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Ken Russell (1910-1998) - Water Board Worker. Recorded 10 January 1981. Part 1/1.
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SummaryKEN RUSSELL
Recorded 10 January 1981
Part 1 of 1
0:05
Employed as the Turn Cock for the Water Board Cessnock.
0:37
Ken was born in Maitland 1910. His father worked at Walcha and in 1916 he got a job clearing the weeds at Neath Pumping Station and shifted to Neath in 1917 – then all bag humpies. Andrew Linton was his father- in- law. Ken lived behind Sam McCord’s shop between 1917 to 1920. His father worked till 1940 when Ken took it over after he retired. Ken was in Newcastle from 1937 – 1941. He started at the Water Board aged 16 as a “nipper” or messenger. He started on the pipeline near the baths to Marlborough Road. It finished in 1927. They used to pump from Neath to Pelton – in 1922 they pushed it out to Kitchener.
The worst split was the blow out at Kitchener. The pipe would get pin holes. Wooden plugs had to be put in. This was renewed in the 50’s.
In 1950 the cement lining of the pipes was done.
Pumping to Neath Reservoir which fed Cessnock and Bellbird. It was continuous pumping. Buttai and Stoney Pinch. To empty the reservoir it had to be scoured clean, emptying 29mil gal of water, letting it go down the hill.
Aged 18 he was on the 12" line.
Frank Butler from Maitland took over after Ken Russell – Jeff Wilson became an industrial officer retiring in 1970.
Bill Johnman married Bob White’s daughter. Joe Risby, George Buckley (pub in Maitland), Gordon Grey, Stan Reyne, Colin Adams, Tom Taylor (also a Turn Cock). Milton Grey.
Designing and planning the water lines. Purification is done before it comes to the user. Morisset, Munmorah, Waratah, Grahamstown. Hard water, water glass added to soften the water, Chichester Dam 1924.
19:00
Ken’s wife (Linton) was born in Minmi– her father was born Minmi. 10 in the family. Alex, Angus, James, Huey (son of Alec) – her brothers. The Carsons - Sam and Tommy.
Ken had a sister who married his wife’s brother, Alec in 1920. Ken and his wife had one son. The football teams in Neath – the Drinkwaters and the Bytheways.
Tom Searson, a Neath fellow. The Dicks. “Stumpy” Jim Bernard. The story of the girls who came to have their fortunes told by Mrs Bernard – "Stumpy" answered the door…. Nell Burnett – her son fishing at Hexham – "the mosquitoes would pull you out of bed".
Ken retired 6 years ago – the changes brought in to the supply of water – “as a boss you’re not supposed to touch any tools”. The Water Board organised the sewerage/septic. Health regulations. (At the time of the interview it was $2,000 to get the septic on).
31:55
Herbie Dolman guard on the trains used to chase them. Harry Howard. Stationmaster Reg Fielding. Abermain Reservoir near the school built in the late 70’s. Pipelines to Heddon Greta.
Wooden pipes from England.
Ken’s father was laying (4" pipes) pipes in 1912. Tom and Joe Sampy. Tom went to BHP as a shunter.
Jack thinks Charles Buckley (his son George Buckley) was the first passenger train driver. (Molly was C. Buckley’s wife).
41:53
End Tape 122B Part 1 of 1
Russell, Kenneth Norman, 1910-1998PersonJack DelaneyDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010PlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Kitchener, NSWIdentifier122B
Recorded 10 January 1981
Part 1 of 1
0:05
Employed as the Turn Cock for the Water Board Cessnock.
0:37
Ken was born in Maitland 1910. His father worked at Walcha and in 1916 he got a job clearing the weeds at Neath Pumping Station and shifted to Neath in 1917 – then all bag humpies. Andrew Linton was his father- in- law. Ken lived behind Sam McCord’s shop between 1917 to 1920. His father worked till 1940 when Ken took it over after he retired. Ken was in Newcastle from 1937 – 1941. He started at the Water Board aged 16 as a “nipper” or messenger. He started on the pipeline near the baths to Marlborough Road. It finished in 1927. They used to pump from Neath to Pelton – in 1922 they pushed it out to Kitchener.
The worst split was the blow out at Kitchener. The pipe would get pin holes. Wooden plugs had to be put in. This was renewed in the 50’s.
In 1950 the cement lining of the pipes was done.
Pumping to Neath Reservoir which fed Cessnock and Bellbird. It was continuous pumping. Buttai and Stoney Pinch. To empty the reservoir it had to be scoured clean, emptying 29mil gal of water, letting it go down the hill.
Aged 18 he was on the 12" line.
Frank Butler from Maitland took over after Ken Russell – Jeff Wilson became an industrial officer retiring in 1970.
Bill Johnman married Bob White’s daughter. Joe Risby, George Buckley (pub in Maitland), Gordon Grey, Stan Reyne, Colin Adams, Tom Taylor (also a Turn Cock). Milton Grey.
Designing and planning the water lines. Purification is done before it comes to the user. Morisset, Munmorah, Waratah, Grahamstown. Hard water, water glass added to soften the water, Chichester Dam 1924.
19:00
Ken’s wife (Linton) was born in Minmi– her father was born Minmi. 10 in the family. Alex, Angus, James, Huey (son of Alec) – her brothers. The Carsons - Sam and Tommy.
Ken had a sister who married his wife’s brother, Alec in 1920. Ken and his wife had one son. The football teams in Neath – the Drinkwaters and the Bytheways.
Tom Searson, a Neath fellow. The Dicks. “Stumpy” Jim Bernard. The story of the girls who came to have their fortunes told by Mrs Bernard – "Stumpy" answered the door…. Nell Burnett – her son fishing at Hexham – "the mosquitoes would pull you out of bed".
Ken retired 6 years ago – the changes brought in to the supply of water – “as a boss you’re not supposed to touch any tools”. The Water Board organised the sewerage/septic. Health regulations. (At the time of the interview it was $2,000 to get the septic on).
31:55
Herbie Dolman guard on the trains used to chase them. Harry Howard. Stationmaster Reg Fielding. Abermain Reservoir near the school built in the late 70’s. Pipelines to Heddon Greta.
Wooden pipes from England.
Ken’s father was laying (4" pipes) pipes in 1912. Tom and Joe Sampy. Tom went to BHP as a shunter.
Jack thinks Charles Buckley (his son George Buckley) was the first passenger train driver. (Molly was C. Buckley’s wife).
41:53
End Tape 122B Part 1 of 1
Russell, Kenneth Norman, 1910-1998PersonJack DelaneyDelaney, Jack, 1919-2010PlaceCessnock, NSWLocation[1] Kitchener, NSWIdentifier122Bloading google map....
Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010, Ken Russell (1910-1998) - Water Board Worker. Recorded 10 January 1981. Part 1/1. , [122B]. Living Histories, accessed 30/11/2023, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/55710