Bertha Lewis née Leatham (1912-1998) - Cessnock Telephone Exchange operator. 30 May 1981. Part 1/1.

155B  BERTHA LEWIS  Recorded  30 May 1981. Part 1/1.

0:36 
Married Rab, July 1931
George Leatham (father) (Geordie)
Location of residence when child – Her family originally lived in Anzac Ave. The Pendleburys lived opposite Anstey Street, Auntie Betsy Kearsley opposite George Street and her family lived opposite Comfort Avenue. That’s all there was living in that area. The house is still there.

1:15 
Jack Wilson – he was there in 1924.
Born 1912.
Tom Pendlebury.

2:13 
Anne Margaret.
Brian Rooney.
Eddie Pendlebury – worked at The Store and ran parties for kids (possibly Church groups). The Oaks towards the golf club.

4:15 
Father born in Yorkshire, England – he came out when he was 5. He originally lived at Greta – her grandfather possibly died in a mine at Greta. His wife married again. Her married name was then Hawkesley and they went to Sydney.
Father settled at Greta – very involved in The Store and the elections. He helped to build the tennis courts.
Johnson (mother's maiden name).

5:03 
Albert Leatham (brother) worked for Nesca.
Harry Kearsley – the Kearsleys are uncles and aunts.
Alice Pendlebury.

5:39 
Betsy Wilkinson – they had the land behind in Anzac Ave and her Dad’s mother may have been a Wilkinson. It belonged to the Wilkinsons but was called “Kearsley’s Paddocks”.
John Phee – Anne Margaret’s husband. She has done genealogy on the Phees and the Leathams. The Hooles.
Bill Kearsley – he died in Sydney. He was the member for either Cessnock or the area and Kearsley township was named after him.

10:02 
Amy Nixon married Eddie Pendlebury.
Vi Winning married Tom Pendlebury.
Walter Winning, Jack Winning – chemists at St James Railway Station.

14:29 
She worked at the Exchange at 16. Bessie Calhoun.
Melissa Lightfoot.
Sylvia Gray.

15:04 
Olive Gray
Ernie Murphy married Olive. When she was there, there were 500 subscribers.
Terry Candish was the nightboy at the Exchange.
Bertha was going to teach music which she did for a while but passed her exams and worked for the Cessnock Telephone Exchange 1912 started. It was more for sending telegraphs. The shops were in Main Street. Her parents had twin girls who are buried in the cemetery at Kurri.
John Phee – electrician with the Maritime Services Board.
Albert Hawkins – land owner.

23:28 
Cessnock land auction sales, 1905-25 Special trains were arranged to bring people to the Paxton land sales. Cruickshank St.
The Red Inn, Cessnock 1845 built before the Cessnock Inn. 1853.
George Bridge – land owner.

24:38 
Michael Carroll – first publican, brother-in-law of George McGraine.
Clive Picton – took over the inn and the first school.
Ces Love – early residents. The Leathams and their male heirs.

26:13 
Bill Lewis, Flo Lewis – Rab’s siblings.
Norman Lewis.
Gregory Lewis (son).

28:18 
Aunty Betsy Kearsley had two sons - Harry Kearsley, Bernie Kearsley.
George Bird bought the old Kearsley House. The boats were built in Clarence Town and Seaham (where they were caulked?) Discussion about old furniture.
Myra Isles – a music teacher. Aunty Isles was Bertha’s dad’s aunty.

34:03 
Harry Isles – another Isles family.
Earl Stephenson.
Roy Stephenson – relatives of the Wilkinson family. The McBeths.

35:37 
Ben Gilmore – Rab’s cousin. She thinks Benny’s mother and Rab’s father were brother and sister. Aunty Bertha Gilmore.
Lorna McGeachie – music teacher.
Mabel Carter – post office worker.
George Carter.

40:38
End (Tape 155/Side B)

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