History Notes for the 28th June 23

History Notes

 Several history inquiries this week and two of them rather difficult for our members. The first concerns the Madams family particularly the early members of the family- grandmother Thelma Leila Madams who grew up in Barraba was a member of the Darlington family. We have some history of this family but there may be someone who can speak directly with this lady.

The second enquiry is even more difficult- Caroline Annie Smith was born at Woods Reef in 1865 and apparently married James Lonsdale in 1885. I have looked through all available birth records for our area without success. If anyone recognizes this family we will pass it onto the enquirer.

As our society is a member of the Royal Australian Historical Society we have access to the R.A.H.S. history magazine but few members actually read the magazine. The June edition deals with the history of the Women's Weekly in the early years and the changes in the food and cooking over the last 90 years.

The Australian Women's Weekly was the most popular women's magazine for at least the first half of its 90 years. In the early years of the depression and World War II the food we ate was rather basic - meat and whatever vegetables were available together with sugar, tea and butter or dripping.

As the war continued rationing was introduced on meat, butter, sugar and tea as well as fuel and other commodities. Even potatoes were in short supply so the housewife was forced to improvise or go without. Sham potatoes - a flour-based dumpling was introduced to Australian kitchens. Recipes for mock chicken appeared in the Women's Weekly where rabbit was often the substitute as they were plentiful in the 1940's and 50's.

Moving on after World War II the humble refrigerator became more common in Australian kitchen - some of us remember the problems our parents had with the kerosene refrigerators going out, not freezing properly and then freezing everything! The arrival of electricity to the country and the electric refrigerator and all the small appliances arrived, and kitchens began to look more like the modern-day facility.

We do have some rewards for living in the world today.