Episode 4 - Part 1 (July 2024) "Top Riders, Fires and Fatalities"

88 year old Laurie Pointing was a ringer in Taroom for 7 years from 1952 to 1958, working on multiple stations such as Nunbank, Gwambegwine, Ghinghinda, Broadmere, Glenhaughton, and The Bend. Laurie was the first of many Ipswich lads to make the journey out west looking for work as a stockman. In 1958 he joined the Queensland Police force with Taroom mate Paul Phipps, where he worked his way up to Assistant Commissioner of Police before his retirement.

In Part 1 of Episode 4, Laurie talks about the top riders he knew during his time in Taroom in the 1950s, notably his lifelong friend Jack Clarris. Many other characters of the district are mentioned in this entertaining episode. Laurie also touches on some sad stories, including the fire at Broadmere when the entire homestead complex burnt to the ground, and the death of a young cook from the Leichhardt Hotel at the new years eve dance on 31 December 1951, just before he arrived in town ahead of his 16th birthday in August 1952.

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