COMMUNITY CACHE
This cache has historical or local significance and is now being monitored/looked after by Cybergran V on behalf of the Geocaching community. Any queries regarding this cache should be addressed to that geocacher account.
You must access this cache from the car park. Do not to attempt it from the roadside.
Welcome to Team GraMon's second cache
An easy 2 part cache in Shepparton.
The History - 1947 In Britain
Food was harder to come by in the winter of 1947 than it had been during the war. It was so cold, parsnips had to be dug up with pneumatic drills. Eggs, cheese and bread were all on ration. Bananas were only available for children. And in February, the ration-free status of tea, the nations’ favourite drink, was also under threat.
Obtaining meat provided the biggest problem.
Newspapers reported that imported beef, allocated for the central London meat ration, had frozen so hard, it was doubtful whether it would be jointed in time.
Whale Meat
The alternative to beef, promoted with great enthusiasm by the government, was whale meat, which arrived in the country for the first time in January. A consignment of 15,000lbs of whale meat landed at North Shields from Norway and was soon available at fishmongers for 1s 10p a pound. “It looks exactly like British beef, tastes somewhat like it and is cooked in the same way” was the official spiel, but few were convinced.“I remember eating whale steak, which was called Moby Dick and chips. It wasn't pleasurable”, recalls the writer John Mortimer.
The Temperatures
In many parts of Britain snow fell on 26 of the 28 days in February. In Oxford, the temperature failed to rise above freezing for over two weeks, while on 21st, -21 degrees was recorded at Woburn, Bedfordshire.
The Soccer
Sports schedules were disrupted. More than 140 Soccer matches were postponed and the back-log of fixtures meant that the soccer season did not eventually finish until June 14th, making it the longest soccer season of all time.
The Weather Forecasts
On 4th March, newspaper headlines held out hope for an end to The Freeze. “Real Thaw Tomorrow". “Complete Change”. “Mild weather forecast“. But the Air Ministry had got it horribly wrong. Instead of a thaw, fresh blizzards swept across the country. In the Scottish Highlands, drifts more than 23ft deep were reported.
The Big Dig
There were stirring tales of heroism. In Wales, the villagers of Llanstephan risked their lives to dig out an eight-mile route through to Carmarthen so that a soldier, who had contracted a serious disease while in the Army, could be driven to his parents’ home.
The Thaw
In the second week of March, milder air did finally start to move up from the south-west. The drama, however, was far from over: on 17th March London was hit by a hurricane and the thaw led to severe flooding in over 30 counties. Somehow though, the country muddled through.
The Postie
Perhaps the stoicism that Britons had shown in the winter of 1946/7 was best personified by postman Samuel Jones of Denbigh. On March 6th, Jones had left the town at 7am to make his round of deliveries in the Bylchau district six miles away. At 8.30pm a day later, a “battered, bruised and exhausted postman” crawled into Bylchau Post Office and collapsed. But he had delivered all his mail. Could we expect such devotion to service today?
The never-say-die spirit that enabled Britain to win the war also helped see it through its toughest winter for over 100 years.
1947 Food Trivia
1947 Arlo Guthrie was born. Woody Guthrie's son, he is most known for his ballad/story 'Alice's Restaurant.' LINK to words of that song
1947 Musician Marvin Lee Aday, 'Meat Loaf', was born.
1947 Pete Ham of the music group 'Badfinger' was born.
1947 Bernie Leadon of the music group 'Flying Burrito Brothers' was born.
1947 Steve Marriot and Greg Ridley of the music group 'Humble Pie' were born.
1947 Jerry Corbetta of the music group 'Sugarloaf' was born.
1947 Mark Stein of the music group 'Vanilla Fudge' was born.
1947 Sylvester first tried to have Tweety Bird for lunch in a Warner Bros. cartoon.
1947 The 'Kraft Television Theater' premiers on NBC TV USA.
1947 Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins died. He discovered 'vitamins.'
1947 Sugar rationing ends in the U.S.
1947 J. Arens and D. van Villages synthesized vitamin A.
1947 The first aluminum foil, Reynolds Metals 'Reynolds Wrap' goes on sale.
1947 Marilyn Monroe was crowned the first Artichoke Queen in Castroville, California, the Artichoke Capital of the World.
1947 'Bread and Butter Woman' was recorded by Danny Kaye & the Andrews Sisters.
1947 Rhubarb was legally classified as a fruit in the U.S., even though botanically it is a vegetable.
The Cache
In 1947 there was an organised despatch of food parcels from Shepparton to Shepparton-on-Tames, Middlesex, England during this time of food shortages. A greeting card was enclosed in each parcel saying
"Borough of Shepparton Victoria Australia"
To our kinfolk in Shepparton-on-Tames with greetings and good wishes, from the people of Shepparton, Victoria, Australia (under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Shepparton) May, 1947."
The mayor at the time was Cr. W. S. James.
In the same year a "House for Britain" effort was conducted. A committee of townspeople under the direction of Messers R. A. Wright and N. Hanlon bought a block in Dot street (later re-named Dunkirk Avenue) and built a building by volunteer labour, which they named "Churchill". The building was raffled to raise funds for the "Food for Britain" appeal. When the building was sold it raised 7,800 pounds. (some sources say "over 6,000 pounds") and in the Shepparton museum you can see a letter signed by Winston Churchill thanking them for their efforts.
The Museum is open every even dated Sunday afternoon.
Find A Colour
Go to the above coordinates and note the colour of the number on the mail box of the "Churchill" Building, Take note of the name on the building and the statue in the verandah post. You can buy some fish and chips near there as well.
Parking is not a problem.
If the number colour is....
Is White go to S 36° 22.759 E 145° 24.313
Is Black go to S 36° 22.090 E 145° 24.983
Is Red go to S 36° 22.432 E 145° 24.121
Is Green go to S 36° 22.945 E 145° 24.438
YOU MUST ACCESS THIS CACHE FROM THE CAR PARK. DO NOT ATTEMPT IT FROM THE ROADSIDE.
You will find the small container above eye level. Bring own pen. VERY PUBLIC, TAKE CARE
Click Here to go to Geocaching Australia Forum
Enjoy!
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Pner zhfg or gnxra orpnhfr vg vf irel choyvp.