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Voices of the Hunter

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Jack Delaney

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Stella Bradstreet

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Voices of the Hunter

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Cessnock, NSW

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Roy Harden - Mineworker and Aberdare Taxi Driver. Recorded 4 August 1982. Part 1/2.

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SummaryTAPE 117A Roy Harden Recorded 4 August 1982 Part 1 of 2

0:35
Born in Cessnock in 1923. Father was Robert, born at West Wallsend.

Mother was Muriel Thompson, born in Cessnock. Father was Chris Thompson, President of Aberdare Central Lodge for 15 years – Roy went to West Cessnock Primary. He finished up at Moore Park and Rose Bay Heights and then in Cairns and Nelson Bay. His father was mining at Aberdare and was out longest during the Depression. His family lived in tent.

There were five tents at Anna Bay. Mr Leonard took them up in his car which was a cab. Ab Kirk, Scotty McGill. These cab drivers were competition to the bus service (like Ditton and Hill).

5:05
Went back to Cessnock and lasted two years. He wanted to be a carpenter.

His early career as a mechanic. White Way Garage. 10 bob a week. Don Bibbins. Married to Cherry’s. Dick Sadler also worked there. Les Osher.

Lance Ranclaud – He worked for Lance for a couple of years in 1939. Petrol was 1/6 a gallon during depression.

He took over “as slushy” from Kevin Barlow working at Bobby Smith’s hotel for 12 months. Aged 17 he ran the saloon bar two nights a week. The day he turned 18 his dad got him a job in the pit. At Central as a probationary fitter/engineer. He ended up clipping “on pit bottom”. Sid Bowden. A job came up in the machine section with boss George Lowe.

Hemingway wouldn’t let him progress. He couldn’t get out of the mine. War Loan Committee. Jack Baddeley. He helped Roy to get out of the mine.

In the air force at 6/- a day. He was a trainee fitter at 10/- a day. He married Barb who worked for Toby Kemp. They married when she was 18 and he was 21 and he got another 4/- a day extra.

He then worked 2 days for Lance 5 pounds a week. He then went to work for Charlie Grey - £6 18/- a week Award wage. He was there 3 years. After that he drove for Deluxe cabs working 18 hours, he did this for 2 years. Roy was involved with the ALP “one man one job”.

19:35
Roy had 5 jobs at once. He wanted to be a politician "champion of rights" – When the Independents got into power – Tommy McGuire – Taxi Cab Plates (£1,000 each) – crooked individuals and back handed operators – the lack of morals in political life. He then moved onto a garage for Deluxe Cabs. He left and went to Extended for 2 years as a fitter. Bert Palmer the boss. There 2 years until he built a milk truck and wanted to run his own business. He sold his mother’s house and bought the milk run.

He found a milk run at Avoca Beach. They lived in a tent initially starting the milk run at 3.30am till 7am and repaired tractors during the rest of the day. One day he bought a garage off Bob Brown, a taxi garage for £6,000. He bought it off (financier) Neptune. He turned it into a successful business for twenty years “till the bomb dropped”.

29:45
Barbara’s grandfather, Jack Moran – a ganger. Barbara’s mother was a Moran. His will £106. Mainwaring/Hines. Family links to Ces Sheridan.

He was the 4th person given Honorary Membership to Rotary with Presidency in 1971 following Russ Hamilton. Hospital Board till 1977 – Also in rotary Peter O’Neill and Laurie O’Murphy.

Car sales business – Bradstreets – Bill Harrigan – Austin agency – Chrysler/Dodge dealership -Peugeot (unable to sell it for 12 months) – Simca “was a mechanical marvel”. He was third top sales in NSW. They put him on his feet. In 1962 The Valiant revolutionised the car game.

Roy’s sporting interests.

Bill Leckie. His mother, Sarah Leckie, was Roy’s grandad’s sister.

43:38
End Tape 117A Part 1 of 2 Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectWest Wallsend (N.S.W.).Cessnock District HospitalDe Luxe and Red Cab Co-Operative Trading SocietyTaxicabs -- New South Wales -- SydneyHarden, Roy Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates ToStella Bradstreet Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorHarden, RoyDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010 Last edited by: Dave Trimble

CollectionVoices of the HunterPlaceCessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created4th August 1982Location^[1]Cessnock Hospital Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

^[2]West Wallsend Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier117A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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