Tony Barwick

Maureen Barwick sent me this great story about her husband Tony Barwick and his family, written by Tony, and it includes also Tonys brother Barry amongst others. It gives a little bit of insight into the early years of the subdivision.

This should have been on the website months ago, but there was a bit of a stuff up, but here it is now anyway.

My Grandfather, Alfred Robert Barwick was born on the 20^th Feb 1852 in Newcastle. He took up Farm 30 known as “Merrieton” 501 acres  in the Warrah 1912 subdivision.

He moved from “Thornthwaite,” Scone with his wife Elizabeth “Betsy” nee Ashford and daughters Melba, Alma and youngest son Leslie. “Merrieton” homestead is still owned by his Great Grandson, Ross Barwick.

Sons of Alfred, Edward and Charles Barwick also drew Farms 67 and 26 respectively.

My father Leslie when he wasn’t away shearing went to work for his brother Jack at “Carellan”, Kelvin, Gunnedah. After returning from WW1 where Les was awarded the Military Medal, he worked on his own property at Gunnedah, which is now the Blue Vale speedway. In 1929 he rode his horse from Gunnedah to Warrah Creek where he had purchased Farm 9, “Towarri”.  He married Dorothy May Lang on the 27^th November 1929 in the Methodist church at Waverley. Later, he purchased “Kildare”, Farm 74, a sheep and farming property. I built a new home there in 1955 and married Niaree Avard.  Her Grandfather Tom Avard drew block 1 in the Warrah subdivision.

“Towarri” always ran sheep, Dry Creek ran through the property and lived mostly up to its name. “Towarri” had one of the few shearing sheds on the subdivision and neighbours were welcome to use it. Us four children Barbara, Tony, Gwen and Barry rode horses, 2 ½ mile to the local Warrah Creek school.

After primary school Barbara attended Tamworth High school, she went on to become a school teacher. Gwen went to Methodist ladies College in Sydney and attended Sydney University, she became a pharmacist.

Barry, with his wife Lorraine, in the snow at "Towarri", 1984.

Barry and I attended Farrer Agricultural High School and after leaving school returned home to the farm, “Towarri”. We worked with Dad (Leslie) and both learned to shear and shore locally for 20 odd years. I shore at Curragundi, Mr Gus Sevils’ property for 21 consecutive years. Barry and I went hay making on the shares. In the big drought in 1965 with three neighbours, we left home with our sheep on the 25^th April, Anzac Day and returned on the 8th of September. We drove between Merriwa, Coolah and Dunedoo.

In 1957 L.V Barwick and sons started Towarri Border Leicester Stud. Towarri showed at the Sydney Sheep show in 1967 and later in 1976 went to the Sydney Royal where sheep were shown for the first time. Rams were bought in Victoria, bred at Towarri and shown at many shows in Northern NSW.

My father, Leslie played cricket for country week in Sydney and in 1948 at Warrah Creek Dad played his last game of cricket with me when he made 1 out of a partnership of 27  to beat the leading Quirindi team of the year. Barry and I played cricket with Warrah Creek. From 1949-1977 I was secretary or president of the Warrah Creek Cricket club. Barry played tennis continually until he passed away in 1989.

Leslie Vere Barwick left Towarri and retired to Quirindi in 1961, he died on the 19 May 1962.

Les and Dorothy had four children, being, Barbara, Tony, Gwen, and Barry, and 11 Grandchildren, David, Perry and Neale Hughes and Leslie and Glenn Barwick, Robyn, Katherine and Rex Hinchliffe, Ruth, Margaret (Meg) and Ross Barwick.

Tonys first wife Niaree, died younger than she should have, from leukemia, in 1988.

Tony married Maureen in 1991.