Griffith and District Pioneers (Series 1) : A Biographical Register

GRIFFITH & DISTRICT PIONEERS A Biographical Register

SERIES 1 Griffith Genealogical & Historical Society

Griffith

GRIFFITH & DISTRICT PIONEERS A Biographical Register

GRIFFITH & DISTRICT PIONEERS A Biographical Register

Series 1 Revised

Compiled & Published by Griffith Genealogical & Historical Society Inc PO Box 270, Griffith NSW 2680 1993

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all the Pioneers but especially to the young women and their babes and small children - the many graves of whom in Bagtown Cemetery bear mute witness to the harshness and heartbreak of those hard early times.

Copyright This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced y any process without written permission.

First published 1990 Revised 1993 ISBN 0 949043 09 5 (Set) ISBN 0 949043 15 X

Printed by Star Printery Pty Ltd, Erskineville, New South Wales

Foreword

The "Griffith and District Pioneers - A Biographical Register" is a very unique publication, a valuable social history of the lives and living conditions of the early pioneers of the area. The stories have been provided by the pioneers themselves in some instances and the families of pioneers.

As a result of many years of dedicated and tireless work by Hilary Dalton and Wendy Polkinghorne and a small hardworking committee we now have a lasting tribute for present day children. Future generations will appreciate the trials and tribulations, of which there were many, the hopes and successes of the pioneers who arrived into the new irrigation area and proceeded to turn a wilderness into what is known today as the food bowl of Australia.

I commend all who have contributed to make the "Griffith and District Pioneers" the great success it will no doubt be.

Alderman J McGann.

Deputy Mayor, Griffith City Council, Griffith.

Acknowledgements Seldom can much be achieved without the generous support of others. With this in mind at the top of the list must come our own members who gave their contribution as a tribute to the memory of their parents who were pioneers.

Kay Mitchell nee Stevenson & Jeff Stevenson Nora Southgate nee Murphy Betty and Roger Blake

Mrs Nora Gibbons nee Crawford Marlene and Tony Gras Alderman J McGann Mrs M Hare nee Morrison

Special thanks is also given to the following people and bodies who have supported us so generously: Apex Club of Griffith Faulks, Polkinghorne & Budd Lancaster & Del Gigante Yenda Fruit & Case Supply Griffith Exservicemens Club Ltd Marsh Chiropractic Clinic Rotary Club of Griffith East Rotary Club of Griffith Central Rotary Club of Griffith Innerwheel Club of Yenda Service Lions Club of Griffith Mirrool Royal Australian Historical Society

WK Simpson J L Graham Rotary Club of Yenda J R Dalla Mrs P Jones nee Farley Mrs V Dalla Mr G Kayess Mrs F Mansell Mrs N McWilliam State Bank Griffith Garden Club 2RG Sunshine Club Griffith RSL CWA - Hanwood S L Macdonald Cafe Beautiful Mr & Mrs D A Taylor SR Bakeries Pty Ltd Mrs M Campbell nee Morel Ricegrowers Co-op Mills Ltd Griffith Community Bi-centennial Committee

We would like too, to acknowledge our very special thanks and appreciation to our Members who have given so unstintingly of their time and expertise....

Enid Atkinson for her artistic design of our dustcover and for the many delightful sketches within these pages. Enid also interviewed many of our contributing Pioneers and their Families and wrote many of their stories. Wally Quinlivan who with Enid came up with our beautifully appropriate logo.

Allan and Edna Wakely for copying the very many precious photos.

Our assistant writers:- June Harriman, Enid Atkinson, Margaret Thomas, Wendy Calabria, Lynette Brown.

Our proof readers:- Ann Stevens, Lynette Villata, Ann Permezel, Margaret Thomas, June Harriman, Kay Mitchell, Brenda Prenzel, Wendy Calabria, Jean Murphy.

Our many Contributors without whom, of course, this social history could never have been written. Special thanks to Joyce Elwin (nee Bull) for contacting so many descendants of the Selector families.

To our Families and Friends who may have felt neglected and bored with our "obsession" - thank you for not showing it.

Editors vi

Contents

Foreword

vi

Acknowledgements

Contents

The Pioneers

Editor's Notes

Background

Sketch of "Bagtown"

17

The Pioneers' Stories/Biographies

19

Index

419

vii

THE PIONEERS Alexander Alvaro Anstee Armstrong Ashcroft Baltieri Bartholomew Beaumont Beaumont/Johnston Belford Bertram/Carpenter Bonomi Boots Borthwick Boyle Braithwaite Brownscombe Bull Burgess see Tango Joe Bums Campbell Ceccato A Ceccato VG Chandler Chapman Chittick Colautti "Cook in Camp" Cox Crawford J Crawford, M, F & C Cregan Cummings Cunial Cush/Conlan Davidge Davies Day Delves Dreyer Driver Duchatel

Dun Ebert Ellesmere Erskine Evans Farley Flynn Foote Garton Gee Goring Gras Hall Hamilton Hams Harriman Harris AWE Harris JW Harwood Hayes-Williams Hill Hoggard Jacka Jacob Jenkins Johnson Kayess Kendall Kennedy Kenningale Nevarde Kook Kurtz Lasscock Lenehan Little Lowrie Maher Manera Mansell McClellan McClure McGann viii

McKern McWilliam Morel Morrison Murphy O'Dea Owens Pauling Pearson Pedley Pfitzner Pritchard Proud Pryde Quilter Rowley Sangster/Farrell Sara Savage Scott Smith Spry Stark Stevenson Tango Joe Taylor, DH Taylor, FH Taylor, HA Taylor, S (Nurse) Thomett Towart Trenerry Turner Vagg Vaughan Wade M,P,WH Wade W Watkins Weare Whiting Whybrow Wickham

Editor's Notes These biographies of local pioneer families represent a complete cross section of people occupying and working the land now known as Griffith and District.

In this first volume every effort has been made to contact as many of the earliest arrivals in the new irrigation area as well as the "Selector" families who were here before their land was resumed. It has been our earnest endeavour to cover as many of these families as possible. Exception has been made, however, for some later arrivals who so obligingly supplied their material and photographs as long as eight years ago at the beginning of the project to collect these pioneer biographies.

Sadly too, there are still many pioneer families missing from this collection because over these eight years of preparation they have not responded to the many invitations - personally and in the local press - to include their story.

No effort has been made to convert i into $ because any such conversion would have no relevance to to-days values.

While every effort has been made to be as accurate as possible regarding this early history we are entirely reliant on peoples' memories and family traditions. While some might disagree about certain minor details, we feel the overall picture of life and conditions is depicted with great clarity and integrity.

However this Society and Editors can take no responsibility for any statements made.

Hilary Dalton (nee Millynn) Wendy Polkinghome (nee Bested)

ix

,-

X

Background This collection of pioneer family biographies is intended first and foremost as a salute to those men, women and children who went without so much in the way of just ordinary comforts, at first at least, to lay the foundations of todays modern, progressive and lovely city and surrounds. In the case of our city and the villages and the farms which surround it, not a birthright but surely a heritage from the pioneers, passed on to us by those people - young people - who came in the beginning, from far and wide, from vastly differing backgrounds, to live and to work together. Certainly one does not need to look far at all to see the debt we all owe, as inheritors and citizens of this city and it surrounds.

A city where we lack for very little - from the comfortable life-style which, almost without exception, most enjoy; to schools so well equipped the children of yesteryear would gaze in wonder; sporting facilities undreamed of by those workers/sportsmen of bygone days; the parks and gardens, and on and on This "Hidden Valley" has known a progression of human habitation. The first recorded is that of the Wiradjuri people who occupied it before the arrival of Europeans.

Only in recent years is it being recognised and understood that rather than being nomadic, as previously believed, they "managed" the land and its animals very well indeed. They regarded themselves as caretakers of the land, their laws were strict with regard to overtaxing water, land or game resources. In nature they watched the ways of plants and animals, the signs of changing seasons, the movement of stars. The stars were used to tell when to hunt certain game or shift camp or expect weather changes. Trade, social and religious laws were very exact, controlled by an elected "Council" which usually came together regularly, at formal initiation ceremonies, and was made up of one headman from each clan. In the 19th century the Wiradjuri Council numbered at least thirty members.

It determined all major issues such as war and peace, diplomacy, punishments for major crimes and other general policy mattersl.

As early as 1817 Oxley made observations regarding their controlled burnings and saw wells which they had sunk. They fired grass for two reasons - principally to catch game and to encourage new growth. At the time of firing they clubbed or speared small game as it fled the fire but for large game they set nets of bark fibre and kangaroo sinew showing that they could control the direction of the fires they lit. The grass was fired to encourage new growth to attract game from the forest. In short, their plains were fattening paddocks.2 Although fire was their tool it was treated with respect. Before firing a plain they backburnt around plants they wished to preserve for animal shelter or food. However, with the coming of white man all this was to change. In the 1870's Wiradjuri warned the father of poetess, Mary Gilmore, who managed "Cowabee" Station, that European carelessness was destroying the soil and that in time it would become valueless!3 Perhaps a forecast of today's salinity problems?

1 Bill Gammage "Narrandera Shire" 2 Bill Gammage "Narrandera Shire" 3 Bill Gammage "Narrandera Shire"

The next wave of habitation was the Squatters who took up huge parcels of land and ran them as pastoral runs. With these came the huge herds of cattle and flocks of sheep. Came too, the Chinese scrub-cutters and ring-barkers and well-sinkers of extraordinary skills. As a result of the occupation of the land by the Squatters came also the bands of escaped wild cattle and wild horses which were particularly troublesome in these parts.

With John Robertson's 1861 Land Act (the "Crown Lands Alienation Act") came the possibility for the less wealthy to acquire land. Under this Act the right was given to any person to select from 40 to 320 acres of any Crown Lands (except town, suburban or reserved lands) at a fixed price of i1 per acre, of which 5/- was to be paid as a deposit on application, three years being allowed in which to pay the balance without interest.

Alternatively, payment could be deferred indefinitely by paying interest at 5%. A "condition of residence" was imposed and improvements of f1 per acre were required to be effected. This was a "Conditional Purchase" (Selection). This Act meant that virtually the whole of unalienated land of NSW was thrown open for selection.

Picnic on Perch's Property Courtesy Griffith Collection

Some of the families settling in this area in the 1880's were:- Sawyers, Bulls, Drivers, Duns, Matchetts, Peech, Davies, Quilters, Joscelyn-Smiths, Andersons, Cummings, Mclntoshes and McGrath. From these quite a few place names are derived. The village of Bilbul, said to have been chosen at John Jacob's suggestion, to commemorate the family of "Bill Bull" who had occupied that area prior to resumption for irrigation. The suburb of Driver named for the family on whose country part of this suburb is now located. "West End", the name of the paddock of the enormous pastoral run of "Kooba" Station from which people in that area made their "selection". Lakeview, the name chosen by the Peech family for their selection which occupied the land covered today by the two 2

lakes and the Picnic Area. The little timber Anglican Church of St James built by the joint contributions of the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian Selector Families in 1907, now standing and still used in Pioneer Park on Scenic Hill, was first located on the Dun's property, "The Cliffs" on the slopes beneath the lookout on Scenic Hill and approximately between Yoogali and Bilbul. The Church was later moved to the infant village of Hanwood and it was to be the first material church on this end of the Area. These were farmers who ran stock and cultivated dry area crops, set up saw-mills to harvest the abundant and very fine indigenous cypress pine. Recollections of Harold Davies, one selector, tells of the need to shepherd sheep on Scenic Hill because dingoes were so numerous. For the same reason only cattle could be run in the Lakeview area.

Canal Construction - 'The Fust Cut" Courtesy Western Riverina Library

Almost as if by coincidence it was in the 1880's that the initial vision of an irrigation scheme for NSW, centred around the Murrumbidgee River, began to emerge.

This "vision" was greatly enhanced and influenced by the success of the private irrigation scheme on the Yanco property of (Sir) Samuel McCaughey.

However, it was not until 1906 that the "Barren Jack and Murrumbidgee Canals Construction Act" became a reality and the NSW Public Works Dept was authorised to carry out the necessary construction work. From that date began the giant task of establishing the immense scheme which was to completely transform the countryside and to be the beginning of a unique pioneering venture.

3

The first step in this mammoth undertaking was the construction of Burrinjuck Dam, as it fmally became known, and which because of the outbreak of World War 1, accompanied by the necessary diversion of money and manpower to the war effort, was not finally and fully completed until 1927. In fact, the progress of development of the scheme was severely checked until the end of the War in 1918.

The next progression was the passing of the "Murrumbidgee Irrigation Resumption Act" of 1910 which allowed for the resumption of the Selectors' lands within the area designated for the irrigation scheme. The first resumption took place at North Yanco in June 1911 and at what was to become Mirrool (Griffith) in 1912. Thereupon, under the supervision of the Public Works Dept huge construction gangs went to work to build the canals and channels needed, the work being carried out by horse teams drawing "Wankey Scoops" of 5 cubic feet capacity and "Slice Scoops" and "Monkey Trailed Wheeled Scoops" of 12 cubic feet capacity (described by some as being rather like large over-sized shovels) for the excavation. At the same time the sides of the canal were smoothed with scrapers.

The concrete gangs followed them up to seal the channels where the soil was porous and build the bridges and culverts. At Beelbangera, Yenda and Hanwood, carpenters' camps were established to construct houses for the settlers as farms were surveyed and made available for lease4.

The Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission (known as the WC & IC or "The Commission") usually established a limited type of phone system, running a line where it was needed, rather like an army field telephone service. However, as there were plenty of youths looking for work, messengers were often employed, as their pay was a mere 15/- to £1 per week.

Youngsters found jobs as "water joeys" and "nippers". It was the water joey who kept the water bags filled, carted the water from the canals, boiled the billy and made tea for workmen. "Nippering" was a term used for similar work, but more frequently, the nippers' job was to take the picks to be sharpened by the blacksmiths.

The work day began at seven o'clock, the workmen finding their own way to the site, usually on foot or by push bike. The surveyors and engineers generally travelled by motorbike when carrying out official inspection of the work'.

Main Canal Construction Camps were sited approximately every seven miles along the developing canal. As each section was completed the camp, of tents, would move to the next location where horse yards would also be built. It was in these totally primitive living conditions that the women lived alongside their men, bearing their children, sometimes alone, and caring for their menfolk and small children. Again it is well to remember too that they were, mostly all young people. So often probably all of us have been guilty of overlooking the tremendous contribution of these stout-hearted women. It takes little imagination to appreciate the awful conditions, crude in the extreme, of heat, dust and flies in summer and the cold, mud and frosts which prevailed in winter and in which they "made do".

4 5

Peter Freeman Papers S Cheesbrough "Spread of Green"

4

Canal Construction Courtesy of "The Griffith Collection"

5

Wickham's Camp Griffith Collection - Courtesy Mr Syd Wickham

6

The construction camps must have been busy places though as, aside from the human needs and interplay, there were literally thousands of horses employed - not only excavating but bringing in supplies of every kind from the bagged cement and all the required construction materials, supplies and food for workmen and families as well as oats and chaff in the prodigious quantities required for the maintenance of the horses.

Wickham's camp (now Wickhams Hill, a suburb of Griffith) was named after the ganger in charge of the construction crew camped there in 1913. The gangers were the men in charge of the various types of construction crews - the "scoop gang" who were responsible for the excavation work and the "concrete gangs" who followed them up and built the bridges, culverts and other concrete works and so on6.

Old Griffith or "Bagtown" had its beginning in 1911 with the establishment there of a Public Works Dept Camp, "Crowther's Camp" situated on part of the northern boundary of "Kooba" Station's netted fence. This camp was named after the then Resident Engineer who was in charge of the construction of the southern end of the Mirrool Branch Canal (completed November 1912) and which linked up with the Main Canal near the proposed site for the permanent township of Griffith. This Main Canal carried the gravity-fed water, via Berembed Weir, all the way from the vast resources of Burrinjuck Dam. As early as 1912 the Irrigation Trust sent a representative to Broken Hill to speak to the miners there and publicise the scheme and receive applications for farming blocks.

In 1913 one fifth of M.IA. Settlers came from Broken Hill and Bagtown was home to many Broken Hill families. Similarly it was advertised in many other mining communities, resulting in people coming from Burra in South Australia, Orange, Cessnock, Cobar and Canbelego in New South Wales, just to name a few of the mining areas from where people came.

By 1914 promotion of the scheme extended from London to San Francisco while at the same time it was extensively advertised in Sydney in glossy, colourful posters in trams, trains and ferries depicting abundant farm produce and inviting city dwellers to became prosperous farmers! As a result the original farm grantees came from an extraordinary diversity of backgrounds and nationalities. A casual glance through the list of the first 500 settlers give testimony of this.

August 1912 saw the appointment of HA Taylor as Building Supervisor to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust and he was instructed to proceed "to what was then known as West Mirrool to pick a site ("Crowther's Camp") for the erection of horse yards, camping facilities and temporary offices for the staff (administrative) which were to follow".

This site was never intended nor envisaged as anything more than a temporary place of abode but with the establishment (in a tent) of a Post Office on 17 June 1912 it soon became the commercial and social nucleus of the many camps which surrounded the chosen site for the permanent or "New Town", as it is still referred to by many of the old identities. No one was allowed by the WC & IC to settle in the "New Town" without

6 S Cheesbrough "Spread of Green" HA Taylor letter to Richard Cox

7

Griffith Settlers Co-operative Courtesy the Late George Pauling

Bagtown Courtesy Griffith Collection

8

permission, nor before the designated time. To this end the present town was ringed by a large number of these construction camps and sawmills but "Bagtown" was far and away the biggest and most important. Unlike so many other Australian towns and cities we are fortunate in that there are still such a large number of our pioneers with us and, although in their 80's and 90's, with very clear and coherent memories.

It was at this time too that the name of the township, old and new, was changed from Mirrool to Griffith. When applying for a Post Office/Money Order Office, Mr Crowther had suggested that it be known as West Mirrool but he was informed that as there was already a village by the name of Mirrool, with a Post Office and Railway Station on the Temora-Barellan rail line and only 56 miles distant from the new proposed office the similarity would be too confusing. From this time on the name "Griffith" became official.

With postal and money order facilities installed, tradespeople soon followed to serve the original 200 men and 2 women in this camp. By September of the following year, 1913, this population number had risen to 400 plus and by the end of this same year the head count of adults was 500 plus. These numbers included many families and the burial of so many babes and very small children in the little Bagtown Cemetery remain as the sad evidence of the workmen and pioneering farmers having been joined by their wives and families.

From 1913, when water reached this end of the Area, the WC & IC assumed responsibility for the day-to-day functioning of the Bagtown community, including the provision of essentials such as sanitation and water supply. Water for the settlement came from the nearby Mirrool Creek Branch Canal, from where it was fed to an earthen storage dam and pumped to the overhead railway-type square tank. The residents of Bagtown drew water, in cut-down kerosene tins, from the taps supplied from the tank and spaced around the settlement. The pump-man who looked after the water supply was a local identity known as "Paddy the Pump" and was a great favourite with the children. Toilets, using a pan system and shower blocks, supplied with cold water, were set up to serve the settlement. While not exactly modern, Bagtown had the basic amenities!8 Bagtown's commercial centre grew up opposite the construction camp timber yard and blacksmith's shop, around the original Griffith Post Office and adjacent store.

The storekeepers of Bagtown were hard-headed entrepreneurs, attracted by the commercial opportunity of supplying the pioneer/farmers and construction workers with the necessities of life. Andrew Martin set up the first store in 1912 and other storekeepers and tradesmen soon followed. Whitton's baker, John Jacob, who expanded from established businesses nearby soon appears to have become involved in just about every facet of community life. Carr, the butcher. Bone, the barber and billiard room proprietor. Selkirk and Pedley who showed enterprise by opening a temporary store while establishing their nearby farm. Fallon's general store. Chadwick's "Eat Up". The blacksmiths - Carroll, Chandler and Thompson. Jacka's Motor and Bicycle Repair Shop. The numerous boarding houses - some providing meals for men without families, some providing accommodation while others provided both. The Bottrill's open-air picture "theatre". Mrs Cummings "dress shop" in which it would seem she sold just about anything

8

Peter Freeman Papers

9

and everything that would help to make the lot of these pioneering women a little more genteel. Not to be forgotten either that colourful character, "Tango Joe" who provided "Meals at All Hours", drinks (soft) and, said by some, "a nice little bit of gambling on the side!!".

Rapidly this huddle of shops, temporary offices and WC & IC Stores, tents and humpies became not only the commercial centre of Mirrool/Griffith but the social centre as well. Seventy-odd years later May Fallon recalls that "mail day was much more than just that. It was a social highlight that I wouldn't have missed for anything!".

Ilairdresser's Shop Courtesy Mr Arthur Wcare

Later on came a permanent doctor, the respected and well-loved Dr Watkins, the tiny hospital and a provisional school. The school, a 20' x 26' galvanised iron shed, was opened 12 May 1913. Located on the rise between the present site of CSIRO and the recently demolished Livanes Freezing Works (formerly the Cheese Factory) it was dubbed, with the characteristic waggish humour of that generation, the "Bagtown Academy of Learning". The first appointed teacher, Mr Hector Williams, arrived with his official instructions which included "where and how to pitch his tent".

10

Although we now tend to think of them collectively as "Pioneers" these were young men and women. They were, in the main, young and many newly married or with babes and tiny children who came to what was advertised as the future "Garden of Eden" but where in fact they worked hard, fearfully hard in most cases, in the most adverse conditions...almost without exception making their first home in a basic tent or tin shed.

Consider if you will, young women coping with a basic tent with dirt floor - hot and dusty in summer, often with temperatures around forty degrees and higher and the other extreme in winter.

By far the great majority were the "grass-root" Australians and their Australianborn children. There were many English and Scots and also numerous Irish families or of Irish descent, and Welshmen and their families, all of whom came from the gentle greens of Britain and made their homes in these harsh conditions. The Italians, quite a number of whom came as early as 1913/14, who worked on the construction of Burrinjuck Dam to earn eligibility to their farming land. The many people from Germany and of German descent and the Swiss. The men of Spain, three brothers who were among the first farm occupiers and one of them with us still; the Chinese family who were the proprietors of the first laundry; the well liked Lebanese family from the Hanwood Store; the two Greek men who ran one of the early cafes - equally liked and respected by all who knew them. The young Frenchman, a labourer, who drowned in the newly finished steepsided canal because he couldn't swim, yet among his personal effects were several gold medals, won in France, for sporting prowess! The Canadian/Chinese who became the first person to be buried in "Bagtown" Cemetery. The small group of Jewish faith headed by one of the early doctors and the "colourful" retailer of those days. The Yugoslavian green-grocer who sold vegetables from a horse and dray. The couple who, despite living in a tent, continued to "dress for dinner". The American who was the original settler to occupy Farm No. 1 ... and so the list goes on and on. A microcosm indeed!!

Even to this day there are still many of the pioneers, especially the women, who object strongly to the "tag", "nickname" call it what you will - of "Bagtown" with which this camp was labelled.

It came about because the only truly abundant commodity in this community were the thousands and thousands of empty cement bags left from the construction of the cement channels and bridges - a community 20 kilometres from the •Bagtown" Courtesy Griffith Collection nearest railway. Twenty kilometres and a journey of at least two hours by horse or bullock transport, over rough station tracks which were totally impassable in times of wet weather. This distance from the rail was the reason, of course, for the excessive freight charges which were added to every single commodity and was in no small way a major factor in the pressure exerted on the Commission by the settlers for the completion of the railway from Barellan to Griffith which came in 1916.

11

It would seem that the cement bags were used in every conceivable way possible these and the empty four gallon kerosene tins, which when flattened out also became a very common shelter/building material. Perhaps too, since "Old Griffith" had by far the largest number of families (located in the "Married Men's Quarters") it accounts for their greater use being made here, though undoubtedly, they would have been freely used in all the other camps as well.

The first Griffith Show had a special class for the exhibiting of articles made from cement bags and several of the people who were there tell of the extraordinary ingenuity of the exhibitors and variety of the articles which were forthcoming.

Married Men's Quarters - liagtcnvn Courtesy Griffith Collection

From 1913-1917 the Commission published its own journal (newspaper), the fortnightly "Irrigation Record" to promote irrigation farming. For one penny per issue, inexperienced farmers could obtain advice on all aspects of agricultural management! The problems associated with the rising water table which caused damage to farms because of waterlogging and increases in salination were first raised in the journal as early as 1913.

The "Irrigation Record" of 15 December 1913 carried the exciting news "PROVISION OF TELEPHONE. The Commissioner promised to provide a telephone to Willbriggie siding for the use of settlers (15 miles distance over unmade roads, Ed.) and the Manager was able to announce that the matter was in hand. It has since transpired that an order has actually been placed by the Commissioner for the material which will be required in connection with the matter. Every effort will be made to expedite the erection of the telephone as much as possible."

The outbreak of World War 1 was to mark great changes. A slowing down of development and a high ratio of enlistment of men, from Bagtown, in the first AIF. Even

12

greater changes were to be evidenced with the return of thousands of men from the battlefields of Europe and Egypt.

As early as 1916 the Government was looking towards the repatriation and resettlement of these returning ex-servicemen and this same year, 1916, a WC & IC report tells of the establishment of a "Soldiers' Working Camp" near the site of Griffith township. The proposal was that in return for the clearing and preparation of land which would later be granted as irrigation farms either to themselves or to later arrivals, the Commission would provide accommodation in barracks, with meals provided, in addition to receipt of weekly "sustenance payments"of £2.2.0 for single men and from £2.12.0 to £3.6.0 for married men depending on the size of their families. These sustenance payments, or the "susso" as it became known, were taken into account when "the charge upon the land" was apportioned to each farm and had to be repaid when they became productive.

The Surveyor's at work 1912 Courtesy of Mrs Joan Millynn ncc Mahcr

Two years before the war was to end and the return of Australian soldiers it was envisaged that a large number would be attracted to this new irrigation area. The late Jack Kelly, who later became the first Shire President and was one of the men closely associated with lobbying the WC & IC and the Government for a better deal for Soldier Settlers on the Mirrool end of the scheme, stated that eventually there were 1,026 Soldier Settlers on the MIA. The channel systems were still being installed and the Government reserved irrigable but unimproved land for discharged soldiers of the AIF. These men, many of 13

whom carried wounds and illness from gunshot, bayonet and mustard gas, were camped at Bagtown and in Barracks at Beelbangera and Yenda. In order to qualify as settlers they worked in gangs for six months preparing other farms for ballot. Most of them had little prior knowledge of irrigation farming. However, these men were used to hardship and toiled under primitive conditions to establish their farms under rules prescribed by Government regulations.

By the end of 1921 most of the soldier settlers occupied farms of about 15 to 20 acres and were preparing to plant trees and vines. Larger allotments of up to 150 acres were also being established as dairies and mixed farms.

Despite rosy forecasts troubled times were ahead for these soldier settlers and their families. For a multiplicity of reasons, probably over simplified by saying that farm areas were too small and that they were encouraged to go greatly into debt, especially to the WC & IC, as well as others, upon which high interest payments accrued and compounded in the years while farms were still unproductive. To add to their troubles, sustenance payments from the Government were suspended in 1922 and the fruit market collapsed. Many had to find alternative work just to survive. By 1924 more than 30 soldier settlers had abandoned their farms in despair.

March on W C & I C. Courtesy Griffith Collection

Settlers' discontentment and disillusionment with this "land fit for heroes" came to a head when on 7 December 1924 the Mirrool Soldier Settlers marched, in a body, on the offices of the WC & IC to protest against the general administration and mismanagement of the Area.

Some measure of relief came in 1926 with the passing into law of the "Irrigation (Amendments) Act" which provided for reclassification of farms and writing down of liabilities and halved the (exorbitantly high) valuation of all holdings.

The next blow was, as the effects of the Depression deepened, produce prices fell to unimagined levels and the MIA faced a period of real crisis. Meanwhile, family after family abandoned their farms and simply walked away.

Relief came only with the removal of restrictions on land title and transfer which allowed for Irrigation Area freehold to achieve the same status as freehold anywhere else in the State. This in turn made it possible for the commercial banks to lend money on 14

the same terms as elsewhere, something they had not previously been prepared to do.

From this time on the Area slowly began to prosper despite the economic depression which continued for some years. We can appreciate that not all the soldier settlers were unsuccessful. A great many battled through those grindingly hard years and went on to contribute to providing the foundation for the facilities and opportunities now enjoyed by all who live and work in this unique and very prosperous Area - a prosperity achieved by an extremely hard-working community bringing about what is probably another unique circumstance in the State if not the whole of Australia - that of some or several products coming to harvest every month of the year. In fact the food bowl of NSW. Primary producers supplying practically every commodity, except seafoods and beer, but then we do even produce malting barley used for brewing of beer!

So much for Surveyor Oxley's 1817 diary comment describing these incredibly rich agricultural plains - "..the howling wilderness...there is uniformity of barren desolation of this country which wearies one more than I am able to express." He finished with the opinion "I am the first white man to see it and I think I will undoubtedly be the last".

Would that he could view it today. What would his concluding comment be?

In most histories the stories of the wealthy and illustrious are always well documented. The aim of this Register is to tell the stories of the ordinary people; their remembered experiences - told by the people who were there when it happened and allow them to be documented in their rightful place - a very important place in the history of Griffith.

It is intended also as an acknowledgment and to honour these people who by their great initiative, hardship, courage and energy - or in most cases, just sheer hard work and perseverance - provided us with the city we enjoy today; an increasingly cosmopolitan city that lacks for very little. Apart from providing a valuable genealogical record for each family who contributed we see it also as an uniquely rich and important social history document which will be a lasting record for the families and the city.

All that remains with this sweeping overview is to leave the Pioneers, or their families, to tell their stories.

Hilary Dalton

References: Bill Gammage - "Narrandera Shire : Wiradjuri' Peter Freeman Papers "Irrigation Record" 1913 S. Chessbrough - "Spread of Green" B M Kelly - "From Wilderness to Eden A History of the City of Griffith" Hilary Dalton papers 15

••••1

I's 1... ___ 0 ',..,' .5C GI -u d 3 ..,. °

1 ,",, u vi : 4 ad

_

) i-......... . - u

u

r

0 - c- x .1.) u t. iz 'ttl V

g 44

e u '''i 0 U 11., (.; u ,-I-. Q c 6) C., 0

41 0

7 .M 4) ;'4 0.t

E

= E ,

(4 ed

E

0U U 'Cm" 13 1ct4' Zi ' • 15.: u 2

g

5.

4.) ,..,

? .E

00

,-, o

airl =

74.

1) --g = n m ,,Zi ''- §

8

.... T. 111 U ed ; 0 L.'.3 0 )1 15 11 A-, it k 3L=8°111.

Ps. 0.. . u .0 .9 0.) *2 "‘C' W t3.

Ec s •9 4 .5 , a .). co iyi• = ., c •- = 0 2 13. 0

u c .= , ps......

C CO 1... "-•EI, 1--. .-Nd ti =° "2 :0,1 L., 15 ; q, -• § 5 is: _ 0. u -4 •ui g 9 0 to 8 •-, 7 .0 '41 4) •= .E =60)50g 6 .., ' E

e v. v) t; 1.--• 0

5 E 4:1 v)

.,

., - na C 0 t.. .bo 2 IA.

es .,...! . co u

..-• f-' ej..)1:4 "' c __ le. 44 ;:i o ,., ° 2 8 2 ;.4 c° 0, >, -4 v k 114 .0 ..u ....

2 0 ..--i ..0

,.. ›.. .., to ,;„ co Ls al c4 12 , _°

0

..

• 0

. .-, 1 ;)" o co S .1.) E O bp 4) 20UE

= t.) ..°'a.

0 un -c 0 8 'd 11 1"''

E 7.3) :4...,, i >• '2 L.

ca >

§ 0 =

o .0 .

•,,: ) -2 4 4="

E s°

•C

0 • 2 tg -Cl o .2 . - - 2 6 G. .'0

...Q U rus i t

u

"... C') 73 cDt ›,... = ci 0 L) 0 cei eid Ltd . 0 dd g 1.5 E .g, 0 a) • -,..*>, :-3 E '411 = g cC 4t1 (f) 0.4d 8 3 b •‘' .-0 0 4 " . r, , E L = U u 0 ..

0 EU 0 Et.-)=: u g 40E e1 .73 ....

•- 2 0 0 ,-, .

U . . a o il ' ,) 3 12. a g ,e p d 3 4! 6 3 = 44) mL .' iii iii :: :: t) a. eu. iZ a; 3 3 [2'4 x A.. et n 4r in c''' S :74 s',3

° R 2 ;°. I.° °2

.1. ie ie• Li; % .53 F--) r- F-! f-1it--•

,t; 28 g'''' , *, Y ._u •, .w 0 0 8 ,.., 8 ' u o U 7 7 -Ns u -. d

0 . as ,-, 0,

o

'0

24Moses GoIlan's Residence

u UCrd .... U •-• ...iE V D U 1u

V 0c., u .0

u .0 u)

'd

Ai

l)

..' u

_c 0 O,,y, 9 8 § ...

4 83 u) E • 0 z ed In .4.1 ed .... 4) . 7,

._

.0 4.)

.

a)

. o fx C., cp E C., = u i.) = a.) c dd 4) e u 0 :0 u U wu1:38 73 E C V U V .L, Cj . ca ..,, 4.) ^ ..

0 ..1 t) 9 "g t) g '4 6" u u • Tn. i = - ,oC., :0 ,0=t' co rx 8 u- u c; GO • o • 0, U ,z c, .v, • 4) 0 .0 6) 0 7 .V3 O •,,, c cc 0 •-6 .c. ; .... c•, ix 70, -a <I0:Ne `n 0 ›, 14 Y' •- , a) o . . „, C4 "ci.„,ix°_ E..7 .

-2 .0 ,=2'co= ... co v1 -0 P .11 'm tx u 3... c 0 0 17 V .= g :13 ,-, 0 C4 63 a.)

- .= rd) '0- r..1 g r`A = ' ..." , Ec.13 ,.., rA cr7 g, u 8 = ..N ..-.1 ...., c..tn L.0Lii .4 c co ....- c4 ..tez 74 .V .12 .. :5 ix 8 "3 (..

'• : or al ."' c4 ..i, ,-. • .- a (5 b y • U

t.'

E

•

. iy.. . .(7) 65

..„

:2 0.. eel C Y ,.. t -g v ?, 0 -2, .s-I ,,2 2 -t '.. .1"" r, • .- ci 2 E ‘4 0 u `m = rc: .,, 1-4 0-4) -... ,., 9 0 cr: ._,-2 -1 - Li ic X,. .., ..... 4. ,rd lca;. LX mu'„e U .4 ei '' D ° •-• c 0 u 8 „, = 4 < a.

5 ,..

0 vl ,, 1 u - 0 c c° co ,,, 02 ixl At. „

0 Gi. ..) ''', X "a

I. 4n A n A en CI en en

141 :3:4 el PI Fl R

• H ^

c,

ei m -,.1- 4 19 4 4 4 c4 ' 41

cr, cp ...

-,4 C V

0.

.0

0

x

C..)

•.:::' R E = 0 '-' 0 .... , 0 a" .0 U •••• -'

00

g

41 = 02 0

es g C4 co 3/4

0 0 0 0 1-' t

9c 0 S. '7:3 >1 ., .. .?)

. ba

u u

c 0 .0 g es ,....,tz: 2 0e rxV

(5 d g g4

44 IS 41

..-• iv m V

." vz

c., 0 0 4) 0

'0 0 ';', 0 .1) '0

a -0 . 70" -Un t. c4 ,.: 2 .0 -c 0 ,(.

1 . ld .0 V .0 •-• ..)

CA 7, ellA"43' 2 g. •?•`(3` -

e8 g.0f..,-0.

C .9 L (n s .ou P = E S 1 8 .-00a=v< y c".-' 4' .... : is id p-..s g --, a . .e . I § - i : z (79 A rg „, ,,,,, o u ..„:.p - . J. -L. VI V .... 41101-- 0, .

•C 5 0..

4 0 ,J .

0 .I.) 'I ... o gc,.., .g . u . c ,. < u ba ...T . co .0 5 0 . . .

--r . 2 2 c .0 4 4'ut45

1,1

1

a

u i LS

.0 al 0 0 („)

1. = -.. 74 ii. e •C 4?. eh. 41 'P.02 ‘..)'•-.SC)tre0..

• '''`ARI,-,0 t''-' C2 2 13 - d u -"' AC e 0

c 9 P G ^,-; .4,) ,-. Au .. ,...

co g -"I 0'9 g o ,.. . j4 Lj = = 1 i .(03' g

8 83

'S a' 2

, 80.5,5.a

1.

1 :0 4)

a

0 '17. •-••• co cl 0 s •''' C

U

C

0 ..,d 0

...., I.

.

‘1

E

et T, .73 .4 Ts o .- sa m cd = .. 4. 41:: 1:c4 04

N. co as

.....

'''' -

16

....

m .4. n .-.I .-.I

1u . 4_ :1 2 3 3 A !! g '4:4 !:.; VI

R,

,

MM

Courtesy of Mr Stan Cummings

0 ....

0 .

sO

ck9 o ❑ \ S \ \ o o e 0 t DO

I

= c5

8 0, 31:1

us

ig

SO

1 1 10

$0

so 09

go a

00 Os 1;c2

(7): 7

u4

!ca

5

10 01

po

LC11

0

AO

O ;

0110

CO

Ell

17

an

Bagtown - from the right: Tangoe Joes, John Jacob's Store, Claude Ilanna's Bakery, Tom Bone's Barber & Billiard Saloon, Pedlcy's Store & Post Office.

Courtesy Mrs Joan Millynn nee Maher

Bagtown - J A Carr, Butcher Courtesy Western Riverina Library

18

ALEXANDER Kathleen and Hugh Alexander arrived at Griffith in October 1919. These memories of their arrival were written in October 1986 by Kathleen Alexander, then aged 89 years. They cover 1919-1954- the year Hugh Alexander died - 17 July 1954.

"My late husband's family first came to Australia when the two boys, James and Hugh, were quite young. They lived at `Southese, Homebush, Sydney. Their mother died in 1928 at 78 years; their father, I don't know.

When the first World War came, James (then a married man) and his brother, Hugh, returned to England to work on munitions at Vickers' at Erith (downstream on the River Thames from Woolwich) London, as they were both skilled tradesmen.

I met Hugh, in England, when working on munitions myself in 1917 and when the Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918 our meeting continued. We were married on 7 January 1919 and sailed in May for Australia, arriving in July. We stayed with Hugh's mother, his sister Flo and brother-in-law, Perce Mills, at Homebush, Sydney.

In October we left by train to travel the 400 miles to Griffith - then the end of the line. Hillston was not connected by train then. We stayed at 'Bagtown' that was to be 'Griffith' but which later moved to the Griffith of to-day. Farm No. 9 was a corner block of 50 acres and had been used to grow wheat before planting fruit trees and vines.

There was a long galvanised iron shed (our home to be) facing the road on the east side.

On the west side there was a very large dam and fenced all around. It had lots of noisy frogs in it. Until we were able to get a rain water tank we had to boil all the water.

There was also a well, close to the fence on the east side. It had been made by someone who liked and did good work. However, the only water we could pull up, in a white billy can, was black with animal fur in it.

Mobs of cattle and sheep passed along the road often in the 1920's. There was a severe drought on then and all I can remember of those very early days was the extreme heat, day after day. Ants, big and little, millions of them - black, red and lemon colour.

Duststorms that turned daylight into night dark.

At that time I used the stove which we had brought with us outside the shed and did my washing in two small tubs on a bench under a lucerne tree. For ironing I used two small flat irons heated on the stove. For light we had a good lamp with a globe (mantle) and Hugh made cupboards and put up shelves for books, etc.

My first women's magazine was called 'Womans Budget' which Hugh would get when he went to Griffith for goods. Perce, our brother-in-law, too would send us, by post from Homebush, bundles of 'The Argosy' magazine which was a real delight.

When I came from England with Hugh in 1919 1 brought with me a 'Singer' treadle sewing machine which I had purchased in 1917. I can still use it. To me it is an old friend.

Our first neighbours were living at Farms 7 and 8 - Dave and Harry Stark. Harry Stark later sold his farm to Loxley Meggitt and his wife, Enid, his sister Madge and brothers Edward and Eric Meggitt. Madge and I were close friends and with Elaine Waters who later married Edward Meggitt who bought a farm at Lake Wyangan. But my oldest, very good friend was Nell Stokes who came to a farm with her brother, Clarrie Clark, from Adelaide in the early 1920's.

19

In those early years Clarrie worked at the Co-op. Store, one of the first shops to open in Griffith. It faced the east then, but was later put where it is today on Banna Avenue. When Clarrie later married Bertha Hawkins I found another good friend who loved good music as much as I did and whose son was later a schoolmate of Bill, my youngest son born in 1936,eleven years after my daughter. Before his birth I had wanted a girl. No! I was not disappointed and would not have changed him for two or more daughters!

About our family - 1st, 2nd and 3rd - our eldest son HUGH was born at 'Bagtown' on 7 December 1919.1 think it was really a boarding house. There was also a Dr Watkins living somewhere near.

I was kept in bed for 10 days and I had a visitor - Mrs Paul Delves - who had a small baby with her. I think It was her husband who owned Farm No. 9 before we came because he was a wheat farmer in those days.

Hugh named the baby just 'Hugh Alexander Jnr'.

ALLAN ARTHUR was horn 27 April 1922. Hugh tookme, in the springcart and horse, sitting on a chair, to Griffith. However, we only reached near Hanwood when I knew the baby was coming. He stopped at the first place he could and I was carried inside and Allan Arthur Alexander was born. The Doctor arrived by car later. Still later I was taken to Griffith Hospital (I think it was with Doctor) lying on the back seat of the car and accompanied by a nurse and a nine pound baby on the front seat.

KAY NELLA- the baby No. 3 was a girl - christened Kay Nella but to me she was Susan, born 7 March 1925. She weighed five pounds and was perfect in every way. This time the birth was at a small private hospital run by Sister Foster. The doctor was A E W Burrell who had come from Leeton. He remained my doctor until he retired.

We had our first holiday in 1928 when Perce let us stay at their summer cottage at Narrabeen for a month. It was the children's first train ride and first peep into the outside world. But before we had finally left `Southese Homebush, where Flo and Perce lived, the children had caught measles and whooping cough and Flo helped me with them.

It was the following year we saw a change in Hugh junior and when taken to the doctor we were told Hughie had diabetes. He was sent to the Children's Hospital where his diet and insulin were worked out. When home again his father always administered the insulin morning and evening until Hughie was old enough and able to do it himself.

His diet was a very strict one and it was my job to look after it. All food had to be weighed and he could have no bread. I had to make biscuits of bran and Agar Agar.

First I had to wash the bran in a calico bag until the water ran clear. Then with Agar Agar, which I somehow dissolved, but have forgotten how, I mixed it with the washed bran

20

until well mixed, spreading the mixture on oven shelves evenly and baking in a very slow oven.

As the years went by I learned to know the kind of man I had married. He was 19 years my senior and set in this ways and ideas. He was very strict with the children, especially Kay, who too liked her own way.

With the 1930's changes came. We were shown a radio by a friend, Reg Piper, brother to John Piper with whom we had stayed for two weeks after leaving `Bagtown' when we first arrived. It was a very small radio but on Sunday evenings we listened to a play for one hour by announcer, John (his name I've forgotten).

In 1936 Hugh junior was 17 and a Junior Farmer. He had a large vegetable garden and also helped with fruit on the farm. He and I would stand pitting apricots for drying on trays 6' x 3'. We had other pitters, from Hanwood, two sisters, Bonnie and Marge Pitt who came every year and were very good workers. Also in 1936 was born "BILL" - WILLIAM PETREE ALEXANDER on 6 May 1936, at the Griffith Hospital and with Doctor Burrell.

In 1937 our house was being built by a Mr Andreae a, a builder, who also had a farm. The first iron shed was taken away and the two rooms built in 1925 were kept.

We now had a new stove in the kitchen, with an open fireplace in the lounge room; also three bedrooms and a wide verandah - so necessary for a drip-safe which kept our milk, butter, cream, meat, etc. and where breezes kept it cool.

The war years of the 40's changed all our lives in different ways, and mine was much easier in a way. Our daughter left school in 1941, at 16, and with the help of a friend who had a small library in Banna Avenue I was able to send her to be trained as a nurse at St Ives Private Hospital Willoughby, Sydney.

In 1942 'AA' (Allan Arthur) joined the Air Force with his mate, Ken Hillam, but we could not cope with the picking, packing, etc. of the fruit without more labour, which was hard to get. So after his father's request and reason 'AA' was sent home again.

It was not until 1949 that electricity was brought up our road and connected to our house. It was wonderful! No more kerosene lamps or globes and the work they made.

In 1950 I was able to get the boys christened, on 28 October, at the Presbyterian Church Griffith. I had wanted it done at birth. My daughter was christened in Sydney.

In 1952 Bill left school. He worked for one year on the farm but did not like it so his father decided to fmd an engineering works who would take on an apprentice. It was the following year Bill started and for five years did well at work and at Tech College and passed all exams well.

So 1953 passed and it was in January 1954 we knew from `Southese Homebush that Perce, our brother-in-law and Hugh's lifetime friend, had died in his sleep. It was a terrific shock to my husband. He too died six months later - on 17 July 1954."

By courtesy of Mrs K Alexander, Hanwood.

21

ALVARO The story of how his parents came from Spain to settle in this area in 1916 was told to Donato (Don) Alvaro by Jamie (Charlie) Gras who turned 87 on 26 December 1989 and Don's late mother, who died in 1964.

Charlie's father, Segismondo (Peter) Gras ' came to the area via Willbriggie. He came over the Southern Branch Canal, had a look at the soil and half filled a 281b sugar bag with soil to take back to Sydney to show his brothers Juan (John) and Franciscis (Frank). "This is where the good soil is" he told them, "this is where we must go and farm" which they did in 1916.

Don's father, Facundo Alvaro and his two brothers, Carlos and Paciano also arrived from Espenosa de Cerato, Palencia, Spain in 1916. In 1919 the three brothers arrived from Sydney by train to Willbriggie Rail Siding and then travelled by horse and cart to Hanwood where they took up Farms 1132 and 1133 on 5 December 1919 and became vegetable growers.

Paciano, known as Percy and Carlos, called Charlie, took up Farm 1132 but sold it after a few years and left for Panama. They were never heard of or seen by their brother Frank again.

The marriage between Facundo (Frank) and Domenica Maria (Maria) Schiavenin, who came from Croceta Ciano del Montelloo, Treviso, Northern Italy, took place in Sydney on 25 October 1924 and was witnessed by Alessandro Schievenin and a Dr Montecone who was Chief Government Interpreter for NSW at the time.

When Frank brought Maria back to Griffith it was to a new home built by a Frank Andreazza.

A very modest cottage of one bedroom and living room with a wooden floor, kitchen and open verandah, which had replaced Frank's original home made from pine logs, bags and iron with a dirt floor had an underground cellar used as a means of cooling food, drinks and snakes!

Facundo Alvaro Their son Donato (Don) was born on 11 Courtesy Don Alvaro April 1926. He was delivered by Nurse Taylor at Farm 1133 Hanwood. Another two children were born but died in infancy. Don can remember Nurse Taylor coming to the farm in her horse and sulky to assist with the delivery of one of these babies and later on a Mr

22

Trenerry came to take another away in his 1926 Studebaker Commander hearse. Life was not easy in those days.

On the farm they kept a pig, a goat and chooks, so they had a supply of salami, chicken, eggs and goat's milk. They also ate wild ducks, rabbits, hare, sparrows, yabbies and when the water was drained from the channels in the winter there was an abundance of fish including large Murray Cod which were caught with pitch forks, and Carp which were scooped out with rakes. On occasion they even found mussels. About five years ago, Don tried cooking some mussels to his Mother's recipe, but even his dog Midnight would not eat them!

The butcher also came once a week and anything he had was a speciality.

Maria Alvaro was one of the original seven Italian women who came to this area.

The others were Salvestro, Ceccato, Lucca, Pastega, Bicego and Gugliemino. Maria's husband Frank made a Bocce court on the farm with pine logs as a border and had a couple of sets of bocce brought over from Italy. At the weekends all the Italian workers around used to come to the farm on their bikes, or by walking, to meet and play bocce.

Maria used to cook them an Italian style meal at night for a small charge.

Occasionally a Saturday night dance was held in the farmhouse to gramophone music. Beer was brought in large crates which held four dozen bottles and each bottle was individually packed in a straw sheath.

Alexander Wilson (now deceased), an ex sailor, also told Don how he came to the area in 1919, aged around 30. He approached the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission stating he wanted to purchase Farm 1131 Hanwood. They told him he was mad as there were three Spaniards there on two sides of him and another two were coming on the other side - namely Farms 1132 and 1133 and that the Spaniards would cut his throat within a week. He told the Commission that he wanted that farm and he lived there until he was over 70 years of age. Obviously he wasn't influenced by racial discrimination!

Don can also remember coming to town with his mother and father in a spring cart and all his father had on him was sixpence, but it was still enough to buy fish and chips for the three of them and a drink of Sarsaparilla.

Don married Dorothy McKenzie from Hillston on 1 March 1958 and they have three boys. Phillip John born 18 August 1959, Mark Alexander on 6 December 1960 and Richie Attwood on 13 September 1964.

Frank Alvaro died at Griffith and was buried there on 28 September 1934 aged 41 years. Maria Alvaro lived on till 1964 aged 68 years and was also buried at Griffith on 7 February that year.

By courtesy Mr Don Alvaro, Griffith 2680

23

`,Itiptrionatio antignalliatit, i ft14 13 0 1 i dipendent0-dal Zionmissarito Generale dell',Emigrazione

."(1-15/1 DEGC1 ffMIGRANTI og name , Nome, Paternity

col Piroscafo

Zeit

L DIRETTORE ella Casa Emigrariti

MIN 101011.10•122(

eallEM.C.••,....-.....••.....4,1•4•4•11••••••111.mmemmegtiflarei.a.r.s•a:.c.••••

Maria Alvaro ncc Schiavcnin Courtesy Don Alvaro

24

ANSTEE Herbert James Anstee was a miner from Corowa Deep Leeds mine who came here in 1915. He was the son of George Anstee and Frances Catherine (nee Hynson).

Their first home was Farm 486 Hanwood. Herb worked with the then Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission as a water bailiff (channel attendant).

Herbert James Anstee and his wife, May Eleanor, had 9 children:1. May born 1904, died aged 8 months.

2. William Arthur born 7 November 1906 buried Griffith 18 January 1936, aged 29 years married Edith Curtis 3. Herbert John born 25 April 1909 married Sylvia Crocker lives Randwick, Sydney 4. George born 23 March 1911, died 1982 married Ruby Clark

S. Harold born 1 February 1913, died 1983 married Dulcie Taylor (daughter of Nurse Stellar & Edward Taylor) 6. Alfred born 21 June 1915 married Therese Miller (dec'd) lives Wagga Wagga 7. Alice ("Lal") born 8 December 1917, died 1972 married James Byrnes 8. Frances born 30 July 1920 married (1) Patrick Miller (2) Norman Robinson lives Brunswick Heads, NSW 9. Marjorie born 24 March 1922 married Ernie Clark lives Cranebrook, NSW May Eleanor Anstee died 13 February 1%1, aged 79 years Herbert James Anstee died 2 January 1962 Both are buried in the Griffith Cemetery.

By courtesy of Alf Anstee, 26 The Boulevarde, Kooringal, Wagga Wagga NSW 25

ARMSTRONG A Roving Pioneer Roy (Bob ) Armstrong was born on 11 January 1890 in Mooroopna, Victoria.

His father was an open-cut coal miner and Bob was the youngest of nine children.

At the age of 14 Bob fell from a horse and fractured his neck. This injury left his neck stiff and he could not turn his head without turning his whole body. He spent two years in hospital - the first twelve months were spent on a board to keep him straight.

He required assistance to lift his head when he wanted to turn. He was always conscious of his stiff neck.

After leaving hospital he did not return to his family but went his own way. The first penny he earned was in Bendigo. He discovered a piece of gold imbedded in the concrete pavement - no doubt townsfolk had walked over it for years.

Bob wandered through the Albury district working on the huge stations where work was available. He became a "champion haircutter", giving all who required it, a hair cut, whether they be male or female, black or white. My impression of a "pudding-basin cut" is associated with a rouseabout type of fellow.

He often spoke of friends he had made on the stations and could remember their names and nicknames, whether they were Irish, Aboriginal or Australian.

In 1915 he worked in a quarry which was on the Yenda-Binya Road, opposite the forestry building. He told me that the work was all done by hand, with horses assisting with the heavy work.

He would ride a push-bike, his only transport, along the Yenda Stock Route.

Crossing the bridge over the canal he came to a village that boasted a grocery store and a butcher shop. There was also a baker's shop and a school.

There were very few rabbits at the beginning of 1915 but they soon increased in numbers. Bob often spoke of all the rabbits he had caught in traps, especially when he could not get other work.

During 1915 he camped in Yenda at the workman's camp, which was behind the present railway station. At that time there was thick forest on the site of the present McWilliams' Yenda Winery and Yenda Producers. Between the forest and the workman's camp were mud huts and shops. He did not know how long they had been there. There was also a large horse-yard that contained many horses, which were used to clear the forest, work in the quarry and also work on the Barellan, Yenda and Griffith railway lines.

This township was a wild one, as "sly grog" was plentiful. It was sold by one of three blacksmiths in town. The women and children were locked up at times for their own good. The township was burnt down about 1916. Bob said that the original township was then larger than the neighbouring town of Griffith.

Bob worked on the railway buildings at Yenda, Beelbangera and Griffith. He moved into Griffith after hurting his arm in the quarry. He stayed in another camp at the foot of Scenic Hill, from where he could look over the site of the Penfold's Winery.

Bob spoke of a beautiful home near the hill and I believe this was the Driver homestead.

26

When his arm improved Bob worked on the branch channels which led from the main canal. Part of 1916 was very wet. Other than that, hot, dry winds whipped up the sandy soil. These winds would almost fill the small channels with sand overnight.

In 1919 Bob left this area and found his way to Lightning Ridge, where he mined opals for a few years.

Bob returned to the Riverina and my family came to know him when he came to my parents' home (Farm 1381, Yenda) in 1936, seeking work. He adopted the Lowrie family as his own. He also enjoyed my children and in turn my grandchildren. He obtained work picking and packing fruit and pruning for the remainder of his working life; although he did work on the rice at harvest time.

He built himself a tin hut on the Woods' property with material gathered from the nearby tip on the Mirrool Creek. The visits to the tip gave him many happy hours of fossicking and he found quite a few treasures.

In his last years he lived in a Smith Family Unit which he called his "Castle" as he had not had a better home. He passed on at the age of 91 years on 26 January 1981.

Bob was a very simple, honest and gentle man. He was one of the many who toiled and sweated to help put this area on its feet. I have endeavoured to keep his story simple as a tribute to him.

Bob Armstrong Courtesy of Mrs E Enness

Contributed by Mrs E Enness, nee Lowrie, Griffith. 2680

27

ASHCROFT John Ashcroft Snr. was the son of John Ashcroft (England) and Elizabeth (nee Thatcher from Scotland). He married Lillie, daughter of James O'Brien from Ireland and Mary Charlotte Bell of France. Lillie was born in Gippsland Vic and John Snr. at Urana NSW. He won land in a ballot but the drought of the 1900's drove them off the land.

Following this he managed the hotel at Ivanhoe NSW for Mr and Mrs Stead, Lillie's parents. (After James O'Brien's death Mary Charlotte had remarried - to Alfred Stead).

After the hotel was sold they moved to Griffith and took up Farm 199 - "49 acres, granted 27 Jly 1916 @ annual rental of £26/191- (the Remarks Column add:) Civilian, increased to 149 acres; dairying."

John Ashcroft Snr. died of tetanus in 1923. His widow, Lillie, moved to Griffith and lived in Binya Street until her death in 1950.

The Aschroft family:-

John Ashcroft Elizabeth Thatcher

1. John 2. Thomas 3. Frederick 4. Lilian 5. Anne

James O'Brien Mary Charlotte Bell 1. James b 1877 2. Lillie b 13 May 1879 m (2) Alfred Stead 3. Hannah 1886 4. Alfred 1888

1. Dorothy Irene b 27 Nov 1902; d 1931 2. Ruby Rita b 29 Sept 1906 3. John Alfred b 20 Dec 1910 4. Malcolm Roy b 16 Mar 1912 5. Elva Hazel b 30 Oct 1913

By courtesy of Mrs Ruby Rita Morgan (second daughter of John and Lillie) C/- Pam Wells, 106 Highview Avenue, Greenacre, 2190.

28

BALTIERI Another of our very early Italian settlers were Guerino and Giuditta (nee Croce) Baltieri and their family.

Guerino and Giuditta had been married on 20 May 1912 at Verona, Italy, and arrived in Melbourne in the August of 1912 and from there they went to Rutherglen, Victoria. Guerino worked in the mines at Rutherglen and this is where their first child, Tulio was born on 20 September 1912. A year later, on 1 December 1913, their second son, Aldo was also born at Rutherglen.

When work cut out at the mines at Rutherglen, Guerino decided to go to Broken Hill where he found work in the mines and when he found a house for the family to live in, he sent for Giuditta and the two little boys to join him.

The train journey of three nights and four days was via Melbourne where she had to change trains for Adelaide which was quite some feat with two tiny children. They then had to take the train to Broken Hill.

The daughter of the family, Mary, who was born at Broken Hill, recalls her mother telling her about the journey and of the fact that although she had "money in her pocket" the little family nearly starved because of her lack of knowledge of the English language. Therefore she resolved that after settling in Broken Hill (;ucrino Balticri - Italy c 1910 the very first thing she was going to do Courtesy Mrs M Piubcllo was to learn to speak English. After only six months she was doing her own shopping - in English!!

"It was while in Broken Hill that my father heard that there were farms opening up in the new irrigation area near the town of Griffith" said Mary. The "Griffith" of which they had heard was "Old Griffith" (later tagged "Bagtown").

Guerino and Giuditta and their little family of two small boys and the infant Mary, left Broken Hill and started out for Griffith in December 1916, again with a long journey ahead of them.

They went first to Adelaide, then to Melbourne, Albury, Junee and fmally Willbriggie where they got off the train and were taken by dray to Bagtown. However, on the way from Willbriggie the poor old horse died and they had to wait for another horse to be brought to get the travellers to Bagtown.

29

At first Guerino worked at the plant nursery on wages. In 1919 he bought a farm, Farm 639 which was planted with young fruit trees. As there was no income from the farm he kept on with his job at the nursery. In the meantime, Giuditta worked the farm with only a horse and plough - despite having a young family.

Another son, Rino, was born on 17 June 1923, at Griffith. About the time Rino was two years old, Giuditta used to leave him under a tree while she did the farm work nearby. However, the ants were very bad and the little boy wouldn't stay on the blanket under the tree so Giuditta had to resort to carrying him "piggy back" while she worked.

As though life wasn't already hard enough, in August of 1923 Guerino became sick, developed pneumonia and died, leaving Giuditta, who was just 28 years old with four young children - Tulio 11, Aldo 9, Mary 8 and baby Rino 2 months. It is well to remember too, that in those times there were no pensions, social services or the like, for people in these circumstances.

In order to cope, Giuditta used to recruit new arrivals to the area who were looking for work. She needed help but had no money to pay them, but for a start they were happy to work for their food.

Mary tells - "During this time we had a mouse plague which did a lot of damage and then another time came a plague of grasshoppers which also caused great damage.

Clothes were scarce. We mostly wore clothes that were given to us. At one time I had only one dress which I used to wash in the morning, put it on wet, and by the time I had walked the three miles to school it was dry. At this time my brothers would be sent naked to wait in the bedroom while our mother washed their clothes so that they could put them back on.

We didn't have much entertainment. We had to work. Being the only girl in the family and despite being only eight years old I had to do the housework and the cooking. Our meals were mostly soup, vegetables that we grew ourselves, a few eggs, bread and some meat. The three boys had to help our mother with the farm work.

At one stage we didn't have Giuditta IlaWert c 1934 anything in the house to eat that night.

Courtesy Mrs M l'iubello We were busy on the apricots and as we lived six miles from town didn't have time

9 Farm 63 had originally been granted to an Englishman. Basil Whitfield Leonard Maydwell on 7 July 1919. It was 51 acres 2 roods @ annual rental f48/1816. Ownership was transferred to Giuditta 25 September 1933.

30

to go to town. Our mother saw our cat coming up the road with something in its mouth.

It was a small rabbit so she took it from the cat and that was our meal for that night!

The same thing happened the next day and on the third day the cat came home with the mother rabbit!!

Our farm was six miles from (the New Town of) Griffith and we had to go through Bagtown to get there. There were only tracks through the forest and sometimes our mother used to get lost."

Although they had to work so hard Mary recalls that during the long hot summers they did go swimming in the channel and did have fun catching yabbies to eat.

Giuditta Baltieri passed away on 30 August 1970, aged 76 years and is buried in the Roman Catholic Section of the Griffith cemetery with her husband, Guerin.

The family of Guerino and Giuditta were: 1. Tao born 20 September 1912 at Rutherglen, Vic 2. Aldo born 1 December 1913 at Rutherglen, Vic: died 19 September 1987: married Rose Aramini 3. Mary born 22 July 1915 at Broken Hill, NSW: married Giuseppe Piubello 4. Rino born 17 June 1923, Griffith: married Elia Poscoliero, lives Yenda

Mrs G Baltieri with her four Adult Children

By courtesy of Mrs Mary Piubello (nee Baltieri), 1 Noorla Street, Griffith

31

BARTHOLOMEW "Two Gay Bachelors Headed for Griffith and Saw a Future". This was a heading in the Griffith Jubilee Issue of the Area News of August 2, 1966.

The "two gay bachelors" who headed this way in the very early days were Jack Bartholomew, an Englishman who came to Australia in 1912, and his friend, Harry O'Meara. Both builders, Harry O'Meara came from Leeton in 1914 and took up Farm 470, Hanwood while Jack Bartholomew took up Farm 666, near Yoogali. He had applied for this farm in September 1914 and fmally secured Permissive Occupancy about the middle of 1915.

Jack was responsible for completing the first permanent Hanwood School (then one room) when the successful tenderer failed to complete the contract.

Describing his first "sortie" into the area as a prospective settler, Jack recalled: "I got here about 5 pm one Sunday, having driven from Narrandera in a buggy, with a roll of hessian and some spare iron which I had over from the building of the Hanwood School. I wrapped the hessian around the buggy and it was very, very hot.

A dust storm came up that night and blew my hessian away. I couldn't move. I didn't know where to go as there wasn't another settler within two miles so I just lay there. When I got up there was my shape on the ground, outlined by the dust. My first thought was - 'should I stick it?'

Then I built myself a little hut with whitewashed hessian walls and dirt floors. But it had a door!" he added, in defence of his little home.

About this time Jack started courting Martha Whittaker of Narrandera. "I used to drive up to see her once a fortnight in my sulky - a decent sulky, mind you!" reminisced Jack. Martha and Jack Jack & Martha Bartholomew were married at Narrandera in Courtesy Mrs F. Shaw 1916.

32

Recalling the picture shows at Bagtown they were amused to remember that usually, the films would run for about half an hour and then the machine would break down! Remembered too was the vast range of goods available from Andrew Martin's store at Bagtown - "his store ran well back and he must have made some money".

The old Cheese Factory was also built about this time - with Stelter Fred Langley as the foreman. It was built with day-labour by the W.C. & I.C. The venture failed largely because of the inadequate living area allotted for dairy farms as well as the severe drought around that time.

Jack described Bagtown itself as being built on an area that was rather sandy and stoney - "filthy with dust in summer and a quagmire of mud in the wet of winter". He remembered too that Jack Carroll, one of the original blacksmiths, also acted as the funeral director at Bagtown on several occasions.

Apparently rip-roaring brawls at the race meetings were the order of the day when the "obstreperous gentlemen" engaged on the construction work took full advantage of a "wet" day in the otherwise "dry area" and on several occasions the police from Whitton were obliged to tether many of the "gentlemen" to the yarran trees till they sobered up!!

Despite Bartholomew and O'Meara being practical and busy builders they both settled on farms.

Jack Bartholomew explained that farming was really in his blood and that he had been born on a fruit orchard in Kent, England. "The land was in me and when they started Mirrool No. 1 Irrigation Area the soil was considered to be better down this way, so I thought I'll go to Griffith and fmish this school off and have a good look around while I'm there".

During this "look around" he obviously saw what he liked and the future promise in the area and it was here that he and Martha spent the rest of their lives and reared their family of one son, Bob Isabella Jane Beaumont (left) & Martha Bartolomew (right) Courtesy Mrs t Shaw and their only daughter, Marjorie.

33

George Whittaker - Elizabeth Sugden per "Grenada" 1821

per "Sovereign" 1829

married Narellan 1830 lived at Sutton Forest NSW

* * *

John Bartholomew

George Whittaker - Ann Morrow

Covent Gardens &

b Co Fermanagh, Irl b Narrandera NSW lived "Buckingbong" Stn

Stone Manor Farm, Kent *

Wagga Wagga NSW

* * *

*

Walter Bartholomew - Elizabeth Stratton Kent, England

Bexley, Kent

W W Whittaker - Ann Shields Narrandera

"Buckingbong" Station

John ("Jack") Bartholomew

Martha Whittaker

b Stone, Kent, England 1887

b Narrandera 1882

Arrived Australia 1912

d & b Griffith 1954

d & b Griffith 1970

* * *

1. Marjorie 0. Bartholomew b Griffith 1917 d Griffith 1988 m Fred H Beaumont at Griffith 1938 (b Narrandera 1910)

2. Robert W Bartholomew b Griffith 1923 m Gladys Melling at Griffith 1943 (b England, lived at Hanwood)

Jack and Martha Bartholomew are both buried at Griffith Cemetery. WW and Ann Whittaker; George and Arm Whittaker are all buried at Narrandera Cemetery.

34

W W Whittaker & his daughter Martha Bartholomew Courtesy Mrs E Shaw

The background of this family of Bartholomew is very interesting. There were three Johns. John, the Grandfather, who with not much money managed to buy some woodland in the Parish of Dean near Dartford, England. He cleared the country, grew potatoes and had a market garden. He did well and eventually had his own stall in Covent Gardens (the famous markets in London). He then bought Stone Manor Farm at Stone near Dartford.

This John had two sons - John Jnr and Walter.

John Jnr had two farms at Betsham, the Northend Farm of 300 acres and Westward Farm of 300 acres. Walter farmed Stone Manor Farm which also comprised 300 acres but drink got the better of him so his brother John took over Stone Manor Farm, which gave him about a 1,000 acres. Walter continued on the farm working for his brother, John.

John married and had two sons - Percy and Howard. The land passed to Percy's daughter "Bow".

Walter married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Stratton, daughter of Robert Stratton, who owned the Folkstone Hotel at Bexley, Kent. Walter and Elizabeth had four children - John Robert, Herbert, Marjorie and Felix. It is this John Robert that is the subject of our pioneer biography. He was born 18 July 1887 at Stone, Kent. He grew up on Stone Manor Farm and became a carpenter by trade. He came to Australia with his friend Tom Taylor on a sailing ship in 1912. Jack Bartholomew was 19 years old and his fare was f10. Grand-daughter Elaine relates that her Grandfather told her this secured him a hammock on deck. Rounding the Cape they were caught in a terrible storm and even as an old man Jack could remember the water rushing back and forth under his hammock. The ship was thought to be lost at sea till it limped into Fremantle a month later than expected.

"Another story of Jack's, told by Elaine, was of his arrival at Farm 666 after their wedding with Martha, his new bride. Travelling by horse and sulky the horse reared at the entrance and turfed his new bride out of the sulky". Some start to married life!!

Jack had a nice singing voice and enjoyed singing at family parties. (He had been a choir boy in his village church in Kent). Martha and Jack also enjoyed going to the movies and had a permanent booking for many years at the Lyceum Theatre for both Saturday and Wednesday nights.

By courtesy of the late Mrs Marjorie Beaumont and her daughter Elaine Shaw nee Beaumont.

35

BEAUMONT George and Charlotte Moorhouse Beaumont were married at St Peters Church, Huddersfield, England on the 19 January 1818. Three of their sons are known to have come to Australia.

Alexander Moorhouse Beaumont was baptised at Honley (a village approximately 31/2 miles south of Huddersfield) on the 9 February 1823. He came to Australia on the "Tippoo Saib" which arrived at Port Phillip on the 25 June 1852. It is believed his brother Tom Moorhouse Beaumont was on the same ship and their brother Cameron Moorhouse Beaumont came later, about 1856.

When Alexander and Tom Beaumont first arrived at Darlington Point NSW in the year 1853 the Murrumbidgee River was in flood. They were operating bullock teams from Melbourne, bringing groceries and spirits to the "Point" before taking up land at Darlington Point in 1872, a property they called "Huddersfield", after their home town in Yorkshire. Alexander and Tom also operated a sawmill.

On the 10 January 1871 Alexander married, at Hay NSW, Jane Russell Whyte, daughter of John Hutton Whyte and Elizabeth (nee McGregor). His brother, Cameron, had married Jane's sister, Helen Whyte, on the 6 April 1870.

It is thought that Cameron brought horses with him when he came out from England. He and Helen owned the old Waddi Hotel and Cameron was also the store-keeper at Waddi or Darlington Point as it is now known. Dan Morgan, the lone bushranger, is said to have had associations with the Waddi Hotel and occasionally came in for a drink. Dan had a lookout about 12 miles south of Waddi.

Alexander and Jane had eight children: Jane 1872-1947; married John Cattanach Helen 1873-1962; married James Cattanach Alexander 1875-1949; married Elizabeth Arnold Sophia 1877; married Mr Payne Hector 1879-1959; married Isabella Jane Britt Tom 1882-1974; married Eva Milthorpe Alice 1886-1887 Cameron 1888-1919; married Louisa Alice Britt Alexander died on the 21 May 1898 and Jane later re-married, Louis Henry Peckett, a much younger man. Jane died on the 25 November 1922.

In the latter years of her life she was referred to as "Granny Peckett", her grandson Fred remembers her as a very strict Grandmother. Fred along with his brother Alex can remember getting into real trouble when they ate some mandarins from the tree in the back yard!

Hector Beaumont was born on the 17 August 1879 at Yass. He grew up on the family property "Huddersfield" at Darlington Point which was only about 2,000 acres at the time. It had to be cleared as it was heavily timbered with box and uri trees.

Because of the tremendous difficulty in obtaining an education for his children, Alexander had personally seen to their education. Two of these children, Hector and his brother Tom, are remembered for the way they used to break horses in a large open paddock.

36

They never went to dances, but did like to play cricket in their youth.

These Beaumonts lived in the era of the River Steamers which carried their wool to the markets - the steamers came up the Murrumbidgee River from Echuca to Hay then on to Darlington Point and Wagga Wagga. The wharf was built at Darlington Point in 1882. These steamers were in operation up until 1905 when the Darlington Point bridge was built. The bridge did not open successfully and was not sufficiently high enough to allow the steamers to pass underneath.

Prior to the bridge being built, a punt operated at the "Point".

Hector married in Sydney on 8 April 1909 Isabella Jane Britt, the daughter of George Britt (a goldminer) and Susanna Jane (nee Munro). They had two sons Jane Pcckctt, formerly Beaumont (ncc Whytc) Frederick Hector was born in Courtesy Mrs E Shaw Narrandera on 16 December 1910 and Alexander George was born on 20 February 1913 at Bowral NSW. Hector and Isabella had a Hotel at Bowral where Alex was born. They moved back to Darlington Point when Fred was about two years old.

Fred said recently ...."I don't know how Mum and Dad met, but he used to ride a push bike to Junee where she lived with her family. I regret that I never asked enough questions when I was younger".

Fred takes up the story about how they came to live at Hanwood - "It was after several trips to Griffith by horse and sulky that my father arrived home one evening to inform us that he had purchased a fruit farm at Hanwood. At that time we were living at Darlington Point where my father owned several thousand acres in partnership with his brother Tom and their mother.

We arrived at our new farm which was named `Roseleigh' in a spring cart pulled by one horse. Alex and I squabbled over who was to drive the horse - there was no skill required because if the cart got into a rut, there you would stay, perhaps for miles! I can't remember passing anyone going either way.

The orchard my father bought from Jack Turner consisted mainly of grape vines but there were also peaches, oranges, prunes and the usual house garden. There were also about one hundred almond trees, the nuts of which were knocked down with long sticks, the husks taken off and, if we were lucky, we'd get 1/- a pound for them."

37

Alex and Fred had their early schooling at Darlington Point before going to Hanwood School, and then to Griffith High School and finally to Hurlstone Agricultural College. Fred continues "it was here that I caught Polio and spent six months in the Coast Hospital - now called Prince Henry. I was completely paralysed except for a little movement in my arms. I made a full recovery and played first grade Rugby football for Griffith two years later.

As Dad was still more interested in the dry area he bought several properties in partnership with Mick Guihen, a Stock and Station Agent of Griffith. He also bought one on his own, 'Curlew Park' about thirty miles west of Griffith on which he decided to sow wheat. We worked it up and drilled the wheat using a Hart Parr tractor - 24 hours a day.

The nights were freezing cold! So much so that we had a fire at either end of the paddock where we would jump off the tractor for a quick warm up. The wheat came up well but that was as far as it got. The rabbits were there in MILLIONS. There was a time when a number of growers thought they could make more money by processing their own grapes and making wine instead of taking the grapes to the established wineries. A group of twelve growers formed their own organisation and built a winery at Old Griffith, opposite the Research Station. Ben Martin was the Chairman and then Guy Neville was the manager. The others included my father, Stan Wright, Claude Hamilton, Jim Davies. They had a winemaker and would sell the wine to other wineries, mainly for blending. At Christmas, the shareholders could get their supplies at a much reduced price. At that time whoever was in charge would take you around and give you a taste from whichever cask of wine you chose. I think that was the practice with all the wineries.

Anyway, one Christmas Eve, Jack Hamilton, Alex and myself went over to the Mirrool Winery, as it was known, with our fathers for the usual Christmas Cheer!

Unfortunately, the chap in charge left a syphon in one of the casks. The others wandered along but I lingered behind and tasted 'a lot of wine'. Next day being Christmas Day it was just one time I do not remember!!

We used to have a lot of fun in those times. Mr and Mrs Little would conduct a dance every Saturday night in an old wool shed on their property, `Yarranvale'. (`Yarranvale' was a selection owned previously by the Anderson family). I used to enjoy these dances very much and liked to get there early, but my parents were mostly a bit late, so one evening I put the clocks on an hour. It worked! We arrived at the old dance hall but no one else was there! Dad woke up 'to my little game' right away so I was not allowed to attend the next two or three dances.

Still on the subject of dances, I with three others including Alex my brother and Fordy Beaumont, a cousin, attended a dance at Darlington Point. On the way home, about two o'clock in the morning, somewhere between the Point and Willbriggie we ran over two large objects. My cousin who was driving heard a yell, pulled up within twenty or thirty yards and raced back to find out what he had run over (it was) two men asleep under a big tarpaulin which they had spread on the middle of the road. Luckily the middle of the car passed over their bodies - it left them a bit sore for a few days! I had met them before. They were representatives of a couple of Fruit Agents in Sydney. They too had been to the dance, got a bit full and had left earlier in the night. Unlucky for them that the colour of the tarpaulins toned in with the dirt road! We did not have any sealed roads in those days outside of the cities."

38

Another memory - "My neighbour Andy Day had a brother who was always interested in gold mining and claimed that there was gold in the Temora area. He had to have money to go ahead with his project so he formed a company and sold a number of shares at £1 each. Quite a number of people bought one or two shares and I remember two business houses in Griffith bought ten - that was £10, a lot of money in those days. It was the Depression years of the late 20's and early 30's. Anyway a year or so went by and there was no word of the gold mine.

It was a wet morning, April Fool's Day, and Dad was going into town as a lot of farmers still do on a rainy day. On the way into Griffith I thought 'what a great opportunity to have a joke with my neighbour Andy' (who had some shares). We also had staying with us a friend from Sydney. What luck! I got him to ring Andy Day (because he would not know my friends voice) and we put this message over, as a Telegram 'Struck Gold Mine! Rich! Shares worth approximately £1,000'. Mrs Day took the bogus telegram, raced out and told her husband the good news. He was just about to start cutting some chaff for his horses. Andy said 'Bugger the chaff! We'll buy it!' and I didn't foresee this happening. immediately came inside and rang all the shareholders Now the joke was on me!! I had to ring, and in some cases go and see those people who did not have a telephone and explain what had happened. Just a simple April Fool's joke which had got a bit out of hand. A couple of business houses closed their shops for the day, others took their cars into a garage for a grease and check up for the trip to Temora - 100 miles. (This was a normal procedure in those days.)

I was not game to go into town for at least three months!! Mrs Day was furious but Andy took it all in good heart. Anyway, I do not think that April Fool's Day is what it used to be. It was the last April Fool's joke I have ever played."

In 1936 the family bought another property at Hanwood - a rice farm which they called "Rosemont".

Fred married Marjorie Bartholomew on 22 June 1938 and they resided at "Roseleigh" while Hector, Isabella and Alex moved over to "Rosemont". When Alex married "Tots" Little , Hector and Isabella retired to Seaforth in Sydney.

When Isabella died on 10 April 1950, aged 73, years Hector came back to Hanwood where lived until his death on 11 December 1959.

Hector and Isabella Beaumont's family: 1. Frederick Hector born Narrandera - 16 Dec 1910 Married: 1) 22 June 1938 - Marjorie Olive Bartholomew (dec'd) 2) 2 March 1989 - Nelse Murray nee Dalla 2. Alexander "Alex" George born Bowral - 20 February 1913 died 8 June 1987 Married: 6 April 1942 - Ethel Kathleen ("Tots") Little

Courtesy of Mrs Elaine Shaw nee Beaumont.

39

BEAUMONT/JOHNSTONE The mother of this well-known family was Mary Amelia Beaumont, the first Government appointed Governess who educated the children of the Selectors who occupied the country prior to it being resumed for the establishment of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.

Mary Amelia was born at "Wyvern" Station where her father, Alfred Henry Beaumont (born 4 January 1840 at No 3 Sutton Street, Kensington, London) was Overseer.

He had emigrated to Australia aboard the "SS Roxburgh Castle" and landed in Melbourne on the 1 July 1859. There he met and married Martha Hampshire at the Presbyterian Manse, Footscray, on 12 April 1871. Martha, who died in childbirth at "Wyvern" Station on 18 December 1880, is buried in the small "Groongal" Station Cemetery. (Alfred Mary Amelia Johnstone nee Beaumont Beaumont is buried in Melbourne).

Courtesy Mrs Ethel Wilson nee Johnstone The Beaumont children, together with the children of the other families employed on "Wyvern", were taught by a Governess. Mary was a good student and went on to gain a good education and become a governess herself. In 1890 she began teaching in part-time schools in the district - possibly at Lake View and Jack's Plains.

One of their grand-daughters and the eldest daughter of Mary Amelia, Ethel, recalls that "after my Grandmother's death, Grandfather moved with his family to `Currawong' which is now in the Tabbita district. The area was then known as 'Mount Ida, Whitton'. It was from there that my mother, Mary Amelia Beaumont, became the first government-paid Governess.

At the age of 18 she would ride side-saddle or take a horse and sulky and travel from property to property, teaching for a few days and leaving enough lessons to last until her return, before moving on to the next family, until she got round them all. She also carried with her a hand turning sewing machine and she taught the girls and their mothers to use this machines as they were very new at that time. She also did mending or sewing for some of the families as well as teaching. She always returned to `Currawong' at weekends to join in the family gathering as they were a very close family.

She taught the Hill family whose log-cabin cottage is now re-erected at Pioneer Park Museum. Families she taught were Driver, Clifford, Steer, Bull, Peech, Painting, Heffer, Beck, Hawley, Matchett, Cummings and others. These families resided as far distant as Mount Ida (now Warburn/Tabbita) and 'Lake View' now known as Lake 40

Wyangan. She also taught families in the vicinity of present day Bilbul, Myall Park and `The Peak' (Binya)." It is interesting to note that many of the property names of the early Selectors ended with the word "view" - "Hillview", "Mountain View", "Lake View", "Millview" - to name just some. "Lake View" was the property of German settlers named Peech. This property was situated on the eastern side of the large lake.

Mary was a good educator and became very well remembered for the concerts and picnics she organised for her pupils - a practice she continued for many years after she married. At the age of 31 she married Henry (Harry) Johnstone at the Church of England at Whitton on 28 September 1903. Their first home was at "Currawong", then an out-station on "Wyvern" before they went to live in Wagga but they moved back to this district about 1906 settling permanently (c 1909) on a station known as "Millview", Tabbita - close to the Whitton/Hillston road and about 4 kms from the present township of Tabbita. Because of ill-health Harry had to leave the station and bought a fruit farm in Griffith which had belonged to Mr Braund - Farm 220.

School at "MilMew", Governess - Miss Chanc Johnstone Family L to R: Stan, Austin, Ethel, Cyril, Lacey, Rita, Roy, Edna & Frank (Alf missing)

Ethel remembers that she made her first batch of bread at the age of 10 and used to help her mother bath and feed the younger children. "We wore only plain clothes, nothing like the outrageous fashions of to-day. Each child had one set of good clothes and shoes. My mother got all the families together once a year and had a lovely picnic. We had races and rounders. She also held a dance once a year for the Red Cross during the First World War.

41

Quite often Mother packed a picnic lunch and we would go to visit the Hill family at 'Fairview' - to their home which is now in Pioneer Park."

Lacy, recalling those days when you had only one set of "Sunday-go-outing" clothes, said "to visit the neighbours was a great treat. One day we were all dressed in our best, ready to go; the bath was still in the room, full of water, when my youngest brother, Cyril, walked backwards and fell into the round tin bath tub! Mother said that we couldn't go now as he had no more clean clothes to put on. However, so as not to disappoint the family by staying home, we stripped Cyril, put his dirty cloths back on him and hung the wet clothes around the wagonette. They dried during the 11 mile trip. When we arrived my Mother borrowed an iron and once again Cyril was dressed in his Sunday best."

Ethel fmished by saying .... "We were only on the fruit farm for about four years when both of our parents passed away - Father in 1923 and Mother in 1926. We could not handle the farm as my eldest brother was then only about 22 so we moved back out to the dry area farm at Tabbita again".

The children of Mary Amelia and Henry Thomas Johnstone were: 1. Henry Norman born Wagga Wagga 9 May 1904, (dec'd) married Ada Chester 2. Frederick George Stanley born Wagga Wagga, (dec'd) married Berta Chester 3. Austin King born Wagga, married Olive Young, lives Parkes NSW 4. Ethel May born Narrandera 1907, lives Griffith married Hugh Wilson (dec'd) 5. Cyril Beaumont born Narrandera 1908, (dec'd) married Amy Young 6. Reginald Lacy Hugh born 1909, lives Griffith married Grace Ross 7. Rita Letitia (Twin) born Narrandera 1910, (dec'd) married Eugene O'Callaghan 8. Hector Roy (Twin) born Narrandera 1910, (dec'd) married Elsie Gladman 9. Edna Amelia born Narrandera, 1913, married Sylvester Chester 10. Frank Hilton born Narrandera, 1916, (dec'd) married Roma Hawker 11. Alfred Edmund born Tabbita 1917, (dec'd) married Clair Kelleher "Harry" Henry Thomas Johnstone died 10 August 1923 aged 51 years Mary Amelia (nee Beaumont) died 22 October 1926 aged 54 years They are both buried at Griffith Cemetery.

By courtesy of Mrs Ethel Wilson (nee Johnstone), Carrathool Street, Griffith.

42

BELFORD From "Harrods" to "Bagtown" in 1918!

During World War 1, Henry Gustuvas Belford met and married in London, on 11 November 1917, Elsie Maud Keen. At the time, Elsie was a shop assistant at "Harrods", the well known London department store. Prior to the War, Henry had worked as a journalist at the "Wagga Daily Advertiser".

After their marriage Henry returned home and on the 14 March 1919 he was granted Farm 592 at Beelbangera, which was "set apart for Irrigation Farms for Discharged Soldiers Only".'° Elsie travelled to Australia on a War Bride Ship, then by train to Beelbangera in May 1918. She is believed to be the first English War Bride to arrive on the Soldiers Settlement. Elsie's first impressions of the area were that "it was the last place on earth that God Almighty made".

On arrival at her new home, Elsie found there was no furniture, no electricity and the water hadn't arrived along the channels. They had no implements to work the farm.

When Elsie asked her husband where the toilet was she was told to "go bush". Elsie said that she didn't know what he meant but she said also "she soon found out". Elsie went into the "Old Town" on the first day after her arrival and she thought that it was "Piccadilly".

Cows on the Dairy Farm at Bcclbangcra Courtesy Mrs 1. Evans & Mrs R Polkinghorne

Henry and Elsie bought a horse and spring cart and travelled to Willbriggie to buy an 18 month old pedigree Ayrshire bull - the bull was to arrive by train, but it wasn't

10

Water Resources Records

43

on the first train, so they had to wait for the second train! Elsie expected that there would be a restaurant at Willbriggie so that she could have a cup of tea while they waited! As they started their journey back the bull wouldn't budge so Henry had to pull the bull along from Willbriggie to Beelbangera and Elsie, who was pregnant with her first child, had to drive the horse and cart. When they arrived home Elsie had to cut Henry's shoes off his feet as they were so swollen.

When Elsie's first child was born, she went to town to buy a baby shawl from a shop run by a Miss Robertson. When asked if she had a baby shawl, Miss Robertson replied that "No. I didn't think that there would be any babies around the district!" Elsie said "apparently Miss Robertson didn't know the diggers very well then did she?"

Floods on the Beelbangera Farm c 1924 Courtesy Mrs L Evans & Mrs R Polkinghorne

Henry and Elsie were on the dairy farm at Beelbangera for six years. They suffered many floods, because the channels weren't built properly. They then thought of trying to grow rice instead. However, Henry had developed rheumatoid arthritis so unfortunately they had to forfeit the farm. They made a permanent home on a horticultural farm, number 918 at Griffith11, having to pioneer all over again whilst raising a family of five. Their youngest son, Lionel still lives on this farm.

Neighbours and friends Elsie remembered were:Mrs & Mrs Webb, Mrs & Mrs Stacey (a dairy farmer), Alec Varone or Bourne, Howard Bennet who married Miss Worthington, M Chapman, Mr Garten, Mr & Mrs Hawkins, Mr & Mrs Harbard, Mr & Mrs Dance, Mr & Mrs Morsworth (Red Cross Farm), Mr Fagherty, Mrs Goodfellow, Mr Boyd, Mr Bartholomew of Hanwood, Mr Ford

11

Dept of Lands - Permissive Occupancy 17 January 1930

44

(Policeman), Mr Axeford (who used to wear a tie and brimmer (a Boater Hat?) to work every day at the Post Office, which was just a tin shed), Mr & Mrs Dick Edwards (a butcher at Bagtown), Nurse Taylor of Yoogali, Paul Evans (Water Bailiff at Farm 592, Beelbangera), Barney Wilcox (in charge of the Beelbangera Barracks).

['she, Henry, Ken, lean, Gus, Lorraine c 1942 Courtesy Mrs L Evans & Mrs R Polkinghornc

Henry Gustuvas Belford born Nyngan, NSW 13 February 1890 died 10 February, 1948, buried Griffith married: Elsie Maud Keen born 12 March 1890 died 27 February 1981, buried Griffith 1. Harry Barnard born 10 April 1920; married Lola Grace; living in Leeton (deceased); married Connie Gray Gus 2. born 29 March 1923; deceased, buried Griffith Dorothy Constance 3. married Richard Stephen Goodger, living Griffith 4. Lionel Frank born 5 February 1927; married Eileen Mary Hilliam (deceased) living Griffith 5. Lorraine Frances born 10 September 1934; married Ian Frances Evans; living in Coleambally Courtesy of Mrs Robyn Polkinghorne nee Belford, Farm 918, Griffith 2680

45

BERTRAM /CARPENTER Richard Joseph Bertram (born as Richard Joseph Carpenter 31 March 1869) and his wife Olivia Mary Ellen Bertram (nee Hodgetts) and formerly Mrs Supple, arrived in the Griffith area in 1912 from Broken Hill. Richard Joseph later worked on the channels, Ellen (as she was known) began a Boarding House and when elderly often spoke of her early days and her time in Griffith. However it is difficult to distinguish which of her stories applied to her 'Boarding House' here and those that were related about times at the Pig and Whistle' Hotel in Broken Hill which she ran for her first mother-in-law, Mrs Conlon.

It is certain that her Griffith Boarding House was principally a bag and hessian type construction at the "Quarry Camp".

Richard Joseph Carpenter (later Bertram) was a labourer in Finley during his first marriage. He later worked on dam sinking at "Brookong" Station - Lockhart (1904). He had a penchant for running dances and racing horses all his life.

While in Griffith they lost a son Richard ("Dicky") aged 21.a. He was accidentally poisoned when he drank whiskey and he was buried at Whitton. Two children Olivia Ellen and Edward ("Bronk") Bertram were born in Griffith. Richard Joseph was insistent that his daughter be named Olivia, his wife was equally insistent that she would not be (even though the name has come down through the generations from First Fleeter Olivia Gascoigne who married First Fleeter Nathaniel Lucas, their daughter Olivia married into the Second Fleet family of Hodgetts). Not to be out done, Richard Joseph after a few `sherbets' bundled up his baby daughter and carried her a reputed 'two and a bit miles' to the Police Station of the day and registered her as Olivia Ellen Bertram.

It is unclear when exactly the family left Griffith but it is known that at the outbreak of World War 1 they were living at Nyah West in Victoria, later moving to the Cullulleraine area near Mildura.

Richard Joseph and Olivia Mary Ellen Bertram both passed on in 1960 and were buried at Gol Gol NSW. Richard Joseph was descended from Richard Carpenter (born 5 January 1842 in Kenton, Devon; buried in Ballarat 1932) and Elizabeth Neylan (born County Clare) married in Roma Qld 1867. This particular Richard married four times and had a reputed 26 children (his estimate) all marriages registered and all without benefit of widowerhood or any divorces! This Richard Carpenter was the son of Richard Carpenter and Maria Dailey. They arrived in Geelong with their family on 9 August 1849 on board the "Medway".

The children of Richard Joseph and Olivia Mary Ellen Bertram were: 1. Elizabeth May born Peterborough SA 1908 became first Mrs Wilson and then Mrs Sparkes, lived Gol Gol and later Essendon Vic. 2. Richard born 1911, died Griffith, buried Whitton 3. Olivia Ellen born Griffith, married Kenneth Mansell at Urana 1933 and still resides there. (Widow).

4. Edward ("Brook") born Griffith, married Mrs Ellen Francis, lives Lake Charm Vic. 5. Ronald ("Paddy") born Victoria, married Daisy Eastwell at Mildura. Lives Brisbane Old (Widower).

46

• C.

Registration or Binh,, Deaths and Marriages Act, 1971

B 126321

CERTIFIED COPY : •, • ,* •;WA.•.1%* • ‘13IRTKREGISTERED IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA Chad .

Rumima ,,,.. .

LIR TRAM

Other names

Olivia ilea •

Female 19th Kay, 1913*

baiiotioirtV: ..

• 1--..• •.`. 1 .......). .2: • Place of hirta‘••••`

Griffiths Quarry Carve

.i.„. ..i i•;.P...,: 9. ‘, , . Parente' abind Father • Surname .

BIGITRAM

•

Ili:hard JOrrepO

Omer names

•

, - 4 Occupation •-,;•••• *ma,: -•. . .k::, Plies of bath .: ' M other ''.

7. it_ma.in.a '' .

'

IrOWETT3 Olivia Katy Ellen

39 Years.

Casterten, Victoria.

.

Place of birth

Date of marriage Place of marriage ,

°retinal e , N.S. Vial o a.

BLRTRAM

Maiden surname ..- ;..••• ...- • Other names Ago

/learning House Keeper

41 yoaro.

".yr-bh\June, • 1904.

Dote sburg, South Auatralia.

Prevlouichildren of marriage Y.O 1 athoth M. 5 yearn living. 1 mule due:easel.

Inftinnant .

..•

, i ;

j;

. .

•

•,

,:,

p.,,,,,,,es'nn,yhi4.,„tion

• Corti fi od. .by:R.J.Bortratn, Father, . Griffith° qmarry Camp.

11.5i a ay] or , Di otriot Rag istrar .

Date 10th Jun..1 9/ 3.

Number

905'

I. Pet er Kimble Greening hereby cettifi,thia the above La a true Copy of particulars recorded In • Netter kept by me. vS .•

T.':

'•*-7.

•

•• Dmiember,, 1982.

L74JI Keg

Courtesy Mrs Lavelle Wallace

47

OTHER CHILDREN BORN OF THIS COUPLES FIRST MARRIAGES: Richard Joseph Carpenter (later known as Bertram) married Mrs Sarah Aspline (nee O'Brien) at Mooroopna Vic, one child: Mary Vera Carpenter, born 5 October 1895 * * *

Olivia Mary Hodgetts married Patrick Supple 17 August 1891 at Broken Hill, five children: (1) Patrick born Broken Hill 9 July 1892, died Adelaide was married to May E ...?, never came to Griffith area to live. Two children.

(2) James born Broken Hill 16 July 1894, worked on channels at Griffith. Ran into a Waggon load of logs and later suffered from Epilepsy. Did not marry. Died Gol Gol NSW in 1950's.

(3) Thomas born Broken Hill 18 July 1896, worked on channels at Griffith. Married Nellie.... 1920, twin boys that did not survive.

Thomas died Gol Gol NSW 1960's.

(4) Annie Imelda born Broken Hill 1 September 1898, worked in Richard Joseph ("Dick") and Olivian Ellen Bertram Boarding House, Griffith. Married On their Wedding Day c 1904 SA Harold Campbell at Maryborough Courtesy Mrs Lavelle Wallace (nee Mansell) Vic, 11 November 1919. Constable Harold Campbell later stationed at Griffith. Retired to Griffith at a later date (Harold died Griffith 12 March 1961) Annie Imelda died July 1986 at Griffith. Four children.

(5) Margaret born Broken Hill 2 September 1900, worked in Boarding House, Griffith.

Married Stanley Arnold in Victoria. Died Mildura 18 March 1928. Two sons.

By courtesy of Mrs Lavelle Wallace (nee Mansell), Granddaughter of Richard Joseph and Olivia Mary Ellen Bertram 48

BONOMI Luigi Bonomi, wife Fiorina and son Cesare Augusto (born 28 October 1903 in Italy) arrived in the Griffith area in June 1915.

Luigi Bonomi's parents came from Bruchi-Velo (Verona Region) and wife Fiorina Bonomi nee Brutti came from Gardone (Verona Region). Luigi (born in Italy 4 March 1869) and Fiorina Brutti (born in Italy 24 February 1880) were married there on 20 January 1903.

Luigi and Fiorina and baby Cesare left Verona for Genova and sailed for Australia on a German Passenger Ship, "SS Grossesfurt", in December 1905. They settled in Rutherglen (Victoria) where Luigi worked at "Chiltern Mine". Here Ancella was born 21 September 1906, only to die three weeks later. Alvera was also born in Rutherglen on 14 August 1907.

Due to the mine closure, the family moved to "North Prentis" mine where Cesare attended the State School and where Guiditta was born 3 August 1909. That mine also closed down and hence they moved on to the "Great Southern" mine near Rutherglen where Ida was born 4 August 1911. Luigi worked there until that mine closed down in 1913. The family then moved to Broken Hill were Luigi worked in the local mine and where Rene was born 9 March 1915. Cesare and Alvera attended the South Broken Hill Catholic School.

In June 1915, Luigi left Broken Hill to look at the new area of Griffith which he had heard about. He selected Farm 664 and the family followed in August. With them came Luigi Gulielmini, Cirillo Baltieri, Angelo Custagana, wife, baby and canary! They travelled by train from Broken Hill to Adelaide then caught another train to Melbourne next day to Albury where they changed trains once more at Junee arriving at 3.00 a.m. then they caught the Sydney-Hay train at 8.30 a.m. to take them to Willbriggie arriving at 2.00 p.m. Cesare acted as spokesman and interpreter throughout the trip. They were met

by Luigi in a spring cart. The women and children travelled in Micky Cush's coach and went on to "Bagtown" while Cesare rode with his father and the three men in the cart.

The road was very rough with pot-holes and many times they had to get down and walk.

When they reached Mirrool Creek, Cesare often told the story about Angelo Custagana's canary. The poor bird needed a drink of water and when he opened the cage door there was a terrible commotion and some bad language and the canary flew off over the creek!

Custagana left the cage up on a tree and said "perhaps it will get cold tonight and he might come back". Cesare often wondered what happened to the canary and cage!

Luigi and his family settled down on Farm 664 which was purchased in June and granted on 16 August 1915. He had constructed a two-roomed shack with an iron roof, cement bag walls and cement bag floors.

Luigi cleared half the farm and planted potatoes, corn, pumpkin, beans etc. which kept them going while the fruit trees he had planted began to bear fruit. Cesare stayed home from school that year to help his father on the farm. Cesare, Alvera, Guiditta, and Ida went to Hanwood School. Three more children were born at Farm 664; Albert - 11 February 1918; Hilda - 14 January 1921; and Valda - 23 May 1924, with Nurse Taylor in attendance at the births. Ida, Rene, Albert, Hilda and Valda all went to the Yoogali School. Cesare entered the Police Force in 1927 and is believed to be one of the first Italian-born policemen.

49

Luigi was very much involved with the building of St Mary's Church at Yoogali.

He would go out with his horse and cart and visit people to collect money to build the church. He also generously donated the church bell. When the Church was built this particular story was remembered and told by many people - "Luigi would sit at the back of the church and when the Priest's sermon was getting too long-winded, he would say `that's enough' (in Italian), light his pipe and hoped the Priest would get the message".

Cesare can remember when he left school at the age of 14, in 1917, he worked part-time at the Government Nursery and acted as general messenger boy whose duties included attending to the mail and errands to Bagtown. Cesare remembered and considered himself lucky when, in November 1918, the armistice was signed. When the news came through by telephone the Postmaster ran out into the street shouting the good news, people came from everywhere banging on kerosene tins and there was pandemonium; quite a few horses bolted, smashing their sulkies but nobody cared because it was great news.

The Bonomi Family L to R Guidctta (Elsie), Fiorina, Luigi, Alvera (Vera), Cesare (Cecil), Albert, Rene, Ida. Courtesy Bonomi Family.

Cesare also tells of the times when Italian families arrived from Italy on the passenger boats in Sydney or Melbourne. They were given Luigi's name and address and they would arrive at Farm 664. The first time it happened there were six people - Luigi looked after them and found work for them etc, when the next boat came in, it happened again and again and at one time they had fifteen people camped on Farm 664 - with the

50

help of other Italian families they were all settled, and as more families arrived, other Italian families also helped.

Luigi Bonomi married Fiorina nee Brutti

I. Cesare August() born Italy - 28 October 1903 2. Ancella born Rutherglen - 21 September 1906 (died as an infant) 3. Alvera born Rutherglen - 14 August 1907 4. Guiditta born "North Prentis", Rutherglen 3 August 1909 5. Ida horn "Great Southern", near Rutherglen 14 August 1911 6. Rene horn Broken Hill - 9 March 1915 7. Albert horn Farm 664 - 11 February 1918 Cecil, Mrs Bonomi, Valda, Mrs Palframan,

8. Hilda born Farm 664 - 14 January 1921

Belle, Laurie, RiccihcUa (Thc Hermit).

Courtesy the Bonomi Family

9. Valda born Farm 664 - 23 May 1924 Courtesy of the Bonomi Family.

The Hermit's Cave Courtesy Mrs Vanda Conlon

5I

BOOTS Frederick Richard Boots was born 7 May 1874 at Gawler, South Australia. His wife, Ada Caroline Davies was born in August 1880 at Upper Sturt.

Frederick and Ada Boots arrived in Griffith in 1919 and took up Farm 47, Hanwood of 111 acres on which they planted mainly wine grapes, some peaches and apricots. They had sold their vineyard at Mildura where they had grown sultana, currant and gordo grapes for drying. They also grew rice on some of the spare land a little while before they sold it. When they arrived in Griffith there was only a little fibro house on the block and the children were so disappointed that they cried as they had moved from a lovely home at Mildura.

The children went to Hanwood School; the elder ones enrolling on 25 August 1919 after leaving Mildura School on 24 July 1919. They went by the school horse-drawn waggon and then later drove a horse and sulky. The horse was put in the school paddock during school hours. The teacher was Miss Vera Trainer who later became Mrs C Davidge. They sold Farm 47 in July 1948 to the Jones Brothers who built a cannery on the site. After this they retired to Corrimal.

Frederick and Ada both died at Corrimal; Frederick in January 1961 aged 86 years and Ada in 1971 aged nearly 89 years. Their family: 1. Ida May born Mildura 11 Nov 1904 (deceased) married Don Sumpter 2. Claude William born Mildura 1907, died Mildura 1909 aged 17 months 3. Elsie Alicene born Mildura 26 May 1908 married Ray Kook, lives Griffith 4. Doris Evelyn born Mildura 27 Aug 1909 married Lester Alpen, lives Wagga 5. Victor Frederick "BM" born Mildura 29 Dec 1910 married Marjorie Wilson, lives Byron Bay 6. Hilda Amy Olive born Mildura 7 May 1912 married Sid Silburn 7. Ivy Maude born Mildura 29 Sept 1914 married Lou Ireland, lives Brisbane 8. Phillis born Mildura 29 July 1915 married Lindsay Moffatt, lives Gumly Gumly 9. Verdun Lawrence "Joe" born Mildura 16 Mar 1916 married Jeanette, lives Sydney 10. Leslie Gordon born Mildura 4 Feb 1919 married Daisy, lives Nambucca Heads 11. Winifred Joyce born Hanwood 15 Dec 1920 married David Worland (dec), lives Corrimal 12. Lorna Joan born Hanwood 14 Oct 1925 married Murray Murdock, lives Wollongong Contributed by Mrs Elsie Kook, 45 Coolah Street, Griffith (The only child of Fred and Ada Boots still living in Griffith) 52

BORTHWICK I came out to Australia in 1915 when I was 21 years of age. My Aunt, Mrs Helen May Jackson, had for many years prior to her marriage held the position of Governess to the Hague family of "Castle Dyke", Sheffield, England. The Hagues were coal mine owners. My Aunt had lost her husband in 1915 and she was asked, by Mrs Hague, if she would travel to Australia with Miss Beatrice Hague, spend 3 years in Griffith (Bagtown) as housekeeper and see Miss Beatrice Hague settled in her new life.

Miss Hague was coming to Australia to marry Mr Ralph Higginson, the Resident Engineer at Griffith. They had met sometime previously in England when Mr Higginson was on leave. Mr Higginson, a New Zealander, had worked on an irrigation scheme in India before taking on the Resident Engineer's position in Bagtown.

My Aunt travelled up to Scotland from England to visit my family prior to leaving for Australia. I had been interested in Australia since my school days and when my Aunt discovered this she said I could go too if I wanted to.

It was quickly arranged for me to go and Miss Hague, my Aunt and I sailed from Tilbury Docks on 9 April, 1915, on the "Osterley". The voyage took six weeks and we arrived in Sydney about 21 May, 1915. Mr Higginson met the boat. Miss Hague and Mr Higginson were married (from the boat) at Randwick and proceeded on their honeymoon.

My Aunt and I spent the week-end at the Wentworth Hotel then travelled by train to Whitton. A taxi awaited us at Whitton and took us to Bagtown.

There had been a very bad drought and the countryside was like a desert without a blade of grass to be seen and hardly a leaf on a tree. We wondered whatever we had done and however we were going to exist. I thought a lot about my family in Scotland, my home and my job in the China Department of a "posh" Dundee shop. The drought had broken before our arrival in Whitton and the taxi slid and slew over what was little more than a bush track all the way to Bagtown.

We were warmly greeted at the Resident Engineer's home by a Mrs Anderson who was employed by Mr Higginson as housekeeper. The house was weather-board, lined with fibro and it had an iron roof.

My Aunt and I made up our minds that as we had come for three years we would make the best of things. A few days after our arrival grass started to grow and everywhere yellow daisies came out in bloom. The countryside looked beautiful. We couldn't believe the change. When Mr and Mrs Higginson arrived we had settled down and we were organized to receive them. My Aunt did the cooking and I was "Jack of all Trades". I found I had a lot of housework to do as dust storms were frequent.

We were told that during the drought they had had a dust storm that was so terrible that people thought they would smother with dust. Babies and old people went to sleep and slept through it. Day was like night.

After we settled in, Mrs Anderson (and her son) moved into a make-shift home and she took in ironing and provided some meals to make a living.

We soon made friends and we found we were among some lovely people. Mr and Mrs Pedley, who had a shop in partnership with a Mr Selkirk, were amongst our friends.

Their shop was set out with counters and shelves and looked much the same as the shop in the T.V. series "Open All Hours". They sold everything and anything from sweets, groceries to boots, clothing, wool, lanterns, materials etc. etc.

53

Mr and Mrs Pedley went to Bagtown in 1912. They were English. Their son, Albert, helped them in the shop and later with the running of their dairy and fruit farms.

Mr Selkirk took up a farm at Leeton.

Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission Staff 1913/1914 Back: Frank Maher, Foreshaw; John Duchatel; Osborne; Flint; Bell Andrew Lenehan; R St Clair; Jock Weston; Chadwick Centre: O'Reilly; S Jarvis; Miss Ryan; Miss Muriel Glover; Miss Dorric McDonald; George Bowsher; Miss Jordan; Len Atkinson; George Cudlipp Front: Hews; Gibson Scott; Cowdery, Ralph B Higginson; Wells; Stan West; Matt Dillon.

Courtesy Mrs Joan Millynn (nee Maher)

In 1915 Mrs and Mrs O'Brien ran the Accommodation House. Whilst I was in Bagtown they gave that up and Mr O'Brien took on the management of the Aboriginal Settlement at Darlington Point. The single "Officers" lived at the Accommodation House.

The married ones lived in make-shift homes with corrugated iron kitchens and tent and hessian bedrooms. Most washed their clothes outside on a bench. Coppers were out in the open. We wondered who these "Officers" were but soon found them to be clerks working for the Commission.

It was a little town (make-shift) with Pedleys & Selkirk's store, two baker shops (Jacob's and Hanna's), a one room weather-board School, the Co-op was getting going, the W.C. & I.C. Office was over the road from the Resident Engineer's house. Dr Watkins was the Doctor and he was admired by all and went out at all times and in all

54

weather to attend to the sick. He lived in a house similar to the Resident Engineer's house. If my memory serves me correctly Mrs Cummings had a shop which sold needlework, underwear, stockings, dresses, etc. It was unexpected to find it contained such nice things. The butcher's shop was set out like all butcher shops with counter, chopping block and meat hanging up on hooks. There was another General Store and a Barber's Shop. "Tango Joe" was also there Lots of the early farmers such as Lasscocks, Whitings, Hawkins, Saintys, Thornetts, Sidlows, etc, etc. were settled on their farms. Some had had their houses built, some lived in make-shift homes.

A Mr Cush took mail and people to and from Willbriggie Station in a horse driven covered waggon.

Mr Higginson had a two seater car and in dry weather drove himself around the scheme. If the roads were bad he was driven around in a buggy.

People visited one another. Dances were held at the Hanwood Hall. Mrs Hawkins played the piano for the dances. Concerts were held from time to time. Mrs Hawkins sang at Concerts. The proceeds of these functions usually went to the Red Cross. The Methodist Church conducted services in the Hall. The Church of England services were held in a Church at Hanwood. Mr Higginson had had this Church moved to Hanwood from another district.

Mr and Mrs Higginson's first born, a daughter, died at the Resident Engineer's home in Bagtown. Her grave is now in Griffith Cemetery.

Mr Higginson went to England and joined the Army in 1918. My Aunt married again in Bagtown. She married William Boyd, a farmer and she resided in Griffith for the rest of her life.

In 1919 Mrs Higginson and I returned to England with Cicely, Mr and Mrs Higginson's second daughter. Cicely died tragically after getting 'flu on our return to "Castle Dyke", Sheffield, England. When Mr Higginson was demobilized from the Army, Mr and Mrs Higginson returned to Narrandera to finish out his contract with the Commission. Whilst in Narrandera their third daughter was born and as far as I know is still alive and well in England. "Castle Dyke" is now an aged persons home.

I married in England. My husband, Sam, and I came out from England to live in Griffith in 1922. We travelled from Sydney on the South West Mail to the present Griffith Station. Bagtown was a thing of the past and Griffith which was in the planning, setting out stage when I left in 1919 was well established.

Sam and I lived in Griffith and raised three children - Jean, Winnie and Bernard.

We retired to Woolwich in 1967. My husband passed away in 1978. At present I am living with my daughter and son-in-law, Winnie and Eric Joiner at Lake Cathie.

Janet Gill (signed) September 1988 (Mrs Gill was 94 years)

Memories of Bagtown By Mrs Sam Gill (nee Janet Borthwick) 55

BOYLE Having read pamphlets dealing with the advantages of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme, which were circulated throughout Australia at that time, my father, Michael Boyle, decided to sell his grazing property "Babel Park" and move his family to a farming situation where water was assured. The farm sold for £7,000 which was quite an amount in those days. He bought a house in Swan Hill (our nearest shopping centre) and my mother, my sister and I lived there for eighteen months.

Boyle Family c. 1911 Back: Leo, Patrick, Tom Front: Kathleen, Michael & Johanna, May Courtesy Mrs M Fallon nee Boyle

Meanwhile my father, my brothers, Pat and Leo (brother Tom was at St Patrick's College, Ballarat), cousin George Guilmartin, and neighbour Denis Hardiman, who also sold his property, came overland with their draught horses, light horses, sulkies and a buggy. They selected a 50 acre block each, all in a row, at Hanwood which they fenced and cleared. A tin shack was erected on my father's block for a dwelling and they lived there for eighteen months, during which time my father arranged to have two homes built.

The first completed was my brother Pat's as he was to be married in early 1913. The second was completed in early 1914. The homes were constructed of double concrete with 9 inch cavity walls to combat the heat. My father did all this with his own finances and the homes were very comfortable - "GRAND" according to those days. Pat's was four rooms, with a 25 foot by 10 foot hall running down the centre. Ours was six rooms plus a bathroom with the same dimension hallway. Both homes had a concrete floored verandah all the way around.

56

"Erinsvale" - home of Pat and Mollie Boyle, built 1913 L to R: Annie, Pat and baby, Mollie, May Turner (later Mrs Gee) Courtesy Mrs M Fallon, nee Boyle

Two dams were sunk and an overhead tank and windmill were erected and water was laid on to the house. Father spent quite an amount to set these homes up. Mr Swalki, from Coolamon, built the homes which my brother Pat maintained were the first homes built on the area. Our home had a window and french doors to each room. We had three hanging kerosene lamps; one in the dining room, one in the hall and one in the drawing room. We used table lamps and candles elsewhere. My father planted a house orchard close by; with a fig tree, two orange, two apple, two pear and two peach trees.

He erected a fair sized summer house around which he planted grape vines.

When the homes were completed the house in Swan Hill was sold, as well as the furniture. New furniture was bought in Bendigo, including a piano (German "Lipp") which was sent by rail to Willbriggie. Pat Kelly, a relative, drove us in his car to Hanwood. (I remember I wore a new felt hat, navy and turned up all round with a "veau rose" band).

We stayed overnight at Hay. I remember driving across the "Old Man Plains.' because they were very flat. I was 14 at the time and I remember arriving at "Innisfail", our home.

My father's idea was to fatten sheep so he planted lucerne. The idea was to move the stock from block to block as it was eaten out and to allow for resowing. The variety of lucerne was not suited to this area and this project was a failure. He bought a chaff cutter and grew wheat and oats which were saleable as there were a lot of horses here at that time.

57

Harvesting - making chaff from stack at "Innisfail" The home of Mrs and Mrs Michael Boyle built c 1915 Courtesy Mrs M Fallon, nee Boyle

Shortly after our arrival at Hanwood my sister Kath was sent to St Joseph's College, Goulburn, for twelve months and then I was sent to Goulburn College for three years (1915 to 1917). While Kath was away I drove the sulky to Bagtown for the stores.

The mail came in three times a week and as there was no refrigeration, supplies were bought each time I went to Bagtown to collect the mail - the bread from Mr Jacob and the meat from Mr Jim Harris, the butcher.

Those were good times as far as I was concerned but they were worrying times for my father. (I've come to realise this since but Dad never complained or made his worries known to us). I seldom had to harness the horse as Dad mostly did this for me.

I enjoyed those visits to Bagtown as I knew most people there including the settlers who came in to shop and get their mail. It was something of a "social occasion".

By this time John McWilliam (Nesta's father-in-law) had come to the area. Dad became interested in growing wine grapes. He grew the vines and waited for about three years but there was no market for them or the price was too low. John McWilliam seemed to have sufficient grapes of his own so Dad planted tobacco and tried that crop.

I remember him taking out loads of green tobacco leaves to the factory which was built near where Lex and Ian Salmon now have their residence. That enterprise was not repeated as it also was a failure.

Settlers here were trying this and that upon the advice of "so called" authorities.

My father was a grazier and knew nothing about growing such crops and didn't succeed.

It was the same with brother Pat but Leo bought a bigger place of 600 acres at Ballingall and he prospered. I believe Pat sold his place but all my father received from the Commission was 000 for his farm and house.

58

In the meantime I was only 14 and I didn't think much about finances as I had enough money to enjoy the simple pleasures in Bagtown. And I did! They were primitive but happy times. There was no electricity but we had a piano and my sister, Kath, could play. I was having lessons from Mrs Gertie Davidge before I went away to college. I would ride over to their place so Mother bought me a heavy silk divided skirt. At the week-ends the bachelors, who had selected blocks around and were lonely, would come and sometimes have the evening meal with us. Many came just to have a sing-song around the piano and enjoy the company. Cecil Bland (Dev Whiting's uncle) was one and he sang very well. He would bring his music along and I accompanied him on the piano.

There was Dick Flynn who came to the area to get experience on the MIA. He worked and lived on our farm - he sang well. He liked the evenings' entertainment. And oh!

There was Tom Hockin. Tom had selected a block but he had no experience in growing anything as he came from the city. He tried this and that - I remember at one time he tried growing peanuts! He would come to our place at the week-ends and I remember on one occasion he brought peanuts - green peanuts - in a bag. He brought this great big bag of peanuts and we roasted them in the oven.

I remember another young man who was going to see a young lady who was visiting the area. He took her a bunch of carrots and parsnips. The girl thought it was funny! But it was all he had...

Father was doing all right on the grazing property - beginning to do quite well. He wanted to settle his sons on the land, to give them a start but he didn't have quite enough land for them all.

Mother never approved of selling out.

She was really the business head but in those days, of course, women weren't supposed to know very much at all.

There were never any bushfires here as there was too much water, however there was a dust storm which was very trying while it lasted. It was the end of 1914 or sometime in 1915. It came in from the west and there was so much dust that although we lit the lamps in the house, the light did not penetrate the dust.

The men were out on the chaff cutter.

They came in and sat around for a while, about twenty minutes or half an hour I suppose and I was struggling for breath.

I got a wet cloth and lay down on the bed and put that over my face - that was Mrs Johanna Boyle nursing infant brown dust.

Dick Cox & Pet Poodles Maybe it was quiet during the Courtesy Mrs M Fallon week. I don't remember ever being lonely or wondering what do with myself but I 59

do remember enjoying myself. Before I went away to College I learned to dance because girls were in great demand and I couldn't even dance at all when I first come to Bagtown.

My brothers would take me along with them. Mrs Hawkins was the pianist and my sister Kath would play the extras when she was at home. The Hanwood Hall was the centre of all activity. There were very few travelling troupes but I remember Mr Gascoigne who was a hypnotist. Maybe we were unsophisticated but we thought he was great. He had us all roaring with laughter at the things he had the people doing - the people we knew in Bagtown whom he had up on the stage. They were shy people who would never go up on the stage normally and they would be up there doing all sorts of crazy things. He had three nights and we went to all three as we loved it and father had enough money.

Whenever he had money he was never mean with it. We came home from school twice a year, Christmas and Midwinter. We had a great time when we came home.

I remember a picnic at Darlington Point in the Christmas vacation when we decided to go and camp overnight. We had a chaperone as we were all young, except Mr and Mrs Rochford, who were our chaperones. We went along with our horses and buggies or whatever we had. We took tarpaulins fortunately as when night came, a storm "blew up" and the rain came and we were all huddled under the tarp. We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun. We weren't promiscuous in those days as I don't remember any necking, or wrapping our arms round one another that night at all. I think we went to Finley's beach, and it was a great novelty just being together. I had to go back to catch the train at Willbriggie the next day and I wasn't too pleased about it. I remember Charlie Davidge drove me in the buggy. My little heart was heavy about going back to school. I was very lonely at first but after a while I was quite happy - I liked the study and after the first month I got on really well.

When I finally came home from College, I was 17, nearly 18. I went private teaching after a while but I stayed home for six months. I used to play the piano for Mum and Dad every evening. After dinner Mum would say "Aren't you going to play?" We would be in the dining room and I would go up the hall to the drawing room and sit there and play away for them for an hour or more. I lit the hanging lamp and I think I had a candle or two at the piano.

At the week-end there'd be dancing, mostly at my brother Pat's as mother wasn't so keen on all this entertainment! I suppose she had a little too much work in the kitchen and she wasn't so keen on all this socialising -but we were! Dad sang sometimes and anyone who could render an item did so.

About 1916 I was away at school when my brother Pat organised a "Hard-UpBall" because nearly everyone was "Hard-Up" as they put it. I think the Hanwood Hall was built by the Commission and the Ball was held there. Everyone who attended was expected to come dressed in hessian or bags, and they did! They were served brown paper sandwiches (bread with brown paper filling) and they had a lot of fun. Of course, a wonderful supper was served later.

A picnic was arranged (one of many such outings) to a dam on Mirrool Creek.

Pat had two half-draught horses and he filled chaff bags with chaff which he placed around the edge of the lorry for us to sit on. The married couples drove their sulkies and took the food. We younger ones all went on the lorry. After lunch we young people played games which by to-day's standards would probably be regarded as naive and simple. One game was "two's and three's". We had a three-legged race - I was with "Doss" and he ran 60

too fast for me so I bit the dust and dragged "Doss" down too and he was a big fellow.

It was hilarious. If it was very hot we went in swimming. We had "costumes" of the day knitted woollen and down to the knees! We had a great afternoon tea with no (alcoholic) drink as it was a "dry" area at that time of course. Coming home from picnics sitting round the edge of the lorry on chaff bags, we would sing all the old choruses. I remember a young man asked me to go with him in his sulky but I said "Oh no, I want to go on the lorry".

We went to a New Year's Day picnic race meeting at Darlington Point. Les, Ida and Graham Savage, Jack Taylor, my brother Leo and myself. Les Savage drove us all in his buggy then we attended the picnic races and the dance at night. After dinner we all walked across the old Darlington Point Bridge (in fact, Les Savage and I did the "two-step" across it). We all stayed the night at the Punt Hotel. Joe Gleeson and his wife, Mary, had the Punt Hotel in those days and Mary's sister, Maud Cash, was with them also. We had a great time and the Gleeson's treated us very well.

We arranged concerts for entertainment. After I came home from boarding school I used to recite - today one rarely receives an encore but in those days we were very well received. I remember there was a travelling minstrel show came to Bagtown and I enjoyed those Negro Minstrels. My brother Pat was M.C. for most of the dances held in the Hanwood Hall. We arranged fancy dress balls and dances. My mother used to send away to the "Buttonhole" in Sydney for costumes for me. I was dressed as "Ragtime" on one occasion. My dress was red and had musical notes all over it and the hem of the skirt was jagged with bells on each peak. I thought it was great! Leo went as a big bear once and looked very striking walking around. On another occasion I made up a dress and Jack Thompson painted it for me. We called it "camouflage".

Prior to the war the dances were the Old Time Circular Waltz, Barn Dance, Vars-se-vienna, Schottische, Mazurka and The First Set, Second Set and Third Set. We enjoyed those Set Dances immensely. The returned men brought back the Syncopated Tempo and I had to master that on the piano from sheet music. Brother Tom who helped me at the piano was very musical. When I got used to it, I loved it - the Jazz Waltz, Fox Trot, One Step, Tickle-Toe! Another pastime we enjoyed were a few moonlight rides. There were about a dozen of us young men and women as far as I remember. We'd arrange to get together and have a ride in the moonlight. Then after we had our ride we would call into one of the homes (ours maybe) and have supper. John Thompson, Jack Sutton, Charlie, Gertie and Elsie Davidge, George Williams, Greg Rochford, Leo and myself Bagtown was a dusty place in the early days; either dusty or muddy, but it was usually dusty.

The Government had planned to settle the area before the war. I think the water was flowing by the end of 1912 (certainly by 1913) but it was not set up for Soldier Settlement. The war broke out in 1914, after the irrigation settlement had commenced and some of the young men left from here. Some never returned. My cousin, George Guilmartin left his block to enlist and was killed. Jack Sutton and Mr Tarr enlisted from here. Mr Tarr came back.

After the war was over the Government thought this would be somewhere to repatriate the Soldiers so a great many were brought here. They were housed in Barracks out at Beelbangera, and I think, at Yenda as well. They were expected to work the land, 61

clear and fence it, then work it generally for three to six months. This was to help them learn something about the land, as a lot of them were quite inexperienced - a great many of those young men had worked in offices before the war.

Andrew Martin built the first and largest general store in Bagtown and he was a good businessman. He had a good stock; if you wanted anything you could get it at Andrew Martin's - but his prices were high. Andrew and his wife ran the store. John McLean came later. There was no Griffith as we know it today at that time.

Goods were freighted to Willbriggie and then Micky Cush would bring them from there as he had a vehicle with two horses and a canopy over the back seating accommodation. He brought the mail three times a week to Andrew Martin's store at Bagtown. My brother Pat said he sorted his own mail - he just got the bag of mail and looked through the letters taking out his own mail.

Because of high prices, the Settlers decided to form a "Cash Club" where they put their money into this "pool" and sent away to Sydney for their stores. That must have been before John McLean opened I think. About 1916. They later changed the name to the Co-operative and then to the Griffith Co-operative. The first manager was Stanton Murphy. I don't remember how long he stayed here but I remember him quite well. He was a jolly man; he was musical and a good entertainer which was something in those days. When there was a concert Stanton Murphy helped us entertain.

I remember there was a little store in Bagtown and this lady (I forget her name) had the Post Office as well. It wasn't long till the Government Post Office opened. This was a corrugated iron building with Andy Berg as the Postmaster and Jack North as his assistant. Andy Berg was a good mixer and I remember him with great pleasure. He played the piano well - he was an asset to the community.

Micky Cush would bring the mail in and Andy Berg would close the Post Office and we'd all wait round - no business other than sorting the mail, there were only the two of them. The younger people didn't mind as we stood around and talked to the boys and made "dates" as there were no telephones then! When the mail was sorted Andy Berg would open up and hand out the mail.

Mr and Mrs Bone were here early. Mr Bone had the Barber Saloon. Mrs Cummings had a little drapery shop and her husband was here as well. Then there was Mrs Milne whose daughter married Tom Morley. There was the Butcher's shop owned

by Jim and Mrs Harris who were well known here. Mrs Edwards was their daughter; Clarrie Harris and Edie Davidge were also daughters.

Andrew Martin built in Griffith proper when Griffith started opening up blocks.

A relative told me recently that he purchased four blocks, one on each corner of Banna Avenue and Ulong Street (Police Station/Court House on one side and two blocks on the southern side). He built where Fossey's is now. It was not such a big place, then he sold to Mr Rodder and left.

I left Griffith in about 1919 and went private teaching and returned in 1924 as a married woman.

Before the Church became established in this area Mass was celebrated in my brother, Pat's house, "Erinsvale", at Hanwood. Fr Reidy would drive across from Leeton in his sulky on the Saturday, stay the night at Pat and Mollie's, and Mass would be celebrated next morning at about 11 O'clock. Well, it was meant to commence at 11, but Fr Reidy would talk to this one and that and it was nearer 12 before Mass would be said.

62

Fr Reidy was a very likeable man. After Mass a substantial lunch would be served to those men who were involved in establishing the Church here and after lunch they would hold a meeting. After the meeting the men would have a Tug-o-war or some sport, cricket perhaps, before Fr Reidy would return to Leeton. I remember serving ginger pudding for one meal and as we had been fasting from midnight (as was the custom then) that ginger pudding smelt wonderful! I found it hard to wait for my serving. Mass was celebrated here once a month. Parishioners were Mr and Mrs Joe Lenehan, Mr and Mrs Mick Ryan, son Jack and daughter Kath and the Boyle family, among others.

I would dress the Altar for Fr Reidy (Fr O'Dea as well) in the early days. I remember Jack Ryan would collect the portmanteau from Fr Reidy and ride over for me and I would ride on the back of his horse and hold the valise. Fr Reidy was not a well man and it was not long before he left to go into Lewisham Hospital where he later died.

In about 1915 the Hanwood Hall was built and Mass was celebrated there for a few years until the Lyceum Theatre was erected, in Griffith, after which Mass was celebrated there.

Fr O'Dea came to Griffith as Fr Reidy's replacement. Fr O'Dea gave me a letter containing a list of all he wanted in the way of Altar requisites and asked me to select them for him as I was going to Sydney at the time. No doubt Fr O'Dea did not have any spare money to make the trip himself. That would have been before the Church was built.

The family of Johanna and Michael were:Patrick John b 21 February 1889, Swan Hill; died and buried Griffith 7 October 1979, aged 90 years. m Mary Madden - Mary buried Sydney.

Leo Sylvester b 17 March 1891, Swan Hill; died 6 October 1982, buried Griffith. Batchelor.

Thomas b 8 Nov 1893; buried Brighton Vic 1979 m Mary Bunting Kathleen Mary b 2 December 1897, Swan Hill; m Malachy Fallon - resides Cardinal Gilroy Village, Merrylands NSW Margaret Marie (May) b 3 May 1900 Swan Hill; m James Patrick Fallon - resides 65 Messner Street, Griffith.

Contributed by Mrs May Fallon (nee Boyle) 65 Messner Street, Griffith 2680

63

BRAITHWAITE Michael Sidney ("Sid") Braithwaite came to Leeton, from Gunnedah, to work in the Government Nursery in 1912. In October of that same year, 1912, he married Ann Elizabeth Campbell at Gunnedah.

Where exactly Sid and Ann lived in Leeton is unknown but in 1917 Sid was transferred to work at the Government Nursery in Old Griffith. The journey from Leeton took Sid and Ann and their two children Lily and John two days, travelling by sulky and camping overnight.

Paddy Grace transported their goods and chattels. The Government nursery supplied the trees and vines for planting on the Mirrool irrigation farms.

Here they lived at Bagtown in a pise house near the Government Hospital and the Government Cannery.

After a few years working and living at the nursery, Sid was appointed as District Fruit Inspector for the Sid & Ann Braithwaite - Wedding Day Water Conservation and Courtesy Mrs Molly Wade (nee Braithwaite) Irrigation Commission. At this time the family lived at Yenda in a Government Officer's house in Mirrool Avenue, near the boarding house known as "The Bungalow". Then from 1935 until his retirement Sid worked for the Rural Bank as a valuer.

During the time spent at the Government Nursery, Michael Sidney Braithwaite and his brother Clarrie, were instrumental in obtaining much of the parent stock for many of the horticultural plantings of the area - in particular citrus plantings.

Of these earlier times, daughter Molly (Mrs Wade of Bermagui) says her mother often told the story of the priest, Fr O'Dea, who told the congregation "that it was a sin to steal from the Commission (WC & IC)" - evidently it was quite prevalent!

64

She also tells of the Bagtown Baker telling the customers to go to the other baker if not satisfied. There was no other baker!

Sid and Clarrie Braithwaite's father was Constantine Braithwaite born in 1836 at Sacramento, USA. He married (where unknown) Margaret McNamara who was born about 1851 at Clune, Co Clare, Ireland. Details of Sid's parents migration are unknown.

Ann's parents were John Campbell born c 1858; died Gunnedah 1916, and Elizabeth nee Considine.

Michael Sidney Braithwaite born 26 Aug 1878, Warwick Old died 9 Oct 1951, Griffith buried RC Section, Griffith

Ann Elizabeth Campbell born 26 Jan 1890 Gunnedah died April 1971, Leeton buried RC Section, Griffith

married 16 October 1912, Gunnedah

The children of Sid and Ann are: 1.

Lily Elizabeth born 25 October 1913 at Narrandera married William Hawke - lives Perth WA

2.

John Sidney born 26 April 1915 at Leeton RAAF - killed over Munich, Germany 1944, buried Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany

3.

Patrick William Clarence born 9 November 1918 at Griffith. Married Shirley Knight - lives Griffith

4.

Mary Beatrice born 17 January 1921 at Devistown married Arthur Murray Wade - lives Bermagui

5.

Francis Kenneth born 22 November 1922 at Griffith married Betty Ledgerwood - lives Griffith

6.

Ann Marie born 14 December 1924 at Griffith married John Ross-Reid - lives Canberra

Courtesy of Shirley (Mrs Bill) Braithwaite, 10 Doolan Crescent, Griffith 2680

65

BROWNSCOMBE "The Restless Years" Great Grandfather Edwin Brownscombe came to Melbourne about 1855. He was a miller from Devon, born 1828, died 1877. His first marriage produced two children, William James born 1858 (my grandfather who died in 1931) and his sister Mary.

William was born in Melbourne and was an apprentice to Joseph Bosisto, a chemist. They used to distil Eucalyptus in various districts in Victoria finding that the mallee country yielded best. I did have his papers of apprenticeship but unfortunately they were burnt in a recent bushfire.

Mr Bosisto was the founder of the Parrot brand Eucalyptus oil, a household medication of many uses at the time - regarded by many as a magic cure-all.

Mr Bosisto eventually went back to Italy to export oil and left my grandfather in charge and he later became managing director. I believe there was an enormous Parrot creation at Richmond Station advertising the product.

In his early days my Dad used to accompany his father when he was supervising the distilling. When he died grandfather's life story was written up in the Pharmaceutical Gazette of which my daughter has a copy.

William James married Jane Larke who was born in 1860 and died in 1943. They had four children: Grale, William, Ruby and Gordon.

Ruby married Frank Brewster. Gordon, my father, better known as "Dick" was born on 6 August 1889 and died in 1966. He married Isobel Craig, who was born in 1891 and died in 1977. Formerly from Georgetown, British Guiana, South Africa, she had immigrated with her mother and twin sister Lillian, from Scotland, after her father Alexander Craig had died from some tropical disease. Gordon and Isobel were married at Blackheath on 18 September 1915. Both died at their home in East Roseville and have been laid to rest in Frenchs Forest Cemetery, Belrose.

My father first came to Ariah Park working as a blacksmith for "Snowy" Collins.

Later he moved to Leeton where he was well known for growing vegetables. His neighbours there were Dick Fardell, Frank Brewster and George Woods.

He worked on the main canal as it came through from Yanco and moved to Griffith about 1918. Like most folk, he had his ups and downs but he always looked on the bright side and was never licked!! A good pioneer I'd say! He had several small area vegetable farms and a mixed business shop just around from Taylors grocery store in Banna Avenue.

Dad was a jack of all trades - name it, he'd done it. Once he even assisted his deaf uncle at Tamworth who was a Veterinary Surgeon. He moved around doing the things he wanted to do. He'd had a good education, as on leaving school he had centred his life on a business career and attended a business college in Melbourne. On completion of the course he received a post working in the Norwegian and Swedish Consulate Office. I understand Dad was exceptionally good at shorthand and typing but did not like being all dressed up as much as the job demanded. Also, it seems the boss couldn't understand why he couldn't take down shorthand in Norwegian. His parents were bitterly disappointed when he left his job for the wide open spaces and went to clear land in Gippsland for potato growing. He also planted trees only to be flooded out by 66

extremely wet weather. He told me he never dug a potato from the bumper crop as they all rotted off in six inches of water. The soil was very fertile so bound to be a bit swampy.

He made a living by helping to dig and cart the crops of neighbours who were more fortunate. The following year was the same, and he was able to get by as before, contracting. He became Vice Captain of the Aussie Rules football team and they became district champions. I have a nice copper medal with his name on it which says "1910 Champions".

His uncle at Tamworth needed a driver to take him on "his rounds" in his Napier car as he was a Veterinary surgeon so Dad left the farm and headed for "greener pastures".

He did well in Tamworth and later came back to Melbourne and married Mum. They went back to Kooweerup to farm for awhile, then sold out and went to Ariah Park.

My sister Joan was the one to benefit from Dad's business training. She was amazed at his memory of shorthand symbols and speed, likewise his typing. Dad also had been a gardener for Swanny Schwatz who was a bookmaker at Pymble. Later he again grew vegetables at Belrose.

There were four in our family, I was the eldest, Allan Marshall born at Blackheath. I married Miss Edna Pfitzner on 20 July 1951 and we had one child - Alison born 15 July 1952. Edna is buried in Frenchs Forest Cemetery.

My brother, William Gordon was born on 11 April 1918 and developed Polio when about five years old. After many years he walked again only to fall over breaking his chin and died as a result. He was buried in Griffith on 20 September 1932. My Mum and Dad were saints the way they looked after him. Our friends helped too!

My sister, Margery Lesley was born in 1920 and was accidentally drowned in 1922 in a channel after falling off a bridge on the Hanwood road. I'm not sure just where she was buried.12 My sister Joan Gwenneth was born on 23 April 1921. She married Otto Brabant and died on 18 August 1986 and was cremated at the North Shore Crematorium.

I don't remember what mode of transport was used to get us to Griffith but once there, we did a lot of walking, until I got a loan of Dad's bike to "clink" my crippled brother Bill into town for medical treatment. Dad used ride the bike to work and we had no car for many years.

We first arrived and lived at Passeau or Passow's farm in the Bilbul-Yoogali area on the Yenda road. I fancy the name was French.

Later we moved to George Blow's farm 106 Hanwood, near Emmet O'Meara, Rowling, Dreyer's and Christie's farms (near the old site of Bagtown), then Bloxham's farm opposite Wilf Hall's father's farm. We never settled permanently anywhere but were always on the move; about a year at any one place as I recall. They were the restless years.

We at last had our own farm, near Galvin's and Tommy Parker. Here Dad built his own home of fine poles and sewn wheat bags for walls. Beside growing "vegies" Dad grew experimental crops for the agriculture department. He grew the first cotton in the area.

12

Editors Note - buried Griffith Cemetery, Methodist Section

67

Dad tried his own shop next to Mr Grubb, the dentist and we lived at the rear.

Then we moved to Binya Street next to Coulter's boarding house. Back to Vigar's farm, with a big wood heap, near Galvin's. It was "catch as catch can", making a living from many jobs so we found ourselves at Benerembah Station, owned by Mr Rimmer. Later it was Sumpter's farm near the police paddocks. Then Billy McCann's next to Mr Jim Mansell.

We grew vegetables at Mr Syd Kelly's farm Yenda, again we moved to Mr Chance's farm at Yoogali. Also lived on Atlee Milthorpe's farm at Yoogali.

As far back as I can remember I was always giving "the old man" a hand at something. It was not until we moved into Mrs Naylor's residence in Canal Street that I had my first job, with cash at the end of the week. I worked for Mr William S Gow of Hillside Garage.

Again we moved, to Binya Street, opposite Bill Gow's residence then to Station Street near the Jondaryan Club. It was at this time the family went to Sydney and Dad and I went from Aramac Queensland to Dalgety following the shearing.

Clothes in those days were made by my mother. She had worked at Searl's Florists in Sydney. She loved flowers and arranging them. Hence whereever we went we soon had a flower garden while Dad looked after the "vegies". We caught rabbits and fish and had very little lamb or beef. Mum was a beaut cook and Dad a good shearers' cook.

Entertainment - each family took their turn at having a house party. There would be community singing, someone would play the mouth organ, lots of card games and dancing. We all enjoyed ourselves and maybe we were much happier in those days, or so it seems to me. For the younger ones there was always a cricket or football game. We would assemble opposite the police paddocks and swim in the canal, play marbles also spin tops which was great fun. Dad loved to join our games "taking" the ball behind the "kero case", having a bowl and a bat and seeing that everyone had a fair crack of the whip.

I've helped my Dad put up miles and miles of fencing, cleared land and ploughed fields. Harvested wheat and rice and grown vegetables. In a very small way I helped lay out the Hospital grounds from scratch soon after the completion of the buildings. Dad also helped with the supply of "vegies" for the hospital and sold any surplus to local stores.

Yes, those were the days but they have passed, never to be forgotten by those of us who lived through them.

Contributed by Alan Brownscombe, 180 Forestway, Belrose 2085

68

BULL Bull is another of the Selector families whose name is still well known in the area and perpetuated in the village name of "Bilbul" (Bill Bull) -said to be so named on the suggestion of John Jacob. This biography covers the very large family of Emily and Thomas Bull and their eleven children, one of whom died two years prior to their coming to Jondaryan.

Thomas William Bull was an Englishman, born in London 1823. He was the son of James Bull and Sarah (nee Wager). James, an Excise Officer had connections with the (English) Navy and married the daughter of Admiral Sir Charles Wager.

As a boy Thomas had been a choir boy in London's St Paul's Cathedral. When old enough he joined the Navy. The year 1849 saw him arriving in Adelaide aboard the "SS Sybella". When gold was discovered he joined the gold diggers on the Ballarat fields where, on 23 March 1859, he entered into partnership with three others in the ownership of a mine - "The Ophir". While working this mine the timber supports slipped, killing two of the partners. One was Simon Searle Lanyon and Thomas Bull had to carry the sad news of the death to his sister, Emily Lanyon. This was how he met the lass who was later to become his wife and who spent the last years of her life in this area, living at "Meadow Bank", the family home they established on their land.

Emily Lanyon was born in Cornwall, the daughter of a farmer, Henry Lanyon and his wife, Elizabeth. She died at the early age of 52 years after being an invalid for two years, leaving a young family to be cared for by her older daughters. She died on 24 May 1888 and was buried in the Whitton Cemetery.

Thomas William Bull and Emily nee Lanyon Courtesy the Bull Family

69

Towards the end of his life, their son Will was to recollect..."In June 1884, my father, my brother, a neighbour Howard Edmenson and myself went to Narrandera in search of land. I was seventeen years of age. Father had selected "Prairie" on the Yanco Creek in 1876. We then went to Whitton (what is now Griffith was then known as "Whitton") where we selected five blocks of land in the Parish of Johndaryan (sic) on Kooba Station. The name of the paddock was "West End". It was six miles long by five miles wide." This land was later divided into family blocks. The price of the land was fl an acre payable over a period of years, 5/- an acre down, then three years free of instalments (interest was paid) and finally 1/- an acre each year until paid for.

The "home block" held by the Bull parents was where the rest of the family lived and was named "Meadow Bank". Harry's was named "Canterbury", Will's "Round Hill", Bert's "Gorton", Jack's "Laravale" and that of Mary and Albert Driver "The Cliffs". The properties of Will and Harry were adjoining so, to comply with the residency conditions and as company for each other (they will still single) they built a two roomed hut on the boundary - one room on Harry's place and one on Will's.

Here Will picks up the story once more...."Later on we drew blocks of leased land up to 2,500 acres. This leased land was not surveyed and was crown land. By taking up these blocks we selected the East side of Jondaryan Parish. Another family named Anderson and also McIntosh selected blocks on the west side of the same paddock. After we selected our Crown land there was only a strip of Water Reserve running north and south down the middle of the paddock and a Forest Reserve on the northern boundary.

This is the land on which the town of Griffith stands today. In those days Harry Bull and Lottie nee Tresillian land was very thickly timbered; there with four of their five sons L to R Fred, Tom, Stacie and Lance was also plenty of low scrub.

Courtesy Joyce Elwin nee Bull There was a log fence on the north boundary of West End. The McPherson Range was in what was known as the Lake Paddock. It was mainly used for cattle, dingoes were very numerous. The hills were covered with she-oak trees which were splendid cattle feed. The Lake Paddock ran north and was the back paddock of Kooba Station (then owned by J and W McGaw) and thick with mallee scrub and there were dingoes there too.

There were settlers in this paddock. The Davies selected just north of Griffith calling their property "Winderee" - the aerodrome is now on that property. J Smith also had land north of Lakeview now known as Lake Wyangan. The Albert Driver family were the other selectors, calling their property "The Cliffs". They had a nice home east of the range. They were a large family, there being nine grown-up children, five girls and four boys. Later a Mr Dun bought "The Cliffs" and had a sawmill on it. Further east were 70

Smith's and Cummings' holdings; their land extended along the Johndaryan (sic) north boundary to what was known as "the Fenyan Yards" (sic). The sports ground was situated here. The settlers built a church, a tennis court and a cricket ground. Further to the east were settlers, Driver Bros (cousins of "The Cliffs" Drivers) - they owned "Oaklands" and "Mountain's View". J Slattery had "Broomfield" which extended out to the Whitton/Lake Carglligo stock route. Other settlers were J Matchett, R Beveridge, A Sherad, Dalg,leish and McConnen.

In Rouse's paddock which was due east of Johndaryan (sic) Parish there were more settlers namely M Quilter, J L Bull, A E Bull, T McGrath. All these selections were on Kooba Station before they were taken over for irrigation. Kooba was a large Station thirty miles long by fourteen wide.

It was on the north side of this station that these settlers lived and they settled there from 1884 to 1912. Rouse's paddock measured six miles by six and was a forest of boree trees and Quandongs which were also plentiful. These were used for cooking and jam making. By drying them they could be kept for years.

The Mirrool Creek ran through Rouse's paddock but it only flowed in very wet seasons. In 1891 it was flooded and fully a mile wide.

There was a mail service from Whitton to Mount Ida twice a week. It came along the Stock Route for the first 12 miles and called at most of the settlers' homes. The Postmaster at Whitton was a Mr Dent and he was very obliging.

Rabbits came into this country from the Lachlan River, first appearing in 1890.

At first Kooba Station gave 2/- a head for scalps but this did not last long as they were being yarded and poisoned in thousands. There was so much harbour for them that they caused endless work. Kooba Station erected a rabbit proof netting fence from 12 miles north of Whitton to the Benerembah boundary, letting about 60,000 acres go as no man's land. This was mostly scrubby and rough land but was useful in time of drought as an edible scrub grew on it.

By the end of the eighties the settlers had most of the residential conditions fulfilled and the land improved, so we sought other ways of earning a living. Pine timber was cut out at Mr Dun's sawmill which was on my property, but a run of wet seasons made it difficult to get the logs in and the sawn timber away, although it was only 11 miles to Willbriggie railway on the Hay line. My property was about the nearest of the settlers to the railway line and was called "Round Hill".

Most of the settlers went in for wheat growing and thousands of acres were cleared for the plough, some very good crops being grown under old methods. The price of wheat was very low in those days, 8/- for a bag of four bushels. Horses and stumpjump ploughs were used for cultivating, and strippers and winnowers for harvesting. The crops had to be netted as rabbits would travel a long way to feed on them. Wool was worth about 9d a pound and good sheep in full wool about 10/The bad Depression in the nineties caused some of the banks to close their doors, among them the A J S Bank at Whitton. Later, however, they paid a portion of current accounts and gradually finance improved. The seasons were fairly good until 1896 when we had severe heat and a very dry time. There were severe heat waves registering up to 120 degrees in our home and all surface water dried up. Had it not been for wells it would have meant abandoning the area. On my land I had sunk a very good well, 134 feet deep, which watered everything in the Jondaryan area for many months. This well saved 71

Jondaryan in the great drought of 1896-1899. It was situated five miles south-east of Griffith and in a straight line from Whitton, it used to be operated by a double whip, horses being used to work it. The water was a bit brackish for drinking but when it first came up from the well it was quite good. It was splendid stock water and a constant flow.

There was a tank near the well and both were in good order when I left in 1912.

A new land act came into force about this time and most of the Crown Land which Kooba held north of their netting fences was thrown open for selection in blocks under 1,000 acres. It was taken up by the following:- G Mills, T Hair, A G Driver, M E Bull (my sister who later married A G Driver), R Stuart, G Beaumont and J Coleman selected in the Jondaryan Parish and J Robinson and J L Bull in Rouse's paddock. With these blocks taken up most of the land north of Kooba was in selectors' hands. However, as it was such a bad time with low prices and bad years, some gave up their blocks and took up other occupations. After the 1902 drought the seasons and prices improved and things were generally more prosperous until our land was resumed in 1912.

There were several other settlers on Kooba not mentioned previously, namely McCaffery Bros, G & T Baker, J Lanigan and his father. All selected near Yenda and were early settlers. Later, A. Dunn, a brother of the M.P.W. Dunn (no relation to Mr Dun who had "The Cliffs") also selected there.

There were two schools, one at Lake View and one at Jack Plains.

Jondaryan Cricket Team L to R- Standing: A Beaumont, F B Dun, A Anderson, R Stuart, Seated: W Bull, I Stuart, C Bull, L Bull, I Driver. Seated at the front: A Driver, A Bull Courtesy Wedern Riverina Library

The Jondaryan Cricket Club played many games and much interest was taken in the matches with other clubs for many years. We travelled as far as Narrandera at times.

In the beginning, we played on a chipped dirt pitch and later with matting. We played cricket until our land was resumed and must have played over 100 matches. A grandson of our captain (Mr Dunn), namely, Ian Craig, toured England in 1953.

72

There were also tennis clubs, race meetings and dances held in the district. Lake View was a good sports ground. Most of the people came by buggy and on horseback, and I have known some girls to ride over 30 miles to a sports meeting. In those times they used to ride sidesaddle and there were some splendid riders in that style.

There was no lack of entertainment.

During all the years I lived in that district I did not see a poisonous snake, but there were plenty of harmless carpet snakes. They usually lived in trees. There were many different species of birds before the rabbit poisoning campaign. Wheat, pollard and water were all poisoned so naturally the deaths among them were terrific. The wild turkeys disappeared altogether; they were in large numbers previously. They were very good to eat, some of them weighing 20 pounds dressed. I consider the birds were of great value in keeping down insect pests, damage done by grasshoppers, etc. being negligible in those days before poison was used. Before the timber was cleared, wild bees were very plentiful, they had their hives in box trees and there was plenty of pollen for them.

Dust storms were more prevalent in the late nineties than they have been since.

There was one in February 1890 which was pitch black for five hours. I was five miles north of Griffith that day. The darkness came on about 4 pm and lasted well into the night. No one was sorry when a star shone through the dust cloud.

I did not hear of blowfly strike in the seventies and eighties and as I did a lot of sheep work as a boy, it was a great surprise to me the first time I saw a sheep struck.

Small flies and mosquitoes would nearly drive one silly in hot weather. Another great torture was "sandy blight" in the eyes. It would last from two to three weeks. As a boy I spent about eight years around Coonong (mostly shepherding sheep) so I had seen a good deal of the bush life before going to Jondaryan.

On my recent trip I noted the great changes in the district. It is no easy matter to locate the old home sites, but the Mirrool Creek and the hills are a good guide.

Willbriggie railway station used to be known as Darlington railway station and was a fine building. It was burned down in the nineties.

In 1912 our land was resumed. I was paid 0/121- an acre for my block. We had to look for fresh land and homes, in many cases this meant starting again on undeveloped land and building new homes, etc. A G Driver and I purchased land from Sir Samuel McCaughey on the south end of "Goolgumbla" Station. Others went to Narrandera and districts. Most of the original settlers or their families continued in wool and wheat growing."

The third son, Bert (Albert Edwin) was a foundation member of the Carrathool Shire Council - or Willandra Shire as it was originally known. (The name was changed to "Carrathool" because of the inconvenience caused by mail being wrongly sent to "Willandra" Station near Hillston.) The names of the councillors, who met first on 5 December 1906 were: S Nixon (first President), A E Bull, John Campbell, John Jacobs, A McArthur, and A Mills.13 Bert Bull served from the time of this initial meeting until THE JONDARYN Lawn Tennis Club was opened on Easter Monday of 1895. The Club was formed at. Bull Bros.

"Meadow Bank" property near what is now Griffith. Tennis was played durng the aftern000n after which the 30 people had supper and danced until 3 am.

13 Newspaper - name unknown - dated 5 December 1906

73

1912 when he left the area because of the resumption of his land. He was President 1908-1910.

Before his marriage Bert had built a pise hut on his land, "Gorton". When he married in 1908 he built a house and the pise hut became a harness room. He also sunk a very good well close to the house to supply water for the home.

His daughter Joyce tells us that during their "batching" days the men lived mainly on meat which was dry salted in a bag which was turned daily. This was eaten with damper and lots of tea. She recollected too of her father telling her that the name "Jondaryan" was the name of a back-station of the original "Cuba" Station. In the 1880's this whole area was referred to as Jondaryan or Whitton and all mail addressed accordingly. He told her that the Fenyion (sic) Yards was a camping place on one of the stock routes going to Mt Ida (now Tabbita/Warburn) - another was Albert tdwin Bull and Lucy nee Johnston "Verandah Rock", located Wedding day. Courtesy of Joyce Elwin approximately where Lake Wyangan is now. Joyce commented also that her father had told her that the Fenyion Yards had been there and so called long before the days of the selectors.

Harry Bull's family tell that just prior to their leaving for their new home near Narrandera the family was invited to Afternoon Tea by "a Mr Dunn who was the Engineer for the making of the canal in 1911-1912. They saw the first water fill a dam".

The eldest daughter, Sarah Ann, died just 18 months after her mother's death.

She died on the railway station at Willbriggie while waiting for the train to take her to Narrandera. She had been taken to Willbriggie by horse and dray on a mattress to catch the train to take her to the doctor at Narrandera, but she died before the train arrived.

The second daughter, Elisa Jane died at the age of 20. She died at "Prairie Park" and was buried at Urana two years before the family moved to "Meadowbank". The family believe that the hard life they experienced, living in tents during their early years in New South Wales - before they were able to build their home - made her susceptible to the tuberculosis from which she died.

The fifth daughter, "Ada" (Adelaide Sybella) kept house at "Meadow Bank" for her father for many years after the death of her mother and two older sisters. It was only 74

after they left here that she married, quite late in life, George Cormack and lived the rest of her life at Ballarat.

Will's daughter, Ella, says that the women had very hard lives, especially before their home was built. Asked how the women coped with food in the heat, she and Joyce said that the meat was mostly salted. Joyce remembered her mother, in hot summer weather, kept butter in a hole dug in the ground - the hole was filled with water which was allowed to soak away, then the butter container would be placed in the hole and covered with wet bags. She remembered too the Mailman coming from Whitton twice a week and dropping off mail and bread at "Gorton" and "Canterbury" on the way to Mt Ida. They both recalled the family talking of the many and enjoyable dances held in Dun's woolshed at "The Cliffs"; also of visits to her parents by the sisters, Milly and Beatty Doyle.

Lucy with Joyce and Elsie.

Born at "Gorton.

Courtesy Joyce Elwin

JUrnnunaum :mow Esq,

THE SI111217. CLERK.

Gorton,

Carrathool Shire, CARRATHOOL N.S.V.

Dear Sir;At Cle last meeting of my Council hell on the 3rd inet it was unanimously decided to place on record the Council's appreciation of your service. during the time you were Councillor for °V Riding of the Carrathool Shire.

My Council deeply regret your having to leave

the Council but truot that you will have every suceeso and prosperity in your nee sphere of life. Allow me also to add bent wishes.

Yours faithfully,

4th October,1912.

Shire Clerk.

75

lack Bull

May Bull (nee Kook)

The home of "Jack" and May Bull - "Laravale" Photos courtesy Mrs Mavis McPherson (nee Bull)

76

The family of Thomas William Bull and Emily (nee Lanyon) were: 1. Sarah Ann died 13 October 1889 on Willbriggie Siding 2. Eliza Jane died 6 November 1882 and buried at Urana 3. Elizabeth Emily ("Emily") married Mr Davies of "Wendouree", Jondaryan 4. Henry James ("Harry") born 2 November 1865 died 5 September 1950 at Narrandera married 28 September 1892 Charlotte ("Lottie") Tresillian They had: Frank (killed WW1), Fred, Tom, Stace and Lance 5. William Thomas ("Will") born 21 August 1867 Warrandoe Vic died and buried 3 February 1956 Deniliquin (aged 89 yrs) married 6 April 1910 Marion Augusta Kook of "The Avenue"Darlington Point. They had six children: William (born "Round Hill"), Stuart, Ella (Lynch), John, Donald and Lloyd.

6. Albert Edwin ("Bert") born 15 November 1871 died 9 May 1952 married Lucy Taylor Johnston (born 17 October 1882; died 15 December 1982 aged 100 years). Both buried at Narrandera.

They had 3 daughters: (2 born "Gorton"), Elsie, Joyce, and Jean.

7. Mary Ellen married Albert Driver 8. John Louis ("Jack") married May Kook They had 3 children: Mavis (McPherson), Linton and Clive 9. Adelaide Sybella ("Ada") married George Cormack 10. Charles Wager Lanyon married Hannah Pearse 11. Carolyne Louise ("Carrie") married Archie Gates 12. Alice May (stillborn)

By courtesy of Mrs Joyce Elwin (nee Bull, daughter of "Bert"), 7 Elberta Street, Leeton Mrs Mavis McPherson (nee Bull, daughter of "Jack"), 27 Adelaide Avenue East Lindfield 2070 Mrs Ella Lynch (nee Bull, daughter of "Will"), 3 Bonner St, Kelso NSW Messrs Bill (WH) and Stuart Bull (son of "Will"), "Lauriston", Deniliquin

77

5

0:

ficcELLNIA'ar.l:

‘ 31

(7,04/PA-7 7 y/

•

7.',-;)1.,

25

33 2_2.

27

ea) 34

1°J

Vi1/0OG

Portion 12 14 15 19 22 24 25 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Holder W T Bull T W Bull T W Bull W T Bull Crown Land H J Bull T W Bull M Sawyer Jnr M Sawyer Jur J S Horsfall T W Bull A G Driver Mrs Mary Driver A G Driver H J Bull

•

ortfr,.

SKETCH SHOWING "SELECTIONS"

(not to scale) Information courtesy Mr Jim Fielder 78

15

14

BURNS Patrick McGuiness Burns, usually known as "Paddy", was an Englishman from Newcastle-upon-Tyne who "jumped" ship in Sydney in 1908 to watch the Jack Johnson v Tommy Burns World Heavyweight Championship fight.

He stayed in Australia and his first job was working on the Argyle Cut near the Harbour Bridge. He married Jessie Laing of Auburn, New South Wales (about 1909) and together they went to the Yanco/Leeton area where Paddy worked on the construction of the MIA Main Canal.

In 1910 Jessie ("Nin') returned to Sydney for the birth of their child. In those days the Area was no place for confinements.

She later rejoined Paddy at Leeton with their infant daughter, Jessie Elizabeth Burns.

The small family lived in workers' camps around Leeton where Paddy worked on various jobs for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme, including construction of the first water tower at Leeton in 1912.

With the extension of the Main Canal they moved through to the western end of the MIA arriving at the East Mirrool Regulator project about 1914 where Paddy was a concrete ganger, working on the bridges.

Like the families of the other construction workers they lived in a temporary dwelling lined with hessian which, in their case, was painted with whitewash tinted with red ochre to produce a pale pink colour. They were here for about 18 months. Their late daughter Jessie Inwood was to recall that when the time came to move, their belongings were packed onto, and Patrick McGuiness Burns (left) and carted, on a long waggon of the the poet Henry Lawson (in white coat) type which was used to transport Courtesy Jim Fielder wool bales from out west. "I had a lonely life as a child" said Jessie.

79

"My only companion was a little boy until he returned with his parents to Sydney. Then my companion was my big black and white collie dog". Moving along the canal construction line the family lived also in the Yenda area, Wickham's Camp and Bagtown.

At Bagtown Jessie was able to attend school, dubbed by some of the "wags" the "Bagtown Academy of Learning", or more properly the "Mirrool West Provisional School", which opened May 1916.

"I remember Mr Vaughan was the first teacher I had. Another teacher was Miss Gwen Jenkins who later married Jack Kelly, the first Shire President." Jessie also recalled holding Miss Jenkin's hand as she walked part of the way home with her. "Then we moved to Wickham's Camp. The gangers' (of whom Paddy was one) families had the best spot, but really it was just like a gold mining camp! The married quarters faced what is today Bridge Road. The single men's tents were up near where Savages Winery is situated now. There were about 200 single men camped in four rows of tents. They played 'twoup' nearby, but if Constable Ford arrived on horseback they had only to walk away! They never got caught."

Of the Provisional School at Wickham's Camp Jessie told - "It was commenced in the April 1920 for the children living in the Camp. Until then there would have been 30 or more children, mostly running wild. The Education Department provided a very big tent (like a circus tent) in which the Commission laid a board floor. Soon there were too many children for the tent."

A number of years before her death Jessie was to tell of an incident which occurred one Saturday afternoon. "Most of the men were away from the Camp and my Mother and I could hear this terrible fight going on between two men camped across the canal. The area was still thickly timbered and I think they had probably been drinking.

We saw one man jump into the canal to get away from the man who was chasing him.

Whether because he was drunk or just couldn't get out of the steep-sided canal I don't know, but by the time someone had brought Trooper Ford the poor fellow had drowned.

This was the man among whose personal belongings the police found a gold medal won, in France, for swimming." Jessie concluded this story by saying.... "It was a Saturday afternoon and most of the men were away, also being the weekend nothing could be done about the poor fellow until Monday when the body would have to be taken to Whitton for post-mortem." It certainly pointed up the harsh, primitive conditions which were the order of the time when she continued that "the body was placed under a small, stumpy tree across the road from where they took him out of the canal (Bridge Street now) and covered it with two sheets of corrugated iron." Although only a small child a lasting impression was seeing, the next day, the iron covering him completely covered with large black ants!

In 1920 "Nin" and Paddy built their first permanent home which faced Harris Road, where they lived until the 1930's. In 1934/35 they built a more comfortable cottage on the same block. This cottage faces Bridge Road and still stands, although is now in a dilapidated condition.

Paddy Burns, while working as a concrete ganger for the WC & IC, specialised in the concrete finishing. He did the concrete "finish work" for the three "ornamental" bridges over the Main Canal. He retired from the Commission, as a night watchman, after his grandson, Jim Fielder, started with the Commission as a junior clerk (on 7 March

80

1949). This has seen a family continuity of service with the Commission from its inception in 1913 until the time of writing (1990).

Jim recalling a holiday in Griffith from Melbourne where the family were living at that time tells "With my parents, brother Bill and friend Neville Aspinall, we went for a hike up the hill and stumbled upon the Hermit. He was returning to his cave from the Main Canal carrying water. We found him very shy but friendly. We had a language problem but he took us into his cave, gave us cool drinks from his water bag (hanging at the front of the cave) and allowed himself to be photographed with us boys. My mother took the photograph."

1-1L• Jim Fielder, Bill Fielder, The hermit of Scenic 11111, Neville Aspinall Photo taken outside the Ikrmit's Cave, Summer of 1939/40 Courtesy Jim Fielder

51

Patrick McGuiness Burns, Sailor, born Newcastle-on-Tyne, England 13 January 1886 died Griffith, 7 July 1953 married Jessie Laing, Laundress, born Sydney c. 1884 died Griffith, 12 December 1962 * *

1. Jessie Elizabeth born Sydney 25 March 1910 died Griffith 14 July 1989 married: (1) William Fielder - K.IA. New Guinea 7 September 1943 1.William (Bill) 2. James (Jim) 3. Frances (2) Thomas William Inwood

By courtesy of Jim Fielder (grandson and son), 20 Rutland Street, Blacktown NSW.

82

CAMPBELL Joseph Campbell was born in 1839 in Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.

He came to Australia in 1857, at the age of 18, aboard the "SS Great Britain" and met up with Samuel McCaughey. They became lifelong friends. He worked on a number of properties with McCaughey. He then managed "Coonong" Station for a number of years and later was financed by Samuel McCaughey to buy "Euabalong" Station at Euabalong.

In 1886 he married Frances Mayben in the Church of England at Hillston. They raised a family of four boys - Stuart, Mayben, Ross and Lyle. In 1910 they sold "Euabalong" and bought "Glenroy" Station at Warburn, 12 miles west of Griffith.

It was heavily forested with pine timber which was used to build the early WC & IC homes. Timber from "Glenroy" was also used for the construction of Mirrool House and the WC & IC Offices.

On the Station there was only a small drop-log home, consisting of kitchen, living room and bedroom. The Campbells built a substantial home which was tragically burnt to the ground in 1958.

Most of the family photographs and records were burnt with the homestead.

"Glenroy" was a grazing property Joseph Campbell of 4,500 acres. Other properties bought Courtesy Mr Colin Campbell by the Campbell family were "Manywoods" Warburn, "Currawong" Tabbita and "Clifton Park" Warburn.

The eldest son, Stuart Lachlan Campbell, was born at Euabalong in 1887. He lived at "Clifton Park" Warburn until he sold it in the 1930's and bought a property "Readyford" - on the Bogan River. When they returned to Griffith after WW2 they rebought "Clifton Park". He married Dorothy Laviana (Mary) Welch and they are the parents of Fran and Charles.

Their second son, George Robert Mayben (known as ''Mayben"), was also born at Narrandera, in 1889. Mayben stayed on the home property of "Glenroy" when his parents retired to Sydney. In 1919 he married Viola Mary Donaldson and they are the parents of Joe, Don, Yvonne and Bruce.

Their third son, Dawson Ross Rivers (known as "Ross"), was born 1892. He owned "Manywoods" Warburn and he lived there until about 1946 when he sold the property to Henri Morel. Ross then moved to a rice farm at Yenda - Farm 415 which he purchased from Mr J Corner in February 1947. He lived on this farm until his death and was buried in the Griffith Lawn Cemetery on 5 October 1978. Ross never married.

83

The youngest of the four boys, Samuel Lyle (known as "Lyle"), lived on "Currawong" Tabbita. He lived there until he died at the aged of 93 years and his son Colin is on the property now. Lyle married Gladys Hawley and they are the parents of Colin and Mavis.

Joseph Campbell born: Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland died: Sydney (1930), buried Waverley Cemetery Sydney married: 1886 in Hillston NSW Frances Mayben born: Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland died: Sydney 1940, buried Waverley Cemetery Sydney

Frances Campbell Courtesy Mr Cohn Campbell

1. Stuart Lachlan born: 1887 Euabalong NSW died & buried: Griffith married: Dorothy Welch 2. George Robert Mayben born: 1889 Narrandera NSW died: June 1967, buried Narrandera married: Viola Mary Donaldson 3. Dawson Ross Rivers born: 1892 buried: 5 Oct 1978, Griffith never married 4. Samuel Lyle born: 1895 died: March 1988, buried Griffith married: Gladys Hawley By courtesy Mr Joseph Campbell, 2 Animoo Avenue, Griffith

84

CECCATO Antonio Ceccato was born in 1888 at Cavaso del Tomba, Treviso, Italy.

He already had the pioneering spirit after spending some time in Switzerland and several years in North America. In 1912 he emigrated from Italy together with his brother, arriving at Port Pirie SA and worked there as a stonemason before going on to work in the Broken Hill mines.

In 1918 he saw the potential of this area and came to Griffith working as a bricklayer and builder using the many skills already acquired.

On 7 January 1921 Antonio married Pasqua Rostirolla from his home town, who had just arrived in Melbourne. (When she left Italy, how little she knew of what was ahead of her in Australia! As the little cart and donkey carried her away from her home and village at dawn, Mother and daughter called to one another until they were out of sight, then her mother ran upstairs and put her face on the bed where Pasqua had slept to feel the last warmth of her daughter. Pasqua never saw her Antonio Ceccato mother again!)

Courtesy Gino Ceccato Antonio took his bride to Griffith.

Their first home (a temporary dwelling) was a bag hut with a dirt floor erected on the day she arrived. While her sister-in-law kept her talking the men sneaked off. On hearing lots of banging noises a short distance away, Pasqua wandered over in time to see one of the men slit the hessian to make a window in the bag hut in which they were to live! In those days the dust was like "cinnamon powder" and her beautiful white bedspread could not be used.

Their first child Anna was born in this hut and was delivered by Sister O'Reilly and Dr Watkins, while the little children from nearby lifted the hessian flap and peeped in on the event!

The following year (1922), Antonio purchased his first farm (No 1396 Hanwood) which he exchanged the following year with Mr Giudice for Farm No 170 Hanwood.

During 1923 their second child died of Gastro-enteritis at five months, as did many babies, in those early years. Pasqua (who could not speak English) had not seen her baby from when it was taken away sick to the hospital. At the Cemetery, she quietly pleaded at the graveside to see her baby and Mr Trenerry, out of compassion, opened the little coffin so she could see her baby son before he was buried. The feelings of isolation and exclusion must have been immense. The women did not get the same opportunities to learn English as their menfolk did through their work and outside contact.

85

Antonio sold Farm 170 and purchased Portions 17 and 18 (scrubland) at Tabbita/Goolgowi in 1928 and Farm 233 Yoogali in 1929. He was the first Italian to own dry area property in the district. During the drought he sank a bore in a desperate search for water. This bore still yields water to-day, though it was not enough to save the situation at the time. Due to severe drought (lasting seven years) he abandoned this property in 1935,as did many others but he retained Farm 233 Yoogali which remained in the family until 1985.

Like many other women without electricity or conveniences, Pasqua fetched water from the dam with kerosene tins. She also milked cows, made bread, pasta, butter, cheese, soap, clothes, pillows and quilts (from saved feathers), worked on the farm and cared for her family.

Although Antonio owned farms, he was actually a Building Contractor and well known for the building and works he carried out in this area. Using a Bullock team he shifted the old gaol from Bagtown to its present site in Benerembah Street. Also, with his own large Jinker drawn by a steam engine he relocated the steel screen structure of the Pasqua Ceccato nee Rostirolla then Open Air Rio Theatre (now the car park Courtesy Mrs Giulia Vio nec Ccccato under the Firefly) to the new Rio Theatre now the Rio Buildings. During the transit along Railway Street, due to wet conditions, the Jinker got bogged and remained there for a couple of weeks before completing the journey. That same steam engine-drawn jinker shifted many houses in this area. He also worked on the Co-op Store, the Griffith High School and the Court House.

In 1937 Antonio built the Coronation Hall at Yoogali.

In 1939 he designed (after the style of the Church in Cavaso, Italy) and contracted to build Our Lady of Pompei Catholic Church Yoogali for the sum of 0,200. A dinner was given to honour Mr Ceccato on 11 February 1940 for the successful completion of the Church. The official opening and "Solemn Blessing" took place on the 28th April 1940.

Antonio, affectionately known as Tony, was an enterprising and generous man who provided good work and shelter for many and his door was always open to everybody.

Antonio and Pasqua reared a family of seven children. The hard times and difficulties they encountered were many especially during the setbacks and Depression years. With trust and optimism the family helped build this beautiful town.

Antonio Ceccato died 5 January 1956. His wife Pasqua died 13 June 1975. Their toil, grief and joy of life as pioneers will always be remembered.

86

Shifting House Courtesy Gino Ceccato

Pietro Rostirolla - Maria Rossi Domenico Ceccato - Anna Boito * * * * Antonio Pasqua married 7 Jan 1921 The Parsonage, Congregational Church, Richmond, Melbourne *

* 1. Anna Clara born Griffith 10 October 1921 married: Domenico Erminio Cunial 2. Gino Domenico born Griffith 3 December 1922, died: 29 April 1923 3. Gino Domenico born Griffith 4 February 1925 married: Rita Pisan 4. Hazel Margaret (Isetta) born Griffith 8 June 1926 married: James Bugno 5. Edna born Griffith 1 April 1928 married: Giovanni Cadorin 6. Silvia born Griffith 13 June 1929 married: (1) Reginald Richard Frederick Wood (dec'd) (2) John Ettore Bianchi (dec'd) 7. Giulia born 21 August 1934 (twin) married: Fulgero Vio 8. Giulio born 21 August 1934 (twin) married: Elis Zandona

By Courtesy Mr Gino Ceccato, East Street, Yoogali Mrs Giulia Vio nee Ceccato, 27 Thorby Crescent, Griffith.

87

CECCATO Valentino Giovanni Ceccato (known as "Giovanni" or"Jack") was born 6 January 1882 in Cavaso del Tomba Treviso, Italy, and was the eldest of six children in the family of Domenico and Anna Boito Ceccato of Cavaso, Italy.

At the age of ten years Giovanni emigrated with his father to Brazil where he became apprenticed to a blacksmith.

Four years later he returned to Italy but driven by the need to support their family they again left and worked in Switzerland and Germany.

At the age of 23 Giovanni left Italy once more with two of his brothers for California. After three years hard work (including timber lumbering) he decided to try the "gold fields" of Alaska.

On the voyage to Nome (Alaska) the ship struck an iceberg and Giovanni and his friend were amongst the passengers rescued. Having no great success he left the gold fields of Nome and Fairbanks and moved across into Canada, to the town of Dawson on the Klondyke where, after further prospecting, he finally worked for a gold mining company. He returned to California, then back home to V. Giovanni Ccecato Italy with a "bonanza of adventure".

Courtesy Mns Licia Smote nce Ceccato In the same year, 1910, he married Elizabetta Marina Cappello of Cavaso. Elizabetta was the daughter of Gaetano Cappello and Maria nee Andrighetto.

In December 1912 Giovanni emigrated - to Australia from Cavaso del Tomba, leaving behind his wife Elizabetta and infant daughter Alaska, whom he had named in memory of his travels.

After his arrival at Port Pirie, and looking for work he moved to Iron Knob and then on to Broken Hill where he obtained work in the lead mines of South Broken Hill.

When his wife and infant daughter came out to Australia in May 1914 they disembarked at Port Adelaide and the family settled in the small house which Giovanni had previously purchased in Eyre Street, Broken Hill.

Giovanni first came to Griffith during 1916 to inquire about the land settlement scheme and returned in December 1917 having purchased Farm 219 from W C Silvester who was the original holder of the 26 acre undeveloped farm.

This was to be the beginning "of an era" of hard work, challenge and determination that resulted in success.

88

To the best of our knowledge, he was the first of his countrymen to settle in the Area from the Treviso Province. From then on followed the chain migration from that region (see Footnote).

In September 1918 when he brought his wife and four small children from Broken Hill to Griffith, he had already planted the farm to a variety of fruit trees and grape vines. He settled his young family in a galvanised iron shed lined with hessian bags.

In the lean years that followed, before the fruit trees came into production, he was fortunate in having bricklaying and concreting skills that enabled him to obtain work.

He worked by contract on the concreting of channels and made water stops for the Commission and worked on the building of cattle grids, drainage culverts and railway sidings from Griffith to as far afield as Ivanhoe.

At the Griffith Producers Cooperative he built the early cool stores and he became a shareholder of that Cooperative in 1922. Later he worked as a Elintbetta Ceccato nee Cappello bricklayer on the construction of the Courtesy Mrs Licia Smote nee Ceccato "Victoria" and "Griffith" Hotels and built some of the concrete wine tanks at the Mirrool Winery. He employed a man part-time to work his farm. Elizabetta also helped nurture the young fruit trees. In 1923 he built on the farm a concrete brick house, finished in cement render, with an open verandah surrounding it. This verandah kept the rooms cool during the hot summer months. Using a mould which he had devised he made concrete cavity bricks for this house. Elizabetta with daughter Alaska assisted by making some of the bricks.

The worst of hard times were now behind them but they continued to work hard as they aimed at becoming self-sufficient in everyday foods for their large family.

Elizabetta provided home made butter, cheese, ricotta, pasta, bread and "sun dried" concentrated tomato paste as well as other food lines. She made some of the children's and her own house clothes using the sewing machine brought from Broken Hill.

Meanwhile Giovanni, a versatile man, cut costs by repairing his farm implements, in his blacksmith work shop on the farm, using the knowledge he had gained as an apprentice in Brazil. As well he became the family's barber, boot repairer and "jack of all trades".

Alaska, the eldest of the family, first attended Hanwood School, then Yoogali School where her sisters and brothers followed on. The elder children first travelled to

89

school by horse and sulky, taking along some chaff to feed the horse during the day. As the children grew up they too helped on the farm at week-ends and in school holidays.

Entertainment for the family was provided by a gramophone and radio; also photography and photo processing became a popular hobby with the elder children of the family.

Giovanni's first automobile was a new Chevrolet Truck which he purchased from Gow's Garage in 1927. On the truck he brought along families to join in the family picnic outings to the river.

In 1929 when his family had increased to eight children he leased Farm 243, a Soldier Settler's farm, for two years and then purchased this farm for his eldest son. In 1935 he purchased 50 acres from his brother.

Semi-retired, he remained living on his original farm until his death in 1949. He was survived by his wife and nine children. (An infant son predeceased him in 1919 and is buried in Bagtown Cemetery.)

Families helped one another in those days. There was a good relationship between neighbouring famers:- V C Williams, Howard Braund, Stan Wright and others who came later. The late Jack McWilliam helped Giovanni with advice on vine growing methods and in turn Giovanni passed on his advice to other farmers, particularly his fellow countrymen, who often sought his help. Many of these countrymen received his assistance in various ways for many years.

FOOTNOTE: In the years following World War 1 (and unknown to Giovanni) some of his countrymen from Cavaso, Possagno and nearby towns who wanted to emigrate to Australia nominated him as their referee. When they began arriving, unexpectedly, on the farm, Giovanni and Elizabetta found themselves in an awkward situation because at the time they too were experiencing hardships. However, realising the position of these people who had little or no money and nowhere to go, Giovanni allowed them to stay on his farm until they could get on their feet. When able, he provided each with a days work here and there, enabling them to buy their necessities. These people continued to come until well into the 1920's.

Family Members of Valentino Giovanni and Elizabetta Marina Ceccato: 1. Alaska Ann Maria born Cavaso del Tomba, Treviso Italy, 13 September 1912 died Griffith, August 1990 married: Battista Giovanni Moretto dec'd 1. Guilio 2. Giovanni F 3. Dennis James

2. Anna Eileen born Broken Hill, NSW 23 March 1915 died Griffith 18 July 1971 married: Vittorino Bof 1. Silvia 2. Shirley

90

3. Alasko Domenico born Broken Hill, NSW 15 August 1916 - lives Griffith married: Ester Zilliotto 1. Raymond 2. Sylvia

4. Bruno Gaetano born Broken Hill, NSW 21 March 1918 - lives Griffith married: Eleonora De Martin 1. Rickie 2. John 3. Trevor 4. Ian

5. Antonio Petronio born Griffith 17 April 1919 died Griffith 26 November 1919 - buried Bagtown Cemetery 6. Florida Erminia Clara born Griffith 30 October 1920 - lives Griffith married: Giovanni Colpo dec'd 1. Vergilio 2. Eliseo 3, Giordano 4. Elizabeth

7. Petronio Antonio born Griffith 13 December 1921 - lives Griffith married: Amabile Rossetto 1. Rhonda 2. Alec 3. Bruna 4. Dante

8. Adolfo Nome born Griffith 18 August 1924 - lives Griffith married: Emiglia Maria Toscan 9. Licia born Griffith 18 July 1928 - lives Griffith married: Ivan Smole 1. Brian John 2. Michael Robert 3. Paul Ivan

10. Patricia born Griffith 10 September 1930 - lives Lake Heights NSW married: (1) James Cowling dec'd (2) F Sattalo dec'd 1. Graham 2. Gary 3. Wayne

Contributed by Mrs Licia Smole nee Ceccato, Groongal Street, Griffith Mr Petronio ("Peter") Ceccato, 35 Walla Avenue, Griffith Mr Adolfo ("Vin") Ceccato, 98 Blumer Avenue, Griffith 91

CHANDLER Roy Chandler was born 30 June 1895 at Rutherglen, Victoria and died at Griffith 28 October 1974. Roy was the son of Herbert John Chandler, born at Rutherglen, died 1940 at Heidelberg, Victoria and Sarah McLachlan Brown born Wangaratta, died 1947 East Brunswick, Victoria.

Roy's wife, Myrtle Eileen Mann, born 17 October 1898 at Chiltern West, was the daughter of John and Euphemia Mann. John, Euphemia and John Jnr (Myrtle's brother) were drowned in a boating tragedy in the Murray River at Rutherglen on 27 December 1905. Myrtle was raised by an Aunt, Margaret Harry of Rutherglen.

Roy Chandler and Myrtle Mann were married at Farm 940, Coolah Street, Griffith, the home of Tom and Ruby Cotington, sister and brother-in-law of Roy. There was no church in Griffith in those days. They were married on 20 December 1921 by Wilberforce Henry Liddon Brooke, a clergyman of the Myrtle Chandler ncc Mann C 1918 Courtesy Mr Cec Chandler Church of England.

Roy Chandler arrived in Griffith from Rutherglen in July 1917 and Myrtle Mann arrived from Rutherglen in July 1919.

Roy was a blacksmith at Rutherglen and Myrtle was "in service". They travelled by train from Corowa to Willbriggie then from Willbriggie to Bagtown by Micky Cush's coach.

Myrtle and Roy's sister, Ruby, lived at Mrs Kennetts boarding house at Bagtown.

Myrtle and Ruby shared a three quarter bed in Mrs Kennetts cottage and Roy lived in one of Mrs Kennetts tents. Mrs Kennetts cooked for everyone - the men in the tents as well.

There were no other women at the boarding house at the time. From there Myrtle and Ruby lived in a tent near the Men's Hall at Bagtown, then when Mirrool House was built they were very pleased to get a room there.

Roy and Myrtle's first home was at Farm 939, Coolah Street, Griffith. It was built

by Roy in 1922 and is still standing.

Roy worked for Collier's Blacksmith Shop, Bagtown, then in 1921 came to Griffith and worked for Earl's Blacksmith for a few years. Then he worked for Cecil Leckie until 1931 when he started his own business as Collier & Chandler, Blacksmith & Wheelwright.

(Jack Collier was the wheelwright). In 1937 Hubert (Reg) Whybrow joined the partnership. Myrtle worked at Mirrool House which is now the Griffith Ex-servicemen's Club.

92

Roy and Myrtle had two children: Cecil Glen Chandler born 9 Nov 1922 at Griffith, married Joan Betty Taylor at St Alban's Church, Griffith on 8 April 1950. Living at Griffith.

ILNTendolyn Joyce Chandler born 4 October 1925 at Griffith, married Roger Cuneo at Goulburn in 1947.

Roger was killed in January 1961 and Gwen married Cohn Calvert in March 1962 and they are now living at Forster N.S.W. Roy was kicked by a horse up against a wall of the shop and suffered a broken neck. Dr Burrell plastered him from his forehead to his waist. He had to wear that plaster for months and months and he vowed he would never pick up a horse's hoof again.

Roy loved brass bands and every Saturday night the Salvation Army would play on the lawns in front of the Lyceum Theatre. Roy would be in the middle of the band singing his heart out, much to the embarrassment of his son, Cec. When Cec was born Roy got Mrs Savage, the nurse, then Dr Watkins was present at the birth. Nurse Taylor was present when Gwen was born. Both children were born at home on Farm 939, Coolah Street, Griffith.

When Myrtle worked at Mirrool House (Bagtown) she would have to serve the men breakfast then make the beds in the tents.

Myrtle bought a treadle sewing machine in 1924 from Mr Palmer "The Singer Man". Mr Palmer would travel the district calling on people with machines and he would oil them and service them etc as a "free service". That machine is still in use today.

Cec said when they were children they would practically live in the channels. They would swim in them all summer and in winter when the channels were empty they would ride their bikes up and down the sloping sides. They used it as a rollerdrome and when the water was low they would chase the fish but very rarely caught any.

Cec remembers that old Harry May's place in Couch Road was the meeting place for a lot of the boys of the Coolah Street and Couch Road area because the May boys, Clive, Jack and Alan were always doing up motor bikes. Cec reckons Harry May must have been a very tolerant man to put up Roy, Myrtle & son Cec on holidays in Victoria with all the boys.

93

One day, Kevin Hudson wanted to go swimming but because it was winter time the boys thought it was too cold. They told him if they lowered him down the well at Mays place and he still wanted to go swimming when he came up, then they would all go. He was so blue with cold when they pulled him up they didn't go!

The first Church of England Minister Cec remembers was Mr Bennett. Cec was promised a brand new blue Speedwell bike if he took his sister to Sunday School for twelve months. They decided to go to the Methodist Church because Miss Lord was the Sunday School Teacher. She also taught school at Griffith Primary School and was Gwen's favourite teacher.

The entertainment of the week was going to the pictures on a Friday or Saturday night at the open air theatre behind the Lyceum, which had canvas seats and the children were given a bag of lollies. The Lyceum was just one level at first, then they raised the roof and put on the top level. There was also another open air theatre where the aeroplane is now (near the Tourist Office).

Most of the weekends were spent in the 1925 Model T Ford usually going to the river fishing. Cec thinks the car cost f180 and was bought from Jim Gordon.

Cec remembers Mrs Wilkes as being the "Mother of Coolah Street". Her daughters, Thelma and Rita and son Wally, would dress up as Minstrels - black faces, old clothes and an old banjo and entertain the kids with a concert. At Christmas time Mrs Wilkes would have a party with lollies, nuts, bon bons etc and lots of children for Christmas dinner. She always organised the bonfire nights for the kids. She didn't have lots of money, just lots of love.

Cec says he remembers small planes landing on the open ground between Coolah Street and the Canal, they were usually Tiger Moths or Monoplanes.

COOLAH STREET AS REMEMBERED BY CEC CHANDLER rne.,

DAn %was

.104,4 10.ad.

SA. 4,4

C've

wes',

COJC 4D.

)001

lisc10

Iwo' woo°

F4d0

1016.0

A, 4.

-

is,

Orrf..6.4.

vuotS

COOLAH S77

Idineias grar., se.,•'' Da..4 ihr4.‘

1

PI. 4.1

ekvAh S. etsula4

By courtesy of Cec Chandler, Griffith, 2680 94

gt?i;

66411

Arz

CHAPMAN James Chapman, my grandfather, arrived in Melbourne in 1855 aged nineteen.

The son of James and Jane Chapman (nee Thompson) a farmer of County Tyrone Ireland. He married Mary Ann Sutcliffe, daughter of Edward and Jane Sutcliffe (nee Munze) - Edward Sutcliffe was a brickmaker of Richmond, Victoria. James and Mary Ann were married at Wesley Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 30 July 1863. The marriage resulted in four daughters and eight sons born at various places in Victoria Colac, Woodend, Richmond, Elsternwick, Carlton.

My father, James Edward Chapman, was born at Carlton, Melbourne in May 1881. He blamed his lack of education on the moving from town to town, but he taught himself to read. Whilst very young he worked in market gardens, dairy farms and a felt factory, but did not like the dirty and poor conditions so moved out trapping rabbits which were the salvation of "hardup" people of the times.

He moved into New South Wales with his swag about 1898 moving towards the Murrumbidgee. One evening walking towards a clump of trees on the plains to make camp for the night, he met up with an older man with his "swag up". They made camp and he noticed that this chap had two thumbs on each hand. When the "swaggy" found my dad was only seventeen he said "lad get that swag off your back as soon as you can". My father moved on next day and came to the Murrumbidgee at the Whitton James Edward ('hM) Chapman Punt, now on the bottom of the river, I Courtesy Harold Chapman believe. He sat on the bank until a chap on the other side of the river sang out "do you want to come across?" Dad said "Yes". The chap then rowed a small boat across to take my father over. When he asked how much he had to pay he was told one penny - same as a sheep!

My father then moved on towards Grong Grong where he worked on the property of Hugh McGrath, a bachelor. It was here that a cocky was hanging under a pine tree in a cage; the area was noted for its wild electrical storms. Whilst the men were sheltering in a hut from the storm the cocky and cage went rolling across the yard, with the cocky singing out "cocky's in a bloody mess now". I think my father might have been teaching this bird to talk!

I don't know how long he worked for McGrath but he went back to Nagambie in Victoria again trapping rabbits until a big flood came down the Goulburn River and flooded his trapping ground. Whilst being rowed over the river by a local farmer named 95

Rannard he was asked if he could bring back a row boat belonging to Rannard that had been washed away in the flood. One of the farm workers had found it but said he couldn't see how to get it back because it had a hole in it. Dad said he would try as he had nothing else to do. Rannard got out of the boat and Dad rowed down stream finding the boat high up on the bank. He tied the good boat to a sapling, climbed the steep bank and slid the holed boat down the bank onto the moored boat. He had to keep pulling the good boat into the bank whilst trying to manoeuvre the holed boat onto it. He then hopped into the top boat and rowed upstream in the backwater of the river to Rannard's farm landing. Farmer Rannard was amazed and offered Dad a few shillings and a job in his orchard. Dad met Roy Watson, a nephew of the owner, whilst working on this property and we still visit the family of Roy Watson in Preston, Melbourne.

It was at Nagambie that my father, aged 25 years, met and married Elsie Hall, aged 26 years, daughter of Edward and Mary Jane Hall (nee Lawrey) at "Chateau Tabilk", Tabilk on 19 May 1909. Witnesses were Harold Hall, my mother's brother who was later killed at Lone Pine, Gallipoli and Charles Bischard, who later moved to Ardlethan, New South Wales. The Lawrey menfolk had a greengrocer shop and the women a millinery shop in Prahran. Mum's mother was a dressmaker, she died aged 45 years. My mother at the time of marriage had been a domestic servant of a Bank Manager at Nagambie.

My eldest sister, Jessie Hilda was born 30 March 1910 at Tabilk - she married Harry James who passed away in 1973.

Jessie lives in Cedar Crescent, Griffith.

Sisters, Gladys Rosetta (known as Rose), Elsie May and Mary Alice were all born at Tabilk.

Ekic Chapman nee Hall My sister Jessie continues: "My Courtesy Harold Chapman father and mother, two sisters and myself lived in a house not far from Tabilk Vineyard and Winery in Victoria and when I was six years old Dad decided to move to Grong Grong in New South Wales.

My mother's brother, Harold Hall, had been killed after the Gallipoli landing at Lone Pine and I can still remember the sadness. The Bischards also lived near the winery and were related to my mother; her Aunty married a Bischard from the Channel Islands near France.

Anyway, we set off in a sulky, Mother, Father and three girls. Just out of Jerilderie we had to stop to put up a tent as an awful dust storm came up. Mum and Dad had to hang on to the tent to stop the wind from blowing it away. Then, I think, later we slept in a boundary rider's hut on a property. We went to Mr Hugh McGrath's property 96

at Grong Grong, whom my father had previously met when he was single. Dad didn't like the city. We stayed with Mr McGrath for sometime. As he was a bachelor Mum did the housekeeping there whilst Dad worked on the farm.

Sometime later Dad decided to go to Griffith to get a farm of his own. When we eventually got to Griffith we camped not far from the Yenda road near Yoogali. Then we moved and put up a tent near Wilson Moses' farm near the Leeton road, Yoogali until Dad purchased Farm 98 from Mr Shannon on 3 November 1916. At this time Dad had his wife, three daughters, horse and sulky, a bag of flour and £80!!

Dad set to work and planted Morepark and Travat apricots, pears, prunes, 3 acres of figs, oranges and grapes. Mr Bonomi, who with his family lived nearby on Farm 664, came over and offered Dad the use of some implements. Whilst Dad was waiting for his trees to bear fruit he was employed by E M De Burgh (an engineer who lived in Sydney) to manage his farm. Mr De Burgh was involved in the building of the Darlington Point bridge over the Murrumbidgee River.

The Chapman Family - Farm 98 Rose, Elsie, Jessie, James ("Jim"), Mina & Alice. Courtesy Harold Chapman

My sister, Mina Lawrey was born 20 September 1917.

Rose and I started school at Yoogali on the day it opened - 26 November 1917.

Classes were held in a tent until the school building was ready for occupation on the first day of the school year - 28 January 1918. My sister Alice started school 13 September 1921, and sister Mina on 2 October 1923. The first teacher was Mr Lawrence Allan.

When the trees came into bearing all the family helped to harvest the apricots.

A sulphur room was built so that the apricots could be sulphured and then the trays of apricots were put out in the sun to dry. Whenever a storm came up the trays had to be 97

stacked and covered. Dad exhibited ir. the MIA Agricultural Society's Second Annual Show in 1921 winning First Prize Certificates in a number of sections. The next year the Society became the Grifith Agricultural Society and Dad continued to exhibit his produce and win prizes for a number of years. Figs were picked into tins and sent to Henry Jones, Sydney under contract for £25 a ton. Dad said these gave the best return of all the fruit.

My brother, Harold was born 14 December 1927, which caused great excitement.

When Harold started school, Tom Morley, who had a farm on the way to school, insisted that Harold always sit in his "Chev" car so he could drive him to school at Yoogali, on his way to work at the Griffith Producers Co-operative. Harold didn't know which was the worst - the two scotch terriers he had to fight his way past or Tom's Sergeant Major voice, but Tom Morley had a heart of gold.

In the 1930's Henry Jones restricted the intake of figs resulting in fruit being left on the trees to rot. As there was a short supply of figs for jam making in other areas Dad set up a pulping plant which was operational by 1939."

Harold continues - "Before the 1939 War, I remember the tennis court that was built near the old house and playing tennis with my sisters and friends. When young, the girls played hop-scotch, bobbs and made 'peg dolls' and used sardine tins for the dolls prams, pulling them along with a piece of string.

Jess became a trained Children's Nurse at Norland College, Sydney and then worked in the Beaufort fighter bomber plane factory at Mascot during war.

Rose was looking after children at Ashfield Infant's Home, before and during the war. Later, she was a dressmaker for most of the well known ladies of Griffith, working from Farm 98.

As a lad I can remember going to Melbourne at least once a year (firstly in a Chevrolet car, later in 1935 a Plymouth) to visit Dads and Mums friends and relations.

Dad bought a farmlet of seven acres at Monbulk in the Dandenongs and we would stay there during winter.

Jack Hall's father Alec and Jack himself worked for my father, driving the old Fordson tractor on Farm 98 and on De Burgh's farm.

We often travelled to visit the Bischard's at Ardlethan and then on to McGrath's at Grong Grong.

The War seemed to end all that and we lost contact with most of our relations.

I left school about 1940 to help on the farm and in the processing plant because of the shortage of labour. By then, besides figs we processed apricots, plums, peaches, quinces and then later tomatoes. (The tennis court was planted with tomatoes).

On 18 June 1949 I married Christina Henderson, daughter of Roy and Millicent Henderson of Yoogali. Our first child, a son, Stephen James was born 29 June 1950 and about this time we bought Farm 663 which adjoined Farm 98. My mother, Elsie died aged 68 years in January 1951, six months after her first grandchild was born.

In 1956 large numbers of fruit trees died from excessive rain. Farmers planted tomatoes to boost their income and we processed big tonnages of tomatoes. This went on for some years until Sydney processors decided they could get cheaper tomatoes from Mudgee. We then decided to make tomato sauce and get a direct link to consumers, which we still do.

98

My father James died in Griffith in December 1966 aged 85 years.

Christina and I have six children and three of our Grandchildren are the third generation of Chapmans to attend Yoogali Public School."

James Edward Chapman born Co Tyrone, Ireland died at Mooroopna. Vic 1910, aged 74 years (been in Australia 55 years)

James Edward Chapman born May 1881 Carlton Vic died Dec 1966 Griffith

* * *

Mary Ann Sutcliffe born Richmond. Victoria daughter of Edward Sutcliffe a brickmaker. & June Munze

* * * * * *

Elsie Hall born March 1883 Prahran Vic died Jan 1951 Monbulk Vic

* * *

Jessie Hilda born 30 March 1910, Tabilk married Harry James (dec'd) - lives Griffith Gladys Rosetta born 1912, Tabilk died 1970, Griffith Elsie May born 1913, Tabilk died as an infant Mary Alice born 1914, Tabilk married William Harrison (dec'd) - lives Griffith Mina Lawrie born 1917, Griffith married Maynard (Andy) Fisher (dec'd), 11 October 1952 Mina lived and died at Numurkah 24 October 1984 Harold James born 1927, Griffith married Christina Henderson, 18 June 1949 lives Yoogali.

1) Stephen James, born 29 June 1950 2) Helen Christine, born 5 April 1952 3) Barbara Joy, born 11 May 1954 4) Shirley Elizabeth, born 2 September 1958 5) Keith Edward, born 22 August 1960 6) Jennifer Rose, born 11 March 1970

Courtesy HJ Chapman, PO Box 617, Griffith 2680

99

CH ITTICK Three members of this well known Kangaroo Valley (NSW) family were early settlers - "Lil" (Mrs Tom Harwood), who arrived in 1918 to be joined later by two of her brothers - "Sep" and Bill.

Mary Jane Lillian, but known as "Lil" was born at Kangaroo Valley on 19 March 1885, the eldest of James and Mary Chittick's eight children. In 1918 she married returned serviceman Thomas Harwood and they moved to Griffith on to a soldier settler farm (granted Farm 240 to Thomas Charles Harwood on 11 Sept 1919 - 19 acres 2 roods at an annual rental £14/1514 - Soldier 2715, 37th Btn, born Bendigo Vic 30 Oct 1885).

Later they purchased two other farms and worked these properties until ill health forced them to give up farming and retire. Both Tom and Lil were very involved in community activites and in particular the RSL - especially during W.W. 2. Lil died, aged 73 years, in June 1959 and Tom passed away in May 1964, aged 80 years.

"Sep" - David Henry Ernest Septimus Chittick - was born 25 December 1899, the seventh child of James and Mary.

Educated at Kangaroo Valley School and Dux in 1916 he then went on to Hawkesbury Agricultural College where he gained his Butter Making Certificate and later worked at Nowra Dairy Co as a butter maker.

"Sep" first came to the MIA to visit his sister and her husband in 1919 and returned the following year to work on the original PMG line from Temora to Griffith. In 1923 he bought a farm - 150 acres on Mansell Road, Hanwood (now owned by Mr Roy Barber). 1927 he married Sylvia May Kurtz and they had three children - Jim, Nola and Neil. About this time his brother, Bill, joined "Sep" in dairying and later bought out his share. "Sep" moved out and bought Farm 1689 (on Calabria Road) from a Mr Jim Watson. He Sep Chittick Courtesy of Jim Chittick also leased the area between Northern Branch Canal and Scenic Hill from Griffith to Beelbangera which he used to run cattle and establish a dairy.

There was a lot of competition between dairymen for custom. "Some who come to mind" were Irvine, Spry, Downie, Atkinson, Edwards and Twigg. A feature were the 100

highly decorated delivery carts of various designs which helped to keep the local blacksmiths in work with building and repairing these carts and shoeing the horses who pulled them.

Jim further recalls that "in 1937 1 helped (in school holidays) deliver milk in Beelbangera and Yenda. The fact that Dad coached the Yenda Blues to a minor R.L. Premiership that year didn't do the business any harm".

"Sep" continued this combined orchard/dairy until he enlisted in 1939/40 and leased the farm while he served in the Militia and then the AIF in Port Moresby and Wau with the 7/2 Aust Machine Gun. Upon discharge in 1943 he resumed farming until selling out in 1949. He then moved to Yoolooma Street in Griffith and entered into a brick making business with Eric Power. This was not a great success due to inexperience and lack of reliable labour in this none too easy business.

In 1952 he drew Farm 46 in the Warrawidgee Soldier Settlement Promotion Scheme and successfully farmed this property until he suffered a stroke in 1962. During this time he experimented with a small plot of Sylvia Chittick with son Jim cotton in co-operation with the Dept Courtesy Jim Chittick of Agriculture and proved that cotton could be grown here, but he didn't go any further with this project.

From the time of his discharge from the Army, he was actively involved in both the RSL and the Ex-Servicemens Club, in both of which he served as President.

In his younger days, from 1923 to 1935, he was a keen, and (according to all reports) a very good Rugby League footballer. He later took administrative positions and in general was a great supporter of the sport. He was also involved in cricket and tennis.

Some of the Beelbangera cricketers were RJG Smith, Frank Kendall, Joe Sertori (dentist), Joe Murray and Lex Small, recruited from Griffith. Sylvia also was very active in the RSL Women's Auxiliary and a keen and very good tennis player.

"Sep" Chittick died in 1966, aged 66 years; his wife Sylvia was killed in a car accident in March 1972.

Bill Chittick was married on 27 Jul 1923 to Charlotte Muriel Hanrahan who had previously been a school teacher in Kangaroo Valley. The same year they moved to Hanwood to join "Sep". Always a keen sportsman, Bill continued to play football with Griffith and to participate in local shows with horses. One trotting stallion in particular, "Sparkling Echo", was undefeated in his show class in the Area.

101

Bill and Charlotte's four children were Burke William, Muriel Mary Helene, Brian James and Geoffrey Nelson. Bill and Charlotte left Griffith in 1939 and resided at Baulkham Hills until his death in August 1969, Charlotte died 1981.

The background to this family is very interesting indeed. Starting with the grandparents, the story of Gustavus and Jane Chittick and their children begins in Rotten Mountain, County Fermanagh, Ireland where Gustavus farmed successfully on what was then considered a substantial holding of some 40 acres. He was the son of Thomas Chittick whose marriage was recorded in the Drumkeeran parish register on 9th January 1828. Jane was the daughter of William Moffitt, who also farmed in the Rotten Mountain area, and the young couple were wed in the Tubrid Church on 30 December 1851.

After many years of prosperity, grave misfortune overtook the family when Gustavus, then aged 32 was killed whilst steeple-chasing and Jane was left widowed with eight children, the youngest only three months of age. Women then were not expected nor encouraged to accept the responsibilitcs of running a farm and raising a large family singlehanded, but Jane carried on the Fermanagh farm for fifteen years after her husband's death.

In 1880, with part of her own family already settled in Australia, she decided to bring her family to what she considered was a country of greater opportunity. She planned the sale of her property and possessions, the proceeds, of £1,000, were sent ahead by courier to be given to her brother, James Moffitt of Gerringong, for the purchase of a suitable farm in this district.

The family set out for Australia aboard the immigrant ship the "Samuel Plimsoll" which sailed through Sydney Heads on 9 July 1880. However, during the voyage Jane had become ill with what was later diagnosed as Typhoid Fever. Upon arrival they were taken to the home of her brother-in-law James Maxwell, residing at 202 Sussex Street, Sydney, their intention being to leave almost immediately for Gerringong, travelling by the steamer which called at Kiama twice weekly. However, Jane's condition worsened and she died on 20 August 1880. This tragic loss was compounded when the family learned that the money sent ahead had been misappropriated and they were left with the sum of ten shillings each with which to start a new life.

Parents of the Griffith branch of the family were James Chittick and Mary Jane (nee Nelson) who also came from Co Fermanagh. James was born on 10 June 1862 at Pettigo and was 17 years of age when he arrived in Australia. Mary Jane was born in Enniskillen, Ireland leaving there when only a small child.

Following the sudden downturn in the family's fortunes upon arrival and the death of their mother, it was necessary for all the boys to find some kind of employment immediately. Jim went to work for the James family at Rose Valley - for the then ruling rate of 7/6d a week and board. This family were very good to him and he later went to the Maynes family at Toolijooa. The Nelsons were neighbours and it was here that he met his future wife. Upon his marriage he leased a portion of the Nelson's property and began dairying on his own account.

James and Mary had a family of eight - three daughters and five sons. As well as his farming activities, when still a young man, Jim Chittick began horse dealing and breeding as at the turn of the century there was a very good market for hacks, harness horses and cab horses. Undoubtedly too, his Irish origin was at the root of his innate love for and expertise with horses. Together with his sons, Bob and Nelson (Sonny), both of 102

whom were very good riders, for 30 years the name of James Chittick was synonymous with successes in the equestrian showrings all over eastern Australia, with their hunters and show jumpers. Jim Chittick was a life member of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. However, with changing times he dropped out of horse dealing and breeding and standing stud stallions but he never lost his love for horses and carried on with the team of jumpers until his death. Like all those who came to maturity at the end of the last century, he lived through many great changes, not the least of which was to see the horses he loved replaced by the motor vehicle. Nevertheless, the family tradition lives on with Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren exhibiting, still with success, at RAS Shows, Sydney.

By courtesy of the children of "Sep" and Sylvia Chittick - Nola Munro and JE (Jim) Chittick, 53 McNabb Cres, Griffith 2680

The Chittick Families at the Cost Griffith Show Back L to R Sep, Mrs Bill Chittick, Tom Harwood, Lillian Harwood, Miss Emily Roach (a great horsewoman) Front L to R Jim, Brian, Geoffrey, Nola, Muriel Courtesy of Jim Chittick

103

COLAUTTI Asked if he were the first Italian settler in Griffith, Assuero Colautti answered "No" - he was the second! "The first man arrived eight days before me. He took one look at the place and left! There were only two shops here then." So in actual fact Assuero was the first Italian to settle. He came to Australia from Italy at the age of 24, aboard the liner "Orsova" and arrived at Griffith July 1914. As work was available on the construction of Burrinjuck Dam he decided to go there and worked on the dam site until October 1914. Then he and a number of workmates came to Hanwood where they purchased Farm 76 as a partnership. The farm was cleared, the men cutting down the scrub and timber during the day but waiting until night time to burn because of the intense heat.

Wedding Day at Scgnaceo Northern Italy 1920 Courtesy Eugenio Colautti

104

Their first crop was potatoes, but because of the wrong advice they were given about watering during the day in this intense heat, the potatoes rotted in the ground and so they had to start again. Tomatoes were bringing a good price in the Sydney markets so they planted tomatoes. This crop was wiped out by an infestation of "Rutherglen bug".

Most of the implements used on the farm at this stage were made from red gum

by Assuero himself. After these two crop failures, they were left with no funds and were virtually forced to sell. Len Wincey, a business-man from Adelaide, heard that the farm was for sale and enquired the price. This price was calculated by Assuero estimating the cost of his labour expended to that date i.e. the number of days worked by him and his companions on the farm. Len Wincey agreed to this price, on the condition that Assuero remain and work the farm as he had had no farming experience whatever. Assuero remained until 1917 when he returned to Italy.

Like so many other Italian men in various parts of the world, he had been recalled by the Italian Government. It took several months for him to make his way back, making the journey aboard an Australian troop ship14. When he finally arrived back in Italy, he presented himself to the army garrison and was promptly arrested by the Colonelin-Charge as "a deserter" because he hadn't answered "the call to arms" at the beginning of the conflict. He was court marshalled and exonerated after an Australian official verified that he had only just arrived from Australia15. He was sent on furlough for a fortnight, then went into training. A fortnight after this the war finished.

It was at this time, whilst in Italy, he met his wife, Enrichetta Del Fabbro and they were married at Collalto, Prov. Udine, Northern Italy in 1920. Their eldest son, Walter, was born at Segnacco, 1) km from Enrichetta's home at Collalto. Shortly after this, they returned to Australia where Assuero again worked on his former farm for Len Wincey until 1959.

These were the years that Assuero, an accomplished musician playing the violin, mandolin and Spanish guitar, entertained on Saturday evenings (late shopping night) at the first Cafe that opened in the "New Town".

The Colauttis had three sons - Walter born Segnacco, Italy, Eugenio born Griffith and Celio also born Griffith. (Celio died at the age of 10 and is buried in Griffith). Their eldest son, Walter, was sent to the Russian Front (WW2) and captured on 23 December 1943. Despite the parents' enquiries through every agency they could approach, no trace has ever been found of him since this time, except for being told by a man, who was fighting with him at the time, that Walter had been wounded in the leg when he saw him last.

Walter had been a student, from 1932 at Udine where he studied and graduated as an aeroplane designer. To avoid conscription, he then went on to post-graduate study to become a Hydro Engineer. As he was born in Italy and living there at the time, as soon as he finished the Hydro Engineering course, he was conscripted into the army, despite the fact that he held an Australian passport. By the time he was conscripted, the Regular Italian Army had capitulated in the South and the North was in the control of

14 15

Australia and Italy were allies in WW1 Australia and Italy were allies in WW1

105

Fascist authorities. He served as a Lieutenant in a parachute division. While doing so, he was recommended by his Officer-in-the-Field to receive a gold medal, the equivalent of the V.C., but this recommendation was not recognised by the Italian Government after the war because he was in the Republican Army.

With Italy's entry into the war, Assuero was interned because of his membership in the Italian Tourism Club, he was receiving newspapers from Italy on a regular basis and, it is thought, possibly because his eldest son was residing and studying in Italy at the time. The war years were terrible for everyone!

Eugenio Colautti still lives in his parents' Merrigal Street home.

Celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Enrichetta wore the white woollen dress in which she had been married. Assuero is reported to have remarked - "I had my suit too, but it doesn't fit me anymore!" A tribute to Enrichetta's prowess as a cook?

Assuero Colautti married Born Segnacco, Prov Udine 28 May 1890 Died 23 February 1973, Griffith

Enrichetta Del Fabbro Born Collalto, Prov Udine 26 October 1897 Resides "Pioneer Lodge" Griffith

1. Walter born Segnacco, Prov Udine, Italy 23 March 1921 Declared missing - believed to have perished on the Russian Front

2. Eugenio born Griffith 22 March 1923 Married: Marcella Centonze 1. Walter 2. Robert 3. Franco

3. Cello born Griffith 24 May 1930 Died Griffith 1940

By courtesy of Eugenio Colautti, Merrigal Street, Griffith.

106

"COOK IN CAMP" Perhaps the most poignant of all the stories of "Old Griffith" is that to which Bagtown Cemetery owes its existence. It was never intended as the location for a cemetery but was part of an ungranted farm, yet the first person to be buried there is recorded in official records simply as "Cook in Camp".

After a number of years of trying to discover the identity of this person who was buried so anonymously, the story finally emerged The late Jack Shannon told that "Ernie Jim", the only name by which he was apparently known, was a Canadian Chinese and is believed to have been the original cook of Bagtown Camp (or maybe Crowther's Camp?). It was a Saturday afternoon and a violent electrical storm blew up. The late Mr Shannon said that Ernie Jim was making his way home in a horse and dray when he was struck by lightning, in the vicinity of Penfold's Bridge, and the horse made its way back to camp where Ernie Jim was later found to be dead in the dray.

In the circumstances, the Trooper (Policeman) had to be brought from Whitton, which took some time, and presumably it was Sunday by this time. Upon examining the body and the man's tent, just about the full extent of the poor fellow's belongings was the £3 he had on him. The Trooper enquired of Mr Bert Thomson, one of the blacksmiths of Bagtown (and who later was the second President of Wade Shire) whether he could get the man buried for £3! The Engineer, Mr Higginson, was absent from the camp this weekend.

The only available timber to make a coffin was the heavy 2" x 3" hardwood normally used for weighing down the tent flaps, so it was with this that someone was set to work to construct the coffin. As well as this, as not so many people at that time were literate, it took Bert Thomson some little time to find someone to read a service at the graveside. Another old time resident tells us that (as it was Sunday) he eventually came upon a man reading "of all things a 'Truth' newspaper!" Thus established that the man could read, Bert Thomson asked if he would read a brief graveside service and went off to borrow a prayer book from Mrs Bone.

By the time the other men had finished constructing the coffin from the heavy hardwood and other arrangements seen to, it was almost completely dark as Bert Thomson led the little group to the grave site. They had originally planned to take the body further from Bagtown but the weight of the heavy hardwood coffin and the diminishing light dictated that they bury him closer than first planned. The little procession halted at the slight sandy rise about a mile from Bagtown.

By this time it was completely dark and the poor fellow was buried by the men who made his coffm and the man who read the burial service did so by lantern light "with a folded copy of 'Truth' protruding from his hip pocket!" our elderly resident tells!

The end of this story is that upon returning from a weekend spent away from the Area, Engineer Higginson was furious that not only had they buried the man on ground which was intended as part of one of the farms but that they had also used Commission timber to do so! It surely too highlights some of the lonely souls who drifted through these early construction camps. No one knew a name by which to bury him!!

Contributed by Mrs Hilary Dalton.

107

COX Thomas James Cox and his brother Percy Clive Cox arrived in the area about 1912. They were amongst the earliest irrigation farmers, arriving in the area even before the water came down the channels. Both brothers were born in Gympie, Queensland.

Thomas had previously worked a dairy farm but after it became unworkable due to prickly pear infestation he decided to come to Griffith with his brother. Percy left school at the age of 14 and his previous occupation before coming to the Area was a tram conductor.

Farm 43 was granted to Thomas James Cox and Percy Clive Cox on the 18 June 1913 having an area of 50 acres 2 roods 20 perches and an annual rental of 6615/Percy Cox married Gertrude Ellen (known as "Daisy") Williams on 13 February 1913. Gertrude was born in London and migrated to Australia with her parents as a small child. She had spent her early life in Charters Towers and Townsville, Old. Their first home was a two roomed wooden "dolls" house! However, later, a 20 square mud brick house was built, using soil ploughed up from the farm. (Farm 43 was eventually divided between the brothers.)

Mrs Cox with Dick aged 3 weeks in the 'old home' where he was born - 1914 Courtesy Dick Cox

Percy had also worked in a blacksmith's shop after leaving school and this stood him in good stead with the early farm implements. The forge and anvil were in constant use and he was able to shoe his own horses.

Richard Cox, son of Percy recalls that there was "very little money but enough good plain food. We always kept a house cow and made our own butter. We also kept a pig which not only used up all the food scraps but gave us bacon. Naturally there was plenty of fresh fruit. The farm was about 51/2 miles from town - in the early days we had a 'half draught' horse and cart and then later a pony and sulky. All our supplies were 108

bought in bulk - sugar and flour by the bag, tea in 14 lb tins. Saturday was shopping day as the shops opened until 9 p.m. I attended Hanwood school and later Hay High School as this was the only High School in the region with a five year course.

Daisy was very active in the early days of the CWA in Griffith. A group of women had a room in the old barracks which was opposite the old Mirrool House (now the site of the Ex-servicemen's Club). Here they provided facilities for out-of-town mothers with small children to feed their babies, have a cup of tea and a chat before a long trip home, probably by horse transport. Daisy's proudest achievement, when she was serving as either President or Secretary of the local branch was seeing the opening of the Baby Health Centre in the CWA Rooms.

(These premises are now the Griffith Genealogical & Historical Society Rooms.)

Percy was an original member of the Australian Dried Fruits Board formed to try to stabilise the industry and Dick Cox (3 yrs) & Friend 1916/17 Courtesy Dick Cox he was for many years a director of the Griffith Producers Co-operative.

Thomas James Cox did not marry and died 25 January 1929, aged 44 years and is buried in the Methodist Section of the Griffith cemetery.

Percy Clive Cox born July 1889 died 25 August 1973, 84 years and is buried in the Methodist Section of the Griffith Cemetery married 13 February 1913 Gertrude Ellen "Daisy" Williams born 1881, London, England died 4 October 1949

1. Richard (Dick) born 1914 at Farm 43, Hanwood (no doctor, Nurse Burns attending) 2. Joyce born 1916 3. Joan born 1918, died December 1989 The Home where Dick Cox was born

Courtesy of Dick Cox, Banna Avenue, Griffith 2680 109

Percy washing in the only available shade - Tom looking on. 1913

Percy (with pipe) "Barber" Tom. 1913

Tom (on cart) Percy (on haystack) Farm 43, Ilanwood 1914

"Winter Washing" 1913

Courtesy Dick Cox

110

CRAWFORD John Crawford, his wife Mabel and six children arrived at "Bagtown", Griffith on the 15 February 1913. There were five boys and one girl, ranging in age from 2 to 17 years.

John Crawford had been born on 22 January 1867 at Castlederg, Co Tyrone, Ireland. He died on 11 July 1946 and is buried at Griffith. He married Mabel Wills Langford Speer, a widow with one son, on 6 March 1900, at Castlederg. They lived at Castlederg for some time and their two elder sons, John Jnr and Fred, were born there.

They then left for South Africa where they lived until 1913, in a town called Worcester where John managed a shoe store. Two more sons, Harry and Richard and one daughter, Norah, were born to the couple while living in Worcester. Here also John later branched out and ran a successful shoe store of his own.

In the year 1912, lured by brochures extolling the prospects of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in New South Wales, and with the hope of settling each of his sons on his own farm, John sold his business and with his family set out for Australia on the "S S Westmeath" at the end of 1912.

The Crawford Family c 1907/1908 William Speer, John Crawford, John Harold, Mabel with baby Richard, Henry, Frederick Courtesy Mrs Norah Gibbons (nee Crawford)

111

Once in Sydney, he settled his family there and set out for Griffith to have a look at the situation and was bitterly disappointed, as everything was so backward and undeveloped - dirt roads and canals had been constructed but no water had arrived. John returned to Sydney and endeavoured to get berths back to South Africa, but without success.

The family travelled from Sydney to Willbriggie by train and were met by Micky Cush with an open horse-drawn vehicle - provided by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, and were driven to Bagtown. The temperature that day was 115 degrees in the shade!

Initially accommodation was provided by the Commission in a number of tents, a larger tent being used for the serving of meals. However, as the time they could spend at the "Accommodation House" was limited, the settlers had to find their own permanent accommodation which proved to be very difficult.

Eventually John managed to rent a cottage, originally occupied by William Bull (after whom the village of Bilbul was named) where the family lived until a large shed was built on his own Farm No. 47. Most of the timber for this shed was cut from the site of what is now Banna Avenue. They lived in this shed until a home was built.

John Crawford & son Fred clearing trees now Hanna Avenue Courtesy Mrs N Gibbons nee Crawford

112

Their only daughter, Norah, remembers - "None of the farms were cleared when we arrived and my father had to take great care to ascertain the correct boundaries as there were, of course, no fences. It was approximately six months before the irrigation water was available. Within two years of the Settlers taking up their farms, many complaints were being received by the Commission (WC & IC) as to the suitability of the soil for growing fruit and vegetables. Eventually a Government Inquiry was set up, the first of many, and as a result, John Crawford was transferred to Farm 452 in exchange for Farm 47."

Some of the earliest crops grown were onions, cabbages and potatoes. Cows were run to obtain butter and cream. These cows, supplied by the WC & IC, were wild and had to be well tied up or the person trying to milk them would be butted or kicked.

Turkeys and fowls were also raised. For some time regular consignments of dressed turkeys were sent by train to Farmers Department Store in Sydney. As the land was cleared, the timber was pushed into large heaps and fenced off. These heaps of timber were used by the turkeys as a safe roost from foxes, of which there were plenty! Another worry were the rabbit and mice plagues. Later, grapes were grown, and together with the vegetables, were taken around the construction camps on Saturday mornings to be sold by the Crawford boys.

The worst of the dust storms which had the area blackened out for hours was in 1914.

All groceries were ordered from Mclllwraiths in Sydney. They came by train to Willbriggie and then by Micky Cush's waggon to Bagtown. Food and drinks were stored in cellars.

"The first school was a tin shed erected near where the CSIRO now stands.

Harold Crawford was the first pupil enrolled there in 1913. All we Crawford children attended the Hanwood School for primary education and then later I attended the Intermediate High School in Griffith. Helmkemp ran the first school bus; which was drawn by two horses, later it was run by Billy Gee. Sometimes the roads were impassable and when the horses could go no further we all got out and walked." The Crawford family attended Sunday School at Lasscocks. Later there was a church at Hanwood.

Speaking of the terrible conditions experienced by people in the early days, especially the women and children, Norah recalled the day a little seven year old girl, Doreen Kennedy, one of the many children buried in Bagtown Cemetery, died at the Crawford Home (25 August 1918). She and Doreen had been mushrooming during the afternoon and when the little girl later became ill, it was assumed that she must have eaten some sort of poisonous fungi. Now however, with the knowledge of hindsight, Norah says that it could well have been, and most probably was, appendicitis but there was no doctor nor anyone else qualified to help in such a circumstance and so the little girl died!

Many picnics were held on Scenic Hill and School Picnics were held on Mirrool Creek and later at the Murrumbidgee River. Many School Concerts were held in the Hanwood Hall which still stands and is now the residence of Mrs Welch.

At first horse and sulky or spring cart was the only means of transport but later "my father owned a Chevrolet car and as I did all the messages I learnt to drive while still quite young and obtained my driver's licence at the age of 16 - which was unusual" recalled Norah. "In 1919 the temperature was over 100 degrees day and night for over a 113

week. Infants and aged people in town were placed in the cool rooms of the Griffith Producers to keep them cool".16 Norah finishes by saying - "in all the years that I have lived here, I have only missed one Griffith Show and that was when I was away in New Zealand. My father lived and worked on Farm 452 until his death in 1946 at the age of 79 years. He lived to see all his sons settled on farms of their own and my marriage to Percy Gibbons, a First World War Soldier Settler. Farm 452, the 'home' farm, was bequeathed to my youngest brother, Richard."

The family of Mabel and John Crawford were: 1. William George Langford Speer (stepson of John Crawford) born 18 July 1895, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland died 2 January 1970, 74 years, buried Griffith 2. John Harold born Castlederg 15 February 1901, died 5 June 1983, buried Griffith. Married Janet Morris 3. Frederick Charles born Castlederg 14 October 1902, died 1 Oct 1979, buried Gosford, NSW. Married Marjorie Hudson 4. Henry born Worcester, South Africa 22 April 1905, died 13 August 1977. buried Gosford, NSW. Married Eleanor May (Nell) Bates 5. Richard Edward born Worcester, South Africa 17 May 1907 died 14 February 1982 at Gosford. Married Jean Sara 6. Norah Eugenie born Worcester, South Africa 1 May 1910 married Percy Laurence Gibbons (dec'd 10 December 1984)

• • • • •

A short biography of the Crawford Family. written by Frederick Charles Crawford, appears in "A Spread of Green". pp 54-58.

Norah Gibbons who still resides in Griffith was awarded the British Empire Medal for Services to the Community in 1980.

Farm 452 granted to John Crawford 15 Sept 1917 - 25 acres 3 roods,annual rental f21/17/9 Farm 455 granted to John Harold Crawford 15 September 1917 - 28 acres 2 roods 10 perches, annual rental f26/8/5 Farm 46 granted to William David George Speer (stepson of John Crawford) 9 April 1913SO acres, annual rental f43/151-

16 Others tell of many people sleeping on the lawns of Banna Avenue at this time because of the heat. (Unthinkable in this age of air conditioners!)

114

I lanwood School Mr Hilton Riven with 25 of his ex-pupils.

Mr Riven was Headmaster of I lanwood School from 1914 to 1917 Back Row Herb Anstec, Dick Crawford, Harry Delves, Roy McGann, Harold 11c1mkemp (Junce), Stan Cummings, Harold Crawford, Nelson (fod) Rowley, Bill Hamilton, Charlie Groan Front Row: Clarric I larris (Mrs R Meares), by Johns (Mrs Jack Collins), Mary Pearson (Mrs R Foley), Bertha Hawkins (Mrs Oarric Clark), Marjorie Friend (Mrs 1."frinder), Iris Lasscock (Mrs P R Druitt), Norah Crawford (Mrs P Gibbons), Mr Hilton 0 Riven, Jessie Sangster (Mrs J Farrell), Vedas Ebert, Mona I lelmkemp (Mrs flierle, Melbourne), Nellie Pearson (Mrs W Owen), Dagmar Groan (Mrs Peters), Edie Harris (Mrs J Davidge), Etta Hamilton (Mrs W Gibbons, Manly), Ina Gronn (Mrs A Butler, Ettalong).

Harold Crawford was the first pupil to be enrolled at the school and on the occasion of this 1963 re-union Harold rang the school bell while the others marched into school to the song they sang when Mr Rivett was the Headmaster there.

By courtesy of Mrs Norah Gibbons (nee Crawford) 2 Carrathool Street, Griffith 2680.

115

CRAW FORD This family of Crawford's were three brothers - Maurice, Fred and Cliff, who arrived early in 1919. They were the family of William and Mary Crawford, both of whom had emigrated from Scotland as children with their parents. When the boys were young the family lived on a sheep station in South Australia and then later at Broken Hill where they worked as carpenters, Fred with BHP, prior to serving in the first A.I.F. during World War 1.

Maurice's daughter, Dorothy, to_ tells "Movies two or three times a year were a great treat.

Sixpence to go in and threepence to spend bought quite a lot ice cream for one penny and lollies eight or ten for a penny!!

Laurel and Hardy, Shirley Temple and Jane Withers were Maurice Crawford laying our sultanas our favourite films.

Courtesy Mrs D Bourke On the wireless every night we listened to the long-running radio serial of 'Dad and Dave' (wireless broadcasts here were only in the evening in early times).

Girls and boys played football together and hockey sticks were made from prunings off the peach and apricot trees. 'Empire Night', 24th May, was a great occasion and was eagerly looked forward to each year. We always had a huge bonfire in a neighbours' paddock, made from the prunings and any other rubbish we could collect.

Pocket money was saved for weeks and pooled to buy 'crackers'. There were usually some burnt fingers, etc, next day!

In the summer we swam in the channels (which was illegal then too). When we saw the Water Bailiff's truck approaching, we'd dive under the bridge and hide until he was gone. Of course he knew we were there but always turned 'a blind eye'. The ice cream man came round all the farms in his horse and cart and sold his homemade ice cream, it was far superior to Peters!!

Camping holidays for all the school holidays after Christmas were at Taylor's Beach at Darlington Point. Several families camped together and we had wonderful times.

We had our 'shrimp log' where we caught river shrimps and the 'washing log' where the women did the washing. The men and boys went fishing, duck shooting or rabbit hunting.

Occasionally we'd borrow old Mr Taylor's horse and sulky to go into 'the Point' to spend our pocket money on lollies and such. After dark we played cards by lantern light until late at night with cow-dung fires to keep the `mossies' away. On hot nights we slept on the beach instead of in the tents. They were wonderful holidays!!"

116

Dorothy's brother, Bill writes: "A true story which might interest some readers Cliff Crawford, brother of Maurice and Fred Crawford, worked in the Griffith district in the early days as a carpenter. In 1933 he set out on a long trip in a flat-bottomed rowing boat from Gundagai. Rowed down the 'bidgee, then the Murray and finished at Lake Alexandrina in South Australia. (At the time) the Murrumbidgee was running high and when Cliff reached Taylor's beach near Darlington Point he rowed around to the camp where Footes, Hazells, Crawfords and the J. Smiths used to spend their holidays each year. He then continued down the river to Hay where he picked up a mate. A bit further downstream they got caught in a whirlpool, loosing the boat and their gear. They got ashore and went up to Hordern's Station to get some clothes - by this time Cliff's mate had decided he wasn't going on another boat trip as he was a poor swimmer, so Cliff obtained another boat and continued the trip on his own and made it O.K. Sometime later he arrived back in Griffith in an `Overlander' car."

Dorothy continues - "On the farm men wore dark grey flannel shirts all year round. Boys' trousers were lined with re-cycled (calico) flour bags. All children had clothes handed down. Everyone was virtually 'poor', but were fed well on the farm with our own milk, cream, butter, fruit and vegetables. We had baked rice pudding (unpolished rice) everyday with our own bottled fruit and we never tired of it".

Griffith Producers' Team fumigating the oranges. Courtesy Mrs I) Bourke

,

117

William Crawford born Scotland; died and buried Broken Hill NSW Mary Crawford horn Scotland; buried Sandgate Newcastle NSW * *

1. Frederick Andrew born Houghton (possibly Streaky Bay) SA c 1884 died Griffith 25 November 1953 aged 69 years married Broken Hill c 1920 - Gwendoline Brooks (daughter of William and Blanche Brooks)

1. Jean horn Griffith - survived 3 days 2. Ian Andrew born Griffith 28 December 1926 married Judith McIntyre, Ulverstone TAS both dec'd and buried Burnie TAS 2. Maurice Evelyn born Houghton SA married Caroline Dorothea Schneider 10 April 1919 (who was born 21 February 1895 Beenleigh QLD) Both buried Wamberal NSW *

1. William Ernest born Griffith 25 November 1921 married Betty Turner - lives Long Jetty NSW 2. John Francis born Griffith 8 August 1924 married Joan Skinner - lives Nelson Bay NSW 3. Dorothy Mary born Griffith 18 September 1926 married Kevin Bourke (div) - lives Miranda NSW 4. Shirley born Griffith 29 September 1928 married John Payne (div) - lives Caringbah NSW 5. Frank born Griffith 8 August 1934 married Merilyn Mowat - lives Mawson ACT

By courtesy of Mrs Dorothy Bourke (nee Crawford), 64 Miranda Road, Miranda NSW

118

CREGAN The Cregan family are of Irish stock. The parents of both Hannah and Patrick Cregan, who arrived in the Arca late 1915, were Irish. The first six of Hannah and Patrick's nine children were born in Victoria from whence they came to make a new home on the MIA. They left Rutherglen in Victoria in a horse-drawn covered waggon. Their daughter Nora tells us "there was a horse, a dog and all the belongings piled on and the children rode on top.

We travelled to Leeton and stayed on a farm for a short time and then moved to Stanbridge. From Stanbridge we moved to army barracks at Beelbangera and then to a house on the Yenda Road. Although our father was not a returned soldier, the house we lived in was a Soldier Settler's house - the first one built. I think we may have got it because we had so many children. There were seven of us and another one was born while we were there.

While we lived there the four eldest children went to Yoogali School which was about three miles away. We usually walked to school in the days when the area between Yoogali and Bilbul was completely covered by pine scrub. After some time we moved to Griffith and purchased Farm 880, just over the canal bridge on the Hanwood Road - now the site of Collier and Miller's business.

Farm 880 was 3 acres and 33 perches. We lived in a tent for some time and then we had a couple of rooms built, with a tin shed attached and a tent joining at the back.

Eventually we had a front built and a verandah front and side. It was home! We even had a cow and a dam. We also planted fruit trees and grapes.

Some of us went to school in the old Lyceum Theatre and we had to line up in Banna Avenue for parades. From there we went to the Griffith Public School which was built around 1922. We attended the Convent School when it opened in 1923.

As the family grew up the four boys went to the war, two of the girls entered St Joseph's Convent at North Goulburn, the others married, Mother died and Father rented Farm 880 and lived between his daughters. The farm was sold when he died. Collier and Miller stands on the site of the old home.

In the early days, Father O'Dea lived in a shack in the school grounds and when it was burned down he moved to a room at the end of the school. Before the present Convent was built the Nuns lived in the old presbytery (since demolished).

Our early neighbours were the Guihens. Mick was a Stock and Station Agent.

On the other side of our house was Jack Carroll and his family. Jack was a blacksmith and had owned one of the original blacksmith shops at Bagtown. The Thompson family lived nearby and Mr Thompson had carried on a blacksmith business at Bagtown. He was also Shire President for a time."

On reflection, Jim Cregan recalls "When living at Beelbangera on the Yenda Road, a waggon covered with bedding and furniture, etc. pulled into a vacant area nearly opposite to where the Cregans lived. My mother went across and I followed her - I was about 5 years old; there were two old people, Mr and Mrs Davey, their son Jack and Jack's nephew Ernie. Jack and Ernie had hats on with the brims turned up all around.

119

Afterwards someone said they came from Nevertire where it never rained much so they turned their hats up to catch whatever rain there was!!"17 Chuckling about some of the things that stand out in childhood memories Jim continued "Old Paddy, was the eccentric old Irishman, who lived at the Unemployment Camp. He owned a cockatoo which went with him everywhere - usually perched on his shoulder. In Church it would fly round during Mass, always coming back to Paddy's shoulder which it 'decorated' generously to say the least - but somewhat distracting to one's devotions."

More outstanding memories are:"Surprise" parties - they were fun!

The bolting horse and sulky that ran over brother Joe! The day the Yoogali school children chased a kangaroo up and down the ditches until it knocked Dominic Cunial over and stood over him as he lay in the ditch!

Lin Gordon who gave the children a ride in his car. There were children clinging on everywhere.

Breakfast at Yoogali school out in the open!!

Hoggard's car which had seats facing each other - a great novelty!

Public School was held in the Lyceum before it opened on the present site. Davy Hoggard danced the Irish Jig at the school concert until he was breathless!!

Camps in the Hall.

Roy Coote who drove his horse and cart to Cregan's place and cut the meat to order off the back of the cart.

At the Showground, when it was near the cemetery, Bill Butler used to fight in a tent. He would fight, collect the money, then go back in later on and fight again and he always won."

Then Nora recalled an incident - "My brother Jim, then five years old, went to Yoogali school for a time. One day one of the older boys said 'It's your turn to wag it!'

17 In later years Jack and Ernie became the well known and well liked "window cleaners" of Banna Avenue where they cleaned the windows of most of the business premises on a regular basis until they both reached retirement age.

120

knowing no better the little boy went and sat on a channel bank all day till it was time to go home!!"

Patrick and Hannah Cregan. Courtesy of Mrs Nora Hickey

Patrick Cregan born 3 September 1872 at Rutherglen Vic. died 22 April 1950, buried Griffith married Hannah Lewis born 18 November 1875 at Seymour Vic. Died 15 March 1940, buried Griffith 1. Nellie (Sr M Rita) - lives Goulburn NSW 2. Mary Clifford (Sr M Gregory) - dec'd 3. Madge - dec'd, married Tom Hanrahan 4. John - dec'd, married Doris Bradley 5. James - married Peg Broderick 6. Joseph - dec'd 7. Nora - born Leeton, married Martin Hickey 8. Patrick - born Griffith, married Helen Roberts 9. Cannel - born Griffith, dec'd, married Herbert Standing

By Courtesy of Mrs Nora Hickey (nee Cregan), 91 Binya Street, Griffith

121

CUMMINGS Ada Cummings "Ladies' & Children's Clothing Store", opened 1916, was one of the first stores to open in Bagtown so the Cummings family soon became very well known in the new settlement.

Ada Cummings was one of nine children of a storekeeper at Indigo, Victoria.

Born Ada Owens, at Rutherglen Vic, she married William Cummings, a miner, in 1906.

William, the son of John Cummings was born in Daylesford Vic in 1876. His father John was born on the Isle of Skye in Scotland in 1830, emigrated to Australia and died in 1905.

William and Ada's son, William Stanley John Cummings ("Stan") was born in Rutherglen in 1908 and their daughter, Nellie Florence, was born at Wonthaggi Vic in 1914.

After living in various mining settlements, the couple set up a greengrocer's shop and cafe at Wonthaggi where Ada served in the shop. However, the advent of World War I made this shop no longer viable and in 1915 William moved in search of work, which he found with the WC & IC in the Griffith area.

Travelling by train and coach, Ada joined him early the following year with their two children, Nell and Stan. She immediately noted that the house Mrs Ada Cummings which William had found for them Courtesy Griffith Pioneer Park Museum at Bagtown had a large front window, suitable for shop display.

Within the week the decision to open a dress shop had been made. During the following winter William Cummings built a dust-proof display box behind the window. The front half of the building was prepared as the shop, while the family continued to live in the rear. f50 worth of stock was ordered from Melbourne, taking three weeks to arrive via Cootamundra and Temora. The opening of the shop on a Saturday, the main shopping day in Bagtown, was a "red letter day". Previously the women had had to rely on two general stores for all their requirements. The shop was packed out and within two months the stock needed to be replenished. Goods sold included women's and children's clothing, millinery and, at the request of the older ladies, Berlei "stays"!!

Early shop assistants were Allie Osmond and Mrs J Collier, Ada's sister and th( wife of a Bagtown blacksmith.

When land on the site of modern Griffith was released for sale in 1919, the Cummings built a new shop in Banna Avenue, which Ada ran. The Bagtown shop 122

continued in operation under Mrs Collier until late 1920 when the whole township was vacated prior to this land being converted to farming.

The Griffith shop continued the success of the Bagtown shop. By 1922 it had been enlarged to include fitting and dressmaking rooms. Wedding dresses were a speciality and many early Griffith brides had their wedding dresses made there. At this time the staff consisted of Allie Osmond, shop assistant and housekeeper; Rose Morgan, chief assistant and book keeper and Gladys Bounds, shop assistant.

The chief dressmakers were Neta Griffin (later Mrs Fred Manser), Edna Bounds and Nellie Willis. During the Depression Ada Cummings sorted out her old stock, mostly children's clothing, and distributed it amongst the needy.

Meanwhile, William worked first as a Nurseryman for Mr Braund before opening a Hairdressers and Newsagency in 1928. In 1935 William suffered a heart attack. This was when Ada sold the shop and retired to look after him.18 Stan married Dorothy Pfafflin in 1943. She died in 1964. Stan was remarried in 1969 to Joyce Thompson in Sydney.

Nellie was married to David Blyth in 1935 and they live in Melbourne.

William Cummings died on 7th July 1935 and was buried in the Presbyterian Section of the Griffith Cemetery. When Ada died in 1%3, her ashes were interred in his grave.

Stan Cummings recalls a picnic - Easter at Findlay's Beach, 1918: "It had all been arranged (by our parents) to spend the Easter holidays at the river.

The Hawkins, Eberts, Cummings and Lasscock families' transport was by horse drawn lorry, Nell & Stan Cummings - 1917 sulky and bikes. Mr Ebert took the Courtesy Stan Cummings camping gear and most of the younger boys and girls would go on his lorry (remember a sulky could only take 3). The older boys, 10 to 12 years, were going to ride their bikes.

The location of the camp was Findlay's Beach. Our parents had been down there before, fishing. The homestead was about 6 miles down river from the turn off on Willbriggie Road and in all 24 miles from Bagtown.

At 8 a.m. Good Friday morning, Fred, Ern and myself left Bagtown and a mile further on picked up Fred Manser who lived at Hanwood.

18

Source - Area News, 6 Sept 1988

123

We had our schoolbags filled with food, water, bathers and fishing lines strapped to the bar on the bikes.

We had four stops - Main Channel Bridge, Mirrool Creek, Willbriggie for tank water at the railway station and the last one at the turn off with 6 miles to go. We were met by Mr Findlay and his two boys when we arrived at around 12.30 pm. We told him the others should be down around 3 pm.

He showed us the wool shed where we kids were to sleep and the place in the river where we could get mussels for bait.

There was a lovely beach some 200 yards long and the River was fairly low and clear. The bait site was just on the eastern end of the beach and after a good swim we gathered about a sugars9 bag of mussels. A fire place was built and a lot of dry wood gathered.

Around 3.30 pm the three sulkies arrived and 20 minutes later Mr Ebert arrived with the lorry. All was then action! The kids to the river and our parents setting up tents, beds etc. They told us that all the children were to sleep in the wool shed, except for the very young. Mr Findlay had strung a tarpaulin across to divide it into two sections - 'His and Hers'.

The fishing was good in the evening and we caught enough bream and murray cod for a very good evening tea by the light of the fire.

With the help of Mr Findlay's boat we explored up and down the river during our stay and Mr Hawkins conducted singing around the fire in the evenings for which the Findlays joined us.

We packed up early Easter Monday morning and set off for home.

This camp was the forerunner of many happy times over the years spent at the river on Findlay's Beach."

The children of William and Ada Cummings: 1. William Stanley John (Stan) born Rutherglen 1908 married 1) Dorothy Pfafflin in 1943; (died in 1964) one son - Mark Owen 2) Joyce Thompson in 1969 2. Nellie Florence born Wonthaggi 1914 married David Blyth in 1935

Courtesy of Stan Cummings (November, 1986).

19

Sugar came in fine jute bags which held 70Ibs

124

CUNIAL Guiseppe Cunial, one of our very early Italian settlers, had left his wife, Guistina (nee Soccal) and their three eldest children, Dominic (Don), Caroline and Mary at Posagno, Italy, to come to seek work in Australia. He landed first at Port Pirie in 1914 and worked for a time in the mines at Iron Knob where, it is believed, he was to suffer from what was then known as "dust on the lungs" and which was to cause his death at the early age of 46 years. Later though, he went to Broken Hill, where he also worked in the mines.

While at Broken Hill he was caught up in a strike and it was at this time that he was advised to go to the Griffith Irrigation Area and take up land there. Acting upon this advice he came to Griffith, travelling by bullock waggon and lived on a farm at Hanwood for twelve months.

Guiseppe was born at Posagno and married Guistina there in about 1908. He returned in 1917 to enlist in the Italian Army in which he served for four months. In October of 1919 their fourth child, Virginia, was born, at Posagno.

About this time Guiseppe returned to Australia, bringing with him his eldest son Don, to help earn enough money to bring out the rest of the family. Despite his efforts, when Guistina and the three girls arrived, he was four shillings short for their fares to Griffith!

They stayed first on a farm at Hanwood - the family think that it was that of the Bonomi family. Here they built a hut out of bags which were sewn together by Guistina and the children. Older members of the family remember "there was dust, dust and more dust, not to mention the insects!" During one particularly heavy rainstorm the bags leaked and everything got wet. All their belongings, including clothes and good new shoes, were soaked. The rain was so heavy and everything so wet the family remember standing up against the side of the hut to try and keep dry. Then everything had to be hung out to dry - on trees, on fences - everywhere!

The next day Guiseppe, described by his daughter-in-law Marion as a good, caring family man, went into Taylor Bros store to buy roofing iron, even though at that time he had little money. At least he determined to keep the family dry!

After this the family lived for a time - about two months it is thought - on Farm 451 Yoogali. They slept in a hut with bags full of corn for beds.

Finally Guiseppe was allotted Farm 651 Yoogali where the family grew vegetables to make a living while waiting for the trees to come into production. At this time also, they started a boarding house for new arrivals and seasonal workers. This was when tragedy struck the family.

A very large container of boiling liquid, soup it is thought, was left standing on the hearth. Because it was too heavy for the women to lift they had gone to look for the men to help do it. While they were out of the room the two year old toddler, Alf, tripped, stumbled and fell into the big pot of boiling liquid. The poor little boy died a week later, on 15 October 1929. He is buried in Griffith Cemetery.

Guiseppe Cunial died on 14 December 1928, aged 46 years and is also buried in Griffith. Guistina remarried after the death of Guiseppe to David Cericoli and they had one child, Francesco, now deceased.

125

Guistina died 25 September 1946, 59 years, and is buried in Griffith.

The family of Guiseppe and Guistina Cunial are: 1. Donald (Dominic) born Posagno, Italy 25 November 1909 married Grace McGlashan, lives in Griffith 2. Caroline born Posagno, Italy 17 May 1911, married Giovanni Salvestro (deceased),lives in Griffith 3. Mary born Posagno, Italy 1913. Died in Old Griffith Hospital on 6 October 1921, aged 8 years 4. Virginia born Posagno, Italy 31 October 1919, married Ernesto Rossetto (deceased) lives Summer Hill, Sydney 5. Jack born Griffith (at the home of Manero family, Nurse Taylor midwife) 11 December 1921, married Marion Holt, lives in Griffith 6. Maria born Griffith (at home on Farm 651, Nurse Taylor midwife) 15 June 1924, married Frank Sosso (deceased), lives in Griffith 7. Alf born Griffith (at home on Farm 651, Nurse Taylor midwife) 1927, died of accidental scalding - buried Griffith 15 October 1929

Courtesy of Mr and Mrs Jack Cunial, 38 Gunbar Street, Griffith and Mr and Mrs Don Cunial, 26 Macarthur Street, Griffith 2680

126

CUSH /CONLON Of all the names that keep surfacing when people talk about the very earliest days of Bagtown and West Mirrool, without doubt that of Micky Cush must win hands down.

The late Jack Conlon was the step-son of Micky Cush and his wife, Ellen (formerly Conlon). Whilst at school he was always known as Jacky or "Curley" Cush. His two half-sisters were Nellie and Josie Cush.

Jack tells us that Micky (Hugh Cush) and the coach commenced the run from Old Griffith to Willbriggie in the year 1912. They carried the Royal Mail and passengers through all sorts of weather and muddy tracks. In extra wet weather four horses were used to pull the coach. In ordinary weather three horses were used but in really dry weather only two were needed.

Prior to the 1914-18 war there was a daily train from both Sydney and Hay which crossed at Willbriggie. Micky and the mailman from Darlington Point, old Bill Taprell with his two horse and four-seat passenger buggy, met both trains. In Micky's case he picked up mail bags, passengers, parcels and after 1915, films for Tom Bottrill's picture show at Bagtown. He charged 6/- freight for the films from Willbriggie to Old Griffith.

They also carried bacon, butter, newspapers, etc for the Bagtown stores of Andy Martin, the Cash Club, Fallons and McLeans.

Usually everything was off-loaded at Tango Joe's corner or the individual stores.

Next morning the coach was thoroughly serviced - the wheels jacked-up and greased and each cap carefully checked so "the wheels wouldn't run off'.

On the journey from Old Griffith to Willbriggie passengers were picked up at either the Post Office or Tango's corner.

Jack Conlon gives us a very clear description of his step-father's coach - "from the four inch wide iron tyres on the wheels to the top of the hood the coach stood thirteen feet high. It was thirteen feet long in the body and had four springs - three at the back and one in the front. The undercarriage was eight feet long, the front wheels four feet high while the back ones were five and a half feet high. The steps at the back of the coach were so big the mail baskets were carried there. The roof was made of painted white calico with sides that rolled up in fine weather and which in wet weather could be tied down. It didn't matter how heavily it rained, it never let the water in.

Once every twelve months or so boiled linseed oil was put on the wheels to preserve the wood - a practice very few people know about these days.

When new, the wheels of the coach used to catch on the sides of the body so George Harrington, who did all the repairs, pulled the wheels off and rectified the problem.

Rain or shine the mail coach had to go on. One day with a load of twelve passengers - there was no standing room on the coach this day - a motor bike and two more passengers were picked up about a mile from Willbriggie and the swingle bar broke.

With the train to catch it was quickly patched up with wire and we got there in time.

Another time, as we all arrived at Willbriggie railway crossing I looked down the track as far as I could see to that place they call Darlington Point. I could not see the other mailman in sight. As time passed Old Billy Taprell arrived and said 'Good Day, Mick'. Mick said 'You're Late!'. 'Oh well', replied Old Billy, 'the train hasn't arrived yet so I've plenty of time!'

127

It was eleven and a half miles from the Old Town to Willbriggie, the same back, a total of twenty-three miles.

Peter Aue's Store at Wil%rink Courtesy Peter & Vanda Conlon

When I was a small boy there used to be an old store-keeper at Willbriggie where many a WILBRIGGIE traveller passed. Peter Aue, with a silvery beard, STORE DESTROYED had opened the shop in 1912. He used to meet the trains with a big leather bag full of newspapers FIRE ` completely destroyed.

Mr. F. C. Aue's Mort, WUincluding the Daily Telegraph - which he sold to the briggie, last Sunday afternoon, the damage being estimated travellers. In his shop, as well as the newspapers, at £800. you could buy ladies' handbags, fishing hooks, So devastating was the tire that floaters, lines, cigarettes, lollies, cool drinks, only a few of Mr. Aue'a personal belongings were saved. chocolates, trousers, shirts, billy cans.

The Darlington Point pollee and the Wilbriggie stationmaster as.

Years later as I passed by Willbriggie, I slated In fighting,the flames. looked at the place where I used to have dinner with Mr. Aue, who has carried on the business for some 30 years, was my father and took a look at where the old storeburned out about 20 years ago.

Mr. Aue has stated his intorilon keeper used to be. All I could see was his old store, of re-building. fading away and the old pepper trees he used to water, still standing in remembrance of him.

Newspaper clipping - source unknown My memory goes back nearly sixty years ago in the Old Town of Griffith when old Tom Bottril! opened his picture show on the channel bank in 1915. Old Tom Bone with his

128

hairdressing and billiard saloon: also old Archie Miller - another hairdresser. A hair cut was 1/6d then. Our first old baker, Claude Hanna and the policeman Sgt Ford.

Dr Watkins was the pioneer doctor and Nurse Savage and Nurse Russell (who came from Narrandera) the pioneer nurses. One day at Willbriggie Dr Watkins arrived on the scene and wanted to inoculate all the men against the 'Spanish 'Flu' - some were done and some weren't. My father and I walked away and never caught the germ. In those days they all wore masks.

On our way back home, at the (Mirrool) Creek, we were lucky enough to meet Charlie Ronie. Dad knew him years ago. He was the proprietor of a big horse-drawn circus. Mr Charlie Ronie talked freely and invited us to have dinner with him, but my Dad said 'No thanks Charlie. Me and the lad just had dinner at Willbriggie'. That was on Friday evening. Saturday morning they (the circus) arrived at the Old Town. The marquee went up. They had their own band and it was a grand show!

The Circus comes to Town 1913 Note muzzle on Monkey to prevent him biting people Courtesy Mitchell Library

Another day when the roads were wet, sloppy and boggy, we met that real old pioneer - that day we had four horses drawing the coach and had a load of passengers on with all their luggage. The pioneer we met was old Jack Rae, with a three-horse lorry and a load of pigs, about a mile from Willbriggie. The Old Man (Micky) said 'It's better up on the road here than where you are'. Jack Rae's reply was 'I Will make it to the railway - but I won't be home to-night!' When we got back Mrs Rae asked us if we had seen him.

It was still raining!

129

Mr Fallon was a store-keeper in the Old Town too but his store was burnt down about 1915. Mr Bert Carr was the first butcher in the old Town and then it was taken over by Jimmy Harris who introduced the first freezing plant.

Some of the men who knocked around the old town - Charlie Goddard, Harry Elliott, old Jack Hines, old Jack Rusley, old 'Midge' McDougall, Bob Rae, Mr Jacka the saddler, Fred Savage, Paddy Leston. Policemen I remember - Sherlock, Ford, Duckworth.

More of the old pioneers - old Bert Dempsey, old Pouncer Wade, Mick Wade and Bill Wade. About this time Sgt Johnstone was at Whitton and later transferred to Darlington Point.

Another day, while I was still a little boy, we picked up a passenger at Tango Joe's corner. He had two dogs which rode in the coach so he had to pay cartage for them. There were eight gates to be opened and shut on the way to Willbriggie and as it was a very windy day this was quite difficult for a small boy. As we rolled along the road to the next gate, the passenger produced some ginger nuts. He told us that his dogs could `sing' - they made a yapping noise. They were black and tan sheep dogs. As we came to the next gate the horses stopped for the gates to be opened and as the coach passed through the man hopped out, got hold of one side of the gate and ordered his dog to close the other half! His dog stood up on his hind legs and pushed the other half of the gate to his master who clipped it on the top. Then he said to the dog - 'Get up and show us how the kangaroo hops' and the dog stood up and hopped the same as a kangaroo. Now this place always reminds me of the dog who closed the gate. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.

As the time rolled on to the war years - 1914-18, the trains only ran one way. Up from Sydney one day and down the next day. The train was coming from Sydney this day and a passenger wanted to go up the line towards Junee. When there was no train available going in that direction he walked down to Whitton and stayed the night to wait for the train the next day to come from Hay. A few weeks later I picked up a terribly big load of passengers. There were two drunks aboard. As we rolled along to Mirrool Creek one of the drunks said to the driver, `Would you stop the coach as I want to get out?' The driver stopped and he got out and staggering about at the bridge, he over-balanced and fell into the water, where he received a very bad injury to his head. He was put aboard the coach and hurried to Dr Watkins' surgery. He received treatment and was given shelter (as accommodation was hard to get)

by Sgt Ford.

The next morning he came down to where we lived at Farm 464. He gathered up his things and headed for Wickham's Camp. He became a close friend in later years and always said that the coach had saved his life. As the years went by he also became very influential in the community and local government.

The mail contract ceased in 1918 when the people of Griffith wanted the mail brought around the Temora way by train. The Willbriggie train was more convenient for us than the Temora train which used to get in at half past two. Sometimes I used to get back from Willbriggie to meet the Temora train to pick up a load passengers. Often times a cab used to run to meet the Temora train as well. The driver of the cab was Peter Sinclair.

The first driver of the coach, other than my father, was Bill Thurlow, then Tom Luke. Drivers came and went. Bill Gordon was a driver, also Bourke, Bill Sutherland, 130

Boxer Russell, Fraser and Dick Bates; also a chap by the name of Jack, surname forgotten, but he didn't last long; he got the sack!

After the mail contract finished the coach ran until 1920, just as a passenger and parcel coach. There wasn't a road in Griffith that the coach hadn't been on. The last run of the coach was to `Glenroy' with a load of shearers."

A full scale replica of the coach, built by the late Jack Conlon, is on view at the Powerhouse Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney.

Replica of Micky Cush's Coach, built by the late Jack Conlon Courtesy Peter & Vanda Conlon

Jack finished by saying "Cush's owned their first motor car in 1916, bought from Blacklock's of Albury. It was later sold to Sid Gronn for £195. The second car was bought in 1920 to do a run from Willbriggie to Rankins Springs but never came to anything so that is the end of the story of the coach and the Cush's.

Miss Gwen Jenkins was teaching in the Old Griffith Town in 1918 - the school was alongside Mrs Brankston's boarding house and the Cheese Factory. The school was closed down for a while. Then it was re-opened by a male teacher by the name of Mr Flannery, a returned soldier. Mr Moore opened a school in a marquee on Wickham's Camp about 1919. Then from Wickham's Camp, Mr Moore took the school to the Lyceum Theatre which was owned by Mr Morel. A few weeks after Mr Moore left, Mr Hall came in his place - a married man with a family. He had a son named Eric and a daughter named Lorna - his wife was also a school teacher.

The teachers at the Lyceum Theatre were Miss Jenkins who used to live at Haywood's Hill, then there was a Miss Chapman. When Miss Jenkins left there was a teacher by the name of Mr George Bridle. Mr Bridle wasn't on the staff when the new 131

school opened. At the end of 1920 we had a break-up concert. Each pupil had to pay three pence to go to the concert. There were three of us who didn't have threepence so Mr Hall paid the ninepence for us. Mr Hall was headmaster and the new school opened in September 1921.

Mr Hall allowed the children to make their own way to the new school in the afternoon. When all the children arrived Mr Hall, Miss Chapman and Mrs Hall were there waiting for them.

Mr Hall taught fifth and sixth class, Miss Chapman had first and second and Mrs Hall taught the third and fourth. Mrs Hall taught until Mr Farrelly came and took over.

A short while later Father O'Dea opened the Convent School.

There was a photo taken of the (new) public school with all the children and also all the teachers. It was taken by the photographer, Mr Fullarton .

Old Griffith school pupils taught by Miss Gwen Jenkins:Jessie Burns Myra Button Kathleen Button Millie Hemphill Jane Rae Thelma Milne Annie Carroll Winnie Carroll Jean Carroll May Taylor Joan Bradley Sister Bradley Evelyn Flynn

Alaska Ceccato Yvonne Bollar Thora Dempsey Julie Marks Ivy Stott Susie Hansell Claude Dempsey Les Dempsey Herb Dempsey 'Punchy' Daines Ted Taylor Les Taylor

Ron Bollar Bruce Bollar Norman Morrison Joe Hansell Gladys Bounds Edna Bounds Eric Hemphill Bully Daines Bill Evans Bert Dempsey Jack Cush Emily Wade

The school closed for a month on account of the 'flu epidemic then opened again with Mr Flannery as teacher."

Micky (Hugh) Cush died 19 October 1946 buried Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney Ellen Cush (formerly Conlon) died 3 April 1948 aged 72 years and is buried in Griffith 1. Jack Conlon (Micky's step-son) married Ida ("Edie") Bonomi 2. Josie Cush 3. Nellie Cush Farm 464 was granted to Michael Cush on 1 December 1914 - 26 acres 1 rood 30 per; annual rent £28/815. Transferred to William Alexander.

By courtesy of Peter and Vanda Conlon, 4 Sidlow Road, Griffith 2680 132

DAVIDGE The Davidge family arrived in Griffith in 1913. Before they came to settle in the district they were operating gold mining leases and a store and hotel in the town of Yalwal near Nowra, New South Wales.

Charles Davidge and his son, Charles Augustus Davidge were allocated Farms 66 and 68 at Hanwood. William Davidge, who was the brother of Charles Davidge (Snr) was allocated Farm 52. The farms were adjacent to each other and are still in operation in an amalgamated form and retain their productivity after 77 years of irrigation.

Charles Davidge (Snr) began , what was to become a family tradition, of being involved in local affairs and community service. Charles (Snr) was a foundation member of the Co-operative Society and served on the Board of the Society. He was also a Director of the butter factory in Leeton (M.I.D. Co-operative).

Charles Augustus Davidge was employed by the WC & IC as stock manager for the herds of cattle and horses which the Commission used to supply as the operating nucleus of the farm operation of each new settler. He later became a channel attendant with the WC & IC and operated the Northern Branch run in the Yenda - Myall Park area.

He lived in the Commission house in the now absorbed village of Ellimo (between the farms of Simpson's and Trionfi at Myall Park).

Charles Augustus married Veronica Trainor in Hanwood on 14 April 1921. Vera (as she is known) Trainor had been appointed as assistant teacher at Hanwood Public School in April 1918. She taught at the school until her marriage. Then it was not possible for married women to remain in the employment of the Department of Education.

After a period of employment with the WC & IC, Charles Augustus joined the Department of Agriculture and was appointed as "practical adviser" at the old Red Cross farm at Beelbangera, which had been taken over by the Department of Agriculture as a demonstration and training farm for potential settlers and investors in the Irrigation Area.

The Department of Agriculture found that the Beelbangera farm was being under utilised and Charlie Davidge and Hec Dargin were transferred to the Leeton Experimental Farm. Vera and Charlie and young Kenneth, who was born at Griffith in 1922, went to live at Gogeldrie, adjacent to the Leeton farm.

Charlie's job was to provide practical assistance to Hec Dargin in the experimental growing of the newly introduced crop of rice. After seeing the potential of this new crop, Charlie decided to return to the farm at Hanwood and began growing rice which had already been grown by several farmers in the Griffith district. Among these early ricegrowers were Sid Marchinton, Alf Kubank and Fred Chilvers .

Charlie Davidge obtained some rice seed from Alf Kubank and was able to grow rice successfully.

This began his, and the family's, long association with the rice industry. Charlie became the first secretary of the Mirrool Branch of the Ricegrower's Association of Australia and the inaugural meeting of the Branch was held on the verandah of his home.

When the organisation of the Association advanced, Charlie became a member of the Central Executive of the R.GA. As an executive member he was one of the seven original directors of Ricegrowers Co-operative Mills which was formed in 1952. He held

133

the position of Branch Secretary, Central Executive Member and Director of Ricegrowers' Co-operative Mills until his death in May, 1960.

Charlie had suffered from poor health for many years and in the late 1950's his son, Ian, began to assist him with the secretarial duties of the Branch. When Charlie died, Ian became Branch Secretary and was elected as a Central Executive member. In August 1960, Ian Davidge was elected a Director of Ricegrowers Co-operative Mills and also took his father's position on the Board of Directors of the Griffith Co-operative Society.

Ian Davidge was born in Griffith in 1933. Both Ian and Ken were educated in Griffith and both joined their father in farming Farm 1611 at Yenda which was purchased

by Charlie in 1940.

Ken became active in the local Show Society and the administration of Agricultural Societies at State level. He was President of the Griffith Show Society for a number of years and was also a regional representative in the Royal Agricultural Society.

Ian Davidge was elected General President of the Ricegrowers Association of Australia in 1963. He held this position for 13 years. In 1966 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship, the first awarded to a farmer in New South Wales and he and his wife, Beth, spent nine months in the USA. In 1975 Ian Davidge became Chairman of Directors of Ricegrowers Co-operative Mills Ltd. He still holds this position.

Because of Charlie's love of horses, both Ian and Ken became interested in horse sports and they both played polocrosse with the successful Yenda Polocrosse Club in the 1950's.

Ken Davidge married Nell Jennings in August 1949. Nell Davidge has had an active public life in many fields, including the Griffith Show Society, Adult Education (teaching leatherwork) and particularly the Girl Guides movement. She served as District Commissioner for a number of years and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to Girl Guides in 1988. Ken and Nell have three children, Lynda, Wendy and Ross.

Ian Davidge married Beth Solomon in 1963. Beth Davidge is well known in the district as a school teacher and has taught geography and commerce at both Griffith High and Wade High Schools since February 1960. Ian and Beth have one son, David.

Ken and Ian Davidge farm adjacent properties at Yenda as a farming partnership, still using the original family trading name of C A Davidge & Sons. Vera Davidge lives on Farm 1611. She has been a resident of the Griffith district for 72 years and has seen the town grow from Bagtown to City.

Contributed by Ian Davidge, Langley Crescent, Griffith 2680

134

DAVIES When the late Mrs Lylia Davies the wife of T H (Harold) Davies of "Walgrove", Hay, gave us these recollections of her late husband, written in 1976, she said that he was then old and almost blind. She also added that Harold Davies was a cousin of the pioneer selector, Bill Bull senior: "I have decided to record a few of my recollections of my early days in the area where Griffith now stands. I was born on a property named Wendouree' on the 11 May 1889. My father was an early settler in the district selecting the place about 1886. He was a native of a place between Echuca and Mitiamo called 'The Terricks'. My mother was a daughter of an early settler on Yanco Creek. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Emily Bull, her father and brothers held land on the north Kooba Station, in the Yenda Bilbul area. The property on which I was born was just over the hill from Griffith; where the aerodrome is now was part of Wendouree'. Standing on the lookout on the hill and looking west one could see the whole of our place. Looking east the land immediately below belonged to people named Dun and was named 'The Cliffs'. About 1920 the Griffith Golf course was at the bottom of the hill on 'The Cliffs'.

There wasn't then any thought of irrigation or closer settlement. The first things I remember clearly would be about 1894. My father and his neighbours were mixed farmers running some sheep and growing wheat, the country was heavily timbered with pine scrub, yarran and a few small clumps of mallee. The method of clearing the land was an off-set roller made out of a gum log about four feet thick and twelve feet long which was drawn by a team of some 20 bullocks.20 Avoiding the big timber this method lay all the scrub on the ground and when dry burnt off. From four to five hundred acres of our farm was cleared in this manner. Some success must have resulted from the effort as I clearly remember strippers and winnowers at work and wheat being carted away to Willbriggie Siding. Then Darlington strippers were pulled by three or four horse teams.

When the drum was full they would return to the winnowers and the grain and the husks were unloaded on to a tarpaulin. Then the winnower crew would go into action. One man would turn the handle which would operate the fan and a set of sieves. The result was clean wheat coming up an elevator to be bagged and the `cockies' chaff blown out the back.

Our home was made of weather boards, four rooms, with a detached kitchen of mud brick. The floor in the mud brick building was of stone cut in all shapes, laid together with a surface as smooth as glass. Certainly the work of a skilled tradesman as it was all hand cut.

Saw-milling was a big business in the area as the big pines were large and high and generally sound. The Dun family at 'The Cliffs' operated one for years supplying sawn timber to builders and timber yards in Narrandera. During 1894/5 a man named Plant operated one on Wendouree'. There was a large excavated tank on our place and the mill was working from there about 1920. I was through that way then, the tank was on a road and a short distance to the north was the grave of an unknown man who was

20 An example of these clearing rollers is at Pioneer Park Museum

135

drowned in a tank a couple of miles away.21 It was very pleasing to see someone had some thought for a person whose real identity was not known. A nice white fence enclosed the grave and it was well cared for.

Where Lake Wyangan is now used to be known as 'Lake View'. I commenced my schooling at a half-time school north of 'Lake View' about two miles from home. Our first teacher was a Miss Millie Beaumont, a lovely girl and a wonderful horse-woman. She later married a young man from out Mt Ida22 way, named Harry Johnston and I believe until recently some of her family still lived there. The school was named `Merrimee'.

In those days if you stood on the top of the hill on what is now the lookout and looked in any direction it was just a sea of scrub timber with here and there a cleared patch with a house in the middle. Some of the early settlers were the Drivers, Bulls (about four brothers), Dalgleish, Matchetts, Peechs, Duns, Andersons, just to mention a few I can call to mind.

Early in 1898 my family left Wendouree' broke, I suppose, and went to a property between Hay and Deniliquin. My father was killed there in December 1899 and my mother left with four children, the eldest a boy 13 years and myself 11 years, carried on successfully.

In 1909 our old property (near Griffith) was offered to my mother by the Bank to repurchase, which she did and I returned to take over the ownership of Wendouree'.

It was then I saw the start of the work leading up to the development of Griffith.

Although earthwork had been in progress for some time between Leeton and Griffith the first camp on the Griffith area was pitched near what was later known as Bagtown. This camp would be on the road leading south from Yoogali towards the main channel on the Willbriggie Road. The site for the town was marked by an arrow cut in a protruding root of a large box tree. The site was on Crown Land held on lease by a man named Wilson.

He had a property named `Ballingall' about four miles west of the town site. The southern portion of Griffith would extend to a property named `Yarran Vale', originally held by people named Anderson. It was a God-forsaken looking place, thickly timbered with pine scrub, box trees and inhabited by rabbits, goats and foxes - also a few native or tiger cats.

One of the first buildings of any size was a boarding-house called Mirrool House, at the back of the Co-op Store.

One of the earliest identities in Griffith would be the baker named John Jacob.

Before the irrigation work started he held a general store in Whitton and followed the camps and ran small shops at each camp. Another old firm in Griffith would be Gordon's Garage.

In the early nineties it is worth recording the people who used the bush tracks to earn a living. They were the Afghans (Indian hawkers). They came first on foot with their goods done up in a bundle which they carried on their heads with a bag in either hand. Their saleable stock comprised silk handkerchiefs, scarves and a large assortment of brummy jewellery. A little later came the Indian hawker with his waggon and two

21 This grave is that just past the village of Lake Wyangan, travelling towards Nericon 2/ - The Tabbita/Warburn area was known as "Mt Ida, Whitton"

136

horses and a large quantity of cheap drapery. Then came the Chinese hawkers with vegetables and fruit. They had large gardens at Darlington Point and Carrathool. They were very welcome amongst the settlers as it was almost impossible for them to grow their own as water was always short in summertime. McClures and Meakes from Hay and Solomon from Carrathool also toured the district occasionally with sample goods, taking orders (and cash) and supplying from their headquarters. These people would be away a couple of weeks and were dependant on settlers for keep and horse feed.

When (old) Griffith first came into being, a contractor pitched his camp on the road leading from what is now Yoogali running south to the main channel and joining with what is now the Griffith-Willbriggie Road. Then came other he contractors, WC & IC and it was no time before some hundreds of people were housed in tents and it became known as Bagtown.

About 1915 the town started to move to its present site and I think Mirrool House became one of the first places erected to board WC & IC employees.

Following the drought of 1902 and the terrific loss of stock to the country from lack of water, several well known men tried to devise a scheme where by such a calamity would not happen again. Amongst them was an Ex-Army Engineer with experience in irrigation in India. They worked on a private scheme that if a dam was constructed on the Murrumbidgee (no site mentioned) and the water let down the Murrumbidgee to about Yanco and the water diverted by channels on both (the) north and south it would water a large area on both sides for stock and domestic purposes. They put their scheme up to the NSW Government but it was turned down.

Evidently some one else had a better proposition as it was very soon after that it became known, Burrinjuck was to be built and the MIA developed. Previous to these schemes Sir Samuel McCaughey had a private scheme at Yanco. The first big settlement in the Griffith-Yenda areas was by returned soldiers from the First World War. Many of these were inexperienced and many left their farms."

By courtesy of the late Mrs Lylia Davies (nee Matheson of Binya), "Walgrove" Hay 2711

137

DAY The Day family lived and farmed in this area long before it became the MIA. William Day and his wife Elizabeth Farrington were married 24 February 1834 in Cambridgeshire, England and came to Australia on the "Earl Grey" 20 February 1840 with their son, William, then aged 5.

Four more children were born in Australia: Elizabeth, 9 January 1841, Westwood Martha, 30 November 1842, Wellington James, 30 June 1845, Wellington John, 19 November 1855, Balranald In May 1875, William Day and his family settled on what was the original portion of the now famous "Uardry" (Wardry) Station, east of Hay. Over 100 years later, there is still a woolshed on the property that is referred to as Day's woolshed and paddock.

James Day married Phoebe Caroline Hatcher 28 April 1864 at "Toganmain" Station and had a family of thirteen children. They sold their Hay property and moved to a new selection, "Sandy Valley", Tabbita in 1886, consisting of 640 acres of conditional purchase and 1920 acres of conditional lease. Part of the property ran through Barren Box Swamp.

Phoebe Caroline died tragically at "Sandy Valley" at the age of 42, giving birth to twin daughters, but both babies survived.

Conditions became progressively drier from 1896 through to 1902 which is Phoebe Caroline Day nee Hatcher referred to as the year of the great Courtesy Mrs Pam McGann drought. Barren Box Swamp completely dried up and through lack of water, horse and bullock teams owned by Jim Day and his sons, all perished. In 1905 a great fire ravaged the district and the Day's property was amongst the ten properties burnt.

138

James sold "Sandy Valley" to Robert Gibson of Hay. He later married Matilda Louisa Painting, a widow from "Verandah Rock" and had two sons.

In later life, James resided at the home of his son, Andrew, Farm 131, Hanwood. He died 3 February 1927 and is buried in Liverpool, New South Wales.

James Day born 30 June 1845, "Nubrigin", Wellington died 3 February 1927, Liverpool NSW m 1) Phoebe Caroline Hatcher 1. James, born 1863 2. Elizabeth, born 1864; married George Kilpatrick 3. William, born 1866; married Mary Violet Peters 4. Emma, born 1868; James Day - Farm 131 Hanwood married Edgar Larkin Courtesy Mrs Pam McCann 5. John, born 1870 6. Martha, born 1873 7. George, born 1874; married Rose Hill 8. Henry, born 1876; married Grace Whyte 9. Charles, born 1878 10. Rose, born 1880; married Tim Confoy 11.Andrew, born 1884; married Elizabeth Owens 12. Phoebe, born 1888; married Edgar Gullifer 13.Sarah, born 1888; married Mr McClure m 2) Matilda Louisa Painting 14.Thomas G, born 1900 15.Robert G, born 1902

Charles Day, who never married, was born on "Benerembah" Station in 1878, and lived the early part of his life on his father's property, "Sandy Valley", Tabbita. The property (the boundary of which ran through Barren Box Swamp) is north of Griffith on the Hillston road.

Charles worked on a number of stations with his father and brothers sinking dams etc, before settling on a property adjacent to his brother Andy "Sunnyside" in 1906, at Bynya (now known as Binya).

Charles was a gifted musician, playing both violin and accordion. He played at many parties at the homes of early settlers, including the Driver's, travelling many miles to attend these functions.

Charles was granted Farm 155, Hanwood on 1 October 1914 and lived there till he forfeited it in 1918. He then lived at the back of Scenic Hill near Beelbangera for some years and continued carting timber and other products.

Charles left the Scenic Hill area in his latter years and resided at the property of his niece, Olive McGann, Farm 126, Hanwood, until his death on 21 May 1955.

Andrew Day and Elizabeth Day, nee ()wens. Courtesy Jim McGann

140

Andrew Day, the eleventh child of James and Phoebe was born at Benerembah Station in 1884. He was 4 years old when his mother died on the property, leaving his older sister, Emma, to look after the large family, until Elizabeth Day (Andrew's Grandmother), came from Hay to live with them. Elizabeth's husband, William, had passed away at Hay. Andrew had little formal education as there were no schools in the area, only a teacher who travelled around the properties for some time. Despite the lack of education, Andrew was later to build a fine house at Hanwood. He also made model cement animals (horses, cows, etc). He once made a replica bullock waggon which he had on display at an early Griffith Show. He gave it to the Griffith Ambulance to be raffled.

In recent years, the waggon was in the possession of the late Ian Hodgson.

In 1906, Andrew settled on a 300 acre property - "Sunnyside", at Bynya where he lived until he drew a 50 acre irrigation block, Farm 131, Hanwood which was granted on 2 October 1913.

Andrew and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of area pioneers, John and Ellen Mary (Hart) Owens were to live and farm his mixed orchard until he retired and sold to Mr B Bartter in 1946.

Andrew, together with four other growers, in 1916 sold some of his grapes to McWilliam's, who consigned them by rail truck from Willbriggie to their winery in Junee.

Andrew was also the first grower to deliver grapes to the Penfold Winery when they commenced business in Griffith. He also had peach and fig trees planted on his block.

Andrew was musical, largely self taught and played the piano at many parties in the early days of settlement, prior to the commencement of the MIA. Of historical interest, Jim McGann's grandchildren are the seventh generation to have lived in the area:(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Elizabeth Day who died "Sandy Valley" in 1894, James Day, Andrew Day, Olive McGann nee Day, Jim McGann, Jim's children: Debra, Allan, Graham and Sandra, Jim's Grandchildren: Mathew, Rebecca, Lauren, Sarah, Christopher and Stephen.

Of further interest, besides Elizabeth Day, there are three other people buried at "Sandy Valley"; Phoebe Caroline Day 22 July 1888; her daughter Martha Day aged 18 years who died of heart disease 22 February 1891 and a carpenter who worked on the property, Thomas Turner, died 8 May 1892, aged 68 years. (It was Thomas Turner who taught Andrew Day his building skills).

141

Andrew Day b 1884, Bencrembah Station d 10 April 1966 married, 1906 Elizabeth Owens 1. Ellen LT born 9 March 1907, Narrandera married Frederick Hewitt 2. Olive Lavina born 5 May 1909 died 28 May 1955, Griffith married Francis Roy McGann 3. Mary Alma born 4 Dec 1916, Griffith died 19 June 1981, Deniliquin NSW married David Allen Thomas Of interest to other descendants of early settlers - the witnesses to the burials at "Sandy Valley" were Alfred Henry Beaumont, Minnie Allan, Geo and Elizabeth Kilpatrick, Mrs Smart, Joshua Weir23, J Foster, Henry Day, Edward Gullifer

The Day Home on Farm 131 Hanwood Courtesy Mrs Pam McGann

By courtesy of Jim & Pam McGann, Farm 1325, Kooba, Via Whitton NSW

23

Editors note - Joshua Ware (sometimes known as Weir)

142

DELVES Paul Percy Delves was a third generation Australian, born at Bendigo, where his father was a farmer and vigneron, until his death at an early age. Paul moved with his wife and young family to Queensland, seeking land and to pursue his occupation as an engine driver in a timber mill at Kingaroy.

While there he noticed the gazetting of land on the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. He sailed from Brisbane with his wife, Alice Amelia nee Wright and two small children, Harry then aged seven and Pauline (now Mrs Ted Taylor) then aged two years.

Owing to a smallpox scare the family had to be vaccinated before undertaking the journey.

By the time the boat arrived in Sydney Alice Amelia was so sea sick she had to leave the boat and travel to Melbourne by rail with the children.

Meanwhile Paul travelled to Leeton by train and then found his way to Griffith where he applied for a farm. The then Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission had tent barracks for the men. Paul shared a tent with Allan Little and the men and their families became neighbours and lifelong friends.

Fourteen days after his arrival he was granted Farm 140, Hanwood. He then returned to Bendigo to collect his two horses, a spring cart and other equipment which he had left with a friend for safe keeping.

Bullock track was the only way from Bendigo to the MIA at that time and he set off driving from station to station. He crossed the Murrumbidgee at Darlington Point where the drawbridge was only a few years old.

On arrival Paul camped at "Yarranvale" Dam on Farm 123, from where he would go each day to Farm 140 to prepare a campsite.

After moving to Farm 140 he worked to construct a house and prepare land for pasture to feed his intended herd of dairy cattle.

The house was partly built by Paul Delves delivering grapes to McWilliams c 1918 Christmas of 1913 Courtesy Mr Harry Delves when his wife and children moved to Hanwood. The posts and timber for the house (and later for vines) were cut on the side of Scenic Hill near Wood Road. Dairy cows were purchased and the cream delivered to the butter factory near the present CSIRO. During 1913 Mr John J McWilliam had commenced growing grape rootlings of the black shiraz variety. The water to irrigate these cuttings came from the then public 143

dam on Farm 132. The water was carried by furphy to the rootlings and they were hand watered. In exchange for the use of one of his horses to cultivate them, John McWilliam gave Paul enough rootlings to plant five acres of black shiraz.

The first woman Alice Delves met on the Area was Mrs Ted Brown, an aunt to Vince and Alex Spry, who was known to all as "Aunty Flo".

The family supplemented their diet, whenever possible, from the land. They shot rabbits and ducks and on one occasion a bush turkey, which is now a protected species.

(In 1897 flocks of more than a thousand were seen at Hay but have now disappeared from all closely settled areas.) The turkey was excellent eating, very similar to domestic turkey.

Cartridges were always in short supply.

House 1913 - when the Family moved in Courtesy Mr Harty Delves

Once the horses disappeared and after a lot of searching were found twenty miles south of Darlington Point at a closed gate apparently on their way back to Bendigo!

Mirrool Creek became a popular picnic spot being at the time a pretty little stream lined with gum trees. This was well before the time of massive releases of drainage water into Mirrool Creek and the subsequent infestation by cumbungi.

Son Harry remembers that the family spent one Sunday afternoon mushrooming on the hill where the Technical College and Council offices now stand.

Times gradually improved. During the reclassification of the farms Paul was given extra land and allowed to grow rice in later years.

Three more children were born to Paul and Alice in their house on Farm 140.

The first of these, a daughter they named Doreen, died at six weeks from a spider bite and was buried in what is now known as the Bagtown Cemetery. There was no doctor nor any medical service at all in the town at this time.

Some years ago Paul Delves was telling some amusing stories about the early days "In those days of great scarcity" said Paul, "the P & C usually managed at Bagtown to raise 'by fair means or foul', about £50 per year. The money was raised through bazaars and 'Games' (gambling) for the menfolk, which were very popular! Permission for such fund-raising had to be sought and obtained from the Education Department in Sydney, but it was often 'managed' that letters were 'delayed' in the post until it was too 144

late for a reply - should a refusal be forthcoming! Those 'Games' were GREAT moneyspinners'.

The two sons born at Hanwood were Alva, now deceased, and Ron. All the children attended Hanwood School and married and reared families in the district. Harry and Ron and their families are still living and working at Hanwood and Pauline has Harry's Great returned to Bendigo and is now residing there with her husband.

Grandchildren are the fifth generation of the Delves family to live on Farm 140.

Paul Delves & his dog at channel (house in previous photo in background) Courtesy Mr Harry Delves

Paul Percy Delves and Alice Amelia (nee Wright) had five children:Harry Ewan, born Bendigo 1906; married Mary Isobel (Maisie) Fell (dec'd), they had four children - now living at Hanwood Pauline Alexandra, born Tullamarine, Vic in 1911, married Edward Taylor had four children - now living at Bendigo Doreen, born Hanwood 1914, died at the age of six weeks and is buried at Bagtown Cemetery.

Alva Valentine born Hanwood 1915; married Marion Tipping, had two sons - buried Northern Suburbs, Sydney Ronald Griffith, born Hanwood 1919; married Audrey Hurst, had four sons - now living at Hanwood.

By courtesy of the Delves Family of Hanwood.

145

DREYER In October 1914 Mr L A B Wade, Commissioner of the WC & IC went to Broken Hill to publicise the new Irrigation Scheme and receive applications for farming blocks, a follow up to an earlier campaign conducted in 1912.

One of the applicants was Joseph Gribbin Dreyer (born 1872 in Moonta South Australia, the son of George Dreyer and Amelia Stewart) and employed as an Assayer with the Broken Hill South Mine.

Along with Oscar Ebert and Rex Sara, Joe Dreyer travelled on the back of a truck to the MIA to purchase his farm.

On the 5 November 1914 Joe took up Farm 208 - 35 acres 1 rood at an annual rental of £26.9.9.

Joe returned to Broken Hill where he and his wife Louisa Hirschausen (born 1877, the daughter of William Hirschausen and Augusta Bertram, German Immigrants from Kooringa, South Australia) decided to send their eldest sons William aged 14 and Edward aged 12 to work the farm.

Bill and Ted came to Farm 208 with a Mr Merrit, and Joseph Gribbin Dreyer 1872-1942 one can only imagine what went Courtesy Mrs M Dreyer through the minds of these young boys when they reached the MIA which was in the depths of one of its worst droughts.

Louisa and the youngest son Arnold aged 5, joined the two boys when it was realised they couldn't cope. Finally Joe resigned his position with the Broken Hill Mines and joined his family in Bagtown.

By 1916 the family had erected a house on the farm and settled into their new life. Joe and the older two boys worked the farm while Arnold was sent to join the pupils of Hanwood School where he completed his education.

All three boys were talented musicians, Bill played the piano, Ted the violin and Arnold the cornet. They played for dances at the Hanwood Hall and were all members of the Town Band.

Joe continued to work the farm until his death on the 2 October 1942 aged 70 years.

146

Arnold who at the time of his father's death was a Sapper in the 2nd Australian Bomb Disposal Company, was recalled to help his mother on the farm, his brothers being engaged in other occupations.

Louisa Dreyer sold the farm and moved to Sydney. She lived to see her great grandchildren and died at Balgowlah on 25 June 1970 aged 94 years.

William George Dreyer married Olive Ann Rounce in 1925. Olive was the daughter of John Carle and Olive Ann Rounce. John Rounce was employed by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, he was sent to choose the site and arrange for the Viticultural Nursery to be built. Rounce arrived from Mildura in May 1916 with budding vines for propagation.

Bill left the farm to conduct a carrying business. One of his assignments was to deliver the bricks which arrived by train from Sydney to be used in the erection of the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

A letter written by former Hanwood school teacher, Mr Ravenscroft on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, described "Bill Dreyer was the secretary of our Debating and Tennis Clubs and there never was a more energetic and capable secretary".

Olive Dreyer owned a fruit shop in Banna Avenue, from 1934 to 1945 where Fred Cole's Electrical Store now stands. Bill and Olive had two children, Gordon William who lived only twenty days and Yvonne. Bill Dreyer died 5 August 1972 aged 72 years. Olive is retired and lives in Sydney.

Edward Joseph Dreyer married Betty Olive Boyd in 1931. The Boyd family lived at Yoogali.

Ted and Betty had eight children - Laurence, Gordon, Raymond, Daphne, Margaret, Russell (tragically killed in 1944 aged 4 years 11 months when he ran into the path of a car), Patricia and David.

Ted died in Sydney on the 16 August 1978 aged 76 years. Betty is retired and now lives in Sydney.

The youngest son, Arnold Stewart Dreyer married Dorothy Grace Clark in 1937.

Dorothy was born in Tendering, Essex UK the daughter of Henry and Jessie Emily Clark nee Harvey. Harry Clark was a shepherd and arrived in Australia with his wife and five of his children on the "Bairanald" in May 1928 to join three of his sons already in Australia. The Clark family settled in Hanwood.

In 1936 Arnold joined the staff of the CSIRO and worked there until his call up for World War II in 1942. Arnold remained in the Army until December 1942, when he was released from the service and returned to Griffith.

Following his father's death and the sale of the farm, Arnold was forced to look for employment and in 1944 he rejoined the CSIRO. Arnold, Dot and the first of their two children moved into a house adjacent to the Research Station. The family continued to live there until Arnold's retirement on 24 May 1974.

Sadly, before they could enjoy their retirement, Dot died suddenly on 6 March 1976 aged 59 years. Arnold died on 20 January 1979, aged 69 years.

Arnold and Dot had two sons Dennis and Ronald.

Dennis and his family are the only descendants of Joseph Dreyer living in Griffith to-day.

147

George Augustus Fredrick Dreyer Amelia Stewart Born: 13 Sept 1842 Hanover Germany Born 25: Dec 1850 Cornwall Married: 23 Dec 1869 Died: 16 Aug 1935 Broken Hill Died: 1 July 1894 Broken Hill (six children) * * Joseph Gribbin Dreyer Born: 7 Jan 1872 SA Died: 2 Oct 1942 Griffith Married (1):

1 Sept 1894 Mary Ellen Floyd Born: c 1873 Died 11 Sept 1895

1. Mary Ellen Born: Sept 1895 Died: 22 Oct 1895 Married (2):

20 Jul 1898 Louisa Hirschausen Born May 1877 Died 25 Jun 1970 Balgowlah

1. William George married Olive Ann Rounce i. Gordon William ii. Yvonne 2. Edward Jospeh married Betty Olive Boyd i. Laurence Edward ii. Gordon William iii. Raymond Frank iv. Daphne Beatrice v. Margaret Dawn vi. Russell Joseph vii. Patricia Nancy Louisa viii. David Arnold 3. Arnold Stewart married Dorothy Grace Clark i. Dennis Arnold ii. Ronald Joseph

Courtesy Mrs Maureen Dreyer, Blumer Avenue, Griffith.

148

DRIVER The name of Driver is now very well known indeed in Griffith. Over one hundred years ago four Driver brothers came to this area after leaving their farms at Maldon and Ballarat in Victoria.

Albert Driver selected the property, which he named "The Cliffs". This was located on the southern slopes between Scenic Hill and Beelbangera and is now completely filled with modern, new homes and the sub-division is named "Driver" after this pioneer family.

Charles Driver of Conargo, son of Alfred, tells us that his father came from England in the 1850's with his parents, Horace Driver and his wife, Amelia (nee Bone), and arrived in this area about the 1880's with his three brothers.

In 1898 Alf married Mary Ellen Bull whose family had settled in this area about the same time as the Drivers. The first home on which Alf and his family settled was named "Oaklands". The Bull home property was named "Meadowbank". Sheep and wheat were grown on these properties.

After their marriage Ellen and Alf settled on a farm which they named "Invermay". The house they built here is still standing, although altered and added to in recent years by the present owners - Ada and Aldo Zanesco, Block 1656 Yoogali, at the rear of Riverina Nurseries. Charles recalled that Alfred Driver when the Driver family had to Courtesy Mr Charles Driver vacate their home because of the resumption of their land, the house was occupied by a WC & IC Engineer by the name of Kennedy.

He continued by saying "I was only two years old when my family left the Griffith area so I do not remember anything of `Invermay'. However, I remember hearing about incidents from others and my sister Alice remembers leaving `Invermay' when our parents were going to settle at `Barrabool' in the Conargo area. My three sisters were put on the train at Willbriggie to go to Hay and from there by coach to Booroorban where an aunt, Emily Davies (nee Bull), arranged for their schooling for some months." Miss Alice Driver recalls - "It was a sad parting and my Mother must have felt depressed because, 149

as we travelled towards Willbriggie in the horse and sulky, she told us girls to look well at the lovely hills as we might not see them again.

The last few years at Jondaryan had been very full for my family and I have a lot of memories of their stories concerning their friends - and incidents both good and unpleasant - an unpleasant one was my Mother's extreme anxiety over the days whilst the men were sinking a well and she was afraid the well walls would cave-in on the men.

My sisters had attended a school near Lake Wyangan which was then called 'Lake View'. I think they were taken each day in a buggy, driven by the teacher who boarded at `Invermay' I had also heard of a small Church that was built by the settlers and was used by all branches of Christians. Mother said she played the little organ there many times.

Mary lallen Driver nee Bull There was a cricket team Courtesy Miss A Driver which used to travel many miles to play other teams and a tennis club was also formed. I had heard about the dances which were held after the tennis days and have seen a cutting from the Albury Banner' about a social which took place at 'The Cliffs' woolshed to raise money to build the little church.

There were anxious times for the settlers too, especially when illness struck and I heard the story of the time when whooping cough was in the district. One night my brother Arthur had a very bad attack and Dad set off in the buggy for Whitton to bring the doctor. They arrived back at `Invermay' just as dawn was breaking and the crisis had just passed. A thankful breakfast was enjoyed before the tired doctor was returned to Whitton."

Alf Driver died in 1949 and Mary Ellen in 1955. They are both buried at Deniliquin.

150

"Invermay" The family homestead as it is to-day

The family of Alf and Mary Ellen: 1. Florence by born Narrandera 1900 married Cecil Bradley - buried Deniliquin 2. Alice May born Narrandera 1902 - never married lives Deniliquin NSW 3. Maud Mary born Narrandera 1904 - never married buried Deniliquin NSW 4. Lewis A Arthur born Narrandera 1907 married Dorothy Percival - buried Wagga 5. Charles Ingle born Narrandera 1911 married Pearl Salter - lives "Barrabool" Conargo 6. Henry Alan born Narrandera 1915 married Evelyn Coote - buried Sydney

By courtesy of Mr Charles Driver, "Barrabool", Conargo NSW Miss Alice Driver, 15 Corbett Cres, Deniliquin NSW

151

DUCHATEL John Claudien Duchatel was born on 2 January 1898 in Bathurst and went to school at the Christian Brothers School. His father was Charles Francois Duchatel. John's parents were born and married in Beechworth, Victoria but died in Bathurst.

Mrs Mona Duchatel says:- "My Watson family came from Broken Hill in 1921 when I was 17 years old. I met John in 'Old Griffith'.

He came to Griffith in 1913 when he was 15 years old. He was employed by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission as a junior clerk. He boarded with Doctor and Mrs Watkins. The doctor only had one child by name of Arthur. The Watkins house as I remember was opposite the cheese factory at `Old Griffith'.

John enlisted in World War 1 from Griffith. He was one of only two men who enlisted from Griffith. The other was Len Wincey. Other men went to Leeton or Sydney or other centres to enlist. In 1916 John was 18 years old and he served in France and Belgium.

After the war he came back to his job in the pay office under Frank Maher. He also John Duchatcl c 1916/17 bought a 13 acre block for f5 - it had a house Courtesy Mrs Mona Duchatcl on it. He spent a lot of money and added to and improved the house. We were married in March 1923 by Fr O'Dea in the Roman Catholic School as the Church was not built at that time. Frank Maher was our 'Best Man' and John had been 'Best Man' at Frank Maher's wedding in England.

John left the WC & IC employ about 1928 to be a full time farmer. We were allotted an additional two and three quarter acres - this is how it came about. Our house burned down in 1926 and we lived in Mirrool Boarding House for a time. In these hard times men were walking off their farms. Opposite where our house had been was one of these abandoned properties on which there was a house. This property had been owned by a bachelor named Metcalf.

John was given to understand by Mr Yule, the WC & IC Manager, that he would be granted additional area. In the meantime John was expected to keep the abandoned farm in order and this he did. We were given the Metcalf house to live in.

Eventually he was granted the two and three quarter acres upon which stood the home we were living in. A Mr Negro got the remaining twenty acres of that farm. The WC & IC would not allow us to re-build on our old home site (where our house had been burnt down) - where we had a concrete swimming pool, lawns and shed and so on!

152

I refused to live in the Metcalf house - we had a deputation to Mr Yule and other officers who found the house needed repairs. John was allowed £100 for repairs.

John hired a jinker from Harry O'Meara, the builder, and with a second hand Fordson tractor and using railway sleepers we shifted the home over to our old home site.

Our neighbours were old Stan Broome, Reg Rand, Adam Hogg, Ernie Metcalf and Major Arnold.

I noticed, that over the years, the farmers developed an intense resentment to WC & IC officialdom. Major Arnold was one of those resentful settlers. He went into the office and notified them that he had on his farm a shrub growing healthy and vigorously, and on it there was what looked like a multitude of edible berries.

Three Officers of the Commission came out in their grey slacks and good shoes. He took them through acre after acre of muddy furrows,and at the back of the property they were shown a huge and healthy Bathurst Burr!

It was very difficult to make any money on a fruit farm so we lived a frugal existence for a long time. We grew vegetables, had goats and fowls therefore living expenses were low.

In 1934 we were granted an additional eighteen acres. This we put under vegetables. The Shire President was a man called Lenehan and he and Mr George Evatt helped us to get an extra 18 acres. It was virgin land covered in pine trees.

Mrs Mona Duchatel nee Watson The turning of the tide was World War II. I personally grew 80,000 cabbages, with the help of Land Army Girls, to feed the troops, for which we were paid £15 a ton. We grew gherkins and broad beans which were sold to Hay for the Prisoners of War interned there.

From the original 13 acres this property is now 76 acres.

In 1966 John and I went to White Cliffs hoping the dry air would be good for my asthma. It was. We fell in love with the place and lived there happily until 1980 when John's health deteriorated and we came home to Griffith. John died 19 November 1981 in Griffith and is buried in the Lawn Cemetery and I am living on Duchatel Road with my son Philip."

153

The family of John Duchatel and Mona (nee Watson) 1. Cecilie born at the Duchatel home 29 July 1924 Married: Matthew G Daly Lives: Deniliquin

2. John born at the Watson home 31 May 1926 Married: Cath Plant Lives: Balgowlah

3. Philip born at Woodlands Hospital 30 May 1930 Married: Marie Vaughan Lives: Griffith

4. Charles William born at Woodlands Hospital 9 August 1934 Married: Neva Gray Lives: Beecroft, Sydney

By courtesy of Mrs Mona Duchatel, Griffith

Courtesy Mrs Mona I)uchatcl

154

DUN Francis B (Frank) Dun, a saw-miller from Ganmain, purchased "The Cliffs" from Albert Driver in 189524. His parents, Peter Milory Dun (a baker) and Margaret Cairncross were married in Edinburgh and sailed from Liverpool on 21 February 1853 aboard the "SS Eagle", arriving in Melbourne on 13 May 1853.

Francis Boyce Dun was born at sea on the "SS Eagle" on 11 April 1853. He was named after the Captain of the "Eagle", Francis Boyce. His wife, Hanorah, arrived in Sydney on the "Peterborough" on 9 July 1880, aged almost 19. She was the daughter of Thomas and Ellen Fitzgerald of County Kerry, Ireland.

Francis and Hanorah were married at St Patrick's Catholic Church Albury on 18 July 1882. On the marriage certificate Francis Boyce Dun was described as a farmer.

When the Dun family arrived from Scotland they settled at Ganmain (via Walbundrie and Matong [1883]) where Peter worked as a shepherd.

After purchasing "The Cliffs", as well as grazing their property and growing crops, the Duns also conducted a saw-mill. At this time there was an abundance of magnificent cypress pine covering a great portion of Scenic Hill and adjacent areas.

One sister, Catherine, helped with the children of her brother, Frank and his wife, Hanorah, at "The Cliffs" until her marriage to T F Tresilian in 1888. Catherine and her husband had seven children and Catherine died at Young in 1912. She was the mother and grandmother of the well-known Soldier Settler family of Lake Wyangan - Maegraiths. Lilias Maegraith was the daughter of Catherine Tresilian (nee Dun - a Dun granddaughter).

The Electoral Roll of 1903 Francis Boyce Dun & Hanorah Dun C. 1882 shows Francis B Dun and wife "Nora", Courtesy Mrs Helen HuglOs living at "The Cliffs" Jondaryan NSW (as this area was then known). Of interest too is an extract from the magazine of St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, Sydney -

24 Brian Kelly "History of Griffith"

155

"Cerise and Blue" (date unknown) - "Staff/Sgt. Charles Edward Dun 108 H.Bty AIF, son of F B Dun and Mrs H Dun of Ganmain NSW. Born at Whitton 10 November 1895.

Educated at St Joseph's Hunters Hill. Entered the services of the Bank of NSW 27 November 1913". Frank Dun and his family resettled at Ganmain after the resumption of his land here.

Frank Dun was not a Catholic, although his wife and children were, but it was he who arranged for the first church service to be held and offered his house to be used for Mass when Father Gray visited from Narrandera. Though there were quite a lot Catholic Selectors they were always in a minority, the greater number of their neighbours and friends being Protestant.

Nevertheless very harmonious relations prevailed25.

The Anglicans, with their larger congregation, used the Dun's woolshed for their services when the Minister paid his monthly visit. It was in this ecumenical spirit that Anglicans, Catholics and Presbyterians joined together, in 1907, to build the little weather-board church at "The Cliffs". With contributions from the Selector families and a gift of £100 from a lady in England the little church of St James was erected and dedicated by the Anglican Bishop of Riverina, the Right Rev. Ernest Anderson on 22 December 1907.

After the departure of the Dun family to Ganmain in 1908 there were no further Catholic services held in the church.

The ground on which the church stood is now part of Farm 515, near Bilbul.

Catherine Dun (later Catherine Trcsilian) When "The Cliffs" was resumed the church Courtesy Mks Helen I luggins was moved by the bullock team of Billy Spry, the six miles to Hanwood at a cost of f41/101- which was paid for with proceeds of an open-air concert.

Two newspaper clippings dated 1908 reflect the lives and times of these families....

25 Brian Kelly History of Griffith

156

JONDARYAN (From an Occasional Correspondent) Good rains fell all over the district last week, over an inch being registered in places. This makes a total of nearly three inches for the month. The country is beginning to look more promising than for years past, and the prospects for a fairly favourable harvest are good. A large area was placed under crop, considering the high price of feed and seed wheat consequent on the termination of the drought. All stock are in good condition. The ensuing wool clip must necessarily fall short of that of the previous year, as the number of sheep has been seriously depleted, and the effects of the recent drought cannot but be noticeable in the quanitity and quality of the coming clip.

The annual picnic was held at "Lake View" on Friday the 25th inst. and attracted a large number of visitors from the surrounding districts. Messrs Peeck and Cullen had been at work getting everything in order for some days previously; a first-class racecourse and bicycle track had been marked out, a number of swings put up, and a tennis court prepared. The children were well looked after, everyone doing their utmost to make the day an enjoyable one for the little folks. Girls and boys races were nu; off a number of the youngsters winning good prizes. The sports progranznze included a hack race, won by Mr C Telford's horse, two bicycle races, won

by Mr Phil Machines, an old buffers' race, won by Mr Begs and a children's bicycle race in which E Beggs carried off first prize. The catering was done by the ladies of fondaiyan and Mt Ida and Jondalyan Tennis Club seized the opportunity to play a return match, a victory resting with the former after a well contested game, by 5 sets (fifty games) to 3 sets (forty six games). The match was played in the usual friendly spirit, and excited considerable interest. P. Machines (Mt Ida) and F.B. Dun and B. Bull (Jondaryan), were all ill good form. The Misses Machines of "Waverley" also played exceedingly well. A dance in Mr Peeck's shed terminated a most enjoyable outing.

157

SOCIAL AT JONDARYAN (From a Correspondent).

On Thursday evening 19th March, the friends of Mr and Mrs F.B. Dun, "The Cliffs", Whitton, entertained them at a farewell social on the eve to their departure from the district.

The social was a very successful affair, and was well carried out. Forty couples were present.

During the evening Councillor Bull, on behalf of the residents, presented Mr. Dun with a complimentary address setting forth his many good qualities and the keen regret of his many friends at the departure of himself, his wife, and family from Jondaryan, after a residence of 19 years. Councillor Bull also presented Mrs. Dun, in a nicely worded speech a silvermounted purse, bearing her initials, "HD." and dated 19111 March 1908, containing 20 sovereigns, as a slight token of the high esteem in which her many friends hold her.

Councillor Bull concluded the presentation by referring to the well-known hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Dun at "The Cliffs", where all creeds and classes have been treated alike for so many years, and now the empty house beneath the hill would ever recall a sense of their loss, which he hoped would be their gain.

Mr. Dun responded in a feeling speech, thanking his friends for their kindness. The presentation had taken himself and Mrs. Dun entirely by surprise, and all he could say was, that whilst he could not say he regretted leaving the district, he regretted leaving his good friends and well wishers.

Mr Peter Dun, in a neat speech, thanked the residents on behalf of his brothers and sisters for the high mark of respect they had paid his family.

Three hearty cheers were given for the guests of the evening and then supper, dancing, song, recitation and flirtation filled in the time till dawn, when one of the most pleasant parties ever held on Jondaryan broke up.

Mr J.I. Driver thanked Mr. and Mrs. Davis in a few well-chosen words for their kindness in placing their residence at the disposal of the committee for the entertainment.

Mr. Dun made a little farewell speech.

Mr Davis then wished the whole family Godspeed, a circle formed, joined hands, and sang "Auld Lang Syne" in good Scottish fashion. The subscribers of the testimonial included:- Mr. and Mrs. Bull, Canterbury; Mr. and Mrs. J. Bull, Laravale; Mr. and Mrs. Beveridge, Innisfail; Mr. and Mrs. Bassett, Mount Ida; Mr. and Mrs. Bi s, Broomfield; Messrs Wand A.E. Bull, Meadow Bank; Miss Bull, Meadow Bank; Mrs and Mrs. Collins, Woodburn; Mr. and Mrs. Creswick, Myall Park; Mr. and Mrs Davis, Wilga Plains; Mrs. and Mrs Driver, Invemiay; Mr. and Mrs. Doyle, Mount Elliott; Mr. and Mrs. James, Whitton; Messrs Dalgleish Bros., Ballah Park; Messrs. J. and E. Driver, Oaklands; Mr. and Mrs. McGrath, Willslea; Mr. and Mrs. McConnon, Connerville; Mr. and Mrs. McInnes, Durnossa; Mrs McInnes, Sherwood; Mr. and Mrs. Matchett, Pine Ridge; Mr. McGregor, Pine Grove; Mr McConville, Whitton; Mr McRea, Cocopara; Mr Morphett, Lake View; Mr. Manes, Mount Elliott; Mr Oscar McConnon, Connerville; Mr and Mrs Peeck, Lake Kew; Mr. and Mrs. Purden, Nine-Mile Tank; Mr. Pattie, Meadow Bank; Mr. and Mrs. Quilter, Broomfield; Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Yarran Park; Mr. and Mrs. Sherrard, Hillside; Mr. Tyreel, Lake View; Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Fairport.

158

FOOTNOTE: For photograph of the Dun Family c. 1898 standing in front of the Homestead of "The Cliffs" see frontispiece.

Pictured left to right:

Francis Boyce Dun Jnr (10/3/1889 - 21/12/1977) Margaret Dun (24/5/1883 - 12/2/1912) Peter Milroy Dun (31/3/1885 - 4/4/1936) Francis Boyce Dun Snr (11/4/1853 - 20/4/1938) nursing Charles Edward Dun (10/11/1895 - 27/10/1965) Peter Milroy Dun Snr (1828 - 26/8/1912) John Fitzgerald Dun (15/4/1891 - 15/11/1951) Thomas Fitzgerald Dun (24/3/1887 - 10/9/1942) Hanorah Dun (31/10/1861 - 17/10/1945) nursing Mary (13/4/1893 - 7/1/18%) Ellen Dun (24/5/1883 - 12/2/1912)

By courtesy of: 1. Mrs. Helen Huggins, 2/76 Milroy Avenue, Wollstonecraft 2065 2. Mrs Elizabeth Palmer (nee Maegraith) 20 David Street, Mosman, 2088 3. Brian Kelly's "History of Griffith"

St James Church Courtesy Pioneer Park Museum, Griffith

159

EBERT The only daughter of this pioneer family, Vedas Lillian, tells - "My Grandfather Ebert and his wife, Paula (nee Dietrich) came from Berlin about 1850 and settled in Truro, South Australia. He was a carriage builder and Paula was a trained nurse.

My Father, Johann Carl Oscar Ebert, was born in Truro SA in 1881. He was married in Terowie SA to Rose Lillian McLeish (born 1879) in 1902. My Mother's parents came from Glasgow, Scotland, and were farmers. My Mother is buried in the Griffith cemetery, she died on 25 February, 1946, aged 67 years. My Father is also buried in Griffith, he died on 27 May 1971, aged 90 years.

My Father, always known as Oscar Ebert, came to the Area first from Broken Hill, where he had been a produce merchant, about mid-1914.

His wife and three children followed in the December of 1914.

Their first home, Farm 56 Hanwood, was gazetted as a 50 acre dairy farm, on which there was a two-roomed shack. This farm was sold about three years later to a Mr Hawley. (Water Resources records show Farm 56 transferred to Ambrose Hawley 6 Feb 1922.)

Having bought a disused house in the Binya district, my Father and Rex Sara reerected it on Farm 57 where the Saras lived. At this time my Father and Rex Sara entered into a partnership. Farm 57 was planted up as a horticultural orchard and some years later they commenced a transport business which continued until they both retired."

Reflecting, Vedas continues - "My Mother made our clothes from whatever materials she happened to have. We were never short of food as we grew our own and had some sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys and ducks. There were PLENTY of rabbits.

School concerts were produced at the Hanwood Public School and there were annual balls in the Hanwood Hall. Lack of transport and no formed roads kept us mostly at home. However, Rex Sara and my Father built a tennis court between our two houses and this came in for a lot of use by ourselves and our friends."

Remembering back, Vedas continues - "The Area knew nothing but extremes.

With a vast amount of land cleared for either the construction of canals or the establishment of a farm, there were raging dust storms blowing all the time and the temperatures in summer were mostly well over 100 degrees. The climate was most severe.

Most of the land was cleared, then ploughed, so there was nothing to break the wind and, during the summer, we seemed to live in a perpetual dust storm. Once when Mr Sara and my Father were sinking a dam, no further than 100 yards from the house, a dust storm blew up and it was so thick that they couldn't find their way back to the house.

Winter seemed quite severe too, probably because the house had no insulation.

However, we always had plenty of wood and always had a large fire.

Conditions in a tent - far and away the most common form of accommodation, can be readily imagined. When it rained the roads were absolutely impassable as they were all new. Dust heaps in summer and quagmires in winter.

Such a climate and living conditions one would think created ideal circumstances for disease. However, there was really very little sickness in the community, but there were some anxious times.

160

1914 Duststorm at Baglown Courtesy Mrs M Duchatel

The two epidemics which caused the most anxiety in the district in those early days were the pneumonic influenza plague and infantile paralysis. For the plague, Hanwood Hall was converted into a hospital and volunteers were asked to nurse the patients. Diphtheria was another common disease and claimed the lives of many young children and babies.

We had to make our own entertainment. A small group of women formed a committee, which included Mrs Hawkins who was a good pianist, Mrs Lasscock, Mrs Cox, my Mother and several others. They taught most children to dance from the time they could walk. They learned to waltz, to do the Barn Dance, the Quadrilles, the Lancers, the Valeta and the Square Dance. Later the Maxine, the Two Step, Tippy Toes and the Foxtrot.

This committee ran fancy dress Balls fairly regularly and the children were always beautifully turned out. There were competitions for the best dancers in each section. This always created a great interest, not only for the children but for the adults as well. They also ran dances for the grown-ups at the Hanwood Hall and if they couldn't get babysitters, people would take their children along and wrap them in rugs and put them on the floor or put them in the anterooms.

Everyone's chief problem was transport. Micky Cush of course ran a coach and mail service, but that was it. If you were lucky enough to possess a horse and sulky, then your problem was solved, though it sometimes created others. The sulky would only hold three so if we wanted to go out we would have to use the horse lorry, using a couple of bags of chaff covered with a rug sheet. We would PRAY that we didn't meet Moses Golien's steam-roller and chaff-cutter on the way!! Most horses used to bolt in terror at the sight and sound of them and we had a lot of lucky escapes.

161

I remember once driving with my Mother and brother when we saw the old `puffing-billy' coming towards us. Although Mother was an experienced horsewoman, she couldn't cope with both a frightened horse and frightened children at the same time. I hung on for grim death and my Mother lowered Rex, by his breeches, over the back seat onto the ground. With both hands free she was able to control the horse and when the danger had gone, went back for Rex, who was by now quite happily playing in the dust on the road.

For most children transport meant legs, though there were exceptions. At first we walked to school but later Mr Kemp took us in his horse lorry. To keep warm in the winter we would run part of the way next to the lorry. Later Mr Hill took over with a coach, drawn by 'four spanking horses', which carried about 20 children. However, due to bad roads and old horses, it was soon abandoned and the children walked again.

Until we got our own cow we used to get cream, butter and milk from Sutton's dairy which was just down the road. Some of our neighbours grew their own vegetables and we made our own bread. Our favourite food was Cornish Pasties, with the recipe learnt from the Cornish mining families in Broken Hill. Another favourite was quandong pies.

Mr Percy Palmer would travel around in a horse-drawn van, bringing clothing and all sorts of material and different types of things for household use. He came about every three months. He used to service the treadle sewing machines as well.

In the very early days we went to the Methodist Sunday School, sometimes held on the Hawkins property and sometimes at Dave Stark's. Mr Stark was a lay minister who conducted services when the Methodist minister was not there."

The family of Rose and Oscar Ebert: 1. Ernest Oscar born 1903 at Broken Hill NSW buried Berrigan NSW married Phyllis Hamilton - 3 children 2. Vedas Lillian born 1908 at Broken Hill NSW lives Griffith 3. Rex Stewart born 1913 Broken Hill NSW buried Orange NSW

By courtesy of Miss Vedas Ebert, 4 Beale Street, Griffith 2680

162

Standing I, to R Friend of Mrs Cox, Percy Cox, Rex Sara, Oscar Iliert, Mrs & Mr Merritt Sitting: "Daisy.' Cox nursing Joyce, May Sara nursing Melva, Mr O'Meara (?), friend of Mrs Cox with Dick Cox, Rose Ebert with Rex, Mrs Osborne with Maisie, Mrs 11)crt Snr. On ground: Jim Adams, Vedas and Ern Ebert Courtesy Mrs Mctva Armstrong ncc Sara

163

ELLESMERE "Grandfather, John Joseph Veleta Ellesmere, was born in England, christened in France and died in Australia. He was buried in Waverley cemetery in October 1910.

His first wife, the mother of my father Francis Charles Barnard Ellesmere, died when she was tossed by a cow and my father (born 26 December 1886) was only 2 years old" relates Frank's daughter Daisy. "His father brought him up until my grandfather remarried as a result of which, my father Frank, had two step-siblings - Eunice and Cecil and two half-brothers - William and Leslie.

In 1905, Frank Ellesmere, married Laura Alice Schwalbach, who was born 26 August 1887 in Armidale, New South Wales. Laura came from a very interesting family background. Her father, William Jean ("John") Schwalbach was born in Geneva, Switzerland on 5 Nov 1845. As an adult he went to England where he joined the 25th Regt New York Cavaliers and served for three years with this regiment in the American Civil War (1862 - 2 July 1865). On his return to England he married, at St Thomas' Church, Stepney, London 6 May 1882, Frances Emily Nichols. (Frances Emily was born at Dulwich, Surrey, England in 1862. She died in 1923 at Armidale and is buried there).

Laura's father, W J Schwalbach, was naturalised in Melbourne 13 June 1904. He also served in the Boer War and after his death (at Armidale 27 March 1909) my grandmother received a War Pension paid by the United States Army for the remainder of her life.

Laura's brothers, Joseph and Louis Schwalbach were both ANZACs, one aged 16 and the other aged 18. Joseph lived to the age of 93 years (1990). My father, Frank Ellesmere, was employed as a builder on the construction of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. Our family came to Hay in December 1912, then Carrathool, then Whitton in 1914. Then Frank went to the First World War (#58788, 34 Batt.).

About this time the family moved to Stanbridge where Daisy tells us that she can remember being told that "church services were conducted by the Salvation Army at Stanbridge about 1916 in the pine scrub with lanterns on the top of pine posts." 1919 saw them move to what was known as the "Flu Camp" at Yoogali. Over this period Frank was employed by the WC & IC (who had made up his pay to almost equal the basic wage while away at the War [1914-18]). He served again in WW2 in the VDC (Volunteer Defence Corp.) Anthony Hordern, one of the principals of the big store in Sydney, was also "in the same lot as Dad and they worked together in camp."

"When we came to live at the 'Flu Camp' my father bought an old house at Whitton, pulled it down in sections, then put it up at the camp, where families lived in tents, while the men worked in gangs clearing timber from land that would become farms.

There were also single men's quarters at this camp which was down the back of Mannigals, Footes and Crawfords farms, not far from Yoogali. We walked across Foote's and Mannigal's farms to Yoogali School.

We had quite a lot of picnics in those days, also sing songs at week-ends which were held at private homes. Water was one of the big problems in the early days - no matter where you lived. Some water had to come from dams and if you had house tanks you had to make it last till rain came again. Water had to be saved - wash, bath and scrubbing water was saved for trees and garden plants. Sometimes you had to put buckets, lines and clothes in a cart and drive to where there was a dam to do the washing

164

and when all was dry, pack and go home. I was only 9 years old when I did those jobs in 1916.

I started collecting fire wood as a child - my last load was four years ago (1986) but it was much easier then as I had a small chainsaw to cut it. Clothes took much more work to wash and iron in those days as they were longer and had many frills and laces; slips had two skirts and all the household linen had to be starched. Meals were very plain as only basic ingredients were available, not the variety we find at the supermarket to-day, but we always had a big baked dinner on Sundays. Farming was also very much harder as of course, the machinery and tools of to-day were not available, but everyone did their share - Mum, Dad and the Kids , and it was home!

In the "Good Old Days":- "In the early days there was only the old Bagtown - two or three shops started to shape what is our lovely town of Griffith today. If you did not have a horse and cart then you walked - if you were walking and someone offered you a lift you took it. 'It was great to get a lift.'

To-day some wonder why we called them the good old days.

Some of the first homes were just round-back timber shacks, others were made from scraps of iron, tea chests and bags - windows were a bag rolled up and let down at night. Locking doors was unheard of, in fact most doors could not be locked.

As a young girl, just on dusk, often a man would come and pick me up to take me to his home to look after his sick wife.

The home was usually a small two roomed shack with a dirt floor. We would drive through the pine scrub along a narrow track amongst the pine trees to his home in a small clearing . Cooking was done on an open fire, not far from the front door.

Washing was done in a tub on a box at the side of the house, the same tub was also used for bathing. Often there was very little in the food line to make a meal, but it's amazing what you can do when you have to. Working days were long - 16 hours and 10/- was the weekly pay.

We shifted the house again to Farm 555, which was one mile from Bilbul.

When living there we were amongst the first enrollments at the round-back timber Digging out huge roots at Yoogali now the site of Yoogali Village school, with a dirt floor, at Bilbul. Mr Courtesy Mrs Daisy Murray, nee El esemere Moore was the teacher - and what an old dear he was, so kind to everyone.

165

From "A History of Bilbul Public School - 1988" - 'This bark barn was originally the carpenter's mess room for Water Commission employees and was rented from WC & IC. The school opened on 22 March 1921 with Mr William Moore transfering from Yenda School. A new building was opened on 15 December 1922.'

Transport was horse and sulky or horse-drawn lorry. After selling the farm we lived at Yoogali for many years on Farm 6%, which was a one acre block near the School.

My father and others gave up their Christmas holidays to build the first swimming pool at Griffith - a concrete pool near the school between the road and the drainage channel. Half of Griffith flocked out to it at night. There was not room to dip your finger in, it was so full of bodies!!

My parents sold the farm at Yoogali in the 1940's, then went to Sydney for two years, then to West End, Griffith while working for the WC & IC and then to 25 Binya Street, Griffith.

From living in those days to the present time when we have everything at Frank & Lillie (Laura) Ellesmere our fingertips I feel I have had a very rich Courtesy Daisy Murray nec Ellesmere and rewarding life. Even with all the hard work I would not have changed it, in fact I am thankful that I was able to do it."

Frank died 2 June 1961, aged 74 years. Laura died 14 November 1%7, aged 80 years. Both are buried in Griffith Cemetery.

The family of Frank and Laura Ellesmere: 1. Daisy born Sydney 19 October 1907; married Ernest Murray (dec), lives Griffith 2. Edith born Armidale 23 September 1910; married Jack Franks (dec), lives San Souci (Jack Franks was the son of JAP Franks who built the first store at Yoogali and had the Post Office at the Store.)

3. Grace "Tot" born Tamworth 21 December 1912: married Len Doyle (dec, WW II), lives Perth 4. Charlie born Whitton 26 February 1914; married Doreen Mason. lives Portland, Victoria 5. Iris born Whitton 27 July 1916; married 1. William Gee (dec) 2. Richard McLean. lives Hanwood

6. Dorothy born Yoogali 30 July 1930; married James Paterson, lives Griffith

By courtesy of Daisy Murray (nee Ellesmere) 21 Binya Street, Griffith 2680.

166

ERSKINE My maternal great great grandfather - Thomas Michael MacNamara departed Ireland about 1826 for "political" reasons, although some family rumours say "horse stealing". However he came with his wife to Sydney on the first shipload of "free immigrants", his son Michael MacNamara was born on the ship coming out from Ireland.

The family settled outside of Sydney and later moved across the mountains to Wagga Wagga.

Michael married Ellen Noonan of Daptoe, who came to Wagga Wagga at sixteen years of age. Their eldest son Thomas, my grandfather, was born in 1848.

He worked throughout New South Wales and Queensland especially around Barmedman and owned wheat and sheep properties at Thargomindah and Cloncurry, where many of the family still reside. Thomas lived to a grand old age of well over ninety and was hale and hearty to the end.

Thomas MacNamara's fifth child, Kate Mary was born at Barmedman in 1888.

She was my mother and married my father John Channon Erskine in 1913 at Thargomindah. She died in 1930 at Griffith.

John Erskine was born at Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland in 1874. He worked in the Insurance Industry in Liverpool before joining the forces and fighting in the war in South Africa.

After the war he came to Australia and worked in Western Queensland as a horse breaker. He took up sheep country near Thargomindah but was driven out by drought in 1915. He made a most remarkable journey overland with his sheep to Broken Hill, where he sold them to buy a farm at Hanwood. A most surprising trip, driving their sheep due west over the waterless Gray Range, then south to Broken Hill. By great luck, perseverance and immense skills, they got all of their sheep through safely, in the middle of a drought. A trip of over 400 miles by roundabout ways far west of the known routes.

He sold the sheep in excellent condition for far more than he expected. He finally settled on Farm 74 Hanwood. The party travelled from Broken Hill by various routes. Not wanting to spend money on travel, my Uncle Reg walked. His photo is in the "Griffith Collection" in the Regional Theatre foyer. John and his brother, Reginald, were well respected community leaders.

I was only one year old when I arrived at Griffith in 1916 and I am now a Consultant Mining Engineer and live in Canberra.

My sister Mary was born in 1914 at Thargomindah and was killed in a car accident, with her daughter Beverley, about 1965. Her son John Lennon is a Health Inspector at Griffith.

My brother Thomas Reginald Erskine was born in Griffith in 1917 and lives on his rice farm west of Griffith.

I remember we never wore boots or shoes, not even in winter. Money was very difficult to come by and as children we all worked long, busy hours at harvest times on the farm. We were paid contract wages by our parents, with meticulous accounting, and then we spent the money entirely on clothes.

Our holidays were taken on the southern bank of the Murrumbidgee River, several miles west of Darlington Point. We travelled in a large four wheeled farm waggon, pulled by two or four horses. It took from dawn to dark travelling at two miles per hour 167

to go the twenty four miles to the holiday area. The trip on the waggon was simply enormous fun for small children.

All entertainment was home made, singing, party games, chess and bridge. A book would be read aloud and families from nearby farms would gather to hear the readings and comment at great length on the story as it unfolded. Ultimately we got a lot of books from a library in Sydney by post, in a big box once a month, a most useful service.

The first really good local play performed was "Miss Hook of Holland", to which almost the entire district went, as it was all local talent. This was about 1922 as far as I can remember.

The children of John Channon Erskine and Kate Mary nee MacNamara, first settlers, were: 1. Mary born Thargomindah 1914 2. John Channon born Thargomindah 1915 3. Thomas Reginald born Griffith 1917

Courtesy of John Channon Erskine, 6 Hann Street, Griffith ACT 2603

168

EVANS Paul Joseph Evans came to the Area first in 1911, from Matong New South Wales, travelling in a two horse lorry. Paul's parents, William Evans and Mary (nee McBean) are both thought to have been born in Australia and lived most of their lives in the Ganmain/Ardlethan area. His wife Eliza and family followed the next year - 1912.

Paul had married, at Narrandera (c 1906) Eliza Jane Hunt. Their first home on the area was "Quilter's Cottage", East Mirrool (Yenda). Asked if he could remember where "Quilter's Cottage" was Bill, their eldest son said - "Oh yes. Along the Yenda/Leeton road near where it's crossed by Mirrool Creek". They later settled at Farm 9 Hanwood, after spending some time in one of the main camps Wickham's Camp. In 1919 they moved to Yoogali where Paul was employed by WC & IC. He was the first ganger when the Soldier Settlement began. To qualify for this position he had to do three months in a gang clearing farms. The position of ganger was to supervise Mr & Mis Paul Evans and daughter between 25 to 50/60 men.

Sybil "Dolly" Walters, Yoogali 1940 Bill tells 70 years later "One of the highlights was the arrival of Micky Cush's coach at Bagtown, carrying passengers and orders.

Men wore slouch hats, flannel shirts. Children walked to school - the 'lucky ones' were able to go by horse-drawn wagonette. Dungarees were popular, also `bowyangs' on trousers below the knee - to stop the grass seeds getting up trousers!!"

Early rice harvest at Tommy Dodd's farm L to R Bill Peck, Bill Evans, Charlie Davidge

169

William Evans born Australia married: Mary McBean Paul Joseph Evans married 8 Dec 1905 Eliza Jane Hunt born 14 March 1885 born 17 April 1883 Coolamon NSW (both buried Wollongong City Memorial Gardens) 1. William Charles, born 24 June 1907 Narrandera NSW: married Jean Price - lives Dapto NSW 2. Sybil Louise ("Dolly"), born 1 December 1909 Ganmain NSW: married Oswald Walters (dec'd), lives Turramurra NSW 3. Pauline Florence, born 10 January 1912: died 7 June 1985 married Basil Waites Proud (dec'd) at Griffith (Basil was a son of original Hanwood Settler) 4. Alice Margaret born 20 June 1915, died 2 July 1990, aged 75 years: married Hartley Holyoake at Griffith 5. Reuben David George ("Rusty") born 8 December 1917, died 8 June 1987, aged 70 years, married: Joan Dominica

Picnic at Lake View. Evans and Barnes family and friends Courtesy Bill & Jean Evans

By courtesy of Bill and Jean Evans, 1/56 Lakelands Dr., Dapto 2530

170

FARLEY Courage, fortitude and determination are the words which come to my mind when I read stories like this one; read on and you be the judge.

Brian Farley spent 1910-1914 working in the United States. During this time - the last two years - he worked for a farmer in South Dakota. When he left to return to Australia this farmer gave him an IOU in lieu of wages so virtually he received no wages at all. With no money to make his

Daisy Farley nee Gersbach

way home Brian "jumped the rattler" travelling for twenty hours across the Rocky Mountains riding on a plank beneath the train. The plank had been left by "a previous traveller".

Brian had been born at Point Piper in Sydney on 4 March 1892 and had returned to enlist in the army - 6th Light Horse Regt. in which he served four years. While waiting to be called up he came by train to visit his Uncle Rupert Cater in Leeton. Rupert was one of Leeton's first solicitors. It was at this time that Brian met "Daisy"Gersbach. As 171

Brian Farley

Rupert was the first person to own a car in Leeton, Brian travelled with him back to Sydney and opened the gates for him on the way. Daisy's father Phillip Gersbach had taken up a farm at Wamoon in 1912. He had his own exhibit of apples and pears at the Sydney Royal Show for fifty years. The Gersbach family originated in the Rhine Valley of Germany.

Brian had previously been in the area as he'd had a job working for Tom Templeman at Naradhan when he was only 14 years old. On this occasion he had travelled by train to Yanco and then by coach along the Whitton Stock Route, calling into the Mt Elliott Hotel on the way.

On arrival back from the war, Brian stayed at the Beelbangera Barracks. He then settled on Farm 504 in December 1919, which he called "Coolabah". He built a round back shack, with a kitchen and living area, curtained off from the bedroom for privacy.

He also added a small room for a workman. Brian didn't want a Commission house and patented the method of concrete slab hollow construction, building his own house by about 1926. He was a gifted inventor and had many of his inventions patented - one was the Farley Delver (for building rice banks) another the Farley Channeller.

Brian held the distinction of producing the world's record yield for a rice crop in 1955 as verified in a letter from the then Bank of New South Wales to his sharefarmer, Mr R H Sellwood. To quote "The Bank feels that such a record could only be obtained by a combination of efficient farming methods and a high development of the modern techniques applicable to the growing of rice under irrigation".

SUN AND GUARDIAN, API111. •21, 1935 SHOW I ERSONALITIES A41.5.K.11,0RE

VoiAIS.4 tieWElf

110.5

s"B oo,u 1v Tim AT E 4:4 loc«1

.1.0Alieoua (Ap.,115114. et 44 Will Mai,. a 004" Maw( fu,o(

I AANC1.NI Altitf 4, 0

P, ,,K,LA.V.Cuk - 4A P4EA:t..

EhrJE 11.-s er,Likotoy, AO:00VA $ C..,, ,,,, WAS. V ovinT gao,,a.___

No Show is complete without them.

+. ,^ •, .1 1

Upper right hand corner - Phillip Gersbach, father of Rosalia (Daisy) Farley

172

William Wood Cater married

Eliza Bowring * * Diana Cater

Philip Gersbach

born 1870 Melbourne married

born Kempsey married

William Farley

Sarah Campbell

born 1857 County Cavan, Ireland

born County Fermanagh *

Brian Farley

Rosalia Regis (Daisy) Gersbach

married

born 20 June 1898 Kempsey died 16 February 1949 at Griffith, buried Griffith

born 4 March 1892, Point Piper died 26 July 1983 at Narrandera, buried Griffith

the Wedding took place on 17 August 1920 in the Roman Catholic Church Leeton, officiated by Rev Fr R O'Dea

* * 1.

Patricia born 6 October 1921 in Dr Vance's Hospital Leeton - married John Jones and lives at "Yambiana", Yenda.

2.

Noel (Noni) born 27 November 1922 at the Yenda Hospital run by Mrs McMahon - married Ray J Stanford, Gosford.

3.

Brian born 24 April 1924 at Stanbridge attended by Sister Fox - married Jeanne Ritchie, Capetown.

4.

William Raymond born 24 November 1926 at Stanbridge married Dorothy Neville.

5.

Pauline born 3 July 1928 at Stanbridge married Frank Matthew, Gosford.

By courtesy of Mrs Patricia Jones nee Farley, "Yambiana", Yenda

173

FLYNN Great grandfather, Michael Flynn, who was married to Bridget Hennessy, came to Australia from Ireland and landed at Rockhampton in 1867. His son, William was born in 1875 in Sydney and married Susan Clifford, who was born in 1876.

The family travelled to Griffith from Hay by horse and cart in 1914 and lived in a tent before moving into a house, just past Hanwood. William was a labourer and no doubt soon got work on the channels and canals being dug for the farms as he later became a head ganger for the Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission and also a carpenter for them. He had a reputation as being a strong union man.

William and Susan settled in Willandra Avenue on Farm 917 - where Plos's shed is at the present time. Their first house had hessian walls and a dirt floor - can you imagine sweeping it!!

Susan Flynn, nee Clifford Courtesy Mrs Lorraine Davies

Bagtown. Mr Bill Flynn standing in Dray. Courtesy "Griffith Collection"

174

William Flynn born 1875 at Sydney - died 15 May 1938 buried in Methodist Section of Griffith cemetery married Susan nee Clifford died 4 July 1950 aged 74 years buried in Methodist Section of Griffith Cemetery

1.

Walker born 1896 at Hay, deceased - place of burial unknown.

2.

Rupert John born 1900 at Hay - died at 24 years of age as the result of a tractor accident on "Kooba" Station, buried in Griffith.

3.

Arthur born 1901 at Hay - married (1) Doris Ashcroft; (2) Molly Jackson. Buried in Sydney.

4.

Roy James Andrew born 17 July 1904 at Hay - married Laurel Mackney and died 18 January 1961, buried in Griffith.

5.

Isabel Eve born 29 September 1907 at Hay - married Leonard Davidge and died 29 April 1957, buried in Griffith.

6.

Evelyn Olive born 1910 at Hay - married Walter Buchanan died 6 June 1959, buried in Griffith.

7.

Doreen born 1914 at Hay - married David Buchanan, buried in Sydney.

By courtesy of Mrs Lorraine Davies, 11 Baringa Street, Griffith (grand daughter of William and Susan Flynn and daughter of Roy Flynn).

175

FOOTE Alfred Foote came from England on the "Arabian" arriving in Tasmania on 8 August 1851 at the age of 18 years. He settled near Launceston and became a school teacher. He married Eliza Ann Yeates, the daughter of an apple orchardist, at the Holy Trinity Church in 1852. Leaving Tasmania after their marriage they went to Brisbane to join other members of the Foote family who had emigrated there. The Footes bought a farm at Werrill Creek and farmed there for about ten years. Later joining a partnership with the Cribb family to whom they were related by marriage, they opened a store called Cribb & Foote in Ipswich. Here he worked as an accountant for thirty years.

Alfred and Eliza Foote had a family of thirteen children.

One of their sons, James Ernest Clarke Foote married Marie Warlow-Davies, a daughter of a Congregational Minister, on 11 August 1892 and lived in Queensland.

Their son, William James Foote, was born 26 December 1893 in Brisbane.

William's Grandfather, the Reverend Warlow-Davies, was determined that William should enter the ministry. William, however, had different ideas - at the age of 14 years he ran away from home. William worked first as a jackeroo in Queensland and then worked his way around the countryside eventually ending up in the Ardlethan area when he was about 18 years of age. It was from here that he joined the army and was sent to Gallipoli. Here he was wounded and sent home. He re-enlisted and was sent this time to Egypt.

Arriving home after the War he applied for a Soldier Settler block and kr arrived in Griffith in 1919. His farm, No 1399, was a virgin block and had to be cleared before being planted.

The early days f were a battle on a "sustenance" A.paid by the Collecting Timber for the shack with the Foote Grandparents and Mrs Foote Government until Farm 1399. Courtesy Mr Les Foote the farm came into bearing. The family remember that calico flour bags were used to make the children's underwear.

However, despite the hard times, William remembered the funny incidents. One such incident he related to his family was about "a friend who owned a buggy and at night his hens roosted on the axle. Bringing his family to the pictures one night it caused a lot of merriment to see the hens still perched on the axle when he arrived in town." Another touch of humour was "when an English migrant arrived. The locals told him that if he saw a goanna he should climb a tree and one day this did occur. Up the tree the Englishman 176

went with the goanna after him and it climbed right over the top of him as he climbed the tree! The Englishman fell out of the tree in fright!!"

William James Foote and Mabel Stella Gardiner were married in Sydney in 1921 and they had a family of two; Leslie James and Rita Mary. After working the farm for over thirty years, William sold it in 1956 and moved to Boonah Street where he lived until unable to care for himself. After leaving the farm, William worked for some years for Prendergast the builder, then at the Ex-Servicemen's Club and as well as Penfolds Winery on the weighbridge. He loved his bowls and was Secretary of the bowling club for a time.

William & Mabel Foote Sorting Dried Prunes on Farm 1399 about 1925. Courtesy Mr Les Foote

William passed away at the grand old age of 941/2 years - the last Gallipoli Veteran in Griffith. His wife, Mabel predeceased him, dying in 1980. Both William and Mabel are buried in the Griffith Lawn Cemetery.

James Ernest Clarke Foote Marie Warlow-Davies

* *

William James Foote 1893 - 1988

married

* *

Mabel Stella Gardiner - 1980

1. Leslie James born at Griffith 7 February 1922 married Constance Bond. Lives Griffith 2. Rita Mary born Griffith 28 November 1923 married Desmond Black. Lives Loftus

Courtesy of Mr Les Foote, Langley Crescent, Griffith 177

GARTON Originally the Garton family came from England. Some settled in Egansford, Vic, where Richard Alexander Garton was born in 1873, one of sixteen children. He died 1939 and is buried in the Griffith Cemetery.

Richard married at Broken Hill, Mary Anne Peters, the daughter of Captain Peters and Elizabeth (nee Caldwill, b Freemantle WA). As Mary's mother died at her birth she was reared by the Wrightson family and she was also known as "Wrightson".

Richard was the first of the Gartons in the district, going first to Leeton where he was followed by his family who arrived on Christmas Eve 1919. They brought with them a few items of furniture and necessary items. He had been a miner at Broken Hill where he had developed lung trouble - "lead on the lungs" and for this reason left there.

The journey from Broken Hill to Griffith, by train, took three days, via Adelaide and Melbourne. A three day train trip with no conveniences at all...."on lines that were not complete (in places) and on one occasion the train left the rails and everyone had to get out while those able assisted in getting the carriages back on the line. It is believed there was plenty to drink and all were merry!"

First they took up a farm at Leeton where they stayed for six years. John Edmund, the eldest son, worked at the Butter Factory. When the farm was sold, John went to Sydney to attend 'Motor School' and got his licence at the age of nineteen. In 1938 he married, at St Jude's Randwick, Muriel May Marks.

Meanwhile Mr Garton senior went and worked at Mt Hope for a time. Then they put in for a farm in the Griffith area and 'won' Farm 226, Yoogali in the ballot (F 226 Granted to RA Garton [b 4 Aug 18731 on 27 Nov 1918; 24 acres 3 roods; rental f 21/1/19 - transferred on the death of RA to JE Garton 1 May 1941). To enter and pay the necessary fees, etc for this ballot Richard Garton rode a push bike to Leeton where he camped under a large Wilga tree.

When the Garton family arrived at Yoogali they lived in a tent, with a stove outside on which they cooked in all weathers. It was very windy and fire and saucepans often blew away! Later they built two rooms and later still these were followed by a house. In the beginning the farm was not planted so there was no income. Mr Garton senior worked for the Commission (WC & IC) building channels as far away as Lake View (Lake Wyangan), riding a push bike there and back. John was a carpenter's assistant working on homes being built in Hyandra Street. In between they gradually planted the farm and grew a crop of huge onions, some of which were sent and exhibited at the Sydney Royal Agricultural Show where they won First Prize. Then they grew water melons which were enormous and easy to sell. Gradually the farm was planted with fruit trees but it was years before there was any income from these crops.

The Garton family who settled on Farm 226 Yoogali early in 1919 lived there until 1968 when it was sold to Bailio because of John's failing health which prevented his carrying on. They then moved to 37 Carrathool Street.

Mrs Garton (nee Muriel May Marks) goes on to say "they all recalled old "Bagtown", Dr Watkins, the "flu plague" of 1919. There were only horse vehicles to travel in and just dirt roads. Dust was everywhere. Later on (Jack) John managed to buy an old Buick which was one of first vehicles around and was a great novelty to all." That

178

same car has been restored to its original shape by the Trenerry Bros and so is now a veteran car.

Mr Garton senior was a foundation member of the Co-op Store. Albert Ernest, the second son of Richard and Mary Anne, married Freda Burnshein, whose father was the first tailor in Griffith. While in Griffith, Albert (Bert), worked in the Commission Office and in Canberra for a time as well. As a young man he had worked at the old Lyceum Theatre at the same time helping with the work on the farm. Freda worked in her father's tailoring business. After leaving the 'Commission' they bought and sold many small businesses before taking up fishing for business and pleasure at Port Macquarie.

(Both Bert and Freda are buried at Port Macquarie NSW).

Remembering back, Mrs Garton continues..."The clothes worn in the early days were ground length dresses that gathered dust as the ladies walked; full long-sleeved blouses and large brimmed hats or small bonnets. The boys wore knee length pants and large white sailor collars. The men (for work) wore flannel shirts and around their legs "bowyangs" - a garter-like tie to keep the grass seeds and things out of clothes. Everyone wore hats. In times of sickness they had to travel many miles to see a doctor. Travel was by cart and horse or, sometimes, sulky or buggy. Entertainments were simple. Parties, card playing and 'sing-song' evenings. Sometimes travelling entertainers came and this was a great event. The Minister travelled around in a sulky and carried an organ with him."

The Apricot Pitters Mrs Garton extreme left & Mr Garton on far right

The family of Richard Alexander Garton and Mary Ann (nee Peters/Wrightson):2. ALBERT ERNEST married Freda Burnshein 1. JOHN EDMUND 1900-1984 buried Griffith married 1938, St Jude's Randwick - Murial May Marks

both died and buried Port Macquarie

i.

John Alexander ii. Helena May iii. Joan Adelia

i. Richard ii. Dorothy

By courtesy of Mrs Muriel Garton, 37 Carrathool Street, Griffith.

179

GEE "William Lawrence Gee took up Farm 92 Hanwood in May 1913", says his son, Laurie Gee. "He came from Hay driving a horse and sulky. He had been born at Hay (9 February 1892) where his father, William Gee, worked on "Burraboggie" (sic) Station as the Studman. William snr had married Jane Rochford (born 1872 in Queanbeyan NSW) at St Gregory's Catholic Church Queanbeyan.

My father, William Laurence, was the second son - one of fourteen children, 8 boys and 6 girls. Dad went to live with his grandmother Rochford at 'Forest View' at Jeir near Hall (now ACT). There he went to school to third or fourth grade. He was then old enough to leave school so he became a groom on `Illilliwlah' Station where his father was by this time working as Overseer. `Illilliwlah' Station is between Hay and Carrathool.

Dad had to groom the horses and saddle up the horses, milk the cow, kill the sheep for use at the homestead, harness the horses to the buggy and chop the wood as well as do any other work that was needed to be done. By the age of seventeen he was on his own, working on a back station as a boundary rider and sheep minder. For this he was paid 1716d a week. He asked for f 1 a week but was refused - so he left! (The Station owner was a fellow by the name of Grant who lived in England). My father rolled up his swag and walked along the river and eventually walked to Swan Hill where he found work with a general store as delivery-man, using a horse and cart.

It was during these years that he had done a bit of foot-running. He won the Hay Gift and the Bendigo Bracelet - or the other way around. It wouldn't have been much f5 or f10, I suppose.

He went from Swan Hill and worked as a drover's cook near White Cliffs. This was during the 1912 drought. He left the drovers to come back to this Area. Two of his uncles, Greg and Bill Rochford had farms at Hanwood. Dad borrowed f5 to put a deposit on a farm in 1912.26 The Rochfords had a bullock team and were employed by the WC & IC to help clear the trees from the farms. They cleared their own farms with the bullocks and used them also to plough the land, using a disc plough. The trees were mostly pine, yarran, wilga and box. Dad's hut, made of iron and bags, was sheltered under a big wilga tree. We had a horseyard with four big wilga trees in it. One had a cow bail under it; two of the trees were not far apart and pine rails were attached to them and a few bags sewn together made a feed trough for the horses - the other tree just provided shade!

About this time too my father had a Maxwell car which he used as a taxi. As this was a prohibition area the men who worked forming the channels and roads and so on would pay to be taken to Whitton at the weekends to get a drink or go to a dance. In the car there was a box built in under the floor boards to bring back 'grog' into the prohibited area. It was never found when the car was stopped for police inspection!

26

Farm 92 granted William & Francis Gee - 20 May 1914; 50 acres 3 roods; Annual Rental f31/17/6 Farm 93 granted William Rochford - 23 March 1914; 50 acres; Annual Rental f33/2/6 Farm 65 granted Alexander Gregory Rochford - 13 March 1914; 51 acres 2 roods; Annual Rental L48/5/8

180

My parents were married at St Killian's Church at Bendigo in November 1917.

My mother, Mary Elizabeth Turner, was a cousin of Mrs Molly Boyle and they had met while my mother was visiting her cousin. When the 1914-18 War broke the money available for house loans dried up but Dad had built a shed, so they lined and sealed it and put in a floor of 6 inch sawn boards. There was an open fireplace and a separate kitchen. This kitchen was one room with a big white pine table, a form on one side and several wooden chairs along the other. There was a black cast iron stove with the firebox across the top. There was also a small table which was used for doing the washing-up.

The saucepans etc. were hung on the wall on nails. Water was carted in a 100 gallon galvanised tank on a sled. We would bucket the water into it. The horse dragged the sled which was made from the fork of a tree.

About the time my sister, Kath, was born in 1922 Dad got a contract to take the kids to school at Hanwood. It was a four-wheeled waggon or coach in which he used four horses. Some of the children he picked up were Maude and Fred Irvine, Mary and Jack Erskine, Melva Sara, Dick Cox, Norm Morrison - just to mention a few. He yarded the horses at the school and walked home - (later he bought a bike!). At this time Mr Ravencroft was the Headmaster. My father received cl a week for doing this.

In the early 1920's about ten or twelve people were helping Father O'Dea to do the rough-cast cementing on the Presbytery - he called them his 'twelve apostles'! Among them were my father, Leo Boyle, Jim Fallon and so on. In order 'to shout' for the workers when the job was finished Father O'Dea had ordered a keg of beer from the brewery at Narrandera. The job finally finished, he said - 'I've got a keg down at the railway station. We'll have a drink' but when they went to collect it the keg was there BUT EMPTY. The Railway workers had drunk the contents! The 'good Father' was so furious he wanted to fight the railway blokes!

When I was small we saw thousands and thousands of budgerigars. Dad grew a crop of millet once and the budgies came from everywhere to eat it. Even though the horses had eaten it off several times, when it seeded it was only very low and it was 'green' with budgerigars.

As children we used to trap cats gone wild and sell their skins. At weekends we also trapped rabbits to make a bit of pocket money. We used to see a lot of hares in those days and when we burned off the crop it would make you cry to find all the little baby hares burned - lots of quails too. We would catch water rats with a tin with a piece of rotten fat in it and the lid pushed in. When the rat ate the fat it got its head caught.

Starlings too were plentiful. Huge flocks of them lived in the hollows in the dead box trees on the "Old Jondaryan" (a picnic place on Mirrool Creek) and they would raid the orchards from there.

Originally the farm was planted up with apricots, nectarines, canning and Elberta peaches and oranges. When it was considered that this farm was not suitable for horticulture the first rice27 crop was grown in the 1924/25 season. It was stripped using

27

Contamination of Rice: Charlie Flack said that loads of rice were condemned if they contained millett or sorghum seeds. These plants had been grown to feed the dairy cows or horses. I remember having to pull out the millet plants (rouging the crop). Three or four of us had to walk through the crop bare foot. in the mud and water, just before the rice was harvested and pull out the foreign plants".

181

an old wheat stripper. The area sown was about 30 acres. Then we got an additional area of 100 acres.

I distinctly remember him clearing this land. It was 1926-27. The school at Yoogali was closed because of the poliomyelitis (then called infantile paralysis) epidemic.

I was the 'teamster' for him when we put up banks for the rice crop. I was 9 years old.

We put in 50 acres of rice.

About 1928 our original farm was forfeited. It had been condemned as unsuitable soil for an orchard. When it was forfeited we were allowed to ballot for another farm.

They had resumed part of `Gogelderie' Station. Then they had a ballot for a farm at Warburn but it was said the soil was not suitable for rice so my father refused to take it.

He then bought Farm 248 Yoogali which had a small orchard on it but it was mainly rice and grazing. It was 500 acres. My father farmed here until 1952 when he retired and they came to live in Griffith in Konoa Street."

000000000

William Gee

Jane Rochford * * William Laurence Gee born 8 February 1892 at Hay Died 30 July 1957 (65 years) at Griffith Married: November 1917 - St Killian's Church, Bendigo Vic Mary Elizabeth Turner Died 5 September 1985 (87 years) Both buried Griffith Cemetery * * 1. Laurence born Farm 92 Hanwood (delivered Sr Bodinnar c. Fr Hartigan of Narrandera (Poet John O'Brien of "Around the Boree Log" fame) Married: Mary Patricia Ross 2. Terrence born 1921 at Old Hospital, Banna Avenue Un-married 3. Kathleen born 1922 at Old Hospital, Banna Avenue Married Francis Lahy - lives at Barham NSW 4. Barry born 1932 at "Woodlands" Hospital Died 1988 Married: Norma Farrell - Norma lives Leeton NSW

By courtesy of Mr Laurence Gee

182

Griffith Police Station opened in 1914 - "Bagtown" Constable Duckworth standing in Front. Courtesy Police Archives.

Accommodation House Bagtown - Mess Tent in Foreground Courtesy Late Albert Pedley

183

GORING Harold ("Tiger") Goring relates:- "My father's name was Frances Lloyd Goring.

He was the son of Anselem Frederick Goring who came to Melbourne from Canada in 1852. Grandfather got a job driving coaches for Cobb & Co. In Albury he met and married Catherine Frances Gleeson in St Matthew's Church in 1860. Catherine came from County Clare in Ireland. They made a home in Albury and then Wangaratta and later Chiltern.

Grandfather Anselem left the coaches and "had a go" at the goldfields. He didn't do real good - but finished up with a hotel at Benalla!!

They had a large family of eleven children who went to school at Benalla. The oldest girl, Dad's sister Annie, worked for a dressmaker. She helped to make the mourning dresses for Ned Kelly's mother, aunt and sisters to wear when Ned was hung.

There was a railway being built to connect Victoria to Narrandera through Deniliquin. My father, Frank and my Uncles Jack and Arthur all worked on this line. My Aunt Annie's husband, Harry Parkes was the head engineer. They rode on the first train that left Narrandera for Jerilderie. After this line was completed they got jobs on the saw mills. My father worked at Michelson's Mill.

My father Frank met Katherine Mary Eldridge at Narrandera. She was the daughter of Joseph Eldridge and Margaret Murray. They were married in the Roman Catholic Church in Narrandera and their first three children were born in Narrandera.

They moved to Grong Grong where the fourth child Evelyn was born, then on to Whitton.

The next three children were born at Tushey's Tank, then two more children were born at Store Dam. That was how the Mill (sawmill) shifted along.

Mum had no doctor when the children were born. The women at the saw mill sites would assist each other when a new babe arrived.

Between 1903 and 1905 Dad worked on the Mill on Merribee Station, near the Yenda well where Stephens and Forner now live, three miles east of Yenda. The sawmill needed a good supply of water as it was powered by steam. The mill shifted from there to West End Tank. This was half way between where Binya and Yenda are now. During the time the well was there the later licensee of the 'Victoria' Hotel in Griffith, the well known 'Bun' Davis and his mate Jo Thompson, worked on the mill. They were only teenagers then.

In 1911 the mill shifted to Conapaira, later called Rankin's Springs. We lived there until 1919. My two brothers Frank and Les joined up from Rankin's Springs in 1916, then we moved to Yenda. My father got a job driving a team of horses for George Gyton carting logs for the mill at Yenda. This mill was situated where McWilliam's Winery is to-day. It was owned by Dickson and leased by the WC & IC. (The millable trees cleared from the farms were cut up there.)

We lived in a shack on the reserve where later Jim McWilliam built his house.

Dad built a very big 'shack' - five rooms and a kitchen. We carried water from a standpipe near the mill. Our neighbours were old Bill Newth and his family. He lived east of where the Yenda Convent School is to-day.

Our next home was when Les and his brother-in-law Tom Sullivan drew blocks of land along Wakeley's Road in 1921. Along this road lived Weavers, then Les Goring, then Tom Sullivan, then Saunders, Homes and Wakeleys. We all lived with Les. Then 184

they were transferred to Trickle' Wilson's place. It was one of the few brick places around.

Dad died in 1944. At that time he lived in Park Street, Yenda - across the road from the old Dr Dilger and Sr McKay's hospital, where Roffe's live. Mum died in 1951."

Tiger's sister, Mrs Nell Stephens recalls: "Mum made our clothes on an old treadle sewing machine. We did not have a lot of clothes. We went bare foot by choice.

Dad had a timber trolley. It had wooden wheels. He snigged out the fallen trees for Michelson's mill.

I remember once I badly burned my feet. I ran through the coals. Mum healed my feet with Zambuck Ointment.

We had a great life! We would take our lunch and roam the hills all day. We played all day. I only saw a snake once. It was one the cat caught! We did not attend school until we came to Yenda in 1919.

At that time Yenda Wade Park was filled with rows of tents. We just called it the Commission Camp. George Maclean had a store in Main Avenue.

When we came to Yenda, Kath was 14 and I was 12, 'Tiger' was 10 and Charlie was 8 years old. We went to school at Yoogali as Yenda School had not been built. A waggonette owned and driven by Mr Savage from Hanwood took us to School. Seats were built along each side. We got in at the back where there was a step and a door. Then Mr Dredge drove us for a while. Then we were the first pupils of the tent school at Yenda. The coach also picked up children from Bilbul. The boys used to torment Mr Dredge. I remember one time he put them off the coach to walk home and chased them with the whip!

My sister Elsie worked at Longworth's store at Yenda. Later on the Yenda Hotel replaced this store."

Goring's Horse Team at the sawmill which was located where McWilliam's Ycnda Winery now stands. Frank Goring second from left.

185

Anselem Frederick Goring

Joseph Eldridge

born St Catherine, Canada married

married

Catherine Frances Gleeson

Margaret Murray

born Co Clare, Ireland *

(of Narrandera) *

*

Frances Lloyd Goring **

*

Katherine Mary Eldridge

born 18 June 1862, Wangaratta Vic

born 5 August 1869, Narrandera

died 12 April 1944 Griffith Hospital

died 15 September 1951, aged 82 years

buried Yenda Cemetery

buried Yenda Cemetery * *

Catherine May (Elsie) born 25 September 1893 Narrandera. Un-married, died 19 March 1979,86 years. Buried Yenda R.C. Leslie William born 16 September 1895 Narrandera. Un-married, died 29 October 1980,84 years. Buried Yenda R.C. Francis Lloyd born 17 June 1897 Narrandera. Died 26 September 1978 buried Griffith Lawn Cemetery. Married Sarah Agnes Farraway (who died 3 April 1979) Evelyn Amelia born 20 January 1900 Grong Grong. Married Thomas Edward Sullivan.

John Edward born 9 November 1903 Whitton. Died 20 September 1967, 64 years. Buried Methodist Section of Griffith Cemetery.

Married Margaret Everley.

Kathleen Frances born 13 June 1905 Tushey's Tank, 10 miles north of Yenda. Married Joseph Stephens, lives Fairy Meadow, Wollongong.

Ellen Maude born 29 May 1907 Tushey's Tank. Married Arthur (Barrett) Stephens (dec'd). Lives in Griffith.

Harold David ("Tiger")born 4 April 1909 Tushey's Tank. Married Bessie Southgate. Lives in Griffith.

Charles Arthur born 1 January 1911 Store Dam, 10 miles north of Yenda. Un-married.

William James born 15 June 1912 Store Dam. Died 14 November 1978, 66 years. Un-married.

By courtesy of Mr Harold (Tiger) Goring and Mrs EM Stephens, nee Goring.

186

GRAS Sigismundo (Peter), Juan (John) and Francisco (Frank) were sons of Silvestre and Dionisia Gras, farmers from Villa de Tordera, Mataro, Spain. John left Spain to seek a better life for himself and went to Cuba, where he worked on a tobacco plantation. He then decided to come to Australia and was among some of the first Spanish immigrants to come to this country, arriving in 1907. John went cane cutting around the Innisfail/Babinda districts in Queensland and then went to Mooney Ponds (Vic) where another Spanish immigrant grew vegetables.

Francisco, Juan, Jaime, Siismunclo Courtesy Mrs Marlene Gras

In 1911, Peter, his son Jaime (Charlie, then 8 years old), and Jacinto Girabel (son of Maria - Peter, John & Frank's sister) also came to Australia to seek a better life (apart from Jacinto, who came out to avoid being drafted into the Spanish army). They all paid their own fares to Australia and had enough money saved for their return fare if they decided to go back to Spain. When Frank left Spain his employer offered to pay his return fare and give him back his job if he decided to go back to Spain. Peter's wife had died in childbirth when Charlie was 18 months old. Peter, John and Frank were uneducated, not able to read or speak English but Peter and John were able to sign their names. Frank signed with a "cross".

Charlie recalls on the journey to Australia, when the boat went through the Suez Canal, parents were advised not to take their children ashore on the European or Indian side as it was not safe but when they reach Columbo the children went ashore with their parents. Indian children followed them up the street, patting themselves on the stomach 187

and calling out, indicating they were hungry. Charlie, Peter, Frank and Jacinto and several other passengers went to the first floor of a building for a meal and Charlie tells of a cloth, hanging from the ceiling for the length of the room and a chap on one end pulling on a rope to move the cloth from side to side, to create a breeze. At Columbo, the boat stayed outside the harbour, otherwise Indians would clamber on board and Charlie can remember when they left Columbo he saw two or three Indians being chased along the deck and they jumped overboard into the water.

Peter, Charlie, Frank and Jacinto joined John at Moonee Ponds where they stayed for approximately 18 months. Charlie went to school at Moonee Ponds for 12 months and on his first day at school (unable to understand or speak a word of English) at playtime the other pupils formed a circle around Charlie, teasing him and wanting to know his name, so they nicknamed him Charlie and Charlie stuck (the correct English version of Jaime is James or Jim). The teacher saw what was going on, came and rescued Charlie and took him inside and gave him some lollies and an apple! For three evenings in a row, about three boys and three girls followed Charlie on the way home from school, the boys kicking him in the back-side and the girls laughing and on the third evening one boy kicked Charlie really hard so Charlie grabbed him and started punching the boy and calling out in Spanish and the other boys and girls ran off. Charlie finished the fight and about fifteen minutes after Charlie got home the boy and his father arrived. John, who could speak a little English, sorted things our and from then on the other pupils left Charlie alone.

Peter, Charlie, John, Frank and Jacinto were going to go next to Queensland to grow sugar cane but decided against it because of Frank's fear of snakes so they went to Beverley Hills (Sydney) to grow vegetables and leased a property from people by the name of Judd, the property being "Spanish Gardens", Belmore Road, West Hurstville (then known as Dumbleton). They became friendly with some other Spanish immigrants who were growing tomatoes for a canning factory and Peter, John and Frank heard they could get land at Griffith and grow tomatoes for the New South Wales Government Cannery at Leeton and that there was a receiving depot at Griffith. Peter, John and Frank were naturalised on 26 May 1915. After this John and Jacinto came to Griffith to apply for the land while Peter, Charlie and Frank remained in Sydney. On 7 April 1916 they received notification of their right to purchase the following farms:Francisco Gras - Farm 2 Sigismundo Gras - Farm 15 Juan Gras - Farm 16 Jacinto Girabel - Farm 1134 The farms were taken up in July 1916. The farms were all bush (apart from a small section of John's farm - which, as far as we are able to ascertain, someone had started to clear but had "walked off the land"). They cleared the land, approximately 100 acres overall, with axes, mattocks and shovels. They grew tomatoes for several years plants for which were railed to Willbriggie from Beverley Hills for transplanting at the Hanwood farms. They then grew vegetables and tobacco, as there was a leaf drying shed in the area at the time. All five men lived in a bag and canvas tent for approximately four years, Frank doing most of the cooking.

When Charlie, aged 14, came to the Area he was the only passenger on the train for Willbriggie. It was a hot summer's day and there were only two people on the 188

platform, the Station Master and the guard. Charlie having just come from Sydney looked around for the houses and asked the station master where Griffith was. He replied "See that haze about half a mile away? Well, Griffith is behind that to the north." Charlie got a soft drink from the shop at Willbriggie and then got onto the coach to Griffith and sat up front with the owner-driver Micky Cush. When they got to Mirrool Creek Micky Cush gave his horses a drink and a spell, then went on through the water at Mirrool Creek. As Charlie was the only passenger for the day and the Gras farms were only one road off Micky's usual route, he dropped Charlie off at the front gate of the farm. Bagtown was the nearest town so to save the horses strength for the ploughing, the brothers used to walk to Bagtown for their provisions and bring them home in a sugar bag.

Peter worked for McWilliam's Wines for extra income. He also got grape cuttings for the farms from McWilliams. They planted peaches, apples and prunes.

Charlie recalls a hailstorm "two farms wide" which stripped the canes on the grape vines and dented the corrugated iron on a neighbour's shed roof.

L to R Francesco, Juan, Jaccnto, Segismundo - Farm 16 c. 1917 Kitchen tent is on kit. Courtesy Tony & Marlene Gras.

'To make ends meet" Charlie went to work on farms in the Barellan, Moombooldool area for a few years.

John went back to Spain, for a visit mid- 1920, and returned early in 1921.

Jacinto Girabal contracted meningitis and passed away on 4 November 1920 and his farm was sold to John Crowe of Yanco, on 10 October 1923.

Frank returned to Spain in 1922 and married Maria Taberner whom he had known when he left Spain to come to Australia, Maria had been about 16 when Frank first came out. When Frank and Maria came back to Hanwood, Frank, Maria and John lived 189

in a house on Farm 16 and Peter and Charlie lived in a corrugated iron house on Farm 15 (Charlie still lives in the same house to-day). Maria came from a poor family and she had worked as a housekeeper prior to marrying Frank.

John returned to Spain again in 1928 and married Laura Colobret, (apparently John had proposed to another girl in Spain and she refused him. Within three weeks of meeting Laura she accepted his proposal). Laura's mother had died when Laura was very young and her father, a night security guard with the railways, had been killed by a train.

Laura had worked for twelve months as a housekeeper for a wealthy family but prior to marrying John she had been working as a machinist in a textile factory in Barcelona.

Segismundo ("Peter"), Juan, Francesco , Jaime ("Charlie") Farm 16, c 1928. Courtesy Tony & Marlene (;ras.

John and Laura arrived in Australia in December 1928 on the "Australia" and lived with Frank and Maria, in the one house on Farm 16, and they ran the two farms together. Frank and Maria then had Frank Schultz build them a new home on Farm 2.

John and Laura had the house on Farm 16 renovated and from then on they ran the two farms separately. There were hard times such as when the cannery wouldn't take the peaches, severe frosts, heavy rains caused seepage and in 1933 Frank lost most of his fruit trees through seepage and he was forced to mortgage the farm for f600 and supported his wife Maria, children and himself by growing vegetables and with his few remaining fruit trees. Frank was recognised in the area as the man with the cummerbund as he always wore "La Facha". Frank and Charlie sold vegetables house to house and they would often have to walk the horses home in the dark from as far as Yoogali. Frank remembered the prices of the vegetables in his head as he was unable to read or write.

They used to water row after row of tomato plants by walking between two rows with two buckets watering each plant.

190

There are stories of mouse, rabbit and grasshopper plagues and one year Charlie and three other men used to walk between the rows of tomato plants and call out loud to frighten off the grasshoppers.

John and Laura had two sons, John born in 1929 and Antonio (Tony) born in 1936. Peter never remarried and returned to Spain in approximately 1952 and the last letter received from him was in 1957. Charlie married Jane Ray but had no family.

1. Sigismundo ("Peter") Gras married in Spain i) Jaime ("Charlie") born: 26 December 1902 Spain married: Jane Rae (dec'd). (Still living on Farm 15, Griffith) 2. Juan ("John") Jose Jaime Gras born: c 1880 Villa de Tordera Spain died: 8 August 1940, Griffith married: 18 October 1928 at Mataro, Barcelona Spain Laura Lurora Francisca Colobret, i) Juan ("John") Jose Antonio born: 23 November 1929 "Athlone" Private Hospital, Griffith married: 27 October 1956, Rita Mary Barclay, (Lives Maroochydore Old) ii) Antonio ("Tony") Francesco Silvistro born: 2 April 1936 "Loretto" Private Hospital, Griffith married: Dorothy Marlene Towns (Lives Griffith) 3. Francisco ("Frank") Gras born: c 1884, Villa de Tordera Spain died: 30 September 1953, Griffith married: 21 October 1922 at Villa de Tordera Maria Taberner, born c 1895 died: 29 November 1936 Griffith 1) Maria ("Maria") Dionisa born: 14 November 1923 Farm 16 Hanwood married: 17 September 1955, Matteo Giacobbe Marin (Lives at Venda) ii) Francisco ("Frank") Juan born: 8 December 1929 "Athlone" Private Hospital Griffith married: 8 August 1959, Amy Turner (Lives "North Groongal" Station Carrathool) Jacinto Girabal (Nephew of Peter and Frank [son of their sister, Maria; cousin of Charlie; who came to Australia with his Uncle Peter 19111) born: c 1897 Mataro, Barcelona, Spain died: 3 November 1920, buried Sutherland, Sydney. Never married.

By courtesy of Mrs Marlene Gras, 61 Wood Road, Griffith.

191

HALL Alexander Hall was born in Bressna, County Clare, Ireland in 1868 and migrated to Canada where he joined the Royal Canadian Mounties. He served in the Boer War and then returned to Canada. He married Kathleen May Gurney in 1905. Kathleen was born in Leyton, Essex, England in 1883, and at about the age of 15 years, migrated with her Mother, Father, sisters and brothers to Canada.

Following the Boer War, Alexander Hall took up a farm in Alberta, Canada about 200 miles east of Edmonton and approximately 25 miles west of the Saskatchewan border.

Kathleen Hall was the first white woman in this area and she named the area Gurneyville (after her family name) and the 22 mile lake frontage, Muriel Lake. This area is 12 miles south of Bonneyville, Alberta, Canada. As well as being a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Alexander Hall cared for the Kehiwin Indian reserve of Cree Indians.

Here Alexander and Kathleen had four children:1. Alice Patricia (now Grant) - lives Melbourne 2. John Gurney - lives Griffith 3. Kathleen Phyllis (now Siepen) - lives Hobart 4. Lionel Alexander - lives Hobart They found living in the area very hard and when Mrs Hall's parents, sisters and brother came to Australia and settled in Melbourne, as well as a neighbour, Mr & Mrs Green who also came to Australia, Alexander and Kathleen Hall and children sold up in Canada and migrated to Australia in 1915 travelling on the ship "Moama". They bought a farm at Shepparton but were flooded out twice. Eventually they sold this farm and Mrs Hall and the children went to live near her parents, Mr & Mrs Gurney, who had a general store at Port Melbourne. Mr and Mrs Gurney and family later returned to Vancouver to live.

In 1917 Alexander Hall was able to get a position with the Viticultural Nursery in Griffith which was managed by Mr J Rounce.

The pneumonic plague was rife in Melbourne at the time so Kathleen Hall and the four children travelled by train from Melbourne to Willbriggie, arriving one very wet day in 1918 and were met by Cush's coach to travel to "Bug Flat" camp, belonging to the Viticultural Nursery. They lived in tents for a couple of years and later in a house at Yoogali. The children attended Yoogali School either riding a horse or walking to school.

In 1924 Alexander and Kathleen Hall and children moved to Monbulk, Victoria, where they farmed.

In the early 1940's, Alexander and Kathleen moved to Hobart where Alexander died in 1954, aged 86 years. Kathleen Hall lost her life in the Tasmanian bushfire on the 7 February 1967, aged 83 years.

John Gurney Hall completed a mechanics apprenticeship at Upper Fern Tree Gully and returned to Griffith in 1927 where he worked on farms of Mr Jim Chapman and Mr Ben Prior. He worked as a mechanic with Mr Jack D'Arcy, Motor Engineer in Banna 192

Avenue and continued with the business when Mr D'Arcy left the district. During the Second World War John enlisted for overseas military service but was utilised in war productions as a machinist at C.I. Engineering, Sydney, until the end of the war. John then returned to Griffith and continued with his own Motor Engineering business in Banna Avenue and later in Benerembah Street.

John Hall knew a number of the residents of early Bagtown and went to School with their children. He saw the first shops being erected in Griffith and attended the first Show in 1920. John has seen Griffith evolve from the almost desert-like area to the beautiful, prosperous City and area it has developed into to-day and has no wish to live in any other place.

By courtesy John Gurney Hall, Kookora Street, Griffith 2680

193

HAMILTON Claude Edward Hamilton and his wife Ada Jess (née Flood) were granted Farm No. 132 on 31 July 1913.

Claude was the son of Robert Hamilton, a Scot from Northern Ireland. The Hamiltons came to Australia about 1843. Robert married a girl Wallace. The Wallaces had a dairy farm and supplied milk to Penrith. Their grandson, Jack, says that Wallacia was named after this Wallace family. "We went and looked at the old stone house five or six months ago. Grandfather died in 1911 and was buried at Penrith. Grandmother, Ann Henrietta (née Wallace) was also buried at Penrith", he said.

When Robert Hamilton died the farm was shared between the four brothers, the youngest of whom was Don Hamilton. Don Hamilton served through the four years of W.W. 1. only to die of pneumonic influenza just one week after his return to Australia.

Jack Hamilton went on to tell the story of his family - "My father was Claude Edward Hamilton, born at Windsor NSW in 1880. He was the son of Robert and Ann Henrietta Hamilton. C.1900 he married Ada Jessie Flood at Lightning Ridge where he was opal mining at the time. Ada was the daughter of John and Catherine Flood and was born in NSW 1870. Claude died 2 March 1958, aged 78 years. He is buried in C of E Section, Griffith. Ada died 4 November 1965, aged 86 years. She is also buried in the C of E Section at Griffith.

When Grandfather died and the dairy farm near Penrith was divided between the four boys, Dad brought 6 heifers and 4 draught horses by train to Willbriggie.

I was only four when Micky Cush's coach met the train. There was Mum and Dad, Thelma, William, Henrietta and me. Dad let me sit up next to him. Micky Cush let me hold the reins. I was tickled pink - I drove the coach home, I reckoned!

We lived first at Bagtown in Chadwick's boarding house for a few weeks. The walls were made of hessian on netting. It was near the Cheese Factory that ran from 1916 to 1919. It was run by the WC & IC and was later the ice works. Justices had the ice works first, then Livanes.

After living at Bagtown we built a big old tin shed. Building materials were very hard to get then. The shed had partitions to make rooms. Mr Bert Gunning who had a farm up the road was a carpenter. He built our home on Farm 132.

Our neighbours were Andrew Day (Farm 131) and then the two McWilliams farms, then on the north eastern corner were the Gunning brothers. Gunnings sold out about 191718 to Jardines. Then there were Lenehans and on the north eastern corner was George Tarr.

Across the road were the two Piper brothers - Reg on the corner and Jack up the lane, then Delves and the Marshall brothers. Allan Marshall was later a dentist in Banna Avenue near where Carneys store was.

Our farm was of mixed fruit. In 1931 I remember a lovely crop of peaches. We sent 400 cases of Lady Palmarster and Salway freestone dessert peaches to Sydney by rail.

They weren't sold. Money was scarce in 1931. We got a bill of four shillings per half case for freight and then to cap it off we also had to pay cartage to get them dumped in the tip in Sydney."

Jack's wife, Pat, recalls, that "Claude Hamilton was a quiet man and a good neighbour who enjoyed his occasional game of cards with his neighbours. He kept the three boys working the farm until 1939 when Mervyn took over the running of the farm and Bill, 194

Jack and Max enlisted and served with the AIF overseas. Mrs Hamilton with the other ladies of Hanwood worked tirelessly to send parcels overseas to the soldiers.

Mrs Hamilton reared eight children on Farm 132 Hanwood. She was a bright lady with a lovely singing voice and their house was popular for parties and `sing-songs'. She was an excellent cook, making all their jams, pickles and preserves, tasty meals and a lovely beer from the weed horehound that grew around the channels on the farm. This beer was kept cool in a 'drip-safe' under the grape vine on the front verandah.

She completely made the children's and her own clothes, teaching her daughters designing and cutting. They were all excellent dressmakers. Etta and Millicent designed for big firms in Sydney when they left Griffith (Millicent was always known as 'Blue' because of her father nicknaming her 'Bluebell' from a tiny baby). Always a talented lady, 'Blue' spent some ten years living in London during which time she opened a frock shop and sold under her own label. She also owned an antique shop in London during this time."

The Hamilton Family - Back: Etta, Bill, Jack Middle: Rene, claude, Ada, Millicent ("Blue") Front: Mervyn Courtesy of Pat and Jack Hamilton

Then Jack tells - "The unions got going in the 1920's. From £1 a week they (the working man) were entitled to £1 a day by 1929. Then by 1931 there was no work, no money and no dole! If you were really stumped you could go to the Police Station (old Sgt Sampson) and get a 6/- chit for food.

I went to Hanwood School from 1916 until 1924. I left school when I was 14 years old. When I was still going to school I had a 22 rifle to shoot rabbits. The place was lousy with them. We had chooks and we would boil up the rabbits to feed the fowls but the skins I dried and sold to dealers in Griffith. When I had saved £15 I bought a wonderful Speedwell pushbike with a back-pedal brake.

195

About 1918 or 19 when the channel was being dug between Griffith and Lakeview Soldier Settlement about 100 people and the same number of horses were working on it.

They camped on the side of the hill. The Government declared it a prohibition (dry) area but there were three sly grog shops so they could get drunk every night if they wanted to.

Two men were killed in a brawl one night. They were buried in the channel bank. No one would miss them! Men came and went. The men that worked and were there midday on Saturday got paid in cash.

I would have been about nine years old when I remember hearing a man tell Dad about it. He had come to the farm in a bad way. Hadn't had a wash or anything to eat for several days. He had been on the grog and said that if he went back they would most likely shoot him too. Dad gave him a bit of work for a few days and a good feed and he went on his way."

Pat Hamilton said "Mervyn and Maxwell also went to Hanwood School - rode horses or walked; didn't have shoes to wear. Later they attended Griffith High School.

McWilliam's (next door) now McWilliams Hanwood used Hamilton's dam to keep their vines alive".

Jack continued "I remembered how bad the starlings were. In 1928 it was a dry year and they came from far and near to eat our grapes. They took every berry off two or three acres of the Frontignacs we had. When you shot at them it was like a hailstorm when they dropped the grapes they were carrying in their beaks. `Tail Light' Dunn was the sergeant of police who took over from Sgt Sampson in about 1934. He worked with Constable Prior. He was 'dead nuts' on tail lights. In those days you had to switch the tail light on from the back of the vehicle and some people forgot to do it.

I had a model T Ford one ton truck (I built the body myself - could only afford the chassis). Anyway, once I lost my back number plate. Luckily I put an advert in the paper for it and someone found it. On Saturday it was on the verandah of the Hanwood Store.

I put it under the seat of the truck.

That night I was waiting in Furbey's Grain Store in Yambil Street for Dick Jenkins, who worked there, to close the store (it was 9 o'clock closing) because we were going on to a party at Lakeview - (there were a lot of parties in those days).

A knock came to the door. Dick (who later died on the Burma Railway) answered the knock. Sergeant Dunn was at the door.

"Yes. Jack you are wanted!"

"Mr Hamilton here?"

"Is that your truck outside?" He knew darn well it was.

"Yes Sergeant".

"Where is your back number plate?" "Under the seat Sergeant".

"Nice bloody place to keep your number plate? Where's your registration sticker? I suppose that's under the seat too isn't it?"

"Yes Sergeant". Registration stickers were new in those days. I thought he might lock up the truck but he didn't!

When Sgt Dunn first arrived in Griffith Jack Prest used to run a S.P. Bookie upstairs this side of the Griffith Hotel. A brawl broke out. There must have been about fifty or sixty people fighting. BANG! BANG! Two shots rang out. Dead Silence! 'I'm 196

Sgt Dunn! I don't care who starts brawls but I finish them'. He put his gun away and walked off. The crowd faded away like magic!!"

He was also told, Jack said, that a photographer named Banna lived in a one-horse caravan or waggonette somewhere up the top of what is now Banna Avenue, near the old police station, and that Banna Avenue was called after him.

The children of Claude and Ada Hamilton were:Thelma born 5 April 1903 at Angledool NSW married Bert Sainty - lives Sydney William Claude born 5 April 1905 at Angledool died 24 February 1978 married Iris Harcourt (born Griffith, died 1981) Edith Henrietta born 1907 Angledool married William Gibbons - lives Sawtell, NSW John born 6 Oct 1909 at Lightning Ridge married Patricia Cavenagh 23 Dec 1939 (Sydney) Irene born 2 April 1913 at Penrith NSW married Kenneth Reeves - lives Blue Mountains, NSW Millicent ("Blue") born 1914 at Griffith dec'd married Albert Hay Mervyn born 1917 at Griffith dec'd married Yvonne Osborne Maxwell born 1922 at Griffith married Jean Starr - lives Sawtell NSW (Max was delivered by Sister Foster who had a farm nearer Hanwood. Mr Foster had a Kaiser moustache that would poke your eyes out - tells Jack.)

By courtesy of Pat and Jack Hamilton, 14 Noorebar Avenue, Griffith 2680

197

HAMS Perce and Euphemia Hams and their family first came to Griffith, from Narrandera, in 1913. Perce Hams was a blacksmith who worked for the Water Commission on Wickham's gang constructing the canals. Euphemia worked hard too running a small boarding house at Wickham's Camp, catering for about half a dozen men.

After working for a time in Wickham's gang, Perce was transferred back to Dunn's gang who were working over towards Leeton - camped about three and a half miles from Whitton. Then he was moved back to Wickham's gang. All this moving proved a great trial to the family so when he heard that John Jacob had taken over the blacksmith's shop at Whitton and was looking for a blacksmith to work for him he decided to apply for the job.

The eldest son, the late "Blue" Hams recalled .... "Dad said that he was finished with the Commission, so he hopped on his bike, rode the 15 miles to Whitton and got the job!" He was followed soon after by his family and the sixth Hams child, Jack, was born in Whitton in March 1914.1 "Blue" also became a blacksmith, serving his apprenticeship in Wagga Wagga.

About 1925 he received a telegram from Cecil Leckie who had taken over John Carroll's business. It read - "Come at once. Wages no object." Blue thought this an opportunity not to be missed, especially as he was planning to get married. He borrowed his return train fare of 17/6d, took the job and returned to Wagga Wagga to get married. The young couple made their home in Griffith where Bluey earned a good living and raised a family. Both lived here for the rest of their lives.

Standing at back: Percy, Arnold, Ivy. Centre: Lynda, Euphemia, Percival with John.

Front: Edna and Vicki

i Sue Chessbrough - "The Spread of Green"

198

Son Perce tells ..."My father did his apprenticeship with Furphys of Shepparton (of Furphy Water Cart fame). I (Perce) was born at Wyuna near Shepparton in 1909. In the Depression there was plenty of work for blacksmiths. It was good after WWI because the towns around here boomed but later money was scarce and Dad lost a lot of money owing to him.

Our father worked at Griffith, Narrandera, Matong and Wagga Wagga. I started blacksmithing at Wagga where I worked as 'a striker' at 10/- a week. To do this I used a 121b sledge hammer. The work of the striker was to take a piece of red hot metal from the forge and hold it on the anvil. The blacksmiths then took another red hot piece and pushed and tapped it until it stuck fast in the right position. Then while he tapped it I belted it with the sledge hammer. We were not allowed to leave hammer marks either!

After working there for a while I came to Yambil Street where my family lived (where Trenerry's now live). This was in 1927. I was employed by Roy Earl who was a blacksmith and wheelwright. Bert Harvey later bought out Earls and then we bought Harvey out and both `Bluey' and I worked there."

"Before that, in 1929, `Bluey' leased Stephen Here "Rusty" (John) interrupted Mahy's blacksmith in Yenda - on the corner of Bingar Street and West Avenue. He worked there until just before the war (WW2)."

James Patterson married Mary Ann Wait

John Hams born England 1844 arrived Adelaide 21 April 1849 on "John Mitchell" died Brisbane 1936 married Jane Ackland born 1845 Angaston SA

Percival Hams born 1883 died 1952, Rockdale NSW

married 1904 Shepparton Vic

Euphemia Patterson born 1885, Dargalong Vic died 17 May 1921, Narrandera

* * 1. Arnold George born Nine Mile Creek, Vic 8 Jan 1905 died 19 Nov 1979, Griffith; married Mary Muriel (1909-1979)

2. Euphemia Ivy born Murchison, Vic Jan 1906; married Robert Hughes of Matong 3. Victoria Adelaide born Shepparton 24 May 1908; married Hermann Smith of Uranquinty 4. Percival Edwin born Shepparton 16 Aug 1909; married May Spratt of Griffith 5. Linda Winifred born 1911; married Jack Owens 6. John "Rusty" born Whitton 15 May 1914; married Clara Peisley of Yenda 7. Edna born Narrandera 1917; married Laidley Powell at Griffith

By courtesy of Mr Perce Hams, Griffith 2680.

199

HARRIMAN Progress!!

That is what pioneering is all about and men from the first world war set the wheels of progress in motion. George Harriman was born on 7 October 1894 in Sheffield, England. He first came to Australia in 1915 and worked near Parkes. It was at Parkes that he joined the Army in 1917 and was put in the Camel Corps. After service in Egypt he was brought back to Sydney and discharged. He then worked his way back to England on a ship in 1920, only to return to Australia in 1923. This time he came to Griffith and settled at Lake Wyangan on Farm 1850. His sweetheart, Elsie Campion sailed out to Australia on the "T.S.S. Berrima" and they were married at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney on 24 November 1924. They travelled for two days by train George & Elsie I Iarriman on their Wedding Day to reach Griffith and by horse 24 November 1924. Courtesy of June I larriman and cart to reach the farm.

George's mother and father joined George and Elsie on the farm after arriving in Australia on 7 December 1927. William, his father, was born on 14 October 1870 in Sheffield. His mother, Sarah Weaver, was born on 14 June 1872 also in Sheffield. William had been a wire drawer in a factory in Sheffield so farming was an entirely new venture to him. Sarah died in 1952 and William died in 1956, both are buried in Griffith.

George died on 25 October 1968 in Gosford, to where he had retired. Elsie is still living in Gosford at this time (20/1/1990).

George and Elsie had three sons:1. Douglas born 27 Sept 1925 married June Savage in 1960 and worked on Farm 1850 until his retirement in 1988.

2. Kenneth married Betty Clarke and bought a farm in Gosford 3. Maurice married Shirley Emery and still lives in Griffith.

200

Elsie remembers her first morning on the farm when she walked out of the bedroom on to the verandah to see a big goanna lying there. She wanted to run but was riveted to the spot. She later found out George had killed it to show her.

Her first meal on the farm was rabbit which was killed by George. She also tells us about the candles and kerosene lamps which were the only lighting until electricity was connected in 1928 or 1929. Elsie rode her push bike the four miles to town for many, many years to C.WA. meetings etc as she never learnt to drive and George was too busy on the farm to take her.

She often recalls how they stood in awe on Sunday 2 August 1931 when Kingsford Smith Landed his plane on the aerodrome, never dreaming of the progress they would see in the next fifty years.

George Harriman's Farm 1850 Lake Wyangan - about 1945 Courtesy Mrs June Harriman

By courtesy of Mrs June Harriman, Griffith.

201

HARRIS Allan Walter Edwin Harris came to the Area as a Linesman with the Surveyors.

He served at Gallipoli as a Corporal (No 1191) with the 1st Battalion and was wounded there. Prior to this he had been a hardware sales manager and book-keeper at Petersham and Haberfield, Sydney. When he first came to the Area he lived with the other men at the Yenda Barracks.

Despite being severely wounded at Gallipoli, as a result of which he was not expected to live and spent many months in hospital, his daughter Marjorie, states "but he managed to clear and set up the farm through pure determination. This was Farm 802, Yenda - 11/2 miles from the town on Barracks Road. He lived here in a round-back shack until the house was completed in 1920 and he was joined by his young bride".

Allan married Ellen Marjorie Baker, at Haberfield, on 26 June 1920. They had three children - two daughters and one son. Their son served with the RAAF during WW2 and was killed over France in 1944 aged just 23 years.

Recalling the time daughter Marjorie says.. "I was just 9 years old when war broke out and 'my big brother' joined the Militia soon after. I hated it when he went off to camp. He later transferred to the RAAF and trained in Rhodesia before going into action over Europe When we were young, lots of people had tennis courts and tennis parties were a great form of weekend recreation. Saturday afternoons were exciting! Mothers went shopping and to CWA and Red Cross meetings. Fathers went to the Diggers' Club and we children to the Matinee!! Many evenings were spent around the piano with friends."

Allan More Harris m. Jean McLellan (both buried Sydney)

William Baker m. Margaret Ahern (both buried Rookwood Cemetery)

*

Ellen Marjorie Baker b. Young 14 June 1894 d. Dec 1952 (buried Yenda Cemetery)

Allan Walter Edwin Harris b. Lithgow NSW 28 April 1892 d. 26 Feb 1954 (buried Yenda Cemetery)

1. Allan Harold John b. Haberfield Sydney 9 July 1921 d. Killed in Action over France 27 July 1944 2. Irene Grace Catherine b. Griffith 28 April 1923 m. William May - lives Canberra ACT 3. Marjorie Mary Millicent b. Yenda 29 April 1930 m. Brian Francis Curran - lives Brisbane By courtesy of Mrs Marjorie Curran (nee Harris), 148 Avaton Road, Sheldon QLD. 202

HARRIS James Wilkinson Harris came to old Griffith (Bagtown) in January 1914. He was the second proprietor of the butcher's shop owned and built initially by Bert Carr. In Bagtown it was undoubtedly one of the "smartest" of the commercial enterprises and photographs show it to be correctly aligned along the roadway, well built, planned and maintained. It even provided a verandah!

Jim Harris married a widow - Mary Ellen Honey (nee McLaughlan). There were five children from Mary Ellen's first marriage; Muriel, Melva, Dorrie, Roy and Clarrie Honey, all now deceased. Her first husband had died when the youngest babe, Clarrie, was about one month old.

After Mary Ellen and Jim married there were three more children; James Walter, Edie Eveline and Valda Rosetta. Edie and Valda are the only members of this family still alive (1990).

Bagtown - from the left Harris' Butcher Shop, Andrew Martin's General Store, Miller's Butcher Shop (later the Feed Store for the Co-op).

Courtesy Mrs Joan Millynn nec Maher

Upon the arrival of the family at Bagtown in 1914, Valda, who was one month old and weighing only 4 lbs, was kept in the butcher shop coolroom to survive the terrible January heat of that year. Their home at the rear of the shop had the distinction of having a tree growing through the dining-room roof - further evidence of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the pioneers. Not only did the tree add strength to the dwelling but it also provided desirable shade in the heat of summer! The kitchen, like so many of the early homes, had a dirt floor. The bedrooms were a hessian hut lined with newspaper or whatever paver was available.

203

'Procession" Courtesy of Mrs Valda Brown nec I larris.

Valda tells us "Father built the first butcher shop in New Griffith but he never actually traded in the New Town. This shop was bought soon after completion by Les Butler from West Wyalong and after became Mitchell's Butchery. It was one of the first shops in Banna Avenue."

Jim Harris' hobby was thoroughbred race horses with which he won many Griffith Gold Cups. Two of the best known were "Irene Morella" and "Bigaroon". Prior to coming to Griffith "Bigaroon" had won the "Champagne Stakes" at Randwick Racecourse.

While living in Griffith their mother, Mary Ellen, was well known for her support of numerous charities - quoting from her obituary - "Mrs Harris worked for many charities and in the early days could be seen doing her rounds of Griffith in her sulky collecting for the establishment of the Catholic Church, the Hospital and the Griffith Show Society. In recognition of her efforts the Show Committee, in 1924, bestowed on Mrs Harris Honorary Life Membership of the Society and she is the only lady in the district to receive this honour so far". The then Assistant Secretary of the Show Society, Mrs P Kevan, added "This honour is made rarely and for many years the late Mrs Harris was the only lady in the town to enjoy this distinction. An Honorary Life Membership of the Show Society is not bestowed lightly' said Mrs Kevan. "It is given in recognition, of outstanding work done and is only conferred on unanimous vote of the Committee".-9

29

Newspaper Obituary, source and date unknown.

204

GRAND

Juvenile Concert In Aid of the Griffith DIstrlet Hospital.

LYCEUM DE LUXE, GRIFFITH

Tuesday, December 23, 1924 Commencing d p.m. sharp.

MUSICIAN: MRS. HAWKINS DIRECTION: 1155 It. PASSAU

Children Is..

Adults 2s.

"Area News" Print.

QAarizmut

.Z-FINMO 12-

... PROGRAMME ...

it

11

PART i

PART II

I. OPENING CHORUS, Song and Dance "Japloo Land."

SONG: Valda Harris.

DANCE: Pupils, R. Button. J. Pollard, Tbora Dempsey, G. Glennen, Mary Carroll, Kathleen Kennedy, liras Spratt, Theresa Hoggard, Mona Rodgers, Doris Coote..

11. SAILOR HORNPIPE ..

V. Harris, N. McNabb, C. Murphy, R. Itaithby, V. Vagg, K. Kennedy, E. *Haines, L. Harris. K. Pearson. Mary Carroll, B. McNabb. E. Ashcroft, A. Carter, It. Dutton..

L. Taylor, C. Dolton, T. Rodgers, G. Glennen, Mary Bounds, J. Pollard.

.. "Ginger 5legge."

2. SONG ..

LORNA TAYLOR AND KATH. BUTTON.

12. SONG

.• .. • • •• 3. JOCKEY DUCK DANCE ..

M. Carroll, Valda Harris, Theresa Rodgers, \Ina Yang.

I. RECITATION

"Twq. Little Girls In Blue."

ELVA ASHCROFT AND AGNES CARTER EGYPTIAN DANCES SNAKE TOE DANCE: VALDA HARRIS.

.. NANCY McNABIL

SYMBOL DANCE: MARY cArtnou.

Valda Harris, Mary Carroll. Theresa Rodger. Gwen Glennen, Rosa Button. Agnes Carter.

5a. SWORD DANCE ..

N. McNabb, R. lialthby. M. Carroll, V. Vagg. G. Mar. phy, L. Taylor, Valda Harris.

VALDA HARRIS.

15. SONG

"Please Give Me a Penny."

6. SONG ..

BESSIE McNABLI AND E1VA ASHCROFT

VALDA HARRIS

.. "Mr. Baggy Breeches."

7. SONG AND DANCE ..

Valid& Harris, Mary Carroll, Theresa Rodgers. Visa Vagg, It. Button, Elva Ashcroft. Agnes Carter, Charlie Rowley. Charlie Keys, Clem Pollard.

E. EMANTRUGHAMS DANCE ..

MARY CARROLL.

Y. TEDDY BEARS' DANCE .. ..

.. .. .. PUPILS.

.. • "On the Road to Anywhere."

16. EURYTHMIC STEPS ..

0. Hussy, It. Raithby, N. McNabb, 1. Serail., G. Murphy, R. Hussy.

37. NIGGERS' SONG AND DANCE ..

F. Pollard. V. Bounce, .G. Pollard, N. Morrison. E. Halos, A. Carter, L. Taylor. V. Vagg.

Mary Carroll, Valda Harris. Theresa Rodgers. K. Dutton, L. Taylor, G. Gleniten, K. Kennedy, K. Haines.

Vine Vagg, G. Murphy. N. McNabb, 0. Hussy, I. Spratt, T. Krogh, A. Carlin*. D. Creole.

GOD SAVE THE KING

205

James Wilkinson Harris born Narrandera NSW, died Sydney (10 Sept 1928, 50 years) buried Narrandera married Marry Ellen Honey (nee McLaughlan) born Albury, died at the home of her son James at Cammeray Sydney

1. Muriel married George Davis 2. Melva married "Curley" Keogh 3. Dorrie married Dick Edwards 4. Roy 5. Clarrie married Bert Hanch (a Londoner) 6. James Walter born 10 October 1905 married Frances Taylor 7. Edie Eveline born Narrandera 28 December 1907 married Jack Davidge (dec'd). Edie lives in Griffith 8. Valda Rosetta born Ardlethan 23 December 1913 married Robert Brown (a Londoner - dec'd)

By Courtesy of Mrs Valda Brown (nee Harris) 5 Bringagee Street, Griffith

206

HARWOOD

Thomas Ilarwood and Lillian nec Chttick 1918 (7ourtcsy Chittick Family

Tom Harwood is believed to have been the first Secretary of the Griffith Returned Soldiers' League which was formed at "the Barracks" in Beelbangera (now the Beelbangera Store). He also served in all executive capacitites in the Griffith RSL, was an inaugural member and one time early Secretary of the Griffith ExServicemens' Club. Both Tom and his wife, Lil, were great workers for ExServicemen.

Thomas Charles Harwood, a First War Ex-serviceman, was born at Bendigo Vic in 1885, the son of Matthew Harwood and Eliza (nee Tuckfield). Prior to enlisting to go to the War he had spent some time in the Bulli/Kangaroo Valley area to which he returned in 1918 to marry Mary Jane Lillian Chittick, a member of the well known pioneer family of Chittick (see Chittick biography).

Lil and Tom came to the area right after their marriage in 1918 and lived first on two Soldier Settlement fruit farms in the Bilbul/Beelbangera area before settling permanently on the farm situated on what is now Harwood Road. For many years prior to his death Tom was to suffer very poor health resulting from his war experiences.

The Harwoods had no children. Lil died, aged 73 years in June 1959 and Tom passed away in May 1964, aged 80 years.

By courtesy of Jim Chittick (nephew), 53 McNabb Crescent, Griffith 2680 207

HAYES-WILLIAMS Clive Hayes-Williams was born at Manly NSW in July 1884. His father was William Gordon Hayes-Williams, born Otahuhu near Auckland, New Zealand (4 Nov 1864), who arrived in Sydney 1868 where he married Annie Glover Laurence in 1883. They had two sons.

Hayes-Williams senior was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in 1890 and on 18 Oct 1898 was appointed NSW RegistrarGeneral, a position he held until retirement on 3 Nov 1927 - making him the longest serving Registrar General.

Annie Glover Laurence's parents were both born in Australia.

Their son, Clive Hayes-Williams, a returned soldier who had been wounded six times at the Gallipoli landing, arrived in the Area in the early part of 1919 and lived first at the Beelbangera Barracks under the Returned Soldiers' Settlement Scheme. (Prior to going to the War he had been a Bank Clerk and dairy-farm labourer before buying his own dairy farm at Dapto which he sold to enlist in the Clive liars-Williams Army on 4 Sept 1914). In the September Courtesy Mrs Val Marquis of 1919 he took up a small block at Yenda before returning to Sydney to marry Nellie Aitken Craig, at St James Church on 20 October 1919.

The newly married couple returning to their farm at Yenda travelled by train to Yanco and from there by spring-cart to Yenda to make their permanent home on Farm 1456 - on the Yenda/Yoogali/Griffith Road, 211 miles from Yenda. To-day this soldier settler is acknowledged by the road which bears his name; Hayes-Williams Road.

Their only child, Valerie Elizabeth, was born at Griffith on 14 April 1923.

Val tells us.."my father built the roundback shack himself and when my mother came soon after, they lived in the shack and a tent waiting for the house to be built. The shack's two rooms, with dirt floor, were the kitchen with open fireplace and the livingroom, each lined with hessian and perhaps ceiled with that too. The tent was the bedroom and actually boasted a board floor. The settlers could have a house built for between £300 and £500 depending on the type and the "Commission" (then the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, later the Water Resources Commission) added the cost of the house to the farm debt to be paid off over a period.

208

Owe Hayes-Williams building the Roundback Shack 1919

(live Hayes-Williams in front of tcnt and shack 1919

The view from the Shack -living Room" 1919 Photos courtesy of Mrs Val Marquis

209

Mr & Mrs Hayes-Williams with baby Val Coutlesy Mrs Val Marquis

In the Yenda district three types of house were most popular; Type 3, Type 5 and Type 7. Ours was Type 3 and consisted of living/dining room, 2 bedrooms (but you had to go through the smaller bedroom to get to the main one), kitchen, bathroom and open verandahs back and front. The structure was weatherboard with corrugated iron roof, and the inside was ceiled with pressed patterned steel known as Wunderlich and lined with boards and Wunderlich - I think this must have been an 'optional extra' as many of the houses were ceiled and lined with fibro.

We had a kitchen in the house. In most cases the kitchen was detached, being the shack where the settlers lived before the house was built. However, in about 1933 we had a corrugated iron kitchen added because my mother could not stand the heat in the original one - it got the full force of the hot western sun and this, coupled with the fuel stove, became almost intolerable in summer. We used the fuel stove in the 'new' kitchen for many years too as we did not have electricity connected until 1948, unlike the fruit farms where it was connected early.

There was no laundry in the house or outside. My mother, in common with the other women, did the washing for many years outside under the Wilga trees with water heated in the copper and using tin tubs on a wooden bench to which was attached a hand wringer. She used a scrubbing board and had to carry the water from the dam in kerosene tins made into buckets. At least within the scope of my memory the dam was nearby, but in the beginning they had to cart water from a dam a mile away. Even so, my mother planted all the sugar gums around the orchard and home block and carried water, on foot, in buckets to get the trees established.

210

As time went by and some money became available, the verandahs were closed in with either gauze and fibro or gauze and Wunderlich and could be used as another room. I slept on the front verandah for many years - delightfully cool in summer, but freezing in winter."

Although Val says she can't remember much about clothes or meals, she had vivid memories of other things - "..but I do remember that my mother, who sewed beautifully, made most of the house furnishings. The curtains were dyed hessian with raffia trim and many items of furniture she made out of kerosene cases and covered with bright cretonne - for example, chest of drawers, boxes for linen, shoes, etc.

One incident of note was when a new bride was coming to Yenda and the husband asked if she could stay at our place for a few days. Mum felt that the bedroom was so stark with no floor covering that she got wheat bags, opened them out, dyed them a lovely blue, sewed them together and made a 'carpet'. She felt a bit self-conscious about this and wondered what the city lass would think of her makeshift carpet. However, the girl was so impressed she said she was hesitant to walk on such a lovely carpet and could she cover it with old sheets or something to protect it!!

Another of the things which stays in my memory is getting to and from Yenda School, 211 miles each way. Before the road was gravelled it was all very well in fine weather but if it rained the bike wheels would clog up with thick red mud and I'd have to CARRY the bike! What a job! I think I knew every shrub, stick and stone on that road, as well as the few trees. One between Farley's Road and the Main Canal, harboured a magpie's nest - sudden death at certain times of the year! The tree is not there now but for years after I left school I thought of the un-nerving swoop of that magpie whenever I passed it - safe now in the car!

Being an only child and no other children nearby, I learnt to entertain myself.

As a small child my favourite game was to ride either my scooter or my 'hobby-horse' which consisted of a piece of wood about three feet long with a wooden horse's head on one end and small wheels on the other end. I'd 'ride' all over the orchard and home paddocks making tracks in the dirt and yards and imaginary houses, shed, etc. Great fun!

However, in about 1932 my life was greatly enhanced by the arrival next door of the Miller family from West Wyalong. Although they were about a mile away it was wonderful to have other children so close, and eight of 'em, too!

We made up our own games mostly - I can't remember having any toys or entertainment laid on but our imagination had a free rein. Picnics were great fun too but best of all was when Mr Miller would load us all onto the back of his truck and cart us off to the river at Darlington Point, singing our heads off. Marvellous memories!

As we got older, into our teens, we would sometimes have parties, usually at the Miller's place. Someone would think up exciting games and competitions, then singing round the piano with dear Mrs Miller. Not a thought of alcohol. It was all so SIMPLE and we loved it" * *

By courtesy of Mrs Valerie Marquis (nee Hayes-Williams), 17 Wood Road, Griffith 2680.

211

Clive Hayes-Williams Enlisted Sydney 4 Sept 1914 - No. 695 - to Middle East Oct 1914 Extracts from letters: 10 May 1915: "I am writing this on board the Indian hospital ship "Goorkha" in the Mediterranean a few hours' sail from Gibraltar where I hope this will be posted.

I got knocked over on the 25th ult at Gallipoli but am now progressing splendidly.

Got hit six times, the last one (through the neck from side to side) putting me out. It went close to the spinal cord and paralysed the arms but the movement is coming back into them again and the right one is pretty good again, as you can judge by this beautiful handwriting.

We are bound for England Our boys fought splendidly and made a great name for themselves. Showed great dash and kept as cool as cucumbers."

14 June 1915 Harefield Park. Middlesex "We left Mena at the beginning of April, entrained at Cairo for Alexandria and sailed from there to the Greek Island of Lemnos. We were stuck there for about 3 weeks and left about midnight on the 24th, reaching Gallipoli at daybreak on the 25th and your beloved was outed about 4.30 the same afternoon after we had penetrated about 3 miles inland.

Half of our platoon (14) and No 16 were on the extreme left flank and had a very hot time, every man being either dead or wounded before midnight. At one time we were very nearly surrounded and were lying with out feet together shooting both ways. The Turks and Germans are very plucky fighters; The only thing that beats them is the bayonet - they always break and run or drop on their knees and hold up their hands when we get within a few yards of them.

We had a rotten time on the boat going from Gallipoli to Alexandria. There were 840 wounded on our boat and only one doctor to look after us so a big proportion did not get their wounds dressed until we got to Alex. The trip took five days and we were lying on the bare deck all the time with a couple of blankets over us, without a wash and only bullybeef and biscuits to eat. A great number died on the way across. There were 11 boats in port when we arrived but the others weren't so crowded as ours --- most of them had about 600 aboard.

Our losses were about 7,000 in the first couple of days' fighting but only about 3,000 have appeared in the English papers in the past seven weeks. I don't know if the full lists have been published in Australia.

Only about 200 of the worst cases were landed in Alexandria off our boat and the other 600-odd were taken back to Malta. I was in hospital at Alex. for a week and then came on to England with about 400 others While in Birmingham I got in touch with young Dabbs' folk and they looked after me well .... He had previously written home and told them he had seen me lying in some bushes with my throat cut, so they were somewhat surprised to see me."

My father spent some time in English hospitals... then was discharged from AIF December 1915, I think as permanently unfit, incapacity three-quarters - (daughter Val).

212

However when his health improved he Re-enlisted on 12 December 1916 for active service abroad!

This time with the AIF 1st Machine Gun Corps (No 7331) am sony to say that I have been 8 June 1918 - Brooke War Hospital. Woolwich " knocked again, getting a lump of shell in each knee, and also a bit of a scratch on the old dial and a slight wound in the right thigh. I was wearing a body shield which I purchased while on leave and this no doubt saved me, as I was considerably bruised about the body, but nothing penetrated the shield. A 5.9 burst in our dugout, the two boys occupying it with me being killed instantly. They had to be buried where they laid, as the bodies were too much knocked about to move. This happened on the 30th (May) and on the morning of 31st I was operated on at the casualty clearing station and the old legs sewn up again on the 3rd. Arrived here yesterday - very comfortable here.

Although according to the young library of tickets, papers etc. that military officialdom appears to consider necessary a casualty should wear, I am `seriously wounded, I feel quite optimistic about a speedy recovery and, apart from a fair amount of pain in the knees, am particularly well."

There is a munitions strike on here at present 27 July 1918 - 1st SGH Birmingham " but I don't think it will last as public opinion is too !Mich against the strikers.

Things seem to be going well in France, if we can only keep up the pressure. Our boys are being worked very hard and seem to do all the fighting that takes place on the British front. Our Division (the 1st) is up north in Flanders opposite Meteren, Merris and Strazeele. It was about 100 (or 1000) yards south of Meteren that I got my crack. The other Division (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th) are down on the Somme round Haivel (or similar) and Villiers-Brettineux (Villers-Bretonneux)."

(Copy of some of Val Marquis' records. These extracts from her father's letters home are included as an example to highlight the tenacity and calibre of the returned men who settled in the Area. Ed.)

213

HILL Alfred Hill, whose father Edward Hill was a coal dealer, came to Australia from Surrey, England. He was born in 1828 and married Elizabeth Tapper (from Exeter in England) in 1860. She was nineteen at the time of their marriage. They married at a private dwelling at Smeaton, Victoria (Parish of Creswick and Smeaton). His residence was given as Bullarook (spelling uncertain) and hers as Smeaton. The marriage entry was No. 5 in the register. His profession was given as "farmer" and religion Presbyterian.

Their first three children were born in that area. John at Bullarook, Alfred Edward (Fred) at Campbelltown (Vic) and Andrew Tapper (Andy) also at Campbelltown.

The remaining seven were born at Groongal, where says great Granddaughter, Anne, "the father was employed on a Station, I think".

Alfred and Elizabeth shifted to "Fairview" Tabbita in 1886. One of their children died in 1887, Charlie aged three; another, William in 1888, aged nineteen. These two may have been buried on the property as were Alfred who died in 1900 and Elizabeth who died in 1923. Richard David Roberts, husband of their daughter Rose Ellen was also buried on the property.

The purchasers of "Fairview Estate" erected some headstones on graves there.

They also presented "Hill Cottage" to the Griffith Pioneer Park Museum where it stands today. With the exception of my Grandfather, Fred Hill, the remaining members of the family are buried in the Griffith Cemetery. Grandfather is buried in the Tumbarumba NSW Cemetery.

Granddaughter Anne continues - "my Grandfather, Fred Hill, married in 1889.

His wife was formerly Caroline Sarah Bassett. They had nine children, one of whom survives to the present time. This is Amy Shore who is 87 years old (1990) and is a very well-known identity of Tumbarumba. Two members of their family are represented in the Hill Cottage by their portraits which I presented to the Park some years ago. There is a snapshot of my mother, Bessie McClelland nee Hill (milking a cow) there also.

Rose married against her family's wishes in 1901/2. She and her husband had seven children, two of whom survive - Mary Holt who is one of my dearest friends as well as a relative and Katherine, who lives at Griffith.

Sarah Eliza (Lizzie) also married in face of opposition. She married Arthur Hillman and went with him to his property "Allwood" which was only a few miles from "Fairview". This property was burnt out by bushfire and the Hills came over and took Arthur and Lizzie back to 'Fairview' for a time and then helped them re-settle on "Allwood". Thus the rift between them was healed. Rose and her family were soon welcomed back into the family fold after her marriage also.

When I visited her in the 30's, my dear gentle great Aunt Lizzie told me that she deeply regretted her enforced spinsterhood and the fact that her marriage was so long delayed that she could have no children. By the way, Aunt Lizzie had a blue "Willow" pattern dinner set which had been presented to the Hill family by a business from whom they had dealt with for fifty years - a mixed goods shop, I gather; groceries, drapery, clothing, etc. Aunt Lizzie told me that she would leave it to me. I never got it. On a visit to the Pioneer Park and the Hill Cottage I saw some 'Blue Willow' articles on the long table (at which, incidentally, I've enjoyed some hearty meals!) and I wondered if they were from that dinner set. I hope so! I'd rather see them there, than own them!

214

None of the other men of the Hill family married, thus there were these marvellous old uncles who were so kind and generous to their nieces and nephews. My cousin, Mary Holt, tells me that they all had sweethearts at some time during their lives and that one of them was engaged for eight years! The eldest son, John, did not ever live on 'Fairview' but possibly came home for week-ends or to visit. I've seen him there. He worked on Wyvern Station' - from when he was fourteen until his death at the age of eighty-one.

My mother told me that this Uncle John had a bundle of letters, tied with a ribbon, in his possession. A romance gone wrong?

It is accepted that Great-Grandmother Hill was a martinet. She disapproved of smoking and wouldn't allow the sons to smoke but my mother tells me the grand children had some laughs when they saw wispy smoke clouds coming from behind the haystack!

Mary Holt tells me also that Uncle John certainly smoked in later years - 'a foul, smelly pipe' she said. But, of course, the mother was dead by that time.

She also wouldn't allow the men to wear spurs, saying it was cruelty to dumb animals. One day when visitors came and were asked in for a meal, they took off their spurs and left them outside so as not to jingle-jangle across the floor. While they were dining she gathered them up and dropped them down the `dunny pit'! I wonder if they were retrieved?!

Well, martinet perhaps, in that she opposed some and quite likely prevented some more marriages, but as regards smoking and cruelty to animals perhaps just a woman born before her time?"

L to R Rose Ellen Roberts nee Hill, her daughter Ellen and Mother Elizabeth Hill nee Tapper

215

ALFRED HILL

ELIZABETH TAPPER

born Surrey, England 21 March 1828 died "Fairview" Tabbita NSW 14 August 1900

born Exeter, England 25 January 1842 died "Fairview" Tabbita NSW 8 July 1923

married: Smeaton, Victoria, 6 May 1860 1. John Tapper born Bullarook, Vic 1 Sept 1861 died 22 June 1942. Never married.

2. Alfred Edward born Campbelltown, Vic 17 May 1863 married Caroline Sarah Bassett 30 October 1889 Alfred and Caroline had nine children.

3. Andrew Tapper born Campbelltown, Vic 24 May 1865 died 13 June 1840. Never married.

4. William born Groongal, NSW 21 May 1869 died 13 August 1888. Never married.

5. Sarah Eliza born Groongal 1 September 1871 died 3 December 1952, 81 years; married Arthur Hillman who died 23 February 1960 aged 85 years.

No issue.

6. Daniel born Groongal 8 December 1873 died 9 August 1931 7. Rose Ellen born Groongal 1 June 1877 died 9 August 1933; married Richard David Roberts c.

1901 - Rose and Richard had seven Children two of whom died young - five - "Doll", John, Ellen, Mary and Kate survived to adulthood. Mary and Kate still living.

8. George born Groongal 18 June 1879. Never married.

9. Samuel Tapper born Groongal 28 October 1881. Never married.

10.Charlie born Groongal 17 June 1884 died 8 September 1887 aged 3 years.

By courtesy of Mrs Anne Campbell (Great Granddaughter) 6 Wills Street, Chiltern, Victoria. 3683

216

HOGGARD David ("Davey") and Mary Ann Hoggard arrived from Victoria with four small children in horse- drawn vehicles in 1916. Davey's father was born in England and his mother was Irish. Mary Ann's parents were both from Ireland.

Davey came alone first, travelling by horse and leading a pack-horse - "across those endless Urana plains" says their daughter Mary. He had heard of the new irrigation area in NSW and as conditions were so bad in Victoria, with literally no work, he came to see for himself whether the stories of work and opportunity to own land of one's own were true before bringing the family. Mary remembers her Mother telling that he was away a long time and arrived back only two days before the birth of Mary herself, so the young little mother would have been alone to cope with advanced pregnancy and the other small children during his absence.

They came in two horse-drawn vehicles from Yarrawonga, across the "Urana Plains" - Mother, infant Mary and the little ones in the sulky driven by Davey.

The other vehicle, a horse and dray, driven the entire distance by Paddy who was 9 years old at the time.

Their first home was at the Quarry Camp at the base of Scenic Hill where they initially lived in the weatherboard homestead built by the Selectors whose land had been resumed for the MIA. This house was the homestead of "The Cliffs", built by the Driver family who sold the property to Francis Dun from whom it was resumed.

Mary Ann Haggard - taken at Urana 1916 The Hoggard family were able to just prior to leaving for the MIA Courtesy Mrs Mary Fitzgerald live in the house for some time - "probably because we had so many small children" says Mary - before having to vacate it upon the arrival of a WC & IC Survey Team. She describes the main part of the house as being a large weatherboard building with a wide hall right up the middle. In the front was a lounge room and bedrooms on either side of the hall from which they were entered. There was a verandah all around this part of the 217

house. The kitchen, as was the custom of the time mainly because of the danger of fire, was detached and connected to the main house by a walkway. Mary described the kitchen as a long rectangular room with a long wooden table and forms down the middle. One end was taken up entirely by an open cooking hearth (no stove!) while at the other end was a huge open fire. She remembers that her father, Davey, made little seats from solid round blocks of pine for the children to sit in front of this fire. Their mother, Mary Ann, made pretty cushions to go on top of the seats.

Water came from an underground well - sunk by the Selectors - and even on the hottest day was crystal clear and cool, recalls Mary. Speaking about this well, she also remembers the story of her Mother's trauma and terror when, at about the age of three years Mary herself accidentally fell down the well and of the efforts of the men to bring her back up to the surface in the bucket, which was normally used to bring the water up.

It was while the family were living in this house (located on what is now the south western corner of Robertson and McMahon Streets in the Driver subdivision) that Mary Ann gave birth to her fifth child, Jack. She was attended by Mrs (or Sister) Savage from Bagtown31.

When they had to vacate the homestead, Davey constructed two large tents from local timber and (mainly) cement bags. Although just a young boy, Paddy was sent up Scenic Hill to cut and bring down the support pine poles for the tents -"really heavy work for someone so young" comments Mary. They continued to live at the Quarry Camp in this tent accommodation for some time. I can remember my Mother working day after day, lining the hessian inside with newspaper and any other sort of paper which came to hand - paper of all sorts was scarce! - and pasting it on with paste made by mixing plain flour and water together and then boiling it up to make the glue. When Davey arrived back from Bagtown with some sheets of iron he'd been able to buy it was regarded as "Treasure".

Mary recalls also their wearing gauze masks over their nose and mouth during shopping trips to Bagtown because at the time (1919) pneumonic influenza was raging.

She is not sure just how long they lived at the Quarry Camp but from there they moved to Bagtown for a time before the move to Yoogali. Reflecting on the hardships of the early days Mary commented that one of the greatest, in hindsight, was the isolation for the young women and mothers from close family and its support, especially in times of sickness, bereavement or trouble. The sense of "aloneness" had been a very real stress.

There were so few older, experienced women to whom they could go for advice and reassurance. She feels quite sure however that this very circumstance was responsible for the very close, supportive and life-long friendships that resulted among the pioneer families.

The Hoggard family took up land at Yoogali after Davey had worked for the W.C. & I.C. for some time. He worked alone, as a burr cutter. His creamy pony and sulky with water bags attached to the sulky were a familiar sight in the early days.

30 Photograph of 'The Cliffs- see frontispiece 31 There is a difference of opinion as to whether Mrs Savage was a qualified midwife or whether she was an experienced older woman who assisted when a qualified person was unavailable.

218

After living in several make-shift homes, Mary Ann's house was finally built on the farm at Yoogali - by Bill Flynn, assisted by Davey. Mary fondly recalls the delight of the children to be living there - "in a house with board floors! We just thought we were made!"

The eldest son, Paddy, was the first Catholic altar boy in Griffith. His mother had to teach him the Latin responses to enable him to answer Mass and May Fallon (then May Boyle) made his altar vestments. The Hoggard family were also among those to welcome the first Nuns who came to live and teach in Griffith - Sisters Mary Dominic, Dorothea and Stanislaus.

Haggard Family 1922 back: Teresa, Mr Davey Hoggard, Paddy, David front Mary, Bob, Fred, Mrs Mary Ann 1 loggard, Jack Courtesy Mrs Mary Fitzgerald

Davey and Mary Ann had 10 children:1. Patrick born 1904 in Victoria 2. Teresa born 1909 in Victoria 3. David born 1912 Urana NSW 4. Mary born Victoria: married Sydney Fitzgerald - lives Canberra 5. John born 1916 Quarry Camp (in Dun/Driver Homestead delivered by Mrs Savage) 6. Robert Joseph born 1918 Griffith (delivered by Sr Lillian Burns), bur 4 May 1971. 53 years 7. Frederick born 1921 Griffith (delivered at home. Bagtown by Sr O'Reilly) 8. Stephen born 1923 Griffith (delivered by Nurse Taylor. Yoogali) 9. Valentine L born 1926 Griffith (delivered by Nurse Taylor. Yoogali): bur 18 Oct 1963.34 years 10.Christopher Francis born 1930 Griffith (delivered by Nurse Taylor. Yoogali) bur 10 Sept 1970, 39 years By courtesy of Mrs Mary Fitzgerald (nee Hoggard), 17/8 Currong Flats, Currong Street, Braddon ACT 2601 219

JACKA Annie Louise Jacka owned a Hotel at Balranald and when it was destroyed by fire the family moved to Hay, Hillston and the Ardlethan area before eventually coming to Bagtown (Griffith) about 1912/14.

Leonard Millett Jacka (born in Cornwall in 1864) and Annie (born in Raglin Gully, Victoria in 1866) were married in Narrandera.

Their grand-daughter Joan tells us . . . "My Grandmother took in boarders whilst Grandfather worked for the WC & IC as a saddler. They later moved to two blocks of land in Canal Street, building a large rambling house of six rooms with a verandah completely surrounding the house.

This verandah was later was converted to bed-rooms, as there seemed to be a continual stream of visitors and people wishing to board for a short period of time.

Friend & Annie Louise Jacka holding baby. (Taken Bagtown) Courtesy Mrs Joan Ross

Bert Jacks and his Car at Bagtown Courtesy "Griffith Collection"

My father (Herbert Leonard Jacka) opened the first motor vehicle and cycle repair shop in Bagtown. He later worked for Williams Garage when they opened in Griffith. He and his brother-in-law Tom Bell opened a garage where Donaldsons Mitre 10 now stands.

220

Some time later Herbert (or 'Bert' as he was known) opened his own garage in Yambil Street in front of the Canal Street residence; he also ran a hire-car service.

He was Dr Watkins chief source of transportation, driving him to cases outside of town. They had many experiences of wet boggy roads and taking long hours to travel a short distance.

Father also transported the footballers from Griffith to neighbouring towns to play. He later employed Bill Hamilton to drive the hire cars while my Father concentrated on the sale and repair of vehicles. A few of the franchises included: Ford, Chrysler, Essex, Hudson etc; very much later he brought the Land Rover and Rover Car agency to Griffith."

Bert married Harriett Alpen (Addie) in 1926 and had one child, Joan.

Mr & Mrs Jacka & Joan Joan continues "During the war years my Courtesy Mrs Joan Ross ncc Jacka parents spent five out of seven evenings until 2 or 3 a.m. manufacturing, on the lathe, precision parts requested by the Government. I remem ber my Mother and Aunts making camouflage nets and knitting endless socks and scarfs.

Jacks's Garage. Courtesy Mrs Joan Ross

221

We built a home behind the garage and moved into it in 1946.

My Aunt Eva married and lived in Sydney. Myrtle married Frank Kinkead and lived on a farm at Lake Wyangan. The remainder of the family lived with my Grandmother in the big house in Canal Street.

Every week or so people gathered with us for a dance on the front verandah, dancing to recordings played on a gramophone. My Mother's brother's home on a farm at Lake Wyangan was also a popular venue for dancing with my Uncles supplying the music on the mouth organ and accordion. I remembered being carried and whirled around the dance floor by various Uncles.

When my Father died in 1960 my Mother and I carried on the business for another ten years.

My Father was a member of the Fire Brigade for thirty years. He was one of the first people to take an active interest in establishing horse racing in Griffith. A member of the Gun Club and the Coursing Club - he had racing dogs and kept them in the back of the shop and fed them on scraps from the Area Hotel and 'Bouquet' Cafe. Father was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and various other Lodges for many years."

The family of Leonard Millett and Annie Louise Jacka were: 1. Herbert Leonard "Bert" born Clare SA 1893, died Griffith 1960 married Harriett Alpen (born Wee Waa, 1908).

One child, Joan, born Griffith 1927 2. Evelyn "Eva", born 1896, died Sydney 1937, married Harry Cassim.

One Child: Stella, born 1927 3. Myrtle born 1899, died Griffith 1968, married Frank Kinkead One child: Grace, born Griffith 1928 4. Ivy May "Belle" born 1902, died Griffith 1973, married Thomas Bell.

Two children: Leonard, born Griffith 1924, Donald, born Griffith 5. Kathleen "Kitty", born Hay 1912, died Griffith 1961, married Frank Kelly One child: Graham, born Griffith 1945

Courtesy Mrs Joan Ross, nee Jacka, 2 Yoolooma Street, Griffith 2680

222

JACOB John Jacob, one of the best known and colourful of Griffith Pioneers, described as "quick tempered but with a heart of gold", was a Welshman. Born at Pontlottyn, near Rhymney, Wales in 1859, he was the son of John Jacob, an engineer by profession, and Martha (nee Jenkins).

In 1885, at the age of twenty six, the young John arrived in Australia aboard the S.S. "Florida" from South Africa. He had been in South Africa for some time where he had been a partner in a firm of tea merchants who traded under the name of Jacob, Anthony & Clime, a business he continued in Australia.

After various adventures in different parts of Australia he established himself in business in this quarter of the State and soon became one of the best known storekeepers of the Riverina with branches of his business at Carrathool, Whitton, Darlington Point and also at Wyalong.

Cecilia Jane Jacob, nee Byrne and daughter 'Manic" Courtesy Mrs Rita Gorman (nee Jacob)

223

John Jacob Courtesy Mrs Rita Gorman (nee Jacob)

It is not known for certain exactly when he came to this area.

Prior to the resumption of land for the establishment of the irrigation scheme he conducted general stores at both Whitton and Darlington Point but the family lived at Whitton. At one time he also owned a share in the property "Conapair". It may have been at this time that he met his future wife, Cecilia Jane Byrne, from Goulburn, who was a Governess to one of the Gunbar families.

A man of many parts and entrepreneurial flair, he took advantage of the enormous influx of construction workers and established temporary stores at each of the construction camps, moving these with the people as the work progressed and the workers and families moved on to the next camp site - usually another seven miles further on.

In the early years of World War I he set up a permanent business at Bagtown - principally a

bakery, which he moved into the "new town" and he had another bakery at Yenda. Along with his business enterprises he was a Justice of the Peace, District Coroner, Guardian of Minors, Carrathool Shire Councillor, Committee-man and official of the Griffith Race Club and the Griffith Agricultural Society, Member of the Board of the Griffith District Hospital - just to name some of his involvement in local affairs.

His great Granddaughter, Cecile, tells us - "It is said his generosity was very well known. He treated everyone the same but, unfortunately, he used the same language to male and female alike, a practice which inclined to offend some of the womenfolk, though it is said his good points outweighed his bad. He was quick tempered but had a heart of gold. Many is the time, during the Depression, he sent van loads of bread to Hillston with no payment expected nor any received.

It was during the Depression that he introduced "Bread Tokens". People receiving the dole went to the Police Station where they received a "dole docket" detailing how much groceries, meat and bread each person or family were entitled to for the week. They then took this docket first to the grocer who gave them another docket to take to the butcher and the baker. Since few people would want their whole weekly ration of meat or bread on the same day, the butcher usually served them with what they required on the day and entered the remaining amount to which they were entitled in his book, kept especially for this purpose. This entailed a lot of record keeping. John Jacob exchanged his portion of the docket for tokens. Each bread token represented one loaf of bread and could be presented as people needed bread.

Bread Tokens used by John Jacob Courtesy Mrs Cecile Dyball

Another story told of John Jacob is that he owned a prize saddle which was used by his son, Eric, to ride from Whitton out to the farm of his elder brother, John Jnr. Here the saddle was left out where a calf or cow chewed it open to eat the stuffing.

Fearing the consequences when his father found out what had happened, the young Eric took it into King, the Saddler in Griffith, to be repaired.

224

Now it appears that father John used to visit King and yarn by the hour. As Eric was only a teenager he was having trouble raising the money for the repairs.

Sitting talking with King this day, John Jacob admired the highly polished saddle.

He said to King "My,that is a fine looking saddle you have there."

"Do you really like it John?" said King.

"Too right!!" said John.

"Well I'll tell you what I'll do" said King, "A fellow left it for repair and can't pay. I'll sell it to you for the cost of the repairs."

"Be buggered!! You are having me on!" said John.

"No. I really will."

King kept quiet of course about the fact that it was Jacob's son Eric who couldn't pay. John paid the money before King could change his mind and told Eric to "go around to Kings and pick up a saddle.

It is a real beauty!"

While he was J.P. and Coroner in Griffith he asked the Policeman (Breeny?) - "Who have you there to-day?"

"Just old--- and he should have been dead years ago.

Drunk and disorderly, the silly old B--." Jacob, who had had a bit to drink himself, said "Well, I'll sentence him to be hung."

"Wait" said the Policeman. "We can only tine hint 10/-."

The drunk asked if he could borrow the ten shillings from John who of course gave him the money.

Still another story told of John Jacob is of his going out to see the Hoads of Merriwagga a few days before Christmas. It was very hot so on the way hack he called at the home of his son John, for refreshments. Alighting from his vehicle, he thrust a pair of live turkeys, a present from Hoad, into the arms of his young grandson Tom, intending for them John Jacob c 1930 to be put somewhere cool until he was leaving. Courtesy Mrs Dorothy Doyle (nee Jacob) Young Tom took care of them by cutting off their heads! It cannot be repeated what John Snr. said when he left the house and saw them dripping on the line!

In the 1930's kerosene came in square 4 gallon tins, these were used by the farmer, but empty and cleaned were used by grape growers who paid 1/- (one shilling) for each tin - good money in those days. Jacobs had two tractors so used quite a bit of kerosene but where were all the tins? When John and his son John and grandson Tom were driving back to Griffith who should shoot out of a side lane but Bill Cooney with a load of kerosene tins! John said, "Pullover Cooney! Where did you get all those kerosene tins from? You don't have any tractors, only horses."

225

"Your place John" Cooney replied.

"You thieving Irish B---" said John, "unload them", which he did. His son John drove his father the rest of the way back to Griffith. On the way home John Jnr. said to his son Tom "I bet Cooney has gone back and got those kerosene tins." Sure enough, when they passed the corner of the lane all the tins were gone!

John Jacob and Cecilia Jane Byrne were married, at Narrandera, on 11 December 1894 by the Rev. Fr. Thos J Carroll and their witnesses were A G Vivian Stevens and Mary Ellen Stevens.

Their children were:1. John LB born 1895; died 18 January 1961 at Griffith, aged 65 years.

Married Helen Hardman in London 2. Muriel born 1897; died and buried in Sydney unmarried.

3. Irvyn W born 1901; buried in Sydney married Stella Burns, buried in Sydney 4. Harold T horn 1903; buried in Sydney married Mona Bennett 5. Eric R horn 1905; buried in Sydney married Dorothy Southey 6. Edwin A born 1907, buried in Sydney married Violet Rafferty 7. Dorothy born 1909; buried in Sydney married William Jago John Jacob Snr. died and was buried in Griffith on 31 August 1932,at the age of 75 years.

Rita, a Jacob granddaughter and daughter of John Jnr and Helen, wrote "the whole family lived at Benerembah Street, Whitton, until my father (John Jnr) went to the first World War. He met and married my mother, Helen Hardman, in London. My Grandmother (Jacob) died in Sydney in 1924. 1 can remember us all being terribly upset.

I was four and had one sister and one brother younger than I and the last time I was back to Griffith was for Blanche's (Mrs Bob Down) funeral. She was our cousin - brought up by the grandparents, Hardman, who followed our mother out here from England. They are all buried in the Griffith Cemetery."

John Robert Hardman buried 2 February 1938, aged 71 years Julia Blanche Hardman buried 3 April 1948, aged 83 years Julia Blanche Down (nee Hardman) buried 28 September 1981 (1916-1981) "loved wife of Bob. Devoted mother of Wendy and grandmother of Catherine" 226

Bread Delivery Van Courtesy Mrs Cecile Dyball

By courtesy of Mrs Cecile Dyball (g/granddaughter) 2 Davies Road, Padstow 2211 Mrs Rita Gorman (nee Jacob) 49 Wisdom Street, Guildford 2161 Mr Clive Pritchard, Yambil Street, Griffith 2680 227

JENKINS Mrs Nesta McWilliam still has a clear memory of her Mother's first reaction to the sight of Farm 253 Yoogali, on February 22nd, 1915.

As she surveyed the dusty farm, amid the heat and the flies, without even a roof over their heads, she stood with hands on her hips and stated "Well, this is the limit!".

That is how the farm earned its name and it was known from then on as "The Limit".

"Mc Limit" about 1919 Courtesy Mrs N McWilliam

Mr Malcolm Morris Jenkins was born in Burma but sent back to England to complete his education. He met and married Winifred Thyrza Hawes at Westport, near Karamea in the South Island of New Zealand in 1896 and Nesta Mary their eldest child was born in 1898. Two more daughters, Gwenlliam Morris and Marjory May were born in the next nine years.

In 1915, Mr and Mrs Jenkins and two of their three daughters, Nesta and Marjory travelled from Kama, New Zealand to take up land at Yoogali. They stopped over in Sydney for one or two days then travelled to Leeton by train. Two days later they caught a horse-drawn coach to Yoogali, arriving in the heat of mid-February. Their other daughter, Gwenlliam stayed on in New Zealand for another year to finish her schooling.

For the first three months in Yoogali the family lived in tents, doing battle with the climate, the flies, dust, insects and lack of home comforts, until their home was built.

The only furniture they brought with them from New Zealand was their piano. The original house still stands on Farm 253, with additions and improvements over the years, and is still occupied today.

After Gwen finished her schooling in New Zealand and joined the family in Yoogali, she went on to become a teacher, and taught at Bagtown, Binalong, Whitton and many other schools in the area before she married John Henry Kelly and moved to Leeton to live. Later they came back to Griffith and took up a rice farm. From there they moved to Canberra where Gwen died in 1988.

228

Marjory married a William (Bill) Parker and moved to Sydney, where she still lives today.

Nesta met Lawrence John Roy (Jack) McWilliam at a dance at Hanwood and in 1919 they were married. Their first daughter Winifred was born in 1921, followed by Marjory, Keith, Stuart, Elaine, Yvonne, Esme and Patricia. Jack McWilliam died on the 29 December 1972 and Nesta, now nearly 92, still lives an active, involved life, in Griffith.

Mrs and Mrs Jenkins lived on Farm 253 until retirement, when they moved to Sydney were Mr Malcolm Jenkins died on 7 August 1940 and Mrs Winifred Jenkins lived on until she died on 1 August 1977. Both were cremated in Sydney.

Mr Malcolm Morris Jenkins

By courtesy Mrs N McWilliam and her son, Mr S J McWilliam Mrs Winifred Jenkins on her 97th Birthday 22 Feb 1976

229

JOHNSON The first 25 acre block in the area was taken up by Alfred John Johnson and his wife, Lizzie, nee Newman. Alfred was born in Kent Street, Sydney in 1876. His father was John Ernest Johnson, who was a mariner in Sweden and came to Australia in 1873.

His mother, Emma Amelia Philpott, came from the Isle of Wight and arrived on the "British Commodore" in 1873.

John and Emma were married in the Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth Street, Sydney, also in the year 1873. John is buried in the Field of Mars cemetery, Sydney, while Emma is buried in the Rookwood cemetery.

Lizzie's father was William Charles Newman who arrived on the "Illawarra" in 1883 with his wife, Mary Ann Verrier. They came from Norwood, England and are both buried in the Field of Mars cemetery in Sydney.

Alfred married Lizzie in 1901 at Granville and died in Griffith on 12 October 1960. Lizzie is buried in Goulburn having died on 11 May 1948.

The family came to Griffith in 1914 travelling by train to Willbriggie, and then Micky Cush took them to block 109 by horse drawn coach.

The block was virgin land covered with tiny pine trees interspersed with box and gum trees. A huge carpet snake was discovered on the farm. It seemed big enough to swallow the five children all at once and they were terrified of it until told it was harmless.

Vera remembers that women always wore hats and gloves in those days when dressed to go out. Hats suitable to the occasion were also worn by the men. Women took pride in their cooking and the meals were excellent and the food, of course, was home grown.

Entertainment was scarce, music, reading for pleasure or study, and picnics were the order of the day.

Vera also remembers a lovely farm as her father planted roses right across the front of their 25 acres.

Alfred, better known as J.J. sold his farm in 1934 and with his wife and family moved to 112 (now 400) Banna Avenue. Constantino Croce bought the farm and his son, Enso, grandson Dino and granddaughter Lucy, still live there today with their Grandmother.

The Johnsons later sold the Banna Avenue property to Navins Dry Cleaners, and moved to Goulburn to live with their daughter and son-in-law, Vera and Les Chettle.

The family of Alfred John and Lizzie Johnson: 1. Alfred Newman born 19 Apr 1902; married Edna Lucy Jackson Boyd. (Edna is buried in the Griffith Cemetery).

2. Lilian Vera born 30 Mar 1905: married Les Chettle (Les is buried in the Leppington Cemetery) 3. Elsie Maude born 24 Oct 1906; married Al Richicson. Both are buried at Mona Vale 4. Gladys Amelia born 22 Feb 1910; married F Moss (who is buried at Leppington) 5. Leslie Royston born 2 Nov 1912; married Esther Hume. Les is buried in the Griffith Cemetery.

By courtesy of Mrs Vera Chettle-Goddard.

230

KAYESS Oliver Kayess was born in Sydney, New South Wales on 3 August 1893. He was the second son of William Henry Tucker Kayess Jnr and Ann Rebekah (nee Metzenthin).

Oliver married Belinda Hopping at the Presbyterian Church, Auburn, Sydney, on 27 November 1915.

Belinda was the second daughter of George and Belinda Hopping, the parents of whom came from England. Ben Hopping, the father of George was a brickmaker who supplied bricks for the railway bridges on the lines near Sydney.

On discharge from the Army after the First World War, with the rank of Warrant Officer Oliver & Belinda Karts and First Class (the same rank the infant Genevieve he attained in the Second Courtesy George Karts World War), Oliver was Town Clerk of the Ingleburn Council (1919) a position he resigned to take up farming - on Farm 1572 Yenda.

Their first home was a round-back shack with a galvanised iron roof. Oliver built this shack and put a wooden floor in it. When the WC & IC wanted £400 to erect a dwelling he thought that the price was too high so he built their home around the shack.

This dwelling is still occupied today (1990).

The timber for the buildings came from a mill in Pleasant Valley, near what is now Barry's Drive. Settlers carted their requirements on horse-drawn waggons and often had long waits to get their ordered timber because so many people were building at the same time which kept the saw-mill busy. A quarry also operated in that area and produced aggregate for concrete to construct channels and other structures. A small railway line ran downhill from the crushing plant for loading onto transport - probably horse and dray, to supply WC & IC and the Settlers.

231

Twins George & Roderick 4 mths old George in Belinda's arms. Jan 1924

Farm 1572 - hay Carting c 1928 Ray Purkis, Dick, George, Pat & Lindsay

House built around the Shack - January 1927 Photos courtesy George Kayess

232

The saw-mill and quarry were located east of "Toohey's Tank" officially known as Mt Elliott Tank. However, as Peter Toohey was the government-appointed keeper of the tank it became known locally as "Toohey's Tank". Peter Toohey and his family lived at this tank as did some of the saw-mill workers and their families. It was Peter Toohey's responsibility to levy and collect all monies at this tank for watering animals - horses, bullocks, camels and driven sheep and cattle. These permanent-water tanks were located at regular intervals along the Stock Routes. Well known identity, Harold ("Tiger") Goring, whose father worked at this mill, was born there. In fact at that time it was a small settlement of quarry and mill workers and their families.

Despite the primitive conditions and because she felt that she and Oliver had been separated long enough by the War, it happened that Belinda joined her husband during the heat wave of December 1920. With her, came her tiny daughter Gene 18 months old, and infant daughter, Laurie. Within two weeks this babe, Laurie, was to die of heat exhaustion, on the day before Christmas Eve! Since there was no local undertaker, her father Oliver, had to make the little coffin himself and take the small body to the cemetery at Bagtown for burial. Laurie was just five months old. A heartbreaking occurrence in itself but with the horrible irony that the family had to have a fire on Christmas Day because of the sudden severe cold front and drop in temperature which came through in the wake of the heat wave! Nevertheless, the petite Belinda was one of the remarkably staunch women who came and stayed and reared their families despite the many heartbreaks.

Their son, George, tells...."Less than three years later, in 1923, Dr Chapman came from Narrandera to attend my mother when she was about eight months pregnant. On the 1st September my father was sent to fetch Nurse Waters, the Bush Nurse, to attend the impending birth but before they could return my Aunt, realising the birth was imminent, took the little girl Gene and went to bring Mrs Murray, a near neighbour.

While my mother was alone I was born. Twenty minutes later, by which time the nurse had arrived, my twin brother was born. Such was the hardships endured by the settlers and their wives but it was all part of an adventure which they were to cheerfully survive."

In 1923 Oliver Kayess and his neighbour, George Veness, started the Yenda Settlers Ltd. This later became the Yenda Producers' Co-op. Oliver was honorary secretary for many years. On one occasion he and some of the other settlers went to Leeton to attend a meeting. They travelled by horse and cart. They left about noon and returned early the next day, having travelled 70 miles. Quite a good effort for a draught horse (and men too)!

Looking back on those years George Kayess recalled the Tobacco Barns at Yenda being burnt down and all the contents lost: McWilliam's Winery started operation about the same time as the Yenda Producers. "People read a lot - radio didn't operate here until the 30's. In the really early days there was no electricity, telephone, motor cars, hotel, permanent doctor, nor cooling - except for the drip safe or water bag."

The dates that saw all the population turn out were 25th April - Anzac Day and 11th November - Remembrance Day. A gramophone provided entertainment, also singing and dancing came later when houses were built. Card evenings, picnics and later tennis.

The ground tanks were favourite places for swimming during summer. Life was full of work for the whole family, but a half day was taken now and then for a game of cricket with the neighbours.

233

W H Tucker Kayess Sr. c 185t.

Courtesy George Kayess

The Kayess family were from London.

Silk and Velvet Merchants by trade, Oliver's grandfather, William Henry Tucker Kayess Snr was admitted to the "Freedom of the City of London" on the 10th October 1856. an honour held too by his father, James Kayess, who was a Silk Printer.

The junior William Henry Tucker Kayess was born on 18 June 1851 at Blenhiem House, Bow, London. He was the son of William Henry Tucker Kayess Snr and Jane (nee Stewart) of Appin, Scotland.

William jnr came to Australia in the early 1870's and took up land in the Tweed River area. When gold was discovered at Gympie the young W H T Kayess was attracted to try his luck. Apparently his luck was not good because the next known of his movements is that he swam the Clarence River and eventually arrived at the goldfields in Victoria.

It was here on 17 June 1891 that he married Anna, the daughter of Carl August and Fredrika Metzenthin. (Carl was born in 1815 at Gransea, north of Berlin and Fredrika [nee Weniger] was born at Rabesau, Germany.)

Jimmy Miller's house being moved to Farm 1593 for Sid Twigg c 1931. Courtesy George Kayess

234

The family of Belinda and Oliver Kayess were: Genevieve Belinda born 5 June 1918 at Liverpool NSW married Clive William Tregear - lives Bensley Road, Ingleburn NSW Laurie Florene born 18 July 1920; died 23 December 1920, buried Bagtown Cemetery, aged 5 months.

Stewart George born 1 September 1923 at Yenda married Alice D Collins - lives Farm 1306, Whitton NSW Roderick Oliver born 1 September 1923 at Yenda Killed In Action Papua, New Guinea 1942 Patricia born 1 October 1925 at Yenda married Graham Pearce - lives Brisbane Old Lindsay John born 26 April 1927 at Yenda married Joyce Partridge - lives Brisbane Old Anthony Roger born 20 May 1930 at Yenda married Nola Clapsham - lives Campbelltown NSW

By courtesy of George Kayess, Farm 1306, Whitton 2704.

235

KENDALL "I can't remember anything but a wonderful and happy childhood. We had wonderful parents." This is the memory of June, the eldest of George and Grace Kendall's daughters.

George's father, John Thomas Kendall, was born in Kent, England.

After coming to Australia he married Anne Clee who was born at Tumut NSW, as also was their son, George.

George married, at Burwood NSW, Grace Emma Sutton. Grace was born at Dubbo NSW. In 1917 George, with brother Francis ("Frank") and their parents arrived in the Area. At this time their occupation was given as "farmers". They came to the Griffith area from Leeton, travelling by waggon and took over Farm 684 from William John Grace Kendall Taylor who had held it from 22 September 1916 until 8 May 1917 when George and Francis Kendall are shown as becoming the owners.32 Their parents, Thomas and Anne also lived on this farm.

Records show George enlisting, at Narrandera, on 5 May 1917 so it seems that Frank ran the farm during George's war time absence. George served with the 1st Light Horse Regiment as a Lance Corporal (No. 3622) and saw service in Egypt. Between 1917 and April 1919 George was severely wounded and he was invalided home for early repatriation on 29 April 1919 per "SS Dorset". His medical report shows his having been admitted to hospital on a number of occasions at this time, the last stating "Dangerously ill. Pneumonia". His daughter, June said that because her father was so ill he was put into a ward on the ship coming home where all the men were in such a hopeless condition they were virtually left to die - a fate which undoubtedly would have befallen George Kendall had he not been found there by a Salvation Army padre, Padre Taylor, who got him out and nursed him all the way home to Australia. His medical report tells further "Disembarked Fremantle, condition improving, dated 31 May 1919" but on 27 October 1920 he was "still in hospital undergoing treatment".

32

Brian Kelly's "History of Griffith"

236

George had met his future wife, Grace, while he was on leave prior to his going overseas. They were married in Sydney, 5 March 1921.

For four and a half years before her marriage Grace had worked as a saleswoman in the Needlework Department of David Jones; George Street store. The reference given to her when leaving, on 24 February 1921 extended "best wishes for her future happiness and prosperity".

Arriving at Farm 684 in the summer of 1921, their daughter, June says "What a dreadful shock to my Mother!"

Frank also married a city girl - Mavis Wilkinson.

The Kendall parents and grandparents are all buried together in the Griffith Cemetery.

George Kendall

John Thomas Kendall (died Griffith 13 Jan 1938) married Anne Clee (died Griffith 20 Aug 1938) George Kendall (died Griffith 5 June 1976) married Grace Emma Sutton (died Griffith 3 June 1979) * 1. June born Burwood 21 Jan 1922; married Bill Holton of Gosford, they live in Griffith 2. Enid born Griffith 29 Sept 1924; married Gordon Miles, they live in Kareela, Sydney 3. Fay born Griffith 17 June 1929; married Colin Miller, they live in Griffith

By courtesy of Mrs June Holton, PO Box 1007, Griffith 2680.

237

KENNEDY Edward Kennedy was born in Dublin in 1876. His wife, Elizabeth Dwyer was born at Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny Ireland in 1881. They met and married in Auckland, New Zealand in 1905.

Edward, a Master Mariner (ship's captain) had been a "Square Rig" sailor from the age of 14 years until his marriage. He then gave up the sea and became Harbour Master with the Auckland Harbour Trust, a position he left to take on farming in the MIA. This decision was undoubtedly influenced by his brother-in-law, Elizabeth's brother, George Dwyer who had come to Australia to join the police force but having arrived, heard of land available in this Area and decided to take on farming instead.

George Dwyer was the original settler on Farm 165, granted 28 July 1915.

It was here to his farm that Elizabeth Kennedy came with their first three tiny children (Jack as an infant) to live with her brother, George, pending Edward's arrival.

Edward had remained in Auckland to overseer the sale of their home, finalise work details, etc.

Arriving at Willbriggie, Elizabeth and family travelled to Hanwood by Micky Cush's coach. Edward arrived a few months later in a T-Model Ford, driven by Lin Gordon, the brother of an early garage proprietor, Jim Gordon.

The Kennedy Family - Griffith 1926, Farm 160 Hanwood L-1R: Back - Kathleen, Mary (Lily), Jack Front - May, Elizabeth (tizzy), Joe, Edward (Ned), Evelyn (Eva). Courtesy the Kennedy Family.

238

Initially, the family lived for the first year with their uncle in a tin shed on his farm. On 28 August 1914 Farm No 160 was granted to Edward Kennedy. On this farm they had built what son Jack recently described as "a huge barn/come house, built by "Piggy" George Harris who evidently was the current builder of the day as there were many similar structures built in the area and built to the same plan!! Comprising four external walls and a gable roof - everything else was left to the imagination of the dweller from there on in!!"

Because of the huge drainage channels which spanned the front and one side of the original Farm, No 160, excess salt ruined a large area for fruit growing. As a result, in 1925, "we were granted additional land, complete with a weather-board house, sporting verandahs back and front, much closer to the action in Griffith, and, for the first time, we had doors that would open, close and lock!! But we still didn't have the luxury of light or power which didn't come until 1930. The new area was Farm 1168 on the back road adjoining Mr Cliff Thorne's property on the Hanwood Road."

Elizabeth ("Liz") and Edward ("Ned") Kennedy's family were: Lillian born 1908 New Zealand died 1979 buried Woronora Cemetery married Arthur Blackwood Kathleen born 1910 New Zealand died 1968 married William Breadner Jack born 1912 New Zealand; widowed 1983 married Nurse "Bid" Smallwood at Griffith 1939 May born 1914 at Griffith married Cecil Wilder at West Wyalong both living (1990) at 20 Austral Street, Kogarah NSW Eve born 1916 at Griffith married A Parker; widowed 1984 lives (1990) Villa, 33 Railway Parade, Kogarah NSW Joe born 1922 at Griffith married Joan Hisham at Wagga 1945; widowed 1987, lives (1990) 274 Lyons Road, Fivedock NSW

By courtesy of Jack Kennedy, 443 Pacific Highway, Asquith NSW 239

KENN I NGALE- N EVARDE Robert Joseph Kenningalc-Nevarde, better known as Bob Kenningale, was born at Colchester, Co Essex, England, in 1883. He sailed to Australia in 1902 as a single lad of 18 years. He was the son of Robert William Kenningale-Nevarde and Ellen (nee Gibling).

He came to this Area in 1912 and worked for some time before returning to Sydney in 1914 to enlist but was turned down because of bad feet.

He married Augusta Emily Muffet, in Glebe, on 25 July 1914 and returned with his new bride. (Augusta Emily Muffet was the daughter of Thomas Muffet from Windellama near Goulburn and Elizabeth Carter whose father, Thomas Carter was the son of Charles Carter (b 21 Jan 1881) a convict who arrived in 1828.

Bob and his wife, "Gussie", settled down for a year and a half in "Bagtown" until their first baby was due to arrive. Then they made way back to Lidcombe where they owned a house but which at that time was rented by Mr and Mrs Lethby the parents of Eric, Lola (Cummins) and Elma (Gibbs). Because their own house was rented they in turn had to rent a house - 16 Livingstone Road, Lidcombe. Their first child, a daughter, was born and they stayed on there until another son and daughter were born.

In 1920 they returned to this area once more with their small family and set up a boarding-house. This was situated where Tharbogang is now. (This was the location of "Dillon's Camp".) It had an iron roof, hessian walls and a dirt floor. Mrs Kenningale cooked meals for the men without families, who lived in tents and worked on the construction of the channels which were being formed at the time.

Later they shifted to West End, Griffith. The older children started school at Griffith Primary School. Miss Mona O'Meara, Mrs Aiton and Miss Gammon were teachers there at that time.33 Son Cyril remembers "Dad was a carpenter but could turn his hand to anything.

He collected bottles to sell. At one time he built jinkers for the W.C. & I.C. - four wheeled horse-drawn covered carts used so that the workers could lock up their tools when they went home.

We even went painting at one time. I left school when I was twelve and went to help Dad. He was painting the water-bailiffs' (channel attendants) houses - for instance, Mr Borland's at Hanwood. I remember because when I climbed down the ladder I put my foot in the paint tin!. It took ages to clean up the mess!!

Even in those days we had "noise pollution". We had a saw-bench in Binya Street until the neighbours complained - then we shifted it to Canal Street - then to O'Meara and Drummonds timber yard. It was down the bottom of Banna Avenue where Webster's soft drinks were until recently. We sold wood, then for a pound a ton. We got the wood, or some of it, from Reg Harnott on the Rankins Springs Road.

33

Mrs Eileen Marriott (nee Gammon) tells that the school teacher Mrs Aiton was formally Kathleen

Kelly, sister of the first Shire President, Jack Kelly. The drinking fountain in the children's park. near the CWA. is a tribute to her popularity.

240

Mr & Mrs Robert Kcnningalc with daughters Gwen (right)and Nell (left) taken 1930's. Courtesy Augusta Kcnningalc

We also had the contract for gravelling part of the Old Willbriggie Road. We loosened the gravel with a pick, (it was in the gravel pit on the back of Wood Road), then shovelled it on to the tray of the Ford. Then we shovelled it off onto the road and spread it out. Later on, Moses Gollen rolled it with his steam-roller." Cyril also worked with his father in the 30's carting bricks from Tom Berry's brick kiln. He further remembered that "at one time Dad had a fruit run to Rankins Springs, Weethalle and Binya and those places - when he had the T-model Ford".

Daughter Gwen recalls that they suffered the usual hardships. For instance, the cyclone that hit Griffith (1923) and blew several places down - "like packs of cards".

They did a lot of travelling back to Lidcombe and once to Queanbeyan during the time Parliament House was being built.

241

"At one time we all got whooping cough" said Cyril. "We were very ill. I was about 5 years old. The Doctor advised a change of air so the family and belongings were packed onto a horse-drawn waggon and we went to Queanbeyan. It seemed to work.

Even on the trip we seemed to cough less often. The hills were steep. When we rested the horses we had to chock the wheels.

When we were at Queanbeyan Dad would send to Danny Maher for oranges and Dad would sell them at Queanbeyan. Danny was a great friend of Dads. He was Bill Maher's father and had a mixed goods store down towards the Co-op in Banna Avenue".

"The Unemployed Camp?" Another member of the family Mrs Margery Litchfield said - "I remember in the 30's, near the old Police Station where the Smith Family Homes are now, there was an "Unemployed Camp". Some of them had large families, I remember. They had made their houses out of anything they could lay their hands on - round poles from the abundant cypress pine trees, flattened kerosene tins, bags and pieces of board. Some of them were very comfortable inside."

Bob and "Gussie" finally got a block of land at 3 Binya Street. They built a home on it together. Later years when their family had grown and were off their hands, Mrs Kenningale took up charity work. She was one of the first, with Mrs Love, Mr Leonard from Yenda and Mr and Mrs Charlie Tranter, who got the ambulance going. Her name is on a plaque at the Ambulance Station.

Bob and Mrs Kenningale were still living in the same residence in Binya Street when they died. Bob on 14 Sept 1964 and Augusta Emily on 29 June 1966. They are both buried in Griffith.

Bob and Gussie's children are:Gwendoline Ellen b 29 Feb 1916, Crown St, Sydney m William Henry Brown - they still live in Griffith Cyril Robert b 29 Nov 1917 m Sylvia Turner - they still live in Griffith Nell Elizabeth b 23 Feb 1919 m Robert Leslie Morris (dec'd, bur Wollongong) Nell still lives in Wollongong.

By courtesy of Bob and Gussie's children: Mrs Gwen Brown, Farm 1428, Bishop Road, Griffith and Mr Cyril Kenningale, 22 Griffin Avenue, Griffith.

242

KOOK Herman Frederick Kook and his wife Mathilde (nee Marz) of Germany, Tanunda SA and Darlington Point were the grandparents of Theodore Herman Kook who invented the Kook irrigation spray system used for vegetable growing in Griffith Herman F Kook was born 9 February 1808 at Lubeck, Northern Germany and arrived at Port Misery, Adelaide on 29 December 1838 on the "Zebra", which was the first foreign vessel to arrive with migrants to South Australia. This was two years after the Colony of South Australia had been proclaimed. They left Germany because of the religious persecution at that time. They were amongst the first immigrants to become naturalised. Herman was a surveyor and his first job was surveying the township of Hahndorf. He eventually settled in Tanunda and later married Mathilde Emilie Augusta Marz on 7 June 1840 at Kapunda SA. She was born 19 January 1819. With sons Herman Jnr and Theodore Richard and daughter Augusta, they moved to Darlington Point NSW in 1876 where they selected land which they called "The Avenue". Herman died 13 March 1887 aged 80 years and Mathilde died 12 May 1898 aged 79 years and both are buried at Darlington Point along with other family members. Their children were:Herman Kook Jnr, John August, Eliza, Theodore Richard, and Augusta Agnes Kook. * * *

Herman Kook Jnr, born about 1849, married Elizabeth Huff Mayberry on 12 December 1872 at Carapook Victoria and then moved to Darlington Point. Herman Jnr was the foundation President of Murrumbidgee Shire Council in 1906 and served 'til 1910.

In 1912 Herman Kook and sons purchased "Woodlands" Darlington Point, a 3,000 acre property. Herman died there 28 March 1938 aged 89 years and Elizabeth died 29 November 1939 aged 87 years.

Eliza Kook married John Lander in 1867, lived Dundas and Casterton area, then moved to Darlington Point in 1876 and died at Homebush 16 January 1929.

Theodore Richard Kook who married Isabella Moore in 1881, was a farmer at Temora NSW, died 11 February 1929.

Augusta Agnes Kook married John McCalman in 1881 and lived at Muswellbrook and Coogee Bay Road, Randwick, died 14 July 1939.

John August Kook born 1850 in Adelaide, South Australia married Catherine Francis Howlett on 17 May 1871 at Carapook Victoria and three sons were born at Chetwynd Victoria - Arthur Albert Kook born February 1872, Theodore Herman Kook born 16 November 1874 and William August Kook born 25 December 1875. When Catherine died in childbirth, 17 May 1879 aged 27 years, the three boys were aged 7, 5 and 4. Their maternal grandparents, John and Mary Ann Howlett then reared them with their own large family. Their father married again, then died on 2 March 1884 aged 37 years at Chetwynd. John and Mary Ann Howlett had come from Wicken, Cambridgeshire on the "Bee" arriving at Geelong on 18 April 1857 with daughter Catherine aged one year.

243

In 1895 Theodore and William Kook rode their bicycles from Casterton in Victoria to their Uncle Herman Kook's property at Darlington Point. * * *

Arthur Albert Kook married Emma Lander on 28 April 1904 at "Ringwood" Darlington Point and later was farming at "Landavale" Grong Grong NSW. Arthur died 20 December 1946.

Theodore Herman Kook married Euphemia Findlay on 19 July 1905 at "The Pines" Toganmain Station. Euphemia was born at Chiltern, Victoria in 1877. Euphemia's sister, Ellie, married John Lander of "Ercildoun" Darlington Point. In 1896 Theodore, known as "Ted" and his brother William August Kook bought a property of about 2,500 acres, "Ceres", 16 miles south of Carrathool on the Conargo road and built a 40 square home with two foot thick walls of handmade mud blocks - "pise". It had a 24 foot wide "Arcade" or hall running the length of the house and it is still occupied in 1990. He ran a dairy there, sending the cream on the train from Carrathool to the butter factories at Hay and Narrandera, after a 32 mile road trip from home to the railway station. The drought years of 1902-04 were very difficult. In 1909 they sold "Ceres" and bought a property "Rockmount" on the Mundarra Road, near Inverell. They grew wheat, corn, a couple of acres of vegetables and raised sheep there. Ted became an avid water conservationist and set about devising a workable spray irrigation system. This invention became a success and he applied for a patent as it had commercial possibilities. At this stage the MIA seemed to be the place to develop the spray system. The Kook Irrigation Company Ltd, Griffith advertised in the Sydney Mail on 5 March 1930 - The Kook Spray "as near to rain as you can get".

Theodore, Euphemia and family arrived at Griffith on 7 March 1925 and took up Farm 914 of 17 acres, where their son, Mervyn lives today. At that time spray irrigation was not known on the MIA. A company was formed and sprayers were installed on a number of farms including those of: the CSIRO, McManus (later Commissioner), Eric West (later Chief of CSIRO), Ted Mallaby, John Baggs, Gerald Beverley and several others.

Tobacco growing in Victoria was their next interest and several hundreds of acres of sprayers were installed at Myrtleford. Daughter Margaret tells "Our father's invention was the introduction of spray irrigation to the MIA. The WC & IC connected electricity to the farm in 1927" After their arrival in Griffith, the family lived in Uncle Bill's (William August) house, Farm 934 which was a one acre block in Couch Road (now No 24 Couch Road), until the house was built on Farm 914. The farm of 17 acres had been cleared of trees but the stumps were still there so had to be pulled out by horsepower. The family grew vegetables for many, many years and today the farm is planted with citrus.

Ted and his wife Euphemia died within nine days of each other. Ted on 3 August 1938 and Euphemia 12 August 1938. Both are buried in Griffith. Ray and Margaret decided to run the farm until Mervyn (then aged 17) was old enough to run it. Eric was working elsewhere at this time.

244

Family of Ted and Euphemia Kook Raymond Keith Kook born 9 June 1906 at Hay married Elsie Boots on 31 December 1931 at Griffith Presbyterian Church. Elsie was born 26 May 1908 at Mildura, the daughter of Frederick Richard and Ada Caroline Boots, nee Ray and sister Davies.

Margaret worked the family vegetable farm during the war years, with some Land Army Girls help, for the War Effort.

Ray and Elsie bought a fruit and vegetable shop from Mr Cashmere about 1950 It was in Banna Avenue, near the Co-op and they lived behind it while operating it for Theodore ("red") & Mrs Kook 16 years. Ray then helped at Courtesy Mr Mcry Kook the Nericon vegetable farm.

Ray loved to play the violin and was a member of Tommy Simpson's Orchestra. He played violin for the silent movies and also for Methodist Sunday afternoons. He was awarded a Rotary Community Award on 19 March 1988 for keeping Coolah Street Arboretum free of weeds. Ray died 9 April 1988. Daughters are Valerie Maggs and Margaret McAuslan.

Margaret Irene Kook born 18 August 1907 at Narrandera, went to school at Leviathan, she gained her QC and then rode a horse four miles to Inverell High School for awhile, but left when the horse broke its leg. She was a keen horsewoman. After working the vegetable farm with Ray she worked at the Griffith Co-operative Society from 1949 to about 1957 and then at Mackay's Furniture Store for 20 years and is now retired living in Noorilla Street, Griffith.

Eric Stanley Kook was born 18 December 1915 at Inverell and died 17 August 1985 at Leeton. He married Amy Elvira Ashton in 1941. He was a successful "Griffiths Tea Traveller" for years in this area, then grew vegetables for the War Effort at Leeton for a few years. He had a vegetable shop in Leeton for a number of years, then was a well known Insurance Agent for Farmers and Graziers at Leeton. Children are Jeanette Jones and Wayne Kook of Leeton.

Mervyn Kook born 27 August 1921 at Inverell married Heather Hearne on 5 November 1949 at Randwick and has children - Ruth Wilson, Helen Grant, Ian Kook and Robyn Summerhayes. Mervyn spent 1942-44 in the Army. He took over the family vegetable farm about 1949 and continued to grow vegetables there until 1962 when he planted the farm with citrus. He grew 5,000 Valencia and Washington Navel seedlings, 245

grafted them on trifoliata rootstock and planted out 2,000 of the best plants when they were three years old. These trees yield 20 tons of fruit to the acre. Mervyn managed the Nericon Vegetable farm for the partnership of Alfred Nugan, Keith McWilliam and himself from 1957 to 1971 and the partnership was dissolved in 1987. From 1971 to 1987 he managed and developed Farm 58 at Hanwood for a Company - 160 acres of citrus and vines.

Mervyn Kook is one of only a handful of original Griffith district pioneer settler's sons or daughters living on or working their parents original holding. Kook Farm 914, 1925-1990. His daughter Ruth and family also live on the farm, making four generations on the same original farm. ***** William August Kook born 25 December 1875 at Chetwynd Victoria married Amy Ellen Cook at Inverell on 25 February 1925. William died 19 August 1953 and Amy on 22 November 1987, both are buried in the Griffith Cemetery. William was amongst the first Murrumbidgee Shire Councillors elected in 1906 when the Shire was inaugurated at Darlington Point and he served until 1909. William worked "Ceres" at Carrathool with his brother, Ted, and also at Inverell. He had a mixed fruit farm, No 912, from March 1927 to September 1949 when he sold it to F Bugno and then retired to live in Yarrabee Street, Griffith. William served on the Board of the Griffith Co-operative Society.

Children: Victor, Daphne and Kevin Kook. Victor Kook, born 1925 and died 29 August 1972, married Beth Hoskings (later Mrs Ron Crowe) of Griffith, had children Pamela, Dianne, Garry and Susanne Kook; Daphne married Clarrie Hoare of Weethalle and lives at Belmont and has children Stephen, Nerida and Vicki Hoare; and Kevin married Edvice M Campbell, nee Snaidero and lives Griffith and has step children Sandra and Judy.

Ted Kook

246

• ...= E ro

2

on •

.5 .

•

c ..1

.....O ›.. t.: ..

`5

(..T..)

F

▪rs

FITIMFULTV1WWW1MiEl

2 2 (3 2

247

LUZ/

0 0

ti.

hat is t he onl wa to •escr ib

II I

cli (./)

A. t • l•

n ea

..s 0 -0 . c !'. ;', ,‘; ,. , 2 „:': v..:: c ,.. c -0 :.... 7..

• — cc 8 ...2.; i 0 u ,?:.: 80. ,,, c . L. ,..., c -0 0 .c... c . c >.. ,,,, 74 a ';'

•

_c c c

::,;:

0

al

".°., 4c3

f.,

s A. t • 11.

_c.

Herman Frederick Kook (1808-87) = Mathilde Emilie Augusta Marz (1840-98)

Herman Jnr married

John August married

Eliza

Theodore Richard

married

married

Augusta A married

EH Mayberry CF Howlett John Lander Isabella Moore

J McCalman

1. Arthur Albert 1872 - 20 December 1946 married Emma Lander 28 April 1904

2. Theodore Herman 1874 - 3 August 1938 married Euphemia Findlay Ray 1906-1988 Margaret Irene 1907 Eric Stanley 1915 Mervyn 1921

3. William August 1875 - 19 Aug 1953 married Amy Ellen Cook Victor Daphne Kevin

} 1 } } }

All live or

1 } } 1 } 1 }

lived in Griffith

Submitted by Miss Margaret and Mr Mervyn Kook from memories and using research by late Mr Eric Kook, children of Theodore Herman and Euphemia Kook, Farm 914, Griffith

248

KURTZ In 1914 three horse drawn waggons came from Mudgee:one for the Kurtz Family one for the cooking utensils and food, and one for luggage and furniture.

The Kurtz family consisted of Ernest Aubrey Kurtz and his wife, Mary Jane, and one five year old son and three daughters, the youngest still a baby.

Clarence Ernest b 24 Sept 1908 Mudgee NSW d 15 Dec 1975, Griffith; m Mary Parker Sylvia May b 26 Dec 1909, Mudgee NSW d 23 Mar 1973, Griffith; m "Sep" Chittick Una Jean b 9 Mar 1911 Coonamble NSW m Wm G Day - lives Leeton Phyllis Isobel b 20 May 1913 Mudgee NSW d 15 Jul 1967, Griffith; m Bill Talbot Mary Elizabeth (Bonnie) b 23 Jan 1918 Griffith m Norman P Keating - lives Cobram Vic They lived in a large canvas home three miles from "Bagtown". Here Mr Kurtz Snr managed farms for the Marshall Bros for about seven years.

One of the brothers was Alan Marshall, the dentist.

(Farm 135 granted to Alexander Marshall on 16 July 1913 - 57 acres) (Farm 137 granted to Alan Wiseman Marshall on 25 Jun 1913 - 50 acres) The Kurtz family later moved to Hanwood and lived in an old Homestead.

"Ripple Iron", narrow corrugated iron, was used in parts of this house. This home was on the edge of Hanwood Village, now bounded by Ash, School, Club and Yarran Streets.

Here they grew beautiful roses and also had a covered area under the water tank where fruit and vegetables and bacon were stored.

The children attended Hanwood School. Wool-shed dances, sing-alongs at home and playing cards at night with the children especially Crib and Five Hundred were the fun times. The family also had picnics at the river having to hire a truck to get them there.

Mary Jane (Polly) Kurtz was a very good cook and a fine needlewoman, entering cakes, jams, scones and pickles in the local shows and winning prizes. So did Ernest Aubrey with his horses - show jumpers. There are photos of some of these horses at Pioneer Park Museum. Ernest also kept a thoroughbred pony stallion "Final Viogl" for stud purposes.

249

While at Hanwood E A Kurtz was employed at the Horticultural Nursery propagating fruit trees to be planted on the Soldier Settler farms. His first car, a Chev, was bought in 1927.

Later he was employed by the W.C. & I.C. as a Forest Ranger and Pound Keeper. With his knowledge of animals, especially horses and cattle he was often called upon as unofficial veterinarian. One of his duties as pound keeper was to impound wandering animals. These were later sold if their owner failed to collect the animal from the pound yard and pay the necessary fine. As Forester he would need to mark trees allowed to be felled for fences and for grape trellises.

Ernest went back to farming again on the area that is now (1989) the Premier Nurseries. He retired to Yoogali Village when his health began to fail. Then, after the death of his wife, Polly, in 1958 he moved to Kookora Street to live with his daughter Phyllis Talbot until his death in 1963.

The Kurtz family were all good and keen tennis players. They played at Hanwood and were later the back-bone of the "Swannie Tennis Club" on Sid Farmilo's Farm 1681 (where "Scenic Hill Wines" are now located).

Kurtz Family c 1920 L to R Una Jean, Sylvia, Mary Jane, Clarrie, Seated: Mary E (Bonnie), Ernest A, Phyllis

By courtesy of Mrs Nancye Fletcher, 3 Sanderson St, Dubbo.

250

Ernest A Kurtz with "Harold" - Champion Show Jumper Rug made of Show Prize Ribbons by Una Jean Kurtz

Winning Tennis Team 1932 L to R: Les Hicks, Mary Jane Kurtz, Mary E Kurtz, Clarrie Kurtz Front: Ernest Aubrey Kurtz, Billy Nash. Courtesy Mrs Nancye Fletcher.

251

LASSCOCK Charles Theordore Lasscock was born at Burra Burra, South Australia on 10 July 1882.

His son, Owen remembers that as a young man he left Burra Burra and went to Broken Hill where he worked in a furniture store owned by a Mr C D Mills. While there he met Miss May Pascoe (born in Adelaide 30 June 1883) who had gone to Broken Hill to housekeep for her brothers.

They married in Adelaide on 30 March 1907.

Picnic at foot of Scenic Hill 1914 Back: Unknown Middle: Gibson ("Scotty') Scott, Ada Hawkins, Edie Adams, Front: Oliver Hawkins nursing Dulcie Hawkins, Bertha Hawkins, Jim Adams, Fred Hawkins, Charles Lasacock, his Lasscock and May Lasacock Courtesy Mrs Owen Lasacock

Charles Lasscock came to the MIA in 1912,before the water was in the channels.

Mrs Lasscock and their daughter, Iris, arrived soon after. They took up Farm 74 where at first they lived in a sheep shed (shearing shed?). This farm he later sold to Messrs Reg and John Erskine. (Farm 74 consisted of 50 acres, granted 5 Mar 1914; annual rental E42/10/;trf. Erskine RJ & JC 6 Jan 1916; land usage given as "intense culture"). He then went into partnership with Mr OE Hawkins on Farm 75.

252

He was a foundation member of the original Co-op Store and one of its first Managers, a foundation member of the Griffith Producers and later Chairman of Directors for some years. Later he became a Valuer for the then Rural Bank. He served on the Wade Shire as a Councillor and was a member of the Jondaryan Club where he was a keen bowler.

Mrs Lasscock worked for the Red Cross during World War 1, was a foundation member of the Griffith Branch of the CWA and was later honoured with a Life Membership Badge.

Mrs Lasscock passed away on 25 April 1954 and is buried in Griffith. Charles Lasscock died 15 June 1972 at Gosford where he was cremated and his ashes brought back to Griffith Cemetery.

They had a family of two sons and four daughters: Iris May h Broken Hill 1 Mar 1908; m Paul Raymond Druitt lives Narrabeen NSW Owen Charles h Adelaide 16 Jun 1915 m Lorna Leila Pether lives Griffith Jean Muria! h Narrandera 10 Apr 1917 m Allan Henry Skepper lives Wamberal NSW Elsie Joyce b Farm 75 Hanwood 7 Sep 1918 m David John Bradford lives Long Jetty NSW Zoe Edna h Loretto Hospital Griffith 25 Feb 1922 m Charles Elliot Storey lives Kempsey NSW Ralph Earnest h Mrs Watson's home (Mrs John Duchatel's mother) now Watsons Road, Griffith 1 Oct 1926 m Joyce Clarke lives Smithfield NSW

NB. a) Zoe Lasscock and Ken Davidge were the first two babies to he horn in Loretto Hospital b)

Mrs Watson's home was on the farm of her husband, Bill Watson and was where she practiced as a midwife.

By courtesy of Mr and Mrs Owen Lasscock, 13 Hyandra St, Griffith

253

LENEHAN After some experience as a Jackaroo on the north coast, Andrew Joseph Lenehan (1886-1953), a Sydney boy, found his opportunity to go on the land whilst employed by the WC & IC as Pay Officer and Time-Keeper.

Arriving in the Area in 1912, "Joe" as he was always known, wrote "I have now received official confirmation of the allotment of my farm so that I now consider myself a land holder and am becoming quite puffed up with pride" - an extract from Joe Lenehan's letter to his sister in January 1913 and, says his daughter Ruth "sets this pioneer enthusiast off on his life as farmer/orchardist in the MIA on Farm 134 Hanwood".

Ruth continues by saying that family letters from both AJL and her mother (Joe's first wife Ruth) give pictures of early life on farm 134 - first in a galvanised shed and then in 1916 in a four roomed fibro house.

"There was time in their early married life for tennis parties and dances in the first Hanwood Hall (to which they walked). Close friendships formed between neighbours when everyone shared `newness', budgeting struggles, joys and anxieties of raising children in the bush. `Blackouts' from duststorms were a Andrew Joseph "Joe" Lenehan feature of the early days. Even as late as Courtesy Miss Ruth Lenehan my childhood memories of the early 1920's I can recall the darkening sky, gritty mouth, sweeping floor boards coated with distant soil and Mouse Plagues!!

Memories too of frost in the moonlight on bike rides from town, almond blossom, and buggy rides on summer evenings to see 'the city lights' from Scenic Hill - all ten of them!! Then the thrill of a new Fordson tractor about 1923 and the red T-Model Ford truck in 1924."

A 1922 letter of her fathers gives some insight into travelling conditions of the time:- "As a break (prior to apricot rush) I drove to Narrandera, 50 miles - had some work to be done on the buggy. Left here at 7 a.m. and made Leeton en route at midday.

Then left for Narrandera at 3.30 p.m. arriving there at 7 p.m. (stayed overnight). Left for 254

return at 5.15 p.m. the following day. Came as far as Leeton where we spent the night.

Unfortunately it rained all Wednesday morning so we had a wet drive for 12 miles through heavy roads, taking 4 hours to do the stage .... from Whitton to `Gunamatta' (home), a distance of 15 miles took us 5 hours!"

Joe and Ruth had seven children - the seventh child, Richard Francis ("Dick") was born at Sister Louise O'Reilly's "Loretto" Private Hospital in Hyandra Street on 14 December 1925. Ruth died in the following year (the 31 July 1926 at the age of 39 years) and Louise O'Reilly continued to care for the babe at the hospital.

Louise was the niece of Mrs Galvin, a family already established here and it was because of having this family connection that she had come from the Burragorang Valley, to set up and run this hospital. After Mass each Sunday, Joe went to the hospital to visit his tiny son and this was the way in which Louise and Joe met.

When they married some time later "Loretto" hospital was purchased by Dr Solomon Goldberg who continued to run it as a private hospital for many years after.

In the many years he resided here Andrew Joseph Lenehan was always most active in all community and church affairs.

The family left the area in the "Joe and Ruth Lenchan & Children.

Courtesy Miss Ruth Lenchan 1950's.

255

Andrew ("Joe") and Ruth's Children:1. Andrew Thomas born 1 Nov 1916 2. Ruth Susan born 17 Jan 1919 3. Mark Herbert born 23 Aug 1920; died 5 Aug 1948 27 yrs 4. David Joseph born 8 Jan 1922 5. Kathleen Mary born 13 Mar 1923 6. Peter John born 17 July 1924 7. Richard Francis born 14 Dec 1925 Andrew and Louisa's children:8. Joseph Paul born 16 Aug 1929 9. Margaret Beatrice born 7 Mar 1931 10. Bernard Gregory born 13 Apr 1933

'Transport Update" Courtesy Miss Ruth Lenchan

By courtesy of Miss Ruth Lenehan, 322 Lieut Bowen Drive, Bowen Mountain NSW 2753

256

LITTLE Allan Leslie Little and his wife, Daphne Isabel Martin were two of Griffith's early pioneers, arriving in 1913.

Their daughter, "Tots"remembers:- "Dad (Allan Leslie Little) arrived in the area by train to Willbriggie in July 1913. He took up Farm 123. Mother arrived (in) October 1913 by train to Willbriggie both coming from Mittagong NSW. When Mother arrived at Willbriggie she really thought it was the 'end of the earth'. She had baby Joyce with her and Dad wasn't there to meet her so she came in by Micky Cush's coach. Dad met her on Willbriggie Road and found Mother standing there in pouring rain, in tears. Dad was late because had been unable to catch his horse! They lived in tents for two years which were beautifully done out as Dad lined them with cretonne, so they were pretty. The Church of England Minister used to drive over from Whitton for services and he always stayed with them. Two years later their home was completed at Farm 123 and in 1918 they moved to l'arranvale' Farm 179 which was an original homestead. `Yarranvale' had been the Anderson property which had been cut up for closer settlement. They carried on a dairy there until rice growing came in 1928 when Dad ceased the dairy and became a rice grower.

The main branch canal used to end at Farm 179 and every year at the completion of the watering season all the local families would gather for a picnic on the channel. The men would be armed with pitchforks and wire netting and they would start catching all the huge cod fish that always ended up at the end of the canal. The fish would be anything from three feet to five feet long. It was always a day out eagerly looked forward to and quite a change of diet.

From 1913, for several years, we had what was known as 'black' duststorms. The big black clouds would roll in from the west and there was always a calm before it hit.

We have known it to be pitch dark with dust at four o'clock in the afternoon. There was no way the poor housewife could keep it out of the house and the dust would settle on the food in the drip safes and one couldn't see the pattern on the linoleum.

257

At `Yarranvale' there was a big woolshed and as there wasn't any entertainment centre all the neighbours joined together and bought new flooring boards, re-floored the woolshed which was then called Yarranvale Hall. Here all the dances were held including Silver Wedding Anniversaries and 21st Birthdays. Down one side of the hall the card players would play cards while the dancers danced on. The highlight of the evening was always the Lancers, a square dance which was enjoyed by young and old. It was always called by Mr. Paul Delves. Dad and Roy McGann were always the pianists, our piano being dragged down from the house by sled to the hall. Seats around the hall were usually bags of wheat stacked two high around the edge. Supper was always a great affair with Dad boiling the tea and coffee on an open fire in clean kerosene tins. The last event held there was the celebration for the end of the war in 1945.

Dad had the first tennis court in that area and the house was always gay at weekends with tennis parties."

Allan Leslie and Daphne Isabel had the following children:Joyce Isabel born Bowral 1913, married Frank D Rice (now deceased) present address of Joyce Rice 7/68 Lauderdale Ave, Fairlight Jack Edward born Griffith 1916, died Griffith married Joy Caroline Reynolds Nita Mary born Griffith 1918, married Eric W Letheby (now deceased) resides Maher St, Deniliquin Ethel Kathleen ("Tots") born Griffith 1920, married Alexander G Beaumont resides "Rosemont" Hanwood Allan Leslie born Griffith 1922, died Griffith Olive Daphne born Griffith 1926, died Griffith

"Yarranvalc" I lomestcad

By courtesy of Mrs "Tots" Beaumont, "Rosemont", Hanwood.

258

LOWRIE Mary Jane McGauchy together with her sister, May Elizabeth and brother-in-law Arthur Lowrie and their three small children travelled from Mildura to Leeton by a buggy and pair. The journey was to take six weeks.

After serving in World War I, Hubert John Lowrie was discharged as medically unfit in March 1919. Hubert first visited his parents in Mildura then travelled to Leeton by coach arriving in April 1919 to marry Mary Jane McGauchy.

Arthur Lowrie managed a farm at Wamoon for Mr John Gordon who he was absent "serving his country".

Hubert was not fit to work for the first three months. The two brothers, Hubert and Arthur and their families lived in camps on the job they were employed building the channel at Gogeldrie with horses and scoops. Returned men, who wished to apply for Returned Soldier Settler farms, had to spend three months working for the Government, clearing ground and building channels.

Hubert and Mary settled on Farm 1381 at Yenda in November 1919. Mr Duncan was the Water Bailiff and their next door neighbour was Harold Braby. Hubert and Harold helped each other clear their farms and Hubert John Lowrie plant them with oranges, peaches, Courtesy Mrs E Enness apricots, sultanas, currants, and grapes.

Daughter Edna tells us: "when my parents first settled on the farm they lived in a tent near the main channel for the water. When Joyce was born Mum had clothes baskets one fitted inside the other forming a carry case. The baby slept in one of these on two chairs standing in jam tins filled with water to keep ants away. When this child was drowned on Boxing Day 1921 there was no one to bury her - there was an inquiry .... she lay in the house for a week. My parents did not fully recover from this tragedy."

Edna also remembers that "Dad used to wear flannel shirts summer and winter with bib and brace overalls, boots, a straw hat and a cardigan in winter. Mum - tennis shoes, cotton frock, full apron, in the winter a cardigan. The girls a cotton dress, school shoes only, and a cardigan. Brothers wore shorts to the knees, shirt, jumper in the winter.

School boots occasionally but very often bare footed."

Also is recalled that "Dad could not milk a cow, due to muscle damage in his left arm, an old war injury. Mum milked a cow, scalded the milk in an enamel dish, the cream would set thick. This was used on bread and jam, fruit pies, jam tarts - also made our own butter. Fowls were kept for eggs and chickens for eating. My brothers used to Mum used wine and beer trap rabbits which were seasoned and baked or braised 259

bottles for jam and pickles. A length of No. 8 wire, a loop one end to fit the shoulder of bottles, was heated in a fire and the hot wire was placed on the shoulder of the bottle which was quickly dipped in cold water to break the neck off clean. Flour and water paste was used to stick brown paper over the top of the jar - jam would keep for two years".

"When very small brother Allen, on going to bed, sometimes demanded a doll, as I had one. Dad would wrap a beer bottle in a tea towel for him, in turn I thought it better than mine and had to have one too!

Mary lane Lowrie ("Sis") Flour was bought by the 251b nee McGauchy. Courtesy Mrs E Enness in a calico bag and Aunt Mary's baking powder in a tin. The flour bags had many uses - the main one in our home was towels - carefully unpicked and washed. Mum also used one for the Christmas plum pudding. On the farm Dad made fruit picking bags with them by using old stockings or bags tied each end of the opening and carried over one shoulder. Sugar bags were used as nose bags for the horses as well.

Under shady trees near the house, Mum had two wash tubs on boxes, a fuel copper nearby. This is where she did the family wash - hours of hard work with the aid of a scrubbing board, water carried from the nearby dam.

A bag of boiled sweets was one our few treats - we played cricket, marbles, hop scotch, made kites, mainly made up our own games - romped and chased each other and so on. My parents used to play tennis on Yenda and Binya courts - many private homes had tennis courts. We would often gather at one home or another, play cards or a sing along.

My father's work force for the farm in the 1920's and 30's was made up entirely of young Englishmen, teenagers, who came out in great numbers. The farmers would nominate them to Australia and they in turn would work two years for the farmer. Some would stay on, some would go their own way. My husband was one of those boys. The farmer would have to supply accommodation, usually a one room unit on its own. They would be supplied with a hot midday meal each day.

The hard work took its toll on Mum, we lost her at the age 53 in 1948. She was a wonderful person with plenty of love to share around. Top Lowrie' as Dad became known in Yenda died in 1979, aged 83 years."

260

John Lowrie

James McGauchie

born Glasgow 1864 died Mildura 1937 married Mildura 1890

born Scotland 1855 died Kalgoorlie 1897 married Northcote Qld 1885

Margaret L Appleby

Harriet Wells

born Woondoo Vic 1866 died Mildura 1952

Avoca Vic 1859 died Sea Lake Vic 1908

Hubert John Lowrie

married Leeton 1919

born Mildura, 1896 died Yenda 1979

Mary Jane McGauchy born 1895, Sea Lake Vic died Yenda 1948

*

Joyce Lillian born 26 Jan 1920 Merungle Private Hospital, Leeton. Drowned 26 Dec 1921, buried C/E Old Section, Griffith Edna Mary born 22 Sep 1921 Merungle Private Hospital, Leeton. Married Alfred George Enness.

Lives Griffith Allen Francis born 24 May 1923, Merungle Private Hospital, Leeton. Married Thelma Quong (Land Army Girl). Both deceased, buried Pine Grove Memorial Park, Sydney Hubert Ernest born 5 March 1927, Hospital, Yenda.

Un-married. Live Umina Beach near Woy Woy NSW Ronald Frederick born 2 Dec 1929 at Farm 1381, Yenda. Died 5 Dec 1929, buried Yenda William Arthur born 2 Nov 1932, Hospital, Yenda.

Live Umina Beach, near Woy Woy NSW

Courtesy Mrs Edna Enness, nee Lowrie, Murrumbidgee Ave, Griffith 2680

261

MAHER James Francis (Frank) Maher was born at West Maitland NSW in 1888.

Educated at St John's Maitland and St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, Sydney, he was one of the College's champion swimmers - an exceptional underwater swimmer.

Frank was the eldest son of Michael Peter Maher, from Thurles, Co Tipperary, Ireland and Mary Agnes (nee Casey) from Six Mile Bridge, Co Clare, Ireland. Both Mary Agnes and Michael arrived in Australia in the year 1883 and were married in July 1887 at the Catholic Church, Albion Street, Sydney. They lived at West Maitland and later North Sydney. It was from North Sydney that, at the completion of school, Frank took up the position of Articled Clerk (law student) with a law firm at Forbes NSW. After three years as a law student Frank became interested in the newly gazetted Irrigation Area and resigned his position to join the office staff of WC & IC at Leeton in 1911. While in Leeton he lived in the Officers' Tent Quarters.

Transferring to Griffith in 1912 he lived at Bagtown and was Paymaster and Sub-Accountant of the Griffith branch of the WC & IC. In this role he paid all the men employed on the construction of the canals and channels in the Area - travelling first by horse and waggonette to Whitton with the local Sgt of Police to pick up pay money for the men, Whitton being the nearest railhead. Later came the "Pay Car" with (an armed) time-keeper and driver, which travelled over uncleared land, contacting the gangers in charge of excavating canals with horses and scoops.

In October 1916 he enlisted in the First AIF from Bagtown and served in France and Belgium.

Stationed on Salisbury Frank Maher & Ethel, Fromc, Somerset c 1918 Plain, England, within sight of Courtesy Mrs Joan Millynn, nec Mahcr Stonehenge, probably at the time 262

of recuperating after being gassed in either France or Belgium, Frank "wooed and won" the petite English schoolteacher, Ethel Alice Gay, whom he courted by riding his bicycle from Salisbury Plain and back to her home village of Frome in Somerset.

Ethel and Frank were married at Shepton Mallet in 1919 and returned to Australia in 1920 aboard the SS "Shropshire" - in company of many more returning servicemen and their English "War Brides". As Ethel was by this time well advanced in her first pregnancy, the Surgeon tried to persuade her to leave the ship at Durban and await the birth there. However, determined little lady that she was, she refused to be separated from her husband and continued on with the voyage to Sydney where their first child, Joan Frances, was born two weeks after their arrival, on 11th February 1920.

Aged 80 years, Ethel described travelling to Griffith by train with a tiny infant and arriving at Binya Siding "about ten o'clock one very hot morning - nothing to be seen but endless red dust". When asked whether she could remember her thoughts on this occasion she replied instantly - "Oh yes! I hugged the baby closer and thought, well, I really have come to the end of the earth!". Nevertheless, like so many others who came from the gentle greens of the British countrysides, she came and stayed and reared here family here.

For many years their home was 27 Wakaden Street, on the present site of the Womens Club (now Northside Leagues Club). These were the very first homes built in Griffith - by Harry O'Meara for the WC & IC Officers. Several "oldies" still remember their being referred to as "Rotten Row", reminiscent of the row of stately, elegant houses, referred to by that name, in the City of Bath, England. By comparison with the ubiquitous tents and shacks which at that time were the most common type of housing it is not hard to imagine their being considered "elegant".

Although quiet and retiring by nature, Ethel was for 25 years the organist at the Catholic Church, Griffith, for the particularly fine choir of those times. She died in Sydney in 1983, aged 92 years.

In later years, Frank, who was a great and witty story-teller, used to delight in remembering the "Pay Car" and the "armed guard" who spent more time sleeping on these journeys rather than "guarding"! Later on the Police also had a "car" which was exactly like the "Pay Car" and he used to chuckle that it was not at all uncommon, upon approaching a gang working well out in the bush, for two or three of the work party to "bolt" further into the bush, mistaking the "Pay Car" for that of the Trooper! Obviously, a few of the workers had guilty consciences about something!

Frank Maher was a foundation member of the Griffith RSL and was made a Life Member of RSL in 1945 for service to Returned Soldiers' Welfare. He was also Country Vice-President of the 2nd Infantry Battalion Association and Hon Secretary of the Griffith Golf Club for many years when it was located near the cemetery. He retired from the WC & IC in 1952 at the age of 65 and then worked with the Murrumbidgee County Council, as accounting clerk, 1956-59. 1960 found him working for the Rice Industry, a position he continued for another ten years.

Upon his retirement from the Ricegrowers' Co-operative, a colleague was to write the following accolade in one of the rice industry publications of November 1970:-

263

TRIBUTE TO AN OLD MATE

by Anon J.F.A. (Frank) Maher is somewhat like "The Man Who Came to Dinner:he joined Ricegrowers' Co-operative for a two-week stint and stayed ten years. But now the 'lighting Irishman" with the pawky sense of humour has taken his departure and ridden away from Leeton Head Office on his antique bicycle for the last time.

Frank always spoke his mind, sometimes forcefully. He is a man of great integrity and high principles and a good friend when the going is tough.

He took an active part in the establishment of the Mitroor irrigation Area between World Wars I and II and was friend and adviser to the early irrigation settlers. When a group of disgruntled Soldier Settlers marched on the Irrigation Commission Offices in Griffith, Frank and the late Charlie Beilby sorted out a heated situation. A badly scared commission officer had gathered all the fireanns in the office and organised a sort of "Eureka Stockade". Frank, cool as a cucumber, dragged the officer away from his arsenal and told him not to be a "bloody fool".

Frank took an active part in the establishment of the Griffith ExServicemen's Club. On his move to Leeton he took a leading part in patriotic activities during World War II and helped the new generation of "di ers" to settle in on the cessation of hostilities.

Following his statutory retirement from the WC & IC Frank couldn't settle down and joined the Ricegrowers' Co-operative in 1960. Now he is calling it a day - born 1888 and still going strong. Good on you Mate!"

Frank Maher died, in Sydney, in 1978 aged 90 years. Both he and Ethel are buried at the Northern Suburbs Cemetery.

264

* ** Michael Peter Maher b Thurles, Co Tipperary, Ireland d Sydney 1918

Mary Agnes Casey b Six Mile Bridge, Co Clare, Ireland d Sydney 1937

Both arrived Australia 1883 m Catholic Church Albion St, Sydney 1887 Both buried Gore Hill, Sydney * *

JFA (Frank) Maher b Maitland NSW 1888

* * *

Ethel Alice Gay b Shepton Mallet, Co Somerset, England, 1891 Arrived Australia 1920

Both buried Northern Suburbs Cemetery * *

1.

2.

Joan Frances b North Sydney 11 Feb 1920 m Ronald Henry Millynn 1956, dec'd (Major Australian Regular Army & 2nd AIF Military Historian and former resident of Griffith). lives Drummoyne NSW * 1.

Jane Frances b Melbourne Vic, 9 Nov 1956

2.

Peter Gerard b Melbourne Vic, 25 Nov 1957

Paul Bernard b Griffith 14 Oct 1922 - Sister Foster's "Boomerang" Hospital, Hyandra Street. Not married. d 6 Febraury 1990.

By courtesy of Mrs Joan Millynn (nee Maher) 18 Westbourne St, Drummoyne 2047.

265

MANERA Angelo Manera was born on 15 April 1886 at Possagno, Treviso, Northern Italy.

In 1910 he married Paolina Negro (also born Possagno, 17 March 1889) and their first two children Giovanni (1912) and Maria (1913) were both born at Possagno. Maria was just 40 days old when her father left to come to Australia and 9 years old before the family were permanently reunited again.

Angelo, who had been a brickmaker in Italy, first came to Australia in 1913 and worked at Broken Hill. When WWI broke out Italy fought with the Allies and many Italian migrants volunteered for active service in the Italian war zone on the Italian/Austrian-German border-front which was in the Alps not far from Angelo's home town. His ship took him to England first and from there he went to Italy.

Back Giovanni ("Jack"), Angelo, Maria Front Ines, Paolina with Zoc, Angelina. C 1929 Courtesy Mrs Maria Salvestrin (nee Manera)

Returning to Griffith, Angelo, in partnership with his friend, Girolomo Vardanega, was granted Farm 451, Yoogali, on 17 February 1917. It consisted of 28 acres 3 roods 20 perches for which they paid an annual rental of £21/13/2; it was gazetted for horticultural use. (Water Resources Records).

266

Paolina, with Giovanni and Maria, arrived in Australia in 1923 and went to live on Farm 451 in the tin and bag shack which Angelo had built. In the following years three more daughters were born to the family - Angelina, Ines and Zoe. In those early days Paolina took in boarders, countrymen who were also new arrivals to the country, to help make a living. "Then the Depression came and the boarders could not pay so we were left in debt", Maria tells.... "I had no schooling as I had to help our Mother. Our food was mainly home grown vegetables and we had our own chickens, a house cow and pigs."

"One of the exciting times of our childhood was when the Ice Cream Man called in a horse and cart with a white cover, ringing a bell to announce his arrival. We were allowed to buy a penny ice cream. The Ice Cream Man was 'Mr Pete'. When we went to town with our Mother in a horse and sulky the great treat was boiled lollies and a bag of 'broken biscuits'.

My parents, like a number of other Italian families, had a Bocce Court and friends who had come from the same area of Italy would come to play at weekends. This was one of the main entertainments but this all ended when the Clubs came into being."

In the early years Paolina Manera also acted as midwife, assisting migrant ladies during childbirth.

Maria, who tells us the story of her family went on to say ...."It was very hard during those early years. Italians were abused and insulted by Australians and it was very hard to bear because we harmed nobody, just worked and looked after our own families.

My sisters were even stoned walking home from Yoogali school".

Paolina Manera died at Griffith 4 October 1960 and Angelo died at Griffith 2 April 1963. Both are buried in the Griffith Cemetery.

L to R: Angelo, Zoc, Incs, Angelina, Maria and Paolina Courtesy Mrs Maria Salvestrin (nee Manera)

267

The children of Paolina and Angelo:1. Giovanni born 1912 Possagno, Italy died 5 April 1972, buried Griffith Lawn Cemetery married Marjarie Anelzark Lives in Griffith 2. Maria born 1913 Possagno, Italy married Sebastiano Salvestrin (dec'd) Lives in Griffith 3. Angelina born 12 March 1924, Griffith married Giovanni Rosato Lives in Griffith 4. Ines born 2 June 1925 married Pietro Luigi Salvestro Lives in Griffith 5. Zoe born 6 July 1927 married Ezio ("Eric") Ziliotto Lives in Griffith

By courtesy of Mrs Maria Salvestrin (nee Manera), 18 Gallipoli Street, Griffith

268

MANSELL Edward James ("Jim") and Julia Mansell were married at Tocumwal in 1916 and arrived in Hanwood by horse and dray taking some days to cover the trip. Their first child Irene Margaret died of gastro-enteritis and is buried in Bagtown Cemetery. They left Hanwood and returned to Victoria where Oswald James was born on 4 August 1920 at Yarroweyah. The Mansell family later came back to Leeton where Jim worked on the foundations for the Leeton Cannery. They moved to Griffith and selected Farm 1316 which was a virgin piece of country south of Griffith. To help the family survive in those hard times Jim together with his horses and scoop worked on the formation of the canals on the area.

They later bought the farms next door which belonged to Mr S Cameron and Mr J H Kelly - this brought their holding up to some 425 acres altogether. These farms were worked with the help of his sons until Jim's death in 1958 aged 69 years. His wife Julia remained on the farm and with the help of Oswald and Gerald ran the farm until her sons bought farms at Coleambally. Julia moved out with her son Gerald and daughter-in-law Merle and Julia died in 1976 aged 80 years.

Edward James and Julias children were: Irene Margaret born 1918, died November 1919 buried in Bagtown Cemetery Oswald born 1920 Yarroweyah; married Frances Maud Baggs live at Farm 47 Coleambally Valda born 28 February 1923, died 1961; married Frank Kelly Gerald James born 7 June 1937; married Merle Hams live at Farm 51 Coleambally

The Wedding of Edward Mansell & Julia Carrol - 1916 L to R: Annie Carrol, Pat Mansell, Edward Mansell, Julia nee Carrot Wally Mansell, Great Uncle John Carroll (standing), Peg Carroll

Courtesy 0 J Mansell, Farm 47 Coleambally 2707

269

McCLELLAN Thomas McClellan came to Gunbar in 1906. His sister, Frances was to marry George Anstee and some of their family were to also become Griffith Pioneers. Their parents were William McClellan from Scotland and May (nee Murphy) who was born in Ireland. Both William and May are buried in Sydney.

Thomas married, at Ganmain, Annie, the daughter of Owen and Annie Murphy, both of whom came from Ireland and are buried at Ganmain NSW. Tom was employed by the W.C. & I.C. and worked on the construction of the canals which were to bring the water to this end of the Area.

The newly-weds made their way by horse and sulky to make their first home, a tent, on the banks of the newly made "Northern Channel', about 2 kms east of where the Whitton Stock Route crosses the Main Canal. It was here, in the heat of summer, on 7 December 1912, that Annie gave birth to her first born babes - twin boys. One little boy survived only four days. The only care for Annie, until the doctor from Narrandera arrived three days later, was that of her mother who had come from Ganmain to be with her for the birth. The surviving twin, William Thomas, better known as "Bill" is considered by many as being the first babe born on this end of the Area. In later years Bill was the well-known Real Estate Auctioneer. He commenced his career initially as "office boy" for the early identity, Mich Guihen and then with the firm of Les Neville with whom he spent most of his working life.

By 1914 the family were living at Bagtown where the next babe, Leo, was born delivered by the midwife, Mrs Savage. 1917 saw the arrival of third (surviving) son, Arthur, this time delivered by Mrs Ebert senior. When the first daughter, Agnes, arrived they were living at Hanwood. Agnes was also delivered by Mrs Ebert senior.

Speaking of the time they lived at Bagtown, daughter-in-law, Rona, recalled Annie McClellan laughingly recounting a memory of Mrs Savage. Mrs Savage had a large family herself as did her married daughter Tilly. Mrs Savage was also apparently possessed of a rather "carrying" voice because very often to be heard over the little community would be the voice of Mrs Savage - "Oh my God!! Tilly's got the porridge pot again!!".

Apparently Tilly had a large family of her own but not a big porridge pot so, on occasion, would "borrow" that of her mother's!

During the Second World War the family moved into Griffith and lived for many years in the house in Binya Street and reared their large family of 11 children. Later, their family grown, Tom and Annie retired to Manly, accompanied by their youngest daughter, Rita, who still (1990) lives there. Tom and Annie both died in Sydney and are buried at Mona Vale.

270

Thomas McClellan and Annie's (nee Murphy) family were:William Thomas born Northern Channel Yenda, 7 Dec 1912 died & buried b Griffith 30 June 1971, m Rona Watson lives Griffith Twin Boy born Northern Channel Yenda, 7 Dec 1912 Leo Joseph born Bagtown 1914, married Marjorie Tandy lives in Leeton Arthur Alexander born Bagtown 1917, buried Mona Vale NSW married Josephine Ashley Agnes Mary born Hanwood 1919 married Leo Thomas Savage, lives Griffith Daniel born Hanwood 1921, buried Sydney NSW married Kitty Huxtable Jack Lawrence born Hanwood 1922 married Eleanor Richardson lives Caloundra Qld Mavis Eileen born Katoomba NSW 1924 married Malcolm Watson lives Perth WA Sheila Loretta born Griffith 1926 married Graham Keith Savage lives Dee Why NSW Annie born Griffith 1928 married Augustus Forestal lives in Griffith Rita Philomenia born Griffith 1930 lives Manly NSW Kevin Patrick born Griffith 1934 married Doris Leonard lives Griffith

By courtesy of Mrs Agnes M Savage, 36 Ledgerwood St, Griffith 2680

271

McCLURE John McClure was born in 1871 in Koroit, Victoria, to John McClure (Senior) and Margaret McMeakin of Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. John McClure (senior) is believed to be buried in Warrnambool, Victoria, where he worked as a Shepherd. He apparently died of tetanus when his grandson was born.

Margaret Elizabeth McNeice, who later married John McClure, was the daughter of James McNeice of Carnteel, County Tyrone, N. Ireland, and Martha McMeakin of Ballymeena, County Antrim, N Ireland. She was born c 1883.

John and Margaret were married in Warrnambool, Victoria. Their first child, David, was born in 1909 in Warrnambool. Hazel was born in 1911, but died young. Mary Agnes ("Molly") was born in Berrigan, as was John ("Jack") born in 1915. It was to be from Berrigan that the family were to leave for their new home in the Griffith District.

Prior to leaving Berrigan, John worked as a bore driller, blacksmith and windmill builder.

In 1915, they left Berrigan to take up land at Yenda (Mt Elliott). They travelled overland by spring cart and horse and sulky. Baby Jack got sunburnt along the way.

Once they arrived at their new home "Glencush", Mt Elliott in the shelter of Mt Bingar, they set about building their first home. Meanwhile, they lived in tents. Their first home, when finished, was a four roomed shack with bags lining the walls. Jack's Creek was dammed up, and a bore was also put down. Neighbours were Peter and Mary Jane Toohey, Pfitzners (including their daughter Doreen, later Mrs Rush of Griffith) and the Glasgows.

Mrs Pfitzner was the midwife at the birth of Robert James "Bob" McClure, born 1916 at Mt Elliott. Soon after his birth, Mrs McClure delivered twin boys for Mrs The McClure Family: Margaret, John (Pop) Pfitzner. Mrs McClure gave birth to and Grandson Kenneth (3rd generation) her youngest child, Norman, in 1925 at Courtesy Norman McClure "Poona" Hospital, Yenda.

To get groceries they went past Tooheys at Mt Elliott to Whitton. For business they had to go to Narrandera. They were growing wheat on their farm. In 1926 the family sold the farm to Roy Mason from Finley, to get closer to a school. They then bought Farm 1531, Yenda from H E Brown on 20 April 1927 and bought an additional Farm 1553 from J Ronaldson in 1946. The family owned the farm until 1977.

On 26 June 1953 John McClure died, aged 83 years and was buried in Presbyterian Section of the Griffith Cemetery. On 8 February 1964 his wife, Margaret died, aged 81 years.

272

The family of John and Margaret McClure:1. David born Warrnambool, Victoria 1909; died 1960, married Ella McClean - 3 children, 5 grandchildren 2. Hazel born 1911, died young 3. Mary Agnes "Molly" born Berrigan 1912 married Cecil Ridley, lives in Bilbul, 1 daughter, 4 grandchildren 4. John "Jack" born Berrigan 1915, died 2 March 1986, 71 years, unmarried 5. Robert James "Bob" born Mt Elliott 1916 died 25 January 1983, unmarried 6, Norman born Yenda 1925 married Jean Missingham and lives in Bilbul 2 sons, 1 daughter, 7 grandchildren

Courtesy of Mr Norman McClure, 1 Cooper Road, Bilbul 2680

273

McGANN Ireland was the beginning for this pioneer family. Michael McGann, a farmer, married Catherine Burke and one of their children John William Charles McGann, born in Ireland in 1832 married Anne Heffernan in Palvaram, Syria on 24 July 1860. Anne was born in Bellary, India in 1845.

John McGann served with the 44th Regiment, English Army, in the Crimean War, 1855, where he was awarded the "Distinguished Conduct in the Field" medal. He was a Sergeant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery in India, served in the Indian Mutiny 185758 and in the Maori Wars. He became a Sergeant Major in 1871.

John and Anne migrated to Australia in 1876 where John worked on the railways. He was hit by a train and killed while riding a rail tricycle at the 427 mile camp, Coolabah, N.S.W. on 3 August 1889. They had six children, three died while still infants; the three survivingchildren were Michael, William and John.

John Alfred McGann was born at "Jindalee",Gundagai on 20 November 1877. He and his wife Ellen ("Polly") Murphy lived in Lithgow and Millthorpe for some years before selecting a 50 acre John McGann & Polly nct: Murphy irrigation block at Hanwood with Roy and Walter (baby) Courtesy Jim McGann Farm 126,Hanwood, granted on 16 April 1913. They travelled by dray, spring cart and sulky to the area where their first home was a tent. Initially the farm was a dairy. John McGann had the first milk run, delivering milk to Bagtown. Later more acreage was purchased and he commenced growing rice. In 1939 John won the "Frank Lunt Cup" for the best rice crop in the area. John died in Lithgow and Polly died in Griffith.

Francis Roy McGann, born 1904 at Lithgow, was the eldest son of the three children born to John and Polly. A daughter died whilst an infant and Walter the second son, was born at Hanwood. Roy was a schoolboy of nine when he arrived at Hanwood with his parents. He first went to Bagtown School, then Hanwood where he was an excellent scholar and was the first pupil to obtain a bursary. The following letter was written by Roy when he was only nine, soon after the family arrived in the area.

274

-cco-t"Ym71,,,,,,..,,,,,_.: rA,

let, G

0-. ef fux.t, Avu. ,atuo 1lvvio ,t.N.L., likati iVkl, , ttscr .01, Ira-tt, /f1.1.1u.10

ltaVve to, )tfiL Ian- j 1.1ataittp, lut; /WU.;

3tortnab gi 1111iain-ut.,

cAd a ,C fr-w4b

AA, ma att,„. I Rao ,o fi XuA,c.. fiov .th,c6 , .,;ro f&tx,,W4a, gul la, A.,

t,curcto , -wit:I'll co RD, Aitcl -,. , .. I', l'4,ci-k I mol ititib , ,'irm1._,M,

,

..to

: AA7t'itn.,- h tii- ,guatet...%4,1,Aa., /at in, ov., tau lat.

g

404 Airilaut-itit.i.0.1 n-IALTTL.L1 nrk,4-ty fei,?t,, t,c4.0tfuAy.C3rWt.t.,,e/4/ :1, Atagi141 2/011U10W) 114:4 Ale , TA,T11X. i 1-t,,e141t, :v11) A, tritt;, J'

10;47,tcrt.00(.4.0.4,.(0,1, fo,J,• .,..%;..,.>.(. elt .4 gl 4 /•tv' MX) ill.,014 AVI-vd, 114 . 0,1141. CI , it a• t, t. ' ,k-to 1r trmiltsto'kualkAir

..0 CA4) Ot

ArtkOct. trA.13.4.4. 0,/i,„Is.,:;!'t;z,vei.).3LAIStiA, da. rya. Alma,: .cg 0,4: k 1 le ,ft°11/ MArt'V,,o, i414.4.% xvild.. 41, ,Et.u.n. •xaht ,a4vci• ,A,

I - 4t, 44.4.Ccia. -/ WtK QPI ,

/OW

eArn,

t.t,0,7

Q, kt.<11,,t,vmu.ticiikkb

,vf, /,(11-1>tb

11/49:1A4 Vt/ • t7

(/

to • IV

4-4,a;

tov1

en.fki

A4

QP) I um,

11i4.116,1114.0),f....erte GAM

1

taz*,e.A: ,a Ltert,„i

ALAI. (IAA/. j•

275

ouivtD•

(0))

011,(,. daah..1,1, A.:0,

X() '.6-4.4) at. &nu,. t ttituvii„, .34-t,

.uct,<Lzt,0„6„&,c)1v,3.tub-itaA drix,",..,„ .Q.,

LI,.of.

.wvu, t.i, ri./.&IX G.

auk/ .41Y .A/a :tin/ Avt 1dA11.11;414.....:A‘x.u.t -...C.L-:;ap. , :Afk-..,

kiewv /ttitiai ,c4rrti.:VunMx.d.; at/ imei,, tut/ frrwa‘t it

u l A AtAAt / _i • " anvil wt., ..akttlemvx,t,e4LAAA, ,coViki Am twi vas-11Am te my. ..)

IV Vvy

,,,x..„„„ .

AD

LA' t, .11.teltia "a, Act

- sktium.41, di)

ri.

cab rttacKuv,.,;,sces, x.Art,.0 ,,,,v 4.i.at, A) 01 ru/Nrytt4 . "1 )' A.,10,vt, Ittitnvt,;.j, At /limy. wind- /amt.,: q 0,(1. Ava fti,,,,,„ti, lahmt,11;41-tt. 44,16 v

•

l'ild NX‘"tek,

A„,„,,,,,q.3 . 4.,t, ,t1„,° 1,..e.,,,,. lg.

..lt. ,...,tartt,..lA)A, 0I %., Ali. ir-ClullUt . vh Ar0 X-(2) lok. .cryah.P .

C it :th) ivthA,r (.1hn4yitifti/3 trnArv.ItAntiS cr!cvti . kw .syrval At),Lt yrsiv,i.

_.

C,j,,,. pm,V St, to1 . / a Mat/ /11-h/rt, AAA A io,APV0 11,%; A C4.0 f AtrtUlt, Aot

. 1 rAl fvom, L),,,,,, __.G. IA., " at, /16/41,. g ;kin,.

J'Aii-n...

Lit vtil,c,Aivi..

710" Ot3i6n4v

276

f

Roy planted one of the two huge lemon scented gums in the school grounds that were planted very early in the life of Hanwood school. The other tree was planted by Bertha (Hawkins) Clark.

Upon leaving school Roy worked on the family rice farm and continued to do so throughout his life. He married Olive Day, daughter of pioneer Andrew Day. Roy served with the A.I.F. in the Second World War in New Guinea and Australia.

Roy was a good pianist and played at many community and private parties around the area. There was a party each time a young local left or returned from the War. Roy harvested the first rice crop in the area which was grown by Paul Delves.

Roy and Olive had two children, James and Keith.

James was born 15 October 1934 and married Pamela Howard. They have a family of four, two daughters and two sons.

Keith married Coralie McRae and they live in Noble Park, Victoria. They have a family of four sons.

Jim McGann's grandchildren, Mathew, Rebecca and Lauren are the fourth generation of the McGann family to attend Hanwood school. The first being Roy (1913) and Olive (1917).

Walter McGann, the second son of John and Polly, has lived in the area all his life. Born in Hanwood, Walter attended Hanwood school and has a farm on Murphy Road. Walter was a champion bike rider in his younger days.

Walter married Winsome Hillam and they had four children: Bruce, Kerrie, Roger and Maureen.

Thc McGann Home - Farm 126, Ilanwood, 1916

By courtesy of Jim McGann of Hanwood.

277

McKERN My father, Alan Charles Ernest McKern, was born in Sydney on 21 March 1890.

He was the son of James and Mary McKern (nee Tebbutt) who were both born in Sydney and are buried in Rookwood Cemetery. Alan had been a Clerk before going to war, where he had taken part in the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. He returned to Australia after Gallipoli with a minor wound which nevertheless brought him home.

Alan had always planned to farm with his younger brother, Howard, upon his return from the war but sadly Howard was wounded at Lone Pine and died later in a hospital on the Island of Malta. Alan decided that he would still carry on with his ambition and so he bought Farm 110 near Hanwood in 1916. He came by train as far as Willbriggie and then came the rest of the way with Micky Cush in his spring cart.

He returned to Sydney in 1918 where he married Ada Winifred Hamlet at St Phillips Church on 26 November 1918. They returned to Griffith and as the new railway line had been opened they were able to come via Temora and Yenda.

Winifred was born in Sydney oh 3 December 1893 at Manly and was the daughter of William Mogford Hamlet and Ada (nee Murray), who were born in Portsmouth and Dover respectively and were married at St Thomas Anglican Church, North Sydney in 1887. They are both buried in Sydney. Winifred, who died in September 1975, is buried in the Lawn Cemetery, Griffith with her husband, who had died in June two years previously.

Alan and Winifred's two children were: Adrienne Jean born 26 December 1919 at Griffith married 7 September 1985 in Brisbane, Edmund Roy Wilson (previously married to Edith Marie Sands, dec'd); lives in Griffith Jeffrey Hesse! Mogford born 21 June 1921 at Griffith married 5 June 1948 Ruth McLean at Leeton, died 4 April 1966 in Sydney. There were two children: Jeffrey Grant (known as Grant) and Gillian Ruth. In 1975 Ruth married John Robinson, a Griffith School teacher and they live in Griffith Alan, Winifred and family lived at Farm 110 Hanwood until 1931 when Alan sold the farm and moved into Griffith. At this time he was the depot keeper for the Vacuum Oil Company so he found it more convenient to live in Griffith. At a later date Alan managed the Lyceum and Rio Picture Theatres until his retirement in 1956. They rented their first home in Griffith at 84 Binya Street for 30/- per week. It was one of the old fibro/wooden houses which had been brought in from the Red Cross Farm at Beelbangera in 1931. This home was in between that of Alan and Ida Turner (chemist) and Dorothy and Peter Morgan (solicitor). The Morgan's house, number 86 Binya Street, had also come in from Beelbangera and is still there, but number 84 has a new brick house built on the site.

278

'The McKern Family in 1941 Courtesy Mrs A Wilson

In 1931 Hyandra Street was the boundary of the residential area of the town and remained so for many years. On the other side of the main canal in the Coolah Street area there were no formed streets, but there were some houses scattered around plus a landing field for the occasional Tiger Moth which visited Griffith.

In 1935 the family moved to Mr Rawlings' house on Farm 462 which was the original site of Bagtown. They rented the house but had nothing to do with the farm which was worked by the Macedone family who had just arrived from Italy. Mr Rawlings had gone to Leeton as Manager of the WC & IC. In 1939 Alan and Winifred built 29 Palla Street and Adrienne and Ed are still living there, though the house has had extensive renovations since then.

As children, Adrienne and Jeffrey had a happy time; living on the fruit farm, playing in the empty channels in the winter, and running about in the muddy furrows during watering time.

Adrienne remembers "we were all great fruit eaters and liked to help with pitting the apricots and placing them on trays for the sulphur house prior to drying them. We walked to Hanwood school under the same kurrajong trees which are there today. As it seemed a long way, we would often go through our farm and Mr Moseley's farm.

Sometimes we went in Mr Zerbst's Model T Ford school bus. This was quite an exciting experience especially when it was muddy and the bus skidded around".

By courtesy of Mrs Adrienne Wilson (nee McKern) of Griffith 279

McWILLIAM It was the patriarch of this family, John James McWilliam who recognised the potential of this Area. He is quoted by a member of the family as having said of it "plant a nail and you'll get a crowbar!" Coming first in 1912, John James McWilliam, applied for two farms - one in his own name and the other in the name of his eldest son, Laurence John Roy ("Jack"). Farm 133 (50 acres) J J McWilliam was granted 12 August 1913; annual rental £32/101- and Farm 130 (49 acres 1 rood) granted to L J R McWilliam on 14 Aug 1913; annual rental £32/013.

He planted a "cash crop" of wheat, hay and sorghum along with about 35,000 vinecuttings from Junee with which he established a nursery of wine grape vines. From these he planted his own vineyard and offered cuttings to other settlers. From this time on "Jack" lived permanently at Hanwood. He and his father began to construct the winery in 1917. His brother, Douglas, joined the partnership in 1922 when construction began on a second winery at Yenda to process the grapes of soldier settlers.

Always a man of great foresight, McWilliam senior's example in gaining a market for wine-grapes along with his demonstration that the MIA could produce both fortified and light wines from the classic European varieties tilted the balance of plantings in the Area towards wine-grapes vines. Despite competition from other companies in the 1920's McWilliam became the principal purchaser of local wine-grapes but, insisting that their long-term prosperity depended on the success of his firm in the market place, he refused to give contracts to grape-growers and negotiated prices annually.

Described as a large-framed, good humoured man with a booming voice - a native son, he had the energy and vision of a pioneer and a deep affection for the bush. He despised sloth.34 His daughter-in-law Alice says .... "he loved Australia and thought it was God's given land."

His youngest son, Glen, came to Hanwood to live in 1931. A number of the descendants of both Jack and Glen still live at and operate the winery at Hanwood while Doug's grandsons operate the Yenda winery.

John James McWilliam (1868-1951) vigneron and wine and spirit merchant, was born on 17 June 1868 at Denison, near Sale, Victoria, fourth of ten children of Samuel McWilliam (1830-1902), Irish-born farmer, and his wife Martha (d. 1889) nee Steele, a native of Geelong. Samuel purchased 480 acres near Corowa NSW in 1877 and established Sunnyside vineyard of 80 acres. J J McWilliam was educated at Denison State and Corowa Public schools leaving at 13 to work in various outback occupations. He returned in 1891 to manage Sunnyside and the wine-shop. On 20 July 1892 he married, at Beechworth Vic, a Scottish migrant, Elizabeth Aitken Dewar (1868-1943). Their marriage took place in the Independent Church, the officiating Minister was Rev William Lee and witnesses were John D Young and the bride's sister Janet Dewar.

Moving to Junee late in 1895, McWilliam obtained a colonial wine licence and opened a wine-saloon near the railway junction, before establishing his Markview vineyard and winery nearby. A model farmer and vigneron, he ambitiously took up colonial wine licences at Goulburn (1907) and Sydney (1910) but in a district of low rainfall he was

34 Australian Dictionary of Biography - Vol 10

280

unable to stimulate the growing of wine-grapes sufficiently to support the expansion of his business. This was when his interest in the Mirrool No 1 Area, MIA, began.

John James McWilliam and Elizabeth Aitken (nee Dewar) had eight children:1. Jessie (1893-1969) married 21 October 1919 - David Allan Robertson who was born 14 February 1890. They had 2 children.

2. Laurence John Roy born 26 November 1894 married Nesta Mary Moss Jenkins who was born 14 July 1896. They had 8 children.

3. Maude Elizabeth born 14 July 18%, married 15 August 1915 William Blakeway. They had 2 children.

4. Douglas Lyle born 16 September 1901, married Olive Elsie Bracey. They had 1 child.

5. Dorothy born 5 December 1903, married 19 September 1923 Harold Aston Black who was born 18 December 1901. They had 3 children.

6. Keith Stewart born 29 August 1908, married 24 September 1930 Ruby Links. They had 5 children.

7. Joyce Thelma born 8 April 1910, married 23 September 1939 Richard Lewis Sheidow.

They had 2 children.

8. Glen Maxwell born 3 February 1914, married 9 February 1947 Alice Florence Jean Sangster who was born 6 September 1914. They had 4 children.

The McWilliam Family At Back Doug McWilliam L to R Keith McWilliam, Glen McWilliam, Joy Sheidow, Dorothy Black Harold Black, Maude Blakeway.

Front Alice McWilliam

By courtesy of Alice and Glen McWilliam, "Chardonnay", McWilliams Road, Hanwood.

281

Delivering grapes to McWilliam's Winery 192h Courtesy the late Mrs Alice Pulley

282

The Vinyard - 1926 Courtesy the late Mm Alice Pedley

283

MOREL At the age of 10 years Harry Morel was given a certificate to certify that his education was adequate and that he need not attend school!

Henri ("Harry") Morel was born at Perseux, Neuchatel, Switzerland in 1888. His father, Albert Gabriel Morel, grew wine grapes there. Harry's daughter, Margaret, says "Dad migrated with his parents when he was 20 months old. They disembarked at Melbourne in the October of 1889. From there Grandfather soon had a job at the Great Western Wineries. They then moved to Wahgunyah near Rutherglen in Victoria. Before Dad came to Griffith he worked for a builder in Corowa and worked in Urana and Boree Creek helping to build the hotels there.

About 1918 Grandma Julie and my father and his two sisters, Renee and Natalie, moved to Leeton.

When blocks of land opened up in Griffith Dad shifted to Bagtown. He bought five blocks in Banna Avenue in 1919.

Dad built many buildings in early Griffith town. He built the first St Albans Church of England, now the church hall; also the "Garden of Roses" Cafe which was rented by Jim Theodore and Jim Prineas and the complex of buildings where the Cafe Beautiful is now and many others. He t built the first picture theatre, the "Lyceum". Mr Bill Doyle worked the projector for 50 years or so. My father gave him a "temporary job" when he was 16 years old. After 20 years of constant work Bill Doyle tells that he asked Dad if he could be put on as "permanent"!!

Mrs Hawkins played the piano to accompany the silent pictures. The theatre was also used as a hall. Balls were frequently held there and other functions as well. School classes were held there also, before the Public and Convent schools were built.

Before the roof was lifted and Mr I lenri ("harry") Morel the dress circle built, there was a Courtesy Mrs M Campbell terrible storm that severely damaged the theatre" - this was the 20th September 1923, Margaret produced a newspaper account of this storm 284

"DISASTROUS STORM AT GRIFFITH Early this (Thursday) morning a fierce storm raged. Terrific wind, blinding dust, accompanied by lightning and a short shower of rain was the prelude at Griffith. At first the storm appeared to hug the hill to the north of the town. At 8 a.m., portion of a big structure in course of erection at Penfold's Winery crashed to the ground. The stormy element came close to town and at noon caused considerable damage. Portion of the roof of the Masonic Hall and Miss Robinson's shop were carried away. Numerous houses and sheds were unroofed or lost sheets of iron. A lightning flash - a terrific crash occurred - the parapet of the Lyceum Theatre, slid to the ground, and in a short space of time the theatre (a brick structure) was a mass of ruins. Portion of the roof of the Griffith Co-op. Society's store was carried away, a similar fate befalling the Methodist Church and a long length of verandah roofing at Mirrool House. Six foot fences were brought to the ground in all directions.

At about the same time at Penfold's the structure in course of erection was completely wrecked.

Mr Morel, of the Lyceum Pictures, estimates his loss at £3,000. Luckily both picture machines and the piano were not destroyed and pictures will be screened on Saturday night in the open air theatre. The damage at Penfold's, is estimated by the Manager, Mr Laffer, at £3,000. In Griffith district alone fully £15,000 worth of damage has been done.

The electric mains were wrecked and Mr Proudfoot and his staff are to be congratulated on the prompt manner in which they effected repairs.

Some very narrow escapes from injury are reported. Mr Fullarton, photographer, was camped at old town in his van. He left the van for a moment and during his absence a tree crashed on top of the van. Numerous other miraculous escapes occurred.

At Yenda verandahs were lifted, the picture screen was brought down and numerous other buildings were damaged.

At Binya the hall was wrecked. In other districts great damage was wrought."

The Lyceum 'theatre. Courtesy Arthur West

285

Tent Dvieling destroyed by "Disastrous Storm" Courtesy Arthur West

Margaret continues - "My parents were married at Wahgunyah in 1924. In the early days we had dressmaking done by Miss Kirby. Miss Kirby lived with her sister, Mrs Hall, mother of Jean, Eileen and Jim Hall. Her husband was a Yenda Water Bailiff. It was a real outing for us. Dad would drive Mum and I and my brother, Maurice, in the car. After fittings we would have sponge cake and scones for afternoon tea!!

We lived behind the theatre - the house is still standing and is where Vic Budd, the Architect, now has his office. Mum had a wonderful garden, full of flowers - the garden extended to where the MCC now stands. My Grandmother had a cottage at the back of our house. We spent a lot of time with 'Gran'. I remember playing cards with her before school!

Micky Cush lived next door to us in Banna Lane. He had a 'junk shop' (second hand) in a red tin shed. He was an old man then - 1930's.

We went to the pictures three times a week - Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Many people had permanent bookings. The picture shows were the main entertainments at that time. Mr Vince Harris, the barber, took the bookings. His shop was part of the theatre buildings. Mr and Mrs Walton had an electrical shop on the other side of the main entrance.

Dad also owned the open-air theatre behind the Lyceum. This was a great boon on hot evenings. Church services were also held in the Lyceum before the churches were built.

I don't know when my father became interested in the 'pictures'. I have been told that at one time he had a interest in ten or eleven theatres, as far away as Yenda, Hillston, Junee and Benalla.

Later Dad built a large building in Yambil Street. It was called 'The Palais de Dance'. The first function was the Catholic Ball. Father O'Dea made the booking twelve months ahead. Balls were frequently held in those days. Most Saturday nights there was

286

a dance from 8 p.m. until midnight. The entrance fee was 2/- for almost continuous music. Some of the dances were the Quick Step, Fox Trot, Gypsy Tap, Barn Dance, Swing Barn Dance, Circular Waltz, the Jazz Waltz, the Jolly Miller, the Pride of Erin and others. The music, at one time, was provided by the 'Crack-a-Jack Orchestra' - Pianist Mrs Trenerry or Mr Couchman and included Arthur Leitch, the Denham brothers, McCudden brothers, Val Harris and others. `The Palais' as it later became known was purchased by the Show Society and moved to the Showground and re-named 'Woodside Hall'.

My father took part in the public life of the town in many ways. He was on the Jondaryan Club committee, a foundation Rotarian and Chairman of the Hospital Board when it opened in 1931. He was on the Board until 1952. Other long serving Board members were Mr Peter Skeet, Mr Gow, Mr George Louez and Mr Jack McWilliam.

My father had a stroke in 1951. He had been to a Hospital Board meeting and had the stroke in the early hours of the following morning. He recovered quite a lot but he was never as good as before it. It was at this time that my parents moved to Melbourne where Dad went into a nursing home for a short while before he died in 1961.

At that time there was no nursing home facilities in Griffith. After his death my mother came back to Griffith and lived here until she died in 1977."

Albert Gabriel Morel Vigneron - Switzerland

*

Julie Cornu

Henri Morel born: 20 Feb 1888 Perseux, Neuchatel Switzerland died: 21 Dec 1961, Melbourne cremated Melbourne married: Alicia Elizabeth Tyrrell born: Wahgunyah Victoria died: 3 January 1977 Griffith cremated Melbourne

* * 1. Maurice 2. Margaret

By courtesy of Mrs Margaret Campbell nee Morel, Palla Street, Griffith.

287

MORRISON My Great Great Grandparents, Kenneth and Mary Morrison and their children, Mary 18 years, Christina 15 years, Marion 13 years, Murdoch 10 years, Norman 7 years and Donald 4 years, all came to Australia from Scotland on the "Royal Albert" on the 2 December 1855 and docked at Adelaide, South Australia. Kenneth and Mary are presumed to have married on the Isle of Harris, Scotland, but there appears to be no record of their marriage or the births of any of their children. Kenneth died 24 April 1875 and Mary died 3 August 1862, both are buried at Burra, South Australia.

Kenneth and Mary Morrison's family: 1. Mary, did not marry. Died 1866 at Burra 2. Christina, married Duncan Blair 22 September 1859 at her father's home at Redruth (now Burra) 3. Marion, married F Gebhardt 4, Murdoch, married (1) Jane Agincourt Lambert 9 November 1872, Jane died at Burra 15 November 1882. married (2) Emma Jane Talbot 21 February 1885 at Koringa; Murdoch died 9 July 1929 and Emma Jane was buried at Burra 29 June 1952. **

5. Norman, married Mary Ann Midwinter 26 July 1879 at the Midwinter residence Baldina (Burra). Norman died 5 September 1899 at Broken Hill and his wife Mary Ann died 31 August 1927 and is buried at Waverley NSW 6. Donald John, married Bessie Ellen Withers 23 October 1887 at Koringa (Burra). Donald died 15 September 1919 at Elsternwick, Melbourne and Bessie died in 1923 and is also buried at Elsternwick, Melbourne

After Norman Morrison's death in 1899, his wife Mary Ann nee Midwinter settled in Broken Hill with her family and ran a guest house. It was here some years later that her son William Donald Morrison met Catherine Helena McIntyre when she came to work at the guest house. They were married at Broken Hill 28 March 1910.

William Donald Morrison (Don) together with his wife Catherine Helena nee McIntyre came to Griffith from Broken Hill where Don had been an engine driver in the mines.

288

Don and Kate (as they were known) and their small son Norman Kevin, travelled by train from Broken Hill to Adelaide, where they changed trains for Melbourne, then Albury, Junee, Narrandera and on to Willbriggie. From Willbriggie they travelled to Leeton where they stayed for a short time with family friends, the Brackenbridges and spent Christmas of 1914 there. Farm 214 was granted to William Donald Morrison on 22 June 1915. Kate and son Norman stayed on with the Brackenbridge family while Don built their home - he first built a fowl house on the farm and lived in it while he was building. The house on the farm was of weatherboard with an iron roof, it had a lounge room, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and a gauzed in front verandah was added later.

The farm, of course, was virgin land and trees had to be planted. While waiting for the new plantings to bear fruit, Don (William Donald) grew tomatoes and peas, raised chickens and pigs and also grew broom millet - (the heads of the broom were taken off with a hand worked heckler). Kate drove "Sailer", the horse in a spring cart to town to do the weekly shopping, it was the only mode of transport. The family bought their first car in the early 20's - it was a "Rugby".

Norman, son of William Donald, remembers that one of the balls held in the early days was a "Hard Up Ball" - with brown paper sandwiches for supper! The balls were held in the old Hanwood Hall, and the children, including Norman, were put to bed in an adjoining room whilst their parents enjoyed the dancing.

Farm 214 was later sold and Don and Kate bought Farm 1769 at Ballingall 28 July 1947 and later sold it on 1 April 1949, moving to Sydney to live.

The family of William Donald Morrison and Catherine Helena nee McIntyre:1. Norman Kevin born Broken Hill 20 March 1911 married Mary Henville Churton; five children, four living in Griffith with their families.

Norman and Mary live in Griffith 2. Ida Patricia "Pat" born Griffith 17 March 1922 married Francis Evlyn Dickinson; 2 children; Pat lives at Elizabeth Bay

Contributed by Mrs Margaret Hare nee Morrison, Griffith

289

William & Catherine Helena Morrison On their Wedding Day 28 March 1910

William & Catherine (Kate) Morrison 1949

Photos courtesy of Mrs Margaret I lare, nee Morrison

290

MURPHY Three brothers and one sister, four of the six children of Jeremeah Murphy and his wife Johanna (nee Russell) came to the Area in 1915 to take up adjoining farms at Hanwood. These pioneers were the eldest daughter Mary Ellen (always known as "Polly") and her husband, John McGann and Harry, Ernie and Jack Murphy.

Jeremeah Murphy had left his home in Co Cork, Ireland as a young man during the Potato Famine of the 1840's and went first to England where he was unable to get work as he did not get along very well with the English, so he decided to come to Australia.

To get here he worked his way on a sailing ship - a voyage of six months in those days. He landed in Brisbane and from there made his way to Orange in New South Wales.

A blacksmith by trade, he got a job with Cobb & Co, shoeing the coach horses and continued to work for them till the company went out of business some years later.

The younger generations remember Jeremeah as a man with a long flowing beard.

Family tradition is that when he left Ireland he was clean shaven and the story is told that during the voyage to Australia he cut himself with a razor so he threw it into the sea and never shaved again!! Jeremeah also had a peg-leg, the legacy of a horse having kicked him and broken his left leg whilst being shod. Grand daughter, Nora, remarks "in those days your leg was cut off if it was too badly broken". He also had only one tooth missing and it is claimed that this was the result of having been also kicked by a horse too.

In the Catholic Church at Orange, on 24 January 1872, Jeremeah married Johanna Russell, the daughter of farmers from Oatley Creek. They were married by the Rev Fr Michael Fitzsimmons and their witnesses were John Courts and Margaret Murry (sic).

After their marriage they lived at Cargo where Jeremeah established a blacksmiths shop. When Cobb & Co went out of business the tools were given to the men who had worked for them. An anvil given to Jeremeah is still owned and used by a grandson at Hanwood - "still as good as ever" says Walter McGann.

In 1876 he had a farm gazetted to him at Orange NSW. It was while he was farming, at the turn of the century, that the Banks closed and he lost everything. His next venture was into the hotel business at Cargo. His two daughters, Clara and Polly, worked in the bar, a job they both disliked. The hotel was not a success and again he ended up in financial trouble. Next he transferred his interest to Millthorpe where he again opened up a blacksmith shop and built the family home. His youngest son, Ted, went into the blacksmith business with him and this venture was a success. Their home still stands at Millthorpe and the blacksmith shop now forms part of the museum at Millthorpe.

Jeremeah and Johanna had six children, two girls and four boys. All their babies were born at Orange. They were Mary Ellen ("Polly"), Clara Anne, William Henry, Vincent ("Harry"), Ernest Felix Jeahoam ("Ernie"), John Joseph Augustus ("Jack") and Edward Francis ("Ted").

291

POLLY, born 7 August 1873, spent her childhood at the little mining town of Cargo. Later she moved to Lithgow where she met and married (in 1901 at Orange) John Alfred McGann. They lived in Lithgow for quite a number of years after their marriage until John McGann, hearing about the newly gazetted Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area decided to leave Lithgow and come to the MIA. Travelling with a dray, spring cart and a sulky, they arrived in 1912 and were granted Farm 126 of 49 acres 3 roods on 16 April 1913 (annual rental (36/1/5). At first living in a tent with boxes for chairs and table, they established a dairy farm and Jack had a milk run in old Bagtown. His niece, Nora (Southgate) recounts a story Jack used to tell on himself when he was dairying - "In those 'good old days' there were no such things as sinks and dishwashers. The washing-up was done in a tin dish with a tin tray alongside sitting on the end of the kitchen table. One Monday morning as he was delivering milk, he rounded the corner of a house just as the lady of the house stood on the back-door step and threw out her breakfast wash-up water! The water went all over him! To make matters worse, he had on a nice clean white coat!" (Imagine how the poor woman felt?)

After rice-growing was introduced to the MIA he gave up dairying to grow rice.

Polly and Jack were the parents and grandparents of the well known McGann family of present day. On the occasion of their 25th Wedding Anniversary, the residents of the Hanwood farming community gave them a party to celebrate at Alan Little's woolshed. In those days many social events were held at Little's woolshed and Hanwood farmers were a very close knit community.

The McGanns had two sons - Roy and Walter. Roy was born at Lithgow 1904/5.

He moved to Hanwood with his parents in 1912 and attended Hanwood School. He was the first pupil to be awarded a bursary at Hanwood School. He married Olive ("011ie") Day who was also an early resident of Hanwood. This McGann family have had a long association with Hanwood School - four generations having attended the school. Roy and 011ie's son, Jim, presently (1990) Deputy Mayor of Griffith City Council, is a farmer at Kooba. Their other son, Keith, lives in Melbourne.

011ie resided at Farm 126 until her death on 7 November 1953 aged 46 years.

Roy died October 1964 aged 60 years.

Walter, who is a number of years younger than Roy was born on Farm 126. on 21 January 1919, delivered by Nurse Bodinnar. He also attended Hanwood School after which he stayed on the family farm where he still resides to-day. In his youth he was a keen and competitive bicycle rider.

Walter married Winsome Hillam. They have one daughter, Kerry and two sons, Bruce and Roger.

CLARA ANNE MURPHY, born 18 March 1875, was Jeremeah and Johanna's second child. She married William Tinnock, with whom she went to New Zealand to live and where she remained until her death. She never returned to Australia. Clara had no children.

292

WILLIAM HENRY VINCENT ("HARRY") was the first son, born 21 October 1876 (Nora's father). As a young man he travelled Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealand following his occupation as a shearer until he heard about the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Scheme. He came to Yanco about 1911 where he worked on the channel construction. The channel system completed, he applied for and was granted Farm 128 (49 acres 2 roods) on 16 April 1913 (annual rental £35/1719) which he ran as a dairy farm until the introduction of rice growing. In later years he was to say that he would go on the "dole" rather than go back to dairying again!!

Harry married Edith May Bray, an English lady from Bristol. They were married in the little St James Anglican Church at Hanwood on 30 April 1917. The officiating Minister was W J Bernan Davies who was stationed at Whitton at this time. Iris Myrtle Murphy and Thomas Harry Stark were their witnesses.

Their daughter, Nora, tells that "when my Mother arrived she came by train from Sydney to Willbriggie, a small station with a short platform and a wooden shelter; a little shop (later burnt down) and the Stationmaster's small residence. Micky Cush met the train in his old covered, horse-drawn waggon. She was put down at Farm 128 which was to be her home and where she lived until July 1933. She used to tell me that had she not had to wait a week for another train she would have gone back to lUith Murphy ncc Bray Sydney the very next day! By the time a week Courtesy Mrs Nora Southgate was up she was getting used to the place!! When larger areas were allotted my father moved to Farm 1620 at Myall Park. This was July 1933."

Being a public spirited man, Harry Murphy was amongst the early settlers who got together and formed the Mirrool Settlers' Cash Club in 1915 and was a Director of the Griffith Co-op for over 20 years, a number of those years serving as Chairman. At the time of his death he was Deputy Chairman. Frequently he was MC at the Society's social functions. He was the first Manager of the Co-op Butchery and again in 1932.

He was President of the Myall Park Progress Association until his death on 26 March 1947 aged 70 years. Edith Murphy died 25 August 1935.

Nora was Edith and Harry's only child, born at Farm 128 and delivered by Nurse Bodinnar - a circumstance of which Nora is immensely proud. She says - "I was delivered 293

at home by Nurse Bodinnar. I did my primary education at Hanwood School - of this I am very proud also and used to attend Sunday School at St James Church of England.

I never went out to work. I always felt I would have liked to be a nurse but never had the opportunity. When I was 17 years of age my Mother died so then I kept house for my Father until he died. During the war (WW2) I used to work out in the paddock during the rice harvest, sewing bags, used to help with sheep and general rouseabouting on the farm, as well as being cook and washer-woman.

Wood gathered on the Murphy property in 1933 by Roy Adams Courtesy Mrs Nora Southgate

On 25 June 1947 I married Arthur Southgate. We continued on my Father's farm, which had been left to me, until 1968, when Arthur and I bought a farm at Kooba.

We sold Farm 1620 at this time. We did not stay many years at Kooba - only eight years.

Arthur was getting old and the farm work became too much for him so we sold the farm and bought a home in Griffith and travelled extensively throughout Australia and overseas.

Now happily retired and growing old gracefully, I have enjoyed my life and would not change a thing if I had it over again. We have four children - Gordon, Beverley, Lionel and Darryl - and nine wonderful grandchildren."

ERNEST FELIX JERAHOAM ("ERNIE") was the second son born to Jeremeah and Johanna, on 25 February 1879. He spent his youth at Cargo. When the family heard about the MIA he was working as a railway fettler on the north-western line, an occupation he left to join his sister and brothers at Hanwood, where he was granted Farm 125 on 16 April 1913 (49 acres 3 roods, annual rental £36/1/5) - a notation on Water Resources Records states "lives with brother on Farm 128". The farms of the McGann's and Murphy brothers were adjoining, stretching from Hanwood Road to the Willbriggie Road. This road is now named "Murphy Road" but in the early days it was referred to by the family as "Relation Street"!

294

When WW1 broke out Em enlisted again and while serving in France was badly gassed by the infamous mustard gas which was to affect his lungs and heart for the rest of his life.

On 30 April 1919 he married Johanna Lucy May, the first of the nine children of Mary Ellen and William McKenna of Forest Reefs near Orange. (Johanna was born at Forest Reefs 4 November 1888).

The young bride arrived on the Area on a still, very hot mid-May day, rabbits everywhere, depressingly dry, dusty and featureless country stretching as far as she could see. On that day there were five passengers on Micky Cush's coach - Ern, Jo and three workmen who kept complaining as they opened and closed the paddock gates as the coach crossed Kooba Station and travelled towards Bagtown - "What on earth did we come to this place for?"; "When is the next train out?"; "It's terrible!!". Many years later Johanna Murphy recalled, thinking on this occasion, - "It's all right for them! They can get a train out! But, my God, what am I going to do? I'm married!!" All the time choking dust rose from the horses hooves and flies settled persistently on horses, driver and passengers alike.

However, she could recall her relief and delight, upon reaching the irrigation, to see water, green grass, willow trees, an abundance of varied bird species and the infant farming enterprises progressing - a vineyard here, vegetables here and there.35 Like his brothers, Ernie started by dairying but later planted his farm with citrus.

Their youngest son, Norman, still lives (1990) on this farm. Ernie died on 30 June 1955.

Johanna died 16 March 1983, at the age of 94 years.

There were five children born to Johanna and Ernie - Erwin, Joseph, Mary Josephine ("Molly"), Victor and Norman.

Irwin, the eldest, was born at home - Farm 125 - delivered by Nurse Bodinnar on 21 June 1920. He attended Hanwood School and served in the army during WW2. After the war he worked in Sydney until his death on 7 July 1965 aged 45 years. Irwin never married.

Joseph, the second child was also born at home, delivered by Nurse O'Reilly, on 26 July 1921. This babe lived only five weeks and died from what would be defined now as "cot death".

The next child, Mary Josephine ("Molly") is the only daughter of this family.

Molly was born at her Grandmother McKenna's home at Forest Reefs on 14 July 1922.

She also did her primary schooling at Hanwood and after completing her secondary education stayed at home to help her mother. During the war years she helped outside on the farm - picking and packing the oranges in season. Molly married Bert Couch on 4 November 1950. They made their home on Bert's Ballingal citrus farm. They have seven children - Dennis, Paulette, Bronwyn, Camilla, Gabrielle, Russell and Rowanne.

Victor was the next babe to come along. He was born on 25 November 1923 at Dr Bodycombe's private hospital "Woodlands" in Binya Street. His nephew, Dennis Couch and his wife, now own the house which was the residence of Dr Bodycombe next to the old "Woodlands" hospital. Victor married Teresa Roche on 6 September 1952. They have three children - Patrick, Lynette and Christopher.

35

S Cheesbrough - "Spread of Green"

295

The youngest son of Ernie and Johanna, Norman, was also born at "Woodlands" on 26 February 1929. He married Joan Lander on 2 January 1950. They have five children - Karen, Maxine, Barbara, Gregory and Terry.

JOHN JOSEPH AUGUST ("JACK") was Jeremeah and Johanna's third son, born 23 April 1881. As an adult he worked in the mines near Wollongong before going to Tasmania for some years. It was while there, he also heard of the MIA and decided to join the rest of the family at Hanwood where he formed a farming partnership with brother Harry. While in Tasmania he married Georgina ("Jean") and they had twin daughters, Iris and Eileen. The twins were eight years old when they arrived at Hanwood to live. Their mother, Jean, died on 23 September 1920, at the age of 44, and is buried at Bagtown.

After the introduction of rice, Jack and Harry farmed independently until Jack moved to Warburn in the early 1930's when larger areas were allotted.

The twins attended the original Bagtown school which commenced under the name of the Griffith Provisional School on 12 May 1915. They had to walk three miles to school. Their cousin, Roy McGann, walked with them. When Hanwood School opened they completed their primary education there.

Iris married Emmett O'Meara and they had three children - Laurence, Myrtle (Stratton) and Yvonne (Robb). Iris died at the age of 26 years (on 3 March 1931) when Yvonne was only 2 years old. After her twin's death, Eileen, with the help of her father Jack, reared Iris' three children. After they grew up, Eileen married Charles ("Scottie") Donaldson and lived in Griffith for the rest of her life. Eileen died 26 June 1988, aged 83 years. Jack married a second time and had two more children - Ella, who died in March 1990, and a son John.

EDWARD FRANCIS ("TED") the youngest of Jeremeah and Johanna's family was born 21 October 1883. As well as conducting the blacksmith shop at Millthorpe, he was also the undertaker there in the early days. He married Kathleen McKenna, the sister of Johanna Murphy (Mrs Em) - so two sisters married two brothers.

Ted is remembered as a very gentle, easy-going man and the story is told that some of the local farmers around Millthorpe used to come to his shop when they had repairs that needed doing, borrowed his tools, did their own repairs at his shop and, of course, paid Ted nothing!

Kathleen and Ted lived all their married lives in the family home Jeremeah had built alongside the "smithy" at Millthorpe. Kathleen died 27 July 1958. Ted died 2 October 1959. They had two sons - Jack and Edward ("Riley"). Jack was a schoolteacher. He had two children, a boy and a girl. His son, Michael, also a teacher was killed in a car accident as was Michael's infant son. Edward was always known by the nickname of "Riley". He had three children.

296

After Jeremeah's wife, Johanna, died he left Millthorpe and came to Hanwood to live with his son Harry, until Harry married. He then went to live with Polly (McGann). Jeremeah died on 25 March 1925, aged 80 years, and is buried in Griffith.

By courtesy of Mrs Nora Southgate (nee Murphy), Yarrabee Street, Griffith

The opening of the Griffith Co-operative L to R Mr Kook (standing), Mr Brown, Mr Harry Murphy, Mr Bowditch, Miss Enticknap, Unknown, Mr G Enticknap, Mr Beard (Manager), Speaker is unknown.

Courtesy Mrs Nora Southgate.

297

O'DEA A TRIBUTE TO REV. FATHER ROBERT O'DEA "Well done good and faithful Servant". This phrase indubitably sums up the life of Rev. Father O'Dea. Father was born at Kinpely, County Limerick, Ireland, and educated at Thurles College, County Tipperary. He was ordained in 1912 and came to Australia in November of the same year. His destination was the Diocese of Goulburn and he was assigned to the care of Bishop Gallagher.

Father O'Dea's first appointment was to Boorowa in December 1912, where he was Assistant Priest. In 1913 he was on loan to Bathurst for four months and was then sent to Dubbo, where he resided until early 1914 when he was sent to Cootamundra.

When war broke out he volunteered for service and was accepted as a Chaplain. The day before he was to leave for Liverpool Camp, he was thrown from his horse and broke his leg.

In 1915 Father was transferred to Albury where he remained until 1920. While in Albury, he was largely instrumental in the formation of the local football league. Also while he was stationed in Albury, Father occasionally assisted Father Reidy of Leeton. This situation arose when Father Reidy was ill and needed to take sick leave. At these times Father O'Dea looked after the two parishes of Father O'Dca Leeton and Griffith. He frequently Courtesy Griffith Collection said Mass at Boyle's farm house and later at the Hanwood hall. Mr Guihen, of Leeton, often drove him over to say Mass in Griffith and was quoted as saying Father O'Dea had great vision and foresight and had certainly left footprints in the sands of time.

After Father Reidy's return to Leeton in 1920, Father O'Dea was appointed as the first resident Priest of the Griffith parish. This appointment was made by Bishop Dwyer, who had become the Bishop of the new Diocese of Wagga Wagga, of which Griffith was now a parish.

298

Father O'Dea left Albury in late 1920, where he had been given a purse and a warm send off by his Albury parishioners in gratitude for all that he had done for them, while a priest at Albury.36 The first recorded visit to Griffith was by a priest from Narrandera and was Father Gray's curate, Peter O'Leary in 1899. Two years later Father Gray advertised that Mass would be held at "The Cliffs" on days after he had been to Whitton. This only happened once or twice a year. "The Cliffs" was owned by Frank Dun and the last Mass was said on 2 March 1908 as Frank moved to Ganmain that year. Father Gray continued his services at John Collins' property until 12 December 1911, when his property was taken over for irrigation.

On 16 November 1913 Bagtown had its first Mass celebrated by Father Gray and three Baptisms followed. In 1914 Father Gray left for a much needed rest in Ireland, and Father Reidy took over the parish.

Father Gray returned in 1915 and Father Reidy was appointed to Leeton and Mass was said once a month in the Hanwood Hall.37 In April 1920 Father O'Dea submitted a request for land near where the present Leagues Club stands. The following month he withdrew the application and made a formal application for the present site. Father O'Dea was the first person in the MIA to obtain Freehold Title.

It seems Father was so eager to get on with things that he started building the Presbytery before the plans had been approved. It has been said that Father was stubborn, resourceful and afraid of no-one, and I guess these were the qualities needed in those days to build a church in the wilderness.

The Presbytery built was hardly more than a shack, but better than the tent in which Father had been living.

Father purchased a horse and soon became a well known figure throughout the district. In those days Father visited his parishioners regularly and never turned anyone away who went to his door for help, whether it be spiritual or for something to eat.

In 1923 Father built a weatherboard building, which for a number of years, served as a Catholic school. He brought in the Sisters of Mercy and settled them into the Presbytery, while he lived in a shack with a dirt floor. This shack was later burnt down and he lost all his clothing, books, and other possessions. He then added a couple of rooms to the back of the school and lived there until 1938.

36 With thanks to McAlroy House Archives, Diocese of Wagga Wagga.

37 B M Kelly - "From Wilderness to Eden"

299

Opening of St Patrick's Convent School Sept 1923 Courtesy Griffith Collection

In 1928 the foundations of the Church were laid and his foresight in building a big brick edifice with a tiled roof has since been appreciated. The first couple to be married in the new church were Les Savage and Mary Whelan, on 7 November 1928.

In the October of 1938 the new Convent was opened and Father resumed residence in the Presbytery. Father went from horse to bicycle and then to motor bike and finally to a Ford car, advancing with the times, to serve his ever growing parish.

Yet another dream of Father's was realised, when the Marist Brothers College was opened in 1950.

Father Robert O'Dea died from a heart attack on 11 December 1952, aged 67 years. His physician Dr Dalton, Sisters of Mercy, his assistant Father O'Donovan and various parishioners were at his bedside when he passed away.

His funeral brought the whole town to a halt, as all shops closed between 11.30 am and noon on the morning of the funeral, while the cortege passed through the town, after a Requiem Mass in his beloved "Sacred Heart Church". He was finally laid to rest in the church grounds. Among those who gathered to mourn his passing were not only members of his own faith but men and women of other creeds. There were few who would not have felt better after a chat with him.

300

The first Convent Courtesy Griffith Collection

Mrs Lorna Sheed told me Father was a very humane and generous man. A well known sleeping place for men, down on their luck, was the site for a cannery (now Woolworths) and Father would take them his own clothing and food so as they would be warm and not go hungry. However Father was known to call a spade a spade and would pound the pulpit on a Sunday to keep his flock on the straight and narrow path.

Grandma Savage used to tell me the story of how Father O'Dea had a visit from a missionary Priest in the early days and Father told him he would take him out to see the "Savages" after lunch. The Priest replied "Very well Father, I will do my best for them."

Father did not enlighten him until he reached Grandma's and thought it a great joke.

I can recall the times he visited my Grandmothers when I was small, as he used to put me on a mat and pull me around the well polished lino floor. No doubt my Grandma's best mat and her hard work to polish the floor! I also recall my days at school when he would come around for a visit and quiz the class, especially just before the inspector was due.

When my cousin was born, the hospital called Father to Baptise him right away.

Without worrying the parents, he did so naming him Robert. He told my Aunty later that she could change the name if she wished, but she never did. However she did ask Father what name he would have given a baby girl. His reply was Regina, thank goodness it wasn't a girl was her response.

Father did many things for families which only they knew about such was the character of this sometimes called, "pigheaded Irishman".

Mr John Hams of Pioneer Lodge has many memories of Father O'Dea and he shared some of these with me over a cup of coffee one afternoon. Please allow for a fading memory should you differ with the following stories.

301

, Opening of Sacred heart Church Courtesy Griffith Collection

John recalls coming along the road from Bilbul one day, driving a horse and sulky, to find Father standing near a tree on the side of the road. It was wet and the road was built up; bogged under the tree was Father's Harley Davidson motor bike and side car. The side car being on the opposite side of the tree to the rest of the bike. When John asked Father what had happened, Father said he had gone into a slide and the tree had stopped him. John, with the help of a rope tied to the back of the sulky and onto the bike, got his horse to pull the bike out. Father had tried to reverse the bike out but failed.

It seems that horse power of the four legged kind was best on this occasion!

Father had a Douglas motor bike first but seems it wasn't big enough so he advanced to the Harley Davidson. Before the bikes Father also had a horse and sulky.

The horse Father bought from Tom Pannan, John thought, and the sulky he and his brother Arnold had made. Arnold was better known as "Bluey", John was known as "Rusty" and another brother, Percewell was better known as "Darkie".

Father had a black dog that used to go everywhere with him by riding in the side car and while Father was inside a house or shop, no one dared touch the bike as the dog guarded it well.

John remembers Mary Pearson who played the organ and sang at Masses. John himself was a member of the choir. Mary became Mrs Dick Foley.

302

Father O'Dea was a familiar figure in his black dustcoat and leggings which he wore when riding the bikes. The children all loved him and would follow him up the street. John cannot recall anyone ever saying a bad word against Father as he treated everyone equally and helped anyone in need.

John also mentioned the old cannery site, where swagmen camped; used to call it "the millionaires club", he said with a smile. Kids used to roller skate on the flat cement surface, he recalled.

John could not remember why, if indeed he had ever known but said Father was called "Pop" by most people in those days (more than he was called Father).

Father loved sport, especially Rugby and even refereed matches, rather than stand on the side lines and watch.

One thing came through loud and clear at this interview and that was John thought Father "was a real good Bloke". It was a pleasure talking to John who himself has been a pioneer of the district.

Father O'Dea was truly a great pioneer, loved and respected by all who were lucky enough to have known him.

Father O'Dca Courtesy Griffith Collection

Contributed by Mrs June Harriman.

303

OWENS John Owens was born in Victoria. He married Ellen Mary Hart on 22 November 1875 in Albury. John selected a property known as "Mountain View" at Bynya (now Binya) where he was one of the first farmers to grow wheat. An article in the "Narrandera Argus" in the late 1890's mentioned a good crop of wheat grown by John.

In 1892 John was one of six selectors who were instrumental in getting a provisional school built at Pleasant Valley, Bynya. The Owens family lived approximately one mile south-west of the school.

Times were very tough in the late 1800's with no market for produce so John Owens sold his property to James Gullifer and the family left the Bynya area and moved to Lake View, where his address was Lake View Tank, Whitton.

John and Ellen had the following children: Margaret born 10 September 1878, Colombo Plains, married Christopher Foy, "Glenco", Binya Elizabeth born 21 February 1881, "Emu Plains" near Morundah, married Andrew Day John born 1885 Ellen Mary born 1887, married Frank Skene Sarah born 1890, married George Holm Ethel M born 11 September 1892, married Thomas Turner Edith Florence Maude born 1 April 1894 married Arthur Wealands William J born 25 May 1896 Catherine L born 8 August 1899 Baby) twin born and died 1903 Baby) twin born 1903 (still living 11 March 1903) Ellen Mary died at Lake View Government Tank on 11 March 1903 after giving birth to twins, one baby died and was buried at their home near the Tank, the second baby being buried with Ellen Mary at Whitton. Ellen was 42 years old when she died.

John Owens was believed to have been a very hard worker but a tough man.

Some time after Ellen's death, John took his two sons and moved to Queensland, leaving

304

the older daughter to care for the younger children. He returned to Narrandera around 1921. He died at Lidcombe Hospital in the 1930's.

The Owen girls all worked at "Benerembah" Station at one time, Ethel as a nurse girl caring for the chilren and the others as domestics.

While living at "Lake View", the Owens family attended Mass once a month at Dun's house when Father Gray travelled from Narrandera.

The first recorded visit to Lake View by a Catholic Priest was to baptise John and Ellen's daughter in 1899. Father Peter O'Leary, Father Gray's curate, officiated.

Margaret (Owens) Foy and her husband, Chris were granted Farm 188, Hanwood in 1915 where son Tom attended Hanwood School in 1914-16. Chris Foy later moved with his family to "Woolthorpe" Binya. Margaret played her accordion at many dances through the district.

Ellen (Owens) Skene's, husband Frank, was licensee of the Victoria Hotel in Griffith in the early years. Ellen continued the office work at the hotel for some years after Frank left the hotel. The talking parrot which was a great attraction at the hotel for many years, first belonged to the Skenes.

"Hotel Victoria" Courtesy Mrs D Bourke nee Crawford

By courtesy of Jim and Pam McGann, Farm 1325, Kooba, Via Whitton NSW.

305

PAULING Harry Laban Pauling, known usually as "Ben" and sometimes as "Big Ben", was a big man who had been a policeman in England before coming to Australia in 1911. He was the son of Laban Pauling and Ann (nee Hawes). Laban was a Boot and Shoe Maker from Oakley, Buckinghamshire where "Ben" was born on 8 May 1881.

"Ben" married Frances Mary ("France") Morton, the daughter of John Uriah Morton and Fanny (nee Hounslow) of "Box Cottage, Padbury" also in the County of Buckinghamshire. France's father, John, was a Corn Miller, who on his death certificate was stated to be a "Corn Miller, Journeyman" (one who had served his apprenticeship and thus qualified himself to work at his trade).

Their abode at the time of France's birth (21 April 1885) is given as "The Mill", Salford, in the sub-District of Chipping Norton" which is on the border of the counties of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire - right in the very heart of Cotswold England.

Arriving in Australia, Ben obtained employment as a "groom" working with the construction teams making the canals and channels.

There were literally hundreds of horses used at this time on the project.

A Tom Pauling was one of the gangers with the construction teams working on the Leeton end. It is unknown whether there was any France with Harry & George Buckinghamshire England, c. 1899/1900 relationship between this man and Ben Courtesy the late George Pauling and whether perhaps this was the reason for Ben seeking work here.

Tom Pauling's family lived in the Colinroobie area for many years after completion of the canal systems.

France and the three little boys arrived in Sydney, aboard the "S.S. Ballarat", on Boxing Day 1913. The eldest son, George was 7, Harry 5 and Arthur 2. Speaking of their arrival almost 80 years later George was to say he couldn't remember exactly how long they stayed in Sydney but that it probably would not have been more than two or three days. This is borne out by the photograph of France and Ben with the three little boys taken the first week of January, 1914, at the Channel Construction Camp near Stoney

306

307

Point (a few miles out of Leeton). Discussing with George, towards the end of his life, what a dreadful shock the conditions in these construction camps must have been for the women, especially for those like his mother who came from the soft, gentle green countryside of Buckinghamshire - so picturesque with its thatch-roofed cottages and beautiful gardens. He responded by saying he had seen his mother many times shed tears that no one but himself knew about!

Their daughter, "Nora", was left behind in England with her grandmother and her aunt, probably because it was considered that the pioneering conditions would be too harsh for a little girl but it was expected that little boys would "cope". Nora didn't rejoin the family until she was 17 years old.

When the construction work for the irrigation scheme was completed, Ben joined the railway, for which he worked for many years and the family lived in one of the "Railway Cottages" in Wakaden Street.

Initially the boys were taught by France herself until they could go to the school at Bagtown. From there they went to Hanwood School and were among the earliest pupils.

After his schooling George worked at the first Co-op Store in Jondaryan Avenue (January 1921), selling groceries. From groceries he progressed to hardware and then to drapery. When the Co-op built their new shop facing Banna Avenue, George took over the management of the drapery until 1933. During the Depression years things became really hard and to "even have a job was a privilege", so the staff of the Co-op decided they would sooner receive reduced wages and work a day less in an attempt to maintain the full staff quota. George, at this time, was receiving a weekly wage of £51101-. When it was decided to take reduced wages, he received just £31151- which left him "in the red".

To make up the difference George went rabbit trapping. At that time rabbits were plentiful and he would take his catch to the Griffith Freezing Works where he sold them to Bob Justice. He was paid at the rate of 8d. a pair.

In 1933 George left the Co-op and went to work for Solomon Green who owned a store in the middle of the Banna Avenue centre block. After working there for approximately twelve months the shop was destroyed by fire - leaving George without a job! (In later years he used to tell many amusing stories about the devious "Solly Green").

After this he went into business for himself. Obtaining a Hawker's Licence, George travelled the district selling drapery goods, until during WW2 the supply of fuel became short. He then went to work in Eardley's store where he continued until his retirement at the age of 72.

Always a very keen gardener, in the later years of his life George became known as the "Flower Man" of Griffith. A "perfectionist" gardener at any time, when his house block could hold not another plant, he developed a very large area of land in front of his own and neighbour's homes, adjacent to the Hillston/Roto railway line, creating an area of beauty on what had previously been a drab and ugly wasteland. This large area was entirely cultivated by hand daily, regardless of the weather, and to water it a long, heavy hose was pulled across the road from his home daily.

This garden, lovely at any time of the year, drew hundreds of local visitors along with those from neighbouring towns who came to view the display in Spring - when the predominantly red tulip bulbs (in excess of 6,000) were in bloom. Located in this out of the way part of the city, it was a great pity for it not to be on one of the entrance roads 308

so that even more people would have had the privilege of enjoying it. George died at his home on 23 October 1989 at the age of 83 years. Still gardening to the end, his garden never looked lovelier than that year.

Of Harry very little is known after he left the district.

Like so many men he neglected to keep in touch with his family after leaving. He grew up in Griffith and worked at the Co-op before enlisting in the Army during WW2.

About 1930/31 he married Christine Newth. They had two children - Desmond and Jill. He served in Japan after the War in the Occupation Force. On his discharge he lived and worked in Victoria until his death.

Like his brothers, Arthur grew up here and in 1933 he married May, the daughter of Stella (Nurse) and Ted Taylor they had three daughters, Joy, Barbara and Sandra. He worked at the Co-op until enlisting in 1939.

France and Ben - 1948 His war service was spent in Trafalgar Square, London Courtesy the late George Pauling Western Australia until his discharge in 1944. He worked for many years as a painter in which capacity he was employed by Wade Shire Council until his retirement in 1977. His retirement was spent in Griffith until his death in 1989.

Leanora ("Nora") rejoined her family in Griffith in 1921 at the age of 17. She married William Arthur Slingsby in 1923. They had three children - Daphne, Keith and Maurice. For many years Nora assisted her mother in the laundry business established

by France soon after she settled in Griffith. Nora died at Bowral in 1982.

The three photographs chosen for this entry tell a very vivid story in themselves.

A story shared by so very many of those brave girls who left comfortable homes and family to pioneer this Area. These photographs "say it all" - the first, that of the beautiful, elegant young woman against the lovely background of southern England. The second, beautiful still but surrounded by the harshness of the life they had come to - the little boys still in their white lace collars but, just one week off the liner from England, had shed their boots. The third, Ben and France as an elderly couple, after the years spent working and rearing their family in Griffith, feeding the pigeons in London's Trafalgar Square (c.

1948) on their first return visit to family in England.

309

Harry Laban ("Ben") Pauling born Oakley Buckinghamshire 8 May 1881 died Griffith 28 March 195' married Frances Mary ("France") Morton born Salford, 21 April 1885 died Griffith 3 September 1959

* 1. George born 29 September 1906 died 23 October 1989 married: (1) Ruby Ashcroft 1. Barry 2. Pamela (2) Marjorie Pitt (deceased) 2. Alfonso ("Harry") born Buckinghamshire c 1910 died unkown married: Christine Newth 1. Desmond 2. Jill 3. Arthur James born Banbury, Buckinghamshire 27 February 1912 died 28 Feb 1989 married: 20 March 1933 at Griffith Emily May Taylor 1. Joy 2. Barbara 3. Sandra 4. Leanora ("Nora") born 14 August 1904 Buckinghamshire died Bowral NSW 1982 married: 1923 William Slingsby 1. Daphne 2. Keith 3. Maurice

By courtesy of the late George Pauling and the Pauling Family of Griffith

310

PEARSON Dad married Mum in 1902 at Whitton. I was born at Whitton in 1903.

Grandfather Pearson who had Hotels at Whitton and Narrandera died when I was very small (a buggy overturned and killed him). He was buried in the Whitton Cemetery.

My father's sister, Jane Sewell Pearson, also came to live at Griffith. She married Jo Trenerry who was Griffith's Funeral Director and Grandfather of Wally and Bill Trenerry.

During World War I we moved to Bagtown from Narrandera. Dad was working at a hotel not far from the railway in Narrandera when he heard of a job at Willbriggie.

Mr Higginson was his boss in the WC & IC. Dad was employed as "transport agent".

When the timber and cement arrived at the railway station Dad would organise the loading of the bullock waggons. Mr Grace owned one of the waggons that carted the goods to Bagtown.

Our tent in Bagtown, with a dirt floor at first, was in the Government Officers part. It had a dirt floor at first. Elsie my sister, now 72 years old, was born in this tent in 1918. Old Mrs Savage was the mid-wife. They had to send for Dr Watkins from Whitton - I remember because I was about 15 years old at the time. We had several tents for our family and two of my sisters and I slept in one tent. We had a galvanised tin hut where Mum cooked and we all ate. Nearby Andy Martin had a shop and there was Harris' Butcher Shop. My brother, Bill Pearson, was the first butcher's boy, delivering the meat for Mr Harris on his bicycle.

I worked in the New Hospital which consisted of a bathroom and a big long room with iron beds and a steriliser. The building had been used for the internment of Germans during World War I and was moved to Griffith from the Molonglo River. The lavatory was out in the back yard. Sister Short and Matron Cooper lived in a little house and I lived in a tent at the back of the Hospital. I did not have any formal training - only what my Aunt taught me. She worked in the Manly Cottage Hospital. I helped her when I stayed with her when I was about 16 years old.

When I was about 17 years old they couldn't get anyone to work at the new hospital as you had to be a "jack-of-all-trades". You washed the clothes, you gave them their meals on trays, you washed up and did everything. In those days we had big white aprons, that crossed over at the back. We had to starch and iron our uniforms.

In the hospital kitchen we had big black iron pots on the big black stove and water was heated in black kettles and a water fountain with a brass tap which was filled through the top. We carried kerosene lamps. If Dr Watkins had to do an operation or stitching I had to scrub an old pine table with Pearson's sand soap. Matron would put a screen around the table. While she assisted Doctor I acted as scout.

I remember once six men came into hospital - they thought they were poisoned.

It turned out that they had been making their tea in a kerosene tin over the fire and never tipped the old brew out - just added more tea-leaves. The tannin must have been increasing day by day.

One time a man was fished out of the canal. As he began to recover he started to vomit a dark red substance and the Doctor said "He's finished". But it was only red wine!

311

The hospital was referred to as a "dressing station" as we often dressed wounds of returned Soldiers. There were some terrible wounds - some were not healed and some would re-open from the strenuous work. On one occasion a man chopped his foot almost in half while clearing the trees on the farms. Doctor often had to set broken arms or legs.

Dr Watkins at first travelled from Whitton, then he moved to Bagtown. He had a wife and one son who was later killed in a plane crash.

Anyone needing a major operation was taken to the Hospital in Narrandera. We once had some cases of typhoid and had to put screens around their beds and isolate them as with other infectious cases. I remember a child of about 12 dying of rheumatic fever her name was Stella Tilden.

I met Fred Owen (known as Bill) at a football match at Hanwood. They played Aussie Rules where the Hanwood Club is now.

When Bill Owen came to this area he came to stay with his Auntie Florrie - Mrs Collier. His Aunt Ada was Ada Cummings. They were Bill's father's sisters. Bill came from Rutherglen with Joe Byrnes and Jack Macpherson.

On Saturday night at Bagtown we would go for a "bit of a hop" with Mr Haines playing the cornet and Mrs Hawkins the piano. We danced the Barn Dance, the Lancers, the Quadrilles, the waltz and the Schottische. Mum always took us to these dances. I remember later when the Charleston became popular - Mum forbade us to dance it. She said it was a disgrace!

Mum's father was Sir Arnold Dickson, the famous English portrait painter. Mum also did oil painting. She gave some of her father's paintings and some of her own to be raffled by the early Hospital Auxiliary. Some of his paintings were scenes of New Zealand where he later lived although he was born in England.

Mum arranged for all of us to learn to play the piano and May Fallon (nee Boyle) came to our house to teach me. We later lived in a house at 184 Yambil Street which was first owned by Aubrey W Hurie. I still live in Griffith in 30 Palla Street.

Wedding of Nell Pearson & Bill ()wen - April 1922 1. to R Father O'Dea, Charles Pearson, Catherine Pearson, Mary Pearson, Elsie Pearson (Mower Girl), Nell and Bill Owen, Ruth Chadwick nee Pearson, Colin Chadwick, William Pearson Courtesy Mrs Nclly Owen

312

William Pearson

Charles Henry Pearson born 29 September 1867, Victoria died in Albury Hospital aged 83 years buried in Griffith

Married 1:

Harriott Beaumont

1. Adelaide died young 2. Vera 3. William lived and died in Griffith in 1972 aged 75 years. Buried R C cemetery, Griffith Married II:

Mary Catherine Dickson at Whitton, 1902 born in Adelaide 1881, died in Griffith (48 years)

1. Harriet Nellie born Whitton 19 August 1903 married Frederick William Owen in Roman Catholic Hall Griffith in 1922. Lives Griffith.

2. Ruth Elizabeth born Whitton 4 September 1906 married Colin Chadwick in Roman Catholic Hall, Griffith. Lives Albury.

3. Mary Adeline born Narrandera 14 March 1908 married Richard Foley in Roman Catholic Church Griffith. Lives Albury.

4. Faith Lillian born Narrandera 21 June 1911, (deceased), married Owen Brockell in Melbourne.

5. Kathleen Alice born Whitton 7 January 1914 married Claude Mitchell in Roman Catholic Church. Lives Melbourne.

6. Elsie Alma born Bagtown under a pine tree 21 March 1918, married Jack McDonald of Yenda. Lives in Albury.

Contributed by Nelly Owen (nee Pearson), 30 Palla Street, Griffith 2680

313

PEDLEY Do you remember when the store and Post Office at Bagtown was owned by John and Sarah Pedley and their 21 year old son, Albert? Albert was appointed Temporary Postmaster from 23 December 1912, succeeding the first practicing Postmaster, W Field, until a permanent replacement could be arranged.

John Robert and Sarah Ellen Pedley came from Middleton, Manchester, England.

Arriving in Sydney during August 1912 they came almost directly to the area accompanied by their only child, Albert (born 11 December 1891 in England) and who was a draftsman by training. It would seem that they came in response to some of the "rosy" promotion of the irrigation scheme in England.

Farm No 108 was originally granted to Sarah and John on 25 January 1915.

Additional area was granted on 19 June 1933. This farm was later transferred to Mr Zucchi.

Prior to this, on 5 November 1914, Albert, in partnership with Robert Gordon Selkirk, had been granted Farm No 465 for intense culture, then horticulture. Obviously an enterprising pair, they opened and ran a shop in Bagtown while waiting for their farms to come into production.

The dam on Pedley's farm was a favourite swimming place for the children of Bagtown.

Sarah Ellen Pedley was buried in the Church of England Section of the Griffith Cemetery 10 March 1949.

On 29 January 1930 Albert married Alice Maud Atterton and they lived at Hanwood until their retirement to Canberra in 1952. There are no descendants as Albert was an only child and Alice and Albert had no family. Albert died 28 November 1971 Right up until the time of her death in 1987 in her 93rd year, Alice was still winning prizes for her fine and beautiful needlework.

Fred & Emily Whiting and Alice & Albert Palley

Courtesy of the late Mrs Alice Pedley of Canberra ACT 314

PFITZNER Adolph Herbert Pfitzner and his wife Isabel Catherine nee Clark, came to New South Wales from South Australia before World War I. It is thought they travelled by horse and waggon and with horse and sulky as they brought with them a race horse they owned, named "Freed's Daughter".

They share-farmed for Finley Matthews on the Bullenbong Plains near The Rock.

Later Mr Pfitzner's older brother Gus, his wife Bertha and family came from South Australia and also share-farmed. (In the mid 1920's Gus took up land in the Goolgowi area).

The Pfitzner brothers were fourth generation descendants of Christian and Johanne Pfitzner, whose eldest son J. Friederick Wilhelm, wife Anna Rosina and two young children with a number of Pfitzner relatives formed the vanguard of the Pfitzner migration to Australia.

They were farmers at Maserwitz, a small village, a few miles upstream on the river Oder, from the busy port of Maltsch in lower Silesia, then a province of the Kingdom of Prussia. (Christian, Johanne and their youngest son came to Australia some years later).

J Friederick Wilhelm and Anna Rosina Pfitzner and two young children landed at Adelaide and settled on the land at Eudunda. They are buried in the Lutheran Section of the Tarnma Cemetery. Their descendants have moved to many parts of Australia.

"The Pfitzner Story 1802-1975", a book of the family history, was launched at a family reunion in 1975 at Eudunda. A memorial gate to Eudunda Oval has been erected by the Pfitzners in gratitude for their Australian Heritage.

Doreen Rush, eldest daughter of Adolph and Isabel Pfitzner remembers "in 1915, my father drew a block of land at Myall Park near Yenda. They named the property "Pinefield". In 1916 they moved to "Pinefield" with their newly born first child, a daughter born at Wagga Wagga.

The living was harsh. They cleared and fenced the land, depended on rain water and rabbit meat was part of their staple diet. Their neighbours were McClure and McGreedy. In 1917 twin girls were born at "Pinefield" with Mrs McClure assisting at the birth. Dr Bodycombe arrived three days later. In 1919 Carl (Charlie) their first son was born at "Pinefield". After several heartbreaking dry years they walked off the farm.

My father then leased land at Yenda along the Stock Route now known as the Binya Forest. They moved into a four roomed 'butter box' cottage on the leasehold. My father then started a business selling horses. He purchased a T Model Ford and travelled to Junee, Albury and Wodonga buying horses which were brought back to his sale yards at the Yenda leasehold. Buyers came from far and wide and the business prospered. My father also supplied riding and sulky ponies. A number of men were employed to feed and tend the horses, also to bring in the horses from places of purchase. The horses were sold to farmers and the WC & IC. My father was credited with bringing half of the horses to the MIA.

315

My mother kept fowls and cows and sold surplus eggs, home made butter and clotted cream in Yenda. With some of the proceeds she bought materials and hand made all the clothes for the children. Cotton Crepe was sixpence halfpenny (61/2d) a yard!

They grew vegetables and pie melons in a fenced garden around the cottage.

There is nothing to equal melon pie and clotted cream! A hand driven pump was used by my father to pump water into the garden.

There was a school room on the property not far from the cottage and a Scottish woman, Miss McDonald was the teacher. She stayed with people named Stockton and she rode a horse, as did the pupils attending the one room school. Many years later Miss McDonald would ride her horse into Griffith to visit us.

Two sons, Harold and Alan were born at Yenda at Nurse Waters' nursing home.

The Pfirmer Family in 1921 L to R Doreen, Aunt Annie (father's sister), Edna & Iris (the twins) Carl (Charlie), Adolph, Isabel nursing baby Harold Courtesy Mrs D Rush

38 Clotted cream was made by putting milk in a large shallow dish on the stove and scalding it. When cool, the cream is skimmed from the top of the milk. Delicious!

316

About 1924 my family moved into the home on the corner of Ulong and Canal Streets, close to schooling for their growing family. The school was a short walk across the footbridge. The children came home for lunch every day as did other children in the locality. Again they grew their own vegetables and my Mother also kept a few fowls and had a cow which was kept inside the fence on the channel bank.

About the mid twenties machinery began to take over and horses became redundant. My father, who was a great lover of animals, especially horses, turned to veterinary work. He also did contract harvesting at Yenda Mr Adolph Pfitzner nursing son for Frank Stevens, Jock Berry, Alan, Mrs Isabel Pfitymer with baby Joseph Pat Boyle and others.

Courtesy MIS D Rush The Depression had started and my Mother decided to start a laundry. Permission was given by Council to erect a building on the perimeter of the Ulong Street side of the double block. Mr Delaney was then Shire President and living back to back with my parents on the corner of Ulong and Yambil Street in the former Slattery home. (Mr Slattery was the founder of the Area News). A builder, named Mr Berecry, made additions and alterations to the home and built the laundry.

The laundry became a success story with laundry coming from commercial travellers and single men. They also washed and starched those long white tablecloths for Balls and Weddings. Later the laundry was done for Hotels, Dentists and Hairdressers.

My mother was the first woman in Griffith to install washing machines in her laundry.

She purchased two "Bendix" machines from Alan Clancy, electrical retailer. Many women worked in the laundry over the years - one woman, Cora Taylor worked for eight years.

Others remembered were: Goodison, Wynne, and Maggs. The cost to wash and iron a man's shirt was 1/6d.

My parents lived the remainder of the their lives at the Ulong/Canal Street residence where they had reared their eight children.

In later years my father became an expert snooker player and was a winner many times. In his life time he had owned two race horses Treed's Daughter' and 'Marcel'

317

which he raced while living at Yenda. He died in 1947 as the result of head injuries sustained in a fall from the top of hay stacked on a motor truck.

During World II six Pfitzner children enlisted - four sons went overseas in the army and two daughters, one in the Air Force and one in the Army, served in Australia.

My mother wore a 'two bar Mother's badge with six tiny silver stars'.

During her lifetime my Mother helped many people and her home always welcomed relatives and friends. In the early years of Griffith many of the women who were her friends at Yenda and Binya would come and stay on their way to hospital to have their babies. After the mothers were discharged from hospital with their new babes they would again stay at our home until their husbands came to collect them. Over the years her large home sheltered many a person in need. She was also one of the Lutheran Congregation and it was her great pleasure to host the congregation after church services.

It became the social highlight of her life - the menu was planned to suit the youngest child to the oldest adult. Her last years were filled with the love of family and church.

My mother died at the age of 82 years and is buried with my father in the Lutheran Section of the Griffith Cemetery beside his brother Gus and his wife Bertha Pfitzner."

Isabel Catherine Pfitzner surrounded by her family celebrating her 75 th birthday Back Carl (Charlie) Pfitzner, Joseph Pfitzner, Emerson Terry, Harry Rush, Allan Brownscombe, Garnet Adams, Allan Ptitzner 2nd Row. John Pfitzner, Kenneth Moiler, Roslyn Rush, Douglas Rush, Maralyn Rush, Rodney Pfitzner, Linda Pfitzner, 3rd Row: Doris Pfitrifer, Marg Pfitzner, Iris Terry, Doreen Rush, Isabel Pfitzner, Edna Brownscombe, Thelma Adams, Norma Pfitzner Front: Christopher Pfitzner, Dianne Pfitzner, Karen Pfitzner, Leslie Pfitzner, Alison Brownscombe, Rory Adams.

Contributed by Mrs Doreen Rush nee Pfitzner of Griffith and Mrs Iris Terry nee Pfitzner of Carramar NSW 318

PRITCHARD Charles George Leslie Pritchard came from Beechworth where he had married Olive Annie Williams. Olive had been born at Yanko Station in 1884, the daughter of John Williams and Margaret (nee Sexton). Charles Pritchard was born at Beechworth in 1886, the first child of Alexander Pritchard (from England) and Lucy (nee Youngman, from Germany).

The young couple came first to Leeton in 1911 where Charlie worked for the WC & IC before moving to Griffith in 1912 where he drove a horse and lorry delivering building materials to workmen constructing the channels.

At this time they lived at Old Griffith known also as East Mirrool or Bagtown.

Then they left for a time, returning from Ardlethan in "a spring cart with a grey pony".

Although some records show the Pritchards as having manufactured cordials at Bagtown - Charles had been a cordial manufacturer at Beechworth prior to coming to Leeton - son Clive says it was not till some time after they moved into "New Griffith".

Of the move from Bagtown, Clive remembers it was Good Friday 1920 "when we shifted up to the top of Banna Avenue. I was two years old".

The building is still there. Later where Tom Lee Charles and Olive Pritchard the electrician (and his sons) worked from. It is now a craft shop, still run by a member of the Lee family. "It was a big weather-board building. A fellow called Chapman helped Dad build it. At first it was on stilts. Later they filled it in with concrete and made it into ten rooms underneath. These rooms were used as a boarding-house run by Mr and Mrs Pritchard.

319

Some of the boarders were 'Long Face' Mick McLean, 'Touch and Go' Mackay (he worked for the T & G Insurance - hence the 'touch and go' nickname) Percy Trinder and Roy Armstrong."

And so Clive's vivid memories continue - "We had a cyclone in September 1923.

It blew the roof off Miss Robinson's paper shop - (she also had a frock shop). The Lyceum Theatre front was blown down. (This is the only building in Griffith to have had the roof jacked up which was done when the building was enlarged to include the 'dress circle').

During the Depression, Fred Kensitt had the butcher shop which handled the meat given to unemployed people 'on the dole'. At the Police Station these people could be issued with a dole voucher, then in turn they would take it to the grocer who in turn would give them a ticket to get meat and bread. John Jacob, the baker, had tokens made which represented one loaf of bread.

At this time Kurkel was a photographer who came to Griffith from Numurkah.

He worked under the name of Marlborough Studios. Another photographer who played a major part in documenting the early days of the Area was Fullarton. He travelled and worked from a covered horse-drawn van and took a lot of the very fine old photos.

There were a lot of 'characters' about in those early days. One was Patrick O'Connor, an irascible old Irishman who lived alone, (and as far as anyone knew had no family in this country) at the Unemployed Camp. O'Connor's only companions were a parrot and a blue cattle dog which guarded him fiercely. The parrot was with him all the time and would fly around but always came back to his shoulder."

When, because of ill health, Tango Joe was forced to give up his business, Mrs Olive Pritchard purchased all his cordial making equipment, about 1928. By this time Tango was operating in Yambil Street, on the southern side of Jacka's Garage. From this time cordials were manufactured by the Pritchard family.

The cordial manufacturers were firstly Tango Joe, then Myers & Coombs and then Pritchards, Jack Brown and Denhams. Much later, of course, Websters.

Pritchards got tons of sugar up on the railway. Mr Pritchard had an old Overland Whippet utility which he used to cart the 70 lb bags of sugar - a ton at a time - which he used to make the soft drinks.

About the end of the 1920's Clive recalls that his father was making drinks in the cellar when the Health Inspector, Tom Grace, said "You can't do that". Dad said "What if I make a shed down on the other block out the back?". Tom Grace replied, "Put in your plans and I'll pass them". So, Harry Hurley did the carpentry and a fellow with the surname of God (?) did the bricklaying. THEN the Commission said "You can't do anything there. It is residential!". Finally the matter was resolved by the Pritchards agreeing to pay and Bob Stannard of the Lands Department agreeing that the Commission accept the price offered to convert the block to freehold.

Long before the days of refrigeration another incident saw Mr Pritchard cut on the head by bottles bursting as a result of ice falling on some bottles which were cooling.

Clive relates - "We took him to Loretto Hospital to Dr Goldberg who said 'You will have to take your boots off. You'll have to have some stitches in that'. To this Charlie Pritchard replied 'I came here to have my eye stitched not my feet! Get on with the job!'".

Olive Annie Pritchard died on 18th November 1941 at the age of 55 years. After her death her sister came to housekeep for Charles Pritchard and they later married.

320

Charles G.L. Pritchard died and was buried at Griffith in August 1970.

Charles & Olive Pritchards family:Charles George, born 1913, married Kay Rhodes Thelma Olive, born 1914, married Harry Hillery Vincent Clive, born Ardlethan NSW 1918 married Molly Fuller

By courtesy of Clive Pritchard, 169 Yambil Street, Griffith 2680

321

PROUD George Proud arrived in Griffith in 1914, with his second wife, May Bell, three children from his first marriage and two children from his marriage to May. They settled on Farm 24 on 24 Sept 1915.

George's grand-daughter, Winifred Mary Woolard nee Pryde tells us that George had previously been Superintendent of (the) Meter Department, Newcastle and Gateshead Gas Co and also that his daughter Margaret Mary was a schoolteacher at Marrar and at Hanwood from 1914 to 1916.

Mary, as she was known, married Harry Pryde.

George Proud born 1860, Newcastle on Tyne died Griffith 1920 (buried Bagtown Cemetery) married 1:

Margaret Mary Proud, 1915

Mary Jane Dixon

1.George Thomas born 1891, Newcastle on Tyne died 1965 2. Margaret Mary born 1895, Newcastle on Tyne died 1974 married 1916 H E G Pryde 3. Arthur Whates born 1898, Newcastle on Tyne died 1961 married 2:

May Bell born 1885 died 1967

4. Basil Whates born 1907, Newcastle on Tyne died 1984, married Pauline Evans 5. Rosamund May born 1909, Newcastle on Tyne died 1977 By courtesy of Mrs WM Woolard, 3 Lorikeet St, Terrigal 2260.

322

PRYDE Harry Ewart Gladstone Pryde was the grandson of John and Margaret Pryde who came to Hobart in 1852 and 1851 respectively and were married in 1853. John Pryde died in 1854 and his widow married George Peacock in 1856. They had a large family and times were hard, so Mrs Peacock applied herself to making huge quantities of jam for sale. This led to the well known "Peacock Jam Co." Harry Pryde's maternal great grandparents, James and Frances Weeding immigrated to Oatlands, Tasmania, in 1823, and where, at "Weedington" descendants continue the business of fine wool production.

Harry E G Pryde, born 1885 at Enmore NSW, contracted pneumonia in his first year of life and was taken to the Tasmanian midlands to recover in the care of his mother's family at Oatlands. During his childhood there, he formed the ambition of having his own farm. After attending the Fort Street High School and gaining a Hawkesbury Diploma of Agriculture, with Honours, he "pot-boiled" by rouseabouting in the huge NSW shearing sheds, travelled in the West for his grandmother's jams, was an overseer for the CSR in Fiji, declined to permanently manage the farm at the new Wagga Experiment Farm but acted in a temporary capacity, and then worked at the Leeton Nursery in 1912, until the Griffith farms were allotted, arriving in 1913.

Harry married Margaret Mary Proud at Hurstville 1 Nov 1916, having a family of one daughter and three sons, all born at Griffith.

Harry's daughter, Winifred, remembers that the first home was "tents, until houses were built. I remember the remains of `Bagtown' flapping in the wind. Just round timber, with kerosene tins and `bag' walls". Winifred also tells us that "Harry Pryde was the Manager of Pryde Bros Farm No 20 at Hanwood - photographs illustrating the incredible growth of 3 and 4 year old fruit trees on Farm 20 were taken by the Government, enlarged to wall size and exhibited in Australia House, London, to encourage immigration. I remembered Dave Welch, Laurie ? and Johnny Ayres, working on the farm, all good to us as children. Also Lily Twyman helped when mother had young babies. Miss Emerton was the teacher of 1st and 2nd classes.

I think the significant difference was our reliance on the horse. Before telephones there was the horse-rider with messages. All the supplies, the produce and the people were pulled along by horses.

First there were the drays and lorries, then the Ewart Gladstone Prydc, 1912 I spring cart and sulky and I saw them give way to the `motor lorry' and 'motor car'. When the rubber tyred sulky came in, it bought gasps of envious admiration! Where bulldozers would be used now, men worked with their horses and scoops, sometimes two men to a scoop when it was extra heavy. Coffins were carried on horse-drawn lorries. I travelled to Hanwood 323

School on the 'Conveyance' owned and driven by Mr. Madden (if I remember the name correctly). After a half mile walk, I'd meet the covered vehicle at Madden's gate, climb the steps at the back, sit on one of the four rows of seats, and be the first passenger. Two horses might do when the road was dry, but three, or even four, were needed to pull us in wet weather. Sometimes we all had to get out while the big ones pushed, and the horses strained!

There are so many stories to be told - I think I'll write a book too! The excitement of picnics and camping at Darlington Point; the MM Min lights moving around the packing shed; the dust storms; the deserted orchards which my brother, John and I explored (unknown to our parents!); `Pinky'39 stories; The Wilga Tree and my Mother's violet garden, etc, etc. Also our old friend like Harry Crase (didn't he have the case factory?) and Mrs Crase with her verandah room filled with lovely green pot plants and ferns; Reg Benton, his wife and boys arriving; living near Harry and Rene Murray and two boys (then); the Soothills were near neighbours also. Dear Dr Watkins and Mr Marshall, the dentist (who went gold mining at Lucknow) and the Lenehans.

However, Harry's childhood illnesses had left him susceptible to pleurisy and pneumonia and he left the prosperous Farm 20 in the hands of his younger brother and moved, in 1926, to a higher altitude and the less severe climate of the Central Western Slopes at Molong, where he successfully grew table grapes for the Sydney market for 20 years".

Children of Harry and Mary Pryde:Winifred Mary born 20 Oct 1917, Farm 20 John Franklin born 30 Dec 1919, Farm 20 Alan James born 18 Nov 1921, probably Farm 20.

Flying Officer RAAF Bomber Pilot, killed World War 2, buried Eglantine Church Cemetery, Hillsborough, County Down N Ireland.

Harry Ewart born 29 Mar 1924, Sister O'Reilly's Hospital in Griffith, married Mavis Gavin, lives Castle Hill.

By courtesy Mrs Winifred Mary Woolard , 3 Lorikeet St, Terrigal 2260

39

"Pinky" - cheap red wine, also known as "plonk"

324

QUILTER Quilter is the name of another of the pre-irrigation farming families. Their property was known as "Broomfield" (in some records as "Bloomfield") and was located to the western side of the Whitton Stock Route where Mirrool Creek crosses the road.

This land appears to have originally been selected in 1889 by James Davis whose daughter, Elizabeth, married James Slattery and whose daughter, Frances Elizabeth (Slattery) married Michael Joseph Quilter40 . Michael and Frances met at Junee where she was employed as a governess by the Quilter family there.

Prior to his connection with "Broomfield", James Slattery had been in the area since 1870 and figures prominently in "Bynya" Station history. Hilda Freeman tells us in her "Murrumbidgee Memories and Riverina Reminiscences" that John Hunter Patterson, the owner of "Bynya" Station (Binya and district of today) "engaged a Mr James Slattery in 1870 to assist him in improving Bynya." One of Slattery's jobs was to put down, completely by hand, "Slattery's Well" at The Peak (completed 1871). This well and Patterson's Well, located a short distance north of where "Merribee" homestead now stands, were the first two wells sunk on "Bynya."

By the 1890's wheat growing was much more profitable than sheep. In 1892 James Davis died (on 17 April) and bequeathed his property, "Broomfield" to his son-in-law, James Slattery. This same year Slattery is named as being the third largest wheat producer in the Narrandera Shire with 73 hectares grown on "Broomfield"'11.

Michael Joseph Quilter was born at Lixnaw, Co Kerry, Ireland in 1868. He was the youngest of a family of thirteen children. His parents were Thomas Francis Quilter and his wife Mary nee Walsh .

He arrived in Australia in 1889 and landed at Brisbane where he had a brother, William, who was a policeman in Queensland. There he worked for some time, in the cane fields, before coming to Junee where he had two married sisters - Mary, the wife of Charles McCarthy, a Junee grazier who owned "Springfield" and Elizabeth, Mrs JFJ Quilter.

Elizabeth Quilter, a noted horsewoman, had come Michael Quilter from Ireland at the age of 20 to marry her cousin, Courtesy Mrs Laurie Quitter John Francis, son of John Joseph Quilter and

40

Brian Kelly "History of Griffith" - Records show another of this large Quilter family, James Augustine Quilter, selecting 600 acres in the Parish of Stanbridge in August 1881; land resumed 1913. James Augustine and his wife Flora Sylvester (nee McDonald) lived there from 1909 until 1913.

41

Bill Gammage "History of Narrandera Shire"

325

Frances Matilda (the Australian born daughter of James Byrne and Sarah nee Franklin), Michael Quilter worked for some time for these relatives at Junee for 15/- a week and keep.

He married Frances Elizabeth Slattery on 29 June 1898 at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Junee.

After their marriage they moved to "Broomfield" on the Whitton Stock Route, where they lived and worked until the resumption of this property in 1912.

Michael Quitter had originally come to Australia for only two years, as he had promised his mother he would return to Ireland. However, in the meantime, his mother died so he stayed on here.

Whilst living at "Broomfield", Michael and Frances had a family of six children - two sons and four daughters. Just two years before her death, in 1987, Miss Josie Quitter (one of their children) recalled her childhood there and told of remembering that the small children were nearly always dressed in at least one garment of red, because the country was so thickly covered with scrub and many small children had wandered away and died in the bush. A red garment made a small child more visible were they to become lost. She Frances Elizabeth Quitter nee Slattery also remembered walking, with her older sister, to a Courtesy Mrs Laurie Quitter "half-time" school. Asked if she could remember the location of this school, she answered quite definitely - "Oh yes! It would have been about halfway from our home and the present town of Yenda." She also said that their home, which was built of weatherboard, was constructed from timber from the property where the family had a saw-mill, as well as their other farming enterprises.

After having to quit their land here, Michael Quilter purchased 1,632 acres on the subdivision of "Birrego" Station, south of Narrandera. He named the place "Avondale" (after Charles Stewart Parnell's home in Ireland). "When the land was first entered upon it was only fenced on the boundary fronting the road (now the Narrandera/Wagga road).

The timber required clearing and Mr Quilter set to work to build his home, fence, subdivide and clear the property". In 1915, two years after leaving "Broomfield", he won the field wheat competition promoted by the local Pastoral and Agricultural Society and the following year won the field wheat competition promoted by the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales as well as the local competition42.

Michael Quilter died at "Avondale" on 3 September 1948 aged 81 years and is buried in Narrandera. In part of his obituary he is described as "tolerant in his views about all matters, and being gifted with a rich Irish brogue and a genial disposition, he earned the esteem of not only the residents of Sandigo, but also all with whom he came

42

Newspaper extract - date and origin unknown.

326

in contact. His home was noted for its hospitality." Frances Quilter died at Leeton on 21 February 1953, aged 78 years and is buried in Narrandera.

The Quitter Family L to R Marie, Josephine, Frances, Mabel Front: Leo, Fanny, Michael, Clement

James Davis (the original Selector of "Broomfield") was born 1818 in Erith, Kent, England and died "Parish of Stanbridge, Whitton" on 17 April 1892. He is buried in a marked grave in the Whitton Cemetery and on his death certificate his occupation is shown as "farmer of Bloomfield Whitton". He married Mary Anne Austin in Kent in 1845.

Their daughter, Elizabeth was born in England c 1850 and they arrived in Australia in 1863 when Elizabeth was aged 13-

James Slattery (the son-in-law to whom "Broomfield" was bequested because property was not usually bequeathed to women [eg his daughter]), was a man of many parts, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1843. He came to Australia when he was about twenty.

He married Elizabeth Davis in 1873 at Ballarat. In the 1880's family records show him as a publican at Waddi NSW (Darlington Point). Family tradition also says that Slattery lost most of his money in investing in the tin mines at Ardlethan. In the latter years of his life he had the mail run from Kamarah to Narrandera and the Slattery home still stands at Kamarah.

327

James Davis b. Erith Kent England d. 17 Apr 1892 Whitton m. 1845 Kent Mary Anne Austin Arrived Australia 1863

*

* * * Elizabeth Davis James J Slattery b. c 1850, England b. 1843 Dublin Ireland Arrived Australia 1863 Arrived Australia c 1863 d. 1931 Narrandera d. 1928, bur. Narrandera Married 1873, Ballarat Vic

* Frances Elizabeth Slattery Michael Joseph Quitter * b. 31 Jan 1875 Wagga NSW (Youngest of 13 children d. 21 Feb 1953 Leeton NSW of Francis & Mary Quilter) buried Narrandera b 29 Sept 1868 Lixnaw, Co Kerry, Ireland d. 3 Sept 1948 Narrandera Married 29 June 1898 St Joseph's, Junee NSW 1. Mabel Elizabeth born 20 September 1899, Junee; died 17 September 1978 married: Eric Leonard Muntz 16 February 1922 2. Josephine Mary born 16 July 1901, Whitton; died 30 November 1987, Narrandera. Never married 3. Clement Francis born 12 Septemer 1903, Junee; died 16 August 1970, Narrandera. Married Ursula Doreen Murphy 8 July 1936 4. Leo Michael born 13 August 1907, Junee; died 18 November 1970, Narrandera. Married Mary Guinan Irons 1969 5. Marie Monica born 13 August 1910 Junee. Married William Herbert 6. Frances Elizabeth born 20 January 1913. Married Joseph Whittaker By courtesy of: The late Miss Josie Quilter of Narrandera NSW Mrs Erica Bailey (nee Muntz) 25 Peters St, Narrandera 2700 Mrs Laurie Quilter "Belalie" Sandigo, via Narrandera 2700

328

ROWLEY The "Earl of Anglesey" was the ship which arrived in Melbourne on 22 May 1862 and aboard was Henry Rowley from Hopstone near Claverley, Shropshire, England.

Henry was born on 26 May 1839 and married Sarah McWhirter at Salt Creek, Lake Bolac, Victoria on 3 October 1867. Sarah was born in 1850 at Barr, Ayr, Scotland and came to Portland, Victoria on the "Emma Eugenia". Henry died on 17 August 1916 and is buried at Ararat. Sarah died on 15 March 1875 and is buried at Glen Thompson, Victoria.

Edward Andrew Rowley, son of Henry and Sarah, was born in a mail tent at Yuppeckiah, Glen Thompson, on 13 March 1870. Edward married Alice Dove Bartlett in Albury on 16 Nov 1898 and died on 19 March 1947 in Griffith.

The Rowley family arrived in New South Wales in 1912 when Edward Rowley with his sons, Ronald aged 11 and Lenard aged 9, travelled from Bethanga in Victoria by spring cart, arriving at "Banandra" Station near the punt on the Murrumbidgee River.

Alice Rowley with Nelson ("Tod") aged 7, Lillian aged 13 and 1 year old Una, travelled by train from Albury to Junee where they stopped overnight before proceeding on to Whitton. From there they were taken by horse and cart the 16 kilometres south to "Banandra".

In January 1913 the family moved to the Irrigation Commission's Quarry Camp at the base of Scenic Hill where Edward was employed as a labourer. At this time Alice was taking in boarders as well as looking after her own children, Lillian, Ronald and Lenard were amongst the first children to be enrolled at Hanwood Primary School when it opened on the 12 May 1913. This meant that the children had to undertake the long walk from the bottom of Scenic Hill to Hanwood and return, on foot, each day, regardless of weather.

On 24 September 1913 the sixth child, Edward, was born at the Bagtown Hospital, one of the earliest recorded births in the Area.

The family took up Farm 80 at Yoogali where they built a four-roomed house and planted fruit trees. During this time Edward supplemented the family income by hawking fruit and vegetables around Griffith. After receiving only 1/6d. for the entire peach crop they had no choice but to leave the farm. Edward then commenced a small carrying business. The greater part of his work was done for Tom Berry's brickyard.

During these difficult years in Griffith the family did not have much money but they never went hungry. A cow, a vegetable garden and some chickens ensured they had enough to eat. Like most families they baked their own bread and made their pickles and sauces in season. Clothes for all the family were made by Alice on an old sewing machine.

At Christmas time the whole family was loaded on to the horse-drawn lorry for the trip down to the river near Darlington Point. Christmas dinner was prepared in camp ovens from the game they killed whilst there.

The health of the family was dependent on home remedies such as the camphor bag and the mustard plaster! Alice, along with Mrs Harris, raised funds for the Griffith Hospital by collecting donations from Irrigation Commission workers each pay-day. In recognition of her efforts a park at Yoogali has been named "Rowley Park".

About 1925 they moved onto Farm 1207 in Erskine Road where Edward and Alice spent their remaining years. Of their six children; Lillian married and went to live 329

in Brisbane; Ronald worked for Ebert and Sara, the carriers as a driver, married and later moved to Sydney; Lenard worked at various farm activities, became a motor mechanic for J S Vagg & Co and later moved to Melbourne with his family; Nelson ("Tod") worked with both the Irrigation Commission and at Tom Berry's brickyard before commencing with W J Carney as a driver, an employment he continued for 27 years and from 1926 he lived with his family in Hyandra Street; Una worked with Bernstien's as a dressmaker, married and remained in Griffith; Edward married and remained on Farm 1207 and worked with the Irrigation Commission until his retirement.

Len Rowley in the car that he and 'Brusher" Wells built at Farm 1207, circa 1927 Courtesy Ross Rowley

Edward and Alice had a family of six children:Lillian Greta born Bethanga 1899 and buried in Mittagong.

Ronald James ("Mick") born Bethanga 1901, married Dorothy Muriel Brophy and died in 1982 in Sydney Lenard Henry born Bethanga 18 Nov 1903, married Muriel Huckel and died Fawkner Vic 4 February 1963.

Nelson Lawrence ("Tod") born Bethanga 28 October 1905, married Victoria Henderson and died Griffith 19 August 1982.

Una Margaret born Bethanga 3 October 1911, married Jack Brown and lives in Griffith.

Edward Albert born Griffith 12 September 1914 married Gladys Campbell and lives at Griffith.

Courtesy of Ross Rowley, 2 Drovers Close, Maiden Gully, Vic 3551 330

SANGSTER/FARRELL This very well known family originally came from Heathcote in Victoria. The Sangster family moved from there to Gippsland then to Melbourne in 1913. The following year James, the father, took horses to India, then after a brief stay at Newcastle (NSW), they arrived in the Griffith area early 1915, settling first at "Pine Vale" Warburn, a property some miles north west of Griffith. James Sangster managed this property for a Mr Dunovan for over a year.

During this time they experienced great difficulty in obtaining the services of a governess to teach the children so Florence had to teach them herself. After nine months and several advertisements in a Wagga Wagga newspaper the position was applied for by two Miss O'Mearas!

Eventually, Miss Mona O'Meara came to teach the children. The Hawley children were also taught with them. Miss O'Meara boarded with the Sangsters.

The nearest shops were at Bagtown and sometimes the family had to drive by sulky to Whitton for supplies. In 1917 they moved to Hanwood and Jessie, Jim and "Bubbie" (Theodora) were enrolled at Hanwood Public School at the start of that year. Jessie's first teacher was a Mr Rivett.

Other families at the school included the Vaughans, Delves and Stevensons.

At first the family lived on Nowotina's farm and then Hillam's farm before purchasing Farm 1012 where they James Sangster grew fruit. The family is commemorated by Courtesy Mrs Alice McWilliam the road in Hanwood named "Sangster Crescent".

During these early times Florence Sangster travelled hundreds of miles by horse and sulky to collect enough signatures on a petition to obtain a High School for Griffith.

She drove as far out as the Merriwagga district to enable her to reach the required quota of names of children who would attend the school in the future. Only one of her children, Alice, attended the High School when it was eventually built.

Florence Sangster was also responsible for petitioning the Lands Department to obtain (as additional area for the adjoining farms) land which had originally been reserved for a railway link between Willbriggie and Hanwood. As a result, when the WillbriggieHanwood railway proposal was abandoned because of the completion of the TemoraGriffith line, the farmers concerned were able to buy this land. Always a lady of enterprise, it was also Florence Sangster who communicated with the experts in the United States to learn the details of the correct way to pack the farm produce - grapes, peaches, 331

apricots and oranges. She taught the many young women who were then employed to pack the fruit by hand for export and the domestic markets.

James Sangster died in 1936 at the age of 63 years and his wife Florence in July 1938 aged 49 years. James was a founding member of the Jondaryan Club which is built on land owned and sold by him for its establishment.

He was also a founding member of the First Masonic Lodge in Griffith and held several offices in the Lodge.

Jessie remembers, at the age of 9, driving from Hanwood to Whitton with her father in a horse and buggy to buy brandy for baby Alice who was very sick at the time. Deep ruts in the road caused the buggy to overturn and her father suffered a broken collar bone when he was thrown out.

Florence Sangster They righted the sulky and Courtesy Mrs Alicc McWilliam continued on their way to buy the brandy, with Jessie driving. All the family are very proud to have a little of this pioneering blood running in their veins.

Jessie, the eldest daughter of James and Florence, left school at 16 years of age.

Although the school only went as far as eighth grade, her studies included shorthand so it was quite comprehensive for the time. On leaving school she worked at MacLeans shop in Griffith; MacLeans later sold to Cohens and she then worked for Cohens in their Yenda store. While working in Yenda she had to ride her bicycle from Hanwood each Monday morning, on the old rutted gravel road, and back home again on Saturday night.

Sometimes she was lucky enough to get a ride home with someone in a sulky! She worked for Cohens for four years and later for a Mr Fennel who had a fruit shop in Yenda.

She met and married Thomas Joseph Leo Farrell, an Englishman of Irish parents.

He had emigrated to Australia several years earlier after serviing in the First World War during which he suffered severe wounds from gas and was again severely wounded at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. He died in 1945.

Thomas Farrell bought Farm 1384 Yenda from D K Arblaster on 14 June 1926.

He was a temporary clerk at the Yenda Post Office when Jack White was in charge.

Later he bought into Oliver's Lyceum Cafe/Newsagency (May 1926).

332

Jessie and Tom's first child, daughter June, was born at "Sylvania" private hospital, which was then located on Farm 1530 Yenda. "Sylvania" was later purchased for £170 (April 1928) by the Yenda CWA after which the building was moved into Yenda where it functioned as the CWA Hospital.

Jessie and Tom lost their business during the Depression (25 November 1927).

Tom also ran a billiard room in Yenda for several years but lost it as well during the Depression. While they owned the Cafe, Tom used to play the xylophone and Jessie the pianola to entertain their customers during Interval at the "Movies". Jessie also worked with Woods until June was born.

Tom also worked at the Leeton Packing Co (L.P.C. as it was known) buying fruit in season which the company dried - mostly prunes and apricots. This company later became part of the Griffith Producers. The family lived in Yambil Street and several houses in Banna Avenue near the Producers, the last one being the older of the two homes in the Rice Mill grounds. The Rice Mill was formerly Pardey's Flour Mill. After Tom's death, Jessie worked for Mrs Harry O'Meara part time. O'Meara's owned a timberyard and dried fruit packaging shed.

Jessie still had time to be a founding member of the Griffith Branch of the 2WG Women's Club, helping to raise many thousands of pounds for the War Fund during WW2. She was also Secretary of the Ambulance Women's Auxiliary from its foundation to close. She was made a Life Member of the Ambulance Service in recognition of her long service. At the same time she also served as a member of the Far West Children's Organisation and was awarded Life Membership of this as well. Jessie was also a foundation member of the Griffith Hostel Committee for almost all the period from its inception until the early 1960's. She even served for some time as Matron when no permanent Matron could be found to fill the position.

Jessie and Tom and eight children. One, Robin, died in infancy. Their familyJune Keary - lives Bilbul Jean Munro - lives Griffith Shirley Benson - lives Leeton Jim Farrell - lives Griffith Norma Gee - lives Leeton Lesley Graham - lives Fingal Bay NSW Kevin Farrell Jessie has 26 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren - from riding a horse to school at Hanwood she has seen the district develop from "Bagtown" to its present magnificent status as a city. She has been a vital part of the development and some of its vital institutions.

Both "Bubbie" and Alice worked in Griffith after leaving school. "Bub" worked as a supervisor at the Griffith Producers where the women sorted and packed the oranges into wooden pine boxes, made on the spot. Export fruit was wrapped in squares of tissue paper and the girls became very proficient as the packers were then paid by the box. She married Les Wallace during WW2 - Les served in the Air Force.

Wallace's Cafe was a very well known spot in town. It had high backed cedar booths and delicious meals served on starched linen cloths with linen serviettes, silver tea 333

pots, sugar basins and jugs. A three course meal cost about 1/6c1 to 2/-. Sundaes and milkshakes and homemade milk ice blocks were specialties. (Not to mention the Pineapple drinks and Lime Spiders!). "Bub" would ride her bike home from the Producers and do the laundry or help in the kitchen of the Cafe. She is a well known golfer, as was Les who did much to help establish the Lake Wyangan Golf course.

The youngest of Florence and James' family, Alice married Glen McWilliam.

They have four children - Ross, Max, Bette and Peter.

The genealogical background of this Sangster family is very interesting. They are among the luckier ones in that they can take their family back to 1700.

James Sangster was born in or near Aberdeen, Scotland, about 1700. His wife's name is not known. They had five children, four sons and one daughter. The children's baptisms are registered at Hillhead of Bethel Aberdeen. James occupation is not known but it could have been a farmer or blacksmith. Their children were:James born 1727; married Jean Simpson 8 Oct 1757 Alexander born 4 Sept 1728 William born 2 August 1730 Elizabeth born 29 Feb 1732; married George Black 3 June 1755 Adam born 1 July 1738; married Margaret Paterson 2 Jan 1767 Adam was 29 when he married Margaret and they are known to have had two sons - Arthur and Alexander. Their births/baptisms were registered at Old Mildrum which is a small village several miles from Aberdeen. This is a farming district so they may have been farmers.

This son Alexander, born 6 November 1777, married Isabella Joss (22 Dec 1805).

They had a son, William born in Aberdeen, Scotland on 5 February 1820. This William travelled to Australia - it is not sure what year. He married Jessie McDonald who was also born in Aberdeen. (She was the daughter of John McDonald and Margaret nee Paten). William and Jessie were married in Melbourne on 30 August 1859. He was 38 a blacksmith, living in Heathcote Victoria. Jessie was 28 years old. They had a son, James Sangster, born 1878. He married Florence Annie nee Jeffree (born 3 February 1884, daughter of Edwin Jeffree - born Cornwall 1851 and Annie nee Painter - born Prahran Victoria 1854). James and Florence lived in Heathcote where James worked as a blacksmith. He was interested in gold and went to Western Australia for a time.

This Florence and James Sangster are the Griffith pioneers and their family are:1. Jessie born Heathcote Victoria 2. Edwin James born Heathcote Victoria (accidentally killed Melbourne aged 21) 3. Theodora ("Bub") born Heathcote Victoria 4. Alice born Melbourne Victoria By courtesy of Mrs Alice McWilliam (nee Sangster) and Mrs Jean Munro (nee Farrell).

334

SARA One day in October 1914, Rex (Reginald Bassett) Sara, a young mine assayer, wandered into a talk being given in the Broken Hill Technical College by L.A.B. Wade, the then Commissioner for the Irrigation Areas. Wade's "recruiting campaign for new settlers" painted such rosy pictures of this developing area - stories of "flowing water and peaches as big as your head" Rex was to recall towards the end of his life spent here.

However, it inspired such enthusiasm in the young Rex that he persuaded three of his friends to accompany him on a trip to see it for themselves. His companions were Oscar Ebert, Joe Dreyer and the fourth man, whose name is forgotten, apparently didn't like what he saw and never came back.

The four of them chartered a half ton T-Model Ford Truck, plus the driver, at the cost of eight pounds per head. They set out on a journey which was to take them four days travelling via Ivanhoe, Hay and Leeton to reach Mirrool Area No 2, as this district was then known. Recalling the journey Rex was to say "there was no seating in the truck except four gallon petrol drums, so we were pretty glad to see Bagtown when we arrived here after sitting on those drums for four days." He added also "there were a lot of bachelors about in those days, living in boarding houses and camps. They'd storm out about tea-time for a feed and a bit of company."

It took him only ten days to make up his mind to acquire some land, return to Broken Hill to make arrangements to return, this time making the overland trip by horse and sulky - it was Boxing Day 1914 when he set out for a second time.

Arriving back he and Oscar Ebert "batched" together until Oscar's family arrived later that year.

Three months later, after arranging for a house to be built, he was back to Broken Hill again - to be married, on 12 April 1915.

His bride was Clara May Matthiessen (born Laura SA, 28 December 1891) a second generation Australian. Her Rex Sara mother and father were of German descent.

Her mother's uncle was Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, the noted botanist 335

and scientist, decorated by every reigning monarch of his time and who designed and planted the Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Rex was born at Burra SA on 16 October 1891 and was also a second generation Australian, his parents being of English stock.

In Broken Hill there were few trees, water was scarce and fruit a luxury, so it was with high hopes that the young couple packed their bags and set off, this time by train, to life on the MIA. The trip by train from Broken Hill was even longer than the overland journey. They had to go to Adelaide, Melbourne and Junee then change for Willbriggie.

Approaching Willbriggie the new Mrs Sara asked her husband if they would be having lunch at the hotel. In reply he produced a packet of sandwiches he had bought at Cootamundra.

However, she was to find that lunch had been sent by Mrs Ebert with Em and his dad, Oscar, who met them at Rcx & Clara May Sara Willbriggie.

On their Wedding Day It was hot, dry weather when they finally arrived - in the middle of a dust storm - to find that their house had not been built. Black dust storms were common in Broken Hill but their eldest child, Melva, remembers her mother saying that she thought it was "out of the frying pan into the fire!"

"While my father was back in Broken Hill to be married, the Ebert family, Mrs Ebert, Ern, Vedas and Rex had arrived. Before leaving for his wedding the builder had promised my father to have the house finished but when they arrived he hadn't done a thing more. With their home not finished and nowhere else to live, the Ebert Family took them in. They only had two rooms and a lean-to kitchen but Mrs Ebert, my Mother,

336

Vedas and Rex shared the only bedroom and Dad, Mr Ebert and Ern were in a hessian room, with no roof, in the back yard. What a start for a young couple!!"

After spending the first month with the Eberts the newly weds finally moved into their own house on the day the drought broke - 15th May 1915 - with all their worldly possessions in a dray pulled by a hefty draught horse and in the pouring rain!

The house was only two rooms and a lean-to at the back to start with. The walls were single fibro and when we had heavy rain everything had to be moved away from the walls because they got quite damp right through. Rooms were added as the family arrived, and yes! Even a bathroom!

Dad and Mr Ebert planted the farms and while waiting for trees to bear fruit they went fencing and haycarting to keep the families fed and clothed. Mum and Mrs Ebert were left alone a week or ten days at a time with only kerosene lamps and candles once darkness fell and poor Mum had three little ones. The Ebert family were much older and able to help their mother. However, while the men were away, camped out on the jobs, neighbours and friends were helpful, kind and supportive and the women managed alone.

Wrongly advised, my father had planted acres of white fleshed peaches which were so soft they wouldn't carry to market so the trees were grafted to prunes and he had to wait again for a return. He did have some other prune trees, the first crop of which was only a tubful and which they pricked, by hand with a hat pin. They should have been done in caustic soda and boiling water to split the skins - no one told them!

In May 1916 I was born. Jack was born 1919 and Anne in 1921. All were born at home, with Nurse Thompson in attendance, in what is now the dining-room of my daughter's home (she and her husband bought the home after my parents died and her children are the fourth generation living in that home). Nurse Thompson was a midwife from Whitton. She came, delivered the baby and stayed for a fortnight. She used to travel by horse and sulky.

As the family grew, new rooms were added and in 1931 all but the original bedroom and living room were pulled down and a very comfortable three bedroomed house, with gauzed-in verandah all around, was built. Prior to this time kerosene cases were used for cupboards in our bedrooms. Many other families had this same sort of `furniture'.

When I was tiny Saturday night was 'bath night' - in the living-room - with only the kettle for hot water and all the water had to be carried. In those days everyone had to make their own fun - there were lots of tennis courts. One always walked to play with playmates.

We used to go to Hanwood School in a horse-drawn, covered waggon like those seen in 'Western' movies driven by old Mr Madden. On cold mornings some of the children would run - 3 or 4 at a time - hanging onto the rings at the side of the waggon.

If Mr Madden was sick we walked - we had two and a quarter miles to go, others had five or six miles but no one ever complained!

Picnics were frequent. A few families would go on a horse-drawn lorry, with boxes and rugs for seats. The kids sat along the side dangling legs. Camping out at the river was simple. A tarpaulin was laid on the sand and the sand used to make a pillow under it. All slept in a row in our clothes with a rug over the top and cow-dung burning to keep the "mossies" away. No tents, caravans, etc. for us!!

337

In the early days Dad had the horse and sulky he came over with in 1914. Poor Mum was never meant to be a horsewoman and was frightened of "Kid", the horse, AND Kid knew it!! I've seen her look up when Mum was going to catch her and she would actually chase Mum out of the paddock. Those days we stayed home!!

I don't remember the first Show but it was evidently a pretty wild affair. This was then a prohibition area and many imbibed too heavily. Police had 'drunks' tied to trees.

Dad took Mum home from 'such a disgusting sight!!'

Micky Cush was the mailman and he met the train at Willbriggie. There was a little Post Office/Shop at Hanwood run by Mrs Adams and her son Hedley and from where we picked up our mail. There was also a butcher's cutting-cart and he called a couple of times a week. The Baker also called a couple of times a week in a horse-drawn cart. However, Mum always made sure that she had plenty of flour on hand because, if there was a long wet spell, no goods could get through from Willbriggie and we had many a damper.

Everyone was battling and because of this it was a very close-knit community.

One just knew everyone and it was great.

Sara & 113ert Farmhouses with Melva in foreground.

I remember the early days of Griffith with shops here and there up this long dirt road and a dirt footpath connecting the shops. The Co-op was in an iron shed facing Jondaryan Avenue. My father was a foundation member of the Cash Club in which the Co-op had its beginnings. Mirrool House was on both sides of the street - the women's part and dining-room where the Ex-Servicemens Club is now and on the other side, where the Fire Station is now, was the Men's Barracks. Irvin's butchery was just around the corner in Banna Avenue and has since been incorporated into the modern Co-op building.

The Area News, run by a Mr Ron Slattery, was nearby; then quite a gap to Taylor's haberdashery, etc, with Gordon's Garage alongside. On the Westpac corner was Taylor's grocery shop. In the second block was Mrs Cummings - she had a hat and frock shop.

338

On the corner, John Jacobs who had also moved from Bagtown, had his bakery. His pies were great!!

In the top block was the 100F Lodge Hall where Christmas parties were held.

Mrs Lee's shop is there now. In Yambil Street was Forshaw's Hall - where the building of Mallinson & Binks is now. The blacksmiths were further down. The Hotels came later and also the first Lyceum Theatre.

I can remember going to a Charlie Chaplin silent film when Mrs Hawkins played the piano to compliment the film. The dialogue was printed on the screen. Later the Lyceum was remodelled and was a fine building. There were Banks but I can't remember where they were. There was an open-air theatre where the 'Aeroplane' car parking area is now. Later this theatre was moved to Banna Lane. Both theatres were owned by Mr Harry Morel.

The Merritt family were wonderful to my parents when they first came and were like grandparents to us as we arrived. Mr Merritt is buried in the Bagtown Cemetery.

I was brought up with music in the home. Mum was an excellent pianist and also played the violin. Mr Ladegast, an old German gentleman, who became one of us, was a pianist. Mr Dreyer, who gave up a mine managership at Broken Hill to come here and farm, had sons who played the trombone and the drum. Lionel Merritt and his cousin, Bill Bradley, were also violinists and our little home was their meeting place each Saturday night.

Rex Sara was a good tennis player, a wicket-keeper for the Griffith cricket team and an all-round sportsman. In 1919 he started in the carrying business and was joined by his friend Oscar Ebert in a partnership which was to last almost 50 years. When the trees were showing signs of coming into bearing, the late Jim Sainty Snr had remarked "How are you going to get on when the fruit starts?" This set Rex and Oscar thinking.

They bought a pair of horses and one of them was to start the carrying business in town while the other worked the two farms - all profits were pooled. But soon they were adding to their waggons and when the beer drought broke and prohibition was lifted, they were carting most of the bricks and building materials for the construction of the Griffith, Victoria and Area Hotels, beside fruit and general carrying.

It has been said that Rex Sara literally ran the railway goods yards in many an emergency. When they, the business of Ebert and Sara, became motorised their first two trucks were solid rubber tyred Vulcan and Thornycroft - officially 3 tonners but would have taken a 4 ton load.

Between operating all his other activities Rex once managed to sell a local slaughtennan a blind horse named "Claude". The slaughterman, Jack Gallagher, was looking for a horse to cart meat from the slaughterhouse to the local butcher and he spotted Claude. What he didn't know was that Claude had gone blind from eating paddy melons at Broken Hill the year before. When asked of the horse's condition Rex Sara replied "He doesn't look too good." The slaughterman said "Don't worry, a bag of chaff will fix him up." It wasn't until the horse began tripping over tree stumps between the slaughterhouse and the butchery that the slaughterman woke up. But Claude began to adapt to the route and gave many years faithful service.

Melva finishes her reminiscences by saying - "My Grandfather, Dad's father, visited here in 1916, before I was born, and wanted my parents to give up and go back to Broken Hill. He said the place "was only fit for ants and blacks". He didn't come back, 339

much to my parent's regret as they would have been so proud to show him the town and district for which they and all the pioneers had worked so hard. I take my hat off to the pioneers! They did a wonderful job and I don't think that we, their children, are any the worse for the early struggle. I know that I have always had a very full and happy life and am proud to have been part of it all."

A Sara Family Picnic - Horse & Lorry in the wet. Taken at what was known as The Agistment Paddock" - now where the 2RG aerial is located at Widgelli. L to R John Matthiessen (father of May Sara), his wife Louise, May and Rex Sara, Ann, Jack & Melva Sara, Dick Cox (Mrs Cox ?), Rex II)ert. standing at the back of lorry - Friedrich Ladegast

Reginald Bassett ("Rex") Sara died 5 February 1974, aged 82 years. Clara May ("May") Sara died 28 July 1975, aged 83 years. They are both buried in the Lawn Section of the Griffith Cemetery. Their children are: 1. Melva Jean born 30 May 1916, at Hanwood married William ("Bill") Armstrong - lives Griffith. They have two children 2. Arthur John ("Jack") born 12 April 1919, at Hanwood died 22 July 1955; married Jean Harris (Jean re-married Dick Crawford [dec'd]).

She lives at Gosford NSW 3. Annie May ("Anne") born 3 December 1920, at Hanwood married Norman Aland [dec'd]. She lives in Griffith.

By courtesy of Mrs Melva Armstrong nee Sara, 7 Murphy Crescent, Griffith

340

Rex & Clara Sara on their 50th Wedding Anniversary Courtesy Mrs Melva Armstrong nee Sara

Ilanwood School Concert Standing Elsie Thornett. Back I. to R Stan Cummings, Muriel Friend, Maud Irvine, Norman Thornett Front L to R Dulcic I lawkins, Vera Johnson, Bertha I lawkins, Jessie Sangster, Doris Walsh, Elsie Johnson, Gladys Johnson Courtesy The Griffith Collection

341

SAVAGE Following the great famine of Ireland in the 1840's, Richard Savage, the second son of seven, emigrated to Australia. He left England on 6 December 1856 in the ship "Champion of the Seas", arriving in Melbourne on 3 March 1857. He obtained work in Melbourne and met and married Johannah Hayes on 4 October 1859. Johannah came from a farming family in Limerick. After their first child was born they moved to Benalla and selected a farm at Tatong and raised a family of eight, two girls and six boys.

The youngest child, Michael Joseph born, in 1872, came to Yanco in 1893 and worked as a Labourer and machine operator, digging ditches on North Yanco Station for James and Charles Douglas and then for Samuel McCaughey until 1900. He went to New Zealand in 1907 and later became Prime Minister of that country from 1935 until his death in 1940.

Michael's brother, William Joseph Savage, and fifth child of Richard and Johannah, was born in Benalla on 28 June 1866. He married Roberta Asquith on 25 April 1894 and they had eight children, two girls and six boys.

William and Roberta Savage's home on farm 257, Bilbul about 1940. Courtesy of Mrs June Ilarriman

In 1913 William, his eldest son Leslie and Robert Asquith (brother to Roberta) paid a visit to Leeton, but decided to stay in Benalla. Drought brought hard times and in 1916 William, Roberta and their family together with Robert Asquith again set out from Benalla, this time to settle in Griffith. They travelled by a horse-drawn lorry and a spring cart pulled by "Cobby" the buggy horse. It took them ten days to reach Griffith as by this time the drought had broken and the roads were heavy with mud.

The family's first home was a tent and later a log hut with mud squeezed into the cracks to keep out the cold winds; this was then lined with newspapers. They grew vegetables and sold them around the district from a horse-drawn lorry until the fruit trees came into bearing.

342

William and Roberta's family: Leslie Michael born in 1895 married Mary Whelan in 1928 and died in 1981.

Mary died in 1964. Leslie and Mary were the first couple to be married in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Griffith.

Graham Walter born in 1898 married Doris Cooke in 1926 and is still living (20/1/1990) and Doris died in 1986.

Ida Rose born 1902 married Leslie Jackson in 1931 and died in 1964. Leslie Jackson is still living.

Richard William born 1904 married Elsie Tasker in 1932 and died in 1983 in Sydney. Elsie died in 1985 also in Sydney.

William Francis born 1907 married Marie Whitten in 1948 and both are still living in Griffith.

Rose died, one day old in 1908.

Robert Ernest born 1915 married Kathleen Bakewell in 1947 and both are still living in Griffith.

Leo Thomas was born in 1917 in Griffith and married Agnes McClelland in 1941 and both are still living in Griffith.

The Savage Boys about 1932 I. to R: Leo, Bill, Les, Dick, Bert Courtesy Mrs lune Harriman (nee Savage)

343

Early 1920's - Rex Sara, Graham Savage, Sid Bowyer, Les Savage Courtesy Mrs Melva Armstrong

Robert Asquith was born on 13 October 1881 six months after his father had been killed in a shooting accident. He married Mary Monica Kennedy on 13 November 1918 at Leeton and died on 3 December 1944 in Griffith. Mary died on 7 October 1974 also in Griffith. Robert had been employed by the W.C. & I.C. as an officer for 22 years before his death. For some years after the first world war Robert supervised the returned soldiers on their farms in Leeton. In 1922 he experimented for the Government and grew the first successful crop of rice raised in the area. Robert and Mary had only one child Joy, who married Patrick Higgins in 1944 and raised a family of five boys and three girls.

Both are still living at Merriwagga.

By courtesy of June Harriman (nee Savage), Griffith.

344

SCOTT "Lake View" was the selection property of the Peech family later renamed Lake Wyangan which was settled mainly by returned soldiers, in 1921.

Norman Douglas Scott was one of those soldiers.

Born in London on 28 September 1895, he was an orphan who arrived in Australia in 1913 and lived first on a farm at Yanco. This farm is now the Agricultural Institute, Yanco. In 1916 at the age of eighteen Douglas (as he was better known) joined the first A.I.F. and served in France. Wounded and badly gassed he returned to Australia in 1919 and Mr & Mrs Doug Scott lived and worked on a Courtesy Mr Frank Scott farm at Yenda. In 1921 he selected Farm 1845, Lake Wyangan and proceeded to clear it of scrub.

His sweetheart, Olive Avenell Elliott, born on 24 September 1899 in Middleton Stoney, Oxfordshire, came to Australia in August 1923. Doug and Olive were married the same day Olive landed as was the usual custom for brides coming to Australia in those days. St John's Church, East Malvern, Melbourne was chosen for the wedding on 15 August 1923. The train trip to Griffith then took two and a half days. Farming was a new experience for Doug as he had previously been a clerk.

Folk had to shop from a catalogue for most things in those early days. These catalogues came twice a year and featured dresses, shoes, fuel stoves, kitchen ware, materials, china etc. The goods were then sent by rail.

What a different life these pioneers came to from that which they were used to in their own country. The hardships were great, crops failed, prices were poor and there was no mechanical equipment as there is today, but there was no turning back and these folk pushed forward and won in the end.

Doug and Olive were pioneers in the true sense of the word and both worked hard on the farm, bringing up four children.

345

Doug died on 2 October 1973, while still living on the farm and his ashes were scattered over the farm he loved and worked to fruition. His wife, Olive is still living at this time. Their family were:John Norman born 9 July 1924, married Adele Harper and still reside in Griffith Frank Douglas born 3 October 1926, married Agnes Watson and reside on Farm 1845, Lake Wyangan Leslie Avenell Scott born 3 October 1926, married Elsie Styman and resides in Gosford Gilbert Frederick born 3 August 1931, married Pat Hawkins and resides at Springwood.

Doug Scott (left) and neighbour Ted ("Blue") Beck in front of Doug's Molonglo hut on Farm 1845, Lake Wyangan Courtesy Mr Frank Scott

Courtesy Frank Scott, PO Box 1353, Griffith 2650.

346

SMITH This Selector family had been in the area from very early times. Prior to obtaining land by Conditional Purchase (Selection) in 1886 the family had lived on the well known Darlington Point property, "Woodlands". Francis Smith's father, was an ex-Navy man with the rank of Captain who had been a Naval Architect. Francis was born at Lavender Bay, Sydney.

Frank Smith, as he was known, selected land which was situated south of the present village of Beelbangera, extending either side of the Griffith/Beelbangera Road and canal. The eastern boundary was approximately the site of the present day Rossetto's Winery. For a number of years Frank and his half-brother, William Cummings, "batched" on this selection.

At one time during these years they employed a boy who had come from the "training ships". These "ships" were old sailing ships which were no longer fit to go to sea and were anchored in Sydney Harbour, to house, and supposedly, give naval training to the worst of delinquent teenage boys, taken into custody in the city of Sydney in the 1880's. How they came to be employed so far inland is unknown. However, Smith family tradition tells that this boy liked one brother and disliked the other. When it was his turn to prepare and cook the evening meal he put poison in one piece of the salted meat and marked the other piece in some way. With what must be evidence of his lack of intelligence, he cooked both pieces of meat in the same pot! Fortunately, when one of the brothers tasted some of the meat he realised instantly that something was wrong because of its bitter taste. He threw all the meat on the ground outside the hut. Next morning all the dogs were dead!

In 1907 Francis Smith married Miss May Fletcher and they had five children three daughters and two sons:1. Kathleen - lives Leeton 2. Sinclair 3. Maidie 4. Francis 5. Mary

By courtesy of Mrs Kath Nolen (nee Smith), 16 Church Street, Leeton.

347

SPRY William Thomas Spry was born in Penzance, Cornwall, on 26 October 1841. His parents were William Spry (senior) and his wife Dorothy (nee Knight) married on 2 February 1832.

William (senior) and his family left Portsmouth, England on 11 September 1849 on the "Courier", bound for Melbourne. Free settlers, they eventually lived in Spry Street, Coburg, a suburb of Melbourne. The Street is still there today. They had eight children (four of whom survived), the third youngest, and youngest male, being William Thomas.

Two older brothers also with the name William had died before he was born. Both William (senior) and his wife Dorothy are buried in the Pentridge Cemetery, Coburg.

Their sons, William Thomas (known as "Billy") and George, were both teamsters, William working a bullock team and George working a horse team.

They worked in Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, and the Ballarat goldfields. They first arrived in the area round 1867, although apparently George was taken to Hay for medical treatment in 1860.

Mad Dan Morgan, the bushranger, had held up George on his waggon and shot him in the leg when he refused to get down. Billy took him to Hay for treatment but he was crippled thereafter and drove his horse team from a chair bolted to his waggon. Billy also had an encounter with Ned Kelly when he was one of the people locked up in the Jerilderie gaol when Ned and his gang took over the town.

In 1870 Billy married Florence Emmaline Donnelly at White Cliffs. She was married in a royal blue gown and she was indeed a "royalist", crying when Queen Victoria died. Her grandson remembers that she owned a large chest full of dresses, including a royal blue one, most Florence Spry, nee Donnelly, likely her wedding dress. She and on her Wedding day in 1870 Billy went on to have eight Courtesy Mr Ian Spry children, three boys and five girls.

348

Billy and Florence travelled from Bendigo by horse and bullock teams to their first home in the Riverina region at Hay. Later they built a pub, a slab hut, at Gunbar, on the Hay-Hillston Road. This was later sold so that the Spry's could buy "Paradise Farm". (The pub later burnt down during a brawl over beer that was being kept for the teamsters.) "Paradise Farm" was 2,000 acres of land seven miles out of Gunbar.

However, due to a terrible drought in the early 1900's they lost this farm.

Billy Spry's brother, George, was accidentally drowned in 1893 near Spry Street.

Coburg.

William Thomas Spry (1841-1933) This photo was believed to have been taken in 1920.

Courtesy Mr Ian Spry

Billy's son, George Albin Spry owned the largest waggon in the area, built in Hay. It was 27 feet long by 8 feet wide on 8 inch wide wheels and was pulled by 42 bullocks.

He moved the Church of England Church from near Bilbul to Hanwood. In 1920 George settled in Hanwood, with his father Billy, on Farm 91. Billy died on 18 September 1933, one month away from his 92nd birthday, while working his bullocks with his son George.

He is buried in the Griffith Cemetery. His wife, Florence died on 20 September 1938, and is buried in Albury.

George Albin Spry died in 1961 and is buried in Griffith. He and his wife Isabella Brown had three children - two sons, Alec and Vince and one daughter, who sadly, died young in Wagga Wagga. After the death of their mother the two boys were reared by 349

their Aunt, Florence Brown, known to all as "Aunty Brown". She was a generous hearted, lovely lady.

The Spry family continued their tradition of transporting goods, although they changed with the times and were soon in the truck transport business. George Albin Spry's two sons, Alec and Vince had their own transport business; Alec ceased business in the 1950's and Vince handed over to his son, Ian Vincent Spry, born 1941, and it was Ian who eventually sold out to Alpen's in 1989.

The Spry family settled in the region long before the irrigation area was developed. They began their transportation business in the 1850's, and were very important to the early settlers of this region, bringing in supplies and taking out goods to other centres. The family business was handed down over the generations finally changing hands in early 1989, with the great-grandson of Billy Spry, the founder of the business being the last Spry at the helm of the company, over 120 years after it was begun.

The children of William Thomas ("Billy")Spry and Florence Emmaline nee Donnelly:1. Edward E born 1879, lived at Griffith 2. William H born 1880, lived Lake Cargelligo 3. Dorothy P born 1882, married Frederick Tasker - 13 children 4. Mabel F born 1884, married R Irvin 5. Alice M born 1886, married Mr Braddock 6. Gertrude E born 1891, died 1980 married Mr Clayton, in New Orleans, USA 7. Selena born 1895, died young 8. George Albin born Gunbar 1888, died Griffith 1961 married Isabella Brown, 3 children 1. Alec - married Lucy Carmody and had five children 2. Ruby - died young in Wagga Wagga 3. Vincent George - born Griffith, 1916 married Iris Forrester, 2 children Ian Vincent and Lynette Iris.

Courtesy of Mr Ian Spry, 34 Wood Road Griffith and Mrs Zillah Hahm (daughter of Dorothy Spry & Frederick Tasker)

350

STARK Scotland was home for Lawrence Stark and his wife Mary Maxwell nee Grimmond. In his own words, he explained to his son, Harry, how he first thought of making Australia "home" "I took Mother (his wife) to Dundee where I worked as a shipwright. We began to plan how we could get to Australia. At that time immigration to Australia was booming and assisted passages were given to suitable applicants. We applied and were accepted to sail on a little sailing ship, the `S.S. Oribe' from Portsmouth.

The journey took four months. Dave, poor chap, just over a year old, caught whooping cough and was pretty bad when we arrived in Sydney." - sometime in 1891.

Not a great deal is known about the family's early years in Sydney except that Lawrence was the Superintendent of a Boys' Home at Randwick. Presumably it was during this time that his wife died since her place of death is given as Randwick.

Lawrence and Mary Stark had seven children:- James, George and David born in Scotland and Harry, Albert, Laura and Anne born in Australia.

Prior to coming to the Area and Farm 743 at Hanwood, David (the third son) trained and worked as a Landscape Gardener in both Sydney and Western Australia explaining his life-long love of Australian native plants and flowers.

Very Early days Farm 7, Hanwood Courtesy Mrs Dorothy Lincoln ncc Stark

43

Water Resources Records:- Farm 7 granted STARK. Lawrence & David Grimmond, io vecember 1912 - 7S acres 1 rood; Annual Rental f45/3/Farm 8 granted STARK, Thomas Harry 26 February 1913 - 50 acres 2 roods; Annual Rental f39/2/9 - transfer 1920 to L Meggitt

351

David's brother, Harry, spent some time here and later lett. His sister, Laura, married Ellis Thomas, the first resident Methodist Minister who had lived at Bagtowr initially.

Rev Ellis Thomas in front of his "Residence" at Bagtown e 1913 Courtesy Griffith Collection

Dave's daughter, Dorothy, related that Laura who was 17 years old when the family arrived in the Area, had memories of sleeping under a sheet of galvanised iron until a two storey corrugated iron shed was built - the lower storey of which was used as a residence for a number of years.

It is uncertain how they travelled here but Dorothy says there was always a very old dray on the farm (Farm 7) and "that probably brought them out".

Dave Stark married Clara Rawlings whose family were of Welsh origin and had been miners in the Newcastle district prior to coming to the Area in 1915. Her father, William Rawlings, was employed by WC & IC and the family lived on a farm44 near the site of old Bagtown.

44

Water Resources Records:- Farm 457 granted RAWLINGS, Polly (born 4 Oct 1865 Wallsend NSW) 14 September 1921, 32 acres 2 roods; Annual Rental f40/17/3 Farm 462 granted RAWLINGS, William (born 7 May 1893, Wallsend NSW) 14 September 1921, 29 acres 1 rood: Annual Rental f43/10/4

352

David and Clara had three children: 1. Marjorie Clare born Griffith 1919, died 1989 2. Keith David born Griffith 1920 married: Jill Miller - lives Lane Cove, Sydney 3. Dorothy Mary born Griffith 1929 married: Bill Lincoln - lives Peak Hill, NSW David Stark was one of the foundation members of the Cash Club. His daughter, Dorothy, writes "I grew up on Farm 7 Hanwood. We moved to Sydney after the second World War While we were living there the farm was often used for Sunday School picnics and fund-raising events during the War. We had a 9-hole golf course and tennis court on the 'dry area'. The Lord Mayor's Comfort Fund met regularly at our home to make underclothing, etc. and sleeping bags for the children of Britain. My Mother made black `gollies' to send in some of them. We flew the Union Jack from a flagpole on the roof of the house - it could be seen for miles.

The farm had an avenue of trees, including red flowering gums. On Christmas Eve, my father, Dave, would take tubs of the flowers in to the District Hospital. I remember going one year in a dust storm.

I can remember the ice cream man calling; also the 'rabbit man' and the bullock teams. Social life was mainly Sunday lea' at the home of friends. A trip to the river at Darlington Point was a great treat."

Dave, "Cs' (tiara) Stark with Keith and Marjorie c 1923

By courtesy of Mrs Dorothy Lincoln (nee Stark), 133 Derribong Street, Peak Hill NSW

353

STEVENSON In Griffith the name of Bob Stevenson is synonymous with the highly successful enterprise "Stevenson's Blue Metal Quarries" but the Stevenson family roots reach far back to early Griffith. Both Bob's paternal and maternal grandparents, the Turners, along with Bob himself and his brother Charles were Pioneers.

John Stevenson, Bob's grandfather, was born in Liverpool, England in 1830. John emigrated to Victoria (Australia) as a shipwright and married Sarah Anderton, at Ararat, Victoria on 23 December 1867. He became a miner in the goldfields in Ararat but later moved to Wilcannia in New South Wales. Bob and Charlie's father, Charles Stevenson, was born at "Till Till Kilfara" Station, Balranald on 29 September 1874, the second of the five children born to John and Sarah.

This Charles served in the Boer War in South Africa and returned and married Henrietta Elizabeth Turner at White Cliffs NSW 8 September 1902.

Henrietta, herself was one of ten children of pioneers John Henry Turner and Henrietta (nee Giddins).

Before coming to Griffith, Charles snr had had many occupations - Opal miner, wood carter, excise officer at Wilcannia and store manager in Cobar. Like so many of his Charles Stevenson c 1893-1895 (born 29 Sept 1874) Courtesy Mrs K Mitchell ncc Stevenson generation, Charles (or "Charlie" as he was also known) was a fine athlete and especially an outstanding runner. At the time of his death (19 December 1956 aged 82 years) a friend and contemporary, RJ "Bob" Thompson paid tribute to Charlie through a column of the "Area News": "The late Mr Charlie Stevenson and I served in the Boer War in the `Citizens Bushman Contingent'.

He was a good mate, soldier and sportsman. Charlie was our gun runner, he could do the 100 yards in evens. Many matches were made with other regiments and Charlie always won and we always collected the bets.

I remember a match being run under fire. I think the opponent was a Tasmanian. We had to go about half a mile from camp to get a good level track, 130 yards. There was a Duall hill about 400 yards fiuther on, where there happened to be a few of the enemy, unknown to us. As soon 354

as the starters' gun was fired, the enemy opened fire, so the race was run with bullets singing and cutting up the dust. We had a few casualties. I think that should nearly be a record for foot running.

Charlie was, at the time, recognised champion footntnner of Africa.

Charlie and I had not met since being discharged, until 1919 at the Griffith Show, when I learned he was married and had a family and was one of the pioneer fanners.

I have known Charlie for 56 years and were always great friends, so I, with his family will mourn a man and a friend. (signed) RJ (Bob) Thompson."

When Charles and Henrietta Stevenson arrived in Hanwood in August of 1919 their son Charlie was 15 years old and Bob was 12 years.

Coming from the gold mining town of Canbelego (23 miles from Cobar) they travelled with all their possessions, including the horse feed, in a horse and dray, one sulky drawn by a pony named "Tango", a cow and calf, two kangaroo dogs and some "chooks" which rode in netting slung under the sulky by day. At the evening stop these "chooks" were let out to "scratch and feed" before being penned for the night.

The journey through Nymagee, Euabalong and Rankin Springs to Hanwood took almost three weeks. Upon their arrival they stayed (for three or four months) with Henrietta's family, the Turners, on Farm 153. Later the Stevenson family purchased an abandoned farm nearby - Farm 167 of 47 acres for £150. At first the family lived in a tin shed, then they built a house of one bedroom, kitchen and verandah.

Three to four years later two more Robert (Bob) Stevenson rooms were built on. The shell of born 7 October 1906 this house still exists (1986) and is Courtesy Mrs K Mitchell nee Stevenson owned by D F Calabria on what is now called "Beaumont Road".

The family was very self sufficient - everything was home-baked and flour was purchased in 100lb bags for home use on the farm. Heavy boots were the order of the 355

day and the boys wore shorts the whole year round. Henrietta made the boys' suits for Church. She also cut their hair and mended all the shoes.

As well as planting the farm and starting to establish an orchard growing grapes and peaches, Charlie snr drove a three horse dray for the Water Commission.

Bob finished his schooling, attending Hanwood School. He was a good student and became Dux of his class in his last year (and won a book prize called "Tom Slade on the River"). On leaving school Bob not only worked on the farm but also was a selfemployed wood carter. He had a contract to cart wood to McWilliam's winery at Hanwood and supply telegraph poles for the PMG (from 1932 to 1940).

Relating to his daughter, Kay, incidents that happened in these early days, one that stood out in Bob's memory was of the time he lost the last 10/- that his family owned!! In 1920, at the age of 13 years, he was sent into the butchers at Bagtown on an errand for his mother. He was given 10/- (a very large amount of money then) and asked to buy 2lbs of sausages at Mr Harris' butcher shop and 2 loaves of bread at the bakers. When he looked in his pocket in the butcher's shop for the 10/- note he couldn't find it and became very upset. On returning home Bob's mother did not scold him for losing the money but proceeded to make her own bread! At this time Bob's father's pay per week would not have been more than about £3/10/- and 10/- would have meant a great deal to the house-keeper! Imagine how Bob felt!!

I lcnrictta Stevenson (ncc Turner) Another story he told is of 1875 - 1968 (90 yrs in this photo) Tango Joe and Hanley Tilden. Tango Courtesy Mrs K Mitchell ncc Stevenson who sold soft drinks in a shop at Bagtown made out of galvanised iron used to put a sign outside his shop - "Free Drinks Tomorrow", but, of course, "to-morrow" never came! Bob remembered his friend Hanley Tilden walking all the way to Bagtown to get a "free drink", only to be told "not to-day!! Free drinks to-morrow!!".

Like their father, both the boys were good athletes. They played Australian Rules football for Wilga Station and their team won the MIA League trophy called the "Roberts/Gabel Cup", defeating Yanco at Leeton (1924/25). Jack Haines, who later became the Middle Weight Boxing Champion of Australia played in the same team. (In Griffith Australian Rules Football did not start until after 1925).

356

Always a man of many parts, Bob played the cornet in the Griffith Brass Band in 1926.

Both boys were also extremely good runners - starting while young they became professional runners - Bob in 1925 when he ran 130 yards in 12.6 seconds, defeating Frank Manning in a scratch match at Griffith. He also made the qualifying heats in the Narrandera Gift. Bob retired from professional running after breaking his leg whilst playing football.

Charlie Jnr was also a professional runner. Tragically his career was ended when he developed polio in 1931, at the age of 27 years. Although this left him crippled for the rest of his life it did not deter Charlie from operating a general carrying business in Griffith all of his working life and rearing a family of four children.

Later, 1930-1937, Bob played Rugby Football for the Black and Whites playing in the fullback or wing positions. Bob also enjoyed boxing when he was young and practised with Jack Haines as his sparring partner.

Enterprising Bob bought his first car - a new black "Essex" - in 1928 and his first truck, a "Rio" in 1930. Eight years later (1938) he purchased a lease to quarry basalt on Farm 2363, Tharbogang, and began selling 3/4" blue metal to the Wade Shire for road making. At this time he also worked as a general carrier, carting rice and wheat.

On 22 July 1937 Bob married Olga Summers at St Alban's Church Griffith. Olga had come from Broken Hill in 1922 with her parents, Alexander and Helen Summers, her sisters Jean and Una and brothers Colin and Raymond.

Alexander had been a miner in Broken Hill and upon arrival here settled on Farm 1000 on which they grew fruit.

Alexander Summers died in Griffith on 24 May 1943 and Helen Summers died in Griffith on 14 April 1942; both are buried in Griffith Cemetery.

Ultimately Bob Stevenson bought Farm 2363 at Tharbogang, with the basalt deposits. In 1942 and using a steam engine (for which he cut all the wood supply with an axe) Bob Stevenson's Steam Engine and a secondhand crusher, he Courtesy Mrs K Mitchell nec Stevenson built up a very successful business called Stevenson's Blue Metal Quarries.

357

The 1960's heralded enough development in the Southern Riverina for him to branch out into ready-mix concrete in Leeton, Griffith, Coleambally and Hay. In 1971 Wal Fife, the then Minister for Mines and Mr Al Grassby, the then Minister for Irrigation, opened a new quarry complex at the Griffith quarry owned by Bob Stevenson.

In 1969 Bob started another business - Stevenson's Masonry Blocks, which is still owned by the family.

In 1974 Bob sold out his quarrying interests and ready-mix plants to Farley and Lewers.

Easy going in nature, Bob considered energy the most valuable asset of life and his ambition was always to do something for the community and Australia45. Kay tells that Bob's various businesses have contributed to the foundation of Griffith as most churches, silos, homes and roads are built on foundations made from his products.

As well as business contributions, Bob was involved very much in the general community having served on the Committee of the Black and White Football Club, as Patron of the Waratah Football Club, a member of the Masonic Lodge, a Life Member of Griffith Golf Club, served as a Swimming Club Official and was made a Life Member and Patron of the Griffith Jockey Club.

John Stevenson - Sarah Anderton * Charles Stevenson - Henrietta Turner *

Alexander Summers - Helen Liddell * * Olga Summers

Robert (Bob) Stevenson

married * * 1. Graham (deceased) born 24 October 1938 married Doreen Whittaker 4 children

2. Jeffrey born 29 December 1943 married Moira Milton 3 children, lives in Griffith 3. Kay born 15 April 1945 married Robert Mitchell 3 children, lives in Griffith Courtesy Mrs K Mitchell, nee Stevenson, Griffith

45

sarrandera Argus - December 1969

358

TANGO JOE "Good beds - No Bugs". Who of our Mine Hosts, I wonder, so modestly advertised the quality of their accommodation? His building at Bagtown was even more temporary in its construction than the rest. It consisted of galvanised iron on the top with side walls of corn sacks nailed onto old timbers.

Tango (in front of flagpole) with his dog - boys unknown (note Bagtown Water Supply & Furphy Tank). Courtesy Mitchell Library

By name, Joseph Burgess, a name seldom used much less remembered, but it was of course the redoubtable "Tango Joe", unique Entrepreneur of Griffith Old Town or as more familiarly referred to "Bagtown".

The "Tango" must have been an extraordinary man indeed, a colourful character remembered by everyone who lived on or visited the Area in those early days. Not only did he provide accommodation which boasted "Good Beds - No Bugs" but also ran a Tea Room which provided "meals at all hours" - as well as being the first local cordial manufacturer who ran a "Bar" in which was served home-made lemon squash and hop beer. In those first thirsty summers the squash was made from freshly squeezed lemon juice and water from a waterbag and the hop beer was kept cool under wet bags. His drinks retailed at two and sixpence per dozen!

Tango Joe obviously had great faith in the power of advertising. A sign above his "bar" door announced "Free Drinks To-Morrow" - much to the frustration of the small fry of the day! However, came the day when a customer whose name was "Morrow" sauntered in and demanded his free drink, and true to his word, Tango kept his promise and quenched Mr Morrow's thirst "for free".

359

Still remembered also by some of our early people is the ditty which was written on the wall of Joe's Cafe: "Eat while you're able, Keep your feet off the table And when you finish your dinner, With a heart full of joy, Pay the Boss or the 'boy' And don't give the Tango a `skinner'."46 Again - tall tales or true - the legend still lives on of the day they ran out of cold corned meat, so, nothing daunted, the Tango cut to size and spread liberally with hot mustard, pieces of brown paper and presented "sandwiches" with the aplomb of a Cordon Bleu! True or false, the story is still alive and well!

Tango's Bagtown Shop, John Jacob's Store on the kit Courtesy Western Riverina Library

This man of so many parts was also an employer of numerous small boys who earned their pocket-money washing ginger beer bottles - quite a few of which, it is told, were "accidentally" broken because, "as everyone knows", the marble stoppers made the very best of "Taws" so very valuable for the then popular game of marbles!

Another remembered leaving the cellar trapdoor open and of Joe falling into the cellar, a consequence of which saw Joe chasing him with the carving knife! Obviously, on occasion, "The Tango" could be ruffled!

46

"Skinner" = Cheat

360

Situated on the corner of what was the driveway to Farm 463 (originally granted to Emmett O'Meara on 27th Jan 1922) and Old Willbriggie Road is where Tango Joe once held "Court".

In Sue Chessbrough's "Spread of Green" Ray Taylor tells of fmding "some of Joe's gambling dice when I was digging up the rose garden". He also found traces of three or four old cellars, the type used by storekeepers to keep their butter and provisions cool.

"The kids often fmd glass marbles from the old soft drink bottles and I've turned up an old coin or two". After Bagtown was abandoned the land was classified as farmland and, with ploughing, the occasional horse-shoe, marble, coin or relic still surfaces.

Like most of the other business people of Bagtown, Tango eventually moved into the New Town, purified his water "by a secret process", and with new equipment, carried on a successful business until shortly before his untimely death in Goulburn. Joseph Burgess was a bachelor. His cordial making equipment was purchased by Mrs Olive Pritchard and is a magnificent piece of history, one of the few surviving that the town has to offer. Not only equipment but crates of bottles all jealously (and quite rightly) proudly guarded by their owner, Clive Pritchard, whose family continued the cordial business after Tango died.

Tango's Shop in the "New Town" - Tango on the right Courtesy Western Riverina Library

Written by Hilary Dalton, "Gil Gai", Yenda 2681

361

TAYLOR Taylor Bros - every early resident of Griffith will surely remember this store as "The Good Old Days". No supermarket trolleys with minds of their own there; but a wooden chair, a friendly face, a cheery smile, a joke or two and a "bit of gossip" as the grocery order was taken and made up. In later days it was even delivered to your kitchen!

But back to the beginnings of this family in Australia: James Jeffrey Taylor arrived in Australia about 1857 from Port Glasgow. He was to marry Mary Anne McLindon who had arrived in Melbourne on the "Frederick' in 1855 from Wicklow Ireland. The marriage took place at Chiltern, Victoria in 1861 and at that time his occupation was given as miner. They had three children; Mary Elizabeth born 1862, David Peter born 1864 and Robert Hugh born 1866. James Jeffrey died 2 July 1907, and Mary Anne died 24 July 1906 - both are buried at West Wyalong.

David Peter Taylor married Violet Parsons at Coonamble 5 January 1892. Violet was born at Rutherglen in 1870. They had three children; Geoffrey H born Albury 1893, David Henry born West Wyalong 1895 and Violet born Sydney 1898.

David Peter Taylor, together with his two sons, Geoffrey and David Henry, moved to Leeton in 1912 where they opened a grocery and produce store at "Crushers Camp" (not far from where the Hydro Hotel now stands). When land became available, the store (a tin building) was relocated, to Kurrajong Avenue which was to become the main street in Leeton. In 1915 David Peter sold the store, then enlisted and served in Egypt and Palestine during the 1914-18 War. 1916 saw David Henry also enlist David Peter Taylor and serve with the 55th Battalion Courtesy the Taylor Family being transported by the ship "Anchises" to land in France 27 March 1917. David Henry served in France and Belgium and was fortunate in that he did not receive any major injuries and returned to Australia on the "Nesta". David Peter arrived in Griffith May 1919 and bought a block of land from Mr Malachy Fallon. David Henry arrived in September 1919, when they opened a grocery store on the corner of Banna Avenue and Kooyoo Street, trading under the name of "Taylor Bros". Whilst the store was being built, they lived in a tent and commenced business even before the building was to "lock-up" stage - as there was no door, David Henry slept across the doorway!

362

Taylor Bros Shop - rnr Banna Avenue & Kooyoo Street Courtesy the Taylor Family

Dave Taylor's home - cnr Yambil & Kooyoo Streets The first brick home built in Griffith Courtesy the Taylor Family

363

The weatherboard store was 20 feet wide and 50 feet deep with a storage shed 20 feet by 12 feet at the back. The shop was originally built by Harrie Shower and at a later time, extensions were erected by Henri Morel.

The Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac) leased part of the block of land for 10/- per week. The land rental for the block was fl5 per year.

David Peter Taylor retired from the business in 1924 and died in Sydney in 1949 at the age of 85 years.

Some of the employees remembered by David Henry were: Mr Herbert Starr, his son Bill Starr, Ronald Dobson, Miss G Sheed, Miss McKenna and Mrs Joyce Tyson nee Cavanagh.

During Griffith's early settlement days, Dave (as he was known by many) supplied goods to many settlers on credit and when the Depression came to Australia he fought as hard as any to stay in business.

In 1941 Taylor Bros moved from the original site to the top end of Banna Avenue, in what was then known as the Rio Building. After many years of trading here, the business again moved, in 1969, David I lenry Taylor to Yambil Street, where David Henry Courtesy the Taylor Family traded until 1974 when he retired.

David Henry was very active on the social scene in Griffith - he was on the Committee of the RSL Sub Branch as early as 1920 and also President and Secretary of the Griffith Trotting Club in the early 1920's; Secretary and President of the Griffith Race Club when the course was at the old Golf Links (now the suburb of East Griffith); Secretary of the "Griffith & District Bachelors First Ball" held on 6 October 1921 at the Lyceum Theatre and many, many more as evidenced by his memorabilia collection.

David Henry was also one of the instigators in the formation of the ExServicemen's Club and was a member of the first committee formed and later becoming a Life Member of that Club.

David Henry built the first brick home in Griffith on the corner of Yambil and Kooyoo Streets in 1922. The builders were Stark and Lowe . He married Ethel O'Meara in 1924 and their daughter Norma was born in Griffith on 21 January 1925. Ethel died in 1928.

David Henry met Evelyn Finlay and they married on 28 January 1935. They had one son Alan, who was born in Griffith on 11 January 1936. Alan and his wife Eva (nee Marcus) live in Griffith.

364

David Henry Taylor - 1895 to August 1987 married: (1924)

1. Ethel O'Meara, (died 1928) *

Norma born Griffith 21 January 1925 married Harry Gordon lives Sydney

married: (28 Jan 1935)

2. Evelyn Finlay, born Raymond Terrace 26 March 1900, lives Griffith. *

Alan born Griffith 11 January 1936 married Eva Marcus; lives Griffith.

Courtesy of Mrs Evelyn "Fin" Taylor and Alan and Eva Taylor, Griffith 365

TAYLOR Frederick Hilton Taylor (who was born 2 February 1880 in Wilcannia) came to Griffith in 1914 from Broken Hill, where he had worked in the mines. Frederick had married Sarah Agnes McIntyre (who was born 29 December 1879 in Ballarat) on the 17 April 1901 in Broken Hill. They had three children, all born in Broken Hill.

Doris Mary Veronica born 28 October 1904 Catherine Elsie Eileen born 25 July 1907 Lorna Claire born 13 January 1913 Frederick cleared Farm 79 and then made a house of whitewashed hessian to keep out the rain and cold. This was the family's home until they got on their feet - later they built a weatherboard home with an iron roof.

As well as having the farm, Frederick was the first person to promote boxing in the district, which was very popular in those days. Apparently at that time there were quite a few good young boxers. He also owned and trained greyhounds and was known to enjoy the odd game of cards.

Sarah and the three girls, aged 10, 7 and 2 respectively travelled from Broken Hill to Willbriggie by train in 1915. A fellow name Micky Cush met the train time and transported them to Bagtown in a horse-drawn vehicle. Apparently, on arriving at Willbriggie, Sarah felt like getting on the train and going back to Broken Hill.

On their farm they grew oranges, lemons, peaches, apricots and grapes.

Lorna (the youngest daughter) remembers having to milk a cow before school in the mornings. She attended Hanwood School at first and travelled in a horse-drawn coach driven by Mr Bill Gee. When Father Sarah Taylor, nee McIntyre O'Dea brought some Nuns to the district Courtesy Mrs Lorna Sheed nee Taylor and founded the convent school Lorna attended there. At school the boys would be called out of class to push start Fr O'Dea's motor bike and saved him a lot of pedal power, because it had to be pedalled for some time to start it. Before school Lorna had to chase and catch her pony in the mornings for the journey.

In the mid 1920's there was a severe storm and the Lyceum Theatre had its roof blown off and part of a brick wall demolished. Lorna has a picture in her mind of some twenty children, including herself, trying to hang on to the bottom of the canvas blinds on 366

the verandah of the school during the storm - but they were ripped to shreds. Her mother, Sarah, helped raise money for the school and church by working on the numerous bazaars.

During this time the Post Office at Bagtown sold butter, jam and smallgoods.

They apparently also sold some clothing, for example mens flannel undershirts.

When Lorna left school she made wooden boxes for fruit and picked oranges. She remembers driving to town on weekends in a sulky and later, the family purchased a Fiat truck which Lorna used to drive to town to do the shopping.

An event that stands out vividly in Lorna's memory was the heat wave of 1939.

For six weeks in a row the temperature was well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Eventually small babies and elderly people who were suffering from the heat were taken to the cool room at the "Producers".

The Griffith Show was always held in the first week of September every year and, according to Lorna, it was always a hot and dusty day. You could purchase soft drinks in a small bottle that had a marble for a top and to open it you would push the marble into the bottle.

Before Lorna was married she was driving along the Yoogali Road one day with Kath Brown (nee Gordon) in a T Model Ford when the steering broke and they ended up in the channel. Fortunately they both escaped unharmed.

Lorna met Edmund Sheed at a local dance in a hall in Banna Avenue. During their courtship he had to ride 41/2 miles on his bike in all sorts of weather to see her. He even braved flood waters on occasions. They married in the Catholic Church and had three daughters, Anne, Sally and Janice.

Anne married Noel James Gale, 10 December 1955 Sally married Dennis Joseph Vardanega, 24 November 1962 Janice married Mario Zanesco, 19 April 1975.

By courtesy of Mrs Anne Gale (daughter of Lorna Sheed, nee Taylor).

367

TAYLOR Although not strictly a pioneer in the true sense, Mr Taylor's letter to Dick Cox in his capacity of Secretary of the organising committee on the occasion of Griffith's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 1966 contains so much information it has been included as a matter of interest:8 Marine Drive, Bronte Phone 38 7861 12th March, 1966 Mr Dick Cox Banna Avenue Griffith.

REQUEST FOR PIONEERS Dear Sir, Having read in the Herald that it is proposed to hold a Golden Jubilee on August, 14th I thought that I could claim to be a pioneer.

In August, 1912 I was appointed building supervisor to the M.I.T. which position I held for ten years, and it covered the whole area.

I cannot give events in their sequence after so long a period has elapsed, but the following may be of some interest to you. At the request of Mr L A B Wade I went to what then was known as West Mirrool to pick a site (Crowther's Camp - later Bagtown Ed.) for the erection of horse yards, camping facilities and temporary offices for the staff which were to follow.

Prior to World War 1, I had three camps of men erecting settlers' houses which were of three types, A B and C. f155, f215 and L325. My difficulty being tradesmen and in answer to my repeated requests to the Labour Department in Sydney, they offered to send me six Germans, who had just previously landed, all carpenters and amongst them was a man named Shultz.47 He was a very good tradesman and he was the only one who had a few words of English to his command. He was a most likeable chap who afterwards settled in Griffith and became, I believe, a successful business man. I located them at Yanko for a few weeks to get them used to the conditions. They adapted themselves admirably, so I decided I would place them where what is known now as Hanwood, formed a camp area for them and this gang later built the first Hanwood Hall.

I had a camp at Beelbangera and this gang were erecting at least twelve cottages within reasonable distance and over the area generally about twenty houses were being erected. Different areas would be thrown open and an application by the settler for a house would be received and in their turn erected. Being no railway, supplies of building material

47 This man Shultz was the late Mr Frank Shultz, the original proprietor of the Area Builders, hardware, joinery and timber suppliers of Yambil Street. It is probably the only business house that hasn't changed at all over the years and, refreshingly, in this age of 'packaging' is one of the few places where one or two of the required item can be purchased rather than the present day excessive 'packetful'.

368

were difficult, especially timber, so I put a saw mill at Beelbangera, later at Yenda and later still West Mirrool Griffith.

I was also taking the whole output from outside mills; one at Barellan, another at West Wyalong and got timber supplies as far away as Rankins Springs.

The timber was brought in by teams and bullock waggons. The road from Willbriggie being not formed, teams were constantly getting bogged and one could never be sure of any certain delivery. I designed and built the first Mirrool House, sent men with experience from my workshop at Yanko for the job.

The first houses in licelbangera village I also built the Cheese Courtesy Western Rivcrina Library Factory at East Mirrool and whilst I had it in mind, the following is thought worth while recording (in regard to the Cheese Factory). Mr Wade would not consider, at that time, any refrigerating plant being installed, no power or plant being available, so he requested that I found some means of getting the temperature down to the required degree. Having a Coolgardie safe at home, also in the men's camp, I thought that perhaps along these lines I could do as required. So after building the factory I had a three feet by three feet trench dug about forty feet long and placed three baffle screens of hessian, spaced a few feet apart, and arranged for a trickle of water to drip over these screens and at the far end of the trench I had an eight inch stack forty feet high fixed. (This stack was made by Dick Smith at Yanko) and at the top of this stack I fixed an induct valve and in the bottom of the walls of the factory inserted large taps, in various places for adjustments when and if required. I was congratulated on the success of bringing down the temperature, and over the roof I fixed tent flys, spaced eighteen inches up from the roof and sprayed water if and when required. The cheese pressers were purchased and fixed together with whey tanks and all the 'what have yous" that were required. The cheeses were made and placed in the factory to mature. They were a fine looking lot of cheese; they were turned at five days but from then on they went mouldy due to the moist air. How the hell was I expected to know that the (moist) air would cause this to happen?

Griffith's first electric power plant was generated by an eight horse power Hornsby portable which I transfered front the Yanko workshops and afterwards the engine was boosted up by a tractor and later a German engine was bought and installed.

Harry Morel from Leeton built the first cottage at Griffith on contract to the WC & IC and afterwards built the first picture show and ran it together with the one he was running at Leeton.

369

The Cheese Factory 1917 Courtesy Madge Johns

You have chosen August 4th for your Golden Jubilee. It was August 411i that the first World War was declared against Germany.

I brought Mr Hyland Penfold from Leeton to Griffith to discuss with him his proposed site for his Wine making vats etc. I also had the pleasure of bringing Henry Lawson to Griffith on two occasions. He had what he called a two acre station granted to him by the then Government to get him away from Sydney into a prohibited area. We heads of Department, were requested when convenient, to take him with us on our inspection trips and quietly told not to give him the opportunity to drink. I liked having him. He was so pH of wit and on one of these trips I was going through the Wilga Station way to Morel! (Mirrool ?) leaving Whitton on the left. When Henn' saw what I was doing, looking a little downcast, said he had nothing in harmony or in CO171171011 with Tennyson and I asked why. He said he was moaning in the passing of that bar. We had hutch at the Officers' Mess at East Mirrool where there was a camp hospital and nurse. At lunch Henn, asked the nurse was "smutty wheat harmfid to chickens?".

After having built Mirrool House, staff quartets had to be considered, so I designed and built an annex for this purpose. Always in the back of my mind, was that what I was doing, being only of a temporary nature to fulfil the present requirements and eventually give way to something more practical. But never in my wildest dreams did I ever contemplate such development in one's lifetime.

After the war, Beelbangera (Camp) was erected where Returned Seivicemen had to do a probation before being eligible for a farm. At this time I spent three days a week on this area and had a camp there for myself and also an office, in which the returned men 370

made their application for a house on their farm, and many times I just about heard the fowls crow before going to bed. I took them in rotation, built them (the houses) accordingly, but extenuating circumstances were given due consideration, such as a married man with a wife and child, man just married and wife expecting and so like. Knowing soldiers, I required more than just a statement of these facts and would be shown a photo as proof of these statements, and when convinced that their request was genuine, I brought their application forward. The same photo showing a woman about to be "laid up" was shown to me three times before I woke up that I had seen it before; the last time I asked the returned man whether it was the photo or the wife he had borrowed; but generally they were a good crowd and ready to concede the difficulties in which I was placed. During their probation term they had loaned to them fencing bars and long handled shovels and so forth.

My storekeeper was a very thankful man that they were not issued to them through him. The soldiers would say that they had taken such a liking to these tools that you'd "break their hearts to be parted".

Beelbangera Barracks. Courtesy Western Riverina library

When building the temporary office at Griffith (Bagtown) the foreman on the job had the wrong temperament, always at loggerheads with the men. He would blow the whistle five minutes early and five minutes late at knocking-off time. The men stopped work and downed tools, so I hurried across from Leeton to see the trouble and get things going again.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, a Willi Willi had blown down one side of the standing walls, so it gave me the excuse of transferring him elsewhere for not seeing to the bracing was secure against such a contingency and replaced him by an experienced man from Yanko.

Jack Kramer was the leading foreman in this district and proved very efficient and whilst the workmen's camp was at Beelbangera the Bubonic (sic - Pneumonic?) Plague was raging. I brought men up from Melbourne where at that time it was raging. A case developed in camp and the whole camp was isolated for two weeks. This proved a headache as I had to see the men in camp had food and other necessaries.

At the time Leeton Canning Factory was being mooted. It was also decided to build one at Griffith. In fact, I made preliminary arrangements for this to be done.

371

Materials were sent there and the job started, but in a very early stage I could see the impossibility of the job being completed on schedule due to the fact materials had to be carted from Willbriggie, the road being a quagmire and teams constantly getting bogged.

Skilled labour and tradesmen were not available, so at a conference with the Commission and the Minister (Mr Graham) it was decided to stop work at Griffith and concentrate on Leeton and for this reason Griffith did not have a Canning Factory.

Another headache was Asbestos sheeting. On requisition I had been importing large quantities of cement sheeting from overseas and on the way out they were stored in the ships' hold, seasoned and dried under excellent conditions, but when first manufactured here it was dispatched more or less green, stored out in the open in a similar manner as the seasoned imported but unfortunately the outside edge of each sheet was exposed to the sun's heat and from the end to about two feet up each end shrinkage occurred and the sheets were cracked and useless. Being four hundred miles from supplies it took some rearranging of men to keep then: profitably occupied.

(There was) A Red Gum saw mill at Darlington Point, where logs were obtained and sawn into bridge and culvert decking and girders. This mill did good service until the logs cut out.

Griffith can claim to having the first Club in the Area, the most exclusive ever inaugurated. To be eligible for membership, one had to have at least six months detention in Government Service. It was situated in the construction camp and one of my hands at Beelbangera was eligible and asked for a transfer to that section. It was from him that I learnt of this. I let him or then: have some off-cuts from the logs for the floor of their camp and a few other odd things that it was in my power to give within the limit of my authority.

I was told I was not as yet eligible but probably could be Vice President. A few days later, through my timekeeper, I received a message that the men referred to would like to see me, so I informed him that on my next visit to Griffith and on my way home, which would be the Thursday, I would visit their camp. Not knowing quite what demands, if any, I was going to get, I armed myself with four bottles of Lincoln's Beer (then made in Narrandera), thought this being a good introduction to them. I spent an hour and a half of good fir with them. I was informed I had not as yet been found out and so was ineligible as a member, but they would make me a Patron. It was unnecessary for me to be sworn in as they knew I respected their confidence and in my part I would respect their's. The President, if I can call him that, was a hard case and by what he told me, had his service been spent in civil life, would have entitled him to Long Service Leave.

I have recapitulated some portion of the past with happy memories to myself and may have assured that the Government Pioneer Construction Office had no lazy man's paradise, but long days and sleepless nights were the order of the day.

Rather than be thought tedious I will finish here, but wishing the celebration every success.

Yours sincerely, (signed) H A Taylor.

The original of this letter is held in the History Room, Western Riverina Community Library, Griffith.

372

TAYLOR Nurse Taylor - How many Pioneers remember Nurse Taylor with affection, gratitude and respect? Recalling something of her work, the late Dr Ernest Burrell was to say:-48 "It is with great humility and gratitude that I write these few lines of appreciation.

One cannot speak of the early days of Griffith without remembering two outstanding personalities - Dr Watkins and Nurse Taylor. After a number of pioneering years Dr Watkins moved on to Sydney. Fortunately Nurse Taylor remained to carry on the good work. I can still see her in the sulky driving to a case, her mackintosh on, umbrella over her head, the rain pouring down on boggy roads with deep ruts - there were no bitumen or metal roads in those days. On arrival she removed the mackintosh and appeared in a spotlessly clean, starched uniform, the picture of quiet efficiency. She never became flurried under any circumstances as she moved around carrying out her duties and constantly reassuring the patient. There were no maternity hospitals then and all cases were treated in their own homes, shacks or camps as the case may be. Before arriving for a case the orders were - 'A kerosene tin of water boiling on the fire, clean sheets, plenty of clean linen or rags and many sheets of newspapers for the bed and floor'. The newspapers under the sheet acted as a mackintosh to protect the bedding. The kerosene tin of boiling water was for the doctor's instruments, which were placed in a pillowslip and boiled for sterilisation!

Nurse Taylor went from case to case jogging along in the sulky day and night. Two horses were used alternatively as one would not stand up to the constant work. When the doctor arrived everything was ready and he was greeted with a pleasant smile and a few cheerful words.

I have never known Nurse Taylor to lose her temper even in the most exacting circumstances. Every patient was visited at least once a day, the cases extending from Hanwood to Bilbul, Beelbangera and Griffith district, whether it was wet or fine. At the week-end to give her some relief her husband, Ted did the driving. When she slept (or if she slept) no one would know. Only a sturdy constitution stood up to the constant strain over those years, but eventually the long weary hours and lack of sleep took their toll and now Nurse Taylor is paying the penalty.

At least two generations can look back with gratitude and will not forget her skill, devotion to duty and ready response to any call, frequently with no hope of any recompense.

Her name will never be forgotten as the lives of many families would have been quite different had there been no Nurse Taylor. I sincerely hope some form of recognition will perpetuate the services in the pioneering days, now long past."

"Her work will live in the memory of those who were fortunate to know it. She is a wonderful lady."49

48 49

Printed with the permission of Mrs Pamela Parle, nee Burrell Dr Burrell - *Riverina Advocate' 3 May 1956

373

Stella Taylor would be by far the best known of the midwives who attended the young mothers in the early days. Her career as "Nurse Taylor" began when she nursed a neighbour after the birth of a child, who had been delivered by Dr Watkins. It was Dr Watkins who gave her all the training she ever had in midwifery but when she began, she already had five children of her own. She was, more than anything else, a bush nurse and was not at any time associated with hospitals in the area. She attended to patients in their own homes and at times would have up to eight or nine patients at a time whom she would visit daily after assisting with the birth. Nurse Taylor was a familiar sight in her sulky being pulled by her old black mare "Doll", in the days when medical aid in the district was practically non-existent. She continued to perform a great deal of the midwifery requirements until the early 1930's.

Born at Nhill, Victoria in 1883, Stella was the daughter of Alexander and Cordelia Thorburn. She married Edward ("Ted") Taylor at Narrandera, at the residence of John William Taylor, in 1903. Not a great deal is known about the years between 1903 and 1915 which was when they came to this area. Of these early years here their granddaughter Joy tells us:"Stella and Ted Taylor travelled by train from Narrandera to Willbriggie, then by horse and buggy to `Millview' Station near Tabbita. `Millview' Station was run by a Mr Roach. They arrived in the area approximately 1915 with their five children. Two more children were born in the Griffith area.

Ted worked also for the Campbell family on `Glenroy' at Warburn, using a bullock team. On leaving the Tabbita-Warburn area the family stayed at Burgess' camp at Old Griffith or Bagtown. 'Old Griffith' was the name always used by the senior members of the family.

After a time they all moved to a farm, possibly in the Bilbul area, and their youngest child was born at Bilbul, in a shed very near to the present Bilbul Post Office-Store. On the move again, they spent quite a few years at Yoogali before buying Farm 999 in Murrumbidgee Avenue. Ted worked as Nurse Taylor with Grandson Leslie, 1935 a teamster and labourer. He helped to Courtesy Mrs Joy Grinley haul timber to build the Hanwood school, using a bullock team. At a very early age he helped to plough the original dam, now enveloped by Lake Wyangan.

374

Through the only Medical Practitioner in the area, Dr Watkins, Stella Taylor undertook to give nursing care to Mothers with new babies and then to helping babies into the world. Very soon she was being called 'Nurse' Taylor, travelling about in a horse and sulky. Her horses were a mare, called 'Doll', and 'Billy'. She retired in the late 1930's.

In 1971 Nurse Stella Taylor was distinguished by the then Wade Shire Council resolving to name its Baby Health Centre on Banna Avenue after her. The plaque reads as follows: 'This centre has been named the NURSE TAYLOR BABY HEALTH CENTRE IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A MIDWIFERY NURSE BY NURSE STELLA TAYLOR'

Regrettably this has not been carried through. The centre is known only as the Griffith Baby Health Centre and is widely advertised by Griffith City Council as such."

In an interview in 1956, Nurse Taylor is said to have shrugged aside any suggestion that her work in combining the rearing of a large family with a nursing career was extraordinary but it was indeed extraordinary. Across roads which were no more than dirt tracks, often in weather inclement enough to make even the bravest wince, she would set out, often night after night, never once refusing any who called on her. At this time she recalled many incidents, which to her were humorous, but to the listener, all indicative of the strength of character of this amazing woman.

One incident she related - "I remember once coming home in my sulky from a birth. It was broad daylight then and I had been up without sleep for three consecutive nights. Suddenly I heard loud laughter and I started. I realised I had been travelling with the sulky reins in my hands, sound asleep, and I was a source of amusement for a crowd of small boys who were watching me along the road!"

On the occasion of her 75th birthday a tribute Nurse Taylor which was paid to this remarkable lady probably sums her up best:"Her step is no longer brisk and her once brown hair is white.

But her face in age is beautiful with qualities, youth with all its freshness, is denied.

There is wisdom in her grey eyes, gentleness in her manner and tolerance in her outlook, all hard won attributes from years of devotion to her own family and to the needs and wants of hundreds of other families in the district."50

.

50'Ilivertna Advocate' 3 May 1956

375

TAYLOR-THORNBURN Stella Emily Thornburn Stella Nurse

Called:

Born:

21 February 1883 - Tarranginnie, Lowanshire, County of Lowan in the district of Nhill, Victoria

Died:

26 March 1971 - Griffith

Married:

4 August 1903 - Narrandera at the residence of John William Taylor of Narrandera

Called:

Edward Taylor Ted

Born:

1878

Died:

15 November 1973 - Griffith

CHILDREN: Called: Born: Died: Called Born: Died: Married: Born: Called: Born: Died: Married: Born:

Cordelia Marion Taylor Cora or Cissie 22 January 1904 Narrandera 25 January 1968 Edward Taylor Ted 23 November 1909 - Narrandera 26 April 1983 - Leeton 18 November 1939 Mary Edna Gardiner 26 May 1916 Leslie John Taylor Les 23 May 1911 - Narrandera 20 September 1947 1934 - Darlington Point Kate Clifford 11 June 1917 376

Called: Born: Married: Born: Died:

Called: Born: Married: Born: Died:

Called: Born: Died: Married: Born:

Called: Born: Married: Born:

Emily May Taylor May 1 May 1913 - Narrandera 20 March 1933 - Griffith Arthur James Pauling 27 February 1912 - Banbury, England 28 February 1989 - Griffith Dulcie Muriel Taylor Dulce 27 December 1915 - Ganmain 9 October 1935 - Griffith Harold Middleton Anstee 1 February 1913 21 October 1982 Ernest William Taylor Bill 18 November 1918 - "Old Griffith"/Bagtown 29 November 1986 - Griffith 22 October 1946 - Griffith Joan Bertha Grant 25 May 1928 Alston Taylor Kelly or Kell 9 July 1921 - Bilbul 7 September 1943 Doreen Jean Buckland 23 March 1925

Courtesy of Mrs Joy Grinley & Mrs Trix Woodbridge of Griffith.

377

THORNETT Walter Rowe Thornett and Mary Ann (nee Cooper) were married in London about 1895. Their first son, Sydney Frank, was born there on 26 October 1896.

Prior to leaving Birmingham, England, Walter had worked as a commercial traveller for a firm of tea merchants.

He came to Australia ahead of his family, arriving in the Area towards the end of June or early July of 1913. To get here he travelled by a Bettendorf, flat-topped lorry, drawn by four horses and loaded with equipment. He camped by night on the way. Mary Ann, Sydney Frank, Harold Rowe, Elsie, Meggie and Norman John arrived by train to Willbriggie. Norman tells - "On 17 November 1913 we were met on arrival from England at Willbriggie Station on a hot summer afternoon by my father, sitting sun-browned and wearing a broad brimmed straw hat, on top of a horse-drawn flat-topped Bettendorf lorry, when I, aged four, am reported as saying 'That's not my Daddy!"

Elsie, the eldest daughter, recalls - "For all the early settlers life in the Area was harsh, as land had to be cleared, fenced, graded and planted before any income arrived.

We also had to rid our block of rabbits and I remember how disappointed we were on our first evening when we were not allowed to keep a baby rabbit for a pet!" Clothes were a luxury. Mum made and remade garments and white calico flour bags were used for `flickers'.

The proprietor of the general store in Bagtown carried the farmers for some years. Our only cooling system was a `Coolgardie' cooler, tinned fish and meat were mostly used. I would ride our saddle horse into Bagtown and bring home, on my back, food which sometimes included a roast of beef or lamb. These were a treat! I feel now for our Mum, cooking on a fuel stove in that heat.

In those days however, we made our own pleasures. Hanwood Hall was the scene of many enjoyable concerts where Clarrie Clark recited poems from 'The Sentimental Bloke' and, accompanied by Mrs Hawkins, there were duets by Walter Thornett and Oliver Hawkins; songs by one of the Commission Officer's wives (with a very 'plummy' accent!) singing 'Dear Little Jammy Face' and then there was the musical gem from Hanwood School 'Briar Rose'. Bertha (Hawkins) was the princess and I was a swordwaving prince, whose kiss was to awaken the princess. A peal of thunder (kerosene tins below the stage!) came out before I'd done the kiss, so I quickly kissed her again!! We could thank Lillian and Frank Ravenscroft for the time and energy they put into this.

Hanwood Hall was converted into a hospital in 1919 when an outbreak of influenza called for an isolation hospital. Miss Welsh, from the school, nursed here for some weeks and one pupil of the school (Lilly Kennedy) died. Ivy Johns and I were called home from Goulburn High School (because of the epidemic) and were told to wear masks on the train.

I remember well Frank Ravenscroft, Lillian and Ernie coming to our home for dinner and we children playing 'hide and seek' round the orange trees. At this time our Dad was President of the P. & C. in which he was active until we moved to Sydney.

Another memory is of a group of us who were studying for our Leaving Certificate and we had not learnt our grammar, which we needed for a pass, so Frank Ravenscroft stayed behind after school for these lessons, and Lillian would come along

378

with a big enamel teapot and batches of hot scones. We finished with a tune on the phonograph and a dance."

Norman recalls that not long after they arrived "we had our first experience of a dust storm when we (Harold, Elsie, Meg and I) went for a swim in the dam about 300 yards from our home. It was hot and a black cloud in the west did not deter us. Having entirely removed our clothes we rushed in to cool off and catch the frogs clinging to the branches dangling in the water from the old pepper tree on the bank. The trick was to cup hands around the frog and prevent it slipping through your fingers. They were slippery customers. We were so busy with the frogs we didn't notice that the black cloud was now red, pushed by the strengthening westerly. It was quickly quite dark and where were our clothes?

We recovered a few but mostly we returned clothesless, with mouths, noses, ears and hair full of dust but very glad to be home! What heaps of red dust had to be shovelled from the house next morning!

There was a trip one morning (1915-16) in the sulky with my father. We passed the Doctor's and old Bagtown on the left and the Cheese Factory on the right, where Harold worked during school holidays. We then headed north-west on a new metalled road when the sight of distant puffs of steam on our right really excited me as, probably, a goods train approached the new Griffith Station from Beelbangera. Later, while Dad did the shopping, I had a ride with George and Arthur as they shunted trucks, assisted by Darky, the guard, with their CG class loco. They were very kind to a small boy enthralled by anything that 'puffed'. That procedure was repeated many times on subsequent trips to Griffith."

Steam Plough at Work Courtesy Mitchell Library

379

In the very early days there was much clearing to do and for this work use was made of a 'forest devil', comprising a windlass or block and tackle, also a horse. The tree for removal was dug around and lateral roots cut and a rope put around the tree as high as possible, the other end going through the 'forest devil' to the waiting horse. From the `forest devil' a rope was tied to another tree. The horse did the rest. One day Dad was so employed when Mrs Flo Knilands, a rather religious friend of my Mum's arrived and asked Harold what Dad was doing. I am sure she was shocked when he said Dad was working with the 'Devi11 I remember too, on large areas the ploughing being done with a multi-disc plough and two traction engines, one at each end of the paddock with a cable from around a drum on each engine going to the plough, the engines alternately doing the pulling. At the end of each run the plough would have to be turned around for the return trip. A mouldboard plough might have been better unless all free roots had been removed.

About 1915, with channels completed, the Dethridge wheels started to turn and the `mossies' came in droves. The remedy was the smudge', a burner filled with dry cow dung. It was pungent but not unpleasant and you were glad when the smoke drifted your way.

On a picnic at Darlington Point I must have wandered away from the party and become lost for a time but on that adventure I heard a bird-call that I have never since heard. It was a distinctive musical call and I am sure I will never forget it. A butcher bird perhaps - one for John Dengate (2BL-ABC).

On some occasions when Dad sent off stone fruit there would be a glut and he would receive only a bill for the freight but it was a great occasion when he sold the pigs.

That marked the start of our musical education because he went to Palings in Sydney and bought an Edison Diamond Disc phonograph and a wide assortment of unbreakable papier-mache records that the man threw from one end to the other of Palings to prove their indestructibility (the same material was used successfully for quick-running railway carriage wheels). Another feature was that the mechanism carried the receiver across the record instead of the record grooves as with other machines, resulting in longer record life and no needles to fiddle with. We had everything from Gallicurci to Harry Lauder and grand opera to ragtime.

At Hanwood we were very fortunate in having Frank Ravenscroft as head teacher from 1918 to 1920, and an indication of his excellence being that in 1920 twenty two sat for and passed the Qualifying Certificate Exam, with three bursaries going to Hanwood (to Ruby Ashcroft, Roy McGann and possibly George Pauling) out of a total of five to Northern Riverina. For some weeks before the exam we continued classes to 8 p.m. and Frank's wife, Lillian, brought refreshments in the shape of tea and hot scones to the school. We loved those evenings and going home in the moonlight! I am sure this greatly improved our chances.

Early in 1923, with only Elsie and Meg left to help him (which they did very well for at least a couple of years) Dad sold Farm 61 and joined us in Sydney where he did a year at Sydney Technical College and took up piano tuning and repairing, later (for Palings) tuning the Town Hall piano for concerts by celebrities."

380

Both Mary Ann and Walter Rowe Thornett died in Sydney and were cremated at the Northern Suburbs Woronora Crematorium.

Their family were:1. Sydney Frank born London 26 October 18%; married Dolly Hill - both dec'd and were cremated Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney 2. Harold Rowe born Calgary, Canada51 20 June 1903; married Marjorie Attwood - both dec'd cremated Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney 3. Elsie born Calgary, Canada 6 March 1905; married Frank Coleman (dec'd) lives with daughter, Caroline Gunter, at North Balgowlah 4. Margaret (Meggie) born Wyld Greens'', Birmingham; married Douglas Wattley - died 1989 at Griffith 5. Norman John born Wyld Green, Birmingham 16 Nov 1909: married Dora Shannon - both living at Fairlight, Sydney

I. to R: Visitor, Basil Maidwcll, I]sic,Mary Ann, Visitor, Sydney Walter.

Sitting: Norman, Meg Courtesy Elsie ('-oleman nee Thornctt

By courtesy of Mrs Elsie Coleman (nee Thornett), North Balgowlah and Norman John Thornett, 86 Griffiths Street Fairlight NSW

51 About 1901 the Thornett family went to Canada. On the journey to Calgary the younger two of their children contracted scarlet fever and died. Whilst in Canada the father mowed prairie grass in summer and during winter worked as an accountant for the Canadian Pacific Railway. There were hair-raising accounts of the extreme winter cold and this coupled with the tragic death of their two children explains their return to England prior to coming to Australia.

52

Wyld Green is 7 miles north of Birmingham

381

TOWART Allan Towart and his wife Phillipina, and their two sons Robert and George moved from Broken Hill to Wamoon in 1910, taking three months to make the journey in covered waggons.

The two boys attended school at Wamoon for a short while, before the family moved to the Griffith area about 1913, eventually building a house on a small farm block which is now situated at 7 Club Road, Hanwood. Allan and Phillipina lived there until their deaths in 1953, aged 81 years and 85 years respectively.

Allan Towart was a ganger with the Commission (WC & IC), and worked extensively on the excavation of the main canal system throughout the area. His eldest son Robert, went on to work for the Commission for many years too, working on the forming of the canal system through to the Mulwala Canal in the Finley area and beyond.

In 1936, Robert married Cordelia, eldest daughter of well known identity, Nurse Stella and Edward Taylor. Cordelia, or "Cissie" as she was more usually known, was only 14 years old when her mother, Nurse Taylor, first went out to assist with the delivery of a new baby. From this time onwards Nurse Taylor left the housekeeping and management of her own young family in Cissie's capable hands.53 Robert died in January 1968 aged 68 years and Cordelia died March 1990 aged 86 years. Their two daughters Marlene (Costin) and Gillian (De Luca) both still reside in the Griffith area.

Towart Home c 1920 - now 7 Club Road, I lanwood.

By courtesy of Mrs Gillian De Luca nee Towart, 6 Dunn Street, Tharbogang, Griffith.

53

. Advocate - date unknown Rivena n

382

TRENERRY Joseph Henry Trenerry, better known as "Joe" was born at Clunes, Victoria on 6 March 1890. He married Esther Celia May Collis on the 7 March 1913 at Broken Hill NSW. It was from Broken Hill that the family arrived at Hanwood in 1919, travelling to the area in an old utility truck. At Broken Hill Joe had worked as a plumber and ironworker, funeral director and stonemason. At Hanwood, they lived for ten years, on Farm 475 before moving to Griffith where Joe built their home at 9 Yambil Street. He also built the shop opposite the Yambil Street Funeral Parlour, in 1920 for the plumbers and ironworkers (Trenerrys). It was from this location that he established the firm of Funeral Directors, J Trenerry & Sons, still operating from the same place, still conducted by the Trenerry family one of whom is third generation in the business in Griffith.

Photo courtesy of Wal & Margaret Trenerry

Wal Trenerry tells us "we all enjoyed the days when Pop took us to the river in the old T-Model Ford truck. We would set off along the dusty dirt road to Darlington Point. With so much dust we could hardly see where we were going. It took us about three - quarters of an hour to get to the river. We would all go swimming, play a few ball games and go fishing. Pop would always catch us enough fish to eat at home. Those were the times when you only needed one fishing line to catch fish. Our Mother, fondly known as 'Ma', always had a nice lunch of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, cold meats and bread, cups of tea and cool drinks for us all.

Then travelling home, we would be tired and sunburnt, but loved every minute of it. Coming home one day, Ester, our sister, better known as Tubby', rolled off the back of the truck, going around Mackay's corner. Len Mackay picked her up and brought her home and said - "Are you missing something?" Pop answered "No". Mr Mackay said 383

"What about this one?" Ha! What a shock! They didn't know Bubby was missing, but all was well. Bubby wasn't badly hurt at all!

At other times we played marbles a lot, also we would get mum's straw broom and ride it around as a horse. Then we had an old pram wheel with a length of bullwire through the wheel and the other end bent around to stop it from twisting. We would push that around the yard. We played cricket and did some roller-skating on the cricket pitch or wherever we could.

At night we played cards or played the old gramophone. Mum played the piano and we would have a sing-song or just sit and listen to her play. She also taught music.

Mum played the piano for the Lyceum Theatre pictures, before sound came in - at the start and at half-time; also when the adds were on. A man would come on stage to announce the picture and coming events through a megaphone.

We would all go along too, as we were too small to leave at home. We had to stand or kneel on the canvas seats to see the pictures, as the backs of the seats in front were too high for us to see over.

"The Gloom (Masers" Courtesy Wal & Margaret Trenerry

Pop and Ma started a dance band. The players would all come at nights to practice for the dances in our lounge room. Pop played the Suzophone and string base.

Ma played the piano, Andy Collis, Ma's brother, played the banjo. Jo Trenerry jnr played the saxophone or clarinet. Arthur Leich played the drums. Bill Beasley and Dave Smith both played the trumpet. The first band was called 'The Gloom Chasers'. Later on it was changed to the 'Melody Aces'.

384

Then Pop had an accident fixing an old windmill near the old slaughter yards in which his left hand fingers were almost cut off. With only the thumb and forefinger left on his left hand he had to give up playing in the band.

My father was involved in the Masonic Lodge for years. He travelled everywhere to Lodge, even to England. He was The Most Worshipful Grand Master and went as high as it was possible in other orders in the Lodge. His Mother Lodge was at Broken Hill, where he first joined as a young man.

Our Father's clothes consisted of a single breasted suit made of a woollen fabric, worn with a vest under the coat. He always had a pocket watch inside the vest pocket on a chain. The shirt was white with a tie pin worn under the tie, holding the collar together.

The shoes were slightly pointed, made of leather, with a medium heel. These, of course, were his best clothes.

Our Mother's clothes were usually of woollen or satin fabric, worn with a low waist line or just hanging loosely. The shoes were slightly pointed with wide heels like a court shoe or with a strap over the instep.

Her hair was usually cut short, about ear-length and was parted in the middle or on the side and was wavy. My sisters wore felt hats with flowers in felt over them. Their dresses had short sleeves, gathered on the shoulders, with two pleats front and back that hung from a short bodice.

The school uniforms were a square neckline with box pleats that hung from a short bodice just under the armpits. A belt was worn below the waistline, with a longsleeved blouse under it. Some of the dresses were sleeveless, a round neckline with two rows of gathering around the lower part of the skirt. Shoes usually had a strap over the instep and were also of leather. Our Mother made our clothes for us when she had the time. My sisters wore their hair short with a fringe. We boys wore shirts with large collars and sleeves down to the elbows, made from cotton or satin fabric. Our shorts were worn down to the knees, with braces over the shoulders that buttoned on to the shorts each side and back, to hold the pants up.

We had felt hats that had a two inch brim turned up all the way around and pulled down over the ears. Our shoes were high laced-up boots. I can remember having to go to school in shorts that were down to my knees and had patches on the seat - like `Micky Mouse Pants!'. That was in the Depression years. We had to use ration coupons to buy our clothes, so we had to make them last for a long time.

Ration coupons had to be used to buy our food also, such as butter, flour, tea and other foods we had to buy. Ma used to make lovely bread and dumplings for putting into the stew she made for us. We had a cow that we milked and had our own fowls and eggs to eat. We caught rabbits to eat - curried or baked for our meals. We also tried baked kangaroo meat and the tails were made into a soup or stew. We grew some of our own vegetables. Some days we only had bread fried in dripping with salt and pepper sprinkled on it to eat. We didn't waste anything. The stale bread was used to make bread puddings. We never went hungry though even though times were very hard on us all."

Joe and Essie Trenerry are both buried in the Griffith Cemetery. Essie died on 11 February 1965. Joe died on 5 June 1970, aged 80 years.

They had seven children:-

385

1. Joseph Henry Jnr born Broken Hill 28 September 1913, died 6 July 1977, 63 years. Ashes buried in Griffith Cemetery; married Norma Greathead Denham - Norma lives in Sydney 2. John born Broken Hill October 1916; buried Broken Hill Cemetery 3. Coralie Mavis born Broken Hill 27 September 1920; married Fredric William O'Connor 4. Ester Ellen born Broken Hill 16 November 1922; married (1) Alfred John Curley (2) Ernest William Palmer; lives in Wagga 5. Walter John born Farm 475 Hanwood 11 September 1924; married Margaret Elizabeth Neumann; lives in Griffith 6. William born Griffith 3 May 1926; married Peggy Irene McCann; lives in Griffith 7. Joan Sewell born Griffith 17 December 1929; married Jim Hearn; lives in Griffith The Trenerry Grandparents, Joe's parents, are also buried in Griffith: Joseph Trenerry buried 20 November 1929 aged 80 years Jane (Sewell) Trenerry died Broken Hill NSW aged 94 years

The Trcncrry I Ionic with children in front (Joe missing) L to R Coral, a cousin - Enid Brown, Hubby, Wally, Bill & Joan

By courtesy of Walter and Margaret Trenerry, 34 Wyangan Avenue, Griffith 2680

386

TURNER John Henry Turner (better known as Harry Turner), born at Richmond NSW in 1847 and Henrietta (nee Giddins), born at Kurrajong NSW in 1848, were married on 5 July 1869 and their first children were born at Windsor NSW - namely William and George. They left their home at Kurrajong NSW and travelled across the ranges to Mudgee in search of gold.

Their first daughter, Henrietta Elizabeth, and sons Fred and Jim were born at Mudgee.

From here they travelled through Bathurst to Cobar and then on to Broken Hill with teams of horses, carting on the northbound trip everything from food to sawn timber and bales of wool on the return journey.

Harry worked next at Stephens Creek Umbrunica where they were building a weir for the supply of water to Broken Hill. In 1893 their son, Jim, died in an explosive accident at Broken Hill.

From here they went to White Cliffs in search of opals and were successful. They also mined successfully at Lightning Ridge. They dug the first black opal found at Lightning Ridge and sold half a billy can full of opals for £10 Their next move was to Mount Brown near the border of NSW and Queensland in search of gold and from there south to Nyngan.

About 1889 wife Henrietta took the younger six children, on a "banana boat", to the Gulf country in Queensland to Normanton. Harry and his son Fred went across country in horse and dray and met Henrietta and the other children at Normanton.

During the gold strike they went south east to Croydon in Queensland's remote north west Gulf country. They intended starting a hotel but this didn't eventuate. After little success they headed south to Cobar where they met the older sons, George and Bill. From here they ended up at Wilcannia - four miles downstream south of Wilcannia on the eastern side of the river at a station called "Croydon". Here they took up a lease and cut wood for the steamers on the Darling River.

At this time Wilcannia was the main inland port on the Darling River, handling all sorts of supplies coming up from Adelaide as well as wool and other products being carried on the return trips.

The paddle-steamer firm of Knox and Downs was the largest business outside the Sydney metropolitan area. Supplies landed at Wilcannia were taken overland by waggon or camel train to the settlements and outlying properties as far away as Cunnamulla in Queensland. This was the trade Henrietta Turner ncc Giddies route for about 40 years before rail and road Courtesy Mrs Daphne Wells nee Turner transport took over.

387

Their next move was to Cobar to live where their son Jack (John Jnr) was cutting wood to supply the copper smelters at Lambrick. It was at this time that Henrietta Turner married Charles Stevenson, at White Cliffs, on 8 September 1902. (Henrietta and her husband stayed on at Cobar where their two sons were born - Charles Turner Stevenson in 1904 and Robert Stevenson in 1906.)

In 1912 Harry and his wife Henrietta arrived at Hanwood. Their third son Fred, a widower with four children, came with them.

They came overland from Cobar. With them Harry brought his contracting plant consisting of horses, drays and scoops and with which he worked on contract to the Commission (WC & IC) on the channel construction.

On 4 March John Henry Jnr ("Jack") was granted Farm 152. This farm was applied for in John Junior's name because Harry was considered too old to make the application in his own name. On 22 June 1914 son Fred was granted the adjoining farm, No 153. Both farms were 50 acres. It was here that the original little Turner home was built and still stands today.

The next year, 1915, their youngest son Ernest and his wife Cecilia, arrived. Their eldest daughter, Margaret (Peg), was born in 1916 and was one of the first babies to be baptised into the Anglican Church in the Mirrool district. (There would have been John Henry Turner Anglican Baptisms in the time of the Selectors Courtesy Mrs Daphne Wells nee Turner Ed.).

In 1919 their eldest daughter Henrietta, and her husband Charles Stevenson, moved from Canbelego (near Cobar) and took up Farm 167 (granted 11 September 1919; consisting of 47 acres 2 roods). They were followed the next year by the second youngest son, Arthur Turner, who was granted Farm 168 (on 16 April 1920) also consisting of 50 acres.

The Turner and Stevenson children all attended the Hanwood School. In all, six of Harry and Henrietta's family of ten children settled in the Griffith area. All of these are buried in Griffith.

Ernest and Cecilia Turner reared their twelve children in Griffith, and all, with some children and grandchildren, still live in the area.

Ernest and Cecilia's eldest son Ernie, died in Borneo, in 1945, as a prisoner-ofwar of the Japanese on one of the infamous Sandakan "Death" marches.

The Turner parents, John Henry (Harry) and Henrietta lived in Griffith for the rest of their lives. John Henry died in Griffith on 31 August 1933, aged 88 years.

Henrietta also died in Griffith on 8th May 1938 at the age of 89 years.

388

the first home on Farm 152 of Henrietta & Ilarry Turner Harry and I Ienrictta standing on the front verandah - 1914 Courtesy Mrs Daphne Wells nee Turner

Henry & Henrietta Turner on their 60th Wedding Aanivcrsary in 1929 Courtesy Arthur Turner, 1)ubbo

389

The family of John Henry (Harry) and Henrietta Turner: 1. William born Windsor, NSW 28 March 1870 died and buried Griffith 2. George Robert born Windsor, NSW 24 May 1871 died in Griffith, buried Tingha NSW 3.) Twins - Stillborn 4.)

5. Frederick Charles born Mudgee NSW 2 May 1873 buried Griffith 19 May 1956 6. Henrietta Elizabeth born Mudgee NSW 24 May 1875 died 29 December 1968, aged 93 years, buried Griffith; married Charles Stevenson at White Cliffs 1902 7. James born Mudgee NSW 27 September 1877 buried Broken Hill NSW 8. Edith born Shuttleton NSW 25 Sept 1880 buried Melbourne, married Jeremiah Cullum 9. John Henry born Shuttleton NSW 15 September 1882 buried Griffith 10 Jan 1967, 84 years married May Gillies, buried Griffith 16 January 1967, 79 years 10. Olive born NSW 8 January 1885 buried Weston Vic married Harry Tyndall 11. Arthur ("Joker") born Cobar NSW 4 August 1887 buried Griffith married Ruth Byrne 12. Ernest ("Skin") born Stephen's Creek 21 June 1890; buried Griffith 5 May 1978 married: (1) May Bruce - buried in 1912 in Canbeligo (2) Cecilia McConnell

Courtesy of: Mrs Kay Mitchell (nee Stevenson) 15 Lawford Cr, Griffith Mrs Daphne Wells (nee Turner) 36 Napier St, Goolgowi 2652 Mrs Margaret Gamble (nee Turner), Probert Ave, Griffith 390

VAGG The name of Sid Vagg is usually associated with the firm of J S Vagg & Co, one of the early local garage and tractor agencies, but his association with Griffith goes back much further than that.

His eldest daughter, Vina, said "Dad was born at Hay NSW in 1890".

His grandfather, Robert Vagg (18251892) was the youngest son of James Vagg, a butcher of Chilcompton, Somerset, England. Robert arrived first in Australia in August 1853 but he returned to Somerset in 1857 where he married Martha Smith Gait, the daughter of Henry Gait, a storekeeper of Chilcompton. Robert and Martha sailed from London aboard the "Essex" on 15 April 1857 and arrived in Melbourne 24 July 1857. They lived in Gisbourne (Vic) until they moved to Merino in 1862. At Gisbourne two sons were born to them: James Henry in 1858 and John Gait in 1860. While living at Merino three more children were born: Ann Miranda 1862, Martha Lucetta 1864 and in 1866 Martha Smith Vagg died giving birth to Robert Smith.

Robert snr managed to rear his family for the next eight years with the assistance of various nurses and housekeepers.

Robert & Martha Vagg When blocks of land were Courtesy Mrs V DaIla nec Vagg being balloted for in the Deniliquin district, Robert and his family applied for blocks land and were successful. About 1874 Robert remarried, a Miss Turner, a girl young enough to be his daughter and about whom little is known. James Henry and John Gait sold their land at Deniliquin without their father's knowledge and the two brothers then settled on part of "Merungle" in the Booligal district. "Mt Pleasant" was the name James and John chose for their new "selection".

About this time Robert snr and his young wife adopted a son whom they called Jim. About 1888 Robert sold "Pine Park" at Deniliquin and joined his sons in the Booligal district. His young wife and adopted son did not move with him. This wife, "Manny", conducted the Pretty Pines Post Office for many years. The family lost trace of Jim. Robert snr died in 1892 and is buried in the Hillston Cemetery.

391

In 1885 James Henry Vagg married Elizabeth Southwell and they had six children: 1. Lavina Florence Evelyn 1886 2. Marion Alice May 1888 3. James Henry Sidney 1890 (4 April) 4. Robert Samuel Lesley 1891 5. Sylvester Joseph Edgar 1897 6. Edward Vincent Clarence 1900 When drought forced them out James Henry and his family moved to Ganmain.

James Henry died 17 August 1922. He was then living at Coolamon and while on his way to visit John at Mt Pleasant he died from heart failure, at Hay. He is buried in the Church of England portion of the Hay cemetery in an unmarked grave. Elizabeth Alice died in Young, date unknown.

In 1912 their eldest son, James Henry Sidney ("Sid") married Lucy Alice Slingsby in the Methodist Church at Bondi Junction, Sydney. Vina continues - "Dad worked at a variety of jobs. For some time he worked bore-sinking for McClure's, the 'Great Western Well Boring Company'. I was born at Orange NSW while my father was sinking a bore west of Bourke. This was in 1913.

Jamcs henry Sidney Vagg 6 April 1WXJ - 11 May 1974

Lucy Alice Vagg (nee Slingsby) 31 August 1890 - 3 March 1971 Courtesy of Mrs V l)alla, nec Vagg

392

It was in 1915 that Dad brought Mum and me to Bagtown". Although only a little girl, Vina still has vivid memories of the journey from Willbriggie in Micky Cush's Coach in the wet!! The tracks were so boggy the coach was constantly becoming bogged and the men passengers having to help push it through the worst parts.

"My father was employed by the WC & IC to plant trees on the early farms. We lived in a Commission house (dwelling ?) in Bagtown. My sister Leslie, was born at the Commission Hospital in 1916. The hospital had the distinction of having a board floor.

Most of the other buildings at that time had earth floors."

Hospital at Bagtown 1916. One of the few buildings with a wooden floor, walls were hessian and newspaper lined.

L to R Unknown, Mrs Ebert Snr, Nurse Diedrick, Lucy Alice Vagg baby Leslie in arms, small girl is Vina Dalla nee Vagg holding the hand of her Aunt Martha Thompson nee Slingaby

"My father took up Farm 670 on the Griffith/Leeton road in 1917. He worked on his own farm at night and for the Producers by day. Day-light saving regulations were operating at the time. Although this was helpful, a lot of hard work was done at night with the aid of hurricane lamps.

Dad was one of the foundation members of the 'Cash Club' which later became the Griffith Co-operative Society. This same year, 1917, he joined the committee of the Society, then in business in the old township. He served on the committee until the year 1920 when he was appointed Manager of the Produce Department of the Society. About this time there was a move for a separate organisation to handle the increasing production from the horticultural farms, and as a result, the Griffith Producers Co-op. Coy Ltd was formed."

An article in the (then) local newspaper, the "Advocate", dated 23 September 1954, was titled "The Story of a Griffith Man's Faith and Success" and tells a great deal about Sid Vagg. It tells of the beginnings of J S Vagg & Co in 1934 who sold Ford cars and tractors. It describes also of the beginnings of the Producers' Co-op and mentions 393

Sid Vagg's long friendship and association with Wilson Moses - "a friendship which meant a lot to my Father", said Vina. "In the evenings they would walk to meetings together.

Wilson lived at Yoogali so it was on the way for Dad who told me that, as they walked together, they talked of many things."

In 1922 Sid Vagg was sent to California USA by the Griffith Producers' Co-op (finance for the trip being met by a loan to the Company by the WC & IC) to study how the Americans packed and sold citrus and to obtain any other information which would be helpful to the local growers.

First he went to the San Jose prune growing centre where he saw dehydrators and semi-cooked prunes in cans. In San Francisco he saw experiments with a cyanide fumigant to kill scale insects on citrus, improved citrus bud selection and artificial colouring of citrus - first by imperfect combustion of kerosene burners and later by using ethylene gas. The maturity test (or sugar acid ration test) as used in California was introduced to this area

by Sid Vagg.

On coming into bearing many of the early plantings of navel oranges on the Area had produced worthless fruit, devoid of juice and cutting like turnips. They became known as "Thompson's Navels", but this was a libel because the Thompson, although a "sport" from the Washington, was a good quality fruit. In America Sid met A D Shamel at the Citrus Experiment Station of the University of California. Shamel's work had proved that "sports" produced "sports" and therefore our degenerate navels were due to haphazard bud selection. On his return it fell to Sid to tell the irate growers to cut down their trees and bud them all over again!! Their feelings in those days can well be imagined! Their long wait for income was once again prolonged.

On his return Sid presented his report and, at the request of the Citrus Council, visited various member organisations - and in particular those at Gosford NSW and Renmark SA - to acquaint them with his findings.

Between 1928 and 1933 more buildings, designed by Sid Vagg, were erected at the Producers. In 1933 the Federal Citrus Council of Australia appointed him to go to England to study refrigerated storage of citrus fruit in transit and the marketing of them in the United Kingdom. It was on his return from England in 1934 that Sid Vagg went into business on his own account.

This time in partnership with Bill Jackman, they purchased the garage business of E.M. Rhead and secured the Ford franchise for the Griffith district. In the early days the only vehicles handled were Ford V8 (the first model of which came on the market in 1932) and the Cork Model tractor. As with all his other enterprises this one grew and succeeded until now (1990) it is still one of the largest companies conducting business in the city.

Asked by the interviewer from the "Advocate" in 1954 to account for the change from the use of his specialised knowledge in citrus handling and marketing to the motor business, it is best summed up in Sid's own words: "I was not born with the urge to accumulate money or wealth; my interest was always the job itself My return in December 1934 marked the close of my twelfth year as a salary earner. I had discharged my obligations to the Federal people, and although there were jobs on offer, they did not offer the freedom of 394

initiative to which I had been accustomed. Besides, I had hearkened to the advice of a distinguished Englishman with whom I had travelled on the way home. He had said "Vagg, if you can do these things and carry responsibility, plan to share its rewards" - so, it seemed opportune to make the change. However, although I had a good deal of experience I had very little money.

Looking around, a boyhood friend already in the motor business told me that he believed Rhead's business was on the market. So it was back to my old friend and adviser, Wilson Moses, who suggested a possible source of finance.

Negotiations followed and on the basis of equal shares, Bill Jackman and I became J S Vagg & Co Ltd. I had to borrow to provide my share of capital and as well as mortgaging all my worldly goods; my "old friend and adviser" signed on the dotted line as my guarantor for half of my borrowing.

That was twenty years ago and nobody concerned has lost anything. It's been a long wait and what with building restrictions and capital restrictions, I used to wonder if the time would ever come, but it's all ours! All paid for!

We never had an official overdraft. Our bankers have always been kindly accommodating when necessary. Also, I would like to say to our 'Thank you sincerely'. customer friends of the years gone by We have the tools now. I propose to use the remaining years in making this place 'tick. That can only be done with efficient and cooperative staff and we have a very sound foundation on which to work.

When it's 'ticking' maybe I'll build some more on the vacant part. If I do, I'll bury another bottle in the concrete with the message - 'Sid Vagg. His Mark".

James Henry Sidney ("Sid") Vagg died on 11 May 1974, aged 84 years. He is buried in Griffith as is Lucy Alice Vagg (nee Slingsby) who was buried 4 March 1971, aged 81 years.

Their family: 1. Vina Florence born 26 April 1913 at Orange NSW married; 6 March 1943 - Lawrence Ronald Dalla (dec'd) 2. Leslie Sybil born 18 August 1916 at Bagtown Hospital married; (1) 1 June 1934 - Harold Edward ("Chic") Fowler (dec'd 26 March 1937) (2) 1961 - Charles R Brown 3. Noela Constance born 24 December 1922 at Leura NSW married; 11 July 1943 - Francis James Hogan By courtesy of Mrs Vina Dalla (nee Vagg), PO Box 693, Griffith 2680 395

VAUGHAN John Jenkin Vaughan married Mary Eleanor Davies in Wrexham, in north Wales in 1879.

Two sons, Bill and Arthur, were born in Wales.

Seeking new opportunities, John preceded his wife to Australia, arriving in Sydney in 1884. Mary Eleanor followed, bringing the two boys, in 1885.

A baker by trade, John established a business at Bulli NSW and subsequently at Kembla Heights, where they were living at the time of the tragic mine disaster of 1902 - a disaster which took ninety-five lives and touched every family in the community. Three sons, Alf, Jim and Tom were born at Kembla Heights.

Bill, Arthur and Jim joined their father in the baking business. Alf concluded his schooling at Kembla Heights and became a teacher.

In 1910 the family moved to a bakery at Millthorpe, near Orange NSW. Here Arthur contracted typhoid and died at the age of 29. For many years John suffered from the common baker's James Vaughan complaint of "flour on the lungs". Inspired by Courtesy Dr J Vaughan prospects of an open-air life and encouraged by reports of the newly developing irrigation area, where access to land was available for modest outlay, and also encouraged by reports from the Murphy family who had gone from Millthorpe to Hanwood, John decided to become an orchardist.

On 9 April 1914 he made formal application and acquired the lease of Farm 159, Hanwood. This farm consisted of 29 acres 1 rood, for which he paid an annual rental of 60/14/3.54 Leaving Bill, Jim and Tom in charge of the bakery, John and Eleanor set out from Millthorpe in a horse-drawn waggon, loaded with household possessions, a tent and carpenter's tools, to begin a new life on the land. At the time John was aged 56. His main qualifications were tenacity, creativity and industry.

Initially they pitched their tent on Farm 159 and commissioned the building of a home - a task in which John played a significant role. As a youth he had worked in his father's joinery business. Eleanor and John were soon joined by sons Jim and Tom while Bill remained in Millthorpe.

In 1915 Tom joined the army. Jim followed in 1916.

The bakery in Millthorpe was sold and Bill moved onto Farm 111, Hanwood, directly opposite Farm 159. (Farm 111 was originally granted to Richard Nicholas O'Brien

54 Department of Water Resources Records

396

on 14 June 1915 and consisted of 24 acres, annual rental £25/161-; transferred to W J Vaughan 31 July 1916).55 In January 1917, Alf, having taught in various parts of the State, moved to the Irrigation Area to be near his parents. He taught at Stanbridge, Mirrool West and Yoogali.

Tom served in northern France where he suffered from Pyrexia and was transferred to hospital in England. Returning to active duty he was exposed to the hellish German gas-shelling of April/May 1918 and was gassed and wounded in action. For courage in the face of the enemy he was awarded the Military Medal in September 1918 and soon after promoted to Sergeant in the 114th Howitzer Battery.

Jim joined the 1st Australian Light Horse and became Sergeant-Instructor at Desert Campaign Headquarters. Subsequently, in action at the Battle of Beersheeba, he was clipped on the ear by a bullet.

Later he suffered two bullet wounds in his left thigh and was hospitalised at Abbassia for seven weeks.

Back in action, an enemy shrapnel burst tore his left forearm. He was sent to hospital in Port Said.

Discharged in 1919, Jim and Tom returned to Hanwood, the former to settle on Farm 155, the latter to assist John. Subsequently Tom acquired his Veronica Mary Vaughan own Hanwood farm (156).

Courtesy Dr J Vaughan Jim took a risk in specialising in the production of canning peaches, gradually building his acreage to forty. He was the first grower to harvest over one hundred tons in a season and became widely known as "The Peach King"!

Alf moved from the area but returned in 1923 to become Headmaster of Hanwood School.

By the late 1920's there were five families, three generations in all, some nineteen Vaughans living in Hanwood.

John Jenkin and Mary Eleanor lived out their lives on Farm 159, where they died - John on 27 September 1933, aged 75 years and Mary Eleanor on 17 April 1934, aged 77 years. They are both buried in the Griffith Cemetery as is Tom who died on 7 June 1939, aged 43 years.

55

Department of Water Resources Records

397

Members of the family of John Jenkin Vaughan and Mary Eleanor who lived in Hanwood were:1. William Jenkin born Wales 1879, died Sydney 1944 married Amy Duncan (1892-1948) 1. Ronald Arthur born Millthorpe 1915, died 1974 2. Gweneth Joan born Griffith 1917 - lives Sydney 3. Betty born Griffith 1928 - lives Melbourne 2. Alfred born Kembla Heights 1888, died 1978 married Ivy Avis Want (born 1898, lives The Entrance) 1. Clifford Bruce born Griffith 1925 - lives The Entrance 2. Lola Mary born Griffith 1926 - lives Bateau Bay 3. Noni Margaret born Sydney 1933 - lives Mannering Park 3. James born Kembla Heights 1891, died 1956 married Veronica Mary Creef (1891-1982) 1. Warwick John Anthony born Sydney 1917 - lives Sydney 2. Barbara Mary born Griffith 1924 - lives Sydney 4. Thomas born Kembla Heights 1895, died Griffith 1939 married Edna Clift (1898-1982) 1. Alfred Hugh born Griffith 1927 - lives Queensland 2. Peter Kenneth born Griffith 1929 - lives Sydney 3. Helen Louise born Griffith 1931 - lives Sydney 4. Beryl Irene born Griffith 1935 - lives Sydney 5. Noel Edward born Griffith 1939 - lives The Entrance

By courtesy of Dr John Vaughan, "Coed y Glyn", 3 Metzler Place, Gordon 2072.

398

WADE Michael "Mick" Wade and his brother, William Henry Wade both arrived in Bagtown in 1916. Patrick, another brother, also came to Griffith but did not settle permanently in the area. The three brothers came looking for work after working on the construction of the "Waranga Basin" at Rushworth, Victoria, their birth place.

Their father, Patrick Wade, (the son of Patrick Wade and Ann Riley) originally came from Ireland, arriving in Australia about 1867. Patrick married Sarah Jane Martin (the daughter of William Martin and Sarah Anne Caldwell) at Elmore, Victoria in 1885 and lived in Victoria until their deaths.

William Martin

Patrick Wade

married

married

Sarah Anne Caldwell

Ann Riley

Arrived 1860 aboard "Commodore Perry'

*

* *

* Patrick Wade

Sarah Jane Martin

born 1851, Westmeath Ireland. Arrived c 1867 Died 1931, Mooroopna

born 2 Aug 1862, Dunes Victoria.

Died 1950, Carlton Vic

1. Michael ("Mick") born 1888 2. Patrick ("Paddy") born 1889 3. William Henry ("Bill") born 1891 4. George Martin born 1893 5. Sarah Ann born 18% 6. James Macathy ("Jimmy") born 1898 7. Mary Bridget Philomena born 1901 8. John James ("Jack") born 1904 9. Robert Lithgow born 1907

399

1.

Michael "Mick" Wade was born in 1888, in Raywood, Victoria and married Harriett Maud Jessie Hunter in Narrandera. Harriett was born in Quorn, South Australia in 1888 (the daughter of John Hunter and Sarah Jane Price) and died in Griffith 2 December 1942. Michael also died in Griffith on 5 June 1970.

After arriving on "Old Micky Cush's Coach Service" Michael lived in Bagtown, later living on Farm 987, at the Wade Shire Council Depot and then purchasing a home in Bringan Street, Griffith. Michael worked as a labourer on the Main Canal, for the Wade Shire, at the I.X.L. Cannery and also as a Nightwatchman for the Cannery.

Michael and Harriett Maud had a family of seven: Walter J ("Wally") born Dubbo, NSW 1915, unmarried (deceased) buried Sydney Robert M ("Bob") born Griffith, 1917 married Mary Carney Coral Jane born Griffith, 1919 married Patrick O'Brien (deceased) lives Griffith Keith H born Griffith, 1923 married Margaret Cook lives Guildford Douglas M born Griffith 1924, unmarried; died in World War 2, 21 Jan 1944 buried New Guinea Sylvia Jessie born Griffith 1929 married Cyril Godfrey lives Griffith

Sarah Wade nec Martin, with son "Mick" and Grandchildren Arthur and Sylvia Courtesy Mrs M Hill

Arthur C ("Mick") oorn Griffith 1931 married Margaret Venn (deceased). Mick died 14 July 1987

Courtesy Mrs Coral O'Brien (daughter of Michael & Harriett Wade) and Mrs Margaret Hill, Griffith.

400

2.

Patrick Wade did not settle permanently in Griffith, however he worked on the construction of the Main Channel. Paddy coached the Yanco Australian Rules Football Club in 1914 and was a "ruckman" renowned for his long distance gaol kicking.

The Family of William Henry Wadc L to R; Marjory, William 'Toby", William "Bill", Florence, Gloria Courtesy of Mrs M Hill

William Henry Wade was born in Rushworth Vic, 5 October 1891 and died in 3.

Griffith on 3 May 1954. William married Florence Margaret Brideson in Rushworth 2 April 1918. Florrie, as she was known, was born 19 July 1898 also at Rushworth.

William, or Bill as he was known, first came to the area in 1916. His first job was hoeing "burrs" on "Wilga" Station. After his marriage he and Florrie came to Bagtown in 1918, travelling by train and staying overnight at Numurkah, Albury and Narrandera on the way. They first lived in Bagtown and later on Farm 957 living in a tent until the family home was built.

Gloria, their daughter, recalled that "men wore long flannel underpants and tennis shoes in winter and summer and they ate jam tarts, scones, stew and Bingo Plum Pudding with custard on Sundays. We had a cow until it was stolen. Father loved football and cricket (he was an Umpire at Barellan 1923-25). Our parents played cards once or twice a week over at their neighbours when they could afford the sixpence a game. Dad helped build Beecher Boarding House. Four of their five children were brought into the World

by Nurse Taylor (the house Nurse Taylor lived in is still standing in Murrumbidgee Avenue)".

Grand daughter, Margaret remembers "the family loved playing Five Hundred and it was a serious game, fooling about was not on!"

William worked as a labourer on the Main Canal and also for the Shire. Later he owned his own "Carrying Business" - his eldest son, William (Toby) carried on the

401

business after his father's death. Toby also worked for Mervyn Kook for many years.

Florrie was also a hard worker - she worked at the Cannery; as a Cleaner at Griffith High School; took in laundry and later opened her own laundry business in Banna Lane.

Photo taken on Farm 957, Griffith - William ("13ill") I lenry Wade with Phillip McKenzie, and "Bob" the horse and the dogs "Brownie"and "lilucy".

Courtesy Mrs M I lill.

William Henry and Florence had a family of five: William Charles Eustice ("Toby") born Bagtown, 1919; single lives Griffith Marjory Florence ("Marge") born Bagtown, 1921; died Griffith 30 September 1988; married Joseph Burley (deceased) Gloria Mary ("Bonnie") born Griffith, 1924; married Claude Wallace Lee; lives Griffith Kevin Lennard born Griffith, 1930; married Janette Campbell; lives Griffith Royce John born Griffith, 1932; married Delveen Reinke; lives Griffith

By courtesy Mrs Margaret Hill (Daughter of Marjory Burley nee Wade), and Mrs Gloria Lee (Daughter), Griffith 2680 402

WADE William Wade was a great sportsman in 1908. He was the winner of the High Jump at the Melbourne Exhibition Ground when he jumped CA". He also won many foot races around Victoria but his greatest love was Australian Rules Football.

He was the first "paid player" for Ganmain in 1912. This year is remembered because of another remarkable match which was considered to be one of the best of its period ever played.

The MIA was being born, channels were under construction and Ganmain challenged the Leeton Club (whose team comprised of many Victorians attracted to the Area) to a match. Playing on a ground located where the present day Yanco Experimental Farm now stands, the game was to introduce to the Area one of the all time football greats, "Pouncer" Wade (a nickname by which William was always known).

Hailing from Victoria "Pouncer" was employed on a farm owned by the Ganmain Captain, A G "Pouncer" was never Graham. known for his elegance on the football field but his ruggedness and skill stamped him as the star of the game. His brilliance dominated in "Pounce?' Wade and his Trainer, the eventual narrow Ganmain victory Joe Ford about 1912. and began for that player a long Courtesy Mr George Wade record as one of the best ever footballers to play in this Area.

"Pouncer" Wade's football career continued well past the time, when to most players retirement was automatic. He later (about 1914) settled in Griffith56.

When he arrived he first lived in a tent on Scenic Hill before settling on Farm 954. At this time he worked as a labourer on channel construction, wheat lumping, clearing the town site and any other work he was able to get. Transport was by horse and sulky.

56 Newspaper extract - origin and date unknown

403

Born in Victoria, William ("Pouncer") Wade married Ruby DaMes in Ganmain.

"Pouncer" died on 6 March 1970 at the age of 82 years. Ruby died 21 June 1965 aged 69 years and both "Pouncer" and Ruby are buried in the Griffith Cemetery.

Ruby and William had ten children, nine of whom were born in Griffith: 1. Emily born Ganmain 1913; married Ernie Campbell; both deceased 2. George born Bagtown 1915; married Matilda Grieve 3. Kathleen born Griffith 1917; married Thomas Gault 4. Annie born Griffith; married John McKenzie; Annie deceased 5. Thelma born Griffith; married Lance Bock 6. Edna born Griffith; married Ted Thompson 7. Sydney born Griffith; married Dorothy Brace; Sydney deceased 8. Claud born Griffith; married Dulcie Heritage George Wade in his prime

9. Marie born Griffith; married Phillip Bischard; Marie deceased

lumping wheat in 1943 Courtesy Mr George Wade

10. Phyllis born Griffith; married Gordon Webb; Phyllis deceased Pouncer & Ruby

By courtesy of George Wade, Griffith.

404

WATKINS No Pioneer Register would be complete without at least some mention of Doctor Phillip Watkins, the first doctor to come to this Area.

Sadly no contact could be made with any of his family. His only child, Arthur, is known to have been killed in an aeroplane accident at a very early age and we could find no other close living relatives. (Ed.) It was decided therefore to repeat the little we have gleaned for a man and his wife who gave so much to the early community

Dr Phillip Watkins was the first doctor that Dorothy Vining (nee Griffin) remembers - "He was called "Pip". He was a very nice man - well educated and kind."

In an interview with "The Griffith Times" in 1972 the late Rex Sara said "medical treatment was one of the luxuries in Griffith in 1915 with Dr Watkins treating the men at the site.

The Commission (WC & IC) then paid him 6d. a week per man to look after the men."

Janet Gill (nee Borthwick) who came from England in 1915 with her aunt, Mrs Helen Jackson, who was a companion to Mrs Higginson (wife of the Resident Engineer) says of Dr Watkins - "He was admired by all and set out at all times and in all weathers to attend the sick. He lived in a house similar to the resident Engineer's house". (These two houses still stand - the Watkins house, now "revamped" with an exterior skin of fibro, immediately opposite the CSIRO. For many years it was the home of that popular couple, Nellie and Stan Wright.

Higginson's house is just along the road and until recently owned for many years by the Trewin family.)

Nurse Burns

405

Sue Chessbrough in her "Spread of Green" tells - "There was a canvas hospital at the western end (of Bagtown) where Nurse Lilian Burns was in charge.

She had been appointed in 1913 for an initial period of three months and received a salary of two guineas a week.

Dr Watkins of Whitton visited the hospital weekly and travelled the fifteen miles by horse and sulky till he later took up residence locally in a small cottage. He had his surgery in his garage next to his home. The Resident Engineer, Mr Higginson, lived next door."

From Western Riverina Library's Oral History Tapes, the late Mrs Johanna Murphy, said .... "Dr Watkins was the first doctor in the Area, appointed by the Commission. Then when the settlers started to work, they formed a kind of fee for him, so that we had to pay £2 to him every 2 months. Because in the early days of Bagtown there was no hospital, Dr Watkins often arranged for a nursing sister to come from Narrandera.

Miss Vedas Ebert recalls this to have been the case when her mother was Nurse Bodinnar seriously ill with pneumonic influenza and Sister Bodinnar was sent for. "Mrs Bill Gee had two children born in her shed house. Again a sister from Narrandera assisted".

"Sister Bodinnar owned and drove a little Morris car in which she was killed when it overturned on the "back river road" as she was travelling from Whitton to Bagtown" says her God-daughter Vedas. Vedas recently recalled also that Mrs Watkins produced large amounts of beautifully handmade chocolates for the many bazaars which were held at Bagtown "for a multitude of charities. These chocolates were absolutely delicious and, of course, the only ones we ever saw in those days. They sold like hot cakes!!".

Dr Watkins left the Area in December 1926 when sold his practice to Dr AE Burrell.

Compiled by Mrs Hilary Dalton with assistance from Mrs Enid Atkinson 406

WEARE A story Grandma Pritchard used to tell me was that she saw Ned Kelly. He was being taken from the train at Beechworth to the gaol. The local girls had gathered to see this handsome man. He waved a red handkerchief to them". (This story is written up in "Australian Sons").

The Weares came from Glasgow, but we don't know when. Cochrane G Weare was born at Yackandandah Vic 15 February 1856, he died 18 February 1898, aged 42 years. Cochrane married Jessie Hall Colquhoun 11 June 1882 and their son Arthur James was born 15 February 1883 at Chiltern, Victoria and dying in Griffith 22 January 1963, aged 79 years. Arthur James married Ruby Pearl Pritchard (sister of Griffith identity Charlie Pritchard) 2 May 1914 at Greensborough, Victoria.

Ruby, daughter of George Alexander Pritchard (1862-1923) and Louisa Ellen Youngman (18651947), was born 3 June 1891 at Beechworth Vic and died at Griffith 10 February 1961, 70 years.

The Victorian Government had brought the Chaffey Brothers out from America to start the irrigation scheme at Mildura and the New South Wales Government started the Murrumbidgee Scheme as an experiment. They offered the soldiers Arthur Wcarc Snr returning from the War a farm although they weren't farmers. Most of them were still wearing their uniforms when they were working on the farms.

A lot of those working at the Viticultural Nursery lived on our Farm, No 450 in tents. They paid 5/- a week rent and Mum supplied them with meals. She made £6 a week and put it in the bank.

Louis Signor told me the men were paid 8/- a day.

When my father, Arthur Weare Snr left school, he first worked for Oliver Gilpin's store for 10/- a week and then for Hamilton's Winery working in the office. After a nervous breakdown his Doctor advised him to get rural work so he began work at the Viticultural Research Station at Wahgunyah, Victoria where he learned budding and grafting of vines and fruit trees. When the NSW Government advertised in Victoria for skilled nurserymen (offering much better wages than paid in Victoria) Ruby Pearl Wcarc nee Pritchard Dad applied for and obtained a position at the Courtesy Mrs J l'ratt nee Wcarc Water Commission Nursery run by Sid Braithwaite 407

where trees and vines were grown for the settlers. At this time Dad lived at Jacka's boarding house at Bagtown.

Mum was prejudiced against NSW as were many Victorians, but she later brought Jeanette and I to visit the area. We caught the train from Corowa to Yanco, then we went on the Hay line to Willbriggie, where we caught Micky Cush's coach to Griffith.

When Mum saw the peaches, plums and grapes she fell in love with the place, so we went back to Rutherglen to pack our belongings. The Government paid for a complete rail truck for us which meant we had plenty of room - we even brought the clothes props!

Dad bought the old Bagtown Post Office which was a corrugated tin shack. He shifted it to Farm 450 on the corner of Kurrajong Avenue and Moseley Road and had it ready for us to move into. We did not have the water laid on - we had to bucket it out of the farm run-off drainage channel to use for cooking and so on. It was so cold in the shack at night that ice formed on the top of the water in my pannikin by my bed.

Bill Jackman came and helped clear the place. Dad planted a patch of lucerne for the cow and horse and Bill Jackman cut the lucerne with a horse-drawn mower.

The Staff of the Baker's Shop c 1936 L to R: Jack Osmond, Freda Willis, Bill Ishcrwood, Amy Murphy ncc Mtcklcson, Tommy Mickleson, (unknown), Teddy Micklcson, Mr Wcarc, Front Jeanatte Weare, -Babe" Danahcr, Norman Bishop, Arthur Wcare

Mr Alex McKirdy was the foreman of the vegetable growing project. A man from Sydney told Dad that if we could grow tomatoes and get them on the markets late in summer, when the Sydney crops had finished, we could sell all we could grow. The same applied to winter carrots, so we started to grow tomatoes and carrots in a big way. The 408

agent was D J High & Others growing Son. vegetables were the Vardanega, Aliprandi, Dal Broi, and Capello families.

When the Depression began about 1928 it was hard to sell anything as there was not much money about. Dad started a shop across from the Court House in Banna Avenue to sell fruit and vegetables. Later Dad bought the Bakery business. People still remind us to-day how Mum would give them bread and buns, etc whether they could pay for The Baker's Cart them or not (especially all Courtesy Mrs J Pratt nee Weare the bread that was unsold or a bit stale). Jeanette and I worked in the shop before and after school and then for some years on leaving school. Mum sent me to the Convent School to learn double-entry book-keeping. When I was there I saw people coming to the Nuns to ask them for something to eat. Rather than turn them away the Nuns would give them some of their own food. The dole was 9/- a week for bread, groceries and meat - it didn't go far with a family.

Later we got Farm 222 from Max Broughton making our farm up to 50 acres.

Cochrane J Weare

George Alexander Pritchard

15 Feb 1856-18 Feb 1898 married

1862-1923 married

Jessie Hall Colquhoun • Arthur James Weare

Louisiana Ellen Youngman Ruby Pearl Pritchard

15 Feb 1883-22 Jan 1%3

3 Jun 1891-10 Feb 1961

Arthur James born Rutherglen, Victoria 23 July 1916 married Patricia Jackson - lives Griffith Jeanette Jessie born Rutherglen, Victoria 25 February 1918 married Frederick Pratt - lives Griffith By courtesy Arthur Weare and Jeanette Pratt, Griffith 2680 409

WHITING The three Whiting brothers, Oswald, Arthur and Frederick came to Australia together, aboard the maiden voyage of the S.S. Wandilla, in 1912. They spent the Christmas of that year at sea.

When they arrived in Sydney a strike among wharf labourers prevented the unloading of the S.S. Wandilla so the Whiting trio used their initiative, manned the winches and unloaded their own cargo but were stopped before they could help any of the other passengers to do the same.

The Whitings were Londoners who came to Australia to take up irrigation land on the M.I.A. with no background in farming. However, when they arrived in 1912 the farms here had not as yet been gazetted so Arthur, who had been an insurance clerk with Lloyds of London and had spent time in Capetown, South Africa, took a job on Wingadee Station, in the Coonamble district, trapping rabbits, while waiting for their farms here to be granted.

Emma Whiting with baby Wendy Farm No 18 (of almost 50 acres) Courtesy Mrs Joan Whiting was granted to Oswald Ireson Whiting on 27 October 1913 and Farm No 19 (the same size) was granted to his brother, Arthur Barton Whiting on this same date.57 Once settled on their farms, the brothers sent to London for their Mother to follow them to Australia. They had soon found good furniture hard to buy so they arranged for their mother to bring with her all her furniture and fittings. Arthur's daughter, Joan, tells us that her father made beautiful furniture as a hobby.

She also describes her Grandmother Whiting - "She was very small and called "Tony" despite having been christened Jone Ellinor Florence Blanch Elizabeth Ann (nee Barton). She was a lady, used to an "upstairs maid" and having the laundry taken out.

However, she adapted quickly and soon learned to cook in a camp oven, make scones and sponge cake and use a copper and outside washhouse. There were many tennis parties which always finished with High Tea. People were expected to dress for dinner - a custom still practiced to this day by her descendants.

The youngest of the Whiting brothers, Frederick Eakins, had been employed in London as a clerk by the Diamond Traders, Joseph Brothers. He married in 1922 - a widow with a small son, John - Florence Emma ("Emmie") Moloney (nee Bland). Emmie

57

Department of Water Resources

410

had been a nurse before her first marriage and they met when she was on a visit to the Area to stay with her sister Phyllis Sainty and brother Cecil Bland who occupied Farm 12.

Fred and Emmie's first home on Farm 19 was two large bedroom tents with wooden floors and a small cookhouse. Later a three-roomed house with verandah back and front was built. A climbing rose trellis gave shade for the back garden. This house is still standing and is occupied by Frederick's youngest son, Dev and his family.

In the early years, seed growing and cleaning, honey production and vegetable growing were all money spinners.

On 21 November 1924 Oswald Ireson forfeited his farm No 18 which was taken over by his brother and he (Oswald) moved into Griffith to become Manager of the first Griffith Co-op.58 In later years, two very comfortable houses were built on Farm 19. One each end of what is now known as Polldnghorne Road. "Grannies Shack" was (and still is) in the middle of the farm, near three huge Wilga trees and an old stable which was later used as a garage for a T-Model Ford car and truck. A shed, called the "Big Shed" held the honey extracting tanks, wheat/pollard/corn feed for chickens - "chooks". It had a loft. One side verandah was used as a blacksmiths shop cum machinery shop. There was also a well and hand pump for out-door washing.

The Shack Courtesy Mrs Joan Erskine

58 Department of Water Resources records

411

Plough i ng

Shopping in the "New Town

412

Arthur Barton Whiting born 3 December 1884 London died 29 July 1963, cremated Western Suburbs, Sydney married in Sydney Doris Amy Stewart born 27 June 1894 Sydney of Scottish parents died 30 July 1971, cremated Western Suburbs, Sydney Their children:1. Alan Leslie born 2 January 1924, died 28 June 1987 married Ruth McKearn (2 daughters) Ruth lives Ryde, NSW 2. Joan Myra born 23 November 1925 married Thomas Reginald Erskine (3 children) Lives Griffith NSW 3. Joyce Olga born 1 January 1929 married Noris Bailey (3 children) lives in Perth WA

Frederick Eakin Whiting born London 7 January 1889 died Griffith 6 February 1964 aged 75 years married Kensington, Sydney 10 May 1922 Florence Emma Moloney (nee Bland) born Greig's Flat (near Pambula NSW) died Griffith 11 November 1966 aged 79 years (both buried Griffith Cemetery) Their family: 1. John (Fred's step-son) born Sydney 10 June 1917 2. Wendy born Griffith 3 August 1923 married (1) Frank Fitzgerald (dec'd) (2) Linsay Tapper - lives Goulburn 3. Devereux born Griffith 12 September 1925 married Margaret Russell - lives Farm 19 Hanwood By courtesy of Mrs Joan Erskine (nee Whiting) PO Box 162, Griffith 2680 413

WHYBROW Hubert Henry Whybrow, known among his friends as "Reggie" or "Uncle Reggie", brought his bride, May, to Griffith in 1928.

Having moved to Griffith from Murrumburrah, New South Wales at 21 years of age, Reggie took up the position of blacksmith for Mr and Mrs Cecil Leckie who owned a "smithy" on the corner of Yambil and Kooyoo Streets where the National Australia Bank now stands.

May, in her mid-80's recalls those times with fondness. "I remember when we used to take Mr Leckie's little T-Model Ford out to properties to shoe horses. Reggie was not only a blacksmith, but a farrier and a welder".

Sulky and Milk Cart manufactured by Leckie's Blacksmith L to R Cecil Leckie, Reg Whybrow, Roy Chandler The Milk Cart was manufactured for Sep Chittick, the sulky for Mr Bill Ilorneman of I lillston. Of interest is that the sulky is harnessed to the well remembered model horse used by Leckies for display.

Reggie went into partnership for a short time before joining Wade Shire (now Griffith City Council) as blacksmith in 1954. He held this position until his untimely death in 1971, only weeks before he was to retire.

May says "you could not fmd a man more dedicated to his job. Where ever I go now I still see his work - such as the Memorial Park sign and fence chains. I was immensely proud when the Shire named a street in honour of my husband".

414

Sprightly May attributes her appearance and state of mind to maintaining an active lifestyle and a Welsh disposition. Of the 40 years shared with her childhood sweetheart May says "I have had a very happy life. Of course, there have been sad times (such) as when I lost my only child, the still-birth of a little boy and when I lost my husband - but together we had the best life and I have lots of memories to keep me company."

Mrs May Whybrow

May's first impression of Griffith, as she remembers it, was a small community where every second person you would see was a friendly face that you could stop and have a chat to. "You can't do that any more". She also spoke of how busy Canal Street wai in "the good old days". (Ralph Bradley's family lived in the house in Canal Street before Whybrows.)

"A little give and take is the sure answer to a happy and fulfilling life" according to May Whybrow.

By courtesy of Mrs May Whybrow, 21 Kookora Street, Griffith 2680.

415

WICKHAM "Wickham's Camp" and "Wickhams Hill", two names synonymous with Griffith since the earliest days of the implementation of the MIA are both named for the Ganger/Foreman, Tom Wickham or as he became known - "the Colonel". His son, Syd Wickham, who lived here until he was 7 years old, tells his story ....

"Tom joined the Public Works Department about 1909. He spent some years working as a chainman on swamp drainage, artesian bores and river gauging before transferring to the Murrumbidgee River Area.

Here he joined the first camp formed to investigate and Tom Wickham - The Colon[' survey the Murrumbidgee Northern Canal in 1904 where he was Foreman Chainman in GW Mitchell's camp. He then did survey work for the Barrenjack railway.

When construction work started on the canals he was transferred to the Oak Creek Regulator as a junior inspector, under a Mr Hyland, employed by Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust (which became WC & IC 1913). Tom Wickham then transferred to the new Commission, becoming a ganger on Berembed Weir (April 1913) before going on to the Main Canal earthworks and bridges where he remained until April 1919, (except for a period during 1917-18).

July 1915 he became an "Inspector" - foreman in charge of day labour. (It is interesting to note some of the new conditions that came with the senior appointment.

His rate of pay was 16/- per day and he received the following "privileges":- Sick leave, annual leave and payment for public holidays.)

When war (WWI) was declared, his enlistment was rejected because of a previous injury to his right leg which occurred when a horse he was riding fell and rolled on him after jumping a ditch. He was always a good horseman and loved animals - particularly horses and dogs with which he had an affinity they apparently sensed.

Early in 1915 he married Margaret Blanche Gavel of Farm 177 Stoney Point near Leeton. Margaret's family had moved from Mathoura where she was born. Her parents, William Stillman Gavel and Margaret (nee Fisher) were married in Hay 22 December 1883. They came to Stoney Point after travelling overland with all their possessions, on horse-drawn flat topped waggons and horseback. (Stoney Point had then been part of the McCaughey's 'North Yanko' holding)." Syd and his sister Jean were both born at Narrandera, 1915 and 1917, respectively.

Syd continues "While my father's work was mainly in and around the Yanco/Leeton area, we lived in a house in Leeton next door to where Henry Lawson lived.

He and my parents were friendly and we were told in later years that Jean and I were often nursed by Lawson.

During 1915-1918 my Grandfather Gavel supplied fresh meat and milk to the gangs working along the canal. He and his family were running a dairy farm at this time and, of course, this meat supply to the Commission and the Contractors was an adjunct to his business and, no doubt, a very welcome one.

416

As work progressed along the higher land of the Brobenah Hills and although most of the excavation work was done by contractors, the construction work was done by the WC & IC - i.e. bridges, regulators, etc and gangs were working on numerous sites, at the one time, between Leeton and Griffith. By this time my Father was 'Riding Ganger' which necessitated his regularly visiting all sites, so he was away from home during the week. Of course all travel was by horse and overnight stops were made at pre-selected places where a tent was always available.

The Pay Cart at Wickham's Camp. Courtesy Mr Syd Wickham

He carried a revolver on his belt - 'for the protection of Government property' and to the best of my investigations began to be called "Colonel about this time. At that time he had charge of fifteen gangs, totalling 400 men, plus stores and equipment. At this time also people were very 'war conscious' and often used army ranks as nicknames.

Possibly because of his responsibility, the honorary title of 'Colonel' was applied to him.

There were four gangers working on the canal named 'Tom'. They were Wickham, Dillon, Dunn and Pauling. Jack Haines, the father of Jack Haines who later became Australian Middleweight Boxing Champion, was a close friend of my Fathers. I believe this friend later perished in a tent fire at Griffith.

Eventually the day came for the Wickham family to move. Wickham's Camp' had been established at Griffith and our new home was a canvas tent. I remember two tents, somehow end to end, a wooden floor and, outside, a long line of tents that stretched forever.

Later from the tent town of Wickham's Camp we moved to a new Commission house in Wakaden Street, opposite the railway turntable. From there, to a house built by my father and George Hart, on a small farm he had bought - Farm 878 - where the Leagues Club and car park are now. We lived here until we returned to Sydney to live in February 1923."

417

Wickhams Camp - Courtesy Mr Syd Wickham

"not a tall man - maybe 5'11" but solidly His son, Syd, described "the Colonel" built with big arms and shoulders. At home he was always good fun with his children but was inclined to be quiet and certainly so in the company of others. In his young days he was a popular violinist at country dances and at home and at country concerts he used to sing in a rich baritone voice - especially songs made famous by Peter Dawson.

His one proud boast was that it had never been necessary for him to extend his original finishing date on any job - regardless of rain or flood. Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays were, when necessary, all good working time to him."

Thomas Henry Wickham, born 3 January 1877, at Duke Street, Darlinghurst NSW, died in Prince Henry Hospital, at 7 pm 23 February 1934, of tetanus, contracted whilst working in the Warren (NSW) area.

Footnote: Sydney Wickham.... "most facts, figures and detail that I have quoted regarding Tom Wickham's service with the WC & IC were obtained from official and semi-official documents, references and letters that are in my possession."

By courtesy of Sydney Wickham, 52 The Bulwark, Castlecrag NSW 2068.

418

INDEX Beck 40, 346 Beecher 401 Beggs 157 Beilby 264 Bell 28, 54, 220, 222, 322 Bennet 44 Bennett 94, 226 Benson 333 Benton 324 Berecry 317 Berg 62 Bernstien 330 Berry 241, 317, 329, 330 Bertram 46, 146 Beveridge 71, 158 Beverley 244 Bianchi 87 Bicego 23 Biggs 158 Biachard 96, 98, 404 Black 177, 281, 334 Blacklock 131 Blackwood 239 Blair 288 Blakeway 281 Bland 59, 410 Blow 67 Bloxham 67 Blyth 123, 124 Bock 404 Bodinnar 182, 292, 294, 295, 406 Bodycombe 295, 315 Bof 90 Boito 87 Boller 132 Bond 177 Bone 9, 16, 62, 107, 128, 149 Bonomi 49, 97, 125 Boots 52, 245 Borland 240 Borthwick 53, 405 Bosisto 66 Bottriel 9 Etottrill 127, 128 Bounds 123, 132 Bourke 130 Bourne 44 Bowring 173 Bowsher 54 Boyce 155 Boyd 44, 55, 147, 148, 230 Boyle 56, 181, 219, 298, 312, 317 Brabant 67 Braby 259

Acklamd 199 Adams 163, 252, 318, 338 Ahern 202 Aiton 240 Aland 340 Alexander 19, 132 Aliprandi, 409 Allan 97, 142 Alpen 52, 221, 222 Alvaro 22 Anderson 2, 38, 53, 70, 136, 156, 257 Anderton 354, 358 Andreazza 21, 22 Andrighetto 88 Anelzark 268 Anstee 25, 115, 270, 377 Anthony 223 Appleby 261 Aramini 31 Arblaster 16, 332 Armstrong 26, 320, 340 Arnold 36, 153 Ashcroft 28, 175, 310, 380 Ashley 271 Ashton 245 Aspinall 81 Aspline 48 Asquith 342, 344 Atkinson 54, 100, 406 Atterton 314 Attwood 381 Aue 128 Austin 327 Axeford 45 Ayres 323 Beggs 244,269 Bailey 328 Bailio 178 Baker 72, 202 Bakewell 343 Baltieri 29, 49 Banns 199 Barber 100 Barnes 170 Bartholomew 32, 39, 44 Bartlett 329 Barton 410 Banter 141 Bassett 158, 214, 216 Bates 131 Beasley 384 Beaumont 34, 36, 38, 40, 72, 136, 142, 258, 313

419

Brace 404 Bracey 281 Brackenbridge 289 Braddock 350 Bradford 253 Bradley 121, 132, 151, 339, 415 Braithwaite 64, 407 Brankston 131 Braund 41, 90, 123 Bray 293 Breadner 239 Breeny 225 Brewster 66 Brideson 401 Bridle 131 Britt 36, 37 Brockell 313 Broderick 121 Brooke 92 Brooks 118 Broome 153 Brophy 330 Brothers 410 Broughton 409 Brown 92, 144, 206, 242, 272, 320, 330, 349, 350, 367, 395 Brownscombe 66, 318 Bruce 390 Brutti 49 Buchanan 175 Buckland 377 Budd 286 Bugno 87, 246 Bull 2, 40, 69, 71, 72, 112, 135, 136, 149, 157, 158 Bunting 63 Burgess 359, 374 Burke 274 Burley 402 Burns 16, 79, 109, 132, 219, 226, 406 Burnshein 179 Burrell 20, 21, 93, 373 Butler 115, 120, 204 Button 132 Byrne 223, 226, 326, 390 Byrnes 25, 312

Campion 200 Capello 409 Cappello 88 Carmody 350 Carney 194, 330, 400 Carpenter 46 Carr 9, 130, 203 Carrol 269 Carroll 9, 16, 33, 119, 132, 198, 226 Carter 240 Casey 262, 265 Cash 61 Cashmere 245 Cassim 222 Cater 171, 173 Cattanach 36 Cavenagh 197 Ceccato 23, 85, 88, 132 Centonze 106 Cericoli 125 Chadwick 9, 54, 194, 312, 313 Chaffey 407 Chance 68 Chandler 9, 92, 414 Chapman 44, 95, 131, 192, 233, 319 Chessbrough 361, 406 Chester 42 Chettle 230 Chettle-Goddard 230 Chilvers 133 Chittick 100, 207, 249, 414 Christie 67 Churton 289 Clancy 317 Clapsham 235 Clark 19, 25, 115, 147, 277, 315, 378 Clarke 200, 253 Clayton 350 Clee 236 Clifford 40, 174, 175, 376 Clift 398 Clime 223 Cobb 184 Cobb & Co 184,291 Cohen 332 Colautti 104 Cole 147 Coleman 72, 381 Collier 16, 92, 119, 122, 312 Collier & Chandler 92 Collier and Miller 119 Collins 66, 115, 158, 235, 299 Collis 383, 384 Colobret 190, 191 Colpo 91 Colquhoun 407, 409

Cadorin 87 Cairncross 155 Calabria 355 Caldwell 399 Caldwill 178 Calvert 93 Cameron 269 Campbell 48, 64, 73, 83, 173, 216, 246, 287, 330, 374, 402, 404

420

Davey 119 Davidge 52, 59-62, 115, 133, 169, 175, 206, 253 Davies 2, 3, 38, 52, 70, 77, 135, 149, 175, 245, 293, 396 Davis 158, 184, 206, 325, 327 Day 39, 138, 142, 194, 249, 277, 292, 304 De Burgh 97 De Luca 382 De Martin 91 Del Fabbro 105 Delaney 317 Delves 20, 115, 143, 194, 258, 277, 331 Dempsey 16, 130, 132 Dengate 380 Denham 287, 320, 386 Dent 71 Dewar 280 Dewar 16 Dickinson 289 Dickson 184, 312, 313 Diedrick 16, 393 Dietrich 160 Dilger 185 Dillon 54, 417 Dixon 322 Dobson 364 Dodd 169 Dominica 170 Donaldson 83, 84, 296 Donnely 348 Douglas 342 Down 226 Downie 100 Downs 387 Doyle 75, 158, 166, 284 Dredge 185 Dreyer 67, 146, 335, 339 Driver 2, 26, 40, 70-73, 77, 136, 140, 149, 155, 158, 217, 219 Druitt 115, 253 Duchatel 54, 152, 253 Duckworth 130 Dun 2, 3, 70-72, 75, 135, 136, 155, 157, 217, 219, 299, 305 Duncan 259, 398 Dunn 72, 74, 196, 198, 417 Dunovan 331 Dwyer 238, 298 Dyball 227

Confoy 139 Conlon 46, 127 Considine 65 Cook 246, 248, 400 Cooke 343 Cooney 225 Cooper 311, 378 Coote 120, 151 Cormack 75, 77 Corner 83 Cornu 287 Costin 382 Cotington 92 Couch 295 Couchman 287 Coulter 68 Courts 291 Cowdery 54 Cowling 91 Cox 59, 108, 161, 163, 181, 368 Craig 66, 72, 208 Crase 324 Crawford 111, 115, 116, 164, 340 Creef 398 Cregan 119, 120, 219 Creswick 158 Croce 29, 230 Crocker 25 Crowe 189, 246 Crowther 9, 107 Cudlipp 54 Cullen 157 Cullum 390 Cummings 2, 9, 16, 40, 55, 62, 71, 115, 122, 312, 338, 341, 347 Cummins 240 Cuneo 93 Cunial 87, 120, 125 Curley 386 Curran 202 Curtis 25 Cush 16, 49, 55, 62, 92, 112, 113, 127, 132, 161, 169, 189, 192, 194, 230, 238, 257, 278, 286, 293, 295, 338, 366, 393, 400, 408 Custagana 49 D•Arcy 194-5 Nines 16, 132, 404 Dal Broi 409 Dalgleish 71, 136, 158 Dalla 39, 395 Dalton 300, 361, 406 Daly 154 Dance 44 Dargin 133

Eardley 308 Earl 92, 199 Eastwell 46 Eberle 115

421

115, 123, 124, 146, 160, 270, 335, 336, 339, 393, 406 Ebert and Sara 330, 339 Edmenson 70 Edwards 45, 62, 100, 206 Eldridge 184, 186 Ellesmere 164 Elliott 130, 345 Emerton 323 Emery 200 Enness 27, 261 Erskine 167, 181, 252, 413 Evans 45, 132, 169, 322 Evatt 153 Everley 186 Ebert

Fowler 395 Fox 173 Foy 304, 305 Francis 46 Franklin 326 Franks 166 Fraser 131 Freeman 325 Friend 115, 341 Fullarton 132, 285, 320 Fuller 321 Furbey 196 Fumess 16 Furphy 199 Gait 391 Galbraith 16 Gale 367 Gallagher 298, 339 Galvin 67, 68, 255 Gamble 390 Gammon 240 Gardiner 177, 376 Garten 44 Garton 178 Gascoigne 46, 60 Gates 77 Gault 404 Gavel 416 Gavin 324 Gay 263, 265 Gebhardt 288 Gee 57, 113, 166, 180, 333, 366, 406 Gersbach 171, 173 Gibbons 114, 115, 197 Gibbs 240 Gibling 240 Gibson 139 Giddins 354, 387 Gill 55, 405 Gillies 390 Gilmore 1 Gilpin 407 Girabel 187 Giudice 85 Gladman 42 Glasgow 272 Gleeson 61, 184, 186 Glover 54 God 320 Goddard 130 Godfrey 400 Goldberg 255, 320 Gollan 16 Gollen 161, 241 Goodfellow 44

Fagherty 44 Fallon 9, 10, 16, 63, 127, 130, 181, 219, 312, 362 Fardell 66 Farley 171 Farley and Lewers 358 Farmers 113 Farmilo 250 Farraway 186 Farrell 115, 182, 331-333 Farrelly 132 Farrington 138 Fell 145 Fennel 332 Field 314 Fielder 80, 82 Fife 358 Findlay 123, 124, 244, 248 Finlay 364 Finley 60 Fisher 99, 416 Fitzgerald 155, 219, 413 Fitzsimmons 291 Flack 181 Flannery 131, 132 Fletcher 250, 347 Flint 54 Flood 194 Floyd 148 Flynn 16, 59, 132, 174, 219 Foley 115, 302, 313 Foote 117, 164, 176 Ford 16, 44, 80, 129, 130, 403 Foreshaw 54 Forestal 271 Fomer 184 Forrester 350 Forshaw 339 Fossey's 62 Foster 20, 142, 197, 265

422

Hartigan 182 Harvey 147, 199 Harwood 100, 207 Hatcher 138 Hawes 228, 306 Hawke 65 Hawkins 20, 44, 55, 60, 115, 123, 124, 161, 162, 252, 277, 284, 312, 339, 341, 346, 378 Hawley 40, 84, 160, 331 Hay 197 Hayes 342 Hayes-Williams 208 Hazen 117 Hearn 386 Hearne 245 Heifer 40 Heffernan 274 Helmkemp 113, 115 Hemphill 132 Henderson 98, 99, 330 Hennessy 174 Herbert 328 Heritage 404 Hewitt 142 Hews 54 Hickey 121 Higgins 344 Higginson 16, 53-55, 107, 311, 405 High 409 Hill 40, 139, 162, 214, 216, 381, 402 Hillam 21, 277, 292, 331 Hillery 321 Hilliam 45 Hillman 214, 216 Hines 130 Hirschausen 146, 148 Hisham 239 Hoad 225 Hoare 246 Hockin 59 Hodgetts 46, 48 Hodgson 141 Hogan 395 Hogg 153 Hoggard 120, 217 Holm 304 Holt 126, 214, 215 Holton 237 Holyoake 170 Honey 203 Hopping 231 Hordern 117, 164 Home 184 Horneman 414 Hoskings 246

Goodger 45 Goodison 317 Gordon 94, 120, 130, 136, 238, 259, 338, 365 Goring 184, 233 Gorman 227 Gow 68, 90, 287 Grace 45, 64, 311, 320 Graham 333, 372, 403 Grant 180, 192, 245, 377 Gras 22, 187 Grassby 358 Gray 45, 154, 156, 299, 305 Green 192, 308 Grieve 404 Griffin 123, 405 Grimmond 351 Grinley 377 Gronn 115, 131 Grubb 68 Gugliemino 23 Guihen 38, 119, 270, 298 Guilmartin 56, 61 Gulielmini 49 Gullifer 139, 142, 304 Gunning 194 Gunter 381 Gurney 192 Gyton 184 Hague 53 Hahm 350 Haines 312, 356, 357, 417 Hair 72 Hall 67, 96, 98, 99, 131, 132, 192493, 286 Hamilton 38, 115, 162, 194-197, 221, 407 Hamlet 278 Hampshire 40 Hams 198-199, 269, 301 Hanch 206 Hanna 16, 54, 129 Hanrahan 101, 121 Hansell 132 Harbard 44 Harcourt 197 Hardiman 56 Hardman 226 Hare 289 Hamott 240 Harper 346 Harriman 200, 303, 344 Harrington 127 Harris 16, 58, 62, 115, 130, 202, 203, 239, 286, 287, 311, 329, 340, 356 Harrison 99 Harry 92 Hart 141, 304, 417

423

Hounslow 306 Howard 277 Howlett 243, 248 Huckel 330 Hudson 94, 114 Huggins 159 Hughes 199 Hume 230 Hunt 169 Hunter 400 Hurie 312 Hurley 320 Hurst 145 Huxtable 271 Hyland 416 Hynson 25

Kemp 162 Kendall 101, 236 Kennedy 113, 149, 238, 344, 378 Kennett 16 Kennetts 92 Kenningale 240 Kenningale-Nevarde 240 Kensitt 320 Keogh 206 Kevan 204 Kilpatrick 139, 142 King 224 Kinkead 222 Kirby 286 Knight 65, 348 Knilands 380 Knox 387 Knox and Downs 387 Kook 52, 77, 243, 402 Kramer 371 Kubank 133 Kurkel 320 Kurtz 100, 249

Inwood 79, 82 Ireland 52 Irons 328 Irvin 338, 350 Irvine 100, 181, 341 Jacks 9, 16, 130, 220, 320, 408 Jackman 394, 395, 408 Jackson 53, 343, 405, 409 Jacob 2, 9, 16, 54, 58, 69, 136, 198, 223, 320 Jacobs 73, 339 Jago 226 James 96, 99, 102, 158 Jardine 196 Jarvis 54 Jeffree 334 Jenkins 80, 131, 132, 196, 223, 228, 281 Jennings 134 Johns 115, 378 Johnson 79, 230, 341 Johnston 77, 136 Johnstone 40, 130 Joiner 55 Jolly 16 Jones 52, 98, 173, 245 Jordan 54 Joscelyn-Smith 2 Joss 334 Judd 188 Justice 194, 308

Ladegast 339 Laffer 285 Lahy 182 Laing 79 Lambert 288 Lander 243, 244, 248, 296 Langley 33 Lanigan 72 Lanyon 69 Larke 66 Lasscock 55, 113, 115, 123, 161, 252 Laurence 208 Lawrey 96 Lawson 79, 370, 416 Leckie 92, 198, 414 Ledgerwood 65 Lee 280, 319, 339, 402 Leich 384 Leitch 287 Lenehan 54, 63, 153, 194, 254, 324 Lennon 167 Leonard 242, 271 Lesson 130 Lethby 240 Letheby 258 Lewis 121 Liddell 358 Lincoln 353 Links 281 Liston 16 Litchfield 242 Little 38, 39, 143, 257, 292

Kayess 231 Keary 333 Keating 249 Keen 16, 43 Kelleher 42 Kelly 13, 57, 68, 80, 159, 184, 222, 228, 240, 269, 348, 407

424

Maydwell 30 Maynes 102 McArthur 73 McAuslan 245 McBean 169 McCaffery 72 McCallman 248 McCalman 243 McCann 68, 386 McCarthy 325 McCaughey 3, 73, 137, 342 McClean 273 McClellan 270 McClelland 214, 343 McClure 139, 272, 315, 392 McClures 137 McConnell 390 McConnen 71 McConnon 158 McConville 158 McCudden 287 McDonald 54, 313, 316, 325, 334 McDougall 130 McGann 115, 140-142, 258, 274, 291, 292, 294, 296, 297, 305, 380 McGauchie 261 McGauchy 259, 261 McCaw 70 McGlashan 126 McGrath 2, 71, 95, 96, 98, 158 McGreedy 315 McGregor 36, 158 Mclllwraiths 113 McInnes 158 McIntosh 2, 70 McIntyre 118, 288, 366 McKay 185 McKearn 413 McKenna 295, 296, 364 McKenzie 23, 402, 404 McKern 278 McKirdy 408 McLaughlan 203, 206 McLaughlin 16 McLean 16, 62, 127, 166, 278, 320 McLeish 160 McLellan 202 McLindon 362 McMahon 173 McManus 244 McMeakin 272 McNamara 65 McNeice 272 McPherson 77 McRae 277 McRea 158

Livanes 10, 194 Loddon 16 Longworth 185 Lord 94 Louez 287 Love 242 Lowrie 27, 259, 261 Lucas 46 Lucca 23 Luke 130 Lynch 77 Macaughey 83 Macedone 279 Machines 157 Mackay 245, 320, 383 Mackney 175 Maclean 185, 332 MacNamara 167, 168 Macpherson 312 Madden 63, 324, 337 Maegraith 155 Maggs 245, 317 Maher 54, 152, 242, 262 Mahy 199 Mallaby 244 Mallinson & Binks 339 Manera 266 Manero 126 Mann 92 Mannigal 164 Manning 357 Manna 158 Mansell 46, 68, 269 Manser 16, 123 Marchinton 133 Marcus 364, 365 Marin 191 Marks 132, 178, 179 Marlborough Studios 320 Marquis 211 Marriott 240 Marshall 194, 249, 324 Martin 9, 16, 33, 38, 62, 127, 257, 311, 399 Matz 243 Mason 166, 272 Matchett 2, 40, 71, 136, 158 Matheson 137 Matthew 173 Matthews 315 Matthiessen 335 Maxwell 102 May 93, 202 Mayben 83 Mayberry 243, 248

425

McWhirter 329 McWilliam 26, 58, 90, 141, 143, 184, 189, 194, 196, 228, 229, 233, 246, 280, 287, 334, 356 Meakes 137 Meares 115 Meggitt 19, 351 Melling 34 Merrit 146 Merritt 163, 339 Metcalf 152, 153 Metzenthin 231, 234 Michelson 184, 185 Midwinter 288 Miles 237 Miller 16, 25, 119, 129, 211, 234, 237, 353 Mills 19, 72, 252 Millynn 265 Milne 16, 62, 132 Milthorpe 36, 68 Milton 358 Missingham 273 Mitchell 204, 313, 358, 390, 416 Moffatt 52 Moffitt 102 Moloney 410 Montecone 22 Moore 131, 165, 166, 243, 248 Morel 83, 131, 284, 339, 364, 369 Moretto 90 Morgan 28, 36, 123, 278, 348 Morley 62, 98 Morphett 158 Morris 114, 242 Morrison 132, 181, 288 Morrow 34, 359 Morsworth 44 Morton 306, 310 Moseley 279 Moses 97, 394, 395 Moss 230 Mowat 118 Mueller 335 Muffet 240 Munro 37, 103, 333, 334 Muntz 328 Munze 95 Murdock 52 Murphy 62, 270, 274, 291, 328, 396, 406 Murray 39, 101, 166, 184, 186, 233, 278, 324 Murry 291 Myers & Coombs 320

Negro 152, 266 Nelson 102 Neumann 386 Neville 38, 270 Newman 230 Newth 184, 309, 310 Neylan 46 Nichols 164 Nixon 73 Nolen 347 Noonan 167 North 62 Nowotina 331 Nugan 246 Nuns 219 O'Brien 28, 48, 54, 182, 396, 400 O'Callaghan 42 O'Connor 320, 386 O'Dea 63, 64, 119, 132, 152, 173, 181, 286, 298, 312, 366 O'Donovan 300 O'Leary 299, 305 O'Meara 16, 32, 33, 67, 153, 163, 240, 263, 296, 331, 333, 361, 364 O'Meara and Drummond 240 O'Reilly 54, 85, 219, 295, 324 Oliver 332 Osborne 54, 163, 197 Osmond 122 Osmund 16 Owen 115, 312, 313 Owens 122, 139, 141, 142, 199, 304 Oxley I, 15 Painter 334 Painting 40, 139 Palframan 51 Palings 380 Palmer 93, 159, 162, 386 Pannan 302 Pardey 333 Parker 67, 229, 239, 249 Parkes 184 Parnell 326 Parsons 362 Partridge 235 Pascoe 252 Passeau 67 Passow 67 Pastega 23 Paten 334 Paterson 166, 334 Patterson 199, 325 Pattle 158 Pauling 306, 377, 380, 417

Navin 230 Naylor 68

426

Reynolds 258 Rhead 394, 395 Rhodes 321 Rice 258 Richardson 271 Richicson 230 Ridley 273 Riley 399 Rimmer 68 Ritchie 173 Rivett 115, 331 Roach 103, 374 Robb 296 Robert 16 Roberts 121, 214, 216 Robertson 2, 44, 281 Robinson 25, 72, 278, 285, 320 Roche 295 Rochford 60, 61, 180 Rodder 62 Roffe 185 Ronaldson 272 Ronie 129 Rosato 268 Ross 42, 182, 222 Ross-Reid 65 Rossetto 91, 126 Rossi 87 Rostirolla 87 Rounce 147, 148, 192 Rowley 115, 329 Rowling 67 Rush 272, 315, 318 Rusley 130 Russell 129, 131, 291, 413 Ryan 54, 63

Payne 36 Peacock 323 Pearce 235 Pearse 77 Pearson 115, 302, 311 Peck 169 Peckett 36 Pedley 9, 16, 53, 314 Pedleys & Selkirk's 54 Peech 2, 40, 136, 345 Peeck 157, 158 Peisley 199 Penfold 141, 285, 370 Percival 151 Peters 115, 139, 178 Pether 253 Pfafflin 123, 124 Pfitzner 67, 272, 315 Philpott 230 Piesley 16 Piper 21, 194 Pisan 87 Pitt 21, 310 Piubello 31 Plant 135, 154 Plos 174 Polkinghorne 45, 411 Poscoliero 31 Powell 199 Power 101 Pratt 409 Prendergast 176 Prest 196 Price 170, 400 Prineas 284 Prior 192, 196 Pritchard 227, 319, 361, 407, 409 Proud 170, 322, 323 Proudfoot 285 Pryde 322, 323 Purden 158 Pyne 118

Sainty 55, 197, 339, 411 Salmon 58 Salter 151 Salvestro 23, 126, 268 Sampson 195, 196 Sands 278 Sangster 115, 281, 331, 341 Sara 114, 146, 160, 163, 181, 335, 405 Sattalo 91 Saunders 184 Savage 16, 61, 80, 93, 129, 130, 185, 200, 218, 270, 271, 300, 301, 311, 342 Sawyer 2 Schiavenin 22 Schneider 118 Schultz 190 Schwalbach 164 Schwatz 67 Scott 54, 345

Quilter 2, 71, 158, 325 Quong 261 Rae 16, 129, 130, 132, 191 Rafferty 226 Rand 153 Rannard 96 Ravencroft 181 Ravenscroft 147, 378, 380 Rawlings 279, 352 Reeves 197 Reidy 62, 298, 299 Reinke 402

427

Sean 68 Selkirk 9, 53, 314 Sellwood 172 Sertori 101 Sexton 319 Shamel 394 Shannon 97, 107, 381 Shaw 39 Sheed 301, 364, 367 Sheidow 281 Sherad 71 Sherlock 130 Sherrard 158 Shields 34 Shore 214 Short 311 Shower 364 Shultz 368 Sidlow 55 Siepen 192 Signor 407 Silburn 52 Simpson 133, 245, 334 Sinclair 130 Skeet 287 Skene 304, 305 Skepper 253 Skinner 118 Slattery 71, 317, 325-327, 338 Slingsby 309, 310, 392, 393, 395 Small 101 Smallwood 239 Smart 142 Smith 70, 71, 101, 117, 158, 199, 201, 347, 369, 384 Smole 91 Snaidero 246 Soccal 125 Solomon 134, 137 Soothill 324 Sosso 126 Southey 226 Southgate 186, 292, 294, 297 Southwell 392 Sparkes 46 Speer III, 114 Spratt 199 Spry 100, 144, 156, 348 St Clair 54 Stacey 44 Standing 121 Stanford 173 Stannard 320 Stark 19, 162, 293, 351 Stark and Lowe 364 Starr 197, 364

Stead 28 Steele 280 Steer 40 Stephens 184-186 Stevens 226, 317 Stevenson 331, 354, 388, 390 Stewart 146, 148, 234, 413 Stockton 316 Stokes 19 Storey 253 Stott 132 Stratton 34, 35, 296 Stuart 72 Styman 346 Sugden 34 Sullivan 184, 186 Summerhayes 245 Summers 357, 358 Sumpter 52, 68 Supple 46, 48 Sutcliffe 95 Sutherland 130 Sutton 61, 162, 236 Swalki 57 Taberner 189, 191 Talbot 249, 288 Tandy 271 Tango Joe 10, 16, 55, 127, 130, 320, 356, 359 Tapper 214, 216, 413 Taprell 127 Tan 61, 194 Tasker 343, 350 Taylor 7, 16, 22, 25, 35, 45, 49, 61, 66, 93, 116, 117, 126, 132, 145, 206, 219, 236, 309, 310, 317, 338, 361, 362, 366, 368, 373, 382, 401 Taylor Bros 125 Tebbutt 278 Telford 157 Templeman 172 Terry 318 Thatcher 28 Theodore 284 Thomas 142,352 Thompson 9, 61, 95, 119, 123, 124, 184, 337, 354, 393, 404 Thomson 16, 107 Thorburn 374 Thornburn 376 Thorne 239 Thornett 55, 341, 378 Thurlow 130 Tilden 312, 356 Tinnock 292

428

Wattley 381 Wealands 304 Weare 407 Weaver 184, 200 Webb 44, 404 Webster 240, 320 Weeding 323 Weir 142 Welch 83, 84, 113, 323 Wells 28, 54, 261, 330, 390 Welsh 378 Weniger 234 West 16, 54, 244, 286 Weston 54 Whelan 300, 343 White 332 Whiting 55, 59, 314, 410 Whittaker 32, 34, 328, 358 Whitten 343 Whybrow 92, 414 Whyte 36, 139 Wickham 130, 198 Wilcox 45 Wilder 239 Wilkes 94 Wilkinson 237 Williams 10, 61, 90, 108, 220, 319 Willis 123 Wilson 23, 42, 46, 52, 136, 158, 185, 245, 278 Wincey 105, 152 Wirth Bros 16 Withers 288 Wood 87 Woodbridge 377 Woods 27, 66, 333 Woolard 322, 324 Worland 52 Worthington 44 Wright 38, 90, 143, 405 Wrightson 178 Wynne 317

Tipping 145 Toohey 233, 272 Toscan 91 Towart 382 Towns 191 Trainer 52 Trainor 133 Tranter 242 Tregear 235 Trenerry 23, 179, 199, 287, 311, 383 Tresilian 155 Tresillian 77 Trewin 405 Trinder 115, 320 Trionfi 133 Tucktield 207 Turner 37, 57, 118, 141, 181, 182, 191, 242, 278, 304, 354, 355, 358, 387, 391 Tushey 184 Tweedie 75 Twigg 100, 234 Twyman 323 Tyndall 390 Tyree! 158 Tyrrell 287 Tyson 364 Vagg 330, 391 Vance 173 Vardanega 367, 409 Varone 44 Vaughan 80, 154, 331, 396 Veness 233 Venn 400 Verrier 230 Vigar 68 Vining 405 Vio 87 Wade 16, 64, 65, 130, 132, 146, 335, 368, 369, 399, 403 Wager 69 Wait 199 Wakeley 184 Wallace 194, 333 Walsh 325, 341 Walters 170 Walton 286 Want 398 Ware 142 Warlow-Davies 176 Waters 19, 233, 316 Watkins 10, 16, 20, 54, 85, 93, 129, 130, 152, 178, 221, 311, 312, 324, 373, 374, 375, 405 Watson 96, 100, 152, 253, 271, 346

Yeates 176 Young 42, 280 Youngman 319, 407, 409 Yule 152 Zandona 87 Zanesco 149, 367 Zerbst 279 Ziliotto 268 Zilliotto 91 Zucchi 314

429

Paullng

Athol

I red (

Osr•

'1,2s

[ur ncr

rntc Ebert

atn 0 \ir

loth th Baines arioric

Murph

• ill n tcy

1 1.4.1%h

I ricnd Maud Smith,

1) , nnic

Dir k ra% ord P3g,Maf ita‘e n,,crk tironn

Cocrt qurie Fr ic n

teller

1,11cn Itae

Jac:, Hamilton

•

7..:1 Charlie tkrov.n

Norma° 1 horn

Georges,, McLea&i.

arty aufing

Bill Irvine

George Marks

IllanIcy I ildcn

Wad., (we'

Joi,Le

Rex I hcrt

Itc,"°

Alice

angstcr

Florne Johns Pauline Dcl.c%

Griffith I

Ow

western riverina LIBRARIES

Cali No:

fi C1C1 Li- • Lt- -

Supplier:

Date:

'Jost

1111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111111111 50004149717