Weston, Bert

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NameWeston, BertOccupationEngineerPlace of ResidenceAlbion ParkBiographyBert Weston was the eldest child of Alick Horsley Weston and Adelaide Norris. He was born in his grandmother’s house in Croome Road, Albion Park.

Bert was a descendent of Lieutenant Colonel George Johnston, of Rum Rebellion fame, who was granted land on the northern banks of the Macquarie Rivulet. The property passed to the Weston family in 1866 and was known as Weston’s Meadows.

Bert spent the first 25 years of his life at Albion Park. On returning for a visit in the 1970's, he wrote ‘to walk unrecognized down the street where, as a youth, you knew and were known by every man, woman and child in the district, is more than a little disconcerting.'

He went on to say 'the only features of the place that remained static at that time was the landscape, Mt Wentworth, Mt Cooby, the sandstone cliffs of Yellow Rock, and the Macquarie Rivulet winding down the valley floor to Lake Illawarra.'

'In those days, the district was wholly geared to dairying, and the villages existed solely to serve the needs of the farmers. There were few opportunities for work away from dairying, and any job beyond the range of a horse or bicycle, was out of the question.

'Much more cultivation was done for cow fodder and silage, and all ploughing was done by a pair of draught horses, with an acre a day being a good result. Farm work was done by horse and man power. Labour, more than money, was a means of exchange. Most farms grew corn for horse and chook feed, and seeds. Ears of corn were either snapped in the paddock, and husked before being carted to the shed, or carted unhusked, to be tended to at a later husking party, where friends and neighbors gathered together to husk the crop. Many a party ended with the girls being buried in piles of husks.

'Practically every farm delivered its milk and cream by spring cart, to the Illawarra Cooperative Central Dairy (ICCD) factory at the railway. Most carts were built by Moods Coachworks at Albion Park, and lasted a lifetime. About 80 carts would converge on the depot every morning, except on ‘block’ days, where milk was separated for butter on the farm.

'After delivering the milk, and washing the cans, most would head back to town to collect mail, meat and groceries. Some would wait while the farrier or blacksmith reshod their horses. Some would get a drink at the pub.

'The Agricultural Hall at the Albion Park Showground was the host of many social events during those years. To ensure the floor was in pristine condition and had a mirror polish, it was swept with kerosene and sawdust, sprinkled with wax shavings from candles, and finished off by dragging around chaff bags weighted down by small boys. This was a favourite after school activity for many young locals.'

When asked what, among many recollections of boyhood and school days at Albion Park, stood out in particular to Bert, who grew up there in the early 20th century, he said -

‘The day-long ring and music of hammer on anvil from the various smithies, plus the acrid smell of their coal fires being blown up as one bicycled to the train on frosty mornings. Or, on wet mornings, the universal smell of kerosene burning that pervaded the village as it was poured over damp kindling wood in most kitchens'.

Bert served with the 1st Australian Port Maintenance Company, Royal Australian Engineers AIF, during World War II.

External LinkAlbion ParkAlbion ParkNew Guinea Goldfields Mr Norman Weston Home on HolidaysCuurent CommentNew Guinea Described in a Very Interesting LetterThe News Behind the News

Lieutenant Bert Weston c.1945.

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CollectionPeopleFamilyWestonJohnston (George)HobbsLocalityAlbion ParkPlaceNorris Homestead

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Weston, Bert