On one of our regular walks up Hospital Hill recently we noticed the auction/for sale sign on Ford House the old nurses quarters and latterly part of the local health service. I started to tell Ollie about Ken Ford, a family friend of my grandfather after whom the residence was named. It also occurred to me that not many people would know of Ken Ford and indeed many of the others whose names have been gifted to other parks and places in Forbes. For full story click here.
Tag: Forbes
Oral History in Forbes
Vilma Ryan spent her early years in Bagtown – a community near the Cowra Aboriginal missions. She left school at 14 but later put herself through TAFE. She then set about improving education for her people. She was on the board of the Murrawina Preschool for Aboriginal children in Redfern and one of four people Charlie Perkins sent to Santa Fe Indian School to learn how to establish an Aboriginal high school, which they did. For full story click here.
Forbes’ Wandering Jew
Rob Willis writes –
I have a fascination, probably obsession, to record and research the stories of the ‘characters’ of Australia for our Oral History and Folklore collection at The National Library of Australia. Those who dare to be different and are, perhaps, slightly eccentric yet contribute strongly to the social fabric of our towns and cities. Luckily I live in Forbes, a town that is richly endowed with these people and I am a strong believer we should acknowledge and promote them as part of our cultural heritage. Buildings, architecture, music, statues and art are truly wonderful things for a town but, in my mind, it is the stories of the people who lived in the buildings and created the art and music that are also vital. For full story click here.
Dying Trades
At 84, the local cobbler Harry Cahill is as busy as ever – but now he’s the only one in town. It’s a sign of the times that there’s no apprentice to follow in his footsteps. As a cobbler, Harry mends everything from summer sandals to boots and leather bags. He even had a Scotsman’s sporran on the workbench for repair when the Advocate visited. The community is highlighting disappearing trades. See full story here.