It was certainly a proud moment for the couple as His Excellency congratulated them on their mammoth task in seeing the hard-cover book titled `Welcome To Parkes’ come to fruition.

The book not only chronicles Henry Parkes’ four visits to Parkes - the town that bears his name - but also visits to Bumberry, Cudal, Eugowra, Forbes, Garra and Manildra.

June and Lex said they never allowed themselves to become overwhelmed by the project.

“While it has taken 20 years we have never allowed the research to interfere with our day to day lives but rather become part of it,” June said.

“However, we did get a move along once we realised we were into our seventies and not getting any younger.”

June and Lex met whilst working together for the Central West County Council. June was transferred in her job from Cudal in 1961.

At the time, Lex was the electronic data processing manager when the first ever computer was installed west of the Blue Mountains.

June was the accounting machine operator.

“Whilst in Cudal I had to deal with Lex on a daily basis over the phone,” she said. 

“So on my arrival in Parkes we met face to face and the rest is history really.”

Lex and June have always taken an interest in Parkes history.

One thing they had noted was that despite Sir Henry’s many visits to the district, these hadn’t been well documented.

So they set upon it as a project - hence the the book titled ‘Welcome To Parkes’.

The book is written in two parts with the first section focusing on Sir Henry’s visit to town and what they did and saw.

Part two focuses on what Lex and June believe are other points of interest regarding his other visits to the region, including financial difficulties experienced, his three wives and the naming of Parkes.

Lex and June overcome many a hiccup during their research work.

“Some of the local stories about Sir Henry’s visits and the captions on old photographs were not always completely correct and had to be thoroughly investigated,” Lex said. “In the early stages it meant many trips to the State and National Libraries in Sydney and Canberra before the info became available on the Internet.

“Henry Parkes frequently made tours through country districts delivering speeches at towns and villages, often laying foundation stones for schools, hospitals and local school of arts.

“He was always popular in the country and our research shows that people flocked to hear him speak. Some of his best addresses were delivered at the opening of the mechanic’s institutes and schools of art.”

This in itself is very interesting because as a child Henry was tongue-tied and had to undergo surgery to allow him to speak.

June pointed out that it is well documented how Sir Henry, the man known as the Father of Federation in this country,  had a great love of books and he particularly loved speaking to children.

“He and his wife Eleanor took an active part in the children’s picnic held at the Parkes Showground on Friday, October 5, 1894,” she said. 

His three prior visits to Parkes occurred in August, 1873, July, 1887, and June 1894.

June and Lex’s book features a foreword by Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO.

During her many visits to Parkes as NSW Governor, Dame Marie made no secret of what a fan she was of Sir Henry.

This stemmed from the vital role he played in many reforms; he condemned transportation, advocated women’s suffrage and improved nursing by arranging for nurses, trained by Florence Nightingale, to come to New South Wales.

As Dame Marie points out in the foreword, Sir Henry was responsible for the Public Schools Act of 1866 which ensured free compulsory education until the student’s 14th year.

Copies of June and Lex’s hardcover book with dust cover can be purchased directly from them at 43 Victoria Street or by phoning them on 6862 1036.

“His role as the Father of Federation is well known,”  Dame Marie wrote. 

“Indeed, his dream for a united Australia was expressed in his eloquent cry, ‘One People, One Destiny’.”