ABOVE: Warren, Wanda and Wayne Collins at their 21st birthday party at Mallanganee Hall.
STORY by Susanna Freymark
In 1942 Imperial Japan bombed Australia more than 100 times. One of the worst disasters of the year was Japan’s bombing of Darwin – hundreds of aircraft left 243 people dead and many injured.
In Mallanganee, Mavis Collins was pregnant.
She had no idea she was carrying triplets until Wayne, Wanda and Warren were born on September 29 to the surprise of everyone, including her.
They were the first triplets born in Casino Hospital.
Roden Cutler (who later became governor general) came to visit the triplets at the hospital shortly after receiving the Victoria Cross.
Their father John Collins worked in the timber industry and was often away from home. Their mother cared for them and their two siblings, Lex and Joan.
This week it’s their 80th birthday.
Two of them – Wanda and Wayne will celebrate. Warren died before he turned 40.
Recently at Wayne’s home high on the hill overlooking Kyogle, he and Wanda recalled their days as the famous triplets growing up in Mallanganee.
“We weighed about three pounds,” Wanda said. (1.6kg)
Wayne said they were villains when they were kids.
“They put us in a playpen. One of us would lift it up and the others got out.”
There was always a lot of fuss when the triplets went anywhere, Wayne said.
The family didn’t have much money. “It was a hard childhood. No one had much,” Wanda said.

They went to Mallanganee Public School and left at 15.
“We went out to work,” Wayne said.
Wayne worked in Sydney for a while for the Postmaster-General.
He came back years later and bought the cafe in Tabulam.
He married Betty, “his bride” and they had two children. Betty died six years ago.
Wanda became a nurse and worked at Bellingen Hospital.
She married and had children. She now lives at the Whiddon home in Kyogle, not far from Wayne.
“Wayne was the pet,” Wanda said.
The two of them laugh as they hold the mugs given by Casino Hospital for being the first set of triplets born there.
“We got a pound each from the King (George) too,” Wayne said.
Wanda, Wayne, their families and friends will celebrate their 80th at the Commercial Hotel in Kyogle.
