Notes from Ron Barwicks diary.

NOTES from RON BARWICK'S DIARYS

In 1928 I purchased a very handy bay gelding called Jock (6yrs) for 10 pounds.  Over the next 10yrs I rode Jock with two kelpie dogs over 10,006 miles on the road and many hundreds of hours mustering on our property's as well. Jock was retired in 1940 but like all good troopers came out of retirement at 20yrs to be ridden by Sylvia Barwick (Avard) for another two yrs.

During the night and early hours of the 10^th September 1929 a shocking gale blew from the south accompanied by 505pts of rain.  Many thousands of freshly shorn sheep perished throughout the state.

Comments for 1937: Many people still desperately seeking work and living in poverty .Many people in the country area owe their living to the rabbit plague, as they trapped and sold the carcass to freezing works and ate rabbits in their diet.

On the 14.12.1938 a record 52 trucks of fat stock (cattle/sheep) were consigned from Willow Tree for sale at Homebush.

1930

Before 1936 Harold Burraston accompanied his father to Mrs Dennis Murphy’s property "Burnslea"( now "Sandstone") for a race meet.  His father brought from Murrurundi a wireless which the bookies used to place bets on the Sydney races , adding a little more fun to the day.

1932       Medlow

Medlow -black blood stallion. Sire Mountaineer His dam is said to be a stolen mare by Medallion He came from Gloucester way and was purchased by Carters of Mooki Springs/ Yarraman . On the 7-7-1932 he was bought by Harold Barwick and ridden home by Ern Brecht. Medlow’s last resting place is on Billy Greer’s property appropriately called "Medlow" .  Medlow was foaled around 1920 ? and since his stock have done well at rodeos, shows, polo and country race meetings. He was an excellent sire of broodmares.

6.3.1941  Edgar and Ron Barwick brought 2,000 sheep returning from agistment over the Cedar Brush to Warrah Creek. I have reason to believe this is the greatest number of sheep in one flock ever brought from the south side of the Cedar Brush through to the north.They left wire paddock reserve 7.30am and travelled 3.5 miles ,had lunch, left foot of range at noon and did not reach north side till 4.40pm about 1.5 miles . Two drovers and 4 very good dogs. 

7.6.1944 Dette and I took 327 cows by train for Silas Clark from Willow Tree to Coolac .leaving Willow Tree at 7.0pm . The cattle were sourced from various property's in the district. They were loaded onto 25 trucks, travelling via Werris Creek, then on the Binnaway line to Dubbo(10.45am 8^th), Narromine, Peak Hill, Parkes 6.opm. Reached Cootamundra 2.0am(9^th), diverted to Gundagai line, left Cootamundra 6.0am arrived Coolac 7.Oam.Unloaded by 7.45am,all cows ok. Returned to Cootamundra and caught Riverina Express to Sydney then home The 4 days paid 30 shillings a day!!!!

6.9.1944 Poplar tree planted at Warrah Ck hall, in memory of late Mrs H J Barwick

8.11.1944 Public send off to Tom and Mrs McCluand (old Warrah store) Bingham's new owners.

SNOW

On 20^th February 1956 a frightful cloud burst at the head of Warrah Ck caused the highest flood in the creek. The flood entered the sheds and flooded all around Arthur Barwicks house and went through Ern Brecht (Burnside) and Leon Saunders homes. Very lucky that Jim and Beryl had moved.

8-3-1959 Dette, Peter and I coming home late where met by flood waters at Warrah Ck reserve, the water was so fast that we were unable to turn around as the water was already behind us.Spent a long night.

Agricultural Bureau.

12^th June 1948 a branch of the Bureau was formed at Warrah Ck known as the Warrah Bureau.

1-6-1955 at the instigation of the AG Bureau an arrangement was made for the TB testing of milking cows-house- of the district, Geoff Carter vet tested 192 cows.

29-11-1954 Ag Bureau fieldday was held. Bob Martin from Blandford, brought up Fordson tractor and chisel plow and gave demonstration. Col Logan judged the lambs, Gardiners, Chads and Leon Saunders. Gardiners 1^st Bernie Gardiner won best pet lamb. Ron Craker judged sheep dog trial won by Mick Fitzpatrick from 11 competitors (2 Edgar, 2 John , 2 mine, Luke, Mick Eric, Paddy Kelaher and Wallace.

16-11-1955 field day held to-day. Seven entries fat lamb comp judged by Arthur Godlee (sheep wool officer Tamworth) Les Barwick 1^st, Col Chad 2^nd,Arthur Barwick 3^rd. Field wheat comprtition judged by John Loveridge agromonist, Fred Benham 1st...40 acres Ron Symonds 1^st 20 acres. Seven entries sheep dog trial judged by Ron Croker. Terry Fitzpatrick 1^st and 2^nd (both very good dogs) Great display by machinery firms also electrical firms. Demonstration of Victor lawn mower.

WARRAH CREEK CRICKET TEAM

A crack club or rather team was formed at Warrah Creek mainly at the instigation of Ernest Barwick who had been a member and a noted batsman of a team known as the A.B.C.'s formed in 1888 hi the Sparkes and Kieraans Creeks South of the range in the Scone district.

With the help of A.L.B.(Bunty) Hall a number of young men of the district were given some training, a cement pitch was constructed on the recreation ground and matches were playedJn the main the members were:ERNEST chief batsman BUNTY good batsman and successful bowler   ALAN BARWICK solid batsman EDGAR BARWICK  batsman but very successful right hand leg-break bowler BERT SMITH  devastating fast bowler  BILL PALMER   stubborn with the bat RON PALMER  aggressive and forceful batsman especially on the off JIM and LEONARD HOLMES  capable of making runs  FOSTER CARTER  BILL MEREDITH  left hand bowler with some success JACK SMITH  BRIAN SEYMOUR  useful change bowler   LES BARWICK  solid with the bat TOM MC CLUAND WALTER HULL HECTER BARWICK WALLACE and RON BARWICK  tireless in the out field.

Matches were played against JACKS CREEK, WILLOW TREE, QUIRINDI and MURRURUNDI district teams.

JACKS CREEK CRICKET TEAM

Ted Barwick was mainly instrumental in organising a cricket team and a cement

wicket was constructed on the flat on Yarrabah now the property of Neil barwick,

TED BARWICK of "Coorooga" who was a noted wicket-keeper and batsman in

his younger days with the A.B.C ,s and despite the passing of the years such was the

keenness of his eye-sight he was keeper for the local team, and on occasions gamed

selection for the inter district matches as the wicket keeper ; quite often the two local

teams played.

18-4-45: EAST of the hill v WEST . EAST 219 RUNS;  WEST 101 runs

29-4-45; EAST 139 runs v WEST 144 runs Exiting finish TED BARWICK retired

28, SAM SAUNDERS 28 retired

GENERAL COMMENTS

Both BERT SMITH as a fast bowler and EDGAR BARWICK as a spin bowler gained

selection at times in a QUIRINDI ASSOCIATION TEAM IN INTER-DISTRICT

MATCHES.

ON 20-12-1930 picked in a young team to play TAMWORTH Bert took 3 wickets

for 6 runs and Edgar 3 for 7 .

ON 26-12-31 in a Quirindi A grade assoc. team playing TAMWORTH Edgar took 4

wickets for 23 and made 8runs.

28-3-32 Quirindi assoc. v Upper Hunter Edgar 5 for 13 runs Odi scored 203 Upper

Hunter 73

10-12-32 Edgar picked with Gordon Elsley and Cecil Weessel to play in Tamworth in

to Far North teams for selection in the Far North team for country week. Edgar took 2

for 31. and 9 not outEdgar. Eddie Radcliff and Gordon Elsley were picked for the Far

North team in Newcastle.

On account of the old associations the Warrah Creek team occasionally played a match against the A.B.C. team which was mainly made up of descendents of the originals.

On 12-2-27 A.B.C. team came to Warrah Creek Warrah Creek 88-70 On9-4-27 Warrah Creek at Thornthwaite A.B.C. ground played a draw On 20-12-30, eighteen riders gathered at Warrah Creek hall, rode to and through the cedar brush and a futher 10 miles to the A.B.C. wicket to play . A.B.C. scored 59 & 121 Warrah Creek scored 29 & 128. Wallace Barwick scored 66 runs not out. All rode home that evening —many had a 40 mile ride for the day.