They played tennis, swam in the
local waterhole and even just walking to and from school has created memories to
last a lifetime.
Companionship is one important
value these children shared. It didn’t seem to matter if they were working
together husking corn, milking cows or clowning around on their way to school.
They seem happy and contented if they were together. Hard work didn’t worry them
either. They just took it in their stride and lived each day to the full by
happily combining work and play.
Bradley's Sawmill
Bradley’s Sawmill was pioneered by
Thomas Cantrell Bradley, father of Mona,Ossie, Reginald and Enid. After moving
from Sydney to the Yarramalong Valley, Thomas formed a saw mill at Brush Creek,
with timber transported to the area via bullock wagon.
Night times growing up as children
was reserved for preparing timber cases for fruit, and the family also spent
their time husking corn. Nine cows were to be milked before breakfast each
morning and the cream separated.
A horse and
buggy were used for regular trips into Wyong to buy supplies.Even though there was always lots of
work to be done by the Bradley children they also had many fun times. Travelling
into town was always a special event and attending the various dances at
different local towns.
In 1942 Reginald Bradley went to
war, and upon his return took over ownership of the Bradley’s Sawmill. The
business was very much family-orientated, with Ossie working on the fruit cases
for the orchards whilst Reginald made picket fences. As the site was also a
steam plant, steam was used up until 1942, when machinery was introduced to the
mill. All equipment used on the Bradley’s Mill up to this point was made by
Thomas Bradley at the Sydney Foundry.
The Bradley house was built by hand using long sheets of wood sliced off the trees. The top section of the house can no longer be seen in Yarramalong as it has since been taken down and transported to the Entrance.
Shortly after 1946, Ossie and Reginald employed eight labourers and used the services of contractors to move logs into the area.
The Bradley family has made a significant contribution to
the Yarramalong area, with the land for the Wanda School Yarramalong donated by
Thomas Cantrell Bradley. All the pine trees visible in the Yarramalong area were
planted by the family.
Enid Wamsley (nee Bradley) with a
picture she painted of their house
from the left: The
Bradleys (Connie Bradley (Reginald's wife) Ossie Bradley and Enid
Wamsley).
Thomas Cantrell
Bradley's eldest son Reginald took over the role of mill owner from his father
who later passed on this family tradition to his son Graham Bradley. The
completion of 2004 signalled the end of an era for the Bradley family. The mill
was forced to close due to a problem with the log supply in the area. Graham
Bradley worked at the sawmill until its last days.
Page by Weblight Studio (Australia) Story
written and edited by Veronique and Cherie Moseley.
Aunty Mona Carson and Ossie