About 100 people turned out for a celebratory event to mark 90 years since the Herons Creek Chapel’s dedication.
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The event was on September 10 and as part of the ceremony the first stage of the Cedar Way stage 1 project was unveiled.
The project was organised by Herons Creek Heritage & Tourist Trails which is a group of volunteers engaged in establishing a series of signs to depict historic sites and stories of the forgotten pioneering families.
Member of the Herons Creek Heritage & Tourist Trails Betty Boyd said it was remarkable to see the descendants of the people depicted in the Cedar Way panels in the flesh.
“Bill (Betty’s husband) has known the Bakers and McCarthys from childhood but this city dweller had not met many of them before,” she said.
“There were plenty of yarns to exchange about the early days of grandfathers and grandmothers as you can imagine.”
Mrs Boyd said Cr Lisa Intermann talked about her love for country life and how she had a business driving a horse drawn carriage around Sydney Rocks area.
Local Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams made reference to the contribution made by Les and Daphne Latham of the committee as they were unable to attend due to the serious state of Les' health.
The highlight Mrs Boyd said was Garry McCarthy’s story about how his grandfather retrieved his stray bull.
President of the iKew Centre Barry Barr said it was fabulous there was a strong turnout from the community on the day.
He said it is important for everyone to get behind the project as it is integral to preserving heritage.
The signs were unveiled on the day which have been erected along the countryside depict the rich diversity of scenery, the timberlands and rainforests – unique beauty that is the Cedar Way. A trail rich in history from the 1860’s to 1960s; of cedar getters to early pioneer families who settled.
The Cedar Way takes in the north western district of Herons Creek, Blackbutt Road (originally called Cedar Creek Road), Old School Road and Old Mill Road. It was a heavily timbered forest district with some of the tallest trees in the Mid North Coast. But it was especially rich with ‘golden’ trees known as Cedar (red gold).
The Herons Creek Heritage & Tourist Trails group thanked Glenn Maggs from Magnum Haulage for installing stage 1 of the Cedar Way.
