Pictured above. Mary River Crossing at Miva.

Sunday Picnics. On Sundays the only form of entertainment was to go on picnics, which usually ended up at Miva Crossing. In those days there was a drapery store owned by Duncan Stewart – Don Stewart started a bus run from Bauple and every Sunday morning he would pick up everyone from the side of the road and invariable end up at the Miva crossing.

Eel Charming. Archie’s dad, Walter Hoffman, was a great fisherman and had a favourite trick. The Miva crossing its self was just a concrete slab that crossed the river (which, by the way, is still there and can be seen up the river from the present Mary River Bridge). In normal weather there would be 6 to 12 inches of water running continually across it. Below the level crossing were a large number of rocks which stretched for a chain or two down the river, and old dad’s trick was to get 6 to 8 foot of fishing line, (in those days there was no such thing as nylon lines – it was all hemp) and attach a large hook on one end. Then he would go into the water, below the crossing, and get into a swimming position. He would lie down and hold the hook in his mouth and run his hands down the side of the rocks where the eels would shelter. He would then, as he called it, “tickle them.” He would feel the eel and run his hand up and down it so as not to frighten them, then he would slowly take the hook down through the water and jag the eel with the hook. It was quite a show when he would bring them out from the rocks – some as big as monsters! Everybody would be standing on the crossing applauding him! Walter showed Archie how to do it. Archie said “I could do it, but as I was 17/18 years old, in those days girls were more interesting than eels.” He remembers it as “a wonderful time of my life”.

Tinnanbar. Archie’s father was one of the keenest fishermen he ever knew. He was one of the original committee members who started the Tinnanbar Improvement Committee. It included Walter Hoffman, Jack Greaves, Bill and Joe Scott, Bill Davis, Jack Brown and Hugh Douglas. They started the committee to raise money to start the township of Tinnanbar. The Hoffmans at the time had rather a large farm truck and on weekends Archie used to drive for them. The road was only two wheel tracks eroded over time with roots exposed. It was very slow going. When they came to a creek, they cut large logs and make a bridge. Eventually, they raised enough money to put a small hut at Tinnanbar. It consisted of 4 posts and a gable roof. As the committee gained more finances they finished the hut and it became a very warm and comfortable camp.

In the slack season in the sugar industry they would go to Tinnanbar for 3 or 4 weeks at a time. It was rather a wonderful place with an abundance of fish and bird life. They cleared the country to make better access for fishing.

Above. Archie at left and family.

Excerpt from the memories of Archie as told to his daughter Stephanie. For further information or details of stories of our past contact Trevor Keightley. 4129 2504