Jack Price: A Child of the Sea

Born in 1880 to William Price and Emily (née Hepenstal), Jack entered a Port Noarlunga defined by its wild isolation. As early as age two, around 1882, he was fishing—hard to imagine today, but not uncommon for children in coastal communities back then. By eight, in 1888, he witnessed a defining moment: the partial collapse of a tunnel that linked the town to the beach. This tunnel, wide enough for a two-bullock team, cut through a towering sand hill that separated the settlement from the sea. Its collapse underscored the harsh natural forces that dominated life here.

Jack’s grandparents, among the town’s earliest settlers, had built Port Noarlunga’s first house near the Onkaparinga River. Floods soon forced them to higher ground, a sign of the environmental challenges Jack would grow up facing. Despite this, the community thrived in its own way—dances in barns, moonlight rides on bullock-drawn drags, and “ketches” (small sailing ships) at the river’s mouth brought residents together, forging a spirited bond Jack cherished.

The Sea’s Bounty and Wrath

Jack’s lifelong love for the sea deepened as he grew. He told The Seasider in 1961, “I love and respect the sea,” a sentiment earned through decades of fishing its unpredictable waters. One tale captures this duality: while reeling in a catch, his jumper snagged in the reel, hooking him alongside a massive fish that thrashed “like a crazed monster.” The line snapped, and Jack, chuckling years later, mused that the fish might still be out there, hook and all.

The sea’s destructive side hit hard in 1914, when Jack was 34. A ferocious storm washed away the first Port Noarlunga jetty, built in 1855 and extended in 1878. Jack vividly recalled his friend Frank Townsend’s face—the only mariner visible in the gulf after the chaos. Both had felt a tug on their lines, but Jack, jerking his, found “a lot of fish” he hadn’t expected. The jetty’s loss was a blow to the fishing community, though its remains linger south of today’s jetty, visible at low tide.

Jack Price in World War I

That same year, 1914, Jack’s resilience faced a new test: World War I. Enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force, he rose to Sergeant in the 27th Infantry Battalion. He served in Egypt—likely tied to the Suez Canal defense or Gallipoli preparations in 1915—before enduring the Western Front’s brutal trenches in France and Belgium. Battles like the Somme (1916) and Passchendaele (1917) demanded endurance honed by years battling Port Noarlunga’s elements. A photograph from the early 1900s, Jack Price of Port Noarlunga, S. Aust., shows him in uniform outside a local house, pride evident in his stance.

Returning in 1919, Jack turned to rebuilding his life. He’d acquired land at 11 Katharine Street in 1912, and around 1919, he constructed a house there—a modest yet sturdy home that would anchor his next chapter. That year, he married Adelaide May Maynard (1897–1981), daughter of Charles and Eleanor Maynard of Noarlunga. The house became their family hub, where Adelaide’s mother, Eleanor, later lived until her death in 1933. A 1979 photograph, 11 Katharine Street, Port Noarlunga, S. Aust., captures the home decades later—a testament to Jack’s post-war stability.

Jack and Adelaide lived there for the rest of their lives—he until 1971 at age 91, she until 1981. Today, 11 Katharine Street remains a historical touchstone, possibly modernized but still echoing Jack’s legacy as a fisherman, soldier, and family man.

Jack in 1961: A Lifetime Reflected

By 1961, at 81, Jack was a local icon, cracking almonds on his verandah as he shared tales with The Seasider. The sand hill and tunnel were gone, leveled by development, and a new jetty, opened in 1921, had replaced the storm-ravaged original. Port Noarlunga was shifting, drawing visitors to its shores, yet Jack’s love for the sea held firm, undimmed by its past fury.

Port Noarlunga in 2025: A Coastal Gem

Today, in 2025, Port Noarlunga shines as a modern destination. The jetty stretches into the gulf, a hub for fishing and diving, while the offshore reef thrives as a protected marine wonder. The Onkaparinga River, once a flooding foe, now enhances the area with trails and parks. Community spirit endures in markets and festivals, a nod to the barn dances of Jack’s youth. The town’s charm persists, rooted in its coastal heritage.

John James Price’s Enduring Legacy

Sgt. John James Price M.M. passed away on March 25, 1971, followed by Adelaide on January 20, 1981. They rest together in the Cemetery on the Hill at St Philip & St James Anglican Church in Old Noarlunga, their gravestone inscribed: “Dearly loved parents of Douglas, Jean, Gladys, and Daphne. Forever in our hearts. In God’s loving care.” His stories, preserved in The Seasider, immortalize a man who shaped Port Noarlunga through a life of adventure and resilience.

Next time you visit, picture young Jack fishing at two or old Jack on his verandah at 81. His love for the sea still ripples through this community, a reminder of those who turned a rugged outpost into a coastal treasure. If you’re in Old Noarlunga, stop by the Church on the Hill to honor Sgt. John James Price and Adelaide—guardians of a legacy that endures.

Sources:

“Port Noarlunga’s Early Days Recalled,” The Seasider (Christies Beach, SA), April 1, 1961, p. 3, accessed March 20, 2025, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/276854182?searchTerm=noarlunga%20tunnel#.

“Old Noarlunga Historical Record,” Libraries SA, Walkerville Library, digital asset ID SD_ASSET:1386193, accessed March 20, 2025, https://www.libraries.sa.gov.au/client/en_AU/walkerville/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:1386193/ada?qu=Old+Noarlunga&d=ent%3A%2F%2FSD_ASSET%2F0%2FSD_ASSET%3A1386193%7EASSET%7E44&ps=300&h=8.

“Historical Record of Jack Williams (or Jack Price),” Libraries SA, Norwood Payneham St Peters Library, digital asset ID SD_ASSET:1383805, accessed March 20, 2025, https://libraries.sa.gov.au/client/en_AU/npsp/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:1383805/ada?qu=Williams%2C+Jack&d=ent%3A%2F%2FSD_ASSET%2F0%2FSD_ASSET%3A1383805%7EASSET%7E143&ps=300&h=8.

South Australian Libraries. “Grave of John James Price and Adelaide May Price, St Philip & St James Anglican Church, Old Noarlunga, S. Aust., 2019.” Accessed March 20, 2025. https://libraries.sa.gov.au/client/en_AU/search/asset/1430977/0

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While sorting through some old files, I found E:\Data\oldstuff\MODS\alive.mod. According to the timestamp, it was created on June 5, 1990, at 7:38 AM and was made by Alive part of Atomic Intelligence.

You can listen to the song below:

What is a bulletin board (BBS)

Well a long time ago before the internet, our first taste of connected linked computers was dialling into the a The Bulletin Board System (BBS), at that time you would connect to a server with other people and download and upload files to the BBS was great to download walkthroughs for games like Kings Quest, Space Quest, Police Quest, it many BBS providers would eventually become internet ISPs, in fact Adam’s BBS (founded by Greg Hicks) became Adam Internet they did well and in 2013 sold their company for $60 million to iiNet.

What Alive.MOD meant to me

I made up lyrics for it at the time, so while it is called alive.mod to me its called with “It’s Broken and its all Gavin’s Fault” being a bit of an inside joke about my brother. It was so catchy that even my dad would randomly sing it around the house, and im sure today he would remember it as well.

It’s Broken and It’s All Gavin’s Fault

Based on alive.mod Listen here

Broken…. Broken…. Its Broken Broken…. Broken… Broken… Broken… Broken… Broken… Broken

And it’s all Gavin’s Fault

What is a MOD File anyway

An Amiga MOD file is a type of music file format that originated on the Commodore Amiga computers in the late 1980s. It was created using tracker software, like ProTracker or SoundTracker, which allowed users to compose music using sampled sounds.

Imagine a spreadsheet where each row is a moment in time and each column represents a different sound channel. Each cell contains a note (like C#4) and an effect (like vibrato or volume slide). The Amiga plays this sequence back, looping and layering sounds to create a full composition.

Because of this very little space is required in order to compose a song in fact that alive.mod file is only 56K.

Who Were Atomic Intelligence?

But what really stood out to me was its connection to Atomic Intelligence, a name that carried weight in the Amiga demo scene of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Atomic Intelligence was known for creating an Amiga demo showcased at Bamiga Sector 1 and The Warfalcons Party in 1989 in Fredericia, Denmark. Their demo is archived online:

Watch it here: Atomic Intelligence Party Demo 1989

This group, like many in the Amiga demo scene, crafted digital art, music, and effects to push the limits of hardware, often embedding their work within cracked software.

Member Name	Task(s)	Known as Member in Year	Country
Alien	Coder, Texter	1989	Denmark
Deature	Coder, Texter, Modem Trader	1989	Denmark
Deflex	Texter, Packdisk Editor, Series Publisher	1989	Denmark
Flexy	Graphics Artist	1989	Denmark
Garfield	Texter, Swapper	1989	Denmark
Ice Lord	Texter, Graphics Artist, Packdisk Editor, Series Publisher, Organizer	1989	Denmark
Icronite	Coder, Texter, Graphics Artist	1989	Denmark
Mask	Coder, Music Artist, Texter, Graphics Artist	1989	Denmark
Milkshake	Texter, Graphics Artist, Packdisk Editor, Series Publisher	1989	Denmark
Rookie	Texter, Graphics Artist, Swapper	1989	Denmark
Shock	Texter, Packdisk Editor	1989	Denmark
The Fcf	Texter	1989	Germany
Zenix	Coder, Music Artist, Texter, Swapper	1989	Denmark

Atomic Intelligence Team List Source

A Lost Track in the Cracking Scene

It seems “Alive” was part of a crack demo screen, which was common in those days. These screens often featured pixel art, scrollers filled with banter, and custom music to accompany game intros.

Some other demos from that era:

More MODs and demos from Atomic Intelligence:

• Demo 1
• Demo 2

The Mystery of “Alive”

The MOD file credits its composer as Alive of Atomic Intelligence, but who was Alive? Was this a well-known Amiga musician, or an alias of someone who made a handful of tracks before fading into obscurity? My search for more information led me to an old text scroller from Shock of Atomic Intelligence, which gave insight into the group’s members and scene connections.

In the scroller, a member named Shock mentioned his excitement about getting an Amiga and joining the crew. He even provided an address and a phone number (likely long outdated) for hot modem trading.

Connecting the Dots

Looking at the old Amiga scene, Atomic Intelligence seemed to have operated within the vibrant European demo and cracking culture. Their demos spread through swap networks and early digital bulletin boards. Finding a track like “Alive” from that era is a reminder of how much creativity was packed into a few kilobytes of memory.

Still Searching for Answers

I recently posted about this discovery in an Amiga Facebook group: Facebook Post. I’m hoping someone remembers Thomas from Shock, Alive, or other members of Atomic Intelligence who might have more details on this mysterious MOD file.

If you have any leads or just want to reminisce about the golden era of Amiga modding and demos, drop a comment!

Conclusion

The rediscovery of “alive.mod” has been an unexpected journey through time, connecting me to my early computing days and the vibrant Amiga demo scene. Beyond the nostalgia, it’s a reminder of how creativity thrived even with the technological limitations of the era. Whether it was crafting music, pixel art, or clever programming tricks, these creations left a lasting impression and, for me, a personal legacy in the form of “It’s Broken and It’s All Gavin’s Fault.”

As I continue piecing together these digital artifacts, I’m reminded that every file, every memory, tells a story. And in sharing these stories, I hope others are inspired to look back at their own histories and appreciate the creativity and ingenuity that brought us to where we are today. If you’ve stumbled across your own treasures from the past, I’d love to hear about them too!

Download and stream “Alive” here: ModArchive Link

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In an era where content is now limitless and available on-demand, I’ve created a custom YouTube player that brings back the nostalgic charm of those days. My custom player replicates the traditional channel-surfing experience by allowing you to switch between pre-loaded YouTube videos on five channels, reminiscent of the iconic Australian TV lineup from the 90s.

How It Works

• Power On: Press the “Power” button to start the player and activate Channel 2 ABC.
• Channel Navigation: Use “Channel +” and “Channel -” buttons to switch between channels: 2 ABC, 7 SEVEN, 9 NINE, 10 TEN, and 28 SBS.
• Seamless Surfing: After the initial playback, you can effortlessly surf between channels, mimicking the classic TV experience.

Conclusion:

Reliving the charm of 1990s Australian television with this custom YouTube player is a unique blend of nostalgia and modern tech. Surfing through 2 ABC, 7 SEVEN, 9 NINE, 10 TEN, and 28 SBS channels brings back memories of an earlier time and lets you rediscover the fun of finding the “best of the worst” content.

Experiment with different channels and enjoy the seamless, intuitive experience. Power on, and dive back into the best of both worlds.

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What’s This All About?

Imagine you’ve got a stash of old TV recordings—like those 90s cartoon blocks from Agros Cartoon Connection—and you want to watch them as if they’re airing right now. The Retro TV Sync Player lets you do just that. You pick a video from your local drive, set its original start time (say, 6:00 AM), and it’ll figure out where you’d be in the broadcast based on your current system time. If it’s 9:58 AM now, it jumps to 3 hours and 58 minutes in—unless that’s past the end, then it stops at the finish line. Neat, right?

Here’s the rundown of what it does:

• Load Any Video: Browse your files and pick an MP4 (or any video your browser supports).
• Set Start Time: Enter when the video “aired” (e.g., “9:00 AM”) in a simple AM/PM format.
• Sync on Play: Hit play, and it jumps to where you’d be if it started at that time today.
• Jump to Now: A handy button lets you skip to the current time’s spot anytime.
• Time Displays: See your system time, video playback time, and the “real” broadcast time—all in sync.

Try It Out!

Ready to test it? I’ve hosted it online so you can play with it yourself. Head over to this link:

Test the Retro TV Sync Player Here!

Grab a video from your collection (maybe that old VHS rip?), load it up, set a start time, and see how it feels to watch the past in the present. It’s perfect for reliving those Saturday morning vibes or syncing up any timed recording.

The post Introducing the Retro TV Sync Player – A Blast from the Past! appeared first on My Random Tips.

The Joy of Mr Matey Bubble Bath

One of the most memorable aspects of Mr Matey Bubble Bath was its 30-second commercials, filled with fun bubbles and a catchy jingle that captured the hearts of children and parents alike. You can watch one of these memorable commercials from 1991.

The Iconic Bottles

The bottles were designed as characters, making them not just functional but also fun to play with. These bottles were a staple in many Australian homes, often being kept long after the bubble bath was finished to be used as bowling pins due to their bowling pin type appearance.

The Recall Incident

However, in 1992, there was a recall issued due to the domed caps posing a choking hazard, affecting six children.

Kiwi Brands in Australia

Kiwi Brands, a company originally known for its shoe polish, was behind the distribution of Mr Matey Bubble Bath in Australia. Developed in Australia in 1906 by William Ramsay, Kiwi Brands grew to be the dominant shoe polish in many countries and later expanded into other products.

In Australia, the Mr Matey range was branded under Kiwi Brands Pty Ltd through an agreement with Sara Lee Corporation. Over the years, the business saw several changes in ownership. In late 1990, Sara Lee decided to sell the business, which was eventually acquired by Roche Holding Ltd in 1991 and later by S. C. Johnson in 2011.

What Happened to Mr Matey in Australia?

Despite its initial popularity, Mr Matey Bubble Bath eventually faded from the Australian market due to various mergers and acquisitions. However, it continued to thrive in the UK, adding new characters like Matey Bubble Bath Jasper, Matey Bubble Bath Molly, and Matey Bubble Bath Merman.

History of Mr Matey

In the USA, Mr Matey was one of several bubble baths that emerged in the 1960s, competing with brands like Mr. Bubble and Bubble Club Fun Bath. While many of these brands did not survive into the 1970s, Mr Matey found new life in the UK, where it faced less competition and built a strong presence. This success eventually spread to Australia, making it a beloved product in many households.

Throughout the years, the brand passed through several hands, but its popularity remained due to its fun and engaging approach to bath time. The conglomerate that now owns Matey in the UK also acquired other similar brands, ensuring that these products complement rather than compete with each other.

Summary

While you can not find the Australian rebranded Mr Matey Bubble Bath in Australia today, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who enjoyed it during their childhood. You can also buy imports from the UK to Australia.

While the brand may have faded from the shelves, but the nostalgia remains strong. Here’s to the classic Aussie commercial and the joy it brought to countless bath times.

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Bus Ticket Found in Old Book

My father found in an old book a paper Adelaide STA bus ticket, from the 1970s.

On the back of the ticket you can see an advertisement for a company called Star Printing Lonnen and Clark P/L advertising Computer Input forms accuracy guaranteed.

Also love quotes on the ticket, this ticket says “the best thing to save for your old age is yourself” I still remember fondly during my childhood that bus tickets still printed random quotes on the tickets.

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