In memory of William John Swan: A service was held at the Tullamore War Memorial Hall on Friday, August 4, 2017 to commemorate the life of William John Swan, who passed away on July 26, 2017. William John Swan was born on November 30, 1933 at Nabiac, near Taree, the second child of Bessy and William Swan. He was always know as John – or the Honey Man. His siblings are Peter, David, Robin and Jill (deceased). He was raised on a dairy farm at Bulga Creek near Taree and went to school at Elands Public School. He started his working life farming before moving onto timber and he worked with his brother-in-law, Gordon, cutting logs at Comboyne John’s grandfather had a farm at Bulga Creek and Celie’s mother was his housekeeper. Uncle Bert, Jessy, Stella and Shirley also worked at the farm and Celie would go up there with her five children for holidays and that was how John met Celie. During leave from the National Service which John and brothers did together in Sydney, they would go and stay with Celie in Parramatta. John was 24 when he married Celie and they went on to have five children together, which made for a pretty large and awesome family of ten children. They lived in Parramatta, where John worked for AWA, making valves and picture tubes for black and white TV’s. The family then moved to Kurrajong, Colo Heights and finally to Tullamore in 1976 so John could be closer to his beloved bees.
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John worked timber and honey for his entire career. John worked all facets of timber. He was a logger, treefeller and dozer driver. He carted timber and was a miller. He cut railway sleepers using a portable saw and loaded them by hand with his son, Tony. They were both strong men. He operated a portable sawmill at Colo that was powered by a Volkswagen engine. In contract to this rugged physical work, John would then retreat to his garage and build guitars. Guitar building is a delicate and accurate craft, and John made them with homemade tools. He was an axeman and travelled to many show woodchopping events, and several trophies were displayed in the Colo loungeroom.
His lifelong friend, Arthur, and John worked the honey trade for 50 years and today, they still have bee hives. John set up hives at Bulahdelah and he was asked why his hives were yellow, was that to distinguish them from the other beekeepers white ones. He replied that it was so that he could honestly sell the honey as yellow box honey. John had a great sense of humour. He enjoyed his time tinkering at the men’s shed and selling his honey at the markets in Trundle and also from his home. John’s health declined in recent years, and he was recently fittd with a pacemaker – the Electric Fence as he called it. This restored his energy but, not feeling well last Wednesday week, he went to the local Tullamore hospital for assistance, where he peacefully passed away soon after arrival.
Trundle Footy: The Boomers are having a party! Trundle Boomers are Minor Premiers for the second year in a row. They travelled down to Grenfell on Saturday and needed to win to hold their position on top of the ladder. Grenfell performed at their best and made it difficult for the Boomers to attack. Grenfell were winning at half time and looked determined to upset the game. With a rev up from their coach, Adam Hall at half time, the Boomers got back to their game plan and won the game 28-18 with a massive Trundle crowd cheering them every step of the way. Trundle Youth League had a well-deserved bye and they have also taken out the Minor Premiers. A massive effort with the team only being in the competition for two years. Their coach, Blake Ridges is proud of their efforts but he knows the job isn’t done just yet.
The Trundle Sunflowers League Tag season has ended with them just missing out on semifinal football. They came sixth on the ladder but are happy with their progress in the back half of the season. The ladies enjoyed their bus trip on the way home from Grenfell, celebrating a successful and fun season. As both Trundle First grade and Youth League are Minor Premiers they get this weekend off to rest and prepare. Final game will be in Trundle on August 27. Boomers need their supporters to be as loud as possible at the upcoming home game. Trundle supporters are the best supporters in the Central West.
-by Leisa Rowlands
