Inarrabri

John Burgess Photography

Ph 0423 690 586

Connie Smith - Wee Waa

“My father was from Holland and my mother was a Wee Waa

girl. He was sixteen when he came out just after the Second

World War and went to Sydney first. They put all the immigrants

on trains, sent them to rural and remote areas and his family

came to Wee Waa. He married a local girl, an O'Neill and one

of eleven. A big family and all still Wee Waa people. I was born

in Wee Waa in the old hospital. Three pound four ounces and

breech. I wasn't expected to survive but I'm still here.”

“We moved away when I was in year three and I did my pri-

mary and high school years in Port Macquarie. Mum and dad

divorced, which happens in this day and age. Mum came back

home, I came back home and six months after being back here I

met my husband and I've now been here for thirty eight years.”

“In the drought, one of the first things we had to do was when

the government paid you to shoot your own sheep and Paul said

he would never do that again in his life. So he put plans in place,

silos et cetera and always kept grain to look after them.

We couldn't afford to feed them but the worst thing in your life

is when you have to shoot your livelihood.”

“Love the family life, the farm life, love having the kids at home”.

“I do a lot of charity work. I'm in the Lions Club in Wee Waa

and was heavily involved in the high school when my kids went

there. Was President of the P&C for ten years. I also do senior

citizens, volunteering my time to them and I look forward to

that every year because the older people are always so genuine,

courteous and grateful for everything you do for them, so that's a

reward in itself.”

“I'm back home to work on the farm. Done a lot of cooking and

catering for many years but the farm isn't big enough to employ

someone and it needs two people to work it so my husband

needs a hand. I'm back being a farmer wants a wife, I'd guess

you'd call it. And the wife wants a life!

Anyway, I love it out here. The peace and quiet.”

Namoi based professional photographer, John Burgess

presents his first submission of an ongoing portrait and

interview series with well known, local people..

Humans of the Namoi

Feature

18 | iNarrabri Magazine | September 2016

photo: John Burgess