A reflection on Gippsland
Jim is quick to point out it is not an historical work, not a travel journey and not a gazetteer. “It is simply what is in my mind as I reflect on people and places I know intimately.
Written by a proud Gippslander, there is scarcely a town which doesn’t have something written about it.
Born in Garfield, Jim was an Anglican minister in Traralgon, Neerim South Maffra and Warragul.
Maffra is his favourite town because he spent 10 years ministering in the Anglican diocese.
“I got to know the town and its people very well”, he recalled.
Having spent many years living in Warragul where he has retired, he describes the town as a great place to live with a wonderful layout and within easy reach of Melbourne.
Jim says Gippsland has been adaptable across its history which was founded on gold and then turned to power
There have been great changes and people have adapted to new ways of life but in some
For 55 years he has lived and worked all over Gippsland.
“My hope is that readers will be interested in my comments and will set their own thoughts against mine.
“Those who disagree with me may be challenged to write their own book.”
This is Jim’s 10th book all self-published. A prolific writer, Jim published two books last year – Pickled Pieces and Rollicking Rhymes and Wild Beauty.
Round and About in Gippsland took 18 months to write. Jim says it was an on and off project, but not a full-time task. Jim found he picked it up on and off as memories flooded back.
He used the internet and Warragul Library for fact checking as well as friends across Gippsland.
He has three favourite towns he would go to Gypsy Point as an ideal get away, Foster because it is a quaint small town, but Warragul is where he has settled because it has so much to offer.
While it is a geographical and historical account it is not in a travel order. The towns are published alphabetically beginning with Bairnsdale and concluding in Yarram.
People who stand out in Jim’s recollection are bushmen Ralph Cornwall, Bert Gillio and Arthur Guy. “They were all great bushmen of Gippsland strong personalities, resilient, selfeffacing true Gippslanders.
While no individual women come to mind, Jim recalls women in general who were nurses and teachers who married local men and raised the cultural level.
Publishing before COVID-19, Jim makes the bold statement that Gippsland may never be the same in the post pandemic world.
His foreword concludes “this may be a last glimpse of Gippsland in the sweet times that preceded the new age,”
The book’s cover is a photograph of a fabric art by Jim’s wife Anne representing the rolling hills, the snowfields, the farmland and the sea.
Jim says proudly that Anne made it specifically for the book’s cover.
The book is available from Need2Read or through Jim on email ajcon@dcsi.net.au by Jayman Prestidge
In a valley in the mountains the rain fell hard,
The mud splattered wildly as the front wheel left the tar,
Vibrations through my hands made my entire body jar,
Suspension would be great, but I wasn’t in a car,
My breath turned to fog, as the air rapidly chilled,
This valley in the bush, is my tonic, like a pil! The track continued down like a gentle flowing river,
But the speed of the bike was like an unstoppable shiver.
The feel of the tyres slightly losing traction, Made my senses come to life as my brain said, ‘take action’,
A tap of the brakes was all that was required, To slow a freight train, that was otherwise a runaway,
As the bridge came and went, the river passed quickly,
And within a moments notice gravity took hold.
The track headed up, in a long slow grind, A change of gears, a change of grip, my heart went wild.
Whilst the valley was behind me it’s memory lingered on,
The descent in all its beauty, like a never ending song.
At the crest of the mountain top an eagle soared above,
Such perfection in nature, like a long and adoring love,
The track plunged down, West Gippsland now in sight.
With the sun rapidly setting, it wasn’t long til‘ night.
The view was superb, the descent just sublime,
Mt Worth in all its glory, as great as fine red wine.
Freezing cold and clammy, I pedalled for base,
With my cycling friends in tow, of course, it became a race,
A drink and a chat was the finish to that ride, With cycling friends laughing, always by my side!
I love cycling!