Remembering yesteryear

Dear Editor

I, Anne Perry (80), nee Christensen was a clerk at The Grazier from mid-August 1959 till end March 1974. My husband Lance and I still get the paper. Of late, I have been reading I Now Call Australia Home, of new people in Hay, and also life stories of local people. One of those was Faye Best’s on Wednesday 27th July.

Tell Kimberly it was good, but a pity she never said Faye’s maiden name, Stevens, name of her mentioned parents and grandmother, Stevens. Sure, people would like to know those details. Had read of Mrs Stevens and granddaughter rescued during a flood – this story said 1950 – I thought a different grand-daughter as knew one had been taken from Maude by boat, maybe in that big 1956 flood.

Had also read Faye and Jack’s story, would have been his obituary. I lived at Mungadal till about September 1966 when Dad retired, he and mum moved to Bendigo. My brother John and I stayed in Hay as we both had jobs.

I remember at South Hay, on the left facing the bridge, Mr and Mrs Stevens and daughters were in one of the houses on the bank of bend to river. Had seen Mrs Stevens on a bike with axe and rabbit traps. On right, facing bridge, in one of the houses were Mrs Bert Ray and family, she with pet sheep that would lead mobs over the bridge. Sometimes going to school by car or bikes I would see that happening and had to wait until the mob was over. She was mother and mother-in-law of Mutt and Effie (Beckwith) Ray.

Also remember seeing drovers before Faye and Jack’s time. Out Balranald Road just past Aerodrome entrance were where mobs kept overnight or maybe longer, opposite to grid entrances to the Golf Course and Mungadal, just before the Mungadal channel that crossed the highway. Near the yards was a huge box tree, in magpie season we would get swooped on so passed quickly on bikes. No helmets in those days.

Interesting reading the list of Lachlan Street businesses by Peter Hills, lot of them I also remember. He is two months older than me; we were educated at St Marys. He worked at The Grazier before me and not sure how long afterwards.

Regards, Anne Perry

45 Curtin Street, Griffith