Tues. morn. 17 October, 1995

Dear Bill,

My sincere thanks for the Australorp History, an excellent reminder of the great achievements of this grand old breed - "old" when we consider the Australian poultry sphere anyway. I was interested to see that you had included the "Bravo, Queensland" piece, you mentioned my good memory, well I suppose it is sound enough for some of those 1920 & 1930 happenings, but not so hot on the day before yesterday.

I appreciate very much the work that went into this and hope it receives due recognition. I’m glad you touched on the original naming of the breed, interesting looking back to see that it took so long to catch on, I recall that even during the late war years, the South Australian G’ment plant at Parafield was still calling them Black Orpingtons in official papers.

Yet at the same time, as I Saw when I was in England late in the war, people over there gave it its proper name, although it remember, there was one only Australorp in the national laying test at Surrey, Eng., when I visited. At the same time, I did not see a single Orpington while I was there. People did talk of Orpington, because the last of the V bombs fell on Orpington, Kent, where Cook, the breed’s founder once hung out. I put all this in an article I wrote for Poultry at the time - my records show it was in the issue or 23 Sept. 1946. At the time I was struck by the huge range of breeds being raised commercially, not for show, over there. there were great numbers of Leghorns, both Blacks & Browns as well as Whites, and every heavy breed imaginable. Except Orpingtons!

Must not prattle on, happens when you get on to poultry: I was interested to hear of your reading assist, appliances and my hope is they will go at least some of the way to easing the sight handicap.

My best wishes go with this and again thanks for your kind gift of the History.