BRINDABELLA VALLEY, N.S.W.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Brindabella Valley is located 60km South-West of Canberra in the High Country where the Goodradigbee River carries snow melts to the mighty Murrumbidgee. The Valley was settled in the late 1800's as reliable grazing land for sheep and cattle in summer and winter.

"Brindy brindy" was a local term meaning water running over rocks and bella was presumably added by the Europeans as in "bella vista". John spent much of his childhood there at his great uncle Leslie Franklin's home (cousin of Stella Miles Franklin of literary fame). Here he saw the harshness of remote rural life; and the tragedies and the triumphs that there were.

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John with older brother, Peter, in the creek behind Koolami

John with younger brother, Rob, on the driveway to Koolami

View up the Valley from Koolami

The three brothers riding "Darkie", with Uncle Leslie holding on.

John with his trusty stead, "Darkie"

The Goodridigbee River in full flow