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Kybeyan and Nimmitabel Experiences
From Peter Goed petergoed@optushome.com.au

Amsterdam to Bathurst | Kybeyan | Nimmitabel Motors | The Sundowners

In late 1953, Ron Mould and Stan Creamer talked my father into starting up a garage in Nimmitabel. With a loan guaranteed by Ron Mould, a new building was constructed on a part of Stan Creamers site at the corner of Bombala Street and Bega Road, Nimmitabel Motors, a Shell petrol station and garage was born. There was no service station/garage in Nimmitabel at this time, giving my father a great opportunity to fill a void in the local community.

We left Kybeyan and resided in one half of a two-storey house in Bombala Street, down past the post office on the left, heading towards Bombala. In 1954 we purchased a house at 7 York Street, next door to George and Myrtle James.

14. First house in Nimmitabel c1954	1. Second House in 1957, 7 York St

My father wanted to make the garage an NRMA depot, but as his Dutch qualifications were not recognized, this meant having to sit for the Australian Institute of Automotive Engineers Certificate of Proficiency - something not easy for somebody with only a rudimentary grasp of English. He persevered and did some necessary English courses, gaining his certificate in 1955.

20. New Nimmitabel Motors - Ans in spacious office	21. New Nimmitabel Motors - c1958

The NRMA Depot was a great boon to business and a tow-truck, an ex army blitz wagon, was purchased. This truck saw much service in the district towing broken-down vehicles, particularly from the Brown Mountains, having even towed the then Prime Minister's (Bob Menzies) Cadillac from the Brown Mountains in the middle of a very cold winter's night.

22. New Nimmitabel Motors - Car Showroom	23. New Nimmitabel Motors - Front View

My mother became involved in the CWA and Red Cross, as well as the Cooma Ambulance Auxiliary. As secretary of the Nimmitabel CWA, she built up the membership from 22 members in 1954 to 101 in 1955 and over 115 members in 1956. For this huge increase in membership (400%), the branch was awarded the Lloyd Jones Challenge Cup Perpetual Trophy, which was presented by Sir Charles Lloyd Jones to Ans Goed (branch secretary Nimmitabel C.W.A.), at the C.W.A. annual conference held at the Sydney Town Hall, in 1956.

10. Country Womens' Association	11. Country Womens' Association
12. Country Womens' Association	13. Country Womens' Association

My father became interested in speed boats and in 1957 had a local carpenter, Dutchman, Toon Jacquemyns, build the Flying Dutchman, which went on to win many races and even a NSW water speed record in 1958/9. Peter Evens acquired this boat in late 1959 and still had it as late as 1990.

15. Flying Dutchman c1958	19. Methodist Church

With the garage business booming, it was decided to add panel beating to the services offered and Thijs Nijholt became a partner in the business in 1956. This did not work out and Thys moved on to Yass, where he ran an Ampol Service Station for some years.
In 1957, the threat of Atlantic opening up a service station on the diagonally opposite corner to Nimmitabel Motors did not enthral my father and he approached Atlantic about rebuilding the burnt out site and leasing it to him.

In 1957, reconstruction on the burnt-out site was commenced and completed by early 1958, when it was officially opened by radio personality Jack Davies. This new up-to-date service station had all the mod-cons that the old Nimmitabel Motors did not have, including a five-ton hydraulic hoist and a modern showroom and spare parts/office in the front of the building.

24. New Nimmitabel Motors - Lubritorium	25. Nimmitabel Motors - c1958

A sub-agency for Standard cars and Ferguson tractors was obtained from Norris Motors in Cooma and a Standard 8 car was placed on display in the showroom. This was soon sold and a Standard 10 was installed, this was subsequently sold to Jim Parker, who had it for many years. As well a Ferguson tractor was put on display, several of these and many implements being sold from Nimmitabel Motors in the latter part of the 1950s.
My mother procured an agency for the Bank of New South Wales savings bank and a branch of the Cooma Library. These were also housed in the new complex. As well, there were two reasonably large shops built beside the garage, which was on the corner of Bombala and Clarke Streets.

26. Nimmitabel under snow - pre Atlantic, c1956	27. Pencil Sketch of Elke Rehwinkle -                     by Noel Myers - 1955

The new premises were operated in tandem with the original Nimmitabel Motors diagonally across the street. Repairs were done in the original premises, while the new building was used for the servicing of vehicles and sale of petrol, oil, tyres and spare parts.
In late 1959 I sat for the entrance examinations for selection as a Technician in Training with the Post Master General's Department. Being successful meant a move to Sydney to undertake a one year full-time training course. My parents thought it would be best for us all to move to Sydney and Nimmitabel motors was sold, with the move to Sydney completed by early January 1960.

30. Rose Bowls c1956-57	36. Sunday School - Don Howard, Brian Thistleton, Barry ?, ??, Peter Goed

This ended the Goed family's association with Nimmitabel, although my parents stayed in contact with people there for many years and occasionally returned for a visit. I have been back only a handful of times since 1960, but still have a soft spot for the town and its people.