• Friends and family of Lila-Jane Nagle gathered at the Condobolin Public School on Friday to celebrate her life, and to raise awareness of Meningitis within the Condobolin community.

By Olivia McInnes

 A memorial service was held at the Condobolin Public School on Friday in memory of Lila-Jane Nagle.

The Condobolin Community was both shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden death of the much loved little girl last August.

Lila’s mother Belinda Nagle, explained the chain of events leading to her daughters sudden passing.

“Lila woke up on the 28th of August 2011, complaining of a headache.

We assumed that after having such a wonderful day at the Condobolin show the day before, that she was simply exhausted from all the excitement.

“At 4pm Lila vomited and said she was feeling exhausted.

“By 10pm we couldn’t wake her and by 11pm she was on life support.

“The life support was turned off on the 29th,” Belinda recalled.

Despite showing very few of the symptoms, it was determined that Lila’s cause of death was Meningitis.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.

The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms and less commonly by certain drugs.

Meningitis can be life threatening because of the inflammations proximity to the brain and spinal cord, therefore the condition is classified as a medical emergency.

The most common symptoms of meningitis are headache and neck stiffness associated with fever, confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting and inability to tolerate light or loud noises.

Sometimes, especially in small children, only nonspecific symptoms may be present such as irritability or drowsiness.

A rash may be present which may indicate a particular cause of meningitis, for example meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria may be accompanied by a characteristic rash.

Belinda says that there is no awareness program for meningitis in NSW, and that Lila had meningitis three times in her short lifetime, but sadly they didn’t realise until it was too late.

“It can affect anyone of any age, and it can kill within 24 hours; it took Lila’s life within 12 hours,” she said.

The Memorial Day for Lila held at CPS on Friday was for her school friends, who placed a plaque and planted a tree for Lila in the memory garden.

Belinda said the day was also about raising awareness within the community.

“We want to raise awareness about meningitis and we hope that by doing this it will save peoples lives,” she said.

If you would like more information on meningitis, pamphlets are available at the Melrose Street Medical Centre, or you can visit http://www.meningitis.com.au.

• Condobolin High School Captains Jordan Hall and Ebony Davis were invited to attend the CSU Wagga Wagga Graduation Ceremony last Tuesday where they led the Academic Procession into Joyes Hall. L-R Jordan Hall, CSU Wagga Wagga Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett and Ebony Davis.

By Olivia McInnes

Condobolin High School Captains Ebony Davis and Jordan Hall were recently invited to attend a graduation ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga.

The pair along with their year advisor, Ms Katrina Thompson, left Condobolin at 5am last Tuesday morning to get to Wagga in time to lead the academic procession into the University’s Joyes Hall, followed by the University Chancellor Mr Lawrence Willett AO, CSU academics and other official guests.

The Captains were invited to attend the graduation as part of a program of school participation in the graduation ceremonies designed to strengthen the links between Charles Sturt University and the high schools within its region.

Condobolin High School was the only school represented at the recent graduation ceremonies in Wagga.

Jordan said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience: “We got to meet at lot of different people and see how a traditional graduation ceremony works. We also got to meet and have lunch with the Dean of uni and the Chancellor and they were so good to us”.

By Olivia McInnes

It’s no secret that what was once a baronial building known to Condobolin locals as the Renown Theatre, has sadly over the years become a dilapidated health risk to the community.

The Lachlan Shire Council has recently taken action to amend the situation, serving an order on the current owners of the building, Fatsea’s Enterprises.

General Manager of the Lachlan Shire, George Cowan said “The order requires the owner to secure the premises and control the vermin within, in particular the pigeons and the mess they have made”.

Soon after the order was served by Council, a law firm requested an extension of time on behalf of Fatsea’s Enterprises due to their clients ill health, and to organize contractors to carry out the requested works.

The Council approved the extension of time, giving Fatsea’s Enterprises until April 2012 to carry out the order.

“So far he (Mr John Fatsea) has been cooperating and we are making progress,” George said.

The order served by the Lachlan Shire Council stipulates;

• Repair of external windows,

• Repainting of external finishes,

• Removal of all bird nesting areas from the external and internal areas of the building as well as implementing measures to prevent further roosting of pigeons.

• Installation of new guttering,

• Removal of all graffiti to the exterior building,

• The implementation of effective vermin control measures to control mice and rats on the premises.

“If he fails to carry out the order by the appointed time the council has a number of options including going in and doing it ourselves at his expense,” George said.

“The building is a health hazard at the moment so the birds have to go.

“We are removing the birds using a combination of efforts, and we are doing it humanely.

“If anyone would like a pet pigeon for Christmas, put your hand up now,” he said.

By Olivia McInnes

The Lachlan Shire Council has recently welcomed a new grant of $42,000 under the Roads and Maritime Services Better Boating Program.

The grant will go towards an upgrade of the existing boat access point on the southern side of the river, as well as the construction of a new pontoon/gangway facility adjacent to the Gum Bend Lake boat ramp.

The grant is part of more than $4.5 million outlayed by Government to provide new and improved boating facilities across NSW.

Minister Duncan Gay said “By supporting new and improved boating facilities, Roads and Maritime Services is putting customers first in our boating communities state wide.

“It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people go boating in NSW each year and making access to our waterways safer and more convenient is good news for the community.

“This grant funding recognises the important role boating has to play in our communities and the economy,” he said.

General Manager of the Lachlan Shire George Cowan said “It’s great news to get this financial support from the State Government and local member Adrian Piccoli.

“The the new pontoon/gangway to be constructed at Gum Bend Lake in particular is something that has been badly needed for quite a while.

“It will allow people to get in and out of their boats without getting wet.

“The money for this project will go to the newly formed Gum Bend Lake Committee”, George said.

The Committee of local residents is yet to be officially appointed but will be joined by Councillors Shields, Weale, Saunders, Nelson, Glen, Jones and Mayor Des Manwaring.

Once appointed, they will be focused on improving the lakes facilities and making it more attractive to both residents and tourists.

Mayor Clr Des Manwaring

As we approach the end of another year it is pleasing to see Council successful in completing a number of major projects and being well advanced with a number of others. Councils goal is to meet the needs of the community and wherever possible we would like to work closely with the people we are elected to serve.

A number of major building projects are underway including the renovation of the former shire hall which is almost complete and will be a marvelous new piece of heritage for the shire, the construction of the new children’s services building in Condobolin is about half way with completion next year and staff have begun laying the pad for the new kiosk for the netball soccer and cricket players at the SRA ground.

Four new cabins have been installed in each of the caravan parks at Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo helping to answer the demand for more accommodation in the towns. New bitumen roads have been constructed throughout the Shire including 4 kms of the Tullibigeal Road, several sections reconstructed and widened on the Lake Cargelligo West Wyalong Road and 7kms of the Fifield Road.

In the last few months a number of very successful events have been held including the Lake Cargelligo and Condobolin Shows, the Tottenham Flower Show, the Professional Bull Ride and the Tattoo.

A tremendous amount of work by local people goes into these events and it is truly great to see the community come out and support them. Council helps where it can and has provided either cash or in kind support to all of these and a number of other smaller events.

Council has also been able to help a number of community groups who have been upgrading facilities in their towns including new rooms for the Tullibigeal Picnic Race Club, new seats in the grandstand and an electrical upgrade at the Lake Showgrounds, new poultry Pavilion at Condobolin showgrounds and the upgrade and sealing of the Tottenham airstrip. Many other community groups have also had successful programs. In each case there has been significant input from the community and I can assure all that it is much appreciated by Council.

Congratulations also to the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation on the opening of the new study centre. This will be a major asset to the whole community and it was great to have the former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd here for the opening.

Our partnership with Penrith Council continues to flourish and during the year a number of initiatives were held including a visit to the shire by the Penrith Performing Arts group who presented a play to the public and provided expert tuition to students in Tottenham, Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo. A number of young people from the shire visited Penrith including a group of year one students from Tullibigeal Central School who received a civic reception from the Mayor of Penrith Council whilst in the area visiting Oxley Park Public School.

Finally, I would like to extend to all families a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Des Manwaring, Mayor,  Lachlan Shire Council

Po Box 216 CONDOBOLIN NSW 2877

Telephone: (02) 6895 1900

Fax: (02) 6895 3478

www.lachlan.nsw.gov.au

• L-R: Shirley Bell, Mel Bell, Zilla Bell, Michelle Watt and Wes Johnson ready for their first anniversary on Friday 23rd December.

Happy Daze Coffee Lounge in Bathurst Street Condobolin will be celebrating their 1st birthday next Friday 23rd December.

Owners Shirley Bell and daughter Melanie Bell opened the business a year ago and haven’t looked back since.

The dynamic pair quickly made their presence felt in Condobolin a popular place to enjoy fresh, home cooked meals and great coffee.

Shirley said, “Owning and running the coffee lounge has been great, better than we expected it to be for the first twelve months.

It’s not just the food that makes a visit to Happy Daze worthwhile, the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, perfect for catching up with friends.

There is also a great play area to keep the kids entertained so that mum and dad can relax.

Top it off with great friendly service from the staff, and public feedback, Happy Daze is bound to have many more birthdays!

Call in to Happy Daze on Friday 23rd December to help them celebrate and recieve a free cupcake with every large coffee purchased.

• General manager of the Penrith City Council Alan Stoneham, winner of the Living Lachlan Style Photographic Competition junior section Dustin Manwaring, and Mayor of the Lachlan Shire, Des Manwaring. Contributed

Lachlan Shire Council announced the winners of the Living Lachlan Style Photographic Competition at the Mayoral Christmas Reception which was held 14 December, 2011.

The competition was open to everyone with photos having to be contemporary and taken within the Lachlan Shire.

There were two age groups, the first was 18 years and under and the second was open and the photos were judged in the five categories of the Lachlan Shire Council Strategic Plan being Social, Environmental, Economic, Infrastructure and Civic Leadership.

In the junior section, the winner for the Social, Environmental and Economic categories was won by Michaela Hague and the overall winner for the junior section was won by Dustin Manwaring. The categories of Civic Leadership and Infrastructure non compliant.

In the senior section, the winner for the Social category was Kerryn Deeves, the winner for the Environmental category was Dominic Geiger, the winner for the Economic category was Megan Mortimer, the winner for the Civic Leadership category was Gus Blacker and the winner for the Infrastructure category was Julie Sealey. The overall winner for the open section was won by Paul McGovern.

General Manager of Lachlan Shire Council Mr Cowan said the competition was a great success.

“The quality of images received for the competition was very high and a real credit to everyone who submitted an entry. The Photos captured the essence of life in the Lachlan.”

“Following the success of this year’s competition, Council will be looking at running another competition in 2012,” said Mr Cowan.

• James and Ros Patton of 'Mogandale' north of Condobolin put on a brave face. Behind them is one of their sheds, completely demolished by the freak storm of Tuesday last week. Picture by Olivia McInnes.

Story and photo by Olvia McInnes

A freak storm tore through the Condobolin district last Tuesday night, leaving in its wake an unfathomable path of destruction.

While the township of Condobolin seemed to be mostly spared, many outlying properties suffered extensive damage with sheds flattened and rooves ripped off homes.

While there is not a lot of information on where the storm came from or what caused it, the Bureau of Meteorology recorded wind gusts of up to 102km/hour in the Condobolin area on Tuesday night.

James Patton of ‘Mogandale’ was on his header when the storm hit.

“It started to rain so I started heading back to my ute, straight into the storm when it hit and I had no visibility.

“The hail started to get really heavy and then the front windscreen of the header smashed and I was completely exposed.

“I jumped straight to the back of the header and then up on the console to try and get as high in the header as I could to get out of the hail.

“Even the header was getting pushed back from the wind,” James said.

He then proudly showed his battle scars – large and bright purple rings all over his legs from the impact of the hail.

James’s wife Ros Patton, said she was at home with the children when the storm struck.

“I was in the kitchen when the power went out and then I heard the wind roaring and thought we need to get away from this room (due to the amount of windows) so we moved into the boys room at the other end of the house.

“It sounded like really heavy things were being dropped on the roof.

“I thought at one stage that the roof was going to cave in…and then with the wind I thought it was going to lift off so I put the boys into a built-in cupboard.

“In the middle of it my three year old says ‘mummy who are we hiding from?’”, she laughed.

The amount of damaged property on the Patton’s place is extensive with debris strewn across their backyard and paddocks, a shed completely demolished and an auger tipped on its side.

James pointed out a scrub belt about 500 metres across a paddock “There’s a portable cattle race up there somewhere” he laughed.

Just next door, the Stuckey’s at ‘Homesworth’ seemed to have born significantly more of the brunt of the damage with their house rendered unliveable after the roof was torn off.

“It’s hard to describe what it sounded like, usually wind increases and then subsides, but this just kept building and building and we thought somethings got to happen here,” said Vicki Stuckey.

“With that there was a lightening flash and Pete (Vicki’s husband) said ‘there goes part of our roof!’ ”.

“The lights went out and we went to get the kids out of their rooms…we could feel water on our faces.

“We put the kids in the walk in wardrobe where we thought they would be reasonably safe and then all of a sudden it was over.

“We kept waiting for daylight and then when it was daylight we wished it was dark again so we didn’t have to face the damage.

“People keep asking me if I was scared but I guess I didn’t really have time to be scared…you just kind of go into survival mode,” Vicki said.

Further North of Condobolin at ‘Three Peaks’, the Brown family had also experienced a harrowing night of events.

“Compared to other people we didn’t have that much damage done, a few minor buildings were flattened.

“My three horse float was turned 180 degrees and pushed along about 20 metres.

“The jockey wheel had sunken down in the mud and there was a trail showing where it had ploughed through the ground,” Sharon Brown said.

On the other side of Condobolin near Derriwong, Peter L’Estrange had just received a call that a fire had started on his other property and was driving to investigate when the storm struck.

“I was with my wife and daughter and we were driving to the other property when it hit.

“I moved the ute into the table drain, as I thought this was the lowest and safest point, and faced it away from the wind.

“I had the motor running with the handbrake on and my foot on the brake at all times, and when the wind hit; the ute was rocking and swaying.

“There was zero vision outside the ute, all we could hear was hail and branches crashing around us.

“If we could see anything at all, it was all this brown stuff going past us. I realised it was all the grass and dirt out of the paddocks everything was stripped bare at ground level.

“Finally everything went calm so we tried to drive home but couldn’t get very far as there was so much debris on the road. It must have been the eye of the storm because not long after, the second half hit,” Peter said.

Storms seemed to be reasonably wide spread throughout the central west on Tuesday night, with West Wyalong receiving wind gusts of up to 133km/hour and Forbes of up to 105 km/hour.

There are a number of families in the Condobolin area whose lives have been turned upside down last Tuesday night, many of whom have not been mentioned in this article.

The Argus offers sincerest sympathies during this difficult time, and we hope that the lives of the people so badly affected can very soon return to normal.

• Represenatives from a number of Councils in the region as well as LCMA, Northparkes Mines, Barrick Cowal and Newcrest Mining had lunch at Gumbend lake last Tuesday to discuss an exciting new tourism opportunity.

By Olivia McInnes

Representatives from a number of Councils in the region including Lachlan, Forbes, Parkes, Bland, Bathurst, Cabonne and Narromine, together with Barrick Cowal, Lachlan Catchment Management Authority, Northparkes Mines and Newcrest Mining met in Condobolin last Tuesday to discuss the possibility of establishing a regional Mining Trail.

The idea for the project is based on the successful Mining Trial in MacKay Queensland, which is comprised of a tourist route that follows the passage of coal from mines in the Bowen Basin to the place of export to overseas customers.

Ideally, the proposed Mining Trail for NSW would be a self drive touring route of both active and historic mining sites which would also highlight other attractions and destinations to encourage visitors to stay longer in the region.

It is hoped that the Mining Trail will help increase visitation to the region, encourage longer stays and increase money spent in rural towns, develop identity and overall product offer and improve understanding of the mining industry in Australia.

Several meetings have previously taken place to determine the feasibility and development of the Mining Trail concept for the Central NSW region, and the meeting in Condobolin was yet another positive step forward in developing the project.

• Condobolin Amateur Swimming Club members having fun and enjoying ice cream together at the annual Christmas party at the Condobolin Pool. OM

Congratulations to Sigourney Leal and Anthony Jones who are our Club Captains for 2011-2012 season.

Order of events for this week – 15m Freestyle, 15 BBB, 35m Freestyle, 35m Breaststroke, 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, ½ Medley & Full Medley

Congratulations to Matthew Brasnett, Harry Wald, Ryan Goodsell, Aurella White & Lane Doyle who swam their first 25m this week, well done.

Results from Thursday, 1st December 2011

15m Freestyle Aided Swimmers – Halley Hourigan, Sophie Jones, Errol Packham, Jesse Patton, Jesse Pawsey, Fred Stuckey, Conner Thompson, Elora Thompson, Joshua Thompson, Tayla Venables

15m Freestyle Unaided Swimmers – Lithmi Abeydeera 25.94, Jemina Donnelly 30.36, Gregory Doyle 26.00, Patrick Hourigan 34.44, Holly Jacobson 28.74, Jack Jones 22.89, Henry King 22.87, Juliet King 35.18, Riley Keen 23.46, Kiara Kendall 39.13, Josie May 25.69, Audrey Nesbitt 28.49, Rylee Ogston 21.88, Thomas Patton 24.96, Tilly Stuckey 27.45, Payden Thompson 18.66, Gabby White 37.63

25m Freestyle – Matthew Brasnett 45.30, Lane Doyle 41.43, Paige Eaton 40.75, Ryan Goodsell 35.54, Baileigh Honeysett 31.89, Lottie Jacobson 30.20, Declan King 33.25, Brady Noll 34.90, Mia Noll 40.13, Sarah Patton 30.08, Sally Slade 37.58, Sharni Swadling 38.23, Emily Thorpe 49.66, Jake Ticehurst 39.56, Harry Wald 40.85, Aurella White 32.88.

50m Freestyle – Gevindu Abeydeera 1.10.22, Jake Bowditch 1.04.01, Jessica Brasnett 1.13.89, Jesse Broad 36.68, Alessandra Chamen 52.39, Hamish Chamen 1.07.79, Lucas Chamen 57.84, Tilly Collins 1.13.23, Harry Crouch 33.78, Maddison Cusack 45.29, Ella Davis 43.23, Amelia Donnelly 1.23.06, Ashleigh Donnelly 1.27.60, Maddison Donnelly 1.02.89, Jackson Doyle 55.55, Megan Gibson 51.72, Emily Goodsell 56.71, Lewis Goodsell 30.71, Toby Goodsell 30.36, Charli-Jane Hocking 54.49, Damien Hocking 40.18, Makenzie Honeysett 42.90 , Alexander Howarth 41.26, Georgie Huggins 53.13, Anthony Jones 31.88, Brittany Jones 1.24.90, Cooper Jones 54.73, Rachel Keating 44.60, Caitlin Keen 1.13.91, Emma Kennedy 39.15, Kylie Kennedy 51.34, Samantha Kennedy 37.08, Tom Kennedy 34.71, Zara King 1.17.84, Darcy Leadbitter 54.57, Harrison Leadbitter 41.16, Sigourney Leal 39.21, Tate Leal 32.54, James Logan 51.16, Nelson Manwaring 1.02.12, Chelsea May 1.00.87, Gabbie Moran 51.72, Lisa McCallum 42.21, Tim McDonald 47.70, Duncan McLean 36.83, Cameron McMillan 58.23, Georgie McMillan 59.67, Destiny Nagle 1.03.80, Jack Nagle 47.46, Charlotte Nesbitt 1.09.13, Phar Nicholson 50.14, Reba Nicholson 42.38, Jesse Noll 1.28.80 Lara Noll 1.11.56, Tessa Noll 37.21, Hamish O’Halloran 43.90, Eliza Packham 47.62, Jacqueline Patton 56.59 Brent Powell 46.87, Darren Powell 42.11, Tim Powell 40.07, Jaimie Redenbach 48.98, Sophia Redenbach 1.04.28, Adrianne Richards 44.19, Kaylee Schleinzer 59.30, Will Slade 1.17.66, Matt Staniforth 50.66, Bradley Stewart 1.03.73, Seamus Stuckey 1.10.23, May Stuckey 1.02.37, Bella Swadling 37.92, Noah Swadling 58.90, Danielle Thompson 1.02.43, Holly Tomlinson 1.07.97, Alex Wald 55.84, Callum Wald 1.18.92, Nicholas Wald 50.56, Raphy Wald 52.69, Jarred Walmsley 50.40, Charlie Weber 38.69, Macaylee Weber 1.08.79, Samantha Weber 37.03, Jed White 29.91, Anika Wrigley 56.44

By Olivia McInnes

The Condobolin High School F1 Racing team, Illusion Engineering, has recently soared to new heights when they were crowned State Champions last week.
F1 racing in schools is an engineering and design action-learning project for students, now implemented in high schools around the world.
The project is a multi-faceted and multidisciplinary challenge, which provides students with the opportunity to learn about engineering principles such as physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, leadership/teamwork, media skills and project management.
It requires students from grades 5-12 to use industry level, 3-dimensional CAD/CAM and simulation technologies to design, analyse, test, manufacture and race miniature CO2 powered balsa wood Formula 1 cars.
Illusion Engineering, comprised of Jayden Krebs, Gregory Kuhn, Daniel Heinrich, Sarah Cusack and Joshua Coote recently attended the state finals at the Sydney University of Technology, where they won their age group title of State Champions.
In addition, they also won awards for the best port folio, best marketing and best engineering.
The team said it was a great experience, and that they thoroughly enjoyed learning all the new software and meeting new people.
CHS teacher and supervisor of the F1 project Dinesh Dodhy, said that the organisers of the state finals reported that the CHS team were very professional during the day.
“While other teams were getting tired, our team had a full system of rotation worked out and remained very professional at all times.
“The organisers were very impressed with their level of skills and knowledge,” he said.
CHS F1 Manufacturing Engineer, Jayden Krebs said he would encourage other students to get involved in the program: “it’s a great program and is very rewarding,” he said.
The team now have the task of redesigning their whole pit display for the National Finals in Adelaide in late February.
They would like to thank all of their current sponsors, and ask that if anyone else is interested in coming on board and sponsoring them, it would be a big help in getting them to the National Finals and it would be greatly appreciated.

• Callum Wald caught a friend at Milby Sports Day and Gymkhana on Saturday.

By Olivia McInnes

 Around 350 People from as far as Jindabyne and Picton made the pilgrimage to one much loved paddock west of Condobolin for the 59th Milby Sports Day and Gymkhana.

Milby Sports Day and Gymkhana is a unique rural event, fashioned around a family day out full of old fashioned fun for the kids as well as the adults.

The day kicked off with a range of sporting events for the horse enthusiasts, with Alex Wald winning the trophy for most successful rider.

There was plenty of entertainment for the kids including foot races, face painting, jumping castle, merry go round and the traditional rooster chase.

There was also the exclusive ping pong ball drop, where a plane flew over head dropping a load of ping pong balls ,each with a monetary value which the kids could then cash in at the Milby Lolly Shop.

Later in the evening, the crowd was enthralled with the thrills and spills of the Milby Rodeo which was judged by former bull rider Les Parnaby who flew in from Saudi Arabia just to make the event.

The poddy calf ride was won by local Harry Crouch, and the steer ride by Lance Brown who then had to turn around and attempt to ride the feature steer at which he made a gallant attempt.

Member of the Australian Light Horse Association, Jimmy Rogers provided some amusement of his own: firstly with a fantastic tent pegging display and later with some of his much relished tales.

Local band ‘3rd Base then entertained partygoers until the early hours of the morning, with several encores requested as well as a surprise midnight proposal.

Organiser for the event Kerry Sides said that the committee thought Milby could have been a wash out after the storm in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“It turned out to be an extremely successful day,” said Kerry, “everyone had a fantastic time”.

“We want to thank all of our sponsors because without them there’s no way we’d be able to pull it off,” she said.

• Left to right: Mark Whitla & Trevor Ross (CJRL), Megan Henley (Kimberley Metals), Fiona Doyle & Zena Jones (Netball Assoc), Mick Hanlon (GM Kimberley Metals), Monique Whitbread & Michael Leal (Condobolin Auto sports). KT.

A very helpful sum of $4,500 was divided between three lucky junior sporting clubs- Condobolin Junior Rugby league, Condobolin Netball association and Condobolin Auto Sports Club.

The funds were raised at a recent Mineral Hill Charity Golf day held at the Condobolin Sports Club. Coordinator of the day, Megan Henley said, “The aim of the donations is to help develop junior sport in town. I’d like to thank all our sponsors and all the people who participated.”

Every year the charity is aiming to support a different selection of junior sporting groups.

“… The friend of man, the friend of truth

The friend of age and guide of youth

Few hearts like his with virtue warmed

Few heads with knowledge so informed”

These lines from Robert Burns well describe Kevin Brady, who died in Condobolin on 11th September, 2011. He lived his whole 84 years within a 10 mile radius of his beloved Condobolin, and the Lachlan River, and was known for his great passion for, and commitment to, his family, his community, his love of music and poetry and the beauty of the English language, in which he was highly accomplished.

Kevin Noel Brady was born in Condobolin on 16 December, 1926, the eldest child and only son of Tom and Clarice Brady, and much loved brother of Pat Hartcher, Mary Benbow (dec’d), Denise Stubbs and Carolyn Allen. His grandparents, Terence and Catherine Brady and Henry and Eliza Roberts were not only pioneers in farming and business in Condobolin, but were also involved in the Municipal Council, various sporting associations and St Joseph’s Catholic Church. In 1938 Kevin and his cousin Terry were the first altar boys to set the Brady bell, donated by their grandfather, a-ringing in the church tower.

Kevin’s formal education began in 1935 through Blackfriar’s Correspondence, and then until 1940 he made the daily 5 mile trek on his pony, or in the sulky with his sisters, to St Joseph’s Convent School. It was here that he acquired not only a love of learning, but a sense of duty, which stood him in good stead all his life.

In 1940 Kevin went to St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill. He went on to do very well academically and, much to his surprise, at boxing as his chosen sport. He loved his Alma Mater and was delighted that his son and grandsons followed him there, and was an enthusiastic Joey’s Old boy.

Armed with his Intermediate Certificate, Kevin returned to Condobolin and life on the land. He worked on the family properties, “Waitohi”, “Ruby” and “Tilga” with his father Tom and Uncle Jack, producing merino wool and growing irrigation crops. In his memoirs he describes being first a roustabout and later the wool classer at “Tilga” and “Waitohi” during the shearing, and other aspects of life on the farm – “Albert Khel was the first man to show me how to handle the reins with a horse team. He sold my father the first pony I ever owned. Jack Ingram taught me to roll a smoke and whistle through my teeth – a sheep dog could hear me half a mile away! Smacker Smith broke me into the hard yakka of bale tying on a Lucerne press. In one day at “Ruby” he and I tied a bit over 400 bales, which was something of a record at the time.”

In 1947 Kevin joined the Condobolin Show Society and began a lifetime of dedication to the Condobolin community. He went on to become Show President in 1971-72, and in 1987 was awarded the rare honour of being made a Show Patron. Even after his retirement from the committee in 1995, he continued his interest in the Show, in fact in 66 years, the only Show he missed was in August 2011, two weeks before he died.

In the 1950s, Kevin did a course in Meetings and Procedure and Public Speaking. He was a stickler for correctness in the conduct of meetings and the making of speeches, and came to be a master of both in the ensuing years.

In 1954 he became the third generation of Brady men to serve on the Municipal Council, which he continued until 1964. In 1958 he became a Director of the Condobolin Hospital, becoming Chairman of the Board in 1962. He still holds the record as the youngest man to hold chairmanship of a hospital board in NSW.

In the mid 1950s he was one of the founding members of the Western Round-Up Committee, and his love of horses led to his involvement in establishing the Condobolin Pony Club in the early 1960s. He delighted in his role as qualified instructor, and in later years as a Patron of the Club.

During the 1960s Kevin enjoyed his membership of the Condobolin Bowling Club, serving on the committee for several years. In 1967 he, Wal Ticehurst, Dick Johnson and John Faulkiner were part of the Grade IV Pennants side who, having won the Zone flag, travelled to Sydney to play for the State flag.

In the 1970s Kevin joined the Condobolin Lions Club, an organization which entirely suited his philosophy of community service. For twenty-five years, two as President, he helped organize and fund projects such as the Titmus Eye Testing program, which tested primary school children in the Lachlan Shire for eye problems; the donation of a Slit machine to the hospital for diagnostic eye testing; a new humidicrib for the maternity unit, a donation for new x-ray equipment as well as many other projects. He and Bid attended interstate and international Lions conferences, including Hong Kong in 1992, when they were en route to their grand tour of the UK and Ireland.

In his later years, Kevin was an active member and President of the Condobolin Men’s Probus Club, and thoroughly enjoyed their activities and excursions.

One of his greatest passions was the Condobolin Historical Society. He loved the beauty of history, and was a font of knowledge as far as Condobolin was concerned. Under his presidency, the Society enjoyed many excursions to local historical sites, such as Eremeran Station, the Overflow or the old Cobb & Co route from Condobolin to Euabalong, enhanced by his knowledgeable commentary. He was involved in writing many historical papers on Condobolin on topics such as Morton’s Crossing, Condobolin street names and the infamous Court House Ballot marbles scandal, to name a few. In 2009 Kevin was honoured with Life Membership of the Historical Society.

During the post war years, Kevin developed his love of music, carrying on a tradition inherited from a musical family. He had a beautiful tenor voice and was soon involved in the church choir, singing three and four-part harmonies, and the solo tenor part of Webb’s Mass in G, which remained one of his all-time favourites. He was also involved in the local Concert Party, a group of local musicians who travelled around performing all over the district, raising money for war loans and Red Cross. In 2006 Kevin was one of the founding members of the Condobolin Sing Australia choir. In 2009, Kevin and Biddy enjoyed the thrill of singing in the Sydney Philharmonic Choir’s performance of Hayden’s “Creation” at the Sydney Opera House, but his greatest joy was singing with, and listening to, his children and grandchildren performing much loved family favourites. He had a wide and diverse taste and repertoire, ranging from the classics and church music through Gilbert and Sullivan, Irish and American folk music, to musicals from the 1940s to the present day. As well as being musically gifted, Kevin had a talent for reciting poetry with brilliant accents and comic timing. To hear him recite “Albert and the Lion” in pure Cockney, or “The Christening” in broad Irish brogue, or any of Banjo Paterson or Henry Lawson, was to enjoy a rare treat.

Kevin loved a beer and the conviviality of the bar, the good company of men. His kind, gentle nature and charming humour won him many, many friends.

It is said that the greatest gift a man can give his children is to love their mother, and this was surely the greatest legacy of Kevin’s life. Of all his achievements, it was his family and the loving home life that he and Bid created over the 61 years of their marriage that was the pride and joy of his life. He was loving and much beloved, not only by his children and their spouses, Paul and Judy Brady, Annie and John Joseph and Jill and the late Chris Slennett, his nine grandchildren and great grandson, but also by his large extended family and network of friends.

The Condobolin community has lost one of its finest sons.

Valè – Kevin Brady