THEY came to praise one of Tamworth’s living treasures at the historic Calala Cottage in Denison St on Sunday.
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Despite the cold and blustery weather, more than 130 friends and family of Audria Rodgers gathered to help celebrate the Tamworth Historical Society patron’s 90th birthday.
Besides a tribute from children John, Ann and Libby of a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, several speakers praised her dedication to the community and her passion for the history of Tamworth.
In 1958 she was a foundation member of the Peel Valley Historical Society, later to become the Tamworth Historical Society.
Calala Cottage, the town house of the first Tamworth mayor, was built in 1875. In 1969, when the then-Tamworth City Council could see no future for the cottage, Mrs Rodgers convinced the council to let the historical society take it over and restore it as a living source of history.
Tamworth mayor Col Murray, in his speech on Sunday, expressed the present council’s gratitude to the historical society for its stewardship of Calala Cottage and, in particular, the dedication of Mrs Rodgers, who was the society’s president for 15 years.
Longtime friend and fellow Calala Cottage volunteer Del Brooke spoke of Mrs Rodgers’ love of Tamworth, her family and the community.
“And who couldn’t enjoy Audria’s famous date and caramel slice,” Mrs Brooke said, “and, of course, she’s made one for today.”
In response, Mrs Rodgers told the gathering that her dedication to Tamworth and the community, through organisations such as the National Trust and West Tamworth Rotary Club, could not have been undertaken without her husband, well-known Tamworth businessman John, who passed away in 2010.
Audria and John were instrumental in the establishment of South Tamworth Primary School and were very involved in Tamworth High School.
“The two of us – or two-and-a-half with John – were a team,” she said.
She told the gathering she was born in Denison St – “at an aunt’s, just below the railway line”.
Her family (Jeffries) then lived at three addresses in Denison St, and, as she has spent so much of her time at Calala Cottage (No 142), she could be considered a true denizen of Denison St.
Historical society president John Vickery praised Mrs Rodgers’ immense contribution to, and knowledge of, the Tamworth community.
“Whenever someone needs to know something, we say ‘ask Aud’,” he said.
He then asked Mrs Rodgers to unveil a plaque from the Tamworth Historical Society which reads: “In recognition of a lifetime of dedication and achievement by Audria and John Rodgers in the establishment and ongoing care of Calala Cottage Museum.”