JOHN Dewsbury was the first of six generations of Dewsburys to live and work in the Goulburn area.
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John came to Goulburn in 1853 from Leicester, England. He worked at Springfield Sheep Station for more than 50 years.
During this time he purchased a block of land in Quialigo and carved the road now known as Dewsbury's Lane. There are presently six Dewsburys living still in Quialigo.
The first in the family to begin blacksmithing was old Tom Lincoln on my grandmother's side, which was passed down to his son, Sidney Lincoln snr; then Sidney taught Sidney Lincoln jnr and Raymond Lincoln, who can be still seen shoeing and blacksmithing at the Royal Sydney Easter Show and local shows all over NSW.
My grandfather, Leicester Dewsbury, learned to blacksmith, wheelwright and build coaches from Sidney jnr and passed such skills to my father, William.
William Dewsbury worked previously as a farrier blacksmith and horse wrangler on television shows such as McLeod's Daughters and The Saddle Club, and worked in film in China with Jackie Chan.
He learnt his farrier skills off his Uncle Raymond Lincoln and his cousin Ian Lincoln.
William has also competed in the Heavy Horse and Farriers Blacksmith competitions at the Melbourne and Sydney Shows. He is also very talented at forging decorative items out of steel, such as roses, snakes and candelabras.
I have been very keen and interested in the art of blacksmithing and often go over to my grandfather's to tinker in the shed, making fire pokers and tools. I have grown up with the craft of blacksmith and farrier. I think I'm lucky to have an art like this passed down to me through the generations.