Putty People
The February 2016 Newsletter of the Putty Community Association Inc.
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PUTTY NEWS
PUTTY COMMUNITY FAIR 2016
The PCA held it’s AGM on the 6th February at
the Putty Hall. It was well attended and the
committee was returned to office with Judy
Hobson taking on the position of Vice President.
Saturday 19 March at 4pm a group of
enthusiastic volunteers are meeting to
organise a community fair. The team will be
co-ordinated by Judy Hobson and we need more
volunteers to contribute their ideas and talent to
make it a huge success as well as a lot of fun
Tim Spooner gave an update on the sealing of
Putty Valley Road - from the Hall to Pilgrim’s Rest,
which should begin in the next two weeks.
The PCA will apply for a grant from Singleton
Council to improve the exterior lighting at the Hall.
The playground equipment from the Singleton
Council is still in the pipeline - watch this space!
Current PCA membership of $20 is now due.
Cheque or direct deposit to: Putty Community
Association Inc.
bsb: 062 622, account: 10444988
Your membership is an important contribution to
our Hall’s upkeep.
Please contact Judy Hobson on 6579 7067 for
more information or just come along.
WEATHER COMMENT by Terry O’Brien
January’s rainfall is the highest on record
since 1963. The next highest is 255.3mm in
1972. Only three other recordings above 200mm
for January have been made and on two of these
occasions the annual rainfall was below average
and the other was only about 60mm above
average. At least all the dams and tanks are full
which is a great start for the year.
Putty People Newsletter February 2016, Page 2 of 6
FIREY NEWS from Margaret Ferguson
The Fire Danger Rating sign on the corner of Box Gap Road was set to HIGH on many days
during late December and early January and the likelihood of fires was becoming a worry. Then
came the rain - lots of it. As a result of the good season, we all need to be aware of how much the
grasses and scrub has grown, where it is and how it might be a risk to our assets when the next fire
season is here. Happy slashing!
COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS
Fortunately the Putty CFR team did not have to attend to any incidents in January. The CFR’s
continued to attend training sessions in January and early February for Maintenance of Skills.
GOOD NEWS ITEM
Late in November, Howes Valley CFR team attended to a motor cycle rider who had gone over
an embankment. He survived and his club, the Sydney Easy/Social Riders were so grateful for the
assistance given that they set up a donation board on their website. On Saturday 30th January at a
BBQ hosted by the Howes Valley Brigade, the motor cycle club handed over a cheque for over $2000
raised as donations, not only from their club but by many others who ride the Putty Road.
Smaller vehicles have been provided by NSWRFS as response units for the CFR teams. This money
has been earmarked to fit out these vehicles with draws and cupboards to carry the equipment
supplied by NSW Ambulance. With the first aid bags kept on board it will allow for quicker response
times than those currently being experienced. Having these dedicated vehicles frees up Putty 7 and
Howes Valley 7, both of which were used to attend previous incidents.
LOCAL LAND SERVICESHUNTER Margaret Ferguson
If you have stock on your property in Putty,
then you will be familiar with the Local Land
Services for the area, the LLS-Hunter. Each
year it is a requirement that annual stock and
landholding returns are submitted to the LLS
and subsequently an annual rate account is
received for payment. Have you ever
wondered just what is it you get in return for
paying these rates?
Service and advice is available through the
LLS website for matters such as AgricultureCrops & Pastures, Livestock Management
and Assistance, Land and Water-Natural
Resource Management, Biosecurity-Pests,
(including wild dogs) & Diseases, Emergency
Management & Assistance and in the
Resource Hub you will find Media releases,
Publications and information about Courses
and Events.
Log onto http://hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au/ browse
the headings and find out more.
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WEED OF MONTH
ROCK FERN or
MULGA FERN
by Ken Ferguson
Rock Fern or Mulga
Fern grows in a
variety of situations
from open pastures
to rocky crevices on
hillsides.
It’s a deceptively
attractive plant and
although it has not
been declared a
noxious plant, the
fern is poisonous to
cattle, horses and
sheep if they choose
to eat it.
Putty People Newsletter February 2016, Page 3 of 6
Rock Fern or Mulga Fern continued
The fern contains nitrates which when eaten by cattle will convert in their rumen microflora to
nitrite, then ammonia. Nitrite poisoning affects oxygen transport in the animal and signs include
laboured breathing, diarrhoea, inability to stand, disinterest, apparent blindness, episodes of convulsions
and signs of nervousness. The animal will have a bloody nasal discharge and blood in their dung and
urine. Some blisters may be seen around their nose and mouth. Death usually follows and will occur
quickly if the affected animal is forced to move. Autopsies reveal internal haemorrhages through all
organs.
Stock on my property and nearby properties died between April and September 2014 as a result of
eating rock fern. It is not such a problem when there is an abundance of other green feed available but
in drought conditions or when good grasses die off, poisoning can occur.
There is no treatment for an affected animal but experiments suggest, though not conclusively, that
moving cattle from a fern infested paddock after ten days of grazing to a fern free area for about three
weeks may prevent the build-up of the poison in their system.
In all my forty years in Putty, I have never seen so much rock fern as I have in my paddocks at the
moment. Usually there is a plant here and there but this season it is growing in thick stands. I have
been spraying rock fern with Metsulphuron 600 at the rate of 25 grams/100 litres of rain water or a
herbicide containing 300g/L Triclopyr and 100g/L of Picloram at a rate of 500 ml/100 litres of rain
water and found both of them effective, the later giving a quicker result. Both of these products will kill
legumes. I have not been able to find any herbicide which is registered as a control for rock fern.
When using any herbicide, read the label on the container and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
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THE NATIVES CALLED IT B’POOTY by Margaret Ferguson
Chapter 2 – Marriage, family and securing the land.
In July 1826, Hannah Laycock wrote to Governor Ralph Darling, Governor of NSW from 1825 to 1831,
requesting permission to rent a further 1000 acres at Putty. In October she lodged another application to
purchase the same land stating that her cattle had been ‘de-pasturing’ the area and that she was already
in possession of one hundred acres, twenty of which had been cleared. She also supported her request
by stating that she had 5000 pounds sterling to her credit. The application must have been unsuccessful
as in July 1828 she applied again to rent it with a view to purchase.
Hannah Laycock and her husband, Thomas, had six children. Sarah, William, Thomas Jnr., Samuel,
Rebecca and Elizabeth. When Hannah died in 1831 the one hundred acres promised and taken up at
Putty was then allegedly ‘devised’ to Samuel, who died the following year.
Thomas Laycock Jnr
Hannah’s son, Thomas Jnr, joined the NSW Corps in 1795 and as a soldier
served in Sydney and on Norfolk Island. In 1806 he was sent to Port
Dalrymple in the north of Tasmania. He and his party were the first to traverse
the island, north to south. The expedition was to
obtain relief for the famine stricken northern
settlement. However, on reaching Hobart Town, it
was found that the south of Tasmania was equally
short of food.
He returned to Sydney and in 1809 married
Isabella Bunker, daughter of Captain Eber Bunker,
a man considered to be the father of Australian
Whaling. With the NSW Corps, the couple moved
to England the following year where Thomas was
promoted to Captain in the 98th Regiment and served in the American War.
Isabella Bunker
Putty People Newsletter February 2016, page 4 of 6
THE NATIVES CALLED IT B’POOTY continued
In 1815 while Thomas was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, their son, Thomas William Eber Bunker
Laycock, was born. Two years later the family returned to Sydney but within two months Isabella died in
childbirth. Thomas Jnr. later married Margaret Connell, daughter of merchant, John Connell. The couple
had two children and all the family lived on Thomas’ estate at Bringelly. He soon became a large supplier
of meat to the commissariat but sadly died at his home in 1823 at the age of thirty seven.
Thomas W.E.B. was only eight years old when his father died and a year later he was living and
working with his Uncle Samuel on Putty Farm. After his Uncle died, Thomas W.E.B, at the age of
seventeen years, was left to run the farm and in 1833 he made application for the land to be surveyed.
Two years later he married his cousin, Mary Matcham Pitt. Mary was the daughter of his Aunt
Elizabeth who had married Thomas Matcham Pitt. While Thomas W.E.B. and Mary were residing in
Richmond, their children Thomas, Elizabeth, Robert, Henry and Andrew were born.
Later in 1845, Thomas W.E.B and Mary set up residence on the Putty farm where four more children,
Isabella, Emily Jane, Mary and George completed their family. After Hannah, these nine brothers and
sisters were the third generation of Laycocks in Putty.
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE - FRIDAY 21st MARCH, 1845
Court of Claims office, 17 March - Notice is hereby given, that the following Claims for Deeds of Grant
of Land and Town Allotments will be ready for the examination of the Commissioners at the expiration
of two months from this date, before which day any caveat or counter claim must be entered at this
office. Due notice will be given of the days appointed for the hearings:-
1236. Thomas William Eber Bunker Laycock, of Putty on the Bulga, by his solicitor, Francis
Baddek, Esq , 100 acres, County of Hunter, at Putty, near the Bulga Road. This land was located
on an order of Governor Macquarie, dated 30th October, 1813, in favour of Hannah Laycock,
deceased, who, it is alleged, devised to Samuel Laycock, deceased, with remainder to applicant.
His claim was granted and the property transferred into his name on 30th July, 1845. Finally, after
more than thirty years, the original 100 acre grant belonged to a member of the Laycock family.
To be continued . . .
A very friendly Sam
wanders over for a
chat over the fence
Putty People Newsletter February 2016, Page 5 of 6
UPCOMING EVENTS
PUTTY RURAL FIRE BRIGADE
MEMBERS’ TRAINING
On Saturday 13 February Judy Smits, Putty
Brigade Training Officer, will hold a training
morning on Saturday 13th February, commencing
at 10.30am. This is in response to the requirement
that the Hunter Valley district brigades hold regular
trainings.
As part of this requirement, The morning will
consist of familiarisation of Putty 1, unpacking,
cleaning and repacking lockers and generally
learning where equipment is located and how it
works. This fire season has been kind to us but it
also means we have become a bit rusty in relation
to how the trucks function.
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GENERAL
MEETING OF THE
PUTTY RURAL FIRE
BRIGADE
THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING of the PRFB
will be held on Saturday 27th February at the
Putty Fire Station, commencing at 3.00pm.
Main Agenda Items will include:
Acceptance of probationary members, Fr. Max
Eggert and Jane Robinson as Ordinary
members.
Discussion regarding draft NSWRFS
Constitution to be accepted by all brigades at
their next AGM.
If you have PPE, it should be worn for training
activities.
Lunch will be provided - sausage sizzle, with tea,
coffee as well as cold drinks provided during
training. Judy can be contacted by email at
chicy66@hotmail.com or 02 6579 7110.
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NSW SUSTAINABLE HORSE
KEEPING CONFERENCE 2016
SINGLETON LIBRARY VISIT THE
PUTTY HALL
Early bird tickets now available until end of
Feb for $275.
At Western Sydney University - Hawkesbury
Campus on Saturday 7th May 2016 the
Greater Sydney Local Land Services is pleased
to be hosting the first NSW Sustainable Horse
Keeping Conference.
Singleton Library staff will be at Putty Hall on
Thursday 18th February from 11.00am until
1.00pm
They will be bringing with them their Duplo Kit for
toddler play time and will run through some of the
library online services.
These will include how to:
• download free ebooks;
• download free audiobooks;
• how to access free publications such as
This fully catered event will feature Australian
Olympian Stuart Tinney, international guest
speaker Alayne Blickle and national experts on
all matters of sustainable horse keeping.
Topics to include
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How to get the best from your land
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Soil and manure management
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Horse health and disease prevention
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Latest research on diet selection and
foraging behaviour
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Sustainable agistment
newspapers and magazines from Australia and
around the world
Some computers will be available but it would be
an advantage to you if you were able to bring you
own computer or I-Pad.
Morning tea will be provided.
Please contact Margaret Ferguson on 65797077
to confirm you attendance.
Early bird tickets currently available at:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/
sustainable-horsekeeping-nswtickets-20095754944
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Putty People Newsletter February 2016 Page 6 of 6
PUTTY RAINFALL JANUARY 2016
________________________________________
SOUTH
FAIRVIEW NORTH
Jan. 2016
266.80mm 265.00mm 275.00mm
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Jan. 2015 145.60mm 159.70mm
246.00mm
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Jan. 10 yr 109.11mm 113.70mm
141.00mm
average
Year to date
Jan. 2016 266.80mm 265.00mm
Jan. 2015 145.60mm 159.70mm
10 yr av
109.11 mm 113.70 mm
275.00mm
146.00mm
141.00 mm
Recordings were taken at Fairview, Putty, with
reference to the Bureau of Meteorology
www.bom.gov.au.
Recordings were also taken at Mellong Grove, Putty
Rd (south) and The Top Place, Putty Valley Rd, north.
If it rains at Putty, residents are encouraged to post
their rainfall on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/
PuttyCommunityAssociation so weekenders will
know if they need to water their gardens.
PUTTY WEBSITE ‘Putty Valley Online’
Putty Valley Online contains many interesting links
including:
• Trades & Services Directory at
www.putty.nsw.au/whereis
•
Weekly cattle sale prices from the Meat
and Livestock Authority (MLA) at
www.putty.nsw.au/rural/cattle-hotline
PCA FACEBOOK
For news as it happens. If you haven’t already
signed up to our Facebook page, you can do so
by clicking Like at: https://www.facebook.com/
PuttyCommunityAssociation
Post your pictures and stories!
ADVERTISING: pca@putty.nsw.au
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PRAYERS AND BIBLE STUDIES
FRIDAY NIGHT DETOUR AT
THE PUTTY HALL
The Friday night Detour starts at
5.30pm and the PCA invites you to
catch up with friends or meet new
ones in a relaxed and welcoming
environment. Delicious meals are available at
reasonable prices.
The Putty Community Association practices
the responsible service of alcohol.
All profits support Putty Community activities.
PUTTY PEOPLE ADVERTISING
In publishing these ads, the PCA is
not endorsing or recommending any
product or service advertised below.
TRADES AND SERVICES
Munro’s Meats
Fresh Food winner of the Australian
Small Business Champion Awards 2013.
Royal Easter Show award winning ham.
King Road, Wilberforce Shopping Centre
Ph: 4575 1961
Fitzgerald Motors
Sales and service of mowers, ride-on
mowers, chainsaws, trimmers, mulchers,
water pumps, generators, posthole
diggers, sprayers etc
9 Fitzgerald Street, Windsor
Ph: 4577 3401
www.fitzgeraldmotors.com.au
LEC AIR & ELECTRICAL
Aircon, refrigeration, electrician, heat
transfer kits. Lic: 167542C Ph: Matt Ward 0413 850 298
All services will recommence on 19 MARCH 2016.
Our Lady of the Valley services for 2016 will be
held at Putty Hall with resident Anglican Priest, Fr.
Max.
2nd Sunday and 4th Sunday of the Month:
Eucharist at 8:30am, Prayer and Bible Study at
9:30am and Sunday School at 11am.
NEWSLETTER CONTACT
Please call with any news, activities or
photographs to include in our
monthly newsletter.
Martha Babineau, phone 6579 7000
mailtroika@gmail.com