WAMBO Coal Singleton Hall of Fame inductee Henry “Harry” Bourke was indeed a practical joker but he was also so much more.

His only daughter, Fay Morgan can remember his endless genourosity when it came to the organisations he loved.

One of these groups was the Singleton Town Band and she recalls being dragged to every Town Band performance.

“I remember going to lots of performances and concerts but I can’t remember dad even being able to whistle,” she says.

“Despite not being able to play an instrument, he loved the band and was president for 22 years and also one of the trustees of the hall.

“It was sometimes called ‘Bourke’s Band’ as besides playing in the band, Clive was secretary and Aubrey was treasurer.  

“My mother Grace was also the president of the Women’s Auxiliary.

“When new uniforms were needed, he was always there to measure up the bandsmen and back again when it was time for the fittings.”

Although he joked a lot, Fay says her dad did a lot of good deeds that went unnoticed.

 “After he died, a lady came up to me in town and told me what he had done for her,” she explains.

“Her husband had died and left her with five children - three boys and two girls.

“Dad took a parcel of clothes out for the boys and gave her some money to buy dresses for the girls. 

“And this is not the only story I have heard over the years.”

Clive Bourke followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming involved in all the organisations Harry loved.

However, he also managed to carve out his own niche when it came to serving the community.

Clive devoted 37 years of his life to serving local government in Singleton and during this time he served nine terms as mayor.

He passed away in 1996 at the age of 82 and in the year of his passing was named the Senior Citizen of the Year.

His daughter Virginia says people often describe her dad as thorough, kind and a true gentleman.

“Our backyard was like a bowling green and he won many prizes for his treasured Icelandic Poppies at agricultural shows,” she says.

“He thought a lot about other people.”

She remembers not knowing where he was when water inundated the family business, a menswear shop, on John Street in 1955.

“We were just hoping he was safe in council chambers.  

“We moved as much stock as we could up higher then went back to our house on Pitt Street. 

“We were stuck there for two and half days. Uncle Aubrey and his family had to sit on their roof.

“After that I remember wading through the water to leave the house to go back to the shop.

“The next thing I saw dad on a horse rescuing people.  

“He had no riding experience but it needed to be done so he did it.

“After the flood we had to go and stay with family at Gosford for a while.  

“We even had to go to school there while mum and dad stayed in Singleton to help rebuild.”

Dad was awarded an OBE for the work he did after the floods and for his devotion to local government, she explains.

Although little was mentioned of her uncle, Aubrey Bourke, at the recent induction ceremony, Virginia says after returning from the war he became involved in many church groups, the NAA and his beloved Tidy Towns.

He also worked alongside, Clive and Harry in the family business.

“They all did so much it was just hard to pinpoint exactly when, lots of dates were missing in the information we collected,” she says.

That’s probably because these outstanding individuals never did it for the accolades – it was second nature.