submitted by John Robb, nephew, with special thanks to Bill and Shirlie Robb for sharing their memories Fred, and of the early years of our family.
These are probably the first words written of the life of Fred Denne since his obituary appeared in Lismore’s Northern Star in 1943. The few material reminders of his 21 years (his photographs, his autograph book and certificates) are now held in 3 small metal boxes – branded with faded images of Julius Van Mark (House of London, Fine Cigars) then Edward & Co Ensign River Coffee and the last with images of flamingos and gardens of the ancient world.
The short life of Fred Denne (or Fred Robb as he was also known) began only a short distance from the place it was taken in 1943. Fred was born in Beerwah, SE Queensland on February 27 1922. In truth his life was bookended by tragedy. Within days of his birth his mother Anne Denne (nee Harriss) passed away from complications arising from Fred’s birth. The loss of the Centaur then brutally took his own life a short 21 years later.
Three years earlier Anne’s younger sister Emily Harriss had married Samuel Robb a dairy farmer from Wollongbar, a small village near Alstonville in northern New South Wales. There being then no children of the marriage it was decided that the new baby would be best raised on the small family dairy farm by Emily and Sam (his aunt and uncle). But after three years without children (and as no laws of biology can explain) Fred’s arrival was soon followed by the birth of two boys – Samuel John James Robb (my father) and William Albert George Robb. Fred Denne became known as Fred Robb although he was never formally adopted.
Fred’s father (Bert Denne) remained in contact with Fred throughout his life. In fact. after the loss of his first wife Bert married his first wife’s sister Marion Harriss.
In 1872 the Robb family were the original selectors of two small lots near Alstonville within a large rainforest area originally known as the Big Scrub. The two lots occupy just over 200 acres in a long from Chesworths Lane, Wollongbar to Whites Lane at Rous. Home for Fred Denne was then the small farm house on the banks of Marom Creek, just off Chesworths Lane.
The farm was to become the main focus of Fred’s short life. The land is wonderful farming country based on rich red volcanic soils. In the days of Fred’s youth and for most years since it was prime dairy farming country occupied by family farms most of which were similar to the Robb farm. The family milked about 50 cows by hand, sold cream to the local factory, raised pigs and chickens, grew corn and soybeans and kept a large vegetable patch. By all accounts the three boys were very close. A favourite photograph shows the three small boys sitting on top of a patient family draught horse.
All the boys were involved in the regular farming chores and from an early age Fred showed a love of and skill for a farming life. My father recalled their lives in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s as being too occupied with boyhood play to do any farm work. My Uncle Bill recalled those days as being too occupied with farm work for any boyhood play. The truth must be somewhere in between, with their lives dominated by farmwork, (milking at first light and last) and schoolwork, giving them o strong work ethic, but their farming surroundings affording them the freedom to wander the hills, climb trees and play in its creeks. The boys were all keen cricketers and visited a nearby farm with the luxury of a wireless to listen to the Ashes tests broadcast from England and to hear Bradmon’s early assaults on English bowlers.
By all accounts was a very cheerful and happy boy and young man. His personality was described as carefree and happy go lucky. Fred attended Wollongbar School, riding his horse the 3-4kms along the path from Marom Creek as his brothers raced him home on foot or rode behind. The farming life fired his imagination. He left school at 14 or 15 and from a young age devoted himself to the family farm. From the age of 12 he had exhibited vegetables, cattle and pigs at local shows and exhibitions. He was a member of Alstonville Junior Farmers’ Club and Astonville Agricultural Society. Such organisations were an integral and focal part of local society. Fred’s collections of momentoes is dominated by certificates and awards from local Agricultural societies and shows – particularly in the 1934-1938. There are well over 50 such certificates. There is hardly a vegetable that imaginable for which he wasn’t awarded some prize – all from a boy of 12 -16 years of age. Clearly and luckily Fred had found the life he wanted to pursue and was passionate about extending his knowledge and learning from others about farming issues.
In 1935 the family moved the farm house to the Rous end of the farm. At the age of 16 an additional burden of adulthood was brought forward for Fred as Sam Robb passed away from a blood clot after being kicked by a cow. Many of the major responsibilities of running the farm then passed to Fred. The years of Fred’s youth were also those of the Great Depression. On the farm the family were in some ways self-sufficient in daily requirements but were never affluent or well off. In Fred’s autograph book there are some wonderful messages from Emily and Sam and one may express the difficulties of the times in reading, “not enjoyment nor sorrow is our destined end or way, but to act that each tomorrow find us further than today”.
Fred was a member of the local Red Cross. He played the drums. He was outgoing and well liked.
In the very early 1940s a house and dairy was built on Chesworths Lane for Fred with the intention that he would one day run the farm from that end of the selection and raise his own family. No doubt this dream would have been high among Fred’s goals had not war intervened. Sadly, Fred never did live in the house. For a time Fred’s father Bert Denne lived there. The house still stands today.
Fred Joined the Army In 1941 and apparently did so without great fear or trepidation. He eventually joined the 2/12th Field Ambulance as a cook. His personal photographs have many of the Darwin scenes taken by other members or the 2/12 and now held by family members.
Before departing on the Centaur Fred returned to the farm. His friend Eileen Clark gave him her favourite beret as a good luck charm. My uncle Bill Robb (then a 16 yo making his first trip to the city) accompanied Fred to Sydney on his final leave in May 1943. The two boys spent some days visiting the Sydney sites that must have seemed so foreign to those from a small farming community. The accompanying photograph shows Fred (left) and a young Bill Robb posing in a photo booth in one of the pylons of the Harbour Bridge Fred waved goodbye to Bill on the North Coast Train, left to join the Centaur and passed from our lives forever.
The news of Fred’s loss was brought by Bert Denne to Emily Robb during a cold evening’s milking in May, 1943.
Today the Robb family farm is one of the few remaining dairy farms operating in the Alstonville area. Macadamia nuts, avocados and other fruits now dominate the area as do small hobby farms. The running of the farm has passed from Bill Robb to his son Gavin and wife Kath. Their son Stephen has now joined them to make 5 generations that have carried on the tradition since 1872. Fred had set his goals from a very early age to be part of this tradition and way of life. The farming life was the life he cherished above all else and he would have made a wonderful contribution had not fate been so unkind to him.
On its northward journey on the afternoon and evening of May 13, 1943 I have little doubt Fred would have been standing on the port deck of the Centaur as the ship steamed past his home – gazing at the coast of nearby Ballina, the red soil of the Alstonville plateau he knew so well and wishing he were home. And within less than 24 hours he was so cruelly taken forever.
Twenty one years of a young life does not provide time enough to make a mark. These years are all about development and promise. The loss of the Centaur left this promise unfulfilled for Fred. Our family has been so fortunate to be guided by two wonderful men in Bill Robb (who turned 80 in March) and my father Sam. With Fred’s loss we were sadly all denied this third pillar of wisdom and strength. The lives of all members of our family would have been enriched by Fred’s presence and guidance.