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June 10th - June 23rd iNarrabri Magazine 9
Your local wedding specialist
John Burgess
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not allowed to speak or vote on any motion
which seemed strange at the time. About two
months after we joined, we received voting
rights as Mr Schmeide could see that in the
future non returned men would be required to
keep the club running.
Eric and I were involved in the sporting body
long before becoming involved with the club.
Eric was the first president and driving force
behind it. The Schooner Club also started back
in the late 70’s with a group of about 10 guys
who decided they would like to go out for din-
ner. This has grown to the stage where now 80
invitations are sent out every three months for
blokes to meet for some fellowship at the club.
As I have said, the association with the Nar-
rabri RSL has been a big part of my life but it
is the people who I work and meet with that
make it so enjoyable. We have a great mix
of people with the management team, staff,
directors, sub-branch, ladies auxiliary & sport-
ing body all helping to make it what it is – a
great club.
You have also enjoyed a long association
with Eather’s Newsagency and can still be
seen working there. How has this devel-
oped?
I initially started my association when I became
a paper boy after the big floods in 1955 and
have never not been employed by the Eather
family. Even during my 17 years with AE Collins
I worked for the Eathers and when Mr Eather
became too sick to work he asked me to join
Phil and work for them. There have been
some really great times and also sad times –
two fires and three floods. We have really seen
it all but after 61 years I have really enjoyed
the friendship and being part of the family.
Your life has certainly been a busy one and
you can still be seen helping out at the
newsagency and the weekly meat raffles at
the club. Why do you believe such service
to the community has been such a positive
and big part of your life?
I have and still enjoy contributing where I can
but the best thing in my life is my family – my
brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews mean
everything to me. Without them, nothing
would be worth doing.
Shop online. Shops decline.
How often do internet based and out of town businesses
donate a prize for a local fundraiser, sponsor a local sporting
club, employ local youth, support a local school, employ local
tradesmen, pay local staff... or invest anything here in Narrabri?
By shopping outside of Narrabri, whether it is online or at larger
regional centres, you invest in the decline of your community.
Locally owned businesses invest in Narrabri. Support them and
you support the community you live in.
inarrabri