Reunion attracted plenty

Joan Excell and Tony Foster helped to
organise the Plenty reunion.

MORE than 140 people attended a reunion held at the Salmon Ponds on March 2 for those who had family connections and links to the Plenty area. The event organised by Joan Excell and Tony Foster attracted past residents and their families from all over the state as well as some from interstate.

Brian Balmforth travelled from Adelaide to be in attendance as his family had strong family ties to the Glenleith and Belmont properties. Dorothy Robertson and her sister Barbara Kelly (nee Harwood) travelled from the north of the state as did Margaret Harper (nee Menzie). Many of those attending were past students of the Plenty State School and it was pleasing to see descendants of headmaster Jack Morgan (Peta and Carol).

Part of the large crowd at the reunion.

Wayne Hooper and his sisters Lois and Carol were in attendance. Their father Reuben was a fisheries inspector lived at the Salmon Ponds and they had many stories on the early days. Tony Foster grew up in the area and spoke of the strong links and memories the area still had. This sentiment was echoed by many of those in attendance.

Photos taken at a similar reunion 25 years ago as well as many others showing people and activities of the area were part of a photographic display that created a great deal of interest. The grounds of the Salmon Ponds were an ideal venue for the reunion as it was also an early meeting place for those who grew up in the area. The grounds were used in 1930 to hold one of the first fairs in the district to raise funds towards upgrading the interior of the Plenty Hall which had been built five years previously.

STEVE BALMFORTH

Cousins Kathy Tilyard, left, Brian Balmforth and Marleen Watson
at the Plenty reunion.

Phyllis Balmforth with her sons Brian, Barry and Lindsay
at the Salmon Ponds around 1941.