As a kid I would sometimes play in this quarry. Throwing stones with my grandfather trying to hit a tin can across a gap along the top, collecting fish and tadpoles in a natural crystal clear pool beside the quarry wall at the bottom (which the council in all their wisdom have now filled in), and climbing up and down the rock face, holding onto rocks and tree roots to assist. Once I got stuck halfway in a section I hadn't been down before, being egged on by an older kid. I became petrified and had to get my dad to come and rescue me. Since those days a large fence has been erected at the top, and cricket nets installed in the bottom.
I also remember hearing stories from my grandfather that the disused quarry (originally known as Hannon's Quarry) once had a water hole in it which the local kids used to swim in during summer.
This cache is in memory of Bert and Edward, two local boys who lost their lives while playing here many years ago. To determine the exact co-ordinates of this cache, you will need to carefully read the two old newspaper articles below along with other associated information, and answer the questions which follow. The numerical answers will reveal the co-ordinates, as indicated.
Newspaper Articles
1 - Boy Drowned in Quarry
Bert Gale, 8, of Jersey Avenue Mortdale went swimming in a disused quarry off Roberts Avenue, Mortdale yesterday. He soon got out of his depth and sank. His two companions, Angus McVicar, 10, and Roy Hickey, 7, became frightened and ran away. Half an hour later they reported the tragedy to their parents, and the Mortdale police hurried to the scene, but the body had sunk into a deep part of the pit. Police dragged the quarry from a raft by the light of lamps for three hours in an attempt to recover the body. (Sydney Morning Herald 24 August 1935)
2 - Boy Drowned in Quarry
A young woman dived fully clothed into Hannon's quarry, Roberts Avenue, Mortdale, yesterday in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue from drowning Edward Percival Forwood, 12, of Pitt Street, Mortdale. The boy was with three younger companions when he slipped down the quarry bank and rolled into water eight feet deep. The other boys called Mrs. Bennett, 26, whose home is close to the quarry. Mrs. Bennett dived under the water several times, but could not locate Forwood in the muddy water. Sergeant Brown, of Hurstville, then arrived. He dived in several times before he discovered the body, about three-quarters of an hour after the accident. He and members of St. George Ambulance applied artificial respiration for some time, and at St. George Hospital the boy was placed in the iron lung. (Sydney Morning Herald 25 January 1944)
Questions
Read these questions carefully - some are a little tricky!
x refers to an unnecessary number to be ignored
1) Find another word for a quarry, which is mentioned in one of the stories. Then determine the position of the middle letter of this word in the alphabet = A
2) How old was Bert’s youngest friend = B
3) The current name for the reserve is the surname of a famous Hollywood actor. On what date in March was this actor born = xC
4) How many metres deep was the water in 1944 (to one decimal place) = x.D
5) Assuming that Edward was born in July, in what year was he born = xxxE
6) What is the atomic number for the chemical element from which the lung was made = xF
7) One of the streets mentioned is also the name of a Channel Island. What percentage of the area of this island is covered with water = G
8) On what date in January did Edward drown? Add the two digits together = H
9) What is the postcode of the suburb where Edward was taken = xxxI
10) How old was the person with the same name as a breed of beef cattle = xJ
11) How old was Bert when he died = K
12) For how many hours did the police dragged the quarry? = L
13) The final number can be found near the cache site. When you arrive at the listed co-ordinates you will see a small historical marker containing a plaque. What number plaque is this? Add the two digits together = M
Answers
The cache can be found by obtaining numerical answers to the questions above, and inserting them into the co-ordinates below.
S 33.ABCDEF
E 151.GHIJKLM
Parking - Roberts Avenue beside Beatty Reserve
First to Find - Congratulations to Brewmaker with a controversial FTF!
