Brother Bill

The Campbelltown community was in shock at the death of Bill Coogan in 1962. Bill was known as Brother Bill to the towns people from the way he addressed all and sundry. He was a cheery butcher (aren't all butchers) who had a shop near the corner of Queen and Railway Streets and adjacent to Lack's Hotel, known as Coogan's Butchery. His main contribution to the town however was as an alderman on Campbelltown Council between 1956 and 1962.

William Coogan was born in Campbelltown in 1908. The Coogan house was at the bottom of Milgate Lane, close to the Railway line where Bill's father Robert worked as a railway yard attendant and fuelman for locomotives. Bill began his working life as a drover before working for Tildesley Brothers butchers of Campbelltown. This shop was about opposite the Old Post Office that still stands in Queen Street. He later opened a butchery business at The Oaks before opening his Queen Street business in 1946.

As an alderman, Bill was noted for his forthright opinions. He was always fighting for faster planning of the area and believed the Cumberland County Council was hindering development of the area. He would sit in at as many committee meetings as he could so he could add to his knowledge of Council affairs. He was also heavily involved with the Campbelltown Kangaroos Rugby League Club and was a lover of horses.

The genial and humorous Brother Bill collapsed and died while attending a show at Bathurst on May 5 1962. He died the next morning. He was only 54. Two minutes silence preceded the football that weekend in honour of one of the Kangaroo's staunchest supporters.

Coogan Place is named for Bill Coogan.

Written by Andrew Allen

Sources:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News May 8 1962

McBarron, Eddie J. et al 1985
Campbelltown 1930-1940 Dumaresq Street and Environs
Campbelltown: Campbelltown City Council

Gaoled for Stealing Peaches!

In the small hours of February 8, 1898 four Campbelltown men were charged and gaoled for a heinous crime: eating another man's peaches from his tree!

Daniel Dwyer, Patrick Meredith, Michael Daly, Daniel Daly, and Alfred Brown were brought up charged with having been found in the enclosed garden of William Gee for an unlawful purpose. The case was withdrawn against Brown and he was used as a crown witness. The rest pleaded not guilty except Meredith.

William Gee had suspected that his orchard was being raided in the early mornings and had arranged with police to catch the culprits in the act. At about 1.45am on the 8th of February Gee, armed with a gun, and Constable Auckett waited for the orchard raiders to appear. A quarter of an hour later five men jumped the fence and commenced to pull the peaches from the tree. Gee called upon them to stand or else he would shoot but instead of obeying him after Gee did fire his gun, they ran away and climbed back over the fence. Meredith however was caught by Gee and detained until Auckett joined him and was taken to custody. The other four were arrested at their residences.

At the court hearing, Alfred Brown swore to Meredith and Dwyer being in the garden but would not swear to the others. Daniel Dwyer gave evidence on his own behalf. He admitted being one of the group, but denied entering the garden. None of the other accused wished to give evidence.

The Bench considered the offence proved, and sentenced the four accused to one month's imprisonment in Parramatta Gaol.

William Gee was a local builder and also served as an alderman on Campbelltown Council. He was involved in the Congregational Church in Campbelltown and was also an undertaker at one stage. He died on the 11th of September, 1915 and is buried in the small Methodist Congregational Cemetery on St John's Road, Campbelltown.

               Above is a photograph of William Gee taken in 1912

Written by Andrew Allen