Richard Taubman talks about his mentor Syd Bayliss and the story behind Taubman and Webb leather and whip making.
In September 1973 I met an old bushman from Tumut NSW who had been invited down to the local village, Murringo, to show the local school kids about plaiting and leather work. I was 13 years old. The bushman and WWI vet was Syd Bayliss. Little did I know that first meeting with this iconic Australian Bushman was to set the rest of my life on course to tell his story, learn and keep his trade(s) alive, and ultimately have his exploits, trade and skills recorded and exhibited in as many places as I possibly could. I am still doing this relentlessly today 40 years later. This email is testimony to that.
With my best mate Craig Webb, with whom I was at school with at the time, we started learning to plait together and then progressed in to forming a business partnership "Taubman & Webb", a leather and whip making business which we ran for many years together continuing what we had, and were learning from Syd. Even though after many years together we divided the business and went our own ways we both still promote Syd at any opportunity.
Over the years Craig has travelled extensively throughout the country with a country band as well as general travel and I know he is still promoting Syd's story and memory today. I have helped in having a song recorded about him, written a song about him, a portrait painted of him by Howard Barron F.I.A.L, I had him inducted into the Stockman's Hall of Fame in QLD in the unsung hero's section along with a name plaited whip "Syd Bayliss" which is on display there, and I have written a book about him, "One Of The Last" which is still selling well and is in 7th edition.
Everywhere I go and everyone to whom I speak to about leather work etc, I promote and keep Syd's memory and stories alive. I do this out of sheer gratitude for what this bushman has done for me and my family --- and is still doing for us even though he passed on over 30 years ago and also for the fact that this man is part of Australia's heritage and these people must never be forgotten.
One day in conversation with my wife, Leah, several years ago, I casually remarked I wouldn't mind having a leather shop like Syd's, the well known "Valley Of The Whites Trading Post" in Russell St Tumut NSW.
While I was in the NT on a hawking trip selling leather gear on cattle stations Leah purchased the little old run down "Hancock's Store" building in the middle of Murringo. It is over 150 years old, listed as Heritage Significant with local council and she embarked on a personal and massive project of bringing this building back to life as it would have been in its early days with the sole idea of making it into a Leather Store/Museum/Tribute Centre to Syd and my work in trying to keep his story alive. She has painstakingly restored this building and the project is still going on and will be for some years to come.
The big day has come for the next huge step to be taken and that is to dedicate/open the store for public to see and be part of the story. Although the displays and the final picture Leah has in mind is still a long way off we look forward to having the doors open on this dream and see the "Taubman & Webb Trading Post" pull into gear.
This is a culmination of 40 years of trying to follow in Syd's footsteps and now seeing it finally come together in this project.
We hope to see many people at the dedication on the 20th October 2013.
No matter where we have travelled throughout the country we regularly meet people who knew and admired Syd Bayliss.
This project will ensure that his memory is recorded and preserved for generations to come thanks to Leah's dedication and unselfish foresight.
Joy McKean, and her late husband Slim Dusty have always taken a great interest in Syd's story and Joy has kindly agreed to be with us on the day to do the honours of dedicating the Taubman & Webb Trading Post.
Richard Taubman
Murringo is 24 kilometres east of Young.
For those who would like to learn more about Syd Bayliss and his connection with Richard Taubman these two links will be of interest. Syd Bayliss and A whipmaker’s odyssey (four pages).
Update: For those who were interested in this Australiana story but unable to attend, someone who was alerted to this event
by one of my posts has written a report of the event - worth reading at We Can't Let Our Old Bushmen Die.
21 October 2013
Good news for independent caravanners and motorhomers with the opening of another public dump point in the south west of Western Australia,
in the popular tourism town of Margaret River.
The newly installed dump point is situated off the Gloucester Park access
road behind the Margaret River Youth ‘Zone Room’ opposite Farrelly Street. A sign has been erected on Wallcliffe Road.
The Dump
Point is locked under a log book arrangement, and a key is held with the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River reception Civic Administration
Centre (approximate 150 metres away if walking), and the Margaret River Recreation Centre front desk (approximate 300 metres if walking).
Currently
there is no deposit required, but users will need to return the key, and sign the logbook.
Shire of Augusta-Margaret River front
office hours
Monday – Friday 9 am – 4 pm
Margaret River Recreation
Centre opening hours
Monday – Thursday 6 am – 8.30 pm
Friday 6 am – 7 pm
Saturday 7.30 am – 3 pm
Sunday 9 am – 3 pm
Closed Public Holidays
The dump point is unavailable outside these times.
16 October 2013
Water flows in Kakadu
Seaonal closures are taking place with rising water levels through the park.
Areas closed for the season during November include Old Jim Jim Road, Red Lily Billabong, Alligator Billabong, Jim Jim Falls, Garnamarr camp ground, Twin Falls, Bilkbilkmi (Graveside Gorge), Barrk Marlam Bushwalk, Budjmi Lookout Walk, Gunlom, Jarrangbarnmi (Koolpin Gorge), Guratba/Gimbat Day Use Area, Giyamungkurr (Black Jungle Springs), Mardugal Campground (caravan section), Yellow Waters road, boardwalk and boatramp, and Maguk.
Cahill's Crossing is currently closed due to high water levels.
Please note from 1 December 2013 to 31 March 2014 Ubirr Art Site is only open to the public between 2 pm and sunset. Tourism operators may have permits for daytime visits.
Check for the latest road closures here
13 December 2013
While there has been negative publicity that the traditional free campgrounds along the Bay of Fires to the north of St
Helens on the north east coast are to have camping fees, the fees, if implemented, will not commence until at least July 2015. National Parks camping fees in Tasmania are usually low and worth paying for some lovely environments, and it doesn’t come much better
than camping right by the beach along the beautiful Bay of Fires.
Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Services Tourism Management
told me
• The Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, Brian Wightman,
said in September 2014 that campsites which are currently free at the Bay of Fires and across the northeast would remain free for
Tasmanians and tourists alike until at least July 2015.
• The
Tasmanian Government has invested close to a million dollars on upgrading toilets and other facilities at campsites both at the Bay
of Fires and in the north-east.
• Camping fees are an important way to
help maintain the quality and consistency of camping sites, so visitors to parks and reserves know what to expect at a paid, as compared
to a free site. The camping fees are directed back to the site where collected.
• It is likely that fees will be introduced in the longer-term, in consultation with users of the area and other stakeholders.
21
October 2013
Burdekin Shire in Queensland has chosen to add Ayr Showground as an option for fully self contained campers.
This decision
took place following community consultation. Following discussion with the Council, I advise that the approval process is in
the early stages and final approval of the showground camping is some months away.
Does fully self contained motorhomes include
fully self contained caravans?
The key point is “self contained” – whether that be in the form of a motorhome or caravan.
Will
there be a fee?
Yes there will be a fee, although it has not yet been established.
Are there any waste disposal points at
the showground?
As mentioned above, the key point is “self contained” – whether that be in the form of a motorhome or caravan.
Because it is self contained, no facilities need to be provided at the showgrounds.
Where is the nearest dump point for disposal
of toilet waste and grey water?
A facility is available at the Burdekin Cascades Caravan Park, Queen Street,
Ayr for a fee.
Who will manage the showground?
The Ayr Pastoral, Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Association
(commonly referred to as the Ayr Show Society) have been appointed to manage the showgrounds.
When will the showground become
available for casual camping?
Council has adopted a draft Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Ayr Showgrounds which also requires
the approval of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (because the land is owned by the State and the Council is the Trustee
of the land). Of interest to you is the fact that the LMP allows for use of part of the land for the purposes of periodic short term
parking for travellers with fully self contained motorhomes subject to conditions. One of these conditions is that the activity needs
to be approved under the Council’s Planning Scheme. An application needs to be submitted and approved by Council. The planning process
also allows appeal rights.
No planning application has yet been made or approved so therefore the activity of periodic short
term parking for travellers with fully self contained motorhomes is not yet formerly approved.
It is anticipated that the planning process may occur within the next few months.
23 November 2013