Mr Mailer has lived in the Upper Hunter Shire for more than five decades, and many would know him in the east, as he and his wife Barbara and their family made their home at Moonan Flat for almost 50 years. 

Despite some hardships, Mr Mailer considers himself as fortunate to have had a good life and he believes it has been very kind to him. 

Although Mr and Mrs Mailer moved to town several years ago to ‘slow down’, the spritely man still doesn’t have a spare day in his week, as when he is not out volunteering he is out on the farm helping his family do things.

A true country man at heart, Mr Mailer grew up on a sheep and wheat farming property in the Central West of NSW at Trundle. 

He and his siblings attended the local school and one of Mr Mailer’s claims to fame is that he rode his push bike 8500 miles to complete his primary education, as he used to ride eight miles a day going into and back home from school in town. 

Mr Mailer has two sisters still living, an older sister who lives in Sydney and his younger sister lives at Nyngan.

Like many young country lads, when the time came for secondary school, a young Bob had his bags packed and it was off to Knox Grammar School in Sydney where he finished his schooling. 

With an interest in being on the land, once school was completed it was straight back to the country, but Mr Mailer decided to learn from others rather than going straight back to his parent’s property. 

He spent two years as a jackeroo at ‘Bundmar’ station at Trangie before moving on to a sheep property at Mount Barker in Western Australia where he worked for a further two years. 

After returning back to his home state, the young man took up occupation at the CSIRO Research Centre at Uralla as a stockman, which he said was a very interesting job. 

It was in March 1958 that the Mailer’s became local ratepayers when Bob and his parents, Bob and Isabel, purchased ‘Highlands’ – an 1800 acre property at Moonan Flat. 

Mr Mailer’s father passed away in 1964 so he took over the reins and in 1968 he was joined at the farm by his new beautiful wife, Barbara Scott, after they married and she made the move from Lane Cove. 

Mrs Mailer recalls those early days of their marriage when she would come into Scone to purchase necessities and she was initially horrified to learn people don’t use cash to pay for things, but rather ‘book them up’ (to an account), however she said she soon learnt this was the norm.

Throughout the next 49 and a half years, the family operated the farming enterprise which bred and fattened cattle, cross bred lambs and they even dabbled in goats at one stage.

Mr Mailer said at one stage they were shearing about 800 goats a year, as well as the sheep.

Whilst living on the property, Mr Mailer took the opportunity to do outside work to keep the income coming in and he became the well known local hay making contractor for about 30 years, making hay for various neighbours and other landowners in the region.

Although Mr Mailer was always busy on the farm, he still found time to become part of the local community and give his time in a voluntary capacity.

He was active on the Bush Nurse Committee from 1959 to 1969, was the Moonan Flat Bushmen’s Carnival secretary for 25 years from 1962 to 1987, the Moonan Flat Bushfire Brigade secretary for 28 years and was involved in the Belltrees Public School P & C Association from 1974 to 1986 in which time he was president for seven years. 

Once his three children advanced to high school, he was involved in the Scone High School P & C Association from 1981 to 1991 being president, vice president and                       treasurer during that time. 

He was also on the Moonan Recreation Reserve Committee for 20 years serving as president and secretary, was an elder and president of the Moonan Union Church Management Committee throughout a 35 year period, and was president of the Moonan Landcare Group for five years. 

More broadly across the region, Mr Mailer was the Country/National Party secretary from 1963 to 1976 and was the NSW Farmers District Council secretary for 11 years. 

Throughout the 1970s he was also an active voice on the Save Scone Hospital Committee and he and Barbara were involved in the Upper Hunter Mummers Inc productions for several years.  

Mr Mailer said he has been in some organisations since 1959, as he has always been involved in one way or another. 

“I really enjoyed all of those jobs and enjoyed meeting other people.

“Farmers can be very isolated as they work away from others on their property in isolation,” Mr Mailer said. 

“I always believed being involved was a social outlet and you’re also making a contribution to something.

“It’s amazing the useful information you do find out,” he said. 

Mr Mailer kept a diary of the entire time on the place and he said they read back and reminisce on all the great fun times they had out at Moonan Flat.

“Moonan was a lovely community to be involved in and live in,” he said. 

In 2007, the time came to make a decision and Mr and Mrs Mailer knew their son, who is an ABC presenter in Brisbane, wasn’t interested in continuing the farm, so they sold up and moved into Scone. 

Mr Mailer said he had always said 50 years would see him off the place as he didn’t want to stay too long.

“Since moving into town we have enjoyed our time very much and I still go out every day and do things.

“I haven’t had a day since moving to town where I have been home all day,” he said. 

These days Mr Mailer is the president and publicity officer of the Scone Probus Club, which he really enjoys and has been involved in since 2013.

He is a member of the Upper Hunter Men’s Shed, the local handyman always willing to help others out with odd jobs and also volunteers at TransCare doing Meals on Wheels every Thursday morning.

Mr Mailer also enjoys a game of bowls and said he can honestly say he now knows 100 men he didn’t already know through the Probus Club and men’s bowls. 

“It’s so nice to see the men get together and the chatter is just buzzing.

“For some people that would be there only outing, and I believe it is very important to socialise and keep living,” he said.  

In reflection, Mr Mailer said he has had a blessed life.

“The only set back in my life was losing our daughter, Allison, other than that I’ve been really fortunate.

“The 47 years of support from ‘the bride’, through good times and bad, has been very important and I thank her for that.”