The commemorative 100th birthday concert for Buddy Williams played to a packed house at the Dorrigo showground pavilion on Saturday September 8.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Don Dorrigo and Guy Fawkes Historical Society organised the celebration to mark the connection between Dorrigo and the famous country music musician, singer and songwriter.
Born 5 September 1918 in Sydney, Harold "Buddy" Williams was fostered as a young boy to a dairy farming family at Dorrigo.
He ran away from his foster home in Leigh when he was 15 and Ken Smith, a 20-year-old dairy farmer at Fernbrook welcomed him into his home.
Buddy kept in contact with Ken, who later married Ina (nee Hamey) and had a family.
When Buddy and his wife Grace visited Dorrigo, they always called on the Smith family.
In a letter to Ken and wife Ina many years ago Buddy wrote, “I’ll never forget you, because you gave me my first pair of long pants.”
Buddy died in 1986. His daughter Karen Williams travelled from the Western Downs district of Queensland for the weekend events.
A highlight for Karen was her visit to see Mrs Ina Smith who celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year at the “Highview” aged care facility in Dorrigo.
On the Sunday, a commemorative plaque in honour of Buddy Williams was unveiled by Karen and the Hon. Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey.
The Don Dorrigo & Guy Fawkes Historical Society appreciates the assistance from the Bellingen Shire Council Community Event Sponsorship Fund 2018.