Royden Robert Newell was born north of Dungog in 1904, and married Florence Irene Dorse born in Clarence Town 1911.1 After losing a leg due to an accident with a cricket ball, he made use of a wooden replacement.2
Royden had difficulty obtaining work with only one good leg, but it didn’t stop him making his fortune. He and Florence were hard working and together they purchased their first farm at Strathcedar on the Mooral Creek Road and set up a dairy farm for cream production.3
The property, originally owned by a timber-getter was sold to a family who struggled financially. Royden and Florence were the next to purchase it. The farm needed clearing, had a small house, but no other buildings. They both set about bringing it into production. After many years of hard work that included their five children, Elsie, Nita, Robert, Trevor and Betty, they purchased another farm at Khatabundah and built a new dairy. The original dairy at Strathcedar was then used as a dry run.
Royden and Florence later purchase three small blocks of land in Wingham. Royden lived to middle age, while Florence lived to 94.4
Author: Robin Sheppard
References:
1 NSW BDM, marriage index no. 6434/1933; birth index for Royden Newell, no. 11887/1904; birth index for Florence Dorse, no. 26803/1911.
2 Commonwealth of Australia, Repatriation Commission order for artificial limb.
3 NSW Land Registry Service, Volume-Folio: 7335-246.
4 NSW BDM, death index for Royden Newell, no. 33965/1967; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49109272.
