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Interviewee

Roly Paxton

Place Recorded

Coffs Harbour-NSW

Interviewer

Lesley Gibbs

Collection

Agency

Yarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)

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Roly Paxton Interview

Details

IntervieweeRoly PaxtonInterview Date2 February 198710 February 1987Place RecordedCoffs Harbour-NSWDuration2h55m39sAccession NumberLS2020.1.99Credit LineCoffs Harbour City Council, 1988.

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Description

Mr Paxton was a member of the North Coast Research Council, a representative of the North Coast Agricultural Council, the Dairy Industry Authority and a dairy farmer who also became chairman of the Co-operative Dairy Society. Mr Paxton was also Bellingen Shire President.

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. Roly was a dairy farmer for most of his working life. During the war he was a flight crew navigator in the RAAF -- He spent ten years as superintendent of the Doctor Barnado's farm school at Picton -- Born in England in 1910 he arrived in Australia in 1927 on a scholarship under the Big Brother scheme. He had no farming experience in England. His father was a merchant in London -- Mr Paxton has read a great deal about different farming techniques. Comparative prices for exporting dairy products to England -- The years after the Hawksbury Agricultural College. Off-siding to a drunken German scientist. Testing bore water as the wells were being sunk -- At the age of 18 he joined a cattle station on the Lachlan River, and then later moving to the coast until the war years -- After being injured whilst in the RAAF Mr Paxton took over the running of the farm at Picton to train 120 orphaned English children with the help of his wife. During the ten years, they tested lend lease seed from America. They also researched cattle feed -- Mr Paxton has three children. All of them have been associated with the dairy industry -- Research into the dairy industry has been his "first love". Comparison of Bellingen River to larger river areas for growing crops. Testing and trials by CSIRO with legumes in the area. Different grasses grown on the North Coast. The introduction of newly released grasses to improve milk production -- The difficulties associated with introduced grasses -- "Farmers" from the City. The problems they can run into -- Parramatta grass in Coffs Harbour. Is spraying the answer? In 1951 Mr Paxton became a board member with the Bellingen Butter Factory -- Details of the butter and renowned Bellingen bacon produced at the factory, and also the changes that came with milk production and the new technique for making bacon. This led to the closing down of the Bellingen Butter Factory -- The amalgamation of the Bellingen and Raleigh Butter Factories. The CDS at Raleigh processed prize winning milk products. However, the factory still lost money on exporting and found it hard to keep going -- The turning point was to sell on the local market. The quality and packaging of the time -- Roller drying - the unfashionable processing technique. Memories of the 1950 flood and the damage caused to the Butter Factory and Mr Paxton's home on Yellow Rock Road -- The opening up of the river mouth, by clearing the sand spit, as insurance against future floods -- The reasons behind the severity of the local floods -- The local milk and butter factories of the early days have all now joined with the Raleigh factory -- The decline in local dairy farms. The milk zone and the problems associated. The political power behind milk distribution -- The fight local dairy farmers gave the milk zone restrictions -- After releasing a minister's report on the matter Mr Paxton was accused of 'treason' -- The local farmers met in Lismore to discuss the milk acts. There was the threat of gaol -- Truckloads of North Coast milk was given away free in Sydney. The milk was well received - it was laced with cream -- Mark Goldstein and Woody Cleaver -- The beginning of the Dairy Industry Authority - the farmers had a foot in the door. Don Day and the Labour party, by keeping his word, helped North Coast farmers. The decline in the popularity of pig farms -- The Dorrigo Bacon Factory in competition with Midco. Not a success -- The troubles encountered when raising pigs. Many new ideas for pig production. Mr Paxton has a large property at Yellow Rock and allowed 2CS to build the controversial radio towers there, mainly to ensure radio warnings in flood times. The agreement made with the radio station when the tower construction took place. There was some trouble with local residents because they were an 'eyesore' -- The hopeless fight people who object to the towers have ahead of them. The difficulty of moving cattle in flood time. Also the possible cost. When several milkings are missed the cattle drop in production for the rest of the year. The influence Mr Paxton had in council to town water being brought to Yellow Rock and Urunga -- The days of being Shire President -- The growth of the local coastal area and upgrading the water supply now after 25 years. Water purity is needed for humans and animals. The changes that have taken place for Shire Presidents and councillors. The rural input -- The days before pasteurised milk -- Local doctors' opinions of pasteurised milk. The early history of Bellingen Butter Factory. The Woody Cleaver story -- Mr Paxton's acceptance as chairman of the CDS factory. Alan McDougall also gave help -- The takeover of other butter factories -- How farming methods have changed. The carting of cream and milk and also the cost factor -- Vats and refrigeration for milk. Many farmers gave up dairying when this change took place -- The competition for sales in the market place is worldwide. hard battle to save to buy land and cattle. These days interest rates would make starting a big concern out of the question. The work involved in having a dairy farm seven days a week -- The introduction of a clover from Turkey -- Parramatta grass -- Kalang was described as a third grade area. The trouble getting milk into Sydney. Jack Ferguson and Roly Paxton were the two men working against one another. Premier Askin sent police out to stop the North Coast milk trucks. Whole milk and homogenised milk. Bottles or cartons -- The tasting of milk. Early records of the Bellingen Butter Factory and where to find them. How a dairy co-operative worked -- The takeover by Norco, now the local farmers have no say in the running of the factory. The quota system. Support given to Mr Paxton during his years with the Butter Factory by Alan McDougall. Letters to the Sydney Morning Herald by the farmers of the area. Characters Mr Paxton has met throughout his life including John Wallis, a self taught man who owned a great deal of land and turned many situations into verse. John Wallis' first trip to Sydney. His day in court. The favourite niece's wedding day -- Uncle Johnnie's 99th birthday and the beautiful Maggie Mumford. The end of the cattle drive. John and his old Blue dog. John Wallis's illness associated with his drinking bouts. His trip to hospital in Sydney. He booked a suite on the ground floor because he wouldn't go to a room on the 3rd floor. After a disagreement with his wife John moved into Roly's home until his last day. Roly's time with John and the things he learned about living off the land -- The trees from the sunny side of the hill -- Learning that certain wood burns to leave a different charcoal helped the scientists. The arson squad in Sydney work to the theories of John Wallis. John Wallis and his cattle.