History Notes - did the school celebrate the QE11 visit in 1953?
History Notes
Members enjoyed their meeting with Kim last week as she mentioned some interesting ideas for the museum – there was quite a bit to think about. This coming week is relatively calm but with school holidays it is likely there will be more visitors around.
The following week, we will be getting ready for market day on the 15th and we hope to see a lot of visitors in town – the markets will continue until after lunch to cater for visitors. Three days after the markets there is the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 18th October and then a street stall two days later. Hopefully, everyone will be able to attend at least one of these events.
This week I have been going through the O’Brien newspaper cuttings looking for any evidence of the Barraba School children’s carnival held at the showground in June, 1953 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Someone has a medal from these celebrations and wonders if there is a report of the proceedings. Perhaps there is another medal out in the population somewhere or someone has saved the newspaper cutting.
Also, in the O’Brien cuttings I have found the Northern Daily Leader report on the 50th Anniversary of the Barraba Railway including the history of the construction of the railway and the running of early trains.
The Bill to build the Manilla to Barraba railway passed both houses of Parliament on November, 16th, 1901.
Clyde engineering Co. successfully tended for the bridge over the Namoi River, building two steel spans of 180 feet (approximately 60 metres) and two spans of 66 feet (approximately 22metres) at a cost of about $13,788. Day labour was used to build the piers and super-structure.
The original trains were met in Barraba by a coach that had been converted to a bus and seated 8 persons inside as well as two passengers on top for the trip to Bingara. On Sundays, the bus was used to carry cricketers to various places throughout the district.
On the day of the official opening, the special train was met by a big crowd at the new railway station. The headmaster, of the Barraba Public School, Mr Lockrey, gave the 200 pupils a holiday to meet the train and take part in the festivities which were held near the new R.S.L Hall. There were Physical Culture displays, a girl’s marching band and a dancing display amongst other performances which included the Manilla Pipe Band and the Fire Brigade. It should be remembered that there was no swimming pool or Pre – School in 1958 and thus lots of room for people.