Monday 18 February 2013
Links to Local Histories
The Illawarra Photographic Collection
Images of the Helensburgh region from the Wollongong City Library
Illawarra Historical Society
Royal Australian Historical Society
Lawrence Hargrave Centre
Botany Bay Family History Society
Images of the Helensburgh region from the Wollongong City Library
Illawarra Historical Society
Royal Australian Historical Society
Lawrence Hargrave Centre
Botany Bay Family History Society
Black Christmas
Illustration: Doug Tolhurst, former Olympian, of The Ridge Helensburgh, stayed and saved his home.Christmas day started out fine, but with a strong southwesterly wind. The wind increased by lunchtime, but townsfolk busied themselves with the usual Christmas celebrations. Many headed out of town to be with family, others entertained family visitors. The local church services were well attended; all was normal.
After lunch a dark brown cloud came out of the Appin, Darkes Forest area. At first it blanketed Stanwell Tops, sweeping down into Stanwell Park. As it thickened, the Burgh crew down at the Park realized they were in for a massive bushfire. By the time they got up to the Burgh, the fire had already jumped the F6, the Princes Highway, down past Binners, Symbio, the Hindu Temple and was racing toward Stanwell Tops.
By late afternoon the power was off and the fire had reached the Ampol service Station, Busy Bee and the Mower Shop. It worked through to Mrs Lawson's industrial area and took out a number of sheds - Helensburgh Metal Fabrications, owned by Michael Brooks, and Kurt Martison's car restoration business. Rajani Road was next to feel the force of the fire, with one house in Excelsia Avenue totally destroyed.
In the meantime the fire had reached Stanwell Tops, devastating the Tops Convention Centre, and taking out properties owned by the Gilmour, Parker, Host, Saverino, McWilliams, Price, Green and Armstrong families. Mrs Luck's home next to the Hindu Temple was nearly lost. Trent Luck heard about the fire and tried to get home and protect the property, but was stopped at Waterfall. So he parked the car and with three police chasing him, ran through the bush to the Burgh. "Mosley", owned by Mrs. Loyd, was only just saved. The fire then moved to Otford.
The fire in West Helensburgh continued through Blue and Annette Blackwell's property and by early evening had moved past the playing fields taking out homes in Laurina Avenue and The Ridge. Families who lost their homes were Godfrey, Doran, Oliphant, Warne, Marshall, Wilcox, Sidon and Crooks. Some homes were only partly damaged. Jimmy Powel's home on the Ridge suffered major damage.
At the top end the fire continued, working through the back of Sunrise Nursery, through to the Cemetery to Walker Street where a further home was lost. The bottom end fire, fanned by the strong southwesterly, pressed on into the Garrawarra State Conservation Area rather than turning in on the residents of "Struggle Town."
Residents on the fringes were evacuated to the centre of town settling in to the Worker's Club and Community Centre. With the fear that the fire was going to turn into the bottom end of town and link up with the top end fire, a general evacuation was ordered. Residents were ordered out of town, initially taking Walker Street and later Parkes Street then via the F6 to the evacuation center at Wollongong. Cars drove through fire on Walker Street and the F6. Although it was a general evacuation, the majority of men stayed to protect their homes. Some were bodily removed by the police, but when released, simply walked home. Others hid until the police gave up looking for them.
By midnight the main threat to the town had passed as the fire moved on toward Waterfall and Heathcote. Yet the problems were not over as the fire had taken out both power and telephone. With the sewerage system shut down there was now the threat of raw sewerage flowing into National Park. There was also a massive draw on the reservoir, such that filtered water could no longer be supplied to the town.
On the following day, Boxing Day, water tankers were brought in to meet fire fighting needs, sewerage was pumped and tankered out, and generators brought in to partially restore the sewerage line to Cronulla. The town remained closed down with no one allowed to return. Many locals did get back in by running barriers or sneaking through Otford (the police didn't know there was a back way into the Burgh).
In the afternoon a public meeting was called and the remaining townsfolk asked to leave due to "health concerns." Most were unconvinced, as the actual problems the town faced were not clearly explained. As the sergeant promised that no one would be arrested if they ignored the order, most went about their business, limiting water usage and getting on with life. The next day residents were allowed to return for two hours to clean out the fridge. Many stayed. During the lockdown the town was kept alive by the firefighting crews, Russell Skiller and his family at the Shell Service Station, along with the crew at the Centennial Hotel. The power was restored on Friday evening and the rest of the townsfolk returned on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr, visited Helensburgh and shook Sam Blackwell's hand for saving the house next door.
The Bottom-end Shops
The village of Helensburgh originally developed between the school and the railway. The first shops were the Post Office store down from the school and two shops opposite the Norm O'Brien park: a small store carrying groceries and vegetables, now the home of Bruce and Lee King, and a butchery (illustrated).The butchery was established by George Luck, taken over by his son Alf Luck, and then his son Ken Luck. Tex Griffith was the last employee to work in the shop. As the town moved up to the plateau, George established a second butchery opposite the Centennial pub. He also established another butchery opposite the Clifton Hotel. As well as the shops, he set up a delivery service to the outlying areas. Pack horses with saddle baskets were used to take meat down to Otford, Stanwell Park and through to Clifton. Some of the meat came from the Helensburgh slaughter yard, the rest from the abattoirs by rail. Alf later replaced his horses, the last named Daisy, with a Dodge van, the first van in town. How did they keep the meat without refrigeration? Young boys were employed to beat the flies away with a branch of Eucalyptus leaves, simple!
Another "bottom end" shop was established early last century. This was the Co-Op Store at the corner of Postman's Track and The Crescent. In later years there was Mrs Coffee's shop in Postman's Track and Mrs Bowyer's shop (The North Helensburgh Post Office Store) on the corner of Parkes and Foster Streets. There are now no shops in what is affectionately known as "Struggle Town" (it's a struggle to get up to the shops at the top end of town), but a regular bus service operates to the shopping centre, and the train service operates to the Engadine and Sutherland shopping centres.
The business of making a dollar
In 2004 the Helensburgh community celebrated the arrival of the BiLo Supermarket and there is still a sense of awe and wonder, even today. The town did lose the stone curbing, some of the local tradesmen had to take the builder to court to get paid, and the planned Baker's Delight is not going to eventuate because someone forgot to put in three phase wiring, but beside all this, the supermarket is a wonderful addition to the town.But consider for a moment how many businesses were in town fifty years ago. George Luck's North Helensburgh Butchery was still operating. In the main shopping centre there was Luck's main butchery, Ellis' Helensburgh Radio Service, Ford's Bakery, Lane's Fruiterer and Greengrocer, Hughes' Old Established Family Grocer, Mac's Smallgoods, Hardware and Produce, Stan Callahan's Shoe Store, The Helensburgh and Lilyvale Co-operative Society store, Cooper's Drapery, Watson's Chemist, Neville's Newsagent, The Centennial, Hunt's Milk Bar, Grubb's Caffee, The St. George Household Supply furnishings and floor coverings, Cornwell's Ladies Hairdressers, Edward's Dry Cleaners, The Helensburgh Timber Yard and Millers, and Downie's Empire Theatre.
Yes, there was a clothing factory, The Helensburgh Manufacturing Co. the makers of Helma brand quality garments. There was the Helensburgh Service Station, now the Shell. Fehrenbach's Garage on the highway was "the house of many parts" always with a new Rootes Group car for sale in their display window. All could wine, dine and stay at the Undola Guest and Road House (Wagon Wheels), Fahey's at Darkes Forest was good for fresh eggs, poultry and vegetables. Transport was fully catered by the Helensburgh bus service, Ella-Ca Taxi service or Harry's Hire Car. The Corner Cafe (the Teapot Cafe) knocked out the fast food. Sam Frew produced The District News, "Helensburgh's Own Newspaper" keeping everyone informed. Smith's dairy for fresh milk. To top it all off, the Metropolitan Coal Mine pulled out the good stuff.
All the trades were represented, for example, Les Greenway would lay a brick for you while the Duffy boys would build you a fence and weld you up a gate. This then was life for small businesses in the Burgh.
The illustration shows Parkes Street, viewing from the Centennial Hotel heading toward the railway station. All the shops, including the Miner's Hall, have gone, replaced by new shops, John Greenwood's panel beating garage and private homes.
The Charles Harper Memorial
During the month of October 1884, Mr. Charles Harper, regarded as the founding father of Helensburgh and a crew of mining engineers and labourers, moved into the Helensburgh area to begin drilling for "Black Diamonds", coal. They are believed to have been the earliest Europeans to settle in the area. They found an abundance of water available in Camp Creek and set up a drilling rig close by with which they drilled to a depth of 726 feet, but no coal. They tried again, moving the drilling rig more than a mile to the east, close by the 28 mile peg on the Illawarra Railway line which was being surveyed at the time. This time they were successful, locating a 12ft. 3in. seam at a depth of 1,100 feet.Satisfied with the location and the drilling, the beginnings of a township was laid out on the heights above the drilling area. This became known as Camp Creek, but was later changed to Helensburgh. On the 3rd of March, 1886, Sir Norman Wisdom, who was to become the first chairman of the Metropolitan Coal Company, turned the first sod for the sinking of the main shaft, the diameter of which was 16ft. By 1888, ten trucks of coal per week were being shipped to Sydney.
Tragedy struck on Saturday August 4th. 1888 when Charles Harper, who was now the manager of the mine, was killed while supervising the installation of a winding engine in the air shaft. A wire rope, being used to haul the engine, snapped and hit Mr. Harper. He died a short time later.
Charles Harper was buried in the churchyard of St. Augustine's Anglican church at Bulli. The Helensburgh cemetery was not to open until 1892. The mourners numbered in the hundreds, such was the esteem in which Charles was held by everyone who had dealings with him, both at the Helensburgh mine and at Clifton and Greta Collieries, mines which he had previously managed. His wife and nine children, six boys and three girls, along with hundreds of mourners, attended the service. Since there was still 2 years to go before the first train would travel from Sydney to Wollongong, Helensburgh locals and miners were forced to either walk or travel by buggy. The Mail coach now travelled along the Illawarra road, through Bluegum forest to Stanwell Park and along the coast road. Some locals caught the coach at the end of Cawley road, the buggies took the same path, but the miners walked up the rough track that later became Parkes Street and then the 20 miles to Bulli.
The Miners Lodges at both Helensburgh and Clifton Collieries organised the collection of donations for a "fitting Memorial Stone" to be placed over Mr. Harper's grave. The stone column, with carved decorations and lettered marble face tablet, was duly erected and dedicated.
By an uncanny coincidence, in 1983, when the Helensburgh Historical Society was discussing the upcoming Helensburgh Centenary Celebrations, word came to us that St.Augustine's Church at Bulli was about to do some rebuilding and this would result in some of the older grave stones and headstones being relocated. The Historical Society approached the church authorities and the National Trust to discuss the possibility of moving the Harper memorial stone to Helensburgh because of his close ties with the town. The plan evolved to move the stone to Helensburgh Park and have the Park renamed "Charles Harper Park." Wollongong City Council and the National Trust agreed and Australian Iron and Steel Ltd. (B.H.P.), owner and operator of the Helensburgh mine at the time, agreed to meet the cost of moving and renovating the memorial and the construction of an appropriate base for the Memorial Stone. The stonework was undertaken by local stonemason, Mr. Tom Nagle.
The unveiling of the memorial became a focal point of the two weeks of Centenary Celebrations. Mr. Rex Jackson, the member at the time for Heathcote, unveiled the memorial on Sunday October 7, 1984. Over 150 descendents of Charles Harper came from three states of Australia to join with hundreds of townspeople and visitors to witness the renaming of the Park and the rededication of the memorial.
The photo shows some of the miners from the Helensburgh Colliery, who, in the tradition of their compatriots one hundred and twenty years earlier, formed a guard of honour during the rededication service. The memorial is in the background and the speaker is Laurie Hill, the founding president of the Helensburgh Historical Society.
The Chinaman's Gardens
The creek running beside the Old Mine Surgery, the home of the Historical Society and the Cox Memorial Museum, is known to the Council as Helensburgh Creek, officially mapped as Helensburgh Gully, and known to the locals as Chinaman's Creek. It got the name Chinaman's Creek because it ran through the Chinaman's Gardens. In the late 1800s right through to the 1940s, a group of chinese men conducted a market garden on the land now partly occupied by the Holy Cross School and playgrounds. The lower section of the gardens on Junction and High Streets remains vacant land. The site is approximately four acres, with the creek running through the middle of the land.The gardens were fenced with a mixture of rough bush timber posts and rails. In some parts there was wire netting nailed to the posts, but for most of the perimeter, the fence was covered completely with the tallest and bushiest blackberry bushes that could ever be imagined.
There were two entrances to the property, one about half-way along the High Street fence. This gate was fitted with a tall wooden gate which was approached in both directions by a long tunnel-shaped arch of blackberry bushes. The other entrance was over on Parkes Street, near to the Junction Street intersection. These were large wooden double gates surrounded by giant bracken ferns which were massed in this part of the land. The double gates provided access for the Chinamens' horse and cart which were used to carry their produce around the town.
Almost all of the land inside the blackberry boarder was under cultivation. The number of people working the land seemed to vary, with sometimes as many as five or six people working the land at one time. Some of the workers were permanent, while others came for short periods of time.
In the drier area of the land, along the McMillan Street side, there were beds of potatoes, pumpkins and other vine crops. Toward the back of the land there were peas and beans. On the land closer to the banks of the creek there were lettuce, tomatoes, onions, carrots, with almost every variety represented. The only building on the property was a combination cook-house, living quarters and produce store, with a shed for the horse and cart. The building was made from unpainted weatherboards, silver-grey from years of bleaching, and had a rusted corrugated iron roof. The part of the house that most customers saw was from the back door which opened into the kitchen. The kitchen was always filled with smoke from the constantly burning open fire. The fireplace took up the greater part of one wall. There was always an array of large steel cooking pots with heavy black lids, dangling from blackened chains that disappeared up the chimney. In this array of pots and kettles, water and food bubbled merrily away. The interior of the weatherboard walls were pasted with chinese newspapers which were dark brown from age and smoke.
Most small children, who were game enough to venture into the garden to make a purchase for mum, were dumb-founded at the sight of the shelves of old bottles and jars, most often filled with very strange looking ingredients. Then there were the shrunken shapes of poultry hanging from the mantle shelf. These were a sight not to be forgotten.
In the earliest days of their settlement in Helensburgh, the Chinamen went from door to door with long coolie poles over their shoulders, and baskets suspended from each end of the poles. Later, the horse and cart were introduced. Sammy Hop was one of the best remembered. Many of the old mine workers remember him going into the Centennial Hotel at the end of a hard days work and ordering "one lum, and one to follow." When too many followed, he would be assisted onto his cart, usually in the evening some time. The horse, unguided by the dozing or singing Sammy, depending on his state of intoxication, had an uncanny sense of direction and road rules. Both would arrive safely at the gardens.
After the Chinese gardeners left, the late Mr Peter Denaro and his wife, the parents of Roy, Jim and Maria, took over the gardens and ran them for several years before establishing their fruit and vegetable shop in town, with supplies from Darkes Forest and the Sydney Markets.
The Princess Marina Cliff Walk
The Princess Marina Cliff Walk was established by Mr Henry Halloran, a Sydney businessman and property developer, in the 1930s on land owned by him at Stanwell Tops. He sought permission from Bulli Shire Council to develop the walk and also asked Council to make representations to obtain the consent of Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, for the walk to be named in her honour. Assent was granted in 1937 around the time the Princess visited Sydney.The full walking trail linked the railway stations of Stanwell Park, Otford, Lilyvale and Helensburgh and became popular with hikers in the 1930s and '40s. The Cliff Walk had seats, shelters and lookouts and was linked to the Stanwell Tops Pleasure Park complex with its tea rooms and mineral swimming pool.
The entrance to the Princess Marina Cliff Walk was opposite the Stanwell Tops stone monument which originally carried the entrance sign for the Pleasure Park. The entrance to the walk had an attractive archway of rough bush timber.
A few metres into the bush and you crossed "Ye Olde Rustic Bridge" at the head of a small stream which Mr Halloran named Montague Creek. A little below the bridge, set in a small clearing on the right hand bank of the creek, is a large round picnic table and seats fashioned from bush rock and river stones, said to have been hauled from one of Mr Halloran's properties on the Shoalhaven river.
Further along the walk as the vegetation changes to open range-type scrub, there was a long avenue formed of rough hewn forked tree branches which were placed upright on the ground and linked to one another to make an avenue called "Lover's Walk." The remains of some of these tree forks are still evident beside the track. "Lover's Nook", a small covered seat built on top of a large boulder facing down into Undola Canyon, is crafted of red gravel stones, with grey and red granite and dark, almost black, river stones.A short distance further along the trail is the first lookout. This is built into a very large boulder above the pathway, with staircase and protective fence of rough bush stones all fitted neatly into place. The lookout is at tree-top height and provides a magnificent view to the Otford Valley. Just to the left of the lookout is a further set of steps opening the way to one of the many walks down into the valley floor.
Moving along through stands of mighty red and blood gums and hugging the edge of the escarpment, the track dips down into a small watercourse with glimpses through to Bald Hill. A small lookout jutting into the trees provides a quite spot to observe the wildlife and affords the first glimpse into the valley floor below the waterfalls. There are many unfenced rocky outcrops which provide other vantage points. The next lookout, with a northerly aspect, provides a wonderful view of the Juliet Falls on Gills Creek, almost directly across the valley. Alongside this lookout is "the cut" which is another, much steeper pathway into the bottom of Kellys (or "Romeo") Falls. Juliet Falls can be seen more clearly from a perfectly square lookout further along, perched on a rocky outcrop and built of smooth riverstones. There are two long seats across the rear edges to rest and enjoy the view.
Getting closer to Kellys Falls, on the left of the trail, taking advantage of the natural surrounds, is a large semi-circular seat made from bush rocks and red gravel rocks, set among the banksia and sheoaks. High on the left behind the seat is a small cave, complete with small bush rock seat. The track forks by another track-side resting place with the trail going on to higher ground up to Kellys Falls car park. The main track continues over the waters of Kellys Creek and the falls. Undola Canyon Lookout on the northern side of the falls looks straight down into the depths of the valley and black water pool at the foot of the falls, and out over the valley. Further along is "Oceanview" lookout which, as the name suggests, looks straight down Undola Canyon to the Pacific Ocean and Bald Hill.Juliet Falls on Gills Creek can be seen at the last lookout on the walk. This is an extensive structure of bush rocks topped with red gravel pieces and is called "Falls View" lookout. Both falls can be viewed from here and with its southerly aspect we can follow the valley which becomes the headwaters of the Hacking River, through to Bald Hill and then on to Otford. Behind this lookout there were once two large steel towers from which the Australian flag was regularly flown. Today the Cliff Walk is overgrown, with many of the features damaged. None-the-less, the land is an escarpment reserve and there is growing pressure on Wollongong Council to restore the trail.
Illustrations: Top; Kellys Falls showing only the top half of the falls, and also showing the main lookout to the right with pipe and wire security fence. Rainforest obstructs the view to the lower half of the falls. The falls make a direct descent to the pond below. Middle; The first lookout on the cliff walk, stairs, seats and lookout constructed of bushrock. Stairs to the left of the rock descend to the base of Kellys Falls. Bottom; one of the many "lover's seats".
Note that the bush along the escarpment was heavily burnt out by the "Black Christmas" bushfire, and is presently regenerating. Thankfully the Otford Valley didn't burn.
Working the Metropolitan
I commenced working in the Helensburgh mine in 1921. I was 14 years old. At 5 minutes to 8 in the evening the "buzzer" (the mine whistle) would sound to let us know there was work at the pit the next day. It sounded for 5 minutes. At 5 minutes to 6 in the morning it sounded again. We had to be down the shaft, 1150 feet deep and at our assigned job by 7.30am. The shaft was 15 feet in diameter, one cage went up while the other went down, each holding 12 men or two skips, empty or full.At the bottom of the shaft there was a tunnel called "Flat Top." It was about 200 yards long with electric light all the way. I thought it looked wonderful because there was no electric light in the town at this stage. Kerosene lamps were all we had at home.
At the end of this row of lights, there were two tunnels. One went straight north and steeply down. They called it "The Dip". The Dip rope ran down one side and came back the other. This endless haulage rope went in for about 2 miles or more. Along the sides of the tunnel were Davy Safety Lamps of 1 candle power.
The other tunnel, or as we called them "headings", went off to the right at the end of Flat Top. This was called "The Slant". It went East. Another endless rope travelled on both sides of this tunnel.
My first job was coupling up the empties at Flat Top. Empties were empty skips, an almost square box-like truck about 4 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet deep. They had 4 wheels which ran on small railway lines of 24 inch gauge These skips had a steel bar running underneath the truck and hooks at each end. The skips were coupled to each other by a three linked coupling smaller than a railway coupling, but much the same idea. I worked at this job for 18/- per week.
The skips were coupled in fives and this arrangement was called "a set". They were screwed onto the endless ropes with clips and so the empties went in and the coal came out.
The jobs in the mine were graduated. Coupling up empties was the first job, then you advanced to a "clipper", clipping off the empties at the different Flats. Then you graduated to clipping on the coal. The next step was Flat Wheeley, then Wheeley from the face, then, if you stayed there long enough, you were elevated to miner cutting coal with pick and shovel.
The skips held 1 ton level, but 30cwt when packed up. The miners put a "token" on each skip - a piece of leather with a number stamped on it and a heavy cord attached to it so it could be hooked through holes in the skip. In this way, the weighman at the weighbridge on the surface would know what tonage each pair of miners filled for the fortnight. The contract wheeler also had his token, which he hooked onto the miners' token so that he could receive a credit for the skips he handled.
Down the Dip, there were different Flats, each with a number. Numbers 1, 2 and 3 were worked out by the time I started. The others were 4 West, 8 East, 9 East, 10 West and 11. The endless rope that ran through the Dip was called the Band Rope. There were smaller ropes in East and West at 8 and 10, and one way ropes at 9 East and 4 West. Down the Slant the sections were called The Federal, The Capitol and the National. The endless rope went through each of these sections.
In some particular places throughout the mine, the air was clean with little dust or gas. At these points there were lamp-lighting stations where a lampman would open, prime and relight our lamps. He was the only person qualified to break the lead seal. The lamps went out very easily, just a bump and you were "in the dark" as we referred to it.
The Miners loaded the skips and then the Wheelers brought the skips the Miners had filled out to the first flat. The Flat Wheelers then took around 5 skips at a time out to the next flat. This was done with a lag horse in limbers (steel shafts which could connect to the skip with what was called a gun). One end fitted into the limbers and the other fitted into what was called the "cock hole" in the skip. The smaller ropes then took the skips to the main rope road. The Clippers clipped the skips onto the rope in lots of 20. Titter Ray did try 50 one day and had the rope "kicking" everywhere. He nearly got the sack from Sandy McGechie, the Traffic Manager. The skips were then hauled to Slant Top, then to Pit Bottom. They were then hauled up the shaft two at a time.
The coal was finally shipped out by train. They said of Helensburgh coal, it was the best in the country. It burned away leaving a fine ash like dust.
After coupling up empties for a time I was elevated to Clipper at the Capitol. At the start of work I would "rap the rope away." This is done by shorting the two wires linked to the rope. Three shorts rang the bell three times at "pit top" in the engine room. I then went from Clipping to Flat Wheeley and finally Wheeley from the face. Here there was little air and unbelievable dust. You couldn't even see. I would part the "brattice" (canvas sheeting diverting the fresh air, if any!) and put my hand in the skip to feel if it was full, and then dart back for more air. I was now earning 20 Pounds a fortnight, as much as my father earned as an engine driver.
After work I would take a bath in a big tub in our wash house. I would then just lie on my bed, worn out, and watch the daylight go.
Jack Hotchkis
The administration of the law
Before 1811 the New South Wales Corps was responsible for the preservation of law and order in the new colony. In 1811 John D'Arcy was placed in charge of a group of semi-civilian constables by the then Governor Lachlan Macquarie. It was not until 1862 that the New South Wales Police Force obtained official recognition in the New South Wales Government Gazette, with Captain John McLerie appointed as the first Inspector General.A foot constable was first stationed at Helensburgh in 1891 and it is presumed that he was accommodated in rented premises. There are no departmental records of the early police office. In the Government Gazette of 1895, Helensburgh was proclaimed a place for holding Courts of Petty Sessions. In 1896 the original Police Station was built opposite the then Post Office shop at the bottom of Lukin Street.
An additional mounted policeman was attached to the town in 1898 and in the following year, the name of the first known Officer in Charge of the Helensburgh Police Station, Constable Stephens, is recorded. From then the strength of the station increased until by 1980 there was one sergeant and 3 constables. Although the town has increased in population the station is now manned by a part-time constable in a demountable building beside the original office and jail.The Court House and Police Station complex illustrated above, was erected in 1902 at a cost of £1,600, on the corner of Parkes and Waratah Streets. Standing on a reserve proclaimed on February 13, 1892, the building originally contained a courtroom, quarters for the resident policeman, two cells and an exercise yard. In the rear paddock there was a single stable and forage room, later used as a motor cycle garage. This was recently demolished and replaced by a double brick garage for police cars. Part of the paddock is now used as a police holding yard. The Court House, closed in the early ‘80s, is now used as a police residence. There have been attempts to acquire the property for redevelopment, but these have been strenuously opposed by the Historical Society as the building remains our most important civic site.
The site adjoining the Court House, originally gazetted as reserve, but later taken over the Police Department, was the site for Helensburgh's first war memorial. The memorial consisted of a flag pole and a mounted artillery piece which had been captured from the Turks in Palestine by the Australian Light Horse. The removal of this war memorial at the behest of the Police Department is still a matter of some controversy among older residents. The piece was removed (or as some residents suggest, "stolen") by the Army and requests for its return have been ignored.
Helensburgh Police Station began as part of the old Eastern District which was abolished in April 1933. The station was then incorporated into a re-organised Metropolitan District. In April 1955 the station was included in a new South Coast District with its headquarters at Wollongong. In October 1965 it again became part of the Metropolitan District, but since 1974 it has again been included in the South Coast District. The first Police Station now a private home.
Farming in the Helensburgh region
In 1844, Sir Thomas Mitchell, Surveyor General and also Australian explorer, ordered surveyor Darke to construct a road between Bottle Forest (Heathcote) and Chippendale's grant which was behind Bulli. The road was constructed using convict gangs, but was a fairly rough and ready track which got hardly any use.
In opening up the area, the rich soils of "The Forest" were discovered and settlers soon moved in to establish small farms. The area was named after surveyor Darke.
By the time Helensburgh was opened up in the 1880s, Darkes Forest had about 30 families growing fruit and vegetables, poultry and one vineyard. The country was said to be very favorable toward the growth of vines and the vineyard established by the Reverces (a French family who settled in the Forest) was soon distributing wines to Sydney. Some of the other early settlers were the Short and Luck families as well as the Jolliffe family.
Although access to the Forest could be gained from Darkes Road, and to the coast along Bottle Forest Road down to Little Bulli (Stanwell Park) via Mount Mitchell, the main road to the Forest ran out the back of the Forest to Liverpool. The "Appin track" still exists, although access is restricted due to being in the catchment area. This road was used to take produce to Liverpool.
With the establishment of Helensburgh, Darkes Forest gained a postal service, although it was some years before a School was established. This small two roomed building was later closed and is presently used as a community centre. On Sundays the building was used for Church services and Sunday School.
The population was reduced after the building of the Woronora Dam when the Water Board resumed many of the properties whose run-off was part of the catchment that drained to the dam. Some properties remain and as we all well know, some fine produce still comes from the Forest.
The area abounds in Aboriginal carvings indicating its prehistory.
Interbane, Bald Hill
Thankfully, we have a number of special houses in our district and Interbane is one of them. In fact, it is a house with a rather notorious history. Above all, it stands as one of the best of our former guest houses, but it is its connections with Tilly Devine, Sydney's brothel queen in the '30s to '50s, fast cars and criminal connections, and even a resident ghost, along with a real-life appearance by actor Peter Finch, that makes the home rather special.Around Bald Hill, towering above Stanwell Park, there was once a little village, a number of houses and humpies, a shop and later a service station. In the middle of the village was a rather special home.
Interbane was built in 1917, for about £3,000, by the businessman Walter Goodman. He was in the leather trade and built the home as a holiday getaway. As a veteran of the Boer War, he knew a little Zulu and gave the home the Zulu name "Interbane", meaning "top of the hill." The home, as we well know, has no external square walls and that goes for most of the inside rooms as well. Being Victorian in design, it had a tall tower, although this reduced in height as the years went by. The position of the building meant it was open to the elements and so roof repairs were a constant fact of life. In the final years of the First World War, locals suspected that the tower may have been used to contact German submarines. Mr Goodman had a Japanese servant named Fakuda and so it was felt that he may well have been a German spy, even though Japan was on our side.
The home soon moved into its most famous period. It was the depression years and so the Goodman's turned the home into a guest house run by their housekeeper and chauffeur, Gertrude and Gordon Fleming. In the NSW Tourist Guide of 1932, Interbane is listed as "an ideal accommodation house for a complete rest". The tariff was 10 shillings and sixpence a day, or 50 shillings a week. To help run the guest house, the Flemings enlisted the help of a local, Florence "Tootie" Harvey. She was living rough on Bald Hill after the breakup of her marriage. She had trained as a nurse and was the first nurse to serve at the Coledale Cottage Hospital. Her children, Heather, Isobel, Betty and Alan, would soon join her and help with running the home. The guest house continued through to the Second World War and was renowned for its weekend parties, parties that were at times, risque to say the least. Locals even claim that the actor Peter Finch once attended one such party in 1942. Interbane had become an "in" venue for the "in" crew.
In the next stage of the home's history, following the War, Interbane became a Tea Room and Tootie moved to Coalcliff. The Flemmings were growing weaker with age and so the Tea Rooms were closed. After Gordon's death, Tootie constantly visited Mrs Fleming to help her with her fading health. In 1956, after her death, the Goodman's, who still owned the home, offered to sell it to Tootie for the amazing figure of £1700. It was sold with "all faults", given that the home was now showing its age.
It was in the homes' next stage that Interbane gained its most celebrated reputation. The criminal link came about through some of Tootie's children who had became involved with Sydney underworld figures. Tootie's son, Alan Carrick, known affectionately as "Katingal" around the Burgh, often spoke of his early escapades with the law. Alan claimed that Interbane was raided some 21 times during the '50s. It was the regular weekend visits of Tilly Devine and her girls that turned heads. Pretty Dulcie, known as the Angel of Death due to the fact that 8 of her boyfriends had met an untimely death, was also a regular visitor with Tilly. Although certain activities were assumed, there were few people who had a bad word for Tootie. In her later years she was known for her constant kindness and care toward others. Harry Jardine, Helensburgh's police sergeant, 1951-58, claimed that "Tootie was a perfect lady" and that Interbane's reputation was never proved. Tootie sold Interbane in 1972 for $16,000.
Purchased now as a private home, restoration work was commenced, but after some seven years the home was again offered for sale, now for over $100,000. In 1988 the home was again offered for sale, now for $205,000. Purchased by Jim and Betty Wetton, extensive restoration work was undertaken and plans prepared for the possible opening of Interbane as a restaurant. Parking, of course, being the problem.
The history of Interbane certainly leaves most private dwellings far in the shadows. Thankfully the home has survived and will remain a feature of the Bald Hill landscape.
Helensburgh Anglican Church
Rev. Hugh Walker Taylor, 1881-1891 (to 1896 in Bulli)
The Anglican Parish of Helensburgh with Stanwell Park began its life as part of the Parish of Bulli. The South Coast, between Sydney and Wollongong, was renowned for violence and drunkenness. It was to the boom towns along the Illawarra line that the Church of England minister of Bulli had pastoral oversight. The church district had been constituted in 1881 with the first minister, Rev. Hugh Walker Taylor, B.A. He served for 14 years. The district ran from Sutherland to Bulli. So it was that Lay catechists visited the growing towns along the line, holding services wherever possible. Other ministers visited the areas, especially a number of Methodist evangelists, although it wasn't till 1903 that the Helensburgh Methodist circuit was formed.Their presence in Otford was observed with favour by some onlookers. "The gentlemen who have been lately holding religious service, will, it is thought, soon reduce things into some order amongst us." They obviously had some impact for by 1887 the locals had build a new "English" church at Otford. It was called St. Hallows, and was built of brick with a seating capacity of 200. The church was to disappear without a mark, and even today no one can explain why. Mrs. Vardy (nee Lucas), once a longtime resident of Otford, can remember her family home a few doors down from the school. It had one brick wall with windows in the shape of a church window. Her father told her it was the remains of the old church. The wall was always damp and so it was demolished when she was a young girl. The church was probably constructed by the railway tunnel bricklayers who left the district in 1889. There is no recorded use of the building by Anglican clergy appointed to Helensburgh. The assumption is it was destroyed at some time prior to 1891.
Rev. H. Walker Taylor ministered to an area South of Bulli and North to Sutherland. Sylvania was visited by the Rector of St. Paul's Kogarah, the Rev. W. K. Bowers. At Helensburgh, Rev. Taylor conducted the first church service under a gum tree on a clear moonlight night. It was held in the Colliery Paddock, opposite the present Roman Catholic School. Later, as railway ganger camps became more established, services were conducted in a rough demountable building called St. Anne's. Such buildings were moved from camp to camp. The building illustrated was erected at Baker's Camp near Helensburgh in 1914 when the new double railway track ("the deviation") was being constructed. By 1887 records show that serious discussion was underway for the establishment of a permanent home for the Anglican community in Helensburgh.
By 1890 the railway camps had moved on and services were being held in the new School of Arts hall (later to become the RSL hall - the Community Centre is now on this site). Private homes were also used, namely Mr. & Mrs. Miller's home. Oral tradition has it that a more permanent home for the Anglican congregation was provided with the transporting of a disused hall from Otford to the existing Anglican church site. This building was used for services and later became the "School Hall" (the present church hall) minus the present stage and kitchen.
Rev. Taylor was 25 years old when he began his ministry in the Bulli Parish. His first purchase on leaving the ship at Port Wollongong, was a horse for his visits up and down the coast. Miss Annie Turnbull, the young daughter of the Bulli postmaster at the time, once recalled a day spent with the vicar when he visited various homes in his horse and sulky. She remembered seeing Lawrence Hargraves, covered with bandages from head to foot. "What have you been doing?" the vicar asked him with a smile on his face. ("He knew", she said). Annie looked with pity at the foolish man who really thought it was possible to fly. That night, when she arrived home, her mother questioned her about the day. She was excited about her adventures and volunteered the information that the vicar drank 29 cups of tea. About fifty years later, when she visited him in hospital in Sydney shortly before he died, they both laughed together as he said, "I've never quite forgiven you for telling your mother about those 29 cups of tea."
Life was hard, and industrial troubles rife throughout the Parish. Rev. Taylor played a decisive role as a mediator between the workers and management, especially during "the great strike". When the strike ended he took a years leave of absence in order to further his studies in Europe. He was just embarking when news reached him of an enormous Bulli mine disaster. Cancelling his immediate plans, he returned to his parish to officiate at the funerals and comfort the bereaved. Eventually he did set sail for England, but returned to continue his eventful 15 year incumbency. Until he finished his work in the Illawarra, he put marriage out of his mind. At his funeral service many years later, an old Welsh miner who remembered him from the early day, jumped to the side of the grave and gave an impromptu oration for "God's man in the Illawarra."
Rev. Joseph Bosworth, 1891-1896
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| The original Rectory to the right of the church |
As well as all his duties he had to set about building suitable places of worship. We usually shudder at the thought of supervising one project, but he had a vast area that would need many church buildings. So they were built, 1892 the Church of the Holy Redeemer Helensburgh, still the only church in the Sydney diocese with this name. It simply means "the Church of Jesus our Saviour." Next came Christ Church Heathcote, 1893. The building was situated on the Old Illawarra Rd (Princes Highway) close to the existing Heathcote hotel. It was later moved to its present site and extended when the highway was widened. Next came St. John the Baptist Sutherland, dedicated on 4th March 1894.
The Helensburgh church was built by George Ricketts, a local builder. It was the normal construction of the day, weatherboards, stud framing on wooden piers with an iron roof. He was later to add the stage and kitchen to the "School Hall" in 1928/9. In later years George moved from Helensburgh to Stanwell Park where he built a two story home for himself three blocks down from St. George's Church of England. He also built St. George's in 1914, specially braced with wings to withstand the Southerly busters.
The original Helensburgh church went through a number of changes during its lifetime. The porch and vestry were the earliest additions. In 1925 electric lights were installed, and in 1927 the acetylene lamps, now made redundant, were removed. In 1931 the belfry started to disintegrate and so it was dismantled and a timber framed bell tower erected behind the vestry. The coloured pink, green and white glass lead light were installed in 1932. A door was added to the porch in 1935 after some of the local lads attempted to light a fire in the porch one evening. The memorial stained glass windows were added in 1949. They were memorials to Mr. Pell and Mr. Dorey. Mr. Pell's window was paid for by the congregation in appreciation of his service to the church, while Mr. Dorey's window was donated by his wife. In 1954 a new vestry was added at the rear of the church and the old vestry turned into a Baptistry. The final alteration was the addition of double doors to the front of the porch.
The opening service at the Church of the Holy Redeemer was taken by the Archbishop on 29th May 1892. There were two services, both full houses. The Helensburgh Anglican community now had a permanent home.
Bosworth established three geographical centres of worship with Helensburgh as his home base. At Helensburgh services were held weekly, while Heathcote and Sutherland had two services a month. The arrival of a minister and now new church buildings, was a great boon to prospective marriages. Up till 1892 the Paragon hotel (built 1889) or private homes, were the main venues for marriages, but now the church buildings became the popular venues for weddings.
Rev. Bosworth's Sunday duties were mainly taken up by travelling. The horse and sulky was the main means of transport for the local ministers until the arrival of Rev. Creighton and his motor car in 1924. Of course, the horse may not have been as fast as a car, but it was more reliable. Rev. Smee probably would not have agreed entirely with this view when on April 3rd, 1921, his horse bolted from the church yard and he had to cancel the service up north.
Two external factors from the earliest times affected the congregation. First, there was the weather. A year would not go by without a service being cancelled due to a fierce storm. Second, there was the mine dispute and strikes. As early as 1894 strikes by the mine workers affected the offertories. The mine slow down from 1929 through to the end of the Great Depression also had a marked affect upon finances. Helensburgh was a mining town and all suffered together when the mine was not working at full capacity.
Rev. John Wilson, 1896-1909
Rev. Bosworth left the Parish in 1896, and for six months services were taken by Rev Joseph Cook and Rev. J. Ollis. Toward the end of the year the Archbishop appointed the then curate of St. Stephen's Newtown, Rev. John Wilson, as mission curate to the Provisional District of Helensburgh. Rev. Wilson arrived with his large family and soon settled in to the district. His boys were particularly good at sport and joined the Illawarra Australian Football Club. The club were the premiers in 1906. John had gained his MA in Belfast and on coming to Australia was ordained in 1889 in Bathurst. His stipend was 175 pounds p.a.From the centres now established by Rev. Bosworth, Rev. Wilson moved to set up outlying mission churches at Waterfall, Otford, Lilyvale, Cawley and Darkes Forest to the South, and Miranda, Cronulla and Audley to the North. These meetings were usually held in private homes. For example, Miranda Anglicans met in a home on the cnr. Wandella Rd and the Kingsway.
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| The original St Luke's Anglican Church, Miranda |
It was obvious that the mission area was oversized and so the Sutherland Provisional District was formed in 1901 with Rev. Bowers as the Missionary Curate. Sutherland was to became a parish in 1920. Heathcote remained linked with Helensburgh.
Rev. Wilson used Lay Readers from Sydney to lead the many Sunday services now running regularly in the Parish. They travelled by train and were able to deduct their travelling expenses from the collection (if it was large enough). The total collection in the Parish during this period amounted to around one pound per week. In 1899 the first Confirmation service was held in the district at the Church of the Holy Redeemer. There were 40 communicants present and archbishop Saumaraz confirmed 6 males and 13 females.
Rev. Wilson retired to his home at Hurstville, but spent weekends at his holiday cottage, Flavian Court, at Heathcote. He was to die at Flavian Court. It was a beautiful local home, but was destroyed in the Black Friday bushfire of 1939.
Rev. Harry Gowing, 1907-1909
The third minister appointed to the district was Rev. Harry Gowing. He was married and it seems that during his stay the Sunday School was commenced. It was held every Sunday afternoon at 3pm. Special children's services were held once a month. It was not until the '30s that the Sunday School was held in the mornings. Services continued at Otford in private homes and at outlying centres. With the construction of the Tuberculosis sanitarium at Waterfall (Garawarra) in 1911, the Anglican minister of Helensburgh served as one of the chaplains. This involved taking Sunday services and numerous funerals.When work began on the deviation in Otford, around 1914, Mr. James' shop lay in the way of the new line. A new shop and residence was constructed for Mr. James by the railways and the old shop moved and used as a site office. At the completion of the deviation the building and land was handed back to the community as a local hall. It became the centre for Sunday church services until it was burnt down some 50 years later. It was used by the Progress Association who constructed a tennis court in front of the hall. It had the name Mr. James' hall.
In 1909 an Anglican church was constructed in Waterfall and given the name St. Paul's. It was a small weatherboard building situated in McKell Ave. up from the school. It contained hand hewn furniture and was lit by kerosene lamps. Because the village of Waterfall never had a large population, the church struggled to survive. The electric light was installed in 1948.
Rev. Thomas Cato, 1909-1911
The fourth minister appointed to the mission district of Helensburgh was Rev. Thomas Cato. He was followed by Rev. William Knox who served as locum tenens until the arrival of the fifth minister, Rev. William Price.
Rev. William Price, 1911-1914
Rev. & Mrs. Price made quite an impact on the Parish during their short stay. Since Rev. Wilson's missionary period, there had been a decline in numbers and the buildings were falling into disrepair. Mrs. Price set about mobilising the ladies of the parish for a Bazaar (or "sale of work") to raise funds. The tradition established in her day has continued till today, although not on the same lavish scale. In later years the Helensburgh brass band would play at the yearly Bazaar. She organized a boys' choir and a full sung service was performed at 11am and 7pm. Harvest festivals boomed during this period and continued up to the '50s. Produce was collected by a horse dray from local farms and backyard gardens. These where loaded into the church until it was literally overflowing. Sheaves of corn decorated every pew. During the following week the foodstuffs were auctioned off. Rev. Price set about on a systematic visitation of the town, he organised a Bible Study, a youth group, and men's meetings. To fix up the buildings he would invite miners on the way home from work to give him a hand. The men of the town thought a lot of the vicar who could roll up his sleeves.
One of the major events of the time was a Parish Mission held in November 1913 by Everard Diggler Touche. It was timed to coincide with the arrival of railway gangers at Bakers Camp which was close to where the Helensburgh tip is today. The meetings were held over the whole week with the final service on Sunday attended by 130 people. Diggler Touche was a powerful speaker and left quite an impression upon the congregation. He was soon to give his life for his country at Gallipoli.
Another outreach by the Helensburgh church was the building of the Stanwell Park Mission Church. The Stanwell Park community was now a thriving village, mainly catering for holiday makers and retired people who had bought up land in the 1908 Stanwell Estate Subdivision auction. An allotment was obtained in 1913 next to the school site and close to the shopping center, and was fully paid off in 1915. The foundation stone was laid by Rev. New Newmarch, 20th December 1913 and the building work completed in 1914 with the first service held on Sunday February 14. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Begbie, rector of All Souls Leighardt who was a well known local resident during his annual holidays. His text for the day was "Till He Come." The youth of All Souls Leichhardt later cut out the text of the sermon in plywood and attached it to a board which still stands above the communion table today. The building itself remains much the same as it was in 1914, except that the internal dividing wall was moved into the church proper to widen the hall during the war years. The inside of the church was also lined some years after construction, and in 1934 Mrs. Surtees paid to have the electric light connected in memory of her late husband. The building later became the church hall with the construction of a new chapel at the rear of the block in the mid 1980s. Strangely, it was not till some years later that the Stanwell Park Mission Church was given the name St. George's. From 1914 a Sunday School was held in the church, the first teachers being Mrs. Anger and Mrs. Alice Morrison.
Prior to the building of the church in 1914, services were held in private homes. Many such services were held on the front verandah of Rev. and Mrs. Begbie's home "Mahanaim" (God's second resting place). The home was later partly destroyed by fire.
In the early years of Stanwell Park, a number of clergy built holiday retreats. Along with Rev. Begbie there was Canon and Mrs. Arrowsmith, Rev and Mrs. Crawford, Rev. and Mrs. Connoly, Rev. and Mrs, Short, Rev. and Mrs. Theo Hayman and Rev. and Mrs. Oliver. The Olivers had purchased a beautiful home from the Gartrell White family.
Rev. Reginald Smee, 1914-1921
Rev. Price was succeeded in 1914 by Rev. Harris Walker who served till the sixth minister Rev. Reginald Smee. Rev. and Mrs. Smee and family worked to build up the congregation, spiritually and materially. To this day Mrs. Smee's bible class can be remembered, even chapters from the Bible were committed to memory. One such chapter being John 14. The Bazaar and socials continued as before, to help raise finances. Rev. Smee founded the Helensburgh Scout Troop which met in the church hall through till 1938. The ministers that followed Rev. Smee, namely, Peat, Creighton, Gee and Kennedy were all active Scout masters, and consolidated the Rev. Smee's initial efforts. From this time on there are quite a few glass bills for the hall. As with the other ministers, he taught scripture in the Public School and continued the practice of taking his classes to a special Ash Wednesday Service in the church.Services at Helensburgh were now 8am, 11am, and 7.15pm, with a mid-week service. The total congregation on Sundays averaged around 130. The Mission centres continued as before with some services held in the demountable church at Bakers Camp.
The war years were difficult ones for Rev. Smee and the congregation. The loss of life, industrial disputes and then later the influenza epidemic, made them difficult times. Smee himself was hospitalised in July 1919 with the flu.
As life returned to normal the congregation started to concern itself with the wider mission of the church. The Church Missionary Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society were faithfully supported from this time on. The congregation was still not self supporting. The Church Society (later known as The Home Missionary Society) supported the annual stipend of 200 pounds to the tune of 150 pounds. Helensburgh was a poor community. None-the-less the congregation worked to stand by itself. The core group was now strong enough to form a Parish Council. The church was no longer just one man. Between 1914 and 1923 some of the Wardens were as follows: Dr. Cox, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Knight, Mr. Denning, Mr. Edmonson, Mr Bert Smith, Mr. Ivor Morgan, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Sutton and Mr. Stevenson. Some of the Committee members were: Mrs. Lomkins, Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Pell, Miss Kelly, Mr. Knight, Mr. Wheeter, Mr. Reins, Mr. Stanley and Mr. Cambridge.
Rev. Reginald Peatt, 1921-1924
On the resignation of Rev. Smee in 1921, Rev. Charles Webb filled in for three months until the seventh minister arrived, Rev. Reginald Peatt. Rev. Peatt was inducted to the Provisional District on September 1 by Rev. E.B. Boyce, Archdeacon of West Sydney. The new rector maintained the existing style of ministry, supplementing it with his own particular interests. He involved himself in a number of open air evangelistic services and began the long standing tradition of combined Protestant services that have existed to the present day. The first combined service was held in the Empire theatre on April 1923, with the Methodist minister as the preacher. Rev. Peatt also recommenced the Parish Paper the same year. In May of that year he joined with the Methodist Minister, Rev. Hickson, to hold a healing mission at the Sanatorium. This was certainly a brave step of faith considering the terrible state of the TB epidemic sweeping Australia. Services continues as usual, including a special service "The Festival of the Holy Redeemer."Maintenance is always a problem for a church with limited funds. In 1921 the hall, church and rectory were repainted by Mr. Hollingdale for $100 (fifty pounds). Colours were cream with brown trim on the inside of the buildings, other than the pine ceilings which remained unpainted. Peeling was always a problem on the outside. The trouble lay in the original oil coatings that were applied to the weatherboards at the turn of the century. In fact it was whatever oil you could lay your hands on. In later years paints would bubble in hot weather. Scraping and painting was a constant focus of working bees.
Fences were also a constant drain on resources. In 1921 the church fences were renewed at a cost of $20 (ten pounds). Two fences later, thanks to the white ants, and Mr. Fairclough organized old rail lines and winding cables from the mine as a lifetime solution. Most of this fence still remains as it is just too permanent to remove. Rev. Bill Twine was later to have installed a cement post, pipe and wire fence at the front of the property. This was removed in 1978.
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| Mr. Osborne with the last pine tree in pie |
At the end of Rev. Peatts ministry, 1923, Heathcote was removed from the Helensburgh Provisional District and joined to a redrawn Sutherland parish. Over the years the Helensburgh ministers had relied on Lay Readers to service the Heathcote church and this was not the best way to minister to the church. By this time services were no longer held at Cawley and Lilyvale as both villages had all but disappeared. Darkes Forest had never had a great population so from time to time services were held there, but with little regularity. Otford continued to hold services in Mr. Lucas' hall, made up of mixed denominations. Stanwell Park continued in much the same way, but a bit stronger.
Rev. David Creighton, 1924-1927
The eighth rector, Rev. David Creighton, was inducted to the parish in September 1924 by Archdeacon Boyce. With his wife Ruby they made quite an impact on the church. On November 18, 1924, the inaugural meeting of the Ladies Guild was held in the Rectory. The President was Mrs. Creighton, Vice Presidents Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Cox. Treasurer Mrs. Griffith and Secretary Mrs. Sutton, a position she held till she left the district in 1934. It was this group of ladies who organized social fund-raising activities for the years to come. The Ladies Guild replaced the smaller Ladies Parochial Committee which had the responsibility of running the annual Bazaar. The Bazaar or Sale of Work, were usually held in the Empire Theatre and were great events in the life of the town. Some of the earlier ones went over three days. In the later years they were reduced to one day affairs in the Parish Hall. In 1925 the Bazaar raised $282, in 1929 it raised $232 and in 1930 it raised $176 (eighty eight pounds).Rev. Reginald Gee, 1927-1928
In 1927 Rev. Reginald Gee became the new Curate in Charge of the Helensburgh Provisional District - the ninth minister. Six weeks before, he and his wife Ruth had been married. It was quite a shock to arrive at the Rectory to find its total contents consisted of one cast iron fuel stove. Thankfully they were provided with a new enameled one priced at seven pounds, seventeen shillings and three pence. So out of their $500 a year stipend they had to raise a loan and buy some new furnishings from the local Co-Op store.As Chaplain of the Waterfall Consumptive Hospital the local minister received an extra $100. From this extra income Rev. Gee was able to buy a car, a second hand Citroen. The Parish provided thirty pounds extra for petrol. At one shilling and eight pence you could travel a long way on thirty pounds. The main mechanical repairs of the day were new springs regularly broken travelling the highway.
The Gees soon made a home for themselves in Helensburgh. Over the years ministers found that it was a friendly village as long as you didn't put on airs. The only unfriendly element in the town was the small communist group who openly opposed any Christian activity.
Services continued at Waterfall 3pm, Darkes Forest and Otford 7pm week nights, Stanwell Park 3pm, and Helensburgh 8am, 11am, 7.15pm, with a children's service once a month. Services were well attended. There was a choir with a number of Welsh singers in it. In 1927 there were 9 Confirmations. The Church Warden's were Mr. Sutton, Mr. Stevenson, and Mr. Edmondson, who was also the Sunday School Superintendent. Other personalities in the church at the time were Dr. Cox and his wife, Mr. Pell a local miner and Mrs. Pell, Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, Mr. and Mrs. Hartley who owned one of the local dairy farms at Blue Gum, Mr. and Mrs. King, Mrs. Gray, Mr. Griffith a local miner and always recognizable in his bowler hat, Mrs. Griffith, the Prossers who owned the shop opposite the hardware shop and who always supplied the ham for the Sunday School Picnic, Mrs. Mills, Loomes, Mitchinson, Mr. Green a miner, and Mrs. Green, Mrs. Kinnell the organist, Mrs. Gwen Rae who as Miss. Gwen Griffith had played the organ for many years up till 1927, Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs. Stevenson ran the Girl's Club, Alan, Bill and Ella Sutton, Mrs. Sutton was the Guild secretary until the family moved to Bathurst, Mr. Burnett, Mr. Errington who gave many an hour scything the church grounds, Mr. and Mrs. Powell, Miss Short who was the central organiser of the many children's concerts during the depression, Mr. and Mrs. Senior and Mr. and Mrs Wilkinson of Stanwell Park. Other families who attended church were the Fairbrothers, Alstons, Finneys, Illingsworth, Oldfields, Dentons, Thickets and Pasfield. When the East family moved into the district and began attending, they took up a whole pew.
The Guild and Girls Club continued to thrive as before. The Parish Paper now had a circulation of over 300 copies per month. Rev. Gee involved himself in Cubs, Scouts and the local cricket team. He was a wicket keeper for the Helensburgh team and was able to install a sense of decorum on those occasion when the team was defeated. Visiting sporting teams were warned to get out of town quickly if they won the match as local team loyalty ran deep. As with ministers before, he was very friendly with the Roman Catholic Priest, Presbyterian minister and the Methodist circuit rider.
The hall was now used for the Guild, Girls Club, Cubs, Scouts, Sunday School, The Rifle Club, and St. John's Ambulance. Given its heavy use, plans were drawn up for a stage and kitchen extension and the replacement of the timber stumps with brick piers. The work was completed in 1928. It was the last major work for some time with the offertories cut in half by the depression. General maintenance continued. Also in 1928 new combination large print hymn and prayer books were purchased for those struggling to read the small print under the acetylene lamps. The unsettling affects of the depression in 1928 brought some new faces to town and so a social was run in the Church Hall to welcome the newcomers.
Up till 1928 the Stanwell Park Primary School had functioned in the front half of the church building, but now with the completion of the new Public School next door, church furniture was purchased as well as a new peddle organ from Mr. Bilby of Burwood for twenty five pounds. The actual building costs for the Stanwell Park Mission Church had never been fully met and so in lieu of payment the back section was rented out. Even after the debt was cleared the rear flat (later the church hall) was used as a source of revenue. Naturally there was the usual friction between the landlord and the tenant. On Good Friday 1928, the tenant decided to paint out the flat while the service was still underway. Of course, there was a scene. A new Australian family later moved into the flat, but the husband enjoyed a drink and after his Saturday evening drinking bouts there was the inevitable family brawl on Sunday morning. The tenant problem came to a head in 1934 when they refused to pay rent and were evicted. The room partitions were removed and the back section opened up to become the hall.
In the middle of 1928, Rev Gee was invited to the Parish of Nowra. It was a difficult time, Ruth had given birth to their first child, a boy, but she remained in hospital for four months after the birth. The rector had to pack and move without direction - furniture, cat and canary. The farewell party was a warm affair.
Rev. Walter Kennedy, 1928-1933
August 1928 Rev. Walter Kennedy was instituted to the Helensburgh Provision District by the then Rural Dean of Wollongong, Rev. Edward Walker. He was the tenth minister to serve the Parish. Rev. Kennedy was married without children. Within a few weeks of their moving in, the Rectory sported a strange antenna. The Rector was a Radio Ham, or as we would say today, a CB Freak. He was soon in contact with the town's other enthusiasts Sam Morgan and Bill Potter.The church now had to survive through the difficult years of the depression. In 1929 the Sale of Work brought in one hundred and sixteen pounds, but in 1930 only eighty eight pounds. Even so, a new harmonium was purchased in 1929 for seventy pounds. The money was raised by church members putting aside one shilling a week toward the new organ. In 1930 the buildings were again painted and the pews varnished. Actually this turned into a disaster because they were still sticky on Sunday. Increasingly church members undertook any needed work around the property. Mr. Stevenson built the Church porch and the Rector's garage during the mine's slack periods. In 1931 a new side fence was installed using second hand railway sleepers at one shilling each. In 1932 new windows and sashes were installed in the church and Mr Smith undertook the repair of the Stanwell Park church roof. To cut down on costs, the paid church cleaner was laid off, the parish paper discontinued and there was even the suggestion of holding the evening service at 4pm to cut back on lighting costs.
Parish finances were greatly aided by the ladies in the District Visitor's team. Mrs. Pell, Stevenson, Smith, Sutton and McKillop spent many an hour collecting pennies toward running costs. The ladies also arranged concerts, cantatas, community singing, stalls and special appeals. Two well remembered appeals were the 120 sixpences and the 500 shillings. There were, of course, the everyday traumas. The Scouts continued to break windows and even on one occasion got into the piano. This instrument had quite a history. It was the original school piano and had been bought by the church in 1914. It continued its service in the hall until it was replaced by a Pianola in the 1970s.
In 1929 white ants made their first appearance in the Stanwell Park Church. This was to be the beginning of a long battle that would see the end of the church buildings at Helensburgh and Waterfall. In 1935 the wooden piers under the Helensburgh church were replaced with brick piers to combat the threat. The major problem was that the porch built in 1930 had been constructed over the stump of one of the pine trees. It became the nest and entry point for later white ant attacks. In 1947 white ants were discovered in the Waterfall church and quite a few studs replaced. Then in 1949 the floor was replaced. The same year ants were discovered in the West wall of the Helensburgh church. In 1952 the pest exterminators, Powell & Co., were called in, but they were unable to find the source of the problem at that time. In 1959 the East wall was replaced. Meanwhile, the Waterfall church was again under attack, but on inspection it was found that the building was now little more than a shell. The building was demolished in 1957 by the residents of Waterfall. They were invited to a church bonfire and Bar-B-Q to say farewell. All that remained were the pews, stored under the Bushfire Brigade station, and the church bell. The congregation continued to meet in private homes through to the 1980s.
Back at Helensburgh things were not much better. Mrs. Hammonds fell through the floor while cleaning the church, and one windy Sunday evening the service was transferred to the hall due to the precarious swaying of the building. On the 27th May 1962 Rev. Butler led the last service held in the original church building. The original Rectory, next to the church, was to face a similar end, being demolished later that same year. During the building of the new church (hall), Ken Hammonds was painting the joists and bearers with a mixture of arsenic and creosote and was heard to say "go on, have a go at this lot."
Rev Kennedy, as with the ministers before him, used lay readers in the outlying centres. Messes Kemp, Kennard, Edward and Grenville all gave a hand. Unlike the earlier years when lay readers from Sydney were employed, the church was now strong enough to use members of the congregation in this ministry.
Rev. Herbert George Robinson, 1933-1937
In 1933 Rev. Kennedy was invited to serve in St. Peter's East Sydney and was replaced by Rev. Robinson in 1933 - the eleventh minister. He was inducted to the Provisional District on 13th June by the acting Dean Rev. Le Huray. Rev. Creighton was present at the service to welcome him to the Burgh. Rev. Robinson came with his wife Edith and son Reg. He soon gained a reputation for his preaching. One series on Genesis lasted for over a year. Edith's great claim to fame was her cooking ability. Her fancy sweets at the annual fete were always sold up in the first hour.Parish activities continued as usual: Services, G.F.S., Community Singing, Scouts, Women's Guild, Ash Wednesday Scripture Service (109 present in 1936), Harvest Festival (corn for the pews courtesy of Mr. Hartley), etc. Maintenance continued with the church and hall repainted cream with brown trim by members of the congregation. The original 1925 church electric lights were getting a bit dull and so were replaced with 100 watt gas-filled lamp bulbs - such extravagance.
With the commencement of Woronora Dam and the establishment of a small community of workers on site, Rev. Robinson initiated church services in the site hall once a fortnight. Sunday School was moved from Sunday afternoon to a morning slot. A Tuesday evening Bible study was commenced. A number of open-air evangelistic services were held. In 1934 a whole week was devoted to mission. It consisted of women's meetings, children's club after school and nightly evangelistic services. Attendances at the evening meetings ran at around 30.
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| The Mother's Union. Front row, left to right - Mrs Robinson, Mrs. Cos, Mrs. Griffith |
Life in the Rectory was made easier with the installation of the a telephone in 1934 (Helensburgh 24, now 02 4294 1024. This is the second oldest Helensburgh telephone number still with the original owner. The Roman Catholic church is the oldest). Prior to this the Rector used Dr. Cox's telephone. The good doctor didn't seem to mind. Dr. Cox was a great supporter of the church, even to baking fresh bread rolls on Sunday morning for the Rector's breakfast. His home was two doors up from the Presbyterian church in Robertson St. One other event in 1934 should be recorded; the Rectory was burgled. The thief was never found.
Stanwell Park Mission church continued strongly. New pews were purchased in 1934 and assembled by the members. The pews were repadded in 1976 by Steve James. The Rector and local lay readers took the services. A church committee was formed, a women's club started in 1934 and regular working bees held, ably fed by Mrs. Anger. Mrs. Moseley continued the tradition of a church garden party to aid church funds. The church garden party continued through the years with the last held at Mrs. Rivers' home in 1976.
The Waterfall church continued to struggle. A lay reader was hired from Sydney to take services in 1935. In the same year, Mr. Childs, one of the most faithful members in the church, passed away. It was a great loss.
Rev. Henry Flores, 1937-1947
In 1937 Rev. Robinson was appointed to St. Silas Waterloo, but sadly was to die within a few years. Mrs. Robinson continued to visit her friends in the town right through to her old age. She would often stay with Mrs. Green. Rev. Flores was inducted as the new minister on 20th April 1937, by Archdeacon Johnstone. He was the twelfth minister to serve in the Burgh. Rev. Flores was married with two children, Alice and Laurence. He was Maltese and his wife was Irish and crippled. They were serving as missionaries in the wilds of Canada before coming to Helensburgh. Henry spoke with a broken accent and so was hard to understand. He was a real rough diamond, although highly educated.Services continued as before: Helensburgh 8am, 11am and 7.15pm (later 7.00pm). Stanwell Park 9.30am or 3.00pm fortnightly. Waterfall, Otford and Woronora, 3.00pm once a month. The Woronora services ceased in 1941 with the completion of work. Mother's Union, Women's Guild, Girls Friendly Society, Choir, Sunday School, Bible Study and Children's Concerts continued as before. The 1939 Bazaar was held over three days and raised eighty pounds. Sunday School picnics continued to be held at the Dummies. Confirmations were held yearly. In 1945 there were 25 candidates.
Finances remained a problem with the offertories totalling only two pounds ($4), an amount only just above the dole (unemployed social security). It was difficult to handle any major expenses. The Archbishop allocated ten pounds per year to finally purchase the church property from the Lands Department over five years. He also allocated forty pounds ($80) to the Stanwell Park mission church to repaint the church and build a front fence. Again it was the ladies to the rescue with Bazaars and collections (the District Visitors). One of the most faithful District Visitors was Miss Pasfield who retired from this work in 1941. She was well remembered for her Victorian dress, button up shoes and insisting ways. During the '40s an annual Temple Day was instituted to bolster finances.
The new Rector was an amateur printer and so he recommenced the Parish Paper in 1938. He also formed a Youth Fellowship which met on Friday nights in the church hall for games, etc. A number of Youth Services were held each year in conjunction with the club. A monthly adult social in the church hall was instituted and run by Mrs. Fairbother. Missionary support remained strong: The Church Missionary Society, The Home Mission Society and Moore Theological College.
The war years now touched the church. Up went the "black out" paper over the church and hall windows. The hall was converted into a First Aid Post and the centre for the Red Cross. Naturally there was a drain on man power and the inevitable loss of life. For instance, Mrs Green, a regular at church, was to loose her husband.
As the years went by new members joined the church and others left. For many years the Church Wardens had been Mr. Edmondson, Stevenson and Pell, but in 1938 the trio broke up when Mr. Edmondson retired and left the district. He was to die in 1939, greatly loved. The three had always sat on the right side of the church in the rear choir stall. A plaque was placed over Mr. Edmondson's seat. Mr. Kinnell, his replacement Warden, never took over the seat out of respect for his colleague and friend. Mr. Alston, a member of the Parish Council, was also to die that year. He was involved in a traffic accident on the highway.
Some of the members of the Parish Council in the '40s were: Mr. Griffith, Mr. Basham who owned the Ampol service station, Mr. Hargraves, Mr. East, Mr. (Yorkie) Barrett a miner, Mr. Lee Styles who owned the Postmans Track store, Mr. Thicket who was later to go blind, Mr. Rutter, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Geoff Cox, Mr. Hammonds and Mr. Hindmarsh. Mrs. Kinnell continued to peddle away at the organ. Mrs. Cox ran the Mother's Union and was secretary to the Ladies Guild. Mrs. Pell and Mrs. Kinnell faithfully cleaned the church together each week. Workers for the 1946 Bazaar were Messes Flores, Pell, Gash, Weaver, Kinnell, Stevenson, Duffy, Cook and Hargraves. Mrs. Stanford continued to work her magic creating costumes for the Children's Concerts. Some of the families attending church at this time were: Rutter, Hammonds, Dunne, Hickling, Walton, Smith, Finney, Thickett, Basham, Hargraves, East, Barrett, Styles, Hindmarsh and Fairbrother. The District Visitors were Mrs. Stevenson, Mrs. Pell and Miss Pasfield. Some of the members of Girl's Friendly Society were: Joan Weaver, Alice Flores, Mavis Kinnell and Ilma Roser. Leading lights in the Otford congregation were Mr. & Mrs. Bean. At Stanwell Park the wardens were Mr. Hickling and Mr. Rutter. Some of the families attending were: Surtees, Hulme, Anger, Rutters and Fehrenbach. Leading lights in the Waterfall congregation were: Mrs. Mason, Wilson and Murray. Mrs. Murray ran the Ladies Guild.
At Stanwell Park the southerly busters continued to cause trouble. In 1935 major foundation and roof damage was caused by a howling gale. The "wings" had to be reconstructed and strengthened. Another gale in 1945 undid much of this earlier work. It was so bad it actually blew the two church lavatories away. At Helensburgh the hall was given a refit in 1938 with the addition of new curtains made by the Women's guild for a cost of two pounds ($4) and 60 used wooden seats from the Empire Theatre for a cost of 1/- each. They replaced a number of very uncomfortable forms. The Empire had gone modern and refitted with metal framed cushioned seats. When the Empire closed the church acquired a number of these seats to replace the wooden ones. For years later youth leaders would struggle to remove children's legs from the back of these seats when they flipped up after a child walked on them.
1942 was the 50th Anniversary of the Church of the Holy Redeemer. It was celebrated with a special Sunday service and a social on the Monday might. Another very special service was held in the church on 19th August 1945. It was "Victory Sunday". A service of thanksgiving was held to celebrate the end of the War. It was a full house.
Rev. Percy William George Twine, 1949-1954
Rev. Reogerson found it extremely difficult to carry on his ministry around the undeveloped streets of Helensburgh and so accepted an appointment to Erskinville in 1949. He was followed by Rev Bill Twine, known affectionately as Dollar Bill, with his wife Joan. He was the fourteenth minister. He came straight from college to Helensburgh.Rev. Bill Twine was a distinctive person. He was high church in his leanings and so took the congregation upward in churchmanship. He could be seen walking around town with homburg and cane. The cane, he said, was to keep the children at bay. When in the 1950's he purchased a car, it was a sports car, a doorless Singer, not the most reliable car around, yet he said all you had to do when it broke down was to stand next to it and look hopeless. It always worked. The next car was a De La Salle, wiped out in an accident, and was followed by an Armstrong Sidley renowned for lack of power. Bill was a jovial fellow with a great sense of humour. On one working bee he passed around glasses of communion wine with the quip, "If Father Scanlen can give his worker beer I don't see why I shouldn't give you a sip of the Lord's wine." Of course, his pranks did put some people offside.
Rev Twine's nickname came about by his fund raising activities. When he played the piano for the opening of the bowing club, the hat was passed around and he was able to hand over one hundred pounds toward church funds. In 1951 the offertories were four pounds a week, by 1953 they were eight pounds. Under Bill the church was able to fund itself in 1952 without H.M.S. assistance. Now able to meet it's own financial commitments the Parish was declared a Parochial District.Rev. Twine was an innovator. After the morning services he would give organ recitals. He obtained a amplified carillon and played it before the services. He ran numerous special services for the Scouts, CWA, School Parades, Red Cross, etc. He loved the theatre and organized visits from theatrical groups and choirs to perform at the Empire Theatre. Mr. Downie donated the theatre for Church activities. Rev. Twine formed the Helensburgh Anglican Recreation Club, the main activity of which was Table Tennis. Then there was the Anglican Literature and Musical Society. Bill's rendering of ghost stories are remembered to this day. Then there was the Orchestra, Church Ball and the Dramatic Society.
The Dramatic Society mainly performed one act plays in the Church Hall which was now fitted out with an array of sophisticated sound and stage equipment. The highlight of these performances was The Pageant for Elizabeth held in the Empire theatre to mark the coronation of the Queen in 1952. The Pageant was written by Ken Barrett, the music arranged by Bill Twine who conducted the orchestra and choir. Some of the personalities in the dramatic society were Georgina, Alex and George Simpson, Elinor Stevenson, Edith Marshall, Peg and Les Stuart, Rita Greenway, Rona Powell, Edythe Fairbrother, Ellen Hindmarsh, Joan Taylor, Alice and Humphrey Osborne, Violet Drysdale, Lawrence Hill, Ennis Fairbairn, Lillian Newman, Helen Green and Geoff Cox.
Bill Twine was High Church so he liked a little colour in the service. He formed a Servers Guild which continued till he left the Parish. He was renowned for his short sermons, some even less than 5 minutes.
In 1950 the three services at Helensburgh were reduced to two, 9.00am and 7.15pm. Stanwell Park was increased to a weekly 3.00 pm Sunday Service. Waterfall and Otford continued at once a month. In 1951 monthly services were commenced at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Steel at Stanwell Tops. This service did not continue for long. The Parish Paper continued with a distribution of 200. Temple Day (fete) raised $80 in 1952. The tennis club continued to play at Ramsay's court, Mr. Simpson acting as the secretary. Women's Guild, Mother's Union, etc. continued as before.
In 1951 there was a move to again include Heathcote in the Helensburgh provisional district, but this was opposed by Sutherland and so the transfer didn't go ahead.
Sadly a number of old identities passed on during Bill Twine's period of ministry. Mr. Stevenson, the last of the three original Church Warden's died in 1949. Mr. Kinnell, who had replaced Mr. Edmondson as warden, died in 1951. Two old faithfuls, Mrs. Betts and Mr. Warren, also died in 1953. The new church wardens were Mr. L. East, Mr. G. Cox and Mr. K. Hammonds. Rev. Flores, well known to a small group of friends in the town, died in 1953. A memorial service was held for him in the church.
In memory of Mr. Stevenson a fund was started to buy a new organ. The original organ had been fitted with a blower in 1949, but Rev. Twine encouraged the purchase of a second hand pipe organ. After raising some $400 Bill set to and built the organ which was dedicated in 1950. It was a bit of a hybrid, with the electronics powered by two six volt car batteries. When Bill left there was no one with the expertise to service the organ and so it was sold in 1955. It was replaced by a harmonium, still in the Helensburgh Anglican church, dedicated to Mrs. Kinnell. Also at this time a font was dedicated in memory of Dr. Cox in 1952, donated by Mrs. Cox. A Chalice and Patten was donated to the church in 1951 by Mr. & Mrs. Weaver.
Maintenance problems continued. Some $600 was spent on renovating the rectory. The church continued to sag through borer attack and so in 1951 a building fund was commenced. It was proposed to build a new church on the third block, the future tennis court site. Rev. Twine suggested it be built on a concrete slab to keep the borers away. The funds were slow in coming in so in the meantime the congregation set about restoring the existing church building. Powell and Co were called in to exterminate the white ants, the West wall was replaced and Mr. East sanded the floor. The pews were varnished and the building painted. The Waterfall church was going through similar problems and so Jack Atkins and Neal Murray replaced the floor boards.
The Stanwell Park church was holding up quite well during this period of time. Services were now once a week and the Sunday School was strong. There was a social programme and fund raising activities - sale of work, fancy dress concert... In 1949 a brass cross was purchased by Rev. Twine for the church. The cross is still on the Holy Table today.
Bill Twine left his mark on the Helensburgh district and many in the congregation and the town were sad to see him go. He was invited to become the minister at Bankstown, a position he held up till his death. A large contingent from Helensburgh were present at his induction.
Rev. David Hayes 1954-1955
Rev. Ashcroft filled in until the appointment of the new rector, Rev. David Hayes. He was instituted to the Provisional Parish in 1954 by Rev. Begbie, Archdeacon of Camden. His stay was a short one due to family problems.Services continued as usual with an increase at Helensburgh, 8.00am, 11.00am and 7.15pm. The organizations continued as usual: Mothers' Union, Sunday School, GFS, Bible Study.....
Sadly the white ants continued their work and complaints to the exterminators brought no response. The old vestry was altered and turned into a Baptistry in 1954 and repairs on the building continued. Old Mr. Barrett had died and Mrs. Barrett gave a pair of candlesticks in his memory in 1954. The candlesticks still stand on the credence table to this day, but as the churchmanship had moved downward, they were never used.
Identities of the time are as follows: Church Committee members, Mrs. Coffee, Stevenson, Weaver, Pell, Fairbairn, Kinnell, Hindmarsh, Dennett and Green, and Mr. Coffee the station master, Geoff Cox, Mr. Williams who owned the Park store, Mr. Steele of Stanwell Tops who ran a Sunday School in his home. Mr Styles who owned the store in Postman's Track, Mr. Hammonds a tech. teacher, Mr. Short who worked for the railways at the metropolitan signal box, and Mr. Murray of Otford. Church Wardens were Mr. Styles, East and Hammonds. The Mothers' Union had 15 members in 1957, Mrs. East, Hindmarsh, Pell, Hammonds, Stevenson, Coffee and Green. The Sunday School was still run by Mrs. Stevenson, although she retired in 1955, handing over to Mrs. East and Mr. McMaker. Other identities in the church were Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Bell, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. & Mrs. Taylor, Miss Illingworth , Miss Nell Stevenson, Mr. & Mrs. Fairbother, Mrs. Luck, George Barrett, Mr. & Mrs. Greenway. The Woman's Guild was run by Mrs. Coffee. GFS was led by Mrs. Coffee, East and Luck. CEBS was run by Kevin Sims. The Table Tennis club was led by Harry Short. Organists were Mrs. Kinnell and Mrs. East. Caretaking under the watchful eye of Mrs. Pell. At Otford the regulars were Mrs. Hamilton, Mr. & Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Vardey, and Mrs. Schubert. At Waterfall, Mr. Jackson was the leading light.
Rev. Herbert William Robey, 1955-1957
Herb Robey, with his wife and three children Paul, Philip and Rosemary, became the next Curate in Charge of the Provisional district of Helensburgh. He was instituted in February 1955 by Archdeacon Begbie. Twelve ministers were present, including the local Presbyterian and Methodist ministers.Herb was a strong Evangelical and a systematic Bible teacher. His main hobby, bicycle racing, stood him in good stead for the local Helensburgh races. The circuit around Parkes St, Walker St, Lawrence Hargraves Drive and Princess Highway was the regular race track, but increased use of the highway caused the suspension of the races. Herb had served in WW2 and then entered the printing trade. He had been an active trade unionist and so stood well with the miners. He was 38 when he left Moore College and came to Helensburgh.
The congregation under Rev. Robey concentrated on getting the gospel out into the district. To this end the Sunday School at Otford was revived. Mr. Steel expanded the Sunday School at Stanwell Tops. At helensburgh Herb started a small bus run picking up the children from West Helensburgh, the Nissen Huts and the Housing Commission. A student deaconess, Miss Hepper, was hired for visitation work in 1955, and two missions in 1956 and 57. Don Robinson of Moore Theological College led the first mission team of students. Week-long services and meetings were held with the students visiting the town and outlying centers. The second mission in May 1957 was also carried out by Moore College students and this time led by Owen Dykes. it was part of a large South Coast mission. Local activities and visiting culminated with a final mission meeting at the Wollongong Town hall where Bernie Gook spoke. The students were billeted out during their stay in Helensburgh.
The church finances again went into decline. Only half the expenditure was supplied by offertories which were around $8 per week. The 1955 fete raised $200 with the kitchen stall run by Mrs. Green and Mrs. Kinnell raising seventeen pounds 7/9 ($34.78). Even an HMS grant of $200 didn't help to meet the deficit. Even so the deteriorating condition of the church building prompted the establishment of another building fund in 1956 with Mrs. Cox's mile of threepences. The fund grew despite all the financial troubles. Even the mission societies continued to be supported. The attendances at Helensburgh indicated the state of the problem. The 7.15pm service was so badly attended that on some evenings no one was present. In 1957 the services were again reduced to two, 11.15am and 7.15pm.
In 1956 Mrs. Stevenson, after so many devoted years to the Sunday School, finally resigned. Also during this period some of the old identities passed away. Mr. & Mrs. Thickett who had retired to Stanwell Park, and Mr. & Mrs. Rusfeldt. A Communion Cloth was crocheted by Miss Short in memory of Mrs. Thickett. It was dedicated in September 1957 by Rev. Feltham of Austinmer. In the same year Mr. & Mrs. Styles left for Queensland. Mr. Styles was a faithful member, as was Mrs. Styles to the Roman church. They were greatly missed.
Herb and his family were invited by the Archbishop to accept an appointment to Riverstone and to take up his duties there at the beginning of June 1957. Herb was to have a long and faithful ministry, serving with great distinction in the Brisbane diocese and retiring in Canberra.
Rev. Thomas William Butler, 1958-1962
The financial situation now facing the district prompted a review of the situation at head office. In the meantime the Waterfall Church came to its fiery end. After a full examination of finances it was decided to incorporate the Helensburgh district, other than Stanwell Park which was placed with Austinmer, into the new Provisional District of Engadine. Tom Butler with his wife and children Ruth and Ann came to Helensburgh in 1958. His background of strict, austere Protestantism in South Africa made it difficult for him to relate to easy going Australians. A new rectory was purchased in Engadine in 1959 and soon the old Helensburgh rectory was abandoned. Helensburgh and Waterfall received only limited representation on the new Parish Council. It was all a natural consequence of the decline of the Helensburgh district and the new housing boom at Engadine.The services at Helensburgh were soon reduced from two to one. They alternated between 11am and 7.15pm. Numbers attending were now about 40, but they were on the decline. Children's Concerts, Socials, GFS and CEBS all closed, although the other church groups and activities continued as usual. In 1961 the fete was held in the RSL hall.
The main project facing the Helensburgh church was the condition of the church building. Little could now be done to save it. The building fund in 1960 had reached over $1,200. Money boxes were distributed throughout the town and support for a new building remained strong. In 1961 a sub-committee was formed to investigate building plans and ideas were circulated amongst the congregation. Thank heavens that one plan for a concrete block building was never accepted. In 1962 the Archbishop was approached for permission to demolish the church.In the face of these growing difficulties the congregation retained its sense of community. In 1960 a special thanksgiving tea was held for the remaining three faithfuls: Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Stevenson, and Mrs. Pell. In 1962 Mrs. Kinnell the church organist was remembered in a presentation to her from the congregation.
Maintenance of the church property continued under the watchful eye of Ken Hammonds. Fire damage to the rectory was repaired, new curtains placed in the hall and the third block cleared. In 1960 the Broughton's moved into the rectory. John, a teacher, was soon involved in Sunday school and later served as a lay reader and committee member. He also took a leading role in church youth work and the scouts.
A youth group had developed during Herb Robey's time and struggled through to around 1960. The Presbyterians and the Methodists also had struggling groups. The kids themselves decided to form a united fellowship and from that time on the group flourished. Margaret Senescall was the leader at the time of the union and Narelle Sellar became the leader and continued until she left for Bible College in the mid 60's. Ambassadors, an American based youth Evangelism group, had purchased land at Stanwell Tops and built in 1962. The site is now owned by the Church of Christ and used for conferences. Staff became very much involved in the Helensburgh youth group, especially Reg Locke and Roger Warner. The group held regular camps, socials and outings to youth rallys. Meetings were held on Sunday evenings and consisted of chorus singing, prayers, Bible readings and a speaker. Some of the leading lights were Rhonda Smith, Irene and Glenda Perry, Shirly Sims, Lyn Gash, Edwina Adlington, Bronwyn and David Secescall, Bill, Caroyln and Lee Werry, Cheryl Loudon, Barbara Coffee, Paul and Derek Sanders.... The group folded in the late 60's as the older members left to get married etc. A solid group of committed believers emerged from the group and are members of the local churches today.
Services at Waterfall continued monthly in private homes, but were now controlled from Engadine. Services at Otford ceased in 1962, the land for a new church was held in trust, but the building fund ceased.
Stanwell Park continued strongly. Services were held weekly at 11am with a 10am family service once a month. Attendances were around the 30 mark. Now with Austinmere, the Park congregation continued to develop a strong independent streak, threatening at time to run the show by themselves. Finances were on the up. Offertories in 1947 were $200 per annum. In 1960 $250, 1964 $640. The ladies ran an annual sale and street stalls raising $220 in 1965. The bottle and scrap drive raised $160 in 1965 toward the building fund. - This fund commenced in 1964 with the sale of 1/- brick cards. By the end of the year some $800 had been raised toward the fund, with a total of $3,400 held in kitty by 1967. The fund sought to extend the existing building to increase the worship area and the rear hall area. The existing building was still in good shape and widely used by the local community. The school would periodically use the rear hall for a class room and the worship area was even used as a doctors surgery for a time. The roof was resheeted in 1963 after a massive hailstorm. In 1958 the wardens were E.L. Murray, Norm O'Brien and Arthur Short. Sunday School teachers in 1961 were Mr. & Mrs. Collins, Miss Anger, Miss Davies and Miss Chappel. Other identities were Mr. & Mrs. Water who left in 1963, Miss Potter, Mr. Adams, Miss Murray the organist, Mrs. Anger, Mr. & Mrs. Chappell, Mrs. Kemp and Mrs. O'Brien, later the Church secretary, Miss Judith Short who later led the Sunday School and played the organ, Miss Potter, Miss Shore, Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Fairweather, Mrs. Watmuff, Mrs. Orton, Mrs. Oliver, Mrs. Shubert, Mr. & Mrs. Rutter, Mr. & Mrs. Hickling, Mrs. Rivers.
Rev. Allan Lang, 1962-1963
Rev. Butler had led the church through a difficult period of transition. He resigned in 1962 and entered chaplaincy work. The new Curate in Charge of the Provisional District of Engadine with Heathcote was Rev. Allan Lang who set up home in Engadine with his wife. They were to stay about a year, for in 1963 they left for missionary service, but sadly were forced to return owing to ill health.Services at Helensburgh now alternated between 8am and 11am with a family service once a month. Attendance was around 30. Mother's Union and Guild continued as usual. The main preoccupation was the replacement of the church building. The plans were prepared by Bob Coffee and Mr. Pittard, with the final drawings accepted by the Diocesan architectural committee. The estimated cost of construction by Crusade Constructions was $9,300. Offers of aid came from all directions. Rex Jackson, the local member for the NSW parliament arranged discount timber and cheap concrete blocks. Townsfolk volunteered there services for the building work. The building fund established in 1963 had now reached $1,500 and was moving ahead with donations from all quarters. Even the Mothers Union in Rotherhithe England sent a gift. The Parish roll prepared and supervised by Geoff Cox served to circulated building fund money boxes to help toward the project. The position of the new building sparked some debate, but the existing church site was chosen over the higher 3rd block site.
The Archbishop granted permission to demolish the church and hold services in the hall and so the inevitable day grew closer. The mark the end of the old church, past ministers were invited back to preach. Rev. Gee May 6, Rev. Bill Twine May 13, and Rev. Butler May 27, 1962. This was to be the last service in the old church. Over the following months the building was demolished by voluntary labour and the timber sold. The hall was given a clean up, the stage painted by Geoff Cox and Bob Coffee and the church furniture moved in on Saturday June 1. The services continued as usualSadly the Rectory was also falling down. White ants were again the culprit. Demolition began on June 15, 1963, under the direction of Ken Hammonds. Materials and garage were sold off. Plans for a new rectory were drawn up by Crusade Constructions and a quote for a the building presented at $3,126.
John Boughton in May gained a promotion and had to leave his teaching position at Helensburgh Public and the district. The Boughtons, since coming to Helensburgh, had become deeply involved in the life of the congregation. John, in particular, serving as a lay reader in the church. Over 120 townsfolk attended their farewell on May 5, 1963. Thankfully Les Werry filled the breach and took over leadership of the services.
Rev. Fred Buchanan, 1964-1967
Rev. Fred Buchanan and his wife, became the new Curate in Charge of the Provisional district of Engadine with Heathcote. Fred was a popular bloke and a useful handyman at working bees.The finances at the Helensburgh church were now at rock bottom. Sunday attendance was down to 25. It was clear to see that the planned new church was beyond the congregations finances. There was also little hope of building a new rectory. In a great act of generosity, Ambassadors offered to build a hall on the old church site similar to their hall at the Stanwell Tops Conference Center. The cost was set at $2,500 and was eagerly accepted by the congregation. Building work commenced in July 1965. The plan was to build the new church on the rectory site some time in the future. The new hall would serve as a church in the interim. To this day this hall is still used as the church.
Allan Johnson directed the building with Reg Locke and Roger Warner giving a helping hand. Ken Hammonds, a first-rate welder, prefabricated the trusses. A partition was put at the end of the hall for a vestry and small hall and the entrance opening at the side of the porch, otherwise the design followed exactly the Ambassadors hall. The diocese approved the new hall for church services until the erection of a new church. The building with finished in September for an all up cost of $3,252. It was dedicated on October 17, 1965, a typical Helensburgh wet and windy day. The building was financed from the Building Fund and a $1,500 loan. Even with the fete, jumble sales, street stalls and special gifts, it was just possible to pay the interest on the loan, but no capital repayments. In 1966 IXL tin money boxes were issued to raise funds to meet the loan. New pews were given as memorials by church members for the new church. The original Communion Table, rails, Lectern, Pulpit, Reading Desk and Credence table continued in use.
Church organizations continued as usual. The Sunday School had 50 children attending, Mothers Union 15. Only the old hall remained a maintenance headache. In 1966 half the windows were broken by vandals. With the closing of the Empire theatre the church was able to buy some of the old seats. Until they were dumped in 1977, they remained a continuing threat to life and limb as children constantly found themselves trapped in the folding seat. They weren't designed to be walked on. Extracting the victim was always a delicate business. Fifth Sunday combined Protestant evening services were now held in the RSL hall. Some evening guest service were planned as outreach occasions, but were not well attended. The Church Wardens in 1966 wee Les Coffee, Geoff Cox and Ken Hammonds.In 1964 The Parish boundaries were again altered and Stanwell Park with included in the Engadine with Heathcote district. This made it possible to engage a Curate (an assistant minister) to cover the Southern section of the Parish. A flat was obtained at Stanwell park and later in 1965 a renovated Igloo was purchased on the corner of Walker and Francis Sts. to serve as the Curate's cottage. The Curates were young men fresh out of theological college in their first or second training posting. Their term was about two years. The first Curate was Garry Child, he was followed by Warwick Thomas, Peter Tasker and his wife Joan, Trevor Middelton and his wife Jill, Don Wilson and his wife Libby, and finally Bryan Findlayson and his wife Doreen.
St. George's Stanwell Park was now a very strong and independent church. Attendance was around 40, with the Women's Fellowship and Sunday School vital organizations. In 1965 Mr. & Mrs. Short left the Park for Mowell Village. They had been spiritual lights in the congregation over many years. They left a fine memorial Communion Table of Queensland Maple as a parting gift to the congregation. On the maintenance side, in 1967 the church was lined and painted. The Wardens in 1966 were Mr. A. Quick, Norm O'Brien and J. Adams. In 1964 the church held a Jubilee Anniversary service with an overflow congregation.
Rev. Graham Hynard, 1967-1978
Rev. Graham Hynard with his wife Beryl and three children, became the new minister of the Engadine with Heathcote Provisional District, and remained so until the reformation of the Provisional District of Helensburgh with Stanwell Park in 1978.During this period the Helensburgh church began to stabilize and finally, grow. The Sunday school of some 40 children was run by Mr. & Mrs. Sweeney, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Hammonds, Roger & Glenys Warner. Mothers Union was led by Mrs. Higgins, and the Guild by Mrs. Luck. The services continued weekly, led by the Curate. Scripture was in the hands of the Curate, Mrs. Luck and others, with Roger Warner taking Otford. Maintenance, Ken Hammonds and John Rands. Ground-care, Bill Sweeney. Organist, Mrs. Mills of Otford and Mrs. Piper, and later, Edwina Brooks and Dulcie Jeffries. Church Wardens during this time were Bill Sweeney, Geoff Cox, Ken Hammonds and Mr. Coffee. The Parish Paper, "The Vision", continued. Missionary support remained strong. Monthly Family Services and Anniversary Services continued, although not well attended. The Tuesday evening Bible Study group continued throughout this period. Brownies and Guides continued to use the hall until the construction of their own Guide hall. The Church ladies started an after school primary youth club. This ran from 1974 through to 1977.
As the 70's progressed, the Sydney suburban push began to touch Helensburgh and some young married's from the Shire began to attend - Jeff & Jan Lee, Colin & Narelle Adams. At the same time some of the old faithfuls were to leave or pass away. Les Werry left Ambassadors in 1970, Roger and Glenys Warner left for full time ministry in Queensland. Mrs. Green, Mr. & Mrs. Don Johnson and Mr. & Mrs Fairclough, and later Mrs. Jefferies were to leave the congregation. Those who passed away included Mr. Coffee, Mrs. Draper, Mrs. Cox and Joyce Illingworth.
On the maintenance front work continued on the 3rd block. It was partly cleared in 1972 and Ken Hammonds made an interesting find of a plot of Marijuana. In 1974 Mr. Fairclough organized the mine bulldozer to clear the land and lay down coalwash. Bernard Price, over many years, slowly turfed the land and then mowed it. The hall roof was partly destroyed by a storm in 1975 and had to be replaced. The front of the hall was replaced, along with new doors and windows, in 1975. The new church needed little upkeep. Ken Hammonds put rails on the porch steps in 1968 and heaters were added in 1971. Hail damage in 1976 involved replacing a number of roof sheets.
The Stanwell Park continued strongly. Some new faces joined the crew: Mr. & Mrs. Irvine who were the new caretakers at Hillcrest. Mr. Irvine led a weekly Bible Study in his home and both were involved in the Sunday School. Mr. & Mrs. Ryan, both becoming totally involved in the life of the congregation. Mr. & Mrs. Thoad. Mr. Thoad was an accomplished church organist and his skills were quickly put to work. Miss Denalda Harris, Miss Kinnish, Mr. & Mrs. Rose, Mrs. Garnon, Mr. & Mrs. Bartlem, Ann and Steve James, Chris and Judith Lambkin, Reg & Carol Lobb, Ray and Marie Tinker. There were inevitably some losses. Mr. Adams, Mrs. Kemp and Mrs. Murray were to die. Miss Potter left to serve on the mission filed.
Progress on the new building project at the Park was painstakingly slow. Sketched had bee drawn but no final plan resolved. The building of the new church complex at Engadine was taking up most of Graham Hynards time, but finally in 1970 a draft plan was presented and approved by the Parish Council. It proposed to turn the existing building into a multi purpose hall and church by extending the existing building down the block. Over the next seven years no step was taken to commence the project. Finances for the project were in hand. In 1971 the building fund had reached $4,830, and by 1977 it totalled around $10,000. The problem was that building costs continued to outstrip the fund's growth.Services at the Park alternated weekly between 8am and 11am. Sunday school numbered around 20, led by Miss Bartlett, Mr. Fairweather, Mrs. Anger and Mrs. Shubert. Later Mr. & Mrs. Irvine took over leadership and Mrs. Ryan and Judith Short took over in 1973. In 1976 Judith Lambkin, Steve James and Ray Tinker took the lead, and later Carol Lobb. Mrs. Rivers continued to hold her ever popular Garden Party. The Women's Fellowship worked to raise funds. Their 1972 fete at the CWA Hall raised $220. Mrs. Orton won the chocolate cake competition and Mrs. Murray ran her renowned second hand stall. A Friday evening youth group flourished during Trevor Middleton's time. There were about 15 in the group. On one occasion Trevor even had the group hike from the Park to the Burgh for supper. Maintenance continued as usual. In 1971 all the brassware was stolen from the church and was kindly replaced by the Anger and Short families.
Both the Helensburgh and Stanwell Park churches dreamed of the day when they could have their own minister again. This was frustrated by poor finances. In 1970 the Helensburgh offertories were $20 per week. In 1975 they were $30. By 1977, with the influx of young families into Helensburgh and Stanwell Park, financial independence became a possibility. The Archbishop was approached by Colin Adams, supported by Steve James, to see if it was at all possible to created a new district. Subsequent investigation proved the new district was viable and with the support of a $3,000 HMS grant the new district of Helensburgh with Stanwell Park was formed with Rev. Bryan Findlayson the new Curate in charge.
Rev. Bryan Findlayson, 1978-89
Bryan Findlayson, with his wife Doreen and children, Marelle, Paul and Justyne, were appointed as Minister in charge of the new district by Archdeacon Harry Goodhew, on March 3, 1978. There were some doubts that the district would survive financially. Sacrificial giving by the two congregations overcome any problems. In 1978 combined offertories were $8,000. By 1981 the offertories reached $16,000.
A youth work was commenced. Junior Club led by Steve and Anne James and Ray Tinker, commenced at the Stanwell Park Surf Club, 3rd term, 1977. It attracted some 90% of the Stanwell Park senior primary children. This was extended to a senior group and a youth fellowship at Ray Tinkers home on Sunday evenings. At Helensburgh a Friday night junior high school club got underway with the name, The Jesus Light and Power Co. By 1981 the old all was decked out with 3 pin ball machines, a video twin racer, pool table, table tennis, shop and coffee tables. A Junior Burghers club was commenced as an after school activity on Wednesdays during school term. Numbers were in the 50's and it was an all out effort for the dedicated team of leaders. A senior high group, "Reunion Blues" functioned for graduates of the Jesus Light and Power Co. Transport was via 50 seat buses owned by the youth clubs. Two buses later, John Onames, the local bus company proprietor, loaned us his buses. Sadly, even one of these blew up while on a club outing.
The Parish paper was "The Messenger" was recommenced and Bryan prepared monthly articles in the Park Parade called "Just a Moment". Both churches were involved in the 1979 Billy Graham crusade. In 1980 Steve James and Ray Tinker transformed the annual Carols by candlelight into an Christmas "Spectacular" with junior choir, soloists and mini orchestra. Annual houseparties commenced in 1979, held initially at Gerroa. A Men's breakfast met regularly on Saturday mornings, a Discipleship group commenced, a ladies craft group was commenced, a children's choir, and Bible Studies, Sunday School and ladies groups continued as before. The newly prepared Australian Prayer Book was introduced at both Helensburgh and Stanwell Park in 1980.Building activities were undertaken at both churches. At Helensburgh the interior was remodelled in 1979 and new layout and fellowship room completed in 1981. A toilet block was constructed in 1980 and the historic pan loo ceremonially burn down at the 1981 fete by Leigh Benger. The new toilets were opened when Messrs. Higgins, Duffy, Hamonds and Furner cut the ceremonial toilet-paper ribbon. Plans for a new rectory got under way in 1981 but were delayed for over a year by the diocesan architectural panel. A new design kit home was finally approved for the third block, being narrow and long to give maximum space for the building of a new church on the original rectory site. The Walker St. rectory was sold and the funds used to build the new rectory under the guiding hand of Jeff Lee and Collin Adams and to pay for a deposit on the purchase the spare land beside the Helensburgh church for $28,000. The purchase was just completed as land prices in Helensburgh touched the $40,000 mark. A Curate's cottage was then constructed on this site using voluntary labour and contractors under the guiding hand of Jeff Lee. A loan was obtained for the building and on completion, was rented to pay off the loan. Behind the Rectory, using the same bricks and roof line as the Rectory, a garage for the rector and a small Op Shop was constructed again using voluntary labour. Les Carett and his team was employed to do the brickwork. At Stanwell Park the congregation decided to build a new church behind the existing church which would now became the church hall. In 1979 plans were submitted to the architectural panel, but were rejected. Final approval was gained in 1980 when the congregation agreed to the removal of two supporting posts which sadly increased the cost of the project by some $5,000. - The Wollongong Council approved the building in 1981 and with the existing building fund of some $10,000 and a $10,000 loan, the new building was commenced with voluntary labour and subcontractors under the guiding hand of Roger Warner. The portal frames for the roof structure, now in steel, arrived in 1982. Sadly the bell town foundations gave way and the tower had to be rebuilt by Les Carett in 1983. The completed building in the shape of a kite is a most beautiful place of worship and loved by locals and congregation alike. New toilets and the renovation of the original church as a hall and meeting place, was completed in 1989 under the watchful eye and handy hand of Craig Knighton.
At Helensburgh some of the identities over this period were as follows: Ken Hammonds, the Rector's Warden. Ken was to die of a heart attack while on a Parish Houseparty - a terrible loss. "The Gentle Folk": Margaret Hammonds, Mary Higgins, Nova Duffy (who holds the record for the number of years of attending the Tuesday evening Bible Study), Nancy Furner, Pauline Luck, Ennis Fairbairn and Rona Powell who retired as the headmistress of the infants school in 1977. Mrs. Jeffreys the organist left the district in 1977. Cathy and Geoff Hammonds, Kath and Bill Sweeny (Bill was a retired miner), Edwina Brooks, Barbara and John Rands, Marj Foster, Geoff Cox who had handed out the books on Sunday since the 1930's and was the only person able to ring the bell rhythmically, Colin and Narelle Adams, Bruce and Lee King, Jeff and Jan Lee, Roger and Glennis Warner and family, Betty and Frank Marcey, Warren and Barbara Riley, John and Jean Parish and family who left for Canberra in 1982, Pam and Bill Johnson who owned the BP service station, Chris and Leigh Benger, Sid and Marilyn Moir, Marilyn became the church organist, Gail Davies, Jenny and Peter Mason, Marilyn and Steve Markham and family, Bob and Fran Grover and family who owned the Symbio animal park at Stanwell Tops, Rosemary Godfrey, Jeanette and Mark Patch, Clair and Doug Svensen, Greg Harris, Graham and Lydia Allard and family, Michael and Trish Croft and family, Amy and Mack McKay (Mack died in 1981 and Amy left the district in 1982), Stuart and Patricia Whelan and family, Kim and Ellen Crawford.
At Stanwell Park: Steve and Anne James and family, Chris and Judy Lambkin and family, Jean Anger, Norm and Stella O'Brien, Norm served with the Light Horse in Palestine, Marie and Ray Tinker and family, Reg and Carol Lobb and family, Michael and Julie Druce and family, Garry Laker, Wayne Bragg , David Anger, Eva Kinish, Mr. and Mrs. Thoad, Judith Short, Graham and Lydia AllardThe Findlaysons moved on in 1989. Bryan and Doreen to Braidwood while Bryan undertook further Biblical research before being appointed as Rector of St.Andrew's Cronulla. On retiring they moved back to Helensburgh. The children remained in Helensburgh, having become Burgh ites, although Paul was to die of a brain tumor and is buried in the Helensburgh cemetery.
Another working bee on the Helensburgh hall, this time it was painting. The painters were the youth leaders at the time who helped run the Friday night youth club, the Jesus Light and Power Co. The date is the early 80's. Up high, L to R, Jeff Lee, Kim Crawford and Bryan Findlayson. Down low, L to R, Sid Moir and Bruce King.The Stanwell Park Church Committee, 1989. The Stanwell Park congregation has remained a strong and independent church to this day, always able to manage their own affairs. From left to right: Jean Anger, Ray Tinker, Marie Tinker, Molly Billings, Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Fran Grover, Bob Grover, Bob Starkey, Trish Croft, Mike Croft, Lydia Allard, Julie Druce, Reg Lobb, Carol Lobb.
Rev. Tim Harris, 1989-1995
The 1990 Helensburgh Church fete in the church yard, the site of the original Rectory.
Rev. Trevor Young, 1995
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