Thursday, February 28, 2008 |
Here are some short profiles of the storytellers. Students will be asked to select a storyteller that interests them.
Fleur Delaine is a keen volunteer who loves to travel. Her most memorable trip was one to the Antarctic, and she has volunteered at the Sydney Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and the Police Games in Adelaide.
Frank Esvelt is originally from Holland, but has lived in the Coromandel area for thirty years. He also lived in Afrika at one stage. He worked as an industrial chemist for over twenty five years.
Raeline Holliday worked at an SA company for over thirty years, starting on the factory floor, but working her way up to travelling the world to represent the organisation and training people. Sometimes she spent over six months of the year overseas. She also lived on a boat for nine years, and sailed for six months, ending up in Sydney where the boat was sold. She joined the Army Reserves when she was forty two despite the cut off age being thirty five.
Eve Holmes has been living in Coromandel Valley since 1950, moving here when she got married to her now deceased husband. She has lived in Coromandel Valley before water and electricity was connected, and has seen the area change over the years.
Bevan McFarlane grew up in Claire, and is now a member of the Management Committee of Coromandel Community Centre Inc. He is also president of Coromandel Valley Community Association, and Deputy Mayor of the local council.
Kevin Moore has lived in the Coromandel Valley area for around seventy years. He is very involved in the community and the Coromandel Valley Uniting Church.
Dorothy Pargeter was a former principal of St. John’s Grammar School for twenty three years, from 1978 to 2001. She is also a member of the Pioneers Association.
Clyde Paton has lived in the Coromandel Valley area for over forty years. He has travelled overseas many time to Asia and Europe, and has had several different career moves. He has also done a lot of four wheel driving around outback Australia.
Claire Phillips was brought up in the Watchman house, a property on Main Road, Coromandel Valley. Her family are original pioneers of the Coromandel Valley area. She is involved in the National Trust, and works part time at the Belair Medical Centre.
Sallie Sandiford lived in Coromandel Valley for around thirty five years, but has recently moved to Millswood. She has done a lot of leadlighting in Coromandel Valley and the surrounding area. She also did the original leadlighting at the Anglican Church.
Kurt Schmid moved to Australia in 1952. He couldn’t speak any English and didn’t know anybody. He has had numerous different occupations, having worked on the railway, a stonecutter, and on a strawberry farm in Coromandel Valley. He has also run a vegetable garden at Minda.
Alec Smith is the President of the Coromandel Valley Croquet Club. Previously, he worked as a manager at the air quality branch for the Department of Environment and Planning.
Neil Stallard had a career as a sheet metal worker, and was very involved in the restoration of the Belair Signal Cabin and Train Station. He was heartbroken when it was burnt down four months after being completely restored. He is no longer involved in the restoration project.
Bill Stronach is originally from Scotland, but has lived in Australia for most of his adult life. He began working as a house painter, but decided to study to become a valuer and then a land broker. The majority of his family live overseas or interstate, so he doesn’t see them very often. Recently, he decided to document his life experiences for his family to read and enjoy, so began taking creative writing classes at the Coromandel Community Centre.
Bob Such is a politician, and is currently the member for Fisher. He has lived in the Coromandel Valley area for a long period of time.
Jenny Watchman grew up in the Adelaide Hills area, and worked with hearing impaired children for many years. Currently she works as a consultant advising on hearing assistance systems that can be placed in classrooms. She also attends Feldenkrais classes at the Coromandel Community Centre.
Fran West is currently the manager of the Blue Gums B&B in Coromandel Valley, and owns her own chocolate making business called Simply Irresistible. She is also a professional speaker, and a keen pilot who, in 1999-2000, circumnavigated the Australian Coastline. She was the first female pilot and the first SA pilot to do this trip solo.
John Whitbread is the ex Superintendent at Darlington Police Station, and spent forty three years with the police force. He was, at one stage in his career, responsible and in charge of one third of the metropolitan police force.
Ian Will has lived in Coromandel Valley for most of his life, and his daughter and her family now live in the house that he had his wife originally resided in. He has grandchildren ranging in age from eight to twenty one years of age.
Bob Winn is currently involved in the National Trust, and does presentations regarding his family and their involvement in Coromandel Valley. His ancestors owned Winn’s Bakehouse, which is now a museum in Coromandel Valley. He previously worked for the Department of Agriculture, and was heavily involved in bee keeping.
