womenandchildren

In the mid 1920’s Alfred Traeger invented the pedal-powered radio, revolutionising communication in the outback. The invention was integral to the founding of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, allowing the Service to make contact with the people who needed their help and vice versa. In 1928 Traeger developed the pedal-powered radio. A floor mounted generator, driven with bicycle pedals, powering a radio transceiver which could send morse code. The following year, a base station was established at Cloncurry, Queensland and the first pedal wireless was installed at Augustus Downs Station, 150 miles out of town. The first transmission was made on the 19th June, 1929 by Gertrude Rothery, the manager's wife, to Traeger’s assistant Harry Kinzbrunner at Cloncurry. Over the next 8 years Treager continued to manufacture and improve the pedal sets, installing them at homesteads, hospitals, missions and the bases of the Aerial Medical Service, which later became the RFDS. Source; www.flyingdoctor.org.au/qld/news/how-alfred-traeger-gave-...

Amazing picture.

Unlike the woman on the right (and the men, for that matter), this beggar woman isn't wearing a hat. She was probably an immigrant and immigrant women covered their heads with shawls. This woman's shawl has fallen down over her shoulders from the weight of the baby. As the grim looks on the pedestrians faces show, she was a disruptive presence on the street.

A very useful and traditional skill which I'd like to learn...

What a wonderful house!