In the years following the end of the Second World War, the Wauchope district was emerging from its past identity as another railway town on the North Coast.

Three privately run companies were operating beside a thriving goods shed.  The railway yards were bustling with activity. 

Cattle, calf and pig sales prospered in town and surrounding centres, while both the timber and dairying industries were on the cusp of boom years.  The motor industry, too, was suddenly in a stage of growth.

By 1954, Wauchope High School came into being, to provide matriculation opportunities at home for senior school students.

Wauchope was on the map as a good place to be and the local Co-operative Housing Society was also playing a major role, as it made housing loans in particular to one-income families, wanting to lock up the dream of owning a home.  Those were exciting times.

In keeping with this local revolution, Wauchope farmer and former rugby league representative player Lank Bain stood up as a generous man.

Jus as his father had done before him, in providing land for public use (think golf course, Showground and Bain Park) Lank provided the site for the rugby league oval now carrying his name.

After the War, the Wauchope Blues were playing all their Challenge Cup home games at Kendall.  Bain Park, located off High Street, was utilised solely for Saturday games in the Hastings competition.

Although Cup football was drawing to its end (1949), the Blues had a new home.  Home game attendances grew.  Buses ran from town and outlying areas to cater for fans.

And in the wake of this came the club’s new group.  The Women’s Auxiliary.   This group formed to cater for the growing custom, the provision of food and soft drinks to fans. 

Again, business prospered.  The women soon had their own building to operate from, the forerunner of the stall you see at the oval today.

It is particularly sad for grieving family when they lose a loved one of senior years.  This could be said about the Wauchope community itself when a tie to it’s rich heritage ceases to exist.

The late Betty Burns was such a person.  Betty, a long time resident of Cameron Street, passed away in mid-July.  She was aged 92 years and has been a Bundaleer Gardens resident for some years.

The widow of Jim (Pop) Burns, legendary Cup footballer and former Blues coach and official, was a Queenslander, being a native of Gympie. 

She was a sibling in a large Gympie family and came to Wauchope as a young Mrs Burns in the immediate post-War years. 

Betty has her own place in local folklore.  Up until her death, she had been the lone survivor of that original Football Club Women’s Auxiliary. 

She was too a relic of the days when rugby league was not only the greatest game of all, but in Wauchope was the only game of all.

I attended Betty’s funeral service held in the Uniting Church.  I felt obliged to be there.  I wanted to be there.  I had tears in my eyes. 

Betty taught my late wife all there was to know about dealing with footy fans in a big crowd.  The tears are with me again.  It was a privilege to have known Betty (and Pop). 

Vale old friends.

Paul Speed Jones