James Hickey Stevens, known as ‘Jim’ to all, was the second son of George and Eliza Stevens of ‘Killarney’, Dyers Crossing.
From a young age Jim had a very strong sense of community, from local functions as an MC on numerous occasions, to singing at functions, to contributing to the Catholic Church and the building of the new Krambach Convent in 1932. Jim was very athletic and from a child of 11 years of age, had entered local shows in children’s events, be it games or running. From 1922 onwards Jim entered into ring events, showing Devon bulls, Galloway horses, pair of ponies in harness, harness racing and show jumping to name just a few different events.1
Jim joined the Army in 1916 and marched with the North Coast Boomerang March Group to Maitland to serve his country in WW1.2 He was with the 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements and saw service on the Western Front.3
Following on from the war, Jim was granted a Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Loan for land at Dyers Crossing.4 The land was very rough and Jim had his own bullock team to assist with clearing the land. On the 5 & 6 November 1926, Jim won the Pony Gelding or Mare under 13 hands at the Wallamba Show on “Glimpse”.5 Jim married Kathleen Ellen Frost in 1944 and had four children.
Author: Joan Holmes (nee Stevens)
More Stevens’ stories:
Eliza Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/10/eliza-stevens-nee-hickey/
George Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/10/george-stevens-of-killarney-dyers-crossing/
John Daniel Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/02/bombardier-john-daniel-stevens/
Stevens Brothers’ Letters Home WW1: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/02/stevens-brothers-letters-home-ww1/
Eliza and George Stevens’ daughters: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/01/the-stevens-daughters/
Eliza and George Stevens’ Sons: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/01/the-stevens-sons/
References:
1 Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 6 December 1911, 2; Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 10 November 1926, 2. Gloucester Advocate, 12 April 1922, 2.
2 Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 26 January 1916, 2.
3 NAA: B2455, Stevens JH.
4 FindmyPast, NSW Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Loan Files Transcript, Loan No. 02890.
5 Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 6 December 1911, 2
