Jan Horrell grew up on a property called Noah’s Orchard in Otford and tells of her life there and the history of her family including her father Norbert Charles Godwin Oliver who was in the Royal Australian Navy and was sadly killed in World War II in 1941.  Jan tells of life in Otford on the property and surrounds and speaks of her mother Rosa Fletcher who grew up at Sherbrook Village at the top of Bulli which no longer exists.

Listen to Jan’s Interview

Jan’s audio interview can be downloaded here.

Keywords

Otford; Noah’s Orchard; Norbert Oliver; Otford primary school; Croker Island children; Jessie Elizabeth Fletcher (McDonald); Abraham Fletcher; Rosa Oliver (Fletcher); Bulli Mine Rockfall; Bulli; Bulli Mine; Sherbrook Village, Bulli; HMAS Parramatta II; World War II.

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Jan Horrell’s Interview Transcript

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Links:

Oliver Family Details by Jan Horrell

A Family Of Fighters by Eileen McDonald (Fletcher)

Sherbrooke – Gone but not forgotten by Eileen James (Fletcher)

Jan’s Photo Album

Jan Horrell-Oliver

Grandma Fletcher and Ann Oliver

Bern, Margaret, Jan, and Anne Oliver with Sandra and Jonathan Cooley on end

Win and Norbert Oliver Jnr with horse Brownie

Oliver Children Bern, Norbert jnr, Anne Margaret and Jan

September 1941 Win Oliver with husband Cec Green and daughter Adele taken outside our house at Otford to send to dad

Otford Noah’s Orchard- The Olivers property

Funeral Procession Bulli Main Road for Abraham Fletcher(maternal grandfather) – died from Bulli mine accident

Jan Horrell at Cox Lane Corrimal

Norbert Charles Godwin Oliver Jan’s Father

Jan Oliver(14) and Sister Margaret (17) with Bikes in Otford near stockyards 1949

Stan and Jan Horrell in Sydney

Stan and Jan Horrell in 1970’s

Stan and Jan Horrell 30th anniversary

Win Oliver and Cousin Molly

Uncle Abe Fletcher (left) and Uncle Don Fletcher (right)

Margaret, Bern, Ann and Jan Oliver

Jan Horrell & Fam – Rosa (Jan’s Mum) Baby sis Ann,Mavis Trussel,Norbert Oliver(dad), row 2 Norm ( bro),Wyn, Grandmother Jessie, Jan and Margaret

Norbert Oliver Plaque on memorial Stanwell Tops memorial Park (image courtesy of Helensburgh Historical Society)

1949 School Photo with Alice Vardy, Fay Balckwell, Anne Oliver, Sandra Cooley, Adele Green,Jennette Hutchings, Jonathan,… Bobby Irvine

Fletcher Family Photo -Grandmother Jessie Elizabeth Fletcher,Abraham Flecther Grandfather, Rosa ( Jans mother) front standing next to father