The Amazing Mary Brookes

Campbelltown's second female alderman Mary Brookes gave an insightful interview to The Australian Women's Weekly in 1974. In the article she explained "I am not conscious of myself as a woman on the Council. The men are real nice to me." Then with a twinkle in the eye she added "I rationalise it this way: they can afford to be good sports, they have had it good for so long."

Mary Brookes was born in Chicago on New Year's Day 1904. In the 1920s she worked for the Chicago Flexible Shaft Company (later to become the Sunbeam Corporation). She is credited with naming the newly developed electric mixer "The Mixmaster" in 1930. Mary and her husband moved to Australia when the company sought to grow the manufacturing operations there. They first lived at Elizabeth Bay but it was on a picnic that they first saw St Helens Park homestead at Campbelltown. Mary explained in the interview to the Weekly "I thought if only I could possess that house I would never see a cold day. It had eight fireplaces." Cyril and Mary Brookes were able to buy St Helen's Park in 1949.

Mary was always kept busy with farming activities at St Helens Park.  She would often be up through the night delivering lambs and later managed the herd of friesians on the property. So fond of her cattle was she, that each one was named; "Teacake", "Buttercup" and even "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity"!

In 1962 she became an alderman on the Campbelltown Municipal Council, a position she held for 12 years. Mary was the second woman ever to be elected to Campbelltown Council. She said in the Woman's Weekly interview "Pushing a trolley in the supermarket I make a point of speaking to everyone I see. It doesn't take a moment to say 'hello honey'. It was undoubtebly this friendliness and hard work that saw her constantly re-elected to council.

Mary "Honey" Brookes died on 13 January, 2001. A park, Mary Brookes Park, in the suburb of St Helens Park is named in her honour.

Do you have any memories of Mary Brookes that you would like to share?

Written by Andrew Allen

Ingleburn's First Car

I came across the gem in our photograph collection recently. Imagine taking this beast for a Sunday afternoon drive! The writing on the photograph taken in 1913 is ""Wells Family of "Jaclyn Park" in their Swiftsure car, the first car in Ingleburn". After doing some investigation I can confirm that the car is a Model T Ford and made in 1913. My research revealed that there was no Swiftsure cars listed for production in Australia. This was a surprise considering the mention of Swiftsure on the photograph. Swiftsure was used to describe cycle cars in the early 1900s and was used in the 1950s as a colloquial term for a car's ability to roll down and up hills.

Apparently, depending on where the car was purchased, the lights on the vehicles were extras as well as the horn!

There is little information about the Wells family. According to local historical researcher Marie Holmes "Jaclyn Park" was located about a half a mile from Ingleburn station and was a poultry farm.

*Update

More feedback has revealed that Swiftsure does appear to be a legitimate brand of car. There are 3 advertisements post 1910 for second hand Swiftsures in the Sydney Morning Herald. A search of the Trove database reveals that Swiftsure was more a pre-1910 manufacturer and another February 1907 article titled "Testing a Motor Waggon" states that "Messrs W. Arnott Ltd. are greatly pleased with the success of a test to which their Swiftsure motor biscuit waggon was subjected during a journey across the Blue Mountains to Bathurst and the return via Goulburn to Sydney". It appears the sole agent for Swiftsure motor cars was I. Phizackerley 187 and 171, Elizabeth Street, Hyde Park.

Thanks to the Model T Ford Club of NSW for their assistance.

Written by Andrew Allen

Fisher's Ghost Fun Run

The Fisher's Ghost Fun Run has a long and colourful history. The race was first run on Sunday November 2, 1975 with a 10am start. In those days the run started in the grounds of the 1st Signal Regiment at Ingleburn Army Camp and finished at Bradbury Oval. Around 1000 entrants took part in that first race which was won by Newcastle runner Brian Morgan in 40 minutes and 52 seconds. The run has seen a few different venues from Ingleburn Army Camp, to Menangle Road, to Mt Annan Gardens and more recently to the beautiful and safer grounds of the University of Western Sydney.

The race has been organised every year by the Campbelltown Joggers Club. The club held its first run on January 11, 1976 at Bradbury Oval and has been meeting there ever since! Campbelltown Joggers welcomes runners and walkers of all abilities, with the main emphasis being on having fun while keeping fit. New members are welcome to turn up and try with no obligation to join. The club's website can be found at http://www.campbelltownjoggers.org.au/

Written by Andrew Allen