Born in 1848, Mr Tester lived at the Cliftleigh end of Averys Lane, a short walk from the flood-prone road.

He died in 1938 when his great-granddaughter, Kurri resident June Hirst was five years old.

But Mrs Hirst recalls family members telling her how her great-grandfather used to use a bullock wagon to pull people out of Testers Hollow when it flooded.

According to the Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder (March 17, 1936), Professor Edgeworth David was able to prove the existence of the Greta seam in 1886 from information Mr Tester gave to the Department of Mines.

Mr Tester had noticed, during a flood, pieces of what appeared to him to be coal being whirled down the creek.

“This clue was followed up and the ultimate result was the great South Maitland Coalfield,” the article said, although it also stated that there were much earlier records of indications of coal in this district.

Mr Tester’s family says the hollow was named after him due to his part in Professor David’s discovery of the coal seam.

The entry road to the new subdivision Cliftleigh Meadows is named William Tester Drive, and his family believes he would be thrilled with the honour.

However, they say he wouldn’t be so happy about his namesake down the road and the continuing flooding saga – and neither are his descendants, many of whom still live in the Kurri area.

“In this day and age, something should be done,” Mrs Hirst said.