Historical Society - Marie Smith memories

Manilla River - Playground for All – Memories by Marie Smith

Families such as the Perrys, the Duggans, the Urquharts and the Flynns spent hours and hours of their play around the Maude and Gotha Street end of the river.  The orange trees were camps.  The shale banks had very narrow walkways around them.  There were ropes on the willow trees to fly out over the water and most of all beaut swimming holes.  A playground made in Heaven.

Flood time was great.  But, of course, parents were always alert and all would be threatened with dire consequences if we entered the water.  Of course, the boys always had a go!  The flood would come into Flynn’s lower paddock and was a real drawcard.  On one occasion, the dogs went down for a look and our fox terrier, Joker, was swept away.  Bill’s dog, Ginger (a greyhound) dived right in after him, grabbed him by the back of the neck and swam back to land.  No mean feat!!

On another occasion, Geoff Flynn lost the top plate of his dentures while swimming.  There was hell to pay when he came up from the river.  The following morning at daybreak, Bill went back to the swimming hole, which was now clear as a looking glass, saw them, dived in and returned home the hero and saviour of the day.  Another game (I am sure Mum and Dad were not aware of) played by the boys was floating down the river on logs in the fast moving water.

To obtain permission to go to the river, the boys would put Jan up to ask, “Could us boys go to the river?”  She always wore shorts with an old belt and a singlet with her hair in two pigtails.  She really thought she was a boy!  Of course, Mum and Dad always gave in to her.  Marie was happy to stay home and read most times - no athlete!

School Days

Most of the small country communities had their own little school.  In later years these were all closed, and families were transported by bus to Barraba Central School - fondly known by us oldies as Barraba Public School.

Bill Flynn purchased an old Army ambulance and ran a bus service to Oakhampton (Upper Manilla), collecting children from each property.  He would sleep overnight on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  It was madly uncomfortable and claustrophobic but the kids loved it. 

Anna Sofis told of going out on “the run” on one occasion which amazed us all as Anna tended to get car sick.  Many of the pupils went home for lunch and would then return for the afternoon classes.  The most special day occurred when you were given or earned sixpence (5 cents) to buy a hot pie down at Joe and Zelpha Ray’s corner shop.  They made the most tantalising ice and milk blocks and Buffalo Snows, an ice block in a short cone.  Three pence (a threepenny bit) would be hidden in some and that was a big treat.