Son of Edward and Rebecca Martha Simshauser
Vincent (k/a Vince) was born at Barraba and lived most of his 61 years at “The Downs”. In 1940 he married Clair Saunders and they had a family of six children. Ronald, Jeanette and Robert all died in infancy. Mervyn Ross lives in Tamworth, Leslie Guy lives at Belmont North and Peter Wayne lives at Wentworth Falls.
Vince died suddenly at his home “The Downs” on 29 July 1973. Clair lived at Moree whilst her sons Ross and Les were in business there, but since 1984 she has lived at her Suzanne St. residence, Tamworth.
Mervyn Ross Simshauser (k/a Ross) is the eldest son of Vincent Simshauser (deceased) and his wife Clair.
‘I lived on “The Downs” and went through primary school at “Paleroo”, a one-teacher school at “Roseberry Park”, about three miles from “The Downs”. In 1948 the school building was brought to “Roseberry Park” and reassembled, after being transported from Narrabri. I started school in October 1949. In 1957 I commenced school at Farrer High School, but in 1959, after gaining my Intermediate Certificate, getting into the workforce seemed more important than school, so I left school at the end of 1959.
I had so many ambitions, I didn’t know what I really wanted to do or what career to follow. I joined the Forestry Commission as a junior clerk, working in the Narrabri office in the Courier building. After two years I decided that office work was not for me. I always had a passion for tractors and farm machinery. I was too old for an apprenticeship so I returned to “The Downs”, during which time I studied an American-based course in diesel engines and machinery. During this three-year course I applied for and was given a position with J.I. Case distributors, Stevens Pilditch Crossing, Moree, until 1965, when I was transferred to Toowoomba.
However, I returned to Moree, where in 1969 my brother Leslie and I started trading as Simshauser Bros., a business of servicing small engines. In 1973 Les branched out in his own business, specialising in motorcycles. I continued in Moree until 1980 when the business was re-established in Tamworth, trading as Simshauser & Blackett, and then later Simshauser Engines once again. In November 1991, the company once again changed, and now trades as Tamworth Hydraulics.
In September 1968 I married Patricia Johnson from Barraba. We have two children – Gavin (b. 1972) and Julie (b. 1975). Like everyone else in business, we have endured droughts, recessions, governments and the world’s greatest treasurer. I would one day like to return to a smaller town. I guess I will always be “A boy from the bush”.’
Leslie Guy Simshauser (k/a Les) is a motor mechanic and in partnership with his wife Sheryl, conducts his own business at Belmont. Les moved from Moree to Belmont in 1981. From 1974 to 1981 he had Simshauser Motorcycles in Moree, having been in partnership with his brother Ross as small engine specialists from 1969 to 1974.
Les attended school at Paleroo, followed by high school at Inverell, where he boarded, and later at Barraba. On leaving school he worked on farms in the Rocky Creek Valley, including four years at “The Downs”, until 1965 when he served his apprenticeship in automotive engineering with P & M Boyd, Moree.
Les and Sheryl have three sons –
- Mathew Guy (20 years) who is engaged to be married in November 1992.
- Troy Vincent (18 years)
- Luke Charles (10 years)
Their daughter Nicole Jane, died as a result of cot death at four weeks on 1 August 1978.
Peter Wayne Simshauser has been living at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains with his wife Sue and their three sons – Adam, Trent and Dean – for the last eight years. Peter is the youngest son of Vince and Clair Simshauser. He was born in Barraba, and in 1971 he married Susan Griffiths, daughter of Mr and Mrs Frank Griffiths of “Myall Valley” Narrabri.
Peter is the engineer in charge of buildings, services and equipment for the Blue Mountains sector of the Wentworth area Health Service, which incorporates all health facilities in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. He is based at Katoomba. His wife Susan owns and operates the ‘best’ (quotes Peter!) hairdressing salon in the mountains at Leura.
Their eldest son, Adam Wayne (b. 18 December 1971 at Narrabri) is completing a motor mechanic apprenticeship with Sinclair Ford at Katoomba. Trent Andrew (b. 23 October 1973 at Narrabri) is at the Army College of TAFE (Wodonga, Victoria) studying electronics and communications. Dean Perrin (b. 10 September 1981 at Moree) is currently in Year 5 at Wentworth Falls Primary School. Peter and Sue are keen tennis and golf players, when time permits. Adam enjoys tennis and riding his motorbike, while Trent and Dean play cricket on a regular basis.