Declan Clausen has gone back to where it all began - the origins of our city of Newcastle, that is.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The City of Newcastle's deputy lord mayor paid a visit to Newcastle upon Tyne, that historic British city on the River Tyne from which our city derived its name.
Declan regularly makes trips to the UK, where he's studying a part-time master's degree in sustainable urban development at the University of Oxford.
As we reported last year, the course involves eight intensive teaching weeks during two years of study.
It was on his most recent trip that he travelled north to Newcastle, also known as home of the Geordies.
As this photo shows, he visited Newcastle Castle. Britain's Newcastle was named after this medieval fortification. And our city was named after the British Newcastle.
While in Newcastle, Declan met Lord Mayor David Cook.
"Cr Cook had previously visited Newcastle Australia, and spoke very positively about our cities and the continued opportunity for collaboration," Declan said.
"There are lots of similarities between our two cities, including a similar-sized population, similar industrial history, distance via train to the capital, and regeneration with universities moving into the inner city."
Cr Cook told Declan about the city's long-term commitment to diversity, showing him a photo of Martin Luther King Jr visiting Newcastle in 1967 to receive honorary recognition from the City and Newcastle University.
"Cr Cook explained that it was the only recognition King received from a UK city or university while still alive. It demonstrated the city's long standing commitment to equality.
"It's hard not to see the similarity at home, with Joy Cummings' similarly courageous and controversial decision to fly the Aboriginal flag from City Hall in the 1970s."
While there are lots of similarities between the two Newcastles, Declan said there were differences. For example, the British Newcastle council has 78 councillors, with a third of the council being elected each year.
Both Newcastles are part of the Newcastles of the World network, which includes more than 100 cities called Newcastle from across the world.
"City of Newcastle NSW has supported a bid from community group International Newcastle to host a future Newcastles of the World conference in Newcastle Australia," Declan said.
Before he left, Cr Cook gave Declan a "rather unique gift - a pint of locally brewed beer, made only for the Lord Mayor's use".
"I've bought this home to share with the council," he said.
In heading off any critics, Declan says he travelled to Newcastle at his own expense.
Newcastle Castle
Newcastle Castle has quite the history. The original fortification of the site was more than 1800 years ago in Roman times.
In 1080, the son of William the Conqueror built the first castle on the site. At the end of the 1200s, a long series of medieval wars between England and Scotland began. Newcastle became a border fortress and a place where the King of England would gather his armies before going out to fight.
Time-Travelling Holden
Topics ran this "1954" photo of the Pacific Highway of Charlestown yesterday.
Buladelah's Barbara Gordon said: "How can a 1956 FE Holden be in a 1954 photo?".
Touche Barbara, touche.
Meanwhile, reader Rob McDonald said the FE Holden was "a piece of shit" and "on a quiet day you could hear them rust".
Another reader also spotted a 1956 Ford Customline in the photo.