According to the Macquarie Dictionary an 'iron ringer' is a person born in Cobar, and there are plans afoot create an actual iron ring monument in town to celebrate Iron Ringers. 

Local Historian and Convener of the Iron Ring Fundraising Committee, John Collins, says the term has been widely used for 50 or 60 years and was invented by Clarry Pretty, who was born in Cobar in 1919-20.  

"Clarry was a Cobar boy all his life. It was after the closure of the New Occidental Mine in 1952, that Clarry coined the term," Mr Collins said.

"When the mines closed some left town, some stayed, some never came back."

"People were born in Cobar despite the fact they had to move away, they are a part of Cobar, they are part of an iron ring and that cannot be broken," he said. 

Soon after the committee was formed they had to come with a definition of an iron ringer, that you had to be born in Cobar, not Cobar Shire, just the town itself. 

Mr Collins, who is now in his mid 70's, is not actually an iron ringer, despite having lived in the Cobar Shire for all but six years of his life and having lived in Cobar town for 31 years.

"I appreciate how important it is, I am not one, but I understand how important it is to Cobar," he said.

"It's a bit of a fun thing. Not to be taken too seriously though." 

ABOVE: Members of the Iron Ring Fundraising Committee at the proposed site of the Iron Ring.

L to R: David Snelson, Kay Stingemore, Demi Smith, Emma Barton, John Collins, Dale McLeod & Kate Winders [Image: The Cobar Weekly] 

The Iron Ring Fundraising Committee are hoping to raise $25,000 to $40,000 in 2023 and hope the Iron Ring itself will be built in 2024 west of the Cobar Mining Heritage Park and Miner's Memorial.

A local artist, Peter Rogers has worked with committee to meet their vision of the Iron Ring and the banner picture was the clear favourite of the committee. 

John Collins came up with the idea at a Tourism meeting a committee of Cobar locals was formed soon after, "some young, some old, mostly iron ringers but some not", said Mr Collins.

The Committee consists of: Barry Knight, David Snelson, Greg Martin, John Collins (Convener), Dale McLeod, Emma Barton Geoffrey Langford, Kate Winders, Demi Smith, Samantha Smith, Peter Rogers – local artist, Colby Lawrence, Sharon Harland, and Kay Stingemore. 

"The idea is to have something unique in Cobar that people can visit, as there no more children being born in Cobar, and we should bring attention to that," Mr Collins said.

"We have quotes on how to build it and support from the Council." 

Women have been unable to give birth in Cobar from around the late 1990's, being forced by the closure of birthing services, to go to Dubbo instead.

Although several people told the Western Plains App that they children or grandchildren who have managed to be born in Cobar over the last 20 years or so, one local woman, who wished to remain anonymous told the Western Plains App, "When we didn’t have the doctors with the training and the insurance became too much. I'm not actually sure of what year."

"I had to have my pair in Dubbo, no choice. We were threatened of being reported to DOCS (Department of Community Services) if we deliberately waited too long to leave town". 

 "I’m not an iron ringer and have been there nearly all my life. It upsets me that my kids could not be an iron ringer", she said. 

Bonnie Buckman said "My third son Chad slipped through the cracks 18.7 years ago."

"He was born in a thunderstorm night - we were meant to make our way to Dubbo the following day and by the time my hubby got in from night shift (which wasn’t very long) and we drove up to the hospital we walked in they said no get in the car and go to Dubbo (but) I bared down with another contraction and not 30mins later was holding him - I loved being compared to my dad's cows that apparently birth in a thunderstorm!" she said.

"My husband and I were also born here but we have also gone out into the world. We were told by our grandparents if you leave Cobar it will always be here for you and it is!

"It’s those connections to Cobar - they are generational.. It’s a very special place," Mrs Buckman said. 

ABOVE: L to R Colby Lawrence, John Collins, Kay Stingemore and Barry Knight at an Iron Ringers Fundraising Committee Meeting [Image" Cobar Weekly] 

The Iron Ringer Fundraising Committee are currently selling engraved pavers for $50, that will be set around the structure when it is completed.

They can be contacted at [email protected].