Son of Beatrix and Edward Matthews
Clarie Matthews was born at Barraba on 3 July 1916. He grew up at Maules Creek on his father’s property “Glendon” and went to school at “Berrioye”, a one-teacher school, upper Maules Creek. As a young man he was a shearer.
In April 1939, he married Phyllis Morris, daughter of Jack and Caroline Morris of “Pinnacle View” Maules Creek. Clarrie built a cottage at “Glendon” and while there they had their three children – Kay, born in Gunnedah; Shirley, born at home during a flood; and Maurice, born at Gunnedah. Shortly afterwards Clarrie and Phyllis moved onto a property at Kelvin, Gunnedah. In 1951 their son Maurice died of pneumonia.
Several years later Clarrie and Phyllis were divorced, and Phyllis went to Tamworth to live with the two girls. Clarrie remarried and continued to live on the property, later retiring to Brisbane where he died on 8 February 1990.
Kay married Ross Porter in Tamworth in 1957 and had three children – Terence (divorced, has a son Brett and now lives in QLD). Brenda (married, two girls – Tara and Kaylen) and Nancy (nurse). Kay passed away on 22 October 1988, losing her battle with cancer.
Shirley married James Thompson in Tamworth in 1959 and lives at Morton, Brisbane. They have three children – Suzanne, Sonya and Shirley.
Phyllis recalls kerosene tins coming in wooden boxes and then being used to sit on in place of chairs, and using the tins with the sides cut out of for washing-up dishes. Aprons were made from sugar bags, and flour bags were used for tea towels.