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

Gaara Arts Inc celebrate International Women's Day 2016 in Broken Hill

Art Scene

On International Women's Day 2016, Gaara Arts Inc continues to hold the group's annual art exhibition titled "Looking Forward, Looking Back - A Woman's View" at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.

Gaara Arts Inc is Broken Hill's all women art group.

Also on display is an exhibition by Gayle Rodgers titled "Inspired" and the 2016 Far West Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Prize exhibition.

Exhibition details -

Date - From Friday 29 January 2016
Place - Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
Address - 404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill
Phone - 08 8080 3440
Hours - Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm

For more details see the following link to the Broken Hill City Council's website.

The exhibitions will all run until 13 March 2016.

The timing of the Gaara Arts exhibition is designed to coincide with International Women's Day which this year is on 8 March - today.

I congratulate the women of Gaara Arts for their continued contribution to the rich art scene in Broken Hill.

Enjoy, cheers Jane Deany

'Today' show 'We Love Australia Week' in Silverton 7 March 2016

Channel 9's 'Today' show will be touring Australia this week and tomorrow morning, Monday 7 March 2016 finds team member Ross Greenwood in ghost town #Silverton, some 26 km from Broken Hill.

Filming will be on between 5.30 am - 8 am.

Watch @thetodayshow tomorrow morning 7 March 2016 from 5.30 am, they're in #Silverton near #BrokenHill https://t.co/Eif43Xw5OA

— ilovebrokenhill (@ilovebrokenhill) March 6, 2016

You can get there under your own steam or catch the free shuttle bus at 5am and 6am which leaves from the Broken Hill Visitor Information Centre.

If you can't make it, just tune into free to air Channel 9.

The Today show team will visit a number of special Australian destinations over the week-long road trip. You can find out more on their website - http://www.9jumpin.com.au/show/today/

Sounds like a lot of fun.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Happy Chinese New Year for 2016 to Broken Hill residents and everyone worldwide

It's the year of the Monkey in 2016, I do hope everyone enjoys the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Happy Chinese New Year.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Gaara Arts Inc Looking Forward, Looking Back-A Woman's View and Gayle Rodgers-Inspired - exhibitions open in Broken Hill

Art Scene/Community Event

In the lead up to International Women's Day 2016, Gaara Arts Inc is opening their annual art exhibition titled "Looking Forward, Looking Back - A Woman's View" tonight at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.

Gaara Arts Inc is Broken Hill's all women art group.

Also opening tonight is an exhibition by Gayle Rodgers titled "Inspired".

Exhibition details -

Date - Friday 29 January 2016
Time - 6pm
Place - Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
Address - 404-408 Argent Street, Broken Hill
Phone - 08 8080 3440
Hours - Monday - Sunday 10am - 5pm

For more details see the following link to the Broken Hill City Council's website.

The exhibitions will both run until 13 March 2016.

The timing of the Gaara Arts exhibition is designed to coincide with International Women's Day which this year is on 8 March.

Enjoy, cheers Jane Deany