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[Bill] OK, this is Bill Dougherty interviewing Keith Ellem at the - on the back verandah at his house in 272 Powell Street, Grafton on a nice sunny July morning. Thanks Keith, for agreeing to this interview. [Keith] Pleasure mate. [Bill] That's good. Now one of the reasons we asked Keith to be part of this uh Centenary Project is because of the - [Bill] OK, this is Bill Dougherty interviewing Keith Ellem at the - on the back verandah at his house in 272 Powell Street, Grafton on a nice sunny July morning. Thanks Keith, for agreeing to this interview. [Keith] Pleasure mate. [Bill] That's good. Now one of the reasons we asked Keith to be part of this uh Centenary Project is because of the -
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that the uh the f- how famous the Allen family is in this district uh and so Keith one of the uh one of the sons of uh that the uh the f- how famous the Allen family is in this district uh and so Keith one of the uh one of the sons of uh
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a uh Arthur William a uh Arthur William
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Ellem and Mary Elizabeth, is that right - yep?  [Keith] Yes, that's right. [Bill] OK. So how many in the family Keith were there now? [Keith] 6 boys. 6 boys. No girls. [Bill] No girls hey. Louis - Ellem and Mary Elizabeth, is that right - yep?  [Keith] Yes, that's right. [Bill] OK. So how many in the family Keith were there now? [Keith] 6 boys. 6 boys. No girls. [Bill] No girls hey. Louis -
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hey, come on. [Keith] Lewis, Russell [Bill] Uh Lewis, born 1915 ay? [Keith] Yeah, he born, he reckoned it was a vintage year. [Laughter] Russell was in 1918. Bernie was in 1923. hey, come on. [Keith] Lewis, Russell [Bill] Uh Lewis, born 1915 ay? [Keith] Yeah, he born, he reckoned it was a vintage year. [Laughter] Russell was in 1918. Bernie was in 1923.
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Eric was in 1925. I was in 1929 Eric was in 1925. I was in 1929
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and Don the youngest was in 1934. [Bill] OK and in the early days, the - yeah, in your early family days you lived out at um Kungala was it? [Keith] OK. Yes. Yeah. Before we came into Grafton we lived at Kungala. [Cough] Dad had a dairying property out there and uh and Don the youngest was in 1934. [Bill] OK and in the early days, the - yeah, in your early family days you lived out at um Kungala was it? [Keith] OK. Yes. Yeah. Before we came into Grafton we lived at Kungala. [Cough] Dad had a dairying property out there and uh
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when it uh we came in - in 1930, we came into town here, principally because of uh to look for work, because it was in the middle of the Depression. when it uh we came in - in 1930, we came into town here, principally because of uh to look for work, because it was in the middle of the Depression.
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and also, for the schooling of uh of the uh boys of Bill and Russell were getting to high school age and also, for the schooling of uh of the uh boys of Bill and Russell were getting to high school age
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and uh they came in principally for that and uh they came in principally for that
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[Bill] mmm [Keith] reason and uh [Bill] mmm [Keith] reason and uh
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But it was a tough times in - in the Depression [Bill] yeah of course [Keith] and work was pretty hard to come by but uh that's where [Bill] so that was 1930 [Keith] 1930 yeah [Bill] you came into town. [Keith] Yeah, I was 6 months old. [Bill] And was the farm that you came from is that the one just over the Bluff Bridge on the Glenray Road or is it back at Kun- to - further closer to Kungala. But it was a tough times in - in the Depression [Bill] yeah of course [Keith] and work was pretty hard to come by but uh that's where [Bill] so that was 1930 [Keith] 1930 yeah [Bill] you came into town. [Keith] Yeah, I was 6 months old. [Bill] And was the farm that you came from is that the one just over the Bluff Bridge on the Glenray Road or is it back at Kun- to - further closer to Kungala.
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Is it on the Glenray Road or [Keith] no [Bill] after Glenray or - [Keith] nah [Bill] no [Keith] no, it's on - it's on the other road [Bill] oh right [Keith] looking up towards the rail. [Bill] Oh yeah, right [Keith] yeah [Bill] OK. [Keith] Still there. [Bill] and when - it's still there? [Laughter] [Keith] oh yeah, still there. [Bill] And when you came to Grafton, you first lived in - [Keith] we first lived on the corner of Dobie and - and uh Alice Street which was a Is it on the Glenray Road or [Keith] no [Bill] after Glenray or - [Keith] nah [Bill] no [Keith] no, it's on - it's on the other road [Bill] oh right [Keith] looking up towards the rail. [Bill] Oh yeah, right [Keith] yeah [Bill] OK. [Keith] Still there. [Bill] and when - it's still there? [Laughter] [Keith] oh yeah, still there. [Bill] And when you came to Grafton, you first lived in - [Keith] we first lived on the corner of Dobie and - and uh Alice Street which was a
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pretty historical building. It was built in 1857. It was known as the Vineyard Hotel then and they used to, the fellows who owned it used to uh grow their own grapes in - in - in that area there. And uh it was also [Bill] that's on the corner of [Keith] corner of Dobie and Alice [Bill] and Alice, that's right, yep. [Keith] Yeah. It's a very historical building because uh it's still there too. [Bill] Still there, yeah. [Keith] It's not as big now as it was when we were there. They've knocked a couple of rooms off it and there were - used to be a verandah right around it in those days, but it was als- pretty historical building. It was built in 1857. It was known as the Vineyard Hotel then and they used to, the fellows who owned it used to uh grow their own grapes in - in - in that area there. And uh it was also [Bill] that's on the corner of [Keith] corner of Dobie and Alice [Bill] and Alice, that's right, yep. [Keith] Yeah. It's a very historical building because uh it's still there too. [Bill] Still there, yeah. [Keith] It's not as big now as it was when we were there. They've knocked a couple of rooms off it and there were - used to be a verandah right around it in those days, but it was als-
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also, the first convent in Grafton when the nuns came here in 1884 [Bill] mmm [Keith] and they uh were - were living there until they went down to Victoria Street where they still are [Bill] mmm [Keith] but uh there was also uh one of the features about the place was uh there was a big deep brick cellar [Bill] mmhmm [Keith] under where they used to store all the also, the first convent in Grafton when the nuns came here in 1884 [Bill] mmm [Keith] and they uh were - were living there until they went down to Victoria Street where they still are [Bill] mmm [Keith] but uh there was also uh one of the features about the place was uh there was a big deep brick cellar [Bill] mmhmm [Keith] under where they used to store all the
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little wines and everything [Bill] yeah [Keith] in the early days, but it was a terrific place to uh to uh play when we were kids. We used to play cricket in there and [Bill] mmm [Keith] we could - and it would - like being in a squash court. little wines and everything [Bill] yeah [Keith] in the early days, but it was a terrific place to uh to uh play when we were kids. We used to play cricket in there and [Bill] mmm [Keith] we could - and it would - like being in a squash court.
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The elder boys used to put a chalk line, the height of a tennis net there and they could hit up as much as they'd like. There was no windows to smash. [Bill] mmm [Keith] you could have [Laughter] balls around everywhere. It was 8 - 8 steps down underground to - to it and it was always cool and uh The elder boys used to put a chalk line, the height of a tennis net there and they could hit up as much as they'd like. There was no windows to smash. [Bill] mmm [Keith] you could have [Laughter] balls around everywhere. It was 8 - 8 steps down underground to - to it and it was always cool and uh
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a pretty popular place, yeah. [Bill] And that's my first, the many times I went to your place, that was the first time I went when knew it was, mentioned here, that Keith and I grew up and were in the same class at school. And I went out there and I was amazed to have that, this underground cricket arena. [Laughter] [Keith] And the elder boys, the older boys built a, chipped a cricket wigan in the backyard and we used to have all the some of the best players to come out of Grafton played there, Frank Richards and Jack Tip- a pretty popular place, yeah. [Bill] And that's my first, the many times I went to your place, that was the first time I went when knew it was, mentioned here, that Keith and I grew up and were in the same class at school. And I went out there and I was amazed to have that, this underground cricket arena. [Laughter] [Keith] And the elder boys, the older boys built a, chipped a cricket wigan in the backyard and we used to have all the some of the best players to come out of Grafton played there, Frank Richards and Jack Tip-
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Tipton and - and - and company and - and our boys and Horrie Cameron and all those fellas [Bill] mmm [Keith] they - they learned early days of cricket there and uh if you could play to that wicket, you could play off just about any one. [Laughter] Tipton and - and - and company and - and our boys and Horrie Cameron and all those fellas [Bill] mmm [Keith] they - they learned early days of cricket there and uh if you could play to that wicket, you could play off just about any one. [Laughter]
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[Bill] Then uh you - you moved around to - [Keith] we went from there round to Bacon Street [Bill] Bacon Street [Keith] and just after Dad's father died, Dad was left a bit of a legacy, and he was able to purchase the place around there that's near Reserve Street. [Bill] Then uh you - you moved around to - [Keith] we went from there round to Bacon Street [Bill] Bacon Street [Keith] and just after Dad's father died, Dad was left a bit of a legacy, and he was able to purchase the place around there that's near Reserve Street.
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And uh, uh, he's - he built another house on the corner there after we arrived. But uh it was always a - a great place to play and uh well you used to come out and play marbles there. [Bill] Oh yes, I could imagine it [Keith] it was uh big in those days and [Bill] Sunday morning marbles at Elem's was like being asked if you know, you got a game at the Sydney Cricket Ground. [Laughter] And uh, uh, he's - he built another house on the corner there after we arrived. But uh it was always a - a great place to play and uh well you used to come out and play marbles there. [Bill] Oh yes, I could imagine it [Keith] it was uh big in those days and [Bill] Sunday morning marbles at Elem's was like being asked if you know, you got a game at the Sydney Cricket Ground. [Laughter]
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[Keith] Pretty popular. [Laughter] The - the most we ever had there at one time was 26 kids playing different [Bill] playing marbles [Keith] different games [Bill] yeah [Keith] of marbles out the front. There wasn't much grass around [Bill] no and this is what I got uh people listening to this tape in the years to come be thinking it's a bitumen street. No, no, it was - it was - it was only a - a dirt and grass track. [Keith] track. Yeah, there was no sign of bitumen when we were there and [Bill] no [Keith] not for many moons but uh yeah, we - we were there until uh [Keith] Pretty popular. [Laughter] The - the most we ever had there at one time was 26 kids playing different [Bill] playing marbles [Keith] different games [Bill] yeah [Keith] of marbles out the front. There wasn't much grass around [Bill] no and this is what I got uh people listening to this tape in the years to come be thinking it's a bitumen street. No, no, it was - it was - it was only a - a dirt and grass track. [Keith] track. Yeah, there was no sign of bitumen when we were there and [Bill] no [Keith] not for many moons but uh yeah, we - we were there until uh
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well, we left there, was - just when I turned 21, so it'll be a bit of about 14 or 15 years [Bill] mmm [Keith] we would have been there and we went around to Maude Street then, which is only a block away [Bill] out, yeah [Keith] and we uh, Russell  well, we left there, was - just when I turned 21, so it'll be a bit of about 14 or 15 years [Bill] mmm [Keith] we would have been there and we went around to Maude Street then, which is only a block away [Bill] out, yeah [Keith] and we uh, Russell 
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actually, uh had t- the - we bought the place off of brother Russell, he moved to another place actually, uh had t- the - we bought the place off of brother Russell, he moved to another place
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and uh well, he had to go to Sydney actually, anyway uh and uh well, he had to go to Sydney actually, anyway uh
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we put a cricket wicket down [Bill] mmm [Keith] in the backyard and that was, become the Westlawned Established Cricket and fellas from other clubs used to come out and play there too. We'd invite 'em out [Bill] mmm and practice there [Keith] yeah, and uh there was a standing rule, we had 10-foot of wire knitting all around the - the wicket and uh the standing rule was we were there to practice, not to - to see how fail or how high you could hit it. If anybody got carried away, if any windows that were broken who ever broke the window, had to pay for it. [Laughter] [Keith] They were home rules. [Keith] Yeah. we put a cricket wicket down [Bill] mmm [Keith] in the backyard and that was, become the Westlawned Established Cricket and fellas from other clubs used to come out and play there too. We'd invite 'em out [Bill] mmm and practice there [Keith] yeah, and uh there was a standing rule, we had 10-foot of wire knitting all around the - the wicket and uh the standing rule was we were there to practice, not to - to see how fail or how high you could hit it. If anybody got carried away, if any windows that were broken who ever broke the window, had to pay for it. [Laughter] [Keith] They were home rules. [Keith] Yeah.
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[Bill] Yeah. [Keith] it's true. [Bill] Oh jeez hey, that's uh but no, getting back to your Dad and uh and because [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] it's true. [Bill] Oh jeez hey, that's uh but no, getting back to your Dad and uh and because
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this interview could go all day because g- mentioned Keith's family, going back to the beginning, you were, whatever he was, your great-great-great-grandfather was a this interview could go all day because g- mentioned Keith's family, going back to the beginning, you were, whatever he was, your great-great-great-grandfather was a
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[Keith] Dad my grandfather B no no now the first Ellem to come to Graft- coo- to Australia. K Oh that's Richard the First we call him, he was a 17-year-old convict, convict number 3 [Bill] yeah [Keith] 3206 [Bill] 3206 yeah [Keith] he got convicted uh uh of uh stealing a plough beam which was valued at 3 pence. [Keith] Dad my grandfather B no no now the first Ellem to come to Graft- coo- to Australia. K Oh that's Richard the First we call him, he was a 17-year-old convict, convict number 3 [Bill] yeah [Keith] 3206 [Bill] 3206 yeah [Keith] he got convicted uh uh of uh stealing a plough beam which was valued at 3 pence.
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And uh he g- in those days, in the courts in those days, if you got convicted of anything, you didn't get a - a slap on the wrist or uh couple of weeks or a month or in - in jail or anything like that. There was only 4 convictions - 7 years, 14 years, life and death. You either get one of those 4, you get the minimum 7 years. And he was, that's how he come to be, he - he was, in a - in a hulk [Bill] What do they say to Australia, uh not a squoi- what's the word they use for uh trans- And uh he g- in those days, in the courts in those days, if you got convicted of anything, you didn't get a - a slap on the wrist or uh couple of weeks or a month or in - in jail or anything like that. There was only 4 convictions - 7 years, 14 years, life and death. You either get one of those 4, you get the minimum 7 years. And he was, that's how he come to be, he - he was, in a - in a hulk [Bill] What do they say to Australia, uh not a squoi- what's the word they use for uh trans-
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transport [Keith] yeah that's the word [Laughter] [Bill] yes [Keith] yeah, transporter. [Laughter] Yeah, well he came out as a 17-year-old kid and he uh served his time on a with uh on a property down to Portland with uh a free settler called Kelly. transport [Keith] yeah that's the word [Laughter] [Bill] yes [Keith] yeah, transporter. [Laughter] Yeah, well he came out as a 17-year-old kid and he uh served his time on a with uh on a property down to Portland with uh a free settler called Kelly.
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When he served his 7 years there, he got his ticket of leave When he served his 7 years there, he got his ticket of leave
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and uh, then he acquired a place that uh on the Wollombi, down there near uh i- in uh out on [Bill] yeah [Keith] Marshall Brooke, there's areas down there and uh and uh, then he acquired a place that uh on the Wollombi, down there near uh i- in uh out on [Bill] yeah [Keith] Marshall Brooke, there's areas down there and uh
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at Cess- [Bill] That's Cessnock isn't it? [Keith] Yeah, around that [Bill] it's on that back road. [Keith] That's right. [Bill] Cessnock to [Keith] that's right [Bill] Sydney. They call that road now uh? Yeah, I'll think of it later, never mind, yep. [Keith] You got me on that part. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] But uh he uh - he married the - the daughter of a first fleeter [Bill] mmm OK [Keith] and Forbes came out on the First Fleet and uh she was originally sentenced to death. at Cess- [Bill] That's Cessnock isn't it? [Keith] Yeah, around that [Bill] it's on that back road. [Keith] That's right. [Bill] Cessnock to [Keith] that's right [Bill] Sydney. They call that road now uh? Yeah, I'll think of it later, never mind, yep. [Keith] You got me on that part. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] But uh he uh - he married the - the daughter of a first fleeter [Bill] mmm OK [Keith] and Forbes came out on the First Fleet and uh she was originally sentenced to death.
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[Bill] Was she? [Keith] Yeah, she was sentenced to death o- originally because she was convicted of stealing a roll of drapery that was worth £2.00 and that [Bill] phew [Keith] and but anyhow [Bill] she stole [Keith] they - they commuted that to - to uh out here to Australia. [Bill] She was a convict too. [Keith] Yeah. [Bill] That's right. [Keith] Yeah, she came out on the Isabella and her daughter, [Bill] Was she? [Keith] Yeah, she was sentenced to death o- originally because she was convicted of stealing a roll of drapery that was worth £2.00 and that [Bill] phew [Keith] and but anyhow [Bill] she stole [Keith] they - they commuted that to - to uh out here to Australia. [Bill] She was a convict too. [Keith] Yeah. [Bill] That's right. [Keith] Yeah, she came out on the Isabella and her daughter,
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Charlotte, married Richard and they had 8 sons and 2 daughters and that's how we started. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] And uh we've gone from there, and at the last count, when we had our reunion, Charlotte, married Richard and they had 8 sons and 2 daughters and that's how we started. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] And uh we've gone from there, and at the last count, when we had our reunion,
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there was uh 9,217 descendants from that union. there was uh 9,217 descendants from that union.
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That's uh, that's a long time ago. B I remember your brother Lou, who was - was he the principal organiser of that - [Keith] he was [Bill] reunion? [Keith] indeed, yeah, he was. [Bill] A- and uh he told us, he was our neighbour at the time, that he had a family when that first family, you were there, h- how many were in Richard the 1st That's uh, that's a long time ago. B I remember your brother Lou, who was - was he the principal organiser of that - [Keith] he was [Bill] reunion? [Keith] indeed, yeah, he was. [Bill] A- and uh he told us, he was our neighbour at the time, that he had a family when that first family, you were there, h- how many were in Richard the 1st
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children, there were, what did you say there were?  [Keith] 8 boys and 2 girls [Bill] right-o, there were 10. [Keith] Yeah. [Bill] And so as they arrived at your brother's Lou's place during the - the time prior to the reunion, he had 10 exercise books [Keith] yeah, that's right [Bill] and he'd traced 'em back in [Keith] yeah [Bill] to whoever, [Keith] well that's always [Bill] whoever those 10 ?inaudible? [Keith] it'ing that. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] And uh, he even took a trip over to England and sh- went througs all condensed into uh  children, there were, what did you say there were?  [Keith] 8 boys and 2 girls [Bill] right-o, there were 10. [Keith] Yeah. [Bill] And so as they arrived at your brother's Lou's place during the - the time prior to the reunion, he had 10 exercise books [Keith] yeah, that's right [Bill] and he'd traced 'em back in [Keith] yeah [Bill] to whoever, [Keith] well that's always [Bill] whoever those 10 ?inaudible? [Keith] it'ing that. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] And uh, he even took a trip over to England and sh- went througs all condensed into uh 
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the Ellem Family Branches uh books it's - it's uh the Ellem Family Branches uh books it's - it's uh
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Lou's devoted 16 years to compiling that. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] And uh, he even took a trip over to England and sh- went through the archived and he got the photostat copies of the transportation order of uh, of Richard when he was Lou's devoted 16 years to compiling that. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] And uh, he even took a trip over to England and sh- went through the archived and he got the photostat copies of the transportation order of uh, of Richard when he was
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come out here and it was funny, they had the - the list there and they had uh, each come out here and it was funny, they had the - the list there and they had uh, each
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convict [Bill] oh yes [Keith] had, he had a number that had he's description, he's - he's age and - and then this fellow chaser was Richard LM Age 17, Height 5 foot uh 7-1/2 inches, build medium uh character - very bad. [Bill] Oh convict [Bill] oh yes [Keith] had, he had a number that had he's description, he's - he's age and - and then this fellow chaser was Richard LM Age 17, Height 5 foot uh 7-1/2 inches, build medium uh character - very bad. [Bill] Oh
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full description. [Laughter] [Keith] Yeah at the age of 17, he - he [Bill] yeah [Keith] travelling all that well, but anyway that's the story. [Bill] So then the generations uh since then of course, do you - do you know how many there are from Richard the 1st [Keith]Oh not [Bill] to you? [Keith] Not that many actually. [Bill] No. [Keith] Not off [Bill] Oh, OK [Bill] off hand I don't. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] But uh they - they left down the area where they were when the - they uh outgrew the farm and all that sort of thing. And uh my grandfather was born on the Wallaby Creek, down on the Woollombi there full description. [Laughter] [Keith] Yeah at the age of 17, he - he [Bill] yeah [Keith] travelling all that well, but anyway that's the story. [Bill] So then the generations uh since then of course, do you - do you know how many there are from Richard the 1st [Keith]Oh not [Bill] to you? [Keith] Not that many actually. [Bill] No. [Keith] Not off [Bill] Oh, OK [Bill] off hand I don't. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] But uh they - they left down the area where they were when the - they uh outgrew the farm and all that sort of thing. And uh my grandfather was born on the Wallaby Creek, down on the Woollombi there
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and uh they came up here on trek in 1871. [Bill] Your grandfather, oh yes. [Keith] And all the Ellem's, and all the [Bill] oh yes [Keith] the whole tribe came up and they came through and they uh finished up over the Edge Creek sea lands way up there and they um, and uh they came up here on trek in 1871. [Bill] Your grandfather, oh yes. [Keith] And all the Ellem's, and all the [Bill] oh yes [Keith] the whole tribe came up and they came through and they uh finished up over the Edge Creek sea lands way up there and they um,
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on their way up, uh, on their way up, uh,
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it's a - it's a hell of a long story, but it's uh it's a very interesting one. It's all compiled in uh that book that was ?inaudible? [Bill] yeah, yeah [Keith] but they uh they shot pheasants and that sort of business on the way up and they used to, it's a - it's a hell of a long story, but it's uh it's a very interesting one. It's all compiled in uh that book that was ?inaudible? [Bill] yeah, yeah [Keith] but they uh they shot pheasants and that sort of business on the way up and they used to,
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they were all in, on horseback and drays. [Keith] Yeah. [Keith] That's - that's how they did it [Bill] yeah [Keith] And I - I forget the exact la- it took them something like 2 months I think to all up K to get here ?inaudible? [Keith] to get here from what they had to do and they had their families and life belongings and everything with 'em kind of thing and it was one heck of a move and no doubt about that but uh they were all in, on horseback and drays. [Keith] Yeah. [Keith] That's - that's how they did it [Bill] yeah [Keith] And I - I forget the exact la- it took them something like 2 months I think to all up K to get here ?inaudible? [Keith] to get here from what they had to do and they had their families and life belongings and everything with 'em kind of thing and it was one heck of a move and no doubt about that but uh
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[Keith] And um and so, yeah, and so that's your grandfather, and that was the Ellem's arriving in the Clarence River [Keith] yeah [Bill] district. [Keith] Yeah, yeah. [Bill] that was 18- [Keith] That was Dad's father [Bill yes [Keith] there, it was uh 1871, I think [Bill] '71, OK. Yeah. So, the Ellem's are here for uh [Cough]. [Keith] And um and so, yeah, and so that's your grandfather, and that was the Ellem's arriving in the Clarence River [Keith] yeah [Bill] district. [Keith] Yeah, yeah. [Bill] that was 18- [Keith] That was Dad's father [Bill yes [Keith] there, it was uh 1871, I think [Bill] '71, OK. Yeah. So, the Ellem's are here for uh [Cough].
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130 plus years, ay? [Keith] Yeah, well, out at, had their first cricket team they - they were playing in 1884, they had their own team then in 1884. [Laughter] [Bill] Did they? [Keith] Yeah, but uh anyway, it's uh [Bill] we'll get on to that in a minute. [Keith] OK. [Bill] Now, you mentioned those reunions 130 plus years, ay? [Keith] Yeah, well, out at, had their first cricket team they - they were playing in 1884, they had their own team then in 1884. [Laughter] [Bill] Did they? [Keith] Yeah, but uh anyway, it's uh [Bill] we'll get on to that in a minute. [Keith] OK. [Bill] Now, you mentioned those reunions
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at which Lou was a pro- principal organiser, your brother Lou. [Keith] Yeah, that's right. [Bill] Now the first one was in, what year was that? [Keith] 1983. [Bill] And was that the one that ?inaudible? [Keith] ?inaudible? [Bill] And how many turned up for that? [Keith] ?inaudible? at that [Bill] but then [Keith] but when it was so successful and so popular with everybody, they thought, well yeah, we gotta do this again. But a lot of 'em didn't realise how much organising it took [Bill] yeah [Keith] to do that. But anyway, they uh talked it all over and discussed it and decided that at which Lou was a pro- principal organiser, your brother Lou. [Keith] Yeah, that's right. [Bill] Now the first one was in, what year was that? [Keith] 1983. [Bill] And was that the one that ?inaudible? [Keith] ?inaudible? [Bill] And how many turned up for that? [Keith] ?inaudible? at that [Bill] but then [Keith] but when it was so successful and so popular with everybody, they thought, well yeah, we gotta do this again. But a lot of 'em didn't realise how much organising it took [Bill] yeah [Keith] to do that. But anyway, they uh talked it all over and discussed it and decided that
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they would do it and the best time to do it, be to coincide with the uh bicentennial in 1880 - in 1988 [Bill] yeah [Keith] which is what we did do, and they came from all over the place from there to this they would do it and the best time to do it, be to coincide with the uh bicentennial in 1880 - in 1988 [Bill] yeah [Keith] which is what we did do, and they came from all over the place from there to this
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oh, they come from up in the Northern Territory and out and down in Melbourne and SA. They - they came from everywhere. And we had 1800 at it [Bill] 1800 in the family [Keith] yeah [Laughter] and we had a sports day there, and every kid that participated in the sport got a special ribbon for participating and they get a oh, they come from up in the Northern Territory and out and down in Melbourne and SA. They - they came from everywhere. And we had 1800 at it [Bill] 1800 in the family [Keith] yeah [Laughter] and we had a sports day there, and every kid that participated in the sport got a special ribbon for participating and they get a
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they get a blue ribbon for winning, a red ribbon for a running uh sec- [Bill] second [Keith] and - and - and a - a another colour for running third, but everybody got something and we had 2 special wines they get a blue ribbon for winning, a red ribbon for a running uh sec- [Bill] second [Keith] and - and - and a - a another colour for running third, but everybody got something and we had 2 special wines
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prepared. [Keith] Yes. [Bill] Uh from the Hunter Valley, a semillon and a - and a ri- and a red [Bill] mmm [Keith] and uh one of the uh family members who owned a semi-trailer, he made the contribution of transporting that all the way from the Hunter Valley up to here. prepared. [Keith] Yes. [Bill] Uh from the Hunter Valley, a semillon and a - and a ri- and a red [Bill] mmm [Keith] and uh one of the uh family members who owned a semi-trailer, he made the contribution of transporting that all the way from the Hunter Valley up to here.
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And uh he that was his contribution to it and when he got here, he just parked it there and then we had the - the job of workin' out who ordered what [Bill] yeah [Laughter] [Keith] and everything else and uh [Laughter] it was - it was really special there's no doubt about it. We had a - an entertainment afternoon there which I compared and uh And uh he that was his contribution to it and when he got here, he just parked it there and then we had the - the job of workin' out who ordered what [Bill] yeah [Laughter] [Keith] and everything else and uh [Laughter] it was - it was really special there's no doubt about it. We had a - an entertainment afternoon there which I compared and uh
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young Rodney uh Hankinson's young fellow [Bill] mmm [Keith] Paul [Bill] Paul Hankinson. [Keith] He was only 12- or 14-year-old then and he provided the music for us and look where he's gone since. [Bill] Yes, yes. [Keith] He's in an - [Bill] international concert star. Yes. K Yeah, it's really great. [Bill] And - And uh  young Rodney uh Hankinson's young fellow [Bill] mmm [Keith] Paul [Bill] Paul Hankinson. [Keith] He was only 12- or 14-year-old then and he provided the music for us and look where he's gone since. [Bill] Yes, yes. [Keith] He's in an - [Bill] international concert star. Yes. K Yeah, it's really great. [Bill] And - And uh 
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1800's you'd have taken some feeding that mob. 1800's you'd have taken some feeding that mob.
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[Keith] Yeah well, most of 'em brought their own [Bill] yeah [Keith] but there were, there was the uh [Keith] Yeah well, most of 'em brought their own [Bill] yeah [Keith] but there were, there was the uh
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there was other uh just forget who we had there as catering, there was other uh just forget who we had there as catering,
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if uh if anybody couldn't be bothered bringin' their own lunch [Bill] yeah [Keith] or had to come too far. [Bill] The - [Keith] Might have been the Clarence Valley Club or somebody like that. I just can't remember the name of who it was, but - [Bill] I - I uh, I had uh 2 of those bottles of wine that your brother gave me [Keith] oh right [Bill] and uh but they're empty now [Laughter] [Keith] oh [Bill] so I kept the empty bottles with the label [Laughter] [Bill] yeah we had the label as you know, the family cricket team and it was a brief history on - on the uh [Bill] yeah [Keith] label at the back and uh if uh if anybody couldn't be bothered bringin' their own lunch [Bill] yeah [Keith] or had to come too far. [Bill] The - [Keith] Might have been the Clarence Valley Club or somebody like that. I just can't remember the name of who it was, but - [Bill] I - I uh, I had uh 2 of those bottles of wine that your brother gave me [Keith] oh right [Bill] and uh but they're empty now [Laughter] [Keith] oh [Bill] so I kept the empty bottles with the label [Laughter] [Bill] yeah we had the label as you know, the family cricket team and it was a brief history on - on the uh [Bill] yeah [Keith] label at the back and uh
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oh, I think they kept more for - oh, I think they kept more for -
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for that reason, than uh, for the contents of the bottle really. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] It's uh [Bill] But - but come now to uh - to - to the Ellem family cricket team, you said that first one, they started not long after they got up here ?inaudible? [Keith] Yeah well at one stage they had uh, they had for that reason, than uh, for the contents of the bottle really. [Bill] Yeah. [Keith] It's uh [Bill] But - but come now to uh - to - to the Ellem family cricket team, you said that first one, they started not long after they got up here ?inaudible? [Keith] Yeah well at one stage they had uh, they had
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was 44 Ellem's playing cricket on - on the Northern Rivers [Bill] yep [Keith] and at one stage we - we used to have our 'family, there were other family teams that played later on and we played against them and always enjoyed the games too. But at one stage there was a game with the Richmond River Ellem's played the Clarence River Ellem's [Bill] oh yeah [Keith] and uh 2 of the blokes coming from up on the Richmond area, coming down by train was 44 Ellem's playing cricket on - on the Northern Rivers [Bill] yep [Keith] and at one stage we - we used to have our 'family, there were other family teams that played later on and we played against them and always enjoyed the games too. But at one stage there was a game with the Richmond River Ellem's played the Clarence River Ellem's [Bill] oh yeah [Keith] and uh 2 of the blokes coming from up on the Richmond area, coming down by train
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and they were on, they didn't know one another. [Laughter] And they finished up in the same compartment and worked out that they were going to play in the same match. [Laughter] and they were on, they didn't know one another. [Laughter] And they finished up in the same compartment and worked out that they were going to play in the same match. [Laughter]
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Said it was great. But we - we used to play, Said it was great. But we - we used to play,
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oh, there was other family teams of the Eggins and the Martins and the Fords and the Platers, oh, there was other family teams of the Eggins and the Martins and the Fords and the Platers,
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and uh, as we regularly uh and uh, as we regularly uh
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Played them and - and New Year's Day was a popular time for it, as Ellem versus the Ford's on a New Year Day. I've - I've played in a few of them and they, they're all most enjoyable. Good cricketers at Fords. Played them and - and New Year's Day was a popular time for it, as Ellem versus the Ford's on a New Year Day. I've - I've played in a few of them and they, they're all most enjoyable. Good cricketers at Fords.
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But uh it's uh the big thing of course, was the - the family tours that we used to [Bill] mmm [Keith] go on [Bill] yes [Keith] was fantastic and uh But uh it's uh the big thing of course, was the - the family tours that we used to [Bill] mmm [Keith] go on [Bill] yes [Keith] was fantastic and uh
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they will forever uh live in my memory, that's for sure because uh [Bill] you toured often, you'd tour in that New Year - Christmas - New Year period. [Keith] Yes - Christmas - New Year period. We'd sometimes we - we'd have a - a bus or sometimes they go in cars or whatever we could organise at the time, depending who was available to go [Bill] yes [Keith] and arrange holidays and they will forever uh live in my memory, that's for sure because uh [Bill] you toured often, you'd tour in that New Year - Christmas - New Year period. [Keith] Yes - Christmas - New Year period. We'd sometimes we - we'd have a - a bus or sometimes they go in cars or whatever we could organise at the time, depending who was available to go [Bill] yes [Keith] and arrange holidays and
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getting a team together was always a bit of a problem [Bill] mmm [Keith] but we usually finished up going and they - they went oh getting a team together was always a bit of a problem [Bill] mmm [Keith] but we usually finished up going and they - they went oh
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up in the New England [Bill] Tablelands, New England, yes. [Bill] Northern Rivers, down out, we went out West to Parkes and Forbes and Cowra and Grenfell and Orange and those places and that. The last one we went was the one out West and uh I had a - a new car at the time, the only one who ever owned a brand new one [Laughter] and there was over 20 uh 2,200 miles we went overall on my, the metre on my [Bill] on your new motor [Keith] and we played 6 matches in 6 days and 6 different towns up in the New England [Bill] Tablelands, New England, yes. [Bill] Northern Rivers, down out, we went out West to Parkes and Forbes and Cowra and Grenfell and Orange and those places and that. The last one we went was the one out West and uh I had a - a new car at the time, the only one who ever owned a brand new one [Laughter] and there was over 20 uh 2,200 miles we went overall on my, the metre on my [Bill] on your new motor [Keith] and we played 6 matches in 6 days and 6 different towns
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and they'd played the day, you'd stay the night and you'd move on, drive the next day [Bill] oh the next morning yeah [Keith] if you wanted to be there [Bill] the next town. [Keith] Yeah, it was uh oh there were wonderful days and they used to, the hospitality, particularly out there is [Bill] yeah [Keith] very, very [Bill] yeah, wasn't that - [Keith] really wonderful it is. They'd treat you there, when we played at Forbes, they uh and they'd played the day, you'd stay the night and you'd move on, drive the next day [Bill] oh the next morning yeah [Keith] if you wanted to be there [Bill] the next town. [Keith] Yeah, it was uh oh there were wonderful days and they used to, the hospitality, particularly out there is [Bill] yeah [Keith] very, very [Bill] yeah, wasn't that - [Keith] really wonderful it is. They'd treat you there, when we played at Forbes, they uh
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we managed to win the game and we they - they had a civic reception on for us that night. [Laughter] The mayor was there and they had the Bowling Club and you got the door of the Bowling Club and a bloke - it would get each arm of one of our guys and you weren't allowed to put your hand near your pocket to buy a drink or anything like that and uh we managed to win the game and we they - they had a civic reception on for us that night. [Laughter] The mayor was there and they had the Bowling Club and you got the door of the Bowling Club and a bloke - it would get each arm of one of our guys and you weren't allowed to put your hand near your pocket to buy a drink or anything like that and uh
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but really, the hospitality was but really, the hospitality was
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unsurpassed ?inaudible? unsurpassed ?inaudible?
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and the friends you'd meet, that's - it's great. [Bill] It's great, sure. and the friends you'd meet, that's - it's great. [Bill] It's great, sure.
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You bugger. Yeah, I know. Here we go. You bugger. Yeah, I know. Here we go.
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Record - Stop. Record - Stop.