Trove Tuesday - Aunty Mary

My Aunty Mary would have been ninety-seven yesterday. I have many fond memories of Mary Aileen Curry (1923-2014) but one of my favourites is when I was flower girl at her wedding to Edward Corbett in 1957. I was so honoured to be part of this occasion and took this role seriously but, as the event did not make the local press, I have to rely on my memories and photographs.

Jill and Mary, April 1957

Trove has given me a few insights into Aunty Mary's earlier life.

1926 'Spencer.', The Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate (NSW : 1906 - 1954), 18 February, p. 3. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161110901

This short snip reports on the first major challenge young Mary faced. She just took this disability in her stride and forged ahead with a happy and successful life.

1937 'DIOCESE OF BATHURST', National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), 28 January, p. 4. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160351086

The Currys were a Catholic family, until I found this snip, I thought that the name of the school that Mary and her siblings attended was different from the one cited in this article. I was obviously getting confused with the name of their Parish Church. The results above are for religious knowledge exams in the Diocese of Bathurst.

1938 'DIOCESE OF BATHURST', National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), 19 January, p. 6. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160703622

.

Twelve months later the tables had turned with Uncle Tom scoring 81 in the religious knowledge exams. I know that Aunty Mary left school after her third year of secondary education. I wonder where she worked between then and 1942. There is mention in Trove of a Nurse M. Curry at Canowindra in 1939, perhaps that was Mary.

1942 'About People', The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), 13 October, p. 2. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219510430

Mary used to talk about working in Forbes but I didn't know when this started and for whom she worked.

1942 'About People', The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), 24 December, p. 2. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219516509

1945 'About People', The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), 5 January, p. 2. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218691812

I remember this story as Aunty Mary told me that my Dad sent her money to hep buy replacement clothing which may have been hard to come by in the war years. 

1945 'Advertising', The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), 5 January, p. 5. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218691823

So Mary was working with Goldsborough Mort before she moved to Sydney.

1945 'About People', The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), 26 January, p. 4. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218694258

I didn't know that Mary was a VAD volunteer during World War Two. 

1948 'About People', The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), 12 March, p. 2. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218418670

With her younger sister, Kathleen, Mary moved to Sydney to work at Goldsborough Mort, this article tells me it was by 1948. As there was a post-war shortage of rental accommodation in Sydney Mary and Kath, who lived in Springfield Avenue, vacated their flat so that after I was born my parents could have a place of their own for our family. 

1948 'About People', The Forbes Advocate (NSW : 1911 - 1954), 3 February, p. 6. , viewed 26 May 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218415232

 No doubt Mary enjoyed this opportunity to return to Forbes and catch up with friends.

I previously blogged about Aunty Mary here: https://geniaus.blogspot.com/2014/07/vale-aunty-mary.html

Those of us who have relatives from rural areas are fortunate that local newspapers that are digitised on Trove give us glimpses into their lives. 

Mary Tierney 1887-1977

Remembering my Nanna Mary Curry (nee Tierney) whose was born on May 18, 1887.

Mary Tierney c1887

Aren't I lucky to have a baby photo of my Grandmother!

Happy Birthday Allan

Updating a post from 2012

Remembering my Dad, Allan John Curry 1919-2001, who would have been 98 today. 

Young Allan doesn't look too happy in this photo. The white tie suggests it might have been his First Communion or Confirmation Day - he never was fond of going to Church. 

Allan John Curry

Trove Tuesday - The Rivers

Genies know that it pays to revisit one's Trove searches again and again.

My Dad grew up around the NSW country town of Canowindra where his father, Tom Curry, was a farmer. I knew that Grandpa managed a property called Fairview and another called Benevento in the district but until a few minutes ago did not know that in 1932 he also managed a property called The Rivers.

Today I ran the Trove search "Curry Canowindra" to see if I could find any new stories on the family. The first post blew me away as it described in great detail the property where the family worked, told me about my grandfather's activities and delivered a photo of Grandpa. The photo is very precious as we have very few closeup images of Tom. I can see some family resemblances in the picture even though it is of poor quality.

1932 'PLENTY OF LUCERNE', The Farmer and Settler (Sydney, NSW : 1906 - 1955), 26 May, p. 9. , viewed 29 May 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117352000

The post is rather long so I have just shared the first paragraphs and the photo. The remainder can be read here: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117352000.

Who is Annie Dowd d 1970?

In a bundle of my Dad's stuff I found a memorial card for an Annie Dowd who died on 17th January 1970. On checking my family files I found no information about Annie so I wondered Who was Annie Dowd and if she was a family member.

The card gave me a name and date of death and from its format I deduced that Annie was a Catholic. I assume that Annie was someone known to Dad and his family.

My first stop was the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages index. There I found one Annie Dowd death in 1970. This looked promising as Dad grew up around Cowra where the death was registered. 

Dad lived nearby on Rivers Road.

Checking out the Australian Electoral Rolls on Ancestry showed that Annie was living at The Rivers, in Canowindra (my Dad's home town) with William Joseph Dowd.

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Original data: Australian Electoral Commission. [Electoral roll]

Back at the NSW BDM Index I found Annie's Marriage to William and that her maiden name was Rousch. I remember my grandmother and aunts talking about the Rousch family who were friends and neighbours. I then knew why this card was in my father's stuff as it related to someone in the family network.

A further Registry index search brought up Annie's birth.

It was time for Trove. An article in a local newspaper (1939 'GOOLAGONG.', The Grenfell Record and Lachlan District Advertiser (NSW : 1876 - 1951), 29 June, p. 2. , viewed 05 Oct 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115444714) confirmed a few things about Annie. 

It told me her father was John, that she married William Dowd in the Catholic Church at Canowindra and Confirmed that The Rivers was the Rousch family property. It also told me that Annie was known as Doone.

Further hunting in Trove found several snippets about Annie's activities including this photo of her with William Dowd in 1938.

1938 'READY FOR THE SHOW', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 8 April, p. 3. (LATE FINAL EXTRA), viewed 05 Oct 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229867809

The caption for the photo read "Atmosphere of the Royal Show, With bundles of hay to bed down cattle.Miss Doone Rousch and Mr. W. Dowd. of The Rivers, Canowindra, walk across the  showground. A small army is working at full pressure to dress the Show for to-morrows opening.

So now my curiousity is sated what will I do with the memorial card? I think I will donate it with other bits I have gathered on unrelated persons to a genealogy society in my home state that will  index it and add it to its collection.

Trove Tuesday - Bangaroo School

My Dad, Allan John Curry, used to talk about his time at Bangaroo Public School near Canowindra, NSW. He enjoyed his school days. Today I took to Trove to see if I could locate any information on the school.

In spite of leaving school at 13 to work on the family farm Dad's literacy and numeracy skills were well developed. He must have received a good foundation in the 3rs during his time at Bangaroo.

As there were two schools at Bangaroo I was never sure which one Dad attended but in reading through articles on Trove I have concluded that it was Bangaroo school that Dad attended not Bangaroo North.

Dad used talk of his teacher A. Grabham. Trove confirmed that Mr Grabham was at Bangaroo School as he received a transfer from that school to another in 1932 (When Dad was 13). I can't remember Dad mentioning P. O'Donaghue who took over from Grabham.

1932 'SCHOOL TEACHERS.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 27 July, p. 6. , viewed 15 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16889096

Grabham had been transferred from Coolah to Bangaroo in 1928.

1928 'THE SCHOOLS', Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW : 1914 - 1949), 7 July, p. 6. , viewed 15 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191577701

Another article tells me that Grabham passed some teachers' exams and confirmed what Dad told me, Grabham's first name was Alan.

1931 'SCHOOL TEACHERS.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 6 August, p. 6. , viewed 15 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16798810

Dad never mentioned Miss Gellately who must have taught him in his early years at the school.

1925 'PROMOTED TO BANGAROO.',Narromine News and Trangie Advocate (NSW : 1898 - 1955), 10 June, p. 2. , viewed 15 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119988730

Another article reports on the success of John McCarron who would have been one of Dad's classmates in the small school at Bangaroo. 

1931 'Canowindra', The Carcoar Chronicle (NSW : 1878 - 1943), 13 March, p. 5. , viewed 15 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103557255

The school at Bangaroo is long since gone. Hopefully in a year or two I can return to Trove and, in the newly digitised resources find more information on Dad's Alma Mater.

Trove Tuesday - Tom did the deed

Pleased to see my grandfather, Thomas Curry, getting credit for his work as Manager at the Benevento property in Canowindra.

1930 'GOSSIP.', The Carcoar Chronicle (NSW : 1878 - 1943), 16 May, p. 1. , viewed 07 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article103560957

Vale Aunty Mary

Last week our family farewelled my Aunty Mary.

Mary Aileen Curry with her brothers Thomas (left and Allan (right)

Mary Aileen Corbett (nee Curry) (25/5/1923-26/6/2014) was my father's' sister and the third child of Mary Tierney and Thomas Curry of Canowindra. Born and educated in Canowindra, NSW Aunty Mary finished her schooling at St Edwards in Canowindra where she gained her Intermediate Certificate in 1937, she may have commenced her schooling at Bangaroo Public with her elder brothers. The Curry family lived on the Fairview property and later in the nearby town of Canowindra.

Mary and Kath Curry with their city cousins, Fairview 1937

After leaving school Mary worked in Forbes NSW before moving to Sydney in the late 1940s. She and her younger sister, Kathleen, lived in a flat in Springfield Avenue, Kings Cross. Accommodation in post-war Sydney was hard to find and, as my parents and I were living in rooms in Kensington with a shared bathroom, my Curry Aunts gave up their flat for us and moved in with their parents who had moved from the country to Brighton-le-sands.

My first memory of Aunty Mary is of a visit to Goldsborough Mort's office in Pyrmont to see her at work. I was probably three or four at the time. Apart from that Mary was always around when we paid our regular Sunday visits to my grandmother's house at Brighton. I was allowed free reign in my Aunts' room where I was allowed to dress up in their clothes and sample their makeup. As I had the status of only Curry grandchild for seven years I was indulged and spoilt rotten by Mary and her siblings especially when I had a holiday with them.

I remember when a young Irish chap, Edward Corbett, joined our Sunday gatherings. I think the twinkle in his eye was directed towards Mary as they soon became engaged and married on April 22, 1957 at St. Thomas More Church in Brighton-le-sands.  I was excited to be included in the wedding party as flower girl.

Aunty Mary and I on her wedding day 1957

Not long after they were married Aunty Mary and Uncle Ed moved into their home at 54 Scott Street Mortdale where Aunty Mary lived until she downsized in 2013.

I was short of cousins until Aunty Mary and Uncle Ed started a family. They had five children Elizabeth, a boy, Catherine, another girl and a stillborn. Aunty Mary said that 1960, the year that two year old Elizabeth and one month old baby Catherine both passed away, was her annus horribilis.

I had quite a few school holidays with Aunty Mary and Uncle Ed at Mortdale. I remember going in Uncle Ed's Ford Prefect (or was it an Austin?) for picnics to The Royal National Park and swimming at Cronulla Beach, the little girl from next door that I played with who was my age is still one of my dearest friends. When the Corbetts moved to Armidale for a couple of years for Ed's work as a hydrographer we made a few visits. My 13 year old schoolmate and I travelled  to Armidale by train for one holiday, we were rather adventurous girls who had great fun and no doubt gave Aunty Mary a few headaches.

Aunty Mary (and Ed's car)- Picnic Armidale 1962 

After their stint in Armidale the Corbetts came back to Mortdale where they lived a rather uneventful life while my two cousins went to school and started university. Until my grandmother died our Sunday visits to Brighton sometimes included a further drive out to Mortdale to visit the Corbetts or the Corbetts came to Brighton to meet up with us. We would always gather as a family to celebrate Christmas, Easter and major birthdays.

Family Christmas 1967 at Mortdale 

Although she had a rather old stove Aunty Mary turned out the most delicious sponge cakes which she filled with fresh cream and covered with passionfruit icing. We all looked forward to these light and delicious cakes at family gatherings.

When her children grew older Aunty Mary returned to the workforce at Palings Music store in Sydney. As she loved music she enjoyed working in the environment at Palings. Family members also found it useful to use Aunty Mary's staff discount, it helped when we bought our daughter's first flute.

L-R Aunty Mary, my baby son Aunty Kath, Uncle Ed, Mary's daughter,1978

Tragedy struck again in 1982 when Uncle Ed passed away from heart disease at the age of 56. Mary missed her beloved Eddie but soldiered on making the best of her new situation.

Like many girls of her generation Aunty Mary did not complete secondary school but she was always keen to learn. When she retired she took many courses at the WEA in Sydney where she made friends with several of her fellow learners.

The five Currys with their mother 1970 (L-R) Kevin, Mother Mary Tierney, Allan, Kathleen, Mary, Thomas

Mary was a devoted sister. When my Dad was in the nursing home she visited him often, this was a challenging activity as Dad had dementia so it was difficult to conduct a conversation and Dad could not remember who had visited him five minutes after they left. Mary and her younger sister Kath had a special relationship, they kept in daily contact until Kath passed away last year.

Mary, Thomas, Allan and Kathleen Curry 1994

Her sight was a constant challenge for Aunty Mary. She lost an eye in a childhood accident and as she got older  had trouble with her remaining eye. Mary did not complain about her affliction but it impacted on her quality of life as she got older. Stoic that she was she hardly ever complained.

Mary loved her family. When I was growing she and Ed played many games of Scrabble with me when they would probably would have preferred to be doing something else. The Corbetts are probably responsible for the Scrabble addiction I suffer from today. Mary was always interested in the doings of my children and grandchildren and loved to hear their news. That she invited all of my 11 grandchildren to her 90th birthday lunch last year when she could have had a more 'adult' party is testament to this.

Mary with her daughter, granddaughter and nieces at her 90th birthday party last year

As was her wish Mary passed away suddenly at her home on  26 June 2014 and was laid to rest with her beloved Eddie on 3 July 2014.

Trove Tuesday - Leaving Certificate Success

My Dad's family were poor farming folk in Canowindra, NSW. Dad left school when he was 14 to help his father on the family farm. I think that Dad was pleased when he was able to enlist for World War 11 as then he had an easier life with better pay than he had on the farm.

My Dad always valued education and was determined that I would complete my secondary education and go on to tertiary study. He was very proud when I got a couple of degrees under my belt.

Dad was very proud of his younger brother, Tom, who was able to stay on at school and complete his secondary education. We believe that Tom was the first student at St Edward's School in Canowindra to gain his Leaving Certificate. I was talking with Tom's daughter about his education last week and was prompted to see if I could find out if his results had been published.

Trove came to the party again with this snippet.

1939 '[No heading].', The Catholic Press (NSW : 1895 - 1942), 19 January, p. 19, viewed 30 December, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page11681897

Trove Tuesday - Where was Grandfather on NYE?

1949 'NIGHT TROTS AT CANOWINDRA.', The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW : 1892 - 1954), 22 December, p. 6, viewed 30 December, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131361047

I would wager that my Grandfather, Thomas William Curry, a man who appreciated a good bit of horse flesh joined his mates in Canowindra, NSW at The Trotting Carnival held there on New Year's Eve in 1949.

The Book of Me - Week 7 - Paternal Grandparents

This week Julie Goucher of Angler's Rest asked us to respond to the following prompt in The Book of Me, Written by You activity.

The prompt for week 7 is Grandparents

What were their names?

Where were they from?

Were they related? – Cousins perhaps

Where were they born, another Country or state/area

Photos

What did they do?

Did you know them?

What was your relationship with them?
If you didn't know them have you researched about them?

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I am going to cheat a little bit with this post as I will paste in bits and pieces I have written in earlier blog posts. 

I remember two of my grandparents and  met three of them. I adored my two Nannas and spent many happy childhood hours with them and their extended families.

My Paternal grandparents were Thomas William Curry and Mary Tierney, my maternal grandparents were Frank Duncan and Ethel Jane Pusell. So that's the vital statistics out of the way. 

Having started writing this post I have realised that what I have to write is way too much for one post so I will write separately about my two sets of grandparents.  You can read about my Maternal grandparents here.

CURRY/TIERNEY

My paternal side is 100% Irish and with a bit of Irish thrown in from my Mum's side that makes me more then half Irish and goes some way to explaining why I have the gift of the gab.

Thomas (Papa) William Curry, twin to Daniel, was born in Cowra, New South Wales to Thomas Curry and Catherine Molloy. Thomas' father died when he was seven and his mother who remarried died in 1904 so young Tom was orphaned at twenty. His extended family lived in the Cowra district so hopefully they supported this young farm worker.

Thomas  met Mary (Nana) Tierney from Dungog in his home town of Canowindra where Mary,a dressmaker, worked in the local hotel. What took Mary to Canowindra I don't know and I guess I'll never find out. Tom and Mary had a quiet wedding in Sydney (I haven't been able to locate any photos) and returned to Canowindra where they brought up their family of three boys and two girls. My Dad, Allan John, was their first-born. Papa Curry managed two local properties, Fairview and Benevento, in Canowindra and the family grew up on the farms. 

Tom and Mary Curry and Family, 1925

After my grandfather retired the family moved to Brighton-le-sands in Sydney and that is where my memories kick in. I can't remember my grandfather as he died when I was an infant but I have many recollections of my Nana Curry.

Mary Tierney 1887-1977

Mary Tierney was born in the town of Dungog to John D'Arcy Tierney, a carpenter, builder and sometime undertaker, and his Irish wife, Mary Kealy. Nana had two sisters, Jane and Eliza, and a brother, Patrick.   

Nana was a gentle lady with snowy white hair that she wore in a bun and she seemed terribly old to me when she was about the age I am now. She was a devout Catholic who was proud of her Irish heritage, I remember kneeling beside her bed and reciting my prayers with her when I went to stay with her. We would always include this prayer:

There are four corners on my bed,
There are four angels at my head.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless the bed I lay upon.

Before my Aunts left home I would sleep with Nana in her high double bed with her statue of Our Lady looking down on me. I was pleased to find out recently that Our Lady is now residing in a glass-fronted cabinet in my cousin's home. 

We used to visit Nana's home by train and bus every Sunday for lunch. Sometimes, after Uncle Kevin bought a television set, we would stay on to watch Leave it to Beaver before making our way home. I remember watching Princess Margaret's wedding on that TV in 1960. Uncle Kevin had a car, one of the early Holdens (FJ or FX), so after lunch all the family might pile in to go for a drive to watch the planes taking off at the nearby Kingsford Smith (Sydney) airport or down south across the Taren Point Car Ferry towards Cronulla Beach. As we lived in a a flat my dinky, scooter and bicycle with training wheels lived at Nana's. I spent many happy Sundays tootling up and down the garden path and the footpath in my vehicles.

My patient Aunts and Uncles played games with me, I especially loved playing Scrabble and was thrilled to get a set (that I still have) as a Christmas present; I play Scrabble to this day but online. Two memorable gifts I received for Christmas or a birthday from the Currys were my Kodak Box Brownie Camera (and a developing kit) and a reel to reel tape recorder. I had great fun with these items, taking photos and interviewing family members. Mum wouldn't have been too happy when she discovered the damage to the carpet under my bed (my darkroom) that was ruined by the chemicals I spilt.  I was the first and only Curry grandchild/niece for seven years so I had a lot of attention. 

Our trip to Brighton was made easier when Dad got his first car. Uncle Kevin was relieved of his chauffering duties but we continued our drives to visit Aunty Lil and Uncle Tom at Sans Souci and Aunty Mary and Uncle Ed at Mortdale.In summer we would sometimes go the the Ramsgate Baths for a swim or we would swim on the beach or in the baths at Brighton.


Nana would cook us a baked dinner or corned beef and vegetables for Sunday lunch. I don't know how the extended family all squeezed around her table that was just 4 feet in diameter, I have had Nana's dining suite for 25 years and use it as an auxiliary table. Every time I walk past it I am reminded of family Sundays at Brighton. For the first sixteen years of my life (until I started getting a social life) I visited Nana nearly every Sunday.

Caramels

Nana loved feeding me egg flips that she believed to be very healthy, these drinks were made from milk, a raw egg and vanilla essence and after a shake and stir of the ingredients nutmeg was sprinkled on top. I remember them as quite sweet and delicious. Nana used often give me sweets to take home, they were always the same caramels. I sometimes wished for a bit of variety.

Nana, who lived to the ripe old age of 89 spent the last few years of her life in a nursing home. She had an enormous impact on my life.

With Nana Curry on my Wedding Day

Mary Curry (nee Tierney) 1887-1977

When I looked at the date today some random memories came to me of a small white-haired elderly lady. 

She used  to sing Irish songs and Catholic hymns with me, make sure that I knelt beside my bed to say my prayers, bought me many bags of caramel sweets and fed me egg-flips, corned beef and mashed potato and roast dinners. She grew up in Dungog, NSW and was living in Canowindra when she hooked up with my grandfather Thomas William Curry. I wonder why she moved from one small country town to another in the early 1900s but I guess I will never know.

My Nanna, Mary Curry (nee Tierney), would have been 125 today.

Mary Tierney c 1888

Mary Tierney 1973

First Contact from a "Do you know post?

I am over the moon. From time to time I have been posting unidentified photos that I find in family albums in a series called "Do you Know?"

Just a month ago I posted Do you know E Boatswain? and this morning received a comment on that post from a gentleman who lived near my Father's family in Waddell Street, Canowindra and who said " I feel sure that Earnie Boatswain who lived in Ferguson street is the person pictured. His parents were Earnest and Emma."  The  respondent also gave me some further information in his post that confirmed the name of the school my Uncle Kevin attended and the name of a girl Kevin dated. I wonder if this gentleman has any stories about my Dad, Allan John Curry.

This is the first response I have had so far from this series of posts but it has given me encouragement to dig into the family albums once more to find more photos for my "Do you Know?" series.

Do you know Margeret Thorson?

This photo of a cute little girl and her doll's pram taken in 1937 near Canowindra, NSW is from my Uncle Kevin's Album. I have found references to a Thorson family in Canowindra on Trove and Ancestry so guess that she was a local at the time.

I would be happy to send a high resolution copy of this image to Margeret or her descendants.

Do you know E Boatswain?

In this photo taken in or near Canowindra, NSW in 1941 is on the left my uncle, Kevin Curry and another young man, E Boatswain.

If he was the same age as Kevin young Boatswain would have been around 16 in 1941. Perhaps he was a son of Ernest Arthur and Emma Mary who lived in Canowindra around this time.

If you know this Boatswain chap please let me know and I will send a copy of the photo to him.

Wordless Wednesday - Shearer's Cook

From my Dad's collection this photo is simply described as "Shearers Cook - Fairview 1937"

 Fairview, Canowindra, NSW, Australia was a property managed by my grandfather, Thomas William Curry. My Dad left school at age 13 to help his father on the farm.

Shearer's cooks travelled from property to property at shearing time to cook meals for the shearers.They prepared  three main meals and two "smokos".