Syd Childs’ journey from England to Wamuran at 19 set in motion a legacy that has become an integral part of Queensland’s agricultural and community history.
After purchasing a scenic mountain property from local resident Bobby Busse, Syd became Queensland’s first commercial passionfruit farmer, pioneering a crop that would thrive in the region’s warm climate.
Driven by ambition, he expanded his holdings, acquiring additional land and exploring new business ventures, including a self-serve roadside fruit stall and a successful pawpaw farm, both of which became local staples.
In 1942, Syd took another forward-thinking step by purchasing a ¾-acre property next to Wamuran Hall, where he set up a facility for sorting and packing his harvests. From this location, he launched a mail-order business, shipping fresh fruit across Australia. This early direct-to-consumer model was innovative for its time, reaching markets far beyond his farm. His diverse crops soon included citrus, pecans, custard apples, bananas and, by the 1960s, even gerberas – a crop he was one of the first to cultivate and sell locally.
Building Community and Leadership in Wamuran
Syd’s influence, however, was not confined to agriculture. Alongside his wife, Marg, he was instrumental in founding community organisations, helping to establish the Wamuran Hall Committee, where he served as patron until his death in 1981.
Both were also actively involved in the Wamuran Red Cross. Marg, a respected figure in her own right, became the first president of the Wamuran Country Women’s Association (CWA), setting a strong foundation for the group’s future work in the community.
In 1942, Syd’s dedication to his community expanded with his role as a founding member and first Rural Fire Chief of the Wamuran Rural Fire Brigade, a position he held for nearly four decades. His leadership and commitment to public safety were deeply valued by the community he served so tirelessly.
After Syd’s passing in 1981 and Marg’s in 1985, their daughter, Hilary Berger, continued to nurture the family’s connection to the land and community. Through her ongoing dedication, the Childs’ family story remains a living legacy in Wamuran, a testament to their contributions to both the agricultural and civic life of the region.
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