Clifford Currell part 2

Herbert and Eliza Currell lived at

46 Railway Street

, Petersham. Bert was a baker and Eliza home duties. They moved to Sydney from Barraba in around 1930, firstly living at Haberfield then Lewisham. They had 4 children????

From Eliza’s home Cliff’s next move was to the railway hostel at Macdonaldtown once he commenced his life long career on the railways as a booking clerk at Stanmore around the age of 17. The hostel accommodation was a basic room for 1 person with a bed, table and a wardrobe. The canteen facilities were good open 24 hours to work in with the shift workers. This is where Cliff would meet up with Ellwyn Watson for a midnight feed after being out for the evening. Ellwyn was a junior porter at Stanmore.

The two blokes weren’t the best of buddies then but this soon changed as they became more acquainted. Cliff would often finish Ellwyn’s shift on a Friday so he could take his soon to be wife Judy home from tech. they didn’t socialize much at this time as they worked different shifts and both had girlfriends and went their different ways on their days off. Judy and Ellwyn asked Cliff to be their best man at their wedding in 1952; he gladly accepted, to find out he was married 3 days earlier. Jo and Cliff attended this wonderful day and this was the first time Jo and Judy meet. Judy and Jo became good friends and still are today.

Stanmore railway station was the meeting place for Cliff and Josephine Elys Everitt, after purchasing her train fare to Newtown, where she was working at the Bank of New South Wales. After a 6 month courtship they announced their engagement and married on the 23^rd July 1952 at All Saints Church of England at Petersham, reported in the local Northern rivers paper as a “very pretty wedding”. It was a small gathering with family and friends. After the ceremony Edward and Doris Everitt the bride’s parents entertained the guests at Hotel Sydney for dinner, followed by a party given by Jo’s aunt Mrs. W. A. Berriman (Aunty Grace sister of Doris) at her north Bondi home.

Cliff now moved from the railway hostel and moved in with Jo to a small 1 room with share facilities at Harris Park. They soon left here to go to a larger 1 room at Lidcombe while they waited for the family home to be completed at

20 Lydbrook Street

Wentworthville. Jo and Cliff were able to purchase the land when Cliff collected bonds left from his father’s estate prior to turning 21.

Cliff as best man for Judy & Ellwyn

Jo & Cliff