AUSTRALIA was in the midst of World War ll and celebrations were infrequent and frugal when Zelma Wallace and Sid Turnbull found each other.
On July 18, 1942, after meeting in the Milton cafe, the couple married in the St Peter’s and St Paul’s Anglican Church, Milton, modestly celebrating with a cup of tea afterwards.
Like his brothers, George and Felton, Sid was a share farmer, milking cows.
Now the couple can look back on a life well lived.
Zelma’s father, Fred Wallace was a stock and station agent and bought the cafe in Milton and it was here the two met.
They lived on the family dairy farm with a Friesian herd, one of 27 such farms in the Milton area at that time and continued milking until 1968. Both Zelma and Sid were known for their horsemanship and abilities to handle stock. Horses were a way of life for the Turnbulls, and most everybody in this area, as fuel was in short supply during and after the war.
After the death of Mr Wallace, Mr Turnbull took over his stock and station agency, including the saleyards located in the middle of the town and became a well-known auctioneer. In 1971, son Ross joined the family business, taking over the auctioneer role from his father.
“Sid was well known as a livestock agent, both beef and dairy, and regular sales in Milton were de rigour up until the 1990s,” Chris Turnbull said. “He’d attend sales at Nowra, Bega, Braidwood and Moss Vale regularly, buying and selling for clients and on his own behalf.”
“The saleyards were literally in the centre of Milton and, when cattle were penned overnight, neighbours regularly complained because of the bellowing,” said daughter, Rhonda Evans. “I used to keep the records on sale days, which were every month, for stores, and dairy cows, and special sales every three months.”
“As well as the livestock agency, mum and dad also had a store with produce and general farm items and they also sold The Land, which they have been reading for decades now.”
The Milton Pony Club was formed in 1958 with which the Turnbull family was closely involved. Ross, Gwenda and Rhonda were members and, for many years, Sid was the patron. “Mum’s brother, Jack, was a chief instructor and I can remember riding six kilometres with Gwenda and Ross to Milton and back every Sunday. We just rode whatever old horse was on the farm at the time.”
“I remember mum cooking for all the Pony Club events,” daughter Judy Affleck recalled. “She was a renowned cook and she’d make soup, bake masses of cakes and biscuits and make sure everyone was well fed.” From this early start with horses, youngest son, Ross, eventually captained Australia in polocrosse, after the Milton Club was established in the 1970s and, is still playing “The King of the One Horse Sports” and living near Werris Creek.
Another link with horses was with the Milton Show Society, of which both Mr and Mrs Turnbull are life members. Daughter Judy continued, “Dad competed in gymkhana events and has been a horse steward for at least 55 years”.
“Mum was recognised for her cooking prowess and won many of the competitions at the show, and was especially recognised for her scones and rainbow cakes. There were and are many people around the area who’ve had Zelma’s rainbow birthday cakes.
“She still is patron of the Milton Show Society’s ladies auxiliary and although not doing any competition cooking these days, still bakes almost every day. Both are life members of the show society.”
Mr Turnbull also is a life member of the Milton Ulladulla Rugby League Bulldogs and played as a second rower in the 1948 premiership winning team. “Dad loved his rugby league, was a good athlete and played for many years,” daughter Rhonda Evans said. The Milton-Ulladulla Rotary Club is another group of which Mr Turnbull is still a participant. A Paul Harris Fellow, he still attends meetings and, again, says daughter Judy, “mum catered at so many Rotary events to raise money for the various charities they were assisting”.
With five children, Johnny, Judy, Rhonda, Gwenda and Ross, the Turnbull family was closely connected with the Milton Public School for almost a quarter of a century.
“Johnny started school in 1948 and Ross left in 1972 and, through all those years, Mum was always involved with the parents and citizens association as a committee member and cooking. There were always fundraisers and mum’s cooking was famous,” Rhonda said. “I can’t imagine how many thousands of scones, cakes and biscuits have come from her kitchen.”
These days, Mr and Mrs Turnbull still live in the house they built in 1972, but the old saleyards have been covered over by a car park. New saleyards are on the edge of town now and, every week, son Johnny and his father attend the Thursday Nowra cattle sales “to keep in touch”. According to Rhonda, “Dad listens to the sales report every lunchtime and knows the price of cattle across NSW. He still has 20 cows and calves and every now and then does some trading. If he sees a bargain, he’ll add it to the mob and, one day, it will bring a return.”