Page 6 - Gwen Landsberry - Memories Memento for Family

Once we got to school each day, I let the horse out in the paddock and then after school had

to catch her and harness her up for the long trip home. It took about 20 minutes to get her
ready for the 45 minute trip home. In winter Mum had the fire on and cocoa waiting for us.

We were at a distance where we didn’t have to go to school but Dad wanted us to have an
education. The Department of Education agreed to pay for the upkeep of our sulky so we

could get to school. It was good for them too because Junee Reefs School had to have a

minimum of 12 children to stay open. Once we 4 youngest left and moved with the family to
Sydney, the school had to close!

O’Brien’s and friends by the Lake Noorla (Hurley’s Dam), 1939

I loved our home. I’d go out the front gate, and could look across a couple of paddocks to the
McKay’s farm. Left turn from the gate and down the dirt road to get the mail and bread, then

around and up the path behind the house toward the Heffernens where Jack would be

shearing with the other boys in season. I remember heading off to school, opening the big
gate, over the hill and down to the main road. It seemed a long way until we turned down

toward ‘Slicker’ Hancocks. Then over Lake Noorla – always had to watch out in flood times,
turned right and chugged along for ages until finally a left turn and school.

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