A Close Knit Community

A few weeks ago you might have seen a Suggestion Box in Lipson St?

It was good of everyone to get into the spirit of it.  Lots of you wrote down over 200 comments and ideas for what you wanted in the Port. While it's taken me a while to go through them all, your suggestions have been passed on to the Port Renewal people. (Rumour has it that some things will start taking off real soon.)

There were some ideas that the Government probably won't do, though, and which we probably need to do for ourselves.  An example might be like bringing Llamas to the Port (yep, that was one idea) and while I don't understand the fascination with Llamas or their connection to the Port, I've not yet given up on getting them here.

Besides the Llamas, there were other things that surprised me and my family about how others see the Port. Just goes to show how important it is to listen every once in a while - it can change your point of view...

For example, Aunt Pearl was looking over my shoulder when I was sorting the suggestion slips and she was a little hurt by one comment.

"The Port is empty and cold. It needs to be warmer and more inviting". I know that she can be a bit sensitive to negative comments about the Port but she went right off at this one! There was a lot of banging and crashing in the kitchen after dinner (she even broke Gran's favourite tea cup) and then stormed off to bed mumbling about how some people "just don't get the Port".

Well, I made good my escape quick smart cos being around Aunty Pearl in a temper is not a nice place to be. Down at the club, over a few beers, I got to thinking...  Someone who doesn't live here might think the empty shops and footpaths as proof of it being an unfriendly place - a place not to stop in. Or they might see all the hard surfaces as cold and uninviting.  But Aunt Pearl, Ganny Glad, my mates and me, we see it differently.

Aunty Pearl, for instance, sees a Port full of colourful people, family and friends. She notices the trees, the beaut buildings, the river and even the quirky and gritty bits, because these all have warm memories for her - and for me, too.  Maybe our opinions make us deaf to what other people are saying.

Anyway, the next morning when she came back from her walk around the river Aunty Pearl apologises to Gran and announces she is going to show everyone how warm the Port really is.  And she and her friends have been knitting ever since.  Now I'm not one to ask questions of a woman on a mission, so I didn't understand what all the yarn was about until yesterday...

Yep, yesterday I noticed that Aunty Pearl had hacked into my facebook page and, pretending be me, has got about 30 people from all over the place, and who she doesn't even know, knitting. Apparently Granny Glad is in on it, too!

The two of them have organised a 'yarn-bombing' which sounds like some sort of a soft, 3D version of graffiti.  Apparently they and their 'yarn guerrillas" will be warming up Port Adelaide during winter using Knit-fitti. 

They've done some fantastically creative things...


but...

I'm a bit worried that they might be taking the idea a little too far.  Look what they did to our neighbour's little boy!





Could all please keep a look out for Aunt Pearl and Granny Glad in the Port this winter and make sure they don't get into any trouble? 



ps. Thanks, whoever you are, for the Warming the Port suggestion.


pps. I'd better not let them see the Llama ideas....

Walk Round Corners

I heard down the pub the other night that there's some good things about to happen in the Port.  The last few times they did that though, the Port lost some big, important things like the boat yards and Shed 5 and before that the Ozone Theatre, the Port Fire Station in Dale St, the Port Train Station on St Vincent St, and lots more. 

I'm going to keep my eyes open this time so we don't lose anymore of the big stuff but I'll be keeping my eye on the little stuff, too.

Like the sign on the corner of the Old Port Adelaide Institute Building (corner Nile and Commercial) "Walk Round Corners".  Next time you're at the corner, look up, you'll see it.  It dates back to when the Port was bustling with people and with carts, drays and horses. It was put there to remind the cart driver to get off and lead his animal around the corner for the safety of others.  We don't want to lose that little cracker!

If Commercial Rd north gets a tart up then I'm going to keep my eye on the silent policeman. You might know it as the black diamond corner round about. It was the traffic manager at the busiest intersection in Adelaide - Commercial Rd and St Vincent St. Now located at the north end of Commercial Rd outside the Customs House, it's a black and white column and base and was originally constructed in 1939 (the third of similar ones) intended to manage the traffic. It was replaced with traffic lights on 4 December 1968.

You might also know this as my Facebook profile picture...

I hear Aunt Pearl and my Grandmother are spinning some yarns that they'll share in June. Can't wait!

G'day

A birthday seems as good at time as any to start spinning yarns in a blog.

Yep, last week was my birthday and the good people of Facebook sent me lots of happy birthday messages. I don't know most of them but it was a really nice thing for them to do. There were even a couple of cards in my Suggestion Box on Lipson St. So thanks everyone, you made my day special.

Granny Gladys and Aunt Pearl had me over for a birthday dinner - honestly, they should open a place in the Port, they'd be packed out - the food is so good.  I had a few beers at the Railway after that (cheers Fred) and when I got home to Jane Street, happy and with a full belly, there was a parcel waiting for me at the door.  

I don't know who it was from but there was a note and, in the box, an empty key ring.  The note said "we've thrown away the keys, the Port's open and it's all yours, sorry."  I couldn't wipe the grin off my face – what a good prank, I thought.

When I was growing up in the Port it was tough but good at the same time. Even 60 years ago Port Adelaide was full of history and a bit gritty.  Geez, it was a real port, so it had ships and boats and stuff - a place where kids and their imaginations could run wild.  The best thing was that it didn't matter who you were or where you came from, if you were a good bloke (or woman, sorry Gran), you'd always be welcomed by the locals and there'd a place for you if you wanted to stay and be a part of things. That’s the reason I came back from my travels.

You see, I ran into a guy in Turkey of all places. Years ago, his dad and mine worked together on the waterfront in the Timber Mills. This bloke was telling me that property developers were trying to change the people of the Port. I just couldn't believe it.  So since Gran and Pearl aren't getting any younger, I thought it was probably the right time to come see for myself.

It's good to back home. There's something real special about this place.  

The other night Gran, Aunt Pearl and I were having a good laugh about the old times when Gran mentioned this woman named Minnie who used to ride around the Port on an old pushbike. I remembered her, too, but confessed that when I was a kid, my mates and I used to make fun of her.   Minnie never said a word to us and never did anyone any harm. She moved so slowly on that bike, how she kept it upright, I’ll never know but there she was, every day, riding around in her own world.  She'd stop every now and again to pick up cigarette butts, which she took home and re-rolled into a single smoke.  I’m ashamed to say it now but we kids saw her as an easy target.  

Anyway, one day in about ’45, us kids were outside the Ozone (here's a picture of it in St Vincent St - its a River's shop now - ironic name, hey?).  We were jumping up and down alongside Minnie, poking fun, pretending to smoke and acting kinda weirda.  No sooner than we’d started, but out of his shop comes Big Jim and lands me a stinging clip under the ear. Yeow! In his deep voice Jim said sternly, "Don't be an idiot, son. Minnie don't deserve to be laughed at. You get outa here before I tell your dad."   Well, I ran all the way home, scared as all get out.  Dad didn't say anything, which made it all the worse. For weeks after, there I was just waiting for another physical reminder to behave myself.

When I finished telling my yarn, Gran, looking sad, said it was a good thing that Jim stood up for Minnie, cos that was the right thing to do. Minnie had fallen on hard times. Gran didn't blame us "you kids weren't to know", she said and went back to quietly knitting. Gran doesn’t like to gossip and I know better than to pry but all the stuff about what it means to be a Portonian came flooding back to me and I was real glad to be having my birthday back home.  The people make sense here.

Well, I’ve been banging on for long enough today. I hope you liked my yarning.  I must remember to write to that guy in Syria and tell him that the developers didn't win and that the people of Port Adelaide haven’t changed the way they think. There’s still a place for everyone, and even though we don't take ourselves too seriously, it doesn't stop us from looking out for the next person.

It’s the people today who are responsible for tomorrow’s stories – the ones our kids will learn from. I know I’ve only been back a while but I’m chuffed that the developers and their locks are gone. The best birthday present ever (sorry Gran, I still love the socks...!). And thanks to all those people who helped to move them on!

The Port is now open – it belongs to us again - to the descendants of Lartelare and SA’s settlers, the sailors, the wharfies, and the immigrants; to the shop keepers, artists, and truckies; to people down on their luck and those able to make their own; to Fred, Big Jim, Minnie, Gran, Aunty Pearl; and to all the kids, the mums and the dads; and to everyone who has a connection to South Australia - it all passed through here. I, for one, will be getting a little more involved in shaping the future of our gritty, wonderful town - and I won't be waiting for permission!

Larry


ps Would it be to much to ask for a Port Premiership this year, too?  Go you Maggies!