The Glenorie Shore Family Story: Colin Paved the Way for Stan’s Lifelong Journey
Brother, Colin opened the path for me (Stan) to Homebush Boys High School and then Bathurst Teachers College from where we both graduated as Primary School Teachers. Here I met my wife of 65 years, Judy Robins.
Colin’s first appointment was Barmedman. He married, had two lovely daughters, Genieve and Rowena, both teachers themselves today. Colin furthered his education graduating with a BA degree. After spending his later years as a High School Principal, he retired to The Entrance. Colin still has fond memories of his many years growing up in Glenorie. He especially enjoyed exploring the gullies and finding waratahs, etc.
My first appointment was to Batar in 1958, a one-teacher school about 4 miles S W of Kendall. Some challenge! 13 students from Kindy to Y7. (A story for another day.) I married in 1959 and my wife, Judy and I were transferred to Kendal District Rural School on the mid-North Coast where we spent 6 years.
After starting a family and playing cricket, we moved back to Glenorie where we built a house in Post Office Rd (1966). I continued teaching, playing cricket and helping Judy to raise our family: Andrew, Stephen and Rachel. The three children completed their Primary School education at Glenorie. Andrew, our eldest, was included among the first intake of Galston H. S., which was billeted at Baulkham Hills H.S. until the buildings at Galston were completed. At last, a Local High School!
Judy returned to teaching at Middle Dural P.S. and loved every minute of it. While there she continued with her hobbies, breeding Arabian Horses, Pony Club (Foundation Member), Endurance riding and playing cards. This rubbed off on our daughter, Rachel and they both successfully completed several Tom Quilty and Shahzada Endurance Rides.
The boys followed me with their hand-eye co-ordination sports and represented Glenorie at the highest level in Cricket and Hockey. I was honoured to have Life Membership bestowed on me by the Glenorie C.C, and my most treasured memory is Captaining the very first Glenorie A Grade Side to win the Shield in the 1971-72 Season.
In 1978 we moved from PO Rd to Schwebel Lane, where, while still teaching I turned back to my roots and started farming summer fruits and raising show ducks, while Judy’s Horse Stud blossomed.
Andrew qualified as an engineer. Worked for Hills SC. Left and started a Carrying Business like his grandfather but later requalified as a computer programmer, moved to Queensland where he lives and works today. Stephen started in the bank. Then tried the building game. Married Margot. Bought a property at S Maroota, built his own house and started farming. He later changed to Fencing and set up his own Property Maintenance Business.
My young brother, Harold, is an enigma. He did not follow the path set but made his own track as a qualified auto mechanic out of the Rocky Service Station and in 1960 set up a garage on the block of ground, Cr O.N. Road and Whites Rd. He married Lesley Best and together they built a house at the beginning of P. O. Rd, 1965.
Challenges came thick and fast and so with TOTALS help he opened a Service Station, Tractor Agency and major fuel outlet, delivering petrol, diesel and oils to local farmers. This encouraged the local fruit, vegetable and flower growers. With the petrol shortage and the rationing that followed, demand increased and as such the business grew with outlets at Windsor (Esso), St Marys (Golden Fleece) Waitara and Avalon. With this growth Harold required more office space, so he purchased Beard’s place next door to accommodate his office staff.
During this period Harold and Lesley took their family to acreage in Halcrows Rd, where, while raising their family of four; Christine, James, Sandra and Bryan, they took a fancy to raising cattle, starting with a few Herefords. In 1995 the business had slowed so Harold and Lesley decided to leave it in the hands of Ampol and move from Glenorie to a property known as “The Elms” at West Gilmore just south of Tumut. Bryan went along with them while the two girls, Christine and Sandra had married and James who married Charlene stayed behind in Cattai Ridge Road to build his family with Charlene and his company J. A. SHORE EARTHWORKS.
Finally, our surviving sister, Esme, among other things, loved dancing and still does. As a youngster she performed on stage much to the family’s delight. She was also an A Grade tennis player winning several trophies. Es, as we call her, attended Business College and honed her skills at home before working out. In 1959) she married Richard Vale a wonderful gentleman and cricketer. They had two boys, Peter, a professor in heart analysis, based at the Mater Hospital Nth Sydney , and Paul a very successful Landscaper, based at Annangrove.
Esme lost her husband, Richard to cancer too early but has battled, raising the boys and growing stone fruit on a five acre block she inherited when the Shore Estate was sub-divided in the late seventies. The road to the subdivision is named after Mum’s initials “ESS” and “GLEN” ORIE. Yes, GLENESS PLACE. Esme remarried recently to Robert (Bob) Saunders but still lives at Gleness Place, Glenorie.
Yes, the SHORES have witnessed Glenorie grow from a one General Store, with horse drawn vehicles on dirt tracks or gravel roads, no Doctor or Dentist, to today’s thriving village, It still has an easy-going country atmosphere but for The Old Northern Rd traffic thundering through! Reminds one of Pitt St, Sydney!
