IT was the end of an era for one of Goulburn’s farming families with the auction of the 61 hectare (150 acre) river front property “Wongajong” last Saturday.
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The property had been in the one family for over 76 years and owned by relatives before that.
Though sold the family’s recorded memories will live on.
Mulwaree Shire’s last President and its first Mayor, John Foord and his wife Nancy (nee Bladwell) farmed “Wongajong” on the Gurrundah Rd together since their marriage in 1941.
The property had been purchased by John’s parents John and Rosanna Foord from Nancy’s uncle Wallace Wheatley in 1938.
After their marriage they moved to “Wongajong”, where John would carry on his father’s Border Leicester stud.
John was a certified seed grower for the Department of Agriculture which meant the seed he produced had to be weed free.
John grew several varieties of oats and down on the river flats produced Lucerne.
“The entire property had been cropped and improved,” Nancy Foord said.
“He also trialled seed for the department before it was released to farmers.
“Wongajong” was larger than it is today, but some years back John and Nancy sold off part of their holding to provide for their families future.
“They raised four children on their property Elizabeth, Lesley-Anne, Mary and John.
“It was not an easy life and we did not make lots of money from the farm,” Nancy said.
“But we had our own milk, meat, eggs and vegetables. “We used to swim or paddle in the river.”
A busy life on “Wongajong”
“I have lots of fond memories of life on “Wongajong.”
Saturday was sad for Nancy Foord, but she has moved to the Waminda aged care facility.
“Besides the Borders and cropping we had a Hereford Stud, chooks and some ducks.
You don’t have snails when you have ducks,” Nancy said cheerfully.
The Parkesbourne community also meant a lot to Nancy and John and the Bushfire Brigade was an important part of their community life.
John was an active member for 52 years and Nancy also pitched in whenever needed.
John Foord a Mulwaree Shire Council councillor for 22 years and was often quite passionate about his community concerns.
He was known for being down to earth and practical in his approach to everything he was involved with.
To preserve as much of the family history as possible Nancy’s nephew, Peter Bladwell has recorded many of her stories about life on the farm and it was suggested that a photographic record should be made of “Wongajong” for future family members before it was vacated.
Additions to the original home in about the 1920s has extended it from just four rooms to a stone and mortar four bedroom colonial style farm residence.
The home itself had many unique features so photos were taken of the rooms with the old photographs antiques and collectables still in place.
The kitchen with its wood stove and kitchen table that had seen better days was indicative of the lifestyle and homely nature of the farm house.
In the pantry were numerous jars of preserved fruits and other examples of traditional culinary skills no doubt passed on from Nancy’s mother to Elizabeth, Lesley-Anne and Mary.
Bedrooms with furniture purchased last century, the old wallpaper, photos and portraits hanging on the walls.
Those unique visual images would all be lost if it were not for the camera.
There are numerous sheds and out buildings including a workshop where John, a qualified motor mechanic, fixed not only the Allis Chambers tractors and his other farm machinery but cars belonging to Goulburn residents.
The Border Leicester stud rams shed with window vents that had an ingenious opening system were worthy of a visual record.
The hand milking shed and wooden bails were also worth recording for posterity.
Nancy has a collection of photographs of the farm, plus some of the prize winning animals.
With the aid the records both audio and photographic from the final week before the sale, future members of the Foord family will understand a little about their connection with “Wongajong”.
