A young man who lost a portion of his brain in a shooting accident has returned home in a perfectly satisfactory condition. Robert Frederick Phillips, 20 years was shot in his parents’ home at Gum Scrub on Monday evening, February 19. He underwent two brain operations at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney before being discharged on April 19. His only disability is a lack of balance, which he is learning to overcome. Robert was watching television with his father, Mr. Bob Phillips, in the lounge room when the accident occurred.

Two of his brothers Lloyd, 17 years, and Athol, 16 years, had a high powered 310 ex-Army rifle in an adjoining bedroom. They were testing the ejection mechanism when the gun discharged. The bullet was deflected as it tore through the wall, and it passed through the top part of Robert’s forehead.

Mr. Phillips contacted the telephone exchange at Gum Scrub and then drove his son towards Telegraph Point. He was still several miles from the township when met by Port Macquarie ambulance which rushed Robert to Hastings District Hospital.

His condition was so grave that a doctor warned Mr. Phillips that his son may not live more than a few hours. After treatment at the hospital, the aerial ambulance was contacted to rush the young man to Sydney. Although called late at night, the air ambulance had its patient in Sydney by 4 a.m. next morning when Robert was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital.

Colonial Dining Room Opens

At a glamourous occasion in the Panorama’s new Colonial Dining Room on Thursday evening last, Monsignor Farrelly, Parish Priest at Port Macquarie, gave his blessings to the new venture and all assembled. The Colonial room won much praise as the invited guests intermingled and later partook of the very wonderful dishes chef Len McDonnell had prepared. As well as the setting and the food, topics of interest were the grotto, in which an old drain from the days of Government House has been put to good use to provide running water for the fern and lily-backed nook, and the painting (the work of Mrs. Una Robertson) which surmounts the bar and depicts old Government House.

Centuries Mingle at Historic Ball

There was a touch of colour and elegance of the previous century at the historic ball, staged by the Apex Club in the R.S.L. auditorium on Friday night. The ball, held to mark the sesqui-centenary year, gave an indication of what the town could expect to see in the October celebrations. The women made a wonderful sight in their period gowns as they swished around the dance floor. The full-length dresses, filled out from narrow waists with petticoats and bustles were elaborate and colourful.

The partners were no less colourful in their chequered vests, laced shirts and riotous pants. Some couples went further back into history, with one young chap attending in leopard-skin carrying a wooden club to keep his partner in line. Nearly 200 people attended the ball including the Queen of Port Macquarie, Miss Lyn Prince, who was nominated for the quest by Apex.