Courtesy of Trove Northern Star 25 August 1928
The significance of the casual meeting of six of the Richmond river’s oldest pioneers, in the lounge room at the Hotel Ryan, Lismore, this week was not lost sight of by Mr. H. Artlett, who had the above photograph taken. The average ages of the six men is 83 years. The following are the members of the party :—
Standing (left to right) Charles A. Barham, Captain John Storey, Thomas Borton.
Sitting: Donald McKinnon, John McKinnon, William Lockett.
John and Donald McKinnon, who are brothers, arrived, on the Richmond river in 1866 and are both ex-Mayors of Coraki. Capt John Storey, an old seafaring skipper, was for many years in charge of the North Coast Steam Navigation Company’s affairs on the Richmond. Thomas Borton, who came to the Richmond river district in 1858, was the first mail contractor here, and in order to carry out his work had to blaze many trails. William Lockett is an ex-Mayor of Lismore, and one of its earliest storekeepers. He arrived in Lismore about 50 years ago. Charles Barham occupied the position of town clerk of Lismore for 35 years, and has seen the town grow from a small village to its present status.
Capt Storey, Messrs. Barham and Borton, will be present at the dinner arranged in connection with the centenary celebrations of the Richmond river at Ballina tonight.