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

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) - 

The CEO of Broken Hill's Lifeline Scott Hammond recently told me that society should rate suicide first aid courses with the same importance as regular first aid training or swimming lessons. Here are some signs that someone may be feeling suicidal: https://t.co/yJSjfX4iZC

— Sofie Wainwright (@SofieJW) February 7, 2018

That says it all.

JD @ ilbh

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

Same sex marriage receives royal assent today

Earlier today on 8 December 2017 the Australian Governor General Peter Cosgrove gave Royal Assent to the Same Sex Marriage bill after yesterday's historic vote in federal parliament and was passed into law. 

So whether you're in Broken Hill or anywhere in Australia, same sex marriage will now be legal.

At midnight (in one minute) the law will take complete effect.

The first marriages can take place in the second week of January 2018 as a couple needs to lodge a notice of intended marriage, a month before the marriage.

#historic #ssm #samesexmarriage #love

Cheers,

Jane Deany

I still love Broken Hill and my blog will continue into it's seventh year

Six years ago today I started www.ilovebrokenhill.com and you know what I still love visiting #BrokenHill and talking about this fabulous outback city.

Stay tuned as the coming year will be a more active one after taking a little time out from my regular blogging.

Cheers,

Jane Deany

Drag Bingo yes, you heard it #dragbingo. Where else but #BrokenHill

Shelita Buffet AKA Brendan Barlow (L) and
Christina Kneesup AKA Chris Harvey (R) calling
the bingo numbers at drag bingo in Broken Hill

Drag Bingo - Broken Hill

There's a regular thing happening monthly on a Tuesday night in downtown #BrokenHill.

What you might ask? It's 'drag bingo'.

Where you might ask? At The Palace Hotel Broken Hill no less. Or should I say - no surprise.

Tonight it was a full house and the room was buzzing and very colourful language was flying as the #bingo numbers were called.

If you're not into bingo, it might still be worth a look for something different to do. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Don't worry if you forgot your drag outfit, that's optional. The number callers more than make up for it.

I recognised local Palace Hotel staff member Brendan Barlow (red head) AKA Shelita Buffet. Her 'fellow' bingo caller (assistant?) is Chris Harvey AKA Christina Kneesup.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Pro Hart Outback Art Prize exhibition #BrokenHill until 13 August 2017

The winners of the annual Pro Hart Outback Art Prize were announced on the exhibition's opening night Friday 30 June 2017, and the exhibition runs until 13 August 2017.

Congratulations to the winning artist Abdul-Rahman Abdullah with his distinctive piece 'Footprint'.

Congratulations to Abdul-Rahman Abdulllah, winner of the 2017 Pro Hart Outback Art Prize!
2nd: Kristin Haskett
Encouragement: Andre Schmidt pic.twitter.com/oW92ZBayKp

— Broken Hill Council (@BrokenHillCity) June 30, 2017

Kristin Haskett's 'untitled' work won second prize.

Andre Schmidt won the encouragement award with 'River-Flats Evening'.

This year the judge was art journalist Kon Gouriotis.

Two hundred and sixty four entrants 'addressed' the theme 'outback'. From these, 43 finalists were chosen.

Here's a link the ABC Broken Hill's report about the opening night. I was lucky enough to attend the awards opening night two years ago and it is one of the social calendar highlights for #BrokenHill.

The prize has been renamed from 'Outback Open Art Prize' to 'Pro Hart Outback Art Prize' to honour Pro Hart and his family's contribution to the arts. Pro's wife Mrs Raylee J Hart and the Broken Hill City Council generously support the prize.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Our Languages Matter - NAIDOC 2017 in #BrokenHill and #Australia wide

2017 NAIDOC week has begun. It runs from 2 - 9 July 2017.

This year's theme - 'Our languages matter'.

"The importance, resilience and richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages will be the focus of national celebrations marking NAIDOC Week 2017."

Cheers,

Jane Deany

International Women's Day 2017 in Broken Hill includes Gaara Arts exhibition at Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery

Art Scene
On this International Women's Day 2017, in Broken Hill recognition of women includes Gaara Arts' exhibition 'Out of the Zone - Gaara Arts Cabinet Exhibition' at Broken Hill's fabulous Regional Art Gallery.

Now open at #BrokenHill is 'Gaara Arts' featuring local women artists. Visit before March 31 →  https://t.co/53dku9wCje @WestDarling pic.twitter.com/CGmBtjJNlr

— Regional Arts NSW (@RegionalArtsNSW) February 18, 2017

Who is Gaara Arts you might ask? It's Broken Hill's all women art group.

See link here for details about the exhibition together with several other current exhibitions, which include the Far West Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prize.

https://www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au/explore/regional-art-gallery/exhibitions

Cheers,

Jane Deany

Broken Hill tourist season hots up 1 March 2017 when weather cools ...

Sign on the Silver City Highway heading
north after Wentworth.

Tomorrow, 1 March 2017 is ...

the beginning of the annual tourist season in Broken Hill, so start planning your trip to Australia's first heritage listed city now.

Autumn is one of the best times to visit #BrokenHill as the summer heat starts to fade.

The picture at left is a sign you should encounter on the Silver City Highway as you head north from Melbourne, Mildura and/or Wentworth towards Broken Hill, AKA the Silver City.

Cheers, enjoy your trip and I recommend more than a one night stay as there's so much to see and do.

Jane Deany

Happy New Year 2017 Broken Hill and everyone - it's all about time today

Happy New Year for 2017. Today is all about the passing of time. One interesting fact about Broken Hill is that although the city is situated in New South Wales which runs on Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), #BrokenHill actually uses Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT), the time zone used by South Australia. The reason being that the city is relatively close to the South Australian border and the nearest capital city is the South Australian city of Adelaide.

Silver City Highway, 40 km south of Broken Hill

When you drive north up the 683 km Silver City Highway, about 40 km south of Broken Hill you will come across a sign, see pictured, advising that you should turn back your clock/watch by half an hour.

Broken Hill is unique in Australia because of this arrangement.

I remember my second trip to Broken Hill on New Year's Eve 2005-6. It was fun for me to be able to celebrate two New Year's Eves, the first one back home in Melbourne Victoria which is another one of the Australian states using the Australian Eastern Daylight Time, and then half an hour later, celebrating again with everyone else in Broken Hill.

That's a little bit of trivia about Broken Hill to start 2017.

Happy New Year everyone.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Browne Shaft Headframe at Junction Mine Broken Hill

Junction Mine Browne Shaft Headframe

I recently tweeted about www.ilovebrokenhill.com's 5th anniversary. The image I used, which is currently this blog's header image and the picture in this post, prompted the query, is that Browne's Mine? The question was posed by an ex Broken Hill resident.

I must say 'well spotted' to them.

And I admit, I was initially actually unsure of the headframe's name, so I rang the very helpful #BrokenHill visitor information centre, and together with their help and also reference to Elizabeth Vines' 2010 "Broken Hill A guide to the Silver City" we confirmed the details.

The picture is of Junction Mine's wooden headframe that was erected over Browne Shaft in the 1890's. It is the oldest remaining headframe on the #lineoflode.

You can see the mine and associated buildings on the Menindee Road, just on the edge of Broken Hill.

The image was taken by me around 7am in January 2013. Isn't the light lovely. It's one of the features that Broken Hill is know for i.e. great light and natural vivid colours. It is another reason why Broken Hill is so popular with artists.

Enjoy.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Happy 5th Birthday ilovebrokenhill.com

Mystery* mine headframe near visitor centre Broken Hill

It is www.ilovebrokenhill.com's 5th birthday today 8 December 2016.

Thanks to the over 172,000 people who have visited my blog over the past 5 years.

Broken Hill has often been in my thoughts over this year.

May the city thrive and prosper in the coming years.

I will continue to post on a semi random basis.

Please stay 'tuned'.

Cheers, Jane Deany

*Okay, so the mystery mine headframe is from the Kintore Shaft at the Central Mine. The headframe was moved to the 'Kintore Reserve' in Blende Street, from Central Mine in 1984 to make way for open cut mining activities.

Ann Rogers of Broken Hill

I was very sad to learn that Broken Hill’s Ann Rogers had died on 7 November 2016 after a brief battle with cancer.

Ann was an amazing woman who was involved in so many aspects of community life in Broken Hill.

She was the President of the Broken Hill Chamber of Commerce and Manager of the local Robinson College and Alesco Learning Centre.

She also was a generous volunteer. She seemed to have her finger in many pies.

Ann Rogers image from
https://bhchamberofcommerce.com.au/tag/ann-rogers/

She coordinated the Fringe Festival in 2014 and 2015. Ann supported Patton Village where the Festival was held, in many ways.

She was previously the General Manager of the Broken Hill Legion Club.

I met Ann several years ago when I approached her to look at running a social media course at Robinson College. She was very open to the idea. The main stumbling block for myself to run the course was the logistics of it all (given I am based in Melbourne).

She will leave an incredible gap in the Broken Hill community.

Her passion, energy and warmth will be missed.

R.I.P. Ann Rogers

Siesta ilovebrokenhill, #BrokenHill, #Twitter, #BrokenHeel shout out

Hi everyone,

Well I may be a little missing in action on www.ilovebrokenhill.com, but I certainly haven't forgotten about you and I have been keenly keeping an eye out on news of the fabulous and first Australian #HeritageListedCity AKA #BrokenHill.

So whilst I take a little time out from regular blogging right here on www.ilovebrokenhill.com (I will make the occasional cameo, like now).

999 ABC Broken Hill Studios #BrokenHill
You can keep up with all the Broken Hill news via 999, even when I'm not blogging! 

After four years of very regular posting, everyone needs a holiday, however, I'm still #microblogging via #Twitter.

Just keep an eye out for #BrokenHill and you will see me retweeting and favouriting on a regular basis with my @ilovebrokenhill Twitter account. Only problem with this is that, still, not a lot of Broken Hill folks use Twitter. Oh well, each to their own.

And, whilst I'm here, and I have your attention, don't forget the #BrokenHeelFestival is coming up once again on 9-11 September 2016.

Here is their website http://www.bhfestival.com

Cheers,

Jane Deany