1966 in Retrospect
A glance through “The Barraba Chronicle” issues of 1966 reveals a year of big problems and amazing successes.
Most jubilant of all were the headlines heralding the breaking of the drought and the totally unexpected huge wheat crop.
Many other happenings during the year indicate the growing importance of this Shire and the vigorous outlook of its people.
Rows over the Kaputar Road, the loss of our bulkheads rumoured, a weird series of accidents involving lost fingers, a huge display by the historical society, the N-W Advanced Tennis Coaching School here, opening of the County Council’s new showroom and the town’s most devastating fire were but a few of the “Chronicle” main headline events.
Let’s scan back briefly through the year and recall some of the events:
KAPUTAR
In February the lid was off again in the controversial bid to have the Kaputar Road done, and Council arranged another deputation to Sydney. Employees at the transmitter wanted to build homes in Barraba but made their headquarters in Narrabri because the six-mile road link was incomplete.
Department of Main Roads has at last completed its draft report on the road and is awaiting comments by other Government authorities.
FAREWELL
March 24 issue reported the farewell to Rev Brian Thomas, for eight years Vicar of St Laurence’s Church and a staunch worker for the community. He and his family are now in Casino where he was inducted as Rector.
BULKHEADS
April 7 issue reported a stir over rumours that the wheat storage bulkhead were to be removed. UFWA branches in the Shire made strong representations, predicting a record crop this year. Later in the year the rumours were officially denied. The silos and bulkhead were both crammed full and there was no storage for a further half a million bushels.
NEWSY APRIL
April was a month of news, with protests over outside bricks being used in Tamworth, bus proprietors in the NW stir up the Education Department over huge delays in payments by the Education Department and a serious situation facing Manilla River Water Users.
All was later resolved.
There was concern too, at the fall-off in pre-school attendance, but a committee house-to-house campaign led to a greatly improved enrolment.
HISTORY
May saw a fantastic display in the Youth Centre by the Nandewar Historical Society, which traced civilisation from the Stone Age aborigines to modern times. The display was opened by famous collector and author, Mr Stanley Lipscombe.
WHEAT SOWN
June saw the first wheat sowings in thousands of acres of prepared ground following beneficial falls which farmers were waiting for. Although not drought-breaking it was enough rain to encourage farmers to risk sowing. They were jubilant at follow-up rains later in the month.
MEDICAL
The fourth of a series of weird accidents involving lost fingers occurred in June, the last one successfully sewn back on by brilliant Sydney surgeon relieving at Tamworth. June began the community concern over the shortage of doctors in Barraba with the departure of Dr. Bass and his wife. The situation later became grave when Dr. Spencer took ill. Barraba Rotary took the situation in hand and an English doctor was on his way to take up a practice here.
CONFERENCE
July saw a big conference in Barraba of 100 women from 27 hospital auxiliaries in the north-west; the Vicar of Barraba Rev H. Taylor, was appointed a member of the Anglican Diocesan Council of Armidale; 12 phone users sue the County Council for alleged interference to telephone lines by the construction of parallel power lines at Mt Lindsay; record works were carried out under unemployment grants.
The first moves to form an Apex Club here met with huge success.
DROUGHT OVER
August saw rainfall in bucketfuls, the best falls in two years, which saved the crops and raised hopes that the drought may at last be over.
Fifteen years of waiting ended for the Hospital Board with the approval for Barraba’s new maternity unit.
Barraba’s new $12,000 airport was also opened in August.
COACHING
September saw a big advanced coaching school conducted by the NSW Lawn Tennis Association at the Barraba Town and District Tennis Courts; a surprisingly good wool clip for August-September; and predictions of a record wheat crop.
SHOWROOM
October, the new Peel-Cunningham County Council Showroom was opened, with the announcement by Chairman, Ald. R.A. Walsh that the Council had now invested $600,000 in Barraba.
WORST FIRE
November saw Barraba’s most devastating fire which destroyed the machinery section of M.C. Mackenzie, and which earned widespread praise for the volunteer firemen who battled the blaze.
ELECTION
December’s main interest centred on the Extraordinary Election of a Councillor for R Riding, when three citizens campaigned and Mr Charles Humphrey was elected.
Most jubilant of all were the headlines heralding the breaking of the drought and the totally unexpected huge wheat crop.
Many other happenings during the year indicate the growing importance of this Shire and the vigorous outlook of its people.
Rows over the Kaputar Road, the loss of our bulkheads rumoured, a weird series of accidents involving lost fingers, a huge display by the historical society, the N-W Advanced Tennis Coaching School here, opening of the County Council’s new showroom and the town’s most devastating fire were but a few of the “Chronicle” main headline events.
Let’s scan back briefly through the year and recall some of the events:
KAPUTAR
In February the lid was off again in the controversial bid to have the Kaputar Road done, and Council arranged another deputation to Sydney. Employees at the transmitter wanted to build homes in Barraba but made their headquarters in Narrabri because the six-mile road link was incomplete.
Department of Main Roads has at last completed its draft report on the road and is awaiting comments by other Government authorities.
FAREWELL
March 24 issue reported the farewell to Rev Brian Thomas, for eight years Vicar of St Laurence’s Church and a staunch worker for the community. He and his family are now in Casino where he was inducted as Rector.
BULKHEADS
April 7 issue reported a stir over rumours that the wheat storage bulkhead were to be removed. UFWA branches in the Shire made strong representations, predicting a record crop this year. Later in the year the rumours were officially denied. The silos and bulkhead were both crammed full and there was no storage for a further half a million bushels.
NEWSY APRIL
April was a month of news, with protests over outside bricks being used in Tamworth, bus proprietors in the NW stir up the Education Department over huge delays in payments by the Education Department and a serious situation facing Manilla River Water Users.
All was later resolved.
There was concern too, at the fall-off in pre-school attendance, but a committee house-to-house campaign led to a greatly improved enrolment.
HISTORY
May saw a fantastic display in the Youth Centre by the Nandewar Historical Society, which traced civilisation from the Stone Age aborigines to modern times. The display was opened by famous collector and author, Mr Stanley Lipscombe.
WHEAT SOWN
June saw the first wheat sowings in thousands of acres of prepared ground following beneficial falls which farmers were waiting for. Although not drought-breaking it was enough rain to encourage farmers to risk sowing. They were jubilant at follow-up rains later in the month.
MEDICAL
The fourth of a series of weird accidents involving lost fingers occurred in June, the last one successfully sewn back on by brilliant Sydney surgeon relieving at Tamworth. June began the community concern over the shortage of doctors in Barraba with the departure of Dr. Bass and his wife. The situation later became grave when Dr. Spencer took ill. Barraba Rotary took the situation in hand and an English doctor was on his way to take up a practice here.
CONFERENCE
July saw a big conference in Barraba of 100 women from 27 hospital auxiliaries in the north-west; the Vicar of Barraba Rev H. Taylor, was appointed a member of the Anglican Diocesan Council of Armidale; 12 phone users sue the County Council for alleged interference to telephone lines by the construction of parallel power lines at Mt Lindsay; record works were carried out under unemployment grants.
The first moves to form an Apex Club here met with huge success.
DROUGHT OVER
August saw rainfall in bucketfuls, the best falls in two years, which saved the crops and raised hopes that the drought may at last be over.
Fifteen years of waiting ended for the Hospital Board with the approval for Barraba’s new maternity unit.
Barraba’s new $12,000 airport was also opened in August.
COACHING
September saw a big advanced coaching school conducted by the NSW Lawn Tennis Association at the Barraba Town and District Tennis Courts; a surprisingly good wool clip for August-September; and predictions of a record wheat crop.
SHOWROOM
October, the new Peel-Cunningham County Council Showroom was opened, with the announcement by Chairman, Ald. R.A. Walsh that the Council had now invested $600,000 in Barraba.
WORST FIRE
November saw Barraba’s most devastating fire which destroyed the machinery section of M.C. Mackenzie, and which earned widespread praise for the volunteer firemen who battled the blaze.
ELECTION
December’s main interest centred on the Extraordinary Election of a Councillor for R Riding, when three citizens campaigned and Mr Charles Humphrey was elected.