock, Mum spread out her painting materials on the back deck and offered me a little canvas. Yes, she reassured, I could use it. I hesitated, feeling it was wasted on me.

The kids didn’t hesitate, so I joined them and painted.

My heart painted.

My little 2 year old daughter and I, a little team. Can you see the wide world out in front of us, the adventures yet to come?

I hope the sun is shining where you are today.

Have a wonderful day! 🌱

Remembering Selby

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We found him that day sitting on a grassy patch,

With his worldly things,

Outside the building that would become the Museum of Contemporary Art,

At sparkling Circular Quay.

I remember his long grey beard,

Being sinewy and small,

With kind, cheeky eyes,

Skin worn hardy from living on the streets.

Growing up, we’d travel to Sydney for two weeks every year,

To the big smoke,

To visit our father.

As Dad’s do, he’d talk about us, but for 50 weeks of the year we were mirages,

For two weeks, he could prove we were real.

Like ducklings we’d follow him around the city.

He sought out Selby,

Finding him, he proudly displayed us.

Following my father,

We sat with him,

I can’t remember what we talked about,

But we talked,

And laughed.

The breeze from the quay cooling our skin burning hot from the summer sun.

Selby.

Sydney in the 80s,

Through a child’s eyes,

So different from the mountain.

One morning walking down an 80s Surry Hills street,

I remember my eyes being drawn to a tiny rivulet crossing the footpath in front of us.

It ran from an inert body, grey and dirty, almost the same colour as the street, heavy upon the footpath, clutching a brown paper bag,

To the curb.

“It’s pee”, my sibling tells me.

My eyes widen.

I’ve tried to find a picture of Selby,

I felt certain that the world wide web would have an image.

My memory is telling me there once was an article about him in the newspaper,

With a photo.

My search returns ether.

He’s in my memory, inseparable for me from Sydney itself.

I’m remembering you Selby.

And feeling the warmth of the sun as we all sit together,

Shooting the breeze.

To this day, I love people’s stories,

It’s my favourite thing.

Have a wonderful day! 🌱

Many Faces

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It’s been a long time since I’ve written.

A lot has happened.

February 2020 – Lil and I packed up our much loved home in Adelaide and moved to Sydney.

I started my new job at Industrial Light & Magic and Lil started at the brand new Inner Sydney High School.

Work took me back to Fox Studios, had time stood still? Ha, not says my mirror!

We found a place to live in Rozelle.

Sydney, the same face, with a patchwork of botox and plastic surgery but the same enough to trigger carefully stored memories, some welcome, others not so.

September 2020 – Rozelle became untenable, we moved to Annandale. Much happier.

But still struggling. The villian? Sydney/Covid? (Sydney property managers/landlords?)

In Annandale we found some happiness within our confined Covid existence, how I love the old terraces, sites & stories from early Sydney, the gorgeous tree lined street we lived on and the beautiful gardens, the frangipani’s, the scent of citrus blossoms, the lamingtons and hot cross buns to die for, the walk down to the tram and the glistening harbour.

September 2021 – But Sydney rose up again, saying don’t get comfortable! We moved to Summer Hill.

Just down the hill from Thorin, Genie, Indigo & Ben – and Misha!

Now that has put a smile on my face. We moved into one of the new apartments where the old flour mill had been. I loved the views from our top level apartment, in one direction gorgeous Summer Hill cottages snuggled into a sea of trees so often crowned by the golden setting sun and in the other direction the twinkling city in the distance. I loved the way the sun streamed into our apartment and, when covid retreated, the fortnightly markets with live music and delicious treats, our pizza nights up at Moonbie St and having the Munro’s down to our place. Summer Hill 💛

May 2023 – But Sydney rose up again, was Sydney trying to kick us out? At the same time, an offer to work in Vancouver.

We packed everything into a container and shipped it.

June 2023 – Michal met us at the airport and stayed with us for two weeks to help us find our feet and settle in 💛

Our container arrived in perfect time for us as we moved into our new home in West Vancouver.

And just like that, life felt lighter.

I joined a choir and a painting class 🎶🎨

It’s so beautiful here, the seasons, the mountains (often topped with snow), the giant trees, the crystal clear glistening water ways, our home with glorious views and a little fireplace ✨

And nothing better than a new job to kick your brain into fifth gear! Thank you new job, thank you brain.

We had our one year anniversary just a couple of weeks ago.

Lil has blown me away, in our first year in Vancouver, she was selected as the Marketing Manager of the Student Council, cast as Cady in Mean Girls Musical at Arts Umbrella and earnt straight A’s at school. For 2024/25 school year, she’s been selected into the International Baccalaureate program, voted the Vice President of the Student Council and, after auditioning, received an offer to join the Musical Theatre Troupe at Arts Umbrella.

Proud mum!

I’m going to try and pop in here more regularly.

It’s been a tough year in the film industry, here’s to things turning around soon, please take care out there.

Wishing you a wonderful day 🌱

Transition

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Rundle Mall – from another era tall decorative buildings squeeze between modern ones, reminding me of Harry Potter.

So many people, a complex pattern we weave, varying speeds and purpose.

I love being surrounded by their silent stories.

Lifted by the sound of the electric violin, carried to my daughter.

The green door. Our meeting place.

My daughters words mix with the surrounds, her precious voice.

A place of transition between work and home.

Talking on the way home, ‘bad things happen, good things happen’, ‘good things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people’, ‘bad things happen to good people, bad things happen’.

Yes.

Seasons come.

And go.

Grateful for the time.

Have a wonderful day 🌱

Remaining still

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My daughter and I enjoy watching the anime series Avatar (over and over).

Both Aang and Korra, but most beloved is Aang.

There is so much to love, a couple of favourites: Uncle Iroh (his wisdom and love of tea), Appa (a giant white flying Bison)…

It’s where I learnt about Jīng.

In Chinese, Jīng means power or energy.

We learn from Bumi that there are eighty five types (degrees) of Jīng but these are the key ones:

Positive Jīng – advancing

Negative Jīng – retreating

Neutral Jīng – listening and waiting

Neutral Jing –

Waiting, listening,

Alert, calm,

Attuned, present,

Observing.

Awaiting for signs, the correct conditions, to alter your Jing.

Retreat…advance…remain still…

Have a wonderful day 🌱

Currency

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You can imagine my delight when I read, in early Australia, children of convicts were called ‘Currency’!

Things were looking up for our ancestors!

But then I learnt it was derogatory.

How could currency be derogatory!?

Money in the early penal colony was British, Dutch, Indian and Portuguese coinage, but there was a shortage, and most of it left the colony by way of trade with the visiting ships.

This left bartering.

And the most valuable thing to barter? Rum.

There are a lot of interesting stories with rum at their centre in early Australia:

  • Crime (you might remember from my post about Margaret Maloney, her husband John McDuel, along with several others was found guilty of stealing from the public stores. As they were on full rations at the time, it was suggested that they stole the goods to furnish their drinking habits.)
  • Executions
  • The Rum Hospital
  • The Rum Rebellion…

…the Rum Rebellion…in 1808 the recalcitrant NSW Corps, hundreds strong, in full colours and band playing ‘The British Grenadiers’, marched upon Government House and over threw the government!

The mutinous NSW Corps created a propaganda cartoon within hours of Governor Bligh’s arrest that still exists today, showing him being pulled from under his bed in full uniform.

Fifteen months later Governor Lachlan Macquarie arrived, tasked with restoring orderly and lawful government.

He bought with him a vision of a thriving civilised metropolis driven by burgeoning capitalism.

And at the centre of any capitalist economy? Money.

In 1812 he purchased coins to the value of 40,000 Spanish dollars and had a convict forger punch holes in them, creating the first Australian Currency, the ‘Holey Dollar’ and the ‘Dump’.

The Holey Dollar had New South Wales imprinted around it’s inner rim and the Dump had New South Wales and a crown on one side and Fifteen Pence on the reverse. Their combined value; 6 shillings and 3 pence.

In 1822, just ten short years later, the government began recalling the Holey Dollar and the Dump and replaced it with British coinage, Sterling.

In 1829 the Holey Dollar and the Dump was demonetised. Now worthless.

Currency, worthless.

In juxtaposition, the children of free settlers became known as Sterling.

In schools and daily life, the Currency and Sterling lads and lasses competed…but…

Convict children – with the abundance of fresh protein from land and sea, endless nutritional garden goodness, stunning beaches to swim, boundless space to run and an endless supply of sun and fresh air – grew tall, fairer and strong.

Compared to their counterparts, newly arrived from a motherland suffering from overcrowding, hunger, poverty, crime and where sunshine, space and clean waterways were not so abundant…

…I reckon, regardless if I was Currency or Sterling, I’d want Currency on my team!

Happy Autumn 🍂

Old Sydney Burial Ground

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Margaret Maloney is still on my mind.

From William O’Neil’s report after Margaret’s death we know she lived on Back Row East. In trying to find where that was, my research lead me to Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

Governor Macquarie served as Governor of New South Wales from 1810 until 1821 and one of the first things he did when he arrived was name (re-name) the streets. The new street names were published in the Sydney Gazette on 6 October 1810. This is where we find that Back Row East was henceforth to be known as Phillip Street. This is exciting because Phillip Street still exists, it’s right there below Macquarie Street!

The very same Macquarie Street my younger self would frequently make a beeline down to Mitchell Library (NSW State Library), always making time to stop and rub the nose of the boar.

I can’t wait to walk along Phillip Street again (and Macquarie Street) with the new found knowledge that my ancestors lived and walked there.

I’ve also been thinking about Margaret’s resting place.

In my search for her I have discovered that Sydney Town Hall was built on the grounds that were once the colony’s burial ground, the Old Sydney Burial Ground. It stretched from George Street, to Kent Street, down to Bathurst Street and up to Druitt Street (to the entrance of the Queen Victoria Building)!

Yes they moved the bodies but because in early Sydney there wasn’t anyone officially assigned to keep a register of burials, they could never have been sure that they had moved all the bodies. And indeed in the years to come, in that city block and surrounds, with further building, excavations and pipe work, some grisly encounters were had; skulls, bones and graves.

I mean some valuable archeological finds!

Many times I’ve used the underground train station at Town Hall, thinking about it I do remember it being a bit spooky down there!

The Old Sydney Burial Ground was used from 1792 and closed in 1820.

Our Margaret Maloney, living just streets away on Back Row East, died in 1804, was she buried there in the Old Sydney Burial Ground? Sadly no records exist to confirm or deny, but I feel certain of it.

In 1869, to build the Town Hall, they exhumed what remains they found and moved them to the new Necropolis (‘city of the dead’) at Haslem’s Creek, this cemetery, now known has Rookwood Necropolis is the oldest and largest still operating cemetery from the Victorian era stretching across 286 acres.

I do wonder where Margaret is now? Is she still resting somewhere in the heart of Sydney? Or was she moved to the new resting place? Personally I hope she was moved to the peaceful surrounds of Rookwood.

When the Old Sydney Burial Ground was full and closed in 1820, they opened another burial ground just down the road (today the platforms of Central Station sit on top of where people’s loved ones were once interred). It was known as the Devonshire Street Cemetery. Full in 1867, it was closed and the bodies were exhumed and the majority moved to Bunnerong Cemetery which is now known as Botany Cemetery.

Central Railway Station, opened in 1906, is an above ground station, so not half as spooky as Town Hall Station.

However, there is a 300 metre underground walkway (tiled from floor to ceiling), the Devonshire Street Tunnel, that cuts through the old burial ground. I used it frequently to get to University. It was fine to walk during busy times, surrounded by people. But quiet times? Not such fun! I remember instincts speeding my footsteps and sometimes hearing sounds behind me, glancing back to find no-one there, at the time it was a relief to discover the tunnel stretching empty behind me…but that was before I knew!!

Happy Halloween 🎃