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Interviewee

Harold McBaron

Place Recorded

Coffs Harbour-NSW

Interviewer

Lesley Gibbs

Collection

Agency

Yarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)

Related Person or Organisation

Preston Lyon

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Harold McBaron Interview

Details

IntervieweeHarold McBaronInterview Date11 December 1986Place RecordedCoffs Harbour-NSWDuration1h23m06sAccession NumberLS2020.1.87Credit LineCoffs Harbour City Council, 1988.

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Description

Mr McBaron and his family have been dairy farmers and prize A.I.S Bloodline Cattle producers for two generations. The family was hit by disaster in 1950 but they worked tirelessly and recovered financially. However there were to be many changes.

InterviewerLesley GibbsCollectionYAM Museum CollectionVoice of Time oral history projectAgencyYarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)SummaryStandard disclaimer. Visit the 'Voice of Time' web site to read or listen to the disclaimer. The family moved to Raleigh in 1909 after dairying on the Richmond. Harold McBaron was born on 30 June 1910 -- The stud A.I.S cattle were kept on the property until the flood of 1950 when 116 out of 130 were lost on that terrible night -- The bull that survived the flood went on to win the Championship at Sydney Royal two years in a row -- The McBaron's never went into stud breeding again but they did however change to Guernsey cattle -- The theory of life on a dairy - "If you don't like it then it's hardship" -- Harold McBaron was the only one of the brothers to stick with dairying. One brother became a carpenter and after his untimely death Harold and other family members raised his two children -- Harold never married -- A description of the dairying industry through the depression years. Growing feed for the cattle and storing it in the silo that was built in 1921 -- The difference of day to day work around the farm with the addition of modern machinery -- Changing from a walk through bails to the herringbone. This made it easier to train Heifers and cut overall milking time -- Comments on those farmers who cut their cows tails off. The flood of 1950 compared to the flood of 1921. The speed of the build up of water worried the local residents. However, Harold's mother and father decided to stay in the house with all the children until morning -- The floodwater rose through the night in June 1950 and the decision of the best way for the family to escape had to be made. There was no time to save the cattle and horses -- Because the remaining family members and neighbours had no avenue of escape, they were forced to spend the night on the roof of the house from 11.30pm until they rescued at 2pm the next afternoon. They had to fight fatigue and not fall asleep. The feeling of hopelessness when they returned to the farm to inspect the damage and loss -- The general feeling "That it was time to give up" -- Although there was a great stock loss there were no human fatalities. There was a near miss though from Preston Lyon who had walked the bridge to check his cattle. Many thought he had drowned but he was safe and asleep in the loft at the bails -- They only had insurance on the house, not the stock. The fact the family had a milk run in Coffs Harbour saved them from ruin. Fifty head of cattle were brought from Lismore and the dairy started up again -- The popularity of the A.I.S cow in the early days. Bulls were always kept on the dairy until recently. Now the fashion is artificial insemination. This allows the farmer to keep a higher standard of bloodline -- The high standards that have been reached as far as purity of milk. Cleanliness is most important -- How the cream used to be tested. One carrier nearly "Lost his stomach" when a rat fell out of the can he had just taste tested. What important facts were learned from the 1950 flood -- The Raleigh Bridge was opened in 1938. Harold was MC at the dance held on the new bridge. People came from miles around for the celebration -- The peak of the 1950 flood was the guttering of the garage where it stands now. Apart from the devastation it was quite a sight. Three horses survived the flood. One horse was sold later and turned out to be a real winner as a hack after the years of not being ridden because Harold had been too busy -- In the days of the shows, competing with the stock was a big part of the McBarons' life. They used to travel by road to Macksville and then load onto the train for Sydney. Harold's first show was at the Royal Easter Show when he was seven. The stock had to be transported about a fortnight before the show to get over the two -day trip -- The decline in popularity of showing dairy cattle. The cost now is just too much -- The new breeds of cattle that are around these days -- The progression of pedigree registration -- The trip to Melbourne to show 32 head of A.I.S. They had to re-truck at Albury because of the different gauge. The unpleasant trip in the cattle cars. Training a cow to lead. They had to dehorn the cows to save them from hurting one another -- What the show judge looks for in a cow -- How the country cattle run affects their growth and breeding production. The road accidents in the area that have included McBarons' front fence. Poultry, vegetables and beer have fallen in their yard many a time -- The legalities of straying stock or cars hitting your cattle -- Droving cattle on the road and the rules that must be followed -- Harold's early days of mustering. Dorrigo to Raleigh in one day -- The trip to Dorrigo once took 2 plus hours. The horse was fine "The next day" -- The first celebration of Anzac Day and the trouble young boys can get into when they skylark around the bales -- The three sawmills and the many workers in the area -- How life changed after the coming of the railway -- Showing at Grafton and the dog that walked home to Raleigh. Training a dog to work for you. The difficulty of keeping a dog at Raleigh with the danger of traffic -- The picnic races at Mylestom on Christmas Eve. Riding the mare in a race with fourteen others, then the unexpected wave caused by a fall. He was once offered the job as jockey but the commitment of the farm and gaining weight put an end to that idea -- Thoughts of what actually happened to Phar Lap and memories of the year it happened -- The racing in Coffs Harbour today -- The sale of stock along the river for bullock teams. A.I.S were very popular -- The danger of logging today with the speed of the chainsaw. The curse of Lantana and Smartweed. Details of a few home remedies that were used to help cattle affected by these weeds -- The introduction of Camphor Laurel tree was also a problem. The seeds of these trees flavour the eggs and birds, making them unpleasant to eat -- The different fashion in fencing over the years -- Feeding cattle corn through winter. Dealing with fussy eaters in the herd -- The benefit of supplementing with molasses.