Format: Oral History

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Locality

Tewantin

Place

Noosa River

Person

Shirley Pacey

Family

Parkyn Family

School

Tewantin State School

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Oral History (161)

Oral History Transcript

Oral History

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HERITAGE NOOSA

Shirley Pacey Oral History

DETAILS

Overview
Shirley Pacey provides a detailed and affectionate account of her life growing up in Tewantin as part of the long established Clarey and Ross families, whose history is closely intertwined with the development of the Noosa River community. Born in 1943, Pacey describes an upbringing on the banks of the river in Ward Street, where her father worked as a fisherman and boatbuilder, and her family lived simply, relying on tank water, a wood stove and kerosene lighting before electricity arrived in 1947. She recalls an active childhood shaped by the river—collecting oysters, swimming at the baths, fishing, camping on Teewah Beach, and helping with family nets and boats.

Pacey reflects on local identities, river based industries and the role of the Parkyn family, with whom she worked from age 14 at their Tewantin hire boat and tour business. Her responsibilities ranged from preparing bait and painting boats to assisting tourists and providing fishing reports. She also recounts community life including dances, picture theatre events, school days at Tewantin State School, and the strong social networks of the town.

Later, she married in 1962 and moved to Gympie, but she retains vivid memories of Tewantin’s pioneering families, fishing culture, and the close-knit riverside community that shaped her early life.

Photograph

'Maryanne', Noosa River, Tewantin, ca 1940s

'Shirley May', Noosa River, Tewantin, 1945

All in hats, Noosa North Shore, ca 1940s

Annette and Kevin Clarey and Benny Johns (l-r), Tewantin, ca 1970s

Annette and Robert Clarey, Tewantin, 1970s

Biddy, Jim, Dinah, Ike, John, Herb and Bill Clarey, Tewantin, 1972

Bill, John, Ji, Herb and Ike Clarey (l-r), Tewantin, 1972

Boating party, 'Miss Tewantin', Noosa River, Tewantin

Boating, Upper Noosa River, 2013

Boats and pelicans, Parkyn's jetty, Noosa River, Tewantin, ca 1938

Cabbages, possibly 'Coonambla', Mundubbera

Canoeing, Upper Noosa River, 2013

Canoes, Upper Noosa River, Fig Tree Point, 2013

Car ferry crossing, Noosa River, Tewantin

Cattle muster, Lake Cooroibah, Noosa North Shore

Charles Powell and family, Lake Cooroibah, Tewantin, Christmas 1928

Charles and Nellie Powell, juices overboard, Noosa River, ca 1920s

Climbing high

Oral History Transcript

Shirley Pacey Oral History - Transcript

Audio

Shirley Pacey Oral History - Audio

CONNECTIONS

LocalityTewantinPlaceNoosa RiverPersonShirley PaceyFamilyParkyn FamilyBusinessParkyn's Boat HireSchoolTewantin State School

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Shirley Pacey Oral History