In case you hadn't noticed

[artme]

OK bleeder here it is.

As a kid I was a rabid supporter of the local footy team -league that is. When Kempsey came to town to play they always had a bit
of a superior attitude. Loved it when they were given a drubbing.

They also had a few smart rectums amongst the younger ones who seemed to delight in giving a couple of young lads in town who
were disabled a hard time. Didn't appreciate that one little bit.

Also had a few run ins with some smart alek scouts at various gatherings, one in particular by the name of Haggis who originally hailed from Glasgow.
Tough and vicious bugger.

Silly I know, but some things just stick in your craw.

Just a couple of footnotes:

A.S Neil is an auctioneering firm that began in Kempsey and spread its wings to the Nambucca region, including Bowraville.
Not so many years ago a discovery was made of thousands of glass photographic negatives in one of the old A.S. Neil buildings
in Kempsey. These are of great historical importance for the Macleay Valley and wer e thought to be the greatest such number of this type of negative ever found.

The caves at Willawarren are a great place to explore.

Two great sounding aboriginal names from the valley are Bellimbopinni and Jeogla.

Roger Giffkins lived in the area for many years. Probably still does.

Always had a bit of sympathy during flood times for Kempsey. That massive catchment sure makes for a lot of water.
Thanks for the photo.

[cava]

Just for interest, a pic from the 1949 floods in Kempsey.
Attachment 270912

I have a few others if anyone's interested.

I am interested!

[AlexS]

Here ya go...
Kempsey1.jpg
Kempsey3.jpg
Kempsey5.jpg
Kempsey6.jpg
Kempsey7.jpg

[artme]

Great shots!!! Thanx!!!

The 3rd and 5th photos show just how fast the water moves.

Nice pile of firewood on the railway bridge.

I lost my left eye when I was Six and had reasonably frequent trips to Sydney for the
fitting of a prosthesis. I remember one trip where the train stopped before every swollen
river and then proceeded very slowly across. I was petrified by the sight of that muddy
rushing water.

The fact that no bridges ever failed in any way is testament to their fine engineering.

[Scott]

I was petrified by the sight of that muddy rushing water. .

At least you'd only see half of it

[Scribbly Gum]

The Kempsey bypass is wonderful, but currently finishes at just north of Frederickton.
Prior to this, trying to get through Kempsey in school holidays and public holidays was a major undertaking with long delays. Now that the bypass is complete, these delays have now moved north to Macksville.
Outside of the holiday periods, the road is a dream. Roadworks from Coffs Harbour north through Woolgoolga are still a pain, but this will be great when finished and they are making very good progress.
Kempsey Shire is truly beautiful geographically. The people are salt of the earth folk who are friendly and affable. There is too much welfare there, and this has the same problems as anywhere else with too much welfare. Regular Kempsey people have to live and deal with this, and do so on a daily basis.
I like the town and its people, and I wonder how the bypass will affect them. The same problems existed in Taree and it has thrived after the bypass was complete, so there is hope that Kempsey will do so as well.
Cheers
SG

[artme]

At least you'd only see half of it

Some consolation for a small boy!!!

Now gimme a hug and say sorry.

[Scott]

Some consolation for a small boy!!!

Now gimme a hug and say sorry.

Sorry Uncle Art

[artme]

Sorry Uncle Art

Ta!!

[cava]

Here ya go...
Kempsey1.jpg
Kempsey3.jpg
Kempsey5.jpg
Kempsey6.jpg
Kempsey7.jpg

In the first two (2) pictures that has the bridge (Pic 2 & 4). Are they of the main road bridge, or the railway bridge?

[Scribbly Gum]

In the first two (2) pictures that has the bridge (Pic 2 & 4). Are they of the main road bridge, or the railway bridge?

Photo 2 is the road bridge, which was the old highway until the bypass was completed. It had the dreaded traffic lights at the northern end - not in that photo of course.
Photo 4 is the railway bridge.
Cheers
SG

[cava]

Photo 2 is the road bridge, which was the old highway until the bypass was completed. It had the dreaded traffic lights at the northern end - not in that photo of course.
Photo 4 is the railway bridge.
Cheers
SG

Thanks SG. It was the debris on the railway bridge that threw me.

As an aside, I remember the old timber bridge at Telegraph Point.

[artme]

You are right about the geography of the valley SG.

The upper reaches of the river are glorious and there are some surprisingly large river flat ares up there.
The biggest flock of sulphur crested cockatoos I have ever see was up in that area.

I've driven the route from Willawaaren across to the top of the Nambucca into Taylors Arm. Quite a trip on
winding gravel roads!

[Scribbly Gum]

You are right about the geography of the valley SG.

The upper reaches of the river are glorious and there are some surprisingly large river flat ares up there.
The biggest flock of sulphur crested cockatoos I have ever see was up in that area.

I've driven the route from Willawaaren across to the top of the Nambucca into Taylors Arm. Quite a trip on
winding gravel roads!

Beautiful country, and of course the gem in Kempsey's crown is South West Rocks. I don't think there is a more beautiful place on the coast.
Great perch fishing in the upper Macleay as well.

Thanks Cava for the memories of the old Tele Point wooden bridge. I drove across it back in the early seventies. Graham (Carry Pine) remembers it less fondly as it and his motorbike had a disagreement.
The old bridge and the old Tele Point railway station were quite a feature of this area.
I love living here.
Cheers
SG