Richard Taber

“My name is Richard Taber. I was born in 1938 at Wisemans Ferry. Our family lived in Acton from 1947 to 1962, firstly at 22 Balmain Crescent for a year or two, but mostly at 6 Liversidge Street, which now overlooks the lake. Our family initially moved into 22 Balmain with my grand parents, Milba and Stan East. My grandfather had been appointed to the news and information bureau in around 1943/44 – near the old Canberra Community Hospital. I remember walking down the laneway to catch the school bus in Liversidge Street - there used to be a large wooden bus shelter on the east side of Liversidge Street outside Corcoran's home. The fare was 1 penny.

After about a year we moved into 6 Liversidge Street with Stan Bolton. Soon afterwards, Mr. Bolton moved out, no doubt 'pushed out’ by our large family. The house was the same as the house next door, No. 8 Liversidge, and No. 16 Lennox Crossing “Cottage No.3” occupied by Hiltons. It was timber and fibro construction with no insulation, and very cold in the winter. In 1962 ANU electricians did some re-wiring in the roof, the house was badly burnt by fire. Some years later the house was demolished to make way for the construction of the road under Acton ridge. Living in Acton we had Black Mountain as our backyard. We used to roam around the golf course, the racecourse, and the Acton flats. Later on we played sport of course on the Acton flats. It was just one big sort of playground.”