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Alwyn Torenbeek and David Gilchrist Published a Book "Life in the Saddle"
The first chapter of the book is The Birth of Myella!
When Lyn went researching the history of the farm she discovered some real personalities and Alwyn, Gwenda and Lester have been gems. Since our first meeting Gwenda wrote the below short story and an actual BOOK that was published by Penguin. Both Lyn and Peter are mentioned in the book Life in the Saddle written by Alwyn Torenbeek and David Gilchrist. |
Alwyn Torenbeek and his Family Were the First Farmers of Myella
This story was written by Gwenda Cave (nee Torenbeek) who grew up at Myella.
I was just six years old when we arrived at the site where this house stands. There was thick scrub surrounding a small clearing, in which the timber was stacked, waiting for Bill and Bert to start rebuilding the house.
We had a small shed, as a kitchen, and tents to sleep in. the dingoes use to come in very close and howl nearly all night every night. They were probably after Gracie, the goat we had acquired from somewhere, for our milk supply. But they didn’t get her, the men saw to that.
The men got to work immediately on the house – they worked from daylight to dark and in 14 days it was ready to live in, but not lined until some years later.
The next step was to clear the scrub back further from the house. We became aware of large brown snakes into the area and they became a constant danger for years. Two or three ever day in summer was not unusual and they were very aggressive. Our dog Nigger helped our mother keep them at bay.
Mum and Nigger killed all that came near the house. There were also a large number of goannas, and every now and they there was great excitement when Nigger put one up a tree. There were hundreds of wallabies here too, and lots of scrub turkeys. Bert was a good shot and if meat was in short supply, which it often was, he would bet a turkey to tide us over. He used to set snares in the scrub to catch the wallabies. When Daphne and I realised what he was doing we used to go along later and pull the snares. So, it would seem that Daphne and I were part of the first movement for the environment.
For a number of years all of our bread was baked by our mother and the butter made in a churn. I remember people enjoying this homemade bread and butter when they came.
The goods train came out from Rockhampton three times a week, bringing mail and grocery orders from Thomas Brown and New Zealand Loan. I can remember unpacking the orders and seeing big tins of prunes and other tinned fruits and vegetables. As the roads improved and the car tyres improved to, our grocery orders mainly came from Mr Les Major in Baralaba. A bread delivery from Baralaba three times a week came as a relief for Mum. But she would still bake bread any time she wanted to. She made big fruit cakes too and iced them beautifully. For our birthdays she always made a special birthday cake and we looked forward to it for months.
Our entertainments were simple – Dad and Dave and martin’s Corner on the radio, visits to our friends occasionally and visits from them at other times. When the CWA began in Kokotungo, a dance hall was built, and the dances held there were very enjoyable. Sometimes there was a orchestra from Rockhampton, but we often made do very nicely with Reg Hutchinson playing his piano accordion. There were two or three weddings conducted there, one of them was when Uncle Bert married Cath Connolly when he came back from the war.
Before the hall was built, all the meetings, dances, church services and immunisations clinics were held at Mr and Mrs Fred Peggs place, which was just across the road from where the dance hall was. The “bush Brothers” were the only religious contact we had. They used to come every couple of months, and we looked forward to their services very much, and they were sometimes accommodated in the Torenbeek home.
I was just six years old when we arrived at the site where this house stands. There was thick scrub surrounding a small clearing, in which the timber was stacked, waiting for Bill and Bert to start rebuilding the house.
We had a small shed, as a kitchen, and tents to sleep in. the dingoes use to come in very close and howl nearly all night every night. They were probably after Gracie, the goat we had acquired from somewhere, for our milk supply. But they didn’t get her, the men saw to that.
The men got to work immediately on the house – they worked from daylight to dark and in 14 days it was ready to live in, but not lined until some years later.
The next step was to clear the scrub back further from the house. We became aware of large brown snakes into the area and they became a constant danger for years. Two or three ever day in summer was not unusual and they were very aggressive. Our dog Nigger helped our mother keep them at bay.
Mum and Nigger killed all that came near the house. There were also a large number of goannas, and every now and they there was great excitement when Nigger put one up a tree. There were hundreds of wallabies here too, and lots of scrub turkeys. Bert was a good shot and if meat was in short supply, which it often was, he would bet a turkey to tide us over. He used to set snares in the scrub to catch the wallabies. When Daphne and I realised what he was doing we used to go along later and pull the snares. So, it would seem that Daphne and I were part of the first movement for the environment.
For a number of years all of our bread was baked by our mother and the butter made in a churn. I remember people enjoying this homemade bread and butter when they came.
The goods train came out from Rockhampton three times a week, bringing mail and grocery orders from Thomas Brown and New Zealand Loan. I can remember unpacking the orders and seeing big tins of prunes and other tinned fruits and vegetables. As the roads improved and the car tyres improved to, our grocery orders mainly came from Mr Les Major in Baralaba. A bread delivery from Baralaba three times a week came as a relief for Mum. But she would still bake bread any time she wanted to. She made big fruit cakes too and iced them beautifully. For our birthdays she always made a special birthday cake and we looked forward to it for months.
Our entertainments were simple – Dad and Dave and martin’s Corner on the radio, visits to our friends occasionally and visits from them at other times. When the CWA began in Kokotungo, a dance hall was built, and the dances held there were very enjoyable. Sometimes there was a orchestra from Rockhampton, but we often made do very nicely with Reg Hutchinson playing his piano accordion. There were two or three weddings conducted there, one of them was when Uncle Bert married Cath Connolly when he came back from the war.
Before the hall was built, all the meetings, dances, church services and immunisations clinics were held at Mr and Mrs Fred Peggs place, which was just across the road from where the dance hall was. The “bush Brothers” were the only religious contact we had. They used to come every couple of months, and we looked forward to their services very much, and they were sometimes accommodated in the Torenbeek home.
Alwyn Torenbeek with David Gilchrist Published a Book
"Life in the Saddle"
This book was written by Alwyn Torenbeek) who was Gwenda's brother and also grew up at Myella
The amazing life story of bush legend Alwyn Torenbeek: rodeo champion, stockman and endurance rider.
'It doesn't matter if there are four thousand people watching or just four – you're a horseman, roughrider, entertainer. At that moment, rodeo has you bitten and it doesn't let you go. You just want another ride. I remember them all and how it all started.'
Alywn Torenbeek's – the Kokotunga Kid – left his outback hometown at fourteen, looking for adventure. He took with him a bushman's spirit, an uncanny natural ability for horseriding and a determination to succeed. By the time he was 21, he was a national and international rodeo champion.
When fate put an end to his roughriding career, Alwyn went on to be a stockman, drover and station manager. A devoted family man, he was encouraged to take up endurance riding by his great friend, the legendary R.M. Williams, and is still competing more than four decades later.
A riveting tale of adventure, romance, tradegy and mateship. Alwyn's story is also a tribute to the outback and the characters who make it special. From Winton to Wanganui, this is the ride of a lifetime.
The amazing life story of bush legend Alwyn Torenbeek: rodeo champion, stockman and endurance rider.
'It doesn't matter if there are four thousand people watching or just four – you're a horseman, roughrider, entertainer. At that moment, rodeo has you bitten and it doesn't let you go. You just want another ride. I remember them all and how it all started.'
Alywn Torenbeek's – the Kokotunga Kid – left his outback hometown at fourteen, looking for adventure. He took with him a bushman's spirit, an uncanny natural ability for horseriding and a determination to succeed. By the time he was 21, he was a national and international rodeo champion.
When fate put an end to his roughriding career, Alwyn went on to be a stockman, drover and station manager. A devoted family man, he was encouraged to take up endurance riding by his great friend, the legendary R.M. Williams, and is still competing more than four decades later.
A riveting tale of adventure, romance, tradegy and mateship. Alwyn's story is also a tribute to the outback and the characters who make it special. From Winton to Wanganui, this is the ride of a lifetime.
The Eather Family Name
The name Eather first appeared in Australia 1790. A man called Thomas Heather was sent to Australia as a convict. The name changed from Heather to Eather gradually. A variety of spelling errors appeared in the records of baptisms, marriages and death certificates; but there was a low level of literacy. Thomas Heather’s name was first printed as Thomas Eather when he received his first land grant. Heather was spelt when he applied for his second land grant and Thomas Either was written on his will. Soon after 1827 the name was frequently spelt 'Ether' or 'Eather'.
Olive Eather (nee Oram)
Olive and Peter were asked by their granddaughter for a school project to describe what life was like for them when they were nine years old - I thought it was wonderful and kept it.
I started school with a governess. I rode my horse to school with two of my sisters and one of my brothers. During the day we left our horses on what is now the school sports oval. I liked riding to school because if there was a storm we use to get sent home earlier than the other kids.
We had a big long desk and a bench seat to sit on. There were no biros we had ink pens and I had a slate for the first year or two but I was probably was using paper when I was nine. I remember learning about cooking for six weeks; the classes were in a railway carriage.
I had closed in shoes they were called sand shoes in those days. We didn’t have a canteen, I remember when I was five years old the ants got into my sandwiches and my teacher gave me some money to go and buy some food from the local cafe. The cafe ladies name was Mrs Richie.
We didn’t have a uniform; they were introduced in my last couple of years of school. I finished school when I was 13 years old. The uniform was blue and it was a pinafore which is like a dress with a blouse underneath.
At my home we had a shower but it was outside and there was only cold water. So we only had showers in summer time. We had to have a bath if we wanted hot water.
We use to wash our cloths in a copper which was a tub of water with a fire under it.
Our toilet had a wooden seat with a tin under it. After we used the toilet we had to empty the tin down the paddock.
There was no electricity and we used lights and a fridge powered by kerosene. We killed our own cattle for meat we never had sausages and we only had steak for 2 days the rest of the meat was kept in a big tub of brine. Brine is a special mix of water and salt used to preserve meat.
We also had carbine light that use to make noises and we were frightened of it. My Granddad use to tell us that it was going to blow up.
I started school with a governess. I rode my horse to school with two of my sisters and one of my brothers. During the day we left our horses on what is now the school sports oval. I liked riding to school because if there was a storm we use to get sent home earlier than the other kids.
We had a big long desk and a bench seat to sit on. There were no biros we had ink pens and I had a slate for the first year or two but I was probably was using paper when I was nine. I remember learning about cooking for six weeks; the classes were in a railway carriage.
I had closed in shoes they were called sand shoes in those days. We didn’t have a canteen, I remember when I was five years old the ants got into my sandwiches and my teacher gave me some money to go and buy some food from the local cafe. The cafe ladies name was Mrs Richie.
We didn’t have a uniform; they were introduced in my last couple of years of school. I finished school when I was 13 years old. The uniform was blue and it was a pinafore which is like a dress with a blouse underneath.
At my home we had a shower but it was outside and there was only cold water. So we only had showers in summer time. We had to have a bath if we wanted hot water.
We use to wash our cloths in a copper which was a tub of water with a fire under it.
Our toilet had a wooden seat with a tin under it. After we used the toilet we had to empty the tin down the paddock.
There was no electricity and we used lights and a fridge powered by kerosene. We killed our own cattle for meat we never had sausages and we only had steak for 2 days the rest of the meat was kept in a big tub of brine. Brine is a special mix of water and salt used to preserve meat.
We also had carbine light that use to make noises and we were frightened of it. My Granddad use to tell us that it was going to blow up.
Olive's Ancestors
Olive’s Great Grand parents Joseph and Elizabeth Oram married on 14th June 1865 in London and travelled to Australia on the “Bays Water” three months later. Joseph worked for his passage as a baker on the ship and paid for his wife’s ticket.
They started a family in Central Queensland Joseph bought and worked a butcher shop in Blackwater (2hrs west of Myella). Joseph’s son Louis had 12 children. Louis and his son Lewis (Olive’s father) bought a property at Baralaba for 90 pounds in August 1930. This farm was is still in the family until 2010. It was given to Olive’s brother Bill. Out of the 8 children 7 of them have been cattle farmers at one stage. Currently 4 of them are still farmers. Olive is the forth child on the horse. She had to ride her horse 6.5 miles to school for a few years until there was a school bus.
They started a family in Central Queensland Joseph bought and worked a butcher shop in Blackwater (2hrs west of Myella). Joseph’s son Louis had 12 children. Louis and his son Lewis (Olive’s father) bought a property at Baralaba for 90 pounds in August 1930. This farm was is still in the family until 2010. It was given to Olive’s brother Bill. Out of the 8 children 7 of them have been cattle farmers at one stage. Currently 4 of them are still farmers. Olive is the forth child on the horse. She had to ride her horse 6.5 miles to school for a few years until there was a school bus.
Olive's Parents
Olive’s Mother = CECILIA ORAM (nee Schofield)
When I arrived in Baralaba on the 21st August, 1921 by train about midnight, with my parents, four brother and three sisters we were surprised to see the town as it was, just scrub everywhere. We had to follow wallaby pads to get anywhere. There was a butcher shop, Grocer Store and Andrew Clark’s shop was partly built.
There were bag humpies everywhere. The humpies were built of round bush timber, corrugated iron roofs. Bags outside and partions. The bags outside were whitewashed with a mixture of lime and prickly pear juice made by boiling the pear, and to make it whiter a knob of blue was added.
There was no rain-water tank for a while we had to cart the water in two kerosene tins on a little cart the water in two kerosene tins on a little cart. The town tap was near the railway fence and when we shifted further up the line we carted it from Mrs, Davey’s and later on from Mrs Danny O’Keefe.
My father worked it eh State mine until about 1924 when he was unable to any longer, owing to his contracting miner’s phythisis.
As the mines developed more families came and more humpies and shops were built. Each miner would help the other to build their humpies. It was a community affair, everybody was friendly.
Our parents would take us down to the old crossing to swim and paddle while the family washing was done. There were the Neilsons, Bradfords, Clarks, Brysons and Schofields. Each family had their own clothes lines. It was a height to see all the washing hanging among the trees at the river.
A tent was the only school when I was a pupil. If a boy or a girl pimped to the teacher on another pupil they would be punished by being taken to the town tap and your head was held under the tap and the water turned on.
You soon learnt not to pimp any more. I will never forget our breaking-up day with our great feast, novelty races such as three-legged, sack, egg and spoon, wheelbarrow, needle and thread, obstacle and the presentation of book prizes, our fancy dress ball at night. The old part of the present school was brought from Mount Chalmers about 1924.
The town and school grew until the Big Flood in 1928, when the State mine was flooded. This meant the end of the town until the middle of 1930 when the Lands Department opened up more land for ballots. This bought new settlers to the district and the P.E.I employed a lot of married man to work on the roads. This was no easy task as it was all pick and shovel, dray and horses. This was the re-development of the town and district.
In t1930 Mr and Mrs Alex Edminstone came to be in charge of the Post Office and it was during their stay as postmaster that the Post Office was shifted to its present site in 1931. Mrs Edminstone was a tailoress and dressmaker. I worked for Mrs Edminstone and helped her with little jobs with her sewing.
Dairying and cotton-growing were the main income until 1940 when dairying stopped. The farmers turned to breeding beef cattle and grain growing and the town flourished until 1969 when the mine was closed once again.
Olive’s Father = LEWIS ORAM (Digger)
We arrived in Baralaba in august, 1930 from Duaranga to take up residence on my property at Kalewa. 6½ miles from Baralaba. Dad drove the buckboard and two horses loaded with our goodly possessions and I rode on horseback driving two horses.
We crossed the river at the old crossing one afternoon and there were people everywhere in the river and sitting on the banks. As we went through the water we were given a great welcome by the children as they waved and coo-eed. Dairying and cotton growing were our main income .
We bought dairy cows from Mr Holland of Gogango for 3.1.0 pounds and drove them back. We had trouble when we came to Kokotungo where the prickly pear was so thick that we had trouble driving the cows, as one of us had to go ahead to make way for them.
We had many ups and downs, with low prices for our butterfat and droughts, also the property was heavily infected with prickly pear but the cactoblastis soon took over and the prickly pear disappeared.
Later in the year I met Cecilia Schofield and on the 6thAugust, 1931 we were married in Baralaba in Pegg’s hall (named after the owner Mr Pegg), by the Roman Catholic Priest, Father Rooney, P.P.
We have lived on the property and reared a family of 8 children, all married, until August, 1976, when we decided to retire and live in our new home in Stopford Street Baralaba.
When I arrived in Baralaba on the 21st August, 1921 by train about midnight, with my parents, four brother and three sisters we were surprised to see the town as it was, just scrub everywhere. We had to follow wallaby pads to get anywhere. There was a butcher shop, Grocer Store and Andrew Clark’s shop was partly built.
There were bag humpies everywhere. The humpies were built of round bush timber, corrugated iron roofs. Bags outside and partions. The bags outside were whitewashed with a mixture of lime and prickly pear juice made by boiling the pear, and to make it whiter a knob of blue was added.
There was no rain-water tank for a while we had to cart the water in two kerosene tins on a little cart the water in two kerosene tins on a little cart. The town tap was near the railway fence and when we shifted further up the line we carted it from Mrs, Davey’s and later on from Mrs Danny O’Keefe.
My father worked it eh State mine until about 1924 when he was unable to any longer, owing to his contracting miner’s phythisis.
As the mines developed more families came and more humpies and shops were built. Each miner would help the other to build their humpies. It was a community affair, everybody was friendly.
Our parents would take us down to the old crossing to swim and paddle while the family washing was done. There were the Neilsons, Bradfords, Clarks, Brysons and Schofields. Each family had their own clothes lines. It was a height to see all the washing hanging among the trees at the river.
A tent was the only school when I was a pupil. If a boy or a girl pimped to the teacher on another pupil they would be punished by being taken to the town tap and your head was held under the tap and the water turned on.
You soon learnt not to pimp any more. I will never forget our breaking-up day with our great feast, novelty races such as three-legged, sack, egg and spoon, wheelbarrow, needle and thread, obstacle and the presentation of book prizes, our fancy dress ball at night. The old part of the present school was brought from Mount Chalmers about 1924.
The town and school grew until the Big Flood in 1928, when the State mine was flooded. This meant the end of the town until the middle of 1930 when the Lands Department opened up more land for ballots. This bought new settlers to the district and the P.E.I employed a lot of married man to work on the roads. This was no easy task as it was all pick and shovel, dray and horses. This was the re-development of the town and district.
In t1930 Mr and Mrs Alex Edminstone came to be in charge of the Post Office and it was during their stay as postmaster that the Post Office was shifted to its present site in 1931. Mrs Edminstone was a tailoress and dressmaker. I worked for Mrs Edminstone and helped her with little jobs with her sewing.
Dairying and cotton-growing were the main income until 1940 when dairying stopped. The farmers turned to breeding beef cattle and grain growing and the town flourished until 1969 when the mine was closed once again.
Olive’s Father = LEWIS ORAM (Digger)
We arrived in Baralaba in august, 1930 from Duaranga to take up residence on my property at Kalewa. 6½ miles from Baralaba. Dad drove the buckboard and two horses loaded with our goodly possessions and I rode on horseback driving two horses.
We crossed the river at the old crossing one afternoon and there were people everywhere in the river and sitting on the banks. As we went through the water we were given a great welcome by the children as they waved and coo-eed. Dairying and cotton growing were our main income .
We bought dairy cows from Mr Holland of Gogango for 3.1.0 pounds and drove them back. We had trouble when we came to Kokotungo where the prickly pear was so thick that we had trouble driving the cows, as one of us had to go ahead to make way for them.
We had many ups and downs, with low prices for our butterfat and droughts, also the property was heavily infected with prickly pear but the cactoblastis soon took over and the prickly pear disappeared.
Later in the year I met Cecilia Schofield and on the 6thAugust, 1931 we were married in Baralaba in Pegg’s hall (named after the owner Mr Pegg), by the Roman Catholic Priest, Father Rooney, P.P.
We have lived on the property and reared a family of 8 children, all married, until August, 1976, when we decided to retire and live in our new home in Stopford Street Baralaba.
Peter Eather
Peter wrote this story for his granddaughter about his life as a nine year old.
When I was nine years old the year was 1942. Our school had just one teacher and there were nine children, 5 of us were from the same family. I rode 6 km to school sitting behind my sister on a horse. The horse stood in a small paddock until school finished then we caught them again to go home.
As we rode to school we talked about what we thought it would be like when the Japanese army took over Australia and we would wonder if we would be allowed to go to school or sent to prison camps. We had seen new Australian money made by the Japanese that our neighbour had brought home from New Guinea.
That year we had to dig an air raid shelter in the school grounds. I was in Sydney to have my eyes tested and was on the Manly Ferry in the Sydney Harbour; a week later the Japanese submarines were in that same Harbour.
In this year we could write on paper with a pen that dipped in an ink well on the desk. Before that we had used a slate with chalk. A slate is a stone like a tile. Our toilets were long drops (a big pit and a toilet on top). We had a bath (the last one in had the most water). The water was heated by a chip heater. The water came from a well and a windmill.
The clothes I wore were old and already used by my brothers because of rationing. My mother did the washing on Monday. The clothes were put in a boiler and boiled with soap then rinsed in a tub and onto the clothes line.
Peter Eather was born 29 January 1933 in Singleton, NSW. Peter was the fourth of five children of Grace and Ivo Eather. The family grew up on a wheat/sheep farm in an isolated area and Peter attended a one-teacher school. Ivo was injured in France during WW1, at the Villers Bretonneeux on the Somme, 100 km North of Paris. As a result of his injuries, he spent years in hospital, then finally returned to his family at Bulga where his brothers were running farms. He married Grace Pankhurst in 1926 and they reared 5 children on a farm called Harparary in NSW. Ivo and his brother Arthur married sisters.
After leaving school Peter and his brothers joined a partnership and ran the property. In 1954 the brothers were looking for more land. They travelled North 1000 km and bought a property 16 km from Myella. Peter and brother Don worked the new farm in Queensland, while brother Dick and Harry continued to run the wheat/sheep farm in New South Wales.
Eventually the Eather brothers bought a farm for each other, then they ended their partnership.
In 1964 Peter married Olive (nee Oram), a farmer’s daughter from Baralaba. Olive was born 9 August 1943 in the Baralaba hospital. She was the sixth of eight children of Digger and Cecilia Oram. Olive worked on her family’s cattle property 10 km from Myella.
THIS IS A NEWS PAPER ARTICLE ABOUT PETER’S FIRST SCHOOL
The one teacher school called Glenpatrick School in NSW was the first school Peter Eather attended.
The top picture (picture to come) was reproduced in the North West and Hunter Valley Magazine during 1979 and stirred a few memories. Since it has great relevance to the Boggabri district, it is being given another run with a few irrelevant details thrown in which did not come to light two years ago. The picture was taken in the winter of 1943 by a photographer unknown. Those pictured were the complete school rollcall at Glenpatrick some 40km from Boggabri.
Back row, left to right: An unnamed religious instructor (who was he can a reader enlighten us?) Ross Dobden of Thornfield; David Austin of Therribri; Kitty Eather of Harparary; Tommy McNamara; Des Hobden; and school master Trevor James who, we recall was a yoga fanatic even in those days. Where are you now Trevor?
Front row: Peter Eather, Pat Smith, Verna Giles. Of Therribri; Ronnie McNamara; Harry Eather and Wanda Lance.
Trevor James was succeeded the following year in Term III by a dragon in the elderly Mrs Colan notable for here pronunciation of the word “column” as “col-yum” and for her unbridled praise of her nephew war correspondent Joel Brennan. She lasted a term an then the notable Len Hindmarsh (all 6ft 7in of him) took over for some years. Ronnie and Tommy McNamara? They were memorable for the fact that every day for their time at Glenpatrick they brought egg sandwiches for lunch. They were successful for a few days swapping sandwiches with new chums, but for obvious reasons, the dodge didn’t work long.
PETER'S FAMILY FARM
The first Eather came to NSW in 1790 and Peter is a 7th generation descendent. Peter’s eldest Brother Richard (Dick) lived most of his 80 years at Baan Baa on the portion of land which was first settled by Eathers in 1840. The block has been in Eather possession since 1910. They have raised sheep and cattle and farmed, growing lucerne for hay, wheat, sorghum and other crops. Peter moved from this farm to Queensland when he was 21 years old.
A POEM FOR PETER'S 70th BRITHDAY
He was born in the thirties to Ivo and Grace
Who raised 5 children on their small place
Ivo was quiet; he had served in the war
Grace was a character and loved my all
The kids spent days out the back in the creek
Or at the one teacher school on days of the week
Peter spoke with a stammer he now understands
Was coz he was forced to use his right hand
Now Peter owned shoes, but only one pair
To damage the leather he would really despair
On mornings when the grass was wet with frost
He travelled bare foot so his shoes were not lost!
Technology came his family were buyers
First in the district to have rubber tyres
Young Pete wondered, how soft they would be
Put his foot under a wheel and find out did he!
Now Peter’s a crack shot, he can shoot with one eye
One-day brother Harry threw a coin in the sky
Good with the gun, he hit the coin-in-one-go
2 coins with two bullets, that day, what a show!
Four brothers were partners and wanted more land
Found a new farm in Queensland
But farming was different in the new state
The dingoes were thankful as sheep tasted great!
Young Olive was local and to dances she went
She won every prize and not a penny she spent
They went to the pictures on their first date
He drove to the entrance but there was a gate
Now Peter is practical and had seen that she could
Open a gate, and he thought that she would
But Olive sat waiting, a lady she’d be
Who opened the gate, I’ll tell, it was she!
But a good family man and father of three
Gave his young son a car like a rally
Barb was the next, the TV they’d fight
Remote control was the prize ‘most every night
Or
Barb was the next and could twist our dads arm
Was cheeky and bold but had special charm
And I was so proud of my Dad he was cool
Could pop out his eye for my mates at school
Now that I’m older he’s still in my life
Still teaching me things, like tips how to drive
As well as the cattle he harvested wheat
He provided the family, with food to eat
Ken join the business, the machinery grew
New South each summer, for a month or two
Now, tourists from Europe visit each day
His knowledge, an asset to the farm stay
He teaches the whips and the stars and the bikes
Farming without subsidies is the topic he likes
Peter loves science and things that are new
To keep his mind open is always his view
The wonders of medicine has kept my Dad well
Just look at his body and you’ll surly tell
With his eye and his teeth and glasses and ears
And his heart and his knee all have new gear
Dad’s SEVENTY now, but I sometimes wonder
If technology isn’t making him younger!
So raise up your glasses and toast to my Dad
Who’s happy and healthy and a good life he’s had
When I was nine years old the year was 1942. Our school had just one teacher and there were nine children, 5 of us were from the same family. I rode 6 km to school sitting behind my sister on a horse. The horse stood in a small paddock until school finished then we caught them again to go home.
As we rode to school we talked about what we thought it would be like when the Japanese army took over Australia and we would wonder if we would be allowed to go to school or sent to prison camps. We had seen new Australian money made by the Japanese that our neighbour had brought home from New Guinea.
That year we had to dig an air raid shelter in the school grounds. I was in Sydney to have my eyes tested and was on the Manly Ferry in the Sydney Harbour; a week later the Japanese submarines were in that same Harbour.
In this year we could write on paper with a pen that dipped in an ink well on the desk. Before that we had used a slate with chalk. A slate is a stone like a tile. Our toilets were long drops (a big pit and a toilet on top). We had a bath (the last one in had the most water). The water was heated by a chip heater. The water came from a well and a windmill.
The clothes I wore were old and already used by my brothers because of rationing. My mother did the washing on Monday. The clothes were put in a boiler and boiled with soap then rinsed in a tub and onto the clothes line.
Peter Eather was born 29 January 1933 in Singleton, NSW. Peter was the fourth of five children of Grace and Ivo Eather. The family grew up on a wheat/sheep farm in an isolated area and Peter attended a one-teacher school. Ivo was injured in France during WW1, at the Villers Bretonneeux on the Somme, 100 km North of Paris. As a result of his injuries, he spent years in hospital, then finally returned to his family at Bulga where his brothers were running farms. He married Grace Pankhurst in 1926 and they reared 5 children on a farm called Harparary in NSW. Ivo and his brother Arthur married sisters.
After leaving school Peter and his brothers joined a partnership and ran the property. In 1954 the brothers were looking for more land. They travelled North 1000 km and bought a property 16 km from Myella. Peter and brother Don worked the new farm in Queensland, while brother Dick and Harry continued to run the wheat/sheep farm in New South Wales.
Eventually the Eather brothers bought a farm for each other, then they ended their partnership.
In 1964 Peter married Olive (nee Oram), a farmer’s daughter from Baralaba. Olive was born 9 August 1943 in the Baralaba hospital. She was the sixth of eight children of Digger and Cecilia Oram. Olive worked on her family’s cattle property 10 km from Myella.
THIS IS A NEWS PAPER ARTICLE ABOUT PETER’S FIRST SCHOOL
The one teacher school called Glenpatrick School in NSW was the first school Peter Eather attended.
The top picture (picture to come) was reproduced in the North West and Hunter Valley Magazine during 1979 and stirred a few memories. Since it has great relevance to the Boggabri district, it is being given another run with a few irrelevant details thrown in which did not come to light two years ago. The picture was taken in the winter of 1943 by a photographer unknown. Those pictured were the complete school rollcall at Glenpatrick some 40km from Boggabri.
Back row, left to right: An unnamed religious instructor (who was he can a reader enlighten us?) Ross Dobden of Thornfield; David Austin of Therribri; Kitty Eather of Harparary; Tommy McNamara; Des Hobden; and school master Trevor James who, we recall was a yoga fanatic even in those days. Where are you now Trevor?
Front row: Peter Eather, Pat Smith, Verna Giles. Of Therribri; Ronnie McNamara; Harry Eather and Wanda Lance.
Trevor James was succeeded the following year in Term III by a dragon in the elderly Mrs Colan notable for here pronunciation of the word “column” as “col-yum” and for her unbridled praise of her nephew war correspondent Joel Brennan. She lasted a term an then the notable Len Hindmarsh (all 6ft 7in of him) took over for some years. Ronnie and Tommy McNamara? They were memorable for the fact that every day for their time at Glenpatrick they brought egg sandwiches for lunch. They were successful for a few days swapping sandwiches with new chums, but for obvious reasons, the dodge didn’t work long.
PETER'S FAMILY FARM
The first Eather came to NSW in 1790 and Peter is a 7th generation descendent. Peter’s eldest Brother Richard (Dick) lived most of his 80 years at Baan Baa on the portion of land which was first settled by Eathers in 1840. The block has been in Eather possession since 1910. They have raised sheep and cattle and farmed, growing lucerne for hay, wheat, sorghum and other crops. Peter moved from this farm to Queensland when he was 21 years old.
A POEM FOR PETER'S 70th BRITHDAY
He was born in the thirties to Ivo and Grace
Who raised 5 children on their small place
Ivo was quiet; he had served in the war
Grace was a character and loved my all
The kids spent days out the back in the creek
Or at the one teacher school on days of the week
Peter spoke with a stammer he now understands
Was coz he was forced to use his right hand
Now Peter owned shoes, but only one pair
To damage the leather he would really despair
On mornings when the grass was wet with frost
He travelled bare foot so his shoes were not lost!
Technology came his family were buyers
First in the district to have rubber tyres
Young Pete wondered, how soft they would be
Put his foot under a wheel and find out did he!
Now Peter’s a crack shot, he can shoot with one eye
One-day brother Harry threw a coin in the sky
Good with the gun, he hit the coin-in-one-go
2 coins with two bullets, that day, what a show!
Four brothers were partners and wanted more land
Found a new farm in Queensland
But farming was different in the new state
The dingoes were thankful as sheep tasted great!
Young Olive was local and to dances she went
She won every prize and not a penny she spent
They went to the pictures on their first date
He drove to the entrance but there was a gate
Now Peter is practical and had seen that she could
Open a gate, and he thought that she would
But Olive sat waiting, a lady she’d be
Who opened the gate, I’ll tell, it was she!
But a good family man and father of three
Gave his young son a car like a rally
Barb was the next, the TV they’d fight
Remote control was the prize ‘most every night
Or
Barb was the next and could twist our dads arm
Was cheeky and bold but had special charm
And I was so proud of my Dad he was cool
Could pop out his eye for my mates at school
Now that I’m older he’s still in my life
Still teaching me things, like tips how to drive
As well as the cattle he harvested wheat
He provided the family, with food to eat
Ken join the business, the machinery grew
New South each summer, for a month or two
Now, tourists from Europe visit each day
His knowledge, an asset to the farm stay
He teaches the whips and the stars and the bikes
Farming without subsidies is the topic he likes
Peter loves science and things that are new
To keep his mind open is always his view
The wonders of medicine has kept my Dad well
Just look at his body and you’ll surly tell
With his eye and his teeth and glasses and ears
And his heart and his knee all have new gear
Dad’s SEVENTY now, but I sometimes wonder
If technology isn’t making him younger!
So raise up your glasses and toast to my Dad
Who’s happy and healthy and a good life he’s had
Our Convict Ancestors
Our ancestors Robert Heather (1710-1780) and his wife, Elizabeth were living in Bexley in Kent England when their youngest son Thomas Heather (1764-1827) was born. Thomas had no formal schooling and went through life unable to sign his own name. At the age of 23 years Thomas Heather was working as a labourer at Chislehurst when he was arrested and charged for robbery. Found guilty, he was sentenced to death, but this was commuted to a 14yr sentence. After a year in prison Thomas was moved to the hulks and on 19 January 1790 he sailed from England with the second fleet on the "Neptune". The ship arrived at Sydney Cove on 28 June 1790.
The conditions under which the Second Fleet sailed were different from those of the First Fleet. Of the 520 convicts that embarked the Neptune 31% died. Merchants were contracted per convict, the more deaths amongst the convicts en route, meant more surplus food left for
sale at the ports visited.
The following year Elizabeth Lee (1773-1860), an 18 year old Lancashire lass arrived on the "Mary Ann". She had worked in England as either a domestic servant or a shop assistant and pleaded guilty for stealing from her employer a grey cloak valued at six pence. Elizabeth was sentenced to "be sent and transported to some part beyond the seas for a space of 7 years".
The ship, 'Mary Ann' left England on 16 February 1791 and arrived at Port Jackson 9 July 1791. It was the fastest voyage out by a convict ship up to that date, only 9 convicts dying on the way.
Thomas and Elizabeth Heather married within a few months of her arrival in the colony and they had 8 children. Land was granted to Thomas on 1 June 1797. He still had five years of his sentence to complete, but Elizabeth had recently completed her sentence. Thomas was granted a thirty-acre farm named "Eather Farm" situated at Windsor on the Hawkesbury River in NSW.
The conditions of the grant were: that he should live on the land for five years; that the land would be free from all taxes for ten years; and that he was to make improvements and cultivate the land deemed fit for naval purposes. They fulfilled these requirements and, in 1803, they sold the farm for eighty-nine pounds.
In 1802, Thomas was granted his ticket-of-leave; then, in 1820, he sought another grant of land and was granted fifty acres. Thomas was living in Windsor as a store keeper during his last years before he died, aged 63 years. Elizabeth passed away in Richmond at the age of 88 years. All of her children lived to at least eighty years of age. She left 157 descendants.
The conditions under which the Second Fleet sailed were different from those of the First Fleet. Of the 520 convicts that embarked the Neptune 31% died. Merchants were contracted per convict, the more deaths amongst the convicts en route, meant more surplus food left for
sale at the ports visited.
The following year Elizabeth Lee (1773-1860), an 18 year old Lancashire lass arrived on the "Mary Ann". She had worked in England as either a domestic servant or a shop assistant and pleaded guilty for stealing from her employer a grey cloak valued at six pence. Elizabeth was sentenced to "be sent and transported to some part beyond the seas for a space of 7 years".
The ship, 'Mary Ann' left England on 16 February 1791 and arrived at Port Jackson 9 July 1791. It was the fastest voyage out by a convict ship up to that date, only 9 convicts dying on the way.
Thomas and Elizabeth Heather married within a few months of her arrival in the colony and they had 8 children. Land was granted to Thomas on 1 June 1797. He still had five years of his sentence to complete, but Elizabeth had recently completed her sentence. Thomas was granted a thirty-acre farm named "Eather Farm" situated at Windsor on the Hawkesbury River in NSW.
The conditions of the grant were: that he should live on the land for five years; that the land would be free from all taxes for ten years; and that he was to make improvements and cultivate the land deemed fit for naval purposes. They fulfilled these requirements and, in 1803, they sold the farm for eighty-nine pounds.
In 1802, Thomas was granted his ticket-of-leave; then, in 1820, he sought another grant of land and was granted fifty acres. Thomas was living in Windsor as a store keeper during his last years before he died, aged 63 years. Elizabeth passed away in Richmond at the age of 88 years. All of her children lived to at least eighty years of age. She left 157 descendants.
Olive’s Great Grandfather – Joseph Charles Oram
Joseph married Elizabeth Faulkner on the 14th June 1865, in St Philips the Aposal Church, Steprey, London. They sailed to Australia on the "Bayswater" 20th September, 1865. Joesph worked for his passage as a baker on the ship and paid for his wife's passage.
Joseph worked for Queensland Railway in the Clermont area before the family moved to Blackwater where Joseph owned and worked the butcher shop. Their family started in Central Queensland with 4 girls and 3 boys
Olive’s Great Grandfather Joseph was buried in the Old Blackwater Cemetery. But when the town pool was under construction they were to remove all the bodies and place in the new cemetery at Blackwater, unfortunately no one seems to have gone and looked at what was supposed to have been put in place in the new cemetery. We have all seen the plaques in the pool grounds.
This is a brief history about Olive's Great Grandfather -
Joseph Charles Oram - Born: 20/01/1843, in High St., Chatman, Kent, England
- Died: 25/08/1918, in Railway St., Blackwater, Queensland, Australia
- Age at death 75
- Cause of death: Heart failure
- Burried: 27/08/1918 Blackwater Cementery
The third child of Joseph and Elizabeth Faulkner was to become Olive's grandfather
Louis Oram Born 16/08/1871 in Copperfield, Queensland, Australia
Died 26/07/1955 in Baralaba, Queensland, Australia
Married Martha Sarah Brown, 24/10/1894 in Brisbane Queensland, Australia
Joseph married Elizabeth Faulkner on the 14th June 1865, in St Philips the Aposal Church, Steprey, London. They sailed to Australia on the "Bayswater" 20th September, 1865. Joesph worked for his passage as a baker on the ship and paid for his wife's passage.
Joseph worked for Queensland Railway in the Clermont area before the family moved to Blackwater where Joseph owned and worked the butcher shop. Their family started in Central Queensland with 4 girls and 3 boys
Olive’s Great Grandfather Joseph was buried in the Old Blackwater Cemetery. But when the town pool was under construction they were to remove all the bodies and place in the new cemetery at Blackwater, unfortunately no one seems to have gone and looked at what was supposed to have been put in place in the new cemetery. We have all seen the plaques in the pool grounds.
This is a brief history about Olive's Great Grandfather -
Joseph Charles Oram - Born: 20/01/1843, in High St., Chatman, Kent, England
- Died: 25/08/1918, in Railway St., Blackwater, Queensland, Australia
- Age at death 75
- Cause of death: Heart failure
- Burried: 27/08/1918 Blackwater Cementery
The third child of Joseph and Elizabeth Faulkner was to become Olive's grandfather
Louis Oram Born 16/08/1871 in Copperfield, Queensland, Australia
Died 26/07/1955 in Baralaba, Queensland, Australia
Married Martha Sarah Brown, 24/10/1894 in Brisbane Queensland, Australia