walgett

Rod Schenk was missionary at Walgett AIM mission. He rode on bicycle. He later in 1920s moved to UAM Mt Margaret Mission near Laverton WA where my father Preston Walker went in 1940.

I met an aboriginal woman in Orange NSW in 2012 and she said Walgett had not changed when I showed her old pictures my father took back then as AWB officer in 1950s.

Dwight - We at Walgett's Dharriwaa Elders Group would be extremely interested to receive copies of your father's photos. We are a community cultural organisation in main street Walgett. Photos such as these are very valuable records for families as often the only photos taken. Also they give us so much other valuable information too. When can we get a look please? Please add "info" before @dharriwaaeldersgroup.org.au to email me!

Likely the April 1890 flood. The other major Walgett floods of 1864 and 1910 seem to early or late for this image. These lines from a contemporary newspaper could well describe the scene depicted: "During the floods two Government boats, assisted by about a dozen private ones, did good service both day and night, in rescuing families and their goods to the Courthouse, School of Arts, Wright Heaton's stores, Collins' stores, Mr. Janison's residence, Bank of New South Wales, and Messrs. Easom's, Pedley's, Wright's, and Baker's residences." - The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser, 1 May 1890, p. 6.

A bank - actually serving a useful purpose (people on the roof).