Item 04: Memoirs of a Colonial Boy by Robert Joseph Stewart, ca. 1971 - Page 69
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[Page 69]
34
As a lad, I knew almost every person in the town, and rarely failed to name and say, "Good morning", to everyone I passed in the street. I got to knowing the religion, the political allegiance, the trade or calling of the father, the Christian names of all the children, and many other things about nearly every family. Very big families were common, several of a dozen. In one particular family that I know very well (John Fletcher's) two of the youngest boys were uncles of the children of their married eldest brother.
In the country towns the big event of the year was the local Pastoral and Agricultural Show, lasting two or three days according to the size of the town and the density of the district. Parkes held a two-day show, and for the size and age of the town, had a well appointed commodious showground very pleasantly situated, with a large grandstand and diningroom basement, spacious show ring, and a very big hall for the exhibition of arts and crafts. This showground was, of course, used for other annual event such as athletic sports meetings, Highland gatherings, and school sports and displays.
Football, cricket, and tennis were played on a Recreation Ground, covering a whole block on the edge of the town. The surface was a hard gravelly red clay, with no turf, and hardly a vestige of grass: it took real "he-men" to play Rugby Football on it. A few local golf addicts, mostly bank and other office staff, went round nine "holes" with sand greens, out on the Common.
But the Show was the big event, eagerly awaited by young and old. Exhibits came in from far and wide, with usually enough top grade entries to make keen competition for the prizes awarded. The youngsters were particularly fascinated by the itinerant side shows set up in large tents: the World's tallest man, smallest midget, or fattest woman: the wild man from Borneo growling like a dog and gnawing at a bone, in a pit inside: performing monkeys and other small animals. And overlaying it all the raucous patter of the showmen outside endeavouring to entice people inside for the next showing at