Henry H. MacFie with son Peter in 1944.
A Biography in Pictures
Category Archives: Biography
Life of Angus Downie
The Life of Angus Downie
by Angus Downie
Edited by Rob MacFie for publication
Angus (Gus) Downie was born in 1946.
For much of his life Gus and and his wife Irina lived at Riverton, a 35-square home near Huonville Tasmania and had one son, Andrew. Throughout his adult life Gus, in the main, held two separate career lines. The first was professional and the second, working for the community on a voluntary basis.
Educated at the old, academic, Hobart High School between 1956 and 1960, Gus accepted a position as Junior Parliamentary Officer with the Tasmanian Legislative Council. He had planned to study at the University of Tasmania on a part-time basis from 1962 while combining it with Legislative Council work. If that had emanated, Gus would have risen to the senior post of Parliamentary Clerk either in Tasmania or with the National or an Interstate Parliament.
However, a road accident in March of that year resulted in Gus breaking his spine and being confined to a wheelchair for life. As that ended his planned career and university study due to the lack of wheelchair access, Angus took a junior position, in 1963, with the former Public Works Department (PWD) where he remained until 1973.
There was no MAIB (Motor Accident Insurance) or other financial assistance in the mid-1960s when Gus’ medical costs were horrendous. Instead, after the accident he rejected the pressing advice to accept a life pension and vowed to find work (within the PWD) and pay his own way while contributing to society by paying taxes. To assist with the lack of mobility Gus saved and bought his first – modified – new car. This proved to be a saviour.
To offset the lack of job satisfaction with the PWD, Gus threw himself into various community activities “out of work hours“. These began with sporting administration via the Buckingham Rowing Club during its peak period of rowing domination (and with whom he had previously rowed), and subsequently various positions at a State rowing level. Angus also became a radio announcer for rowing regattas in various parts of Tasmania.
From 1963 he also threw himself into voluntary work for the Tasmanian Paraplegic Association (founding secretary) and as a member of the Australian Paraplegic Council. Despite early setbacks, the Tasmanian Association by 2002 evolved to become the million-dollar business and activist body known as ParaQuad Tasmania.
In 1968, and while still with the PWD, Gus joined the Australian Journalists’ Association and, again on a casual basis, began night work as a Freelance Journalist for The Mercury, The Australian, National Review and The National Times.
At the same time Gus continued with the disability movement, becoming the first President of the Tasmanian Association of Disabled People, and represented the Tasmanian Government at an international disability conference in Hong Kong. This was followed by a month’s study tour of disability-related facilities and government meetings in other South-East Asian countries.
Thus began a lifetime learning curve about issues affecting disabled people and provided the platform upon which Gus made many national and international contributions. For example, Angus’ work in the PWD with architects and contact with Standards Australia initially lead to the first Australian Buildings Standard applying to public building access for disabled people (AS 1428). This was written and trialed in Tasmania.
(Much later Gus involved himself further by ensuring total access – at the design stage – of the new National Parliament, and also convinced Canberra to modify all Embassies and High Commission buildings.)
Late that year (1968), Gus was surprised to learn that he was to become the first Young Australian of the Year in 1969. This was initiated by Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper, The Australian, and QANTAS, and in turn, this again lead to more travelling and disability-related studies and conferences in India, Germany, the U.K., Ireland and the United States.
Whilst in New York in 1969 Gus was offered a key position with a United Nations N.G.O. (then the International Society for Rehabilitation of the Disabled). This would have involved moving to New York with extensive travelling backwards and forwards to South America and South-East Asian countries. Gus turned down this offer for personal reasons and that, at the age of only 26, he felt he was too inexperienced.
Back in Tasmania, Gus continued with the P.W.D., was seconded by the Health Minister, the late Merv. Everett, as his part-time disability adviser, and maintained these due roles with Everett’s successor, the late Dr. Alan Foster. Dr Foster urged Angus to “spread his wings” by using his knowledge further afield. Eventually, in late 1973, Gus decided to leave the PWD – in spite of warnings that he would lose job security – was married – and launched out as a full-time journalist.
That decision resulted in his departure from all rowing attachments and much of the work under-taken in the disability area.
However, the next three years saw Angus joining a small partnership and the launch of “Weekly Review,” a small “insider” newsletter about Tasmanian politics, industrial relations and the business and commercial sectors. It was the first of its type in the state, lasted for three years, and broke a number of “big” stories.
This period saw Angus’ continuance with the newspapers mentioned above, plus London’s Daily Telegraph, on-air radio work for the Macquarie Broadcasting Service via 7HO and the research, writing and publication (on contract) of two historical booklets. Late 1975 also saw the joint purchase with Gus’ late wife, Irena, of their home referred to above.
In 1976, Gus was asked to join The Examiner Newspaper as a senior political, industrial and investigative journalist, and where he ‘broke’ the majority of the major stories over the next period of his busy life. These included all the big cabinet, political, public service, trade union, forestry and environmental issues plus the emergence of the “Green” movement.
After only 18 months, Angus was quickly rising through the ranks and in 1977 won the inaugural and prestigious “Keith Welsh Award” for Tasmania’s “most out-standing Journalist of the Year.”
At that time there seemed to be few challenges left and in 1981 Gus took his family on an extended 3-months holiday, driving and exploring Canada, some 26 of the American states and returning after visiting the Greek islands where Irena had relations.
Unfortunately that was when health problems began. On returning to Australia, Angus ended up in a Melbourne hospital for major surgery. Then, after returning to work (November 1981), he realised that the “big Tasmanian issue” of the day, the Franklin River and Dam, had not advanced further since his departure. However, that quickly came to a head on his discovering a financial error in the State Government’s financial calculations and its “planting” of a misleading story in the public domain, coupled with a deep split on the issue inside the Caucus.
In the period between 1982 and 1989, both Irena – a teacher – and Gus had lengthy periods of illness and on-going surgery that resulted in Angus’ resignation from The Examiner to care for her after she was eventually diagnosed in 1988 with an inoperable brain tumor. She died in November 1989. After this serious turn of events Angus lost any interest in writing which had always been his first love. Gus was at a loss about his future.
However, immediately prior to Irina’s death, the then Federal Government approached him to resume a new advisory role between the Government and the national disability movement that, while it still had divisions, was by then a more mature organisation.
Angus accepted the position on a part-time basis until late 1991, when he was again asked to lead a small team of disabled people to examine and write a report with recommendations about how Australia could ensure that in future, all public transport could be made easily accessible for all people with mobility problems, including those in wheelchairs, and a fast approaching ageing society.
From his previous overseas study trips, Angus was aware that the U.K. and U.S.A. had also been trying to solve the same issue with mixed success. Fortunately, Gus already had some informed ideas based on the previous visit to Europe.
It was just the fresh challenge Angus needed and so he accepted the position.
Then much later, in early 1993, After he was committed, there was a change to a Government that was less enthusiastic about the project. Gus found that the new Government was prepared to offer office space for a national secretariat, some staff assistance, telephone and computer services, and some small expenses but not pay a salary.
By this time an interim report had been submitted while a separate committee auspiced by the Federal Department of Transport (on which Angus was a committee member) had also been established to undermine Angus’ work and eventually fail.
He had been lucky to have strong allies in the Federal Labor minister (Laurie Brereton) and his then Coalition successor (John Sharp), who both agreed with the need to dispense with the “bureaucratic committee” and let his work proceed. However, this was still on an unpaid basis.
Gus continued with these tasks, starting with a massive literature search, national surveys and the conduct of the first of three separate consultation visits to each state and territory. Meetings took place in all capital cities and also in major regional centres. There were also some 15 separate industries conferences and meetings with their officials present, in all states and territories.
The 500-page report was completed single-handedly, and published and launched in September 1994. This was later followed by its adoption and a request by a Perth meeting of the Transport ministers’ Australian Transport Council (ATC) that Angus work with a senior NSW transport bureaucrat and his personal staff to implement the recommendations by writing the National Standards. Again, Angus agreed to the request.
In addition to the National Standards, Gus held many separate one-on-one ministerial meetings, lead two more capital city and regional centre consultative meetings in each state and territory, attended and addressed three international conferences (Florida, Perth and London), conducted an aviation seminar in Canada, and met with Volvo’s senior design engineer who was seconded to head a separate Development Company in Sweden. This latter meeting and vehicle inspections proved most beneficial.
Eventually the Australian Standards were completed and were enshrined in Federal legislation in November 2002, winning world-wide acclaim (notably in the USA and UK) for their simplicity and flexibility.
In 1994 Angus Downie was made an AM (Australia Medal) for his contributions in Journalism, Community Service and notably the blueprint Transport report.
Further, in 2002 Gus received a special “Top Achievers Award” for his work that will ensure that all public transport will become accessible over four, five-year phases, with the completion deadline of 1st January 2023. (Editor’s note 2022: has this been completed or near accomplished?).
By the end of 2002 Angus had returned to research and some writing after a forced period of semi-retirement brought about by exhaustion. During this interim period Gus researched and wrote a detailed synopsis for one historical book while two or three more were planned. This is the point at which Gus’s biography ended
Angus died 30th October 2010. The love of his life, Irena, predeceased him on 29th November 1989.
__________________________________________________________________________
Peter MacFie asked his brother Rob in 2022 to add this summary of Gus Downie’s life to Peter’s website to check how far we have come with disability services and access.
It has been based on Gus’s own unpublished biography, written in 2002 when he was aged 62.
Edited by Rob MacFie in discussion with Peter MacFie in January 2022.
Rowing Crews
Back row – G. Taylor, J. Berry, T. Leitch
Fourth row – A. Calvert, D. Collis, A. Oakham, G. Minchin
Third row – P. Stevens, P. Storr, P. Dorney, W. Lowe
Second row – T. Dowe, L. Reid, D. Salter, P. Van Schie, R. Watts, Mr M. Poole
Front row – J. Moore, I. Winter, C. Collis, G. Little, A. Downie
In Memory of Peter MacFie
Some of Peter’s friends are also writers and musicians and wished to add their memories to this site. Further contributions are welcome – contact Rob.
Memories of Pete – from Steve Gadd
Strathspey for Pete – from Marjorie Gadd
Rock ‘n Roll in Hobart City Hall, 1959 – from Dave Wilson
Vale for Peter – by Fred Duncan
See No Evil
Citation
MacFie, Peter, 2022, See No Evil, https://petermacfiehistorian.net.au/publications/see-no-evil/
Abstract
Peter MacFie was born in Launceston in 1943 and lived there with his mother and grandmother until his father returned from fighting World War II in New Guinea. His father, Henry Hector MacFie, went to work with the Hydro-Electricity Commission and studied Engineering at UTAS. Peter’s mother kept house on the edge of The Glebe overlooking The Domain and increased the family. This is Peter’s view of his world as he ran free and gained an education from the children he played with while his father worked himself into the ground to try to cope with his nightmares of war, and his mother was dreadfully lonely and unhappy far away from her own close-knit family. Despite this, Peter recounts his childhood adventures with a golden glow.
Details
133 A5 pages, 123 images including 4 historic maps of inner Hobart, plus a detailed index.
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Libraries Tasmania
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Sample Chapter – Introduction
A small boy in a red brick house on the hilly Glebe, perched on top of a hill overlooking Hobart.
A neat brick cottage in a row of larger weatherboard houses, some of two storeys with high gables, front steps and verandas facing ‘The Domain’.
Wild grass and native orchids, gum trees and open space, divided by a road, lined with ordered pine trees, all heading to the TCA – Tasmanian Cricket Association Ground.
From the back sunroom windows of the house perched on The Glebe he looked towards The Mountain.
In between was the Valley of Houses, smoky in winter, church bells ringing across the valley on Sundays from Trinity Hill in North Hobart and, nearer the harbour, the full chimes from St David’s Cathedral. Sometimes they rang out on evening practice nights, loud as if they were next door.
Houses clustered over the hills under the bushy silhouettes of Mount Wellington and Mount Nelson.
Down Aberdeen Street to the south was the Regatta Ground and then The River, where the town met the water. Wharfs and docks with big ships and fishing boats in small docks, factories around them.
It’s summer. The red brick cottage is hot. A hazy, clear day and the roar of some single-propeller aeroplanes coming down the valley, sounding low and echoing louder and louder. He rushes out onto the back steps over-looking the valley of houses:
‘The War is over – isn’t it?’
Hands across his eyes – he can’t see for the sun.
Hands across his ears – because the noise is so loud.
Hands across his mouth with …
The propellers on the fighters spin, matching the ‘bulls-eyes’ on their sides.
But it’s not war, not anymore.
There’s a victory celebration in Hobart, and it’s Regatta Day on the River Derwent across the other side of The Domain. The Navy is in, there’s an aircraft carrier at the big wharf, smaller warships in the river and – best of all – the circus is in The Hollow.
Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Photographs
Cover Images
References
Robbitee Bobbitee
Introduction
1 – Our Glebe Home
2 – Family and Home
3 – The Hydro
4 – The Domain
5 – Two Nannas
6 – Holidays
7 – School
8 – The City
9 – Moving House
Afterwards
Postscript
Addendum – How to spell MacFie
Father’s Family
Mother’s Family
Index
Index
accidents
ammonia, 48
barbed-wire, 21
rabbit trap, 65
alcohol, 34, 36, 59, 109
Anzac Day, 31, 96
Archer, Edward, 118
Archer, Frank, 119
Archer, Gerald, 63, 120, 123
Archer, Heather (Mrs Rob), 63
Archer, Hedley, 63, 120, 124
Archer, Lilian Elsie, 113, 122, See MacFie, Lilian Elsie (Mrs Henry 2)
Archer, Lillian (Mrs Hedley), 18, 28, 120, 121
Archer, Margery (Mrs Frank), 119
Archer, Martha (Mrs William), 117
Archer, Mary Margery. See Archer, Meg
Archer, Meg. See Robertson, Meg (Mrs Ron)
Archer, Rob, 123
Archer, Susannah (Mrs Edward), 118
Archer, William, 117
Armstrong (Thomas), 121
Armstrong, Agnes (Mrs Alexander), 121
Armstrong, Alexander, 121
Armstrong, Diane, 70
Armstrong, Dulcie (Mrs Stan), 69
Armstrong, Effie (Uncle Stan), 122
Armstrong, Ethel Lillian May). See Archer, Lillian (Mrs Hedley)
Armstrong, Lillian. See Archer, Lillian (Mrs Hedley)
Armstrong, Mary, 122
Armstrong, May (Mrs Thomas), 113, 121
Armstrong, Norman Stanley. See Armstrong, Stan (Great Uncle Stan)
Armstrong, Ross, 70
Armstrong, Stan (Great Uncle Stan), 69, 70
Armstrong, Thomas, 113
Auntie Aida, 67, 69, See French, Aida (Mrs Chris)
Auntie Dulcie. See Armstrong, Dulcie (Mrs Stan)
Auntie Heather. See Archer, Heather (Mrs Rob)
Auntie Jean, 57, 60, See McFie, Jean (Auntie Jean)
Auntie Jessie, 41, 69, See Shegog, Jessie (Mrs Sam)
Auntie Meg (Uncle Ron), 35, 38, 41, 42, 62, 63, 64, 70, 71, 72, 77, 81, 83, See Robertson, Meg (Uncle Ron)
Auntie Nancy, 97, 98, See Wilson, Nancy (Uncle David), See McFie, Nancy (Uncle David)
bikes, 54, 74, 76
billycarts, 22, 23
Boat Harbour, 81
books, 28, 50, 60, 68, 85, 96, 97
Botanic Gardens, 44, 46, 49
Brickendon, 66, 118
Bricknell, Mr Harry, 19, 20
Burnie, 35, 62, 71
Burnie Park, 74, 85
Cam River, 80
Cameron, Joyce (Mrs Neil), 41, 72
Cameron, Neil, 41
Campbell Town, 71
cars, 34, 61, 99, 102
Cattle Jetty, 46, 55
Cenotaph, 46, 96
Chapman, Captain William, 111
Chapman, Hannah Elizabeth, 111, See McFie, Hannah (Mrs Henry 1)
Chapman, Martha (Mrs William), 111
chooks, 35
Christmas, 40
circus, 15, 38, 39, 96
Coles Bay, 62
Collins, Dickie, 89
Connor, Bridget. See McFie, Bridget (Mrs Hector 1.1)
Cooee, 74, 75, 76, 81
Cooee Sale Day, 74
Cordner, Miss, 91
Cornelian Bay, 46
Coronea, Hadspen, 121
Coronea, Invermay, 121
Corraville, 66, 67, 68, 69
Cracker Morris. See Morris, Mr Eric K. (Cracker)
cricket, 16, 46, 47, 48, 53, 70, 81, 89
Crisp, Selena Susan Ida. See McFie, Susan (Mrs Teddy 1.1)
Crooke, Richard, 43
Dad, 99, See MacFie, Henry 2
bad memories, 18, 32, 34, 47
good memories, 22, 38, 39, 47, 51, 52, 62
war damage, 18
Dawson, Smoky, 76
Deacon, Ann. See Spurr, Ann (Mrs James)
Denovan, Christina. See Johnson, Christina (Mrs Alexander)
Denovan, Elizabeth (Mrs William), 119
Denovan, William, 119
Detention River, 81
Devonport, 99, 110, 112
dogs, 21, 29, 37, 40, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 67, 68, 69, 75, 77, 92, 102
Dumbarton, 58, 102, 103, 115
Father, 16, See MacFie, Henry 2
Fern Glade, 79
Fern Tree, 59, 61
ferries, 19, 44
fishing, 41, 65, 80
Floating Bridge, 35, 40, 44, 49, 90
Flynn, Errol, 22
Follies, 42
football, 46, 110
Ford family, 20, 36, 37, 40, 50, 88, 102
Ford, (Mrs George (Jack)), 19, 40
Ford, Barry, 19, 47, 86
Ford, George (Mr Jack), 19, 37, 40
Ford, Graham, 19, 37, 40, 41, 86
Ford, Ross, 19, 40, 41, 53
French, Aida (Mrs Chris), 66
French, Chris (Uncle Chris), 66
French, Geoff, 67, 68
Frog Hole, 49
gambling, 71
Gangell, Lillian (Mrs ?), 18, 19, 45, 99
Gaol, 18, 88, 98
Geard family, 55, 99
Geard, Colin, 22, 54, 99
Geilston Bay, 90
Girls, 53
Glebe Town, 16, See The Glebe
Government House, 46, 49
Grandfather Hedley Archer, 57, See Archer, Hedley
Grandfather McFie, 57, 106, 112, See McFie, Hector 2
Grandmother Archer. See Nanna Archer
Grandmother McFie. See Nanna McFie
Grant, Captain John, 109
Grant, Ellen (Mrs John), 109, See McFie, Ellen (Mrs Hector 1.2)
grass igloos, 48, 49
Great Grandfather Frank Archer. See Archer, Frank
Great Grandfather Henry McFie 1, 100, 106, 112, See McFie, Henry 1
Great Grandfather Price. See Price, Thomas William
Great Grandfather Thomas Armstrong. See Armstrong. Thomas
Great Grandmother Emily Price. See Price, Emily (Mrs Thomas William)
Great Grandmother Hannah McFie. See McFie, Hannah (Mrs Henry 1)
Great Grandmother Margery Archer. See Archer, Margery (Mrs Frank)
Great Grandmother May Armstrong. See Armstrong, May (Mrs Thomas)
Great Nanna Hannah McFie, 100, 112, See McFie, Hannah (Mrs Henry 1)
Great Uncle Gerald Archer. See Archer, Gerald
Great-great Grandfather Alexander Johnson. See Johnson, Alexander
Great-great Grandfather Armstrong. See Armstrong, Alexander
Great-great Grandfather Edward Archer. See Archer, Edward
Great-great Grandfather John Hall jr. See Hall, John jr
Great-great Grandfather John Price. See Price, John
Great-great Grandfather Spurr. See Spurr, James
Great-great Grandfather Teddy McFie. See McFie, Teddy
Great-great Grandfather William Chapman. See Chapman, Captain William
Great-great Grandmother Armstrong. See Armstrong, Agnes (Mrs Alexander)
Great-great Grandmother Chapman. See Chapman, Martha (Mrs William)
Great-great Grandmother Christina Johnson. See Johnson, Christina (Mrs Alexander)
Great-great Grandmother Mary Hall jr. See Hall, Mary Elizabeth (Mrs John jr)
Great-great Grandmother Price. See Price, Jane (Mrs John)
Great-great Grandmother Spurr. See Spurr, Ann (Mrs James)
Great-great Grandmother Susan McFie. See McFie, Susan (Mrs Teddy 1.1)
Great-great Grandmother Susannah Moore. See Archer, Susannah (Mrs Edward)
Great-great-great Grandfather Hector 1, 108, See McFie, Hector 1
Great-great-great Grandfather Henry Rockliff. See Rockliff, Henry
Great-great-great Grandfather James Moore. See Moore, James)
Great-great-great Grandfather James Sayers. See Sayers, James
Great-great-great Grandfather John Hall sr. See Hall, John sr
Great-great-great Grandfather Joseph Johnson. See Johnson, Joseph
Great-great-great Grandfather William Archer. See Archer, William
Great-great-great Grandfather William Denovan. See Denovan, William
Great-great-great Grandmother Bridget Connor. See McFie, Bridget (Mrs Hector 1.1)
Great-great-great Grandmother Edith Hall. See Hall, Edith (Mrs John sr)
Great-great-great Grandmother Elizabeth Denovan. See Denovan, Elizabeth (Mrs William)
Great-great-great Grandmother Elizabeth Moore. See Moore, Elizabeth (Mrs James)
Great-great-great Grandmother Hannah Rockliff. See Rockliff, Hannah (Mrs Henry)
Great-great-great Grandmother Janet Johnson (Mrs Joseph). See Johnson, Joseph
Great-great-great Grandmother Martha Archer. See Archer, Martha (Mrs William)
Great-great-great Grandmother Mrs James Sayers. See Sayers, Mrs James
Great-uncle Stan. See Armstrong, Stan
Greenhythe, 64, 69
greyhound racing, 21
Hadspen, 121
Hall, Edith (Mrs John sr), 121
Hall, John jr, 113
Hall, John sr, 121
Hall, Mary Elizabeth (Mrs John jr), 113
Hall, May Elizabeth, 121, See Armstrong, May (Mrs Thomas)
Hassett, Lindsay, 47, 89
Hayes, Mr Herbert, 100
Hector Cottage, 110
Heywood, Rev. G.T., 120
Hobart Railway Station, 72, 94, 96
Hobart Tigers, 46
Hooper, Christine, 89
Hooper, Mr Fred, 41, 42
Hope, Michael, 93
horses, 20, 21, 63, 70, 75, 76, 87, 90, 121
Hydro, 27, 29, 39, 44, 45, 102, See Hydro-Electric Commission
Hydro Picnic, 44
Hydro-Electric Commission, 27
Invermay, 69
Johnson, Alexander, 119
Johnson, Christina (Mrs Alexander), 119
Johnson, Janet (Mrs Joseph), 119
Johnson, Joseph, 119
Johnson, Margery. See Archer, Margery (Mrs Frank)
Keely, Jane. See Price, Jane (Mrs John)
Kensey, Martha. See Archer, Martha (Mrs William)
kite flying, 46
knife sharpening, 36
lamb marking, 68
Lamond, Stella, 43
Landfall, 63, 69, 113, 116, 120, 123, 124
Lane, Mrs, 91
Lawrence, ? Mrs ?, 92
Lawrence, Mr ?, 92
Leverington, 118, 119
Lillico, Mr A., 100
Lilydale, 120
Lindrum, Walter, 82
Longford, 72, 119
MacFie, Andy, 42, 101, 104
MacFie, Henry 2, 24, 123
MacFie, Jessie. See Shegog, Jessie (Uncle Sam)
MacFie, Josephine, 104
MacFie, Lilian Elsie (Mrs Henry 2), 24, 115
MacFie, Marg, 104
MacFie, Peter, 104
MacFie, Rob, 18, 22, 31, 38, 39, 51, 54, 62, 63, 68, 71, 78, 79, 100, 104
Mad Mick, 22
Maggs, Rev. Ivor, 42
magicians, 42
Martin family, 90
Martin, Roger, 89, 90
Mather, Chris, 89
McFee, Teddy. See McFie, Teddy
McFie, Alan (Uncle Alan), 57
McFie, Bridget (Mrs Hector 1.1), 108
McFie, Ellen (Mrs Hector 1.2), 109
McFie, Hannah (Mrs Henry 1), 99, 100, 112
McFie, Harriett (Mrs Hector 2.1, 28, 114
McFie, Hector 1, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112
McFie, Hector 2, 28, 58, 106, 112
McFie, Helen, 115
McFie, Henry 1, 57, 99, 106, 110, 112
McFie, Henry 2, 115, See Father
McFie, Jean (Auntie Jean), 57, 115
McFie, Jessie ( Auntie Jessie), 114
McFie, Jessie (Auntie Jessie), 57
McFie, Julia (Mrs Teddy 1.2), 110
McFie, Nancy. See Wilson, Nancy (Uncle David), See Auntie Nancy (Uncle David)
McFie, Paul (Uncle Paul), 57, 114
McFie, Susan (Mrs Teddy 1.1), 109
McFie, Teddy (Edward), 109
McFie, Toni (Mrs Hector 2.2, 115
measles, 45
Melba, Dame Nellie, 84
Menadue family, 19
Menadue, Jimmy, 19, 47
Menadue, Mr Jim, 19
mice, 17
Military Cross presentation, 28
Mill House, 120
Milligan family, 98
Milligan, Rev., 98
mischief, 39, 40
money, 21, 97
Moore, Elizabeth (Mrs James), 118
Moore, James, 118
Moore, Susannah. See Archer, Susannah (Mrs Edward)
Morris, Mr Eric K. (Cracker), 89, 91
Mother, 16, 94, 116, 122, See MacFie, Lilian Elsie (Mrs Henry 2)
Mount Wellington, 16, 59
Mowbray, 69
Murfitt, Edith. See Hall, Edith (Mrs John sr)
music, 16, 42, 83, 84, 85
organ, 43, 83
singing, 43, 57, 83
Nanna Archer, 24, 28, 31, 56, 57, 70, 121, 122, See Archer, Lillian (Mrs Hedley)
Nanna McFie, 28, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, See McFie, Harriett (Mrs Hector 2.1)
New Norfolk, 44, 45
Northbury, 118, 119
Owen family, 19, 102
Owen, Kath (Mrs Jack), 19, 36
Owen, Mary, 36, 86
Owen, Mr Jack, 19, 20, 36
Owen, Trish, 36, 53, 86, 105
Pace, Mr Ron, 19
Palfreyman, Ian, 89
Paloona, 112
Panshanger, 118
Penna, 40, 41
pets, 37, 50
canaries, 36, 50, 92
rosella parrots, 50
Piesse, Miss, 87
Point Puer, 113, 114
police, 52, 55
Pollock, Janet. See Johnson, Janet (Mrs Joseph)
Port Arthur, 19
Potter family, 19, 50
Potter, (Mrs Arthur), 19
Potter, Janet, 19, 36, 53
Potter, Mr Arthur, 19
Potter, Stephen, 19
Powder Magazine, 49
Price, Emily (Mrs Thomas William), 113
Price, Harriett, 112, 114, See McFie, Harriett (Nanna McFie)
Price, Jane (Mrs John), 112
Price, John, 112
Price, Thomas William, 112
Pulp and Paper Mill, 74, 85
Queen Mary’s Rest Garden, 111
Queenstown, 57
radio serials, 35
Reddy, Max, 43
Regatta Day, 15, 38, 39, 76
Regatta Ground, 14, 46, 48, 55, 96
religion: Baptist, 59
religion: Catholic, 36, 113
religion: Methodist, 34, 36, 39, 41, 58, 83, 97, 120
religion: Presbyterian, 110
Repat. Hospital, 34
River Derwent, 49
roads: Memorial Ave, 48
roads: Midlands Highway, 66, 99
roads: Mount Wellington Rd, 59
Robert’s the Skin Merchant, 88
Robertson, Effie. See Armstrong, Effie (Uncle Stan)
Robertson, Geoff (Uncle Geoff), 42, 43, 83
Robertson, Meg (Mrs Ron), 41
Robertson, Ron (Uncle Ron), 71
Roches Beach, 35
Rockliff, Hannah (Mrs Henry), 113, 121
Rockliff, Henry, 113, 121
Rothesay, 99, 112
Royal Visit, 98
rude rhymes, 53
Salter, ? (Mrs Harold), 19
Salter, Mr Harold, 19
Salter, Steven, 19, 22
sandpit, 34, 36, 53
Santa Claus, 40
Sassafras, 113
Sawkins, Ellen. See McFie, Ellen (Mrs Hector 1.2)
Sayers, James, 111
Sayers, Martha. See Chapman, Martha (Mrs William)
Sayers, Mrs James, 111
schools: Friends’ Infant School, 87
schools: Friends’ Junior School, 88, 91
schools: Friends’ School, 50, 102
schools: Hutchins, 109
schools: Lenah Valley Primary, 102
schools: Methodist Ladies College, 42, 122
schools: Scotch College, 42
schools: St Mary’s Convent School, 36, 86
Scott, Heather. See Archer, Heather (Mrs Rob)
Sergeant. Miss, 88, 89, 91
Shegog children, 69
Shegog, Jessie (Mrs Sam), 41, 69
Shegog, Sam (Uncle Sam), 41, 69
Shepherd, Dulcie. See Armstrong, Dulcie (Mrs Stan)
ships: Amelia Francis, 111
ships: Aurora Australis, 109
ships: Cartela, 19, 20, 105
ships: Chili, 118
ships: Frances Charlotte, 113
ships: Gold Seeker, 109
ships: Greyhound, 113
ships: Jane, 119
ships: Medway, 117
ships: Naracoopa, 20
shops: Bailey St, 92
shops: Bidencope’s, 96
shops: Blackwood & Lowe, 96
shops: Brownells, 96
shops: Canes, 18
shops: Charles Davis, 18, 96
shops: Little’s, 96
shops: Mathers, 96
shops: O’Conors, 96
shops: OBM’s bookshop, 96
shops: Soundy’s, 96
Simmons, Julia. See McFie, Julia (Mrs Teddy 1.2)
Sisters Creek, 81
skinny-dipping, 81
smoking, 37, 81, 82, 92
Somerset, 80
Spurr, Ann (Mrs James), 113
Spurr, Emily. See Price, Emily (Mrs Thomas William)
Spurr, Hannah, 121, See Rockliff, Hannah (Mrs Henry)
Spurr, Harriett. See Nanna McFie
Spurr, James, 113
Stenhouse, Peter, 28
stock whips, 75, 76
streets: Aberdeen St, 14, 16, 19, 37, 97
streets: Argyle St, 97
streets: Bailey St, 19, 54, 92
streets: Campbell St, 18, 88, 98
streets: Criterion St, 96
streets: Davenport St, 21, 92
streets: Edward St, 18
streets: Elizabeth St, 96
streets: Federal St, 93
streets: Fitzroy Pl., 59
streets: Glebe St, 21
streets: Lillie St., 16, 19, 20, 23, 36, 40
streets: Liverpool St, 52, 96, 97, 98
streets: Mary St, East Launceston, 56
streets: Murray St, 96
streets: Newlands Avenue, 102
streets: Park St, 91, 92
streets: Pillinger’s Dr., 59, 61
streets: Scott St, 48
sunburn, 65, 81
Sunroom, 39
swearing, 77
swimming, 54, 65, 79, 81
sycamore games, 50
Tapp family, 19
Tapp, Jimmy, 19
TCA Ground, 14, 16, 21, 46, 48, 89
telephone, 16, 62, 88, 99
The Depression, 28
The Dogs, 46, 49, See greyhound racing
The Domain, 16, 22, 46, 54
The Glebe, 14, 16
The Hollow, 15, 20, 38, 96
The Pulp, 81, See Pulp and Paper Mill
The River, 14, 46, See River Derwent
The Slippery Slope, 38
The War, 28, 32
Torquey, 111
tree climbing, 46, 48, 49
Trevallyn Dam, 45
Uncle Alan. See McFie, Alan (Uncle Alan)
Uncle Chris, 66, 67, 68, 69, See French, Chris (Uncle Chris)
Uncle David, 97, See Wilson, David (Uncle David)
Uncle Geoff. See Robertson, Geoff (Uncle Geoff)
Uncle Harky, 19, 37, 41
Uncle Paul. See McFie, Paul (Uncle Paul)
Uncle Rob, 123, See Archer, Rob
Uncle Ron, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 62, 64, 70, 71, 72, 74, 81, 83, 85, See Robertson, Ron (Uncle Ron)
Uncle Sam, 69, See Shegog, Sam
Uncle Stan. See Armstrong, Stan (Great Uncle Stan)
Upper Barrington, 57
Venus, Miss, 87
Vertigan family, 61
Walker, Jean (Mrs ?), 42, 101
Welch, Agnes. See Armstrong, Agnes (Mrs Alexander)
Wescombe, Dudley, 85
Western Junction, 72
White, ? (Mrs ?), 19, 23
White, Mr ?, 19
Whitemore, 66, 68, 101
Williams, Lyn, 105
Williams, Mr Chris, 75, 76, 77
Williams, Wanda, 18, 105
Wilson family, 64, 74, 80
Wilson, David (Uncle David), 97
Wilson, Margaret, 65
Wilson, Mr Tim, 64, 65, 74, 80, 81
Wilson, Nancy (Uncle David), 97
Wilson, Neville, 64, 74, 77, 78, 80, 81
Wilson, Wynn (Mrs Tim), 64, 74, 80, 81
Wockum, 21, 22
Woodside, 119
Woolmers, 66, 118
Wright, Mr Vern, 45
YMCA, 97
“See No Evil” Published
Long before his death, Peter MacFie wrote of his early life on The Glebe in Hobart. However, he had trouble deciding when to call it completed. His brother Rob then encouraged him to ‘set it free’ by helping select family photos and Peter was able to approve a draft print before it was too late. Here, Peter tells how the war’s aftermath was not always happy for his parents, but gave himself the freedom for a (mostly) magic childhood running wild on The Domain in Hobart. He was also particularly proud of his assorted convict ancestry and concludes with a family tree.
Read more about this book on the See No Evil page, or buy it from the Shop.