Being the founder, principal, and teacher of the World's ONLY practical training college about mushroom growing in the world, in The Netherlands, my husband Pieter got to lecture the world over.
So here I want to start our Australia trips series with his FIRST trip to 'Down Under'.
Thank you all so very much for all the comments and visits to my previous posts written.
It means a lot to my husband, and of course to me, as it does lift up his spirit.
Let's enjoy our highlights and relive them; sharing them with you.
This post is nothing spectacular but just as an opening...
This is the official AMGA or Australian Mushroom Growers Association flyer for their 6th Mushroom Industry Short Course.
30th June - 3rd July, 1976
Lodging was at the Parramatta Travelodge Motel, corner of Marsden St. and Western Highway, Parramatta - Western Sydney
Nowadays this must be the Parramatta City Motel and no doubt it has changed over the years...
So here I want to start our Australia trips series with his FIRST trip to 'Down Under'.
Thank you all so very much for all the comments and visits to my previous posts written.
It means a lot to my husband, and of course to me, as it does lift up his spirit.
Let's enjoy our highlights and relive them; sharing them with you.
This post is nothing spectacular but just as an opening...
30th June - 3rd July, 1976
The above is the edited, handwritten part, printed out...
This Mushroom Short Course was open to Australian and New Zealand Mushroom Growers.Lodging was at the Parramatta Travelodge Motel, corner of Marsden St. and Western Highway, Parramatta - Western Sydney
Airtravel by Qantas, Australia's Overseas Airline.
The venue was held at PARRAMATTA LEAGUES CLUB, at the 1st Floor.
Parramatta is the river that lies close to this building, just click the pink hyperlinks.
It started out with a Welcoming Banquet and Official Opening by the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Husband Pieter covered almost the entire 1st day of training.
As a Bonus Gift to all participants they offered an extract copy from Pieter's book, about 'Mushroom Pests and Diseases - Their Prevention and Control'
In the background information, there is written that his book has had 4 Dutch editions and is translated in German, French and soon in English.
In the end it got translated into 8 languages and has been called the 'Mushroom Bible'.
On the 3rd and final day a Farm Walk and Practical Demonstration by Pieter at the farm of John Cox, Dural Road, Maraylya.
Also a trade exhibition of mushroom farm machinery, chemicals and growing materials.
Australian Barbecue Lunch and rounded up with a General Discussion and Answering Time.
The planning for this international event had started out on the 1st of September, 1975
Mr. Van Dorresteyn had been at the Practical Training Center in The Netherlands to study, as did several others.
We just learned that Mr. John W. Miller is still around!
Would be great to hear from others as well...
Husband Pieter did stay in Australia from June 28 till July 14, 1976.
He did visit 11 different Mushroom farms after the Short Course with over 100 participants from all over Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.
Before and after the Short Course, Pieter did visit the following mushroom farms:
1. Joe van Dorresteyn (Dutch/Australian)
2. John Seltenrych (Dutch/Australian)
3. Norman Johnson
4. Robert N Tolson
5. Graham Price
6. John W. Baker
7. Johnny Cox
8. Hank Young (Dutch/Australian)
9. Sannen brothers (Dutch/Australian)
10. Name forgotten
11. Name forgotten...
From the Windsor area and Victoria area
If any readers would recognize a name here and have further information; please!
Windsor (Main Mushroom Growing area
Parramatta where the Short Course Venue happened
North Sydney and City
Home and surroundings of mushroom grower Robert N Tolson in 1976, later he built a beautiful home on the Hawkesbury river.
Keep in mind that end of June and early July is winter in Australia! Winter is in June, July and August...
1976 Price Mokrings The Best Mushroom Spawn
Photo taken from the rural area of Hank Young's place in 1976.
Also taken from Hank Young's place in 1976.
Australian newspaper publication from that period in 1976.
From left to right: husband Pieter, with Mr. John Cox and then Australian Mushroom Grower's Association secretary Mr. John Miller, at Mr. Cox's Maraylya farm.
Photo by Ron Hambridge
Sure such trips to Australia were far from a vacation or sight seeing trip, but husband Pieter did enjoy it very much and he felt honored for being invited to speak and teach.
It taught him the vastness of this great continent, such a contrast with The Netherlands, the most densely populated country of the European Union and one of the most densely populated countries in the world!
Parramatta is the river that lies close to this building, just click the pink hyperlinks.
It started out with a Welcoming Banquet and Official Opening by the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources.
Husband Pieter covered almost the entire 1st day of training.
As a Bonus Gift to all participants they offered an extract copy from Pieter's book, about 'Mushroom Pests and Diseases - Their Prevention and Control'
In the background information, there is written that his book has had 4 Dutch editions and is translated in German, French and soon in English.
In the end it got translated into 8 languages and has been called the 'Mushroom Bible'.
On the 3rd and final day a Farm Walk and Practical Demonstration by Pieter at the farm of John Cox, Dural Road, Maraylya.
Also a trade exhibition of mushroom farm machinery, chemicals and growing materials.
Australian Barbecue Lunch and rounded up with a General Discussion and Answering Time.
Mr. Van Dorresteyn had been at the Practical Training Center in The Netherlands to study, as did several others.
Would be great to hear from others as well...
He did visit 11 different Mushroom farms after the Short Course with over 100 participants from all over Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand.
Before and after the Short Course, Pieter did visit the following mushroom farms:
1. Joe van Dorresteyn (Dutch/Australian)
2. John Seltenrych (Dutch/Australian)
3. Norman Johnson
4. Robert N Tolson
5. Graham Price
6. John W. Baker
7. Johnny Cox
8. Hank Young (Dutch/Australian)
9. Sannen brothers (Dutch/Australian)
10. Name forgotten
11. Name forgotten...
From the Windsor area and Victoria area
If any readers would recognize a name here and have further information; please!
Parramatta where the Short Course Venue happened
North Sydney and City
Keep in mind that end of June and early July is winter in Australia! Winter is in June, July and August...
From left to right: husband Pieter, with Mr. John Cox and then Australian Mushroom Grower's Association secretary Mr. John Miller, at Mr. Cox's Maraylya farm.
Photo by Ron Hambridge
Sure such trips to Australia were far from a vacation or sight seeing trip, but husband Pieter did enjoy it very much and he felt honored for being invited to speak and teach.
It taught him the vastness of this great continent, such a contrast with The Netherlands, the most densely populated country of the European Union and one of the most densely populated countries in the world!
Related links:
{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969} | previous post by me
{My Teacher, Mentor, BOSS & Husband over 44+ Years} | previous post by me
{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969} | previous post by me
{My Teacher, Mentor, BOSS & Husband over 44+ Years} | previous post by me
John Miller, OAM was a Longtime Mushroom Friend of husband Pieter | later post by me
Hi dear Marietta,, no conozco Australia,, me encanta viajar alguna vez , pero esta muy lejos de mi país, son muchas horas de vuelo,, espero que tengas un lindo día
ReplyDeleteDearest Angélica,
DeleteFunny enough it is equally far to Sydney from Los Angeles and from Santiago...
Who knows? One day you will go and see for yourself!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteGrowers Mushroom industry on 30th jury was open to Australian and New Zealand farm walk and by Pieter's book, about Mushroom posts and Dislases, Robert N Tolson in 1976 late he builts beautiful home in the Hawkes busy river, In June, JULY and,August.
Husband Pieter, with Mr John Cox Australian did enjoyed it. Mushroom grower's farm photos by Hambridge!
Hugs,
Michiko
Dearest Michiko,
DeleteYes, that Mushroom Industry short course was indeed open to all of Australia and New Zealand.
Glad you enjoyed it and you see that one of us or both have been close to your area long time ago!
Hugs,
Mariette
It's amazing that Pieter's knowledge of mushrooms opened you both up to so many wonderful opportunities around the world.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteIt sure did create a global ticket to training about mushrooms and I have enjoyed it!
Hugs,
Mariette
Deaerst Mariette,
ReplyDeleteit is so interesting, to read those posts from so far behind ... thank you for sharing all the interesing times of your and Pieter's life!
I never have visited any mushroom growing farms, bbut I am sure, it really is very exciting!
Wishing you both a wodnerful week,
Love and hugs, Claudia xo .... out of snow again this morning!
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThis was from a time back that was still B.M. or before Mariette! But I use this for leading into the sequence of Australia trips and eventually with both of us traveling and working together! Chronicling all this is meaningful to Pieter. A kind of memoir.
Oh, you no doubt have plenty of mushroom farms in the region for actually seeing the process.
Hugs and hope that spring is coming soon in your area. We had warm days and back to cooler and windy!
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteich freue mich - wie immer - über deinen wunderschönen Post.
Alles Liebe und Gute
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa, wunderschön ist er nicht aber informativ und eine gute Einleitung zu den nächsten.
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
What an honour to be invited to speak in Australia. Hope you managed to see a little bit of Sydney. I have a friend who lives in Parramatta, so I know where it is.
ReplyDeleteDearest Sami,
DeleteIndeed a great honor and Pieter did enjoy his travel. I myself had to wait 12 more years before I got to see Sydney...
Small world, isn't it, with your friend living in Parramatta!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI having a healthy body image is something I have to consciously work at it's being thankful for what I've got and embracing that. instead of punishing myself and pining over things I don't have my relatioship with myself come first, because if it's lacking then every other part of my life will suffer my time for the most pert it's true that if my mined right,
Michiko condo I come???But I has easy my life is much better hear in now. Thank you so much with me. Hugs,
Michiko
Dearest Michiko san,
DeleteIt must be very, very hard to live by yourself after such a tragic accident and having indeed a good functioning body but the brain had to be re-trained and re-learned. Don't ever punish yourself and pining over it does not make matters get solved. It is what it is and you only can look back at the good years you lived and treasure those moments! You raised a family and had that behind you and now you are a Grandma and I do hope you can enjoy that. Maybe a smaller condo would be better; that is up to you to decide. Know that for years I have admired you and you do well in training your mind by reading and writing. Hats off to you as I would be lost if I had to re-learn in e.g. Japanese after such an accident... One can only admire you even more.
Big hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, What seems to unify the whole world is the passion for mushrooms, and thus also the universal need for Pieter's expertise!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteGuess this kind of job works somewhat addictive and it is a very complex process and high tech nowadays. It for sure is no easy thing to just start doing! Pieter at least has had a passion for teaching and he had the rare gift of transferring his knowledge in a very special way that helped his students or the mushroom farmers at the time of consultancy. It is not important what one knows but the challenge is how do you transfer that...
It did show us the world and that was a big bonus. This trip I was still not involved, just being the harvest manager and parttime secretary (his other secretary was a very devoted widow with six kids to raise on her own and she couldn't spend more hours).
Hugs,
Mariette
It must be a real honor to be invited to give lecture all over the world. Sounds like your husband Pieter had a busy time in Australia, training and visiting farms. But glad he enjoyed himself there :-) I stayed Australia for 2 weeks long, long time ago. It's a beautiful country!
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, it was quite an honor for being invited and by bridging the gap and speaking their language, it could be done!
A very full schedule but Pieter did it with heart and soul and enjoyed it. But there never was a time afterwards for sitting back to let it all sink in, looking back at slides or whatever. No doubt there were slides but they stayed behind at the Training Center and we have none.
Glad you too got to enjoy this marvelous continent for 2 weeks! You probably did see more than we did... being a tourist is an advantage but we nevertheless enjoyed our time!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette! Great to talk about mushrooms to others. Have a nice week;-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYeah, that's what both of us have done for a living so here it is...
Hugs,
Mariette
I love mushrooms. I know the white ones (I am not fond of) and the deeper brown ones which have more flavor. I put them in everything it seems. I look forward to more posts. What an interesting life. I am so glad that you do not mind sharing it with so many. Thank you, Betsy
ReplyDeleteDearest Betsy,
DeleteGlad you love mushrooms but honestly there is no difference between the taste of the white ones or the brown ones! Husband Pieter has been in such a panel where the white ones and the brown ones got blended up and prepared, then tasted. The panel was not able to identify which were the browns and which were the white ones.
Just like the preference for white or brown eggs; taste is the very same!
It was a highly interesting life, the only negative was that there was never time to look back. Always preparing for the next training. The Center had a so-called A-training that went on for 2 years and a B-training that went on for 1 year. Different level and also courses in German and in English. Since it was the 1st and only training center in the entire world, there were no books yet. So that is what took so much work and time for writing all the manuals from scratch. Beside that, Pieter also published in the Dutch, German and English Mushroom Journals and he wrote the book, translated in 8 languages... So finally, I am seriously trying to chronicle his 'GYPSY' life-style (scroll down for seeing his travel globe with that name!) so he at least can relive all this before life will come to an end!
So proud for having been part of that for now almost half a century...
Hugs,
Mariette
The world was your oyster at that time travelling around to so many different continents. It is a blessing to have the opportunity to see and appreciate different areas and cultures of the world. I too have been fortunate as my husband was with the UN.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that most people love a mushroom - whatever would we manage without them, so thank you very much Pieter.
Dearest Rosemary,
DeleteWell, this oyster stayed still in its shell,I stayed behind at the Training Center for my job as harvest manager and part time secretary. Later I did join and that's what I am leading in to by this post.
Pieter deserves to have his very unique profession being written about, chronicling his pioneering years and creating a story to be enjoyed by others. Some that understand, have been his student maybe or where he did consulting, or just those that appreciate good quality mushrooms!
Than you also got the opportunity to spread your wings and indeed taste different cultures. To me that is the very best education there is and especially with the in-depth kind of interaction we both always had. Far different from just being a tourist and not working and living with the locals!
Pieter enjoys sharing his/our story, glad you appreciate it.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteYou've traveled all your life, it's beautiful!
I'm waiting for the rest.
Dearest Nathalie,
DeleteWell, I started out some years later but Pieter was ahead of me... So fortunate that we shared so many years as a team later!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteAustralia is definitely on my bucket list to visit. It would have to be a long visit to cover such a large vast and interesting country.
I have heard it said, figure out what your passion is, then find a way to earn money at it. That way, it won't feel like a job. Sounds like Pieter took the advice. I would guess that you have done so too. Bravo!
Thanks for sharing!
Debbie
Dearest Debra,
DeleteOh, Australia is such a vast and interesting continent and both of us have not seen it as a tourist but still!
Yes, you HAVE to love what you do for a living or your job performance will get affected by it.
Pieter sure had a passion for that and he has been the very best teacher I ever had; such a special person with the ability to explain the biological process and guiding you for being able to fine-tune and perfect it.
More to come...
Hugs,
Mariette
Je staat er eigenlijk niet zo bij stil ,als je champignons eet en dat doen we hier bijna elke dag wel ,dat er zoveel bij te kijken komt als ik zo je blogs lees....Groetjes,Joan
ReplyDeleteBeste Joan,
DeleteJa, inderdaad is het een heel ingewikkeld proces waarbij we eigenlijk Moeder Natuur nabootsen in een zeer versneld tempo. Immers in het bos vind je maar ééns per jaar paddestoelen, in de natte herfst... Dus dat op commerciële wijze proberen na te bootsen in enkele weken is best een kwestie van kennis, onderzoek, ervaring en techniek. Erg complex om te leren wàt een champignon wil; wanneer ie zich happy voelt. Dat happy voelen is zichtbaar in zijn top kwaliteit - of niet. Net als mensen die ook reageren op temperatuur, voeding en stress!
Liefs,
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post from your trip to my birth country!
And what an honor for your dear Pieter to be invited and visiting farms with mushrooms!
I’m sure you had a lovely time visiting Australia and travel with QANTAS and TAA! Thank you for sharing your fond memories! Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteInteresting yes, but not yet my trip... that happened only 12 years later!
But I'm leading into that and indeed quite an honor for husband Pieter for being invited as a speaker and for visiting their mushroom farms for personal advice. It created lots of friendships and over the years he also had many of those mushroom growers come to his Training Center for some more in-depth understanding about the process in order to improve their quality and thus yield.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello. Thanks to her husband's lectures on mushrooms, it was certainly a beautiful trip to Australia. I have never been there and certainly will not. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteDearest Giga,
DeleteOh you bet how exciting this was for husband Pieter, his very first trip to this beautiful continent! I also came to love it, later and will write about that in a couple of posts.
It is quite a long journey but if you love nature, Australia is a paradise!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHave been enjoying reading about your New Orleans trip and then now the adventure to Australia.
Lovely to see all your photos and must have been a fun time when you were doing the mushroom lectures. Will be good to be able to relive the memories you shared.
Happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
Dearest Carolyn,
DeleteGlad you enjoyed reading the New Orleans post. As for Australia, this was still without me... But that will follow soon in another post. Yes, it is very good for reliving those fond memories!
Hugs and happy weekend to you as well.
Mariette
I truly like reading about your husband and his many accomplishments, which I am seeing here now in this blog with his world wide lecture tour --and your life as well with your accomplishments. I will go back over some more to get caught up. xx
ReplyDeleteDearest Katie Isabella,
DeleteThank you so much for your visit and meaningful comment!
Yes, husband Pieter sure left a mark on this entire world and I'm proud of it and also of the fact that we got to share that many years together at it.
Hugs,
Mariette