It could be a case of never say never for Glendonbrook resident and avid community worker John Drinan as he and his wife make a sea change to Bonny Hills.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The couple have sold their beautiful “Wahgunyah” homestead and property and by Easter will be living in full retirement on the Mid North Coast.
Not something Dr Drinan expected to do in fact he told the Singleton Argus five years ago that he loved visiting coast but “after the first week we are looking for things to do and thinking about getting back to the farm – we could not live there full time it’s not for us”.
What has changed in those intervening years? Speaking at a community farewell held at Glendon Brook Hall on Sunday he said it was true he never thought he would leave the home and property he had loved and considered his true home his entire life.
“We moved back to ‘Wahgunyah’ 30 years ago to live full time and I knew I was at home in that real sense of the word in belonging to the place,” he said.
“However two events saw me change my view on staying put forever. The first was the April 2015 flood which destroyed much of my work on the farm and the news a very dear friend was dying.
“Those events resulted in Anne and I for the first time thinking we could live another part of our life somewhere else and thats to be at Bonny Hills where we already have some wonderful friends.”
The couple told the Glendon Brook gathering how much they will miss the community and their farm. Glendon Brook residents thanked them for their many years of dedication to the local community especially the hall, St Paul’s Church and improving the school bus run.
Dr Drinan was also very active in the wider Singleton community through his work with the Singleton Shire Healthy Environment Group, Singleton Festival, Rotary and the Singleton Catholic Parish.
In the last two years he has been on the advisory body looking into the future operations of the Mercy Convent.
He told the Argus he would return to working on a book, started a few years ago, about the impact of coal mining on the Hunter Valley.
“Our decision to leave Singleton was reaffirmed by the recent Singleton Council vote to proceed with the closure of Wallaby Scrub Road,” he said.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
