Can You Guess What This Was Used For?

This Cowry Shell is a recent donation, and at first glance not the sort of object you would associate with the pioneers of Greenough.
It is a however a lovely example of making-do, and originally came from the workbasket of Edith K. Clinch (nee Waldeck).
Arthur Clinch married Edith (or Topsy as she was more lovingly known) on 8 November 1892, and the couple went on to live at Mill Farm (the former Greenough Hotel). In those days, frugality prevailed, and as a farmer's wife, one of the skills Topsy would have learnt was how to mend clothes. This beautiful shell was used by Topsy as a darning mushroom for mending socks.
Unfortunately we do not know who gave Topsy the shell. There could be a lovely story there.
The shell has been donated to this museum by Topsy's grand-daughter, Joy.

Another New Book

Joy Clinch, the author of the above book has very kindly transferred copyright of the book to the Greenough Pioneer Museum, so that income from sales can be used for care of the collection.
The book provides a very interesting history of the Clinch family, influential pioneers of the Greenough Flats and also contains a wealth of information about Central Greenough.
The book is available from the museum for $28.00 plus $6.00 postage (to anywhere in Australia)