Max and Marie Maher – North Casino – Part 1

By Helen Trustum

Spencer Maxwell Maher, known as Max, was born 18^th January 1943, to parents Spencer known as “Penny” and Enid Maher of Goolmangar. Their family – Valerie, Nola, Max, Glen and Darryl. As Max was the eldest boy, he was given the Spencer name just like his father and Grandfather, Spencer Wesley Maher. A family trait that is handed down over the years and still carried on. Each boy in the Maher Family Tree that is born first carries the “Spencer” name.

Valerie, Max and Nola Maher

Max grew up on the family farms at Koonorigan and Goolmangar. He always had a love for horses where he rode to school at Coffee Camp then later competing at Country Shows. Max remembers the February 1954 cyclone when raging waters from the River tore the Coffee Camp School and the local Community Hall at Coffee Camp from their stumps then flowed down the river out of site. Mr Lake, teacher in charge at Coffee Camp School and his wife Mrs Lake recalled the day when they were watching from the schoolhouse and saw it all unfold before their eyes. A document written by Mrs Lake stated: “The school went first tipping over in the water then hitting a tree and breaking up. The hall was shuddering and groaning, it did not want to go. Suddenly the walls opened up and out came the stools and wooden tables. Cups and plates bobbed up and down in the water and then the piano came out”.

Max practising show jumping at home

School lessons were held on the side verandah of the schoolhouse, the teachers dwelling. The piano was found, it was high up a tree further down the river on Reg Parmenter’s farm. The Honour Roll from the hall along with the Union Jack were rescued. A new hall and school were built.

Max remembers one day after school when he and Nola were saddling up their horses to ride home and Nola threw the saddle on where the stirrup hit their teacher Mr Blake on the head. He certainly had a bad knock. The schoolhouse was next door to Max’s Grandparents Percy and Casandra Swift.

Maher Family home on Nimbin Road

Shows were a feature of the Maher home, where it was not long before Max and Valerie were competing at the Nimbin Show. They would share the pony “Wally” between them. Their father would take them to the show in his 1948 Single Wheel Bedford. The vehicle was green with black mud guards purchased from W Robinson and Son in Lismore. Max and Valerie would compete for School Boy and School Girl of the Show. Many ribbons were won. Later Max’s father purchased a hunting mare for Max. Her name was “Silka”. Max was 12 years of age at the time. Jumps were set up on the farm where Max would practice. The pair competed at many shows around the district. Eventually this horse was sold to Earl Creighton for his son Guy to ride. Guy was 10 years of age at the time. They competed at Pony Club events and shows. Guy went on to be Australia’s Champion competing at Commonwealth Games.

Valerie riding Wally at the 1952 Nimbin Show

Penny, Max’s father, was no stranger to the showground as he raced trotters for years. A few of the men that Max can remember are Charlie Langley, Barry King, Ned Coleman, Ray Essery Snr., Barry Troy, Cec Knight and Butcher Dunn. These men would always meet at Dave Wotherspoons Saddlery in North Lismore (near the Winsome Hotel) during the 1950’s.

The family loved attending functions in the Goolmangar Hall. Fancy dress or Christmas Tree concerts were always held.

Family dress up at Goolmangar Hall – 1950

Max always loved country music and from an early age he would be glued to the radio every Saturday morning at 10am listening to Radio Ranch on 2LM Lismore. Kevin Knapp was the announcer on Radio Ranch. Kevin went on to Tamworth where he started the Tamworth Country Music Festival. His cousin and good friend Ken Parmenter at that stage purchased a guitar, so Max was always up at the Parmenters farm learning to play the guitar. He would ride his push bike up to Kens and stay overnight. One particular weekend, Ken’s mother, Phyllis, who was Max’s Aunty, beckoned Max to have a look on his bed. There was a guitar waiting for him. What a great thrill. He was eight years old at the time. In later years his mother and father purchased him a guitar and one he still has (see photo). There was no stopping him now going from hall to hall singing and playing. Max would also sing and play at the concerts at Brunswick Heads, Ballina and Evans Head each Christmas. These concerts would raise money for the Life Saving Clubs in the district.

Penny and Max Maher

When it came time for High School in 1956 Max attended Lismore High along with good friend Ray Essery who lived at Booerie Creek. A friendship he has always held to this day. Ray went on to be one of the best known and loved poets in Australia. His humour and history of the area is second to none.

Max only attended one year at High School then returned to the family farm. The 125 Jersey cows were milked and the cream was picked up and taken to Norco in Lismore, by cream carrier Dick Hayes. At first a horse drawn plough was used on the farm then later a tractor was purchased to plough the paddocks for a paddock of corn. Max was so small on the tractor his head was hard to see above the mudguard on the back of the tractor.

In 1960 Max decided to give the farming life away and began working at Smith Ingots buying scrap metal. The firm gave Max a new Bedford as the job took him as far as Rockhampton in the north to Coffs Harbour in the south. After two years employment at Smiths Ingots, he began working at Bytheway’s BMC dealers in Lismore, selling cars.

Continued next issue.

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