Fergus McWhirter

Story

Fergus (Scotty) McWhirter, born on the 4 April 1920, third son of James McGeoch McWhirter, tenant farmer, Cairnbowie Farm, Kirkcolm, Scotland, immigrated to Australia in 1939. Cairnbowie Farm eventually purchased by Fergus brother Alexander Kerr McWhirter (Sandy) was part of Lord Stair’s Estate. Fergus worked for his brother until one day when reading a newspaper he had wrapped his lunch in he saw an advertisement regarding immigration to Australia. It is understood Fergus did not finish ploughing by horse-drawn implement instead he rushed home to announce he was heading for Australia.

Fergus aged 19 years arrived in Sydney and after working at Skyville for a short period at a poultry farm he enlisted in the Australian Army where he spent a period of some six years. During this time Fergus saw active duty in Egypt, Greece and New Guinea. Demobbed in Perth he jumped aboard a “rattler” and headed to Queensland where he spent time as a cane cutter, eventually after marrying in Sydney he arrived in Garlandtown, Moruya, New South Wales. During this time he worked at the quarry which supplied the granite stone to build the Sydney Harbour Bridge, The Cenotaph, the Central Post Office and the Moruya Breakwall from the Moruya Bridge to the mouth of the Moruya River. Whilst working at the quarry Fergus saved money to purchase a property with intent to establish a dairy farm somewhere on the coast.

This dream was realised when Fergus purchased Mossy Banks farm on Nutleys Creek Road, Bermagui in 1950. The roadway which runs through the pasture was once the shortest route for bullock teams to go through to Bega from Bermagui. The previous owners had abandoned the land some twenty years before. The original farm house was made of slabs milled on the property, however, after living in the house for seven years a new cottage was erected close to where the original house stood. For over twenty years Fergus worked the property selectively clearing without use of a tractor. The work was done by hand axe much before the development of the chainsaw. Draughthorses were used to haul the logs into lots to be burnt. Fergus had worked with heavy horses in Scotland. The entire effort was to produce improved pasture for the dairy herd which provided a living for his family.

The cows were hand milked until 1955 when the family’s first milking machine was purchased. Prior to the arrival of this equipment 20 cows were milked night and morning to supply cream to the Butter Factory at Cobargo. Transport of the valued product three times a week was by sulky across the paddocks to the Cobargo Road. The cream was transported in cream cans and the family’s supply of milk and bread would be put in a sugar bag and placed in a can for the return journey back to the farm. Milking was seasonal then from September to May. Pigs were raised to offset the family’s income and Fergus went out to work when the cows were being spelled.

The McWhirter family of five resided in the farmhouse until Fergus died in Bega Hospital on the 22 April 1970. He is buried in the Bermagui Cemetery.

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