Episode notes
The Devitt family date back to 1857 when the patriach John Devitt migrated from Donegral Ireland to Woodhill Mountain indentured to Adam & Mary Boyd.
His grandson Albert Devitt moved to Sunnyside, Devitts Lane when marrying Grace Shepherd whose father William originally owned the property in 1911. Their daughter Valerie married Reg Radford andassisted running the farm from 1950. They dairy farmed on the 140 acres. Their son Arthur provided Therese Sweeney with insight as to life on the property during mid 20th century and this is covered in the introductory narration. They were never mechanised, poor and had to sell the property in 1963.
I also introduce a brief history on Meroo School to position the land boundary north of Devitts lane up to Wileys Creek that is the final boundary for Meroo meadow residents.
Today John mart ...
Keywords
Berry Bomaderry dairy farming history dairying oral history Friesian cattle Shoalhaven