Men’s Probus
It was a combined meeting in July as both the men and women’s Probus Clubs of Forbes listened to a lively and animated talk given by author Richard Taubman, and yes, he is a descendant of the Taubman paints family. But his talk was about a book he has written about the life of Syd Bayliss, an extraordinary bushman.
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Taubman got to meet Bayliss whose real first name was Cedric but was called Syd or “Shig” and from their many talks together, Taubman wrote the book One of the Last, a tribute to a man who travelled the country hawking stockwhips, belts, hatbands, watch and knife pouches.
He also did saddlery and harness repairs and as he travelled he shot kangaroos and tanned the skins in casks of wattle-bark liquor fitted to the sides of his four-horse waggon which he took from station to station.
He enjoyed teaching plaiting and boomerang throwing and when he moved to Tumut in 1940 he set up a store called the Valleys of the Whites Trading Post. Naturally Taubman learnt the art of stock whip making from Bayliss and tanning and his book is now into its eighth edition. Bayliss achieved fame of a sort by riding a horse onto the steps of the Melbourne GPO.
Prior to the mixed meeting, the men’s club inducted a new member, Bruce Adams, president of the Historical Society and a member of Neighbourhood Watch. Bruce gave the obligatory few minutes talk so people might know, if they didn’t already, who he was.
On the tours front, Alan Toole mentioned that the trip to Canberra next year, over four days on April 9. Word has it that Alan will be our guest speaker on Friday talking on coins.
- By Dennis Booth
Ladies Probus
Wilma welcomed everyone to our July meeting. Our speaker was Richard Taubman, the men joined us to hear about Syd Bayliss and the museum and tribute centre in Murringo.
Sister Joan and Robyn Wilson were our ladies on welcoming last month. The welcome ladies for August will be Jo O’Connor and Fay Bullock. If you are not feeling well or are in hospital, our thoughts are with you.
- by Lyn Simmonds
