On April 17, 1821 and having provisions for six months, 40 soldiers and 62 convicts disembarked from three small vessels at the mouth of the Hastings River.
The 48th Regiment of Foot, following orders from Governor Lachlan Macquarie back in Sydney and based on advice from John Oxley, the first Australian Surveyor General, had arrived to establish settlement as a secondary place of punishment for the worst offenders – those who had committed further crimes since being transported to Australia.
Recently, in a final farewell, the 48th Regiment Historical Re-enactment Group (originally established by ex-Mayor Ray Cooper) comprising Ian Hurley, Phil Lenane, Martin and Chez Hovey performed one of their last ever reenactments in front of an appreciative crowd on Port Macquarie’s Town Green.
Outfitted with re-created 19th century Red Coat Military uniforms, replica Brown Bess Muskets and Military Field Piece (cannon), Swords, Bayonets and other associated equipment, they delighted both young and old with historical facts and information relating to the day in the life of a soldier in battle.
“Our purpose has been to preserve our history, promote the Hastings in celebrations, participate in community activities, provide living history displays and make a contribution to tourism as a non-profit community based organisation,” said Hurley.
“I’m ex-service and there were originally 12 of us, so it was great to be around mates. However, with many of us ‘falling off the perch’ and no-one to replace us, it’s time to call it a day,” he added.
“When we had a large group it was a real spectacle.
“There was a real buzz of excitement which unfortunately can’t quite be matched by our current numbers.”
Over the years the draw-card for the group has always been the live firing of the 3-Pound Canon and Muskets.
The original canon, which was slightly smaller in bore size than the one currently being used, was first test fired on the Port Macquarie Rifle Range in 1994.
Using light powder loads, it propelled a steel cannon ball almost 1km, which was later found embedded to a depth of approximately 1m into the safety mound.
The current canon has a 63mm bore, is 1180mm long and, on ceremonial occasions, the cannon is fired using charges of black powder and rammed with wadding (no ball), just as the original cannons were in the days of old.
One of the factors leading to the dismantling of the group is that the cannon is normally served by a five-man gun crew as well as a gun commander but on occasion or due to circumstances, such as that which faces the group now, may be served by fewer than five.
Another constraint is the requirement of all members to hold a current ‘A’ and ‘B’ class firearms licence and firing these weapons is not for the faint hearted.
Phil Lenane said that all members were volunteers, meeting their own personal expenses and that they are self funding through activities, donations and sponsorship.
“We have attended all Australia Day ceremonies throughout the Hastings since 1995, paraded each month in the CBD area and drill at the Historic Court House.
“We fired the noon-day gun on the Town Green, participated in the re-enactment of the battle of Vinegar Hill at Old Sydney Town, Gosford and played a pivotal role in the 175th anniversary celebrations on April 17, 1996, re-enacting the first landing at Port Macquarie in 1821,
just to name a few,” he said
Last weekend’s display was also a chance for the group to raise awareness and funds for the Mid-North Coast Oncology Unit.
It is a real shame for such a wonderful spectacle to itself become part of history. However, to those ‘past and
present’ that have provided young and old with so much entertainment throughout the years, we say thank you.
