Budgee Budgee Location and History updated

Norman wrote three columns about Budgee Budgee published on 13th, 20th and 27th April, 2009.
Jack Stanford, now living in retirement in Mudgee with his wife Edna invited Norman to visit him.

Jack was born in Budgee Budgee and lived most of his life in the area around Black Springs Road where he and Edna raised their family on an orchard property. Black Springs Road was named for springs of water close to a house owned by Tudor Allen. In one spring the water is black whilst in another it is blue.

As Jack reminisced about his life Norman made notes: Jack thought that Budgee Budgee was Aboriginal meaning “plenty, plenty” or plenty of water.

The reason “five corners” can no longer be found in the Budgee Budgee locality is because the farms in the early days of settlement usually had flocks of sheep. The sheep ate the “five corners” to the root stock whereas cattle did not touch them. The plant mainly grew on the side of a hill.

In 1930 there was an extreme drought and a lot of local vegetation died. Jack recalled when he was aged about 18 the temperature was 100 degrees Fahrenheit for a month. Apparently St John’s Wort is a recurring curse but can be eradicated by persistently spreading pure salt on new growth.

The names “Pipeclay Creek” and “Pipeclay Lane” appear to have been called after the area once known as “ Pipeclay” but it may have previously been another name now unknown. How it came to be called “Pipeclay” is also unknown but it may have been because the clay in the creek was suitable for making clay pipes used to smoke tobacco.

Jack had an interesting story to relate about the Ulan Road Pipeclay Creek Bridge. Before the bridge was built there was a ford crossing about 50 metres on the western side of the bridge. The remains of the crossing are still visible. On at least three occasions when Pipeclay Creek was in flood people were drowned whilst attempting to cross. Their horse and buggies were swept away. Jack thought they were a Mr Box, a Mr Brack and local poet Kevin Pye’s great grand parent.

Jack recalled that a teacher who taught French at Mudgee High School and his wife, a teacher at Mudgee Public School, were often stranded when the creek flooded. Often they had to travel to Mudgee via School Lane joining up with a road to Mudgee to the West.

Jack was able to pin point the exact location of the Huxley Butcher shop. It still exists in a building which in the 1980s was the scene of a herb farm and shop next to what was then Bramhall Winery.

The story of gold being found close to the Budgee Budgee Inn valued at £3000 was confirmed with the added anecdote that many believe gold can still be found in the vicinity but he was never lucky enough to find any.

Jack was asked about his ancestors. His mother was from the Roth family and he attended the family re-union in 2008 held in Mudgee.

Subsequent to Norman talking to Jack Stanford he met up with Lee Paine who reminded him that her family lived in Budgee Budgee when they migrated from England in 1950. Her parents, Jack and Norah Hodgkinson lived with their family in a little old house in a paddock near what is now Box Lane. Only the chimney remains standing today.

Jack was a carpenter and builder who renovated the house to make it habitable. Lee lived there for approximately six months before she left to become a teacher at Newcastle Teachers’ College.

Lee recalled that on one occasion the school bus could not make the Pipeclay Creek crossing due to a flood. Lee thought the bridge was built in the 1960s after the family had moved to a house in Eurunderee.

Other Indigenous Words

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Here are some words of the NSW indigenous people and their meanings collected over the years:

NAMES CHIEFLY OF OBJECTS OF SENSE

Co-ing: The sun
Yen-na-dah: The moon
Bir-rong: A star
Mo-loo-mo-long: The Pleiades
War-re-wull: The Milky Way
Ca-ra-go-ro: A cloud
Boo-do-en-ong

Cal-gal-le-on: The Magellanic
the greater clouds
Gnar-rang-al-le-on
the lesser
Tu-ru-p A star falling
Co-ing bi-bo-ba Sun-rising
Bour-ra The sky
Co-ing bur-re-goo-lah Sun-setting
Gnoo-wing Night
Carn-mar-roo
Tar-re-ber-re Day
Gwe-yong Fire
Cad-jee Smoke
Gil-le A spark
Per-mul Earth
Ta-go-ra Cold
Yoo-roo-ga Heat
Men-nie-no-long Dew
Pan-na, and Wal-lan Rain
Ba-do Water
Chi-a-ra Name
Car-rig-er-rang The sea
Go-nie A hut
Now-ey A canoe
Beng-al-le A basket
Car-rah-jun A fishing-line
Gnam-mul A sinker [A small stone to sink the line]
Bur-ra A hook
Ke-ba A stone or rock
Bwo-mar A grave
Bow-wan A shadow
Ma-hn A ghost
Wir-roong Scars on the back
Cong-ar-ray Scars on the breast
jee-run A coward
Can-ning A cave
Me-diong A sore [On noticing a hole in any part of
our dress they term it Me-diong]
Ya-goo-na To-day
Bo-ra-ne Yesterday
Par-ry-boo-go To-morrow
Mul-lin-ow-ool In the morning
Jen-ni-be Laughter
Boo-roo-wang An island [This word they applied
to our ships]
Gno-rang A place
E-ring A valley
Boo-do A torch made of reeds
Mi-yal A stranger [This word has reference to sight;
Mi, the eye.]
Ar-rung-a A calm
Moo-roo-bin Woman’s milk
Ew-ing Truth
Ca-bahn An egg
Yab-bun Instrumental music
Yoo-long or Cleared ground for public ceremonies
Yoo-lahng

ADJECTIVES

Bood-jer-re Good
Wee-re Bad
Mur-ray Great
Gnar-rang Small
Coo-rar-re Long
Too-mur-ro Short
Go-jy Rotten
Go-jay-by
Bin-nice Pregnant
Par-rat-ber-ri Empty
Bo-ruck Full
Pe-mul-gine Dirty
Bar-gat Afraid
Frightened
Ba-diel Ill
Moo-la Sick
Boo-row-a Above or upward
Cad-i Below or under
Bar-bug-gi Lost
War-rang-i Right
Doo-room-i Left
Goo-lar-ra Angry
Yu-ro-ra Passionate
Wo-gul, and Wo-cul One
Yoo-blow-re, and Boo-la Two
Brew-y Three
Mur-ray-too-lo A great many
Gnal-le-a Both
Moo-jel Red
Ta-bo-a White
Gna-na Black
Bool-gi-ga Green
Moo-ton-ore Lame
Yu-roo, and
Yu-roo-gur-ra Hungry
Mo-rem-me Yes
Beall No
Mar-rey Wet

PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY

Ca-ber-ra Head
Gnul-lo Forehead
Mi Eye
Yin-ner-ry Eye-brow
No-gro, or No-gur-ro Nose
Kar-ga Mouth
Wil-ling Lips
Da-ra Teeth
Tal-lang Tongue
Wal-lo Chin
Go-ray Ear
Cad-le-ar Neck
Cad-le-ang Na-bung Breast or Nipple
Yar-rin Beard [This they often singe, and describe it
as a painful operation]
De-war-ra Hair [This is commonly full of vermin, which
I have seen them eat, and change from
one soil (sic) to another.]
Bar-rong Belly
Go-rook Knee
Dar-ra Leg
Ma-no-e Foot
Tam-mir-ra Hand
Ber-rll-le Fingers
Car-rung-un Nail
Bib-be Ribs
Ba-rongle Vein
Pa-di-el Flesh or lean
Bog-gay, or Pog-gay Fat
Tar-rang Arm
0-nur Elbow
Wy-o-man-no Thumb
Dar-ra-gal-lic Fore-finger
Ba-roo-gal-lie Middle or ring’d
Wel-leng-al-lie Little finger

CONSANGUINITY

Eo-ra The name common for the natives
Mu-la A man
Din A woman
Din-al-le-ong Women [One of the few instances I could ever
discover of a plural or dual number]
Gin-al-le-ong
Be-an-na; this they
shorten to
Be-an and
Be-a, and
when in pain,
they exclaim
Be-a-ri A father
Wy-an-na, and Mother
Wy-ang
Go-mang Grandfather
Ba-bun-na Brother
Ma-mun-na Sister
Go-roong A child
We-row-ey A female child
Wong-er-ra A male ditto
Na-bung-ay wui-dal-liez Infant at the breast
[Compounded of Na-bung its breast, and Wai-dal-liez relating to drinking]
Bore-goo-roo Child eight months old
Guy-a-nay-yong An old man
Mau-gohn A wife
Mau-gohn-nal-ly A temporary ditto
Go-rah-gal-long A handsome man
Go-rah-gal-long-
al-le-ong A handsome woman
Ma-lin, Nurkine,
Mud-gin
Gnar-ra-mat-ta A relation [To these I never could affix
precise meanings]
Cow-ul Male of animals
We ring Female of ditto
Do-roon A son
Do-roon-e-nang A daughter
Go-mul A term of friendship
Cam-mar-rade, Terms of affection used by girls
and Ca-mong-al-lay

SPEARS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS

Goong-un A spear with four barbs cut in the wood,
which they do not throw, but strike with
hand to hand
Noo-ro Ca-my A spear with one barb, fastened on
Ca-my A spear with two barbs–This word is
used for spear in general
Bil-larr A spear with one barb, cut from the wood
Wal-lang-al-le-ong A spear armed with pieces of shell
Can-na-diul A spear armed with stones
Ghe-rub-bine A spear without a barb
Doci-ull A short spear
No-roo-gal Ca-my Holes made by a shield
E-lec-mong A shield made of bark
Ar-ra-gong A shield cut out from the solid wood
Moo-ting
Cal-larr Fizgigs
Car-rab-ba Prong of the moo-ting
Dam-moo-ne Prong of the cal-larr.
Woo-dah, Names of clubs.
Can-na-tal-ling,
Doo-win-null,
Can-ni-cull,
Car-ru-wang,
Wo-mur-rang.
Gnal-lung-ul-la,
Tar-ril-ber-re,
Mo-go, Stone hatchet.
We-bat, Handle of ditto.
Wo-mer-ra, Throwing-stick

PRONOUNS, ADVERBS, AND MODE OF ADDRESS

Gni-a, I, or myself
Gnee-ne, You.
Gnee-ne-de, Yours.
Dan-nai, Mine.
Dar-ring-al, His.
Gna-ni, Whose.
Wan, Where.
De, There.
Diam, Here.
Diam o waw? Where are you?
Diam o diam o, Here I am.
Gnalm Chiara, gnahn? What is your name?
Bir-rong, Appertaining.

WINDS

Bow-wan, North.
Bal-gay-al-lang, South.
Boo-roo-wee, East.
Bain-mar-ray, West.
Doo-loo-gal, North-west.
Yare-ba-lahng, South-west.
Go-me-mah, North-east.
Gwar-ra, A high wind

INFLEXIONS OF THE VERBS.

Gnia-na, Sighing.
Bwo-me, Breathing.
Dere-rign-ang, Sneezing.
Car-re-nar-re-bil-le, Coughing.
Yen-no-ra, Walking.
Yen-mow, I will walk or go.
Yenn, Go or walk.
Yen-ma-nia, We will walk or go.
Yen-wor-ro, He is gone.
Yen-nim-me, You are going.
Yen-nool, Relating to walking.
Yen-noong,
Yen-nore-yen,
Yen-nang-allea, Let us both walk.
AI-locy, Stay.
Wo-roo-wo-roo, Go away.
War-re-war-re,
Pat-ta-diow, I have eaten.
Pat-td-die-mi, You have eaten.
Pat-ty, He has eaten.
Pat-ta-bow, I will eat.
Pat-td-baw-me, You will eat, or will you eat?
Pat-ta-ne, They eat.
Wul-da-diow, I have drank.
Wul-da-dic-mi, You have drank.
Nwya jee-ming-a, Give me.
Py-yay, Killed.
Jung-ara py-yay, Killed by dogs.
Par-rat-ben-ni-diow I have emptied.
Py-ya-bow, I will strike or beat.
Py-yee, He did beat.
E-ra-bow, I will throw.
E-ra, Throw you.
E-rail-leiz, Throwing.
Mahn-me-diow. I have taken it.
Mahn-iow, Shall I, or I shall take.
Goo-ra, Sunk.
Ton-ga-bil-lie, Did cry.
Wau-me, Scolding or abusing.
Wau-me-bow I will scold or abuse
Wau-me-diow I have scolded or abused
Wau-me-diang-ha They have scolded or abused
Nang-er-ra He sleeps
Nang-a
Nang-a-bow I will sleep
Nang-a-diow I have slept
Nang-a-diem-me You have slept
Nang-a-bau-me? Will you sleep?
Go-ro-da He snores
Gna-na le-ma She or he breathes
Al-lo-wan He lives or remains
Al-lo-wah Stay here, or sit down
Wal-loo-me-yen-wal-loo? Where are you going?
War-re-me-war-re Where have you been?
Gna-diow You have seen
Gna-diem-me I have seen
Gna-bow I will see
Gna See
Era-mad-jow-in-nia Forced from him
Car-rah-ma Stealing
Wor-ga-wee-na He whistles, or whistling
Goo-lar-ra py-yel-la Snarling with anger
Man-nie mong-alla Surprised
Yare-ba Tired
Pe-to-e Sought for
Man-nie mal-lee He was startled
Nwya-bow-in-nia I will give you
Wan-ye-wan-yi He lies
Ma-row-e He creeps
Bang-a-ja-bun He did paddle
Noy-ga Howling as a dog
Toll Biting
Co-e, Cow-e Cwoi,
Cow-ana Come here
Wad-be Swimming
Bo-gay Diving
Ta-yo-ra, Me-diang-a Severely cold. Me-diang-a is compounded of
Me-diong, a sore
Mul-la-ra Married. Compounded of Mulla, a man

BEASTS

Jung-o Common name
Pat-a-go-rang A large grey kang-oo-roo
Bag-gar-ray Small red ditto
Wal-li-bah Black ditto
Tein-go
Din-go
Wor-re-gal Dog
Boo-roo-min Grey vulpine opossum
Go-ra-go-ro Red ditto
Wob-bin Flying squirrel
Ga-ni-mong Kang-oo-roo rat
Wee-ree-a-min Large fox rat
Wee-ree-am-by
Bo-gul Rat or mouse
Me-rea-gine Spotted rat

BIRDS

Ma-ray-ong Emu
Go-ree-all A parrot
Mul-go A black swan
Car-rang-a bo mur-ray A pelican. When they see this bird over their
heads, they sing the following words:
Yoo-rong-i A ivild duck.
Goad-gang, A wild pigeon
Wir-gan Bird named by us the Friar
Gnoo-roo-me
ta-twa-natwa na-twa–Gno-roo me ta-twa na-twa,
na-twa, tar-ra wow, tar-ra wow*

[* On seeing a shoal of porpoises, they sing while the fish is above water, Note-le-bre la-la, No-te-le-bre la-la, until it goes down, when they sing the words No-tee, No-tee, until it rises again]
Go-gan-ne-gine the Laughing jack-Ass
Po-book Musquito hawk
Wau-gan Crow
Jam-mul jam-mul Common hawk
Gare-a-way White cockatoo
Ca-rate Black ditto
Ur-win-ner-ri-wing Curlew

INSECTS, REPTILES

Mar-rae-gong A spider
Mi-a-nong A fly
Go-ma-go-ma A beetle
Gil-be-nong A grasshopper
Bur-roo-die-ra A butterfly
Go-na-long Caterpillar
Can-nar-ray Centipede
Calm Snake
Po-boo-nang A black ant

PECULIARITIES OF LANGUAGE

To the men when fishing they apply the word Mah-ni; to the women, Mahn.
They make some distinction in another instance when speaking of crying, they say the men Tong-i; the women Tong-e.
The following difference of dialect was observed between the natives at the Hawkesbury and at Sydney.
COAST INLAND ENGLISH
Ca-ber-ra Co-co Head
De-war-ra Ke-war-ra Hair
Gnul-lo Nar-ran Forehead
Mi Me Eye
Go-ray Ben-ne Ear
Cad-lian Gang-a Neck
Ba-rong Ben-di Belly
Moo-nur-ro Boom-boong Navel
Boong Bay-ley Buttocks
Yen-na-dah Dil-luck Moon
Co-ing Con-do-in Sun
Go-ra Go-ri-ba Hail
Go-gen-ne-gine Go-con-de Laughing jack-ass

There are probably many other words. This page will be amended as they are found.

Wiradjuri Words

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Here are some Aboriginal words of the Wiradjuri people and their meanings collected over the years:

YUURRUUNG: a cloud
BUUNAN: dust
BIRRANG: horizon
MIGEE: a bolt of lightning
GIWANG: the moon
GALIMBANG: rain
YUULUUBIRRGIYN: a rainbow
GUUNAMA: smoke
YIRRI: the sun
GAYLIN: water
KAAP: the wet season
MIRRUUL: clay
DHARRANG: a creek
DHIRRAYN: a hill
MUUURRUU: a path or track
WALANG: a stone
GAWAL: a swamp
BILABANG: a billabong
MAREEYN: a canoe
GUULAAY: a fishing net
BILA: a river
GALIYN: water
YUUGI: a dingo
GANYI: an echidna
GANUURR: a kangaroo
WILAY: a possum
BARRBAAY: a wallaby
GIRRAWAA: a goanna
NHARRANG: a lizard
YABA: a snake
BUUJAAN: a bird
BUUDHANBANG: a wild duck
BUUBIL: a feather
GUUGUUBARRA: a kookaburra
NGUURRANG: a nest
DHUUNDHUU: a black swan
DHANGUURR: a fish or possibly a catfish
GUUYA: a fish (general)
BAGAAY: a shell
DHUURRUUY: an ant
BUUJA-BUUJA: a butterfly
BUUGA: a blowfly
GINMA: a caterpillar
GALANG-GALANG: a cicada
MUURRUUNG: a grasshopper
BUUUGARRUU: grass
GIRRANG: a leaf
GWANDAANG: a quandong
GEEGAL: a tree
BUURREE: wattle
BIRRI: white box tree
BUURRAAY: a baby or child
GAAGANG: brother
BABEEN: father
NGUUBAN: husband
MINGGAN: sister
NGUUBAN: wife
MIL: the eye
INARRGANG: a girl
BIJAA or JIRRIBANG: an old man
YAAMBUULDAAYN: a storyteller
INAAR or MIGAY: a woman
NGUURRAMBANG: birthplace
BUURRBANG: a ceremony
BAGEEYN or BIRIK: a ghost
BAGEEYN: magic
BIRIK or WANDANG: a spirit
BARRGAN: a boomerang
WAMARR: a spear thrower or woomera
BUUNAN: ash from a fire
GEEWAL: to cook
WEEYN: fire
GEEGAL: firewood
NGALAN: a flame or light
NGUURRANG: a camp site
NGUURRAMBANG: home
GUNJI: a house
WIRREE: to lie down
WINANGGAL: to hear
GUUDHI: to sing or a song
BUUDHANG: black
GIRRI-GIRRI: red
GABAN or BARRA-BARRA: white
GUUNANG-GUUNANG: yellow
MUURRUUN: alive
BINAAL or BIYANG: all
BABIRR or BINAAL: big
BALUUDAAY: cold
BARRRGAN-BARRGAN: crooked
BUURRANG: dry
WALANG: hard
WUUGIL: heat or hot
BAAMIRR: long
BINAAL, BUUNGUU, GALANG: many or much
MUURRAAY: soft
WALAN: strong
DHALBAL: wet
MANARR: wide
MARRAMMUUBANG: bad
MARRAMBANG, MARRANG, min: good
WANJIBAAYN: naughty
GWANGI: silly
BARRAMAL or NGUUNG: to bring
GANAAY: burn
GALIYAAY: climb
WUUBUUNGEE: dive
BAAMBEE: float
BARRAAY: fly
YANAAY, YARRABI: go or walk
WIRREE: lie down
GINDHAAY: play
BAAMBEE: swim
MUURRUUN: life
NINGGI: look
WEE: sit or stay
WARRAAY: stand
GADHANG: glad or happy
GINDHAAY: laugh
GUUHI: sing
NGAMRRI: sleep
GALIYAAYNBAL: above
BIRRA: away
NGUURRAMBANG: birthplace
NGUURRUUNGGAL: dawn or early or morning or tomorrow
NGUUBAAY NGANGARRI: day
BILAGAL: down or downhill
BIRRANG: far
NGINA: here
GUUGIN: near
YANDHAL: now
NGAAWAA: come here
WIRRAAY: no
NGADHI: my

There are probably many other words. This page will be amended as they are found.

Gold

Gold was first discovered in payable quantities in Australia in 1851 at Orphir near Orange. Perhaps the most notable local discovery of gold was in Golden Gully, adjacent to Budgee Budgee, in 1857 by the Wurth brothers.

Discoveries were next made at Sapling Gully and Log Paddock. Budgee Budgee, 7 miles north of Mudgee, was the scene of a further discovery followed a little later by the Pipeclay diggings.

Local folklore records at one time there was supposed to be about 3000 people on the Budgee Budgee field and a lot of gold was found there. One man was reputed to have found a nugget worth £3000 close to the Budgee Budgee Inn.

Even after the gold was supposed to have run out there were still people going down shafts and finding the odd speck of the precious metal. Mullock heaps could still be seen as late as the 1980s on some properties as well there was evidence of places where miners had washed for gold. Some say there is still gold to be found east of the Ulan (Cassilis) Road.

Panning and washing for gold

In her book Telling Tales Out of School Mary McPherson relates a story of a teacher from nearby Pipeclay (later Buckaroo) School who died down a shaft at Pipeclay Creek. It read: ‘Frederick White, a married man who was a teacher at Pipeclay Creek Public School near Mudgee, closed the school as usual on Friday evening June 5, 1874. On Tuesday June 9 the chairman of the local school board wrote to the Council of Education “I beg to inform you no traces (were found) of Mr White at the school at 12 o’clock on Monday 8th June. The local board closed the school and (is) waiting for advice for what to do respecting the school. Search has been made but (there is) no account of Mr White whatever’.

‘The Sydney Morning Herald of Friday June 19, 1874 carried the following report: Mudgee, Thursday. Yesterday an inquest was held at Pipeclay Creek on the body of Frederick White, the master of the Public School. He had been missing for a fortnight and was found in a shaft fifty feet deep, with his neck and leg broken. Verdict accidental death.’

It is not hard to imagine the rumours generated by that event. In 1963 John Lawrence Tierney (aka author Brian James) noted that local oral sources (in this instance gossip?) told him ‘that Fred White had fallen down that mine shaft in Sapling Gully very late at night after a convivial evening at “Fredericksberg” (the first local winery) and the Buchholtz family home.

This was ninety years after the event indicating local stories never die.

Perhaps the gold in Budgee Budgee is now to be found above the ground and not below.

Pipeclay Pianist

Marguerite de Pachmann, the pianist from Pipeclay who gave piano recitals across Europe and became an international celebrity.

The localities of Budgee Budgee, Buckaroo, Botobolar, Black Springs and Eurunderee were once clustered together and simply known as Pipeclay with Eurunderee being known as New Pipeclay. This caused confusion in the delivery of mail and after a complaint by the postmaster at Pipeclay, Daniel Tierney, the postmaster at New Pipeclay suggested that his locality should be changed to Eurunderee and this was done.

Australia has produced many artists of international standing. Here is the story of a remarkable life journey that begins on the Pipeclay goldfields in the 1860s and ends up on the concert platforms of Europe and America.

In 1863 John and George Wurth found gold in Golden Gully in New Pipeclay (later renamed Eurunderee). Miners and gold seekers flocked to the area and spread across to Pipeclay, a small area approximately between what are now Henry Lawson Drive and Cassilis Road and including Pipeclay Creek.

With the arrival of the gold seekers stores and shanties sprung up to provide for their needs.

Enter William Okey and his wife Anna Maria. They were married at Burburgate (on the Namoi River) on January 4, 1864. William was a bachelor aged 27 whose occupation was shown as ‘comedian’ and Anna Maria a widow aged 17 (former name Blade).

On December 14, 1864, at Pipeclay, William and Anna’s first child was born. She was named Anna Louisa Margaret. The witnesses at her birth (registered by her father at Mudgee on January 16, 1865) were W. Ramsay MD and a Mrs Hogan (probably a midwife) indicating the birth was at home.

Home, in this instance would be either a tent or slab and bark hut similar to Henry Albury’s slab inn bought in 1864 at New Pipeclay. This same year Peter Lawson arrived on the New Pipeclay diggings, builds a slab hut, meets Henry’s daughter, Louisa, and marries her in 1866.

Anna Okey’s birth certificate records some other interesting details. William Okey is now shown as an ‘innkeeper’, aged 28, born in London. Anna Maria’s details show her maiden surname as ‘King’, aged 18, born in Warwick, Queensland. There is no mention of her previous married name ‘Blade’. The ‘innkeeper’ could mean just that or alternatively, like so many others, Okey was selling ‘grog’ to support his gold seeking activities.

Apparently when the gold ran out it is thought the Okeys, like the Lawsons, moved to the Weddin Mountain goldfield, Grenfell. The birth of their second daughter, Dorothy C. M. was registered at Forbes, as was Henry Lawson’s. This seems to confirm the Okeys, like the Lawsons, had followed the gold seekers.

Nothing more is known about the Okeys in Australia or when they actually migrated to London. In an article in Musical Celebrities, by F. Forster Buffen, 1893, he wrote they returned about 1869 and that Anna 5 (now known as Maggie) had started to learn the notes on the piano at the age of 2 and had her first music lessons from an organist thought to be in the town of St Leonards, England.

In 1820 St Leonards was built as a neighbouring town to Hastings (famous for the battle of 1066). It grew so quickly in the 19th century it became united with Hastings. There were, and still are, a number of organs listed in churches in St Leonards.
At the age of seven Maggie Okey played with great success at the Queen’s Concert Rooms, Hanover Square. She entered the London Academy of Music, and stayed there for several years, studying piano under Dr Henry Wylde, and harmony and composition with Ferdinand Praeger.

In 1882 Maggie was present at St James Hall when Vladimir de Pachmann, born 1883 in Russia, gave his first recital in London. He was the most celebrated interpreter of Chopin of his generation. He continually both amused and scandalised the public by his eccentricities.

Late in his career when playing Chopin he wore an old coat of Chopin’s and would address odd remarks to his audience and to his hands. Towards the end of his life his mind was unbalanced, but his performance of Chopin remained perfect.

In October 1882, aged 18, Maggie Okey went to Germany and became de Pachmann’s pupil at her request after he had heard her play. For the next eighteen months she submitted to a vigilant course of instruction by de Pachmann.

Eventually they were married. She had three sons. Victor who died in infancy in St Petersburg; Adriano (Adrian), born in London in 1886 studied law in Paris; Leonide (Lionel) born in London 1887, eventually became a successful pianist, composer and critic.

Meanwhile, husband and wife performed together with critical acclaim on the concert stages of Europe. Maggie, now known professionally as Marguerite de Pachmann, also gave solo concerts of compositions by Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schubert, Beethoven and of course Chopin.

The marriage lasted only seven years. They were divorced when she was 27 and he was almost 40 years old. Her career was determined by her family obligations and her ambitions to be a composer and concert pianist.

After divorce Marguerite moved to Paris and began teaching the piano at the de Pachmann Piano School that she established. On his death in Rome in 1933 Vladimir de Pachmann bequeathed his teaching methods to his ex-wife.

Marguerite continued to compose. She frequently played her own compositions Theme and Variations and Reverie du Lac and a Sonata in recitals.

She married for a second time Maitre Fernand Labori, a lawyer who made his reputation as the defence counsel in the famous trials of Zola and Dreyfus. There were three girls from this marriage. One daughter became Princesse de Philippe de Bourbon. Fernand died aged 56 in 1917.

The girl from Pipeclay continued her work. There is much more to her life and times than is possible on this site. She played, composed and conquered until her death in Paris on July 3. 1952.

Online Publication

Book cover, Tales from along the Wallaby Track

From time to time, selected columns will be published on this site. Watch this space for changes. Click here for the latest selection.

The book Tales from along the Wallaby Track was launched on the 27th March 2009. For more information about book, click here.

Tributes to Norman McVicker

Local state MP (Orange), Mr. Andrew Gee made a private member statement to pay tribute to Norman McVicker OAM, on the 13th June 2012.

Please read here: Andrew Gee MP private member statement

There is also an article written by Norman’s colleague, Tom Lee in the UK, published on the “Stage People”:

Please click here to read the Stage People UK

Finally, on the Sydney Morning Herald Timeline:

Theatre lover had a way with words