A History of Marrar and District, 1979. Researched and Compiled by Mr Alby Armstrong 9. The Black Plague and Great Depression Includes all the facts.
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The Black Plague
World War I during its time of savage battles brought grief and tragedy to every civilised country in the Universe.  Even when peace came, the price of man's folly had to be paid for, much of this in human tragedy.

In Europe the peoples resistance to disease had been lowered to such an extent that even the slightest ailment could turn into an epidemic.  In 1918 a virus of influenza not previously known to medical science broke out in Spain.  It quickly spread across war-devastated Europe, and within a year was raging in every country in the World.

The first cases were reported in Marrar in June 1919.  Whole families were stricken and estimates were 70% to 90% of the local population affected.  The epidemic was at times referred to as Bubonic 'Flu or the Black Plague.  The latter name coming from the fact that many victims skin turned quite dark.  No known treatment seemed to give any relief, but Oil of Eucalyptus, rubbed into the skin was regarded as the best method of treatment.

When a member of any family became ill a yellow flag was flown at the gate of their residence or farm and all members of that family were quarantined for a certain period.  In some districts people were required to wear masks if they visited a town.  A voluntary committee operated and orders for goods were left at the front gate.  These orders were collected by the volunteers, supplied and delivered back to the front gate.  The plague was a very severe one and quite a few district residents died during its course.

Dr. Duncan Buchanan of Coolamon, and his wife, a trained nurse, provided the only medical service available in the district.  For weeks the Buchanans were on constant call, and worked day and night with only a few hours sleep when at times they were worn out with exhaustion.  The epidemic in its most severe form remained only a few weeks and by the time summer arrived had completely gone.

My own experience was travelling from Young to Marrar with my family in 1919.  My father had purchased 'Killamey' and we were in the process of moving in.  With horses and wagon, loaded with household goods, a horse and sulky and several loose horses and cattle we were stopped outside Temora and told we could not proceed through the town without masks.  A local farmer, realising our position, was kind enough to show us a route whereby we could detour and miss most of the town.  We were fortunate that no member of the family contracted the 'flu at any time.

The conclusion of this story is taken from the Back to Coolamon Souvenirs of 1934 and 1956.

The self sacrificing work of Dr. and Mrs. Buchanan was not allowed to go unrecognised.  At a public function in Coolamon on 30th September, 1919 the good Doctor and Mrs. Buchanan were entertained by the people of the district.  They were presented with a wallet of notes in appreciation of their splendid service to the community during the influenza epidemic.
This was not the only time that the people of Coolamon and Marrar joined together to pay homage to this grand couple.  On the 10th June, 1932 a tribute unique probably in the annals of New South Wales, which highly honoured both the recipients, took place in Fumer's Hall, Coolamon.  Amidst evidence of enthusiasm, regard and esteem, Dr. and Mrs. Buchanan were presented with a sedan motor car, fully equipped registered and insured.  The motor car, the total cost of which exceeded £400/-/- was a gift from the people of the district to the Buchanans in recognition of their self sacrificing services to the community over a period of 21 years.  The presentation was made in the presence of the largest gathering of people ever seen at a function in Coolamon.

The Doctor and his wife spent the rest of their lives in Coolamon, and, on their passing in 1951, were laid to rest in the town they had come to love so much.

The Great Depression
If one had not experienced the hardship and suffering of the Great Depression he would have no idea what the people of that generation actually went through.  It did not start at any particular time but just gradually crept up on the whole world in the early 1930's.

Following the shortages in every commodity after World War 1, a boom in prices set in, and for the first time in history farmers were experiencing prosperity never previously known.  Wheat reached six shillings a bushel and hay was selling at £4.0.0 or better a ton.  Land prices soared, some farms changing hands as high as £12.0.0 per acre.

The collapse of the Wall Street Stock Market overnight for some unknown reason was considered to be the beginning of the recession.  Wealthy people in America were reduced to paupers in a matter of days.  This in turn set off a chain of events, which, in time was to echo around the world.

The first to suffer a set-back was the motor car industry and thousands of workers in Detroit U.S.A. were thrown out of work.  Strikes and Street marches took place in many cities but only made the position worse.

Panic reigned as frightened people rushed to withdraw their savings from the banks.  In an effort to remain solvent, the banks, in turn, called up their loans and this forced many large companies into bankruptcy.  Mass unemployment followed.

The Chicago Grain Market, regarded as the wheat barometer of the world was quick to react.  Prices declined every day and in some cases wheat merchants refused to buy until they had placed their orders.  Brussels, in Belgium, the European wheat buyers' headquarters quickly followed suit; no one wanted wheat.

The situation in London was much the same.  Great Britain had been Australia's main market for wheat since the days of Federation.  Most wheat buying firms in Australia were British owned and financed.  These merchants were still prepared to buy, but at a price, prearranged between themselves many months before.  The position was greatly aggravated by record wheat crops in the following years especially in Australia.

Wool, then Australia's main income earner, mutton, lamb, beef and hides suffered the same fate.  Overnight, the farmers’ income had been reduced to practically nothing.  The old saying that 'Australia rides on the sheep's back' was to be well and truly born out in the years to follow.

With rural spending power gone, chaos soon developed in the cities.  Industries which had relied on export earnings of primary produce for their imports gradually closed down.

The motor car industry in Australia, at that time fully imported vehicles, was among the hardest hit.  New cars became too expensive to purchase and run, and used cars were unsaleable.  Many were jacked up and left in garages.  The horse and sulky again became a familiar sight on country roads.

Tyre manufacturers, oil companies, and car body builders were reduced to skeleton staff.  Agricultural machinery manufacturers were hard pressed; some closed down, never to reopen again.  Unemployment in the cities rose at an alarming rate.

With no dole or unemployment benefits, the population in the big cities was starving.
N.S.W. Labor Premier, Jack Lang, was the first person to attempt to give any relief to the unemployed families.  He introduced the first Wage Tax Bill into State Parliament.  The legislation provided for a tax of three pence in the pound on all wages.  The income from this tax was used to finance another Bill called Child Endowment.  This new Act of Parliament paid five shillings a week to mothers of children under the age of 16 years.

It was paid only to the mother of the child and recipients were subject to a means test, the first born child in a family not being eligible.  In some cases in the city, whole families could only afford one meal a day.  The endowment was only a pittance, but it provided a little more nourishment for the children, quite a few of whom were suffering from malnutrition.

Many of the unemployed from the cities and big towns wandered the country roads in search of work or food.  With a few ragged clothes wrapped in a blanket or two slung on their backs, and a blackened billy can in their hand, they became the Swagmen of the Great Depression.

Once again, Jack Lang came to the farmers' aid.  He introduced the Moratorium Act which prevented banks and lending institutions from foreclosing on mortgages which farmers were unable to meet.  The Act not only helped farmers; small business men were also able to take advantage of it and remain solvent.

Like the early settlers, the farmers were able, to a large extent, to live off the land.  Sheep had little value and provided the main source of red meat.  Poultry and eggs were plentiful, and home grown vegetables and home made butter and cream were always available.

When fruit and vegetables were in season, jams, sauces and pickles filled the shelves.  Wheat was taken to the Mill and gristed into flour, and quite a few farmers wives baked their own bread.  The much-despised rabbit was often on the menu, supplemented at times by galahs, quail or wild ducks.

Most farms kept a few pigs, these being killed off in the winter for bacon and pork.  The farmer of 1930 and earlier was a very knowledgeable person, the ham and bacon he cured on the farm being far superior to any procurable today.

Clothing was always a problem, most of this being made at home, but materials had to be bought.  Every farmer's wife was an expert dressmaker and knitter, and the girls in the family were taught these skills at an early age.  Many girls took their knitting to school and worked on it during any free time they had.

Two work shirts and two pairs of trousers, often well patched, were as much as any farmer could afford.  Such items as underpants, singlets and work socks were seldom worn.  One of the 'musts' though was a pair of 'Brooks' work boots, the only boots at that time considered waterproof.  Many farmers of that time wore the grey work flannel winter and summer, with or without a shirt.  Blue dungaree trousers, similar in a way to today’s jeans, were in general use all the year round.  Sometimes these had leather patches on the knees.  Coats of the same material were also popular, especially with header drivers as they could be done up at the neck to keep out the dust.  Leather braces were favoured instead of a belt.

Shorts were considered unseemly and had a man or woman dared to wear such dress in the street they would most likely have been ordered straight home by the local police.  The only adults who dared to wear shorts were wheat bumpers working in the Railway Yards and footballers during a football match.

In fine weather they slept under the stars and when the weather was rough, they sought shelter in any shed or building they could find.  They camped under bridges or even behind haystacks.  In Marrar, the wheat sheds and around the Government Dam were favourite camps.  On a trip along any of the roads one would pass a man with a swag on his back every few miles.

Very little help came from the Federal Government, most relief being from the State.  The States, of course, in those days had their own taxing powers, which were, in most cases, higher than the federal tax.

After much agitation from the people, the Dole was introduced.  The name Dole is still used today but our governments prefer to use the more respectable term, Social Service.  The first Dole paid was the princely sum of six shillings a week per head to all genuinely unemployed persons over the age of 16 years.  The Act was administered by the Police Department, local Police Officers having the right to grant or refuse any application at their discretion.

Some unfortunate travellers, instead of receiving their food vouchers, found themselves in the local 'lock up' on a charge of 'Having Insufficient Lawful Means of Support' or 'Vagrancy'.  If the 'Swaggie' had no money in his pocket, he had no chance of beating this charge.  Most Police Officers were sympathetic though, and if the applicant was genuine he had no trouble.  If he was lumbered though the fine was usually ten shillings, plus ten shillings Court Costs.  The alternative was two days in jail.  Quite a few preferred jail as it meant free board and lodging while they were there.

The sentence would be served in the local 'lock up' and quite often the Police Officer in Charge just happened ' to have a big heap of wood in the backyard, and urgently needed someone to cut it up.

Sometimes the dole applicant hadn't had a wash or seen a piece of soap for months and his clothes smelled of smoke and burnt gum leaves.  This character usually had no trouble getting his dole, he would receive his voucher and be on his way in a matter of minutes.

The position on the farms was grim.  Most farmers had purchased their land at high prices and had heavy mortgages over their farms.  Their incomes fell to the extent that they had to battle to live, let alone pay off mortgages.  For the next few years the battle for survival went on.  Some, however, gave up and just walked off their land.

For going out, the term 'Sunday Clothes' was often used, the term going back to the old days when almost everyone went to Church and wore their best clothes.  Men’s suits were tailor-made and the work of a skilled craftsman.  They had to be of the highest quality because in many cases they were to last the farmer for half his life time.  One pair of boots or shoes, one pair of socks, one shirt, mostly a white one, a tie that didn't match and a grey felt hat completed the wardrobe of the well dressed man.  Sometimes a black coat and brown garbadine trousers substituted for the suit.

It was quite common during that time for both men and women to stay away from a function somewhere because they didn't have any decent clothes to wear.  At times, they couldn't even afford the price of admission even though it may have been only two shillings.

It could be quite frustrating to be in town on a hot day and not have the price of a cool drink in one's pocket.  Drinks were not expensive, a soft drink cost threepence or 'a sprat', while a 'pot' of beer, equal to today’s 'middy' cost a 'zac k' (or sixpence, to the uninitiated).

The usual thing to do in these cases was to walk over to the railway station and get a drink from the big round canvas water bag with its wooden tap, hanging on the platform.  A large enamel mug on a piece of light chain attached to the waterbag was provided as a drinking utensil.

Although there were a few tractors around, most work was done with horses.  Farmers grew their own hay and cut their own chaff to feed their horses.  No day was more dreaded by the boys than when they were rounded up to help dad cut the chaff.  A lot of horses were bred on the property and the cost of running a farm was cut to practically nothing.

One of the biggest costs was superphosphate at around £4.0.0 per ton plus ten shillings freight.

Labour was plentiful and a man could be engaged for around thirty shillings for a sixty hour week.  Meals were provided with somewhere to sleep, quite often in one of the sheds.  To earn a few shillings, farmers' sons did a bit of rabbiting, skins being worth sixpence to a shilling a pound.  A real bonus was a fox, a good pelt bringing as much as ten shillings.

Medical service often meant a long drive with horse and sulky.  Appointments to see the doctor were unnecessary and the fee was ten shillings; quite often the doctor never received this.  Dental service was much the same; usually one had to have a 'roaring' tooth ache and be up all night before a visit to the dentist was even considered.  The cost of removing a tooth was five shillings and the dentist usually demanded his fee before the patient left his surgery.

For ten years conditions gradually became worse and it was only when a global war of the most savage proportions began that money began to flow freely again.  For a long time after World War 2 began, work was not plentiful, but anyone who could pass a medical test could don a uniform and earn six shillings a day in the armed forces.

As the ferocity of the fighting increased, and the enemy daily came closer to Australia's Shore, the enlistments in the Army, Navy and Air Force increased.  The tramp on the road was gone and the elderly farmers were left to carry on as sons, and daughters too, answered the call.  The Government of the day asked for increased production from the farmers, and they got it.  How those old men and women managed it, one will never know, but to their everlasting credit, they did.  They have all passed on to their rest now - but no doubt their efforts took many years off their lives.

The blood of young Australians, both men and women stained the earth in many countries around the world.  Those same young people who served their country so well were the kids of the Great Depression.