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Voices of the Hunter

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Jack Delaney

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Voices of the Hunter

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Earl Sternbeck (1896-1984) - Proprietor, Ambulance driver, Cessnock. Recorded 4 November 1982. Part 1/4

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SummaryEARL STERNBECK
Recorded 4 November 1982
Part 1 of 4

1:00
The Rector - the Reverend Bonges. The Campbell family was promised land in Cessnock in 1925. In 1934 after they made improvements in the district they received land under the old title. There was no evidence of their old buildings when Earl came to Cessnock. (While this is what Earl said – the dates don’t seem correct – they could be a century out.)

2:29
Location of McGraine's property

2:34
George Brown was the neighbour

4:06
Cessnock boasted two homes in 1853 - one where the hospital is and the other was on the corner of Hickey and Edith Street.

4:27
Proposal for Anglican church in 1866

4:37
Anglican service held at Birmingham's home

4:49
Mr Birmingham's residence was just the other side of the aerodrome, on the flat going up to the vineyard. That was where the first church was built. Mr Birmingham possibly lived in Hickey Street. Mr Kenny, the saddler in Main Street, took over the residence.

6:31
Initially laymen came out from West Maitland to conduct the services. After the flood in 1856 clergy travelled from Lochinvar to Birmingham's place.

6:55
The men of the district made the decision in 1857 to build church from forest timbers and pit sawed it. It served the Pokolbin region.

7:48
Description of original St. Luke's church which used no nails - it measured 36ft x 14ft x 10ft. The furniture was built of cedar. It had a shingled roof.

8:22
Village of Cessnock boasted 11 people with about 100 in the outlying area. The people travelled by horse and buggy and spring carts or they walked.

8:42
Decision to build new church in 1890 near the present cemetery.

9:32
St. Luke's dedicated by Bishop June 20th 1891

9:45
George Stanton, Bishop of Newcastle. It was used for a long time after the present St John's was built. It was then moved to Bellbird.

10:09
Location of early coal bore, George Brown.

11:32
Recalls flooding of church ground and washing away his grape vines.

12:07
Jack Gordon - church warden.

14:50
Peggy Nicholls - a woman with a wonderful memory who made exceptional needlework is remembered by Earl. She died aged 96 at about this time. Earl was present at her funeral and "addressed his remarks to the young ones" - the changes that had taken place during the period that she was on this earth. Electric light, radio, motor cars, aeroplanes (1900), men had arrived on the moon, TV, washing machines. A dramatic change.

15:14
John Cody and Mr Bailey also died around the time of the interview. Jack reminds Earl that he had lived through big changes too. It was all hard work in his early days. Only Sunday was the only day off. Saturday was a day of work. Sunday was the important day - it was for church

19:05
Stan Evans was the first chemist. Tom Evans, his son was taken to Sunday School. Stan bought his first car, a 1910 Upmobile which Earl used to look after. Mrs Edmonds would have a Sunday picnic basket ready and they'd travel out to Luskintyre or Eldersley where Stan would do a bit of fishing. They travelled on the Greta Road.

20:28
John Boland had a place on Deadman's Creek 20:42 Recollection of early Keinbah village with a few houses. There was a church there.
It was a parish in itself including Lochinvar, Rothbury, Keinbah. The Wollombi parish took in Cessnock. Earl went to Sunday School at Wollombi, he taught Sunday School, he and his wife were married in 1920 and their daughter was christened and married there.

21:48
Ted Sams' blacksmith's shop on Wollombi Road on the south end of Bridges Hill. 13th 1910

23:33
The Reverend Musgrave was in charge of the parish at Wollombi and Cessnock. Cessnock became a provisional district and the Reverend Bonges was in charge of the Wollombi area in 1908. Beginning of new Anglican church on the 3rd of September 1909.

24:13
The foundation stone was laid by the Rev. Goldingbird, who was the Dean of Newcastle. One of Earl's mother's sisters was the housekeeper of the family (she was a Fernance). There were 150 people at the laying of the stone.

24:57
Danny Howard was possibly the bricklayer involved in the building of the church. The bricks came from Allandale Road at the pottery.

25:40
In 1911 Cessnock became its own parish with the Rev. Bonges   followed by Rev. Rogers. Rev. W.S. Macleod, Rev. G.N. Portus

26:27
Rev. W.R. Campbell, Rev. C.N. Stretch

26:28
Rev. A.N. Venn who also married Earl and his wife,

26:52
Rev. C.R. King, Rev. H.P. Hutrell, Rev. A.P. Elkin (the historian)

29:08
Rev. G.B. Stephenson, Rev L. Acecof(?), Rev. W. Hume, Canon R. Campbell, Rev. M. Redman, Rev. R. McCulloch, Rev. N. Pullen.   Rev. Douglas, Rev. Bailey.

29:57
Rev. Bill Childs - he was a memorable non-denominationalist who was very generous. He set a good example and he didn't have to talk - he showed how to live. Earl talks about his wife's illness. "You can't do for everybody, the things you liked to do."

35:23
The Rev. Withey from Wollombi married Earl's parents, and also christened Earl. He was a short fellow who travelled around horseback.

37:13
Recollection of 1929 Miners' Lockout. [Rothbury Riots] A time when he and his brother bought their father out of the business on the 5th of May 1929. It was a hard time for the business.

37:55
How church survived during Depression - the clergy accepted their stipends according to what was appropriate at the time.

39:00
His father would go to Sam Snape's Union Sheds and donate food to needy.

40:14
Jack Gordon and George Brown contributed to the support of the clergy.

40:55
The church was in debt until Rev. Max Redman came.

41:09
Recalls renovations to Rectory - "Max and his wife were two wonderful people. Mrs Redman was as much the rector as Max. She was a Miss Andrews from Singleton."

42:13
Recalls Church of England Ball - the women were hard workers. The Ball was the event of the year. There were three sittings for the meals.

42:40
The original Church of England church hall was built in the 1920's - it was built where the Apex Park is today. It was a big hall.

43:05
Phelan's travelling picture show - it was a motor vehicle with rubber tyres and was steam driven. They came from Wallsend.

Tape duration: 43:38 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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

SubjectAnglican Church of Australia -- New South Wales -- CessnockChurch of England in Australia. Diocese of Newcastle.Hunter River Valley (N.S.W.).Cessnock region (N.S.W.) -- Church history.Cessnock (N.S.W.)St Luke's ChurchSternbeck, Earl Stanley, 1896-1984 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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

CreatorSternbeck, Earl Stanley, 1896-1984Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PlaceCessnock, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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

^[2]Pokolbin, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier276A Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Job Identifier276A

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