The Bega Pioneers' Museum has countless reports and stories on local issues. Here is the story of Harold Wiles' life. Harold is now an auctioneer in Candelo.
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I HAVE sold many farms through the district. I am satisfied one can never forecast what lies in the future, not even a fortune-teller. Where I was born was not far from the great Tantawanglo River. Many a time I spent an hour or so watching millions of gallons of the best water in the state winding its way down the mountain, only to empty into the sea.
I said to my father one night, "What a pity to see all that beautiful water going to waste". He said, "Some day some wise man will have it utilised for a water supply to serve part of the south coast". I never dreamt at the age of 10 years that I would one day be the prime mover in having the water laid on to the towns of Candelo, Wolumla, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden.
There are 44 miles of pipeline, which work by gravitation, needing no pumping, for the service weir is 800 feet above sea level. Two more permanent rivers head from the mountain ranges, which could be used for irrigation purposes.
Many years ago when a town water supply was suggested to the then Mayor of Bega, he replied it would be too costly, and asked what would become of the water that ran off the houses. Bega town now pumps its water supply from the river and it is nothing like the quality of Tantawanglo.
The hydro scheme is controlled by the Bega Valley County Council and the consumers (just on 9,000) are supplied with light and power. The numbers of those employed, including staff, is 103. The whole area served is 5,500 square miles, with 1,164 miles of lines.
The average unit of kilowatts generated monthly are 2,894,310. The value of the assets of the whole undertaking are 3,000,000 pounds. More than half of the water flows over the weir and runs out to sea, whereas it could be used for farm irrigation, and electricity.
A grand old man, Dan Finn of Bemboka, brought to the notice of shire councils and all public bodies the cheap power that could be generated from Rutherford Creek on the Brown Mountain. For years and years he never let up on this project, but had very little backing. Who wanted electricity? It was dangerous, and who was going to pay for it, was the public outcry.
"Dan Finn is mad. Take no notice of him," the average cow cocky would say. Dan Finn was right! The hydro-scheme is serving a multitude of people today, another Godsend!
