The Kelahers' leave Barraba

END OF AN ERA – THE KELAHERS IN BARRABA

My name is Des Kelaher. I was born in Barraba in 1935, the third of six children. My dad, Gordon, spent his entire working life with Clifton Motors, finishing up as a senior manager. The Kelahers had been in Barraba since about 1856; it was my great-grandfather, a policeman, who founded our family in Barraba.

I attended St Joseph’s School from 1940; there I became friends with Brian Coote. We are still good mates today.

I started building in 1953 with W A (Wal) York, the older brother of David York. I worked on lots of buildings around Barraba; amongst them the old fire station, Clifton’s garage, the Anglican Church extension, and the BP service station. I built about twelve houses with Pat McIllick. I worked on the Glenriddle house in 1958; while doing that I lived in the Shearers’ huts, which were on the river bank. Those huts were washed away in the 1964 floods. I helped build the current tennis courts and clubhouse in the late 1960’s, and played there for years after.

The Barraba Golf Club became part of the Kelaher clan. Gordon, my dad, first played there in 1927. My mum, my sister Gaye and brother John also played. My son Kevin, and grandsons Steven and Phill play now. I joined the Golf Club in 1975 and had many good times playing with friends.  I had the honour of being made a Life Member about ten years ago.

In 1942, my grandfather, D H Kelaher, had bought a block of land known as Railway Hill; the current Railway St runs through this block. The home on this block, “Karinga”, became the Kelaher family home in 1951. I built my first home in Fitzroy St in 1960; I lived there for eighteen years. In 1978 I built a house in Railway St next to “Karinga”; that was my family home for forty-three years. In March two years ago, I lost my wife Gwen after sixty-three years.

So, for me it is time to move on. I sold our home on 3 March 2022. I was the last of the Kelaher clan in Barraba; my brothers and sisters and their families all settled in other parts of NSW.  My children, and their families, now all live elsewhere.

Barraba is a great town with good people – I will miss them. I am now living in Tamworth, but I will visit often.

Des Kelaher

April 2022