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Interviewee

Bob Grace

Place Recorded

Coffs Harbour-NSW

Interviewer

Lesley Gibbs

Collection

Agency

Yarrila Arts & Museum (YAM)

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Bob Grace Interview

Details

IntervieweeBob GraceInterview Date5 February 1987Place RecordedCoffs Harbour-NSWDuration58m15sAccession NumberLS2020.1.100Credit LineCoffs Harbour City Council, 1988.

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Description

The Grace family were the first dairy farmers in Dorrigo to have a milking machine. The family also developed a strain of corn called Graces' White.

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. Bob was born in 1902 at Grace's Road, Bowraville. The family moved to Dorrigo in 1913 -- The unhappy schooling at Bowraville and the big improvement after moving to Dorrigo -- Bob left school at 14 to help on the farm -- He married at the age of 25 and they proceeded to have five children -- The Graces originally came from Kempsey. His great grandfather was 102 when he died. He was the oldest Freemason in the world -- His great grandfather had a fruit shop in Bowraville. The shop is still there today -- Grandfather was a cedar-getter at Grace's Road -- The many members of the Grace family were reunited in January 1987 -- Mr Grace went to school with nine girls. This caused a few problems. When the family moved to Dorrigo, Bob's uncle gave him a pony, Nep, the best pony in Dorrigo -- Winning at the local shows with prize horses -- The Grace families of Dorrigo. There were many children in the family and some sad memories -- The local bullockies and a funny story told by Mrs Nina Phillips. Mrs Grace, Bob's wife, was a girl from Argents Hill. Her family moved to North Dorrigo in 1916 -- When Bob started courting her there was objection from the family. They waited out these problems because of their love and after the wedding Bob was accepted into the family -- Mrs Grace was a woman of great patience. Bob only saw her angry once. Her name was Melvena May Ballard -- The corn "Grace's White" that was developed by the family -- Father was very fussy about his corn. Quality and handling. The children would husk the corn at night -- Father could plough a field without a bend in the row. Growing corn was the most important source of income. Grandfather was almost ruined by the floods -- His father met his mother when she was still going to school. He "picked" her for his wife -- Bob was spoiled as a child because he was the only boy -- The night at the wine shop at North Dorrigo. Bob lost his false teeth that night and next morning he was late for milking -- Confessing the night out to his mother. The BSA motor bike. Father's Ford car that only Bob could drive -- The hard life dairy farming. The value of land -- The Grace family and the first milking machine which was not really 100%. The working hours were still long, longer when the machines broke down. The drought of 1942. The cattle had to be moved to the river flats in Bellingen -- When the drought broke they had to face the dangers of crossing flooded rivers -- Corn was never grown commercially; it was all used to feed the farm animals -- The cold weather and strong winds of Dorrigo. Dorrigo has a much healthier climate. People go there to correct lung problems -- Bob was once a chain smoker until the day he realised the family spent more on tobacco than food. Stopping was really difficult, "Worse than any other drugs" -- Bob didn't mind a social drink but always maintained his place was at home at night -- The love of bowls. Giving up the game and outings when Mrs Grace became very ill. Many injuries through other sports. Bob decided not to continue cricket or tennis because they interfered with work -- The accident with the tractor. The doctors said he would never be able to work hard again but he proved them wrong. The medical treatment in Dorrigo -- The improvements of the roads in Dorrigo. Harry Bailey was involved in the work with the council. Harry Bailey was Bob's brother-in-law. The Bailey children were part of an orchestra when they lived at Paddy's Plain -- Organising family reunions for the Graces. There is so much work involved, it sometimes takes the fun out of the day. Family photographs including great grandfather, who originally came from Parramatta then to Kempsey then to Bowraville -- Family's store of corn was destroyed by fire -- People of today live too fast. They have to have everything at once -- Bob supported his family with the cream sales and once thought of making a lot of money when their milk was sold in Sydney. The Dorrigo Butter was a very high quality, mainly because of the well water used to wash the butter -- Mountain Mist cordial -- Different breeds of cattle were used over the years on the dairy -- The hard years of The Depression. The toys the children had on the farm -- The lightning storms on the plateau.