What am I doing?...
I am very excited and grateful right now as I have some amazing updates regarding my long-term project works…
RAS Badge, Bartlett Family
So, recently I have managed to connect with Rod, the President of the Murray Bridge RSL. He was very excited to hear about my project and long-time commitment to it, and he expressed that he knew the Bartlett family themselves, which I was amazed about!
He passed on contact details to me of Kate Bartlett, the wife of Kym Bartlett, who is Paul Bartlett’s son. Kate and Kym own a Jervois dairy farm at Murray Bridge, that was sold to them by Paul and Kaye Bartlett, as they had owned it previously, which had also been part of the Bartlett family when his father had bought a farm after WW2.
Kate had an article published with Murray Bridge News on September 25th Women of the LMRIA: Meet Jervois’ Kate Bartlett which was only a few months after my article regarding the Bartlett family, had been published with Murray Bridge News on July 5th Metal detecting find at Burdett sparks journey into Australia’s war history.
I had an amazing phone call with Paul Bartlett this week son of Claude James (Waddy) Bartlett, and Paul is now 82 years old, and passionate about their family history. He expressed he remembers hearing of a similar situation a number of years ago and had assumed the badge was handed into the RSL, but never really found out for sure, and was surprised but full of gratitude when I reached out to them to give them a more concrete story. He shared stories to me about their family and the farm movements, and I shared my knowledge with him too.
He expressed stories about Gerald’s life too, and that he had never married, and after asking where they would like the RAS Badge to go, he expressed that it would be best suited at the Murray Bridge RSL as that’s where they would pass on his father’s medals and such, Claude James (Waddy) Bartlett, (Gerald’s brother) when they pass away.
That is now my task, to not only hopefully present at the RSL club, as Rod has expressed is still possible, but also compile all my research and findings over the 8 years, to provide with the original RAS Badge to the RSL, as the family wishes.
I have also contacted Christies Pty Ltd, who bought Amor Sydney, the original producers of the RAS Badge, to hopefully work with them for a 1:1 replica of the original badge as a keepsake for myself.
I have passed on some images and will email the 8-year long journey documentation to Paul and Kaye, as per their curious request. I am also going to be working with another family member who I have contact with now, as she is writing a book on the Bartlett family history, and hopefully I can provide some further insight, or at least discuss their heritage, as Paul had happily suggested.
Amongst all of that, I am hoping to work with Veterans Affairs furthermore on this project, to gain certain permissions to further expand and hopefully accomplish a grant for a community project for the War Memorial Headstone Cleaning within local Cemeteries. Maybe expand it to family memorial refurbishment if the future allows for it.
Rapid Bay
Regarding my other project with Rapid Bay, I have been continuing to progress my research documentation further, with the help of the individual I am working with from DEW, who has also given me Flinders Uni contacts too.
I have also made connections with Rob Kirk, third generation grandson of Dr Woodforde, Colonel Light’s crew Surgeon in 1836, and Rob is also the author of Dr John Woodforde and six parrot puddings . I will be meeting Rob in November, as he is a passionate detectorist too and has invited me onto his property while also meeting with Brun and Jay who will be joining us, whom have an SA history detecting YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@brunfree.
Rob has also given me contact with Lorraine Day, the Freestyle Publisher at Yankalilla, whom I have been working with in slowly producing a draft book publication (whether this will happen or not, is yet to be known).
With the help of the individual at DEW, my Official documentation regarding making an Archaeological Application, is now edited by them and ready for me to refine. I am so deeply grateful for their amazing advice and patience, including gifting me with some museum grade paper artefact storage boxes for my items.
I have also contacted the Yankalilla Council, regarding obtaining the appropriate permissions from the applicable person/s, to include in my Permit Application to Heritage SA, under Section 27 of the Heritage Places Act 1993, and my email has been forwarded to the applicable people, hopefully to hear back from them soon.
I now have 1 Research Paper, 1 draft Book, 1 Permit Application and 1 Research Design (for the Permit).
I am amazed and recognise how blessed I am to have made these connections, and how everyone I have spoken to has not hesitated to help me along this massive journey, 8 years for the Bartlett family (2016 onwards), and 6 years for the Rapid Bay project (2019 onwards).
I cannot express how much gratitude I have for everyone who helps me, everyone I have spoken to and including on the PA Forum who have steered me in best direction possible, and how surreal this entire experience is for both of my projects!!
I am very excited and grateful right now as I have some amazing updates regarding my long-term project works…
RAS Badge, Bartlett Family
So, recently I have managed to connect with Rod, the President of the Murray Bridge RSL. He was very excited to hear about my project and long-time commitment to it, and he expressed that he knew the Bartlett family themselves, which I was amazed about!
He passed on contact details to me of Kate Bartlett, the wife of Kym Bartlett, who is Paul Bartlett’s son. Kate and Kym own a Jervois dairy farm at Murray Bridge, that was sold to them by Paul and Kaye Bartlett, as they had owned it previously, which had also been part of the Bartlett family when his father had bought a farm after WW2.
Kate had an article published with Murray Bridge News on September 25th Women of the LMRIA: Meet Jervois’ Kate Bartlett which was only a few months after my article regarding the Bartlett family, had been published with Murray Bridge News on July 5th Metal detecting find at Burdett sparks journey into Australia’s war history.
I had an amazing phone call with Paul Bartlett this week son of Claude James (Waddy) Bartlett, and Paul is now 82 years old, and passionate about their family history. He expressed he remembers hearing of a similar situation a number of years ago and had assumed the badge was handed into the RSL, but never really found out for sure, and was surprised but full of gratitude when I reached out to them to give them a more concrete story. He shared stories to me about their family and the farm movements, and I shared my knowledge with him too.
He expressed stories about Gerald’s life too, and that he had never married, and after asking where they would like the RAS Badge to go, he expressed that it would be best suited at the Murray Bridge RSL as that’s where they would pass on his father’s medals and such, Claude James (Waddy) Bartlett, (Gerald’s brother) when they pass away.
That is now my task, to not only hopefully present at the RSL club, as Rod has expressed is still possible, but also compile all my research and findings over the 8 years, to provide with the original RAS Badge to the RSL, as the family wishes.
I have also contacted Christies Pty Ltd, who bought Amor Sydney, the original producers of the RAS Badge, to hopefully work with them for a 1:1 replica of the original badge as a keepsake for myself.
I have passed on some images and will email the 8-year long journey documentation to Paul and Kaye, as per their curious request. I am also going to be working with another family member who I have contact with now, as she is writing a book on the Bartlett family history, and hopefully I can provide some further insight, or at least discuss their heritage, as Paul had happily suggested.
Amongst all of that, I am hoping to work with Veterans Affairs furthermore on this project, to gain certain permissions to further expand and hopefully accomplish a grant for a community project for the War Memorial Headstone Cleaning within local Cemeteries. Maybe expand it to family memorial refurbishment if the future allows for it.
Rapid Bay
Regarding my other project with Rapid Bay, I have been continuing to progress my research documentation further, with the help of the individual I am working with from DEW, who has also given me Flinders Uni contacts too.
I have also made connections with Rob Kirk, third generation grandson of Dr Woodforde, Colonel Light’s crew Surgeon in 1836, and Rob is also the author of Dr John Woodforde and six parrot puddings . I will be meeting Rob in November, as he is a passionate detectorist too and has invited me onto his property while also meeting with Brun and Jay who will be joining us, whom have an SA history detecting YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@brunfree.
Rob has also given me contact with Lorraine Day, the Freestyle Publisher at Yankalilla, whom I have been working with in slowly producing a draft book publication (whether this will happen or not, is yet to be known).
With the help of the individual at DEW, my Official documentation regarding making an Archaeological Application, is now edited by them and ready for me to refine. I am so deeply grateful for their amazing advice and patience, including gifting me with some museum grade paper artefact storage boxes for my items.
I have also contacted the Yankalilla Council, regarding obtaining the appropriate permissions from the applicable person/s, to include in my Permit Application to Heritage SA, under Section 27 of the Heritage Places Act 1993, and my email has been forwarded to the applicable people, hopefully to hear back from them soon.
I now have 1 Research Paper, 1 draft Book, 1 Permit Application and 1 Research Design (for the Permit).
I am amazed and recognise how blessed I am to have made these connections, and how everyone I have spoken to has not hesitated to help me along this massive journey, 8 years for the Bartlett family (2016 onwards), and 6 years for the Rapid Bay project (2019 onwards).
I cannot express how much gratitude I have for everyone who helps me, everyone I have spoken to and including on the PA Forum who have steered me in best direction possible, and how surreal this entire experience is for both of my projects!!
Last edited:
