David is the grandson of one of Boorowa's founding citizens, Isaac Stevenson and the son of one of Isaac's boys, Ernest George Stevenson.

Both I and the Boorowa Remembers Committee have gained a great deal of information from the Stevensons, which has added to our knowledge of Boorowa's involvement in the Great War, 1914-1918.

Isaac, his brother James and their sisters came to Australia from "Ulster," Northern Ireland and as such they were stalinch Presbyterians. The Stevensons became a very influential family in the settlement of Burrowa and the surrounding district.

Isaac in particular was involved in many ground breaking projects which eventuated in Burrowa being proclaimed a township. These included the hospital, the railway and the shire council. He spent 15 years as an Alderman, 12 of which was Mayor. He also established St James Presbyterian Church.

The Stevensons home was "The Laurel," a building which still stands today in Farm Street, next to the Central School Principal's residence. Isaac and James also owned and managed "Wentworth House," the store where the timber for the picture frames our our WW1 diggers was sourced, Isaac's two sons, Norman James and Ernest George were among the Boorowa boys who enlisted for service in WW1.

Norman joined up on 1/1/1916, aged 24, he was a gunner in the 7th Field Artillery Batillion. Ernest joined on 21/11/1916, aged 23, he was also a gunner in the 10th F.A.B, later transferring to the 7th. Both boys survived the war or returned to Burrowa in July 1919.

David related an amusing story concerning the boys return home. Their uncle James who managed Wentworth House, offered Norman a job in the store, with the condition that he was not allowed to smoke, with the condition that he was not allowed to smoke. The no smoking proviso did not sit well with Norman, who having just survived a war for freedom was not about to be told what or what he could do.

He promptly told Uncle James in no uncertain terms that he would not take on the position under the no smoking constraints.

The job was then offered to Ernest, his attitude was similar to Normans, but he decided to accept.

His logic was that the store was quite large, had a big back yard and stable complex, so there plenty of places where he could enjoy a smoke without his uncle's knowledge. It worked and Ernest worked in the store for some years and continued unbeknown to his uncle.

The most surprising thing to arise from David's visit concerns Australia's $100 note. As mentioned previously Ernest joined the 10th F.A.B. The official war photograph NE.600 depicts a 10th F.A.B gun emplacement. Whoever engraved the printing plate for the note took some license by removing the sandbagged enclosure and adding a light horse soldier. It is obvious however, that the gun and its crew are from photo E600.

One of the four men in that photo is Ernest George Stevenson, investigations are continuing. To see if we can determine which of the crew is Ernest.

In any event Boorowa can lay claim to the fact that a picture of a locally born soldier appears on the back of largest denomination of our paper currency, the $100 note. Oddly enough, Ernest was a bank clerk before he joined up.

-Peter Dewar, Hon Custodian Boorowa War Memorial on behalf of Boorowa Remembers 2015.