It’s been 50 years since Coonamble’s team of telephonists lost their jobs to technology.
A reunion three months in the making by former ‘Hello Girl’ Angie Little came together on Wednesday 1 July at a very long lunch with 15 other telephonists.
The celebrations were held at the Terminus Hotel to mark the closure of the Coonamble Telephone Exchange.
“So many girls had moved or passed away, from what used to be 23 telephonists at our large 1996 and 2006 reunions it came down to 15 who could be contacted,” said Mrs Little.
“There was no lack of conversation between all of us in the three hours we remained there at the Termo Hotel for lunch.”
Mrs Little has provided the following history of the telephone service and the women who made them work.
‘On 29 June 1976 the exchange transitioned from being a Manual Exchange to Automatic.
This also meant the demise of the Telephonist’s role.
It is 120 years (3 November, 1906) ago since the first telephone was introduced to Coonamble for day service only. Due to the rapid increase of telephone subscribers, the switchboard was moved into a separate room in 1908 and the first telephone cabinet was erected in the Post Office.
In 1909 the Coonamble Phone Directory had a listing of 51 subscribers.
Throughout the 120 years of service to the community the women manning the phones were named by a few names by our locals “Hello Girls” ~ “Call Girls” ~ “Switchies” and “Telephonists”.
As dedicated Switchies we were there for floods, fires, accidents and tragedies.
Often, we relayed messages to loved ones on their party lines who couldn’t hear what the caller was saying.
At any time there could have been six girls on a shift depending on the time of day or month.
Christmas was always the busiest as were long weekends.
Most former Telephonists would agree that they were really great years in all our lives.
Most of us today would comment “If we had not gone Automatic, we would still be there”.
The end was near when on 24 June 1976 we received a letter from Coonamble Shire Council’s Shire President Mr. J.D. Mackay stating his appreciation of the services so cheerfully and efficiently rendered by the Staff of the Exchange in the past years and that the Councillors extend their thanks, best wishes and good health in the years ahead.
On 5 July 1976 myself and I’m sure many other girls received a letter of thanks from Mr. M. Hatton, the District Telephone Manager at Dubbo for our service and assistance whilst being a member of staff at the Coonamble Telephone Exchange.
He also complimented us as telephonists on the way in which we maintained our interest and effort during the last few difficult weeks which saw the phasing out of the Coonamble Manual Exchange.
The last pay that I received as a telephonist in the 1970s was $110.33.
Many years have passed since the closure, and contacting the older generation of “Switchies” has been difficult as most of the girls use mobile phones now, not landline (like myself).
All the girls that came to this year’s reunion are aged from 65 to 85.
After our huge reunions in July 1996 and November 2007 I had accumulated many photos and have made an exhibit of them along with a donated Switch Board at the Museum, one which has drawn several “Hello Girls” from far and wide to see the exhibit.
Sadly this year we can’t have the reunion at the Museum but maybe next year who knows.
To describe the Camaraderie between all of us ‘girls’ still here as well as those who have passed away ~
“Women have a special bond with people they have worked with for years on the Switch Board”.
Let’s face it we were all so up close and personal with our work mates, as we sat only inches apart.
You wouldn’t get that close to people in many jobs these days.
Memories of the days when the public would hear those welcoming words at the end of their landline phones – “Number Please” – this will be etched in the memories of the older generation.
Will we be around for the 60th Anniversary? I’m not sure.
All of us girls are now part of Coonamble’s history.’
[With thanks to Angie Little.]