1 AUGUST 2025
THURSDAY 07/08/2025
THE VILLAGE PUMP: A SOURCE OF WATER & WORDS The Village Pump lies at the heart of a community; today as your local newspaper and historically, providing water to many of our ancestral villages. Back before modern plumping made making a cup of tea an easy task, residents relied on local water sources for their daily needs, drawing from local streams, wells and making the most of rainwater tanks. As the community grew, so did its agricultural endeavours, with crops such as tomatoes, watermelons, pumpkins, cucumbers, peas and cabbages needing watering. Initially, water was laboriously drawn from streams and transported in drums or containers on horse-drawn slides. The advent
of kerosene-fuelled engines connected to pumps revolutionised irrigation, allowing for more efficient watering of crops. Fast forward to 1977, when the first edition of The Village Pump newspaper was published. The name was chosen by three students who worked on the original paper and were inspired by the early villagers who received their news while waiting at local water pumps. By late 1982, a relic, hand-operated water pump was installed by then Division One’s Councillor Brian Burke, in the place where locals gathered at John Scott Park, lending authenticity to the newspaper’s name. Before it was the after-school hang out on a Friday afternoon, the park housed the
Samford railway station and was a gathering point for farmers. Unfortunately this pump was stolen, but Neville Scells of Samford Village Pumps came to the rescue, finding a replacement pump that dated back to the 1800s. It too went missing, however the stand pipe still remains today. In 1985, water reticulation was installed in Samford Village, a game-changer for local landowners who had previously relied solely on tank supplies. Then-Councillor Brian Battersby remarked that the iconic hand pump in John Scott Park remained as a nod to the areas rich heritage. “This pump would be remembered by those early settlers before the days of modern water reticulation and its installation and preservation will help to keep the village theme of this part of Samford Valley.” From our own humble beginnings, The Village Pump newspaper continues to be a community staple, delivering local news and stories to over 5,000 letterboxes each fortnight. You can also find it in magazine stands at your favourite local businesses and coffee shops. Just like the water pumps of yesteryear, The Village Pump quelches a thirst in keeping our community wellinformed and connected. Tanya Hall & Eileen Kemp Far left: A working example of a hand operated water pump in Samford Museum grounds was donated by Mrs Gwen Finney. Left: Remnants in John Scott Park today.
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