Mervyn Hugh ALCHIN was born on the 31st July, 1918, in Temora, NSW. His parents were Alexander Alchin &

Service Record - Name - ALCHIN, MERVYN HUGH

Service - Australian Army - Service Number - NX31444 - Date of Birth - 31 Jul 1918 - Place of Birth - TEMORA, NSW

Date of Enlistment - 10 Jun 1941 - Locality on Enlistment - TEMORA, NSW - Place of Enlistment - PADDINGTON, NSW

Next of Kin - ALCHIN, ALEXANDER - Date of Discharge - 2 Apr 1946 - Rank - Private - Posting at Discharge - 2/20 Battalion

WW2 Honours and Gallantry - None for display = Prisoner of War - Yes.

In 1946 Mr Mervyn Hugh ALCHIN married Miss Joan Gloria BELL in Temora, NSW - (Ref NSW BDM 7422/1946).

Merv Hugh ALCHIN & Joan Gloria (BELL) Alchin of Tumut

Merve & Joan Alchin, took up the lease and relocated from the Temora area to West Blowering in about 1956.

Knowing nothing about millet growing they took on the farming of rich river flats. With much assistance from locals and in particular norther neighbour Mr Wom Odddy became extremely knowledgable in the growing and harvesting of many tons of millet for the manufacture of brooms and seed.

Records show that on the 21st March, 1952, approximately 15 acres was resumed by the Water Commission & Irrigation Commission (W.C. & I.C.) for the establishment of offices, stores, workshop and housing in readiness for the dams construction.

In about 1964 Mr Tom Thompson, the Blowering Administration Officer of the S.M.A. Blowering Camp form a cricket team of Blowering S.M.A. employees and entered the team in the local Tumut District Cricket Competition. A practice concrete wicket was layed behind the Blowering Camp site and a playing pitch was established in a paddock behind Merve and Joan Alchin's house.(I don't think that the record books will show the team as being a threat to the competition leaders!!!!) The practice pitch is still there today, I do not know about the other one.

Lease and property resumed by the NSW State Government - 1966

This report is submitted in good faith. All endeavors have been made to make all entries authentic and correct. For any corrections and additional valuable information, maps and photos you may have please contact

John Stephenson (Mobile 0431 481 451) Ex West Blowering & Tumut Resident, now living in Wollongong, NSW. Australia.

This Site Last Updated on the 30/07/2015

To Long - To West Blowering - To Front page