I'm Twerpy Smith, that's what the locals call me, host of Taroom Tales, yarns from Back in the Day. Join me each month for conversations with the eldest Taroom locals bringing the town's history back to life with tales of cherished memories, legendary characters and everything in between. Theirs was an era of ladies and gentlemen, hard-working and hard-riding stockmen, and resilient, courageous, and tolerant women. Wherever I roam, I am a proud Taroom girl, excited to be sharing these precious stories... guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
TAROOM TALES Yarns from Back in the Day
Claim This Podcastby Leesa Bongers
Podcast Overview
I'm Twerpy Smith, that's what the locals call me, host of Taroom Tales, yarns from Back in the Day. Join me each month for conversations with the eldest Taroom locals bringing the town's history back to life with tales of cherished memories, legendary characters and everything in between. Theirs was an era of ladies and gentlemen, hard-working and hard-riding stockmen, and resilient, courageous, and tolerant women. Wherever I roam, I am a proud Taroom girl, excited to be sharing these precious stories... guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye.<hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
11/20/2023
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Recent Episodes
May 10, 2026
VI HAY - Pt1
<p>Vi Hay, a Taroom local for more than 90 years, grew up on Bradley Farm near Kinnoul Station. She married my great uncle Bill Hay (of the "Palm Tree" Hay family) and spent more than 47 years living at Bedourie Station. Part 1 of "Always a Bush Girl" covers the early years growing up in the Taroom bush with 6 siblings, through the war years, and her move to Bedourie. In the beginning, it was more than 12 hours by vehicle from the nearest town over the roughest tracks, with only her husband for company - when he wasn't out in mustering camps. This was before the age of electricity or refrigeration, and there was no phone or running water. Bush life was never easy, but it was a life Vi loved. </p><br><p><strong>SHOW NOTES:</strong></p><br><p><strong>Music by Steven O'Brien:</strong></p><p>"Morning Stroll", "Silent Film Piano - Full", "Acoustic Breeze", "Sorrow and Regret", by Steven O'Brien (CC-BY, www.steven-obrien.net)</p><br><p><strong>Music by Ben Sound:</strong></p><p>"Sunny", "Ukulele", "Olde Timey" by Benjamin Tissot (www.BenSound.com)</p><br><p><strong>Music by Kevin MacLeod, Incompetech:</strong></p><p>"Starting Out Waltz Vivace", "Olde Timey" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) </p><br><p><strong>Sound Effects by FreeSound:</strong></p><p>Horse Whinny: 419231__inspectorj__horse-whinny-close-a.wav</p><p>Whip Cracking: WHIP CRACK 93140__cgeffex__whip-cracks.wav</p><br><p><strong>Thanks to guests, family, and friends:</strong></p><p>Vi Hay</p><p>Selma Draper</p><p>Lex Smith</p><p>Sally Symes</p><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
November 11, 2024
LAURIE POINTING - Pt2
<p><strong>Ep5 Part 2 of conversations with Laurie Pointing</strong> covers events and characters from the 7 years he worked on a host of cattle stations in Taroom, arriving as a 15-year-old before leaving to join the police force as a 21-year-old. In the 1954 floods Laurie witnessed the tragic drowning of a stockman friend, shortly after living through the destruction of Broadmere homestead by fire. Bob McCorry, the other stockman present at the time, had a secret of his own which was discovered and kept quiet by the local Police Sergeant Jim Johnson. Laurie’s good mate Jack Clarris is remembered as a legendary horseman, and the tale of Jack’s near-death accident as a 16-year-old is discussed. Bobby Dunbar, Bill Scantlebury, Charlie Gassman, and many other characters of that remarkable time are mentioned. Following further research and details provided by listeners, some more details are revealed from stories told in Part 1, such as the death of George Marcel, a cook at the Leichhardt Hotel Taroom who was killed in a brawl with a stockman at the New Year’s Eve dance in December 1951. Other guests contributing to this episode are Vaughn Becker, Lex Smith and Mick Ratz.</p><p>Laurie is 88 years old at the time of publishing (Nov 2024) and resides with family in Townsville. He has remained friends with all those he knew during his time in Taroom, and he keeps in touch regularly. Laurie has written numerous poems and has published 7 books, including his own memoirs from childhood, and his police career, as well as the biography of Jack Clarris.</p><p> </p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
August 6, 2024
LAURIE POINTING-Pt1
<p><em>Episode 4 - Part 1 (July 2024) "Top Riders, Fires and Fatalities"</em></p><p><strong>88 year old Laurie Pointing was a ringer in Taroom for 7 years from 1952 to 1958</strong>, working on multiple stations such as <em>Nunbank, Gwambegwine, Ghinghinda, Broadmere, Glenhaughton, and The Bend.</em> Laurie was the first of many Ipswich lads to make the journey out west looking for work as a stockman. In 1958 he joined the Queensland Police force with Taroom mate Paul Phipps, where he worked his way up to Assistant Commissioner of Police before his retirement.</p><br><p><strong>In Part 1 of Episode 4</strong>, Laurie talks about the top riders he knew during his time in Taroom in the 1950s, notably his lifelong friend Jack Clarris. Many other characters of the district are mentioned in this entertaining episode. Laurie also touches on some sad stories, including the fire at Broadmere when the entire homestead complex burnt to the ground, and the death of a young cook from the Leichhardt Hotel at the new years eve dance on 31 December 1951, just before he arrived in town ahead of his 16th birthday in August 1952. </p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
7 total episodes available
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- What is TAROOM TALES Yarns from Back in the Day?
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This podcast updates weekly.
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