Fran Wale's book, Willawarrin Memories, to be launched on April 17

Growing up at Turner's Flat she wasn't far from the town but didn't often travel there.

She recalls the John O'Neill School Sports being on every year, her parents travelling through on the way to play tennis up river along with their trips to buy bread at the Willawarrin bakery.

"I was brought up at Turners Flat, went to Kempsey High School and like a lot of country kids had to go to the city to get my higher education," she reminisced.

"We didn't have bitumen roads, my brother and I would ride our bikes about 3km down the road, hide them behind the trees, hop on the bus and go to school.

"Not once did we have anyone pinch those bikes."

Fran discovered many facts about Willawarrin in her writing and still, to this day, is learning about the town.

In partnership with the Willawarrin Hall Committee, Fran has written a book titled, 'Willawarrin Memories', to celebrate the hall and the district.

The knowledge and information gathered for the book has been thorough with her research going back to the 1840's where an original parish map shows the Jobling and Hitchcock pastoral lease.

"I spoke to quite a few people, I had a few fill out a questionnaire and had older people write down what they remembered about the area," she told the Argus.

"I went looking through old Macleay Chronicle and Macleay Argus articles via the Kempsey Historical Society.

"The historical society was an excellent resource and provided great assistance, giving me photos and films."

Fran said the most interesting memories come from previous generations.

"In times gone by, the roads were rough and unsealed, the cars were old, and a lot of the old bridges that got burnt in the fires had been here for centuries," she explained.

"The Willawarrin Hall was opened up in May 21 1940 and there was another hall before that on the other side of the road.

"Our current hall was built by locals, made from locally acquired wood, sawn locally and when you think about it, these guys back in 1939 - 1940, had little to no training.

"They used to have movies here, dances and balls - lots of young men went to fight in the War so they'd have a farewell social event and welcome home on return."

The book, perhaps timely after recent flooding, goes into detail on the 1949 floods where structures were damaged and water entered homes.

Along with the 1949 flooding it also touches on the devastating bush-fires of 2019 where Fran's property in Temagog was affected.

"It was very fast, very hot and very furious - I'd never seen anything like it in my lifetime," she recalled.

Willawarrin Memories will launch 2pm on April 17 at Willawarrin Hall and will be available to purchase for $20.

For more information visit here.

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