History Notes incl Minor League in 1978

History Notes

This week we have a football certificate, in perfect condition, with all the names supplied. It shows that Barraba was a member of the Tamworth District Minor Rugby Football League in 1978. Apparently, the matches were played on Saturday mornings.

Their coach was Eric Hagar and the team has been listed on a spare sheet of paper- names include Luxford, Woodgate, Hall, and Elliott. Readers can check the names with the photo. Thanks to Adrian Hagan for the certificate copy.

Unfortunately, the date on the photo is near the end of Barraba's little mining boom and a check of the volume of newspaper cuttings, number 3, although positive in some ways, shows the general slowing of the asbestos mine.

In 1981 it was noted that the Rugby team had lost players due to the mine closing- fortunately they were able to stay strong for a few more years before the closing of the mine had effect.

Further entries in the late 1970's and early 1980's, include the Piedmont clearance sale and the re-election of Rawdon McDouall for his seventh term as Shire President. There were lots of cricket matches and the feature of five life memberships granted to five ladies working for the local RSL.

They were Elsie Baker, Ivy Myers, and Edith Baldock all with more than 25 years’ service. Daph Fallon and Bessie Baldwin had given 20 years’ service. They joined Trixie Garland who was an earlier recipient.

Finally, we find the Historical Society held a farewell for David Robinson in December 1978; he was moving on to teach at another school in 1979. David had been a huge help with setting up the museum in the old stock and station agent's office. He did a lot of painting and cleaning up stains and spills on the floor - in fact it had not been touched until the renovation in 2018.

We have a few poems collected but there must be more. Lots of our older settlers wrote poetry and hopefully they have not been thrown out. In my search for Minor Rugby I have found one in the Ironhorse Festival Newspaper - they could be anywhere.

The markets are coming up again. Copies of original poems could be brought to the Society Stall - we are always happy to see visitors interested in local history as well - history books sold out last stall!