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Australian women's main involvement in World War I was through a range of war charities or patriotic funds, far from the front line—indeed, on the other side of the world. For Australian women, the home front was where the wartime action was—knitting socks, packing parcels, fundraising or undertaking quasi-nursing domestic duties as Red Cross Voluntary Aids (VAs). The focus for much of this female wartime civilian activity was not just the Australian serviceman, but also his dependants, and the wounded and maimed. The importance of this traditional female war work has never been sufficiently acknowledged. Seen as 'watching and waiting', women were also 'giving 'til it hurts'. With the exception of nursing, women's roles were not considered proper war work. Even nursing was marginalised due to a perception of its inherent 'safety', compounding the view that real war participation only meant being in the front line. Source: anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/australian-women-and-war

The Aussie barbecue is a timeless ritual that is ingrained in our culture. Cooking over a sizzling hot grill in the great outdoors has become part of our national identity and has been used in film, television, music and advertising as a backdrop for events great and small. Barbecuing is a tradition that bridges cultural differences and brings people together. It is a vehicle for family bonding, community spirit and often for comic relief. Source: www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/australian-bbqs

The well-known double-storied sawn timber Metropole Hotel was built on the corner of Highland and Ipswich streets in 1907 with timber supplied by Blank Brothers sawmill, and opened by J. Williams. The fire which destroyed the magnificent Metropole in November 1932 was the most spectacular ever in Esk. The glow could be seen for miles and the flames rose to one hundred feet. It happened late on a Saturday afternoon when most of the townspeople were out playing sport and there were only a few men in the hotel. Thought to have been started by a 'dumper' (cigarette-butt) upstairs on a mat, the fire caused £5,000 worth of damage. A new hotel was built immediately. The Esk Shire Council approved the plans in July 1933 and construction of the £3,000 double-story building commenced in September 1933. Ruby E. Beath was the licensee and she sold it to the Blank family in March 1934. The Metropole Hotel lasted until October 1974 when Mrs Violet Heck hosted a party marking the surrender of the license. The building had been sold to J. Samios of Sydney in 1971 who planned to erect a motel and restaurant on the site. During the mid-1970s the new owner, Russell Dore, spent $50,000 on renovations, opening the Staging Post Inn restaurant, and planning a crafts market upstairs; success grew from his ideas. He sold its enterprise to John and Marilyn Gott; Dianne Compton bought the Inn in August 1981 and converted it to a guest house and restaurant, complete with hotel ghosts. Source: www.somerset.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/103/191-commercial...