Summary

This photograph shows John Joseph 'JJ' O'Connor, looking out onto the Strezlecki Ranges after a bushfire fire, Won Wron, Gippsland, circa 29 September 1914. The O'Connor family were a local Gippsland farming family, who also held a lease to graze cattle on St Margaret Island. They were raising sheep and cattle and rented St Margaret Island to graze their live-stock over summer. According to the family: 'Livestock were very cheap. When World War I broke out, the price of stock went up and they made a lot of money. Because J. J. knew the area so well, he was sent into the hills during World War I to look out for the German 'invasion' which was rumoured to be planned from the coast.'

The photographer of this image, Doctor Sydney Pern, was a friend of the contributor's family, who lived in Yarram. In addition to his duties as the local GP, he was an enthusiastic amateur photographer.

Description of Content

Man standing with dead gum tree forest behind him. There is an arch of living trees in the foreground.

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