Warrumbungle Who's Who
Distinguished and Famous people from Warrumbungle
1. Banjo Paterson (1864-1941)
Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson was an Australian bush poet and journalist born in the town of Narrambla in the Warrumbungle region. He is best known for his captivating ballads and poems, including "Waltzing Matilda" and "The Man from Snowy River," which celebrate the Australian bush lifestyle. Paterson's work holds a significant place in Australian literature and has become an integral part of the country's folklore.
2. Tim White (1960 - )
Tim White is a renowned paleoanthropologist born in Coolah, a locality within the Warrumbungle region. He has played a significant role in the field of human evolution and has made several important fossil discoveries. Dr. White has conducted extensive research in East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, where he discovered the famous hominid fossil Australopithecus garhi. His contributions to the understanding of human ancestors are highly regarded in scientific circles.
3. Ginger Meggs (1921 - present)
Ginger Meggs is a well-known comic strip character created by Jimmy Bancks, an Australian cartoonist born in the town of Molong, part of the Warrumbungle region. The comic strip debuted in Australia in 1921 and gained immense popularity. Ginger Meggs, a mischievous red-haired boy, has continued to entertain generations of readers with his adventurous antics and relatable stories.
4. Bob Dyer (1909-1984)
Robert Neil Dyer, commonly known as Bob Dyer, was a popular Australian radio and television personality born in Glenreagh, New South Wales. He gained widespread fame through his radio show "Pick-a-Box" and later became the host of the television version. Bob Dyer's energetic persona and charismatic hosting style made him a beloved figure in Australian entertainment during the mid-20th century.
5. Dawn Fraser (1937 - )
Dawn Fraser is an Australian former competitive swimmer and Olympic champion born in Balmain, Sydney. However, she spent her formative years in the town of Tullamore, located in the Warrumbungle region. Fraser is regarded as one of Australia's greatest athletes, having won numerous Olympic gold medals and setting multiple world records in swimming. Her success and trailblazing achievements have made her an iconic figure in Australian sports history.
6. John Kerr (1914-1991)
Sir John Robert Kerr was an Australian magistrate and the 18th Governor-General of Australia. He was born in Balmain, Sydney but had strong connections to the town of Warrumbungle. Kerr's tenure as Governor-General was marked by the constitutional crisis in 1975, known as the dismissal of the Whitlam government. This event ultimately led to significant changes in Australian politics and the role of the Governor-General.
7. Dorothea Mackellar (1885-1968)
Dorothea Mackellar was an acclaimed Australian poet who wrote the famous poem "My Country" in 1908. She was born and raised in Sydney but had a deep connection to the Warrumbungle region through her family's property, "Koorawatha," near Gunnedah. Mackellar's poem beautifully captures the Australian landscape and sense of national identity, making her one of the nation's most celebrated poets.
