JULIA Wokes was one very proud daughter at the weekend.
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On hand to unveil an information sign at Singleton’s Col Fisher Park, located in Wilkinson Boulevard to honour her late father, she praised the efforts of the Singleton Shire Landcare Network (SSLN), Singleton Council and those involved in the process.
The purpose of the special noticeboard is to record the significance of the locality and explain why the recreation area was named after the former state member.
“It gives me great pleasure to unveil this information plaque, so that visitors can be informed as to what they see,” she said in the company of husband Chris Wokes, brother Richard and sister-in-law Diana Fisher.
“Dad fought for rights of all users of the river to have their interests balanced: towns, farms, mines and power generators.
“Not only did he realise the importance of clean water but he also knew that cattle needed shade and shelter.
“The planting of trees was a lifelong activity and challenge.
“He was planting before native plant seed collection was as established as it is today.
“I once went to a lecture on ‘establishing trees on your farm’.
“The message was only plant enough per year that you can look after and do not despair – keep planting and replanting.
“That is what makes this park such a triumph.”
Julia said she was very impressed by what had been achieved over the years since Col Fisher Park was established by council, assisted by the SSLN and local groups.
“He’d love this,” she said.
“Dad gave a lot to his community, his church, his family, his friends and his farm.
“He started life on a property by the Williams River; graduating from school to the army.
“He saw active service in World War II.
“On his return, he attended Hawkesbury Agricultural College.
“Dad always had an interest in innovative ways of doing things.
“In the late 1940s, he looked for a property.
“He was convinced that irrigation was essential, to be able to provide year-round feed for the dairy herd, which was to be the base of the farm operations.
“Montrose was found – a beautiful property with rich river flats adjacent to the Hunter River, moving to gentle slopes and back to the base of the rugged Wollemi National Park.
“It was also a property with fragile soils away from the river flats.
“But, dad didn’t mind a challenge.
“He was not a man who said I want to be a politician.
“He was a man whose life experiences led him to service to his community.
“After the war, he probably felt he had done his service.
“However, the dairy operation at Jerrys Plains required milk to be taken to Singleton, which required a road and bridges.
“The bridge across the Wollombi at Warkworth was washed away in 1949.
“The Jerrys Plains Progress Association was formed to press council to replace the bridge – but they needed someone who could row a boat to get them across the river.
“Dad was the man.”
Julia said this led her father to representing the area on the Patrick Plains Shire Council for 14 years, which in turn led to his parliamentary life for 18 years.
“The improved road to Singleton became the Golden Highway, which provided other challenges for the farm,” she explained.
“Actually, the highway ran through the farm; not that easy to move cattle across.
“This was the property that dad brought his bride, Adrienne, to and that provided the home to Richard and myself – and a refuge for us all until 2005.”