The fascinating life of the driving force behind the Lithgow Progress Association, James McMillan Padley, has been unveiled in a new book.
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Involved in the progress association in the early 1900s, he was also the chief instigator of the development of visitor facilities at Hassans Walls Lookout, south of Lithgow, and a local businessman.
What's more, this inspiring pioneer has more than one connection to the town of Parkes.
Author Keith Painter launched his book 'Padley of the Pedestal - James McMillan Padley' at the Lithgow Library on October 19.
The following day, a restoration and re-dedication of James Padley’s memorial was held at Hassans Walls Lookout to commemorate the centenary of his death on October 20, 1918.
Keith considered it a very appropriate time to remember him.
Keith shared his journey of working on the book through a power point presentation of selected highlights during the book launch.
“It was by far my biggest ever project,” he said.
After 18 months of research the book had a total of 20 chapters and 210 pages.
“This book showcases the life of James Padley,” Keith said.
The passionate author was able to complete his research on James Padley through connecting with descendants.
“It’s been so exciting, the things that have come out of each connection with a Padley family member,” he said.
During his research Keith wrote a letter to the Parkes Champion Post in June asking for help from the surrounding community.
“I was looking for answers, so I hoped I would get some,” he said.
He knew that in July 1909 James Padley owned a shop in Parkes called Millar's Mart in Welcome Street.
Keith said Padley moved to Parkes and stayed a year then handed the store over to his brothers George and Thomas, before returning to Lithgow to continue his work in the progress association and many other community groups.
The Padleys ran the Parkes shop until January 1928 - with it officially being J. Padley & Co., but often still called Millar's Mart.
Keith had sourced help from Parkes Library historian Dan Fredericks on its exact location, with a local couple later supplying a postcard and land document showing the location of Padley's shop in Welcome Street.
There is a whole chapter in the book dedicated to the Parkes shop.
Keith was also eager to hear from descendants of the Padley family who may have still been living in the Parkes Shire and to learn more about family members' burial locations.
"James Padley had six siblings - five brothers William, Heber, Thomas, George, Arthur and one sister Hannah," he said.
"All of them, except for Arthur, lived in Parkes at some stage. Only Arthur and George were married. And George was the only one who had children.
"Three members of the family died in Parkes and were buried in the Presbyterian section of the Parkes Cemetery."
As a result of his letter, Keith said "Parkes people came through with the goods" and he was able to connect with Jean Crook, James Padley’s great niece who also attended the book launch with her husband Jim and son Matthew.
Jean’s mother was Eva Freeman, daughter of James’ brother George and whose family lived in Peak Hill in the 1940s and 50s.
She had possession of her mother's tin trunk full of old photos dating back to the 1870s, books and James Padley’s black notebook.
“I had not looked at that trunk for 18 years until I saw Keith’s article in the Parkes paper,” she said.
Mrs Crook, who now lives in Maryborough near Hervey Bay in Queensland, said Keith wanted to know if she had any documents of Padley family information and she did.
Keith said he was glad Jean had not thrown the trunk out.
“What a gold mine that has been toward my research,” he said.
He also said that one of the greatest treasures of the trunk was that little black notebook.
“James Padley’s notebook had 366 hand numbered pages from 1902 to 1918. He used it when he got to Lithgow, right up until his death,” he said.
After the book was officially launched, Jean Crook announced the hand over of Eva Freeman's collection to the Lithgow Library.
“The information needs to be documented somewhere and we really do appreciate Keith’s effort, time and trouble,” she said.
Lithgow City Councillor Cassandra Coleman was there to support the hand-over of the historic collection.
“This adds to the community, thank you to the Padley descendants for bringing it. We’ll take very good care of it and do wonderful things with it,” she said.