History Parkes

stories, photos, anecdotes….. sharing the past

Images source: (left) Portrait of 402745 Flight Sergeant (later Pilot Officer) Rawdon Hume Middleton VC, RAAF, attached to No. 149 Squadron RAF from Australian War Memorial website; (centre) UK. C. 1942. Portrait of 402745 Flight Sergeant R. H. Middleton VC, taken while he was undergoing training from Australian War Memorial website; and emblem of Middleton Public School, taken from school website.

Rawdon Middleton VC

The term ‘hero’ is an over-used and often inaccurate phrase allocated to popular celebrities and champions of sport. However Rawdon Middleton is a hero in the truest sense – a … Continue reading →

April 2, 2019 · Leave a comment

HMAS Parkes

The legacy of Sir Henry Parkes continues beyond the naming of the town and shire known as Parkes. A minesweeper during the Second World War was named after the town … Continue reading →

February 15, 2019 · 2 Comments
Front cover of Cliff Kearney's book about his cousin, Flying Officer Keith Kearney of Bogan Gate. Source: db Books website which can be found at https://www.dbbooks.com.au/p/17903/Flying-Officer-from-Bogan-Gate---Cliff-Kearney---sc---*signed*.html

The Flying Officer from Bogan Gate

The story of Keith Kearney, a young lad from Bogan Gate, is similar to many others of his era. With life opening its doors of possibilities, the Second World War … Continue reading →

December 21, 2018 · Leave a comment
Title picture of the larger than life personality that was Cecil 'Cec' Pepper. Clockwise from left: Cecil Pepper and Keith Miller walk out to bat during 1940s; author Ken Piesse in Parkes promoting the life story of Cec Pepper; front cover of Ken Piesse's book about Cec Pepper; and photograph of Sir Garfield Sobers and Cecil Pepper in the late 50s.

Cec Pepper: The Parkes Lad Too Spicy for Bradman

Title picture of the larger than life personality that was Cecil ‘Cec’ Pepper. Clockwise from left: Cecil Pepper and Keith Miller walk out to bat during 1940s; author Ken Piesse … Continue reading →

December 19, 2018 · 1 Comment

Len Unger – 100 years in the Parkes Shire

PLEASE NOTE: The oral history recording of Len Unger was conducted on his 100th birthday in his room at Rosedurnate Aged Care Plus Centre. There are activities within the building, … Continue reading →

November 21, 2018 · Leave a comment
Photograph of signage at Armstrong Park by Dan Fredericks (Parkes Shire Library) taken on February 15th, 2018

Armstrong Park

Nestled within the leafy, eastern side of Parkes, is a park that junior cricketers frequent on a Saturday. It also contains the only public basketball court in town. Originally known … Continue reading →

August 29, 2018 · Leave a comment
Some of the images of November 1953 from Parkes and around the world. Clockwise from top left: Hungary and England walk out at Wembley on 25 November 1953. England lose at home for the first time 6-3 in what is now known as the Match of the Century; Dean Martin's "That's Amore" - now a signature song of his - first debuted in 1953 and was one of the most popular singles for the year; the Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket, piloted by Scott Crossfield, becomes the first manned aircraft to reach Mach 2 on November 20; "The Robe" was one of the most popular films of 1953, earning an estimated $32 million worldwide; a local advertisement for pre-cut homes in 5 designs by local builders Vanderfield & Reid; a selection of women's fashion for 1953; Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Jack Purtell, watches on as Governor-General William Slim makes the presentation; November 9 saw the death of Welsh poet and author, Dylan Thomas; and one of the Parkes department stores, McGlynn's, advertising their new Toyland - just seven weeks before Christmas!

A Look Back At…. November 1953

Some of the images of November 1953 from Parkes and around the world. Clockwise from top left: Hungary and England walk out at Wembley on 25 November 1953. England lose … Continue reading →

July 31, 2018 · 1 Comment
Three images from 1990 (from left) cassette cover of Smash Hits 1990; screenshot of Microsoft's Windows 3.0 and FA Cup Final Replay programme

A Look Back At…. May 1990!

A Look Back At…. May 1990 Continuing our series of blog posts focusing on a particular period in the history of the Parkes Shire. This post looks at the month … Continue reading →

June 1, 2018 · Leave a comment

A Look Back At… Easter of 1913

historyparkes continues the series of blog posts highlighting a particular period in the history of the Parkes Shire. This post will focus on the Easter of 1913. The dates of Easter … Continue reading →

March 21, 2018 · Leave a comment
Images of the summer of 1952. Clockwise from top left: a young Rex Aubrey who would become the first Olympian of the Parkes Shire; postage stamp for the upcoming Helsinki Olympic Games; Queen Elizabeth II; album cover for "Greatest Hits of 1952"; Marjorie Jackson competing in Sydney before representing Australia later that year at the Olympic Games; poster for "Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm" which was showing at the Century Theatre in Parkes.

A Look Back At… The Summer of 1952

historyparkes is continuing our series of blog posts highlighting a particular period in the history of the Parkes Shire. This post will focus on the summer months of 1952. The … Continue reading →

March 9, 2018 · Leave a comment

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