ORAL HISTORY Lost Nyabing recorded by Ray Fewson

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Oral History. Oral History. Oral History.

Oral history as told by those who helped build the Nyabing and Pingrup community of today.

Many of them were early pioneers of the district who faced, and overcame, the harshness of the Australian bush and the hardships that awaited them. Who forged ahead creating a home and farm for themselves and their families; and in doing so created the community that we know today as the Shire of Kent.

Ray Fewson had collected and recorded oral Pioneer/Early Settler stories of the Shire of Kent District in the late 1960’s through to the early 1970’s. His son, Greg Fewson, has still got many of the reel-to-reel audio tapes and had many of them digitised.
You can listen to them by clicking the links below.

Ray Fewson with his trust reel to reel tape recorder

Not many districts have the voices of their own settlers on audio tapes, and to have such tapes readily available to the public. It gives people a “first hand” experience of opening up the farms, the stories, the community spirit and all other tit-bits of information. In October 2012, Nyabing town celebrated its 100^th year from the gazetting of the town. This audio collection played a major role in marking the centenary of the town.

Thanks to the foresight of Ray Fewson, one of those early settlers, we now have an invaluable collection of oral recordings that can never be replaced. Thanks also to those people who were prepared to speak on tape, to those people and groups who supported the project financially, and especially Greg Fewson for making the tapes available.

These recordings were transferred from ¼” audio reel tapes recorded over several years by Ray. They have been transposed and kindly made available by Mr Fewson’s son Greg. We thank the Fewson Family for their generous contribution of this audio record of

“The Life & Times of the
People in the Kent Shire”.

These are their stories:

Click on a name below to hear them speaking or singing:

Introduction of Speakers Ray Fewson	Edie Patterson
Ted Goodchild	Bill Badger
Mrs Ted Goodchild	Chris Badger
Harold Reid	Roy Jury
Norma Reid	Paddy Garnett
Lance Reid	Bulla Stephens
Lance Reid (2)	Doris Hanney
Mrs Lance Reid	Fred Martin
Arthur Reeves	Harry Martin
Mrs Percy Johnston	Harry Martin (2)
Arthur Addis	Fred Martin
Joe Deacon	Mrs Martin
Joe Deacon (2)	Mrs Hugh Fewson
Tom Deacon Jnr	Arthur (Artie) Fewson
Jean Deacon	Mrs Percy Johnston
Jock Guelfi	Mrs Tandy (Mother of Isabelle)
Grace Guelfi	Mrs Burston
Jim Thomas	Bob Coutts
Alan Emery	Mrs Coutts
Jo Emery	Bill George
Ernie Kershaw
Florie Kershaw	Lance Reid Singing
Bill Kershaw	Lance Reid Singing (2)
Maude Kershaw	Intro for “I Walk Beside Thee“
Fergie Ross	“I Walk Beside Thee“
Clyde Badger	Mother McGee
Doris Mennor	Intro for “Wouldn’t It Be Lovely“
Mrs Bill Matthews	“Wouldn’t It Be Lovely“
Wally Hicks	Mrs Butson “A Song To Annie“
Dick Charsley	“Old Black Joe“
Rita Charsley	Community Sing-A-Long
Mrs Welsh	Percy Leads A Sing-A-Long
Arnold Larter	Mr Glendinning Singing
Ida Larter	Joycelyn Fewson – Piano
John Robinson	“Maori Farewell“
Shirley Robinson	Paddy Introducing Ditty
Mrs Arthur Reeves	Paddy Singing
Bill Hobley	Paddy – “Click Go The Shears“
Jack Patterson	Mr Trantor/Mrs Kershaw Singing