Old Pioneer's Reminiscenses of Illawarra

Who was Old Pioneer? Despite the passing of over sixty years since the initial publication of the series "Reminiscences of Illawana by Old Pioneer" in the Illawarra Mercury between 1923-25, the identity of this Old Pioneer is still shrouded in mystery. It is commonly held that Old Pioneer was Frank Young, a prominent local resident and journalist with the Illawarra Mercury, who used letters written to that paper by various old pioneers of Illawarra - including William Piper (1843-1927) - along with his own personal interview material and reminiscences, to compile the series known as "Reminiscences of Illawarra by Old Pioneer". This series was published in the Illawarra Mercury in 79 parts between 12 October 1923 and 8 May 1925, and a further, un-numbered part appeared on 8 June 1934.