CLARENCE RIVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY - … · Please note that donations to Clarence River Historical...

Issue 154 ISSN 1036-5656 23rd August 2017

Office Bearers

Jottings from the House

Research Enquiries

How the Clarence River

Historical Society began

and the Men who Were

Responsible for It

Mary Tindal’s Watercolours

2

2

3

4 &

5 &

6 &

7

8

Grafton’s Brewery

The Brewery/ More Jottings

Carbide Lamps at Schaeffer House

Bill Dougherty’s Column: The Start

Of Grafton’s Sewerage System

From the President

100 Years Ago

Mary Tindal’s Watercolours

9&

10

11

12&

13

14

15

16

CONTENTS

The Newsletter of the

CLARENCE RIVER

HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Established in Grafton City in 1931

One of the Illawarra Flame Trees in Grafton

S.S. “NEW ENGLAND”

Slab Hut at Ramornie - Mary Tindal

I am sorry for those who disagree with me because I know that they are wrong.

CRHS Newsletter No 154

Patrons: Ted and Helen Johnson

Schaeffer House is open from 1.00pm to 4.00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The Research Room is open from 9.00am to 3.00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only.

Please note that donations to Clarence River Historical Society of $2 or more are tax deductible.

President: Patricia James

Vice Presidents: Ruth Heawood & Leoné Roberts,

Minute Secretary: Cheryl Barnes

Treasurer: Anne Ellem

Committee members: Cheryl Barnes, Nita Child, Suzanne Gibson, Judy Johnson, Bruce Wicks

OFFICE BEARERS

Public Officer: Bill Dougherty

Research Officer: Hazel Lawson

Recorder/Librarian: Roz Palmer

Roster Clerk: Suzanne Gibson

Newsletter: Ruth Heawood

Hon. Solicitor: Joe Fahey

JOTTINGS FROM THE HOUSE

Membership fees are due in January each year. Be sure to pay fees prior to the AGM in March if voting rights are to be retained. New members who join between 1 September and 31 December are deemed to be members up to 31 December of the following year.

Sheila McLennan has been working hard on finishing the book about the old road between Glen Innes and South Grafton. An account of the Book Launch appears later in the newsletter.

Sheila had assistance from Frank Mack, Kevin Watkins, Donny Ryder, Nita Child and Robyn Schaeffer. Congratulations, Sheila!

****************

It was wonderful to see Donny Ryder at Schaeffer House for the book Launch. What a surprise it was to see him walk into the Research Room and sit in his usual chair! He has made great progress through hard work and help from the rehabilitation team at Maclean Hospital. He now lives in a unit in Queen Street. Donny came again recently with

his Occupational Therapist, Angelique. We wish him well with his efforts at further recovery.

******************

We are so pleased that one of our long standing members, Amy White, still comes at least two Sundays a month to help welcome, and talk to, visitors. She is a fount of knowledge of the local community in which she has been an active member for many years. It is great for us to be able to listen to her reminiscences of past events. She has been an active member of the Society for a long time. She has a very positive outlook on life - an inspiration.

****************

We are happy to welcome back our member, Julie, after a very exciting trip to Alaska, The Yukon and parts of Canada. It was great to see some of the magnificent photos of that area of the world.

Also welcomed back is Suzanne from her enjoyable trip to some of the more remote parts of Australia including Birdsville.


RESEARCH ENQUIRIES

(Compiled by our Research Officer, Hazel Lawson)

Any day without laughter is a day wasted.

PERSONAL VISITS.

BILL was looking for information on Railway Ferries on the Northern Rivers. THERESA wanted information on Julian Bonfield. Born 25.4.1923 he was stationed with the AIF at South Grafton 1943-1944.

ANTONY sought the Location of Grandfather James Holmes’ grave in South Grafton Cemetery.

MARGARET wanted information on the Skedd, Smith, Barry, Eccleston and Whitby families.

JENNIFER sought information on the Rhodes Family.

ROBYN was Researching Douglas McIntyre. Also, information on the township of Newton Boyd previously known as Barney’s Hill.

JOHN needed to verify birth details of Robert Williams Simes Born at Ulmarra 3.3.1862 and Elizabeth Simes Born atUlmarra 5.5.1864.

JAYNE wanted copies of Certificates from Grafton Business College 1940-1943. Norman Rankin, Blue Goose 1930’s – 1940’s.

KIRSTEN sought information about shipwrecks near Susan Island, the Year Harwood Island barges were abandoned, harbour master’s records, mills near the river and maps of the Clarence.

BY EMAIL.

PETER asked for Information and photos of William Goodger Jnr., Mayor of Ulmarra 1880-1888. Also, death record of Agnes Goodger, wife of William Goodger Snr. Of Ulmarra.

PAMELA asked if we had access to American and U.K. Birth Death & Marriage records 1700- 1800, searching for James T. Dorrell.

RICK needed information on R.A. Harris, Masonic Lodge Ulmarra, who attended a meeting in the 3

rd hospital in

France 31.12.1917. Rick is looking to re-enact the meeting on 21.12.2017 100 years after the event.

GRAHAM sought information on Gnu. Leslie R Ebsworth, listed on Grafton Cenotaph list of WW1s veterans killed in action.

GRAHAM wanted grave numbers in old Grafton Cemetery for Charles Buckland date of death 12.1.1961.

TONY was interested in Dr. Henry’s trip to North Queensland 2.4.1903. Do we have any photos he may have brought back of the Pearl Luggers of Thursday Island?

LEWIS, a reporter. needed our

comments for a Newspaper article he is

writing in “The Timaru Herald” New

Zealand, on how local history is

presented in Local Museums comparing

Northern NSW to South Canterbury New

Zealand.

Friends are those who ask us how we are, and then wait to hear the answer.

Last year we celebrated the purchase of Schaeffer House by Grafton City Council so that the historical collection of the area would have a permanent home. When the building was purchased, the Council had to spend a great deal of money on it to restore it to its original appearance. At one time the house had been divided into flats and both the building and the grounds had been rather neglected. Recently we met a lady whose family had occupied one of the six flats, and she expressed her amazement at seeing the building in its present immaculate form.

Of course in 1967, the Clarence River Historical Society had been operating for 36 years. This article, using information from the Grafton Daily Examiner is designed to set out

HOW CLARENCE RIVER HISTORICAL

SOCIETY BEGAN

On the night of Wednesday 19th August 1931, at a meeting of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce, the President, Mr R. C. Braithwaite, read out a letter, written to the Chamber by Dr Earle Page M.H.R.

The letter read, in part: ;

“I am writing to you as president of the Chamber of Commerce to enlist your sympathy and support of the chamber in the establishment of a historical records museum in Grafton.

“The Clarence was the earliest settled of the Northern Rivers and its early history is of very great interest to all the surrounding districts. With the death of so many of our pioneers, who date back to the earliest times, there is a likelihood of much valuable historical material in the shape of diaries, scrapbooks,

aboriginal implements and weapons, and personal memories and pictures of early conditions, being irretrievably lost. Some families have maintained extremely valuable collections such as the Bawden family, but with the inevitable dispersion of members of the family, these relics will tend to be lost or destroyed.

“If a public corporation having the respect and confidence of the public could be formed and some common situation determined on where such articles would be absolutely safe, such as the Council Chambers or the High School, the nucleus of a museum would have been formed. Gifts of interesting materials might be made upon the death of pioneers.

“Mr Norman Hewitt, of the Tweed River, whose grandfather was one of the earliest settlers on the Clarence has already made a very valuable collection, and I understand that Mr Verdi Schwinghammer has also shown very great interest.

“On speaking to representative men on the other rivers, I found that they all welcomed the idea with enthusiasm.”

After reading this letter, Mr Braithwaite made the following comments.

“Dr Page has given us a starting point, in initiating the above, and if we are successful we will prepare a foundation on which the centuries to come will continue to build. Probably every member of this chamber has some old time pioneer friend to whom he may apply for early interesting records, photos of pioneers, boats, history of early shipping, captains of vessels, school teachers, police magistrates, land surveyors, road engineers, gold



What do we live for, if not to make the world less difficult for each other.

finds and miners, the first farmers, the beginning of sugar growing on the Clarence and a score of other interesting items.

“Tell our old families that they must not destroy old records that will not only become of particular value some day, but that through such records they themselves will be remembered for generations to come.

“The doctor’s letter will also open up other avenues of interest and our thanks are due to Dr Page for suggesting this important move by our chamber.”

The president added that he thought that the best step would be the establishment of a council to take charge.

Mr L. Abrahams agreed that the proposal was an excellent one and thought that the chamber should approach Grafton City Council with a view to securing their cooperation and support.

Mr W. J. E. Johnson suggested that a sub-committee of the chamber should be appointed to confer with the Grafton City Council on this question.

Mr W. Stevenson suggested that in the first place an advertisement should be published with a view to ascertaining what records etc. they would be prepared to forward and then they could go into the matter of arranging for the housing of the records etc.

Mr R.C. Law said that some mature judgement would have to be exercised in selecting the records etc. for public display and to his mind the movement would point to a small society. There was a provision, he believed, under the Companies Act by which such a non-

profit making society could be carried on. It would be necessary to have some such responsible body because people could not expect to hand over valuable records and relics to custodians who had no permanence. It would be necessary to have something solid and permanent standing behind this movement.

It was decided, on the motion of Mr W. J. E. Johnson, seconded by the president, that a sub-committee of five should be appointed and report back to the chamber after having interviewed the Grafton City Council on the question.

It was further resolved that the sub-committee should consist of Messrs R. C. Law, W. Stevenson, H. C. T. Maxted, W. A. Zuill and Joseph Reid.

The question of calling a meeting of the committee was left in the hands of Mr Law.

***************

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARIES OF

ROBERT CRAIGIE LAW.

19.8.31

I went to a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and was to be on a Sub Committee to start on a Historical Society and Museum.

3.9.31

A meeting of the Sub Committee to the Chamber of Commerce at Zuill’s office to report on the proposed Historical Museum.

11.9.31

Yesterday I saw Dowell of the Examiner Office and he gives me hope that the Company will pay us 5/- or perhaps 10 per column for such “copy” as we may

For all the advances in medicine, there is still no cure for the common birthday.


be able to use, out of the material we may be able to supply to them. Now I can see my way to finance the Society on a subscription of 5/- per year. I already have a quotation for the stationery and have my plans already laid. I am looking forward with great pleasure to the reconstruction of the early days.

13.9.31

To the office again and completed my draft Constitution of the Historical Society and the report of the Sub Committee of the Chamber of Commerce.

15.9.31

After office to Harvey Maxted, 14 Oliver Street and submitted to him a copy of the Report and Rules of the Historical Society.

16.9.31

I bought a Minute Book to make rough entries in connection with the Historical Society.

****************

On Tuesday 17th November 1931 a notice appeared in the Daily Examiner drawing attention to the holding of an important public meeting at the Town Hall on the following evening when the matter of forming a Historical Society and the establishment of a district museum will be considered. Dr Page, M.H.R. would be present and deliver an address.

*****************

On the evening of Wednesday 18th November 1931, the public meeting was held. Mr R. C Braithwaite was voted chairman but when the Mayor, W.T. Robinson arrived, he chaired the

meeting. Dr Earle Page was the main speaker who spoke about the importance of gathering and preserving information and photos for future generations. He stressed how important such information would be to future historians.

Dr Page spoke about a visit he made to the Public Library. An official he met, Mr Bertie, was a Clarence man born at Lionsville. He gained a great deal of support and encouragement from Mr Bertie who told him how fortunate Grafton was in having a man of Mr Law’s capabilities, willing to take up the important duty of cataloguing and indexing information. Mr Bertie also suggested the new society be called The Clarence Branch of the Historical Society of New England.

Mr Law then read out the draft constitution, prepared by a sub-committee at a previous meeting. After a few amendments it was adopted under Rules of the Clarence Branch of the Historical Society of New England.

The election of officers was held and the results were:

President: The Mayor of Grafton; Vice Presidents: Messrs R.C. Braithwaite and H.C.T. Maxted; Hon. Secretary: Mr R.C. Law ; Hon. Treasurer: Mr John Reid; Committee Members: Messrs V. Schwinghammer, W.A. Zuill. H.G. Robinson, W. Stevenson and H.B. Waterhouse.

***************

At a special meeting of members held on December 19th 1931 it was decided that the name of the Historical Society should be the Clarence River Historical

Society.

CRHS Newsletter No 154 PAGE 7

An optimist is one who starts a crossword puzzle using a pen.

These 4 men, together with W.Stevenson, were on the Chamber of Commerce Sub-

Committee in 1931, to arrange for the formation of an Historical Society in the Clarence.

*********************************************

Below are the photos of the first CRHS Committee formed in 1931. The photographs of

R.C. Braithwaite (Vice President), John Reid (Hon. Treasurer), W. Stevenson

(committee) and H.G. Robinson (Committee) are missing.

R.C. Law H.C.T Maxted W.A. Zuill Joseph Reid

President, Mayor W.T.

Robinson

H.C.T. Maxted

Vice President

R.C. Law, Hon.

Secretary

V.Schwinghammer,

Committee

W.A. Zuill.

Committee

H.B.Waterhouse,

Committee


Skin is like wax paper which holds everything in without dripping.

MARY TINDAL’S WATERCOLOURS

We are grateful to Louis Couvre for coming to Schaeffer House to photograph, among other items, Mary Tindal’s watercolours, which are in frames in the Drawing Room. I have used some on the front and back covers of this Newsletter.

The story of Mary Tindal was told in a previous issue of our Newsletter and I believe it is worth reproducing. My thanks to the producers at that time, Malcolm Ford/ Frank Mack/ Kevin Watkins.

Mary Tindal (1833-1916) was born on 18 October 1833 at Sandgate, Kent, England, tenth child of Commander Charles Tindal RN, governor of the Birmingham branch of the Bank of England, and Sarah, nee Grant. Mary’s brother Charles and his family had settled in the Clarence River District by 1851, and it was proposed that Mary should join them.

In 1857, Charles wrote to say "We have plenty of room for Mary. I have put up a wooden house, a temporary residence.” Tell her to bring out “a filter and three or four dozen soda water to use on the voyage, also raspberry vinegar.”

Accompanied by her second cousin, Henry Montegu Methold, they reached Sydney on 10 November 1858 in “The Light of the Age.” The following month, the Tindals moved into the newly completed stone homestead at Ramornie, the centre of Charles Tindal’s successful cattle breeding and canned meat manufacturing enterprises. Mary sketched many properties including John Shannon’s Glenreagh, Walker’s Newbold, Ogilvie’s Yulgilbar as well as Nymboida, Ramornie and Geergarrow.

About 1900 Mary returned to England and may have joined an Anglican sisterhood. She died at Parkston, Dorset, England on 9 June 1916.

Ramornie Station: South Aspect - Mary Tindal


You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.

The Grafton Brewing Company was incorporated in 1949. It was granted a licence for its Grafton Brewery in 1952 when its construction was completed. We see here an early photograph of the

brewery, situated on the northern side of North Street. Originally it was in the Copmanhurst Shire, but a relocation of the Local Government boundary, brought it within the newlay created City of Grafton.

The production of the beer commenced in November1952 and first Grafton beer was sold over the counter in Grafton pubs on 18 December in the same year.

Here are lorries ready to deliver the beer.

Grafton Brewing became a public Company (Grafton Brewing Company Ltd) in 1953 in order to make it easier to raise extra capital for expansion. At about the same time, the Sydney

Breweries were beginning to overcome the post-war shortage of beer, and a rail bulk-loading contract enabled them to send beer cheaply to Lismore, the largest centre within Grafton Brewery’s intended distribution area. Resulting competition from the Sydney Breweries, among other factors, led to the inability of the Grafton Brewery to operate profitably. Therefore, in 1961 the Company accepted a takeover offer from one of its city rivals, Toohey’s Limited.

Under the Brewery’s new owner, Grafton

Beers were phased out and replaced by Toohey’s brands in the 1960s. Production at the Grafton Brewery greatly increased by the addition of a new plant. This included an outdoor ‘tank farm’ of individually refrigerated fermentation and maturation tanks, and new canning and bottling plants, all of which were officially opened in December 1968. The canning line processed the first ’ring-pull’ beer cans sold in New South Wales. The new bottling line enabled the Brewery to fill 13 fluid ounce ‘stubbies’ in addition to the 6 fluid ounce bottles, which the existing line handled.

A review of operations at the three

GRAFTON’S BREWERY

.Bags of hops at the brewery


He was so happy. He’d just solved the parking problem. He’d bought a parked car.

Tooheys factories in New South Wales resulted in major changes to Grafton in 1987. Packaging of beer at the brewery ceased, although it continued to produce bulk (kegged) products. As a consequence, nearly 200 workers at the brewery were retrenched. Further job losses occurred at the Grafton Brewery in 1991 after Tooheys targeted 41 positions to be cut out of the remaining 157. In 1993 the Brewery received a boost with the installation of a new keg line to handle the 50 gallon kegs that

had become standard elsewhere in the industry.

By mid-1994, the Grafton Brewery employed 95 people, fewer than half of its 1987 workforce. Yet further reductions were made and a year later only 61 remained. Amid rumours of closure, the Brewery’s new Operations Manager gave assurances that “We are certainly not here to close the Brewery down”. Barely a year later, the same Operations Manager told 42 workers that they were no longer required as the Brewery would close completely on 30 May 1997. Reduction in demand for keg beer, on which Grafton Brewery concentrated, was cited as the reason for the closure.

This was the sad end of another of the once thriving industries in Grafton which employed so many local people!

There have been several displays at Schaeffer House over the past months, thanks to Nita Child and Suzanne Gibson. These included a Grafton Brewery Display, one for Anzac Day and one for the July Races.

The next display planned is one showing the Cordial Factories that supplied Grafton with soft drinks.

***************

Nita Child is working very hard in the Schaeffer House gardens in preparation for Jacaranda Festival Week, when the garden will again be entered in the Open Garden

section of the Festival. Well done, Nita!

***************

A very happy time was spent one Saturday with members of the Richmond River Historical Society from Lismore, on their visit to Schaeffer House Museum and to look at what we do in our Research Room (as seen above). Later we shared a lovely lunch provided by our members. We thank all members who helped on the day. The President of RRHS presented us with a beautiful fine china milk jug with Jacaranda Trees on it. A lovely gift which takes its place in the cabinet in the Drawing Room. We thank the RRHS members for the gift.

MORE JOTTINGS


For every person wishing to teach, there are thirty not wanting to be taught.

Below are photos of some the carbide lamps we have in our collection. A carbide lamp operates by the simple process of producing flammable acetylene gas through the combination of water and calcium carbide. The contraption has two compartments: a lower chamber that typically house ¼ cup (almost 2 ounces) of crushed carbide, and an upper chamber that holds about the same amount of water. The liquid is released - by turning a control lever positioned on top of the lamp - and allowed to drip slowly onto the crytalline substance below.

As soon as the carbide gets wet, a chemical reaction takes place releasing acetylene gas. The vaporous end-product escapes, via a tiny gas jet in the centre of the reflector pan. Finally, a wheel flint - located on one side of the metal disk - is used to provide a spark to ignite the volatile gas.

The light produced by a carbide light can be brightened simply by moving the valve to increase the amount of water

that hits the crushed carbide. More water, brighter light. However, too much water and the gas produced may blow the lamp out. When all of the carbide in a lamp has been reacted, the carbide chamber contains a wet paste of slaked lime which is emptied out so that the chamber can be refilled.

This type of lamp generally has a reflector behind the lamp to help project the light forward.

Acetylene gas lamps were used as lighthouse beams, to light buildings, for street lighting, carriage lights, headlights for cars and bicycles. Portable ones were used by railway guards, in coal mines and were, and still are, used by people exploring caves. Acetylene lamps were also used on riverboats for night navigation. The Australian National Museum has a lamp made in about 1910 that was used on board PS Enterprise a paddle steamer which has been restored to working order and is also in the National Museum’s collection.

CARBIDE LAMPS IN OUR COLLECTION

1. 2. 3. 4.

Lamp 1 is a Railway Shunter’s Lamp. Lamps 2, 3, and 4 are Lamps

for Bicycles showing some of the different designs that were available.

These and other types of lamps used in houses in early days are

presently on display at Grafton Library, but are usually on display at

Schaeffer House. 1.


———————————————————————————————————————————

As well as the grace of kind speaking, there is the grace of kind listening.

BILL’s COLUMN

One could reasonably ask the question-IS JULY GRAFTON’S FAVOURITE MONTH? Here is my answer.

1. We have a horse racing carnival that began in JULY 1841, and to-day is still considered one of Australia’s greatest racing carnivals. This year the Grafton Cup was won by the Gai Waterhouse trained “Supply and Demand”.

2. Our Christ Church Cathedral was opened and dedicated on JULY 25, 1844, and remains the headquarters of the Anglican Diocese of Grafton.

3. Grafton was declared a Municipality on JULY 19, 1859, proclaimed by the Governor-General, Sir Thomas Denison.

4. And on JULY 19, just gone by, we had a marvellous celebration of the 85 th Birthday of the Grafton Bridge. A gathering by the Clarence on a westerly windy day, and later at Shopping World, were many of the then youngsters who travelled the Bridge on opening day, shared a birthday cake of gigantic proportions. We finished it the next day at Schaeffer House. The Historical Society members were delighted to be included in the formal celebrations. Our President, Pat James, made an excellent speech referring to Opening Day, JULY 19, 1932, and to the events of that day

5. Moving on, recent decisions by the Clarence Valley Council not to proceed with the installation of sewerage services to Ulmarra and Wooli, led me to pursue the story of the installation of sewerage to Grafton. And when was it opened. Yes! You guessed it - JULY, 1934.

To-day, we perhaps too readily accept such an essential service and fail to

appreciate it. How fortunate we are to have a service that kept working through the major Floods of the 1950’s and 60’s. Those of us who experienced those Floods can only imagine the disasters that floods previous to our sewerage service would have caused with only sanitary services of back yard “dunnies”. How did our ancestors manage? - especially when one considers that in floods like the 1890, Grafton was inundated for several days. And if you remember the clean–up after “recent” floods, spare a thought for the immense task that confronted our people before sewerage.

I am not sure when agitation for sewerage began but I do remember once reading of criticism of lack of action re water and sewer by Council authorities by Bishop Jeremiah Doyle, the one and only Catholic Bishop of Grafton, 1884-1900. I think it was after the 1890 Flood. It took him those 16 years to convince Rome that Lismore should be the headquarters of the Catholic district.

I pick up this story from the Daily Examiner, March 1, 1924, in which the Editor stresses the importance of the next Council meeting when the matter of sewerage is up for discussion. He comments “ in a climate such as that of Grafton the necessity of some provision of this kind is obvious, and no doubt every resident realises that it would be a decided boon”.

Next I read where the Mayor Mr. W.T. Robinson intends to discuss the matter with the Minister of Works as he passes through Grafton May, 1926. It seems that, as usual, the matter of funding is a problem.


A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything near it freshen into smiles.

By 1931 the Daily Examiner reports that the availability of funding may have improved since the Lang Government has quadrupled the unemployment tax and will have four times as much to expend on relief works. The report continues that there is a good deal of unemployment in the district-Surprise!. I thought with the Grafton Bridge under construction at the time , unemployment would not have been a great problem. Believe what you read, Bill.

I suppose that funding for the Bridge did not directly involve Council—provided by the Railway, but sewerage did. The costs bear comparison—the Bridge just over 400,000 pounds-sewerage just over 40,000 pounds.

By late 1932 we are getting closer to a deal, but considerable debate continued as to what areas of Grafton would be sewered. Another problem arrived in the selection of workers on the project. The local Labor Agent, Mr. Cameron had the responsibility of selection of employees. Because the funding of 45,000 pounds was half grant and half loan, under the unemployment relief scheme first preference was to returned married men with the greatest number of dependents and so on down the scale. We need to remember that most of the work was “pick and shovel”-digging trenches through back yards, and across streets, and laying pipes—labour intensive.

Contractors for the installation were Chesterfield and Jenkins , whose office I seem to remember was in Victoria Street, close to Foott Law, Solicitors.

I don’t remember what happened to Chesterfield but J.T.B. Jenkins—known as “Pop” Jenkins—stayed on in Grafton and built that Timber/tiled roof home opposite St. Mary’s Church in Victoria Street, still standing. He and his family became prominent members of the Grafton community.

I can just remember the work going on at our house in Bacon Street. We did have a back yard “dunny” surrounded by fruit trees. Many people, when it came to connecting to the sewerage preferred to install the “water closet” on the back verandah.

Although the main works were completed in JULY , 1934, there was much ongoing work as the houses were connected to the scheme. In the first instance it was only the “inner” part of Grafton where the sewer became available-roughly Oliver St. to the River and Alice St. to Villiers St. Gradually the service was extended but it was not made available to Westlawn until the 1960’s.

Whilst we are quick to criticise Council, we should be more understanding of the responsibility that goes with the provision of the major health services, water, sewerage, garbage, as well as roads and a hundred and one other works.

Yes, our sewerage scheme was

opened in JULY - our favourite month.

6. Favourite with me too is JULY. My Mother, Mildred Jane Weiley, was born

– JULY 25, 1911.

W M Dougherty OAM

To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.

Newsletter No 154

The recent celebrations for the 85th Anniversary of the opening of the Grafton Bridge reminded us of the importance of keeping links with the past. We think of the planning and physical efforts involved in bringing about this important rail and road link across the Clarence River. Our personal ancestors may not have been involved physically, but, because we are part of a community, the everyday contributions of every one of us has the wonderful effect of building up and supporting the efforts of others for the benefit of all.

We thank Roads and Maritime Services and new bridge builders, Fulton Hogan. For organizing the 85th celebrations at the River bank and Shopping World.

The 85th Birthday cake was cut by Gwen Cromack and Mavis Robertson who walked across the bridge in 1932. CRHS President Pat James is also in the photo.

On the following day, July 20, the book “From Glen Innes to South Grafton” was launched at a special function and afternoon tea at Schaeffer House. The book, commenced by Marion Cooney the late Don Peck, was completed by Sheila McLennan with assistance from Frank Mack, Kevin Watkins, Robyn Schaeffer, Hazel Lawson and Nita Child. It was a huge task and Sheila is to be congratulated

The book contains many stories of those who lived along the road and we thank Sheila, and all those involved, for bringing the history of the road together and sparking our memories and our

imagination about the old road.

About fifty people were present at the launch. Our Public Officer, Bill Dougherty, who had kindly written the Foreword to the book, did the honours of launching the book and told of his memories of driving along the road with his new wife on their wedding day in his 1937 Chev with the temperature topping 100 degrees!

Sheila McLennan then spoke of her interest in finishing the book following her success with her Eatonsville book. She thanked those who had helped her, especially Kevin Watkins and Frank Mack.

Afternoon Tea was then served, many people bought copies of the book and Sheila was able to sign each of those. It was a great afternoon!

Bill with Sheila as she signs books.

Special guests Donny Ryder, Mavis Robertson and Frank Mack with Anne Ellem.

From the president

Special thanks to all our wonderful

volunteers. We are in great need of

more volunteers. Can you join us?

Newsletter No 154

100 YEARS AGO

Compiled by our Research Officer, Hazel Lawson

Extracts from the Daily Examiner of August, 1917

We turn not older with the years, but newer every day.

GRAFTON MOTOR CYCLE CLUB: The first competition to be held by the recently formed Motor Club will take the form of a Hill Climb this afternoon. A Start will be made from the club rooms (at A J Gizzard’s) at 2.30 for the hill. The event is for cycles and cars. The Club extends an invitation to all car owners and motor cyclists to witness the event.

At the last meeting of the committee of management of the Grafton Hospital they decided to install an incinerator at the Hospital to burn the waste that comes from the wards of the Hospital. This has been a long felt want. There was no provision made for destroying this garbage, the usual cause in the past being to throw it in a heap on the ground and try to burn it and it was quite unsatisfactory. Owing to the increase in number of patients causing a much larger amount of garbage the committee decided it was absolutely necessary to have the incinerator installed.

Private E J Davis Barrett’s Creek who lately returned home from France, was given a welcome home party by a large number of friends at the residence of Mr H J Llewellyn, Barrett’s Creek Friday evening, Mr Shuttleworth of Fine Flour Creek presided. During the evening Mr R R Smith of Coaldale on behalf of those present handed over to the guest a handsome photo and as a personal gift, a gold medal.

GRAFTON MACLEAN MOTOR SERVICE. It is understood that a daily motor service between Grafton

and Maclean will shortly be instituted to connect with Allingham’s Lismore-Maclean Service. This will provide a through motor service from Lismore to Taree, and a route which, it is anticipated will be much availed of.

INDUSTRIAL CRISIS. STRIKE POSITION SERIOUS. VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED. A large number of volunteers are required for services in Sydney, now is the time to come forward to help the Government. All voluntary workers who can leave this week for Sydney are requested to call at my office to obtain Certificates of Passage. P J McNamara of Coffs Harbour Chambers of Commerce.

SOUTH GRAFTON RED CROSS. Mrs J Scott, entertainment secretary of the above Society, is to be congratulated on the social and financial success of the dance arranged by her to provide funds to supply the wounded with Christmas cheer. Messrs J Fawcett and J Scott kindly took charge of the doors, the duties of M C were carried out by Messrs C Hawthorne and J Charleston. A cake donated by Mrs Calman realised Seventeen Shillings and Six pence (Mervyn Durrington holding the winning ticket). Proceeds totalled Eight Pounds Ten Shillings and Three pence.

Mr Henry Morrissey, articled clerk in the offices of McGuren & Pollack, of Grafton has passed the second section of his final Law Examination - Torts and Criminal Law.

Produced by the Clarence River Historical Society

190 Fitzroy Street (PO Box 396) GRAFTON NSW 2460 - Phone: 02 6642 5212

Email: [email protected] - Website: www.clarencehistory.org.au

The ornamental floral display

on the native Lacebark Tree S.S. “BALLINA”

S.S. “KALLATINA”

Hut at Ramornie - Mary Tindal

Newbold - Mary Tindal

CLARENCE RIVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY - … · Please note that donations to Clarence River Historical...

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Transcript of CLARENCE RIVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY - … · Please note that donations to Clarence River Historical...