Bingara Our Town, Our People Volume 2

Discover the rich heritage of Bingara, the 'Gem of the New England,' through this fascinating collection of local history. Situated in the picturesque New England area of NSW Australia, Bingara was born from the excitement of gold rushes that created this pioneering town.

About This Book

Following the wonderful support of my first book Bingara, Our Town, Our People, the overwhelming response was a call for a follow-up. Another book of short stories about people doing extraordinary things for their town. Over two years later this second book is, in my humble opinion, a worthy addition to historical records. Simply because many people featured deserve to be remembered for their contributions.

The "our people" in Volume 2 range from community leaders at the highest level to ordinary folk just having a go. They include doctors who walked miles to help people, others who devoted years to serving the public as volunteers, the leaders who made Gwydir Shire Council, the floods that created havoc only to make people more determined, the junior and senior footballers who exceeded expectations to be victorious, the fires that continued to destroy Maitland Street only to see it rise again, the entertainers, the miners and the farmers.

Great people such as Ray Whitfeld, Shire President for 31 years, Eli Brown who was President of the school's P & C for about the same time, rural mail carriers Arthur Kahler and Athol Tutt, who crossed many flooded creeks, opened hundreds of gates and carried a large variety of goods during their weekly deliveries. The miners, Captain Rogers, the Neals and the Hantons, who put Bingara on the international stage as they uncovered wealth beyond their dreams. Toss in Sister Sarah Thompson who delivered many hundreds of babies at a private hospital, Andrew Galvin who since his passing is now a legend, and the late David Armstrong, known as "The King" at university — a man before his time who demands a spot in our history. These people and others are presented to the reader as benchmarks for modern Bingara to build on.

— Rodney King

Each volume is carefully curated and presented by Rodney's Relics, with 80% of sales supporting the Bingara Historical Society – the dedicated protector of our town's heritage. Whether you're a history enthusiast, genealogy researcher, or someone who has called Bingara home, this book is a must-have.