Mrs Hamilton's missing papers are found

This is a story about a beautiful 19th century solid Australian cedar counter.

Most people of my generation have more than a passing interest in our early history and one can only surmise what a piece of furniture can reveal about our past and the lives of people in early times.

During the 1980s, the owners of the Blackwall Post Office Store and the adjoining cottage were in the process of remodelling the premises.

They decided to discard an old cedar counter which for many years had served as a garage bench loaded with paint tins, gardening tools and other pieces of equipment most commonly found in men's sheds.

When a family member decided that the counter would be useful as a television cabinet, a professional restorer was engaged to bring the counter back to its former glory.

It was then that an amazing discovery was made.

According to the restorer, when he pulled out the drawers he found a small package of papers and correspondence wedged at the back of the counter.

Apart from personal correspondence, the packet revealed some fascinating items going back to the early 1950s when the post office and store were operated by the Hamilton family, including their children Anthony, Margaret and Helen.

Among the papers was a pamphlet advertising a Fancy Dress Frolic to be held on Friday, October 24, 1958, at the Pacific Cabaret at Ettalong.

It was promoted as "The Children's Event of the Year" with prizes for winners in various categories including tiny tots, nursery rhymes and characters from literature.

The admission charge was two shillings (20 cents), with all proceeds being donated to the Ettalong P&C Association.

There was a reminder from the Commonwealth Electoral Office requesting Mrs Hamilton to bank an outstanding cheque, representing payment for the use of the store as a polling place for the Federal election that year (won by the Liberal Party under Robert G Menzies).

Some of the other papers were copies of resolutions passed by the 1959 Session of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in respect to Ministerial stipends and rental for the manse.

One can only wonder how much time was wasted by Mrs Hamilton looking for her missing papers.

The contents of the package represent a small window on the lifestyle of a local family and it would be nice to be able to reunite the same with the descendants of the family.

By way of a postscript, the Hamiltons later sold the post office store to Fred and Merle Catton, a popular couple well known in the district.

As far as the cedar counter is concerned, it has been faithfully restored to its former glory. The brass handles have been buffed and polished and the timber is once again glowing in silent testimony to the skill of the 19th century craftsman.

Many thanks to Carolyn Sandell who gave me the idea for the story and Heather Minter for supplying the photographs.

Email, 1 Feb 2010 Fred Landman, Daley's Point