PHOTO: Michael (Wooleybah) McMahon’s family Rachelle, Rose and Lauren and the grader named in his honour at his final resting place at ‘Wooleybah’.
Michael (Wooleybah) McMahon passed away on 5 October 2023 but his connection to Coonamble as well as his first home – and his namesake – the property ‘Wooleybah’ in the Pilliga scrub did not end there.
Over the Easter weekend in 2024, Wooleybah’s wife Rose, daughters Lauren and Rachelle, son-in-law Josh Day, and grandchildren Lily, Emmett, Hendrix and Frankie brought him home.
“Shove me up a log at Wooleybah”, Michael had told them when asked about his choice of final resting place.
On Easter Saturday, his family were joined by friends and former colleagues for a special ceremony at the now heritage-listed former sawmill and settlement at Old Wooleybah Road, Kenebri, around forty five minutes east of Coonamble.
In attendance was another special guest – a Coonamble Shire Council grader to be named in Michael’s honour.
At Michael’s wake in Newcastle last October, the family was approached by Paul Gallagher, a former Coonamble Shire engineer and now General Manager.
“Paul said he had ordered four new graders and would like to name one ‘Wooleybah’ in Michael’s honour,” said Rose. “We were surprised and very honoured. I think it’s the first time the council has ever done that type of thing.
“Michael would’ve loved it.”
Michael George McMahon was born in Boggabri on 14 February 1953 to Valmay and Robert McMahon. He spent a full and happy childhood at Wooleybah, where his father worked in the sawmill and his mother cooked for the workers.
Their home was close to the mill and the family home of mill owners Tom and Bernie Underwood. Tom’s family had set up the sawmill from 1935. It became a small settlement with various residences, accommodation huts and a school building where Michael attended primary school.
He was not too fond of school and preferred “running amok outside”.
At the age of seven, Michael “got a little too experimental with a slingshot” and lost vision in one eye.
He then went to high school in Coonamble finishing in Year 9. He told his daughters he left school because he couldn’t see the schoolwork with his one good eye and “couldn’t get used to the crowds”.
At age 14 he started working with Pat Luppino, a local builder.
He then worked with earthmoving contractor Ray Rolles, learning about machinery and even installing swimming pools.
Michael and Rose met at the Gumnut Café in Castlereagh Street as teenagers. At the time Michael was working at the Zumbo’s Cordial Factory, delivering drinks to businesses around town. He reckoned he took one look at Rose’s big brown eyes and that was the end of him, love was found. Michael and Rose were married in 1981.
Michael worked on the Coonamble Shire Council for more than 30 years.
He began as a grader driver and ended as a construction overseer where he was able to pass down some of his knowledge and skill to the younger crew.
Michael often worked two (or more) jobs to give his family holiday’s in Forster.
As well as a plant operator on Council he could be found driving a water cart, running the horse barriers at the races, or running the Friday nightdisco during the heyday of the Coonamble Golf Club.
When he wasn’t working, he was still always putting his hand to something at home, from improvements around the house, chopping his own fire wood, keeping an immaculate yard, and washing his car on the weekend.
Fun and friends were never far away during their time in Coonamble, but once their talented daughters had settled Michael and Rose chose to retire close to their children and grand kids in Port Stephens.
Michael often spent time walking along the beautiful waters edge of Nelson Bay (usually 15km a day) and spending time with his beloved family.
He kept busy helping with renovations and improvements.
When he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) in 2022 his family say ” he approached it like he would approach anything else – with hard work & determination” – fighting to stay with the people he loved.
He passed away on 5 October 2023.
Michael was described by his daughters as a man of simple pleasures who didn’t like a fuss.
“Happiness to him was being around his family, good music and finding the best fish & chips,” the girls said.
“Dad was a fan of the footy and we know he will continue to cheer for “Pops team”, otherwise known as the Paramatta Eels.”
At Wooleybah over Easter the family were joined by around fifty people close to Michael.
They played his favourite music, like Creedence Clearwater Revival, and shared funny stories before his grandchildren laid flowers on a plaque erected at the site.
Wooleybah’s Grader was officially named and he was finally “home”.
“It was just an absolute honour for the shire council to do something like that,” said Rose.
“It was his life and he loved it.
“It has really helped us so much to bring him back to where he felt at home.”
The family acknowledged everyone who was part of the event, especially Stewart Robinson who went above and beyond in preparations for the day, Paul Gallagher on behalf of the Coonamble Shire Council, Terry Lees for coordinating the sound, and Tom & Bernie Underwood for their kind words and contributions.
They say Michael would have been exceptionally proud.