1927 – 1980
Father
Frederick O’Connor
Mother
Eileen Jean Chisholm
Siblings
Jean Eileen O’Connor/O’Sullivan, Donald Ross O’Connor, John Thomas O’Connor, Frederick Maxwell O’Connor, Anthony Brian O’Connor, Kenneth Frances O’Connor, Colin Chisholm O’Connor, Terence Michael O’Connor, Ian Patrick O’Connor
Married
Joan Bell and Paula Catherine Waterford/Burnheim/O’Conner
Children
Kay Marguerite O’Connor/Watts/Griffiths, Justin Robert O’Connor, Bernard William Burnheim, Peter John Burnheim, Elizabeth Ann Burnheim/Cock, Kelly Therese O’Connor/Newsome, Timothy Joseph O’Connor
Keith’s Life
Keith was born at Collie on the 25th February 1927. He was only 53 years old when he died on 17 August 1980 at Edinburgh, Scotland. “To die would be an awfully big adventure” says Peter Pan through his author, J M Barrie, and Keith loved big adventures.
He moved to the Coonamble district in the early 1950s and was at the helm of his business on his properties, ‘Garden Hill’ and ‘Warrington’ 28 miles from Coonamble on the Walgett Road for 30 years.
He began his farming life growing wheat at Collie. He was 17 years old, getting up at 4am to feed, harness and yolk 8 draft horses to a plough and later a combine to sow the grain.
As Neil Carroll, Keith’s lifelong friend said
“I can see them standing quietly
In the early morning sun
for Keith to check the swingle-bars
And trace chains, one by one.
…
Then they hit the collars soundly
Hackendale, with Star and Tommie
Brown and Poppet, Kate and Rose
And the stallion Globe Sensation
Marching proudly down the rows”
He thought he would make some money until his father reminded him he did not own the land. A good lesson in life was learned and in future Keith always had a contract.
In the 65 drought Keith climbed Myall trees and cut the branches off with an axe to feed his sheep. After the drought broke in 1966 he was the first person to grow wheat North of Coonamble. He used a Fordson power diesel major tractor, that had to be filled often with water bucketed from the bore drain, and a 16 row shearer combine, held together with ‘a twitch of number 8’. Because he was the Pioneer in growing wheat this paddock was then known as Pioneer.
Keith was charismatic and had a heart as big as Pharlap’s.
Wherever he went he held centre stage. At his family home “Balboora”, Collie he was the Pied Piper, who gathered all the children and the adults. At his own home “Warrington” he was the pivot to bring the dreams of his wife, children and stepchildren to reality. He was a friend to everybody, from the barflies in the pubs, through all classes even including the Prime Minister, at his son Justin’s graduation from Duntroon, when he just walked up and shook his hand and said “Hello Bob”.
He loved his family and was never happier than when he was with one or more of his brothers, ‘wetting his whistle’ and ‘having one for the road’, singing, with or without the piano, playing cricket, going to race meetings, playing crib and other card games.
He loved gatherings of people, after cricket at the pub, tennis days, parties and dancing at balls or just sitting around the table in the kitchen ‘chewing the fat’.
Keith saw the best in all things as he whistled round the house and was a proud father, a loyal friend and a devoted and loving husband.
He showed his love for his wife, Paula, and his children unconditionally forever.
Authored by Paula O’Connor