Centenarian Buys Riding Boots
Longtime Jandowae Resident
Mr. James McNamara, of Jandowae, who will be 100 this month, walked a quarter of a mile on Friday to buy a pair of riding boots.
Until five years ago he rode a spirited
horse, and although his purchase was largely through force
of habit, the shopkeeper said that he would not be
surprised to see him on a horse again.
Two years ago he wanted to buy a bicycle, but the
shopkeeper refused to sell him one. Mr. McNamara has
retained his sight, and takes an active interest in world
events.
His newsagent has supplied him with The Courier Mail for
many years and recently he installed a wireless set. He has
lived in Jandowae district for 90 years.
For a long period he worked on Burrandowan station, 30 miles north of the
town, and later bought his own selection called
"Rosebank".
A Life in the Saddle
Centenarian James McNamara pictured at
his property "Rosebank" at Jandowae, Queensland.
He claimed to have taken part in the first hurdle races
held at Nanango racecourse in December 1859.
In 1866 the Brisbane Courier recorded that a horse called
"Wallaby" ridden by McNamara won both heats of
the Working Men's Purse over a mile at the Nanango New Year
meeting.
Photo: Kitty Creevey - Kitty Creevey
Collection
Born Sydney 1841
Now he lives with his eldest son James
Joseph, aged 72, and walks the quarter-mile to the town
almost every day. He was born in Sydney on 9 August 1841
and came to Queensland in 1851, after having seen the first
sod turned on the first
railway in Sydney.
He has four sons, three of whom are married, grandchildren,
and a great-grandchild of four years.
NOTE: The McNamara
Family comprised twelve children, James McNamara Senior
had fathered seven sons, not four, six of whom were still
living. Five of them, James Joseph, John, Frank, Edward and
Charlie
all worked in the area. The sixth son William lived on the outskirts
of Brisbane. John was the only son not to marry.
Sadly James McNamara Senior would not reach his one hundred
and first birthday, dying in Dalby, 1 April 1942. However,
his son William lived to over
101 years dying, 11 April 1979.
Source: The Courier-Mail - 25 August
1941
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