AFTER a special request from local Joy Cameron, the Boorowa News will be publishing a weekly extract written by her grandfather and in what was then called The Burrowa News. the extracts are written by P. Greenwood who was invited to write some reminiscences to celebrate the newspaper’s 60th anniversary. The collection was published in 1934.
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Hardly enough “F’s”
Burrowa is a mixed farming and pastoral district. It is famous for its high-class wool and good prices have been secured at the Sydney market.
Mr F. F. Fahey of “Hillgrove” is one of the leading graziers and generally scoops the pool for the best sheep and wool at the local show. I remember on the occasion of one show when the report of the prize winners was being set up by hand at the “News” office that Mr Fahey had won so many prizes, we nearly ran out of the capital letter ‘F’. You might observe there are three F’s in his name. He is a great supporter of the show and I believe now he has the position of president.
Old Identities
As I write, the recollection of a number of dear old identities come up before my mind. The late Mr Allen Hancock, at one time licensee of the old Australian Hotel and subsequently auctioneer, was a most popular figure. In summer, he wore a snow-white suit and hat, and having a white beard, presented a patriarchal appearance. He was elected as an alderman and later on was appointed Mayor. He missed the first meeting of the Council convened after his appointment, as he had forgotten all about his newly acquired honour. We all dearly esteemed the late Patsy Dwyer, familiarly called “The Village Blacksmith”. His smithy’s shop was the scene of many a jolly yarn and great hospitality was dispensed at his home. When he was called to rest, after his long and useful life of 85 years, the funeral cortege was the largest ever seen in Boorowa, being two miles long. Another well known citizen was the late Tom Stewart. Some people referred to him as “Big Tom”. No doubt he had a splendid physique in his early manhood days, he used to go to the “outback” to the shearing sheds, later to return home with a substantial cheque. When not at the shearing he carried out the duties of Common’s Ranger or caretaker. Although he had no education, he knew the number and respective brands of all the stock on the common. If anyone ever annoyed him, they took a pretty big risk as Tom was pretty smart with his hands. He was a capable horseman, being in the saddle nearly every day. Like the Man From Snowy River, he never shifted in his seat.
