Last week, we printed a photo of Harold ‘Matey’ Bannerman, and his family, as well as the Port Macquarie and Districts Family History Society have been in touch.

The history society told us that Harold ‘Matey’ Bannerman was born on August 13 1910, the son of Mary E Bannerman and his birth was registered at Kempsey.

In 1933, he became engaged to Rosellia Coombes, known as Ella, from Forbes River. They married on St Patrick’s Day, March 17 1934.

In January 1942, during World War Two, Harold enlisted in the army.  He was living in Long Flat, and joined the 30 Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps, on part time duty and was discharged on September 30 1945.  

Between 1944 and 1963, Harold’s name appeared a number of times in the Hastings Shire Gazette as the baker at Long Flat and Wauchope.

He was also noted as the President of the Parents & Citizens’ Association which organised the Long Flat Rodeo in 1947.

In 1954 with William Roods, he purchased the bakery of Bill Barton in Wauchope where he moved together with his family.

He returned to Long Flat in December 1961, when he took over Ken Watt’s bakery until 1963, when it appears he left Long Flat for good.

Harold died on January 13 1982 at his home in King Street in Wauchope.

Here is an extract from his obituary in the Gazette:

“Aged 71 years, Matey spent most of his life on the Hastings after coming here from his native Macleay River. A popular figure and former businessman, he was a retired baker, having worked in Wauchope and Long Flat in this capacity over many years.

“He is survived by wife Ella, whom he married in Kempsey and a family of seven children.

“They are Pam (Mrs Roy McLaughlan, Wauchope), Keith (Sydney), Margaret (Mrs Alan Newman, Wauchope), Pat (Mrs Norm Cribb, Castle Hill), Jim (Long Flat), Marie (Mrs Eddie Aitken, Beechwood), and Sue (Mrs Bob Ryan, Port Macquarie).

“Interment took place in the Wauchope Cemetery on Friday 15th January, following a service in the Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Wauchope.”

His daughters are pleased to see his name come up again, and they would love to know more about his early life.

Daughter, Sue Ryan never knew her father had enlisted.  It was before she was born.

“The only thing that I remember being spoken about was that he did not go to war because he was a baker and therefore an essential service at home,” she said.

Anything about Harold’s early days always sparks a great deal of interest in his children.  They found out quite late in his life that he was illegitimate, which, of course, was a great shame in those days. 

His mother married not long after he was born, but her new husband didn’t want anything to do with Harold, so he was raised by his grandmother in Kempsey.

“He loved his family and would do anything for us.  He was very popular and was a good-hearted fella.  My parents saw some pretty tough times,” recalled Sue.

“We would dearly love to get any information about our father and who his father was, but have hit dead ends whichever way we looked.”  

If you know any more, please contact the Wauchope Gazette on 6585 2355 or email wauchopegazette@fairfaxmedia.com.au