Account Of The Life Of J.G.

Miller
I was born at Renfrew Park, the home of William Mr. William & Mrs. Miller. I was
the fifth son. William, the third son, died when he was nine years of age. There
were eight in the family: Robert, John, Henry, James, George, Tom and Janie
(who were twins) and William. Unfortunately, our mother passed away under
an operation in Sydney when she was 45. We were left a young family to
mourn her sad loss. Our aunt Mary was good enough to take charge of our
home, and tried to bring us up in a Christian way and to be worthy citizens.
We have to thank her for her untiring efforts and noble example in that
direction.
I started to attend school when six. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were schoolteachers.
There were twenty-five going to school1. Twenty-five coming from Gerringong,
as there was not any school there, and they walked to Omega every day from
Gerringong2. When Mr. Hunt left, Mr. Bourse Field was the next teacher, then
Mr. Haggart, and then Mr. Hall so I was educated under four teachers. There
was not any high school in those days.
I left school when I was sixteen years of age and started to help work at
Renfrew park on my fathers farm where about eighty cows were being
milked3. Then, the separation and selling of cream was being introduced. The
cream was hand skimmed and made into butter and sent by the steamer
Dairy May which called twice a week at Gerringong when the sea was calm
enough and the produce was then taken out to the steamer by a boat and
hauled up. I went out to the boat in a steamer the first time it came with my
brothers.
I worked on the farm until thirty-five years of age, and then I started my own
on the farm adjoining which I bought from the Grey estate when it was sold
and I married Ms. Arabella Morrow, the eldest daughter of Mr W. H. and Mrs.
Morrow but unfortunately she passed away during her child birth. They were
premature twins. One lived and was reared by her grandmother, and is living
with her aunt Ms. Lily Morrow in Kiama.
After three years I married again, Ms. Alice M. Grey, youngest daughter of W.
H. Grey and I had three daughters and three sons, and all are married. Lorna,
the eldest (Mrs. Vincent James Walker), Hazel (Mrs. Hiddlestone, living in
Wollongong) and Beth (Mrs. Luxton, living in Gerringong), Arnold and Bill
(living on the farm in Parkview, both married; Arnold to Winnie Faulks of
England and they had three daughters and one son and Bill to Jeanette
Mitchell and has one son.) Lorna has no children, Hazel has one daughter and
Beth two daughters. Ivan the youngest son, married Marge Campbell and has
two daughters. He joined an insurance society when he left school and is now
an inspector in the company.
1 At the property of Omega, underneath the south armpit of Saddleback
2 This would have been around five kilometers from the centre of Gerringong.
3 This would have been a significant number of cows a the time, with the workers at full
capacity because they were hand milking

Well, so much for the family! After I started on the farm, I became interested
in show cattle. I was an exhibitor for a few years in the district shows, and won
the first prize for the Illawarra bull for the coast shows. There was not a
champion prize then, and I was told by a good judge that I had the best herd
of cows that he had seen. But my show days soon ended and I had to give it
up on account of a shortage of labour.
I took an active part of farming. I was a part of the Illawarra Dairy Cattle
association, being the seconder of the motion moved by MR. J Hindmarsh that
the association be formed. I was appointed one of the first examiners of the
breed, which I held for several years. I was the second farmer in the district to
install a milking machine and one of the first to purchase a motor car.
During my lifetime, I have seen some wonderful things happen. First of all
there was the train line from Bombo to Nowra. And I went to Sydney by the
first train that ran from Nowra. Then, there were no milking machines. My
father often said they would never invent a milking machine to milk cows.
Then there was the telephone and the wireless and last but not least the
television and the motorcar and the flying machines and the different cures
for all kinds of diseases.
When I was 16, I joined the Gerringong cricket club and played for several
years, and when the second eleven was formed, I was appointed the captain. I
was also captain of the Good Temple team. I was also selected to play in a
district team against a Sydney team, with George Pestle from Gerringong.
George made top score and I made third for the team.
I was an active member of the congregational church together with my wife.
We were both appointed life deacon and deaconess. I was appointed secretary
and held the office for thirty-six years. During that term, nine ministers passed
through that church.
I was appointed a JP fifty years ago and I was a member of the Gerringong
Municipal council for fifteen years and mayor for three years and a
committeeman of the Kiama and AMH (Agricultural and Horticultural) society
for thirty years and president for three years.
I was a member of the Good Temple Lodge for many years. I filled all the
offices. I was appointed to the first office in the lodge of the Lodge Deputy. I
was appointed District Chief Templar and had to visit the different lodges once
a quarter. I was a member of the Royal Orange Lodge of Gerringong for a time
until the Lodge ceased to operate, and a member of the Sons of Temperance
Kiama for about twenty years, I am still a member of that Lodge.
I have judged the Illawarra Dairy cattle at different shows from Alstonville
down the coast as for as Milton out as far as Camden.
I have survived some serious illnesses. I will be ninety-two years of age if I am
spared to live, until the 19th of August 1959. I can get about fairly well if I do
light work. I hope to improve after winter.
It was on the Richmond River where I first met my present wife, after being
invited to judge cattle at Alstonville show.

We had the honour of celebrating our Golden Wedding anniversary on the 28th
of October last year (1915).
John passed away in 1966.
APPENDIX I (Written on the inside of the family Bible cover)
-

Parkview destroyed by fire 31st of May1912. It was rebuilt and moved on

the 19th August 1913.
Diamond Wedding anniversary was in 1925.
J.G. Miller born April 19th 1867.
A. M. Miller born December 27th 1885.
Alice Maria Millers parents (the Greys) died August 27th 1929.
Aunt Mary died May 9th 1929.