by Gwen Frost
Mrs. Catherine Collins, nee Swarbrick, came with her parents, Richard and James Swarbrick, and her four sisters and two brothers, from Woodplumpton in the Manchester, Blackpool area, about 1910. They had lived in a comfortable two-storey farmhouse on the farm, which had been in the Swarbrick family for generations. The family migrated because of Richard’s ill-health. It was thought the warmer Australian climate would be of benefit to him.
They went first to Toowoomba, where Richard had been engaged prior to leaving England, to manage a farm in the area. They found. conditions were very primitive, far different from their comfortable home in England. The farmhouse consisted of just one, very large, unlined room, totally unsuitable for themselves and their seven children.
Jane Swarbrick’s brother, Robert Rhodes, had come to Sydney some years previously, the first of the family to migrate. He established the first pig and poultry farm in the Matraville area in Smith Street. This area became a big farming community, with pig, poultry and vegetable growing as the main industry. It is now known as Pagewood and is totally suburban. Rhodes Street was named after Robert Rhodes, who was very highly respected in the area.
The Swarbrick family came to stay with him and as he and his wife, Nellie, had seven children of similar ages to the Swarbricks, it was a very lively and crowded household.
Richard and Jane bought land at Arncliffe, in a rural area, now known as the suburb of Turella. Richard’s health did not improve. He was found to have cancer of the stomach, and died within a year of reaching Australia.
Jane, who was a wonderful cook and manager, established a dairy farm, run on sound English lines. The family rose at 2am, milked the large herd of cows and delivered milk in horse-drawn carts to the area around Bexley, Banksia and Arncliffe. There were two deliveries daily. Catherine delivered milk in the Bexley area, alone. A terrifying experience one would think, since the area was sparsely populated and mostly without any street lighting.
Jim Collins came to work on the dairy and courted Kitty, When they had a night out, with transport as it was then, it was usually a case of changing into work clothes on arrival home and on with the milking.
There were many Chinese market gardens around the farm and the industrious Chinese were often the subject of good-humoured Tricks on the part of the Swarbricks.
After their marriage the farm was sold and Jane bought land in Sackville Street, Bexley, where she built a wooden home called “The Bungalow”. She gave her daughter a block of land next door, and another timber home was built, by the young couple. Both homes are still occupied.
Their two daughters, Jean and Maisie were born, and Jim Collins carried on a milk delivery business from there.
He sold the business to Albert Beale in 1915, and rented a shop in Rouse’s buildings, between Harrow Road and Frederick Street, Bexley. He opened a cake chop there and in 1917, built his own premises on the corner of Forest Road and Bayview Street.
By hard work and sheer determination, the young couple built up a cake shop and later, a catering business there. They weathered the depression years. The premises were remodelled and a hall built above the shop, where weddings and small functions were catered for and they prospered.
Two sons were born in 1928 and 1930,James and Richard (Jack) a cause for much rejoicing. In 1944 they retired to live at 20 Henderson Road where they remained for nearly 30 years, finally moving to Ulladulla in 1973.
James became a High School Teacher, but his heart was always set on farming, and he is now a prominent and very successful farmer, at Springvale near Bega. He and his wife are public-spirited, and have by their work, greatly helped the farmers of the valley.
Jack went to England to teach, then to Lake Quesnel in Canada, where he met his wife, Helen, and they now live at Coquitlam, an outer suburb of Vancouver.
Maisie was a secretary, and married Norman Hooper, who was an apprentice in the family business, and after living in Carlton with their five daughters, have retired come years ago to lake Burril.
Jean, became a senior State School Principal, when women were given that opportunity. She married Charles Groom, but is now widowed, living at Kurrajong where she very successfully breeds Cairn Terriers and maintains her professional interest in teaching children with learning difficulties.
The following Obituary – James (Jim) Collins – is from The Express, dated 21st April 1982.
James (Jim) Collins – “Pop” to everybody, was born August 14, 1886, in Denchworth, Berks, England.
“Pop” was an indentured apprentice to the saddlery trade for a period of four years at Wantage, but became dissatisfied due to the confined activities which prevented him from following his football training, such as tanning and bicycling, which he also enjoyed at this period of his life.
He left this trade and assisted his father for a short time in farm work, shepherding sheep and ploughing fields.
He was then introduced to the baking and pastry cooking by a mutual friend. He was employed by the Great Western Railway Co-operative at Reading in Berkshire, England where he became a proficient tradesman and as the years went by, he acquitted himself well as a pastry cook.
Later he migrated to Australia and settled at Arncliffe in Sydney, finding work as a dairy hand. He formed an attachment to the daughter (Catherine) of his employer, Mrs Jane Swarbrick, who later became his mother-in-law.
Pop and Catherine set up in business with the financial help of her mother as a caterer and pastry cook, in Forest Road, Bexley, where they conducted a successful enterprise for about 33 years, making many friends in the district during this period.
On retirement, Pop travelled overseas to his homeland and renewed lots of old associations of his youthful days. His wife accompanied him on a later trip.
His first and last love was fishing. Like most fishermen he was prone to exaggeration so far as the size and number of fish he caught or in respect to the ones which got away.
He made a study of fish – habitat, tides, winds and always knew the reasons why fish don’t bite. In fact, he became an artful and cagey foe, making it difficult for the fish to escape, whatever the circumstances and it has been suggested that the fisheries inspector was taking more than a passing interest in the “size” of the fish in his bag, particularly when he lived in the St. George District.
In May 1973, he and his wife Kitty, moved from Henderson Road Bexley, (their retirement home) to 27, Boree Street, Ulladulla, where he lived until his death, for nine years, and during that time he and his wife took on an identity in the district, his wife for her philosophical insight into life generally, with all its plusses and minuses.
Pop being an extrovert, made friends easily. He was always his own man, and to the last took a keen interest in football, tennis and cricket, with a good sense of recall as to the players names, clubs and the score of each event.
His garden was always colourful and immaculate.
He was interesting an told many stories about. “the good old days” and his opinions of the workers today, by comparison to yesteryear, were proactive. He was concerned about the direction Australia is taking today and of course, he is not the only person to be aware of this, and sharing his concern.
He has lived a good and industrious life and has had a good innings, playing the game of life to its end.
He is survived by four children – Jean (Kurrajing), Maisie (Dolphin Point), Jim (Bega) and Jack (Canada). There are also thirteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.
Death Notice
COLLINS, James
Died April 17, 1982 at hospital.
Late of 27 Boree Street, Ulladulla, Formerly of Henderson Road, Bexley.
Dearly loved husband of Katherine (deceased) Loved father of Jean Groom of Kurrajong, Maisie Hooper of Dolphin Point, Jim Collins of Bega, Jack Collins of Vancouver, Canada.
Loved Pop of his 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Aged 95 years.
This article was first published in the August 2001 edition of our magazine.
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