On Sunday, June 4, 2023. Peter Michael Dampney, husband of Janet, father of Tony and Joanne, passed away aged 76 years.
Peter was born in Bowral on November 26, 1946, to Frank and Peggy Dampney, a brother for his siblings Joy and Ken, and later for his younger sister Trish.
Farming life started in the early days at the Moss Vale dairy ‘Mirrabooka’ in the Southern Highlands, where Frank and Peggy ran Friesian cattle and horses.
In 1950, four years after Peter was born, the family moved to the property ‘Billabong’, situated on the banks of the Namoi River near Narrabri.
Peter’s school days began at Narrabri West Public School. He would ride his pushbike to the front gate of ‘Billabong’ and from there climb onto an old ute improvised with chairs in the back and a canopy over the top.
This somewhat precarious ride on the makeshift bus meant that by the time the passengers arrived at school they would be covered in dust.
It was at primary school where Peter discovered his love of sport which included cricket, tennis and rugby league. There were no local junior league competitions at the time, so the students would compete against other northwest plains’ schools in a carnival staged once a year in Narrabri.
During these years, Peter’s father Frank was instrumental in helping to start up the Narrabri Pony Club, and there launched Peter’s passion for horses. Attending the first pony camp held by the club, Peter rode his pony to the showgrounds from ‘Billabong’, camped all week and then rode his pony back home again, no mean feat for such a young lad.
One day Frank asked Peter to ride his pony (a gelding) to the top paddock near the main road to bring down a few mares. When Peter got there, unfortunately the stallion was unexpectedly with the herd.
The stallion immediately charged, taking skin off Peter’s arms and legs and seriously hurting his beloved pony. Somehow Peter managed to walk to the main road, where luckily there were some road workers who kindly took him home.
Peter with his sister Trish Leitch at the Narrabri Showground, Australian Stock Horse Association day, 2005.
Next, Peter transitioned to Narrabri High School and later finished his secondary education at All Saints school in Bathurst.
The All Saints school gave Peter the opportunity to hone his tennis and cricket skills.
During and after school days was when Peter began his farming career, raising fat lambs at ‘Billabong’ and competing successfully in junior farmer competitions.
On completion of school, Peter continued working at the farm helping his father Frank and further educating himself in wool classing at Narrabri Tech.
Peter loved his tennis. From the mid 60s through to the 80s Peter played the game, travelling and competing in tournaments at Moree, Burren, Gunnedah and Narrabri. Heavily involved in the Narrabri Tennis club, one of the highlights was playing in the A-Grade team that included a young Jason Stoltenberg. And earlier on before that, Evonne Goolagong stayed at the family farm when she visited Narrabri.
Playing many games at the Turrawan Tennis Courts, ‘Billabong’ also had its own tennis court where Peter enjoyed games with family and friends.
In addition to this, Peter played cricket from when he left school through until the mid-70s. He played for the Namoi Cricket Club and later joined the Myall Vale club.
During these years, horses remained an important part of Peter’s life. Attending shows, competing in hack classes, show jumping and campdrafting Peter, often with his younger sister Trish, would set off in the Ford truck with horses on board.
When Peter won a prestigious pony jumping competition on a mare called Sundown, against some major competitors at the Gunnedah Show, the mare’s owners asked if Peter wanted to keep her, because they were having a hard time with the pony escaping paddocks by jumping all their fences.
From the time Peter left school the family had built up a sizeable sheep flock. During the 1971 floods, 3000 of these sheep got caught on an island at ‘Billabong’ and sadly only a few survived.
There was another close shave that Peter was lucky to escape soon after the flood. Moving machinery across ‘Billabong’, Peter got caught between two pieces of machinery and spent a few days in hospital recovering from the ordeal.
Peter married Janet (nee Rynhart) in August 1971. Pictured here, Peter and Janet with Frank and Peggy Dampney.
In August 1971 Peter married Janet (nee Rynhart) at the Presbyterian Church in Wee Waa. The first few years for the couple were spent in a converted shearing shed at ‘Billabong’ until a newer house was moved onto the property in 1974.
In 1972 Peter and Janet welcomed a son, Tony, and two years later, a daughter Joanne in 1974.
After the experience of years of flooding throughout the 1970s, the decision was made to purchase a flood-free property, ‘Mirrabooka’ just outside of Narrabri in 1977.
As the children grew older Peter, alongside his wife Janet, became more involved in the Narrabri Pony Club, taking on the roles of instructor, organiser and later, president from 1987 to 1989.
Peter also became involved in the Narrabri Show Society and served as president between 1991 and 1993, also serving on the Narrabri Showground Trust during the 90s.
In later years both Peter and Janet were made life members of the Narrabri Show Society.
A past president of the Namoi Bushman’s Carnival, Peter kept a family tradition, following in the footsteps of his father Frank who had been heavily involved in the start of the organisation.
A part of being heavily involved in these organisations was that Peter treated the Narrabri Showground with as much care as his own farm. He spent many hours researching and discussing refurbishments and improvements to the arena for campdrafters.
It would be a common sight to see Peter take the quad-runner and spray the No.1 arena, making sure it was weed free and remained pristine and ready for the next upcoming event.
Peter was a member of the National Party for 48 years and the NSW Farmers Association for many years.
Peter and Janet decided to sell ‘Billabong’ in 1989, and the family moved to ‘Junefield’ at Edgeroi. With son Tony now keen to stay on the farm, the family worked hard setting up the new property. Later another purchase was made of ‘The Wilgas’ at Edgeroi, in 1994.
A passionate breeder of horses, Peter would still be competing in local campdrafts when time and farm work permitted.
A successful farmer, achieving great results from grain, cotton and cattle enterprises, Peter selflessly gave many hours of his time to community organisations. Peter was immensely proud of his family and their achievements, and he loved nothing more than to hear about what each one of his grandchildren were up to.
Peter is survived by his wife Janet, son Tony and daughter-in-law Kylie, daughter Joanne and son-in-law Dion, and his beloved grandchildren, Meagan, Eliza, Lila and Artie. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
In October 1990, Peter Dampney was awarded the Royal Agricultural Society’s (RAS) title of North Division 1990 Field Wheat Champion. Pictured with NAB manager Mr Warwick Laing presenting the ribbon, Janet and Peter Dampney and son Tony Dampney.
