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Colin Kennedy is a Gamilaraay man born at Dungalear Station in 1928. His children are Ewart, Margaret, Linda, Carol, Trisha, Raymond, Donald, Eireen and Colin. His first wife was Belsie Dixon (now deceased), his second wife was Jean Broughton who he divorced. "I started work when I was twelve years old feeding the dogs of people who went to war from Dungalear Station. When they came back I started as the houseboy. After that I worked as a stationhand and did the flower gardening, butchering and boundaryriding. Then I moved to Bairnkine Station and I did a lot of riding for the horsebreakers there. I also did a lot of racehorse riding for Jim Pappas and Ned Morris. When I left there I worked on properties all around Walgett as a stationhand until I retired over twenty five years ago. I've just received a scooter to get around town in and moved into a new Walgett housing commission house last week. My favourite thing is to be out in the bush - that's where I like to be."
Thelma Thorne (nee Pittman) is a Dharruk woman who was born in Sydney in 1933 and who moved to Walgett in 1955 when she married a Gamilaraay man Eric Thorne. Together they have three sons and two grandchildren. "My first job in Sydney was working at Pecks Paste when I left school at 15 or 16. I worked there for many years. When I first came to Walgett I used to take in houscleaning and ironing and then I worked in the Imperial Hotel. I left there and after my three children started school I started work at the Walgett Central School as a cleaner for about 15 years, then I changed to being an Aboriginal Education Assistant which I did for about 15 years". Thelma was awarded theDept of Education Director General's Award and a Certificate for Long Service and she retired after 29 years of service. Thelma has served on the Board of the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service for the past fifteen years until the present day. She also serves on the Walgett Community College Advisory Board but now refuses to do any voluntary work on Thursdays so that she can relax and attend the housie. Thelma also enjoys playing darts on Saturdays at the RSL club with her husband and sons who are darts champions.
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| Colin Kennedy, Thelma Thorne |
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