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BrianM@ updated |
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Brian Macpherson’s father Charles had chosen the Selection (Montrose) in 1919 six miles north of Bulahdelah on the Wootton Road. His idea was to earn a living from timber cutting with the idea of gradually clearing the forest and developing a mixed farm in the future. ‘Montrose’ was 165 acres of virgin bushland, some hill slopes, some creek flats by the Boolambayte Creek which flowed right across the paddock. Brian was born on Boxing Day 1917 in Seaham and as a six week old baby was transported with the whole family by horse drawn dray cradled amongst furniture and bedding for the sixty or so kilometres two day journey north to Bulahdelah. Charles had prepared a slab hut with bark roof which was home to the family until the more permanent residence at ‘Montrose’ was built. He was educated at the Boolambayte School a six and a half kilometre walk along an old bullock track following the creek, most of the children were from families occupied in bullock driving and timber getting. Brian wrote “the tradition of our family was to be always top of the class and we worked hard to maintain this”. To anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Brian or any of his siblings would know just how that trait continues to dominate throughout each of their lives. The depression years of 1930’s saw a greater struggle than ever, felling large trees, up to six feet in diameter with an axe and sawing them into eight foot lengths with a cross cut saw and splitting them with steel wedges, and selling the railway sleepers for a pittance. Brian’s life changed when he realized how his brother Colin had ‘died in his place’ when an enormous log rolled on Colin after he had changed to the downhill side of the log they were sawing . Brian married Jean on 23rd January 1946 and together they established a family of four sons and three daughters. Brian and Jean devoted their life to mission work, two stints in New Guinea and in between managers of the Tanilba Gospel Fishermen ‘Camp Home’ a few years before they moved to ‘Tahlee’ where Brian was appointed Works Manager. Brian and Jean built ‘Breanholme’ when he was sixty years of age with a vision for outreach and preaching at the place. In the mid to late 90’s regular meetings and mini conventions were regularly held at the venue with many highly regarded speakers being brought in to help the local people to get a better understanding of scripture. Brian died on August 12th 2001. How an Oxologist found life, a life story by Brian in his own words. Paraphrased Bible verses, favourites of Brian. |
