The WILLAWARRIN HOTEL

SO ANYWAY, IF YOU’RE on the mid-NSW coast and you head west up the Macleay River from Kempsey, (and why wouldn’t you?) the first place you’re going to want to stop is Willawarrin. And when you do maybe force yourself to ride past the pub on your right and pull up just short of the general store on the left and check out the Anzac Memorial.

There’s a new one being slowly erected behind it but take a moment to read and count the names of the locals who fought in both world wars. Look around at the town and try to get a grip on just how a tiny place like this gave so many men to service of their country.

Back in September 1949 my mum was 8 months pregnant with her first child when my father told her he had to go up the bush for a few days. Dad was pretty devoted so she knew it