Victor Kent has published his book A Life Well Bent in which he gives us a glimpse into the past of Port Macquarie and just what life was like during the great depression.
“The stories are all true accounts of my life which began in Port Macquarie on April 29, 1924,” he said.
Vic’s father was the Nuisance Inspector, impounding untagged house cows and horses grazing in and around the town centre.
Council used charged a fee for grazing in the streets and animals were issued with a licence tag.
Vic’s brothers helped to light the 12 street gas lamps at night and put them out early each day.
The great depression bit hard and, at 10 years of age, Vic found himself working on a dairy farm in Rollands Plains for “food and clothing, such as it was”.
His day started at 4am and the working week was 48 hours!
Vic is a World War II veteran and he was one of five Kent brothers serving simultaneously. He was the RSL club president for 12 years.
A Life Well Bent is a compilation of 34 yarns wonderfully told by Vic and, as he says in the prologue, ”I think these stories can give you a better idea of what life was like during these years.”
It is on the shelf in the Port Macquarie Library.
