The community stalwarts have sold up their home of 15 years and are moving to Mudgee to be closer to their son Sean and his family. However, they will still have strong ties to Gunnedah, with Sean’s sibling, Jason, and his family living in town. 

Both Keith and Barbara were born at Gunnedah District Hospital but Keith grew up in Colly Blue. Their children were also born here and worked at Ian Doyle’s Meat Service and the abbatoirs.

They are well-known for their active involvement in the Gunnedah Show Society, Gunnedah Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association, tennis competitions, and Mackellar Care Services.

Keith has showcased his knitting and cooking skills for many years, competing in the Gunnedah Show and sending items away to CWA competitions.

“Mum taught us to knit when we were little kids because there wasn’t much else to do when there was no power,” he said.

The couple are perhaps best-known for their dancing skills. The pair have taught Gunnedah’s debutantes dance steps for 15 years and also ventured to Caroona, Spring Ridge and Premer to teach.

“I was about six, I think, when I learnt to dance,” Keith said.

Barbara said she didn’t start dancing until after school because she wasn’t fond of it initially, but she has well and truly made up for it over the years.

When they lived in Coolah for six years on the Paspaley Group property, they hosted dances in the wool shed, with folk flocking from Narrabri, Gunnedah and Boggabri for a turn around the floor. Keith said they also used to go into town to teach dancing.

“We had some lovely days,” Barbara said.

As they spend their last days in Gunnedah, the pair are tying up loose ends.

“It’s sad leaving behind friends and family [but] we’re looking forward to the next chapter in our lives, to be down with our children,” Barbara said.

“Our granddaughter was funny – she walked into the house down there and she said, ‘Well, Pop, this is my bedroom’.”