About

ABOUT
ilovebrokenhill.com , was first published on 8 December 2011 by Jane Deany. My blog is all about the famous outback Australian National Heritage Listed City named Broken Hill, located in the state of New South Wales. I first visited #BrokenHill in 2002 and have returned many times since then. ilovebrokenhill.com will help you discover what's great about this historic mining city, where in the mid 1880's the line of lode, a rich ore body of silver, lead and zinc was found. You will find stories about anything related to Broken Hill.

Saturday, 18 August 2018

Muriel Hunter a Broken Hill midwife in the making, and a 2018 Heywire winner

I learned about NSW indigenous Australian Muriel Hunter on a recent Landline episode on the fabulous ABC.

Muriel was one of the group of 2018 'Heywire' winners.

Her family background is from a large family in the Barkindji and Wonkamarra tribes in the Wilcannia and Bourke regions of north central New South Wales.

At age six, she, together with five of her six siblings, was taken into foster care in Broken Hill.

She poignantly says "I thought I'd done something wrong."

I won't spoil her story, which you can find by following this link to the story which appears on the ABC website's 'heywire' section 

http://www.abc.net.au/heywire/heywire-winner-muriel-hunter-broken-hill-nsw/9156412

I found her story inspiring and you may too. You can see her telling her story in a brief two or so minute clip, as well as read about her by following the above link.

After some challenging times, she is well on the way to realising her career dreams to become a nurse and midwife, so as to help her community.

I love stories like that.

Heywire has been running since 1998, so twenty years as of this date. It aims to give young Australians the chance to tell a story about their life in their regional town, and potentially 'win a money-can’t-buy experience' (quoting the ABC's heywire website).

Cheers,

Jane Deany

Saturday, 12 May 2018

Broken Hill art gallery list updated on ilovebrokenhill ... see footer

A section of the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
The Broken Hill (and Silverton) art galleries list has been updated on my ilovebrokenhill website.

See the footer below. 

Please scroll to bottom of the site for an up to date list of all the galleries in #BrokenHill and #Silverton.

There are over 25 galleries. There could even be more which you may stumble upon. New ones seem to spring up quite often.

As of this date, the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery is hosting several art exhibitions. The gallery has an active exhibition schedule. See their website for details.

The West Darling Arts at the Town Hall Facade space has a current exhibition and the Broken Hill Art Exchange (BHAE) has just moved to the Grand Guesthouse this week. The BHAE is just finishing setting up after their move, so not ready for visitors for a week or so. All three exhibition spaces are in #BrokenHill's main street - Argent Street. See my gallery list for the exact addresses.

Enjoy.

Jane Deany

Tuesday, 8 May 2018

The beauty and colour of Broken Hill

Browne Shaft Headframe
Browne's Shaft Headframe at Junction Mine
I have just spent five days wandering around the heart of Broken Hill. The city is buzzing with energy and it's great to be back. My last visit was July 2017.

Renewable energy projects are on the go in a number of locations.

A water pipeline from Wentworth to Broken Hill commenced construction earlier in 2018, and when finished at the end of the year, will create water security for the city.

Many houses have new roofs courtesy of a hailstorm back in November 2016, so although a shock at the time, a lot of good has come out of that natural weather event.

There are lots of jobs too for the roofing crews. The pipeline project is said to create 150 local jobs, with a peak construction workforce of around 500 jobs. Mining related jobs are also cropping up, as there is still quite a bit of mine activity. Maybe more on that another time.

I came up from my hometown Melbourne to catch the tail end of the inaugural Heritage Festival which ran for two weeks.

It was fantastic to hear the fascinating talk given by Professor Simon Molesworth AO, QC on the final evening of the event last Friday. The setting for the talk was the historic Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery situated in Argent Street, Broken Hill's iconic main street. Prof. Molesworth was one of the key drivers in helping #BrokenHill to become the first National Heritage Listed City in January 2015.

I then took the opportunity to attend the biannual two day Agfair at the Broken Hill racecourse. With exhibitor numbers up on 2016, and coming from far afield and locally, my first Agfair was a lot of fun. There was a sold out fundraiser ball on the final night. The charity being the Royal Flying Doctor Service. I missed out on that one with all 500 tickets sold. Next time perhaps.

There seems to almost always be an event on in Broken Hill. That's one of the many reasons "I love Broken Hill."

There is so much happening in the city it is hard to know what to write about. So I will save it for another time.

I will just finish by saying that the weather has been glorious every day - low twenties. Sunny mostly, still, and beautiful clear starry nights.

This afternoon was yet again a fabulous opportunity to take some more photos. See my photo of Browne's Shaft Headframe at Junction Mine.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Saturday, 17 February 2018

One month to go to the famous Broken Hill St Patrick's Races 17 March 2018

Every so often the St Pat's Races in Broken Hill, occurs on the actual day of St Patrick's Day and 2018 is one of those years. I was there the last time it happened.

So start planning your green gear!

The event is one of only 2 annual horse race meetings in the Silver City aka #BrokenHill.

And for a bit of unrelated trivia. I was just looking at where my online audience was right now, that is Saturday evening 17 February and surprisingly, there was activity in Honduras! Hi to everyone in Honduras. Also hello to viewers in Germany and of course Australia.

Cheers,
JD @ ilbh

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

I love Broken Hill, so happy Valentine's Day 2018 #BrokenHill

Thinking of you today #BrokenHill on this day about love. You're hot! Well not too bad today 15 - 33 degrees celsius. Sounds very pleasant.

Changing the subject, to a heavier note (sorry), but just wanted to share this idea pronto.

I came across this great suggestion by Scott Hammond of Broken Hill Lifeline on Twitter via ABC (when searching what was going on in Broken Hill at the moment #BrokenHill) - 



That says it all.
JD @ ilbh

Monday, 8 January 2018

Happy New Year Broken Hill from Melbourne blogger Jane Deany

Happy New Year Broken Hill from Melbourne blogger Jane Deany.


Yarra River at #sunset
As the sun set last night, by the Yarra River (left) at the end of my street, it was good to be in Melbourne at this time of year, when many people are away.

But I'm looking forward to my next #BrokenHill visit as soon as I can get back up there. After all, it's only an 840kms drive.

I very much enjoyed my last visit in July 2017.

There have been at least two changes since then, which I'm very keen to experience upon my next trip.

The Silly Goat has moved to a newer, bigger premises; and

The Broken Earth Cafe has re-opened, after being shut for a long time.

No doubt there are many other changes.

I hope the summer isn't too hot for you all.

And, in my annual 'plug', it's a great time to visit this fabulous outback, heritage listed city, (Australia's first heritage listed city) during the school holidays.

Why? You will have a great time! I always do. And, it's only about a day or so drive from Melbourne, Adelaide (513kms approx.), or Sydney (1144kms approx.). You can fly, or catch the train - 'Indian Pacific' from either Adelaide or Sydney.

Cheers,

Jane Deany