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Athel D'Ombrain (1901-1985) - optical dispenser, naturalist, photographer. Recorded 12 July 1983. Part 2/2.
79B Athel D’Ombrain Part 2 of 2. Recorded 12 July 1983
6:13
Alan Bennett runs the Pender Brothers work.
7:06
Involved with the Newcastle Herald after seeing interesting things on the train and would write something that went into the Herald without pay. Was offered a weekly part in the Herald starting at 4 quid.
9:53
Recollects the South Maitland Railway fire in 1931. The floods affected the railway in 1931, 1949 and 1955. The 1948 flood kept Athel from getting to Maitland. Marcus Miller was driving the duck. “Totty” Young and Frank Sheriff were on the back and pulled Athel up for a ride, including a police man on the back. A chemist put Athel up for the night until he could completely get home.
21:26
Recollection of 1955 Maitland flood, Athel was loading sand on to sand bags, Geoff Mead told Athel’s wife if they were worried they could spend the night at his house. Norm Guy told Athel and Geoff’s house there was no way he could get back home to get some blankets. They were with Geoff for a week.
24:41
Frank Dickson lost his wife in the flood. The Mitchell family were on the top of their house and got washed under the bridge. In 1844 St John’s [Pro] Cathedral, Maitland was built. They used to go dancing in the Pro-Cathedral.
28:18
Married at Maitland, 1936 to Esme Drew. They came from Newcastle, her family had a shop at Clarencetown. She worked on the exchange at Newcastle.
28:59
Wendy Swan was a Hewer, she married and divorced Tony Hewer. She was the manager of Gale Brothers in Newcastle. She does a lot of national trust. Meredith Walker is also with the National Trust work.
31:29
Jim Comerford received a copy of Athel’s photo of a cricket team containing Archie Jackson, Bill and Harold Johnson. Bill Gollan was a school teacher and wrote for the tribune. Idesville’s store was popular for the miner’s. Clarrie Watkins had an aviary and was a baker.
36:29
Joy Poole is one of the teachers at Ellalong.
42:17
End (Tape 79/Side B) Part 2 of 2.
SubjectD'Ombrain, Athel, 1901-1985Maitland (N.S.W.)PhotographyPersonJack DelaneyDepicts or Relates ToJoyce Poole - Principal, Ellalong Public School. Recorded 9 March 1984. Part 1/1. The Athel D'Ombrain Photographic ArchiveCreatorD'Ombrain, Athel, 1901-1985Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010PlaceMaitland, NSWCessnock, NSWDate Created12th July 1983Location[1] Maitland, NSWIdentifier079B