Graham Barclay: Water ski champion
As a young man, Graham Barclay played professional rugby league football before a serious knee injury ended his career…
Fred Williams: Father of Australian waterskiing
As the grandson of Captain Peter Williams and son of Frederick Williams, Forster marine engineer, it is no surprise that Fred Williams has had a lifetime’s association with water…
Henry Woodward, Oyster Merchant
Henry Woodward has been called ‘Father of Australia’s oyster industry’ after he was granted the first ever oyster lease in 1884. The lease was No. 41 in Breckenridge Channel, Wallis Lake – just off Little Street, Forster…
Wesley Chambers, 146 Victoria Street, Taree
For two separate Councils to occupy premises in the same regional town is not unheard of, but to occupy space just across the hallway in the same building … now that is unusual…
Tom L Dudgeon – Stonemason
Born in 1884, Tom Dudgeon followed in his father’s footsteps and became a stonemason…
Blackout Practice
Blackouts were considered the best form of defence against possible night time bombardment and practice drills were initially held in Sydney…
Level Crossing Smash, Wingham 1956
On 7th January 1956, around 9.50pm, the southern bound North Coast Mail train No. 14 collided with a 1950 Studebaker utility, on the Wingham-Taree Road level crossing…
A successful farmer with a wooden leg
After losing a leg due to an accident with a cricket ball, Royden Robert Newell made use of a wooden replacement…
Taree’s first town clerk
Born and raised in London, Horace Beeton trained as a draper’s assistant and at the age of 21 decided to try his luck in New Zealand…
A new road for Strathcedar and Mooral Creek
During the late 1800s, access to Strathcedar and Mooral Creek was along a road carved out by early Mooral Creek settlers, the Fords…