John (Jack) Maxwell Pearn was born on the 15th January 1915 and was the eldest of the three Pearn Brothers.

As the eldest child Jack was given responsibility from an early age, and was sent out at daylight to light the fire in the steam engine so that it would be ready for work straight after breakfast. From five years of age, he was capable of operating a steam engine on his own; steam was a passion that remained with him for the rest of his life.

He rode his bike to the local school at Glenore under the watchful eye of teacher, Mrs Ward. He completed his education at the age of 14 before returning home to work on the family farm.

Verdun Edward Pearn was born on the 7th December 1916 and was named in recognition of the Battle of Verdun in France. As a baby he very nearly didn’t survive after contracting both whooping cough and measles.

Even as a small child, Verdun had an enquiring and mechanical mind. At 15 he built a working model traction engine in the farm workshop, using various bits and pieces he found.

For example:

• The flywheel was off an old highchair,

• The wheels were made of tin cut from kerosene tins,

• The gauge glass was once an old car fuse,

• The control rods were fabricated from bicycle spokes,

• The steering gears were from a car speedo drive,

• Some of the brass work came from old horse harnesses,

• The gears were from a small separator and a gramophone

• An old alarm clock also gave up some gears and brass pieces for this project.

Zenith Douglas Pearn, was born on the 8th April 1923. Despite his mother choosing the name Douglas, his father registered his birth with the more unusual name of Zenith (Zen), which he had taken from a carburettor of a vehicle called a Cubit.

Although capable in the operation of steam traction engines, Zen preferred diesel power. In the 1950s the brothers purchased bull dozers and excavation equipment with the majority of the contracting jobs throughout the North of the State undertaken by Zen.

Along with his brothers, Zen also attended the Glenore school and was awarded a Merit Certificate which would have allowed him to attend high school in Launceston. It was an opportunity he didn’t take up.