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Collapse Issue 421 - 12 Jun 2017Issue 421 - 12 Jun 2017
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Tenants selected for affordable housing project
Kathy Smith dies
Ferry wharf closed for upgrade
Proposal to landscape Hardys Bay foreshore
Environment group objects to aged care proposal
Mingaletta holds Naidoc Day events
Cable fencing installed around bushland reserve
Coastal zone management 'in chaos', says candidate
Consolidated planning is urgently needed, says Wales
Greens start council pre-selection
Safety bollards for Melbourne Ave
Renovations at Leisure Centre
Night work on bridge
Wicks visits oval amenities project
Gosford Council financial statements presented
Bouddi history project now on the internet
Opportunity to encourage flying foxes, says rescuer
Red Cross presentation at library
Mother's Day success at Mary Mac's
Highly-commended at Easter show
Pursuing a career as a florist
Store has 10th birthday
Italian restaurant opens in Ettalong
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Woy Woy will stagnate as Wyong booms
Cardboard to landfill?
Shaken after attempted break-in
Time for tree policy is now
Open air public areas are a valuable commodity
Consistent with what?
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Donation to shuttle service
Hospital redevelopment to be finished by December
Improving the future for muscular dystrophy sufferers
New welfare team co-ordinator
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Foundation announces arts grants program
Village choir performs at Somersby school
Documentary about boxer re-broadcast
Two invited to folk club
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
College wins Landcare award
Counting chickens as they hatch
Arguing against watching the news
More fun than most schools, says principal
Students encouraged to write about Anzac centenary
Soccer selection
Search for new principal starts
Environment day at Ettalong
Visits to Men's Shed
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Woy Woy causes minor upset
Local bowling clubs raise funds for cancer services
Bridge club elects new committee
Ocean Beach hosts rescue boat champs
Surf club holds fundraiser
Grade wins for Ettalong and Woy Woy
Triathlon club meets Peace Run
Women's bowling club celebrates 60 years
Annual prostate cancer charity day
Collapse  HISTORY HISTORY
Booker Bay burial site may be considered by council

Documentary about boxer re-broadcast

A film about boxer Les Darcy written by a Umina resident has been re-broadcast on the 100th anniversary of the boxer's death.

The documentary was written and narrated in 1999 by Mr Peter Fenton, of Umina, following the publication of his book, the Legend of the Fighting Man, in 1995.

"I couldn't find any motion picture footage but the libraries were full of information about him so I wrote the book instead," Mr Fenton said.

The film was produced by Mr Anthony Buckley of Point Clare, who organised a grant for Mr Fenton to travel to America to search for footage of Darcy.

As a result, the documentary contained rare footage of Darcy training and fighting.

The documentary also included footage from Darcy's three funerals in San Francisco, Sydney and Maitland that belonged to the private collection of another Australian documentary maker, Mr Graham McNiece.

The documentary was originally aired on ABC TV.

It has been restored and remastered for re-broadcast by Foxtel this month.

Mr Fenton said Australian middle weight boxer Les Darcy was known as the Maitland Wonder.

He said Les Darcy was only 21 when he died in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 24, 1917.

"The extraordinary life of James Leslie Darcy, the Maitland blacksmith and prize fighter, had been snuffed out by blood poisoning.

"Les Darcy was one of a large, very poor Roman Catholic family from the farming town.

"An altar boy, he formed a life-long friendship with his young priest Joseph Coady who taught boys boxing at St Joseph's School, East Maitland.

"Les left school at 12, delivering milk and doing odd jobs to contribute to the family's coffers.

"With the few pence Les was able to save, he purchased a set of four boxing gloves which he carried around the district in a sugar bag offering to spar with anyone who was interested.

"From the time he won two tournaments on the one night at Newcastle's Summer Park, he was destined to be a professional boxer.

"At 15, he lasted four rounds with the proprietor of the boxing booth at the Maitland Show and knocked out a main event fighter on the following evening.

"By the time Darcy was 17, he had beaten local idols Billy Hannan and Billy McNabb, tough experienced fighters.

"He was headed to the 'Big Smoke' at Sydney's Rushcutters Bay.

"Despite two early losses, due mainly to inexperience, he was soon on his way to becoming the greatest fighter Australia had produced.

"Handsome, with a charismatic smile and extreme modesty, it was inevitable he would become the most popular sportsman in the land."

Eighty guests attended a commemorative luncheon at the Woy Woy Bowling Club where Mr Fenton spoke about Les Darcy and each attendee received a copy of the documentary.

Copies of the remastered DVD are available from www.buckleyfilms.com.au or from the Peninsula News, 120C Erina Street, Gosford.





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