One of the eight children of John and Honora Downes, John Downes junior served as president of Hastings Shire Council on six occasions, these being 1915, 1917, 1919, 1930, 1933 and 1936.

John Downes Park in Port Macquarie is named after him.

This 1901 photo shows the three youngest children of John and Honora Downes at Rawdon Island.

Their parents, being royalists, had the photo taken of the youngest children following the death of Queen Victoria.

The family dressmaker, Mrs McDonagh, made the girls very proud in their purple velvet dresses with the lilac sashes.

The children were Minnie, born 21/6/1889, William, born 5/5/1891, and Nora, born 1/12/1894.

Nora is the mother of Mrs Carmen Dawson of Rollands Plains, who proudly owns the photo. She is a twin daughter.

Mrs Dawson said the three youngest of John and Honora left their mark on the Hastings River.

Longevity was bestowed upon them, the average age at their deaths was 94 years.

Minnie was awarded the British Empire Medal for services of many decades as postmistress at Rawdon Island.

William was a great footballer and won seven gold medals.

Nora was a gifted musician who excelled in the violin and piano and won her Letters of London on the same day when she was 14 years of age.

As well as being landholders the Downes family operated a store, post office and telegraph office at Rawdon Island.