Pen2Paper June July 2015

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100 YEARS AGO
Reflecting on newspaper stories
from our past
From father to son - A Soldier’s Letter
Capt. Kayser, of the 12th. Battalion, Australian
Imperial Forces, who was connected with the
Alberton School, has written to his eight-year-old
son. The letter will be read with interest by the
hundreds of boys and girls he has taught.
Capt. Kayser says: “I am going to tell you
something about Egypt. We have been away
from there for over a month now, and I can only
tell you about the time we were there. We left
Mena Camp at about 4 o’clock in the afternoon
to march to Cairo, which was a 10-mile march.
Well, off we went, with the band playing in front.
Marching just behind me there was a side-
drummer, and on either side was a Scotch piper.
These two Scotchmen are in my company, and
they brought their beloved pipes all the way from
South Australia. They make splendid music, and
cheer us up when we are marching, and also
keep us in step.
“We soon left the big old pyramids behind us,
and at 6 o’clock we halted for tea. What do you
think we had? Two very hard biscuits and a drink
of water. After a smoke and a rest, off we went
again in the moonlight.
“Between 8 and 9 o’clock we were nearing Cairo.
You have to march over a big bridge, which
has the statues of two big lions at the entrance.
This big bridge is over the big River Nile. As we
crossed the bridge we were all singing ‘It’s a long
way to Tipperary.’ Just across the bridge there
is a big building, called the ‘Kaser Nil’ Barracks.
A barracks is a big house with hundreds and
thousands of rooms in it. In these rooms the
soldiers live, and close by is a big open square
where the soldiers drill. This is called the Barracks
Square. In this barracks there are hundreds, yes
even thousands, of English soldiers, and as we
marched past singing at the top of our voices,
they all put their heads out of the windows and
joined in singing Tipperary. They cheered us and
we cheered back. It was just grand, Ted,
I can tell you.
“We marched into the Barracks Square and
camped there for the night. We had no bunk so
we just lay down in our great coats and slept on
the hard ground. At 3 o’clock we were awakened.
Very tired we all were, we got on board our train,
which was now ready. The train took us to a port
called Alexandria, where our ship was waiting to
take us away from Egypt.
“Well I must stop for this time. Tell Miss Burnett
and all the other teachers that I wish to be
remembered to them, and all the boys and girls
in the Alberton School as well!”
The Register, 14 June 1915
Parenting workshops
The libraries have gathered a team of experts to help you
navigate your way through the various stages of parenthood.
A series of free sessions will be held in June and July across
the library service. Bookings are essential for each of the
following sessions; please contact your local branch or
book online at
Out of the Pen – play workshop
This workshop focuses on ways to connect and play with
your baby. Eve Walsh will introduce you to practical and
easy play ideas that you can use at home, as seen in
her book “Out of the Pen”. This workshop is suitable for
expectant parents or those who already care for a baby.
Little Big Book Club – family matters
In a first-ever session for families, discover how to build
foundations for your child’s early learning. Explore ways of
getting your child interested in reading, playing, talking and
singing right from the start. An interactive session for parents
with babies and young children.
Making the most of life with 5-12 year olds
This half day course will cover a variety of topics that
include: understanding children as they grow, working out
the best ways of managing behaviour, sibling rivalry and
cyber safety, for parents, grandparents and carers.
The ABCDs of parenting
This 2.5 hour workshop is for parents, grandparents and
carers and aims to provide basic tools to create happy
families, build memories, and raise great kids. The
workshop covers the Five Love Languages and will offer the
opportunity to learn about:
A - Atmosphere: creating your home’s atmosphere.
B - Boundaries: creating shifting boundaries as your kids
grow older.
C - Communication: discovering the art of communication
in a family.
D - Delight: discovering ways to have fun with your children
and create lasting memories.
Teenagers and driving
Cars have changed, so have the road rules! The South
Australian Police Road Safety Centre will provide you with
invaluable advice on topics such as how to purchase the
right car and how to choose the right driving instructor for
your teenager.
Parenting programs offered in June and July