Daughter of Edward and Rebecca Martha
Eileen, fourth child of Edward and Rebecca, was born on 17 February 1910. She married Winton Taylor on 11 April 1931. ‘We didn’t have a big wedding,’ says Eileen, ‘you didn’t in those days.’ Winton and Eileen lived at “Reno” and then on their farm of 3,560 acres, “Spion Kop” for the first years of their married life, where they cared for their family – Peggy and Bradley (k/a Brad).
Speaking of her early childhood days at “The Downs” Eileen remembers.
‘We had good neighbours – they used to visit in buggies and sulkies – didn’t have cars in those days. We used to walk two and a half miles to school. Mrs Tuffrey was the teacher there. I came up to the convent in Barraba when I finished there. I boarded at the convent.’
Eileen and Winton have lived in Barraba for 23 years. Their son Brad and his wife Veronica now live on the farm “Spion Kop” with their family – two daughters Elizabeth and Simone, and their son Robert. Winton and Eileen used to visit the farm often when they first moved to town but rarely visit now.
Peggy Mallise (nee Taylor) was born on 3 September 1932, daughter of Eileen and Winton Taylor. Her education commenced with correspondence and a couple of years at the Barraba Primary School. Then in 1947, Peggy boarded at the Girls’ Hostel in Tamworth, whilst she attended the Tamworth High School.
In early life she lived at “Reno” and later moved to “Spion Kop”- ‘I often think of my good old childhood days.’ says Peggy. After school Peggy returned to “Spion Kop” to assist her father with the work on the farm.
Prior to her marriage in 1955, Peggy governessed children at Coonabarabran, North Star and Maules Creek. Peggy and her husband Charles Mallise lived at Girrawheen Gulf Creek for 13 years until they built a house in Tamworth, so their daughters Kerrie, Rhonda and Julie could complete their schooling.
Peggy and Charles continue to live in Tamworth, with one daughter living at Tamworth, one near Coffs Harbour and one in Darwin. They have three grandsons – Adam Thomson (b. 1987), Ryan Thomson (b. 1990) and Philip Lewis (b. 1990).
Bradley Taylor, son of Eileen and Winton, was also educated by correspondence, then a couple of years at the Barraba Primary School before boarding at the Church of England Boys’ Hostel, Tamworth whilst he attended the Tamworth High School. From school he returned to “Spion Kop”. He married Veronica Simpson in 1967 at Barraba.