In 1912, aged 21 years, Stanley left England for Australia.
Stanley enlisted with the 2nd Battalion AIF, as Driver, in 1916. Stanley was living with his sister Elsie at Mullengudgery, NSW at the time, and Elsie travelled to see him embark. He served four years including time in France, and was wounded in action several times. He spent time in hospital with gunshot wounds and trench fever . He never fully recovered.
When he returned from war he worked as a farm labourer at Tongarra.
In 1923, Stan was injured in a sulky accident, when it was smashed by a train engine at the level crossing at Yallah.
In 1924, he married Annie ‘Blanche’ Fleet. Blanche was born George and Mary Ann Fleet (nee Greenland) whose family farmed ‘Green Valleys’ at Tongarra.
Stan and Blanche moved to 'Green Valley's' after their marriage. Blanche's parents George and Mary Ann moved with their only son, Jim, to 'Beechgrove' farm at Yallah.
In 1928, Stan and Blanche moved to a farm across the creek, previously owned by Mr Jarvis. The farm today is known as 'Lothlorien', Tongarra.
Stan died in 1932, when he was just 40 years old, after a short illness.
Stan and Blanche's daughter Gwendoline Mary Mattinson married Sydney Louis Haertsch in 1944 at Albion Park.
Blanche's memories of growing up at Tongarra were transcribed by Jack Martin in 2003. Jack wrote many wonderful stories of the Tongarra area where he farmed, which were published as 'Tongarra Tales' by the Tongarra Heritage Society after his death.
Cam Craig bailing oaten hay at Tongarra about 1956.
The hedge in the background was planted by Stan Mattinson in 1927 and was cut by hand held clippers. It was part of his farm, today known as 'Lothlorien'.