TAROOM TALES Yarns from Back in the Day

Leesa Bongers
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I'm Twerpy Smith, that's what the locals call me, host of Taroom Tales, yarns from Back in the Day. Join me each month for conversations with the eldest Taroom locals bringing the town's history back to life with tales of cherished memories, legendary characters and everything in between. Theirs was an era of ladies and gentlemen, hard-working and hard-riding stockmen, and resilient, courageous, and tolerant women. Wherever I roam, I am a proud Taroom girl, excited to be sharing these precious stories... guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. Sep 21

    BRONC & CHRISTY

    Christy Curtis and Bronc Bradshaw, ex-Glenhaughton ringers, first met in 1964. They were reunited in 2023 in Taroom, Queensland, Australia. Christy arrived at Glenhaughton Station from the UK - a fresh faced 18 year old straight out of English boarding school, sent to work on the 900-square-mile property for his step-mothers cousin, Duncan McConnel. John "Bronc" Bradshaw was already an experienced old-hand at 23 years of age. Bronc first drove cattle as a 13 year old with drover George Lamb, before working as a 15-year-old ringer on Glenhaughton in 1957-1959, returning again a few years later after a stint in the North Queensland Gulf country. The two young men became great friends working at the Tin Hut camp in the Amphitheatre, a remote outstation a days ride from the homestead. 58 years on, Christy returned from France to catch up with his old mates at the Glenhaughton Ringers and Cooks reunion in Taroom (Sept-Oct 2023), camping once more at the nostalgic Tin Hut. Leesa Bongers of Taroom Tales Podcast, caught up with Bronc and Christy for a brief yarn about the good times they shared all those years ago, and why the Tin Hut holds a special place in the hearts of all who lived and worked there. This story has been re-worked into a Podcast episode from a YouTube movie created in 2024. Sadly Bronc is no longer with us, passing from complications following heart surgery on 17 May 2025. Christy Curtis maintains contact with Broncs family and other Glenhaughton friends and has recently returned with his family for another visit to the Glenhaughton country in August 2026. This episode is a tribute to their lasting friendship, in fond memory of everyone's mate Bronco Bradshaw. SHOW NOTES MUSIC: Royalty-Free Music by Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech - "Evening" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Clear Air" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Royalty-Free Music by Steven O'Brien: https://www.steven-obrien.net/ "Morning Stroll" - Steven O'Brien "Happy Guitar Americana" - Steven O'Brien SOUND EFFECTS: Horse Whinny: by InspectorJ, Freesound.org InspectorJ_419231_horse-whinny-close-a.wav Horses Galloping: by mrrap4food, Freesound.org 619070_mrrap4food_horse-running-by.mp3 Dinner Bell: Chris S June 7th 2021, Creative Commons 0, Bell, dinner, large, old, clang, various hits, Chris S cottage, summer 03.flac https://freesound.org/ Ships Bell: CGEffex May 28th 2010, Attribution 4.0 (credit author - CGEffex) Kookaburras, birds, crickets – on location, Leesa Bongers GRAPHICS: By Leesa Bongers, created on Canva.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    BRONC & CHRISTY

  2. Sep 7

    VI HAY - Pt 2

    Vi Hay (Part 2) "Always a Bush Girl - Bedourie & Bill" continues from 1952 with stories of Vi's married life at Bedourie Station Taroom (for 47 years), the subsequent moves to other properties, and eventually into town. Picking up from her marriage to Bill Hay at 18 years, Vi discusses family life in the bush, and the many lifelong friends and memories gathered along the way. Some early Taroom history and stories of other families she remembers are also included. Numerous conversations were recorded for this episode, and other special guests are sometimes present to help tell the stories. Now in her 92nd year, Vi says that life wasn’t always a bed of roses, but it was a full life - the good times far outweigh the bad. For Vi, her ever-growing family is the most treasured of all achievements. Thanks to Extra Guests: Selma Draper, Bob Hay, Beverley Scott, and Lex Smith Artwork by: Leesa Bongers, created on Canva.com Book Reference: "Flooded Creeks, Cattle Musters and Correspondence School" by Kathy Tullett Printed by JT Press, 194 Anzac Ave, Redcliffe Qld 4020, Decembr 2014 COPIES Available from Taroom Museum - Ph: Glenys 0409 663 701 Music by: BEN SOUND: www.bensound.com "A New Beginning" STEVEN O'BRIEN: www.Steven-obrien.net "Romance No. 6 in A Major" "A Fresh Start" "Piano Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 1b, II. Adagio Grazioso" "Disgustingly Happy Thing" "Utopian Theme" "Happy Guitar Americana" "Simply Done" "Morning Stroll" KEVIN MACLEOD OF INCOMPETECH: www.Incompetech.com "Clear Air" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Royalty-free music "Clear Air" by Kevin MacLeod "Evening" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Royalty-free music "Evening" by Kevin MacLeod PIXABAY: www.pixabay.com "Hauntsync Australian Style Polka Instrumental" (Pixabay #273959) "Monume Country Music" (Pixabay #576986) "Country" by Leberch (Pixabay #518559) "The Entertainer - Scott Joplin" by Abydos Music (Pixabay #27178115) Sound Effects by: FreeSound.com Horse Whinny: 419231_inspectorj_horse-whinny-close-a Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    VI HAY - Pt 2

  3. May 10

    VI HAY - Pt1

    Vi Hay, a Taroom local for more than 90 years, grew up on Bradley Farm near Kinnoul Station. She married my great uncle Bill Hay (of the "Palm Tree" Hay family) and spent more than 47 years living at Bedourie Station. Part 1 of "Always a Bush Girl" covers the early years growing up in the Taroom bush with 6 siblings, through the war years, and her move to Bedourie. In the beginning, it was more than 12 hours by vehicle from the nearest town over the roughest tracks, with only her husband for company - when he wasn't out in mustering camps. This was before the age of electricity or refrigeration, and there was no phone or running water. Bush life was never easy, but it was a life Vi loved.  SHOW NOTES: Music by Steven O'Brien: "Morning Stroll", "Silent Film Piano - Full", "Acoustic Breeze", "Sorrow and Regret", by Steven O'Brien (CC-BY, www.steven-obrien.net) Music by Ben Sound: "Sunny", "Ukulele", "Olde Timey" by Benjamin Tissot (www.BenSound.com) Music by Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech: "Starting Out Waltz Vivace", "Olde Timey" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Sound Effects by FreeSound: Horse Whinny: 419231__inspectorj__horse-whinny-close-a.wav Whip Cracking: WHIP CRACK 93140__cgeffex__whip-cracks.wav Thanks to guests, family, and friends: Vi Hay Selma Draper Lex Smith Sally Symes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    VI HAY - Pt1

  4. 11/11/2024

    LAURIE POINTING - Pt2

    Ep5 Part 2 of conversations with Laurie Pointing covers events and characters from the 7 years he worked on a host of cattle stations in Taroom, arriving as a 15-year-old before leaving to join the police force as a 21-year-old. In the 1954 floods Laurie witnessed the tragic drowning of a stockman friend, shortly after living through the destruction of Broadmere homestead by fire. Bob McCorry, the other stockman present at the time, had a secret of his own which was discovered and kept quiet by the local Police Sergeant Jim Johnson. Laurie’s good mate Jack Clarris is remembered as a legendary horseman, and the tale of Jack’s near-death accident as a 16-year-old is discussed. Bobby Dunbar, Bill Scantlebury, Charlie Gassman, and many other characters of that remarkable time are mentioned. Following further research and details provided by listeners, some more details are revealed from stories told in Part 1, such as the death of George Marcel, a cook at the Leichhardt Hotel Taroom who was killed in a brawl with a stockman at the New Year’s Eve dance in December 1951. Other guests contributing to this episode are Vaughn Becker, Lex Smith and Mick Ratz. Laurie is 88 years old at the time of publishing (Nov 2024) and resides with family in Townsville. He has remained friends with all those he knew during his time in Taroom, and he keeps in touch regularly.  Laurie has written numerous poems and has published 7 books, including his own memoirs from childhood, and his police career, as well as the biography of Jack Clarris.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    LAURIE POINTING - Pt2

  5. 08/06/2024

    LAURIE POINTING-Pt1

    Episode 4 - Part 1 (July 2024) "Top Riders, Fires and Fatalities" 88 year old Laurie Pointing was a ringer in Taroom for 7 years from 1952 to 1958, working on multiple stations such as Nunbank, Gwambegwine, Ghinghinda, Broadmere, Glenhaughton, and The Bend. Laurie was the first of many Ipswich lads to make the journey out west looking for work as a stockman. In 1958 he joined the Queensland Police force with Taroom mate Paul Phipps, where he worked his way up to Assistant Commissioner of Police before his retirement. In Part 1 of Episode 4, Laurie talks about the top riders he knew during his time in Taroom in the 1950s, notably his lifelong friend Jack Clarris. Many other characters of the district are mentioned in this entertaining episode. Laurie also touches on some sad stories, including the fire at Broadmere when the entire homestead complex burnt to the ground, and the death of a young cook from the Leichhardt Hotel at the new years eve dance on 31 December 1951, just before he arrived in town ahead of his 16th birthday in August 1952. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    LAURIE POINTING-Pt1

  6. 07/08/2024

    NUGGET-BRONC-LEX

    Glenhaughton Ringers - Nugget Roser, Bronc Bradshaw and Lex Smith, return to their favourite mustering camp after more than 60 years at the Amphitheatre Tin Hut, Taroom. Reunited at the Ringers and Cooks Reunion 2023, the three old mates talk about the days of catching scrubbers, and some of the many near misses they survived. Cattle management on the 900-square-mile station was a lot different to how things are done today. Everyday the young stockmen risked life and limb doing what they loved in the beautiful Central Queensland bush… and they wouldn’t have it any other way. These were the days of hard-working and hard-riding stockman, of wild cattle, packhorses and mustering camps. It was a simple but satisfying life, and those good times will never be forgotten by the ones who lived them. Join Nugget, Bronc, and Lex as they take a trip down memory lane, reliving the thrills and spills on Glenhaughton Station, way back in the day..  CREDITS VIDEO: Leesa Bongers PHOTOGRAPHY: Leesa Bongers | Kate Bradshaw | Tracey Mutch ARCHIVE IMAGES: Lex Smith | John Bronc Bradshaw | Noel Nugget Roser | Jennifer Bradshaw | Judy G**k | Christy Curtis | Jack Haaijer | Isabel Penny | Cyril Close | Glenda Gassman | Allan Swain | Christopher McConnel | Carmen Palmer USA SOUND RECORDINGS: Leesa Bongers SOUND EFFECTS: Freesound.org Small Aircraft Overhead: Aeroplane kilnsea wetlands Yorkshire wildlife trust by Sonic-ranger -- https://freesound.org/s/220024/--License: Attribution 4.0Morning Birds Crickets Rd 3 - Leesa BongersBirds tree Tilly walking morning Rd4 - Leesa BongersCows Mooing: 401636 Mystikum Cows-mooing-mono-4824.wav cows_mooing_mono_4824.wav by Mystikuum -- https://freesound.org/s/401636/Gunshot: Gunshot Sound identify weapon by jjcunning--https://freesound.org/s/578189/--License: Creative Commons 0Horse Whinny: Horse Whinny, Close, A.wav by InspectorJ -- https://freesound.org/s/419231/--License: Attribution 4.0Bull Bellow: ANMLFarm_Kuh-Bulle-Agressiv 05_IOKA_NONE_Hofefeld.wav by JakobGille -- https://freesound.org/s/610784/Landrover: 332501_rambler52_pickup_ford_62_driveup1Car Door Slam: 450225_kyles_truck-pickup-door-open-close-real-nice-slam MUSIC: Steven O'Brien Music Tracks: CC-BY www.steven-obrien.net Family Reunion - Steven O'BrienComical Theme - Steven O'BrienHappy Days - Steven O'BrienHappy Stories - Steven O'BrienFight to the Death - Steven O'BrienLazy Day - Steven O'BrienMorning Stroll - Steven O'BrienBen Sound Music Tracks: CC-BY www.Bensound.com A New Beginning - Ben Sound (Licence code: 6LHG8B50K66SC5Q1Country Boy - Ben Sound Graphics: by Leesa Bongers using CANVA GLOSSARY: Ringer = Australian Stockman Head Stockman = Foreman of the Ringers, reports to Station Manager Camp Cook = Bush cook, prepares meals for stockmen in mustering camps on open fires Cowboy = General hand at homestead, gardening, milking cows, handyman Scrubber = Wild cattle, unbranded Cleanskin = unbranded cattle Mickey = young cleanskin bull Bullock = older castrated male cattle Cow = female cattle Heifer = young female cattle Calf = young cattle Weaner = young cattle, of age to be removed from cow/heifer Knee-Strung = method of controlling wild cattle, cutting tendon at knee in front leg of cattle to keep them with the mob when mustering Collar-Rope = method of controlling untamed horses, tying a rope from back leg to neck to hold foot up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    NUGGET-BRONC-LEX

  7. 04/10/2024

    LEX SMITH Ipswich Lad to Taroom Local (Pt2)

    In PART 2 (An Ipswich Lad to Taroom Local), LEX SMITH continues his recollections from 1957 when he first arrived in Taroom, working as a ringer on Glenhaughton Station, until he moved into Taroom in 1961. He paints a rich picture of the social life of a young ringer coming to town on rare days off, enjoying the pictures, the town dances, the races, and the week-long festivities of the Taroom Show. The stories are honest, raw, and entertaining, an informal history plucked from the precious memories of an 86-year-old Taroom local. Lex’s stories capture the spirit of the times, the characters and the events that shaped his life, and the reasons he made Taroom his home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    LEX SMITH Ipswich Lad to Taroom Local (Pt2)

  8. 02/04/2024

    LEX SMITH Ipswich Lad to Taroom Local (Pt1)

    In 1957, Lex Smith, his younger brother Trevor, and his mates from Ipswich embarked on a journey to Taroom, seeking a new life in the bush. This journey marked the beginning of a rich tapestry of stories and memories. Lex shares tales of the welcoming locals, colourful characters, and the enduring spirit of the times. Listen to his captivating recollections in Episode 1 (Part 1) as he reminisces about the old days, encapsulating the essence of Taroom's history and the endearing community spirit. Stay tuned for Part 2 as his narrative unfolds further. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    LEX SMITH Ipswich Lad to Taroom Local (Pt1)

  9. Season 1 Trailer

    TRAILER Lex001 - First Podcast Coming Soon (Jan2024)

    TRAILER - Episode 1 "Ipswich Lad to Taroom Local" COMING SOON! Leesa Bongers' first guest, her 85-year-old father Lex Smith, a Taroom local for more than 66 years, chats about his earliest memories of the town and some legendary characters he has known since 1957. Colourful tales mixed with nostalgic memories are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and sometimes bring a tear in your eye as Lex reminisces about the good old days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    TRAILER Lex001 - First Podcast Coming Soon (Jan2024)
  • 1 Trailer
    8 Episodes

Trailer

About

I'm Twerpy Smith, that's what the locals call me, host of Taroom Tales, yarns from Back in the Day. Join me each month for conversations with the eldest Taroom locals bringing the town's history back to life with tales of cherished memories, legendary characters and everything in between. Theirs was an era of ladies and gentlemen, hard-working and hard-riding stockmen, and resilient, courageous, and tolerant women. Wherever I roam, I am a proud Taroom girl, excited to be sharing these precious stories... guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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