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FRED McCONNEL (Glenhaughton Ringer 1957-1960)
Dr Fred McConnel passed away in Katherine N.T. aged 85 years. He was once a Glenhaughton Ringer and he considered those days to be the best of his life. Lex Smith was one of his mates in those early years when Fred was studying to be a doctor. Reunited after almost 70 years, they had…
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MEMORIES OF GLENHAUGHTON (Christopher McConnel 1951-2025)
Christopher David McConnel, son of Duncan, passed away peacefully at Cressbrook 8 November 2025 aged 74 years. He graciously shared stories and records from the McConnel archives before he passed. Some of his memories and those of his father are shared here, of events and men he knew and had heard of. Christopher considered the…
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TOUGH TIMES AT TAROOM
KAVANAGH ON THURSDAY, Courier Mail Article published 4 August 1994 Life was tough and unpredictable in the early settlement days of the Aussie bush and nowhere more so than that lived around the Dawson River township of Taroom. Its’ record for death and disaster since nearby Taroom Station (now Carrabah) opened the district to white…
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GWAMBEGWINE TRAGEDY – 1954 FLOODS
Ex-Taroom ringer and retired Queensland police officer Laurie Pointing witnessed the drowning of a stockman mate “Pommy” Joe Taylor in the flooded Gwambegwine Creek in February 1954, when he was 17 years old. Joe lies buried on the banks of the creek that took his life in an unmarked grave. The time is right to…
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Jimmy McGuire… a legendary Cowboy
Jimmy McGuire was a rodeo legend from Taroom. This post highlights the nostalgic connection to the 1978 song “Mama, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys.” It reminisces about Taroom’s variety concerts of the 1970s and celebrates the community’s ties to cowboy culture. McGuire, a remarkable All Round Champion Cowboy, became an iconic…
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Bull Dust, Scrubbers and Lucky Escapes
The conversation with Noel Nugget Roser, John Bronc Bradshaw, and Lex Smith at the Tin Hut Ringers Reunion reveals the challenges and adventures faced by ringers in Taroom long before the 1970s cattle depression. These ex-ringers reminisce about their carefree, adventurous work conditions, characterized by remarkable tales of survival in mustering camps without modern technology.…
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Christy and Bronc – An Unlikely Pair
Mates from opposite sides of the globe, reunited after 58 years Glenhaughton Ringers and good mates from back in the day, Christy Curtis and John “Bronc” Bradshaw, reunited after 58 years at the Glenhaughton Ringers & Cooks Reunion. Together again at the Amphitheatre Tin Hut It’s been a long time between drinks for these two…
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PODCAST EP1-PART2
PODCAST INTERVIEW (Part2-Mar2024) Lex Smith arrived in Taroom as a young mechanic in 1957, seeking work in the bush. In his recollections, he vividly portrays the social life of a young ringer in town, from enjoying recreational activities to forming meaningful connections. His stories capture the essence of the times, depicting the events and characters…
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Reunion Success Thanks to Taroom Community
Generous sponsorship and donations of all kinds from Taroom Community made the Glenhaughton Ringers Reunion a roaring success. 1950s & 60s ringers and cooks returned to The Tin Hut with family and friends in October 2023, the event organised in less than 2 months. Organiser Leesa Bongers thanks those who helped. Memories were made that…
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Glenhaughton Ringers Reunion (1950-1965)
Glenhaughton ringers and cooks from 1950s and 60s returned to Taroom and the Tin Hut to relive the glory days. Taroom was built on the back of the cattle industry and those who lived and worked on Glenhaughton station were a big part of the town’s development. Leesa introduces the men and women who returned…