Audio CD: Des Sykes Story
The Sykes and Wilkes families in Wentworth 1855-1955: Spoken word history by Des Sykes with comments from Joan Green, Selina Quilty and myself. Interviews carried out by Peter Green between 1975 and 2005.

1. William and Eliza Minogue (‘Gran’ Minogue), midwife, the building of Tara, death of son and adoption of two children – Christina power and Richard Lowry. 2 minutes 35 seconds.

2. Christina Power and Frederick William Wilkes, Master Mariner & Town Clerk, 1885, Wentworth, customs, burning of the ‘Rodney’, and the Wilkes children – Selina, William Frederick, Maisie and Bernard Bede. Story of William – Gol Gol pub, marriage to Molly Garrigan, their children. 5 minutes 3 seconds.

3. Maisie Wilkes and Jim Loomes and children – Bern, Jean, Peg and Kath. Story of Bern and Oakdene, marriage to Fon Tuck, letters kept (comment by Joan), drinking. 4 minutes 30 seconds.

4. EJ Sykes, his trip to begin teaching on the Darling, Selina Wilkes, car, birth of Des and Maureen, Euston, and the Commercial – early years. 3 minutes 15 seconds

5. Des’s education in Wentworth, education of Maureen and Joan, trip to Hay, subjects studied, essay on peace, university studies, Sir Phillip Game, First job and depression. 7 minutes 21 seconds.

6. Anecdotes – 1870 Wentworth flood, sulky bolt, Christmas at Tara and the missing plum pudding, Des’s law career (John Duck). 7 minutes 30 seconds

7. Des tells of a trip to Sydney, when he was aged 14, in EJ’s new car: meeting Angela Sykes, and Loomes’s, collision with Chinese vegetable cart, and dust storm on trip back. 5 minutes 18 seconds.

8. EJ and Freemount, 1921. Cattle stampede, Hatfield pub, portable shower, Balranald, EJ and politics. 10 minutes 47 seconds.

9. Death of Des’s mother, Selina Wilkes, in 1925. Interruption to Des’s third year exams and return to Wentworth, dream of mother’s death. Return to law course three years later, work as articled clerk. Comment by Selina Quilty. 10 minutes 52 seconds

10. Des and Isabel relate their first meeting and marriage. Mildura office 1932, marriage 1934, Governor’s ball, Fiji cruise, Honeymoon to Woodend. 11 minutes 20 seconds

Wilkes family DVD

1. Des Sykes’ memories of Tara 2.5 min
2. Des Sykes’ memories of EJ Sykes and the Commercial Hotel 2.5 min
3. Slideshow of Eliza Minogue, Christina Power and the early Wilkes family members 1.5 min
4. Jean Roper’s memories of Tara and the early Wilkes family 13 min
5. Sykes descendants’ visit to Tara 6.5 min
6. Reunion of Wilkes descendants at the Commercial hotel 2008
   1 min