Issuu

GRIFFITH & DISTRICT PIONEERS A Biographical Register

Original painting by Enid Atkinson based on a photograph by court es y of Don Simpson. The painting depicts Daiwa Avenue in 1926 and the original photograph was taken from the approximate area of the Courthouse roundabout.

H994.48

SERIES 3 PART 2

Gri SERIES 3 PART 2

Griffith Genealogical & Historical Society Inc.

GRIFFITH & DISTRICT PIONEERS A Biographical Register

SERIES 3 PART 2

Griffith Genealogical & Historical Society Inc.

Griffith

Kerwin Maegraith visits Griffith ...1)EoR 47)irc.R,

Pow 04

/ aota.via,

RBour fsiE S.

ff. -PlatboCKS "1111.4aS 11.1‘14 a3 E4.4 SaXbawl.

sToyouS 4:11ER S.. Ica

CRioss-114

..bAR•rg(: 1142 kocag.

To-.Dal

P•1041'

PA RTO.

We...age re rut.

y *L.L.

IZE,..1.7.‘-t8eR 14, 1.

gorpaiii.st

Ira

IT Is 4

11.1PoliTr4-4r -biGesRst

-Strgiaro,b 0.4

is Mowall Sgia. on!, 1.4140 t143 e:i.4E.

Of 114 oSg SIR

M olt I

-1141 Gioia our

t...1 erg leSis:

144

1144'

'forint Itgl\c‘

4.0) )3OttEtol S'an

'Rea ‘,/zarftioRo.

of (di Mitt-1)ff io.t

It tile moor

Gcs.s..t t.r,riCA

HIMAISogyti 414?

I )14::‘,4 lic:fort 0.4 TUC uigliog..E. of

Wi tkiks

,D04711 'via 4484 Sort cgrovas 4 g...or of

4"th mix4

i..figagif oar G4 /alga

Sojyt 4. S. Zoks

'nu moor R.46R444'fc MOAK R,4 New

1.4CY*4

MSc ge-rdiN 6 0.1

/vP...13how.‹

cm 4a4A.

OXCITi 5.

C-4 41.

Yod

1.414o IS

MA_ OP4

3304

VERy 4te•Cf Vsexwec.K Wis..50.4 M05E5, la **ICES fW gram 'a f•icrr 4 13L.4e-K IT a 4-16

NOI 041VeTt Kiir3 flog

roWLS

rovi^i

°^1e-E"'

fe o 14.

Sur' fitk

ext418.r. 5.4

44.04 of

2016 Se .2043 S14,4 )31k0•01.14 ,

Es -Oa /RR i1 -6441.4 //e-Ps

HERE,

141

A yaCs 07•44

^Am "/

(her oK 101.441:11Baggs '6'/44KE

)3*.s.r-

23Egfq — ITS So &IC

_b e'er

aFtf sti4

C.402

c4s.ksz_b .6,4(r

ill~t r

CA/4477m, youRs

By courtesy of Peter Maegraith Compiled from an original feature in "Beckett's Budget' dated 14 June 1927 held by the State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney

ittiewne VT Cy R /111 dir"

GRIFFITH & DISTRICT PIONEERS A Biographical Register SERIES 3 PART 2

GRIFFITH & DISTRICT PIONEERS A Biographical Register

SERIES 3 PART 2 L-Z

Compiled & Published by Griffith Genealogical & Historical Society Inc. PO Box 270, Griffith NSW 2680 1993

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to all the Pioneers but especially to the young women, their babes and small children - they came from many countries, backgrounds and lifestyles.

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealings for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.

First published 1993 ISBN 0 949043 09 5 (Set) ISBN 0 949043 14 1

Printed by Star Printery Pty Ltd, Erskineville, New South Wales

Contents Part 2

Editors' Notes

Foreword

vii

Acknowledgements

viii

The Pioneers - Part 1

The Pioneers - Part 2

Introduction

xi i

The Pioneers' Stories/Biographies - Part 2

451

Epilogue

885

Index

887

Editors' Notes

As in the two previous Series, this Series 3 - Part 1 and Part 2 - are the biographies of local pioneer families who settled the land from the 1880s onward and through to the early days of the irrigation area. As a whole they represent a complete cross section of the people occupying and working the land now known as Griffith and District. There are still many families who have declined the opportunity to participate. Nevertheless, the response to what was originally intended as a single volume has been so overwhelming that the exercise has swollen into four volumes. With regard to the photographs, it is to be appreciated that whilst many are in pristine condition and reproduce beautifully, many are old, faded and/or damaged. For this reason there is considerable variation in quality throughout the books which has been unavoidable. No effort has been made to convert £ into $ because any such conversion would have no relevance to todays values. While every effort has been made to be as accurate as possible regarding this early history we are entirely reliant on peoples memories and family traditions. While some might disagree about certain minor details, we feel that the overall picture of life and conditions during these early times, as depicted by the Contributors, is done so with great clarity and integrity. However this Society and we as Editors can take no responsibility for any statements made in these biographical entries.

Hilary Dalton (née Millynn) Wendy Polkinghorne (nee Bested)

Foreword

It is with a great deal of pride that I write the foreword to the third in our series of Biographical Registers of the Pioneers of Griffith and District. With so many fascinating stories still to be told, our Editors, Hilary Dalton and Wendy Polkinghorne, felt it necessary to print two volumes in this instance, bringing the total of books in this wonderful series to four. Among the stories in these two volumes are many of the Selector families in the preirrigation years and also many of the early Italian families who helped establish this irrigation area especially from the mid 1920s onwards. It documents their struggles to assimilate and the marvellous contribution they have made through hard work and determination. This beautifully bound and illustrated series of volumes will bring enduring pleasure to the descendants of the families whose stories are documented herein, while ensuring that the day to day lives of the pioneers who helped establish this exceptional area are recorded for posterity. Hilary and Wendy have dedicated a large part of their lives in the last few years to this tremendous project and their reward is the fine sense of achievement that comes from creating a permanent record of the lives of the early settlers in this district.

Margaret Thomas President Griffith Genealogical & Historical Society Inc.

vii

Acknowledgements We would like to again acknowledge the generous support we have received. At the top of the list must come our own members who gave their contribution as a tribute to the memory of their parents who were pioneers. Mrs Kay Mitchell Mr Jeff Stevenson Mrs Nora Gibbons Mr Tony and Mrs Marlene Gras Alderman Jim McGann Mrs Nora Southgate Mr Roger and Mrs Betty Blake Mrs Margaret Hare We would like to especially thank those who have generously supported us and contributed to our funds and assisted so positively in making it possible for all three Series to be printed. Lancaster & Del Gigante Mrs Olive Langburne Lions Club of Griffith Mirrool Mrs Dorothy Low Mrs Sue Macdonald Mrs Frances Mansell Marsh Chiropractic Clinic Mrs Nesta McWilliam Mr Reg & Mrs Dorothy Palframan Polkinghorne, Budd & Longhurst Mrs Beth Procter Ricegrowers Co-op Mills Ltd Rotary Club of Griffith Rotary Club of Griffith Central Rotary Club of Griffith East Rotary Club of Yenda Mr & Mrs Roy Sainty Mr Don Simpson SR Bakeries Pty Ltd State Bank Mr & Mrs Allan Taylor Mr Gerry & Mrs Giulia Vio Messrs A F ("Jim") & C B Watts Yenda Fruit & Case Supply

2RG Sunshine Club Apex Club of Griffith Mr Ray Barnes Mr & Mrs Bill Blance Mrs Yvonne Bromley Cafe Beautiful Mrs Margaret Campbell CWA - Griffith CWA - Hanwood Mr John Dalla Mrs Vina Dalla Mr Nino Gatto Mrs Judy Gruber Griffith City Council Griffith Community Bi-centennial Committee Griffith Ex-servicemen's Club Ltd Griffith Garden Club Griffith RSL Innerwheel Club of Yenda Service Mrs Pat Jones Mrs Dorothy Judd Mr George Kayess Mrs Nancy Lacey

viii

We would like too, to extend our very special thanks and appreciation to our Members who have given so unstintingly of their time and expertise.... Enid Atkinson for her artistic design of our dustcover and for the many delightful sketches within these pages. Enid also interviewed many of our contributing Pioneers and their Families and wrote many of their stories. Wally Quinlivan and Enid designed our beautifully appropriate logo. Allan and Edna Wakely spent many hours copying the very many precious photos for the "Griffith Collection". Many have helped in different ways - interviewing the families, writing the stories, checking information and perhaps most important of all, proofreading the drafts. Special thanks to Enid Atkinson, Nerida Barber, Nolene Bell, Lynette Brown, Jenny Elwin, Grace Forner, June Harriman, Val Marquis, Kay Mitchell, Marie Neville, Ann Permezel, Brenda Prenzel, Wally Quinlivan, Diane Ralph, Ann Stevens, Lynette Villata and Betty Watts. Thank you to Jim Bugno for his cheerful and willing help - especially among our people of Italian descent. Our Contributors without whom, of course, this social history could never have been recorded. Many have been patiently waiting for many years for the publication of their pioneer families. Others had to be cajoled to write down their, sometimes painful, memories. We do hope the wait has been worthwhile and that you are proud to have your Pioneer Family included. Special thanks to Pamela Young, Chief Librarian, Western Riverina Community Libary and her Staff for their unfailing courtesy and help.

Editors

The Pioneers Part 1

Adams Allen/Painting Alpen Andreatta Atkinson

Ballestrin Barber Barnes Bartley Bassett Bellicanta Benyon Berry, JT Berry, T Betts Black Blumer Bodycomb Borland Bowditch Bromley Brown, CA Brown, Florence Bryan Buckle Bugno Bull Burghart Bynres Calabria, P Calabria, G Camell Carney Cavenagh Chadney Chadwick Chapman, AE Chapman, C Chapman, M

Chauncy Chettle Clark Clarke Collier Collins, C Collins, J Colwell Condon Cooper/Naylor/King Croce, S Croce, C Cudmore Cummins Cunial Dal Broi Dalby Daveron De Martin de Saxe De Valentin Devitt Dickie Disher/Cameron/Watt Dredge Drew Dwyer Edmiston Elder Enness Evans Everingham

Farrell Fitz-Gerald Flack Flood Foscarini Fraser

Gales Gambell Gatto Gee Gibbs Goldberg Graham Gribble Griffin, T Griffin, WR Hall Hamilton/Low Hardwick Harris, CR Harris, J Hart Hawkins Henderson Hicken Horne Hudson Hughes Irvin Jackson Jansen Johns Johnstone Jones, AE Jones, LM Josling Kearey Keary Keen Kelly/Parslow Kelly Keys Kinkead Kubank

The Pioneers Part 2

Leaver Leckie Leonard Letheby Long Lorenzi Lucca Macedone MacKenzie Mahy Manser Marcus Marin Marks Marriott/Swales Martin, AM Martin, AL, BA, BEI Mason McCarthy McDonald McEachern McFadzean McKenzie/Mitchell McKirdy McManus McNabb Meehan Meneghini Miller Millis Mills Millynn Miranda Mitchell, CC Mitchell, JJ Mitchell, WE Murray Negro Neville Newth

Nicholls Niven O'Brien Olivero Page Palframan Parker Pastro Peeck Peruch, G Peruch, V Peruzzi Pfitzner Poole Poscoliero, A Poscoliero, A Pratt Prest Prior Procter Rawle, F Rawle, H Recetti Reginato Reidy Reilly Ridley Ritchie Robinson, ATW Robinson, F Rose Rossetto Rounce Rydon Sainty Salvestro, A Salvestro, E Salvestro, S xi

Sandberg Sanders Scrivener Sharam Shaw Signor Simpson Slingsby Smeeth Smith, AA Snaidero Snaith Speirs Spry Stacy Stephens Stewart Stockton, AA Stockton, J Stokes Strachan Summers Taylor Theeuff Thompson Vardanega Villata/Guadagnini Watson Watts Wells Wood Wright Zanatta Zandona Zerbst Ziliotto, G Ziliotto, I Zuccolotto

INTRODUCTION Australian Broadcasting Corporation broadcaster, John West, said "It is sad when lumps of history are lost because once it's gone it is lost forever". Like the two previous Series this one is also all about people as well as a social history of this part of the Area, recording in the main, the experiences and reactions to the utterly primitive conditions in which our pioneers found themselves and/or in which circumstances placed them. It is also intended as an accolade to those adventurous souls who pioneered this lovely, fruitful part of Australia we call "Home". Not only those who joined in the spirit of adventure which started with the mammoth concept (envisaged as early as the 1880s) and culminated in the construction of Burrinjuck Dam and the setting up of this unique irrigation experiment, but with the families who inhabited this part of the world before then. The Selectors and their families. These were a group of pioneering families who came to the unfenced, virgin bush and who lived, worked and for the early years, lived in equally primitive conditions before establishing their homesteads and gardens. Gardens watered from the wells they sunk, often with the skills of the Chinese who initially ring-barked so much of the timber of the pastoral runs, as well as cultivating vegetable gardens wherever they lived for a time. It is interesting that until the publication of Series 1 the stories of these people had largely been untold. These were the Selectors (Conditional Purchasers) who had been in the area from the 1880s and about whom there is almost no mention whatsoever in official publications. When the first subdivision of Griffith was named "Driver" I personally thought what a strange name to be chosen. However, it sparked off a curiosity to know why. The result was to learn that this whole area - officially referred to by the WC & IC as "West Mirrool" - had been known as "Jondaryan" and was occupied by a complete patchwork of pioneer farming families who had come in and taken up small parcels of land in the 1880s. This land had been part of the enormous pastoral runs such as "Kooba", "Gogelderie", etc. These pastoral runs were Crown Land Leases and it wasn't possible for the less wealthy to acquire land until John Robertson's Land Act of 1861 (the Crown Lands Alienation Act). Under this Act the right was given to any person to "select" (hence the name 'Selector') from 40 to 320 acres from the established pastoral runs. This Act also meant that virtually the whole of unalienated (i.e. Leasehold) land of New South Wales was thrown open for selection. As a consequence of this many families came and established themselves from the early 1880s - Bulls, Duns, Drivers, Quilters, Davies, Smiths (see Series xii

1); Peecks (this Series), Matchetts, Sawyers, Cummings, Andersons - just to name some. From these families many placenames are derived - e.g. "Bilbul" (the village so named at the suggestion of John Jacob after Bill Bull); the subdivision of "Driver" and so on. A number of the Selector families inter-married and almost all reared their families here over those first thirty years. Then came the 1906 "Barren Jack and Murrumbidgee Canals Construction Act", followed by the "Murrumbidgee Irrigation Resumption Act" of 1910 which resulted in their being blatantly informed that their country (despite many being certified as "Freehold") was to be resumed for the implementation of the proposed irrigation scheme. A letter dated 17 August 1911' stated that occupancy of their land was required by the end of that year and they were bluntly instructed to "make your own arrangements". An elderly descendant of these families has said that while most of the men considered that the 0/101- per acre they were paid by the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust for their country was less than half the market value at the time, it was the women who were most bitter. After years of struggle, deprivation and living in the most primitive conditions, loss of family members because of their isolation and distance from medical help, they had finally come through the horrific drought and disastrous economic depression of the late 1800s and early 1900s and established their homesteads and gardens. At last, life was beginning to look Good! Then Bureaucracy moved in. While the Selectors were eligible to ballot for the new irrigation blocks no consideration was to be given to previous occupiers. In reality this meant that someone else could draw their homestead block while they could draw that adjoining. The result of this was that they would have to watch someone else move into their established home while they would have to begin all over again. Small wonder that hardly a single Selector family stayed. In most cases they did have to start all over again, in other areas. In light of these circumstances it was so surprising and pleasing to welcome thirty descendants of various Selector families to the launch of Series 1. Many said that they had always considered their people to be pioneers of this area but up until now they had been completely ignored as such. Even though the proposed irrigation scheme was advertised extensively worldwide by the Irrigation Trust, most of the mining areas of New South Wales and South Australia were also targeted. This resulted in large numbers of original settlers coming from these areas. As early as 1912 the Irrigation Trust sent a representative to Broken Hill to speak to the miners there, publicise the scheme and receive applications for farming blocks. At this time many Italian migrants also worked in the mines there and became aware of the development to the south. In 1913 it is estimated that one fifth of MIA settlers came from Broken Hill and Bagtown was home to many Broken Hill families.

By 1914 promotion of the scheme extended from London to San Francisco while at the same time it was extensively advertised in Sydney in glossy, colourful posters in trams, trains and ferries depicting abundant farm produce and inviting city dwellers to become prosperous farmers! As a result, the original farm grantees came from an extraordinary diversity of backgrounds and nationalities. A casual glance through the list of the first five hundred settlers give testimony of this. With the outbreak of World War I monetary resources were syphoned off and directed towards the war effort while the great majority of eligible young men joined the AIF and volunteered for service oversees. This resulted in the irrigation enterprise virtually coming to a standstill over these four years - 1914 to 1918. Even before the cessation of hostilities, as early as 1916, the government was looking towards the repatriation and resettlement of thousands of men returning from overseas. This same year, 1916, the WC & IC reports the establishment of a "Soldiers' Working Camp near the site of Griffith township" (Beelbangera Barracks). As well as 'grass root' Australians, it is quite extraordinary how many of these soldier settlers were English, together with some Welsh and some Irish, and most of whom had no knowledge of farming of any kind. Reading through a list of their previous occupations it is astounding the variety of backgrounds from which they came - watchmaker, clerks/bookkeepers, journalist, shopkeepers, landscape gardener, postman, policeman and even a goldsmith. Undoubtedly they were all looking for a new life, one with the promise of new opportunity. In the early 1900s many young northern Italian men migrated to Australia seeking work. The outbreak of the First World War put a temporary end to the flow of Italian migrants to Australia. By April of 1915, with the signing of the Secret Treaty of London, Italy and Australia became allies in the "Great War". As a result thousands of migrants worldwide were returned to Italy, in many cases unwillingly and forcibly, to serve in the Italian Army. From Australia, in most cases, they travelled back to Italy on Australian Troop ships. (See photo in "Halse" entry in Series 2). Post World War I, during the 1920s and 1930s, a steady influx of Italian migrants came to Australia. Even earlier, many had worked in the construction gangs at Burrinjuck and digging the irrigation channels or as labourers. Later they invested their savings in buying land and slowly took over the many farms which had proven uneconomic in the hands of their former owners. With a background of small acreage farming, agricultural skill and their willingness to work hard most were very successful. In 1921 the Italian population of Griffith numbered approximately thirty-three. By 1945 a third of all farms were Italian owned and by 1954 the ownership was nearly half.' One of these very early Italian settlers was to say towards the end of a life mainly spent here - "If I were asked for the reason of the MIA being a model of assimilation now I would reply that we all started from scratch, going through the

xiv

same deprivations and hard work for our betterment and at the same time causing the advancement of the area and of common understanding."' In those early years the women, regardless of where they came from, must have longed for the security and stability of established home, family and community. In most histories the role of women is largely unsung. Theirs was, invariably, a role of slogging hard work, often in completely foreign circumstances to their former lifestyles, yet these ladies were usually the backbone of the family, giving courage, encouragement and stability to those families. In short, the men tamed the bush but it was the women who civilised it! All in all our pioneers were ordinary people undertaking a very "unordinary" task. Unlike so many of the closer settlement schemes introduced by the government of the day at the end of World War I this one is successful and on-going. The contribution of the European and British settlers should not be overlooked but appreciated too. They brought with them a sophistication and culture which has enriched the whole community. To-day we are fortunate to enjoy and live in such a cosmopolitan community. With the influx, over the last several years, of so many other racial groups it is undoubted that twenty years on the character of Griffith, as a community, will be further enlarged. Finally, disregarding individual family histories, these Registers are an important Social History document, told in a way never used before - told by the people who were here when it happened.

Hilary Dalton.

References:1.

Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust letter - Bull entry page 109.

"The Italians" by Gianfranco Cresciani (By courtesy of Mary and Phillip Andreatta).

Redento Cunial - Cunial entry page 210.

)

PART 2

)

LEAVER Alfred Earnest Leaver was born in Chislehurst, Kent, England in 1884. He was the twin son and fourth child of eight children born to Frederick and Ellen Leaver (née Dearling). Alfred became a manufacturing chemist with Parke Davis in England. This company brought him out to Australia in 1913 to work for the firm in Sydney. He married Florence Margaret Hurley in 1919. Florence had become Alfred's secretary with the Parke Davis Company in Sydney. She was born in Sydney in 1896, the second child of Michael Hurley and Lydia Whitby Scott who were married in Sydney in 1893. Michael Hurley had arrived in Sydney in 1863 with his mother Honora, one brother and a sister when he was just two years old. The surname was originally Herlihy but was changed some years after their arrival in Australia. Alfred Leaver left employment with Parke Davis due to ill health and decided to follow his brother Frank Stanley Leaver to Yenda, NSW in 1925. The family stayed with Frank at Farm 1469, Yenda until the Lease on Farm 1525 on McClure's Road, Yenda was transferred to Alfred on the 25th November 1925. This Lease was originally taken out by C Blackford in 1920. Portion 508 was added to the property in 1928 and a second portion was added in 1943. On this land they grew grapes and a variety of fruit trees. They were also caught up in the big flood of the 1930s along with almost everyone in Yenda. The family were taken through the floodwaters by horse and sulky to the Railway Station where they were accommodated in the train carriages. When the floodwaters subsided they then made their way back to their home to face the task of cleaning up the mess that was left behind. Both Alfred and Florence Leaver, affectionately known to everyone as Pop and Nan were very prominent citizens in the Yenda district and were involved in the Catholic Church and organisation of dances and fund raisers for various charities. Florence was made a life member of the C.W.A. in Yenda and was elected District Council Delegate for the P & C Federation Conference held in Sydney in 1936. Alfred was also on hand to help when needed with functions held within the area. He patiently boiled many of the old billies called the "Big Dipper" for school picnics at Pleasant Valley.

► L to R - Back: Alf Leaver, Maggie Kilpatrick, "Gog" Leaver, Ruth Thomas, Marjorie Leaver, Florence Leaver Front: Bobbie, Phyllis and Jim Leaver Courtesy Enid Atkinson (nee Kilpatrick)

451

Alfred died in 1956 aged 72 years and is buried in the Yenda Cemetery with Florence who died in 1969 aged 73 years. Alfred and Florence had a family of five children. The first child Marjorie Ellen was born in 1919 in She married Sydney. William Gibson first. There was one child to this marriage prior to divorce. Then Marjorie leased a room from a Mrs Green who owned a bakery shop in the main street of Yenda and started her own dressmaking business. This was called Marjellen, an abbreviation from her name. Marjorie then married Leslie Rhodes Millis and they lived on a farm at Hanwood NSW; there is one child to this marriage, Marjorie. Left to right: Phyllis Smith, Florence Leaver, The second child of Father Robert Leaver, Gertrude North, Marjorie Millis. Alfred and Florence Leaver, Courtesy Marjorie Johnstone James Alfred, was born in 1922 also in Sydney. He was killed in World War 2 at the age of 22 in 1944. He is buried in the Grand Seraucourt Cemetery in Sisnes, France. Leaver Street in Yenda is named after him. The third child, Gertrude Lilian, fondly known to family and friends as "Gog" was born in 1923. She married Robert North and settled in Stanbridge Street, Yenda and had two children. Both "Gog" and Bob were always very prominent members of the Catholic Church in Yenda. Deceased in 1987, she is buried in the Yenda Cemetery. Fourth child, Phyllis Margaret was born in Yenda in 1930. She married John Smith, better known as Jack. They have a family of five children and live in Nowra, NSW. Fifth and youngest child was Robert Michael born in 1932. He entered the Catholic Priesthood on the 18th July 1960. His family and friends helped him celebrate his 25 years in the Priesthood in July 1985 at Yenda. He is presently living in Leeton, NSW. There are still descendants of Alfred and Florence Leaver living in this area, and while many have-moved to live elsewhere, there are many fond memories of life in Yenda.

Courtesy of Marjorie Johnstone (née Millis), grand-daughter of Alfred and Florence Leaver.

452

LECKIE Alexander Leckie and Esther ("Essie") Jane Fairman were married in Numurkah Victoria on 12 July 1888. At the time Alexander stated that he was born at Armagh in Northern Ireland the son of William Leckie and Eliza Gorey. However, he was reared in Scotland and came to Australia at the age of 19 years to work on the land at Numurkah. As no entry in the shipping records have been found it is presumed that he worked his way out on a boat to Melbourne. Essie was also born in Ireland - at Tranamullin in County Donegal, the daughter of Matthew Fairman and Eliza (née Fenton) on 18 November 1865. The Fairman family came to Australia to settle. Alexander and Essie's children were all born at Yarroweyah except the youngest, Zetta, who was born at Numurkah. About 1898 the family moved to Finley where Alexander selected land and they farmed there for about fifteen years. The next move was to Peak Hill where they farmed for twelve years. In 1925 Alexander Snr came to Griffith Alexander Leckie 1856-1947 Courtesy Yvonne Bromley (nee Borland) where he obtained a two acre block, Farm 1292. However, the first of the Leckie family to come to the area was Cecil Fenton who arrived in Leeton about 1919/20 and where he met and married Iris Clarke. They came to Griffith and "Cec", as he was known, operated the livery stables on the corner of Yambil Street (now Dalgety's). He was also a produce merchant, auctioneer, saddler and blacksmith (the site of the blacksmith shop was on the opposite corner and is now occupied by Country Office Supplies). The livery stable was later sold to Mr Ledwidge and the blacksmith shop to Collier and Chandler. Alexander Motherwell was born at Yarroweyah on 3 October 1892. He enlisted from Numurkah in 1914 and sailed to the Middle East where he was in active service in Palestine. After returning in 1918 he was engaged in farming near Finley. In 1920 he married Emily Luke from Jerilderie. They later moved to "Plain View" Jerilderie where they were share-farming before moving to Griffith where Alex share-farmed for Leo Boyle. In 1929 he drew a soldier settlers block at Ungarie which was previously part of "Wollongough" Station. The block was uncleared and Alex and his brother Joe camped and started work on the property. In 1932 the family left Griffith and moved up to this property which they named "Rylands". Here the family lived in a tent and life was a struggle to survive - there were rabbit and mice plagues, drought years and wheat prices at 1/10d per bushel! Some years later the South West Rural Reconstruction Board increased the acreage of "Rylands" to 1950 which made it a much better proposition. 453

Joseph Eric Hamilton farmed with his parents before moving to Griffith. He was employed by the then Wade Shire Council for many years. Annetta Zetta Laura Ruth came to Griffith with her parents. Zetta, as she was always known, married John Edward ("Ted") Borland. Ted farmed and worked at the Viticultural Nursery and was head gardener at the Griffith Hospital before he joined the AIF in World War II. Zetta and Ted had five children, all born in Griffith. Their daughter, Yvonne, recalls that her parents, Zetta (née Leckie) and Ted Borland were engaged for five years before their marriage. Her wedding dress was packed away in a trunk all these years because every time a wedding date was set it had to be postponed, due to the ill health of Zetta's mother, Esther. In 1932 Ted, who was to compete in a Rifle Club Championship in Sydney issued an ultimatum - "We make this trip to Sydney our honeymoon or the engagement is offl!" They were married at the Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m. on Essie Jane Leckie 1865-1938 the 4th October - Zetta's 29th birthday. Courtesy Yvonne Bromley (nee Borland) Alex Leckie Snr was a kindly man. Well known around town, where he drove his horse and sulky about. The last few years of his life he lived with his daughter, Bessie Holden, before entering the Orange Nursing Home in Orange, where he passed away on 31 March 1947. Essie had predeceased him in November 1938. Granddaughter Yvonne remembers as a small child at the end of the war, when cars and petrol were very scarce, her grandfather going to Orange. A car arrived at Block 449 Yoogali - a rare sight indeed, especially one being run on power alcohol as petrol was scarce and rationed. The car was driven by Uncle Cecil Leckie's friend, Ted, a stranger to us, who owned the car and who had supplied the power alcohol. We said our goodbyes to Grandfather. The driver of the car and Yvonne were to meet again many years later when she married Ted's son, Les Bromley.

Ted Borland and Zetta (nee Leckie) ► Courtesy Yvonne Bromley (nee Borland)

454

• Leckie Family - February 1917 L to R: Standing - Alex, Cecil, Zetta, Abby, Joe and Bob McCarron (a friend) Sitting - Essie and Alexander Leckie Courtesy Yvonne Bromley (nee Borland)

455

•

Elizabeth ("Bessie") Holden (nee Leckie) Courtesy Val Pfitzner (nee Holden)

•

Joseph Eric Leckie aged 21 years Courtesy Yvonne Bromley (nee Borland)

•

• Iris Leckie (nee Clarke) 1920

Cecil Fenton Leckie

Leckie's Livery Stables - corner of Kooyoo & Canal Streets (now occupied by Ningana Enterprises) Photos courtesy Yvonne Bromley (n(e Borland)

456

William Leckie & Eliza (nee Gorey • Alexander Leckie born Armagh, Ireland 19 March 1856 died Orange 31 March 1947 aged 91 yrs, bur Griffith

Matthew Fairman & Eliza (nee Fenton) • married Numurkah Vic 12 July 1888 • •

Esther Jane Fairman born Tranamullin, Ireland 18 Nov 1865 died Griffith 7 Nov 1938 aged 72 yrs, bur Griffith

Elizabeth Christina "Bessie" born 1 June 1889, died 3 May 1950. Married Thomas Holden owned a rice farm at Warburn and reared a family of nine.

Gertrude Carolina Victoria born 25 September 1890; lived and died in Melbourne. Married Reginald Johnston.

Alexander Motherwell born 3 October 1892, died Ungarie 5 July 1973. Married Emily Luke (of Jerilderie) at Finley NSW and reared a family of seven children, one son dying in infancy.

Cecil Fenton born 5 November 1895, died 3 December 1953. Married Iris Clarke and had a family of two daughters and three sons.

Gladys Mabel Abigail born 8 November 1896; lived and died in Forbes NSW 3 December 1974. Married Henry Styles.

Joseph Eric Hamilton born 17 March 1899, died in Griffith 26 October 1963.

Annetta Zetta Laura Ruth born 4 October 1903, died in Griffith 2 September 1982. Married John Edward ("Ted") Borland - they lived in Griffith and reared a family of five.

Alex Leckie (junior) - WWI Courtesy Yvonne Bromley (nee Borland)

By courtesy Val Pfitzner (nee Holden), 26 Animoo Avenue, Griffith 2680, Yvonne Bromley (née Borland), Box 260, Griffith 2680 and Max Leckie, Ungarie 2669. 457

LEONARD Colin Leonard came with his mother and brother from Hay to Willbriggie in October 1919. Prior to this the family had been farming in the Gilgandra district where they left to become licencees of "The Crown" Hotel at Hay (still trading to-day and now known as "The New Crown"). While still living in Hay Colin tells of distinctly remembering, as a small boy, having been given rides around the town of Hay in the Cobb & Co coach by the drivers. Because he was so young when his family came to the Area he is not sure exactly just when his father, brother Cyril and older sisters came, but he thinks this part of the family was already here when he, Eric and their mother arrived. Colin describes their arrival - "Most people travelled with Mick Cush in his horsedrawn coach. We were met by a driver and motor car! My parents, Herbert James and Lily Leonard, had previously arranged to manage the Mirrool Accommodation House - that is the old Mirrool Accommodation House just on the outskirts of old Griffith (Bagtown). I was seven years of age; the youngest of a family of five children. "I think my Mother, my brother who was about two years older than me, and I stayed at 'New Mirrool House' for about four days before we moved out to the old Accommodation House. 'New Mirrool House' (now the Ex-servicemen's Club) was almost built when we arrived in Griffith. Everything was brand new and the painters were still on the job. I can still remember the new beds with new quilts. I can't remember the first lessee but later a Mrs Moulder had the lease and after that the Bradfords.

Old "Mirrool House" - Bagtown 1913 Courtesy Ruth Chadwick (née Pearson) and the late Albert Pedley

458

"We lived in old Griffith at this Accommodation House (which was also called Mirrool House) for a year or two. It was only two rows of tents with board floors. As well as a cook, there were the girls who worked in the kitchen and as waitresses. My mother's first impression of this Accommodation House at Old Griffith was one of horror! It was so untidy that she announced that she couldn't possibly stay unless the Commission did something to 'tidy the place up'. Consequently, two men were sent by the WC & IC, for two weeks, to collect and dispose of accumulated rubbish about the place. "I can't remember how many people boarded there but there were quite a number including Constable Ford, the policeman, and his assistant Constable McCarthy; John Jacob, the local baker and a couple of his sons who delivered bread around by horse and cart, and some Irrigation Commission workers were also boarders. "Extract from a 1920 ledger in my possession:

LIST OF TENANTS AND TENT NUMBERS AT ACCOMMODATION HOUSE IN OLD GRIFFITH

Tent No

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Tennant Mr Newman (Dental surgery) Miss Gould Mr & Mrs Newman Newman children Miss Griffin Mr John Jacob (Baker Prop) Harold & Eric Jacob Jacob family (occasional guests) Mr Williams (I' Ford taxi) Mr Burge & Mr North Mr Lawler Mr Jack Reidy (WC & IC) Miss Kit Ledgwidge Mr Egan Mr Sherlock (Fitter) Mr Wood Mr Cameron Mr Marriot Mr Skene Mr Williams Mr Potter Mr P Cameron Mr C Cameron Mr Fitzpatrick Mr & Mrs Palmer

Mr Radcliffe Mr Morris

Tent No 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58

459

Tennant

Mr Newman Mr Eldershaw Mr P Liston (in charge of pump) Mr Gadsby S Bannerman (Baker) Mr H Mallaby (WC & IC Officer) Mr Furness (Manager Bank of NSW) Const Ford (Policeman) Ernie Lamb (Fitter) Mr Monahan Mr Stannard (WC & Mr Clarrie Hazelwood (Taxi) Mr Dodge (WC & IC) Mr Drury (Minister) Mr Milford Mr Duffy NIr Carlyle Mr Jack Duchatel (WC & IC) Mr Dixon Mr Alan Scott (later Rural Bank) Mr W Owen Mr Prince Mr Jack Painting (Taxi) Mr Taylor Mr O'Shaunnessy Mr Morrison

"Between 17 and 30 January 1920 the following names appear in the ledger. I assume that they either moved into the new town or were awaiting allocation of farms. Some of the names are familiar to-day:- Messrs Banting, Delaney, Morris, Wood, Faulkner, Westmore, S Broome, Clark, Hargreaves, C Harris, J H Kelly, W Sayers, McCurdy, O'Brien, Flannery, Mullet, Lawry. "The Leonard family and kitchen staff (waitresses, cook etc) occupied several tents nearer the dining area. "Some of Irrigation Commission Offices were located opposite - where the Research Station is to-day. They had just finished building the new weatherboard offices, in what we called 'The New Town'. (These were where the swimming pool in Olympic Street is today). These young fellows travelled to work each day by car. "The water supply for old Griffith was situated on the rise near the turn off into CSIRO Road but the big storage dam was close to the present Research Station. The Accommodation House was almost opposite this dam." Asked what the Accommodation House was made from, Col said "A detached kitchen of galvanised iron with a board floor with wood stove and it got mighty hot in summer!! The dining room was long. It was up off the ground on stumps, with a wooden floor and galvanised iron roof but I have an idea that the sides were of canvas. "On the eastern side, divided by a road, was a galvanised iron, one-teacher school (Bagtown). I think it was called `Mirrool'. I think we went to this school for a month or so but as it was pretty crowded we then went to Hanwood Public School. I suppose that Hanwood School would have been three, four miles or thereabouts away. Most of the children from old Griffith walked to Hanwood School. Some went up a laneway (you would hardly call it a road), others went up between Smellie's and another farm on the left. That was the shortest way. Some were lucky enough to get the school 'bus'. "The 'buses' were three horse-drawn coaches that delivered kids to Hanwood School. One of the drivers was Billy Gee who lived out near East Yoogali. Mr Madden was another driver, he had a wagonette with two or three horses pulling it. Old Mr Tilden, who lived on Farm 191, ran another bus." Another of Col's vivid memories is of Trooper Ford "pacing up and down the mess Trooper Ford was the senior police tent, pondering aloud, his current 'worry' officer. I believe his assistant Constable McCarthy was a bit of a livewire'. It was a prohibition area so there were no hotels. The closest hotels were at Whitton and Darlington Point. However, there was evidently plenty of 'sly grog' to be had and sold. Once Constable McCarthy caught several locals selling sly grog and confiscated the liquor. The court case was about to be tried at the Court House at Whitton. The shortest way to Whitton was through the paddocks of `Wilga' Station, which was an out station of `Kooba'. It was just a track and there were many gates to go through. Constable Ford said 'we have to take this liquor over as evidence to the Court'. "We had a buggy, a sulky and a spring cart. Constable Ford wanted to hire our chestnut horse and the cart to take the liquor to the Court House at Whitton. My father said `you can have a loan of the horse and cart' but Constable Ford insisted, `No! This is Government business and you Must be paid. Charge what you like'. So my father said `what about 10/-' (to take the horse and cart to Whitton with the grog!!) I don't know how the culprit got on; whether he was fined or whether the grog was confiscated or both. "Both Constable Ford and Constable McCarthy were mounted police (troopers) there were few cars or motor bikes in those times. Both rode nice tall bay hacks. The lock460

up was down nearly opposite the (present) Research Station buildings but then it was shifted. Some people say it was up near the Smith Family Homes but it was not! It was on the edge of the New Town on the little block that McEachren owned, where Spry's Depot is now. Later the police residence was built in what is now Benerembah Street. The original building still stands - now Neighbourhood House near the Squash Courts. "There was a cheese factory in the 1920s. Recently I was asked 'where would they get the milk?' In the early days there were mixed farms - some were dairy farms but they were small, only 100 or 150 acres. Some of the early dairy people I remember were the Little family and the Davidges near what is now Bob Irvin Road. There were three generations of Davidges. I remember old Mrs Davidge, William known as 'Billie' and Charles who also had a son named Charles. Two grandsons, Ken and Ian, still live in Griffith to-day. Other dairy farmers were the Ryans, Jack and his father Mick, who lived nearby and the Murray family - they bought the Pride family farm. "Out Yoogali way Jim Hayes had a farm and ran cows. Later, he had a butcher shop in the New Town in the middle of the middle block of Banna Avenue. His was not the first butcher shop. The first in the New Town belonged to Jim Harris who had the butcher shop in old Griffith (Bagtown). He moved into the place next door to (the present) Fosseys, which he sold to Butler Bros whom in turn sold to Mitchells. "Andrew Martin was one of the early store-keepers in Griffith as well as Bagtown. He built a lot of buildings around New Griffith including the `Tuckerbox' shop up the top of Banna Avenue. "Dave Taylor had the general store on the corner where the Westpac Bank stands today. Many years later, when Dave Taylor was about 90 years old, he told me how he had travelled by train to Willbriggie, from where I could not tell you. He was still in military uniform - perhaps he got a free ride on the train. He also had a push-bike with him, which he rode from Willbriggie into old Griffith. At that time a Mrs Kennett had a cafe and I gather she also kept a few boarders. Dave told me that he arrived in old Griffith and had a meal and stayed with Mrs Kennett. She said to him 'Where are you off to?' He replied `I am going to open a new grocery shop.' Mrs Kennett asked 'Where's this grocery shop?' He replied 'In Griffith'. To this she answered 'This is Griffith'. `No' replied Dave 'there is a new Griffith.' She said 'Oh!' She thought Dave was having a bit of a joke with her but he said 'Oh no. My father, whose name is also David, is in there and is camped in a tent on our block.' (Old Mr Taylor senior was camped there, probably clearing the pine trees away.) That is where the Taylors opened their first weatherboard shop and they would have been one of the first store-keepers in Banna Avenue. "There were others though. John McLean had a store - I think it was about the middle of the middle block. McLean and Andrew Martin did operate for a time up where Fosseys are today. It was a tin shed on the back of the block. Mr Rodda had it after that and much later the McDonald brothers had a dry-cleaning business there." "After our time at the 'Old Town' accommodation house we moved to Farm 115" Colin continues "There was a little shack on it, I think it had a tin roof and log sides. That was all that was on the place and, oh yes! - a dam. It was only a small farm. I think my father bought it from a chap named Gales, who was a batchelor. There was nothing there but a good crop of stickweed, all over it. Oh yes, I forgot! There were about 1 1/2 acres of

461

apricot trees. Nothing else, but it was fenced. I think two or three owners had had this farm beforehand.' "My father bought two tents with wooden floors from the Commission - the same as they had down at the old accommodation house. There were flys" over the tents and they had a frame where a 'close-up' door of wood could be fitted. At one end of the tent there was a door frame and at the other end there was a wooden frame where a window could be fitted. The tents were elevated on 15 inch or 18 inch oregon planks and the sides could be lifted. They had a wood stove. My family lived for several years in these tents before our home was built. Farm 115 is on what is known today as Leonard Road, just out of the village of Hanwood. "We used to call the two or three acre blocks in the village of Hanwood workmen's blocks. Two or three water bailiffs lived in Hanwood and they had Commission houses, two of which still stand today. The face of Hanwood has changed dramatically in the last ten years as many of the two to three acre farms have been subdivided and modern brick homes built on them. Quite different from the old houses!! "There were a lot of the soldier settlers between Hanwood and Yenda and many had little blocks on which they ran cows. The Government supplied the horses, the implements and the cows. My father said that some of the cows looked like 'nanny goats'!! The Commission bought the cattle for these fellows and they were of such poor quality that the Settlers couldn't do any good with them. A lot of soldier settlers also had orchards out Yenda way. Everything was controlled by the Commission (there was no Shire in those days). The tree nursery and the viticultural nursery was run and controlled by the Commission who also advised what to plant. They made some terrible mistakes in their advice to these fellows! "Later we had a weatherboard house built on the farm - supervised by the Commission. It had two bedrooms, kitchen/living room, a small front verandah and that was it! Some of these Commission houses had three bedrooms but there were very few as I remember. "There were a lot of abandoned farms because they were too small and settlers had just up and walked off. "To get back some of the money they had outlaid the Commission decided to sell the buildings on these abandoned farms. My parents bought a weatherboard house, from the Bilbul area, which would not have been more than ten years old. It had three bedrooms. From memory it cost about £150 for the house for removal and all the outbuildings. There was a galvanised iron dairy (all cows were milked by hand of course in those days), a little 10' x 10' weatherboard cream room and the pine cow yards. This was all included for the £150.

16 Department of Water Resources Records show that Farm 115 was originally granted on 6 September 1916 to Oscar Edward Heino and forfeited on 8 February 1918. It was granted on 16 February 1920 to Herbert Victor Gales and consisted of 17 acres for which the annual rental was £19/1916. Whether Gales actually took it up is not clear because in the 'remarks column' of the record it states "New Farm 115 granted to Leonard, HI; land use horticulture". This farm was held in the Leonard family for fifty odd years. 17

Fly sheet - A piece of canvas drawn over the ridgepole of a tent to form an outer roof.

462

"Several people, who lived in sheds and tents like us, bought these houses. It was a big task to move it. There was a chap called Keys (can't think of his first name) who used to shift these houses bodily. However, my father decided to dismantle our house himself. "I remember going out there as a young fellow when they cut it into sections and took out the lining fibro. The walls and ceilings were of fibro and the cover strips were of red wood, which was a very soft timber. The doors were also red wood and all the frame The was pine. All the architraves, floor jams and so on were all cyprus pine. weatherboards for the outside walls were also cyprus and the roof galvanised iron. There was a lot of cyprus pine milled here in those days. "The house was cut into three or four sections and lowered down manually onto a two-ton horse lorry, drawn by two horses. There were no cranes then. The roof came off first naturally and then the floor and walls were cut into sections. It was a pretty long and tedious job. "I remember attending the first Griffith Show quite clearly. The Showground then was on the Hanwood Road. Even though it was a prohibition area apparently special permission was given to have a publican's booth at the Show. Well I guess that the workers on the Commission and the farmers and so forth were pretty thirsty because it appears that as the day wore on they started to fight. Constable Ford was the policeman in charge but on that day he had extra police from Darlington Point, Whitton and other places. When the big fight broke out, the fighters were 'full of grog', no one knew who was fighting whom. It was an 'all-in' fight and as fast as the Police could arrest these fellows they'd get away. The Police were putting them into Micky Cush's coach to take them to the lock-up. The story goes that when Micky had a load aboard someone cut the traces (horse harness) and the horses just walked off. "I don't know if it is true but I was told a story about George Richards (G A H Richards). He was one of the earliest chaps in Griffith with a taxi and knew Constable Ford who asked for volunteers to help quell the riot. The story goes that George Richards came in to help Constable Ford but the Constable was swinging his baton so furiously in all angles that he didn't notice George Richards - his friend - whom he clouted with his baton! "The next morning a fellow came to our farm, which was a mile and a half away. He was covered in dried blood and although he said that he wasn't in the fight he had been hit on the head with a bottle. He said he was an innocent bystander!! "A few years later, I was talking about this Show with a friend of mine, Ron Vaughan, who lived just down the road from us. Ron told us, that the morning after the Show a fellow came to their place and they couldn't control him. He had hand-cuffs on and he said to Billy Vaughan, Ron's father,- 'look they were just grabbing anyone'. Of course he may or he may not have been guilty, but he had these hand-cuffs on and asked Billy if he would cut them off. At least by that time he was sober! He had camped somewhere during the night and as he seemed a decent sort of bloke, Bill Vaughan got a hack-saw and sawed the hand-cuffs off and buried them." Colin concludes "for the past twenty one years I have lived on Farm 590, Coleambally with my wife, Joan. My daughter, Jeanette lives in Griffith. Richard, my eldest son and his wife Jan and their children, Gavin and Clare live on Farm 633, Coleambally. David and his wife Penny live on Farm 591, Coleambally. My son Chris and Wife, Ann and daughters Cynthia ("Cindy"), Bronwyn and Kristin live on Farm 521, Coleambally. My daughter Noeline and her husband Dennis and children Virginia and Darryl also live at Coleambally. My son Peter works as a mechanical engineer with 463

Australian Iron and Steel at Wollongong. He lives at Farnborough Heights with his wife Marion and their children Scott, James and Cherie."

Walter Leonard . arrived Adelaide 1849 aboard "Cuspar" with sons James & Walter Thomas and daughter Sarah Clover. *

James Leonard born c 1830 married 24 March 1859 Rapid Bay, South Australia Sarah Bennet born c 1832 *

Herbert James Leonard born 27 Jan 1868 Finnisvale SA died 14 July 1946 Hanwood

married 10 Oct 1900 Swan Hill

Lily Middleton Parsons 6 April 1879 Congupna, Vic died 26 Feb 1960 Griffith

* *

Gladys Lilian married Pat Luton; no children.

Herbert Cyril married Mabel Demien; two children, Douglas and Joyce.

Alice Edith married Arthur Hirchorn; two children, Patricia and Christine.

Eric James married Thelma Milne; three children, Ian, Ron and Helen.

Colin Kitto married Joan Hardy; six children, Richard, David, Jeanette, Christopher, Noeline and Peter. Colin died 2 July 1991.

Courtesy of the late Colin Leonard, Farm 633, Coleambally. 464

LETHEBY Walter Letheby was born at Bickenhall, Somerset, England on 28 June 1884 to William and Mary Arm Letheby. He was the third son in a family of thirteen children. Walter's father, William Letheby, was a game keeper on an estate in Bickenhall. Walter, who was a wanderer, left home at an early age. He worked aboard ships between England, Canada and Australia, finally settling in Australia in 1910. Looking for work he made his was to Narrabri and obtained work at the local saw-mill which was managed by a man called Richard Turner. Turner had five beautiful daughters and Walter decided that he might court one of them. He fell in love with the eldest daughter, Gertrude Elizabeth. (Richard Turner and his wife Alice Bridget (née Bridge) of Tamworth, had five Walter Letheby daughters and one son. Alice passed away at the age of 38 years when the flu plague hit Narrabri. She is buried in the Church of England portion of the Narrabri Cemetery.) After the death of her mother the responsibility of looking after the family fell to the eldest daughter, Gertrude. Richard Turner lived until his 80th year and is buried in the Church of England portion of Rookwood Cemetery. Walter and Gertrude were married on 29 May 1912 at Narrabri. At the time they were married Walter was working at Newcastle for Brambles as a truck driver. There were three children born to Walter and Gertrude - Eric William, Lola Gertrude and Elma. Walter was able to buy two buses with which he was lucky enough to have a bus run from Raymond Terrace to Newcastle. Trams also ran the same route and when they were converted to electric power and could travel at a faster pace Walter decided his buses, which were fitted with hard flat rubber tyres, were no Eric and Walter - with a truck load competition for the trams and thought his business might do better if he were to move on. He took his buses to Sydney and started a bus run from Lidcombe Station to Broadway. He looked for accommodation for his family in Sydney and rented a house from Cecil Kenningale who was moving, with his family, to Griffith.

465

Walter's bus run prospered. He built a home for the family and a garage (Service Station) near the home at Lidcombe. During the Depression business wasn't doing too well, and Walter always an inovative man, decided to take the tops off the buses and convert them to trucks and carted timber for Blackeby's Mill at Lidcombe. He also had a contract to cart the blocks away from the roads at Broadway. (The road foundations in those days were made of blocks of wood and covered with tar). Later, Walter obtained a contract with builder Fred Hanson. Hanson had a contract to build cement bridges at Temora, Molong, Grenfell and this is how Walter and his family came to live in Griffith. Fred Hanson won the contract to build the Griffith Police Station in 1931/32. Walter did the carting. After the Police Station was finished Fred Hanson returned to Sydney. Walter liked Griffith and decided to stay. He worked for McWilliams Wines carting grapes for a time. Later he sought and obtained the contract to form the roads around Griffith, Carrathool and Darlington Point. The family moved to Griffith in 1936. His son Eric worked with his father forming roads. His daughter, Lola, worked as a shop assistant for Rudolf s Frock Shop opposite the Court House and when Rudolf s closed down, found work with the Bando family in their shop they called "Benn's" opposite the Post Office. Elma worked for Long's Newsagency and Bill Rangott's Electrical Shop. Life in Griffith in those days was very enjoyable. Some of our friends were the families of Jack Wood, Arthur Weare, Spry, Little, Beaumont and Millynn. Many activities were organised through Lola, Gertrude Letheby and Lima the CWA and included dances and balls. Lola met and married Denis Joseph Cummins. Griffith Sacred Heart Church was where the ceremony took place. Eric married Nita Little at St Albans Church of England. In 1940 Gertrude became ill and was diagnosed as having Cancer. Dr Dalton operated on her at the Griffith District Hospital. After her recovery Gertrude had a desire to return to her home in Sydney. Walter made the decision to take her back, so in 1941 Walter sold his business and returned to their home in Lidcombe. Lola and her husband, Denis, with baby Margaret went with them. Elma was already living and working in Sydney for A.G.E. and, as the war was on, Eric joined the Army. Because Australia was at war, both Walter and Denny easily obtained work with the Commonwealth Aircraft Factory. Elma married Oswald Gibbs, on 11 July 1942, and returned to Griffith where they sharefarmed for Jim Gordon. Again Gertrude took ill and passed away on 24 November 1943. After her death Walter decided to go back to working with trucks and again started carting timber for Blackeby's Mills. However, after a couple of years, he decided to give the game away as the work had become too heavy for him. At the end of the war Eric returned to Griffith, sharefarming with his brother-inlaw, Alex Beaumont, growing vegetables and working for his father-in-law, Allan Little. 466

He lived on the Beaumont farm with wife, Nita, and daughter, Carol Ann. In 1948 Eric drew a Soldiers Settlement Block at Wakool. Walter decided to leave Lidcombe and go to Wakool with his son, Eric, and together they established the rice farm, which they called "Brooklands". Eric and Nita's son, Allan Leslie was born at Wakool in 1949. Walter continued to work on the farm until 1956. He had a desire to return to England, to visit his brothers and sisters, whom he hadn't seen for so many years. Whilst in England he met Dorothy Edith Haehoe. They decided to marry. Walter returned to Australia and Dorothy followed in 1957. They married at St Albans Church of England, and built their home in Bringagee Street.

Eric Letheby

Walter Letheby born Bickenhall, Somerset 28 June 1884; died 11 June 1966. Married (1)

Gertrude Elizabeth Turner horn 24 November 1884, died 24 November 1943 •

•

Eric William born born 23 February 1917; died 1960; married Nita Little; two children - Carol and Alan. Nita lives at Deniliquin.

•

Lola Gertrude born born 13 June 1919; married Denis Joseph Cummins (dec'd 4 October 1975); two daughters - Margaret and Roslyn. Lola lives at Griffith.

•

Elma born born 16 March 1922; flurried Oswald Gibbs; five children Barry, Elizabeth (dec'd), Rex, Philip and Maree. Elma lives Griffith.

Married (2)

Dorothy Edith Haehoe born c.1898; died August 1976

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Lola Cummins (née Letheby), Griffith 2680.

467

LONG Arthur Buckley Long was born in 1880 in a square, three storied ivy covered house standing in an apple orchard and surrounded by hop fields. This house was located on "The Dover Road, Maidstone, Kent, England." He was the youngest of a family of nine children born to Charles Grey Long and his wife, Sara Ann. Charles had owned three pubs in Maidstone and was, for some years, the Mayor of that city. Arthur Buckley attended Maidstone Grammar School. He had a fine tenor voice and sang, both as a child and later as a young man, in the choir of Canterbury Cathedral. Having graduated in both Engineering and Architecture, he set out "to see the world". During a stint in South Africa he read of the proposed irrigation scheme in Australia so - with a few years of experience behind him - he arrived in Australia in 1912 and applied for a job as an Engineer with the Murrumbidgee Irrigation trust. At the guest house where he was staying at Neutral Bay, Sydney, he met and A.B. Long Courtesy Dorothy Kook (nee Long) married Ethel Mary Robinson. Ethel had come from Ballarat, representing the firm of Manton & Snow, to open the new "Sydney Snows Emporium" in Liverpool Street in the city. Arthur Buckley and Ethel Mary arrived in Yanco when the towns of Griffith and Leeton were nothing but dirt tracks and the canals in the process of construction. After leaving Yanco they lived in the construction camps and at Bagtown. Many tales were recounted of the difficulties and privations - dust storms, flies, ants and mosquitoes; the meat safe on top of a post with a kerosene rag tied around it to keep out the ants!! On one occasion the tent blew away and they spent the night, in the depth of winter, sheltering against John Jacob's bakers oven! After leaving the construction camp in Bagtown "A.B.", his wife and two small daughters lived in one of the early Commission" houses in Wakaden Street. Both Dorothy and Betty's earliest memories of this home are of his experiments in the back

The name of the controlling authority changed over the years - Public Works Department from inception to January 1911; Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust from January 1911 to January 1913; Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission (WC & IC) from January 1913 to April 1976; Water Resources Commission from 30 April 1976 to December 1986; Department of Water Resources from 1 January 1987.

468

Ethel Mary Long (nee Robinson) Courtesy Dorothy Kook (nee Long)

The Long Family - Maidstone, Kent, England Back: P V Henniker, C H Long (brother), Mrs Clemetson (sister), G H Long, Wm Clemetson, M C Long, W F Long, Dr T F Long (oldest brother) Front: II B Long, Mrs P V Henniker (sister), C G Long (father), Mrs C G Long (mother), E W Long, A B Long and nieces and nephews. Courtesy Dorothy Kook (nee Long).

469

yard - model water tanks and water wheels all connected up to pulleys. They smile at each other when they recall the nightly 'phone calls to Berembed Weir, enquiring "how much water are you passing"...!

Staff of Architect's Office, Canterbury c.1910 A B Long, 1st right, back row. Courtesy Dorothy Kook (nee Long)

Arthur Buckley was originally known asS "The Man in White" because he always wore a white duck suit, gaiters and a pith helmet. His daughters remark "God knows how they kept them white!!". "A.B." as he later became known remained with the Commission until 1925 when, with his wife and daughters Dorothy and Betty, he decided to return to South Africa. However, with the world in the grip of the "Great Depression" he thought better of it and opened instead an Architects Office in Geelong, Victoria. After this he spent two years in New Zealand, working as a draughtsman, before returning to Griffith - "as so many do who, as the saying goes, drink too much channel water" says Dorothy and Betty. On their return to Griffith the family lived in the house built by "A.B." in Noorebar Avenue. One of its features was its flat roof - the scene of many teenage parties - much to the consternation of the neighbours!!

470

Choir of Canterbury Cathedral c.1910 A B Long - 3rd man on right at back Courtesy Dorothy Kook (nee Long)

The Long Home in Noorebar Avenue Courtesy Dorothy Kook (née Long)

471

"A.B." became Shire Engineer for the Murrumbidgee and Carrathool Shires. He was also valuer for (the then) Rural Bank, opened his Architects Office in Banna Avenue and designed many of the local homes and buildings, among them the Cenotaph and the Soldiers' Memorial Hall (where the Regional Gallery is now located). In addition to all these roles he served as a Shire Councillor from 1934-1937. Ethel Mary Long took over the business of her sister, Florence Robinson (known as "F Griffith Cenotaph soon after completion. Photo by Jack Carney. Courtesy Dorothy Kook (née Long) Robinson & Co - Newsagency & Womens Apparel") when Miss Robinson retired in 1934 because of ill-health. This business had been established in 1919. Both of these ladies were well known figures in early Griffith. Ethel Mary died 12 October 1948, aged 65 years and is buried in Springwood Cemetery, Melbourne. After Ethel Mary's death "Old A.B." as he eventually became known lived at Tharbogang with his daughter, Betty (Mrs Sid Braithwaite) and continued working at his occupations. A kindly gentle man, he was a familiar figure in town with his old one-eyed Fox Terrier dog, "Snifler", at his heels until he retired at 78 years of age. He died at the home of his other daughter, Dorothy (Mrs Greig Kook) "Woodlands", Darlington Point, 13 April 1966 aged 86 years. He is buried in the Darlington Point Cemetery among the gum trees close to the banks of the Murrumbidgee - a far cry from those rolling Downs of Kent!

Griffith R.S.L. Memorial Hall soon after completion. Photo by Jack Carney. Courtesy Dorothy Kook (nee Long)

472

James Robinson married Ellen Enshaw •

Thomas Enshaw Robinson born Seacombe Co Cheshire, England married Geelong, 26 Dec 1867 Sarah Ann Taylor born Manchester, England •

Charles Grey Long married Sara Ann Wallis

Arthur Buckley Long born 1880 Kent, England died 13 April 1966 Darlington Point NSW

(1) Florence born 1876 Ballarat Vic died 18 May 1947 Melbourne Vic

married 30 May 1914 Chatswood NSW

(2) Ethel Mary Robinson born 1883 Ballarat Vic died 12 October 1948 Melbourne Vic

• 1. Dorothy born Narrandera NSW 1915; lives Griffith. Married (1) William Lionel Gibbs K.1.A. 13 May 1945 at Eemnes, Netherlands while serving in RAAF (attached to RAF Pathfinder Forces). Married (2) Herman Greig Kook (dec'd 1986), three children: 1. John Greig Kook (dec'd 1982) 2. Ian Arthur 3. Sandra Jane

Beatrice Lynette ("Betty") born Geelong Vic 1917; lives at Double Bay NSW. Married Sydney ("Sid") Braithwaite, three children: 1. Lionel Wayne ("Wayne") 2. Dorothy Lynette ("Lynette") 3. Arthur Buckley ("Lee")

Dorothy and Betty Long Courtesy Dorothy Kook (née Long)

►

By courtesy of Betty Braithwaite (née Long) and Dorothy Kook (née Long), 2 Muir Place, Griffith. 473

LORENZI Pietro Lorenzi was born at Cavaso Del Tomba in Italy on 14 March 1895 the second son of Adamo Lorenzi and Antonetta (nee Campaner). He was a goldsmith by trade, as was his father, and started work with his father in the same company at the age of eleven years. When Pietro arrived home after World War I, where he had served in Rome with a Balloon Unit, he found his parents' house had been destroyed with only the stone walls left standing. (In later years Pietro was to fly with Sir Kingsford Smith on a flight at Griffith). The family then rebuilt their home at Cavaso and Pietro, together with others, started their own goldsmith company. However as there was little work and no money the company closed. Pietro married Albina Monica Suine in June 1922. Albina was the daughter of Emilio Suine and Maria (nee Mora) and was born on 20 May 1900 also at Cavaso Del Tomba. Pietro wanted more for his family than Cavaso could offer so he decided to come to Australia. After a sea voyage of fifty two days from Genova, Italy, he arrived in Sydney on 1 April 1925 and travelled by train to Griffith and then by steel wheeled lorry to a farm at Yoogali. Albina remained in Italy with their daughter, Elsa. Their first son, Enio, was born after Pietro left for Australia. Both Elsa and Enio were born in Cavaso. Meanwhile Pietro (known in Australia as Peter) boarded for two months at Manera's Boarding House. He then found work with Jack Ward and his wife, Connie, at Farm 587 Yoogali and lived there for two years in a tent. He did not know a word of English when he first arrived but through sheer necessity and the will to learn and with the help of an English/Italian dictionary, given to him by Jack Ward, and sketches drawn in the dust, Jack and Peter began to understand one another. In later years, after Elsa started school and learnt English she helped her father with his English. Peter had been away about eighteen months when Albina received word from him that Australia was the country to settle in - so preparations were 474

Italy - 1917 Top - Pietro Lorenzi Bottom - Albina Monica Suine

made. Money to pay for their passage to Australia was borrowed from friends of Peter's father and was repaid within two years. Albina arrived in Sydney on 22 October 1927, with her two small children, after a long sea voyage. They were met by Jack Ward (who lived in Sydney part of the time). He put them on the train for Griffith. They were met by Peter, who sat them on boxes on a four-wheeled farm lorry which was pulled by two draught horses and they headed for their new home in Yoogali. The journey had finally ended! Peter had moved into a house on the farm next door, which was also owned by Jack Ward, and prepared it for his family's arrival. Albina liked her new home and settled in very quickly. Apart from the everyday housework she picked and packed oranges, at times and tended the garden. The family had a very large vegetable garden, which supplied many people with fresh "vegies". Once a very large cabbage, which was due to be displayed in the Griffith Show, went missing after Albina told one of the workmen to pick himself a cabbage to take home! Some of the stores in Griffith sent their salesmen out to the farmers to collect orders and then deliveries were made the next day. The Lorenzi family went to town on Saturday afternoon, by horse and sulky, where they did the shopping and met some of their friends. Elsa and Enio (who became known as "Ernie") did their own shopping and spent their pocket money a whole 3d between them! Two one penny ice creams Albina and Pietro Lorenzi and one pennyworth of lollies. with children, Elsa and Ernie The milk came from the farm cow, the eggs Australia - 1931 and chickens were home grown, the wine and hop beer was made by Peter and the biscuits and cakes made by Albina. They had an underground cellar which was six feet deep and ten feet square. The roof was above the ground and a ladder led down into it. Around the sides of the cellar were wooden shelves and there were two forty gallon wine barrels. In the centre of the dirt floor was a square drainage hole with a wood cover over it. It held the water which seeped in from the walls and floor. This water had to be removed when the hole filled and three People were needed to do the job. One person was needed at floor level, one at the top of the ladder and the other to carry the water away and empty it some distance from the cellar. The cellar was a very cool place and was used to store food etc. However it was also used to discipline the younger generation when it was needed. Half an hour down in the cold dark cellar worked very well, as Ernie and Anto know from experience! Jack Ward had two farms and in later years purchased three other adjoining farms which gave him a total area of 120 acres and it is believed that it was the biggest citrus farm at that time. Peter became the foreman and later on the manager of this large farm - and so the Goldsmith became a Farmer.

475

Young Orange Trees protected by straw

Fumigating Orange Trees - c.1942

Pietro Lorenzi driving the steel wheeled tractor

L to R: Pietro, Albino and Anto Lorenzi - October 1970

476

Ploughing was done at first by a single furrow plough pulled by two horses, then by steel wheeled tractors, then rubber wheeled tractors with large machinery. Because of the machinery used on this large citrus farm, many farmers came to see how they worked on certain days. It may well be, these were the start of the farm field days. The first tractor purchased was an International W30, kerosene driven with steel front wheels, and spiked rear wheels. The hares and rabbits found on the farm were a source of food for the Lorenzi family as well as a menace to citrus farmers! To prevent the hares eating the bark and new shoots of the new plantings the trunks of the young trees were wrapped in straw. This straw was left there until the trees were mature enough to survive. On one occasion when the workmen were unwrapping the straw they found, and killed, thirty-eight brown snakes Peter outside his first camp coiled at the base of the trees. in Griffith - thought to be During the hot summer weather when there was on Jack Ward's farm a party the ice had to be collected from Livanes' Ice Works about two and a half miles away. At first this was Emie's job, then later Anto's job, to go to the ice works, near the CSIRO. The block of ice, which was about 24"x12"x6", was put in a wheat bag and strapped onto the pushbike carrier and then it was head for home as fast as possible! However, the ice had a habit of melting and as it did the straps loosened and the ice wobbled and the bike became very hard to steer. So it was off the bike, tighten the straps and on again! This happened three or four times each trip. On arriving home with about one third of the ice melted away it was put in a drip safe to help keep the food and drinks cool for the next day's party. Both Ernie and Anto celebrated the arrival of the Lorenzi's first refrigerator. The family's first car was bought in 1934 to celebrate the birth of their second son - Anto. The car required Peter's own road test. The first that was tested was a 1924 Chev 4, single seater. The test was simple. A bag of dirt was placed in front of the rear wheels and the salesman was asked to drive over it in second gear. After many attempts it was successful, but not impressive. The second car tested was a Ford A Model 1929 Tourer. The same test was carried out and the Ford climbed over the bag first try. A hand shake sealed the sale! This story so impressed young Ernie's "Seven Wasp"

477

Anto that he later became a car salesman. One of the more interesting cars purchased by the Lorenzi family was Ernie's 1927 Austin Seven Wasp. Peter's two brothers, Giovanni and Umberto Guiseppe were sponsored to come to Australia in the early 1930s. They lived with Peter on Farm 578 until they married Giovanni to Antonette De Martin and Umberto to Emma Cappello. Peter, Albina and their two children, Elsa and Ernie, were Naturalized on 13 September 1937. In those years the weekends were always highlighted by the family trip to Bagatella's Bocce court at Hanwood. The women played cards the men played bocce and imbibed an occasional "Richmond Tiger"! To obtain a dozen bottles of "Tiger" beer, one had to be at the store on a certain day and at a certain time and buy two smoke bombs or twelve bars of poor quality soap neither of which was very useful! The Lorenzi family worked and lived on this farm for thirty-five years until Pietro's retirement in 1960. Peter and Albina then built a new home on Block 1298 at Yoogali where they lived until Peter's death on 13 August 1973. Albina continued to live there for another two years and then lived with her daughter Elsa and son-in-law, Ugo Dal Nevo until her health failed and she now resides at the Scalabrini Village. Over the years Peter became an expert wood craftsman and many of the coffee tables, vases and smokers stands he made are treasured by his family. They are also treasured by their many friends who received his craft as wedding presents. In later life he crafted many pieces from Federal matches which had been collected by his friends. Their only daughter, Elsa, born 4 April 1923, arrived in Australia at the age of four years. Elsa attended Yoogali Primary School and then attended Griffith High School. On leaving school, she went to work for a local firm of solicitors, Cater & Blumer, where she remained for many years, graduating to a senior position. On 26 November 1949 she married Ugo Dal Nevo, one of the early Italian pioneer families in this area. For eleven years she served as treasurer on the committee to raise funds for the Spastic Children and for seventeen years she was one of the volunteers to serve "Meals on Wheels" in Griffith. Elsa gained recognition as the motivater of the Scalabrini Village. She gathered together a small group of dedicated people on 4 May 1982 to Elsa Loreuzi - c.1948 commence what was called the greatest community project ever achieved in Griffith. The Village finally came to fruition in September 1988 when the first resident moved into the nursing home. The project was further extended to include a twenty-two bed hostel section in addition to the original thirty bed nursing home. One section of the hostel was named "The Elsa Dal Nevo Wing". In recognition of her achievements Elsa was nominated for the 1991 Citizen of the Year. Sadly Elsa contracted motor neurone disease in 1989 while still working on the 478

Village project. She died at home on 2 August 1992. Enio ("Ernie"), their eldest son, married Mary Sartor on 27 February 1955. They had three children, eldest son Garry, daughters Debra and Lynette. They lived on Farm 654, then moved into their new home at 27 Kelly Avenue, Griffith in 1964. After leaving school, Ernie went to Sydney to learn the cabinet making trade. He served his five year apprenticeship with Symphony Furniture Manufacturers, and after seven years in Sydney, returned to Griffith, where in 1949, Ernie in partnership with others commenced the business of "General Cabinet Works" (furniture makers) in Bonegilla Road. In 1955 Ernie, in partnership with his wife Mary, became sole owners. They changed the name to "Griffith Cabinet Works" and traded until 1980 when they leased the business to others. In the same year, Ernie, Mary and their son Garry built a new warehouse at 20-24 Harris Road and started a business known as "Griffith Laminate Supplies" where they trade until the present day managed by their son, Garry. Ernie and Mary have retired from the business. Anto, the youngest of the family, was born in Griffith on 7 April 1934. Anto lived with his parents until he married Margaret O'Callaghan when he built a new home at 23 Evatt Street, Griffith. On leaving school he worked with his brother, Ernie, as a cabinet maker, then entered the employment of Beltrame Bros. He served his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic and later was employed as a car salesman. Anto and Margaret had one son, Wayne Peter Hughie, born 12 February 1962 and a daughter, Delia May, born 10 October 1965.

Back: Ernie, Mary, Garry Front: Lynette and Debra

Back: Wayne, Anto Front: Delia, Margaret

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Ernie Lorenzi, 27 Kelly Avenue, Griffith 2680 and Anto Lorenzi, 23 Evatt Street, Griffith 2680. 479

LUCCA The Lucca story is told for us by two of the children, Daisy and Roy "Our father, Enrico (but known as "Henry"), was born at Cella Mone in the province of Alessandria, about fifty miles south of the Pennine Alps which divide Italy and Switzerland. In 1908 he married Carolina Ramella (born 1887) at Turino (Turin) in northern Italy. "Henry arrived from Italy in either 1909 or 1911 and worked as an engineer on the construction of Burrinjuck Dam. Accommodation was either in tents or other forms of shelter. My father and a Mr McWilliam from Scotland lived in a cave while work was in progress.

L to R: Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Angelo Pastega, Henry Lucca Front, L to R: Man with dog unknown, Luigia Pastega with Ori, Carolina Lucca with Rose and Roy. Early 1920s. Courtesy Daisy Mills (nee Lucca)

"Our mother, Carolina, arrived from Italy about 1913 and our parents went to Griffith where our father worked on the construction of canals and channels for the irrigation. All work was done with horses, hundreds of them, mostly kept at Wickham's Camp. Henry always said the work was done quicker by them than modern machines! "When horses were the order of the day for just about every need - travel, cartage, etc - Henry Lucca purchased their first car on 19 December 1915 - an Overland open tourer with gate change and carbide lights." Daisy continues - "we lived on Farm 663, Yoogali, for many years. It was an orange orchard on one side of the channel and a paddock of mandarins on the other where the horse stables and two huts for workers were also located.

480

Roy, Enrico ("Henry"), Carolina and Rose Lucca - 1920s Courtesy Daisy Mills (nee Lucca)

Yoogali School - 1930s L to R - Back: Reuben Lucca, Bill Foster, Roy Lucca, Aldo Centofanti (?),Barney Webb, Owen Devitt, Gino Centofanti (?) Front: Ines Manera, Mary Barbaro, Jean Starr, Joan Hartman, Daisy Curry (?), Joan O'Brien, Lena Manera, Gwen Sanders Courtesy Daisy Mills (née Lucca)

481

The Hermit's Cave c.1936 L to R - Front: Rueben, Rose and Daisy Lucca Back: Roy Lucca, Unknown, Unknown, the Hermit Courtesy Daisy Mills (nee Lucca)

Taken at the Voogali Farm 663 Henry and Carolina Lucca in Car, Roy on the back, Mr Bianchini with foot on running board Rosa Lucca in front of car. Courtesy Daisy Mills (nee Lucca)

482

Hermit's Cave, Scenic Hill c.1936 L to R - Front: Rueben, Daisy and Rose Lucca and the Hermit Back: Roy Lucca, Mary Rostirolla (Quarisa), Man at back unknown Courtesy Daisy Mills (nee Lucca)

"We walked to and from school each day and were taught by Mrs Lane. There were only three class rooms then. Mr Bowditch was the Headmaster. The little store near the school was owned by the Gardiner family. "In winter most of us wore thick woollen 'beanies' and gloves as it was so cold. Our roads became a muddy mess after rain so that chains had to be put on the car tyres to enable us to get to town. Around that time my sister, Rose, was learning dressmaking from Mrs Blackstock who lived in Canal Street." Here Roy takes up the story - "Life was hard in the early days. A lot of people were poverty stricken. Swagmen on the roads were common. Going to school we always tried to dodge them but they were quite harmless. They often called at home for something to eat - one would tell the others where they were welcome. About this time too quite a lot of Dr Barnardo Boys were employed on the farms and were paid 2/6 to 5/- a week, plus their keep. "T.B. (tuberculosis) was rife during 1ny schooldays in the twenties - at school one week, dead the next!! One family was so poor the coffin was made from a packing case. We borrowed a spring cart to use as a hearse and even the grave digger dug the grave free. I remember him looking down into grave and saying - 'The poor little bugger!' Black armbands were always worn then as a sign of mourning. "School was also very disciplined. 'Six of the best' or, at High School, a thrashing by Colonel Milligan kept it so! At school we all played sport. Cricket in summer and League in winter if grounds were wet, Australian Rules if grounds were hard. It was not as organised as now. We had one character, Ernie Davey, who played League. His usual cry for a tackle was 'tear him down!' "Weekends were spent either working, swimming in canals or shooting along the creeks with Daisy Air guns which then cost 9/- to 12/- each." 483

Yambil Street Building - Henry Lucca in Pith llehuet Courtesy Daisy Mills (née Lucca)

Rural Bank of NSW (now the State Bank), !Sarnia Avenue, Griffith Courtesy Daisy Mills (nee Lucca)

484

Daisy remembers "later we moved to 94 Yambil Street, to a block of flats with a dwelling behind. (I understand that these buildings were built from demolition material from the old hospital at Beelbangera in the 1920s). At that time Wallace's Cafe was situated in the middle block of Banna Avenue where they sold delicious milk ice blocks for one penny. Mr Fred Mason operated a fruit and vegetable stall wedged in the space between Trims shop and another. Many years later the shop operated by Trims was sold to Clarrie Doak. "On school holidays I sometimes visited friends at Yoogali and one season we all pitted apricots for drying and were paid 3d per tray. "Around 1941 we moved to the Central Coast and settled in the Wyong district where my parents and brother Reuben were involved in poultry farming for many years. There were no country public libraries in those days but, on request, books (mainly history) would be railed to Dad from Sydney each month." Roy concluded by saying - "During my times I have seen horse and cart days, good times, Depression, war and again good times." Carolina died at Wyong NSW in 1960 and Henry died there also in 1961. The family of Carolina and Henry Lucca were: Roy born Griffith 1915 (at home); married Vera Geaney; nine children; lives New Zealand Rose born Griffith 1917 (at home); died 13 February 1979; married William Irvin; four children Reuben born Griffith 1924; died 21 October 1989; married Beryl Daniels; three children Daisy born 1930 "Woodlands" Hospital, Griffith; married Vince Mills; two children; lives Belmont South NSW.

By courtesy of Daisy Mills (nee Lucca), 4 McEwan Street, Belmont South 2280 Roy Lucca, 1/60 Argyle Street, Heme Bay, 2, Auckland, New Zealand.

485

MACEDONE Domenico Macedone was born in 1913 at Cinquefrondi, Reggio Calabria, Italy and is the eldest of five children in the family of the late Francesco Macedone and Rosa Maria Raso. The father, Francesco Macedone, already had the pioneering spirit before migrating to Australia. For a short time in 1914 he worked on the railway in Pennsylvania USA, but in the same year war broke out and he was repatriated back to Italy to serve his country. Francesco served until 1918 in the 15th Infantry (`Brigatta Savoi') and later he received a gold medal and cross for showing heroism. Within the same year he journeyed back to America and continued working on the railway in Pennsylvania until 1920. On returning to his family in Italy, Francesco had saved enough money to purchase farming land where, with his wife, Rosa Maria, they grew vegetables. Unfortunately because of the Depression his produce was unsaleable and the family lived in poverty until 1927 which brought Francesco to make a desperate bid to return to the States but migration to there had closed. He was then urged by a cousin, Francesco Iaconissi, to make the journey to Australia. This cousin was living in Griffith and he soon arranged migration papers for him. So Francesco left his wife and five children and emigrated to Australia, a voyage which took ninety days by sea. On his arrival in Griffith, he was reunited with his cousin and together they made "home" a small bag hut, shared with several other Italian immigrants. Francesco was soon employed as a farm hand by Mr George Smailes and Mr Jim Combe.

Wedding Day - 4 June 1938 L to R: Rosa Romeo, Carmela Franco, Maria Sergi, Teresa and Domenico Macedone, Angelina Macedone, Michell Raso, Fiora Romeo Courtesy Domenico Macedone

486

At the age of 16 years (in February 1929) Domenico, their eldest son, emigrated to be reunited with his father in Australia. On Domenico's arrival in Griffith, with only £13 in his pocket, and with his father they purchased from Mackays two beds, blankets and mosquito nets and built a bag hut on the farm of George Smailes where Francesco worked occasionally. Domenico was also given a job on the Smailes property picking almonds and drying sultana grapes. In 1931, Domenico was offered a job as a farm hand, for six shillings a day, on the farm of Mr Stan Broome. Mr Broome also provided a workers hut for him. On the farm Domenico pioneered the art of pruning orange trees (learned in Italy) which was well received by other farmers. Mr and Mrs Stan Broome were so delighted with his work that he was treated very much like one of the family and was encouraged two years later by Stan Broome to continue his orange pruning as a contractor on other farms. Domenico earned up to fourteen shillings a day as a contract pruner. In 1936, nine years after Francesco had left Italy to Domenico Macedone come to Australia, his wife, Rosa Maria, his other son 20 years old - 1933 Giuseppe and daughters Clementina, Catarina and Angelina Courtesy Domenico Macedone finally emigrated to Australia. At this time Francesco was working on a farm on the Old Willbriggie Road owned by Mr Rawlings who built a small weatherboard house for the Macedone family. On 4 June 1938, Domenico married Teresa Franco who was also an immigrant from Italy. Teresa was born on 6 November 1915 in Cinquefrondi, Reggio Calabria, Italy. Her father, Raffaele Franco had emigrated to Australia in 1924 and spent his first year in Queensland where he and other Italian immigrants cleared land for sugar cane plantations. In 1925 he travelled to Griffith and found work on fruit farms; this decided him to stay on in Griffith. 1937 saw the arrival of Raffaele's wife, Cuncetta Papasidero and their five children, Rosa, Francesco, Teresa, Carmela and Salvatore, who all worked on their father's farm at Hanwood. Domenico Macedone with his family - 1954 After their marriage, L to R: Teresa with baby Michael, Francesco, Virginia (on chair), Angelo and Domenico Domenico and Teresa together built a Courtesy Domenico Macedone small dwelling in Yoogali village. Their first child, Francesco, was born 487

in 1939, followed by a second son, Angelo, who was born in 1943. In the same year, with Australia at war, Domenico was to to be interned in a prisoner-of-war camp as he was not Naturalised. However, a local farmer, Clive Balmer, wrote a letter to the Captain of the Army explaining he needed Domenico to work his forty-six acre fruit farm which provided fruit for the Australian Troops. The army replied that they didn't need more fruit for the troops but vegetables were required. So, Domenico was given the choice to acquire land within three months to grow vegetables for the troops or serve in the army/be interned. He soon found five acres of land on the farm of John Currie at Yoogali, where Domenico grew vegetables for three years until 1946 when World War II ended. In 1946 Domenico was offered six acres of land to share farm for Walter Tyson. Together with his wife, they grew tomatoes, carrots and gherkins for pickling until 1950 when their third child, Virginia was born. The same year, Domenico began another job on Farm 617, Yoogali, owned by Stan Wheeler. Three months later Stan Wheeler offered to sell the forty-one acre farm to Domenico. So Domenico and Teresa sold their small cottage in Yoogali village and purchased the farm for £8,000 - a very large sum of money at that time. The farm was planted with peaches, apricots and grapes. In 1954 their fourth child, Michael, was born and for thirty-one years the whole family worked hard to run the farm productively. 1981 saw the retirement of Domenico and Teresa and the end of an era for these hard working Italian immigrants. Domenico and Teresa now dwell in Blumer Avenue, Griffith.

1927 - Block 1006, Ilanwood. All Immigrants from Cinquefrondi, Italy L to R: Standing - Giuseppe leraci, Michele Franco, Domenico Romeo, Valentino Romeo, Domenico Gallo. Giuseppe Valenzisi, Francesco Macedone, Michele Tiimarchi, Raffaele Franco, Giuseppe Franco Front - Arcangelo Scarfo, Michele Raso, Francesco leraci, Francesco laconissi Courtesy Domenico Macedone

488

Francesco and Rosa Maria Macedone at the marriage of Francesco Macedone and Maria Tipaldo in 1964 Courtesy Domenico Macedone

Francesco Macedone born Italy 11 December 1892 died Griffith 15 November 1973

married

Rosa Maria Raso born Italy 1893 died Griffith 19 June 1970

Domenico married Teresa Franco 1. Francesco married Maria Tipaldo - two children 2. Angelo married Clare Fattore - four children 3. Virginia married Angelo Cirillo - two children 4. Michael married Domenica Papalia - two children 2.

Clementina married Michele Raso (both now deceased) 1. Sam married Barbara Filcich - six children 2. Francesco (deceased) 3. Jenny married Greg Casey - three children

Giuseppe married Maria Sergi 1. Francesco (now deceased) - two children 2. Sam married Margaret Calio - three children 3. Diane married David Ellis - three children

Catarina married Rocco Trimarchi 1. Yvonne married Frank Trimboli - two children 2. Ilene married Jim Perri - three children

Angelina married Salvatore Franco (brother to Teresa) 1. Julie 2. Susan married Tom Wright - two children.

By courtesy of Domenico Macedone as told to his daughter-in-law, Maria Macedone (nee Tipaldo) and granddaughter, Sandra Comarin (née Macedone). 489

MacKENZIE John Anderson ("Jock") MacKenzie married Nellie H Riddle on 28 September 1918. Jock, a returned soldier, was born in England and Nellie was the daughter of Edward and Katherine Riddle. Jock was allocated a Soldier Settler block - Farm 1322 at Yenda, approximately 5 kms north of the town, late in 1919. Jock and his father-in-law Edward ("Ted") Riddle spent the next couple of years working in the "clearing gangs". In the meantime, Nellie stayed in Sydney until their first child was born - a daughter, Una Mary, born on 8 June 1920. Later that year Nellie and baby Una came to Yenda and lived with Jock in a shack on Ted Raggott's property. The life was hard, but lots of fun; plenty of picnics, musical evenings and card evenings. Nelly often cooked for the many lonely bachelors. Jock, Ted Raggott (who was a fine pianist) and Nellie who had a very nice singing voice enjoyed many a sing song. Jock and Nellie MacKenzie Jock and Ted built the basis for the on their Wedding Day house in 1921-22 and moved in during that Courtesy Rhonda Lee (née MacKenzie) year. Jock and Nelly's second daughter, Barbara was born on 8 December 1923 and their third daughter Rhonda on 30 August 1926. The house was extended as the family grew. Jock did all the building and painting himself, occasionally helped by Ted Riddle. On advice from the Commission the farm was first planted with citrus. However, by the time these trees had grown almost to bearing age it was realised that the farm was in a frost pocket and they were non-productive. Sadly, Jock was advised to pull them all out and start again with grapes. In the early thirties Jock and a group of surrounding farmers decided to try growing tobacco - as a quick cash crop. The drying shed was built on Jock's farm. The crop was successful, but the shed burnt down and they lost the lot! Because of this Jock felt he had a moral obligation to the other farmers and spent a number of years repaying them by painting houses and other work. Daughter Rhonda tells.... "My father was secretary of R.S. & S.I.L.A. from 1929 to 1931 inclusive. I have memories of him helping to get many widows a pension after World War I. He was a JP and helped many Italians when they first arrived in Yenda. He was a foundation member of the Soldiers Club and served on the Wine Board for many years. 490

"In fact, my mother and father were very involved in all the new beginnings in Yenda - tennis, roller skating and the MUIOOF lodge to name a few. Mother was a foundation member of the CWA and held office in that organisation. I have vivid memories of Saturdays. We children went to the pictures, my mother to CWA, always with a cake, and my Dad to the Soldiers Club (in latter years) - earlier, everyone met at the Hotel or at each others homes. "My mother also belonged to the Red Cross and stalls to raise funds were constant during the years of World War II. Socks and balaclavas were knitted for the troops and parcels were sent regularly. "There was a lot of work involved to get the new Convent School in Yenda. I went to the State School until 4th Class and began at the Convent in 5th Class which would have been about 1935. "My parents were true pioneers, living in a tent, then a cabin and finally a house built by my father and his father-in-law Edward Riddle. In spite of these hardships we had a very happy childhood, an enduring love from and to each other by my parents was a wonderful example to us. "Our memories, as daughters of these wonderful parents, are of a wonderfully happy home. Very little money, but lots of fun, love and laughter."

Edward & Katherine Riddle

John Anderson ("Jock") MacKenzie born England 17 March 1890 died 29 March 1985

married Sydney 28 September 1918

Nellie H Riddle born 22 September 1890 died 6 July 1966

• 1.

Una Mary born Sydney 8 June 1920; married Barry Neate (dec'd). Lives at Parkes NSW

Barbara born Yenda 8 December 1923; married Brian Anderson. Lives at Parkes NSW

Rhonda born Yenda 30 August 1926; married Eric Lee. Lives at East Gosford NSW.

By courtesy of Rhonda Lee (nee MacKenzie), 2 Russell Street, East Gosford 2250 Una Neate (née MacKenzie), 1/2 Grenfell Street, Parkes Barbara Anderson (née MacKenzie), 13 Woodward Street, Parkes 2870.

491

MAHY "My father, Stephen Mahy, worked in Leeton and it was there that he married Antionetta Gersbach. After their marriage they went to Victoria where their first son, Phil, was born in Rutherglen. "When I (Mary) was born they were living in Howlong where Dad was in partnership with Mr Day - Blacksmith and Wheelwright, trading as Mahy and Day. The shop is now used as a motor garage. "Between 1920 and 1922 we moved to Yenda and lived in tents. Dad started the blacksmith, wheelwright business in Bingar Street. "It was at this time our Mother contracted Typhoid Fever and was in Leeton Hospital. While she was there, Dad built our house at Farm 751 Canal Street (I think it might be called Leaver Street now). "The Cass family lived next door - Ted Cass started a grocery business. He and Dad were good mates and did their banking together in Whitton. "I remember Mum driving her horse and buggy to Leeton to see her parents. I'm not sure what year, but remember also Dad and Ted going to Hay where Dad bought a red T-model Ford. Soon after that there was a flood and the car was jacked up in the shed so we drove out in the horse and sulky, over the channel, to Brian Farley's. Brian's wife, Daisy, was Mum's sister. "As a sideline, Dad made coffins mostly for babies but some for adults. I remember being at Grandma's in Leeton for Christmas and a fellow came from Yenda to get Dad to make a coffin for his wife. Dad, with Mum's help, used to line all his coffins. "I went to the public school where my teachers were Miss Burrell, Mrs Jones (her son L to R: Ellie Coughlan, Thelma Mahy, Ian was also in the class) and Mr Strang, who Kath Coughlan, Peggy Grant had a lovely supply of canes!! Courtesy Thelma Ross (née Mahy) "Swimming in the canal behind our house was probably the most popular pastime. "My cousin, Laurie Borger, worked in the shop with Dad and when Dad died in 1933 he and my brother, Phil, tried to carry on. However, Phil was only fifteen and it was a bit much for someone so young, so the shop was leased to "Bluey" Hams who had a shop on the opposite side of the road. Later the blacksmith shop was demolished and the land sold. It is now the site of the Westpac Manager's residence." Mary's sister, Thelma shares some of her memories - "We used to call into the blacksmith shop on the way home from school and 'pump the bellows'. After which we would go for a swim in the channel and be ready to `go for our lives' if the Water Bailiff came along. Then there were the Saturday afternoon pictures - sixpence to get in and 492

threepence to spend at half-time and the 'Hopalong Cassidy' serials. Trips to Griffith (a long way away then) to stock up from Taylor's store and the bag of boiled lollies which was put into the grocery box - a rare treat. The school picnic at 'Pleasant Valley' was a day we all looked forward to - especially the free 'ice cream Smack'!!"

Stephen Martin Mahy born Beechworth Vic in 1888 died June 1933, 45 years buried Leeton NSW

married at Leeton

Antionetta Elizabeth Gersbach born c.1889 died 26 March 1969, 80 years buried Leeton NSW

Thomas Phillip born Rutherglen Vic 29 April 1918; married Marcelle Mische; both buried at Leeton NSW.

Mary Eileen born Howlong Vic 9 February 1920; married James F Watts (dec'd). Lives at Forbes NSW.

Bernard Stephen born 29 September 1922; married Min Raines. Lives at Fairy Meadow NSW.

Margaret Thelma born 16 August 1924; married Donald Ross (dec'd). Lives at Griffith NSW.

Reginald John born 19 December 1926; married Betty Gordon. Lives at Ulladulla NSW.

Frances Douglas born 22 November 1928; married Joan Collett. Lives at Moama NSW.

Sarah Therese born 6 October 1933; married Kevin Raines. Lives at Fairy Meadow NSW.

By courtesy of Mary Watts (nee Mahy) 67 Hill Street, Forbes 2871 and Thelma Ross (nee Mahy), 25 Griffin Avenue, Griffith 2680.

493

MANSER In 1985 the late William Frederick ("Fred") Manser wrote - "My parents, William James and Lillian Alexandrina (née Robertson) Manser and myself migrated from London (England) in 1911. My father took a job as a farm hand on an uncleared farm in the mallee at Moombooldool. In 1913 he and mother worked as farm hand and house-keeper, again pioneering on a new farm at Binya, living in tents until the house was built. During that year my father took up Farm 187 at Hanwood on which he sowed fifty acres of wheat. This crop was a complete failure owing to rust. "On December 3rd, 1914 we three came from Binya by horse-drawn lorry to take up residence in a galvanised iron shed on Farm 187. In 1915 Dad took in a partner William Wilde who shortly after enlisted and went off to World War I. "My father then planted ten acres of fruit trees and vines which, before they came into bearing, the rabbits ring-barked and practically wiped them out. "William Wilde was killed in France and my father went broke on the farm. His folk in England thought that the property was a flourishing enterprise instead of a rabbit infested nothing. "To keep body and soul together he took a job at the WC & IC nursery which was then over near Yoogali, managed by Mr Braithwaite. The nursery was at least three miles from home and Dad had to walk there and back each day - working eight hours a day and forty-eight hours a week. "Later my father got part time work in the back store of the Co-op, then managed by Oswald Whiting. I think at that time it was called the 'Cash Club' and later came under the Co-operative Societies Act. As time went by my father became the manager of the Coop and stayed on until we left Griffith in 1924. We returned in 1928 when my father and I opened and ran a shoe repairing business which eventually became the shoe repairing department of the Co-op, run by Dad."

The Sloe Repair Slop in Banna Avenue - c.1942 Bill and Fred at their lasts. Courtesy Warren Manser.

494

'111E AREA NEWS' Thursday, August 21, 1930 WEDDING A very pretty wedding was celebrated at the old Church of England, Windsor, on Saturday, August 9. when Jeanette. daughter of Mr H Griffin, of Castle Hills, was married to W (Fred) Mauer, of Griffith. The bride looked charming in her white dress of lace and georgette made on the long close-fitting lines. Her beautiful veil was held in place with sprays of orange blossom and she carried a bouquet of white sweet peas and maiden-hair fem. The bride was assisted by her sister, Mrs Ruth Bradley, her matron of honor, and Miss Clare Hudson, a bridesmaid, the former wearing a pretty hat of lemon straw, the latter wearing a floral georgette dress and hat to tone and each carrying a bouquet of sweet peas and maiden-hair fern. Mr C. H. Cant of Bondi was best man. The reception was held at the bride's home, which was artistically decorated in pale blue and white. After the breakfast the guests, numbering about forty, enjoyed dancing. The couple later left for the Blue Mountains, where the honeymoon was spent.

Fred and Jeanette Manser Wedding Day - 9 August 1930 Courtesy Warren Manser

Fred was educated at Hanwood Primary School and served his shoe repairing apprenticeship in Sydney. Because he was in a "reserved occupation" he was not able to enlist during World War II but did serve in the local regiment of "Dad's Army" (the Volunteer Defence Corps). His father, William ("Bill") Manser, was active in the Masonic Lodge throughout his time in Griffith, becoming Master of Lodge Ibis No 361 in 1939-40 and serving for many years as Secretary. Rod and Helen Brayne, who enjoyed many happy years of Scouting with Fred, share some of their memories with us - "It was always a delight to walk into Fred Manser's shoe repair shop to be met by that broad, contagious grin. "He always had a most expressive face - like the time of the Scout Camp in the mallee. With pigeons supplied by Stuart Broome, each patrol baked pigeon in the specially made mud ovens. The Scouters, including Fred, were invited to dinner. Fred congratulated the Patrol Leader on the baked pigeon, particularly the stuffing. The blank look on the Patrol Leader's face soon told the story!! Fred's expressive face caused the whole camp to explode with laughter. Not stuffing - just all pigeon, crop and all!!

495

The Manser family on holidays at Lake Illawarra - January 1949 L to R: Fred, Warren, Lillian, Leonie, Bill and Jeanette Courtesy Warren Manser

"His good nature was legendary. He was often the originator or the target for plenty of practical jokes. He smoked a well seasoned pipe until one camp when someone thought it should be cleaned with toothpaste - 'to freshen its breath'! "Fred had a long association with Scouting in Griffith. He and others tried to form a Scout Troop at Hanwood in 1919. While his name does not appear on the troop register in 1921, he became a Scout Master from 1944 until 1950 and many Scouts will remember the great times they enjoyed with him as `Skip'." Lillian Manser died on 26 February 1951, aged 66 years and is buried in the Church of England section of the Griffith cemetery. William James Manser died at Glenfield NSW late in 1968 and is buried in Griffith in the same grave as Lillian. Fred married Jeanette ("Nette") Scout Hall opening - 1939. Griffin on 9 August 1930 and they had two On the corner of Kooringal Ave and Wayeela Street. children Warren and Leonie. (Present site of residence of Olympic Pool Curator) Courtesy of Rod and Helen Brayne.

496

Warren writes - "Our family left Griffith in 1953 when I started a B.Sc. at Sydney University and lived at Kirrawee, a Sydney suburb. Dad worked in several positions in the footwear trade before retiring in 1972, and moving to Toowoon Bay on the central Coast."

Scouters from the District and Headquarters about 1946 Fred Masser is second from the right, back row Courtesy Rod and Helen Brayne

William ("Bill") James Manser born London 12 July 1882 died Glenfield NSW 1968 (buried Griffith) married Lillian Alexandrina Robertson born c.1885 died Griffith 26 February 1951 (buried Griffith) William Frederick ("Fred") Manser born England 7 January 1905 died 13 March 1989 (cremated Palmdale, near Gosford NSW) married Jeanette Griffin born Galston NSW 28 September 1904 1. Warren born 8 February 1935; married Mary Eveline Palmerston Rundle; three children * Catherine Grace, born Armidale NSW 11 August 1962 • Leonie Eveline born Armidale NSW 20 January 1965 • Geraldine Helen born Port Moresby 21 March 1968 2.

Leonie born 8 November 1938; died 8 February 1963 (buried at Sutherland Cemetery); married Robert Lord William Millington; one son * Mark Stephen Millington born 14 September 1958.

By courtesy of Jeanette Manser, Nareen Gardens Nursing Home, Yakkalla Street, Bateau Bay and Warren Manser, 36 Andrew Street, Lake Munmorah 2259.

497

MARCUS Archie Marcus enlisted in Albury on 3 February 1917 and embarked at Melbourne for the Middle East sailing on the "Boorara". He served with the 7th Light Horse Regiment and 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion. He returned to Australia on the "Dorset" on 11 June 1919. Archie drew his farm of 2,079 acres in a Soldier Settlers ballot in 1920; it was a dry area farm, originally part of "Ballandry" Station, situated on the Rankins Springs Road approximately seventeen miles from Griffith. The McPherson Range ran through the farm from North to South. The land had to be cleared and fenced and dams sunk for water. Archie lived in a tent until a small home was built, when his wife Amy and small son David joined him in 1924. The home was built from timber which was milled on the property. This mill operated for a number of years. Archie named the farm Archie and Amy Marcus "Yarranlea" and it is still farmed today by his sons and grandsons. A bush fire in 1932 burnt out "Yarranlea" as well as other surrounding farms. Grass, crops and miles of fencing were lost (many miles of it newly erected). Another fire in 1991 again burnt out the farm, including a hay shed full of hay. Mice plagues came along every few years and as homes were not mice proof it was a battle of wits. We had wires strung up on verandahs to put our clothes over at night. Any food spilt on clothing was next day chewed into a hole. The mice shared our beds and chewed our hair at night. Other "plagues" were the rabbit plagues - when rabbits in their millions ate every blade of grass. The rabbits were trapped and their skins sold. Dams were fenced in to trap the rabbits when they came to drink of an evening. A good "waddy" and a hit on the head got rid of many a bunny. Poison trails of cut up carrots laced with "1080" was another means of disposing of them. In later years myxomatosis took care of the rabbit population.

498

A•

Moving from Oaldands to "Yarranlea"

Archie with load of wheat leaving for Yenda

499

Myall Park Cricket Team L to R: Back: Bluey Currie, Henry Cavanagh, Norm Lane, Jack Rawle, Jack Brown Kneeling: Bill ("Nugget") Procter, Dave Marcus, Jack Lane, Tommy Harrison, Alf Black Front: Jack Marcus

Front verandah of "Yarranlea" (roll up blinds made from wheat bags stitched together) Amy's parents, Peter and Elizabeth McKellar with Amy, Archie and the children

500

Archie and Amy Marcus with Beth. Jack and Jessie in front of the "chaff house"

In the early days there were many dust storms turning day into night - lights had to be lit to see by during the day. We literally shovelled the dirt out of our house. Visits to neighbouring families with return visits played a big part in our social life. These visits were often all day affairs. We only had horse and sulkies for transport and as the family grew we needed two horses and gigs!! Our father built us a tennis court - this proved very popular with us and our young friends, who arrived every Sunday on bikes and horses. In later years tennis courts were built at the Myall Park Hall and we played tennis there. Myall Park Hall is remembered by many for its dances and lavish suppers. The music for these dances was supplied by Harry McCudden's orchestra with Mrs Trenerry on the piano. This hall is now relocated in Pioneer Park. The first school in the district opened in the home of Mr and Mrs Charlie Harris about 1929 and from there it was moved to a tin shed built by the parents. From here they moved to a vacant house on Mr Bert Reilly's farm. This school was called Climsland - in later years it was known as Myall Park. The first subsidised teachers were young local women; Miss Marjorie Reilly (later Mrs Roy Gribble) Miss Marjorie Trudgeon and Miss Muriel Marks from Beelbangera. A Department School was built and opened in 1933 with the first Department teacher, Mr Harry Walsh. Owing to the lack of pupils the school closed in 1947 then reopened again in 1952 for another twenty years - after which time buses conveyed the children to the larger centres. Other Memories - Bath night in winter time - once a week in a big round tub in front of the open fire with the kettle on the hob supplying the hot water, we were graded out from the cleanest to the dirtiest. The heat wave of 1939 saw one of our first luxuries - a kerosene fridge, but as the temperature was well over 100 degrees day and night for weeks it did not perform much better than the old drip safe!

501

Archie again enlisted in the Australian Citizen Military Forces on 20 January 1942 and served with the 11th Aust Garrison Battalion at Cowra. Early Family Background Samuel and Mary Marcus (Marcus was originally spelt Marquis - the spelling was gradually changed in Ireland) arrived in Geelong in 1856 on the immigrant ship "Nuggett" from Northern Ireland. They were wed at Buckna Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland. They had one child when they left Ireland, nine more were born in Australia. In 1888 they left the Geelong area and travelled by bullock dray to Numurkah and settled on the land. The fourth child, James (our Grandfather) bought a farm at Yalca on the Murray River. He wed Elizabeth Jane Smith. They later sold this land and moved to "Glenlea" Oaklands.

Samuel & Mary Marcus married in Ireland • James Marcus born Geelong Vic 1861 married Elizabeth Jane Smith born Ararat Vic 1869 • Samuel Thomas Archie (Archie) Marcus born Strathmerton Vic 21 February 1896 died 1942, buried Griffith

Peter McKellar born Hamilton Vic married Elizabeth Howell born Coleford England • married Yarrawonga Vie 1923

Amy Elizabeth McKellar born Mulwala Vic 1898 died 1968, buried Griffith

•

David born Lockhart 20 June 1924; married Beryl Sharam; lives at Griffith

Elizabeth ("Beth") born Griffith 17 July 1925; married William H Procter (dec'd); lives at Benerembah, via Griffith

Jack born Griffith 11 February 1926; married Jean Waters; lives at Griffith

Jessie born Griffith 19 March 1928; unmarried; lives at Sydney

Alex born Griffith 9 September 1929; single; lives at Sydney

Peter born Griffith 16 September 1932; single; lives at Griffith

Eva born Griffith 14 September 1937; married David Alan Taylor; lives at Griffith.

Contributed by Beth Procter (nee Marcus), RMB 2670, Griffith. Photographs courtesy of the Marcus family. 502

MARIN Giovanni Batista Marin (known as "Jack" or "Nani") arrived in Australia, disembarking in Melbourne, on 1 January 1923. He went to Leeton first and could find no work there so come on to Griffith. His wife Caterina Elizabetta (nee Cadorin) and baby Giacinto arrived aboard the Orient liner "Orsover" in April of the following year. They travelled to Leeton and made their way to Yoogali where they lived in a tent on Giovanni Ceccato's Farm 219 at Yoogali. Jack worked for V C Williams until 1927. He then leased a farm at Yoogali for two years before purchasing Farm 1921 at Yenda from a Mr Jack Pemberton in September 1929. Farms 1921 and 1922 (now part of Farm 788) were the site where the Yenda Barracks was located post WWI. The two dams, one for domestic use was on Farm 1921 and the yards and the dam for watering the horses were on Farm 1922; these were relics of the Barracks days. The concrete floor of the Barracks ablution block was only broken up by Mr A Bisol in 1957 when he purchased Farm 788 from Ted Giovanni and Caterina Marin with their sons, Matteo and Giacinto Kilpatrick. Jack purchased his first car in 1934 - a second-hand model T Ford - for £20. In his excitement over the acquisition of the new car he didn't notice the gate was closed! He drove straight through. His second son, Matt, says that he always denied hitting the gate but could never explain how the gate came to be broken! Matt continues - "In 1936 Dad bought his first tractor, a W12 McCormack-Deering. One day he was reversing out of the shed and ran into the horse lorry. When the lug on the steel wheel caught the floor of the lorry it started to climb. Dad started to yell 'Whoa! Whoa!' He thought he was still driving the horses! "The roads were so bad that in wet weather it was impossible to take the fruit to the railway on the steel-wheeled lorry so Dad made a sled out of a forky tree to deliver the fruit. During the winter when we went to school we used to walk and ride our bikes in the empty concrete channels. "In 1931 we were flooded out when Mirrool Creek overflowed the northern canal. The water didn't enter the house but would have done so if it had risen another few inches. "After the orange trees had recovered from the effects of this flooding we had a grasshopper plague which left the orange trees bare of all leaves. This, followed by the excessively wet winter of 1939, set the orange trees back to such a degree that they were removed. In the late 1940s and early 1950s salt appeared and the wet winter of 1956 killed all but four acres of prunes and four acres of grapes. In 1955 we had been advised that the

503

farm was unsuitable for tile drainage but by 1957 we were told that it was suitable! However, it was then too late to save the trees. "After being successfully tile drained the farm was re-planted with mainly peaches but also with apples, pears, apricots and prunes." During these years Matt recalls that the Pete brothers had a vegetable farm at Hanwood and one of the brothers would go around the farms in a horse and spring cart selling vegetables. Of their mother, Matt says - "Mum was Giovanni and Caterina holding baby Angelo always ready to put anyone up for the night. I and sons, Giacinto and Matteo - 1934 can remember a salesman for Griffiths Bros Tea who became bogged near our gate so stayed with us overnight. When leaving he gave Mum a 1lb tin of Griffiths Bros tea and llb of coffee". Giovanni became a naturalized Australian citizen on 17 January 1946. His wife Caterina followed and was naturalized on 14 May 1946. Caterina and Giovanni lived on Farm 1921 until their deaths - Caterina in 1966 and Giovanni in 1977. Both are buried in the Griffith Cemetery. Marin Road Yenda is named after them.

1936 Fargo - carting grapes using tarp lined tray

Snigging the Grapes out of the wet and boggy vineyard Giovanni Batista ("Jack") Marin born Cavaso Del Tombs, Italy 18 December 1895 died Griffith 22 August 1977

L to R: Caterina, Matteo, Letizia, Jack on tray married at Cavaso, Italy 23 April 1921 •

Caterina Elizabetta Cadorin born Cavaso Del Tomba, Italy 14 June 1897 died Griffith 4 February 1966

r Giacinto born Cavaso del Tombs, Italy 2 July 1922; married Letizia Cappello. Lives Leaver Street, Yenda. Three children - Robert, Bertilla and Allan.

Matteo born Yoogali 23 March 1925; married Marie Gras. Lives Marin Road, Yenda.

Angelo born Yenda 10 February 1934; married Pauline Raccanello. Lives Eastern Street, Mangerton NSW. Three children - Diane, John and Stephen.

By courtesy Matt Marin, Lot 1119 Marin Road, Yenda.

504

MARKS The first of this Marks family to come to Australia was William Marks who was born at Sussex, England about 1803. He departed from Portsmouth on 6 January 1825 aboard the ship "Asia 1" arriving on 29 April 1825. After his arrival he was employed as a labourer by Thomas Hassall and in 1828 he worked as a groom on the "Denbigh" property of Hassall. Around 1833 William Marks came to Mulgowrie to work on the "Salim Vale" property and in 1836 he became the overseer, a position he held until it was sold in 1840. Research suggests that Marks lived at Mulgowrie following the sale of "Salim Vale". However, no definite location or title over any land can be found. It appears that Marks must have occupied land at Mulgowrie, probably as a "squatter", for about 14 years and during this time he called his property "MarkcIale".19 William lived in the Mulgowrie and Bigga districts all his life. He married Ann Lamb and they had a family of Stan Marks and daughter Muriel four daughters and five sons. Their son, Elisha, married Sarah Quince and also had a large family - six daughters and six sons. Their youngest son, Edward James Stanley Marks, came to Griffith about 1923. Stan, as he was always known, married Adelaide Lavinia Walters, the daughter of Jacob Walters and Faith (née Thewl). Stan and Adelaide had two daughters - Murial and Gladys.

Adelaide Marks (nee Walters)

Beelbangera Sawmill c.1924 Back: Muriel and Gladys Marks Front: Vera and Lorna Downey

Source - "A History of Bigga" compiled on behalf of the Bigga School Parents and Citizens' Centenary Committee

505

Before coming to Griffith Stan had worked previously on the Railways. During this time he had been injured whilst he was the Station Master at Strathfield. At this time no compensation was payable. Adelaide and the girls came a little later and travelled by train from Crookwell where they had been staying with Stan's sister, Annie. They were met by Stan in a borrowed horse and sulky. The family settled at Beelbangera where Stan had purchased a two acre block - Farm 1661. He built the house himself and carted the timber from Keam's Mill. It consisted of two rooms and a large verandah. One end of the verandah was used as a bedroom and the other end as living area. After obtaining an additional area adjoining Farm 1662, Stan endeavoured to grow tobacco from seed. However the seedlings were never planted out as they were too small and the tobacco price dropped. However he did have success in growing watermelons - Muriel and Gladys remember that "they were so large that they didn't fit in a chaff bag!!" Other crops grown for the Sydney market were tomatoes, peas and beans. Muriel and Gladys did much of Stan on a load of chaff - May 1932 the farm work after school as their father was often away working. They watered and picked the crops whilst their mother was kept busy in the home and cooking for her own family as well as the truck drivers employed by Stan. Stan worked at the saw mill, did some rabbiting and later was a buying agent for Dalgety & Co, buying wheat. He also ran a carrying business delivering wheat to Beelbangera siding. He had two Rio trucks, a Ford truck and trailers. He employed six or eight men and transported chaff, wheat and sheep etc mainly for Dalgetys and also carted grapes to the wineries. At one time Stan also owned a portable shearing plant which he took around to various farms contract shearing. Remembered also by his daughters is that Stan moved some of the old Red Cross Hospital buildings from Beelbangera to various sites including that of the Griffith Hospital which was then situated where the State Office Block now stands. Ebert and Sara were one of the other contractors who moved parts of the Red Cross buildings. Stan worked for many sporting associations as well as the Show Society and the Progress Association. All the family's clothes were bought from mail order catalogues from David Jones and Grace Bros. They grew their own vegetables, kept a cow for milk, cream and butter, and also kept fowls for meat and eggs. As there were no refrigerators they used a Coolgardie safe and canvas water bags to cool water for drinking.

506

The Red Cross Hospital at Beelbangera Courtesy The Griffith Collection - Original Photo from Mrs Heather Churton

The Beelbangera School was not built when they first arrived so the girls did lessons by correspondence from Blackfriars in Sydney. Later the Griffith High School was built and Gladys attended there for a time, travelling by horse and sulky with a friend. Stan and Adelaide left Griffith in 1932 together with their youngest daughter, Gladys. Muriel stayed in Griffith and boarded with Nurse Walters. She worked at Green's as a cashier for about twelve months up until the shop burnt down. Muriel completed a correspondence course with Blackfriars Teaching College with the assistance of Mr Dutton, a teacher at Beelbangera School, and sat for her final exam at Narrandera. Muriel taught about thirty children at the subsidised Climsland School for about twelve months or so then at a school in the Balranald district where she boarded with Mr and Mrs Garroway. By this time her father, Stan, had purchased a smallgoods shop at Hurstville and Muriel again joined the family and ran the shop for her father. Muriel returned to Griffith after her marriage to John Garton in 1938. Elisha Marks married Sarah Quince r Edward James Stanley Marks born 26 February 1893 died 9 September 1970 buried Liverpool Cemetery

Jacob Walters married Faith Thewl r married

Adelaide Lavinia Walters born 21 November 1891 died 19 November 1975 buried Liverpool cemetery

Murial May born Tamworth 1913. Married John Edmund Garton in 1938. Three children - John Alexander, Helena May and Joan Adelia. Now lives in Griffith.

Gladys Fidelia born Tamworth 1916. Married Timothy Truda. Two children - Ross and Rhondda.

Entry and family photographs by courtesy of Murial Garton (nee Marks), 37 Carrathool Street, Griffith 2680.

507

MARRIOIT/SWALES MARRIOTT Wilfred de Garis Marriott, known to his friends as Wilf, was born at Nowra on 1 October 1899. His father, Thomas, came to Australia as a young man and married Annie Harkis at Moruya. In 1914 Wilf was working with Mark Lamond on a farm at Glen Imes NSW and together they enlisted in the 55th Battalion. After World War I, Wilf acquired Farm 430 which was gazetted to him on 19 May 1921. (Mark Lamond's nephew, Frank, many years later married Lois Blumer.) As Wilf was unmarried, his two sisters, Connie and Mildred kept house for him. They both married neighbouring farmers - Connie married Billy Swales and Mildred married Percy Hamilton. Wilf was always keen to experiment with new ideas for large area farming. He was responsible for starting the Wilf Marriott idea of broadcasting pasture seed into rice stubble. This was Photos courtesy Eileen Marriott fine until the stubble became too heavy as the rice varieties improved. Wilf married Eileen Gammon in 1937. Here Eileen takes up the story "my parents were Thomas Edward Gammon and Susannah (Mary Ann) Flack. I was born at Corobimilla near Narrandera and went to school at Morundah at a one teacher school. Mr Jacob was our teacher - he had about twenty five pupils. The school is no longer there. I understand it was added to Yanco School. "Later I went to Goulburn High. I boarded at Goulburn in private homes and then trained at Sydney Teachers College for a year. They were short of teachers so I was posted to Griffith in the year 1928. I worked at Griffith Public School with Kathleen Aiton. She taught me more than I learnt at the College. "I went on to Murrami and then to Beelbangera, where I taught with John Dutton. The Department had not got around to building a room so I taught in the weather shed for twelve months. The weather shed only had three walls and the rain and the dust blew in. "About this time I met Wilf on a blind date. It was a dance at the Jondaryan Club. The only time the ladies were invited into the club was for dances. Eileen Marriott (nee Gammon) I guess they didn't want to dance with each other!

508

Wilf picked me up in his National Chev which was a little single seater car. "We were married in 1937 at Narrandera in the Anglican Church. It was no surprise to me to get the sack as the government would not employ married women. "I belonged to the Yenda Tennis Club. "My son, Tom, was born on 17 June 1941 - as these were the war years, I had an invitation from the Education Department to resume teaching the day I got home from hospital with my new born son. Because it was war time many men teachers had joined the armed forces creating a shortage. However, I never returned to teaching except in a voluntary capacity. "My interest is still in the handicapped people's organisation, pioneered by Don Isles. I also enjoy helping adults learn to read. Here in 1991 I have people coming for lessons. "I still play bowls socially at the Jondaryan Club here in Griffith - they allow women members now!! "We retired to Bateman's Bay in 1964. Wilf passed away in Sydney Hospital on 31 March 1968 and was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. After this I returned to Griffith where I still live."

Thomas Marriott born 28 August 1856 at Milford Haven, Wales died 18 February 1938 at Nowra NSW

married at Moruya •

•

Annie Harkis born .... died 1937 buried at at Nowra NSW

•

11'ilfred de Gads Marriott born Nowra NSW 1 October 1899, died Sydney 31 March 1968. Married Eileen Jane Gammon (born Corobimilla NSW). One son - Thomas Owen Marriott. Eileen lives at Griffith NSW.

•

Mildred Marriott married Percy Hamilton (see entry for Hamilton/Low).

•

Constance Marriott married William ("Bill") Swales (see following entry).

Connie Swales with niece Dorothy Ilamilton Courtesy Dot Low

By courtesy of Eileen Marriott, 3/2 Kelly Avenue, Griffith 2680. 509

SWALES Constance Marriott came from Nowra with her sister, Mildred (later the wife of Percy Hamilton) to keep house for their brother, Wilf, who had drawn a soldier settlers farm at Yenda. This first farm was along what is now known as Cotterell's Road. Both Con and Mildred were competent horsewomen. It was at this time that Con met William Harifield ("Bill") Swales at Yenda. Bill was an Englishman, a World War I veteran, who came to Australia, travelling via America, when discharged from the services in 1919. He took up Farm 362 where initially he lived in a tent before constructing a tin shack. Bill and Con were married in Nowra and returned to Farm 362 to live where, their niece Dorothy describes, their farm house grew like "Topsy". Dorothy went on to say - "I can recall most clearly Bill's single seater car and his big Airedale dog, `Sam', standing on the running board alongside Bill, leaning hard against the car body and clinging on for `dear life' as the car bounced along the rough roads. Bill worked physically very hard on the farm, followed everywhere by 'Sam' bounding after him. He was one of the first farmers to own a crawler tractor in our district. Despite this asset I still see him lumping rice and ploughing through the muddy rice paddocks on foot. As time passed he took on a sharefarmer, thus enabling him to take on the job of Secretary/Manager of the Jondaryan Club where his sense of humour and quick wit gave members many a laugh. He was a keen lawn bowls player and loved body surfing. He could ride the waves from sea to the beach. "Con also worked hard. In the early days, whilst house-keeping for Wilf, she rode a horse to Yenda for supplies. In later years she too became a keen lawn bowler." They were always a popular, well-liked couple. Bill died on 3 December 1972, aged 83, after a very long illness during which he was cared for tirelessly by a devoted Con. Con passed away in January 1982 and they are both buried in Griffith. They had no family.

1941 L to R: Percy Hamilton, Neville Thompson and Bill Swales.

L to R: Connie Robb, Vina Dalla and Connie Swales

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Dorothy Low (nee Hamilton). 510

MARTIN Alexander Martin was born to James and Rebecca Martin on 4 July 1877 at Maroopna in Victoria. Alexander married Marion Young in 1906 and died in 1946. Marion predeceased him in 1942 and both are buried in the Presbyterian Section of the Leeton Cemetery.

Marion and Alexander Martin - c.1940

Alexander, with the two eldest sons, Charles and Bill, left "Errol" at Balldale (near Corowa) in 1927 and lived in a shed at "Morella" at Wumbulgal. In 1930 when Marion and the younger children joined them, May and Margaret, the two eldest girls, were working in Melbourne. Wumbulgal consisted of a small unattended railway station and later a school was built on land donated by Mr Bill Hunt. The Martin children rode the four miles to school on horseback. At one stage the school teacher, Ces Rubie, rode his bicycle the twelve miles to the school from Yenda, where he lived. Wheat and sheep were grown, with rice tried later, during World War II. Horse teams were used up until 1946. About 1936 the boys "snigged out" rice using a Massey Harris Coffee Pot Header - hauled by a bullock team. "Track cutting" wasn't done then, the pairs of bullocks walked along the gutter so they didn't push the rice down.

511

A home made wooden sled pulled by eight horses was used to "snig out". This sled had a large disc at the front of a wooden triangle to help it slide in the mud and it also helped it to turn. Varieties of rice sown at that time matured much later than they do these days and often farmers had to contend with early winter rains which prevented the rice bays from drying out. Their son Allan recalls that when he was only ten years old he drove a team of horses because he was light in weight. They could only haul about eight bags at a time because of the mud. Several years before the war, many of the young people of the district often gathered at "Morella" at the weekend to play tennis on the dirt courts and many were the times that 27 people gathered around the table at tea time. Church was held at 3 p.m. once a fortnight in the Martin home, with the Presbyterain minister coming one fortnight and the Methodist minister the other. There was also a Wumbulgal Cricket team and that well known identity "Tiger" Goring was a member of that team. "These sporting activities lapsed during and after the War. The cricket club finances were invested in War Savings Certificates, which to my knowledge were never redeemed. So much for our £6," says Allan. "Margaret Beazley (nee Martin), Ada (nee Martin) and Harry Whitman, Bill and Rita Martin, Allan and Dorothy Martin and Donald (or "Doog") Martin all retired to Ballina in the late 1970s. At present the place where we all reside at Lakeside Caravan Park is known as `Martin's Corner'."

512

On the road to "Morella" Wumbulgal from Bal'dale near Corowa c.1927

Arrking at "Morella" Wumbulgal Alexander and his son Allan on the wagon

Bill Martin sewing bags at "Morella" Wumbulgal

The Wedding of May Martin and Jim Grimes - 1942 L to R - Standing behind the Bride & Groom - Rene Young holding Roy, Alexander Martin, John Martin, Margaret Beazley holding Harry, Ern Beazley Standing: Ada Martin (Bridesmaid), Jim Grimes (Groom), May Martin (Bride), Donald ("Doog") Martin (Best Man), Rita Martin, Enid Martin, Mrs Harold Bull (friend & neighbour) Front: Winifred Eaton, Marjory Bull with Wesley Beazley sitting in front of her, Fay Beazley, Alice Beasley, Rita Bull, Bill Martin holding Billy and Kay Bull

Allan & Dorothy's Wedding 7 June 1944 at the Methodist Church at Yenda with Enid Kilpatrick as Bridesmaid and Donald ("Doog") as Best Man

513

James ("Scottie") Martin born Errol, Perth Scotland 29 December 1828 married Creswick Vic 17 June 1864 Rebecca Wilson born Scotland 25 March 1846 * Alexander Martin born Maroopna Vic 4 July 1877 died 22 April 1946 (buried Leeton)

married 1906

Marion Young born 27 August 1883 died 9 May 1942 (buried at Leeton NSW)

* 1.

Charles James born Corowa NSW 1907; died 1975. Married Enid Dickens. Five children -Stanley, Raymond, Kenneth, Marion and Kathleen.

Rebecca May born Corowa NSW 1909; died 1989. Married Jim Grimes. Jim lives at Ingleburn NSW. Three children - Hector, Geoffrey and Barrie.

Margaret Helen born Corowa NSW 1911. Married Ern Beazley (dec'd 1977); Margaret lives at Ballina NSW. Six children - Wesley, Fay, Alice, Harry, Betty and Ted.

William Young born Corowa NSW 1913; died 1986. Married Rita Griffiths; lives at Ballina NSW. Five children - Bill, Margaret, Alex, Pam and Greg.

Hector Arthur born Corowa NSW 1917. Prisoner of War on the Burma Railway WU. Died 18 June 1943, whilst in captivity.

John Alexander born Corowa NSW 1919. (The family lost contact with John after about 1950).

Ada Florence born Corowa NSW 1921; married Harry Whitman; lives at Ballina NSW. Four children - Dawn, Ian, Donald and Roger.

Allan Randolph born Corowa NSW 1923; married Dorothy Kilpatrick; lives at Ballina NSW. Five children - Chris, Max, Terry, Heather and Robyn.

Donald Victor born Corowa NSW 1925; died Ballina 9 April 1985. Unmarried.

By courtesy of Allan Martin, PO Box 245, Ballina 2478. Photographs by courtesy of Allan Martin and Margaret Beazley.

514

MARTIN The history of the Martin family in Griffith started in 1912 with the arrival of Andrew Leslie Martin (born 1875) as told by Darrell Martin.

The Busy Irrigationist should secure the most Suitable Supplies at the most 'suitable time in the most Satisfactory MarKet.

MARTIN, Andrew Leslie

Supplies, like water, must be "on time." There's no system of buying your requirements so satisfactory as from the man on the spot who knows your needs and fills diem. Martin's came to succeed, just as you did, and are doing it on EXCELLENT STOCKS, REGU LAR DELIVERY, and the INDISPENSABLE ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE DETAILS which count these days:

As far as I can ascertain from the notes of my father, Benjamin Hope Martin, the first store was actually opened for business one day a week in a small tin shed owned and run by a Mr Hankinson of Narrandera. This store was taken over by Andrew L Martin in 1912, who became Griffith's first "Universal Provider". He also has been ironically called "The Father of Co-operation on the Mirrool end of the Area". (His prices were so high the Settlers decided to form the "Cash Club" which was the forerunner of the Griffith Co-operative Society). Andrew later became a well known business man when Griffith moved to its present site. In fact a very astute shop owner to the extent, ("or so I've heard" says Darrell) that he would ask customers to bring back their parcel string!! He owned several blocks and buildings in the top block of Banna Avenue and in Ulong Street. His daughter and grand-daughter still owned the property where the "Tuckerbox" is until fairly recently. Andrew Leslie was born in Wentworth NSW and grew up there. He was the son of Andrew Hope Martin who, (with his wife Eliza Catherine nee Fuller) had Paddle Steamers on the Murray River.

Time Means Money.•-The Right Good; at the Light Prices, at the Right Time make Money for YOU. No delays, which encroach on your time in getting supplies from Railway Station.

MARTIN HAS IT Drapery, Groceries, Hardware, Galvanised Iron, Fencing Wire, Glass of all sizes, House Fittings, &c., &c. GOOD AGENCIES: Govt. Savings Bank of N.S.W., International Harvester, Kingloc and Cyclone Fencing, Droppers and Gates, Matters' Sieves, Yates' Seeds, Shirley's Manures.

A. L. MARTIN, Irrigators' Supply Specialist, GRIFFITH_ IRRIGATION RECORD August 1, 1913

515

Andrew Leslie Martin's wife was Martha Bartlett. They had one daughter, Marcie, who married Eric Hudson. They in turn had one daughter, Charmiane, who married: (1) Marcel Lamont - they had two children, Michelle and Marc; Daniel - one daughter, Sarah. (2)

Andrew Martin's Store at Bagtown Courtesy Darrell Martin

MARTIN, Benjamin Absolem Benjamin Absolem Martin was born in Milang SA in 1871 and grew up in Wentworth where he spent his early working years on his father's Paddle Steamers. Here he became a well known athlete (running and high jump) then went to the Western Australian goldfields with Frank Dreyer selling water and hardware etc. Benjamin Absolem returned from the Western Australian goldfields to Wentowrth where he had a general store and was Mayor in 1904 and where he married Augusta Maria Long in 1898. They moved to Broken Hill in the early 1900s. They had five children; Benjamin Hope, Andrew H, Priscilla, Harry Raymond and Brian Andrew. Benjamin Absolem came to Griffith in 1923 to join his son, Benjamin Hope Martin where they bought Farm 136, Hanwood between them from Marshall Bros. Here the family took up residence. The outside of the house and the roof were constructed of corrugated iron. Inside fibro was used up to a height of four feet, the rest of the walls and the ceiling were hessian. The hessian ceilings and walls were covered with paper. The house was actually warm in winter and quite cool in summer.

516

I guess Benjamin Absolem was not a very experienced farmer as a story I got from a chap who worked for them tells - after a grasshopper plague had eaten all the leaves off a 21/2 acre patch of three year old oranges, Benjamin Absolem told him to get the horse and pull them out, not realising they would have recovered. Benjamin Absolem died in 1955 in Sydney. His wife, Augusta predeceased him in 1938, aged 66 years.

Martin Family - Pip (Priscilla), Ben Sur, Ben Jnr, Augusta and Brian Courtesy Darrell Martin

MARTIN, Benjamin hope Ben Martin was born in Adelaide Hospital in 1899 and grew up in Wentworth and Broken Hill. He went to Hawkesbury Agricultural College from 1917-1919 on a Scholarship. In the June holidays of 1917 he came to Griffith looking for work, describing it as rather bare and stark. The channels were red gashes, no large trees surrounded the farm house and the orchard trees were too small to interrupt the view. Money was very scarce because the orchards were not in bearing and the vegetable industry was still in its infancy. "Tango Joe" ran our first cafe, he believed in advertising and his sign read "Tango Joe's Cabaret - good beds, no bugs". As the Area was then "dry" (a prohibition area), only soft drinks could be sold - but some of Joe's "Soft Drinks" produced surprising results!

517

Ben went on the farm with his father, Benjamin Absolem, in 1923. As a result of hard times on the farm he took a job at the Commonwealth Citrus Research Station (which later became the CSIRO) when it started in 1924, holding various posts such as Senior Technical Officer and Farm Manager until his retirement in 1959. He married Edith Alice Elsie Smith in 1932 in the Griffith Methodist Church. Edith was the daughter of Frederick and Alice Smith who had owned a farm at Bilbul with their son Hugh, she came to join them in 1927. Edith worked for the WC & IC and then transferred to the CSIRO as a stenographer. She was very involved with music in Griffith and helped in raising money towards the building of a civic theatre from the late 1920s on, riding her push bike in from the Research Station a lot of the time to do so. She Ben and Edith Martin Courtesy Darrell Martin was also a member of the Hanwood CWA and a member of the Methodist Ladies Fellowship. Ben was Honorary Secretary of the Mirrool Winery which was located close to where the original Bagtown School was.2° He was also a Director of Griffith Gypsum Mines located where the northern lake of Lake Wyangan now is. He did a lot of work in connection with the Machinery Pool during World War 2, when he was also an Intelligence Sergeant with the Volunteer Defence Corps in Griffith. He also became a Senior Circuit Steward in the Methodist Church and was President of the Boy Scout Group Committee when the present Scout Hall was built as he had two sons, "Benno" and Darrell in the Scouts. Ben was a Director of both the Griffith Producers Co-op and the Griffith Co-op Society and a member of Griffith Masonic Lodge.

See Beaumont entry in Series I.

518

He was also a foundation member of the Griffith Historical Society and was President at the time of his death in 1967. Ben and Edith Martin had four children; 1. } Edith Hope (who married John Green Fletcher and they have five children); Twins} 2. } Ruth Lillian (who married Frederick Bennett and they have three children); 3.

Benjamin McDowell ("Benno") ( who married AntoinetteJohnson and they have one daughter);

Darrell Hugh (who married Barbara Nancye Dare of Leeton and they have five children).

Darrell's children, Ron, Mark, Kareena, Garry and Brian all spent some school time at Hanwood School and Griffith and Wade High Schools, as Darrell eventually took over Farm 136, which he and Nancye sold in 1983 to neighbour, John Delves, and moved to Bellingen NSW and a bought a school bus run.

ANDREW HOPE MARTIN married ELIZA CATHERINE FULLER in South Australia, 1869 1.

BENJAMIN ABSOLEM MARTIN born 1871 at Milang SA, died Sydney 1955 married Augusta Maria Long 1898 in NSW Benjamin Hope born 1899, Adelaide SA I. died 1967, Griffith married Edith Alice Elsie Smith in 1932 in Griffith 1. Edith Hope Ruth Lillian 2. 3. Benjamin McDowell ("Benno") Darrell Hugh 4. 2.

Andrew H born & died 1902 NSW

Priscilla M born 1903 NSW; died 1989; married John Ayres

harry Raymond born & died 1905 NSW

Brian Andrew born 1913; died 1973; married Kathleen McShane

ANDREW LESLIE MARTIN born 1875 Wentworth NSW (Registered in SA - 5 Oct 1875) married Martha Elizabeth Bartlett in 1902 in SA Marcie (Martha Bartlett Martin born SA 1903) 1. married Eric Hudson Charmiane 1.

Contributed by of Darrell Martin, Thora Road, Bellingen. 519

MASON Frederick Clyde Mason, usually known as "Bob", first came to Griffith in 1919 to work on the construction of the irrigation channels. He had previously lived at Marrangaroo NSW, ten miles from Lithgow, where he had worked as a cement packer on the construction of the railway tunnel there. In 1921 he returned to Marrangaroo to marry Fanny Elizabeth ("Fan") Bartley. Fan had lived in Griffith with her parents, Martin and Amy Bartley from 1919 to 1921 at the Quarry Camp where her father had worked and her mother conducted an "eating house", catering for about thirty men. Fan and Bob returned to Griffith in 1923. The train journey was long and tedious involving many changes and a very roundabout way to reach Griffith from Marrangaroo. The young couple rented a two roomed cottage in Canal Street from Louez Bros and "Bob" was employed in the Electrical Department of the WC & IC. until ill health forced him to retire. He then opened a business in Banna Avenue as a Fruiterer. He and his wife, Fan, ran this fruit shop up until his death in 1956, at the age of 66 years. He is buried in Griffith Cemetery. Fan Mason lived in Griffith until September 1981 when she moved to live at Dalmeny on the South Coast, where she still resides.

Frederick Clyde ("Bob") Mason

Fanny Elizabeth ("Fan") Mason (née Bartley) with sou Bob

Photos courtesy Bob Mason

520

Frederick Clyde ("Bob") and Fanny Elizabeth ("Fan") Mason had a family of six children 1.

Florence born September 1921, died aged 8 months from gastro enteritis.

Kathleen Dorothea born at Marrangaroo in 1922; married Murdoch McMillan. They live at Sydney.

Doreen Frances born at Griffith in 1925; married Charles Ellesmere. They live Portland, Victoria.

Robert William born Griffith; died (infant), buried Griffith 20 May 1927

Frederick Charles ("Bob") born Griffith 1929; married Joan Bell. They live Beelbangera via Griffith.

Margaret born Griffith 1935; married Eugene Barker. They live Gympie, Qld.

By courtesy of Mrs Kathleen McMillan (nee Mason) 18 Pelman Avenue, Greenacre 2190 and Bob Mason, 1 Noble Street, Beelbangera via Griffith 2680. 521

McCARTHY After World War I Gilbert Stanley McCarthy first lived in Hillston where he worked as a carpenter. He had served with 53rd Battalion and was wounded in France and hospitalised in England. Arriving from Hillston, in approximately 1920, "Gil" (as he was known) took up Farm 1867, Lake Wyangan in 1922. He planted the farm with mixed fruit trees. Gilbert married Kathryn Prestage (called "Kate") of Hillston, on 22 February 1924 at Temora NSW, and they lived in the two-roomed fibro dwelling built on the land allotted to first World War veterans. Gil's brother, John, also drew a Soldier Settler's block - Farm 1859, Lake Wyangan. However he only worked the farm for a short time. While the orchard was maturing, Gil worked as a carpenter on the construction of the Griffith Catholic Church. After completion of the church he worked for the WC & IC, cementing channels. In 1930 he purchased a 1927 Chevrolet tourer. It then took three days to travel to Sydney, stopping overnight at Temora and Gunning. Strapped to the front fender was a canvas waterbag. In case of rain it was equipped with celluloid side curtains and a spare tyre on the "running board". To start this car it had to be cranked by hand and the driver and passengers wore dustcoats to protect their clothes. At that time ladies always wore gloves and Gilbert Stanley McCarthy hats when going out. Water storage was the farm dam, which was constructed by a horse and scoop - the dam was usually 6 feet deep by 12 feet wide by 20 feet in length and fenced for safety. A concrete water trough was used for the horses and cows. All farm work was done with draught horses. This included the pruning of fruit trees in winter, from the back of an iron wheeled lorry drawn by the draught horses. As they didn't have a wireless daughter Kathleen remembers going to the neighbours to hear the broadcast of the Coronation of King George VI in 1936. Their neighbour, Jack Shiress, owned the first one in the area. Their eldest daughter, Margaret, has vivid memories of pitting apricots, putting them on trays, then into the sulphur box - a room-like structure of timber and fibro about ten foot square. After the trays of apricots were taken out of the sulphur box they were put out in a paddock to dry. A dust storm was a certainty when the trays were out! No matter where they were, even in town five miles away, the family had to race home in the horse and sulky to stack the trays and cover them with hessian to protect them from the dust. Gil was a member, secretary and president of the Lake Wyangan School P & C and always helped to run the school picnics which were usually held at the Lake. 522

He and Kate played tennis with neighbours. Most people had a tennis court. Another entertainment was friendly games of cards at night, neighbours arriving in spring carts. The only music was supplied by the gramophone. Following heavy rains in 1939 the farms were under water for some time. This in turn brought salt to the surface, killing the majority of the citrus trees. The CSIRO at Griffith, after investigating tile drainage in the United Kingdom, were interested in Kathryn McCarthy - 1930 experimenting with the same method on with daughters, Margaret and Kathleen flood affected farms in the MIA. Farm and niece Dorothy Edwards 1867 was chosen by the CSIRO for the first trial. It proved a success and was then implemented on other farms. This method is still operating successfully to this day. During World War II Gil joined the VDC (Volunteer Defence Corp). These soldiers were known as "Toddy's Toddlers" - as Keith Todd was their adjutant. The road adjacent to the McCarthy farm where the family worked and resided is now known as McCarthy Road. Gil and Kate lived at Griffith until their deaths, Gil in 1959 and Kate in 1973. They are buried in the Griffith Cemetery.

Gilbert McCarthy - 1946 Packing peaches

On the Farm - 1934. Kathryn McCarthy at the back. Front L to R: Betty Wilson (cousin), Kath McCarthy, Norma(thebaby),MargaretMcCarthy,LorraineLawson, Shiela Wilson (Aunty)

523

Gilbert Stanley McCarthy born Kensington Vic 20 October 1898 died Griffith 24 May 1959

married

Kathryn ("Kate") Florence Prestage born Hillston NSW 19 May 1901 died Griffith 19 October 1973

* * *

Margaret Elsie born 27 November 1924; married George Thomas Maynard (dec'd 1989); two children Graeme and Ruth. Margaret lives at Berry NSW.

Kathleen Isobel born 23 March 1926; married Eric David Holden; five children - Robert, Linda, William, Christine and Judith. Kathleen and Eric live at Deniliquin NSW.

Norma Florence born 17 February 1934; married Robert Charles Coudrey; two children - Bruce and Kathryn. Norma and Robert live at Wollongong NSW.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Margaret Maynard, 43 Victoria Street, Berry 2535, Kathleen Holden 2/317 Sloane Street, Deniliquin 2710 and Norma Coudrey, 24 Kelvin Road, Coniston 2500.

524

McDONALD My father, Alexander McDonald, arrived in Australia about 1895 from Aberdeen in Scotland. He was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1875, the son of Rudd McDonald and Eliza (nee Baron). On the way out to Australia he spent some time in South Africa where he carved his name on Table Mountain, at the back of Capetown. He landed first at Port Pine in South Australia where he worked as a wharf labourer for some time before making his way, by sailing ship, around to Sydney. He then went to the coal mines at Greta where he worked for some years. When the mines closed down he went to work in Sydney for Bakewell Brothers Porcelain. It was at this time he met my mother, Rose Fitzgerald, in Sydney and they married on 30 January 1919 at St Peters, Marrickville. My mother was born at Gundagai in 1887 of Irish parents, James and Mary Ann Fitzgerald (nee Green). She was working in Sydney as Manageress of an accommodation hotel when she met my father, Alec. My older Francis brother, Stanley McDonald, was born in Sydney on 24 November 1919. Shortly after my parents, with baby Stan, moved to Temora travelling by train. My father worked on the silos at Temora and Beckom. During this time my mother stayed with her sister, Frances Rose McDonald (nee Fitzgerald) and her sister Edina Forscutt (nee Fitzgerald) in Sydney 1914. Wallace and family at Temora. Sent as a postcard to their mother in Gundagai. When my father heard of the Courtesy Les McDonald opportunities offering at the new Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he drove a horse and cart to Bagtown, found work as a labourer, helping to dig the channels. When the new township of Griffith had been laid out my Dad helped with the construction of the New Town, laying footpaths for the present main street - Banna Avenue. My mother and toddler brother Stan joined Dad at Griffith, travelling there on the old 525

Temora Mail train. When Mum saw Bagtown she didn't want to live there so Dad purchased a one acre allotment known as Farm 1137, on Murrumbidgee Avenue, for £80. It was "away out in the sticks" as Mum used to say. She described it as a dry, barrenlooking piece of land, covered in stunted yarran trees and rabbit burrows. After much hard work, mostly done with hand tools, my father erected a round post dwelling with a corrugated iron roof and hessian walls, which were papered inside with newspaper to keep out the wind. I was born in this house on 14 November 1925, with Dr Watkins and Nurse Taylor in attendance. When I was three years old this structure burnt down (1928) and was replaced with a more substantial house of four rooms, made of fibro and timber with an iron roof. Because Griffith was at this time in the throes of the Great Depression we could only afford to cover the walls with one layer of fibro. This was put on the inside walls, leaving the timber frame exposed. This was covered later in more affluent times. This house still stands today in Murrumbidgee Avenue. It has been renovated and is surrounded by several palatial brick homes which are now considered "close to town". Farm 1137 was subdivided into several blocks a number of years ago.

Newly completed ornamental bridge looking east into Mumimbidgee Avenue Courtesy Arthur West

When electricity first came to the new Griffith township, Dad found work with the Electrical Department of the Commission. Electricity was known then as "the Electric Light". Here he met Ron Millynn, Bert Schiebel, Fred Brack and Mr Lemaire, the Electrical Engineer from Leeton, Snowy Southy, Bobby Farrell, "Shackles" O'Brien, "Tiger" Pritchard, Denny O'Callaghan, Roy Riley, Bob Budd, Joe Longmore and others. He remained employed there until he retired. At home we thought it was really good to have ONE electric light in the main living room, with kerosene lamps and candles elsewhere. Then, one day, Ron Millynn arrived and installed a power point. This was great. We were forever grateful to Ron because this meant that we could boil the jug instead of having to

526

light the fire to boil the kettle. My Mum was overjoyed to have an electric iron instead of the black flat irons on the fuel stove. We were able eventually to even get an electric refrigerator!!

.11

Alec McDonald and Workmates at the WC & IC "Electric Light" Depot (corner Willandra Avenue and Kookora Street) L to R: Darcy McMahon, Colin Summers, Jack Sharp, "Jugo", Bobby Farrell, Snowy Southy, Bluey Maken, Alec McDonald Courtesy Les McDonald

My Dad was a great story-teller. He was a self-educated man, read mainly nonfiction books and historical publications. Looking back we now realise that most of his stories were true and about real people who actually existed. He used to tell of the conditions at Bagtown. The buildings were temporary and hastily erected because of the needs of the time but facilities were considered reasonable for those days. Among other things he told of a Show held there one year (the first Show). Some of the men became somewhat inebriated so police were brought in from Whitton. There was no enclosure in which to contain those in "high spirits" so they were restrained by being tied to trees until law and order could prevail once more. Officer Ford (known locally as "Sudden Death") was one of the early policemen at Bagtown. Sgt Sampson followed some time later and came to the New Griffith town. Being a "Trooper" (i.e. mounted policeman) he was known to go after an offender on horseback. Dad remembered the time that one of our neighbours, Andy McIntosh, was alleged to have committed a misdemeanour and Sgt Sampson was going to "get him"! Where the present Showground is was then vacant land, covered with wild hop-bush and boronia - "so thick" remembers Les, "that even the dogs had to back out to bark!" (At this time the Showground was at East Griffith between the present Marist Brothers College and East Griffith School). Sgt Sampson located Andy McIntosh hiking across through the hop-bush on the way home from town so he spurred his horse on to catch him. During 'the chase' Andy would rest in 527

the hop-bush until Sgt Sampson was near then he would dart out in a different direction each time - much to Sgt Sampson's utter frustration. Eventually Andy's ability to hide won the day and Sgt Sampson was forced to give up the chase. Andy was quite a character! He said to Dad one day that he was going to take his wife for a "change of air". When Dad enquired "Where to?" Andy replies "To Bilbul. A change is as good as a holiday, you know, Alec!" For his size, my father was a very strong man physically. He eventually cleared the land around our house and planted fruit trees and vegetables. He was offered the loan of a single furrow plough by Bert Stacy who then lived along Walla Avenue. As the only means of transport was by pushbike my Dad arrived at Stacy's on his bike, put the plough on his shoulder (a feat in itself) and set off. He hadn't gone far when the bike frame began to Rose and Stan McDonald in front of the family home in buckle under the weight and he Murrumbidgee Avenue, 1938. Courtesy Les McDonald had to walk the rest of the way home!! Dad was so strong that he could lift an electric light pole by himself. He used to relate some of the "Happenings of the Electric Light Work Gang". Dad was known to be partial to a "wee drop" of alcoholic beverage and one morning, after a disagreement with my Mother over his condition the night before, he went to work without his usual packed lunch. Not wanting to appear lunchless' in front of his workmates he found a piece of flat sandstone, wrapped it up in a piece of paper and put it in the big wooden lunch-box on the side of the truck. As the Work Gang was about to leave the depot at the top end of Yambil Street, Bert Schiebel approached the truck and called out - "You're coming with me today Alec - on another job", so Dad went to retrieve his "lunch". One of the chaps already on the truck tossed him one from the big lunch box. (Most of the other fellows boarded at Mrs Beecher's Boarding House and were all given the same lunches each day, so it didn't matter who got which one.) When the truck arrived back at the yard that afternoon and the mix-up of the lunches was discussed, there was great consternation about the man with the constitution strong enough to digest sandstone!! My father wasn't the only strong man about Griffith in those days however. My friend, Syd Wade, told me the story about his father, "Pouncer" Wade who carried three bags of wheat on his shoulders up a plank in the Griffith Railway Yards. Onlookers fully expected the plank to break under the weight instead of just bending. Another local man, Tony Ceccato, a concrete worker, carried two 4 gallon buckets of concrete, one in each hand up a ladder while his workmates looked on to see if the ladder was going to split down the middle under his feet - "like a zipper". My mother worked hard in those days as did most of the other pioneer women. When I was quite small there were no playpens nor the like so Mum told how she would sit

528

me in a wooden butter-box in the backyard while she did the washing in a copper set in a 44 gallon drum. She then rinsed the clothes in a galvanised iron tub. The water for the washing had to be carried in kerosene tin buckets to the tubs. Laundries were non-existent then but were added to a dwelling later in the form of a little shed or part of the verandah was covered in to house the copper and tubs. My Mum was always helping others less fortunate and in later years assisted in voluntary work and catering for charity organisations. Her generosity can be best illustrated in the instance of when our neighbour's daughter became ill. Food was very short during the Depression days and meat was often unavailable because of both scarcity and price. We had two mutton chops in our drip-safe, and despite her own family to feed, Mum gave them to our neighbour to cook for her ill daughter - "to give her strength". My mother was a member of the CWA for many years and when the 2RG Radio formed the Sunshine Club Mum became a very active member in that organisation and was known as "Coffee Beans". (In those days Mrs Rose McDonald was one of the few persons who could make 'real' coffee in bulk for occasions such as Balls, Weddings, etc. Ed.) My brother, Stan, grew up in those hard times and was fortunate to gain a position working at the Post Office. He later worked for H 0 T Tilsley at his grocery store which was situated in the middle block of Banna Avenue (about where Don Simpson now has his chemist shop). Our treat at Christmas time was when Stan would bring home a small tin of biscuits he had purchased, with his wages, from the store. Stan also worked at George Hazel's store and at the Griffith Co-op Store. When World War II broke out he enlisted in the Army. At the end of war he returned to Griffith. Growing up in the tough days of early Rose McDonald, 1954 Griffith I can remember the hardships of the Courtesy Les McDonald Great Depression. Mum and I would walk from our place in Murrumbidgee Avenue to the old Police Station, which was situated near where Beltrame Bros is now in Benerembah Street. (The old Police Station is now Neighbourhood House. Ed.) There my Mum would collect a 6/- (six shilling) food token. This would be taken to Charlie Pritchard's store, up the top end of Banna Avenue and we were given tea, sugar, flour and rice. We lived mainly on rabbits and vegetables which my father grew, and fruit when we could get it. We later had a cow for milk and kept chooks. I remember when I was about nine I went over to Kook's (vegetable) Gardens - just across from our place - where Toby Wade was working, digging up potatoes. He said if I

529

went along behind him I could pick up any little ones which were still in the ground. I took home a small bag of potatoes and we had a real feast at our house that Christmas! As I grew older things improved. I was given a job at Scott's pitting apricots with Bibby Meehan and Patty Woods. I also worked at Mott's pitting apricots, at Yoogali picking tomatoes, at Cunial's topping carrots and picking rock melons. I grew a crop of tomatoes in shares with Allan Gilbert on Fieldhouse's place and worked for Allan Gilbert on his hay-bailer. I "snigged out" rice on Harold Lockhart's and Clarke's farms. I later went into horticulture with Howard Braund, working with Alec McKirdy and Dom Pavese. When the war ended my brother, Stan, and I started Wel-Press Dry Cleaners in partnership. When Stan moved to Penrith to live I built and ran the A-Line Motel. As the new town of Griffith grew in the early 1920s and people flocked there "to make their fortune" we were soon surrounded by neighbours on the one acre blocks available in that area. Norman and Minnie Campbell lived next door to us for many years and across the road from them, on the corner Howard Braund and Alec McKirdy Courtesy Les McDonald block lived Mr and Mrs Watson, in a two-storey house on one of the larger ten acre farms, where Mrs Watson who was a midwife, conducted a "lying-in hospital". Their daughter, Mona, was a great horsewoman and used to help Mum look after me when I was little. Mona married John Duchatel and we met them many years later, in 1979, at White Cliffs where they were living at the time. Her mother, Mrs Watson, used to have a lovely big aviary full of all kinds of birds. One day, my brother Stan, found a lost owl so he thought it would be just what Mrs Watson would like for her aviary. When he called Mrs Watson wasn't at home so thought the best thing to do was to put it in the aviary and see her later. Unbeknown to him the owl devoured almost every bird in the aviary. He wasn't very popular for quite a long time!! Other neighbours of our were the Palfratnans, Chauncys, Roberts, Walter Fords, Mclntoshs, Tom Jones, Bill Wades, Roy Campbells, DaMes, "Pouncer" Wade, Turtons, Brissendens, Gibbs, Edmonds, Beechers, Blights, James, Lawsons, Whattie Fords, Oaks, Gees, Westmores, Jenkins, Paddy Breheny, Hendersons, Summers and also there was Bill Higgins who lived in a tent on the channel behind Daines. Next door to us was Charlie Beilby, who was a diabetic, and sometimes needed help. Because the houses were further apart than they are now and telephones weren't available, Charlie had a wire tied through our apricot trees, across the paddock to our house with a kerosene tin tied to the end so that he could pull the wire and rattle the tin so that my Dad knew to go and give him some sugar. My father eventually planted the acre block with apricot trees and Bill Borland came out and budded the trees over for him to a better variety called "Travatt". One end of the block was later replanted with plum trees. This area is now subdivided into quarter acre blocks and completely built on. 530

Transport was very limited in early Griffith. Most people walked everywhere. Some had push-bikes, others had a horse and cart - and then came the advent of the Motor Car! My parents never learnt to drive and never owned a car. Stan and I bought our first new car between us in 1948. When I was about eight years old I can remember some of the first aeroplanes to come to Griffith. They were De Havilland Bi-planes and used to land on a sand hill up from the Dog Ground in the area now known as Coolah Street. I vividly recall one 2-seater plane landing to take people `joy-riding'. I raced around helping the pilot, hoping he would take me for a ride, but no such luck!! It cost 10/- (ten shillings) a ride and that was worth much more than in today's terms. It was still Depression days. Whilst the pilot was recruiting would-be customers, Trenerry's ginger dog came along, jumped up on the tail and its foot went through the canvas and put a hole in it!! The pilot tore a piece off his shirt-tail, trimmed it up with what looked like dressmaker's pinking shears, put on some bike solution, used for patching bike tubes and stuck the patch over the hole!! When it dried he took off on another "Joy Flight"!

Tu +-fun 1?Prl. fe,ten

ghool

rnole,sWorK

110.a-flit sen I

PoveY

Pau,et.. Wade

81:544 Was-hi, ore

Frank D,31,;e Roy

Oaks

Cawi p bell

hfdl-nond 5

ain Wade G. bbs

Ton, Jones

1V'lurrurrtb1Ci9 GC

,..,a,,,,.

Won-nay')

tYlc.Donaia.F

Co,„ p bei 1

Bell!) y

Waison

kend ea-sco

Mins

it( e 50

ro vela • cr,L—__ .

E bloke Faro!

Chaunce y

Mani-o5 h

b er f 5

Les McDonald's "Map"

As I remember it, one of the greatest assets to the new Griffith town was the construction of a 55 yard concrete swimming pool on the corner of Coolah Street and Murrumbidgee Avenue, next to the school. Many of the local men, including my father, gave their time and effort to dig by hand, the hole for the pool. It became a very popular spot in town for folk of all ages. 531

My Dad stayed in Griffith until 1968 when he went with us to live in Canberra when we moved there that year. He passed away in Canberra in 1972 at the age of 97 years and is buried in the Griffith Cemetery. My Mum had predeceased him - she passed away in Griffith in 1959 as a result of contracting 'Asian Flu' although she had been invalided for several years prior with arthritis. She is buried in Griffith Cemetery also. At the time of her death she was 72 years of age. My brother, Stan, married Muriel Coultham from Melbourne and they lived in Griffith for some years. They have a family of four children, two sons and two daughters - and presently live at Penrith NSW. I married a local girl, Elma Parslow and we have three children - a son and two daughters. We left Griffith at the beginning of 1968 to live in Canberra. We spent twenty years there and then moved, at the end of 1987, to Batemans Bay to live. Our three children still live in Canberra. We have now retired to a hobby farm in bushland near Moruya NSW (1991).

Alec McDonald - 1955 Courtesy Les McDonald

Contributed by Les and Elma McDonald, 9 Bushland Grove, Moruya 2537.

532

McEACHERN Donald McEachern married Beatrice Susan Pitt in Narrandera in June 1914. They came to Bagtown the same year where he was employed in construction work on the main canal. After irrigation commenced he became the first "Water Bailiff" officer in the district. In this capacity he became a well known identity, travelling at first on a motor cycle and later by motor car. He held this position until his retirement in 1950. In the early days accommodation was provided by the WC & IC. They occupied one of the two "Water Bailiff" cottages there. Later they purchased a 6 acre property on the southern outskirts of Griffith (now Jondaryan Avenue opposite Prior to this Miranda's Wines). purchase the buildings on this lot were the old Police Station which is believed Donald and Beatrice McEachern on their Wedding Day to have been moved from Bagtown. Courtesy Don Oslington The original "lock-up" is still standing at the rear of the block, behind the commercial premises which occupy the site today. McEacherns used it as a feed/storage shed. A fine large house with large verandahs was built and it became home for their family.

Griffith Court House 1929 Courtesy Don Oslington

533

The McEachern home on Farm 920, Griffith Courtesy Don Oslington The family of Donald and Beatrice: 1.

Beatrice Helen (1915-1988) - who was called "Nell", and who married Frank Oslington (1903-1978) in 1937. Frank was a farmer and was later employed by the Water Commission. They had four children 1. Raymond Frank, born 1939; lives at Sydney 2. Donald James (twin), born 1942; lives at Lake Wyangan 3. Janice Emily (twin), born 1942; lives at Flinders Island, Bass Straight 4. Alan Lindsay, born 1944; lives at Griffith

Donald Francis (1917 - 1922). Died of Diphtheria.

Gordon Albert (1920 - 1922). Died of Diphtheria. (These two little boys died five days apart and were buried together at the Church of England Section of the Griffith Cemetery.)

Jean Isabel born 1927 still residing in Griffith. Jean married Vic Harper in 1948. They had four children. 1. Bruce Graham, born 1949; lives at Sydney 2. Carolyn Gae, born 1951; lives at Sydney 3. Paul Raymond, born 1957; lives at Sydney 4. Narelle Jean, born 1961; lives at Mackay, QId.

Donald McEachern was a keen gardener, well known for a magnificent display of roses in his home garden. Stricken by a stroke in 1951, he was incapacitated until his death. Beatrice lived alone in the house until no longer able to care for herself, due to Parkinsons Disease. She ended her days in a Katoomba Nursing Home in 1970. (No such facility existed in Griffith at that time). 534

Donald and Beatrice McEachern are today survived by one child, eight grand children and thirteen great grand children. Two of the latter, Tracy and Steven Oslington are school children in Griffith today.

Bagtowu in the fog and mud - Men standing in front of Tango Joe's Sulkies in front of John Jacob's Store Courtesy Don Oslington

Bridge across the main canal under construction Courtesy Jean Harper (nee McEachern)

Submitted by Don Oslington, on behalf of the Oslington and Harper families.

535

McFADZEAN Horace William McFadzean came to Griffith to take up Farm 1433 under the Soldier Settlement Scheme. He was given a six week training course and issued a small amount of money to build a house. He was born at Lake Cargelligo in 1898 and was the sixth of nine children born to John and Rebecca McFadzean. His father was a carpenter and built many homesteads and shearing sheds in the Temora and Lake Cargelligo area. The church at Mirrool, which is still standing, was built by John McFadzean - Horace as a 14 year old boy carted the bricks from the railway by wheelbarrow. Two of Horace's uncles ran a saw-milling business in West Wyalong. In 1923 Horace married Florence Lena Irvin who was the second daughter of William and Mabel Irvin. Flo, as she was known, was born in Rutherglen in 1904. Their wedding was the first to be conducted in the Griffith Methodist Church which was still being erected by Horace and his father, John. Horace and Horace and Florence McFadzean Flo had five children - Reg, Fred, Stan, Len and Mavis. Fred and Len are now deceased. For many years Horace and Flo worked their fruit farm together, picking the fruit by day and packing it for shipment to Sydney at night. Whilst picking the children were placed in a large padded box which was moved around the orchard on a sledge pulled by a very slow old horse. At night, when not packing fruit, Flo sewed all the family's clothes, preserved fruits and vegetables. Over the years she won many prizes at the local show for her preserves and cooking. After the floods in 1939 which wiped out many farms, including his own, Horace was employed by the CSIRO to do an assessment of the damage caused by the flooding to all farms in the area; his only transport was a push bike. On the completion of this job he took a position with the WC & IC as a channel attendant and worked for them until ill health forced him to retire in 1961. In 1940 Flo started a poultry farm and supplied eggs to the shops, hotels and boarding houses of Griffith. She expanded into hatching her own chickens and sold them to local people. On one occasion a local shop keeper was closing his business and IN'edding l'arty and Guests leaving town without paying his debts. He outside the partly completed Church also operated as a bookmaker. Flo was advised of this and on Saturday morning she 536

turned up at the Dog Track where the gentleman had a bookmakers stand. Standing first in his queue she presented him with the account and refused to leave until it was paid! The three younger boys, along with their father's help, replanted the fruit trees on the farm. After Fred was discharged from the Navy (WWII) he and Stan built and operated a successful canning factory. After the closure of this business the farm was sold and Flo and Horace moved into town. In 1967, because of ill health, they moved to Sydney where Horace spent much time in the Concord Military Hospital and passed away in 1976. Flo had a stroke in 1981 and lived with her daughter in West Wyalong for the next five years before going into the Griffith Nursing Home for the last three years of her life. She passed away in June 1989. Horace and Flo worked hard for the development of Griffith and gave many hours of voluntary work to the various organisations in Griffith.

Picnic at Rankins Springs

Feeding Time

Drying Racks

537

McFadzean Family - 1940 L to R: Back - Len, Fred, Reg, Stan and Mavis Front - Flo and Horace The family of Horace and Florence McFadzean:1.

Reginald Victor born 16 March 1924. Married (1) Gloria Bull; three children - Colin, Fiona and York. Married (2) Priscilla Loban; two children Sardi and Talep.

Frederick William born 12 June 1925, died in 1989. Married Lorna Shiel; five children - John, Stephen, twins - Geoffrey and Lorna and Tony.

Stanley Horace born 26 March 1927. Married (1) June Cooper (dec'd); seven children - Robert (dec'd), Gregory, Graham (dec'd), Mark (dec'd - lived only 7 days), Linda (dec'd), Tracy and Scott. Married (2) Joan Mowles; no children.

Leonard Percival born 12 November 1928, dec'd. Married May Bushell (dec'd); six children - Cherie, Suzanne, Sylvia, Lee, Lisa and Glen.

Mavis Lena born 18 March 1930. Married William Smith; four children Zanette, Peter, Gail and Gordon.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Mavis Smith (née McFadzean), PO Box 237, West Wyalong 2671.

538

McKENZIE/MITCHELL John Inglis McKenzie was born in Glasgow and his first wife, May (née Daines) was born at Carrathool NSW. They came to Griffith in 1919 by horse and cart from Ganmain. John was educated at Fort Street Boys' School and became a teacher after leaving school. John and May had been married at Ganmain in 1912, and when they arrived in Griffith John worked as a storeman for the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission. They lived in Bagtown for a time before moving to an area near what is now the Producers' Prune Shed. The family of John Inglis McKenzie and May McKenzie (nee Daines):1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Donald McKenzie born Ganmain, 1913, died Malaya 1943. Kenneth McKenzie born Ganmain, 17 February 1915. Lives Griffith. May McKenzie born Griffith. Lives at Ayr Qld. Alister McKenzie born Griffith, died Bagtown 9 November 1920, aged 2 yrs. John McKenzie born Griffith. Deceased. Alan McKenzie born Griffith. Lives Griffith.

May died in 1927 and is buried in Church of England section of the Griffith Cemetery. John later married Sarah Mitchell. 000000000

Sarah Mitchell arrived in the Griffith area in the late 1920s, her husband Samuel Mitchell having died about 1917 near Scone NSW. Sarah and Samuel's family:1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

John David Mitchell born c.1900. Clarke M. Mitchell born c.1902; married Richard Crozier now deceased, buried Miranda Sydney NSW. Aubrey M. Mitchell born c.1906. Olive M. Mitchell born c.1907. Vera M. Mitchell born c.1909; married (I) William Coleman; (2) Alfred Barber, now deceased, buried Sydney NSW. Eric A. Mitchell born c.1911, now deceased, buried Campbelltown NSW. Claude 0. Mitchell born c.1913, now deceased, buried Lake Cargelligo NSW. Male child deceased by 1916. Amy Merle Mitchell born 1916, now deceased. Married (I) Charles Walter Woodbridge; (2) William Thomas Wells, now deceased, buried Griffith.

Sarah was better known as Sadie McKenzie, a Nursing Sister at the Griffith District Hospital from the early 1930s to 1950s and was also President of the Hospital Women's Auxiliary for over twelve years. The kiosk at the Hospital is dedicated to Sadie McKenzie in appreciation for her years of service to the Women's Auxiliary.

539

As well as her involvement with the hospital she was also a keen and active member of the CWA, the 2RG Sunshine Club, the Far West Children's Health Scheme and in addition did an immense amount of work during the war years for the Comforts Fund. Before coming to the Area she had conducted "Trevallyn" Private Hospital at Abbottsford for over ten years. When the Griffith District Hospital was in difficulites during the war because of the shortage of nurses, Sadie joined the nursing staff to help the Board carry on. Sadie held the distinction of being the first woman to be registed as a Justice of the Peace in Griffith. Everyone who worked with her and who knew her had the utmost admiration for her many fine qualities.2' John Inglis McKenzie died 11 March 1948, aged 69 years and Sarah McKenzie (formerly Mitchell) died 3 June 1954, aged 74 years. They are both buried in the Presbyterian Section of the Griffith Cemetery.

le a

►

r11 , 111.

Griffith Hospital at the time of the opening. Photos taken by the late Bill Doyle Courtesy Maureen Parker (née Doyle)

By courtesy of Keith, Alan and Colin Woodbridge (grandsons of Sarah McKenzie), Griffith.

"The Area News" - June 1954

540

McKIRDY Francis ("Frank") James McKirdy was born at Tyabb in Victoria on 19 April 1902, the son of James Thomas McKirdy and Mary Lydia (nee Hollier). His grandparents, Alexander Stewart McKirdy and Emily (née Norkett) were married in Beechworth Vic in 1858, having come from the Island of Cumbrae, Scotland. Frank travelled by train to Griffith arriving, after a very hot journey, on 10 January 1921 after having worked on orchard properties in Doncaster, Victoria. Frank himself tells us "After my arrival at Griffith in 1921, I secured accommodation with Arthur and Ruby Weare of Farm 450 at Yoogali Village. At this stage I joined a group of newcomers who were also boarding at Weare's. As previously arranged, I commenced work with the Irrigation Commission at the Government horticultural nursery for budding stock for plantings required on the new settlement occupied at that time mostly by Returned Soldiers. "For a short while I took up residence at Yenda, in quarters McKirdy Family 1950 at 41 Binya Street, Griffith L to R - Back: Christina and Frank McKirdy built by the Commission early in Middle: Dukie, Joyce and Gwen 1919. This building was conFront: Graham structed as a barracks for the Commission's officers in Yenda and was always known as 'The Bungalow', and became a boarding house in later years. Built at the same time by the Commission on an adjoining allotment was Yenda's first cottage, for the District Engineer. This house still exists and is now privately owned. It was occupied by me and my wife, Christina, for a period after our marriage until we purchased our own home in Griffith in the early 1930s.

541

"Following the closure of the Mirrool nursery and after employment there for about five years, my work continued in the service of the Commission maintaining the fruit farms which had been abandoned by settlers for various reasons. "In June 1926, my appointment as an Agricultural Inspector by the Commission necessitated a move to Yenda again. "After fourteen years with the Commission, in 1935 I was transferred to the Valuation Staff of the Rural Bank (now the State Bank of New South Wales), in which I was employed for a period of thirty two years as a District Valuer. "I met my wife Tina (Christina Graham McRoberts) at Jim Melville's orchard property, Farm 1425, Griffith. She was a housekeeper for Jim and his two sons, Ken and Jimmie, whose mother had died from illness. We were married at the Presbyterian Manse on 4 June 1929 by the Reverend Albert George Gibbins as the church had not been completed. At the time of Tina's death, in 1984, we had been married for fifty five years. Our four children, Dulcie, Gwen, Joyce and Graham were all born at 'Woodlands' Private Hospital, Griffith. "In addition to the usual forms of recreation with tennis racquet, cricket bat and golf sticks, part of my leisure time was taken up in obtaining violin lessons from John E Ward of Farm 587, Yoogali. John was a professional violoncellist of international experience. He was the first settler to occupy a fruit farm on the Mirrool (Griffith) area."

Alexander Stewart McKirdy married Emily Norkett • Bryce McRoberts married on 23 January 1885 Canbusnethan, Scotland Agnes Wilson Graham

James Thomas McKirdy born Dunolly Vic married Mary Lydia Bother born East Brighton Vic • Francis James McKirdy born 19 April 1902 Tyabb Vic

married 4 June 1929 Griffith •

• Christina ("Tina") G rakuu Mc Roberts born 4 June 1900 Davies Land, Waterloo, Scotland

Dukie Lydia born 15 April 1930, Griffith, died 13 September 1969, Coonabarabran NSW. Married Kevin Kemp. 2.

Gwendolene Frances born 28 January 1933, Griffith. Married Arthur Evans; lives at Forest Hill Vic.

Joyce Mary born 11 February 1936, Griffith. Married Brian Trebilcock; lives at Shepparton Vic.

Graham Francis born 28 January 1938, Griffith. Un-married, lives at Shepparton Vic.

Entry and photos courtesy of the late Francis James McKirdy and his family.

542

McMANUS Ron and Thelma McManus were pioneer settlers at Yenda. They raised a family of four children and developed Farm 1347 by hard work in hard times. Enlisting in 1915, Ron had fought in France 1916-18, with the 18th Battalion, 5th Regiment of the Australian Imperial Forces' famous 2nd Division. L/Sergeant McManus (No 4204) like the rest of the first AIF was a volunteer. He served continuously with his unit in Flanders and Belgium, fighting in the sequence of horrendous battles from the Somme and Ypres through Poziers, Bullecourt, Perone, Flers, Zonnebeke, Broodseinde, Passchendaele, Polygon Wood, Poperinghe, Mont St Quentin and Villers Brettoneaux - including the crucial chain of battles of and following the 8th of August 1918 which devastated the German Army and led to the Armistice at 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918. Like too many of the survivors, Ron did not escape injury. Discharged in Sydney, he worked with the Repatriation Department's War Service Homes Division. (It was while in Sydney that he met May Thelma (known as Thelma) Bruce Scott.) In 1924, Ron and Thelma were married. The Ron McManus 1916 ceremony was conducted at Yenda by the Reverend Richard Cyril Barlow at the neighbouring Farm 1360, which had been settled by Ron's elder brother, J C B ("Tom") McManus, ex-RAN Commander J C B McManus was to be second in command of Australian Naval Intelligence, the Coastwatchers, in World War II. In those days the Area was bare, horizon to horizon, neighbours houses being visible for miles. These weatherboard structures were limited in value, extent and comfort, being unseasoned timber frames capped with corrugated iron roofs. They contained a kitchen, living and one bedroom area, with or without a partial verandah. As families grew the verandah was progressively enclosed to yield living areas. Economic conditions were bleak. A small sum of money in the form of an allowance was granted and this was written into the farm's debt. The allowance was to provide sustenance, of a fashion, until crops came in. For orchards the first crop was four to five years or more after planting. Many tree planting instructions made by the Thelma McManus (nee Scott) WC & IC (Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission) were inappropriate, with plant stock of 543

poor and uncertain quality. It did not help to have authorities place the Dethridge wheel and irrigation inlet to the farm at the lowest contour level of the property. Orange trees planted in heavy red marl clay soil, not commanded by water levels, were hand bucket-watered with water from the farm dam - only for the Commission, several years later, to order their replacement. The Area Authorities were not knowledgeable, industrious, compassionate nor concerned in the handling of their jobs. Such was the Commission. Such is life - and such events were common!! The settlers on sufferance of their meagre allowance, although sick at heart, had to comply. No perception of the importance of the soil type and classification by the Authorities seemed to exist. It was only during the late World War II years that the Irrigation Research Station at Hanwood, together with the Department of Agriculture, became effective in farm research and advice. In all ways this major settlement undertaking was tainted by political expedience and weakened by underfinancing. It was one of Australia's major social experiments, predicated on low government financing inputs, but with consequential high people costs. Expedience ruled; politicians of the day had an uncomfortable perception that these men who had "fought for King and country" might pose a problem, even a threat, to civic authorities if times got bad - and times did!! So out of the cities and "down on the farm" for these undemanding heroes. Indifference ruled. One glimpse of the mental attitude of apprehension, of fear and confusion of the powers that were, is seen in the proclamation of the MIA as a "dry" alcohol-free zone, yet wineries were one of the central secondary industries. The prohibition did not work. By 1930 farm plantings, vineyards, orchards and shade trees had softened the harsh visual aspect of the Area. Increasingly, as the years passed, the massed ranks of flowering fruit trees painted spring in splashes of colour. The farms were pretty, the settlers poor. Irrigation water ran clear in the channels - no pollution then. Channels, dams and main canals were, depending on the swimmer's ages, a major recreational facility. "Manufactured" swimming pools were far in the future. Roads were not sealed and there was a dependence on the railway for conveying people and goods. Meeting the train was a social occasion - stacks of cases of fresh fruit were loaded for Darling Harbour while passengers came and went. Today, no steam train, no station, no palm trees. Many of these settlers were not well enough to develop farms, and by the 1930s and early 1940s were forced out with literally nothing but further scars to show for their efforts. The initial farm acreages were small. With the large number of ex-servicemen to be settled, available farm sizes were further reduced to ridiculously small areas even for horse-power technology. The abandoned farms were then made available to surviving settlers, plus the attached bank debts. The concept of a 'home-maintenance area' (one sufficient to support a family's basic needs) was, in application, a travesty of economic and agricultural sense, especially when severe inadequacies of land, tenure, plantings, transport, water-supply all compounded by distance from the markets were taken into account. These settlers though were battlers. Wives worked as hard as men and for longer hours. Toil was unremitting. And yet, despite these demands the women were superb, cheery, and somehow, they made homes for their families. Thelma McManus educated her four children through primary school with Blackfriar's correspondence. She was always a strong supporter of the Red Cross and the Country Women's Association, and later (post WWII) was instrumental in starting the local

544

"Wood heap after clearing"

"My property looking west"

"Building my Shack"

"First Dwelling"

"Shack - first living quarters"

545

ladies Bowling Club. On a similar note, her husband, Ron, was a leader in developing the RSL Club. He was, as honorary secretary, in a key position to initiate the Men's Bowling Club. These were major events in the social life of our Yenda community. One event of 1931 affected much of the Yenda area. Blockage of Mirrool Creek diverted storm-water to a depth of eighteen inches over much of the Yenda plain, including the town. Resourceful use of explosives removed the blockage and the crisis passed - much to the regret of children all over the affected area. During and just after the darkest days of the Depression, tractors and trucks started to make their presence known. However, horses continued to be the main on-farm source of traction power for ploughs, wagons, sulkies, mowers, hay-rakes, reaper and binders and for seed drills and combines for wheat and rice crops. Clydesdales - big brown, white heeled leathers', white blaze or splashed faces, black maned and tailed giants with inquisitive gentle, understanding eyes - were the main breed. "Lionhearted Cobbers" of the settlers, at the end of the day they would gently snicker their appreciation for a long, cool drink at the dam and an exploration into a bag of oats and chaff, after first having their collar and harness removed and having indulged in a good roll in the horseyard. They knew they had earned their keep. Most orchard farms had two draught horses (and perhaps a pony for the two-wheeled sulky). Most of the horses had distinctive personalities. We had Ben (non-descript breed) and Baldy, the Clydesdale. The former did not strain his collar as much as Baldy, who put his heart unreservedly into every job. One day there was a crash and a whinny. Ben had put a foot wrong. We noticed Baldy stare and prick his ears forward in a distinct display of interest and then give a little snicker of amusement. Ben, who had an itchy hoof condition called greasy heel, had lashed out with both hind feet at the beehive. It was the fastest that Ben ever moved!! He was not interested in feed that night. On one occasion, returning them after a job out bush in the Binya Hills (of the Cocoparra Range) Walter Roffe a good and wise friend, said to Dad with a twinkle in his eye, "Yes Ron, Baldy worked - and Ben came too!" There were no veterinary services in the early years. When Baldy's time came he approached the house and put his head in the door one lunch time. Walter Roffe, who had a wealth of hard-earned wisdom, said that this was a common manner of horses to seek help. " Soon "He has gut compaction due to worn teeth, poor fellow. We will dose him but our friendly giant passed on leaving memories and a large gap in our lives. Horses, dogs, neighbourhood children and their families, and a procession of various adults were, (apart from occasional Saturday afternoons at the `flicks') the main focal points of awareness and interest for children of that age. Merchants such as those in the drapery store, the butcher, baker and green-grocer serviced the shopping needs of the children's farm-bound mothers. On wet, dark winter evenings, dogs barking, the clop of horseshoes and a friendly thump on the kitchen door - "Yoo-hoo, Mrs Mac, how many loaves?" - as out of a covered wicker basket came the compelling aroma of fresh, crusty loaves of bread. Jim Newth, like the Pony Express of yesteryear, draped in glistening foulweather-gear, had delivered the goods to another appreciative family. A quick yarn and maybe a cup of tea, and then away, for his rounds were long. During World War H, the area became a vital food-bowl for supply to the Armed Forces. The vegetable industry boomed. During these years another crop was being harvested. Young men and women, as well as some original diggers, joined the services and

546

served at home and abroad in all theatres of the war. Some returned after 1945. Many did not! It was a bitter harvest. The restraints of the economic Depression gave way to the tension and demands of the war economy, and then to the long and sustained so-called 'Good Years' of the 1950s, when the size of the Area increased markedly, following another wave of ex-service settlement activity, added to a wave of immigration from overseas. The irrigation area "roared" into the full employment consumer society, propelled into the era of mechanised and chemically aided farming, no longer isolated and now respected. An experiment had endured and succeeded.

L to R: Walter McManus, Ron McManus, Dudley Moxham, Molly Moxham, David McManus and Thelma McManus at the front.

Ronda' Arthur McManus born Echuca Vic 23 December 1892 died 31 October 1972 buried Yenda NSW

married

May Thelma Bruce Scott born Petersham, Sydney

•

18 May 1902 died 16 April 1984

•

buried Yenda NSW

John Bruce born 29 June 1925; married Anne Moriarty; lives at Queanbeyan NSW.

Margaret Thelma born 4 May 1928; single; lives Farm 1347, Yenda. {David Boyd born 11 January 1930 single; lives Farm 1347, Yenda .

3. Twins(

(Walter Raghnall born 11 January 1930; married Rosalind Metcalfe; four children; lives at Lane Cove NSW.

By courtesy of Professor Walter McManus, Lane Cove 2066 and Margaret McManus, Yenda 2681. Photographs by courtesy of the McManus Family.

547

McNABB Edward James McNabb was born in November 1879 at Mudgee NSW. During his boyhood he lived and attended school in Cobar NSW. After leaving school, at an early age, he worked on properties near Cobar before he began travelling around the eastern states of Australia and to New Zealand shearing. In 1901 he enlisted in the NSW Mounted Rifles and with the rank of Sergeant Major served in South Africa during the Boer War. While in action his horse was shot beneath him and his leg was broken in the fall. He was discharged in June 1902. In 1910 he married Florence Dora Pryor and had by then established a barber shop and billiard room in Guyra NSW. He also had a financial interest in the local newspaper. By 1914, when he enlisted in the AIF at the outbreak of World War I, three children had been born at Guyra - Nancy, Ray and Bess. During World War I he served in the 18th Battalion in Egypt and France with the rank of Captain. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service in the field.

Capt E J McNabb, M.C., le Batt r Brigade - 18th Batt Transport Officer Also in charge of r Brigade Transport

Edward James McNabb came to Griffith with his family in 1919. On 16 October 1919 he was granted Farm 1436. While the house on Farm 1436 was being built they rented a house on the farm where Premier Nurseries are situated at the present time. The fourth child, Joan, was born there. The house on Farm 1436 was the birth place for the remaining four children Allan, Fred, Colin and Neil. All the births were attended by Dr Watkins and Nurse Taylor.

Florence McNabb (nee Pryor)

548

ege-gt; 7;1X9i -/.9A•S).

clustralianAre

Gjorej.gOvalA, ietArn, 11/I41 aleaW41:071.7/4/;.1., IJ Ye.yeeitaevwe

•

g_4(.W.;fireiref: OVA 91-0 eh*" i.it4:-//( 0;entler- 1.9/6•

iep.../ergv•rhe aneelAteire4aree(dertmeee

/1.••••

er/mtniene/i4m. *de ...4;;;71:9 ts-erwilek.14. 47.:fo.; /v (5/5"frervir4,,, 9//4

remAvyt

,e2

Y/„.,

0.1.44..//../W. • /SA

a..

• • I F:ERIAL AND STATE CONTINGENTS.762 •

...

pISCHARGE CERTIFICATE.

.‘•

•.\\1 •

this

tiK crag • .Imt; rzo .cyl. ./A9(.Air.

bas lltu d bean' dtchir Utt. Was en

tbe

411.

fr ;)C.P de c

• rico have heed

CRIPTIPN

E-NAMED

4/Z1-4_1yes

Age... Marks ore is n Place

Principal Under Secretary of New South Wales. ser

549

The early plantings on the farm consisted of wine grapes, sultanas, apricots, peaches, prunes and oranges. Later the sultanas and peaches were replaced with wine grapes. Each year part of the Christmas school holidays were spent pitting and sun drying apricots and it was not unusual to get up in the middle of the night to stack and cover trays of apricots because of threatening rain or dust storms. Edward's wife, Florence, was a keen gardener and within a few years had established quite a number of shrubs, trees and a large lawn around the house. It was an expected chore for the boys of the family to transport manure from the horse stable and fowl pen to the garden, in their home-made billycarts. Edward, a Director of the Griffith Drug Co (now The Company Pharmacy), gave considerable support to the RSL and served the community as a Justice of the Peace. His eldest son, Ray, was killed while serving with the RAAF in Canada on 6 July 1941.

Edward James McNabb born Mudgee 1879 died Sydney 1950

married Sydney •

The McNabb Home 1920/23 Bessie is the little girl on the verandah

Florence Dora Pryor born Sydney 1890 died Griffith 1981

Nancy born Guyra 18 September 1910. Married Allan Cruickshank, both accidentally killed in a car accident 23 April 1970. Two children - Avril and Adrian.

Ray born Guyra 23 June 1912. Died 6 July 1941 - buried Jarvis, Canada. Killed while serving with the RAAF in Canada. Never married.

Bess born Guyra 15 June 1914. Married Arthur McCudden; live at Griffith. Five Children Diana, Lachlan, Robert, Sue and Julie.

Joan born Griffith 22 February 1920. Married Alwyn Lougher (dec'd); lives in Sydney. Five children - Christine, John, Cynthia (dec'd), Heather and David. Allan born Griffith 8 June 1923. Married Andree McDonald; live on original farm. Four children - Geoffrey, Ross, Noni and Edward.

Fred born Griffith IS February 1925. Married (1) Peggy Arthur (dec'd). Two children Ray and Rodney. Married (2) Myrtle Ross; live at Benalla Vic.

Colin born Griffith 23 December 1926. Married (1) May Bourke (dec'd). Four children Sandra, Kerry (dec'd), Trevor and Kenny. Married (2) Marian Gilmartin; live at Woy Woy NSW.

Neil born Griffith 31 October 1928. Married Deci Socal; live at Griffith. Four children Annette, Sandra, Jennie and Paul.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Allan McNabb, Farm 1436, Griffith 2680.

550

MEEHAN John Alexander ("Jack") Meehan was born in Charleville Qld in 1891. He was the son of John Charles Meehan, MLA for the Darling/Bourke electorate who encouraged Jack to follow in his footsteps. However the call of the bush and life there was stronger than that of a political career for Jack and as a very young man he moved out to work on the land. He arrived in Coolabah and there met and married Julia Grace Cooney, a daughter of early pioneers of that district - John and Harriet Cooney. After their marriage Jack and Julie moved to Sydney and lived at Forest Lodge. Jack worked for a time in the transport department, but the call back to the bush was too strong and they returned to the west where over the years four children were born to them. Jack then joined the railways and arrived in Griffith in the early 1900s. After his promotion to ganger he transferred to Binya for a short time, but returned to Griffith to live permanently so their children could receive a Catholic education. A young Jack Meehan Griffith in the early days was the end of the railway line and a busy station. The lines were inspected and repaired by gangs of fettlers - supervised by a ganger. All were transported many miles on manually operated trikes to and from work. In those years Griffith trains carried a record amount of freight - fruit, grain, etc. The highlight of the year for railway staff was the Railway Picnic and for which a special train was chartered. Jack and Julia would attend with their large family plus several "ring-ins" - school friends of the children whom the guard would overlook. Jack Meehan was a 'natural' with any musical instrument playing the fiddle, zither, tin whistle and mouth organ and he possessed an extensive repertoire of early colonial songs. Four more children were born in Griffith. Jack and Julia lived in Wakaden Street in the house Jack built with the help of friends. Whilst waiting for the house they lodged with a wonderful friend and pioneer of Griffith - Alvera ("Nana") Coggan. Through the many years "Nana" Coggan was a familiar sight as she pushed her baby pram of snowy white linen to the railway barracks - usually called the "Resthouse". This was where the train drivers used to sleep overnight before taking the steam trains back the next day. "Nana" could be seen every day, washing in the open over a big copper in her backyard with the snow white linen flapping on the line in the wind. 551

Jack was known as "The Bush Lawyer" to very many of his friends and workmates as, come "tax return" time, they would all arrive with tax forms for his advice and assistance. In 1960, while on a visit to Sydney, Jack passed away aged 70 years and was buried at Botany cemetery. Julia lived on to the great age of 98 years and in 1990 while on a visit to her daughter "Bib" (Harriet) passed away at Mt Eliza in Victoria. She is buried in Griffith as it was her wish always to remain in the town she loved and so fiercely defended against all criticism. Many members of the Meehan family still reside in Griffith.

Jack and Julia Meehan

Children of Jack and Julia Meehan 1. John Thomas lives Port Macquarie NSW. 2. Grace Clare (dec'd) - buried Beechworth Vic. 3. Ivor Robert ("Ike") (dec'd) - buried Griffith NSW.

4. Harriet Mary ("Bib") lives Mornington Vic. 5. Terrence Frances ("Terry") (dec'd) - buried Griffith NSW. 6. Kevin Charles lives Griffith NSW. 7. Nola Patricia lives Griffith NSW.

Julia Grace Meehan (nee Cooney)

8. Gladys Colleen lives Blaxland NSW.

Entry and photographs courtesy of Gladys Morrow (nee Meehan), 32 Rusden Rd, Blaxland 2774. 552

MENEGHINI Giovanni Meneghini was one of a family of four - two daughters and two sons - of Giovanni Meneghini and Aurelia (nee Dal Soglio). Born at Schio in Northern Italy in 1892, his father died in 1899, leaving the family in very poor circumstances. Before entering the building trade, working for the man who was to become his father-in-law, Giovanni (jnr) only had schooling which was the equivalent of an Australian primary school education. After he commenced work he went to night school to further this education. Prior to going to the war (WWI) Giovanni was then employed in the large Schio Woollen Mills and Textile manufacturing factory from 1914 until 1916. After serving three years in the army and returning in 1919, he could not get back into his old job because all women had been employed during the war years and were kept on after the cessation of hostilities. In 1913 he had married Marianna (always called "Nella") Reghellin (born 1895), the eldest child of a family of three daughters and one son of Paolo Reghellin and Caterina (nee Santa Caterina) also from the village of Poleo on the perimeter of Schio, Province of Vincenza in Northern Italy. Nella's family were well to do and they lived on a large property owned by her father and his three As a consequence Nella was well brothers. educated, attending primary school at Poleo and then going on to high school at Schio Convent. Post war was a time of strikes, political and industrial upsets and widespread unemployment. Giovanni was among those unable to find work. Fortunately Nella was still employed by the textile factory. It was during this period of unemployment that Giovanni rebuilt the house which Nella had inherited from her dead father. This house was on three acres of land, part of which was woodland so, their daughter Rose tells us - "There was always plenty of firewood, walnuts and chestnuts which grew wild. Mushrooms and strawberries too." Rose continues - "Very few people migrated from this part of Italy - Schio. All together only five came. Our

553

Giovanni Mi•ntizIiini

Marianna Meneghini (nee Reghellin) Photos taken Schio 1913

father, his brother and three friends. They had been helped and advised by their previous employer to migrate to Australia". Giovanni and his brother, Santo, left Italy on 22 February 1922 from Genova in the ship `Moncaliere, a voyage of sixty days and nights to Melbourne. Unable to speak any English they were accompanied to a Catholic Church where there was an Italian Priest and he gave them work in the garden at the church and the convent. Looking to make more money, and as work was difficult to find in the city, they went in the company of friends, into the country near Mittagong where they found work making charcoal. From there they went to Corrimal on the NSW south coast where they found work in the coal mines. Rose goes on to tell us - "We - my mother, myself and my brother Joseph - arrived in Sydney on the English ship `Ormonde' on 6 February 1925. Dad met us and we travelled by train to Corrimal where he had rented a small cottage in which he and his brother had 'batched' since coming to work in the mines. Dad was not well as, prior to our arrival, he had been gassed in a mine accident which affected his lungs. Now he was employed in the building of a shaft for the Corrimal mine. This meant that he was away from us all the week and home only at weekends. There were not many Italian families there and Mum had to shop, etc for us with limited English and it was very difficult for her. However, she was well educated and she determined to teach us and herself English, teaching us at night from an Italian/English dictionary. Now more than seventy years on this tattered old book is one of my treasured possessions. "It was at this time that our mother, Nella, rented a larger house and took in boarders Giovanni and Marianna ("Nella") Meneghini, Baby Ermida (who died in Italy in 1917) to supplement the family income. There were a and Rose, aged 2 years lot of single Italian men and men separated from their families who also worked in the mines. It was while running the boarding house that our mother came to know Carmella Bicego." Carmella's father, Francesco, had brought his family from Broken Hill to settle in Griffith some time before. When Giovanni was advised by the doctor that he should seek to live in a drier climate it was Francesco Bicego who negotiated the purchase of the first home in Griffith for the Meneghinis - Farm 1195 at West End (now Collins Road), a block of seven acres. Arriving at the small siding that was then Griffith Railway Station on a cold and frosty July day in 1926 with what furniture they owned and two large trunks brought from Italy the family was met by Francesco Bicego and taken to his home (now the site of West End Wines) for a meal and to meet his wife and family. He then took them to Farm 1195. Rose says - "It was a great shock to see where we were to live! My brother and I started 554

to cry and didn't want to go into it. A shack made of rough pine poles and covered with old canvas and bags sewn together - divided into three rooms. Two rooms had wooden floors made with second-hand crate timber. The kitchen had a dirt floor and an old Dover stove which stood on iron legs in a galvanised iron chimney. There were two doors, front and back, made from old cases. The windows were just openings covered with hessian which were pushed aside to let light in. At the back of the house was a big dirt dam with muddy water. The horse was better off than us because the stable was better made than the shack! Made of logs, the floor was paved with flat stones and it had a good iron roof! A little later a neighbour, Mr Bill Heaslip, kindly gave us the use of one bedroom until our own house was built - fifteen months later - built by my father, Giovanni, from mainly second-hand materials. Although it was a great struggle for them at first, my parents were very grateful to Mr Bicego. They were full of spirit and eager to better themselves.

The house rented by Nella at Corrimal - 1925

"Mum and Dad started in to clear the block which had quite a few pine trees and other indigenous shrubs growing on it. They prepared a small part, about two acres, and planted peas for the early Spring. Dad got a job with a builder building some shops; he also worked on the building of the first Co-op in Banna Avenue." As the clearing progressed they grew beans and tomatoes as well as peas to supply shops and hotels and which Nella delivered in a horse and spring cart. As well as being a hard worker, Nella was an outgoing and public spirited lady. Together with the Italian Band - Bob Vardanega, Tony Dal Broi and their friend Aldo, she ran a number of house parties the proceeds from which, on behalf of the Italian Community, provided a bed for the new hospital.

555

In 1935 Giovanni purchased Farm 1771, Ballingal, for £284.3.4. Until joining the army in 1940 Joe worked with and helped his father on the Ballingal farm. Leaving school at 14, Rose went to work at Andreazza and La Rosa's grocery store, the first Italian shop in Griffith and located where Fred Cole's shop is today. It was while working here that she started interpreting for other Italian people when the need arose - legal, banking, medical and the like. Six months later she went to work for the colourful early shopkeeper, "Sollie" Green. "Green's" was a department store then situated in the middle block of Balm Avenue. "In those days" says Rose, "a lot of people did their shopping on Saturday night and the town would come alive, with a band playing in the main street. I loved working there and had a lot of fun". Rose remembers "Sollie" as being very generous in allowing her time off to go and interpret First home in Griffith of the Meneghini as long as she were away no more than half an hour! family. Farm 1195 - 1926 When the Baby Health Clinic was opened Rose acted (now Collins Road West End) as the regular interpreter for those Italian women who Rino Andreatta at "the front door" could not speak English. Rose remembers too that her father was a member of the local RSL and attended every Anzac march. He was also one of the first Italians, if not the first, to work for the WC & IC in Griffith. Because of his experience in concrete working he was instrumental in assisting to solve the problem of leakage of the "pipeline" joints. This "pipeline" is a large underground concrete pipeline which carries water for irrigation from the main canal bridge at Griffin Avenue for approximately one and a half kilometres west and in the early days was always referred to simply as "the pipeline". "Mum and Dad were jolly people who enjoyed house parties and our home was always open to visitors. They gave me a party for my fifteenth birthday. The Italian Band played and we all sang and danced. It was there that I met Tony Dal Broi. He was a member of the band. We were married when I was just eighteen" says Rose. Rose and Tony had four children. Tony died on 26 May 1985, aged 73 years. Rose resides still on Farm No 5, Hanwood. First house built on Farm 1195 (See Dal Broi entry this Series). by Giovanni - 1929

556

Joe married in 1943 and left the Area with his wife and family of two boys about two years later. He died a young man, at Gosford, in 1950. Giovanni Meneghini died on 22 February 1971, aged 79 years and is buried in the Griffith cemetery. Marianna ("Nella") spent the greater part of the last two years of her life in Griffith Hospital but as she wanted to be buried next to her only son, Joe, she was taken to Gosford where she died 12 February 1953.

Giovanni Meneghini married Aurelia Dal Soglio

Paolo Reghellin married Caterina Santa Caterina

Giovanni Meneghini born Schio Northern Italy 1892 died Griffith 22 February 1971

married 1913

Marianna ("Nella") Reghellin born Northern Italy 1895 died Gosford 12 February 1953

* 1.

Rose born 1914; married Griffith 29 April 1933 Antonio Dal Broi (dec'd). Four children - Angelo, Ermida, John and Catherine. Rose lives at Hanwood NSW.

Ermida born January 1916; died Italy 1917.

Joseph ("Joe") born 6 September 1919; died Gosford 1950, aged 30 years; married Jean Fatta. Two sons Giovanni and Marianno.

By courtesy of Rose Dal Broi (nee Meneghini), Farm 5, Hanwood, 2680.

557

MILLER Before joining the Railways and eventually coming to Griffith, Francis Miller was on the land with his brother at Savernake NSW on a property called "Merrivale". After suffering the drought for years apparently the going was too much, so they walked off their property with naught! As far as is known Francis joined the Railway Department about 1920 and arrived in Griffith about 1932, from Robertson NSW Francis :md Julia relaxing with his wife, Julia Ann (nose outside their Griffith home Connolly) and eight children. Francis was a fettler with the Railways at the time and lived in Wakaden Street for the rest of his life. "Being the youngest of eight children, by the time clothes were handed down to me there were quite a few patches holding them together" said Joseph Miller junior. "When we were all of school age it was pretty hard going, but not for us kids. However it must have been very stressful for my Mum and Dad. I have a sneaking suspicion they had more meal-times than meals. "I can still remember the hard old Depression days very well. However we were quite happy and contented with our lot. We did not have much, but neither did anyone else. We lived in a little old corrugated iron, one bedroom home in Wakaden Street. Just as well it had a verandah all round!!" Joseph also remembers that in the middle of the Depression, his parents could not buy wheat to feed the fowls. However just down the road, where the wheat was stored in stacks in the railway yards, it was scattered about. Their mother, being a devout Catholic, would not allow them to take a bucket and fill it with wheat as she saw that as "stealing". However, she did allow them, of an evening, to take a chook each to the scattered wheat and let them eat their fill!! Three months before Joseph's fourteenth birthday Fr Robert O'Dea arranged a position for him in W J Carney & Sons department store. It was not unusual for Fr O'Dea to arrange employment for "his flock". Joe goes on to say - "When my mother passed away I was fourteen and already working, like the rest of my brothers and sisters, with the exception of Imelda who took over the housekeeping at the age of fifteen. "Unfortunately I do not possess any photographs of the old railway days. I don't think they could afford film for the box Brownie." The brothers John, Joseph and William enlisted in the AIF during World War II. Patrick was medically unfit.

558

L to R: Terry Meehan, Julia Meehan, Joe Miller and Jack Meehan

on-

to R: Back - Patrick and Joe Miller Front - Jack and Bill Miller and Alf Anstee

"Seeing Bill L to R: Mell, France, Bill, Tess and Mary

Photographs courtesy Joseph Miller

559

Francis Joseph Miller born Wangaratta Vic 1882 died Griffith 18 June 1946

married Flemington Vic 1 November 1911

Julia Ann Connolly born Wangaratta Vic 1884 died Griffith 8 Sept 1939

• 1.

Mary Doreen born Berrigan NSW 30 April 1913; died Bexley 13 December 1982; married Fred Will; two children - Patricia and Fredrick.

Francis born Berrigan NSW 18 June 1914; married Ted Humphries (dec'd 1985); one son Edward. Francis now lives at Mount St Thomas, Wollongong.

Patrick born Corowa NSW 27 March 1916; died Kyabram Vic 1982; married Frances Anstee; two children - Carmel and Patrick. Frances now lives at Tweed Heads NSW

Marie Therese ("Tess") born Corowa NSW 17 August 1917; died 1987; married Alf Anstee (dec'd 1992); They did not have any children.

John ("Jack") born Culcairn NSW 23 May 1920; married Norma Woods; two children Cheryl and Steven. Jack and Norma live at Toongabbie NSW.

William born Culcairn NSW 26 August 1921; died 1988; married Jean Carmichael; two children - Brian and Dawn. Jean lives at Bateau Bay NSW.

Imelda ("Mell") born Holbrook 7 November 1923; married Ken Parker; one son - Garry. Mell and Ken live at Berkeley a suburb of Wollongong.

Joseph ("Joe") born Holbrook NSW 1 March 1925; married (1) Thelma Hawland; two children - Denise and Gregory; married (2) Claudia Taylor; Joe and Claudia live at Canberra ACT.

By courtesy of Joseph Miller, 4 Brooks Street, Macquarie 2614.

560

MILLIS Phillip Francis William Millis, better known as "Bill" was born in Collingwood Vic in 1882. He was the first born of the six children of Samuel Millis and Margaret (née Moriarty). His grandparents Alfred and Anne Millis (née Nathan) had arrived in Melbourne, Australia in 1857 - originally from London. Bill was employed in Whitton as a guard on the New South Wales Railway when he married Florence Beatrice Rhodes in 1909. Florence born in Whitton in 1888, was the eighth child of twelve children to James Donner Rhodes and Matilda Rhodes (nee Hemson). James was the third son of Thomas and Dinah Rhodes (nee Donner) who had arrived in Australia, at Portland, Victoria in 1852 from Lincolnshire, England. James Rhodes carted wheat and wool throughout the Riverina district with wagons and bullock teams from 1884 until his death at Whitton in 1917. Phillip Francis William Millis Bill Millis eventually left Courtesy Marjorie Johnstone (née Millis) employment with the railway and settled in Whitton in 1916. He then started his own business, carting wheat and wool with horse teams in the areas between Rankins Springs and Whitton. In October of 1920 he purchased 600 acres of land situated eight miles north of Binya NSW. Wheat grown on this property was carted to the Binya silos. By this time five of their ten children were born: William James in 1910; Leslie Rhodes, known as "Les", in 1912; Clive Francis in 1914; Mary Lilian, better known as "Lil", in 1916 and Esma in 1919. School for these children was rather difficult to avoid as it was held in the bunkhouse situated next to their home on the property. Shortly after two acres of land was leased by the Public Instruction Department, as the Education Department was then known. This school on the property was to be known as Woolthorpe. Surnames of other district children attending this school were the O'Tooles, Clarkes, Humes and the Kites. Les remembers being taught by one of the teachers whose name was Mrs Keam. About this time another property was bought out past "Ballandry" Station. Wheat was grown here and carted to the Erigolia silos. A further five children were born in the Yenda and Binya district; Phyllis Charlotte was born in 1921, John Thomas in 1923, Margaret Anne in 1926, Beryl Norma in 1927 and Elaine Therese in 1928. 561

Farm 1594 Yenda was purchased in 1925 and wheat was also grown on this property. However, this land was forfeited in 1927 for non-compliance of regulations as set out by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission. Allotment 18 was bought next to the Yenda Hotel on 15 September 1926 and was used as a billiards room. This allotment was sold on 1 July 1933 to David Mackay. Residential land in Bingar Street, Yenda was then purchased for their home on 11 July 1934. Bill also owned and operated a Butchery (on Allotment 3) in the main street of Yenda. It was bought from Mr Jones in 1929. A section of land he owned on the corner of the "Old Whitton Stock Route" and "Suicide Highway" was used as a slaughter yard. The butcher shop was sold in the early 1940s after Bill and Florence moved to Sydney where they bought a grocery store in Foss Street at Forrest Lodge. Florence Millis died in 1944, aged 56 years. Bill died in 1955, aged 73 years. Both are buried in the Sutherland Cemetery NSW. William their eldest child, married Margaret Molloy and settled in Yenda, living there until his death in 1988. They had a family of eight children. Leslie lived and worked on the farm at Binya until it was sold in 1936. He then went to work on "Kooba" Station for eighteen months before finding employment with Lou Dougherty at Yenda. Les worked with him for two years before enlisting in the Australian Army in 1941 prior to Australian involvement in World War II. He went to New Guinea in 1942 where he served in the Australian Heavy Battery until 1946. Les then returned to Yenda after the war ended. He and Thomas Hartman bought a trucking business from Roy Kilpatrick on 1 May 1946. After twelve months Les bought out Tom's share and carried on the business until he sold it to A Girdler in 1958, two years after drawing a Returned Soldiers Farm at Hanwood on 6 June 1956. These farms were once part of "Kooba" Station where Les had worked before joining the Army. He married Marjorie Leaver from Yenda. Since his death in 1991 his family still live and work on this farm. There was one child to this marriage - Marjorie (Johnstone). Millis Road, Hanwood is named after Les. Clive married Maree Quigley and lived in Sydney. He died in 1986. Lil married Tom Hartman who also drew a Returned Soldiers' farm at Hanwood. Lil lived in Sydney until her death in 1988. She is buried in Goulburn NSW. They had a family of four children. Esma married Edward (Ted) Willington from Yenda and lives in Sydney. There are three children to this marriage. Phyllis married John Townsend. She lived in Sydney until her death in 1980. They had one child. John married Jean Hoare (dec'd). There were two children. He re-married, to Phyllis Miller. They live in Sydney. Margaret married Earl Townsend (dec'd). They had two children. She married a second time to Fredrick Kennedy (dec'd). Margaret lives in Goulburn NSW. Beryl married John Callaghan and lives in Newcastle NSW. They had a family of three children. Elaine married Fred Saunders and settled in Bingar Street, Yenda. Elaine died in 1981 and is buried in the Griffith cemetery. They had a family of five children. There are three generations of descendants of Bill and Florence Millis still living in the Griffith, Hanwood and Yenda districts to this date (1991).

562

L to R Back: Leslie Rhodes Millis, Lilian Hartman (nee Millis), Fred Saunders, Front: Marjorie Millis (nee Leaver), Esma Willington (née Millis), Elaine Saunders (nee Millis) Courtesy Marjorie Johnstone (née Millis)

Alfred Millis married Anne Nathan (arrived Melbourne Vic 1857) • Samuel Millis married Margaret Moriarty ■ Phillip Francis William Millis 1882-1955 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Thomas Rhodes married Dinah Donner (arrived Portland Vic 1852) • James Donner Rhodes married Matilda Hemson •

married Florence Beatrice Rhodes • 1888-1944 • William James born 1910; died 1988; married Margaret Molloy Leslie Rhodes born 1912; died 1991; married Marjorie Leaver Clive Francis born 1914; died 1986; married Maree Quigley Lilian Mary born 1916; died 1988; married Thomas Hartman Esma born 1919; married Edward Willington Phyllis Charlotte born 1921; died 1980; married John Townsend John Thomas born 1923; married (I) Jean Hoare; (2) Phyllis Miller Margaret Anne born 1926; married (I) Earl Townsend; (2) Fredrick Kennedy Beryl Norma born 1927; married John Callaghan Elaine Therese born 1928; died 1981; married Fredrick Saunders

Contributed by Marjorie Johnstone (née Millis), Granddaughter of Bill and Florence Millis.

563

MILLS Edward Jonathan Mills (born 1902) the eldest son of James David Mills and Annie (née Mills) - shopkeepers of Tonpentre in Wales - left with his parents and siblings for New Zealand in 1909. They settled in Wanganui for about two years and from there they sailed to Australia. It is not quite clear in which order they moved about Australia, but they did live at different times in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland. What is known, is that whilst the family were in Toowoomba James went back to England during World War I to work in a munitions factory. This left Edward ("Ted"), at the age of 12, to take responsibility and help his mother support the family. (There were three other children - Selina, Llewellyn and Giles.) This he did by plucking `chooks'. He called himself a young "coggie". It wasn't until he came to Griffith he called himself "Cockie". After the war James David returned to his family. Packing their belongings once again they eventually ended up in the Leeton area where they had a dairy farm. Joan Fenn, daughter of Ted, remembers her father talking of dancing at Whitton and Wamoon until the early hours and getting home just in time to Ena and Edward Mills milk the cows. on Farm 78 In 1924 James and Annie bought Farm 78, Hanwood which was already established. It had distinctive features - the house was one of the better ones in the district and a shed with a barn on top with stables underneath, which could be seen from quite a distance. It was one of the larger farms - 60 acres. Ted married Ena Heather Gavenlock in 1931. Ena, the daughter of William Gavenlock, had moved with her parents from Narara, near Gosford, where she was born. William worked in the Viticultural nursery, opposite Farm 78 on Murray Road, Hanwood. The Gavenlocks were only here a few years before going back to Gosford. It is of interest that Grandfather and Great Uncles Gavenlock were friends of Henry Kendall, the poet. His poem "Song of the Shingle Splitters" was written with the Gavenlock men (who split shingles for roofing houses) in mind. Ted and Ena bought Farm 461 on the Old Wilbriggie Road and lived there until 1946 when they bought Farm 78 after the death of Ted's father, James David Mills. Ena was a member of the Hanwood CWA for some years and also a member of St Albans' Mothers Union. Ted was a member of the Hanwood School P & C Committee for several years.

564

Their children, Barry and Joan, both attended Hanwood School and were also members of St James Church, Hanwood Sunday School. Joan recalls that the teacher at Sunday School was Miss Savage, who also taught kindergarten at the Hanwood Public School. Miss Savage rode her bike from Griffith to Hanwood and back every school day and also on Sunday to teach Sunday School.

Ena Mills (nee Gavenlock) and Annie Mills (nee Mills)

Ella Mills holding "Poochy" with her son Barry and his friend Alan Blows with "Brownie" at the front of the house on Fanu 78

James David Mills

married • • •

born Wales c.1871 died 12 July 1943 buried Griffith

Annie Mills born Wales died Wagga Wagga

Selina born Wales c.1900; died Griffith; 6 July 1960 married Herbert Hone; two children - Ann and William.

Edward Jonathan born Wales 3 March 1902; died 12 June 1986; married Ena Gavenlock; two children:Joan Olwyn born 1933; married Walter Fenn; two children - Peter and Adrian. 1. 2.

Barry Edward horn 1935; married Janet Blake; two children- Penelope and James.

Llewellyn horn Wales; died Pow on the Burma Railway

Evan Giles horn Wales; married Blanche and Narelle.

; two children - Avon

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Joan Fenn (nee Mills), 13 Gibbs Street, Griffith 2680 565

MILLYNN "Gold and steam are finished. Electricity is the future. This is where you should gain your qualification. Having done that, a young married man, with a young family like yourself, should be looking to this new irrigation area down south." This was the advice given Ronald (or "Ron") Millynn by the Mine Engineer and his friend, Duncan Williamson, under whom he worked as a qualified Steam Engine Driver at the Mount Boppy Goldmine at Canbelego, 23 miles south of Cobar. At this time Canbelego was a community of about 8,000 people. Today it is another of the mining ghost towns. Among other families who came from there were Stevensons and Hardwicks while Hudsons, Cranstons, Budds and Millers - just to name some came from other mining communities in the area. Soon after, acting upon Duncan Williamson's advice and travelling in a Ada and Ron Millynn - 1912 horse and sulky, by way of Mount Hope a distance of about 370 kms, Ron came to have a look at the Area, in the company of his brothers-in-law Walter Priest and his wife's brother, Harry Hudson. This was sometime at the end of 1919 or early 1920. Walter decided to settle at Lake Cargelligo instead but Ron was to come back and spend the greater part of his life here. Harry worked in Griffith for some years before returning to Hermidale and life on the land there. In February 1922 Ron returned to Griffith to take up the position of Junior Electrical Inspector with that department of the WC & IC (this department described by many of the early folk as "The Electric Light"). In later years he became the Senior Inspector, responsible for the Griffith end of the Area until his retirement in 1952, just prior to this department being transferred to the Murrumbidgee County Council. Married at Canbelligo on 10 July 1912, Ron Millynn and Ada's (nee Hudson) two sons, Ron junior and Reg were both born at Canbelego where their grandmother, Sarah Millynn, was one of the midwives. Their eldest daughter, Phyllis, was born in Sydney. The youngest daughter, Hilary, was born at "Woodlands" Hospital, Griffith. Arriving in early February 1922, Ron took up and was the original holder of a oneacre block at West End - Farm 1220 - on which he built their first home. During this first year here he lived with Ada's aunt, Elizabeth Hudson and her family who had come from Shuttleton. Their son, Fred, who was also to spend the rest of his life here, became a well known person in the area. When the house was completed, Ada, who during this time had 566

been living with Ron's parents in Sydney, arrived with their three small children in February 1923. She was to recount often of arriving in a cream silk outfit and stepping off the railway platform into inches of red dust. Then, having settled into house and home, of having to do the first family wash three times before it could be put away because each time she hung the wet clothes on the line a dust storm blew up and made them filthy again. (Until the end of her days here - 32 years - she hated the heat and the dust! There was no "Air Conditioning" in her time). The block on which this house stood is now occupied by six houses, bounded by Harward, Moses and Erskine Roads. The Coro Club is now located nearby. This original house, whilst rented to tenants, was burnt during the Depression years in one of "the Saturday night" fires. The land was later sold to the Reg, Phyl and Ron - 1923 Dal Broi family. one week prior to coming to Griffith Their next house was built in Canal Street number 19 - now part of McLeods Tyre Service. As the Canal Street house was much smaller than that on Farm 1220 Ada and Ron had retained one room in which to store excess belongings while they settled into the new house. Among these things were packed most of their wedding presents. These were all lost in the fire. The family lived in Canal Street for a number of years before building again in 1927, this time in Noorebar Avenue. There were only three houses there at this time - that of A B Long, Bert Schiebel and their own, with the Catholic Church on the hill and the first little Presbyterian Church just around the corner. Mick Guihen later built the house on the opposite corner, now occupied as a doctors' surgery. The timber for this Noorebar Avenue house was chosen and purchased from one of the Rankins Springs saw-mills. Having bought an old truck, each weekend Ron and the two boys spent the time carting enough timber to keep the builder - a Mr Bennett - working for the following week. At this time and right up until the early forties, when Palla Street and Animoo Avenue began to develop, Noorebar Avenue, with the Hospital and the Catholic Church, was the northern perimeter of town. The land, back to the bottom of Scenic Hill and through to Lake Wyangan Road, was a mass of pine trees with only bike and walking tracks through the pine. Most of the hospital land, including where the Nurses' Home now stands, was thickly covered in pine. The house in Noorebar Avenue was the family home until Ron's retirement in November 1952 when they moved to Sydney to live near their daughter, Phyl. Always a quiet, totally unpretentious man, Ronald was a warm-hearted, affectionate and very much a family man who took great pride in their home. His daughters recall that neither of them can remember a tradesman coming to do anything about the home - be it the

Earlier still this was the site of "The Pines Camp" where many early arrivers literally - "camped" until they established themselves more permanently.

567

addition of a new room, new cupboards, cement paths, painting/wall papering and so on. He did it all. Not only did he do all these things but they were always completed in a most professional way. Ada, on the other hand, was of a much more gregarious personality and was never happier than when the home was full of visitors. She was an exceptionally good cook - perhaps a legacy of her country up-bringing - and never seemed to mind how many extra people sat at their table. Remembering too that these were the days of the The original house on Farm 1220 drip-safe, fuel stove and "the dishwasher" was the members of the family. Even though of a much quieter personality, Ron always enjoyed visitors to their home too and neither of them ever rejected a friend, or anyone else for that matter, who needed and asked for their help. As a young man in Canbelego (where he had lived from the age of 7) until coming to Griffith, Ron was a very successful sportsman. He played first grade football, was a trophy winner (now prized by Hilary) in the then prestigious "Kings Shoot" held in Sydney in the November of 1912. (At this time it was an annual event and attracted shooters from all over the country.) The family have several gold and silver medals won in competitive cycle racing. He not only rode but built his own racing bikes. After settling in Griffith he gave all his bike building equipment to 'a very nice young fellow' just starting up in business in the town - Don Robb. Shooting remained his great love to the end of his days. Even after retirement to live in Sydney, on visits to his daughter on the farm, he would delight in stalking wild duck which was cooked superbly by Ada. Delicious!! One of his great loyalties was to his Manchester United Oddfellows Lodge in which he served at least two terms as Grand Master. Ada and Ron's eldest son (Ron also) joined the Australian Regular Army in 1935. He had wanted to do so from the age he was eligible but his Mother - despite her own British Regular Army background or maybe because of it - so opposed the idea that each time the Ron Millynn Snr - Canbelligo 1911 papers came from Victoria Barracks she threw them in the fire. It was only through the intervention of a family friend, Hugh McCallum the then manager of "Gum Creek" Station that he went off to Victoria Barracks in the February of 1935. Hugh McCallum had also taught Ron to ride a horse which stood him in good stead. His little sister still recalls her immense thrill, prior to the outbreak of World War H, to watch her "big brother" arrive at the Sydney Showground, part of the mounted column from Victoria Barracks for the Military Tattoo in the main arena - a great feature of the Show then. These Regular Army men looked 568

splendid in their colourful uniforms, with harness gleaming and animals immaculate. At the outbreak of World War II, after a stint of instructing at Puckapunyal, he transferred to the AIF and was among the first of the Australian troops to go to the Middle East. He sailed in the "Queen Elizabeth" on which ship he was the R.S.M. (Regimental Sergeant Major) for the duration of the convoy voyage. (The "Queen Mary" was also part of that convoy.) Returning from the Middle East he saw service in New Guinea before being assigned to and serving with the American 8th Army (for six years) as the initial Occupation Forces in Japan. He was also involved in American post war investigations regarding American pilots who had crashed in the Sepic River region of New Guinea. He served in Korea as well during the Korean War. Ron Jur - on Guard Duty entrance Their other son, Reg, also joined the AIF and of Victoria Barracks December 1935 served in the Middle East before going to New Guinea where he was involved in the horrific fighting in the Lae and Milne Bay area. After this he served in Borneo where more horrific battles were waged towards the end of the War. Although not a professional soldier like his brother, Reg, probably experienced the more bitter fighting of the two. Be that so, their family feel that both boys, like so many other Australians, were to pay the bitter price for the experience in later life. Hilary recalls - "one of my father's favourite stories of some of the colourful characters who abounded in the early days was that of a man who could clear a room - or his favourite trick, clear a bar - quicker by far than anyone else! One Paddy Breheny by name. Paddy had a great liking (or ability for) catching snakes which he constantly carried around with him in a sugar bag. Any time he considered the company needed livening up he would simply empty the contents of his sugar bag on the floor and sit back and enjoy watching the resulting scatter!! Many a `barely touched' beer was left on the bar! It is such a pity that so many of the stories like these have been lost. I can remember our father and his friends, sitting on the verandah in summer or in front of the fire in winter, recounting so many stories of the 'wags' which the place obviously possessed in great quantity and the house being filled with laughter at the telling of their Reg - final leave antics. "

569

Continuing, she says - "looking back over those years of childhood there are just so many memories. Probably some of the earliest are of •

Lots of men coming to the back door asking for food. Usually tea, sugar and meat. Some would offer to chop wood in return. No one was ever turned away empty handed.

•

As a small child watching the bullock teams coming down Noorebar Avenue and going west - the 'Bullockies' with their cattle dogs, cracking their whips and waving to a small girl sitting at the front gate to watch them go by.

•

Mr Brown's Ice Cream Cart, pulled by the lovely patient old grey horse. Mr Brown ringing a small hand bell to announce his arrival to sell Id and 3d ice creams. The utter luxury of it!

•

Juvenile Balls, with elaborate costumes, and the weeks of practicing the dancing, in sets of eight.

•

Street Processions with beautifully made floats - and lots of them.

•

In the forties coming home from school as the familiar 'red dust' storm clouds blew up in the west and helping to place the folded (and kept ready) pieces of newspaper into the window sashes to stop dust getting into the house. The dust got in nevertheless!

•

Being sent, armed with a straw broom, to 'shoo' millions of grasshoppers off the front lawn. It was a losing battle and I can't remember the result other than one very tired, small girl.

•

The huge Balls in the old Palais in Yambil Street - preparations for which went on for weeks, sometimes months, beforehand - the Bachelors' Ball, Catholic, Church of England, Masonic, Diggers, Springtime and numerous Fancy Dress Balls - just to name the main ones.

•

During the war years, when both of our brothers were serving overseas, our Mother beginning to tremble when the Telegram Boy came in the front gate. She was always terrified it would be to say that one of the boys had been killed or wounded. This was the way families received such news.

•

The celebrations up and down Banna Avenue the day war ended in 1945. The whole length of Banna Avenue was so crowded with people for its full length that it was dcult to move. Everywhere people were laughing, crying, singing. People dancing on the lawns. Music everywhere.

Stormy nights when Dad and the linesmen would be called out to repair broken lines and often would be out all night. Nevertheless, they were at work at 8am the next morning and worked a full day and thought nothing of it.

570

One of the nicest memories is a comment, in recent years, by one of the Electrical Contractors of his time and which perhaps best sums up our father - 'He always wanted it (electrical work) done exactly right but was always such a gentleman in the way he went about it'."

Ronald Francis Millynn was the eldest grandson of Peter Millynn, a pioneer of the Canberra Area. Peter aged 7 and his sister, Anne aged 8, were brought to Australia after the death of their own father James Millynn in Ireland, by their mother Bridget and step-father Thomas Carberry. They arrived in Sydney on 26 June 1844, just one year before the outbreak of the Great Famine, aboard the "Royal Saxon". They were Bounty (assisted) Immigrants from the town of Moate in Co Westmeath. The parents' first employment was for Aubrey Murray and his partner, Walker, on the "Yarralumla Run in the District of Murrumbidgee" which is now part of modern Canberra. Their step-father was employed as a shepherd at £15 a year; their mother was employed as "a hut keeper" for a yearly wage of £12. As an adult Peter became a "Selector" on Brooks Creek between Canberra and Goulburn. Bridget (formerly Millynn, née Wrinkel) and Thomas Carberry; Peter Millynn and his Australian born wife, Ellen (née Murphy) are all buried in Bungendore NSW cemetery. Ronald's father was James Henry ("Harry") Millynn, the eldest child of Ellen and Peter Millynn of Brooks Creek. Harry's "Selection" is now the site of the Bywong Historic Village. Many of this Millynn family still reside in the Canberra Area.

Ron Millynn - as most would remember him and Hilary - 1952

Ronald Francis Millynn born Brooks Creek NSW 6 September 1888; died Sydney 5 December 1961.

Married Canbelego NSW 10 July 1912 Ada Caroline Millynn (née Hudson) born Nymagee NSW 2 October 1894; died Sydney 7 September 1966.

Both Ronald and Ada are buried at the Field of Mars Cemetery Ryde, as are Ron's parents Sarah and Harry Millynn and Ron Jnr. The family of Ada and Ronald Millynn 1.

Ronald Henry ("Ron") Millynn, Major R. A.A A.R.A. R/1,; born Canbelego NSW 2 June 1913; died Sydney 17 August 1978. Married (1) Dorothy Fava (2) Joan Maher - lives Sydney. Two children, Jane and Peter.

Reginald John Millynn born Canbelego NSW 28 June 1915; died Sydney 21 September 1991. Married Rosa Button - lives Sydney. No family.

Phyllis Clare Millynn born Sydney 6 August 1920. Married Jack Whitehurst - lives Sydney. Two children, Judith and Michael.

Hilary Myrine Millynn born Griffith 14 April 1931. Married Jim Dalton - lives Yenda. Four children, Gabrielle, Jillian, Leonie and Naycc.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Hilary Dalton (née Millynn), "Gilgai", Yenda 2681. 571

MIRANDA Antonio ("Tony") Miranda was the original pioneer of the Miranda family of Griffith when in 1928, he bought a passage to Australia. Tony was the third eldest son of eleven children born to Salvatore and Rosa Miranda of Caramagni, San Giuseppe, a small Italian village nestled in the foothills of Mt Vesuvius, only 24 km from Naples. In Italy the Miranda family were mainly merchants, Tony's father being a cattle dealer. Living conditions in Europe were very poor and many Italians were migrating to America, Canada and Australia to start a new life. On the advice of one of his townsmen, who had been in Australia for two years, Tony set out, arriving in Sydney on 20 June 1928. He caught the train to Griffith, getting off at the Beelbangera Railway Station. The first person he remembers meeting was Bill Jones (of Jones Bros Cannery) whose family owned the Beelbangera Winery (now McWilliams Winery). Tony's first job was grafting grape vines. Without any prior experience, he was instructed by Frank Miranda, Sergeant Major in the Gerald Beverley of Hanwood, who at the time was Italian Army, while serving in working for the Department of Agriculture. Tony Mogadiscio, Somalia - 1936 continued to work on farms in the area until 1930 when he brought out from Italy his older brother, Luigi, then aged 28. They worked on farms together until Luigi went to Sydney in 1932 and obtained a license to have a stand in the Sydney Fruit Markets, trading as Miranda Bros until 1960. Luigi's wife, Olga and their son, Salvatore (Sam) came from Italy to join him in Sydney in 1933. That same year (1930) Tony bought a farm in Beelbangera with two partners, Vincenzo Catapano and Giuseppe Rossini. They grew apples, apricots and peaches, selling the fruit through his brother at the Sydney Markets. They also travelled around all the small country towns between Griffith and Sydney - Cootamundra, West Wyalong etc - selling their fruit from the back of his truck. In 1934 he sold his share in the Beelbangera farm and bought another farm in Lake Wyangan for £100. Here he grew peas and set up his first packing shed. The following year (1935), Tony brought his father, Salvatore, sister Teresa and Olga's sister Betty Bove to Australia to help in his packing shed. Salvatore sponsored three more sons, Gennaro (Jim) in 1936, who was only 19 years old (born 1916), Giovanni (John) in 1937 who was 22 years old (born in 1914) and Frank in 1938 (born in 1911). John Miranda was a printer by trade in Italy. When he arrived in Australia in 1937 he started a printing business in Glebe Point Road, Glebe Point, Sydney, but as English was

572

not his native language, he found it very difficult and eventually gave it up and joined his elder brother, Luigi, at Sydney Fruit Markets. From there he came to Griffith to work in Tony's packing shed, until he returned to Sydney after the war and continued to work in the markets with Luigi. In 1940 Salvatore returned to Italy, where he stayed until his death in 1946. Rosa (their mother) died in 1950. In 1937, Tony sold his Lake L to R: Unknown Worker, Sam (Luigi's son), Tony, Unknown Wyangan farm and bought the farm Worker - Packing Shed at 57 Jondaryan Avenue - 1938 in Irrigation Way, which is the present site of Miranda Wines. The farm originally grew apricots and oranges and Tony also set up another packing shed on this farm. In 1948 their youngest brother, Salverio, came out to Australia and continued to run the Miranda Bros packing shed with Tony until its closure in 1980. In the summer of 1938, Francesco ("Frank") came from Italy with his wife, Caterina (née Leone) arriving in Griffith during a terrible heatwave and dust storm. "I can never forget" remembers Frank, "Tony picked us up in his Chevrolet car, for our journey to Griffith, but at West Wyalong, we struck a terrible dust storm! We couldn't see two metres in front of us, and Tony drove into a paddock as he couldn't see the road! Caterina was continually fainting from the heat and dust! So we decided to stay overnight in West Wyalong. Next morning we headed off to Griffith. Life was so hard and primitive - no fridge or even ice - only a water bag hung on the verandah to keep our drinking water cool, and under a large tree in the back yard, a hessian covered frame, which we continuously kept wet to cool our food." After six months, in May 1939, Frank bought a half share in a General Store, in Kooyoo Street. Frank and Caterina ran this store together buying out their partners, Peter and Maddalena Mogliotti after one year. That year, Frank made his first batch of wine, crushing three tons of grapes, using the old-fashioned method of stamping the grapes with his feet. He produced approximately 3,000 gallons of wine in his first vintage. The wine was not a great success and Frank Miranda and Caterina Leone ultimately was sold to McWilliams Wines for On their Engagement - Italy 1938 distillation. 573

The Packing Shed at 57 Jondaryan Avenue - Irrigation Way - 1936 L to R: Unknown Worker, Unknown Worker, Salvatore Miranda and Teresa Miranda (in the window)

1 / 1111/11‘

.44

Interior of Kooyoo Street Store - May 1939 L to R: Unknown Customer, Unklifivin Customer, Frank Miranda Madalena Mogliotti and Peter Mogliotti

574

At the outbreak of war, Tony, Lou, John, Jim and Frank were all interned as prisoners of war, and were sent to various camps. At first the five brothers were sent to Orange for five months, then to Hay for seven months, finally to the Loveday Camp at Barmera, near Renmark SA. From there, John was sent to Western Queensland to work on the roads, Jim was sent to Quom SA, building the railway lines, while Luigi and Tony spent three and a half years at Barmera. Before coming to Australia Frank had been a Sergeant Major in the Italian Army for four years, seeing duty in Somalia for eighteen months so he was interned for 41/2 years from 1940 to October, 1944. During his internment, Frank made wine from dried sultana grapes and currants for the staff in the Northern Territory Camp at Katherine River. He occupied his time in camp with further studies in winemaking and so in this way improved his original efforts at winemaking back in 1939. In 1944 their brother Jim died. During the war, Luigi's wife, Olga, her son Sam, her sister Betty, Teresa Miranda, and Frank's wife Caterina and baby son Sam, lived together in the home next to the packing shed in Irrigation Way. Betty remembers when she first came to Griffith in 1935 - "Living conditions were extremely primitive and we worked very hard, mainly picking and packing oranges for Tony's packing shed, but we did have some fun times! "I can remember my sister, Olga, went to the photographer to have her photo taken, when he said 'smile' to her it sounded like `small', so she tried to make herself smaller, but did not smile. He kept asking her to smile. She eventually broke out in laughter. He took the Leaving for Australia photo and said 'Thanks very much, that's what November 1938 on P.O. "Oxford" I was looking for!" L to R: Carmelina (Frank's sister), Frank, After his release in 1944, Frank Bettina (Caterina's sister), Cateriva and Maria (Caterina's sister) continued running the store in Kooyoo Street and did not take up winemaking again until 1946. With the building of cement underground tanks he made 30,000 gallons of wine - 90% being Claret and the rest a Dry White, which he sent in 10 to 65 gallon wooden barrels to private customers - mainly Italians he had met in the internment camp in Sydney and Queensland. In 1948, with the business rapidly expanding, Frank purchased a grape farm in Bilbul to help guarantee his supply of grapes. In 1951 he sold his shop in Kooyoo Street and in 1954 he sold his farm to finance further expansion of the winery. In 1959, in partnership with Ron Potter (Miranda Wines first qualified wine maker) and his son Sam, Frank started a vinegar factory at Wickhams Hill called Vintage Vinegar. 575

After two years Ron bought out all the shares and established his own engineering business on the site now called A & G Machinery. Miranda Wines has continued to expand under the guidance of Frank's sons, Sam, Jim, Lou and their families, employing over one hundred people and selling their wines nationally and oversPAs. In 1990, Sam's daughter Sandra, was the first of the third generation to work in the family business. With the acquisition of Royally Wines in the Barossa Valley SA being managed by Lou and his family, the Miranda's will be around for a good deal longer.

000000000

Salvatore Miranda - Rosa Vaiano

(1869-1946)

(1879-1950)

of Caramagni, San Giuseppe, Italy (Family members who came from Italy to Griffith are shown in bold)

• •

Pasquale born Italy 1900; died Italy 1985. Married Letizia.

Luigi (Lou) born Italy 1902; died Sydney 1977. Married Olga Bove (1903-1977), they had one son - Sam.

Antonio (Tony) born Italy 1904; died Griffith 1991. Un-married.

Teresa born Italy 1905; died Griffith 1976. Un-married.

Giovanna born Italy 1908; died Italy 1910.

Francesco (Frank) born Italy 1911. Married Caterina Leone (1917-1974). Four children Sam, Jim, Lou and Teresa. Frank lives in Griffith.

Maria born Italy 1912; died Italy 1990. Married Antonio Giudice, one son - Bartolo.

Giovanni ("John") born Italy 1914. Married Joyce Mclnernry, three children - Roselyn, Merelyn and John. John and Joyce live in Sydney.

Gennaro ("Jim") born Italy 1916; died Griffith 1944. Un-married.

10.

Carmelina born Italy 1920. Married Luigi Triola, two sons - Amedeo and Pasquale. They live in Italy.

11.

Salverio born Italy 1924. Married Lena Russo (born 1930), four children - Rosa, Maria, Anita and Carmel. Salverio and Lena live in Griffith.

Entry by courtesy of Rhonda Miranda (nee Bartholomew), with assistance from the Miranda family, Griffith 2680. Photographs by courtesy of Teresa Bellato (nee Miranda), Griffith 2680. 576

MITCHELL

Charles Cairns Mitchell, a soldier settler, came to Griffith on his motorbike about 1919. He had been an Ambulance Bearer during World War I and then, after the War, he worked in a dispensary at a Sydney hospital. Soon after his arrival he met Marjorie Budd who had come to Griffith to help her sister, Mrs George Wheeler, during and after the birth of her first baby, Winifred. Charles and Marjorie were married in Sydney and settled on Farm 621 at Beelbangera. Marcha Ferguson, the daughter of Charles and Marjorie says - "In hunting through my little box of memorabilia I came across a cutting from 'The Area News' headed 'Early Settler Leaves Griffith' and will quote a section: Arriving in the district in 1919, Mr Mitchell took up residence at Farm 621, Beelbangera, an original soldier settler block. He later transferred to Farm 850, following Judge Pike's ruling on a minimum living area. In 1940 he gave up farming and has represented the T & G Insurance Co since 1941.

Marcha continues "My father was a Rawleighs agent for some time before the war, as the farm barely gave them enough to live on. During the war the products were scarce and freight was difficult also, so that when he was approached to become an insurance agent, because his Rawleighs agency had made him known to a lot of people, he was glad to accept. Marjorie Mitchell in front of the roses on Farm 621 "My father was born in Glen Osmond, Adelaide, in 1893 and my mother in Waverley, Sydney, also in 1893 and they were married on 25 April 1925 at Christchurch, Enmore (Sydney). "I remember riding three miles to school every day, at first on a tiny bike, then on a full size one, often in fog that you could barely see through. I vividly remember camping holidays at Taylor's Beach, Darlington Point. During one of these holidays my mother panicked because my brother was in a little rowboat somewhere on the river during a thick dust storm! I remember the dust storms too. Who would ever forget them! I also remember picnics up Scenic Hill and as children, being scared of meeting the Hermit! "During the long Christmas holidays, I also remember going pitting apricots for 3d a tray! It was tiring work but we enjoyed it and also the companionship. 577

•

A picnic somewhere with Mitchell, Wheeler, Holt, Boundy and Chapman families. Probably about 1933 or 1934.

Mitchell and Boundy families holidaying at Taylor's Beach Darlington Point, about 1933

►

"Daisies" - 1936 Back: Marion Cunial, Cecily Duchatel, Dorothy Boundy Front: Ada Dalton, Joan Bennett, and Martha Mitchell

578

"Although times were hard and neither of my parents were in good health (my father was gassed and wounded while in Belgium), we were blessed with loving and caring parents, for which I will always be grateful." Eventually Charles and Marjorie moved to Perth in 1955 to be near their daughter, Marcha, and her family. Marjorie died in 1962 and Charles in 1967 - they are both buried in Perth WA. They had two children:Charles Keith Mitchell (known as Keith) born at Griffith 23 April 1926. Keith married Iris Walters of Dalgety NSW and they have three children David, Philip and Jillian. Keith is now a retired schoolteacher living at Bega NSW. Marcha Evada Mitchell born at Griffith 13 March 1929. Marcha married Hugh Ferguson of Subiaco, Perth WA and they have a daughter Heather and a son Keith. Marcha now lives at Nollamara, Perth WA. Marcha writes - "I thought you might be interested in the enclosed poems, which my father wrote many years ago. He was a rather prolific poetry writer, but most of them were personal to family members. The first poem was read by Russ Tyson on the ABC's Breakfast Session in his "Our Town" series. (These two poems had no titles but the first letter of each line had to spell out the name of the town.)"

Give me the life on this irrigated land,

Green and fresh where drought once dwelt

Rich in the gifts that the waters bring. I love its gratitude and its open hand For the labour I give from Summer to Spring. Far from the temp of mad city life

Rain is a blessing seldom felt In their orchards men now raise Fruits and flowers worth all the praise.

In harmony with nature, away from all strife, This garden called "Griffith" which grew by man's hand-

Into channels, water spills. Town of Griffith, growing fast

Hands gave it the water - God gave it the land!

Has the water here at last!

Flowing from the far-off hills

(The Epilogue was also written by Charles Cairns Mitchell.)

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Marcha Ferguson (née Mitchell), 4 Currong Way, Nollamara 6061.

579

MITCHELL As told by Lionel:"Our Dad, John James ("Jimmy") Mitchell was born at "Springs Plains", Jerilderie in 1881. His mother died at his birth. Shortly afterwards his father left the Jerilderie area, with two older boys, to go to Western Australia. We have no further record of him nor the two boys, our father's brothers. "Dad was taken and cared for by a Mrs Kinnalin and, as far as we know, was reared by her daughters and their families. These women in fact became his adopted sisters. Later Dad lived with the Shields family the father of whom was a Police Officer at Kiandra in the Snowy Mountains and later at Whitton and Hillston. Dad often boasted about riding a horse through the Murrumbidgee River. We later found out that it was at the source of the river! "Later schooling and early working life for our Dad was with the Carr family at Narrandera, the Duck family at Junee and the Wennerboms at Temora before coming to Griffith in 1920 to work for Butlers. "Our Mum (Evelyn Maud) and we three children came three months later, in June 1920. We first lived in a shack on a block used by Butler brothers for their slaughter house. It was bordered by Hanwood Road and Rae Road. It had two rooms with bag walls and an iron roof. Later we added a third room. "A surprise incident was the flooding of our home! Extensions were in progress to the end of the room and this made a real channel to catch the water. It was dry weather at the time but the holder of the block, Mr Bob Bell, wanted his dam filled. The water bailiff (I can't remember his name) used to ride horseback and dressed like a Light Horseman. He opened the water check but forgot to close it down and we got a real wetting! "In 1922 we moved to a house at the abattoirs. It was quite an improvement on the shack!

580

John James Mitchell

Evelyn Maud Mitchell

"In 1925 we moved to town - 76 Binya Street. When my brother Mery started to work in town Dad changed jobs. He now worked as the manager of a branch of the Griffith Co-operative Butchery. Later Dad acquired the butcher shop and was joined by Mervyn in the family business known for many years as Mitchells Butchery. It carried on until 1954 when Mervyn left to reside in Sydney.

Mitchell's Butchery - 1930 L to R: Jack Berthon, Jack Fletcher, Jim Mitchell and Mervyn Mitchell

"I went to school in Hanwood. I remember walking to school in the wet, barefoot, carrying my boots. Sometimes we hitched a ride. Mr Sangster, a nightwatchman, never went past us. Mr Millar, the mailman, was pretty good to us. Also Stan Cummings must have had the strongest bike ever made. It used to carry four of us, many times, along that road. "I started work at Mr Jim Fallon's mercery shop, next to Evans barber shop. Mr Fallon later acquired McLeans general store which was next to Kendalls shoe shop. I later worked at Carneys grocery store. I left there in 1933 to start a delicatessen in part of Dad's butcher shop. I operated this for 29 years. My sister Mary worked in the delicatessen for a while but because the whole family was working she chose home duties. Keith Devery worked there with us for 19 years. "Dad lived to a good age. He was 93 when he died on 14 July 1974. Mum had died many years before (3 September 1945) when she was only 61. Evelyn died in Sydney and she and John James ("Jimmy") are buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Griffith cemetery."

581

Interior of Mitchell's Delicatessen L to R: Mrs Evelyn Mitchell, Mary Mitchell and Keith Revery

William James Mitchell born in England c.1846 married Sandhurst Vic Elizabeth Jane Tarr born 1853 died June 1881 John James Mitchell born "Spring Plains" Jerilderie 22 June 1881 died Griffith 14 July 1974 buried Griffith 1.

married at Narrandera

Frederick Knight Bellman born in England married Agnes Mary Hogan died May 1925, aged 74 yrs buried Leeton NSW r Evelyn Maud Bellman born at Narrandera 28 May 1884 died Sydney NSW 3 September 1945 buried Griffith

• Mervyn James born Grenfell 26 April 1909; married Jean Campbell at Griffith; lives at Riverwood NSW. Four children - Maureen, Roslyn, Judith and Peter.

Lionel Francis born Temora 17 June 1910; married Annie Emily Gordon (née Allen) at Griffith 8 September 1947; lives at Griffith NSW. Six children - Adrian, Margaret, Patricia, Neil, Clare and Christopher.

Mary Elizabeth born Temora 10 June 1916; married (1) Victor Grogan; (2) Delio Pavese; lives at Griffith NSW. Five children - Colleen, Paul, Garry, John and Kay.

By courtesy of Lionel Mitchell, 14/49 Hyandra Street Griffith and Mary Pavese 22 Kywong Street, Griffith. Photographs by courtesy of Lionel Mitchell.

582

MITCHELL William Edward Mitchell married Christina Taylor in the Church of England Church at Deniliquin in 1909. William was one of eleven children, five brothers and five sisters. The Mitchell family was large and very well known in the Deniliquin area. Not long after his marriage William travelled to Yenda to select land for Christina and himself. He selected six hundred acres of unimproved land, six miles north of Yenda. This farm was to be known as "Mountain View". William erected a tent and began to clear the land which was covered in heavy scrub and riddled with rabbits. At the same time he began to build a house so that he could move his young family up from Deniliquin. He worked extremely hard to achieve this. In between clearing his land William hauled wagon loads of wheat and wool to Deniliquin to earn extra money to help set up his farm. William and Christine Mitchell Christina eventually arrived from Courtesy Mary Mitchell (nee Collins) Deniliquin. She made the journey by herself with five children - Eileen, Ivy, Lawrence, Daphne and Geoffrey - all in a horse drawn wagon. They brought with them all their belongings as well as a couple of cows. William and Christina worked, side by side, to clear and fence their farm. They then stocked it with sheep and cattle. William went on to become a very successful wheat farmer, winning many wheat crop competitions. He later purchased adjoining land as it became available - including Glascows, Cruickshanks and Pooles. A short time after all the family were united at "Mountain View", William and Christina's fourth child, Daphne, died tragically in an accident. Daphne was four years old and is buried in Bagtown Cemetery. A couple of months after Daphne's death, Christina returned to Deniliquin to have her sixth child, a son whom they named Harry. William and Christina were to have two more children after Harry - both girls, Dulcie and June. Christina was well known for her gift of cooking. She milked cows, separated the milk and made butter which she supplied to many people in and around Yenda. She had no electricity, only lamps and a wood stove. No running water - the water was manually carried to the house. She washed with the aid of a copper and cement tubs with wash boards. William played the Button Accordion wonderfully well and played for many of the dances that were held in the Myall Park Hall. This hall is still in use to-day at Pioneer Park Museum.

583

William and Christina eventually retired to live in a house closer to Yenda which they purchased from Mavin Briggs. "Mountain View" was sharefarmed for the family by William and Christina's third son, Harry. Harry followed in his father's footsteps by becoming well known for his wheat crops. He also won many crop competitions and took out many trophies at Shows. Harry's sudden death in 1970 at the age of 51 years, resulted in the estate selling "Mountain View" at auction. It was sold at an unreserved price of $11 an acre to Kevin O'Sullivan, who still owns it today. Harry's wife, Mary, and her two sons, Graham and Keith, moved to Griffith to live after the farm was sold. Mary worked for thirteen years at Wade High School before she retired in 1984. Graham and Keith both have their own businesses in Griffith - "Graham Mitchell Bob Cat Hire" and "Mitchell Agricultural Parts".

The old stables on "Mountain View"

Team used to cart bagged wheat

Working up land for wheat to be sown

Old horse-drawn wheat harvester. Bags waiting to be hand sewn

Photos courtesy of Mary Mitchell (née Collins)

584

William Edward Mitchell born Deniliquin NSW 13 August 1880 died 26 December 1956 buried Griffith 1.

married 1909 Deniliquin NSW

Eileen married 28 February 1933 James Irvin 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

William Irvin James Irvin Dell Irvin Jean Irvin Geoffery Irvin

Ivy married 16 January 1940 Roderick ("Bill") Potter 1. 2. 3. 4.

Christina Taylor born Narromine NSW 12 August 1887 died 24 February 1970 buried Griffith

Roderick Potter Audrey Potter Douglas Potter Ian Potter

Lawrence married 15 April 1941 Ena Cullen I. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Janice Mitchell Monica Mitchell Elizabeth Mitchell Susan Mitchell Anthony Mitchell

Daphne - died 16 May 1919 aged 4 years - buried Bagtown Cemetery

Geoffrey married 23 November 1944 Laura Chilvers 1.

harry married 6 September 1944 Mary Collins 1. 2. 3.

John Mitchell Graham Mitchell Keith Mitchell

Dulcie married 25 August 1941 Bruce Stockton 1. 2. 3.

Elaine Mitchell

Robyn Stockton Ray Stockton Errol Stockton

June married 30 August 1958 Ino Cauduro 1. 2. 3. 4.

Frank Cauduro Julie Cauduro Rosanne Cauduro Ian Cauduro

By courtesy of Mary Mitchell (née Collins), Griffith 2680. 585

MURRAY William Alexander Murray came to the area about 1920 as a soldier settler. His father, Alexander Murray, however had come much earlier as he was employed as a ganger working with the gangs clearing the land for the soldier settlers. William settled on Farm 1440 at Bilbul. It was a hard life, especially for the soldier settlers who had been encouraged to take up land. They knew nothing about farming as most came from the city where they had held clerical jobs and had no rural background.

William Alexander Murray - second on the left in the back row.

People made their own fun. The Murrays had a tennis court and their friends gathered around for a social game each week-end. Everybody brought some food as work was scarce and nobody had much money. Dances were another source of entertainment everyone went, including the children. They were always fun and a chance to get together. They were held in the Bilbul Hall which is still standing. Allan Murray recalls that "One night a fellow who worked for us dressed up as a `drag'. He was beautifully made up and fooled everyone except my father who recognised him. Dad danced with 'him' under the suspicious eye of my mother and the envy of the local lads who made lots of offers. In those days women were in short supply and there were many lonely men. It was some time later that the truth came out." The Murray home was a typical Commission house made of weatherboard with one bedroom, a kitchen and family room. Everything took place in the kitchen as it was the warmest room in winter. The children slept on the open verandah both summer and winter. They had to be tough to survive. Initially transport was by way of horse and sulky. Later, a T-Model Ford became the mode of transport.

586

Allan Murray, aged 4 years at Bilbul - 1927

Jim Kearney with a fish caught in the dam at Bilbul about 1923

On the farm at Bilbul about 1933 L to R: Len Axford, Reg Gilbert and Allan Murray

Grape Picking - Farm 1440 Bilbul about 1923

Laurel Murray (second lady from left) and friends in Bilbul

587

Bilbul boasted a village store which was owned by Joe Axford in the early days. Later the Bilbul store was replaced by one erected by Harry and Alf Gardiner. Food was basic but wholesome. People lived as much as possible with produce from the land. The Murray family had chickens and a cow so had an ample supply of eggs, milk and butter. A popular breakfast was fried bread. The bread was dipped in milk and then fried in dripping. Allan also recalled that as a young child he trapped and dressed rabbits and sold them for ninepence a pair. This was a lot of money in those days for one so young. Some sad incidents occurred among those early settlers. One incident was of the farmer who had no knowledge of even how to use a plough. He used to make a hole first to implant the plough! While it was a joke to most it was really a sad reflection on our settlement policy at the time.

Margaret and Alexander Murray

Alexander Murray married Margaret Janet Ash • William Alexander Murray born Narrandera c.1896 died Griffith 29 October 1967

married

Laurel Gladys Edwards born South West Rocks c.1895 died Griffith 27 July 1964

•

Allan Farquhar born Griffith 28 January 1923. Married Natalina Maria Salvestro in 1953. Six children - Ian, Janet, Steven, Karen, Sandra and Garry. Allan and Natalina live at Griffith.

Norma born Griffith 31 December 1925. Married John Field. Two children - Ian and Sue. Norma lives at Cooma NSW.

Margaret born Griffith 1930. Married Ross Philipson 1953. Four children - Debbie, Anne, Scott and Fiona. Margaret lives at Belrose NSW.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Allan Murray, PO Box 158, Griffith 2680.

588

NEGRO Bortolo Negro was born in Possagno Province of Treviso, Northern Italy, on 9 May 1899, one of a family of three boys and two girls. After he attended school and later worked on the land, he was called up to the Italian Army at the age of 17 years. World War I was being fought and he served in the Army as an "Alpini" (Alpine Troops) fighting on the side of the Allies against the Austrians and Germans for four years. When he was discharged at the age of 22 years he returned to Possagno. On 20 January 1923 he married Rosins Favero. Their first son, Angelo, was born on 13 November 1923 at Possagno and because of many difficulties work wise, etc, Bortolo decided to leave for Australia. After sailing on an English ship he arrived in Australia in October 1924 and proceeded to Griffith where he met up with his brother-in-law, Antonio Bugno. Talk about tough times! Because of the lack of accommodation Bortolo and Antonio lived in primitive quarters which consisted of a converted chook pen on Mr Such's farm at Yoogali. Bortolo was fortunate in obtaining work at Savage Brothers farm at Bilbul, where they allowed him a two room "log cabin" for living quarters. Having a steady job and a roof over his head Bortolo decided to bring out his wife and family. Another Bortolo Negro child, Mary, had been born after his departure. (He "Alpini" - 17 years old had been unaware that Rosina was pregnant before he left for Australia.) Rosina and her two children left Italy for Australia on board the Italian ship "Maria Christina" and after of a journey of thirty odd days they arrived in Melbourne on 1 September 1929. Anxious to arrive in Griffith as soon as practicable Rosina and the two children, Mrs Maria Manera, her father and another lady with her six children (also passengers on the "Maria Christina") left Melbourne by train and travelled as far as Narrandera and then by taxis to Griffith. Imagine her disappointment upon arrival in Griffith to learn that Bortolo, also anxious to be re-united with his family, had left for Melbourne by truck which was owned by Matteo De Paoli, in spite of the fact that he had a broken leg, encased in plaster and he on crutches. Mr Vittorio De Bortoli (founder of DeBortoli's Wines, Bilbul) came to Rosina's rescue and allowed her and the children to stay in his house until Bortolo returned from Melbourne. When Bortolo returned they went to stay in the "log cabin" on Savage's farm at Bilbul. Conditions were tough to say the least. The "log cabin" had no windows and mud

589

was plastered in the cracks to keep out the wind and rain, they were lucky the bedroom floor was concrete but the kitchen was plain dirt - no boards. As the Depression progressed Bortolo was hard pressed to find continual work on one farm, but he managed by working for a few days on Savage Brothers farms at Bilbul and Tharbogang and other days he had to go to Lake Wyangan and work on other farms. He considered himself lucky that he had a pushbike, but one can imagine, after travelling for eight or ten miles on dirt roads and bike tracks, he would be practically exhausted upon arrival at his destination; nevertheless determination and perseverance won through. On 28 July 1931, in partnership with Bortolo Marin, they purchased Irrigation Farm I ease 619 Yoogali from H W Coleman for £625 plus an ongoing debt of £167 with the then WC & IC Griffith. On 5 June 1935 Bortolo Negro bought out his partner, Bortolo Marin, for £290 plus a liability of £501. The farm continued to produce, under their hard work and with the Depression over and the economy improving the future was looking good But alas, good times were not to last. Bortolo passed away in March 1945, after a short illness, at the age of 46 years. His wife, Rosina, being the sole beneficiary of his Will, continued to manage the farm by employing workers and later by leasing it. Meanwhile their only daughter, Mary, married John Dal Broin on 22 June 1946, and their son, Angelo, married a couple of years later a Wollongong girl, Negro Family c.1929 Sadie Crisafi. As time went on Rosina found the running of the farm more difficult, so she sold it to her son, Angelo, on 21 October 1955 and purchased a block in Hebden Street, Yoogali. Angelo later sold the farm in December 1956 and he with his family moved to Wollongong on the south coast where he obtained work with the BHP Steelworks. He is now retired but still lives there. Rosina is still alive at the time of writing her story (November 1992) and had her 91st birthday on 20 September 1992.

See entry for the Dal Broi family in this Series.

590

married

Bortolo Negro

Rosina Favero born Possagno, Italy

born Possagno, N Italy •

9 May 1899

20 September 1901 lives Yoogali NSW

died Griffith

•

4 March 1945

• I.

Angelo Negro married Sadie Crisafi - six children: 1.

Bonolo ("Bobby") married Terese Eastman. Six children - Anthony Angelo, Yvonne, Elizabeth, Joshua, Michael and Johnathon.

Roseanne married John McEwen. Seven children - Nathan, Mia Angelique, Skye, Brenton, Christian, Beaudon and Sabestian.

Carol married Tony De Marco. Three children - Trent, Charmaine and Candice.

Frank Michael - single.

Tonia married Tony Malfitano. Three children - Grant-Domonic, Hope-Victoria and Imogen Faith.

6. 2.

Lorraine married Pasquale Pierro.

Mary Negro married John Dal Broi. Four children: 1.

Anthony married Lydia Quarisa. Three children - Vivian, Trevor and Gavin.

Joseph married Alice Salvestro. Three children - twins, Kelly and Trisha and Benjamin.

Peter married Robyn Manning. Two children - Gary and Terry.

Maryann married Frank Battistel. Two daughters - Kimberly and Belinda.

By courtesy of Rosina Negro, 15 Hebden Street, Yoogali 2680.

591

NEVILLE Charles Leslie Neville (always known as "Les") came to Griffith in April 1924, by train from Stockinbingal to Barellan, and then by horse and buggy to Griffith. Father O'Dea had persuaded his former altar boy at Stockinbingal to come to Griffith to work. Les was the sixth child in a family of seven of John Neville, farmer and grazier of Reid's Flat NSW and his wife Annetta (née Harris) whom he had married at Cocomingla NSW on 30 June 1891. Their family was Mary Emily, Robert Edmund, John Francis, Matthew Herbert, Cecilia May, Charles Leslie and Grace. They moved to Stockinbingal early this century where John set up a Stock & Station Agency and grain buying business. John's original office is now preserved as the "Powder Horn" Museum opposite the railway station in Stockinbingal. Before coming to Griffith Les worked as a Bank Officer at Wallendbeen, Young, Cowra and Cootamundra. He worked also as an accountant at Meagher & Co Temora Les and Em Neville and Burns Philp, Brisbane, Qld. On their Wedding Day When he first came to Griffith he boarded with his employer, Mr Mick Guihen. This job had been arranged for Les by Father O'Dea. Mick Guihen had a Stock & Station Agency which was in Banna Avenue, where Bertoldo's Bakery (formerly Aliprandi's chemist) is now. Les married Emily Mary Borland on 1 May 1928 in the Catholic School, being the last couple to be married there. The new Sacred Heart Church was opened shortly afterwards. Les and Emily (known as "Em") had two children, John and Vincent. Their first home was at 54 Binya Street, which Les had purchased in 1928 prior to their marriage. They lived there for ten years and sold that house to move to 19 Carrathool Street in 1938. This home had belonged to Mr A Fraser, District Agronomist. In 1953, Les and Em and Vincent moved to 98A Yambil Street to live in the newly completed residence above commercial premises there.

592

After a period of partnership with Mr Guihen and seven years as an accountant with Gordons Garage, Les opened his own real estate agency business on 1 April 1937. His office was located in the old "Rio" building at the top end of Banna Avenue. His secretarial assistant was Miss Pat Ford. Later that year, Les acquired the services of W T ("Bill") McClellan. The agency records at the time show Bill's wage was £4 per week. This was the beginning of an association between Les and Bill which was lifelong. They were not only business partners but very good friends. Bill McClellan, like so many other young men, joined the forces in 1940 and served in the RAAF. Les carried on the business on his own until he employed Vaughan Doolan as a clerk on 11 December 1943. Vaughan joined the firm straight from school and was to stay with the firm for the whole of his working career. By this time (1940) the business had moved to Darlington Point 1925 the Hotel Griffith building in Kooyoo Street. When Les and Cec Gilliard Bill returned from the war, he was offered a partnership in the business. The partnership traded as C L Neville & Co and offered the services of auctioneering, real estate, stock & station agents, valuers and insurance agents. C L Neville & Co conducted fortnightly auction sales in auction rooms in Yambil Street owned by the Gow family. This building is now occupied by Griffith Home Appliances. Vince recalls his father telling him that at one of these auctions, shortly after Vaughan Doolan began "pencilling", Vaughan's father came along to see how his young son was doing. His father waved to Vaughan and the item being auctioned was knocked down to him by the "keen penciller"! Besides the real estate services offered by C L Neville & Co, the Griffith office of Queensland Insurance was started in 1946 when Ron Palmer was appointed resident inspector. In 1951 a further agency was added when a travel agency was included for Australian Nation Airlines or ANA linking Griffith with Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Les's son John was in charge of this service for the firm. On 1 June 1957 Vince Neville joined the firm as a trainee replacing his brother, John, who decided to leave the company for a position with an insurance group. Vince recalls some of his earliest memories of his father. "Dad used to let John and I ride on the running board of the car to the front gate as he went to band practice or fire brigade nights. I also remember his love of music and his interest in community Vince and John affairs. Dad was committed to the new Griffith parish church and practiced his faith fervently." 593

Les was a keen sportsman in his youth excelling at tennis and cricket. In later years he enjoyed golf and bowls and represented Griffith in both sports. He was a member of the former Lake View Golf Club and first played bowls at the Jondaryan Club and later at the Griffith Ex-Servicemens Club. Les served as a Director of the Griffith Co-op Society for over twenty five years. His bride, Emily Borland, had worked at "The Co-op" up until their marriage. Les also served several terms as a Shire councillor and the year before his death was Shire President of Wade Shire. His last official duty was the opening of the new council chambers on their present site on 22 October 1960 by the Honourable George Enticknap, member for Murrumbidgee. Shortly after he was taken to Albury and admitted to the Albury Mercy hospital with a serious heart condition. He died on 4 January 1961. Les and his wife Em (who died on 2 April 1985) are buried in the Catholic section of the Griffith cemetery.

L to R: Ron Palmer (Queensland Insurance Inspector), Vaughan Doolan, Bill McClellan and Les Neville In the office in the old Hotel Griffith Building John Neville

John Faulds Borland

married

Annetta Harris • Charles Leslie Neville born Reid's Flat NSW 18 April 1901 died Albury NSW 4 January 1961

married Griffith 1 May 1928 •

Emily Fieldsend • Emily Mary Borland born Macclesfield Vic 11 April 1907 died Griffith NSW 2 April 1985

•

John born Griffith 17 September 1929; died Griffith 5 November 1981. Married Marion Ives Hetherington; two children - Clare Frances and Paul Leslie.

Vincent born Griffith 2 December 1933. Married Marie Therese Cudmore; four children Kerry Anne, Michael Gerard, Stephen John and Alison Mary.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Vince and Marie Neville, 18 Nyora Street, Griffith. 594

NEWTH The Newth family, Bill and Ann (née Hancock) and their children James, Christina, Donald and William, came to Yenda from Boree Creek about 1917. Bill Newth had been a station overseer there. They travelled to Yenda in a horse drawn wagon and first lived in a house which had been an out-station house of "Gogelderie" Station. It was probably a boundary rider's house and is reputed to be the oldest house in Yenda. Bill started a cutting cart - a butcher's shop on wheels. Tom Ryan also ran a cutting cart about this time. Tom had slaughter yards near where the stock route crossed the Northern Branch Canal. Bill, together with his sons, operated horse drawn mail runs which served the Whitton Stock Route, Myall Park, Rankins Springs and the properties - "Ballandary", "Eastholme" and "Rothdene". Bill junior says - "We went to the tent school. (Before the Yenda School was built two marques were used.) We lived on Farm 738 which was granted on 27 September 1921. This is the first farm past where the Convent School was later built. "My father was born in the Ovens Valley and worked in the Urana district in his young days. My mother lived at Narrandera before she was married. "When we lived at Yenda I ran a bread delivery and mail run from Yenda to Myall Park and Rankin Springs and also to many of the farms in the Yenda district. Some of the families on my run were - Leach, Jennings, Potter, Kilpatrick, Longhurst, Braby, Lowrie and Gordon."

James Newth born c.1823, Dursley, Gloucester England died 1891 Oxley buried Tarrawingie Vic married Catherine Matthewson born c.1835 Isle of Skye, Scotland died Oxley Vic 1888 r William married Narrandera NSW born Tarrawingie Vic c. 1872 died Yenda 29 Sept/Oct 1939 aged 67 years, buried at Yenda

Ann Hancock born c.1865 died Yenda 30 July 1952 buried at Yenda

James ("Jim") born Albin), NSW 1907, married Jean Tonkin. Two children - Restyn and Barry (dec'd). Jim and lean live in the Blue Mountains NSW.

Christina born Narrandera NSW 1909, married Harry Pauling. Three children - Kerry, Jill and Desmond. Christina lives at Attadale WA.

Donald (dec'd), married Marie O'Brien. One daughter - Julie.

William ("Bill") born Narrandera 1913, married Gwendoline Wright (daughter of Gordon Wright of Farm 1489, Yenda). Two daughters - Lorraine and Fay. Bill and Gwen live at Moss Vale NSW.

Victor ("Mick") born Lockhart 1915. Unmarried. Lives in Melbourne Vic.

By courtesy of Bill Newth, Moss Vale 2577. 595

NICHOLLS My father, Alick Herbert Nicholls, was only six months old when his parents came to Australia from Wood Stock in Devon, England. His father became a business man in Mt Gambier in South Australia. My father, Alick, managed a wheat farm at Kamarah where he met and married my mother, Annie Isabel McKay, who was born at Glen Innes. Her parents were Mr and Mrs Robert McKay who had a wheat farm at Ariah Park, NSW. My parents arrived in Griffith in 1919, travelling by train from Ariah Park. At the time of our family's arrival in Griffith it consisted only of a railway siding, Taylors Store and "The Barracks" where the unmarried workers were accommodated. We lived at Bagtown and attended the tent school where Mr Moore was the teacher. Later we went to Yoogali school, where a very overworked Mr Vaughan senior was the headmaster. We briefly attended the Griffith School, when it was erected, until my father's work took us to Hanwood. Again, Mr Vaughan was our teacher. I continued at Hanwood school until I won a Bursary in 1926 and then went to Hay War Memorial High School. Three other members of my family also won State Bursaries. Dr Watkins was the one and only doctor at this time. My brother, Maxwell, died of Pneumonia and was buried in Bagtown Cemetery. I married Rex Crawford and both he and his brother, Basil, will be remembered in football circles. Basil was an employee of the Griffith Post Office for quite some time. My husband, Rex and I lived in Yenda until he enlisted when we moved to Sydney. In 1956 Rex drew a Soldier Settler block on "Kooba" to which we returned and where we remained until 1972 when we retired. Rex died in 1986. Some of the folk I remember are:- Ambrosi, Andrea, Goodsell, Haines, Carroll, Martin, Stokes, Tilden, Schwalke and Hoggard. The family of Alick Herbert Nicholls and his wife, Annie Isabel (née McKay) were:1. Emily Elizabeth; married Glen Bohme, Emily died in Sydney during the war. They had one son, Martin. 2. Grace Isabel born at Glen Innes; married Neil Spalding. Lives at Sydney. One daughter - Karen. 3.

Myra Kathleen born Auburn; married Rex Crawford from Yenda. Lives at Killarney Vale. Two children Adrienne Anne and Antony Rex.

Florence Joyce; married Ken Spencer from Yenda and died 1984 in Wollongong. No family.

5. Angus Milton; married in Melbourne, killed in the Air Force in 1942 and had a son, lan, whom he never saw. 6. Maxwell McLeod born in Griffith; died of pneumonia and buried at Bagtown cemetery 7. Alick Brian born in Griffith (home birth); married Winnie Wright and died at Corrimal - one daughter. 8.

Douglas born in Griffith (home birth); lives at Albion Park.

9. Barry born in Griffith (home birth); still living and as far as was known, unmarried in 1989.

By courtesy of Myra Crawford, 6 Carlyon Street, Killarney Vale 2260.

596

NIVEN It was in 1923 that Harry Harley Niven and Rubina Jane Niven sold their large area farm at Baringup in Victoria and bought another property at Ungarie. Furniture and family possessions were transported to Ungarie by horses and wagon which took about two weeks. In the big Depression of the late twenties this property was sold and Harry Harley Niven and his eldest son Ken drove a team of horses and wagon to Griffith; the year was 1932. Contract work was carried out with the team until 1934 when Farm 1778 Ballingal was taken up. The remainder of the family and possessions were loaded onto a Chevrolet 6 truck and the journey to Griffith started. After being bogged for some time, camp was made The under a Quandong tree. younger children slept on a double Harry Harley Niven bed mattress on top of the load. 1897 to 1960 Arriving at the farm the next day Courtesy Gwelda Ilicken (nee Niven) tents were erected and bedding and Alex Nivea installed. Gwelda tells "this was a very wet year in Griffith and water rushed through the tents and the beds sank into the mud, with the children on them. The beds were the only dry spot around. A house was then built from second hand timber by Dad and the two eldest boys, Harry and Ken. "At this time the family consisted of Mum, Dad, Ken, Harry, Jean, myself and Alex. Youngest son Rex was born later in 1935. "The rabbits were shifted by running a single furrow plough from the water wheel to the burrows and then flooded, much to the excitement of the children, as not only rabbits came out of the burrows, but goannas and snakes as well!! The farm was then planted with 22 acres of peaches. Crops such as peas were grown between the rows as a 'cash crop' until the peach trees were bearing. At one stage all of the children were kept home from school to keep the grasshoppers moving from the young peach trees as they were only twelve months old and would have been destroyed by them. The dust storms also affected the peaches when they came into bearing as the dust was so thick on the western side of the peaches that it stopped the growth of the individual peaches and therefore they grew lopsided. 597

The Niven Family at Ma!don, Victoria in early 1920s Photos courtesy Gwelda Ilicken (nee Niven)

"The school was three miles away and after walking to and from school we kids cleared and stacked wood. Later we had to pick up and burn the prunings from the peaches. This was done by throwing the prunings into an old steel tank set on wheels. A fire was then lit in the tank and kept going by the prunings. In the meantime, Dad still did contract work with the horse team. Mum cooked on a stove in the open and we ate, usually under the wagon, until the house was completed. Water was only available from the channel, so we bathed in the channel at night, even in winter. Jean remembers Mum cooking in a big pan some small potatoes which Dad had brought home. Dad said 'cooked or raw, eat them up', so we did, mainly raw! Another good meal was bread, spread with mutton fat and sprinkled with pepper - very tasty!! "After the grasshopper plague came a mouse plague. Any bag left on the ground would literally move with the number of mice hiding under it.

598

"At this time, Dad was still contracting and made quite a name for himself as a haystack builder, going as far as Henty to build stacks. Ken also learnt this trade later on. "Things improved and 'Santa' brought us a bike to ride to school. Jean pushing, Gwelda on the bar and Alex on the handle bars. Ken rode to Sydney on a push bike to enlist in the Air Force. Harry also enlisted, leaving Jean and Gwelda to work on the fruit at various farms around. Alex left school to run the farm, which was sold in 1955. "Four of the children eventually owned rice farms, Ken, Harry, Gwelda and Alex. Jean and Rex moved to Sydney. Dad was accidentally killed in a road accident in 1960. Mum passed away in 1975."

The Pea Pickers - Farm 1718 Syd Nicholls, hart & Harry Niven

Ilarl watering the pea crop Year old peach trees in background

harry and Alex with homemade mobile bin in which clearing debris, and later prunings, were burnt Photos courtesy Gwelda thicken (nde Niven)

By courtesy of Alex Niven, PO Box 242, Griffith 2680 599

O'BRIEN In the year of 1919 John Gerald O'Brien left Pyalong, Victoria to come and manage a property for a Mr Donovan called "Pine Vale" at Warburn. John was born in October 1883 and died in Griffith 22 August 1961. He had married Rose Marie Webster of Eaglehawk, Victoria in April 1915. Rose was born at Eaglehawk in 1884 and died in Griffith 4 June 1976. John came to Griffith first and his wife, Rose and two daughters, Sheila and Frances, followed later by train to Willbriggie. John left "Pine Vale" and came to Griffith where he worked for the WC & IC, now the Department of Water Resources. This work took him around Griffith and the Yenda area.

John and Rose O'Brien Courtesy Patricia O'Brien

John and Rose had a family of five girls: 1.

Sheila born Victoria 21 March 1916; married Alan Brown and lives in Queensland.

Frances born Victoria 12 July 1918; married Jack Coady and lives Yeoval NSW.

Joan born Griffith 2 May 1922, died Griffith 14 February 1968.

Philomena born Griffith 8 August 1925; married Ron Pascoe and lives in Bathurst NSW.

Patricia born Leeton 21 June 1929, lives in Griffith

By courtesy of Miss Patricia O'Brien, 245 Wakaden Street, Griffith 2680. 600

OLIVER() This is the story of the Olivero family as told to Lynne Villata in 1993 by Eugenio Olivero (91 years old):"I was born at San Mariano Oliveto, Province Asti, Northern Italy on 2 March 1902. My father Battista Olivero (a farmer) and my mother Sperinda (née Amerio) were born, lived and died in this town. I only remember my Nonna Angelina Amerio (nee Lunati - mother's mother). "I was one of ten children (born number six) five boys and five girls and we lived in a beautiful two story brick home on a nineteen acre farm. "Part of the downstairs area was a barn for the animals to sleep in all year round (two bullocks, one horse and one cow). "The remainder of downstairs was a kitchen, dining room and one bedroom (which was also used as a sewing room). Upstairs there were All the Olivero three bedrooms. Eugenio Oliver and Marcella (nee Zandona) children attended school. I was aged six when I started school and had six years education, the last two years taught by a nun. I was very good at grammar. I left school at twelve years old to work on the farm. "In the winter, December, the snow was sometimes twelve inches to half a metre deep and stayed on the ground anything from fifteen days to a month long. "My mother was always busy and sometimes Nonna (Angelina) who lived about a kilometre away, helped with her chores. I remember the washdays. All the clothes were scrubbed with sand, then boiled in a copper and lines and lines of sparkling washing was hung out to dry. "The soil on the farm was 'number one', the best, and we grew four acres of wheat, five of hay and nine or ten of wine grapes. After the war, about 1918, and for many years after the family made 60,000 lira ($6,000) with the sale of wine and grapes. Father and eldest brother made the wine on our farm. "The dreaded disease Phylloxera came from France during 1917-1919 slowly destroying all the vines, which were replanted bit by bit with resistant budded American grape vines. "All the boys stayed working on the farm, there was work and income for them all. I was the only member of our family to emigrate. I heard about Australia and thought I may be able to earn £2-0-0 a day (but I was only going to stay about four years!!) 601

"I left the port of Genova (Genoa) on 2 July 1924 on the `Caprera'. There were about three hundred passengers and after forty-eight days voyage we arrived in Melbourne on 8 September 1924. Three of us, myself 22 years old, Paul Porco and another chap caught the train to Sydney. "We talked to three Italian fishermen at the Central Railway Station and nearly went to New Zealand with The Olivero Home in Italy them. However, we decided we might make more money cutting cane in Queensland so we headed up to Ingham by train. I cut cane for about three months for Mr Del Amatea and Mr Balma and earned about 35/- a day. "Every farm had barracks for the cane gangs but we didn't pay for accommodation. Just had to pay the cook - f-4-0-0 a week for all meals. I moved to the Babinda area and did a further month's cane cutting. The cane cutters were a mix of about 75% of Australians and 25% of foreigners. I also picked corn at Tolga. "While I was living in Queensland the Italian Consul from Melbourne wrote trying to recruit Italians to go dairy farming in Victoria. The cane cutting season had finished so Tomalino ("Tom") Tavaso and another person and I decided to go south and caught the train to Sydney. "I was the spokesman as I could say a few basic words of English. While waiting at the station we talked to some other Italians who were going to Griffith to pick grapes. I asked the lady in the ticket office 'Three tickets Victoria please'. The lady gave me three tickets to Melbourne. I was very upset and said `No! No! Not Melbourne, three tickets Victoria'. I had no idea what she was trying to explain and she couldn't understand me. She got angry and snatched the tickets back and returned my money. So I said 'Three tickets Griffith' and we headed to Griffith in January 1925!! "When we arrived it was very, very hot so I left my friends under some pine trees and went to find some Italians to talk to so we could arrange accommodation and work. When I got back Tony Ceccato was talking to my friends and arranged for us to stay with his friend Mr Guglielmini, sleeping in his shed on chaff bags for a few days. "They then directed us to Cunial's Boarding House at Yoogali, where about twenty people boarded. The cost was 21/- a week and included a bed and three meals a day. I lived there for about two years. "My first job was with Mr Enrico Lucca who had a contract to fumigate various citrus farms for scale. The gang of workers fumigated at night (8.00 to 12.00 pm) because the cyanide would burn the young shoots in the daytime. We were paid about 10d a tree. "The Savage farm at Bilbul was the second place where I worked and I was there about two years, mainly picking fruit and earning 13/4d for an eight hour day. "I later worked alternate seasons cutting cane till about December then returning, by train, to Griffith for about six months work. Many people did this. "Early in 1928 I cut cane in Cairns for Mr Earle.

602

"In December of that year I returned to Griffith for a few months grape picking at the Ridley, McWilliam and Bicego farms. "In 1929, with friend Paul Porco, we worked one year for wages for Nello Pese, ploughing and hoeing weeds in the sugar cane crops. Other farm chores included feeding and watering twelve horses. We boarded at the farm and were paid 17/4d a day. "In 1930 we cut cane for Mr Savina and his partner, Mr Naratone, on their farm, which was close to the Victoria Sugar Cane Mill and earned 35/- to 40/- a day. "I first met Luigi ("Bigin") Villata in 1934 in Griffith and we became friends for the rest of our lives. In 1934 to 1935 my partner, Jim Balduzzo, and I were leasing thirty acres off Billy McCann at West End. We grew vegetables, mainly Cane Cutting Team peas, tomatoes and rock melons which were bagged and sent to the Sydney markets. Bigin Villata worked for us. "Later in 1936 Bigin and I leased Farm 227, Yoogali (sixty-five acres) off George Keith Pike. The farm was leased for five years and after one year Angelo Cunial joined the partnership. A year later Bigin and Mr Cunial had a disagreement and Bigin left. There were seventeen acres of oranges, four acres of table grapes and two acres each of Picking Grapes at McWilliams apricots, apples and prunes. This fruit was all sold to the Producers. Four acres of carrots and tomatoes were grown for the Sydney markets. Carrots were worth 30/- a pea bag - that's about a 601b bag. "I was introduced to my wife, Marcella Zandona, by Mrs Cunial (from the boarding house) while walking along the road at Yoogali. Marcella had arrived in Australia in 1938 (her passport was stamped at Fremantle WA on 13 September 1938 by Customs). After her arrival in Griffith she lived and worked at Cunial's Boarding House until our marriage. "We were married at the Mary Immaculate Church at Waverley, Sydney on 27 April 1939 by Father Peter Mambrini. I was 37 and Marcella was 29. We lived on the Pike farm after our marriage. "Corrado was born at Yoogali in 1940. In 1941 I purchased a new house at Yoogali from Angelo Rossetto who'd built it as an investment. "I leased seven acres from Tom Hanrahan at Yoogali and grew carrots, cabbages, tomatoes and other vegetables for about six years. I was known as the 'Tomato King'!! "After that I sharefarmed with Frank Bicego for a year, then I grew `vegies' on a seven acre (Pace at Lloyd Edwards farm near Beelbangera.

603

"The day we heard that the War was over all our neighbours at Yoogali gathered together and celebrated. We were very happy. "Our thirty acres, Farm 1724 Tharbogang, was purchased in 1954 for £7,500 from Mrs Meg Tickle. Crops were oranges, peaches and apples which were packed and sold at the Sydney markets for 15/- a box. First year's crop was about fifty ton. "The terrible floods in 1956 killed half the orange trees and all the peaches. I sold the house at Yoogali for £2,500 to pay for the tile drainage which cost about £2,000 and replanted the trees that had died. We lived nineteen years on the Tharbogang farm and sold out in 1973. "We built a new house in Griffith at 1 Hart Street and retired to live in town. My wife died on 26 July 1987 and I continue to live at my residence."

Marcella Olivero (née Zandona)

Lorenzo Olivero Battista Olivero married Sperinda Amerio (10 children - Lorenzo, Maria, Angelina, Amalia, Percide, Eugenio, Guiseppe, Jalando, Corrado and Corina) * EUGENIO OLIVERO born San Marzano Oliveto Italy - 2 March 1902 Lives Griffith

Luigi Zandona married Amalia Feltraco (nine children- Edie, Primo, Secondo, Brno, unknown, unknown, Marcella, Rosie and Marcello) married

MARCELLA ZANDONA born Castlecucco, Treviso, Italy - 3 March 1910 died Griffith 26 July 1987

• Corrado married Joan Semmens; four children - Simon, Robyn (died aged 8 months), CarolAnne, and Timothy.

Ronnie married Joan Dal Nevo; two children - Maria and Steven.

Diana married Paul Wethum; two children - Jane and John.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Eugenio ("Jim") Olivero, 1 Hart Street, Griffith 2680. 604

PAGE The history of the Page family in Australia and finally, Griffith, started with Thomas Page arriving in Sydney aboard the "Aloe" in July 1857. He was born in Castletown, Tipperary, Ireland in 1823. He gradually travelled up to the Kempsey area and married Mary Clancy there in 1860. Mary had arrived in Australia on board the "Hilton" in 1855 with her parents, two brothers and three sisters. Thomas and Mary settled at Kempsey in the Macleay District. Their first child, William, was born there in 1861, but only survived three weeks. They moved to Sydney and lived at South Head Road, Vaucluse for a few years where their second child, Ellen, was born in 1863 and then Margaret in 1865. They moved back to Kempsey and Thomas purchased property at Sherwood, Kempsey. Thomas and Mary had five more children at Kempsey - Mary born 1866, Honora 1871, Clara 1874, Thomas 1875 and William 1879 (being the second son to be called William). Thomas farmed until his death in 1889. His wife, Mary, and children obviously kept the farm going until her death in 1908. Her Will stated that the farm had to be sold and the proceeds divided equally amongst her children - five daughters and two sons (an unusual thing in those days to leave property to the daughters).'" William and Thomas and their five sisters were well educated as indicated by the fact that the five girls were all teachers. However, after the farm was sold William appears to have supported his family by doing labouring jobs. William James Page, the youngest of the family, married Mary Elizabeth Clarke in Kempsey in January 1903. They had four children at Kempsey Henry Patrick, Desmond, Mary Anne and William James. William and Mary left Kempsey about 1915. They then lived at Telegraph Point, Bargo, Mittagong, Picton and Bowral before they finally arrived in Tom Page (born Griffith 1923) and his Griffith, by train on the last day of mother, Mary Elizabeth Page - c.1935 1920. Their last child, Thomas Luke, was born at Griffith. William obtained work as a "ganger" for the Water Commission. His eldest son, Henry (always known as "Harry") also worked for the Commission also, building culverts. The scoops which helped build these culverts were pulled by two horses, and they were so slow and cumbersome that the men christened them "Galloping". Harry married Florence ("Tuppy") Wynne in October 1933 at the Sacred Heart Church, Griffith. They were married by Father Robert O'Dea.

Courtesy of Wendy Louise Walker - "The Clancy Clan"

605

Mary married Jack Casey in Griffith in 1928; William married Edith Luck in Melbourne in 1940; Thomas married late in life to Nora Sheather in 1975; Desmond married, but very little is known of him as he had moved away and settled interstate. Just before World War II William and Mary, their son Thomas, daughter Mary and her husband, Jack Casey, moved to Mulwala and for the duration of the war they worked at a munitions factory. When Mary died in 1946 they all moved back to Griffith. William died in Griffith in 1966 aged 87 years. Harry and "Tuppy" were the only Pages to reside permanently in Griffith. They built a modest house in Merrigal Street behind the showground. It consisted of only two rooms and a front verandah. Water had to be carted by buckets from a channel that ran alongside the farm. There were many happy memories of swimming in Henry ("Harry") Page about 1934 this same channel during the hot summer months. It was a great gathering place, under the willow trees, for their friends and neighbours. Large quantities of water melons and rock melons were always consumed. Fruit was always plentiful as most people in Merrigal Street grew some kind of fruit trees and everyone was happy to share whatever fruit and vegetables they grew on the small farmlets. Harry's great love was his hobby of wireless technology. He built the "wireless" products in the "The Shed" behind his house. He spent many happy hours at his bench working away happily assembling his wireless sets. He sold quite a few to people around his area. The story was told that he would try to encourage people to buy one of his wireless sets when a cricket test match was on and Don Bradman would be batting at the time. Harry would take a wireless set to the prospective buyer and tune in to the cricket and of course listening to the "Don" score a possible century was a great incentive to have a wireless of their own. Harry became a wireless technician by correspondence and could turn his hand to most problems that involved wireless and refrigerators. He worked for some time for Dave Taylor, the grocer, and at Clancy's Electrical Shop. (It was unbeknown to him that he was actually related to the Clancy family.) No tale of urban Griffith would be complete without mentioning the "dunny man". Toilets, in those days, were situated some distance from the houses, for obvious reasons, and so it was always a trek to and from the majestic structure which stood by itself Merle on stool at front in the middle of the paddock. The "dunny man" always came on a Tuesday to collect the can, and as children we were always terrified of being caught on the throne when the "dunny man" came lumbering up the road on his smelly cart which was pulled by two large horses. 606

The poor man had a job to do, and he was always cheerful, but through the eyes of a young child he always appeared to be a frightening figure, dressed in a large, black leather apron. Harry became a fitter and turner and worked at the Commission until his death in 1951 at the age of 48 years.

Thomas Henry Page

Michael Clarke

born Ireland 1823

born 8 Oct 1840"

died 8 Sept 1889 married

died 8 Mar 1908

Mary Ann Clancy

Mary Hayes

born 27 Jan 1838 died 3 Jan 1908

born 6 Aug 184926 died 1 Oct 1893

married

•

William James Page

married

born Kempsey 25 Apr 1879

7 January 1903

died Griffith 14 Jul 1966

•

Mary Elizabeth Clarke

Merle and Wilma about 1938

born 7 Dec 1879 died Griffith 9 Aug 1946

• 1.

Henry Patrick ("Harry") born Kempsey 19 Nov 1903; died Griffith 28 Dec 1951; married Florence Nora ("Tuppy") Wynne (1908-1951). Four children:1. Wilma born Griffith 9 Apr 1935. Married George Thompson, lives ACT. Two children - Narelle and Donna. 2.

Merle born Griffith 10 Jul 1936. Married Joseph Cudmore, lives Griffith. Six children - Susan, Brendan, Hayden, Therese, John (deceased) and Celeste.

Neil born Griffith 14 Jul 1942. Married Lorraine Smith, lives Batemans Bay. Three children -

Victor born Griffith 13 May 1948. Married Heather Packham, lives Berkley Vale. Two children -

Nicholas, Nigel and Teala (deceased). Alicia and Amanda. 2.

Desmond born Kempsey 14 Feb 1905; died 1957. Married Lila. One son - William.

Mary Anne Josephine born Kempsey 15 Dec 1910 died 1992. Married Jack Casey. Two children:Barry born 7 Mar 1930. Married Philomena Drennan. Lived at Griffith. Three children - Peter, 1. 2.

Michael and Neil. Brian born 26 May 1935. Married (1) Pat O'Rafferty. Three children - Paul, Rodney and David. Married (2) Kay Welsh.

William James born Kempscy 23 Oct 1912; died 1985. Married Edith Luck. Two children:I.

Norma born 21 Mar 1941. Married (1) Ross McGregor. Four children - Lenore, Duncan, Hamish and Kirsty. Married (2) Graham Robertson. Lives ACT.

Desmond born Moruya 28 Oct 1950. Married Maria Cirillo. Two children - Carly and Kayla. Lives at Griffith.

Thomas Luke born Griffith 18 Oct 1923; died Griffith Nov 1980; married Norah Eileen Sheather (dec'd).

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Merle Cudmore (née Page), "Moonambel", Benerembah via Griffith 2680.

Courtesy of Eugenia Mostyn - "Clarkes in Australia 1836-1986"

[bid

607

PALFRAMAN William and Sarah Jane Palframan were the first of this family to come to Australia. Married at Selby in the County of Yorkshire in 1852, they arrived the following year and settled in the Donald district of Victoria. They had five children:- John George ("who married Sarah Anne Spittle and became our grandparents" tells Reg), James, Mary Jane, William and Henry - none of whom ever married. John and Sarah had nine children - John George, Sarah Jane, Daisy Ellen, William James, Henry Oscar (known as "Jack"), May Linda, Samuel, Reginald and Mary Victoria Jack married Alice Richmond at Watchem near Donald (Vic) in 1915. Alice was the third daughter of James and Susan Richmond (nee Borden). They share-farmed a property at Lascelles until about 1920 when they bought an orchard at Nyah West and grew sultanas for dried fruit. Jack was also associated with his two brothers and Mr Jack Palframan Charlie Wood in a Stock and Station Agency at Nyah West. Jack and Alice had three children - Reginald John (born Donald on 18 May 1916), Phyllis May (born Donald on 28 April 1918) and Alfred Eric (born Donald on 4 February 1922). Alice had been born in the same hospital as her children on 12 May 1891 and Jack had been born at Massey near Donald on 23 November 1890. In 1924 there was an exodus of Victorians to the Hillston/Lake Cargelligo districts. The Palframans brought quite a few Victorians up to New South Wales where they sold them farms. 1924/25 was a very good year and they themselves were impressed with the district so George bought a property at Ungarie and Jack took on share-farming there too. About the same time Jack's brother, Sam, and Mr Wood closed the Nyah West agency and opened at West Wyalong. Three years later they closed the Wyalong business and opened an office in Griffith in the name of Palframan, Wood & Co. Jack also joined the partnership so his family moved to Griffith and lived on an acre block in what is now Willmouth Street and this block has since been subdivided into five house blocks. Here Jack's eldest son, Reg, takes up the story - "My father, being a farmer, did not fit into the agency very well and bought a mallee farm in the Ballandry district. This was during the Depression of the late twenties and thirties. There was very little rain and wheat prices were very low - lucky to get two shillings a bushel. "About 1932 the Depression forced our father to hand in the registration plates of the car and leave it in the shed. We then drove a horse in and out to the farm at weekends. The house in town had been retained where Mum baked our week's supply of bread. On 608

the farm we had a shed to live in. Food was kept cool in a Coolgardie safe (drip safe). A hole in the ground, kept damp, used to keep butter cool and edible. With the car out of use we had to walk to town for shopping (about 2 kms). Later a one ton T-Model Ford truck was acquired to be used on the farm and occasionally to cart a load of mallee roots to earn a few extra shillings - they were mostly sold for about £1 a load. "Until the late thirties Mum was very involved in the Presbyterian Church, being at various times organist, Sunday School Superintendent and member of the choir. "In 1939 our father took advantage of the Southwest Rehabilitation Scheme and accepted the £300 which was offered and left the farm which was allocated to a neighbouring farmer (Mr A Cruickshank, Adrian's father) to help build up his property to a viable size. "Our father then bought a forty acre block at Nericon on which he grew tomatoes mainly. He also grew tomatoes, peas and wheat on a neighbouring farm owned by his brother, Alice Palframan Sam. As this was war time he employed Land Army girls to work on the vegetables. He employed about six girls and they were very efficient workers. "I worked on the Ballandry farm until 1938, when I joined the WC & IC where I was employed as a surveyor's chainman and later channel attendant and channel superintendent. I retired in 1976. "My sister, Phyllis, worked for Mr Ernie Blair in his shop until she married Grantley ("Scotty") Ledwidge and moved to Wagga where they still live in retirement. They had three children, Beverley, Barry and Wendy who live in Wagga, Darwin and Dubbo respectively.

I. to R:

Reg 'Iranian, Phyllis Ledwidge (nee Palframan), Eric Palframan

609

"In the mid forties our father bought a cherry and apple orchard at Orange but having grown up in the Riverina type environment, the cold climate of Orange did not suit my parents. A few years before they went to Orange Mum became very handicapped with arthritis and got worse at Orange and also suffered a stroke. "They sold out there and Dad went back to the Wyalong area and did contract fencing and odd jobs and Mum spent her time with us and Phyllis until she was accepted as a patient at the Queen Elizabeth Home in Ballarat. In 1960 she died and is buried in the Ballarat Lawn Cemetery. Dad later returned to Griffith where he died in 1972 and is buried in the Griffith Cemetery. "My youngest brother, Eric, lived and worked with Dad and is still living in the Griffith home."

Henry Oscar Palframan born Massey (near Donald) Vic 23 November 1890 died Griffith 1972

Reg Palframan

married

Alice Mary Richmond born Donald Vic 12 May 1891 died Ballarat 1962

• I.

Reginald John born Donald 18 May 1916. Married Dorothy May Poole 15 August 1942. Lives at Griffith. They had three children all of whom live at Griffith. 1. Raeline born 15 April 1946 - married (1) Gary Plant (dec'd 31 August 1974), (2) Nick Connor 2. Dawn born 7 January 1950 - married Thomas Milne. 3. Neil born 2 May 1953. Unmarried.

Phyllis born Donald 28 April 1918. Married Scotty Ledwidge at Griffith January, 1939. Lives at Wagga. They have three children - Beverley, Barry and Wendy.

Alfred Eric born Donald 4 February 1922. Unmarried - lives at Griffith.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Reginald Palframan, 41 Ortella Street, Griffith 2680.

610

PARKER The Parker family, Samuel David and Mary (née Holden) and their three children Marie, Reenie and Valma - came to Griffith at the beginning of April 1935. They came from Peak Hill NSW where the children had been born and Samuel had been sheep and wheat farming. Reenie describes the move - "the furniture and household belongings were stacked on a Chev4 Truck which belonged to an old neighbour. The family and the dog travelled in some style - in a 1925 Chevrolet car! - and arrived at Farm 1882, Lake Wyangan, which had previously been owned by a soldier settler, Cyril Fletcher. "When we came first the plentiful supply of fruit was wonderful. Coming from a dry area fruit had always been a luxury. "Everyone had to pull their weight with the jobs. We girls learned to cook, sew and knit as we weren't old enough to help with the outside work. As we grew up Marie started her nursing , training so she was away from home. I worked Parker Family with our father on the farm. He had a horse-drawn L to R: Mary, Samuel, Marie Ronaldson Tippet sprayer with which he used to do Front: Valma and Reen contract spraying for the neighbours and it was one of my jobs to drive the horses - a very monotonous occupation and very hot or very cold, depending on the season. I was often covered with the spray that was being used. Tar distillate and lime sulphur were the worst I think because, besides the smell, it burned the skin off my face! But it was a source of income. Some of the neighbouring farms we sprayed were Ross, Richerson, Kinkead, Coleman, Stewart and Shiaz. "In 1940 my parents bought the farm next door, which was then owned by Mr Craig, as an additional holding. "Apricot harvest always came at Christmas time but our mother always managed to get away from the job long enough to cook Christmas dinner. I remember in particular one Christmas Eve when a sudden windstorm blew away the sulphur box full of trays and freshly pitted apricots; also a hundred trays of fruit laid out to dry. The trays were all smashed as well as the loss of the fruit so that was a very sad Christmas. "One entertainment enjoyed as children, on a full moonlit night, was a paper chase. Two or three children would be given a half hour start to lay the trail of torn up paper. 'The pack' would then follow the trail - lots of fun and no cost except the odd shirt or pants torn on barbed-wire fences. "There were other nights when all the young folk came to our home and Dad and Mum taught us to dance. The table was taken out to make room and as there was no lino the board floor was ideal, while the old gramophone supplied the music. 611

Load of Grapes (about 3 tons) ► on Owen & Pearson's truck •

Load of apples on Bill Smith's Maple Leaf truck

►

• Sultana Drying on Don Ross' Farm 1884 with Gay Ross in the foreground

612

. Brick Kiln on Scenic Hill L to R: Arnold Jackson , Valma Parker, Beryl Jones

•

• Prunes drying on Farm 1882

•

The Old Spray Cart & "Biddy"

613

Bee Hive in wall of House on Farm 1882

"Sundays, after church, were usually filled in by riding our bikes up Scenic Hill to explore or out into the Mallee. We rode many miles. "Summer afternoons were always ended with a lovely swim in the channel. It was illegal even then but nonetheless very refreshing." When her nursing training was completed, Marie served with the Australian Inland Mission as a Nursing Sister at Beltana, Oodnadatta and Alice Springs. Reenie stayed at home and worked on the farm. In 1965 she purchased the farm from her father and worked it for a further fifteen years. She is now a widow and still resides on a portion of the farm. Valma trained as a book-binder and worked in a printing office. She lived in the Holbrook area for many years prior to her death in 1982. Samuel and Mary stayed on the farm until both of their deaths. Sam died 4 July 1965 and Mary 16 April 1969. They are both buried in the Griffith cemetery.

Samuel David Parker born 19 October 1891 at Numurkah Vic (he was one of 8 children) died 4 July 1965 Griffith NSW married 19 July 1919 at Scots Cathedral Melbourne Mary Holden horn 6 September 1891 died 16 April 1969 Griffith NSW * *

Marie Pearl born 6 June 1920 Peak Hill NSW; married George Paton (dec'd); nine children. Lives Bateau Bay NSW.

Reenie born 6 August 1922 Peak Hill NSW; married Arnold Jackson (dec'd); five children. Lives portion of Farm 1882, Lake Wyangan NSW

Valeta born 14 March 1931 Peak Hill NSW; died 27 August 1982, buried Holbrook NSW; married Fredrick Guascoine; four children.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Reenie Jackson (nee Parker), McCarthy Road, Lake Wyangan 2680.

614

PASTRO Emilio Amadeo Pastro (always known as Amadeo) arrived in Australia in 1927. He went first to Port Pirie in South Australia and worked at any job he could find; also near Adelaide, he worked in the forest cutting timber. His first living quarters in Australia was an old spring cart with hessian bags around it. After someone suggested he should come east he arrived at Yenda taking two months to travel from Adelaide. This was towards the end of 1927. Almost immediately he started working at McWilliam's winery where he worked until he went back to Italy to marry the sweetheart he had left behind. He had been in ill health for some time, suffering from rheumatic fever and arthritis. He married Clelia Grassi and in May 1934 he returned, with his bride, to Griffith. They lived at Liza Aganetti's place; working on the farm and later leased it until, in 1938, they bought Farm 205 at Bilbul. Times were hard but they survived the big Depression, had three children - two boys and a girl. Amadeo suffered from rheumatism and heart trouble so in 1937 his brother, Aldo, arrived from Italy to work on the farm and also in the Queensland cane fields.

The Pastro Family - 1945 L to R: Clelia, Luigi, Tony, Bruna and Amadeo

Amadeo died on 27 July 1950 after a long illness; leaving his widow and three young children. Tony was only eleven years of age when he started driving the farm truck, his mother could not drive! Clelia and the boys carried on until she moved to Animoo Avenue, Griffith in 1968. The boys are still on the original farm and have purchased the adjoining farm and one at Yenda. 615

Pitting Apricots - 1938/39 L to R: Aldo Pastro, baby Tony, Clelia Pastro,

Rossetta Aramini, Eliza Bandiera, Orsolina Bandiera and Amadeo Pastro

1928 Giovanni Bends, Amadeo Pastro Alesandro Sartor, Marco Mazzarolo

Amadeo Pastro (at the left) the second or

third patient in the new Griffith Hospital after a road accident.

Amadeo Pastro born 19 July 1904, died 27 July 1950 married

Clelia Grassi born 14 April 1908, living in Griffith

• • Anthony (Tony) horn Griffith 15 June 1936. Married Vickie Scandura, three sons and lives at Bilhul. 2.

Angelo horn Griffith 24 March 1941; died 2 April 1941, buried Griffith.

Luigi born Griffith 11 March 1943. Married Edda Salvestro, two sons and lives at Bilbul.

Bruna born Griffith 7 October 1944. Married (1) John Zalunardo (div), one son and one daughter; married (2) Vince La Ruffa, two sons. Bruna lives in Griffith.

By courtesy of Clelia Pastro, Animoo Avenue, Griffith 2680 with assistance and photographs from Norina Pastro. 616

PEECK Carl Fritz August Peeck was the third child and eldest son of Carl Georg Christoph Peeck and Doris (Dorothea Sophia Beckmann). He was born 28 July 1857 in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. His parents had migrated separately from Germany c.1850 and had married in South Australia. His father farmed in the Lyndoch area until 1871, when the family with other German neighbours, crossed the border into Victoria, where they selected land in the Horsham district. About 1885 Carl and brother Heinrich crossed into New South Wales and selected a block of land in the Burrangong Parish near Urana. Here Carl met and married Kate Steer, daughter of Henry Steer and Frances Fowler. Kate was the fifth child in a family of eleven and was born at Stratford in Victoria. Carl Fritz (Charles Frederick) August Peeck Her father, after moving and Cathrine (Kate) Peeck (née Steer) - 1920 around Victoria, finally settled on Courtesy Audrey James (née Westman) "Mahonga Park", also in the Urana district. Soon after Carl and Kate's first child, Beatrice was born in 1889, they packed up and moved further north, where Carl selected a block of land in the Wyangan Parish which he called "Lake View". This land was later resumed in 1912 by the Government for the Griffith Irrigation Scheme. Carl from this time on, adopted the English form of his name - Charles Frederick August Peeck - officially. Three more girls, Alice, Annie and Edie and three sons Percy, Roy and Fred were born while Charles and Kate were living here. According to Percy, their block was fairly dry and wasn't sufficient to support the family so Charles had to go away shearing. The Mallee scrub was cleared from the block by Chinese. Percy said that in the 1902 drought (which was a very bad one) they pulled the thatched roofs off the barns, chaffed it up, mixed it with molasses and salt and fed it to the animals. He also said they wouldn't eat rabbits, as in the plague times he had to kill hundreds a day with a stick. They would fence around the dams, leaving holes for the rabbits to come in and he would wield a stick and then bury them afterwards. 617

Sometime after leaving the district Carl ("Charles") and Kate Peeck revisiting their "Lake View" homestead and what was once their garden. Courtesy Audrey James (nee Westman)

All the children had to help with the chores. Beatrice mostly helped her mother. Edie tells "if a dust storm blew up while she and Roy were getting the cows in for milking, they had been told to stay where they were until it blew over for fear of getting lost"! Schooling at "Lake View" was a 'Half Time School' - with three days one week and two days the next. Mr Broderick was one of the teachers who taught at the "Lake View" half time school; also Miss Mary Amelia Beaumont' taught there.

Cake Uiew Cennis Ball. og..4

To be held in

MR. C. PEECK'S BARN, Cake Wm

Gents' Ticket, 4s.

1111

Tea, 6 p.m., is.

See Series 1 - Beaumontliohnstone entry 618

In 1912 Charles received £3.10.0. per acre for his "Lake View" property. He then moved, for the last time to The Rock, NSW where he bought a property calling it "Lyndoch" after Lyndoch Valley in South Australia where he was born. On leaving "Lake View" Mr and Mrs Peeck were presented with an Illuminated Memorial by the bachelors of Lake View, Mount Ida and Jondaryan as an expression of appreciation for the hospitality and joy over the years.

AKE VIE\ 1(-.V.k.:11:;.i. V12. theiti.14:111:LUI LAliE.VIEW MOONT 11),1 and JUNUAItYlute much pleasure* A1\11) J-:AMILY with as a blot of our l'Ntean. anti In J1Jit'fili Rs ufinhrana~ .1( th,' nuns, tun othennd) furlimulal in Any Our kNaete h iir nmist. '416 all suhady tovJ11,1 Irast Out they will 4,0,1 nuny INV) Ai ubli.1% m Ilk „lined Ithy Hi the y.'3IN t.

(

"Illuminated Memorial" presented to Mr & Mrs Peeck in 1912 Courtesy Audrey James (nee Westman)

619

SKETCH showing Selector's properties in relationship to Lake Wyangan and the main Canal

mATC..lx

AupQGv JA.G.

exY

NI Arc,.

•-\\ '..;\.\ r•

LA MC •

T p•OK"S

mC CA,•12,,v

_ [An L.

AL-101141.

JANGG

1.1 xI XLY

NC COMyAN

Olk.VCR.

v~anwo1M I

C waTcar

r=1,

.•

zi•

..IC S

PAY1ES

MLLIAN

! ta , u. 5.1

429

191

G 4620 1 3

2.3

Pant.' hurt

Detail of Verandah Rock Cemetery

Pre.sh tenon 4:7 - Church of Erland S 662

3. 0. 0 6 Roman C..ilholk /78. .7. 0 61.4 1-03.

200d Plantation

620

Carl Georg Christoph Peeck" born c. 1825 died 4 Jan 1919, aged 94 yrs buried Uranquinty NSW married 15 February 1852 Lyndoch Valley SA Dorothea (Doris) Sophia Beckmann born c.1830 died 10 May 1920, aged 90 yrs buried Uranquinty NSW

Henry Steer born 1833 Devon, England died 25 Sept 1909 buried Albury NSW married 8 September 1856 Eltham Vic Frances Fowler born 6 May 1838 Dorset Eng died 11 August 1924 buried Albury NSW

• Carl Fritz August Peeck (Charles Frederick August Peeck) born 28 July 1857, Lyndoch Valley SA died 27 August 1923 buried Wagga Wagga NSW

married I June 1887 "Nlahonga Park" near Urana NSW •

Cathrine (Kate) Steer born 7 March 1866 Stratford Vic died 11 June 1947 Wagga buried Wagga Wagga NSW

• • 1.

Beatrice May born 7 March 1889 at Burrangong NSW. Married John August Lander. Buried Rookwood Cemetery NSW.

Alice Ruby born 19 January 1891 at "Lake View" NSW. Married Heinrich Koth. Cremated Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney NSW.

Percy Charles Henry born 12 June 1893 at Narrandera NSW. Married Vera Isabel Parker. Cremated Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney NSW.

Annie Catherine born 27 July 1895 at Narrandera NSW. Married James Parker. Buried Wagga Wagga NSW.

Edith Frances born 25 March 1898 at Narrandera NSW. Married Sydney Ellis Westman. Buried Wagga Wagga NSW.

Roy Robert born 4 September 1900 "Lake View" NSW. Unmarried. Cremated Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney NSW.

Frederick Leonard born 25 August 1907 at "Lake View" NSW. Married Grace Peacock. Cremated Kiama NSW.

By courtesy of Mr Charles & Mrs Kate Peeck's Grandchildren: Enid Bastick (nee Lander), 11 Linwood Street, Guildford Ron Peeck, 123 Docker Street, Wagga Wagga Olga Hay (née Westman), 193 Myrtle Street, Myrtleford Audrey James (nee Westman), "Cubbaroo", Cassilis Road, Mudgee Hazel Anderson (n6e Parker), 48 Nixon Street, Wagga Wagga.

All references to Peeck/Peech family in "Griffith & District Pioneers Series I" refer to this Peeck family

621

PERUCH Guiseppe Peruch who was born at San Stefano, Province of Treviso, Northern Italy on 1 May 1899 married Guiseppina Polese in 1925. Guiseppina had been born at Codogne, Province of Treviso on 1 May 1903. Guiseppe arrived in Australia from Italy about 1927 leaving his wife and baby daughter, Rosina, in Italy. He eventually came to Griffith about 1930 and lived in a small tin shack at Hanwood where he share farmed tobacco. Guiseppina and Rosina arrived in Hanwood in 1933. Rosina recalls - "When my mother and I arrived in Hanwood from Italy I had to start school at the age of six. Not being able to speak the English language I had a very hard time of it. I could not understand what the teacher or pupils said. I remember feeling very lonely. My parents had very little money - our food was very basic. They grew all their own vegetables and my mother made cheese and butter and raised chickens for the table. She also made our clothes." A few years later they bought a farm in Yenda Farm 814. A son, Luigi (known as Louie), was born at Guiseppina Peruch and Rosina Yenda in 1937. Guiseppe and Guiseppina farmed and lived taken on arrival from Italy in 1933 at Yenda until 1948 when the family moved to Gosford. Courtesy Rosina Ferrarin They retained the farm for about ten years when it was sold (née Peruch) to Guiseppe's nephew Giovanni Peruch and his wife Genoveffa. Guiseppe and Guiseppina lived in Gosford until their deaths. Guiseppina died on 3 August 1981 aged 78 years and Guiseppe passed away 24 October 1986. They are both buried at Gosford. Guiseppe and Guiseppina had two children:* Rosina born Italy 6 December 1926. Married Aldo Ferrarin (now dec'd) and they had four children - Maria, John, Robert and Rita. Rosina lives at Eastwood. * Luigi ("Louie") born Yenda 8 September 1937; married Sylvia Gallard and they had three children - Christina, Deanna and Stephen. Louie and Sylvia were tragically killed in a road accident on Mangrove Mountain.

By courtesy of Rosina Ferrarin (née Peruch), 66 Balaclava Road, Eastwood 2122.

622

The Ferrarin Family taken Griffith August 1947 Maria Ferrarin and Prodochimor Ferrarin are third and fourth from the left in the back row and the second and third child in the front row are their children Louie and Ida Ferrarin. (The others are unknown).

St Therese' Convent School Yenda - 1939 L to R - From the Back Row 4: Reg Mahy, Billy Taylor, Beno Forner, Charlie Shields, Maurice Fouling, Harley Robinson, John Cullen Row 3: Lena Zanatta, Dorothy Harnett, Gloria Pitt, Rosina Peruch, Beryl Millis, Daphne Southgate, Elia Poscoliero, Reginita Cunial Row 2: Eileen Whelan, Jean Pitt, Elaine Millis, Mills,Doris Fregona, Val Cullen, Dorothy Broderick , Marge Fox Row 1: James Mahy, Boyd Doolan, unknown, Max Cunial, Earle Sully, Tom Condon Courtesy Rosina Ferrarin (nee Peruch)

623

PERUCII Vittorio Emanule Peruch was born on 18 June 1904 at Cordegnano, Treviso, Northern Italy to Luigi and Luigia Peruch. He was one of twins. His twin was named Emanule Vittorio Peruch. Vittorio did his military service and then worked on the family farm in Italy. He married Venera Santarosa (she was born in 1907 in Brugnera, Treviso, Northern Italy) in the early 1930s. Two girls were born to them in Italy. Vittorio arrived in Australia about 1936-37 and came to Yenda. He lived with and worked for his brother, Guiseppe, on Farm 814, Yenda. Venera and Vittorio Peruch Venera arrived in Australia Working amongst the prune trees about 1938 alone as the two little Courtesy Sergio Peruch girls had died. The two daughters were alive when Vittorio left Italy but by the time he landed on Australian soil both girls had died from some fever sickness. Vittorio and Venera's first home on Farm 1918 was a hut made of hessian bags dipped in cement with a dirt floor. Vittorio worked this farm until about 1946. Their only son, Sergio, was born in 1940 in this bag hut on Farm 1918 and was delivered by the district midwife, Sister Mackay. Another daughter, Ellis, was born in 1944. In 1946 Vittorio moved his family to Farm 1919, Yenda and he share-farmed Farm 1919 (which was owned by the Saggin family) for approximately one year. In 1946 Vittorio purchased Farm 1918, Yenda and the family moved back to the hessian bag hut! Vittorio, helped by Venera and little son Sergio, worked the farm which was partially planted to oranges and apples. They grew vegetables for the market and slowly planted the farm fully to oranges, apples, peaches, prunes and grapes. They were assisted in the hard work by a white draught horse - "Boxer". This horse had such a gentle nature that the children loved riding L to R: Vittorio, Louie, Rosina, and him bare-back to and from the horse paddock. Venera with Ellis and Sergio at the front "Boxer" would pull the trailer loaded with produce Courtesy Sergio Peruch (destined for the Sydney markets) to the Yenda rail 624

trucks. Carrots were grown for market and were washed in hessian bags, by hand, in the dam. "Boxer" on his 'retirement' lived out his years in the horse paddock on Farm 1918. By this time Vittorio had purchased a secondhand W4 steel-wheeled tractor. As means of transport the family had one pushbike. Venera made the clothes for her family and as well she tended her vegetable garden, raised chickens and made cheese from the surplus cow's milk. At night, after the Venera in front of her new home farm work was done, Venera would handon Farm 1918, Yenda Courtesy Sergio Peruch wash the family's clothes by torchlight with little Sergio holding the torch for his Mum. Venera loved flowers - she was proud of her lovely flower garden which she grew usually from cuttings. Vittorio made wine from some of the grapes he grew. In 1950 the family built a five room new fibro house and moved into it in 1951. This house, at this time (1993), is still lived in by Sergio and his family. In 1965 Vittorio and Venera moved to Block 2257, Yenda which was owned by their son, Sergio. Two years later Vittorio retired, so he sold his Farm 1918, Yenda to Sergio and purchased Block 2257 at Yenda. Venera died in Griffith Hospital on 17 April 1973 at 66 years of age and Vittorio died in Griffith on 23 June 1975, at 71 years of age. They are buried together in the Catholic Section of the Griffith Cemetery. Children born to Vittorio and Venera Peruch:* Two daughters deceased in Italy. •

Sergio born on Farm 1918, Yenda 18 April 1940. Married Gloria Poscoliero at Yenda. They live on Farm 1918 and have one daughter, Simone Maree.

•

Ellis born Griffith in 1944. Married Dario Canzian (dec'd 1993). They have three children - Amelia, Vanessa and Steven. Ellis lives in Yenda.

Ellis and Sergio l'eruch - c.19.17 Courtesy Sergio Peruch

By courtesy of Sergio and Gloria Peruch, Farm 1918, Yenda 2681. 625

PERUZZI "Is this a Gypsy camp?" asked Anna of Giovanni Peruzzi (her brother-in-law) as she stepped off the train at the Griffith railway station in 1927. "No, its the town of Griffith" was his reply. Giovanni Peruzzi had previously arrived in Griffith in 1924 by train from Melbourne to live and work in the area. Giovanni had gone to meet his mother, Vergina Peruzzi, and his brothers, Angelo, Ernesto, Guido and Guido's, wife Anna (née Barichello), and their daughter, Norina. They had sailed from Italy on the ship "RE. D'Italia" - a voyage of fifty-six days. After collecting their belongings Giovanni took the family, in a horse and buggy, to their first home in Griffith - on Mr Brown's farm No. 58. While driving through the main street a gentleman, in a horse and sulky, lifted his hat to Anna, who was very surprised. The gentleman was Dr Burrell. Giovanni explained to Anna that Australia was not like being in Italy, as everyone was treated with respect and as an equal. Class distinction, at that time, was very strong in Italy. However, Ernesto was not very Pierina and Giovanni Peruzzi impressed with what he saw and said that if he could have walked back to Italy he would have done so! Their first home was only a shed with a curtain to divide the kitchen from the bedrooms. The shed stood in the cattle paddock surrounded by a fence. Very little cooking or washing facilites were available and water had to be carted from the irrigation canal - half a mile away! The family had arrived at the beginning of the Depression years and worked very hard as money was very scarce. They grew their own vegetables, raised poultry, kept pigs for salami and bacon and made their own wine. There was very little entertainment in the community so apart from going to church, they held family gatherings and played Bocce. The women made all their own clothes, even the men's, to help save money. Anna and her mother-in-law worked in the fields during the day and did the housework at night. Guido was a bootmaker and is believed to have been the first bootmaker in Griffith. He and Anna had four children, their eldest daughter Norina being their only child not born in Australia. As he was working in the town as a bootmaker and was amongst English speaking people all the time Guido learnt English quickly. He did most of the family shopping. Norina, the eldest of the children, went to school at Hanwood and after learning English was the interpreter for her family and friends for many, many years. She was so small that she could hardly see over the counters and desks and had to stand on tiptoe to see to whom she was talking. At first all the family lived on Farm 58 Hanwood which they 'rented'. Farm 454 Yoogali was bought by the four brothers - one quarter share each - at the end of 1927. 1929 saw Giovanni buy Farm 1134, Hanwood on his own and in 1930 Angelo, Ernesto, Guido and family bought Farm 59, Hanwood and all lived together till Angelo 626

married Regina Sartor, from Italy, in 1935. Two more daughters and a son were born to Guido and Anna in Australia and two daughters and a son were born to Angelo and Regina. Ernesto died at the early age of thirty three years. He had been in ill health for some time. Giovanni married Pierina Reginato by proxy in 1933. They had four daughters. All brothers lived on their farms till their deaths. Now all the farms have been sold. Anna went to live with her son, Joe, in Wakaden Street, Griffith. Pierina went to live in Almoola Street, Griffith with her two younger daughters and Regina with her son at Yoogali. In 1935 another member of the family, Vergina's son-in-law, Innocente Ballestrin arrived in Griffith. His wife, Giustina and four children arrived in 1949. All members of the extended family came from One Di Fonte, Treviso, Italy. Although times were hard, family life and unity was very strong. The Peruzzi family are proud of what they have achieved in Australia and proud to have had five generations of their family living in Australia. However, they still keep some of their customs and cultures and most of the families are bilingual. In 1981, a family reunion of all relatives numbered about one hundred and fifty. The number has since increased considerably. The family gathered to celebrate Anna's 90th birthday in 1986. Her family at that time numbered thirty-seven - she had thirteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. Anna lived with her son till 1984 when her daughters, Norina, Mary and Elaine took care of her till her death in 1989 at the grand age of 93 years. She is buried at Griffith. Pierina died in Merrigal Street Nursing Home in 1987 - she is buried in Griffith. Regina Peruzzi lives with her son at Yoogali - she is eighty-one years old.

Peruzzi Family and Friends on Farm 59, Ilauvvood - about 1936

627

Guido and Anna Peruzzi

Ernesto Peruzzi

Giustina and Innocente Ballestrin

Angelo and Regina Peruzzi

Anna Peruzzi pitting and drying apricots with Elaine and Mary

Norina Peruzzi aged 16 years

628

Vergina Peruzzi (nee Menegetti) born c.1872 died 5 February 1939 (buried Griffith) arrived Australia 1927 a 1.

Guido Peruzzi born Italy 8 March 1897; died Griffith 20 November 1964; married Anna Barichello and they had four children Norina Peruzzi born Italy 13 February 1926; married I. Aldo Pastro (dec'd); lives Hanwood; three children. Joseph Peruzzi born Griffith 21 October 1928; 2. unmarried; lives Griffith. Mary Peruzzi born Griffith 2 January 1930; married 3. Bruno Bertoldo; lives Hanwood; six children. 4. Elaine Peruzzi born Griffith 21 August 1932; married Julio Miotello; lives Griffith; four children.

Vergina Peruzzi and grand daughter. Mary

Giustina born Italy 2 June 1899; died Griffith 4 March 1969; married Innocente Ballestrin (dec'd) and they had four childrenGino Ballestrin born Italy 27 November 1924 (dec'd); married Elaine 1. Moore; no children. Maria Ballestrin born Italy 31 August 1926; married Gulielmo 2. Reginato; lives Canberra; two children. Giovanni Ballestrin born Italy 10 March 1928; died Griffith 4 March 3. 4.

1958; married Maria Gallo; one child. Line Ballestrin born Italy 9 January 1931; married Erminio Pasin; lives Griffith; two children.

Giovanni born Italy 1902; died Griffith 23 August 1952; married (by proxy) Pierina Reginato and they had four children Mary Peruzzi born Griffith 19 January 1934; married Peter Suine; I. lives Griffith; four children. Diomira Peruzzi born Griffith 19 June 1935; married Mario Cardalana; 2. lives Griffith; two children. Ires Peruzzi born Griffith 15 September 1936; married Otavio Reginato 3. 4.

(dec'd); lives Griffith; two children. Joyce Peruzzi born Griffith 18 October 1942; married Tony Foggiato; lives Coffs Harbour; six children.

Angelo born Italy 1904; died Griffith 16 July 1960; married Regina Sartor and they had three children Elsie Peruzzi born Griffith 24 February 1937; married Mario Pandolfo I. (dec'd); lives Yoogali; four children. Bruno Peruzzi born Griffith 13 June 1938; married Unita Franco; lives 2. Yoogali; five children. Rena Peruzzi born Griffith 24 May 1944; married Marino Guadagnini; 3. lives Yoogali; three children.

Ernesto born Italy 1901; did not marry and died at Goulburn in 1934 at only 33 years of age.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Norina Pastro (née Peruzzi), PO Box 19, Hanwood 2680. 629

PFITZNER Gustav Christian Pfitzner was born on 6 June 1885 at Eudunda SA and Bertha Mary Imhoff was born 6 January 1889 at Crystal Brook SA. They were married in 1908 at Snowtown SA and first worked for farmers, then sharefarmed at Murray Bridge SA until 1914 - a year of drought. Gustav's brother had moved to New South Wales and had written to say that there was work available near the township of The Rock. Gustav sharefarmed there at first then later for the Heckendorfs at Lockhart. He drew a mallee block in 1923. The following summer, with one son, Norman aged 14 and a wagon loaded with roofing iron, tank material and oddments such as nails and solder, etc. He followed the track, cut and used by the Surveyors when surveying the blocks, past Lake Wyangan and Collin's Lease, through Wilga Gap in the Tabbita Range, onto the new block. A house roof was erected using pine poles cut on the spot, a 2,000 gallon tank was riveted together and when the family moved in four weeks later. A shower of rain had provided drinking water. On the second trip with the wagon, along with the family of eight, they had found room to bring along forty laying pullets. These produced well and the surplus eggs were sold to Dave Taylor's store in Griffith. There they were, with a young family of six children, on a rough mallee block, no roads, no fences, no cleared land, but with a lot of hope, ambition and determination! Their youngest son, Victor relates William and Norman Pfitzner "The house was completed using undressed Courtesy Vic Pfitzner weatherboards on the outside and hessian on the inside walls and ceilings. The house was neither snake, mouse, nor fly proof. We burnt mosquito coils at night and hung coils of flypaper from the ceiling during the day. Very few things were bought in shops. A wooden box served as a clothes basket, furniture was made from kerosene cases and a table was made from the elevator box off an old stripper. The beds were camp stretchers and a cot was homemade using the staves from a keg for a bed board. To keep butter, milk and jellies, a cool safe made from hessian was used. Melted butter was common and the home made `Coolgardie' safe was generally surrounded by bees and hornets. Stock water was always a problem and had to be carted from Ryan's place where Dad had helped to sink a dam. They found time to build a mallee roller from a hollow log, but the rabbits and kangaroos ate the first crop. Bill, the second son, at the age of thirteen, 630

worked forty rabbit traps and sold the carcases to the Griffith freezing works who had a pick up run around the district, with a motor truck driven by a Mr Gorman. Near the house was a rabbit burrow which sheltered a colony of snakes. My mother told the story of the time, soon after arriving, when Dad and the two eldest boys, Norman and Bill went to Yenda to pick up a milking cow. That particular evening, following a very hot day, snakes seemed to appear from everywhere. Mother placed the smallest of the children on the table to keep them out of the way and shot several snakes with an old single barrel shotgun! During the Depression, Dad and Norman worked near Goolgowi, clearing roads. By 1929 there were nine children and all those who were old enough helped with the cows, pigs, poddy lambs, calves, fowls, morning wood, etc.

.,, Pfitzner Family at Stackpoole Fanu - 1934 Back L to R: Gustav (father), Carl Friedrich Wilhelm (grandfather), George (cousin), Bertha (mother), Walter, Annie (aunt), Gustav ("Bill") Front L to R: Betty, Elsie, Martin, Victor, Ann, Mable Courtesy Vic Pfitzner

In 1926 a bore was sunk by the Government boring plant. It produced about 2,000 gallons per day - if the wind blew! The water was very hard and salty but grew good tomatoes and some other vegetables. In 1933 Dad planted a successful orchard of grapes, apricots, figs and peaches in a gully by the house. The fruit was bottled or made into jam in the copper in the backyard, using up to 701b of sugar at a time. Soap was also made in the same copper. Bread was homemade. The bottles of yeast, with the corks tied down with a string were stored on the mantelpiece. Mondays meant a full day washing. Sometimes the water had to be carted from the shed in buckets. Rabbit was a nice change from corned mutton, especially when the sheep were poor. In the winter we killed a pig and very little was ever wasted! Mutton was corned in kerosene tins, using enough salt to float an egg. The meat was weighed down with bricks to keep it in the brine. The liquid was lightly 631

boiled causing the fat to rise which, when cooled, set hard and sealed the meat in the brine. This corned meat was exceptionally tender and sweet. Every spring we gathered ripe quandongs to be stewed or dried for later use. Kangaroo skins were nailed to a tree to dry and then used as floor mats. In winter we had an open fire of mallee stumps in the kitchen which only had a dirt floor. The long winter evenings were spent playing draughts or euchre, or reading books from the travelling library at the school - all by the light of a kerosene lantern. The 'windup' gramophone provided music, with neighbours swapping records and sometimes spending evenings together. A highlight for the children was to bring home a friend from school to spend the night! As kids, we made pocket money selling rabbit skins to Kenny and Salisbury in Griffith for 1/6d to 2/6d per pound. This meant we had to set the alarm and go around the traps on frosty mornings well before breakfast in order to get to school on time. The wheat crops improved and soon became a reliable source of income. Dad was a dedicated farmer and entered the crops in local competitions as well as exhibiting wheat in the shows at Griffith, Sydney, London and Chicago, with some degree of success. When the price of wheat fell during the Depression, he ran pigs, selling up to a hundred porkers at a time. The cows provided separated milk for the sows, and along with boiled rabbits and wheat, they did quite well. By 1937 we had a lounge room built by Jack and Clive Myott of Goolgowi complete with a brick fireplace, floor and an Aladdin lamp! Electricity came through the district in 1966 and piped water in 1976. Trips to Griffith in the buggy for groceries usually meant a two day effort, sometimes having to lead the horse in the dark to find the track through the scrub on the way home. Eventually the 1928 Model-T Ford truck was a vast improvement, being capable of 15 miles per hour!. Wheat was carted about fifteen miles to the nearest siding - four loads a day, two ton a load. The thirties and forties were very dry and dusty and many farmers walked off their farms, leaving behind fifteen years of sheer hard work. Bush fires were common, as were mouse plagues following a good year. There was a continual rabbit plague right up until myxomatosis was introduced in 1951. When the World War II began, two boys joined the army and two girls took jobs in Sydney to comply with manpower requirements. The happiest occasion was the end of the war and the return home of these family members. In 1927 a tennis team was formed and later on tennis courts were built at the new Stackpoole school. Australian Rules and cricket were played in season. Most Saturday nights dances were held in the school with Gordon McIntyre providing music with an accordion, admission being 'Ladies a plate' and Gents - two shillings. The whole family went along, some had cars while others drove home with a lantern swinging from the back of the sulky. Hunting with a kangaroo dog or rifle and sometimes with a fox whistle was a popular past time for the boys. Later on 'spotlighting' with a strong light powered from the vehicle battery became a popular event. My mother was a veritable representative of the pioneers. Descended from Cornish miners on her mother's side, she was raised in the humble life-style of the traditional Methodists of that era. 632

•1. A

T Model Ford - prepared for the trip back to S.A.

Bill Pfitzner and Reaper and Binder c. 1930

►

Wheat carting with old army truck after World War 11

L to R: Mabel Pfitzner, Jean Graham, Betty Betts, Millie Tyson. Annie Graham

►

erN

Photos courtesy Vic Pfitzner

633

When conditions were hard and drought and dust prevailed, she carried on without complaint, always presented a cheerful outlook to her children and others and always with a strong work ethic. She was cook, seamstress, nurse, teacher and companion, always encouraging and sensitive to others' problems. She longed for such things as water for a garden, taps in the kitchen, etc but harsh times put the necessities of life first. The huge work load of raising nine children through sickness and bad times left her undaunted and she carried on as an inspiration to all, to the age of ninety five years."

Gustav Christian Pfitzner born Euduna SA 6 June 1885

Gustav Christian Pfitzner and Bertha May (nee Imhoff) - 20 June 1965 Courtesy Vic Pfitzner

married Snowtown SA 1908

Bertha Mary Imhoff born Crystal Brook SA 6 January 1889

Norman Richard born Adelaide SA 10 August 1909; died Keith SA; married Merle Eleanor Peucker (dec'd).

William Gustav born 22 April 1911; married Mavis Marie Huf (dec'd); lives at Griffith.

Walter Kenneth born 30 August 1915; died Keith SA; married Doris Joyce Peucker; lives at Keith SA.

Mabel born 17 June 1917; died 1989; married Carl Conrad Shearer.

Elsie Muriel born 26 April 1921; married Gerham Oscar Ziersch; lives at Horsham Vic.

Ann born 9 July 1923; married Frederick Albert Bock (dec'd); lives at Barham NSW.

Betty Bertha born Griffith 14 July 1925; married Keith Alfred Wright; lives at Umina NSW.

Martin born 25 May 1927; died 1974; married Valma Elizabeth Holden.

Victor ("Vic") born 15 November 1929; married Sylvia Ida Altman; lives at Griffith.

By courtesy of Vic Pfitzner, 22 Holmes Crescent, Griffith 2680. 634

POOLE Fred Poole and Elizabeth (nee Gudgeon) were married in England in 1910. They immigrated to Australia on separate journeys and settled in the Lockhart district for some years before arriving to take up a farm at what was known as "Mt Elliott" Yenda - on the Whitton Stock Route - in the year 1924. Fred had been born in England on 5 January 1890 the son of John Poole and Kate (nee Huscroft). Elizabeth Gudgeon was born in England on 3 October 1890. She had to leave school at the age of 12 years to care for her invalid mother, while she herself had, seemingly, suffered every throat disease - including quinsy, scarlet fever, diphtheria, tonsillitis - which later caused so many health problems. Elizabeth, with two small sons, Gordon and Jack, travelled by sea (being sea sick every day) on a voyage which took six weeks, in crude conditions, below deck. She arrived in the French Park area (near Lockhart) - to a basic tent with two small children and only a dog for Elizabeth Poole with her parents Mum and company. It was very different from her English Dad Gudgeon and sons Jack and Gordon. lifestyle. Added to this was the further stress of Photo taken in England. Fred being away so much - employed wheat lumping and dam sinking, etc. By 1924, with now ten children, Fred bought the farm "Mt Elliott" at Yenda. On Good Friday they left French Park by horse drawn, covered wagons transporting all their belongings - along with cows, chooks etc. This journey took all the weekend with their arriving at "Mt Elliott" on the Tuesday after Easter. k They lived in an open tin shed until Fred could build a house. The house when built was made of wattle and daub which was a mixture of mud and straw. Pine trees being plentiful, as the farm was bushland, formed the foundation for the walls which were then covered with mud. These walls "Mt Elliott" llomestead - Yenda c.1930's were very durable and each year a new coat of kalsomine was brushed on to brighten up the inside walls, while the outside was painted with superphosphate which made it look like cement. A twelve foot verandah was added to the east, west and north sides of the house,

635

where all the family slept - outdoors! You can imagine the problem with "mossies" and flies with no gauze! Fred worked long hours, especially in the wheat sowing season. He would be up long before dawn to feed and harness the horses in readiness to start sowing at first light. Ten horses were usually used which took time to get ready. After coming to "Mt Elliott" two more children were born, bringing the total to twelve. Elizabeth baked all the bread - also beautiful brownies (tea cake), scones and sponge cakes, using a hand beater. Four cows were usually milked so the separating had to be done every morning before the milk curdled. The butter was always home-made. These jobs were the girl's responsibility as the boys helped with farm work. They all learnt to milk and ride a horse at an early age. The electricity was never connected so kerosene lamps were always used, and drip safes for keeping milk and butter from melting away. Education was a problem. Travelling by horse and sulky with five kids at all times. As one was old enough to leave, another one started. In the early years the only way to town was around the Whitton Stock Route via the cemetery, but Fred kept on to the Roads Department to have the road made through Mallee Point (where it is today), which was a distance of only 7 miles.

Poole Family at Mt Elliott - 1934/35 Back: Gordon, Ralph, Bob, Jack, Elizabeth (Mum) and Fred (Dad) Centre: Margaret, Nancy, Olive, Kath, Laurel and Dorothy Front: Dick and Arthur

Times were hard! The Depression of the 1930s, when things were so dry with drought after drought and the very low prices, were enough to break anyone's heart. Daughter Dorothy remembers Elizabeth selling a few eggs and butter to buy a piece of material to make the girls new dresses for the school picnic which was the big event. All clothes were made on a little hand-turned machine. Fruit was cheap because of the poor market prices so Elizabeth made all the jam. The jam wasn't stored in bottles but in four 636

gallon tins with layers and layers of brown paper pasted over the top to preserve it. This jam was beautiful with cream and home made bread - as any hungry kids would know. At the outbreak of World War II the four eldest sons, Gordon, Jack, Bob and Ralph joined the armed forces in 1940 and served overseas. Gordon, Jack, Ralph and their brother-in-law, Jock McInnes, served in Singapore. Bob went to the Middle East where he was one of the "Rats of Tobruk" and later served in the Far East and Islands. Bob survived the war. Gordon and Ralph died in POW camps. Jack returned home. These were heartbreaking years for Fred and Elizabeth. Fred's health was a problem so the farm was given up in late 1942. Elizabeth was crippled with rheumatics and moved to Griffith to live with her daughter, Laurel and then with Margaret and Dorothy. Fred moved to Nowra where he lived until 1952 where he died at the age of 62 and is buried in the Nowra Cemetery. Elizabeth died in 1967 aged 77 years and is buried in Griffith Cemetery. Some of Dorothy's memories: "I remember one time Dad caught his hand in the cogs of the windmill. His Fred Poole c.1952 minced up thumb base was smothered in iodine and then my brother jumped on the horse to ride seven miles to get the Doctor. We stood a kerosene lamp on the gate post to show the Doctor where we lived. The old fashioned remedies worked well at our farm. Eucalyptus and Vicks were used for colds, Iodine for cuts. We were the healthiest kids at Yenda school, getting the prize for attendance each year. On the cold winter mornings when half frozen, we would jump over the back seat of the sulky without stopping the horse, and run until we were exhausted and then clamber in again. "During the Depression years the unemployed, carrying their swags, would walk along the Stock Route and call in and ask "Missus would you give us a sandwich and some tea?" Not one swagman attempted to harm Mum or us kids. They were regular callers. "We had one horse, an ex trotter, that Dad bought from Wagga which took us to school in later years. She was terrified of steam engines. One day when we were turning into the laneway leading to the stables in town, and right on the culvert, she saw the steam engine. This resulted in her spinning a 180 degree turn and over went the wheel into the channel and kids went flying everywhere. This wasn't the only time the kids were scattered over the road and the shafts broken - much to Dad's disgust. "My memories of the farm We were very happy ones. There were tennis parties every Sunday as we had a court. The neighbours would arrive and usually about twenty would stay for tea, with salads and sponge cakes. Dances were held on the open verandahs to the music of the mouth organ or accordion. "After wheat stripping Dad took a bag of wheat to the mill and had it ground and this was our porridge (very healthy). Mutton was our winter meat and roosters were our summer meat. Home cured bacon was our breakfast menu. Money was very scarce but we never went hungry." 637

Fred and Elizabeth's Family 1.

Gordon born England 28 April 1911. Died in POW Camp. Unmarried.

Jack born England 12 September 1912. Married Pat Murdock and they have two children. He died 20 August 1979 and is buried in Griffith.

Kathleen ("Biddy") born Albury 7 March 1914. Married Mick Griffin and had five children. She died in Melbourne in 1989 and was cremated.

Margaret born Albury 27 March 1915. Married Jock McInnes and then later Bruce Jardine. She has three sons and lives in Griffith.

Robert ("Bob") born Albury 7 May 1916. Married Thelma Featherstone. He died November 1991 and is buried in Griffith.

Ralph born Albury 27 May 1917. Died in POW Camp. Unmarried.

Nancy born Lockhart 27 September 1919. Married Don Darrington. She had three children. Later married Fred Williams. She died 18 August 1970 and was cremated. Her ashes were laid in Griffith Cemetery with her mother.

Elizabeth Poole (n6e Gudgeon)

Olive born Lockhart 5 July 1921. Married Geoff Langburne (dec'd) and they had four children. Olive now lives at Marsden Qld.

Dorothy born French Park 24 December 1922. Married Reg Palframan and they have three children and live at Griffith.

10.

Laurel horn Lockhart 8 February 1924. Married Frank Molloy and they had three children. She died in May 1988 and her ashes are laid at Griffith with her mother and sister, Nancy.

11.

Arthur born Griffith 23 November 1926. Married Elaine Gall (dec'd) and they had one child. After Elaine's death Arthur remarried and he and Joyce now live at Kiama.

12.

Leslie ("Dick") born Griffith 17 April 1929. Married Alice McIntosh. They have seven surviving children and live at Nowra.

Entry and photographs courtesy of Dorothy Palframan (née Poole), Ortella Street, Griffith.

638

POSCOLIERO Antonio Eugenio Poscoliero was born on 17 September 1912 at Priabona, Monte Di Malo, Vicenza, Northern Italy. He was the eldest son of Bernardo Poscoliero and Teresa (née Marchioro). Antonio's first job in Italy had been to learn woodwork and carpentery and he became apprenticed to a coffin maker. Antonio arrived in Australia on 1 January 1930 and came directly to Yenda to join his father. (His father, Bernado, had migrated to Australia in the early 1920s and worked at Burrinjuck Dam before coming to Yenda.) Antonio lived with his Dad in a tent at McWilliam's Wines Yenda. They worked at the winery building underground tanks. Many years later Antonio spoke of these times and told how they went to bed without having eaten when it rained as they only had an outside campfire to do the cooking! About 1932 or 1933 Antonio, together with Bernado, moved to Farm 718 at Yenda which they share-farmed for Mr Kemp until about 1935. Whilst on this farm Antonio purchased a beautiful white horse "Wallace". Antonio was so proud of his horse and often told of their many "escapades" together. On 27 May 1935 Antonio (quite often called "Tony") together with Luigi Gonzo purchased Farm Antonio Poscoliero on the left; the other man is unknown. 1911 at Yenda - a dairy farm. They each worked half of the farm separately. Antonio grew vegetables, then he purchased a Federal truck which he drove to Tallimba, West Wyalong and Temora hawking fruit and vegetables to stores and farmers. By the mid 1930s Antonio and Bernado had saved up the money for the fares so that his mother, Teresa, brother Angelo and sisters Onorina and Elia could join them in Australia. Upon the family's arrival they lived in the house Antonio and Bernado had built on Antonio's half share of Farm 1911. The family home was always a welcoming meeting place for newly arrived Italians. Gradually Antonio planted his farm with prunes, apricots, peaches and grapes and he continued to grow vegetables for the Sydney markets as well. About 1941 Antonio was interned, along with a lot of other local immigrants. He was sent to the Northern Territory where he worked on the construction of the overland railway line. He became the camp's cook and barber. (In later years family and friends came to Antonio for their haircuts. He continued to cut hair until he became too ill to do so.) Antonio was in Darwin when the Japanense bombed Darwin and he spoke of the panic and fear experienced by the people in Darwin at that time. In 1945 he was allowed home on leave to Yenda from the Internment Camp. However, he did not have to return to camp as he was then granted a release. On 9 June 1945 Antonio married Lora Lucia Croce at the Yoogali Catholic church. Lora had been born at Hanwood on 31 October 1923 and had continued to live in Hanwood until her marriage. 639

The Wedding of Antonio Poscoliero and Lora Croce L to R: Lui Cremasco, Elia Baltieri (née Poscoliero), Antonio (Groom), Lora (Bride), Romano Bandiera, Lauretta Croce, Leo Croce, Valerie Rizzardo (Flowergirl), Lido Bisa (Page Boy)

Antonio and Lora's first home was on Farm 1911 Yenda where they lived together with Antonio's family. Antonio with Lora's help gradually built up their farm. On 7 May 1946 a daughter, Gloria, was born and on 9 August 1947 a son, Desmond arrived. When the children were young, Tony and Lora always spoke Italian in the home. Consequently both Gloria and Desmond can now speak in either Italian or English. About 1950 Antonio built a new fibro house on Farm 1911 and together with Lora and the two children they moved into their new home. (This house continued to be Antonio and Lora's home until their deaths.) The rest of the Poscoliero family continued to live in the original house after Antonio and Lora moved into their new home. In the early 1950s Antonio sponsored his sister, Maria Ciscato, her husband, Antonio and children to Australia from Italy. Antonio had two brown draught horses "Nugget" and "Rosie" to help with the hard work on the farm. As things improved Antonio purchased an International truck which he used to cart wood. He cut the wood into pieces and sold it to the families in the area. He also used this truck to conduct a carrying business. Bad luck struck in the mid 1950s when Antonio was injured using a sawbench cutting up wood and he lost two and a half fingers on his right hand. After this happened Lora learnt to drive their old Chevrolet car and obtained her driver's licence. Lora was a great homemaker and a terrific cook. She loved knitting and made really beautiful garments. As well she had her vegetable garden, raised chickens and made cheese from "Nica's" (the house cow) surplus milk. On some Sunday afternoons Lora would

640

put her little children in an old pram and push it across the farm to visit the next door neighbour Venera Peruch. After a lot of sickness Antonio died in Griffith Base Hospital on 10 September 1985. Lora also suffered a lot of sickness and died on 12 November 1989 at the hospital. They are buried together in the Griffith Lawn Cemetery. Antonio and Lora's daughter, Gloria Rachele, L to R: Desmond Poscoliero, Pauline, Dukie married Sergio Peruch in Yenda and baby Karen Croce and Gloria Poscoliero in 1965. They now live at Yenda (taken on Block 1009, Hanwood) and have a daughter - Simone Maree. Their son, Desmond Ray, was born in Griffith and married Lois Hill. Desmond and Lois and their family Tanya, Tiani and Kristy - live on Farm 1911 at Yenda.

Gathering of Family and Friends on Farm 1911 - c.1953 L to R: Teresa Poscoliero, Rachele Croce, Mr Ward, Mrs Ward, Antonio Poscoliero, Lora Poscoliero, Lidio Bisa, Marino Montagner, Desmond Poscoliero, Bernado Poscoliero, Doris Croce holding Karen, Leo Croce. Front: Gloria Poscoliero, unknown, Dukie Croce.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Gloria Peruch (née Poscoliero) Farm 1918, Yenda 2681. 641

POSCOLIERO Angelo Poscoliero, the fifth child in the family of Bernardo Poscoliero and Teresa (née Marchioro), was born in Italy on 26 November 1917. Angelo came to Griffith with his mother and his sisters, Onorina and Elia in the mid 1930s. Like most migrant families the Poscoliero family came to Australia with no resources other than their family unit, their will to work, youth and enthusiasm. Private dreams, like his brother Tony's to be a carpenter, Angelo's to become a motor mechanic had to be put away as the whole family had to face an environment where the work available was on the land - ploughing, cultivating, sowing and harvesting with horses. The sixteen year old Angelo had to learn to manage horsedrawn implements, cutting rice by hand to make the perimeter tracks and to survive the long hot days isolated from home-comforts. Until he saved enough money to buy a bicycle, he walked the miles to work, which meant very early rises in the morning, and long, tired walks home at night. The women carried more than their share in the family's activity. Mother and daughters, Norma and Elia, cared for their men, as well as working whenever fruit picking was available, set up and tended chicken yards, worked ground and planted home vegetables, and made sure there was a good substantial hot meal ready for Angelo Poscoliero with his everyone when they came in. Elia can recall the first truck - 1947 endless washing, with water carted by buckets Muriel is there too - Part of his pride also! from the dam, the endless ironing, the little Courtesy Muriel Poscoliero (nee Gaspari) outside jobs and doing more of the same for any neighbour who needed a little help in this way a mighty job for a girl not yet into her teens! After the Yenda Hospital closed down and Sister Mackay delivered babies in their homes, Teresa helped many of the Italian ladies with their delivery and confinements. The Poscoliero home was a sort of focus point for a while in the early days on Farm 1911 - maybe because Tony and Bernardo had been out for a while and had some knowledge of the district, could speak enough English - a great advantage for those who could not - and maybe just because there was always a warm welcome. Sometimes the number sitting down for dinner swelled mysteriously from six to any number up to twenty - but somehow Teresa and the girls managed to perform their admirable job. Bernardo ("Barney") continued to work on Farm 1911. He planted vegetables and, until the first tractor was bought in 1940, worked the land with the horses. The one-eyed horse called "Nuggett" generally worked well with him but sometimes had his own moods and made himself difficult to catch to harness up. Barney had to be sure to approach him 642

on his "blind side" to succeed in getting the bit on. Otherwise, there would be quite a chase Bastard!!!" echoing across with comments from Barney like - "Nugge-e-e-t the paddock. However, Barney always said he was the best horse to work with. "Nuggett" always seemed to appreciate Barney's habit of lying under a willow-tree for a siesta before recommencing afternoon work. Because of Angelo's latent interest in mechanical things, he soon learned to use the first tractors when they made their appearance and bought his first car for £10, a Citroen, which made him feel like a king. He went on to begin a trucking business in later years and satisfied his longing to work with machines. Tony and his family remained on the farm - Tony having been interned during World War H for no apparent reason. Who knows why so many individuals were selected and shut up? Whilst he was away the farm was run by the remaining family members. He was happy to remain a farmer having had enough of adventure with his experiences on the construction crew laying the overland railway line from Port Augusta to Alice Springs during his enforced internment. Those hard times have gone, and people have moved on, some are gone - but memories remain of a loving family unit, laughter which helped over the rough spots, and a sense of having endured and succeeded, with a genuine contribution to this chosen land.

Bernado Poscoliero born Priabona, Monte di Malo, Vincenza, Italy - 1890 died 9 October 1957

married

Teresa Marchioro horn 5 April 1892

• died 29 June 1969 •

lolanda Maria born Italy 3 February 1911 died 19 May 1986. Married Antonio Ciscato (dec'd). Five Children - Valentino, Bruno, Rosetta, Teresa and Lidio.

Antonio born Italy 17 September 1912; died Griffith 10 September 1985. Married Lora Lucia Croce (dec'd) and they had two children - Gloria and Desmond.

Domenico born Italy 1914; died Italy 1915.

Angelo Filippo born Italy 1916; died Italy 1916.

Filippo Angelo ("Angelo") born Italy 26 November 1917; died 19 July 1990. Married Muriel Gaspari and they had five children - Rita, Phillip, Christine, Bernard and Janet.

Onorina born Italy 5 December 1919; died Sydney NSW 1940. Married Peter Bisa and had one son - Lidio.

Elia born Italy 18 January 1925. Married Ray Baltieri and they had six children - Terry, Darryl, Rhonda, Michelle, Judith and Mark.

Gelatins born Italy 1925; died Italy 1925.

By courtesy of Muriel Poscoliero, Farm 2420, Schwab Road, Yenda 2681. 643

PRATT Osmund Leonard Pratt was born in Junee the fourth son of William Henry Pratt and Mary (nee Bell). Osmond's grandfather, George Pratt, migrated from Great Shelford in Cambridgeshire, England in 1838. His father, William, married Mary Bell in 1887 and then secured by ballot a wheat farm at Mimosa in the Coolamon district. Ossie, as he was known, was one of their eight children. During the 1914-18 war he served in France. After the war he came back to Junee but as there was no work he decided to take up the Government offer to farm in the Yenda area. He arrived by horse drawn wagon to work at the barracks in Yenda and take up his selection on Farm 1551 - "Fleurbaix" which he named after a battle fought in France. It was in 1923 that Doris Marie Adams ("Billie") arrived to stay with her sister and her husband, Dot and Alec Robinson, that she met and married Ossie Pratt. Over a span of ten years they had two sons and a daughter - Eric, Roy and Marjorie. During the Depression and War years growing of cabbages and other vegetables for sale

Wedding Day L to R: Doris Marie ("Billie") and Ossie Pratt, Beatrice Adams and Henry Onus Photos courtesy of Roy Pratt

644

Ossie Pratt

to other vegetable hawkers and the Leeton Cannery was established. Both Ossie and "Billie" were active with the War effort and other organisations. One of the many social activities, tennis, was played on the tennis court on Farm 1551. Later cards and lawn bowls were also enjoyed. Ossie became interested in local government and served as a councillor on the Wade Shire from 1947 to 1950. When Ossie and "Billie" retired into Yenda their son, Eric, bought the farm. He eventually sold it in 1982. Ossie died in 1970 and Doris ("Billie") died in 1981 and they are both buried at Yenda.

Back to Yenda 1947 - "Billie" and Ossie Pratt Courtesy Jim McWilliam

House and Sheds - Farm 1551 1931 Floods Courtesy Roy Pratt

"Billie" Pratt on Farm 1551 Courtesy Roy Pratt

645

Ossie and "Billie" Pratt with sons, Eric and Roy.

Ossie Pratt and daughter Marjorie with "prize" cabbages - 1940s Courtesy Roy I'ratt

George Pratt Bapt 1816 Great Shelford (south of Cambridge) (arrived Australia 6 Dec 1838) married 1863 NSW Esther Peacey

Alfred A Adams (arrived Australia 1840) married 17 Oct 1844 NSW Jane Bailiff

William Henry Pratt born 21 May 1864 NSW died 1927 (bur Junee) married 1887 NSW Mary BeII

Alfred Augustus Adams born 1859 NSW died 2 May 1949 married 1880 NSW Ada M Lewis

Osmund Leonard Pratt born Junee 5 April 1896 died Yenda 5 December 1970

married Gravesend NSW 30 June 1926

Doris Marie ("Billie") Adams born Gravesend NSW 6 July 1898 died Yenda 8 Dec 1981

Eric Leonard Pratt born Yenda 27 November 1927. Married (1) Lorraine Celeste Gow (dec'd); three daughters • Christine, Gail and Karen. Married (2) Patricia Duffy; lives at Bowraville NSW.

Roy Adams Pratt born Yenda 31 March 1930. Married Lorraine Dorothy Mott; four children - Sharon, Jon, Tracy and Kim. Lives at Yenda NSW.

Marjorie Jean Pratt born Yenda 7 July 1937. Married Roderick Dalton; four children Glenn, Guy, Murray and Harley. Lives at Brisbane Qld.

By courtesy of Roy Pratt, 21 Park Street, Yenda 2681.

64.6

PREST John Patrick Prest (better known as "Jack" or "Scratchie") was born at Murrumburrah NSW on 4 December 1893. He married Rose Dorothy Hart at West Wyalong. Rose had also been born at Murrumburrah, on 28 October 1896. Jack and Rose arrived in Griffith in 1919. They came from West Wyalong where they had owned the Prest's Club House Hotel in partnership with Jack's brother, Mick. The hotel was burnt down in 1918 and it was after Jack made a good recovery from burns sustained in the fire and nine months in hospital, they made the decision to come to Griffith. On their arrival, the Prests stayed at Cunningham's Boarding House for some months before renting a house. In later years they purchased a home - at No 58 Yambil Street - from a Mr Butler, a builder. In 1970 this house was moved to 1 Kywong Street, Griffith West where it continued to be owned and occupied by Jack and Rose when the original site in Yambil Street was occupied as part of Coles New World. Initially Jack opened a mercery shop at the Co-op end of town (then near Don Robb's shop) which he operated until the 1920s. In 1927 he decided to close this store. He then established a tailoring business, with shops both in Griffith and Leeton and employed Bill McGrath (known as "Peewee") and Roy Burgess. (The Griffith shop was situated where "La Petite Hairatorium" is today). At the same time he operated a dry cleaning business out of a shed at the rear of the Yambil Street home. Jack's nephew, Lloyd Prest, came to Griffith to work for him. The Griffith tailor shop burnt down in 1935 so Jack then moved into a shop in the Griffith Hotel building where he operated until the forties. During the War the tailor shop was closed due to lack of demand for suits as most of the menfolk were in the army. He then opened a billiard room opposite the Griffith Hotel in Kooyoo Street which operated well As well as these successful into the fifties. businesses Jack was a well known bookmaker travelling around the district to all race meetings. Their four daughters were all born in Griffith and Daphne's baptism, on 4 November 1928, was the first in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Their second daughter, Aileen writes Jack Prest and Aileen "Many of my own memories have already been About 1932 or 1933 Courtesy Daphne Tyrrell (nee Prest) recorded in the Series 1, but I would like to add a few personal memories. "The many wonderful balls with sit-down suppers and especially the milk coffee made in the big coppers in the kitchen off the supper room. I can still taste and smell that coffee to-day! The colourful hall decorations at the big Catholic balls for which Mrs Burrell and her team always came up with something special. The children had the delightful job of sliding up and down the floor to rub in the candle wax to make the floor smooth and slippery for the dancers. Sometimes too slippery!! I was flower girl for one of the early 647

`Deb' balls (1932/33?). Grace Louez and I were partners and we wore dresses of lemon chiffon made by Gladys Bounds - pin-tucked across the bodice with pretty puff sleeves and the skirt had frills to the ground. We carried a gold basket of jonquils and fern with a lovely yellow satin bow on the handle. The photo was taken the next day with my father in the front garden of the Yambil Street house - now Coles Supermarket. "Many happy hours were spent in the cement swimming pool by the Public School. It was such a fun place in those days. For the 'long' hot walk home we would get a milk ice block and a frozen orange, which needed to be thrown down hard on the concrete before leaving the pool to crack it open. "The annual Show was always special. For this we would get a new outfit, including a hat! The side shows held many wonders for us as children. The fairy floss and the rides. Oh what joy! Especially the big chair swing that flew out wide and then high and never failed to make me ill. "Another treat was the very wet days when Mum would send Dad in the Hudson to collect us from school. For some reason this made us feel special. Maybe there were not many cars in those days. "The Depression I remember well. The dole queues and men sitting on the Court House fence. The tokens for a half or one loaf of bread. The men calling at the house in the hope of a meal or 'a few bob' for cutting a pile of wood or digging around the fruit trees in our back yard in Yambil Street. (We had about fifteen of mixed variety and grape vines along the path to the back door from the lane.) Mother always managed to find some food or clothing after a meal was shared at our Jack Prest cooking fish table. A mother of several small children breakfast "River Style" called one day and Mum gave her a woollen Courtesy Daphne Tyrrell (nee Prest) overcoat belonging to my father. Weeks later the woman returned to show my Mother the coats she had made from it for her own children. I can see to this day also a small royal blue enamel fry pan my mother gave a young lad with eggs, butter and bread for his supper on the road. My father was a generous man and always a 'soft touch'. One day, years after the Depression had ended, a knock came at our front door. A gentleman asked 'Does Jack Prest still live here?' When my father came back inside he said 'I'll be dammed! A bloke just returned money I gave him years ago'. This man hadn't forgotten my father, but Dad had forgotten the 'loan'. I still have two gold fob watches pledged with my father but never redeemed and I often wonder about their original owners. "Adventures on Scenic Hill are fond memories. The Hermit and those illegal banana plants! Dad would take us on Sundays to Darlington Point where we would feast on bananas. They were illegal for many years in Griffith. 648

Picnic at the River L to R: Rose Prest, Mr Griggs, unknown, unknown, Jack Prest, Mrs Griggs, "Peewee" McGrath Courtesy Daphne Tyrrell (née Prest)

"We had great holidays at the river with our friends from Leeton. The photo shows Dad cooking our fish breakfast river style. "The wonderful old steam trains and the early `dog-box' carriages with foot warmers, drink bottle and glasses and the 'secret' hidden compartment for the toilet with its silver wash basin that came down when you pressed a button and emptied when you put it up again. "The wonderful excitement of the circus coming to town. I think it was Sorlies/Soles Circus but I am not 100% sure. It started with an 'S'. The tent was pitched on the corner of Banna Avenue, maybe the present site of the Ambulance Station. "For the 25th Anniversary of Griffith a Carnival was held on the town water supply opposite Mackays. I only remember one float which carried Irene Barnes which was painted all over with gold paint. A very spectacular night! "2RG is another fond memory. On Saturday afternoons Kath O'Donnell was in charge of the Children's Session. If you could sing or recite you got to go 'on the Air' solo or with a partner. Otherwise you sang in the chorus. Dr Jones and his wife would invite us into their flat (in the same building) after the radio session for a special treat of home made ice-cream and a soft drink. We loved these occasions. "When Yambil Street was being prepared for tar the old black steam roller would go up and down the street all day and, much to our delight, the driver would give us a ride in the cabin with him. When the surface was completed George Louez (Jnr) had the perfect surface to try out his `carriaged' billy cart. George would sit up front in the first section steering, while the girls were passengers in large cardboard boxes in the second and third sections. These boxes had cut out windows so we could look out as we hurled down the street! "In flood time Yambil Street was a good place to swim and we did this on many occasions." Daph recalls what a wonderful "water slide" the shallow storm water drain became in wet weather. "This drain carried the storm water from Banna Avenue to Banna Lane and gushed with such force that on wet days we could hardly wait to get to 'our water 649

Then home to tell Mum how we'd slide'. accidentally 'fallen' in the water." Aileen continues - "The Catholic School fancy dress balls were always great occasions for the children. We were divided into sets of eight for the dance routine which ended with 'the chain'. Hours and hours went into learning these dances before the big night. "The photo shows myself and my sister, Joan dressed for one of the Juvenile Balls. I was wearing pale pink crepe and Joan was dressed in dark green crepe paper with a bow in pale pink and a long spray of coloured flowers across the front. The photo was taken in the early thirties. "I'll never forget the heat and the dust storms of my first twenty-one years in Griffith. The climate today appears to have mellowed a little. Thank God! I have nothing but admiration for the earlier settlers and the Italian men and women who Aileen and Joan Prest worked so hard 'in isolation' to make Griffith what ready for the Catholic Children's it is today. To the aboriginals who were displaced I Fancy Dress Ball - c. 1934 can only feel sorrow for what we did to them without Courtesy Aileen Collopy (nee Prest) caring for them and their future at the time." Both Jack and Rose lived in Griffith until their deaths. Jack died on 7 February 1975 aged 81 years and Rose died in 1988 aged 91 years.

Robert and Ellen Prest John Patrick Prest born Murrumburrah NSW 4 December 1893 died Griffith NSW 7 February 1975

married West Wyalong NSW 21 February 1917 *

James and Mary Hart * Rose Dorothy Hart born Muriumburrah NSW 28 October 1896 died Griffith NSW 1988

• Patricia Joan ("Joan") born Griffith 29 January 1924; died 1993; married Keith Hilton; lived at Cronulla NSW. One son - Paul. 2.

Aileen Teresa born Griffith 16 December 1926; married Francis James Collopy (dec'd); lives at Manly NSW. Three sons - James, Richard and Nigel.

Daphne Helen born Griffith 31 October 1928; married Peter Robert Tyrrell; lives at Griffith NSW. Nine children - Peter, Patricia, Judith, John, Gary (dec'd), Frank, Maurice (dec'd), Michael and Graham.

Frances Mary ("Peggy") born Griffith 13 June 1930; married Robert Gordon Blake; lives at Harbord NSW. Four children - Stephen, Gregory, Jennifer and Nigel (dec'd).

By courtesy of the Prest Family.

650

PRIOR The story of the Prior family of Bilbul begins with the arrival in Australia on 16 February 1842 of Rev Isaac Prior, a Baptist minister from Cornwall. Rev Prior had been persuaded by George Fife Angas and David McLaren, President and Secretary/Manager respectively of the South Australian Company, to come to South Australia. This Company was responsible for the foundation and development of the Colony of South Australia. At the time of Rev Prior's arrival in the new colony, the South Australian Co was opening up the rich agricultural and pastoral lands of what is now known as Willunga Shire. After a period of time with a church in Adelaide, Rev Prior was persuaded to settle in McLaren Vale, where he served as a pastor to all denominations, and later also as a teacher. Isaac Prior had eight children, including three sons, Matthew, Benjamin Timothy and Asshur. These three young men went to the Victorian goldfields in search of riches, which they did not find. Matthew returned to Adelaide, but Benjamin and Asshur went to find their pot of gold at the goldmines at what is now Lake Cargelligo. Benjamin had to make do with opening the first general store and was also appointed the first postmaster in the district. It was at Lake Cargelligo that James Begjamin Prior was born in 1880. On 19 May 1901 James Benjamin (or "Ben" as he was called) married Bridget Daley. Bridget, or "Rae", as she liked to be called as she disliked the name Bridget, was the third child of Anthony Charles Daley, an Irish Migrant and Rachael Quince. Rachael, the daughter of Edward and Mary Quince, was not quite 15 years old when she married Anthony Daley and was widowed at 32, with nine children to support. She promptly opened a "Lying-in Home" - these days it would be called a Maternity Hospital.

L to R: Winifred Prior (née Menzies), Bridget ("Rae") Prior (née Daley), Rae hael Daley (née Quince) in a rice paddock Courtesy Philip Prior

651

After their marriage, Ben and Rae lived at Toongabbie, Sydney. Ben and his brother, Isaac Percy Prior, were engaged in a firewood business. They heard that there was an abundance of well-paid employment in the area being developed, which was to be known as the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. In May 1911 they set out for the Leeton/Yanco area. They travelled in three horse drawn tip-drays. At this stage, Ben and Rae had two children, George Stephen (also known as "Ben") and Alan Carl, who was 10 months old when they left Toongabbie and 13 months old when they arrived at Leeton. Alan often said - "It was a journey that should make the Guiness Book of Records for the slowest trip - less than 4 miles per day!" At one stage of the journey, Rae Prior was driving the middle dray and as they climbed what is now known as Victoria Pass (just a narrow gravel road then), a fairly recent invention, the car, frightened the horse and the back wheels of the dray, slipped over the edge of the road. Quick thinking, on the part of Percy Prior saved Rae and their two sons, horse and dray from falling over the edge. The journey was certainly not without hazards!! On arrival at Leeton in August 1911, they found a town of tents - not one building to be seen! Illumination was by kerosene lamps or hurricane lanterns. Everyone took care to extinguish these before undressing for bed! The Prior brothers, Ben and Percy, went to work for the Commission with very generous wages - five shillings per day for each man, horse and dray. They worked hard and when orchards were being made available, they were in a position to apply for one. Ben was granted Farm 254 which was about one mile from the centre of Leeton town - it had an area of 15 acres of which 12 acres could be irrigated. Percy's farm was just across the road. However, the orchardists faced many problems. The lag (a minimum of three years) before the orchards became productive, mistakes by the bureaucracy, distance from the markets, inexperience of growers and the inadequate size of the holdings, all contributed to disaster. Employment was now scarce, so Percy returned to Lake Cargelligo to take over the bakery founded by his father.

Bridget ("Rae") Prior with her grandaughter Janice Prior (later Bone) Courtesy Ruth Winn (n6e Prior)

652

Ben sold 12 of his 15 acres and went share farming wheat at Barellan. He took contract work of any kind, using his horse teams. The area was extending westward and a large new section was opening up. This area was to become the town of Griffith. Ben was given the contract to form the embankment for a large section of the rail link from Leeton to Griffith. This work proved to be very profitable and he came to realise the great potential this new area would provide, namely, larger irrigated farms. He applied for Farm 311, Bilbul and it was granted to him. Once more, in September 1920, the Priors were on the move - this time with much bigger wagons. One monster to carry goods and furniture, one for machinery and farm equipment and a third, with white canvas top like an American "Covered Wagon" for the family. George Stephen ("Ben"), was 13 years old, Alan Carl 10 years and Kenneth Benjamin just 1 year old. They left Leeton after nine years of hard work with little money to show for it. At this stage, young Ben's education ceased, as he had to help clear, fence, plough and form the ditches on their farm of 160 acres. Young Ben became an avid reader (when he had time) and he acquired a wide knowledge of affairs and events over the years. (Many years later, in his retirement, he sometimes read two books a day.)

George Stephen ("Ben Jur") Prior with brother Alan Courtesy Ruth Winn (nee Prior)

There was not enough money to build a house so Ben and Rae and baby Ken slept in the covered wagon, while young Ben and Alan slept in a tent. After a few weeks, a temporary dwelling made of slabs (the first cut off pine logs) with a corrugated roof, was erected, to be replaced twelve months later, by a much larger dwelling made of round pine logs, corrugated roof but still unlined and unsealed. Ten years later, the present attractive homestead was built. Money was scarce, Ben and young Ben did any contracting work they could find. They purchased a dairy herd of twelve cows, which were mostly looked after by Rae and Alan. Alan had to milk the cows before riding to Bilbul school, where he was one of the

653

first pupils. By 1923, the Priors were harvesting good crops of wheat and oats, also raising fat lambs but the introduction of rice growing was the real bonanza! Ben was one of the pioneers in the new industry of rice growing and he (and later, Ben jnr) came to be recognised as an experienced farmer who was always willing to help and advise newcomers. It is believed, the Cheesbroughs were one family who were very grateful for his expertise. When the nearby Farm 335 was placed on the market, Ben purchased it in the name of his son, young Ben (G S Prior). During the early part of the World War II, James Benjamin ("Ben") worked Farm 311 in Ken's absence serving in the Army in Darwin. However, Ken was released from service to run the farm, as farming was considered to be an essential war effort. James Benjamin (Ben) and Rae then retired to live in Mosman. Bridget (Rae) died in 1956 aged 78 and James Benjamin ("Ben") died in 1963 aged 83 years. In 1931 George Stephen Prior - Ben Jnr (young Ben) married Winifred Menzies, the daughter of an old Australian family, originally from Scotland. They returned to Griffith from their honeymoon to live in a single inner walled house with two rooms and kitchen. Daughter Ruth recalls - "My father once told me he had to ask a neighbour to return a loan of £5 to help with his honeymoon expenses!" Due to medical problems, Ben was not able to serve in the army in World War II, as Alan and Ken did. However, he managed two farms and worked very long hours.

L to R: Delma McGregor holding Valerie, Winifred Prior and Ruth Courtesy Ruth Winn (née Prior)

Ben Jnr's farm became one of the most successful in the area and in 1947 he built a more substantial home with a magnificent garden. He entertained visitors from Japan and America who came, usually accompanied by officials of the CSIRO, to view the farm and its working.

654

In 1961, Ben Jnr, Win and his three daughters, Ruth, Valerie and Janice, moved to St Ives, Sydney, where Ben once again had a beautiful garden and raised orchids. Ken Prior and Rupert Jarvis share farmed for him until the farm was sold to Norm Chauncy and his daughter in 1982. Ben Jnr died suddenly on 23 October 1976. Alan Carl Prior left the Griffith area in 1929 when he entered the Baptist ministry, following in the footsteps of his great grandfather, Rev Isaac Prior. It was when Alan was a student pastor at Black Mountain in the New England district, that his brother, Ben Jnr, met his future wife, Winifred Menzies, Alan spent some years in the Army serving as a Chaplain in Darwin and New Guinea. After serving in many New South Wales churches, Alan became responsible for the administration, leadership and government of more than 14,000 churches (4,000,000 members), in the Asian region. Kenneth Benjamin Prior married Velma Bowen, daughter of another well-known pioneering family, who arrived in Griffith very early in its development and lived in Bagtown. Ken continued farming Farm 311 until he sold it in 1962 to Roy Golsby-Smith and bought a large grazing property at Bendemeer near Tamworth. He died quite suddenly in 1971, just four days after diagnosis of leukemia. The Prior family were pioneer members of the Griffith Baptist Church, founded in 1924. This building is now in the Pioneer Park. Ben Snr, Ben Jnr, Alan and Ken were all deacons during their years of residence at Bilbul. Most of the descendants of James Benjamin Prior are still actively engaged in the work of various Baptist Churches in the state - 150 years after the first Prior came to start a Baptist ministry in South Australia.

Pilie 1.14s4.A.,.., 1910

655

Rev Isaac Prior

Anthony Charles Daley

Baptist Minister from Cornwall arrived SA 1842

Rachael Quince

Benjamin Timothy

(The daughter of Edward and Mary Quince, from Lincolnshire, who arrived Sydney 1853)

married

•

James Benjamin ("Ben") Prior born 22 October 1880 at Lake Cargelligo died 1963

married

19 May 1901 •

Bridget ("Rae") Daley born 8 August 1883 Lake Cargelligo died 1956

•

George Stephen ("Ben Jnr") born 28 May 1907; died 23 October 1976; married Winifred Menzies. Winifred lives at Galston. 1.

Ruth married Alfred Chelmsford ("Chelm") Winn (deceased); two children; lives at St Ives. Valerie married Barry John Bates; two children; lives at Galston.

Janice married Alan Bone; lives at Wyong.

Alan Carl Prior born 11 July 1910; married (I) Margaret Henny (died 6 January 1960); married (2) Ruth Irish 12 June 1962. I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Ian married Janine Pryor; three children; lives at Frenchs Forest. Alan married Ann Tebbutt; three children; lives at Dubbo. Judith married Athol Gill (dec'd); two children; lives at Melbourne. Winston married Judith Shields; four children; lives at Galston. Peter married Caroline McNeil; five children; lives at Galston. Grahaeme married Joan Gilbert; three children; lives at Mona Vale.

Kenneth Benjamin born 25 June 1919; died 10 October 1971; married Velma Bowen on 6 August 1941. I. 2. 3. 4. 5.

David, died aged 10 days. Rodney married Naomi Simpson; three children; lives at Tamworth. Phillip married Sue Reedman; three children; lives at Adelaide. Terry married Wendy Jackson; three children; lives at Tamworth. Rosemary married Graham Smith; two children; lives at Kingswood.

By courtesy of Ruth Winn (nee Prior), 7 Miri Court, St Ives 2075.

656

PROCTER Edmund James Kneeshaw Procter, known as Ted, was the son of Edmund William Procter (stock inspector) and Emma Mary (née Hassell). Before World War I Ted worked at Denman, servicing pumps, and at Tingha (near Inverell NSW) "experting" - ie the mechanic at the shearing shed. When war broke out Ted was attested at Dubbo on 23 November 1915 and went into 55th Battalion, No 1723; occupation stated on enlistment was "engineer at Coonamble". After four years and forty-five days service he was discharged, aged 29 years. Hearing of the Irrigation Scheme, Ted and brother Frank came to look it over. Ted served in the Barracks, clearing blocks, and had Farm 1631 granted to him on 13 June 1922. This was one hundred acres of dry land and one hundred acres of irrigation land at Myall Park. Later when John ("Jock") Scott surrendered his farm on 3 January 1930, Ted acquired Farm 1630 as well. Ted married Hazel Alice (nee Ted and Hazel Procter Gribble) on 23 September 1922 at Millthorpe NSW. The wedding was performed by the bride's father who was an Anglican minister. Ted and Hazel moved into their new cementbrick house. Conditions were primitive - no water laid on to the house so Hazel had to bucket all house water (except drinking water) out of the dam off the end of the landing very frightening for Hazel, a non-swimmer. Shopping was done in Yenda, driving the spring cart with horse "Jingle" along the channel bank. Neighbours took it in turn to do the shopping for each other. When being driven to hospital to have her first child the car became bogged. Hazel got out and pushed, then received a sharp reprimand from the Hospital Matron for her muddy frock. Her third child, Rita, was born during a heatwave and was kept cool by placing her in a basket under the verandah eaves. They hoped to make their living with pigs. They started with Berkshires then Tamworths - a dozen sows and many little piglets. Ted would bring the tiny pigs inside, wet and cold, in his jacket and put them in the oven to revive them and try to keep them alive. Hazel bred turkeys which were killed and bled then sent whole to Sydney by train for sale. They set rabbit traps in the hill paddock and sold the skins to the travelling buyer. Jock Scott who lived on the neighbouring farm taught Ted to build hay stacks where his job was to "knee-in" the stooks to make a firmer stack. Consequently Hazel was always patching his trousers. During 1923-24 there was a rabbit plague; farmers put netting across the bridges over the channels but the rabbits swam through the water to get to the grass on 657

the irrigation lands. Overnight the rabbits would eat half a chain of grain. Sheep were shorn with blade shears for which contract shearers received 12/6d per 100. Some sheep remained unmustered on the hill and would be brought in with "double" or even "triple" wool (two and three years growth of wool). Ted made a charcoal burner for the tractor, instead of kerosene. He grew hay for his horses and for sale which was cut into chaff by Moses Gollan's steam engine. In 1952 his son, Nugget, used the steel wheeled tractor to pull the rice header. His father, Ted, asked "Are the horses dead?" They did not use horses again in the rice. The Field Marshal tractor was extremely noisy and they had to take the steering wheel off to crank it. They picked up the "dead wool" (wool plucked from dead animals) from all over the farm, baled and sold it. Wheat was put through a handturned grinder to grind it up to make homemade porridge. During a mice plague in the mid 1930s Ted had kerosene tins full of water with a greasy bottle suspended above Ted Procter driving his steel wheeled tractor - the mice ran onto the bottle, it rolled and the mice dropped into the water and drowned. Thousands were caught this way. Before marriage Hazel had worked in a nursery at Killara and was renowned for her lovely gardens. She was a Show cooking judge and prepared many preserves for the Climsland exhibition at the Griffith Show. She was a good tennis player, having played with Adrian Quist in Sydney and many happy tennis parties were held on the family tennis court. Hazel and Ted retired to The Circle, Griffith in 1951 when Betty, son-in-law Phil and Ted Procter with Nugget and small children Alan and Peter took over the Betty on their pet sheep working of the farm. Ted died on 27 February 1960. Hazel died at Port Macquarie on 15 August 1988 aged 94 years. Both are buried in the Church of England section of the Griffith cemetery. Ted and Hazel had four children - William ("Nugget"), Betty, Rita and Dot. At the time of his death Ted had four children, eleven grandchildren. When Hazel died she had three children living, fourteen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren.

658

Edmund William Procter born 1852 married Emma Mary Hassell born 1855 • Edmund James Kneeshaw ("Ted") Procter born c. 1891 died 27 February 1960

married •

Arthur Hazellnust Gable born 1870, died 1951 married Selina Alice Hilton born 1873, died 1951 • Hazel Alice Gribble born c.1894 died 15 August 1988

• 1.

William Hazellmrst born 1 September 1923; died 17 December 1968. Married Elizabeth Marcus - four children.

Betty born 30 July 1926. Married Phillip Sidney Hall - two children.

Rita Mary horn 3 January 1929. Married Trevor Foster - five children.

Dorothy Isobel born 6 April 1933. Married Gerald White - three children.

The Procter Kids Nugget, Betty, Rita and Dot

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Betty Hall (née Procter), 95 Lakeview Terrace, Bilambil Heights 2485.

659

RAWLE Frank Rawle was the second of four children born to Henry Rawle and Jane (nee Kingdon) at Wivelescombe, near Taunton, County of Somerset, England on 22 January 1898. In 1914, at the age of 16, he left England with a party of lads organised by the Little Brother Movement. On arrival in Sydney he was sent to Werris Creek in the Manilla area. Accompanied by his employer, they went into the bush and after being shown how to ringbark saplings, he was left for some weeks with a sugar bag of "tucker" and had to catch rabbits to supplement his diet. Frank joined the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force at Armidale in July 1916 and after a short training was sent overseas on the transport ship "The Themistocle". He was in Egypt and then served in France where he was wounded as a machine gunner. While in England recovering he saw his family, including his father who was in the RAC. On returning to Australia he spent some time in an Army Camp Hospital near Sydney and during Frank Rawle and his father, this time a friend, Richard Barrett, introduced him to Henry Rawle - c.1918 his sister, Alma, on a Sunday afternoon cruise down the Parramatta River. Alma had been born in Sydney, one of eleven children, born to Richard Barrett and Frances (nee Foster) and as a child lived in the older terrace suburbs. Alma was employed by Grace Bros and worked in the glove department. For a short time Frank worked at a Flying Boat Base in Sydney before coming to Yenda where he lived in barracks and worked on gangs building channels and clearing horticultural farms. His future brothers-in-law, Les Blundell and Len Barrett, were also working at Yenda at this time. Later Frank was allocated Farm 1634 on which he built a two room dwelling with a dirt floor, referred to as the shack. On 12 November 1921 Frank married Alma Minnie Barrett at Christ Church St Lawrence, George Street, Sydney and honeymooned at Woy Woy. After travelling to Yenda by train, they were met by a neighbour, Mr Scott, in one of the first cars in the district at that time, and were taken to Myall Park. Alma's first home - just a two room shack surrounded by burnt country. This must have been a novel experience for Alma, who previously thought a day in French's Forest was a day in the country! Alma was the first bride in the immediate area and it was quite a while before she had any female company. They took ownership of Farm 1634 on 13 June 1922. It was not long before they acquired a sulky and were able to make fortnightly trips to Yenda where Alma's sister, Stella, and her husband (Les Blundell) had settled. Frank assisted a builder to build a home with very high ceilings and a verandah all around. The timber had to be carted a long days trip with horses and lorry. Things improved as the years went by. Lighting was by candle and kerosene lamps, water had to be carted from the channel and the drip safe was the food keeper. 660

When they "killed", meat portions not needed for immediate use had to be "salted down". The bathroom and laundry was a separate building with the usual fuel copper outside the door, a home made bench with round tubs and, of course, a scrubbing board! The laundry also housed another bench on which was a milk separator. Butter made by Alma was sold to neighbours. In November 1924 Frank's younger brother, Bert, came from England to live and work on Farm 1634. In the late 1920s Frank started growing rice. About 1929 prior to the building of the Climsland School at Myall Park, Andy Cochrane's house was used as a school, hall, church and meeting place. When the Climsland School was built it consisted of one room, porch and verandah and was complete with a rain water tank and a long water-bag hanging on the verandah. Water Alma and Frank Rawle for the school garden was carted by buckets on their Wedding Day from the main channel. The local community of Myall Park was a very important part of life to all the families in the area. Not only did it centre around the local school but all the social and sporting activities as well. The hall and recreation ground near the school consisted of tennis courts and a cricket ground was built on ten acres of Frank Rawle's lease. This ground was gazetted on 1 May 1936 amd the hall has been relocated to Pioneer Park Museum. People travelled from Yenda and Griffith to the Myall Park dances. Suppers included beautiful cakes prepared using hand beaters and cooked in fuel stoves. Arthur Gorey was doorman and ticket collector with Frank Rawle in the ticket office. Bert Rawle (Frank's brother) was in charge of the tea and coffee, with kerosene tins over an open fire, outside, well away from the building. The local lads, including Dave Marcus and Roy Procter looked after the lighting by pumping up the lamps when they grew dim. Some of the musicians were Val Harris, Ted Couchman and Mrs Golsby-Smith, all on the piano, "The Two Toms" - Tom Simpson on violin and Tom Martin on the concertina. Later Harry Cavanagh on the accordion and also Mrs Bessie Hazel Procter and Alma Rawle Opening of Myall Park Hall Doherty on the piano. One of the local artists was Mr Bert at Pioneer Park Museum Reilly who sang Harry Lauder songs and even the children enjoyed his recitations.

661

•

A r.11311.0. I .4 .1-4 :PACIM11111 I

~YW11WW W W

.11e, •

•

Picnic about 1926 L to R: Baby Nancy, Frank, Marj and Jack Rawle, Fred ("Darkie") Halse, Bert Rawle and Phillip ("Boy") Reilly

Climsland Exhibit at the 1939 Griffith Show

Haystack on Farm 1634 with the Rawle children in the foreground

►

662

Climsland School Sports Day - 1942 Back: Dot Rawle, Anne Fuks, Miss Jean Mackay (teacher), Bobbie GrIble, Lot Marcus Centre: Bob Irvine, Ian Davidge, Peter Maims, Dot Procter, Anne Bardney, Graham Kirkman Front: Pat Bardney, Laurel Kirkman, Shirley Gorey, Paul Gribble Front holding Shield: Jessie Marcus

Most families had their own tennis courts and on a Sunday there was tennis at Reilly's, Marcus's or Rawle's. Local tennis and cricket teams played at Yenda, Ballandry, Pinteebakana and Wumbulgal. Families made their own entertainment singing and playing music, picnics up the hill, riding horses and swimming in the channel. The Griffith Show was a major event each year with Climsland and other districts arranging exhibits in the main hall at the Showground. Over the years there were many trying times - floods, dust storms, mouse and grasshopper plagues. Rabbit drives were carried out during rabbit plagues. When the Rawle children needed High School education a house was purchased in Couch Road, Griffith. During school holidays all the family moved back to the farm until 1942, when the house in Griffith was sold. During the war, in 1940, Bert enlisted in the RAAF. Later Jack enlisted Shopping in Griffith - c.1938 in the AIF and Marjorie joined the AWAS. Noel left school L to R: Dot (obscured), Nancy, prematurely and helped on the farm and, prior to attending Alma (mother) and Betty Business College at Wagga Wagga, Nancy also worked on the farm helping with the harvest, cutting tracks around the rice bays. It was not uncommon for the womenfolk to help on the farm. Later the Water Commission asked for volunteers to move, as the small farms were not classed as a living area, so in 1948 Frank and his family moved to Farm 1755, Whitton and established a new irrigation farm. For the first time Alma had electricity in her farm home, by lighting plant until the power was connected. Frank, Alma and Noel farmed there and after being discharged from the Services Marjorie also lived at Farm 1755. Frank died in June 1971 and Alma and Marjorie moved to Griffith where Alma died in September 1985. Frank and Alma had six children:1.

John Alan born Yenda 1 June 1923; married Elaine Irwin. They have three children and live at Goolgowi.

Marjorie Joy born Yenda 26 November 1924; died 23 January 1988. Married Dave Watson.

Nancy June born Yenda 16 May 1926; married Harry Cavanagh. They have two children and live at Jerilderie.

Nod Frank born at home, Dr Burrell in attendance, 8 January 1928; married Doris Litchfield. They have four children and live at Leeton.

Betty Rae born Griffith 22 January 1930; married Douglas Deissel. They have two children and live at Darlington Point.

Dorothy Lorraine born Griffith 11 March 1932; married Adam Kocaj (dec'd). They had five children and Dorothy lives at Griffith.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of the Rawle Family.

663

RAWLE Herbert Kingdon Rawle was a child of six years when his elder brother, Frank, left England at the age of sixteen years to make Australia his future home. Herbert, known to all as "Bert", was to follow Frank ten years later. The Assisted Immigration Certificate dated 27 May 1924 reads "Nominated by Frank Rawle, Farm 1634, Yenda NSW Australia - age 16 years, Rate £22". Bert was the youngest child of Henry and Jane (née Kingdon) Rawle born 27 June Bert Rawle and his future bride Betty Moorhead 1908. He matriculated from taken while Bert was on leave in Canada Taunton Boarding School in 1924, where his eldest brother, Will, was a teacher. Taunton was a large market town some distance from Wivelescombe, County of Somerset. Bert travelled aboard "The Themistocle", by coincidence the same steamer used as a troop ship when Frank travelled to Egypt. He arrived during a very hot November 1924 and reminisced about his clothing being so unsuitable for the climate. Bert lived with Frank and Alma and their growing family on the farm, "learning the ropes", assisting Frank. Over the years the children came to consider their Uncle Bert to be a very special person. When things were slack on Farm 1634 he moved around the district working at a variety of jobs. During 1926 Mr Reg Harnett, a surveyor, employed him on his property which was a few miles closer to Griffith. In 1927 he found work at "Mugadol" Station, Hay and in 1928 "Pevensey" Station and told of loading wool bales onto the river steamers. He was able to travel to these properties on his motor bike. For a short period during the Depression he found work in Sydney, always returning home between times to help on the farm. In 1936 he went north to Wootton and worked at sleeper-cutting for the railways. 1937 he returned to Myall Park and looked after the farm while the family had a holiday at Narrabeen. Bert continued helping Frank on the farm until enlisting in the RAAF air crew at Bradfield Park on 16 September 1940 at the age of thirty-two years. After initial training Bert was sent to Calgary, Canada for wireless and gunnery training. While in Calgary he and other airmen were invited to the home of George and Annie Moorhead where he met their daughter Emily Elizabeth, known as Betty. In June 1941 his squadron was moved to Scotland for active duty and Bert obtained leave to visit his family in Wivelescombe, England. He was assigned to 455 Squadron which was transferred from Bomber Command to Coastal Command, flying over the Norwegian Coast and the North Sea. On 2 September 1942 they ferried planes to Russia and returned on 22 October on "HMAS Argonaut" to resume duties with Coastal Command. After receiving a Commission late in 1943 he travelled to New York aboard the "Queen Mary" and was 664

given leave to return to Calgary, Canada where he married Betty (Emily Elizabeth) Moorhead on 3 November 1943 in the Protestant Cathedral. Betty was 28 and had worked as a bookkeeper at Calgary Red Cross Hospital. She was very active in the Girl Guide Movement. They honeymooned at Banff. Bert arrived back in Australia on Christmas Eve, 1943, was given leave and travelled to see Frank, Alma and family at Myall Park. Betty left Canada in February 1944 aboard the "Priam" and landed at Melbourne. The people of Myall Park welcomed Bert and his bride with an evening in the Myall Park Hall. Bert was posted to East Sale, Victoria, then to Pearce, WA, from there to New Guinea and finally to 8 Squadron at Fadge on Aitape Bay, New Guinea. On 1 October 1945 Bert and his crew left to bring their aircraft back to Wagga Wagga and arrived home in time for the Griffith Show. Flight Lieutenant H K Rawle was demobilised on 14 December 1945 with a total of 919.10 operational hours. While Bert was in New Guinea Betty was living in Griffith and working as bookkeeper for the auto electrical firm, Area Motors. She was instrumental in forming a Guiding Company in Griffith. Bert returned and for some time worked for Mr Roly Taylor in his tyre retreading business before purchasing a Wingello property, "Mundego". They worked the property which consisted of an apple orchard and small grazing area in undulating country. They joined in many of the community activities, Bert was captain of the Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade for four years until they sold "Mundego" and moved to another small farm at Peat's Ridge on the Calga Road, where, amongst other crops they grew passionfruit and tomatoes. Once again they became involved in community activities. Early in 1968 they moved once more and purchased the Post Office Store at Warnervale, near Wyong, until Betty's failing health caused them to retire to Chittaway Point. Bert's brother Frank's death in June 1971 brought them back to the Riverina to make their home at Darlington Point to be closer to Alma and her family. Betty died on 1 February 1986 aged 70 years and Bert died on 2 July 1989 aged 81 years. They had no children.

Bert Rawle and J Watson - Sleeper Cutters, with 1923 Buick - about 1936

By courtesy of the Rawle family.

665

RECETTI - "The Hermit" Many are the stories told about the man of Scenic Hill known mostly as "The Hermit". It is believed that he first came to live on the hill sometime between 1927 and 1928. The first sighting of Valerio Recetti, for that was his name, was in 1928 by Lorenzo Guerra (Mario's father), probably while hunting rabbits on the hill. Legend, for indeed legend he has become, has it that a sudden rainstorm was responsible for his taking shelter from the heavy rain in the caves of "The Cliffs" as the hill was then still known. Prior to the resumption of their land for the implementation of the irrigation scheme, the hill was part of the "selection" owned first by the Dun family and later that of Albert Driver. It was named "The Cliffs" by the Duns. Jim Bugno, who knew the Hermit from the time he was a young boy of ten years old, recalls vivid memories of the man whom most people knew only as "The Valerio Recetti Hermit of Scenic Hill". Jim says - "In the After his return from the 1920s the hill and the area surrounding the Internment Camp at Cowra aerodrome which took in the old brick Courtesy the late George Pauling works, Mrs Irvin's dairy and the original landing strip in front of Mr Harriman's Farm 1850, Lake View, was rich in wildlife and native birds. Like many of the other young boys it was our domain and we roamed at will. "The late Bob Irvin's mother, who was a very capable horsewoman, would come across Recetti in the hill area whilst rounding up cattle and mentioned to some Italian friends that there was an Italian living up on the hill. "About 1929 my brother, Mario, came home and told us that there was 'a mad man' roaming around the hill and bush who would run away if you went near him. Also, while rabbiting and bird nesting, he had come across a cave on the hill in which someone lived. About this time too we would often see a man picking up almonds along the road passing Smyth's Farm 1857 and Adams' Farm 1858. A lot of almonds grew along the farm boundaries in those years. "At the time a number of people camped along the channel in that locality. Times were hard. They were the Depression years. Many saw a man in the bush but no one could make conversation with him as he would just walk away and disappear in the thick pines which grew there then. However, about this time my parents knew he was there. So did

666

Mr Bicego and Mr Ceccato. I remember my mother used to refer to him as `Recetti the Remit'. "From this time I can clearly recall seeing him often, walking through the bush. One day I was setting rabbit traps near where the main runway is now. Looking up I saw this man standing near me. We spoke and he asked my name. I said 'Jim Bugno'. He knew the name and where our farm was. He said his name was 'Carlo Recetti'. We spoke for a while in both English and Italian. He told me he lived in the hill. After that I always called him Carlo. "I went to the hill regularly to see him, around one of the first of a number of caves in which he lived. He had an old mattress and bits and pieces of clothing, etc. "In 1935 he moved to another cave, not far from the first, to set up a garden. Here he moved rocks to form terraces which he filled with soil for the garden he was developing and the planting of trees. A few hundred yards on the western side of the hill, under a big shady tree, he had a fireplace constructed of rock. These rocks and stones were still there a few years ago. "At this time the whole area was alive with wildlife as well as small herds of goats roaming the hill. As time went by these moved further and further out to the Binya Hills. It was not at all hard to find echidnas fossicking around. When disturbed they would bury themselves near a burnt log or tree in soft earth in a few minutes. Big goannas - some "The Hermit" - Valerio Recetti three feet long - with yellow and Valda Bonomi - 1936 stripes across their backs were Courtesy Jim Rugno there too and some kangaroos. The whole place abounded with bird life, including the odd family of emu. There was a pair of wedge-tailed eagles which nested each year in the same old box tree. Sometimes one would come across Carlo sitting against a pine tree, resting, or setting rabbit traps which he had either found or inherited from the rabbit trappers.

667

Dr Ernest Burrell, Russell ("Rusty") Radford, a friend of Dr Burrell and "The Ilermit" Gun emplacement in his garden nearing completion, from where he imagined he could defend his "Sacra Collin" Courtesy Western Riverina Community Library

Very early photo of the Hermit's Garden Courtesy George Ross

668

"Towards the end of this year, 1935, Carlo was to suffer an accident. He was building an entrance bridge for Mr Bicego and, nearing completion, a large rock fell on his leg. Mr Bicego went to my father's farm (F.1860), quite some distance, on a pushbike. Dad put a mattress onto the A-Model Ford truck he owned, went to Beelbangera and took Carlo to the Griffith Hospital where he was looked after by Dr Burrell. Contrary to popular gossip of the time he was not found by a swagman. I was there and went to Beelbangera on the truck and this is how Carlo ended up in hospital. This happening also confirmed that `a hermit' did exist on Scenic Hill. After his discharge from hospital many people started going to the hill on Saturdays and Sundays to see him and his garden and many photos were taken. "After he recovered from his accident he would go, in the very early morning, to the house of Dr Burrell and tend the rose and flower gardens. I think it took the doctor some time to find out who his mystery gardener was but I'm sure Carlo did it in appreciation for the care the doctor gave him after his accident. The doctor also went to the hill from time to time to check Carlo's health. "From the time he ceased to be the anonymous man of Scenic Hill he set about enlarging his garden - planting fig trees which he got from the Ceccato's, banana trees from Battista Valentini and from the farms at Lake Wyangan grape vines and vegetables. The day he got the banana plants he called into our place and spoke to mother and father for some time. He never called at our home again. "He terraced the garden with rocks he dug out and carried soil in with buckets. He built a long entrance stairway into the garden from the top of the hill with stone steps. I never found out how he shifted some of the enormous rocks to do the job. I think he must have had a gantry of some kind but we never saw it nor could we boys find it. "His tools? One pick with 'NSW Railways' stamped on it, one crowbar, one shovel and one kerosene lantern. (He got his kerosene from Axford's store at Beelbangera.) Some of his tools are now in Pioneer Park, given by Bruno Ceccato after Carlo died. He would always hide his working tools in some clefts. I think to this day, somewhere in a cleft on the hill, some of the tools are still hidden. He was a master at hiding and concealing his belongings - tools, bedding, clothing, money, etc. "He knew of a number of soaks in the hill which held water. I remember one hot summer's day in particular. Gino Ceccato and I were thirsty and Recetti took us some distance from his cave. He pointed to a small flat opening under some rocks. We crawled in to see a pool of fresh clean water from which we drank. Afterwards we were never able to find it again. He probably sealed the entrance with rocks. "One other occasion when visiting him with Gino Ceccato I produced my `Boomerang' mouth organ which I often carried around with me. Carlo asked could he play a tune with it. He played for quite a while, many old Italian folk tunes. He could play it very well even though he had not played one since leaving Italy." Few people, if any, actually saw the Hermit carry out any work." It is believed that he carried out most of his work at night. The caves were fully dug and cleaned out but his activities were not confined to the caves. He built many stone structures. He developed

"The Area News" 7 September 1988

669

an intricate inter-connecting network of stone pathways, built stone galleries and extended the unique gardens. Water was not a problem for the Hermit. He built his own water catchment and when it failed he walked daily to nearby irrigation channels. (Ed. note - this meant a walk of 11/2 miles each way to obtain enough water for his garden and, of course, these dry times would mostly be at the height of summer.) Speaking of these dry times, Jim continues - "Dry times. To water his garden he carried two kerosene buckets, on a pole across his shoulders. He would go to the dam on the eastern aspect, known as Chittick's dam, and many times I saw him carrying water from the Lake Wyangan channel in front of Farm 1858. I asked him once would it not be shorter to get it from Bicego's channel on the Beelbangera side. In reply he told me the slope of the hill made it harder to carry water from the eastern side. The western side had a gentler slope and more trees to rest under! "As the gardens developed many people were visiting him a lot. Indeed it had become the unique 'tourist attraction' of the Area at the time. So much so that while he was in hospital his garden was cared for by the Council. Lots of people left parcels for him. I remember seeing cakes and bread, clothing, etc. Sometimes he would be there but most times he would not be - depending upon what mood he was in. "These were the years that his unique garden was a show place but all that and his hard work was not to last for long. Four young men, aged 16 to 18, destroyed and vandalised the trees and gardens. What a mess they made! They were well known to me. When I asked them why they did it they said - 'He is only a dago30 and we don't like dagoes'. "Carlo started cleaning up and putting things back into order slowly but it was never the same again. "In conversation with him I was surprised by how locally well informed he always seemed to be. When the war started he was well informed about what was happening but by this time a lot of people were visiting him and would leave newspapers and magazines at his cave. "Carlo Recetti was in temperament quiet and humble but as the years progressed it became increasingly evident that he was becoming mentally deranged in some way and troubled by 'visions'. It was about this time I watched him construct a gun emplacement in his garden to defend his 'sacra collina'. To get on to the cannon site he had a wooden plank from his garden near the fig trees. He would take the plank away and hide it at times so that no one could get onto it. "On completion I often stood on it with him, with his imaginary cannon pointing towards Yenda at McWilliams Winery and the Creamota buildings. He said to me that that was the enemy. I would say that they were not but he would insist that the Donna Biancha (the Lady in White) had told him they were. He would look up to the sky and point and ask me whether I could see her. After a while I would go along with him and humour him by saying 'Yes. I can see her now.' It seemed to make him happy.

Webster's Dictionary definition: Dago/Dagoes - comes from the Spanish Diego, a name equivalent to James and very common in Spanish; also a dark-skinned person of Italian, Spanish, Portuguese or other Latin descent. (Slang) - Vulgar term of prejudice and contempt.

670

Hermit's Garden - 1930s (probably about 1938) Courtesy Frank Scott

671

"In many of our conversations the Donna Biancha would come up. He also spoke to other visions of the Lady in White and of 'the other people' in the sky. "The vision of 'the other people' would always upset him. He would point to where he thought they were and scream at them to go away and leave him alone. To pacify him one day Peter Ceccato fired a shot gun into the sky but, to Carlo's dismay, they returned again soon after. "However, even as a ten-year-old and onwards I never had any cause to fear nor be frightened of him. Neither did his other young friends and visitors. His appearance was always clean. I never saw him dirty or untidy, even though his clothes were well worn and usually patched. When he needed new clothes and shoes he would go to Fred Eardley and at times Fred would go to the hill and take him a parcel of clothing from the store."

The Hermit's Cave and Garden Courtesy Hilary Dalton

Valerio Recetti, which was 'The Hermit's' true name, came to Australia in 1915 at the age of 17 from the top northern part of Italy - Valtelina. He was known as a Valtelin, from the province of Lombardia. In the early 1900s it was common for young Italian -men between the age of 13 and 20 to leave Italy 'to seek their fortune'. Many came to Australia. Prior to coming it is known that Valerio Recetti had worked in the mountains in the far north of Italy, on road and rail tunnel constructions, so he was experienced in mining and rock construction. On his arrival he went to Broken Hill to work in the silver mines. Here he met Giacomo Bugno, Angelo Negro, Carlo Pittavino, Antonio and Valentino Ceccato, Giacoma Guidici, Guiseppi and Antonio Cunial, Francesco Bicego, as well as many more who had come in 1913 and earlier and whose descendants still reside here in Griffith. Carlo Pittavino told Jim Bugno that Recetti worked with them at Broken Hill for about a year.

672

Hermit's Cave - 1936 Wilma Hand (née Spencer), Keith Spencer with their parents Ella and Charles Spencer Courtesy Wilma and Gordon Hand

Outside the Hermit's Seeping Cave Lena Edmiston (centre back), Dennis Murray with two of Lena's cousins Courtesy Mortimer Edmiston

673

By 1917 work was starting to ease off at the mines. At this time too the Italian government was recalling the young migrants for army service. Some of the young miners were caught up in the draft and sent back to Italy, some joined the AIF (Italy fought on the side of the Allies in WWI) and many left the mines and 'went bush' - to Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, cutting cane and timber. Most of the young Italians did not want to be repatriated to do military service and were helped by their Australian workmates. When it became known that the authorities were waiting at the pit head to arrest them, at the end of the shift, the Australians helped them get away through air shafts some distance from the pit head. While many of his Italian mining friends came to Griffith, Recetti made his way to South Australia and found work on a sheep station there. One day he took time off to go to Adelaide where he fell foul of the law - for breaking a brothel window! His wallet had been stolen and, as a result of his taking his revenge by throwing a rock through the brothel window, he was to spend some days in jail! After the fracas in Adelaide Valerio returned to the sheep station where he worked but decided shortly after that he would like to go to Melbourne. This he told to some socalled friends, presumably fellow workers on the station. They said that they would take him there as they were going to Melbourne. On the trip, miles from anywhere, they stopped and robbed him of his passport, money and belongings, leaving him stranded and destitute. He walked the rest of the way to Melbourne where he arrived hungry and forlorn. He had not eaten for two days. He endeavoured to pawn his coat to raise funds with which to buy something to eat. Some dubious character, observing his plight, offered to help him pawn his coat. That is the last he saw of either! From here he made his way to the Murray River where he cut timber to fuel the river boats. It is known too that he worked aboard the paddle steamers, one of which was called the "Mary Anne". After leaving the river and wandering around Victoria for some time he decided to make his way to Griffith as he knew many of his former friends had settled there. Jim says "What direction he took I have no idea but in his wanderings he came across the Roto/Hillston railway line and followed it to this area." During World War 11, when Italy entered the war on the side of Germany, to the surprise of many people, Recetti had to report to the local Police Station at ten o'clock each Monday morning. In the paranoia of the time, rumour-cum-gossip had it that he was an Italian spy and operated a transmitter from his garden and caves on Scenic Hill. "I suppose they knew no better. War is war. As for his having a radio transmitter I think it was not likely" says Jim. "Undoubtedly too, all this speculation was fuelled by his constructing at this time, his 'cannon site' from which, in his deranged mental state, he believed he could defend his sacred hill with his imaginary cannon." Eventually he was interned and sent to the camp at Cowra. When time came for his release at the end of the war Recetti didn't want to leave the Cowra Internment Camp. There he was well looked after and had his own garden within the compound. So that he would have somewhere to live, the Army authorities contacted Valentino Ceccato, Bruno's father, who gave him work and living quarters.

674

On his return Recetti went to the hill occasionally, but Jim says, "he did not have the go and vigour he had before. He was very sad and disillusioned. One could tell he had changed. His garden had been very badly vandalised in his absence. "Talking to him at times he often said that he was sorry that he would leave no one behind to carry his name and at such times would look up and talk to the 'Donna Biancha'. I had always thought the 'Lady in White' was a spiritual one but I came to the sure conclusion that the supposed vision was the result of a love affair that went wrong before he came to the hill. He was showing signs of becoming a very lonely man. "In 1947 he took up permanent residence with Bruno and Nora Ceccato and they looked after him until 1952 when he told Bruno that he wanted to revisit Italy. However, when he left he had every intention of returning to his La Mia Sacra Collina (my sacred hill)." To comply with Valerio's wishes, Bruno who was his executor and trustee, instructed local travel agent, Frank Testini, to make the necessary arrangements. Believing that everything was in order, Bruno left for Sydney with Valerio the day prior to his expected departure, aboard the "Australia", only to be confronted with a set of circumstances that can only be best described as a perfect example of bureaucratic bungling! First the Taxation Department from whom it was necessary to have an official clearance. With such a substantial amount in the Bank for those times - £1,500, which was the figure appearing in the department's files, they were directed from one office to another until finally, one officer realising the urgency of the matter, short circuited the system and gave him the necessary clearance. In actual fact Valerio had .£18 in credit and was reimbursed for this amount. A similar charade took place at the Department of Immigration over the lost/stolen passport. Fortunately, Bruno had with him, written on the letter-headed prescription sheet, a comprehensive letter written by Doctor Burrell explaining the conditions under which the Hermit Recetti lived and his mental condition. After a long discussion and with only hours to get things in order he was granted permission to board the boat. Dr Burrell's letter had saved the day! At the wharf, before departure, the ship's doctor examined Recetti and said that because he had chest complications he could not board the boat to return to Italy! He would not make it home. Finally they relented and allowed him to board and after 37 years in Australia he was homeward bound in the May of 1952. Bruno was to receive two letters, written in Italy from Valerio. He wrote that it was very cold and he was no longer used to the cold winters and snow which did not help his chest condition. Bruno was also to receive a letter from Valerio's brother, with whom he was staying, asking for information regarding Valerio's financial status in Australia. He explained that when his brother received money from Bruno he would spend it or give it away "like it was going out offashion". When questioned, Valerio would say not to worry as he had plenty more and in fact he had millions invested and banked in Griffith. To this Jim responds - "Knowing Valerio, it was the value he had on his sacred collina and his life's work on the hill rather than actual money". Bruno did not reply to Valerio's brother's letter and, sadly, all three letters were destroyed only a few years ago.

675

Whilst still staying with his brother, Valerio Recetti died in the November of 1952, from respiratory disease. "The born loser had finally found eternal peace and so a sad and lonely life finished. "He may not have left a namesake behind him but he certainly left his soul on his beloved Sacra Collins' where only scant remnants of the once magnificent gardens are still visible."

The Hermit's Cave Courtesy Mortimer Edmiston

By courtesy of James ("Jim") Bugno, Farm 38, Hanwood 2680 Eleonora ("Nora") and Bruno Ceccato, Farm 2380, Yoogali 2680.

Recetti's special name for the hill - "La Mia Sacra Collins - My Sacred Hill" is presumably perpetuated in the now flourishing suburb of "Collin" on the slopes below his garden.

676

REGINATO Antonio ("Tony") Reginato, who was born in Italy in 1892, married Alice Zanundrea on 2 December 1923 in the town of Paderno Del Grappa, Province of Treviso in northern Italy. Soon after their marriage Antonio left Italy to make a better life for his family and arrived in Griffith in 1924. Alice and her baby, Lodina, followed in 1925. Tony built their first home on Mr Gugliemini's farm - actually it was made of tin and bags with a dirt floor! The furniture was made from fruit boxes. The family then settled on a two acre block known as Farm 997 and grew vegetables for a living.

The Reginato Family - Lodi's Christening Day - 1931 L to R: Antonio, Ora, Lodina nursing baby Lodi and Mice

Tony died in the August of 1931, aged 38 years, leaving Alice with three small children - Lodina aged 7 years, Ora 5 years and the infant Lodi 3 months as well as a debt on the farm to repay. Now, in the 1990s Ora recalls - "Our mother went out to work to make money to repay the debt on the farm and money for us to live on. She went to work ANYWHERE she could find employment - vegetable farms, fruit farms and sometimes she did domestic work. She always rode a bike to where she was working and we girls, myself and Lodina, took it in turn to push the pram and our baby brother Lodi ("Squashie") to wherever she was working. He was left in the shade under a tree near where our Mother was working. "After school one of us would go and collect him and push the pram back home again. The other would start the chores at home - preparing our evening meal, bucket water

677

into the copper and light it so that there would be hot water for our mother to do the washing when she came home from work. We all wore clean clothes each day. "Usually the wives of the men for whom our mother worked were very good to us. They helped to look after our baby brother and gave us `hand-medowns'. "As we grew older we too went to work on the farms - picking peas, carrots, tomatoes, pitting apricots, picking up prunes and rockmelons. We often missed a lot of school because there were many times when we had to go and work in the farm paddocks with our mother to help the family financially. L to R: Tina and Charlie Signorini, "As the years went by and we Ora, Lodi and Alice Reginato children were able to contribute to the family income, our mother, Alice improved the house, which was great. Previously when it rained, 'we went under water'!! "During the Depression years our mother took in boarders. These people would make their huts, on our farm, out of tin and bags. We were all on the dole. Once a week we received a coupon for food and clothing. "Our mother's best pastime was playing cards with her friends. She was a very kind-hearted lady who would ride her bike many miles - to Yenda or out the back of Hanwood - to help friends in need. When we got sick she took us to Nurse Taylor for help. By this time, when we went out together, our transport was a horse and spring cart." Antonio and Alice had three children 1.

Lodina ("Lena") born Italy 1924; married Francesco Bugno; two children - Edly and Allan.

Ora born Griffith 1926; married Clestino Spada; three children - Garry, Trevor and Leonard.

Lodi ("Squashie") born Griffith 1931; died Tumbarumba NSW 25 December 1992; married Aileen Brown; four Children - Judy, Helen, Maria and Dianne.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Ora Spada (nee Reginato), 43 Gordon Avenue, Griffith 2680.

678

REIDY John Reidy, second eldest of nine children, was born in Tralee, Ireland, in 1888. For a long time he suffered under the impression that his second christian name was `Aloysius' and was much relieved to find that it wasn't! He was known as "Jack" or "Johnny". The family came to Australia in 1893 and settled in Sydney. In 1911 John went to Leeton to work for the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission ("the Commission"). He enlisted in 1914, having failed the medical examination at least once for alleged flat feet. At various stages during his service he held the rank of Sergeant. He went to Gallipoli with the Second Battalion, First Re-inforcements. Later he went to France where he was in a number of actions, including the Battle of the Somme. He was caught by a German mustard gas attack which affected him for the rest of his life.

John Reidy

Mary Caroline Reidy (nele Carr) On Her Wedding day

He returned to Australia in 1919 and resumed working for the Commission, at Griffith. As a returned serviceman he drew a farming block, but decided, perhaps wisely, that farming really wasn't for him, and relinquished the farm. For a time, he lived in the legendary Mirrool House. In 1924 John Reidy and Mary Caroline Carr were married at St Albans Church, Griffith. Carol, as she was called, was born in Victoria in 1898 and spent her early childhood on a sheep property managed by her father in the Moulamein area. John and Carol had a house built at 60 Hyandra Street and lived there for the rest of their lives.

679

The house at 60 Hyandra Street, Just after John and Carol moved into it. In the foreground is "Horace", Carol's much loved motor bike, which she rode around Griffith before her marriage, and for some years afterwards. She did most of the maintenance herself. It was an Austen "Near-a-car" - a "step through" bike suitable for modest ladies.

In 1936, probably as a result of the Depression, the Commission started reducing the Griffith staff. Some went to the Rural Bank and others to Commission offices in other towns. Finley was an option for John and Carol. They decided to stay in Griffith. John left the Commission in that year when he became Secretary of the Griffith Fruit Producers Co-operative ("the Producers"). During World War II the Volunteer Defence Corps ("the VDC") formed a unit in Griffith. It was very much a "Dad's Army". John, who was nearing sixty, was a typical member, whose Old Soldier's tricks helped reduce the burden of routine training. He remained working for the Producers until his death at the age of 70. John died on 30 October 1958 and Carol on 13 May 1966. Both are buried in the Church of England section of the Griffith cemetery. John and Carol had two children, Greville and Shiela, both of whom were born at "Woodlands" Private Hospital, Griffith.

Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission Staff c.1928 John Reidy - second from left in the front row

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Greville Reidy, 698 Old Northern Road, Dural 2158.

680

REILLY John Herbert ("Bert") Reilly and Ethel Emily (nee Bush) arrived in Yenda after World War I. Bert was a soldier settler. Originally the Reilly family had come from Dublin, Ireland. John Bush (Ethel's father) had settled at "Greendale", Murrumbateman NSW in 1870 and died aged 99 years 8 months; the Bush family were well known and long residents of the Yass district, having originally also arrived from Dublin, Ireland, in 1835. Before the war Bert and Ethel had lived in Sydney, where it is believed that Bert worked as a furniture restorer/upholsterer or in a haberdashery store. The Reilly children were Marjorie, Phillip, Maisie, Gladys and Arthur. After the war, Bert was sent to Hawkesbury to be trained to run the dairy farm he was allotted at Yenda. He was allocated Farm 1626, irrigation and dry area, on 13 June 1922. The five Reilly children drove the sulky ten miles to Yenda each day to school. Marjorie, aged 13, was the driver; Arthur, the youngest and smallest, had to sit on the floor. Bert and Ethel were well known and loved in the district, called by many "Pop" and "Nan" Reilly.

John lierbert ("Bert") Reilly 1914-15

During 1944 "Pop's" right arm was badly smashed and would have been amputated except for the operating skill of Dr Burrell. "Pop" was renowned for his lack of pretension, especially regarding his false teeth (usually in his pocket or back home!) He had several pet frill-necked lizards and would roll them over onto their backs and tickle their tummies while they just lay there. He told unbelievable adventure stories to his grandchildren, in which he was usually the hero. He was something of a Peter Pan - and interestingly he is still called "Uncle Sonny" by his now elderly niece.

681

Ethel Emily Reilly (nee Bush)

"Nan" is especially remembered for her kindness. She was a great gardener; a very good cook and judged the Cake Section of the Griffith Show for a number of years. From the 1920s through to about 1960 the people around Myall Park formed a close-knit group. They had tennis courts near the Myall Park Hall which had been built by voluntary labour in 1936, costing £300 on an area of 2 roods 3 perches of Frank Rawle's dry area, the timber coming from nearby farms. When an annexe was added to the hall some years later, Dick Bardney donated the stove, Frank Rawle and Roy Gribble bricked it in. Admittance to the dances was two shillings at the door, and "the ladies a plate". "Pop" Reilly was usually the MC. Myall Park Hall was moved to Pioneer Park, Griffith in 1976. Bert excised a portion of his dry area for the first Climsland School, opened April 1933; he served for several terms on the Wade Shire "Nan" Reilly, Marjorie Gribble (nee Reilly) Council (12 December 1936 to 1 December 1944; and grandsons, Chris and Rod Gribble 15 December 1937 to 11 December 1942 as Summer 1961 Deputy Shire President). He was on the Griffith Show Society, President of the Myall Park Progress Association and the Dip Syndicate (Community Sheep Dip); the local JP and regular Santa Clause for all the Myall Park children. Both Bert and Ethel helped less fortunate families who had had family losses during World War II. Bert worked hard during these years raising money for the War Effort with gymkhanas. As time went on some of the faritis in the Myall Park area were found to be too small, so, in 1948 the Reillys and others moved to larger farms at Whitton. Bert Reilly died at his home in Whitton in 1958 aged 76 years; Ethel Reilly died in Griffith in 1976 aged 94 years. They are both buried in the Church of England section of the Griffith Cemetery.

682

Ethel Emily Reilly as an old lady

Arthur Bush (1789-1876) of Norfolk - farmer married Maria Humphry (1794-1884)

•

Hepzibah Bush of Jerrawa (near Yass NSW) married her cousin John Bush (had 15 children)

•

John Bush of Jerrawa - farmer married Sara Ginn (had 13 children)

David George Reilly born c. 1842

• John Herbert ("Bert") Reilly born e. 1882 died 30 October 1958

married

•

Ethel Emily Bush born e. 1882 died 24 May 1976

• Marjorie Estelle born 1909; died 1984; married Roy Hazelhurst Gribble; two children - Leola ("Bobby") and Paul. (See Gribble entry this Series).

Herbert Phillip born 1919; died 1990; married Marjorie Carter. Two children - Brian Carter (stepson) and Louise Reilly.

Maisie Leola born 1912; died 1982; unmarried.

Gladys Charlotte ("Percy") born 1914; died 1988; married Aubrey Walmsley. Six children - Riley, Ross, Susan. Margaret, Roderick (dec'd) and Katherine.

Arthur Raymond born 1916; married Paulene Duncan. Three children Scott, Brock and Kim (dec'd). Lives at Aireys Inlet Vic.

Bert Reilly

L to R: Marjorie Gribble, Hazel Procter (née Gribble), Phil Reilly and his wife Marjorie

By courtesy of Paul and Anne Gribble, Farm 1613, Yenda 2681. 683

RIDLEY Bert (Herbert) Ridley (a native of Somerset, England) came to Yenda in 1919, after returning from France where he had been serving in World War I and where he had been gassed in 1917. He was allotted Farm 1332 Yenda in 1919 and later returned to Sydney to convince his girl, Tilly Humphries, to come to Yenda and • marry him. Tilly had -11r come to Australia from Berkshire in England in 1914. Whilst in Sydney Bert bought two draught horses, a cart and two sea grass chairs which he put aboard the cart and they left Sydney to return to Yenda. The road from Temora to Yenda was then just a winding bush track. When Tilly saw the channel water she asked if that was the water they would have to drink. Bert answered "Yes". However when they got home - which was only a tent and a "round back" shack - he showed Tilly how to clean the water by using charcoal. As a result of his war service Bert was not a well man but they both had a very hard life. _ During their marriage they had two Bert and Tilly Ridley children, a boy, John, Courtesy Beverley Armanini (nee Ridley) who survived for only ten weeks and a girl, Olive, who survived for six months. Olive died just one month after her father in 1927. (Bert only lived for ten years after he was gassed in France.) Bert and Tilly had just moved into their new home. In 1929 Tilly was made a life member of the Country Women's Association (CWA), in recognition of her hard work and generosity towards the building and maintenance of the Yenda Hospital. WIIIIMIIIIMI1111111111111111111•111ft

684

Hundreds Gather For Impressive Ceremony Solemn memories of Anzac ware revived In Venda on Monday, Anzac Oay, when following an Impremlve march of the d men of the district, a reverent crowd surrounded the newly raised cenotaph In the ground* of the Memorial Hall to witness the unveiling of this lasting memorial to the unforgotten dead. Over one hundred men, drawn from every rank and unit of the A.I.F., took part In the march, and a was estimated that more than 700 people formed the throng about the cenotaph, which was unveiled by Mrs. Ridley, widow of a pi f the Venda soldier settlement, and who hen If has been always prominent In every movement to help the returned man of the district. There was an Impressive service connected with the ceremony, and Mr. 0. Mom, president of the Venda Sol. discs' League, delivered an Inspiring address.

Cenotaph Unveiled The ceremony of the unveiling of the cenotaph was carried out with simple dignity by Mrs. Ridley, who "This day, on which we commemot•ate the birth of a great nation, is a tilting one for the unveiling of this humble effort on the part of Yenda subbranch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. to per• petuate the memory of their departed comrades. The cenotaph is imbued with the spirit that made the A.I.F. great. The spirit that brings to gether all creeds and beliefs in the building of a symbol to the greatest of all virtues, srlt•sacritice; a spirit which called' tor deeds of valor and achievement that are recorded In the archives of all nations. "It is with a profound knowledge of the honor conferred upon me, and with a lull appreciation of the thought that prompted it. that I declare the cenotaph unveiled and dedicated to the honor and memory of our glorious Rad. Rest in peace.-

The ceremony of the unveiling of the Yenda Cenotaph was carried out with simple dignity by Tilly. She was not only a widow of a pioneer of the Yenda Soldier Settler but also had always been prominent in the movement to help the returned soldiers of the district. Tilly decided to get her nephew, Jack Ridley, out from England to help her on the farm. He arrived in 1929 and together they worked long hard hours on the farm. Jack met Emily Nixon and they were married in 1933 and lived with Tilly on the farm until Tilly's death on 24 March 1942. Jack and Emily had seven children Lesley, Norman, Evelyn, Edith, Beverley, Ivy and Gordon. Jack worked the farm until it was forfeited about 1943.

By courtesy of Beverley Armanini (nee Ridley), Yenda.

Extract from "The Area News" - April 1932 Courtesy "The Ronaidson Papers" held by the Western Riverina Community Library. Photographs courtesy The Griffith Collection.

685

RITCHIE John Handyside Ritchie, better known to all as "Jock", was born in Pentcaitland, Scotland in the year 1900. He was the third son of Charles Alexander Ritchie and Agnes (née Renee). Charles was the headmaster of Pentcaitland School. In 1913, the family arrived in South Australia, where Jock's father gained a position as a teacher with the South Australian Education Department. Unfortunately, this was not a success, as his very broad Scottish accent was almost unintelligible to the pupils. The family then tried their hand at dry area farming at Sandalwood in the South Australian Mallee. This was also doomed to failure and so the family moved to Renmark where Charles became involved in the fruit packing business, mainly citrus. Jock did not enter into the packing business, but worked on a vineyard, and it was at this time that he met and married Jessie Hazel Woodhouse (always known as Hazel). Hazel was born at Grenfell NSW in 1893. She was a direct descendent of George Marriott Woodhouse, who came to Australia in 1810 as Secretary to Mr Justice Ellis Bent, who was Judge Advocate to Governor Macquarie. His descendents settled in the Gunning district. Hazel trained as a nurse at the Bethesda Hospital in Melbourne and specialised in midwifery. Jock was restless and decided that the little town of Berri needed a bus service and with the assistance of his father and three brothers, he purchased a small 27 seat Dodge bus. However, Jock and Hazel Ritchie the weather intervened, and a severe late frost taken at Renmark - 1927 wiped out all the crops bringing financial disaster not only to the farmers but to the whole area including the new bus service. Whilst visiting her cousin, Mrs Rosewarn, Hazel, Jock's wife, saw an opportunity in Leeton for a bus service. As a result the family (John having arrived in 1928 and was then eight years old), put their meagre belongings into the bus and headed for Leeton, only to find on their arrival that a Mr Cec Taylor had also seen the opportunity and had already started a bus run. Jock was unable to find work in Leeton and decided to try Griffith. He caught the train over, the state of the roads being what they were, no-one in their right mind would drive, even if he did have enough money for fuel! It was a case of being in the right place at the right time. The person whom he met and who showed him over the Griffith Producers (naturally with his citrus experience, he tried them first for employment) was the Secretary, Mr John Aiton. John Aiton was also Secretary of the Griffith High School Parents and Citizens Association. Whilst not being able to give him employment, he did however, on finding that Jock was the owner of a bus, 686

inform him that a group of parents led by Mr Leaver, were trying to get a bus to take children from Yenda, where school only went to Third Year, to Griffith so that they could receive education to Fifth Year. Mr Brian Farley, who was a great supporter for Yenda, stood in their way, and argued strongly that the Yenda School would suffer should the bus be allowed to run. It was not until March 1937 that the Government gave permission for the service to commence. While all this was taking place, the Ritchie family again packed their belongings into the bus and headed for Griffith, coming to live in one of Mr Frank Schultz's semi-detached houses, 63 Canal Street. This was November and as the family was almost penniless, life was pretty grim. Christmas dinner that year was non-existent. Without the generosity of people like the Mackays, Turnells and Clarks, who saw their plight and invited them to their table occasionally, life would have been very difficult. Imagine the joy when a group of people hired the bus to go to Darlington Point for a picnic. Son John relates - "I can still vividly recall that day as Mother and I went up to the Court House Bus Stop to 'see it off'. I couldn't understand why Mother was wiping tears from her eyes!" Jobs were scarce, but Jock picked fruit and did other jobs to keep going until the great day arrived, when the first school bus ran from Yenda to Griffith with twelve children on board. The Griffith High School pupils who travelled on that John Ritchie aged 10 years first day were - Terry Rose, Keith Chauncy, Joan Chauncy, Joan Rydon, Una Edge, Reg Kayess, George Kayess, Eric Ziliotto, Flo Murray, Bill Wright, Dick Cave and Pat Cave. Eventually, a second bus was purchased. It was an old Fageol and it ran from Yenda, whilst the small Dodge did a run from Beelbangera. Things were looking up and the family moved to 22 Noorebar Avenue. This was mainly because Hazel had started taking in boarders, the first of whom were the McCudden brothers, Arthur and Harry. Another notable boarder was Miss Elspeth Howie, probably our most famous school teacher. Noorebar Avenue provided more room for more boarders and the family fortunes improved. 1939 saw World War II and petrol rationing brought the bus, as a means of conveyance, into its own. Jock lived at the Yenda Hotel through the week to save fuel and was away most week-ends doing football trips. A gas-producer helped to supplement the petrol supply. In 1942 another bus was purchased, this time it was a Ford, and as the Noorebar Avenue home was becoming too small, a house with a large yard was purchased in Wakaden Street (formerly the home of the Carney family), which is still being used in 1993. Jock worked very hard and long hours for the next eight years, often including four nights a week and in the winter time, most Sundays travelling to surrounding towns for football games. In 1948, he became quite ill, and his son, John, came home from Albury where he was working in a Wool Store learning Wool Classing. They agreed John would stay three months to help his father over a difficult time. Forty-odd years later, John is still here! 687

The first two buses The Fageol and the Dodge

Proud Jock Ritchie standing beside his first bus - the 27 Seat Dodge

The Ritchie Bus Service - 1949

The Ritchie Bus Service in 1992

688

Hazel and Jock Ritchie - 1952

John continues - "In 1953 my father suffered a heart attack and after that he no longer took an active part in the business. He was with us a further five years, until his death in 1958. "He was a very popular man with all classes and creeds of people, especially was he loved and respected by children. "John Handyside Ritchie was successful because he worked hard, got on well with people and had a wife who also worked extremely hard to support him in all his endeavours." In 1960, John married Sister Ann Coysh, who had come to Griffith District Hospital as the Deputy Matron. They have two daughters, Catherine Jane and Suzanne Margaret. Jane married Gary John Lee and both are involved in the family Bus Company. They have two children, Harrison John and Anna Jane. Suzanne is a school teacher and is currently teaching at Griffith North Public School. Hazel Ritchie continued to live in Griffith moving to Konoa Street in 1960. She was involved in many organisations, serving eight years as President of the Hospital Auxiliary. A member of the Salvation Army Home League and the Methodist Church, she played an active part in both until her death on 22 February 1977. She is buried with her husband in the Methodist Section of the Griffith Cemetery. Entry and photographs by courtesy of John Ritchie, Wakaden Street, Griffith 2680. 689

ROBINSON Alfred Thomas William ("Tom") Robinson was born at Southminster in Essex, England on 12 June 1903, the son of Thomas Robinson and Rhoda (née Bailey). He first came to Griffith in February 1927 leaving England in December 1926. He spent Christmas on board the "SS Vedic" and came to Australia via Capetown, calling at Albany and landing in Melbourne. He then travelled to Griffith via Tocumwal by train. Tom, affectionately known as 'Tommy Tom" by most of his friends, decided to come to Australia He sold the farm and after his father died. greengrocery business the family owned in Southminster and came to Griffith as his sister, Mrs May Melling, was living here. When he arrived he worked for Allan Little at his "Yarranvale" dairy for a while. He bought a block at Yoogali but sold this soon after. He then purchased a farm on Walla Avenue diagonally opposite to where The young Tom before Percy Gibbons owned a farm. He farmed this for a leaving England year during the Depression. After selling this farm he worked for McWilliam's winery at Hanwood for quite a number of years. Tom and Manda Jane Zerbst were married at Farm 476, Hanwood by the Baptist Minister, J E Sheirson. Manda Jane also arrived at Griffith in 1927 with her family, who had come from Miram Piram in the Wimmera district of Victoria after their home had been burnt down. (See an entry for the Zerbst family also in this series.) Tom and Manda lived at West End for some time and then moved to Sangster's Crescent at Hanwood. They then purchased a block of land at Hanwood opposite Batros' Store and the house he built is still standing. They had three sons - Allan, Albert and John. After leaving McWilliam's Winery Tom worked for the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission. He left the Commission and worked on "Cuba Tree" station at Benerembah for a short time and returned to the Commission where he worked until his retirement in 1969. Tom volunteered for the army in 1939 and was accepted. However after completing all training he was discharged medically unfit. He then joined the Civil Construction Corps and worked on road and airfield construction in North Queensland during the early part of the Second World War. Following his retirement Tom was groundsman at Hanwood School. Manda went to the Merrigal Street Nursing Home in 1976 and then to Pioneers Lodge in 1978. Tom also moved into Pioneers Lodge in 1978. Regrettably Manda died in March 1979 and Tom continued to live at the Lodge until his death on 18 October 1987.

690

Tom Robinson's Father's Shop in Southminster, England. Tom is the little boy between the two girls.

Tom Robinson's Grandfather's shop in Southminster, Essex, England

Tom Robinson behind the cow►ter at the Southmiaister Flower Show prior to his coming to Australia in 1922

691

The Robinson Family - 1940 L to R: Tom, Albert, John and Manda Jane. Allan standing at the back. Courtesy John Robinson

Alfred Thomas William Robinson born 12 June 1903 died 18 October 1987

married

Manda Jane Zerbst born 22 November 1905 died 18 March 1979

1. Allan Leslie born 10 March 1930; accidentally killed 14 November 1955. 2.

Albert Edward born 22 March 1932; married Dianne Martin. Three children - Graham, Mark and Wendy

John Henry born 5 March 1935; married Ruth McKern (née McLean).

By courtesy John Robinson, 25 Carrathool Street, Griffith 2680.

692

ROBINSON Miss Florence Robinson will be remembered as one of the pioneers of Griffith, having opened the first Newsagency in Banna Avenue in 1919. Florence came from Ballarat in Victoria and opened a millinery business in Chatswood NSW. On disposing of that business she followed her sister, Ethel Mary Long, to Griffith and opened her shop next door to where the Victoria Hotel now stands. This business was known as "F Robinson & Co Newsagency and Womens Apparel". It was a small weatherboard building with a one-bedroom timber cottage behind where she lived. She is remembered for her expertise as a milliner and helping the young brides with their trousseaus, often making the veils and floral arrangements. Not many people know of the great sadness in the life of this wellknown and popular lady. Before moving to Griffith she was to have been married herself and her fiance died as a result of an accident. An old and faded newspaper clipping (date and source unknown) from among Miss Robinson's papers gives an account of this accident.

Miss Florence Robinson Courtesy Dorothy Kook (née Long)

James Clarke died just two weeks before he and Florence were to be married. Her neices tell us that this is the reason why she never did marry anyone else. She is credited with having caused the first accident in Banna Avenue! She and her bicycle collided with John Jacob who is said to have reacted very volubly!! She was also the owner of a "Ner-a-Car", one of the very early motor bikes - a very sedate ladies motor bike.

KNOCKED DOWN BY TRAIN. MELBOURNE, Friday. lames Clarke, aged 29, a resident of ' Korumburra, uas admitted to the Mcdbourne Hospital this afternoon in a critical condition, suffering from severe injuries and shock. Clarke was knocked down at the Korumburru railway station by a train. It was found necessary to amputate one of the man's arms. I

693

L to R: Florence Robinson, Mrs Sampson (wife of Sgt Sampson) and Sampson Children on Scenic Hill.

Florence Robinson's Business Premises Banna Avenue being demolished to put up present shops. Photos courtesy Dorothy Kook (née Long)

694

Ner-a-Car similar to the one driven by Miss Florence Robinson

Nevertheless, she must have been something of a "dare devil". The family tell the story of her having answered an advertisement for a paying passenger (by Kingsford Smith) to fly to Melbourne to join her family for a party. Sgt Sampson, his wife and children, Jack and Gwen, were close friends and she used to delight in telling of how the Sergeant always carried a rug to cover a ladies' knees when she was being tested for her driving licence - so she could not be distracted (or possibly he!!). Florence Robinson retired in 1934 owing to ill-health and died in Melbourne on 18 May 1947, at the age of 71 years and so another colourful chapter of Griffith history closed.

By courtesy of Dorothy Kook (nee Long), 2 Muir Place, Griffith 2680 Betty Braithwaite (nee Long), Double Bay 2028.

695

ROSE Girvan Rose, who was born on 3 April 1889 at Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, England, was the son of William Rose and Emily (née Girvan). In 1907 he migrated to New Zealand but only stayed there for a few months before he came to Australia and settled in Narrandera. Girvan's nickname was "Dubbo" - the reason is unknown as the family do not think that he had ever been to Dubbo NSW! He worked for Dumans who owned a property at Colinroobie and for Sir Samuel McCaughey at Yanco driving horse teams. It is probable that it was here that he actually learnt how to drive horse teams as it is doubtful that he had any such experience in England. Girvan then joined the The Rose Family - c.1932 Department of Public Works in about L to R: Girvan, Arthur Richard ("Dick"), 1911 and worked on the construction William ("Bill") and Leila of Berembed Weir. Here he met Thomas McClellan and his wife Annie (nee Murphy). After working on Berembed Weir he worked as a teamster on the canal construction at Apostle Yard Camp (in the Wumbulgul area) and at Jondaryan Camp (not far from where the Yenda Cemetery is now situated). This would have been about 1912. Probably in the company of the McClellan, Pitt and McEachem families he then moved to Bagtown. It is thought that here he again worked as a teamster or carted timber and building materials for housing. Girvan tried to enlist in the Australian forces during World War) but was unsuccessful and then volunteered as a "War Worker" and was sent back to England where he worked in Birmingham in the BSA - British Small Arms. He returned to Griffith after the War and rejoined the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission which had previously been under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works. He mainly worked as a driver (driving the Engineers around the area). In 1922 he left the WC & IC and was the original settler on his Farm No 1291. At first they only Possibly Railway Camp - c.1922 had eleven acres and then they L to R: William Black and Girvan Rose obtained an additional area of two and a half acres from Black's farm. 696

Many years later, during World War II in about 1941, a portion of Les Mallinson's farm was added to Farm 1291 giving them thirty two acres altogether. When Girvan first moved onto the farm he received "Sustenance" of £10/4/- a month until the new plantings came into production. They grew oranges, peaches, apricots and apples. Girvan married Leila Archer on 21 March 1923. Leila was born at Fulham, London on 18 November 1898 the youngest daughter of Percy William Archer and Rachel (née Depledge). The Archer family came to Australia in April 1912 and after living and working in Sydney for about six months Percy joined the NSW Railways and began work at Stockinbingal. Percy and his family then moved to Kempsey Railway Camp - c.1922 where he worked on the railway L to R - Back: Leila Archer, Girvan Rose, Dorothy Archer line construction and then in 1919 Front: Percy and Rachel Archer came to Griffith to work on the line from Griffith to Hillston. The family travelled by train from Kempsey via Temora. Leila well remembers the trip on a "Mixed Goods Train" - they left Temora about 8.00 am and didn't get to Griffith until 4.30 pm! The Archer family lived at the Railway Camp which was situated between Ulong and Kooringal Streets. Shortly after they arrived Leila and her mother, Rachel, were walking to Bagtown to collect the Railway Camp - c.1922 mail when Girvan Rose picked L to R: Dorothy and Rachel Archer them up in his sulky - this was the beginning of the romance of Leila and Girvan. Leila and Girvan were married in St Alban's Hall and on their wedding day it was only a short walk from the railway camp to the church. Leila worked at Andrew Martin's store on the corner of Banna Avenue and Ulong Street for about six months when the business was sold to Mr Rodda. She continued to work there for about three years until she was married. Her sister, Dorothy, worked for Claude Hanna the baker. Girvan and Leila had two sons, Bill was born in 1925 and Dick in 1926. As times were difficult, money short and a young family to support Girvan re-joined the WC & IC as a "timekeeper" in 1931 when the Gunbar Wah Wah Water Trust began. His son, Bill, recalls that "during the school holidays I accompanied my father on the trip

697

to just the other side of Gunbar - the round trip in the T Model Ford took two days. We called at each camp and collected the time sheets (for payment of wages) and possibly orders for materials. My father continued with this job for about two years and then went back to farm work." The Rose family remained on the farm until it was sold in 1952 and they moved to 57 Edmondson Avenue. Girvan died on 16 May 1954. Leila together with her sons lived in Edmondson Avenue until about 1987 when she moved into the Griffith Nursing Home where she still resides. Girvan's brother-in-law, Arthur Richardson also came to the MIA. At first he worked for the Department of Public Works on Berembed Weir. Later he moved to the Griffith area and worked as a foreman/carpenter on the construction of the regulators on the canal - he was responsible for all the "form work". His last job in Griffith was on the Main Canal Bridge on Willandra Avenue. He served in France during World War I and it was at this time that he met Girvan's sister, Emily Rose whom he married. They came back to Australia - but not to Griffith. Arthur and Emily had one daughter - Eileen.

"Brand New House" on Farm 1291 L to R: - Girvan and Leila Rose, and Rachel Archer

L to K - Back: Leila and Girvan Rose, and Dorothy Archer Front: Percy and Rachel Archer

William Rose & Emily (Die Girvan) • Girvan Rose born Shropshire

Percy Archer & Rachel (née Depledge) • Leila Archer

married Griffith

born Fulham, London 21 March 1923 lives at Griffith

3 April 1889 died Griffith 16 May 1954 1.

William Thomas ("Bill") born Griffith 28 February 1925 and still resides at the family home.

Arthur Richard ("Dick") born Griffith 28 September 1926; died at Griffith on 28 March 1984.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Leila Rose and her son Bill Rose, Griffith. 698

ROSSETTO Angelo Giovanni Rossetto and his wife Antionetta Domenica (née Rossetto) were both born in Cavaso, Italy. Angelo on 5 July 1894 and Antonetta on 5 December 1898. They were married at Cavaso also, on 11 January 1921. Angelo came to Australia on the ship "Omar". He arrived in Melbourne in November 1922, travelled by train to Willbriggie siding and then continued to Griffith on foot. The first night Angelo slept under a tree. The next day he pitched a tent on Mr and Mrs Pastega's farm at West Griffith. This was his home until he was able to purchase a block of land about 1923 Farm 1261 Erskine Road on which he built a tin shed. Then he sent for Wedding Day Antionetta and their daughter, Angela, Sitting - Angelo & Antionetta Rossetto who had been about 9 months old when Angelo left Italy. Antionetta left Naples by sea, on the "Ormuz", in late December 1923 and arrived in early February 1924. Their second daughter, Amabile, was born the following December. Angelo supported his family by doing odd jobs as well as working on the construction of irrigation canals before he finally found permanent employment with Mr Harry O'Meara who taught him the carpentry trade. Angelo built his small family their first and only home in 1927. This house is still standing today on Farm 1261, Erskine Road. Angelo, Antionetta and daughter, Angela (who was born in Italy) were naturalized on 26 November 1928. During his early years of employment his only means of transport was his pushbike. His second daughter, Amabile, recalls his leaving home in the early hours of the morning with his tools in a sugar bag on his back, to be at work at Yenda by 8 am. During this time he also travelled out to Tabbita with Mr O'Meara. Around 1930 Mr O'Meara sent him to Narooma on the South Coast to build houses. Their third child, Harry, was born in Griffith on 13 July 1926, and three years later they had a second son, Alick, born on 25 November 1929. Their family was completed with the arrival of Ines on 21 July 1937. Angelo's two sons followed in his footsteps to become carpenters and both were apprenticed to Mr O'Meara. Later, Angelo and his two sons owned their own business and they huilt many houses in the North Griffith area.

699

The Christening of Amabile Rossetto (1925) celebrated with their friends Angelo nursing Angela and Antionetta nursing Amabile The first "Bungalow" of tin, hessian and dirt floors in the background

Antionetta's grand daughter, Bruna, says - "Antionetta was very skilled with her hands. She made all her children's clothes. I can recall my mother, Amabile, telling of the underpants that were made for them out of empty flour bags - after the flour had been used for bread making. Antionetta bleached the bags with lemon juice and salt to remove the markings first." During the War years she made dresses for the older daughters out of curtain material, as curtain material could be purchased without coupons. To "help make ends meet", they took in boarders - families who had migrated from Italy who stayed until they were able to find other accommodation. One of the family's most treasured possessions is a Singer sewing machine for which Angelo paid the equivalent of £5 in Italy. It was sent to them by Antionetta's parents via a friend when migrating here. It was operated by hand - Angelo later converted it to a treadle machine. Bruna continues "I have vivid memories, as a child, sitting watching my grandmother making christening gowns for my baby cousins. The patterns for these gowns she had drafted herself, sometimes from instructions found in "Home Journal" pattern books. She would often embroider the dresses for the girls and many were smocked. Her spare time was spent embroidering sheets, tablecloths, pillowcases and duchess sets etc. In between these activities she would also fit in a bit of knitting and crocheting. She continued crocheting until her eyesight finally became too weak to be able to work with the fine cotton in the middle of 1991 (when aged 92 years old). Antionetta has made sure that all members of her family have a piece or two of her works, some of which are over 50 years old."

700

•

Angelo (standing far right) and friends building his house in Erskine Road

• Angelo and Antionetta with Angela (standing) and Amabile on (Antionetta's knee) - c.1927

Angelo's remodeled green ► Hornet ute - Ines standing on the running board.

Angelo and Antionetta's children are all still living. Angela married George Meng - they have two sons. Larry (three children) and Lance (two children).

Amabile married Petronio Ceccato (now divorced) - they have four children. Rhonda (two children), Alec, Bruna (three children), Dante (one child). Harry married Leslie Tucker - they have two children. Wendy (two children) and Glen. Alick married Teresa Kelly - they have two children. Virginia (two children) and Shane (one child). Ines married Renato Forner - they have four children. Garry (two children), Alan (two children), Neville and Lynda. (In all Antionetta and Angelo had twenty great-grandchildren)

701

Bruna - "My fondest memories of my grandfather, Angelo, are:- at 7 p.m. sharp his large standing radio would be tuned into the ABC to listen to the BBC news. He would also listen to the Test Cricket from England in the early hours of the morning. He was also an avid fan of paper backs, particularly Zane Grey westerns. After the evening meal he would settle down to his 'Western' and nothing would disturb him until bedtime. He would get a lot of joy, when he had a two day growth on his beard, to ask my sister and I for a hug - and when we obliged he would rub his growth onto our cheeks. "I remember him as a hard working, gentle Grandfather who enjoyed a practical joke or two!" Angelo passed away in Griffith at the age of 85 on 6 November 1979 and is buried in the Griffith Lawn Cemetery. Antionetta is still living and celebrated her 93rd birthday this year (1991).

N. I •'

I arorrIption al tbrantre.

Cunutiutituraltl! of Australia. Age

CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION. CrA•ar d C•m

""'

111x. d nth . Ll_lt: '2rami Asy •paiO nob et pooloifin

.s el As owl C44•111.11•••Ith 11. 1;tribillf d ib• bboo•oloy Ad •••••••

rr. ee.I

r6. Moult Yw.

PA•h• el Lb.,. A.,. IMO ;Jodie!, el Oa rood Kook., J. the aNNyyNoy (6yoryat

111.1

wood ••

In web over the Commonwealth of Australia. renor ar

I L

apptionie• opportal by • Moo, toolostiao. boo ••••

Ir!f:Ith,„:„_ 7•• atim• whom droop* op•••• O Os ••••,‘ ad to

kittens • •

Orr.. Onerirl,rlicree

g 1

Ye Ism al

appwrog

bona, nonated So allegOnn• !...)

sad boo, ogud ta. J. ho s: rt,L. . _

tio spy•••••

•Bopsoro to Nu Mussy.. Zoo Open. •, bo W. •••1 venom.% I. Om

. ' ,

a ...; a a: a.m.:- • ..- — -. •••,. . .

."' ...Wm.! 4 •44

a, ..-

rex on vine. r Coe Jetverol Exerutive Council. vv..... ad an

- .. . lot oak P.c. L4101.4031 __r• wilt iillo

errIlfinle

of Nahnolitation

•Iso•by. obisel i• Os ironic. O W Ortowooroord bey •al r an, oboe lio• JIMA oil ....L•40 A

Os ligho r Wankoel "ono. IM mA . .

T•. Jo, J. hoorso sowsloi.

la." '.•••

hoer otabd to all Peent,i....4 oho Ron,. Pawn. sot Pootom„ old bo•mo •OTAt I. 41 OlosorNos, Doom sad Lo•orroo M •boll • Nob.. oos Osman Pe over • rondo!

•• my. el tLe Yrmale. A.0 MO IVY :loins NI do ie.., rota.

An.s17

11••431--

Oeboem•••tual:— N.

AAA %la ,A•lbs

i•-•••••

•• =by. met •• heft tb• Am* el deo ?m.o. Lao lo al ou••• •••1 'woo.. Oa woo A • N•r•••••••••• Ram.. IC1,15.7

Slum ludo o. And •••I W Go.. SW .1 J. C000••••••1 A ▪ ▪

ICIA101.1?-.11 tonlY-8111,11_ __day d ..3.westlor

Oe •••••••A Ow Moho' aol toasty-64W. _

0.•••••••

Entry and photographs contributed by Bruna Ross (nee Ceccato), 10 Wyangan Avenue, Griffith 2680.

702

ROUNCE John Carle Rounce, a Viticulturist employed by the Department of Agriculture was sent from Mildura, in 1916, to select a site for the establishment of a Viticultural Nursery where vines would be propagated for the new irrigation farming area of Griffith. In May of that year he travelled by train from Mildura to Melbourne then from Melbourne to Whitton. During the journey he met Mr Oliver Wallace who was also visiting Griffith to purchase land. They were met at Willbriggie by the coachman, Micky Cush, who always carried two shovels in the waggon in case it was necessary to dig themselves out of bogs. This his two 'passengers' found themselves doing on several occasions as they made their way to Bagtown. Eventually they arrived and John Rounce set about looking for suitable land for the Nursery. He found what he considered would be very good soil to grow vines and named the site he chose "Mirrool Viticultural Nursery". This Nursery occupies the same site still. Mr Wallace selected land close to the Nursery for his farm and he and his family lived there for many years.

Rounce Family Back: Jack and Vic Front: Olive, John Rounce, Olive Rounce and Nancy Courtesy late Nancy Mason (nee Rounce)

The late Nancy Mason (nee Rounce) was ten years old when she arrived and she has left us with marvellously clear recollections of those times, 75 years ago - "Men were employed to clear the land and start working up the ground. They all lived in tents on the Nursery - the tents were very comfortable. My Dad had a tent too.

703

"He came back to Mildura Christmas 1916 to bring my mother Olive, sister Olive and my two brothers Jack and Vic and myself to our new home in Old Griffith. We left by train 1 January 1917, stayed one night in Melbourne, next day train to Junee, and to spend another night there, then by train to Whitton where we were met by Mr George Williams who, we were told, had the only car in Griffith. Dad had engaged him to pick us up as he didn't fancy another ride from Willbriggie with Mr Micky Cush! I think that was my first ride in a motor car. Our luggage and furniture was sent by River Boat from Mildura to Hay. Consigned by Permewan Wright of Hay by train to Willbriggie where it was collected by the Viticultural Nursery spring cart. "The Department was having a house built for us at the Nursery but it wasn't finished so we lived for some time in tents, but they were very comfortable, well off the ground, with extra roof Olive & Nancy Rounce covering. The Department was also Taken at Viticultural Nursery c.1919 Courtesy late Nancy Mason (nee Rounce) building two other houses at the same time, same plan as ours - one for the Manger of the Butter and Cheese Factory, Mr Boller, and the other one for Mr Sid Braithwaite who was Manager of the Commission Nursery which wasn't very far from us, but nearer Yoogali. "At first we used to walk to Bagtown for our stores and bread. The road was very rough and there was the odd farm, sometimes on the right side of road and sometimes on the left side as we got closer to Bagtown (which was just that!!). There was a cement channel, running along the right-hand side of the road, which was full of water. There was a pump house on the left side of the road and a very large dirt dam behind that. The water from the dam was pumped into the channel for the use of the Commission workers' families living in tents on the hill above the road. Mr Paddy Liston took care of the pump. He used to sit outside the door of the pump house. He was so nice and always talked to us as we went past. There where just a few houses built there. Dr Watkins had a house on the corner. Mr V C Williams and Mr Stan Wright owned the farm and house in later years. The Commissioner lived in the house across the road and Mr Oscar Weight and his family

704

lived in the one opposite. Mr Weight was in charge of the Government Stores, situated at the end of the road opposite Bagtown. "On the hill just above the Commission's tents, the Butter and Cheese Factory had been built and just below that the little one room Bagtown School. It was made of corrugated iron and was so terribly hot. My brother Jack and I went to school there for a time. My sister Olive had finished High School in Mildura and my brother, Vic, was too young to attend school. The only teacher I remember at the little school was a Mr Kelly. We walked to school and had to cross the channel right opposite the pump house where a wooden stile had been built for the children to cross over. We always had a 'good morning' for old Paddy. He was such a cheerful soul. "My best friends at school were Estelle Weight and Mary Silvester. Mary's brother Bob also went to school. Bob may be remembered as working in the Griffith Post Office many years later, as acting Postmaster. The Weight family left Griffith for Sydney where Mr Weight started an Estate Agency at Dee Why. "Most of the children going to school lived in and around Bagtown or on a few farms near by. During the time we were attending school there the Department of Education was building a school at Yoogali. Mr Frank Ravenscroft-Smith was the Headmaster at Hanwood school and Mr Vaughan was to be the Headmaster at the new Yoogali school when it was completed. Both teachers wanted as many pupils as possible from the little school after it was closed down to attend their school. As our Nursery appeared to be about half way between Hanwood and Yoogali, my Dad said we could attend which ever one was the closest, as we would have to walk. Mr Ravenscroft (he changed his name from Smith to Ravenscroft) called on my Dad and asked if we could attend Hanwood school. Dad said we could go to whichever one was the closest. There was a School Van running past the Nursery picking up children to take them to Hanwood school but one had to live a certain distance from the school to be allowed to travel on it. One Saturday morning Mr Ravenscroft walked from Hanwood school to the Nursery, pacing the distance. We had a very long driveway and that gave my brother and myself the distance needed to be eligible for a seat in the van, so we attended Hanwood school after all. Mr Hill was the van driver and later on Mr Gee. "During the winter the roads used to be so boggy it was difficult for the horses to pull so we children would get out and run along the road until the van was pulled out of the muddy road. "When stores were needed at the Nursery, one of the workmen would drive the spring cart to the Government Store and then we could get our groceries at Bagtown, but on Saturday morning one had to be very quick because John Jacob sold out of bread very early never enough to go around! I remember one morning we were shopping and a lady pulled up in a buggy with the hood folded down. She lifted up the hood to get her basket out and a hen flew out into the street! It had a nest in the back and had just laid an egg! "Just across from the school, actually between the Commission tents and the school, was a timber structure used as a windbreak for two big tents which was called the Mirrool Accommodation House. A few visitors to Bagtown would stay there and also some of the single men working at the Commission Office. During the time that I went to school there the Department of Education sent a dentist to the school to attend to our teeth. No fillings just extractions! There was a small section of the tent prepared and each child's mouth was examined and out came the decayed teeth. It was all very rough and ready. We filed in one 705

after the other, just like sheep and we all hated it. Many of the children wept, not knowing what was happening. "We would get terrible dust storms from time to time. Farms being cleared and ploughed made the roads and everything get covered with dust. After some time Dad managed to get a pony and sulky for us and we drove into Bagtown to get our groceries. It was Great! With fruit and vegetables we were very lucky. Mr Savage and his sons had a farm at Bilbul and he used to call on us once a week in his cart with fruit and vegetables and scales to weigh things. Mum would buy at the gate whatever she needed. Then Mr Palmer called in a van selling lengths of material. One could buy dress lengths, material for shirts and tea towels, curtain material, etc.

Griffith Vitcultural Nursery "Mirrool Nursery" House L to R: Olive Rounce, Jack, Vic and Nancy (with dog "Zippy") (Background - Nancy's Baby Doll, won by her father at a Leeton Fete) Courtesy late Nancy Mason (nee Bounce)

"Miss Ethel O'Meara was a dressmaker and would visit your home and sew for you if you had a sewing machine. Mum had an old pedal one. Miss O'Meara would drive in her horse and sulky and stay with us for a week and do the necessary sewing. She made my brothers' shirts and school pants and our dresses and anything else needed. Dad would stable and feed her horse until she had finished all the sewing and was ready to go to the next home. It was a great help as previously we had to send to Sydney or Melbourne to buy things and it took weeks for goods to get to us. "A Red Cross Group was working hard and doing a lot of work for the Soldiers. I think that most of the mothers in Old Griffith helped. My Mum and our neighbour Mrs St Clair were members and Mrs Percy Cox was the Secretary. "After the War ended in 1918 the Department of Agriculture arranged to send to the Nursery Returned Soldiers to learn all about farming and growing vines with the idea

706

of allotting them Soldier Settlers Farms at Beelbangera. At the Nursery the Department built a kitchen and a cook house - log cabin style. The first lot of soldiers arrived - 17 of them and a cook, with all the necessary cooking utensils and kitchen needs, together with blankets, etc for the soldiers. Everything was provided for them. Four big sheds had already been built at the Nursery and the soldiers used one of these to sleep in. They were to have three months training at the Nursery, learning about growing vines, pruning, grafting, etc. I don't think that any of the first batch of soldiers were fit for farming. They were all very sick men, most of them very badly wounded - in fact some of them were horribly mutilated. They all returned to Sydney after three months. Two more batches of men arrived at different times. I do not know how many of them were allotted farms but their health seemed so much better than the first soldiers we had. "At the first Old Griffith Show several of our second lot of soldiers from the Nursery had a `Tug-of-War' with some of the Bagtown boys. These soldiers were all very big chaps. The last lot of men that the Department sent were well enough to live in tents, so tents were erected on a vacant area of land at the Nursery and the boys christened that little spot 'Bug Flat'. "The Department sent large bales of seaweed to the Nursery from Sydney. This was mixed with sawdust and made very moist and put in large wooden boxes. Thousands of cuttings from the vines had other stocks grafted on to them and they were planted in rows in the seaweed and sawdust mixture. One of the sheds built at the Nursery was a large brick shed which had to be kept at a very warm temperature with oil drums standing on bricks and filled with burning coke and charcoal. These drums were spaced around the shed and the boxes with the planted cuttings on two rows of shelves in the centre of the shed. The oil drums had holes in the bottom so the ashes could be shaken out and the draft kept the coal alight. My Dad had to check the temperature a couple of times each night to make sure it was warm enough. I used to go with Dad sometimes. The shed was so warm. It wasn't long before one could see the little green shoots on the vines, popping through the seaweed mixture and they grew so quickly. A lot of these vines were sent to different parts of New South Wales and Victoria. "In the early days of Old Griffith we had a dreadful mouse plague. They seemed to come overnight and after doing heaps of damage seemed to disappear as quickly as they had come, leaving all our cats dead. They appeared to have got some kind of disease. There were thousands of mice everywhere, all the things in our pantry had to be put in jars or tins with lids on them. We set traps and caught hundreds and then we would have to dig a hole and bury them. My Dad was once sitting at the table, suddenly he hit his knee and a mouse fell on the floor - it had run up the leg of his trousers! The soldiers were with us during the mouse plague and they had a terrible time keeping the mice our of their bedding at night. "We had some good times while the soldiers were at the Nursery. They were nice chaps. Among the first ones that came were three brothers. Their name was Bowling Jack, Frank and Billy. We often had a picnic at the weekend and we would travel by horse and lorry to Scenic Hill for the day, all sitting on the back of the lorry. As there wasn't any drinking water on the hill we would have to take our own. Dad had a `Furphy' on wheels which had to be drawn by a horse. As one of the men had the name of Murphy my Dad always gave him the job of driving the Furphy!

707

"Bug Flat" Ex-Servicemen's (WWI) Camp at the Viticultural Nursery Courtesy late Nancy Mason (née Bounce) •

Signatures of the returned Soldiers on back of photo

POST CARD Cf . RRESPONDENCE

KODAK

ADDRESS ONLY

R U L

fi U L KODAK

a-6-etirt-4-1",

41. /3 • f3ez-vf.

tk/

aze,

708

•

rffierLtY

/4'

We had a special picnic on the Hill to see the first train come through to Griffith. That was a day to remember! We had so much fun and EVERYONE cheered when the train came puffing along! "Our yearly examination at Hanwood school was called the Qualifying Certificate. I passed the QC (as we called it) in 1923 and left school at 15 years of age. The pupils sitting for the QC were given extra classes after school for a few nights. We would bring extra sandwiches from home for tea and the Headmaster's wife, Mrs Ravenscroft, who was also our Sewing Teacher, would bring in a large pot of tea for us. The School House was close to the School. We would also give my friend, Eva Marks, a lift home. Her father owned the Tobacco Factory which we passed on our way home. "Mr Ravenscroft died some years ago. Mrs Ravenscroft lived at Roseville Chase, Sydney, with her daughter Enid. She was a wonderful lady, and attained the age of 100 years on 28 December 1981. Three of the teachers at Hanwood school while I was a pupil there were Miss Vera Trainer (later Mrs Charlie Davidge), Miss Eileen Bourke and Mr Sams. Miss Walsh was also there for a short time when I first went to Hanwood. "They were very happy days at Hanwood School. Every Friday afternoon the partition between two rooms would be pulled back and we had a 'penny concert'. I will always remember Mary Pearson. She had a lovely voice and always sang for us. Her Mum was a great lady too. She always organised the Break-up Concert at Christmas time, which was really something. May, another daughter, had a nice voice too and Elsie could dance beautifully. I think she was the youngest daughter. "The Butter and Cheese Factory closed down - I don't Olive, Jack & Nancy Rounce c.1910 Courtesy Judy O'Sullivan (née Mason) remember why, but the Factory was used for many things in the years that followed. It was first used as a fruit factory, all kinds and Mr H Hogbin was the manager. Loads of lemons were delivered to the factory. A lemon squeezing machine was erected and I had left school by then and with two other girls, Ruth and Neta Griffin, who lived quite close to the factory, worked with the lemons. Then a fruit grading machine was

709

brought into stem and grade dried sultanas, currants and raisins. The lemon juice was put in large containers and the dried fruit in boxes, marked with a number of crowns and nailed down by the men who then stacked them in the store room. The next job was pitting and drying fresh fruit - apricots, peaches and nectarines. Then it was used as a Freezing Works. "A lot of young people were employed to pit the fruit for which they received twopence a small tray. From a large shed where the fruit was pitted, it was wheeled out and placed in the sulphur barns. After a certain time, they were taken out and the fruit on the trays was laid out to dry on the grass in the sun. I was pitting there too. Sometimes we worked two to a tray. Once I worked on a tray with Mrs Baltieri. I used to walk home with her. They had a farm not far from the Nursery. Mrs Baltieri had worked for a time with my Dad on the vines and their children, Mary, Tulio and Aldo went to Hanwood school in the van with my brother and myself. "Mr Jardine, who had a farm at Hanwood, grew lovely fruit. Big apricots and peaches which had to be carefully pitted - no jagged edges - and placed in a separate sulphur barn as they were to be entered in the Annual Show. "The front of the factory was being built into a very large freezing works. Ice making plant, also an ice cream making machine, large engine room and boiler room and a number of cool rooms for handling rabbits were installed. Ice cream was made for a while and it was called by the brand name of 'Gloria Ice Cream'. By now there were a lot of men employed at the Freezing Works and the Manager was Mr Bob Justice. He came from Gundagai which was really the Head Office of the 'Griffith Freezing Works'. Mr Justice asked me to work in the office for them, which I did. It was very interesting work because there were so many different sections - fruit, ice cream, ice and rabbits. I had to make up the pay sheets for each lot of workers, a very large staff, including the engineers and the rabbit trappers who came in most weeks for their pay. Mr Justice would harness up the horse and sulky and his wife would drive me into 'New Griffith' with the pay cheque to get the weeks pay. One week it was so big the Bank Teller, whose name was Mr Clark, asked me if I would like a loan of his gun to take the money back to the factory! I didn't take it. We got back safely. "The rabbit section of the freezing works was very interesting. There were a lot of trappers, some had trucks and a lot had only horses and sulkies. They went trapping away out in the bush, some to the mallee and some to Binya, Barellan and Rankins Springs. There were the carters who picked the rabbits up at a given spot and brought them into the factory a couple of times a week. The carters would also take out provisions and the trappers pay if they were not coming in at the weekend. "At the Works the rabbits were skinned, put into crates and brought to a certain temperature in the big cool rooms, labelled 'small', 'large' and different grades. Some of them were boned. Those boxes were labelled 'Boned Meat'. it was mostly for export and when a boat was expected the big frozen van would come by train and the men would work late into the evening to load the lorries with the frozen rabbits and take them into the railway truck. There were only small windows in the cool rooms, which were only big enough to get the crates out. The men had to work in there well wrapped up and couldn't stay in the rooms for too long at a time. Sometimes I stayed back to help when there had to be someone to check the number of boxes as they were put through the windows and the different grades on the boxes recorded as they were being loaded onto the lorries.

710

Load of fruit trays at old "Bagtown" Fruit Drying Factor) (Note "Ice Co" vehicle on left of photo)

Labour at the Fruit Drying Factory - Ilagtown (Note the number of child "litters")

Loading ice at the Old Cheese Factory, Bagtown (Later Griffith Freezing Works) Photos courtesy late Nancy Mason (née Rounce)

711

"The Freezing Works closed down in 1927. I am not sure why, something to do with the export I think. "I then went to work at the Griffith Co-op. First in the old store at Bagtown and later in the new shop in Banna Avenue. I worked there for twelve and a half years, until the time of my marriage in 1939. "I married Walter Mason and lived at Lake Wyangan. We had three children - Ian, Judy and Wendy."

John Carle Rounce born c 1870 Norfolk, England married Olive Ann Wright

* 1.

Olive Ann born Mildura 1902; married William Dreyer lives North Curl Curl, Sydney; one child - Yvonne.

Nancy Ellen born Mildura 1907, died 1990; married John Walter Mason; three children - Ian, Judy and Wendy.

John "Jack" born Mildura 1909, died 1974; married Elizabeth Gatenby.

Victor Alfred born Mildura 1913, died 1989; married Elizabeth Rogers; two children - Warwick and Margaret. Elizabeth lives Harbord, Sydney.

Courtesy of the late Mrs Nancy E Mason (nte Rounce) and her daughter Judy O'Sullivan.

712

RYDON Leonard James Rydon was born in Taunton, Somerset, England in 1893. His father, William, was a His mother's market gardener. brother, Augustus Marshall, had emigrated to Queensland where he was employed as a policeman. Later when he returned to Taunton for a holiday, His son he became a publican. Reginald became friendly with Leonard who was much the same age. When Augustus and his family returned to Queensland, Leonard went with them, probably early in 1914. He lived with the Marshalls in Brisbane and obtained employment as a clerk in a firm of underwriters. In 1915 he enlisted in the AIF though he was twice rejected on medical grounds before being accepted. Before serving overseas he became engaged to Marjorie ("Peggy") Robinson (the daughter of two Scottish schoolteachers) who had been born in He was Toowoomba in 1900. commissioned as a Lieutenant in the AIF and when he returned to Australia they were married at St Andrews Cathedral in Sydney. He lived in Leonard James Rydon Sydney for several years where he qualified as an accountant. He was working at the markets in Sydney when offered a position which he took up in 1924, as secretary of the Yenda Producers Co-operative Society. He lived in various places in Yenda but his wife spent long periods in Sydney. They had three daughters with only the youngest being born in Yenda - in 1925. By 1930 the two elder girls were at boarding school in Sydney when their mother died in childbirth. Mrs E Bulmer of Yenda was caring for the youngest daughter. In 1931 all three girls went to live with their grandmother, Getrude Robinson, in Melody Street, Coogee. Their father continued his work in Yenda, living at the hotel. In 1933 Leonard remarried. His second wife was a widow, Dora Cox (nee Larsen), of Danish parents with a son Ronald then aged nine. Leonard built a large house in Bingar Street next to what was then the residence of Dr Dilger and the family of six settled there towards the end of that year. Despite recurring ill health due to stomach and duodenal ulcers, Leonard continued with the Producers until 1937 when he resigned and set up his 713

own business under the name of Yenda Fruit & Case Supply. He remained proprietor of that business until he left the district in 1947. He lived in Brisbane until his death in 1965 aged 72. His wife, Dora, lived till 94, dying in 1987. While they were living in Brisbane the Rydons visited the area on several occasions, holidaying with his eldest daughter Enid (Mrs Ron Miller) who lived in Yenda and later in Griffith. (See Miller entry "Series 2"). Leonard Rydon was well known as "Jim" to many of the early settlers. He took a keen interest in local developments and was for many years a Justice of the Peace. As a qualified accountant he had quite a large practise in preparing income tax returns. The four children all attended Yenda Public School though Enid was there only in 1934. She went on to Business College and secretarial jobs in Sydney until 1937 when she returned to Yenda and worked in her father's office. In 1940 she commenced training as a nurse at Leeton District Hospital and in 1941 married Ron Miller. Ron Cox finished primary school at Yenda, then boarded at Yanco Agricultural High School from 1936 to 1938. In 1939 he attended Griffith High School, leaving at the end of fourth year to take an apprenticeship with the Brisbane City Electric Light Co where his father had been employed (until his death by electrocution). He worked in various parts of Queensland before marrying and settling in Brisbane. The two younger girls, Joan and Pat Rydon, went from Yenda Public to Griffith High School. In the booklet commemorating fifty years of Yenda Public School there is mention of the display of Maypole Dancing in which Pat participated Marjorie ("Peggy") Rydon (nee Robinson) in 1935. She passed her Intermediate 1900-1930 Certificate in 1940 and worked in her father's office until enlisting in the WAAF. After the war she joined the family in Brisbane where in 1953 she married Clive Hill. They have three children and seven grandchildren. They still live in Brisbane. Pat and Joan, with the encouragement of Ann Fergusson, were both active in the Yenda Girl Guides during their high school years. Joan was one of the original passengers on the bus to Griffith High School in 1937. In that year the opening of the convent school meant a serious decline in pupils and staff of Yenda Public School and consequent difficulties in maintaining super-primary classes which had been conducted for a number of years by Miss Ann Miller. Yet there was little interest in the new service to Griffith. Mr Jock Ritchie persevered with his bus though there were then only four pupils from Yenda: Flo Murray, Terry Rose, Una Edge and Joan.

714

to R: Pat, Enid and Joan Rydon and Ron Cox

Main Avenue, Yenda - May 1938

Bingar Street, Yenda - 1934 First house - Dr Di'ger, Second House - Rydon Home

715

Others, including Keith and Joan Chauncy, Ester Zilliotto and Thelma Cave travelled from Bilbul. Mr Ritchie also took adult passengers and commenced a Saturday morning service for shoppers. While the numbers using the bus were so small, all became good friends with each other and with Mr Ritchie and had a great deal of enjoyment during travel. Three of the original bus travellers from Yenda went on to tertiary education in Sydney and have always felt gratitude to Mr Ritchie for enabling them to get to high school and matriculate. In 1938 the position changed when a large number of pupils from Yenda took the bus which was very crowded; there were protest meetings in Yenda about the overcrowding, and eventually Mr Ritchie acquired a second bus. The super-primary classes at Yenda were abandoned and it became routine for pupils to proceed from sixth class at Yenda to high school at Griffith. Joan Rydon stayed in High School till she matriculated in 1941 and won a Public Exhibition to the University of Sydney. Thereafter she visited Yenda only in vacations. After graduation she taught at secondary schools in Newcastle and Canberra and then worked as a research assistant at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University in Canberra. There she married S C ("Sam") Soper. They lived in Cape Town South Africa, Sydney and Melbourne where he held university positions. Their one son, John, was born in South Africa in 1957. On returning to Australia, Joan resumed her university work. She obtained a PhD from Melbourne University and was Professor of Politics at La Trobe University from 1975 to 1989. Her husband was Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne from 1969 to 1981. They are now both retired living in Melbourne. John is employed as a computer programmer at the University of Melbourne.

Swimming in "The Northern" - January 1938 L to R: Front - Mrs Dora Rydou, Miss Jean Hall, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Cis Loughurst Back - Pat Rydon, Lucy Anderson, Lesley Dickson, Yolande Latimer, Elaine Watters, Shirley McMahon

Contributed by Professor Joan Rydon, Melbourne. Photographs by courtesy of Enid Miller (née Rydon), Mills Place, Griffith 2680.

716

SAINTY James Sainty took up Farm 13, Hanwood in July 1913. He was the eldest son of Joseph and Jessie who had a property called "Downham Farm" in the Turramurra area of the Sydney North Shore. Joseph was only 19 when his father John died in 1882. He and his mother then managed the orchard. Once a week, Joseph took a dray load of wood, fruit and vegetables to North Sydney for sale. It was on these trips that he met and courted Jessie Cowan who was the daughter of James Cowan, a fireman stoker at the time. They married in April 1891 and James Sainty was born on 28 March 1892. After early education at Gordon, a suburb of Sydney, James went to Hurlstone Agricultural High School as a boarder and won a bursary to Hawkesbury Agricultural College, where he studied agriculture and dairying. On graduation in 1911 he joined the Department of Agriculture and was posted to Wollongbar Experiment Farm as a butter and cheesemaker in 1912. (Both James and his son Roy are graduates of Hawkesbury Agricultural College.)

to K: James Sainty, William ("Billy") Brooks, Cecil Bland - 1914 Written on the hack of the original photo/postcard -

"What do you think of we, us & Coy - the centre chap is a settler named Brooks, late Assist Orchardist at Wagga Farm. He lives across the road from us. This is our usual Sunday attire - on the right of the photo is the fireplace and cooking utensils - the left is our, dining tent".

717

At this time the Government, through the then Murrumbidgee Irrigation Trust (later the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission), was advertising the first 89 farms in the Mirrool Irrigation Area. This was done in part by means of a large poster one of which was pinned to the notice board at the Wollongbar Phyllis Sainty - 1916 Farm. James resigned from Courtesy Roy Sainty the Department of Agriculture and after taking the poster down, proceeded to make his way to the Irrigation Area. This same poster is now framed and hangs in the foyer of the Department of Lands, Griffith office. During his days at College James met, at competition football games, a Cecil Bland. They became good friends and James was often invited to Cecil's home at Randwick. It was here that he met Cecil's sister, Phyllis, who later became his wife (1916). Cecil Bland, who was a clerk, also wanted to go fanning. So in July 1913, James took up Farm 13 and Cecil applied for and obtained Farm 12 at Hanwood. James was the farmer and Cecil was, amongst other things, the bookkeeper. The early double entry journals which were kept are still in the family's possession. The first entry, for £19.0.10, which was made on July 17, 1913, was for the deposit on Farm 12 and Farm 13. Other early entries include one for a G Spry for clearing Farm 12, a T Spry for clearing Farm 13 and a CJ Hanna for 23 loaves of bread at a cost of 7/8d. It was at about this time that the Cash Club was formed. Dave Stark (who owned Farm 7) would collect orders and money, these were picked up by Micky Cush, taken to Original Tank - Farm 13 Willbriggie and posted to Sydney. When the (note hand pump underneath) goods arrived, Cush would take them to Dave Cliff Sainty on tank stand, George Fenn (who worked on Farm 13) and Phyllis - 1916 Stark for distribution. This was the early Courtesy Roy Sainty beginnings of the Griffith Co-op Society.

718

In April 1915, Cecil said to Jim, "You look after my block, you know more about farming than I do, and I'll enlist in the army. I'll be back by Christmas". Cecil was wounded whilst at Gallipoli. He married the nursing sister who looked after him whilst convalescing in England and never returned to Australia. He lived the rest of his life at Hoylake, Co Cheshire, England. Farm 12 was then taken over by Messrs Stokes and Clark who had come from Adelaide. James also helped out at the Cheese Factory near Bagtown, in an advisory capacity. Meanwhile, James had continued to court Phyllis Bland and they were married at Randwick on 1 July 1916. A galvanised iron shack, with hessian linings, was built and they took up residency in the spring of 1916 after a honeymoon at Bundanoon NSW. The living conditions proved to be very hard with the heat of summer and the cold of winter, the flies, drought, dust storms and mouse plagues. Getting a quick cash flow was a first priority because fruit trees take such a long time to bear. To provide income in the meantime pigs were raised and tomatoes were grown; also wheat and oats for hay. Chaff was a very important commodity due to the large numbers of horses in the district which required feed. James Sainty Contract chaff cutting was another enterprise undertaken. Prunes, apricots, peaches and grape vines were among the first permanent plantings. The first returns for Cornichon and Daria (now known as Ohanez) grapes was in 1919, with winery deliveries to McWilliam in 1920. Still in family possession is a receipt on a postcard from JJ McWilliam and Sons "Kangaroo Vineyards" Griffith for Brandy grapes price £5 per ton, dated May 8, 1922. Sainty's delivered 5cwt lqr 7lbs - value £11616. During the early 1920s prunes were coming into production so markets had to be found. They were packed on the farm, dry at first, then they were softened in boiling water and packed in 14Ib and 281b boxes. Some of these boxes were sent to Jim's mother and she in turn took them to various stores and shops for sale in the North Shore area of Sydney. Phyllis Sainty By 1924 there were one hundred outlets for Photos courtesy Roy Sainty dried prunes, peaches and apricots and almonds. This expanded far beyond his own production so James bought in from other growers and the names of Stokes & Clark, Whiting Bros, AJ Lenehan, J & R Piper, G Tarr, C Hamilton, Dave Stark and H Howe appear in early records as having sold produce to Jim. 719

THE TOAST !

5 Arvt i,,o ES

'AINTRALIAN

officer;

15 ALBERTA F"re'

VI14 EYARDs'.COROWA

EE. AND IRRIGA

POST CARD - A frolc'/7t,e4 Al

7141-11-4 4,--s

(-444 /74 )1 -a icrl"`

0641._ ,1

Receipt on postcard from Kangaroo Vineyards Courtesy Roy Sainty

720

In the meantime, Jim's brother Bert (HJ Sainty) had come back from the War in poor health so he came to Farm 13 to work and recuperate. He later went back to • Turramurra and bought a house in Hastings Road and set up a packing shed in the back yard and also a delivery system. This turned out to be much better than packing on the farm. During the late 1920s, James had developed the canning of prunes and apricots in 71b and 111b L to R: Lorna, Edna and Roy Sainty cans under the Excello, Lusco and J Courtesy Roy Sainty Sainty labels. These were canned at the Leeton factory, as it was then called. Due to problems in the operation he developed a canning business with Methven Pty Ltd, canners, of Mount Druitt. He travelled widely buying prunes. Shepparton and Young were sources of fruit outside the MIA. At the time he worked closely with the Griffith and Yenda Producers Co-ops, marketing much dried fruits through his brother H J Sainty of Turramurra. The Railway Refreshment Rooms (RRR) was a significant buyer in this early period. In the late 1920s sales exceeded supply but as production increased in the Young district, severe competition caused marketing problems. The overall production of fruit was increasing in the Area and the need for more efficient marketing was becoming apparent. The Co-operatives at Griffith, Yenda and Yanco were operating and in 1929 combined to form the Irrigation Co-operative Society (ICS). This was originally formed for the purpose of taking over the Leeton Cannery. Later in 1929, Wilson Moses of the Griffith Producers and James Sainty proposed that a packing facility, mainly for prunes, be established in Sydney and operated by James Sainty for the ICS. This filially came to fruition in 1931 with the establishment of a factory, on a rail siding at St Leonards which was leased from the Meat Board. Later, in 1933, the Young District Prune Producers joined this enterprise and James Sainty was responsible for packing fruit from both districts. He also overseered the prune dehydrators at Young for a few years. In 1938 James, accompanied by Mr Headley The Sainty Family 1934 Mallaby, orchardist of Lake Wyangan, later to Courtesy Roy Sainty become MIA Manager for the WC & IC, travelled to 721

California to study the fruit industry, in particular prunes. As a result of this visit James introduced into the area many new techniques in growing and dehydration of prunes. In the early days, from 1921 to 1926, there were always two young Englishmen working on the farm. These boys had arrived under a Migrant Assistant Scheme which operated at the time. One of these was Russell Ecob. His son, Ernie Ecob, is now the Secretary of the AWU. In the late twenties Italian migrants appeared on the scene. De Marco, Sergi, Bagatella were but a few. The first two Italian migrants to work full time on the farm were Fulvio Pilloni and Giovanni Rossetto. This was 1925. Giovanni, just a few months earlier, had brought his wife, Antonietta, from Italy to join him on Farm 13, in the original shack. They had been married just after World War I, but he had been unable to bring her to Australia any earlier. Unfortunately, Giovanni died of pneumonia in September 1927. Antonietta then moved to Griffith to stay with friends. She later married Domenico Pavese. They had one son, Deglio Angelo. Deglio now works with the WRC, Griffith. Giuseppe Socal came to work soon after and stayed for thirty-five years. Fulvio Pilloni left after twenty-two years to take up his own farm. The Sainty household always seemed to have numerous visitors. Apart from the migrant boys who ate in the home, family members from Sydney came regularly for their holidays, etc. Jim's brother, Clifford, was one of the first in 1916. He was an amateur wireless enthusiast, and Roy remembers their first radio in about 1925. It had a big goose-necked speaker and they would listen mainly to 3L0 Melbourne and 2FC Sydney. Roy remembers some of the family visitors bringing various musical instruments, including banjo-mandolin. Phyllis was an accomplished piano player, so many great musical parties were enjoyed by all. In 1918 Phyllis' widowed sister, Emma Maloney, arrived with a small son, John. John's father had been killed in the War and Emma came to Griffith for a holiday. Here she met Fred Whiting of Farm 19, they courted and married in 1922. Dev Whiting, their son, still resides on Farm 19, Hanwood. James' sister Doris also came for a holiday and she married Dudley Pryde of Farm 20. They had two daughters, Jenny and Peggy. Bert Sainty, who came after the war, married Thelma Hamilton. Bill Gibbons, a friend of the Saintys in Sydney also came out, met and married Henrietta (better known as Etta) Hamilton. When James took up the position with the ICS, the family moved to Sydney in 1930 and took up residency in a house in Warrawee on the North Shore. Fulvio Pilloni and Guiseppe Socal were left to manage the farm with Mr Fred Whiting looking after the accounts. (Joe Pilloni, Griffith Accountant and Mario Pilloni are both Fulvio's sons, and Deci McNabb nee Socal is a niece of Guiseppe Socal). James relinquished managership at St Leonards in 1945 and, at the request of the Griffith Producers Co-operative, he returned and set up packing facilities and dehydrators at Griffith. It was at this time that his son, Roy, returned from World War II, took over the running of Farm 13 and also acquired Farm 14 on behalf of himself and his wife, Nancy (née Phillips). James Sainty finally retired in the early 1960s and sold Farm 13 to his son, Roy, and his grandson, Brian, in partnership. Even in retirement, James still returned to help out with the dehydrator during the prune season. He died at Hanwood, whilst on the job, on 4 April 1965.

722

This Sainty family share a most interesting background whose roots go back far into the history of County Norfolk in the south east of England. Their recorded history also displays a strong and remarkable aptitude for entrepreneurial marketing. The name is recorded as "Sainty" back into the early 1700s when the families resided in the small rural parishes of central Norfolk. Prior to then the name changed over several generations and evidence indicates that the name Sainty in Norfolk has evolved from the name Sankey, all being descended from the Rev Christopher Sankey, incumbent of the tiny rural parish of Brandiston in Central Norfolk from 1577-1635. Henry Sainty (d.1772) • John Sainty (1748-1798)

Henry Sainty = Mary Ann (nee YuII) Master Chimney Sweep of Downham Market, Norfolk • John Sainte (1818-1882) born Watlington Norfolk England bapt 14 March 1819 St Peter's & St Paul's Watlington Arrived Australia (Melbourne) Der "Eagle" 28 October 1856 as free passengers married (1) 25 May 1837 - St Peters C of E, Wisbech Elizabeth Offley (c.1818-1864) (daughter of William Offley & Elizabeth of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire England)

•

• 1. Henry John (1838-1919) 2. George Thomas (1840-1859) 3. Charles Frederick (1842-1896) 4. William Barnabas (1845-1845) 5. Robert Christopher (1847-1929) 6. Philip (1850- ) 7. James Sier (1853-1937) 8. William Barnard (1855- ) married (2) 27 October 1864 - Elizabeth Street Presbyterian Church Sydney Amelia Bryant (nee Watts 1833-1908) (daughter of Robert Watts & Phoebe of Sparkford, Somerset England)

•

9. JOSEPH (1863-1953) - father of James; g/father of Roy 10. George (1866-1866) 11. George (1868-1933) 12. Arthur E (1870-1871) 13. Arthur Ernest (1872- ) 14. John Herbert (1875-1953)

723

The first Sainty recorded in Australia is one James who was transported to Tasmania in 1844. Although this fifteen year old boy cannot be located on the family tree, he came from Norwich, Norfolk and is therefore most likely to belong to the same family. (The Sainty family of New Zealand appear to be all related to the Sainty family of Wolverstone, Essex, which has French ancestry and is not connected to the Sainty family of Norfolk from whom John descends.) John Sainty who arrived aboard the "Eagle" in 1856 was the eldest of Henry and Mary Ann's eight children. After the birth of his twin sisters in 1820 at Watlington (Norfolk) the family moved to Downham Market where the next five children were born. His mother, Mary Ann, was buried there 27 July 1831, aged 34; his father, Henry, on 11 July 1838, aged 45. The passenger list for the "Eagle" records John, his first wife Elizabeth and six sons. Their eldest son Henry remained in England and, according to family members, went to the Crimean War. He later married in England and with his wife and two children, arrived in Sydney on the ship "Norval" in 1880. John is first recorded in Sydney in 1859 as an eligible voter for the Legislative Assembly, a householder in Crown Street. Directories for 1861 and 1866 show this to be number 300. From 1861 Mrs Amelia Bryant (who was later to become his second wife) was living in number 302. At Crown Street, John established a grocery business and on the front facade of the building was recorded "J. Sainty, Colonial & Hobart Town Fruits, Jams & Co. and at 8 Western Market, Melbourne". Family legend has it that his agent in Hobart took the profits and was not seen again. Several of John's sons established grocery businesses in the Surry Hills area, one building erected 1884 in Crown Street still bears the Sainty name inscribed on the facade. By 1868 John was described as a fruiterer of 169 York Street. His accounts ledger commencing 6 May 1867 records, during the following four years, hundreds of transactions with other dealers and growers, some in country towns and interstate. Although John had begun to purchase property in the Parish of Gordon in 1869, he still retained his city premises, where Amelia, who didn't like the "bush", stayed with the children at Surry Hills until they moved to the property at Turramurra in 1870. John had called the farm "Downham" after his childhood town in Norfolk. Joseph Sainty the father of our pioneer, James, was the eldest of John's second family and was born at Surry Hills on 21 March 1863. He is described as orchardist, builder and landlord of Warrawee NSW. He married Jessie Rankin Cowan (1872-1965, daughter of James and Agnes Cowan of Sydney) and they had thirteen children:1. JAMES (1892-1965, the original settler of Farm 13 and father of Griffith Sainty family) 2. Herbert John (1894-1963, this "Bert" Sainty married Thelma Hamilton) 3. Roy (1896-1906) 4. Doris (1898- married Dudley Pryde) 5. Raymond Onslow (1901- ) 6. Vera Jessie (1902- ) 7. Alma E (1905- ) 8. Rex Morton (1907- ) 9. Clifford Melville (1907-1987) 10. Muriel Esther (1908-1986) 11. Lawrence Alan (1911- )

724

Until he was aged seven, Joseph lived with his parents and brothers in Surry Hill where his father, John, ran a grocery and produce trading business. After his father purchased land in Pymble and what was later to become Turramurra, the family moved there to "Downham Farm" in 1870. For the next year Joseph walked each school day to the Convent School at Normanhurst (then called Hornsby) until the new public school opened in May 1871 at what is now Gordon. It is presumed that Joseph was one of the first pupils. Family stories tell of him having to mark the trees when taking short cuts to other farms so as not to become lost in the thick bush of the upper north shore. Joseph was only 19 when his father died in 1882 and as most of his older halfbrothers had established businesses in the city, Joseph took the responsibility for running the orchards with his mother, Amelia, and younger brothers. They had inherited over 30 acres of the land and Joseph bought and sold many lots over several decades. He specifically inherited "all drays, horses and harnesses". In 1884, at the age of 21 Joseph built himself a wooden house on part of the farm. The house still stands at 71 Eastern Road, Turramurra. Once a week Joseph took a dray load of fruit, vegetables and firewood to North Sydney for sale. In the afternoon he would set out for home and fall asleep leaving the horse to find its way back to the farm. On these visits he met and courted Jessie Rankin Cowan whom he married in 1891 when he was 28 and she was 18. They did not marry until Joseph had built her a new house - this time a brick cottage called "Waratah" on the crest of the hill in Cherry Street, Warrawee. Fruit growing became uneconomical in the Sydney region due to the spread of fruit fly and as the population of Sydney spread to the north, with the introduction of the railway, Joseph sub-divided his land and built many cottages which he let to tenants. He had very little illness during his long life and died on 5 December 1953.

SOURCES: 1.

"Australian Biographical and Genealogical Record. 1842-1899 Volume 3." (Contributed by M R Sainty). Edited by Kenneth J Cable and Jane C Marchant. Published by A.B.G.R. in association with the Society of Australian Genealogists.

Roy Sainty's private papers.

000000000

725

MUM BS ,ati CaPI 4.,0 It/114 tt

efg

Committee of the Cash Club 1919-1920 L to R - Back: Albert Pedley, Reg Erskine, Alfred H Nowotina, John Holroyd, Charlie Lasscock, Jim Sainty Front: Dave Stark, Wilson Moses, J E ("Yank") Haines, Oscar Ebert, Sid Vagg, Oswald Whiting, Bill Manser Courtesy Roy Sainty

Joseph Sainty

married April 1891 Jessie Cowan • James Sainty

married Randwick 1 July 1916

born 28 March 1892 died 4 April 1965 1.

Phyllis Bland

born 15 December 1894

• Roy born 1918; married Nancy Joyce Phillips. Two children (1) Brian James married 1966, Lindsay Crooke (2) Shirley married 1964, Ian Vincent Spry; lives at Griffith

Lorna born 1920

Colin born 1922 (dec'd)

Edna born 1925

Dorothy born 1929

Beryl born 1931

Geoffrey born 1934.

By courtesy of Roy Sainty, Griffith 2680. 726

SALVESTRO Angelo Salvestro was born at Cavaso Del Tomba, Treviso, Italy on 16 June 1901 the son of Luigi Salvestro and Angelina (nee Costa). In 1920, at the age of 19, he was called to serve in the Italian Army 7th Battalion, Regiment Alpini, and was discharged eighteen months later. At the age of 21 he decided to come to Australia as he had heard that there was plenty of work there and money to be made. There was no work in Italy. He came to Australia aboard the "Ormus" and arrived at Sydney on 27 August 1922. He soon after left for Griffith as he had heard that the WC & IC was seeking workers. On his arrival in the Griffith district his first home was a camp site at Lake Wyangan where he was employed for several years as a labourer with the WC & IC, constructing cement ditches. In these early years money was very scarce. At one time when Angelo and his friend needed a blanket each they could not afford Angelo and Maria Salvestro two blankets, so they bought one blanket and cut it in half! Angelo's father, Luigi Salvestro, came to join his son in Griffith in 1927 but only remained for a few years, returning to Italy in 1931 where he remained until his death. Angelo returned to Italy in 1929 and was married to Maria Stefanin (by Fr Don Bobato) on 4 July 1929 in the Catholic Church at Cavaso. Prior to her marriage Maria lived at Cavaso where she worked as a house servant and also in a silk factory. Maria and Angelo sailed for Australia aboard "Orama" soon after their marriage and arrived at Sydney late in August 1929. After arriving in Griffith Angelo and Maria rented a farm house, together with another couple at Yoogali, at a cost of approximately £1 a month for almost twelve months. Angelo then began work as a bricklayer, travelling on his BSA motor bike to wherever there was work, sometimes as far as Leeton and Darlington Point. In 1930 Angelo and Maria moved to Hanwood and rented another farm house for two years, at a cost of 16/- per week. Here Bianca, their first daughter was born. Money was so scarce that a "Nanda" spaghetti box was used to bed the baby. 727

Angelo cooking for his work mates

Redento Cunial and Angelo Salvestro

Building a home at Darlington Point Courtesy Angelo Salvestro

728

Angelo on his B.S.A. motorbike ►

Angelo and unknown friend

Angelo's Dodge Utility ► used to transport workers to Darlington Point

The DeSoto purchased from Gordon's Garage L to R: Eda, Angelo and Maria

Courtesy Angelo Salvestro

729

Two years later Angelo and Maria returned to Yoogali and rented a farm house on Mr Ward's orchard where Maria worked, helping with the packing of oranges when needed. In 1932 they purchased their first car - a Morris single seater. Then in 1936, they purchased their own farm, No 650, at Yoogali situated on the Yoogali/Leeton Road. They worked this farm together. At the same time Angelo continued working at his trade of bricklaying and laying floor and wall tiles. In buying the farm Angelo decided he needed a utility so he had to sell his Morris car. It was on this farm that in 1937, their second daughter, Eda was born with Mrs Taylor, a well-known midwife in attendance. At this time many mothers didn't go to hospital to have their babies. In 1949 their third daughter, Janet, was born. Janet was born in the Griffith Hospital. In 1956 Angelo decided to sell the farm. However, before doing so he subdivided that part of the farm fronting the main road into eight blocks. On the corner block a service station (known as Yoogali Service Station) and a home were built and these were leased. He built his own brick home which he named "Fontana" on one block and the remaining blocks were sold separately as residential blocks. Life at this stage was a bit easier. Angelo continued with his bricklaying trade for over fifty years. WAL L YESTRA He worked on the original Hotel Griffith, Griffith Hospital, Catholic Church (for which he donated the bricklayer's sand) and the Yoogali Club - giving endless hours of work. Angelo was a founding member of the Yoogali Club and was the first to be made a Life Member of the Club. The road out of the Club is named in his honour - The Angelo Salvestro Drive. He is very proud of this Club. Elsa Bianchi, Angelo Salvestro's sister, at the Yoogali Club In June 1990 Angelo had a Courtesy Janet Signor (nee Salvestro) bad fall, he had to be hospitalised for three months, then was transferred to the Griffith Scalabrini Nursing Home. During this time Maria continued living at home by herself until February 1993 when she also had a fall. She then decided it would be best to move into the Griffith Scalabrini Hostel. There she is close to visit Angelo. As at this date (9 June 1993) Angelo at the age of 92 and Maria at the age of 86 both reside at the Griffith Scalabrini Village - Angelo in the Nursing Home and Maria in the Hostel. The land on which the Scalabrini Village now stands was once owned by Angelo and Maria and was part of their Farm 650 Yoogali.

730

The Salvestro Family - September 1985 L to R - Standing: Eda, Bianca and Janet Front: Maria and Angelo Courtesy Janet Signor (née Salvestro)

Angelo and Maria's family I.

Bianca born Griffith 5 October 1930; married John Rossetto (dec'd 7 May 1988). three sons - Garry, Brian and Kevin. Bianca lives at Beelbangera.

Eda born Griffith 10 April 1937; married Tito De Martin. Two children Kim and Liza. Eda and Tito live at Griffith.

Janet born Griffith 13 December 1949; married Garry Signor. Two children - Matthew and Nicole. They live at Yenda.

By courtesy of Bianca Rossetto, Eda DeMartin and Janet Signor the daughters of Angelo and Maria Salvestro.

731

732

SALVESTRO Erminio Salvestro, known in Australia as "Jack", born 1892 Cavaso Del Tomba, Treviso, Italy, migrated to Australia in 1922. Arriving in Griffith the same year he stayed at Giovanni Ceccato's farm where many new arrivals stayed. He worked at any job that was available including a period of time on the construction of the railway to Hillston. One day a farmer, Les Foster, went to Ceccato's farm (which was a point for recruiting labour) and inquired amongst the men if there were any capable of handling horses. Being familiar with horses in Italy, where he drove a horse and cart on his rounds collecting milk for the cheese factory, Erminio volunteered for the job. So he went with Mr Foster to Farm 153 Hanwood where he was employed as a permanent hand, working for Les, his father, Harry and mother, Phyllis (Nurse Foster) for several years. During this time, as well as other Enninio ("Jack") Salvestro work, Erminio delivered fruit to Willbriggie in a Ford TModel truck to be rail freighted to the Sydney markets. In 1924 arrangements were made by Mr and Mrs Foster for Jack to send for his fiancee, Margherita Rostirolla, of his home town in Italy, to come to Australia under an assisted migrant scheme. On boarding the liner "Ormonde" at Naples, Rita shared a cabin with another migrant woman from Treviso, Maria Schiavenin, and they became close friends. They travelled to the other side of the world together without knowing they were to settle on farms only three miles apart. Maria married Facundo Alvaro on arrival. Arriving on the "Ormonde" in Sydney on 23 October 1924, they were married the same day at St Mary's Cathedral. The ceremony was witnessed by Mrs Foster and Narciso Gabrielli, a friend of Jack's. Margherita or "Rita" as she was always known, was accepted and treated as a daughter by Mrs Foster and likewise Mrs Foster was treated as a mother by Rita. On arriving in Griffith she was taken to a little shack in the middle of Foster's farm. The shack was typical of those days. It consisted of corrugated iron roof, hessian walls and dirt floor. The water supply was five hundred yards away - the water was carried daily to the shack in kerosene tins. Rita was absolutely shocked, coming from Italy where her parents' home was of two stories with walls of stone one metre thick. She was somewhat consoled by the fact that her sister, Pasqua, who had arrived three years earlier and was Margherita ("Rita") Salvestro married to Antonio Ceccato, was living nearby on Farm 170 - at the rear of Farm 153. 733

In 1925 the first of their two sons, Rino, was born. In 1928 Erminio bought Foster's farm together with his brother Giovanni who had arrived on the "Ormonde" with Rita. In 1930 Erminio and Giovanni decided to go their own ways. Giovanni stayed on Farm 153 and Erminio purchased the adjoining Farm 154 from Giacomo Bagatella who moved to France with his family. Farm 154 was partially planted, and the rest heavily timbered with pine trees and bushes which he gradually cleared and planted. In 1930 their second son, Allan, was born. An almost tragic moment in the lives of Jack and Rita during the early years on Farm 154 was when their two year old son, Allan, found his way to the dam. Rita was alerted to the incident by the Jack and Rita with sons, Rino and Allan constant barking and beckoning of their pet dog (left there by the Bagatella family). The dog had become very attached to the small child. Rita eventually followed the dog to the dam where she saw the toddler floating in the water. Rita tried to rescue him but was unable to reach him when she became stuck in the mud. With the dog still frantically barking, in desperation, pointing to the child she said to the dog "Ciapeo" (meaning "catch him") whereupon the dog jumped into the water and retrieved Allan to within reach of where Rita was able to grab hold of him. As Rita held him up by his feet she watched the water drain from his mouth and gradually the little boy showed signs of life again much to her relief. Allan is very happy about this story too - he is here to tell the story!

4711Pmr. .

AustralianW rkers Union 7 11 1 9 p 2-1 9 2 3 1 555 8

Railway Workers' Indu)tty Branch ...up and the preloctten el the Is entitled le all the smell/. el at Union while loyal to Its ',WNW.. 1W the year endieg Sept. 10. 1521. ued at

?—

T'-`!=r",-

Cr 2.,

Z't

MEMI13ER8HIP TICKET, '30/. Maskers ma resew eakeir first lied se rwst gag ss the first pay day after the4sasal COPIIMO

...2112115-11.51.101111NIWINA

osh we.

www.swhesdselL

734

RAILWAY w INDUSTRY BRANCH

E1,5558

WORKER

AILSAY

Attach soeUrely ID Ballet

gnirj oo WILMS. Attach socUsel2 ta ElW1.

RAILWAY W INDUSTRY BRANCH

RAILWAY WORKERS INDUSTRY BRANCH_

/Wash securely to Ballet

F15.5.58

A,woh securely te Balls

RAILWAY W INDUSTRY BRANCH

155 5 8

,I.55

CA5552

Attach securely to Ballot

illooh•wwwly to DWI.

PIAILWAV W

1:4114c1C7.17.`

•912. 1923. AIWA escurely L.

.0 ..550 ° r

The purchase of the farm combined with the Depression years made life extremely hard and difficult trying to make ends meet. In the early years Jack also worked for Jack McWilliam at the Hanwood winery to supplement the income while Rita helped to work the farm. Jack continued to work the farm right through the war years - until his death in 1949. After that Rita and her two sons, Rino and Allan, struggled on regardless. Rita passed away in 1983. The farm is still owned by the family - Rita and Jack's sons, Rino and Allan. During the early years they would travel by horse and sulky to the farms of the Manera and Cunial families where many of the Italian community congregated - just to name two of the farms visited on Sundays. There they played bocce, danced and sang to the music of a piano accordion till the early hours of the morning. In the summertime many picnics were held on the Murrumbidgee River beaches, travelling there on Mr Plos' old Chev truck.

Phyllis and harry Foster meeting Rita aboard "Ormonde"

FOSTER'S ORCHARD & VINEYARDS 153 GRIFFITH.

MURRUMBIDGEE AREAS. N.S.W.

*Foster's Orchard' which features from time to time in the Ginger Meggs comic strip - (usually pinching' fruit from Foster's Orchard) is based on Farm 153, Hanwood.

Fruit Specially Picked and Packed for Orders Letters to LF.S FOSTER, BOX 77 GRIFFITH

Pietro Rostirolla married Maria Rossi

Giovanni Salvestro married Elsie Suine married St Marys Cathedral, Sydney 23 October 1924

Erminio Salvestro born Cavaso Del Tomba Treviso, Italy 15 January 1892 arrived Australia 1922 died Griffith 26 January 1949

•

I. 2.

• It. horn Griffith 14 September 1925. Allan born Griffith 25 September 1930.

Margherita Rostirolla born Cavaso Del Tomba Treviso, Italy 29 April 1900 arrived Australia 1924 died Griffith 23 December 1983

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Rino and Allan Salvestro, Griffith. 735

SALVESTRO Santo Salvestro, who had been born in Cavaso del Tomba, Italy on 2 November 1902, married Regina Cadorin at the Sacred Heart Church in Griffith. They were the first Italian migrant couple to be married there. The Church was one of the first brick buildings built in Griffith and Santo had been one of the bricklayers who helped on its construction. Santo left Genova in 1924, disembarked in Adelaide and arrived in Griffith in late October of that year. He settled on Farm 170, Hanwood. By day he worked as a bricklayer with Antonio Ceccato who was one of the earliest settlers in the area and who had befriended him when he arrived from Italy. Farm 170 was originally owned by Antonio and later Santo and his brother, Luigi, purchased it for the "grand sum" of £1,800. The irrigation farm was unplanted and to enable it be developed Santo worked at other jobs while Luigi worked the land which was planted to vines, financed by the money earnt by Santo. Santo later planted stone fruit and grew vegetables to supplement his income and provide food for the family. He also made his own salami, as many of his fellow countrymen did, and purchased vealers from nearby Australian farmers to provide meat for the family. Veal was a popular meat with the Italian migrants and was one of their basic foods. They were able to purchase veal at a very reasonable price as at that time it was not a popular meat with the Australians.

Santo and Regina Salvesto and baby daughter Natalina

The first home for Santo's family was a shack built of hessian, with walls of boarding and a tin roof. Other migrants from the Veneto region of Italy who had no place to go came to Santo's farm for shelter. The farm became a haven for many Italian migrants. They built their shacks and soon there was an avenue of these humpies. They stayed until they found work and were able to establish themselves.

736

Gathering at the home of Giovanni Ceccato - 1925 L to R - Back: Natale Cadorin, Beppi Socal, Antonio Ceccato, Jack Rossetto, Verto Pilloni, Pio Rossetto, Santo Salvestro Middle: Onisto Bastianon, Gallizeo Baldo, Tente Rossetto Front: Angelo Dal Bon, Fulio Pilloni, Beppi Cunial, Luigi Salvestro

Santo Salvestro's Farm 170 - 1934 L to R: Enrico Pividori, Paul Rizzardo, Silvio Rizzardo, Luigi Salvestro, Santo Salvestro, Jack Rossetto (in basket), Angelo Cadorin and Girado Rizzardo

737

Christmas Day 1925 at Salvestro's Farm 170, llanwood

• Grape Picking 1930 L to R: Luigi, Santo, Nineta, Orsolina their father Beppi Salvestro, Regina Salvestro (wife of Santo) with her daughters Natalina and tole

Natalina and tole - 1936. Flower girls at their Aunt and Uncle's Wedding L to R - Back: The Groom's father "Mosca" Rizzardo, Natale Cadorin, Elena Cadorin, Mario Bastianon, Front: Natalina Salvestro, Elvira and Silvio Rizzardo, tole Salvestro

738

Loneliness brought many people to the Salvestro farm where Santo built Bocce courts and a "greasy pole" for entertainment - this also helped to bring in extra money for his family. He sold wine and grappa and his wife, Regina, sold plates of spaghetti which was, of course, one of the basic foods for people from that part of Italy. Later a large shed was built where wedding receptions were held as there were no other such facilities at the time. The whole Italian community was invited and the wedding would start on a Friday and go on for days. Everyone helped and as everyone was poor it was a good way of getting together. Loneliness and inability to find work saw many tragic incidents. Many who had no family around them turned to drink for consolation, ending their lives in suicide or alcoholism. Others travelled endlessly in search of work only to return disheartened. Entertainment for both adults and children was playing cards - the young people were as sharp as their older folks at the game. The old gramophone was also a great source of entertainment and as many of the people from the northern region of Italy had beautiful singing voices there was many a night when a choir would form and they would sing until the early hours of the morning. The heat in the summer was terrible. A cellar was built - mainly to keep food and wine from going bad. However, during the hot weather the young and the old sheltered there to prevent deaths from heat exhaustion. Santo's eldest daughter, Natalina, recalls "Salami making days were always a big event, with the children put to work washing the bungs and keeping the water boiling in the copper. This was mainly done in June and it took many days to complete the work. Salami was then hung from every available ceiling to allow the fat to drain off. It was then stored in the cellar for future use or to be sold. Friends came to help and then we reciprocated when they had their salami making days. "We children had a hard life in those days. Our mother was a good sewer and made our clothes from 'castoffs'. There was no hot water apart from that boiled in the kerosene tins. So many times it was a cold wash, even in winter! Santo and Regina and daughters Natalina and lole - 1931 "Mother was a good cook and we were always well fed even though the menu had little variation. We had a cow and with the excess milk, butter and cheese were made. This was a luxury for us because the milk was not always plentiful. Chooks were another way of producing extra food and money for the family. Mother sold whatever eggs she could spare. She also made her own pasta which would hang in strips over the handle of a broom. "lole and I slept in an iron bed huddling together to keep warm in the winter. Many a fight was had over who had all the blanket! The bedroom had hessian walls and a dirt floor, the only light was a candle beside our bed. We had a mosquito net over our bed - not so much for the mosquitoes but to protect us from the many rats, mice and snakes. To this day I am still afraid of the dark.

739

"My sister and I spent many hours washing empty beer bottles and then, with a rubber hose, bottling the homemade wine from the barrels and sealing them. We then had to stack the bottles into the earthen wall of the underground cellar. It was a horrible job and we were terrified of the snakes that hid in the dark nooks. We were only five or six years of age and it was after school that this chore was given to us. I feel that we had a harder life than many of the other children of Italian immigrants as our farm was a gathering place for everyone seeking company and we, as children, had to do many chores that did not exist in the homes of our friends. We were poor and mother had no help. With little income from the farm she was at times the breadwinner. "Many of the people (mostly men) who made their home on the property and built their shacks were rather strange due to heavy drinking - some tried to kill themselves and some succeeded in doing just that. We, as children, were always hustled away from such scenes but being inquisitive we always managed to hear the gory details and then have nightmares for ages afterwards.

Farm 170 Hanwood - 1929 Regina Salvestro nursing Natalina with her husband Santo and Luigi Salvestro and Tony Salvestro (a cousin) and other members of the Salvestro Clan

"Originally our father travelled by horse and sulky and in 1928 he purchased his first T-Model Ford. Some years later he bought a Nash sedan from Jack McWilliam. This big car had velvet seats and dickie seats. It carried ten or twelve passengers and was our father's pride and joy. The car was used as a bridal car for the marriages of his fellow migrants as well as for many other needs for transportation such as funerals, christenings etc. "The roads were terrible and when it rained they became a quagmire. Vehicles often bogged and had to be pulled out of the bogs with horses and the passengers had to get out and push. I can recall some funny incidents on these occasion when some of the men were 740

so drunk they could barely stand. When they got out to push the driver accelerated and they all landed face down in the mud. My father, who was a bit of a prankster, was often the driver and he never ceased to be amused - it happened time and time again and the passengers never woke up to what he was doing." Santo's brother, Luigi, did not marry. He died in May 1941 at the age of 41 years and is buried in the Catholic section of the Griffith cemetery. In his Will he bequeathed his share of Farm 170 Hanwood to his spinster sister, Giovanna, who lived in Italy. As it was wartime and Italy was then an alien, the Will could not be executed and was not finalised until after the war when things returned to normal. In the meantime Santo leased her part of the property until it was eventually sold. Giovanna came to Australia to collect her share of the money and then returned to Italy. Santo then purchased Farm 60 Hanwood (a fruit farm) and lived there until 1993. He has since retired and lives with his son, Alfredo, in Griffith.

"After the Wedding" Party - 1933 - at Salvestro's Farm 170, Haim mid

Santo Salvestro born Cavaso del Tomba Italy 2 November 1902 lives at Griffith

married 1927 Griffith

Regina Cadorin born Cavaso del Tomba Italy 16 April 1903 died Griffith 3 January 1958

Natalina Maria born Griffith 23 December 1928; married Allan Farquhar Murray. Six children (two from Allan's previous marriage) - Ian, Janet, Steven, Karen, Sandra and Garry. Natalina and Allan live at Griffith.

foie Matilde born Griffith 26 December 1929; died 26 March 1990 (buried Griffith Lawn Cemetery). Married Rosario Casella. Two daughters - Susan and Vanessa. Rosario lives at Griffith.

Alfredo born Griffith 14 October 1932. Unmarried. Lives at Griffith.

Velma born Griffith 16 July 1942; married Erildo Berton. Four daughters - Anita, Lenora, Belinda and Danielle. Valeta and Erildo live at Hanwood.

Wendy Diana born Griffith 24 November 1946; married Giulio Toscan. One daughter - Michelle. Wendy and Giulio live at Hanwood.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Natalina Murray (née Salvestro), PO Box 158, Griffith 2680. 741

SANDBERG George Ford Sandberg was the youngest child born to Hakon Richard (a Norwegian) and Georgina Henrietta Sandberg (nee Ford) at Stoke-on-Trent, England on 22 January 1903. Hakon Sandberg owned his own pottery business. On George's birth certificate Hakon is described as "Potter Merchant". As a young man, George worked in the family potteries but he wanted to be a farmer. After World War I unemployment was very high in England and jobs were offered first to returned soldiers. In 1921, aged 18 George, left England saying "there wasn't enough land left to farm in England". He chose Australia as a branch of his mothers Ford family were already established in Sydney as printers. He was sponsored to Australia by a Mr Black, a family friend, to work at "Pleasant Valley" Binya. From Binya he moved to the Hanwood district to work on fruit farms, at one time working for Graeme Creef. On 22 January 1926 he purchased, from Percy Noble, Farm 293 Yoogali of 23 acres with George & Lilian Sandberg an annual rental of £17.8.9. At this 12 July 1933 time he owned a Utility which was Courtesy Joan Bellicanta (nee Sandberg) very popular on "town days", as he would give lifts into town, to do the shopping. Motor vehicles were not owned by everyone. However, he didn't stay at Yoogali long, for on 28 October 1927 he surrendered this farm to take up Farm 1758, Ballingal. At Ballingal, George lived in the open shed for a couple of years before obtaining a small cottage from over Whitton way. It was transported over the open country, not using roads. This was made easier as there were then no channels between Whitton and Ballingal coming through the back of Hanwood and few fences; also this way was shorter.

742

The cottage contained two main rooms with verandah back and front. The back verandah was converted into kitchen one end and a small bathroom the other. George was no "house keeper"! The chaff for the horse was stored at one end of the kitchen and it spread into the rest of the house. He also used a lot of tinned foods and would just throw the used tins out the front door! In January 1933 George met in Melbourne Lilian Muller, a school teacher from Kinimakatka near Nhill, Victoria. After a short courtship, mainly by post (they visited twice - once when Lilian came up to Griffith, stayed with an English couple, Mr and Mrs FA Parker of Farm 1745 to see the farm and again when George drove to Nhill, a three day car trip to deliver an engagement ring in May). They were married in July 1933 at Nhill. Lilian was the eldest of six children born to Ernest and Elizabeth Muller (nee Pilgrim), farming pioneers of Nhill in the Victorian Wimmera District. Lilian soon put the house to rights! The chaff went back to the shed, the old tins went from the front door, curtains were put up and even lino on the floors. A garden was established with lawns, a rose garden, flowers and a jacaranda tree, which is still standing. With a vegetable garden, a few chooks and two goats for milk, housekeeping expenses were kept to a minimum. Lilian Muller As was the case with everyone else money Kinimakatka, near Nhill Vic was scarce! Courtesy Joan Bellicanta (nee Sandberg) The summers were always hot and without electricity (electricity arrived at Ballingal in January 1939) the kitchen stove had to be kept going for cooking and hot water. Everyone enjoyed their cup of tea. Food was kept in the drip safe which always smelt of wet hessian and drinking water was kept cool in the water bag which hung from a hook by the back door. Even then, the weather was not predicable - Christmas Day 1933 was so cold they lit the fire in the lounge room and spent their first Christmas together in front of an open fire. Bread was delivered three times a week with the baker using a horse and cart. The butcher had a ute and he only delivered orders. He would bring a parcel of meat and take a new order for the next delivery. He called twice a week. The mail man also had a ute and came three times a week. George Pauling had a run selling household linen and work clothes. George Sandberg was an avid chess player and in early times played in rooms at the rear of the Methodist Church Hall and later, as homes became more established, in

743

the homes of friends. Amongst their "pommy friends" were Mr and Mrs Ernie Perry, Mr and Mrs Harold Jones, Mr and Mrs Ted Josling and Mr and Mrs Reg Rand. These friends were also staunch members of the Griffith Methodist Church. One day early in November 1934 a cloud of grass hoppers landed on Farm 1758 and within days everything that was green was eaten. The young orange trees were left as sticks! The Sandberg Home 1935 While waiting for the Courtesy Joan Bellicanta (nee Sandberg) orange trees to bear, cash crops of peas and melons were grown. During the 1930s men would walk out from Griffith, a distance of seven miles, to pick peas. George died on 22 October 1943 but Lilian kept the farm going, with assistance from Mr Tom Morley of the Griffith Producers and Mr Bill Jackman and Mr Stan Dickson, until Leo was old enough to leave school at the age of 15, when he took over the working of the farm. Leo, Joan and Lucy each did their Primary Schooling at the Tharbogang Public School and Secondary Schooling at Griffith High School. Lilian lived on Farm 1758 until January 1989. She died 1 May 1989, just short of her 86th birthday. Leo still lives on the farm.

George Sandberg with Joan and Leo c.1938 Courtesy Joan Bellicanta (née Sandberg)

744

Georgina Sandberg and George Courtesy Joan Bellicanta (n(e Sandberg)

II akon Richard Sandberg married Georgina Henrietta Ford • George Ford Sandberg born 22 January 1903 Stoke-on-Trent, England died 22 October 1943 Griffith

Ernest Muller married Elizabeth Pilgrim married 12 July 1933 Nhill, Victoria •

Lilian Mary Muller born 12 June 1903 Nhill, Victoria died 1 May 1989 Griffith

Leo born Woodlands Hospital, Griffith 14 April 1934. Married Doreen Meggitt. Their children - Judith, Michael, Pamela. Lives on Farm 1758, Ballingal

Joan born Woodlands Hospital, Griffith 29 December 1935. Married Harry Bellicanta. Their children - Warren, Brian, Yvette. Lives Edmondson Avenue, Griffith

Lucy born St Lukes Hospital, Griffith 1 November 1939. Married John Binello. Their children - Kevin, Gina. Lives Todd Road, Lake Wyangan.

By courtesy Joan Bellicanta (née Sandberg), Edmondson Avenue, Griffith 2680. 745

SANDERS Albert Edwin Sanders was born at Manly Hospital on 30 May 1895 - his parents lived at Stanhope Road, Killara NSW After finishing school he ventured to the country working on "Belltree" Station at Scone and from May 1914 to November 1915 he worked on "Mulgarwarrina" Station at Coolabah NSW. He enlisted in the Army in January 1916 and as a Gunner in the 26th Battalion served three years abroad. He was wounded and sent home medically unfit and was discharged from the Army on 26 September 1919. After spending three months probation at the Ex-Servicemen's camp at Beelbangera he was allotted Farm 511, Bilbul. He cleared the farm and planted grapes, prunes and apples and partly built a home before his marriage to Dorothy Isabel Nicholson whom he had met when he was sent home wounded from the war. They were married at St John's Church, Eden, on 19 April 1922. After their honeymoon they travelled to Goulburn where they caught the train to Griffith.

Bert Sanders

WEDDING SANDERS-NICHOLSON A wry pretty and impressive ceremony toot Mao, at the Church of England. Eden, on Wednesday afternoon when, in the presence of a great crowd of friends and wellwi.thers of de bridal couple, the Rev. W. Blackwell united in matrimony Albert Edwin (late Al. F.), second son of Mr and Mrs A. E Sanders, "Handsworde, Stanhope Road, Kinard and Dorothy Isobel. eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Ales. E. NiclwLson, of 'Wonga'. Eden. The bride's lady french had lavishly and beautifully decorated the interior of the charch with flowers, ferns and gneenery, and doosigh which menerow streamers of the bridegroom's battalion colours (red and blue) ware intertwined with artistic 'fret, while a beautiful floral wedding bell (the wont of Mrs A. I. Rata* was napended above the altar steps. The bride, who was given away by her fitter. was prettily attired in crepe-dechew, with a georgette overdress. 9w wow the customary wreath and veil and carried a beautiful bouquet. Miss Moir! Nicholson, the bride': sister, was bridesmaid. and wow a wry becoming /rod of Fuji tint embroidered with raw blue, and a hat to match; she also carried a bouquet. Mr Edward S. Nicholson was best man. After the ceremony. the bridal couple. showered with confetti, rice and goad wishee repaired to the retidence of the bride's parrntr, where a big crown of immediate relative, and intimate friends tat down to a sienparour wedding break/an, at which the usual toasts ware proposed and honotord with ',units WAIL SieltqUerlity. after consraaalaiary telegrams had been

read, the happy pair left by oar Pr Bega on the first stage of thu honeymoon trip. the bride travelling in a cream gaberdine women,. they were the recipienu of a wry large member of wedding presents, whaling nsenerous cheques.

L to R: Edward Nicholson, Dorothy and Albert Sanders, Muriel Nicholson

746

Bert and Dorothy Sanders and their family The children L to R: Betty, David, Bert, Laurel, Noellene and Gwen

Over the years eight children were born, the elder ones at home on the farm with the help of Nurse Taylor - the younger ones in Hospital at Griffith with Dr Burrell. Their youngest daughter, Pat, tells of the family using a horse and sulky to travel to Griffith to shop. "Dad's first car was a 'Rugby' which was an exhibit by Jim Gordon of Gordon's Garage at the Griffith Show in approximately 1928. "For many years horses were used - grapes were delivered to Penfolds Winery and packed apples delivered to the Griffith Producers. About 1942 Dad invested in an Allis Chalmers tractor as the two draft horses, named 'Barney' and `Baldy', were aging. Trucks with grape trays were purchased by other people and they transported our grapes and apples to the respective places. "School teachers from Griffith High School picked grapes on the week-ends. "Relaxation was playing tennis on our own tennis court and travelling to Widgelli to play. Trips to Knobel's Beach at Darlington Point and camping overnight are well remembered with pleasure. "During the war years Mum swapped milk and butter coupons for sugar and tea coupons. Blocks of ice were purchased for the drip safe and the water bag hung up in the shade of the peppercorn tree. "Dad worked the farm up until his death on 28 January 1952 in Sydney. Mum carried on the farm until it was no longer financially viable. It was then leased to Vardanega Bros until sold in 1967. "Mum devoted her spare time to RSL Women's Auxiliary, the Ambulance and Civilian Widows. She also worked for the Griffith Water Wheel Festival of which she was the Hostess for the 1956 entrants. This entailed organising the fund raising for the girls.

747

"She was made a life member of the RSL Women's Auxiliary in June 1959 - served as Riverina Councillor for RSL Women's Auxiliary for ten years (1957-1967). Life Membership of the Civilian Widows was awarded to her in 1968. 'Sandy' as she was affectionately known passed away on 5 February 1973 - cremated at Woronora Crematorium and her remains put with her late husband in Rose Garden 2AA at Woronora, Sutherland."

The Sanders Family 1992 L to R: David, NoeIlene, Gwen, Betty, Garnett, Pat and Bert

The family of Albert Edwin Sanders and Dorothy Isabel (née NichoLson) 1.

Gwen married Dusty Power (dec'd 1992); lives Culburra SA; eight children

NoeIlene married (1) Bill Williams (dec'd 1982); one child married (2) Jack Thistlewaite (dec'd 1991); lives Umina NSW

Laurel (dec'd 1979) married Len Whitlock; lived New Zealand; one child

Bert married Joan Nisbet; lives Albury NSW; three children

David married Gwen Slater; lives Bilbul NSW; three children

Betty married Dennis Rushworth; lives Sydney NSW; four children

Garnett married Beryl Stevens; lives Griffith NSW; six children

Patricia married John Grant; lives Yenda NSW; two children.

Entry, photos and memorabilia by courtesy of Pat Grant (née Sanders), Yenda 2681. 748

SCRIVENER John Clement Scrivener, known as "Jack" or "Clem", was the youngest son of John Glandfield Scrivener who was in charge of the railway workshops at Junee when Clem was born. Clem was at school in Junee with Fred Cole, who was also to become a well-known Griffith resident. The Scrivener family moved to Strathfield as John Scrivener was now in charge of Eveleigh workshops. Clem moved with his parents, but the older children stayed in Junee and Cootamundra. At that time Granville, the eldest, was married with a family and was a Stock and Station Agent. On his death, his youngest daughter, Gloria, lived with the Dossetor family in Griffith. Gloria trained at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and nursed at Loretto Hospital in Griffith before marrying Mervyn Jones (now deceased) of Melbergen. She now resides at Hillston. Clem was under age when he enlisted in the Clem Scrivener AIF in 1916. He saw service in France and Belgium in 1916-1919 the Artillery and was seriously gassed. On his discharge in 1919, he made his way to Griffith - old town photographs show his building and engineering supplies store in Banna Avenue, where the Mona Cafe now stands. His sister, Annie, who had been a book-keeper in Sydney, joined him to assist with the office work and in the store. She told of the farmer who came to the store about five times in the one day, each visit to acquire a quarter-pound of six-inch nails. As there would have been about eight nails in each purchase, the farmer's carpentry skill must have been questionable! Annie later married another farmer - Arthur Dossetor - "Doss" was an excellent carpenter! (See Dossetor entry Series 2). Clem worked as an insurance agent and in other commercial ventures in his years in Griffith. He married Kathleen O'Meara in 1929 and her sister, Ethel, married Dave Taylor. The O'Meara's had come to Hanwood in 1916. Kathleen and Clem had no children of their own, but some years after Ethel died, her daughter, Norma Taylor, lived with them in Griffith and Sydney until her marriage. At one stage before his marriage, Clem lived at the Hotel Griffith. Norma Taylor (now Gordon) lived on the Yambil Street corner opposite the hotel and remembers waving to him in his upstairs window. Another of Clem's sisters, Bessie, also came to Griffith and for many years lived with Annie and "Doss" helping in the house and creating a beautiful garden on the farm and was much loved by the Dossetor family. She also stayed with Clem and Kath at times to help them. She belonged to the Griffith CWA and is in that old photo of the opening. She cleaned the Yoogali School for a pittance to boost her meagre income.

749

Clem Scrivener taken Banna Avenue, Griffith

Kathleen Scrivener (née O'Meara)

"Mirrool House" under construction

Clem Scrivener at Farm 644

750

For twenty years, Clem and Kath were dynamic townspeople - greatly suited to a developing community. They were both willing to accept office and work relentlessly for the social, charitable, sporting and cultural activities that made bearable the lives of the pioneers in the early days. They continued this community service when they moved to Sydney. Clem took over as Secretary of the Griffith Show Society from Monty Sellars and continued in that capacity until after the Showground was established on its present site. He was also Captain of the Magpie Rugby League team in its early years. Kath was President, office bearer or member of too many committees to mention. She organised the Ball which opened the Palais de Dance. It was a memorable social occasion in Griffith's history. For some years, Clem and Kath ran "Mirrool House" - until 1937, when they moved to Sydney. At the outbreak of World War II, Clem again joined the army, but was seconded to the Department of Import Procurement, organising carriers off-loading goods and war materials through Customs. Kath spent the war years working for the Ministry of Munitions. Pat Reynolds (née Dossetor) recalls that as well as their employment, Clem and Kath conducted a "Bed and Breakfast" at their huge old home in Bay Road, Waverton, where Pat often stayed on weekend leave from the WAAAF. Their home was open to many overseas servicemen, who were given a much needed welcoming home life by Kath and Clem. In addition to their long hours of work, Kath and Clem found time to be actively involved on the Committee of the Blind Dog Association. Kath died while overseas in 1965. Clem passed away at Manly in 1974.

John Glanfield Scrivener married Isabella II. •

ah Cole

1. 2.

Ettie Emily - single, lived Sydney Granville Wallace - married Annorah Corbett, lived Junee. (Daughter, Gloria Jones, now lives Hillston)

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Percy - married Jessie Turvey, lived Sydney Ross - married Mary Dillon, lived Cootamundra Bessie Isobel - single, lived Griffith Victor - married Maud Rochester, lived Cootamundra Isabella Hannah - married Walter Harrison, lived Sydney Annie Olivia - married Arthur Vinson Dossetor, lived Griffith John Clement - married Kathleen O'Meara, lived Griffith and later Sydney. (No issue - their neice, Norma Gordon (nee Taylor spent much of her life with Clem and Kath).

Entry and photographs by courtesy Pat Reynolds (nee Dossetor), 27 Neeworra Ave, Narara 2250 and Norma Gordon (nee Taylor), 33 Sydney Road, Willoughby 2068 (who were flowergirls at the 1929 Wedding of Kath and Clem Scrivener).

751

SIIARAM In the latter years of his life Charles Sharam wrote for his family memoirs of his long and interesting life. It is from these that the following excerpts have been taken:"I was born in Kerang, Victoria in 1897 before the Railways came to Swan Hill. Father had lost his first wife and had remarried a Ellen Eleanoe Wennerbom (my mother), a dressmaker. We lived near Kunat about 20 miles south of Swan Hill. Father was battling on a new mallee farm. This is where we grew up and started our schooling, walking 3 miles to Kunat School each day. I don't remember much about those days. Money must have been short as we more or less lived off the land, only buying flour, sugar and golden syrup. We gristed our own wheat for porridge for breakfast, having plenty of milk, cream and home killed meat. "The house was made of bush timber stood close with wire netting nailed over it, then plastered with mud. We were about 12 miles from town, Lake Toga. About 1910, Father bought McAlpine's place of about 3 or 4 hundred acres near Round Lake, 2 miles west from Lake Boga. I think the price was about £2 per acre. This was good for us kids to be near water. At Round Lake we lived on the south side, in a mud brick house with a lot of pepper trees around it. We went to Lake Boga School till I was 14 years old then I left to go to work on the farm. For pastime we would hunt foxes, rabbits, buck and fish on the lake. Father made us a boat and we spent a lot of time on the water and were all good swimmers. We each had a rifle or a gun, also our own horse to ride. There were no tractors and motor cars were few and far between. Mother had a buggy in which she took us to Church. She was a good worker for the Church and Red Cross. "We used to go to Lake Boga on Saturday nights to play billiards. It was there I met May Radford. Her father lived in Boga at the time, later Charles Sharam went to Swan Hill. He had a family of nine. The courtship with May lasted six years and we were married in Swan Hill on 3rd September, 1924. For a time we lived in a spare house at Round Lake and sharefarmed with Dad in wheat. They were happy days. About 1925, brother Dave drew a block of land in a Government ballot near Erigolia NSW but he did not want it, so I bought it off him for £50. With my young wife we left home and came to live on this block. It was three years before I could pay my brother as things were pretty bad. We lived on rabbits and wild fowl. We built a shack on the farm. It was a tent with a corrugated iron roof. We had to cart all our water for five years from a bore about 3 miles away. It was brackish water and only good for watering stock. Domestic water was caught in a rain water tank and a dam. The muddy water was cleared by putting lime and Epsom salts in it or by boiling it. 752

"The block was all dense mallee like most of the country around it. I built a mallee roller, bought a 10 horse team and had to cut a track into my farm through the scrub for about 4 miles to the block to start rolling. It was 1,500 acres and each year I rolled and cropped 300 acres, yielding 2 to 3 bags of 6 to 9 bushels. The mallee shoots had to be cut each year and millions of stumps had to be picked up. We used to get up at 5am and work till dark each day. "Price of wheat was round 16 cents to 20 cents per bushel, which we had to cart to Erigolia with a waggon and 8 horses. Then the Depression set in and the Banks closed at the time of the Lang Government. At one stage the Government gave relief and each month we went to Rankins Springs Police for our food ticket (dole). Most farmers were on the dole at the time. By 1939 two thirds of the farmers had gone, those that were left were asked to take more land to make the blocks bigger and more viable and go in for sheep. "We hung on until 1939 and were still not fixed up. So with our four children we packed up and left the farm, but I still retained the machinery and stock, which were not mortgaged. I put a man on the farm and went in for pigs and at one stage had about 200. Later we sold 100 fat bacon pigs, in one lot, for £2 each, the biggest line the buyer had ever bought at one time. He was E Graham, then Minister for Lands, Wagga. I then had a clearing sale that went off very well as finances were getting better. I then told the Lands Department to give me £300, which they were offering and I got out. During the Depression I saw a sharefarmer sell out all his plant and stock by auction for £50. In good seasons we were ever in danger of bushfire. In 1921 a fire started near Hillston and fmished up near Weethalle but there were not so many people about in those times. They did not try to stop the fire but got together to save the homesteads. May Sharam (nee Radford) "In 1937 we got a house near Yenda taken on their Iloneymoon and sent the children to school and I took on contract work. Later I took on sharefarming rice. This went on for some years and later on I was able to buy an unimproved block on `Benerembah' for £5 an acre. I kept on with the sharefarming and later put a sharefarmer on my own farm and built a house at 123 Kookora Street, Griffith, where I am now writing this. I sold the farm and took on managing the Brickworks. "As the price of rice was low, I thought about milling my own and once, when in Melbourne, I got on to a small mill. By this time, Ian had left school and had taken sharefarming at Wakool, so we took some of this rice to my brothers place near Swan Hill and milled it and had no trouble in selling it in Melbourne at a good price as there was no rice on the Australian Market. It was all exported to a better market by private millers. By this time too, a Rice Marketing Board and a Ricegrowers Association had been formed and

753

some thought was being given to a co-operative mill. Having done some milling, my advice was sought and I was asked to attend a Ricegrowers Association Meeting. I told them of a private mill putting rice on the black market and making huge profits. It was then that the growers decided to have their own mill. "In 1949, I joined the Association and remained on the Executive until 1965. "In 1954, I became a Director of the Ricegrowers' Co-op Mills till my retirement in 1969. At the time of writing this, 1971, I am one of the only two Directors still living to see ricegrowing go from a few tons to 280,000 tons this year, with mills and drying shed to cope with it all and all owned by the Co7operative. We were able to put all the private millers out. "Prior to about 1960 rice was harvested with horses or tractor. In 1958 Bruce McFarlane (a nephew) and I bought the first self-propelled header from America. There had been some home-made ones before this. This was a very successful venture and paid well as we were contracting, making one cut around each bay so the horse teams could start harvesting. Bruce and I then decided that Griffith should have brick kilns and after much thorough investigations a company was started and a yard was built at Griffith in 1957. We later bought out A. Buffon at Willbriggie. In 1968 this became the main yard, which in my term of 51/2 years as Managing Director, Hand feeding in the drought at Erigolia I reconstructed. Willbriggie Yard with all late model machinery became a much improved method to the old way with the old stamper machine. "May died of cancer in 1969 and was buried in Griffith Cemetery (Presbyterian Row 12 Lot 16). "For some years now I had been advocating a Folk Museum on Scenic Hill. In 1968 I got a Committee together and a start was made. We had obtained 42 acres on the hill and were able to open on 12 April, 1971. Great interest was taken and at this stage everything is going ahead O.K. In appreciation the hall was named after me. "After selling the farm I had a trip overseas, going to Japan and later two trips to Europe. While in England I did some checking on my Grandparents. It seems that Grandfather was one of two boys whose father was a Veterinary Surgeon. The two boys were taught to read and write, which was not common in those days. John was taught the tailoring trade and had a business at Coldridge not far from Bath, England. Christopher was a bootmaker and saddler but got a job as chief steward on a sailing ship and came to Australia in 1836, lived at Penola, South Australia, and had 16 children. My father, Charles, was one of them. He had five - myself Charlie (Griffith), Dave and Stan (Swan Hill), Jean (Mrs Lowe, Culcairn) and Chris (Melbourne). "May and I had four children, Ian, Beryl (Mrs Marcus), Max and Verna (Mrs Moore) of Griffith, and eleven grandchildren.

754

"I am now 73 years old and will not be here when you get this package. I hope you will hand it on to the next generation. "I wish the next generation all the best. (Signed) C. E. Sharam."

Sharam Family - 1944 L to R: Beryl, May, Vera, Max (at front), Charles, Ian

Charles Sharam 1853-1942 (one of sixteen children) Married (1) Isabella - one daughter, Nellie. Married (2) Ellen Eleanoe Wennerbom - five children 1.

CHARLES E SHARAM born 1897; died Griffith 25 November 1976; married May Radford (died 14 August 1969). Four children 1. Ian married Merle May Warburton. Two children - Garry and Wendy. 2. Dorothy Beryl married David Marcus. Four children - Robyn, Phillip, Julie and Narelle. 3. Verna Jean married Edward Francis Moore. Two daughters - Joanne and Maxine. 4. Maxwell Walter married (1) Enid Jean Cruickshank. Three children -Suzanne, Peter and Jason. Married (2) Edna Jennings.

David

Stanley

Alice Jean

Christopher

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Mrs Verna Moore and the Sharam Family. 755

SHAW William Shaw and his wife Sarah sailed from Liverpool England in May 1854 aboard the S.S. "Bloomer" and arrived in Melbourne in August of that year. At the time of sailing William was 28 years and Sarah 21 years and had been married about 12 months earlier. Although born in Derbyshire, William had spent most of his working life in Cornwall as a miner. Cornish miners were leaving to try their luck in the goldfields of Australia and this young couple decided to join the migrants. They paid their own passage aboard the "S.S. Bloomer" and had an uneventful voyage. They journeyed to Dunolly (Vic), a thriving "field", and spent the rest of their lives in that area, both being buried in the Dunolly cemetery. William was plagued with ill health as a result of having contracted "miners complaint", a lung disc-ac, from his years as a miner in Cornwall. They managed to gain a living by eventually buying a small farm and a block of land in the main street of Dunolly. Their first child, George, died in infancy, but William, Elizabeth and Sarah survived to adulthood. Owing to their extreme poverty William, at thirteen years of age, had to pack his "swag" and leave Dunolly to seek employment. They must have been very hard years for him. It is understood that he obtained employment with a shopkeeper in Lalbert, a small Victorian country town, where he remained for some years. He was sent by his employer to manage a branch in another town that had been run by the son of his employer, as the business apparently was not thriving. After some time an inspection by his employer prompted the remark "William, I can see that you have arrived". He was evidently a good manager. That was his only job as an employee. William Shaw started on his own account buying a bakery at Boort (Vic) - a business he held for eleven years before moving to Quambatook (Vic), where he established another bakery as well as a haberdashery. He secured the H V McKay franchise for the area and until his early death no other make of machine came into the district. He acquired various blocks of farm land in the district and one year, at the turn of the century, planted 1,200 acres of grain, then considered a large area. He was also a grain buyer of some note but unlike other agents bought for himself, selling when the market moved in his favour. As the Avoca River ran through the district he purchased a steam engine and 12" Tangye pump to irrigate a block adjacent to the river, also pumping for neighbours on a contract basis, moving the equipment from site to site, charging £2 per a 24 hour day and supplying two men on 12 hour shifts to tend the pump. (A photograph exists of this outfit). To improve the management of his diverse operations he purchased telephone equipment in Melbourne, running the lines along the fence lines. At this time there were no telephones operating outside the larger centres. William married Elizabeth Freeman. They had seven children - three boys,Charles, William and George, and four girls - Fanny, Elizabeth, Irene and Adelaide (who died soon after birth). Irene died at 20 years after contracting TB. William Shaw died at the age of fifty years after contracting Typhoid and the responsibility of managing the family interests fell mainly on his eldest daughter, Fanny, who married Harry Morshead, and Charles the eldest son, who by this time had married Jane Sinclair (known as Jean to the family). A number of years after William's death the family decided to relinquish all their interests at Quambatook and move to Melbourne, with the exception of Harry and Fanny 756

Morshead who took over the mallee farm, staying until 1926 when they moved to Griffith NSW. Charles and brother William purchased a bakery business in Middle Park, a bayside suburb of Melbourne, from Mr Coppard (whose son Allan later came to Griffith to take up farming). Charles eventually bought his brother's share of the bakery and William purchased a bakery of his own in Brunswick, another Melbourne suburb. George, the younger son, also acquired a bakery at Fairfield and collectively they were the largest bakers in Melbourne at that time. George developed "Pampas" puff pastry - a product still available today. George proved to be a very astute businessman making two world tours before attaining thirty. Charles was the only brother to return to the land. Selling the bakery after a number of years he purchased the Middle Park hotel, but being dissatisfied with the life, sold it soon after. The fact that "Squizzy" Taylor, with his "push", was a frequent habitue did nothing to improve this feeling. Selling the hotel at the first opportunity he purchased a private home in St Kilda. It was at this time he decided to return to farming, probably influenced by his eldest son, William, who expressed a desire to go onto the land. The family decided to go to NSW where land values were cheaper and opportunities appeared there for the taking. His first excursion was with his brother-in-law, Jim Gamble, who was a landholder at Colbinabbin (Vic). They travelled as far west as Wilcannia (NSW) looking for the best spot and eventually settled at Griffith. (This was the year 1926). Charles returned to Melbourne to bring wife Jean and son Bill to see what they thought of the area, and stayed at the Griffith Hotel whilst searching for a suitable property. Daughter Jean and younger son Ron remained in Melbourne - Jean at boarding school and Ron with relatives.

Jean and Charles Shaw - Upper balcony of the original Hotel Griffith where they stayed whilst looking for a property in the district - 1925 Courtesy Barry Slaw

757

Charles Shaw purchased "Waverley", a property of 6,000 acres, at Tabbita owned by Mr Gibson of Omeo (Vic). He also purchased Farm 877 of 4 acres - the present site of the "Leagues Club" and Alpens Carrying Service. A new home had been erected on Farm 877 and the Shaw family moved into it in March 1926. Son Bill, sixteen at the time, spent the weekdays at "Waverley", returning to Farm 877 at weekends. Coming straight from Melbourne it must have been a hard experience for him. His nearest neighbours were the Hill brothers of "Fairfield" (about three miles distance), all old bachelors well up in years and not well suited to a city lad just out of school. Charles organised a "party line" and secured an exchange for Tabbita. Soon all the neighbours could communicate. The Hill family were the oldest settlers in the district, arriving around 1860, and at that time went to Whitton for supplies. When Chas Shaw took over "Waverley", Paddy Edwards was looking after the property for the Gibsons and mentioned a dam three miles away with water in it. Charles was surprised to find a dam with quite an amount of water. Finding it to be drainage from the MIA and deciding to follow this up he went to see Mr Jim You11, Manager of the WC & IC at that time. Mr You11 told him that there were only twelve cusecs32 going along the creek and it was not a worthwhile flow. He agreed that if a survey showed that it was possible to get water to "Waverley" then he would look favourably on an application. Reg Harnett, a local surveyor, was approached to do the survey and the levels proved suitable. Approval was sought from landholders through whose property the channel was to go. There were only two - "Mirrool Park" owned by the Woodside family (no relation to Jack Woodside of "Boree Plains") and "Warrawidgee" Station owned by Ted Killen. These men were approached and approval given. Charles could see the potential of this channel to the district so decided to approach his neighbours to see if they were interested in water. If so a bigger supply channel would be required from the start. Receiving a great response, it was decided to take the channel out as far as "Garong", owned by Bob Gilmore. The channel was duly constructed, being a scooped channel as far as "Waverley" and a delved channel to "Garong". The delved section was done by Jack Snow who later gained a block in the Tabbita district and pumped water from it for stock and domestic use. Shortly after the channel was completed the Minster for Public Works, Mr Slade, asked Chas to show him over the privately owned water scheme and on returning commented that the State was indebted to them for what they had done. The WC & IC could also see the potential it portrayed and a few years later paid the landholders out and assumed control, calling it the Gunbar Water Trust, later to become the Wah Wah Irrigation District. Charles Shaw sold "Waverley" in 1928 after subdividing it into four blocks - two blocks to Mr A Graf, one to Jack King and one to Bert Sutherland. Shortly thereafter he purchased "Clifton" at Warbum from his brother-in-law, Jim Gamble, who in turn had purchased it from Stewart Campbell when he purchased "Ballingal" in 1926. "Clifton" was a 1,500 acre dry area block. Jack Snow, who had been sharefarming for Jim Gamble, stayed on and continued his agreement with Charles Shaw. It was within the next few years that the Great Depression of the thirties started, commodity prices collapsed, unemployment was rife and farmers were in all sorts of trouble. Swagman travelled the roads looking for

A unit of flow equal to one cubic foot per second.

758

work and called seeking food, if work were unavailable. One young man arriving at harvest time seeking work had walked all the way from Melbourne. He stayed for the harvest with the Shaw family and eventually settled in Griffith. Tractors were put aside as too expensive to run and farmers returned to the ever reliable horse teams. Stables were built and horses purchased but it took time to get a good team together. People kept the good horses, selling off the unreliable and faulty. Fortunately good horsemen were available; the art of handling horses was still known to a lot of men. The Depression resulted in the family moving out to live at "Clifton" and the house on Farm 877 was let to local solicitor Peter Morgan for a number of years. The orchard was a worry, so the trees were pulled out and burnt as they posed a threat with disease. In later years it was sold to Colin Cropper, a local accountant. It is now the Griffith Leagues Club. Times were tough but pleasure was still possible. Warburn Football Club was formed and Bill Shaw and Allan Coppard were both players. Allan and Bill were mates from school days in Melbourne. Allan wanted farming experience so he came to the Shaws and remained for a number of years before starting up on his own account. A visit to the Lyceum Theatre on Saturday night and a freezing drive home in the old touring motor car afterwards are great memories. Ron recalls - "I rode a horse to school in Griffith, 12 miles each way, and if I wanted a change would stay in town with my Aunt and Uncle, Harry and Fanny Morshead. By 1934 things must have improved as a new car, a sedan, was purchased (no more freezing in the back). I was bundled off to school in Melbourne at this time to complete my education."

Bill Shaw (standing) carting hay at "Clifton" about 1934

The Shaw home at "Clifton"

Some of the Shaw family about 1930. The car on the left is a Rochet-Schneider in which the Shaw children "froze" in going home from the Pictures. Photos courtesy Ron Shaw

759

Harrowing - 1927 Style "Waverley" Tabbita

Original take off of present Wah Wah Main Supply. Bill Shaw standing on stop

Private Channel through "Boree Downs" 1927. Now Wah Wah Main Canal.

Charles Shaw `bogged' on "Benerembah" Station

Residence of Charles Shaw and family 1926 - Bridge Road Now the Griffith Leagues Club Southside. Photos courtesy Barry Shaw

760

In 1936 Bill purchased a neighbour's farm. He later married Ruth Smith of the Warburn district - they had two boys Barry and John who are now farming at Coleambally. Ruth passed away in 1958. In 1938 Jean Shaw married Frank Beverley of Hanwood but World War II began in 1939 and Frank joined the AIF. When Singapore fell Frank was sent to Japan as a POW where he remained until Japan capitulated. He arrived home in a poor state of health and spent the next few months in Concord Repatriation Hospital. Returning to the family farm at Hanwood, Frank and Jean resumed life together and had two daughters - Fiona and Diana who both still reside in Griffith. Ron Shaw married Audrey Ross from Harris Park in Sydney in 1941. They had three children - Ronwyn, Murray and Ian. Audrey passed away in 1962 aged 42 years. Charles Shaw sold "Clifton" in 1945 to Stewart Campbell, the original owner, and re-purchased one block of "Waverley" to be known as "Boree Downs". The same year son Bill sold his Warburn property and bought the homestead block of "Waverley" from the Graf family. An unusual sequence of transactions resulting in people going back to their original holdings. Charles Shaw and wife Jean retired to Griffith in 1949 leaving son Ron to manage the partnership. Ron purchased "Belmore", a Goolgowi property, in 1968. Today "Belmore" is under Ian Shaw's management. Bill Shaw sold "Waverley" in 1979 and retired to live in Sydney with his wife Marguerite until his death in 1989. "Boree Downs" was sold in 1978 and "Uri Park", Darlington Point purchased in the same year. "Uri Park" is the present home of Ron and Ethne Shaw and Murray and Lee Shaw and family. William and Sarah Shaw •

William Shaw married Elizabeth f reeman •

Charles Shaw died Griffith 22 April 1962, 76 years married 28 July 1909 Jane ("Jean") Arthur Sinclair died Griffith 29 June 1968, 81 years

• 1.

William VVillgress born Kerang Vic 29 May 1910; died 24 May 1989. Married (I) Margaret Ruth Smith (dec'd 1958); two sons - William Barry and John Stewart. Married (2) Marguerite McKern. (Marguerite lives in Sydney).

Janet Irene ("Jean") born Swan Hill Vic 10 April 1912. Married Frank Beverley; two daughters Fiona and Diana.

Charles Ronald ("Ron") born Boort Vic 15 March 1919. Married (1) Audrey Ross (dec'd 1962); three children - Ronwyn, Murray and lan. Married (2) Zeta Married (3) Ethne Ireland

By courtesy of C R Shaw, "Uri Park", Darlington Point and Barry Shaw, Coleamhally. 761

SIGNOR Luigi Signor was born at Castelcucco, Province of Treviso, Northern Italy on 13 November 1907 the son of Giuseppe Signor and Maria (nee Marin). Luigi left Italy to come to Australia looking for a better place to live as Italy was a very poor country at that time. He recalls that "at the age of 13 years I went out to work in the orchards. "I came to Australia on the `Caprera' and arrived at Melbourne in May 1926. I had originally intended to stay at Adelaide but as there was no work there my friends and I continued on to Melbourne. A fellow passenger suggested that we should come to Griffith. So six of us (all young men) came to Griffith by train. "After we arrived at the railway station we waited around for about two hours. We had an address to go to (Cunial's farm at Yoogali) but didn't know how to get there. Enrico Lucca came along and offered to carry our bags but told us that we would have to walk and for this we would have to pay £1 each. We said Luigi and Norma Signor with their son that was too much and went to talk to Dave and daughter, Vernon and Vonda - 1948 Taylor at his shop. Dave said he would take us out in his T Model Ford after he had finished his deliveries. He charged us 2/- each!! "We lived at Cunial's and picked peas - the only job we could get at first. "Our time was spent riding around the area on push bikes looking for work. Bikes in those days were very different to the bikes we see today. And so were the roads! There was no tar but plenty of dirt which, with a drop of rain soon turned to mud, mostly two to three feet deep. On such days we would have to get off the bikes and carry them on our backs as riding through the mud was impossible. "Wading through deep mud and pouring rain with heavy bikes on our backs left much to be desired. Especially as the distance was often as great as that from Yoogali to Bilbul. "At one time I was living in an old farmhouse at Bilbul with six other young men who had also migrated here. The house was very basic with only the bare essentials and few conveniences. I was very fussy about my appearance and one thing that we didn't have was an iron. One Sunday I wanted to iron my good shirt to go to church. But there was no iron! Living in this situation I had learnt to improvise. After some deliberation I came up with an idea. I filled a teaspoon with hot ashes from the wood stove and ran the now hot 762

L to R: Luigi, Vernon, Victor Signor Mick Guadagnini and Vonda at the front

Luigi and Victor Signor

L to R: Luigi Signor, Norma Ziliotto, Ester Ziliotto, Unknown, Unknown Fargo truck -1935. One of the two trucks in Bilbul at that time L to R: Norma Ziliotto, Luigi and Marina Signor

L to R: Unknown, Lucy Calabria (later Dal Broi) Ester Ziliotto, Luigi and Norma Signor

763

Luigi Signor and Charlie Bickerstaff

spoon over my creased shirt. It seemed to be working well until some hot ashes fell from the spoon and burnt holes in my Sunday shirt! "I got a job at McWilliams Winery at Yenda and after working there for about three months I was sent to the McWilliam Winery at Junee for another seven months or so. I then came back to work at their Hanwood winery and again lived at Cunial's. "At one time, I think it was about 1927, I was working for Giosue Ziliotto on his Yoogali farm - he had two daughters. The eldest, Norma, was only about seven years old. I later married this young girl in 1939. "I then worked for Mr Alston on his farm for about three years and purchased the farm next door in 1931 - Farm 73 Bilbul. After World War II I obtained part of Mr Alston's farm as an additional area, making a total area of fifty-six acres. We tried many crops over the years but now specialise in grapes and peaches. "In 1934 I purchased my first truck and as well as using it to cart my own crops I also contracted to cart other farmer's produce to the railway and grapes to the winery. "After our marriage we lived in the house L to R: Neil, Norma, Vonda and Vernon that was already built on Farm 73 and gradually and Luigi Signor (seated) renovated it over the years. Our three children were all born in Griffith and went to school at Bilbul and then at Griffith High School and also at Wade High School. "In 1975 Vernon was married and we excised an acre of land and built our own home to 'retire' but continued to help on the farm. Our two sons, Vern and Neil, now run the farm in partnership."

Luigi Signor born Castelcucco, Italy 13 November 1907

married •

Norma Ziliotto born Crespano, Italy 28 July 1922

• 1.

Vernon born Griffith 7 May 1942; married Lynn Day. Lives at Bilbul. Four children Chontel, Alicia, Heidi and David

Vonda born Griffith 1 June 1944; married Roy Hewitt. Lives at Griffith. Two children Matthew and Justine.

Neil born Griffith 30 December 1962; married Angelina Sartor. Lives at Griffith.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Luigi Signor, Portion 1017, Ireland Road, Bilbul 2680. 764

SIMPSON William Keith Simpson was born on 16 December 1901 in Tamworth NSW. He was the first of three children born to Thomas William Simpson and Annie Maud (nee Champion). His great grandfather, William Simpson, and family had migrated from Yorkshire to Australia in the 1850s and settled at Deniliquin in 1857. His grandfather, John Simpson - a station overseer - moved from Deniliquin to the North West of NSW in 1879 to manage "Boorooma" - a vast property, probably He around 1,000,000 acres originally. eventually owned a grazing property "Moorlands", the first land sub-division west of the Darling River. This was sold to the Ryrie Bros following the drought of 1902. Thomas William Simpson, his father, was an Auctioneer and Grazier in the North West of NSW prior to his going to the Riverina. The family lived mainly in Narrandera or in the Narrandera district, where Keith's father was at one time lessee of the Coolamon Hotel and at another time proprietor of a butchering business. He may William Keith Simpson also have owned a property in the Grong Grong area - together with his brother Bob. It was while living in Narrandera that his wife died in 1912. When he sold the Butchery he bought land - "Mt View" - in the Colinroobie district but resided with his daughter and sonin-law at "Square Nob", Narrandera. William Keith Simpson (always known as Keith) was an outstanding pupil at school and at the age of 9 (almost 10) qualified from Narrandera Public School for his secondary education. He was awarded a Bursary to Fort Street Boys' High School and during his education there was a member of the school's Cadet Corps. Some of his contemporaries there included Dr Herbert Vere Evatt, Clive Evatt and Sir Garfield Barwick. After being awarded a scholarship to Sydney University Keith was apprenticed to Mr Dick at his Strathfield pharmacy and completed his studies at Sydney University. He completed his course at the age of 19 years but was unable to be registered as a Pharmacist until he had attained the age of 21 years. In 1923 he opened his own Pharmacy in Griffith in the premises which were later occupied by Mr Vince Harris, and which were part of the Lyceum Theatre. He then moved to a second location opposite the Court House (now La Petite Hairatorium). The third location of the Pharmacy was next to Carney's store and then finally he moved to the present site which was previously Tilsley's Grocery shop. The family all remember that memorable 765

day in 1941 when so many of the family friends turned out, at short notice, to help carry the stock and shop fittings along Banna Avenue to the new premises. He carried on his business actively from 1923 until 1953 when he was incapacitated by a stroke and subsequently died almost six years later. During this time he gave unstinted services to the community, day and night at a time when most Pharmaceutical prescriptions were for preparations which had to be extemporaneously prepared. His son, Don, passed his final Pharmacy examination in 1954 and later took charge of the Pharmacy, becoming the sole proprietor some years after his father's death. In 1925 Keith married Dorothy Annie Dixon, a member of a family well known in Hay and then Narrandera. They were married at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Macquarie Street, Sydney on 14 March 1925 and then lived first in Yambil Street Griffith and afterwards in what was formerly Wakaden Street Griffith. There were four children of this marriage - Dorothy, Loma, Heather and Don. Three of these children also became Pharmacists. Keith was very active in civic life, being a distinguished Mason, a foundation member of Griffith Rotary Club, a foundation Dorothy Annie Simpson (née Dixon) associate member of the Ex-Servicemen's Club and a committee member of the Jondaryan Club. He was also a Justice of the Peace and later, in this capacity, was appointed Guardian of Minors. Something should be said of his great interest in Masonry. To quote from "Random Notes" in a Lodge Ibis bulletin dated 1 January 1959: "Keith affiliated with Lodge Ibis from Lodge Prosperity in 1924 and from then on until his illness was a keen and active member, being installed as Wor. Master in 1932 and later being appointed D.G.I.W. In 1946 he was the unanimous choice for Foundation Master of Lodge Griffith, and under his guidance this Lodge had its beginnings on very solid foundations. Later he was made an honorary Life Member of both Lodges - Griffith and Ibis. He was also keenly interested in Scottish R.A. Masonry and for a term, until his illness, he was Deputy Grand Superintendent. He was also an early member of St Alban Rose Croix Chapter." Dorothy Annie Simpson, daughter of George Huntley Dixon (formerly of Northumberland, England) and Mary (nee Tucker formerly of Cornwall, England) was born in Hay on 14 December 1898. She spent her teenage years in Narrandera where she used to ride her half-Arab pony over the sand-hills to (Sir) Samuel McCaughey's property. The latter was used as an example of the successful use of irrigation and later became Yanco Agricultural High School. 766

The Second Shop opposite the Court House

The First Shop located in the Lyceum Building

The Third Shop approximately opposite the Cenotaph

The Interior of the Second Shop

767

Dorothy Simpson was also a well known and popular personality of Griffith. She was a woman of outstanding public spirit and widespread interests. For many years she worked for the Parents & Citizens' Association, the Boy Scouts, the Country Women's Association (of which she was a Past President) and the Presbyterian Ladies' Guild (of which she was also a Past President). She was a member of the Housing Commission's local committee and was a constant worker for many war efforts, including the CWA Comforts Fund, which also undertook the mending of hospital linen during World War II. Dorothy was an active supporter of the Red Cross and a willing worker in many other charities. She took a leading part in the inception of the CWA Younger Set and was a foundation member of Griffith Women's Club. During her later years her public activities were restricted by the long illness of her husband and soon after his death in 1958 her own health began to fail. She passed away at her home in Griffith on 18 June 1962. However, she still had managed to attend the annual CWA conference in Sydney three or so weeks previously - despite her illness - a tribute to her great interest in the CWA organisation. Loma says - "Despite the busy lives of both our parents, they managed to provide a very happy childhood in Griffith for us - their offspring. We remember our father reading to us in our early years and his beautiful singing voice, our mother's dexterity with the piano. She had trained as a classical pianist and played in musical soirees around suburban Sydney. However, she could rarely be persuaded to perform for us and never in public after The Simpson Home in Wakaden Street her marriage. We remember also picnics at the River or in the vicinity of Scenic Hill and holidays taken annually on the South Coast. Above all we remember two loving parents - a father with a sense of fun, although a great worrier and a mother who had the ability to see the humorous side of any situation." Keith and Dorothy's eldest daughter, Dorothy, recalls - "I was born in Narrandera, Mum travelling there by train. I understand that there were no hospital facilities in Griffith at the time. When I was three weeks old, we arrived home at Griffith railway station to find Dad with HIS baby, a new Baby Austin, their first car - two proud parents! There were no sealed roads and I can remember travelling to Narrandera several times in a later model, when we passed several sulkies on the Leeton road - but no cars. "Early in my life, a little black covered sulky, reminiscent of the Amish", used to call around the streets with home-made ice-cream with pink cones. The driver was always formally dressed in a dark suit and hat and came from somewhere out in the farms. Later a large, horse-drawn painted cart usually arrived, with the driver summoning us by ringing a bell. I remember when, on one occasion I said, 'Five threepenny cones please.' the ice-

Amish - Members of an evangelical Protestant Christian sect founded in the first half of the 16th century and still flourishing in parts of Europe and especially USA.

768

cream seller answered, 'But there are only four of you!' And the DOG' we chorused, as Bullie was waiting in line for his share! "Vaccinations hadn't arrived and both Loma and I had Whooping Cough simultaneously, with Mum having no sleep for three weeks. Later Heather was to be admitted to a little hospital down the end of Banna Avenue with suspected Diphtheria. Mum, herself, had this when I was about six. A relative from Narrandera came to nurse her at home. It was then that Loma and I had our first knitting lessons, no doubt to keep us busy and out-of-the-way! "On unbearably hot nights, many people took their mattresses onto their back-yard lawns (armed with Citronella), using mosquito nets where possible. We always slept on the side verandah both in summer and winter! "From Kindergarten (where we were taught by the well-remembered Mrs Aiton) until the Leaving Certificate, we walked to school in all weathers. I can remember being once picked up by our father in the car on one very wet afternoon. This was so astounding that I don't think I uttered a word all the way home! "We had a very happy childhood and there was a great deal of laughter in our home. There were no unreal expectations and I can't remember contact with any 'spoiled' children. Nobody had much, but we were all in the same boat. Almost everyone attended church or Sunday-School regularly." Random Memories of Griffith: The glow from the fire the night when Green's store burnt down. The broadcast on our small radio of the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932, when a crowd gathered outside our living room in order to hear the news. Few people had radios in those early Depression years. The sight of Nurse Taylor setting off on some errand of mercy, in the sulky with the big wheels. The men who came to the back door during the Depression, asking for food and/or work. They never left our house without food and they would often chop wood or sharpen scissors to earn money. The drip safe at the back door and the copper and stove fuelled by wood. Subsequently the drip safe was replaced by an ice-chest and then later by a refrigerator. Driving out Lake Wyangan way, we think, to see Sir Charles Kingsford Smith giving (or selling?) rides in his plane. The Venetian Carnival on the town water reservoir with all the beautiful lights. One of the nurses at the Hospital was judged the Bathing Belle. Packing our lunches and setting off to wander amongst the orchards, stopping at the farms of some of our friends for a cool drink or a swim in their dam. The odd surreptitious swim in the canal with our friends while keeping a watchful eye out for the Water Bailiff

769

•

The Juvenile Balls at the Palais and later the dances at the CWA Hall.

•

Mrs Aiton of the Infants' School pulling out our "wiggly teeth" for us so that the Tooth Fairy would call that night.

•

The Hon Clive Evatt, then Minister for Education, presenting us (that is Dorothy and Loma and the rest of the former 3rd Year students at Griffith High School 1941) with our Intermediate Certificates.

•

Sitting on the cool green lawns in Banna Avenue, eating ice-creams and listening to the Band play, on Saturday nights.

•

The odd bullock team which used to make its way slowly along Wakaden Street.

•

Racing down to the slit trenches in the school grounds after hearing the bell ring for Air Raid Practise Drill at school. It was great exercise and we enjoyed the interruption to our classes.

•

The Railway played quite an important part in our lives, being placed in such a way that it bisected the town. For all the early years we had the background noise of the trains shunting and you could set your watch by the arrivals, six days a week, of the Temora and South-West Mails. These were very important to the population as very few people had cars and longdistance travelling was always by train for many years. The railway men were very patient with us, especially when we were pretending we didn't know the rules about not crossing railway lines within the railway property - everybody did! We always enjoyed life when the circuses came to town - Wirth's in particular as they always arrived by rail and set up business right opposite our house!

The family of William Keith and Dorothy Annie Simpson :1.

Dorothy Beatrice born Narrandera 5 September 1926; married David Bruce Greig 1950; five children, eleven grandchildren; now resides at Canberra ACT.

Loma Margaret born Griffith 7 November 1927; married Kenneth Davies Hewlett 1953; three children, four grandchildren; now resides at Thirroul NSW.

Heather Maud born Griffith 11 February 1930; died 10 August 1968; married Frank Lay Onus 1951; five children, 15 grandchildren.

Donald William Gordon born Griffith 9 February 1932; married Margery Robinson 1957; two children, two grandchilden; still residing in Griffith.

Sources:-

I. 2. 3. 4.

Simpson Family Tree and Notes, as compiled by Gordon Kenneth Simpson (now deceased) a younger brother of William Keith Simpson. Obituary notices for the deaths of Mr W K Simpson and Mrs D Simpson taken from The Area News. Lodge Ibis Random Notes' - dated January I, 1959. Family remembrances.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Dorothy Greig, Loma Hewlett and Don Simpson.

770

SLINGSBY

Slingsby

Leonora May Slingsby Courtesy Maurice Slingsby

William ("Bill") Arthur Slingsby was born at "Mayfield" Parkes on 20 August 1900. His parents were Malvina (nee Hawken) and Arthur Slingsby. He was the youngest of their eight children. Bill lost his mother when she died at the early age of 41 years and was brought up by his father and eldest sister Sarah. Bill completed his schooling at Cookamidgera (NSW) and when the family sold the farm they moved to Sydney to join his older sisters, Florence and Catherine, who were already working there. Another two of his sisters came to Griffith and married here - Lucy to Sid Vagg in 1915 and Elsie who married a Soldier Settler, Alf McDonald (or "Mac" as he was better known) who farmed at Bilbul until 1969. A Slingsby nephew, Robert Miller, worked on the McDonald farm for a number of years. In the latter years of his life, their father, Arthur also lived in Griffith where he died. Bill took up his first job with the WC & IC in their Sydney office but owing to ill health he moved to Griffith in 1921 to take up outside work, also with the WC & IC. In the early days Bill was a steam-operated Excavator Operator and used to ride his bicycle ten miles to Yenda each day to fire up all the engines and then work on cutting out the channels during the day. When diesel operated bucyrus excavators were introduced he obtained his Engineers Certificate and eventually became Maintenance Foreman for all the machines. During the war years he was seconded to the Civil Constructional Corps and worked on the Air Force landing fields at Finley and Tocumwal, at Cockatoo Docks in Sydney and also on the building of Keepit Dam. 771

Bill married Leanora May Pauling, a member of another pioneering family, in Griffith on 27 July 1923, at the Methodist Church. Bill lived in Griffith for the balance of his life retiring from the WC & IC in 1965. He passed away at Griffith in June 1969. Leanora May Slingsby (née Pauling - or "Nora" as she was always known) did not travel to Australia with the rest of her family originally as it was considered that the harsh pioneering conditions would be too tough for the only girl of the family. Instead, she stayed behind with her grandmother in the beautiful Cotswold countryside of Buckinghamshire in southern England - a land of fertile farms, thatch-roofed cottages and lovely gardens. She migrated to Australia from the village of Thornborough in Buckinghamshire in 1921, at the age of 17 years. She was the only sister of the well known Pauling L to R: Maurice, Daphne & Keith Courtesy Maurice Slingsby brothers - the late George, Harry and Arthur. Once here, Nora assisted her mother, France, in the laundry business which France had established in the very early days. Nora also catered for many functions in the early years and being expert in cake decorating, made and decorated many wedding and 21st birthday cakes. Born on 14 August 1904, Buckinghamshire, England, Nora died at Bowral NSW in 1982.

William Slingsby, third from left. One of the Pay Carts in background, towed by Steam Engine Courtesy Maurice Slingsby

772

William and Leonora Slingsby with children, Keith, Daphne and Maurice (inset) Courtesy Maurice Slingsby

William and Leonora Slingsby had three children:-

Daphne May Slingsby born 2 May 1924, married Keith David Harold Sands at the Baptist Church, Griffith, 20 June 1945. Daphne and Keith reside at Bowral NSW. One son, Gordon Marshall Sands who married Asheley Louise Barker.

Keith Gordon Slingsby born 31 December 1926, married Yvonne Schoer and they reside at Nambucca Heads NSW. Three children, Christine Margaret (deceased), Mark and Donna .

Maurice William Slingsby born 9 October 1931, married Patricia Ursula McConnell at St Paul of The Cross Church, Dulwich Hill NSW, 12 August 1950. Maurice and Pat reside at Griffith. Two children, Denise Anne who married Phillip John Dyball and Graham John.

By courtesy of Maurice Slingsby, Griffith NSW Daphne Sands (nee Slingsby), Bowral NSW. 773

SMEETH Arthur Smeeth was one of seven children, born in Weybridge in Surrey, England on 28 April 1892. After Arthur left school he worked as a stable hand and his family recall his saying that he "drove the lady of the house around in the buggy". It is believed he worked there until he came to Australia in 1910 with two friends, Ernie Prince and George Tongs. The three young men all went to Gundagai to work on farms after which they went to Nevertire looking for work. Arthur heard of a job in West Wyalong and rode a push bike the 278 kms to the O'Keefe property to work on the harvest. A lot different to these days - the wheat was harvested with a stripper which took the heads off the straw and dumped it into heaps. It had to be then forked into the winnower for thrashing and cleaning. From West Wyalong, Arthur then went to "Kooba" Station trapping rabbits until he enlisted in the Light Horse in early 1915. He later transferred to 20th Battalion Infantry and was sent to France where he served 3 years and 94 days. Whilst serving in France he was wounded and returned to England in 1918. During the War he had married Albert Smeeth Elsie Craig and their first two in England before WWI children, John and Evelyn, were born in England. Whilst waiting in England for a "family" boat to bring them to Australia, Arthur was on leave without pay. Eventually the Smeeth family sailed for Australia and arrived in Sydney in March 1920 after a journey of six weeks. The family went to Whitton where Arthur worked for the WC & IC on the channel construction. They lived in tents and as well as caring for two small children, Elsie cooked for thirty men - a full cooked breakfast in the morning, cut lunches and a hot meal at night. This wasn't easy! There wasn't any power in those days, water laid on, nor washing machines. Only kerosene tins for boiling the clothes and a scrubbing board.

774

Later Arthur drew a small twelve acre farm at Whitton. This proved to be too small an area to make a living so Arthur drove a cream cart - calling at each dairy farm to pick up the cream and take it to the Leeton butter factory. Daughter Evelyn remembers her father riding a push bike from Whitton to Griffith to get some medicine for his wife from Dr Bodycomb. In 1928 Arthur transferred to Farm 2014 (20 acres) at Lake View, seven miles from Griffith - now known as Nericon. Here Arthur planted citrus only to lose these trees due to heavy frosts. After three bad years the family moved to Farm 2019 where Arthur again tried to grow fruit trees - citrus, prunes, grapes and apples. Again this was unsuccessful. Times were hard, the Depression was on, so Arthur worked on neighbouring farms and grew catch crops of vegetables. Many times Arthur was asked by Elsie to shoot a rabbit as the family was short of meat. There were only dirt roads and Arthur had to drive a horse and cart to town for supplies. In later years more area was added to Farm 2019 and with a lot of hard work the land was cleared of the mallee with a roller made from a steam boiler and pulled by horses. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since those days. Arthur continued to live and work on his farm until his death on 1 August 1962 at the aged of 70 years. Elsie stayed on the farm until she died on 30 July 1978 aged 83 years. Thirty years later Farm 2019 is being worked by Albert and his son Colin in conjunction with two additional farms - a total of 3,000 acres. They are the only remaining family members from the early settlers in the Nericon area still farming there.

Top: Albert Smeeth - Australian Light Horse Bottom: Elsie Smeeth with her baby son John

►

775

1986 L to R: Albert, Kathleen, Evelyn and John

Arthur Smeeth born Weybridge, Surrey 28 July 1892 died Griffith 1 Aug 1962

married

Florence Elsie Craig born Brixton, England 11 February 1895 died Griffith 30 July 1978

John Maxwell born Basingstoke, Hampshire, England 6 April 1917; married Joyce Wells; four children - Max, Peter, Kerry and John; lives at Griffith.

Evelyn born Basingstoke, Hampshire, England 29 July 1919; married John Thomas May; three children - Carolyn, Beverley and Geraldine; lives at Griffith.

Albert Edgar born Whitton NSW 11 September 1925; married Joyce Robins ; three children - Colin, Marilyn and Narelle; lives at Griffith.

Kathleen born "Woodlands" Hospital, Griffith NSW 2 February 1932; married Eddie Heath; five children - Yvonne, Kay, Jan, Lesley and Graeme ; lives at Whitton.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Evelyn May (née Smeeth), 18 Noorilla Street, Griffith 2680.

776

SMITH My father, Alfred Harold Smith ("Alf") came to the Area in 1919 after returning from service in France. He had joined the AIF in 1915 and served in the Artillery. Wounded in 1917 he returned to duty after three months hospitalisation in England. Alf Smith was the son of John William Smith, a Marine Engineer, and his wife Sara Elizabeth. He was born in London in 1891 and arrived in Australia (Sydney) in 1909 where he was an apprentice tinsmith at Cockatoo Naval Shipyards. He married, at Newton Sydney, on 18 March 1916 a widow Bertha Laura Adelaide (formerly Stiler, née Ainsley). Bertha had a small child - Thelma, born Sydney 1914 - from her first marriage. Arriving 1919 Alfred was accommodated at "The Barracks" on the Whitton Stock Route, Yenda and worked in the clearing gangs before taking up Farm 796, Yenda - one mile from the township of Yenda on the Leeton Road (known locally as Suicide Highway) adjacent to the Main Canal. Bertha arrived in 1920 from Rozelle (Sydney) with their two small children Thelma, now 6 years old and Horace Alfred, who had been born at Marrickville in 1917. (Horace died of meningitis in 1938 and is buried in the Yenda cemetery.) Three more children were born at home on the farm to Alfred and Bertha - Vera, Frank and Marjorie. The property was sold in 1952 when the family moved to Long Jetty on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

Alfred Harold Smith born London 1891; died Sydney 1962; buried Rookwood Bertha Laura Adelaide Smith born Brisbane 1888; died Sydney 1964; buried Rookwood Their family:I.

Thelma born Sydney 1914; married Charles Taylor - the local barber (Barber's Shop was next to the Yenda Hotel)

Horace Alfred born Sydney 1917; died 8 October 1938, buried in Yenda Cemetery

Vera born Farm 796 Yenda 1921; married George Saunders. Lives at Berkeley Vale NSW

Frank Harold born Yenda 1923; married Brenda Miller. Lives Albury NSW

Marjorie born Farm 796 Yenda 1927, married Alex Pomfroy. Lives at Point Clare NSW.

By courtesy of Frank Smith, Riverwood Retirement Village, Padman Drive, Albury 2640.

777

SNAIDERO Dionigi Snaidero tells of his life:- "I was born on 10 May 1905 at Colloredo Di Monte Albano, Province Udine, Italy. My father, Fiorendo Snaidero was born in the same town in 1877 and my mother, Edvidge Carnelutti (also born the same year) in a town close by, Maiano. They were married at Maiano and five children were born to them - Blandina, Romano, Dionigi, Santa and Maria. "Father was a cobbler. We lived in a three story stone house in town. I attended schools MeIs and Buia for four years and also had two years of secondary education, leaving school when I was thirteen. "I worked as a shop assistant in a co-operative (general) store at Colloredo Di Monte Albano until I emigrated to Australia.

Dionigi Snaidero and his family in Italy L to R: Blandina, Maria, Mother nursing her niece Eddi, Santa, Father and Dionigi

"I left the port of Genova on 13 August 1927 on the ship "Regina Italia". There were 1,200 passengers. After a forty-five day voyage we landed in Melbourne on 27 September 1927 and I caught a train to Griffith. "The first place I lived in was in a bag shed and I worked on Charlie Lasscock's Farm 74. I also worked for Mr Booth and other farmers whose names I cannot remember and I worked for seven years for Len Wincey on his Farm 75. "I returned to Italy for a year. My mother told me about a young lady living close to my Grandmother. She said she was beautiful and not married. "I rode my bike past her house but couldn't see her. I thought, how can I meet her? So I asked an old lady who lived next door if I could please borrow a spanner to fix my bike (I just pretended my bike was broken!) She had no spanner but sent me next door. An old man was chopping wood and said 'Yes, we have a spanner. Go inside to the girl in the kitchen'. "I first saw Ancilla while I was looking through the window of her house. She was very beautiful and I wanted to meet her. 778

"Ancilla was ironing in the kitchen. She knew who I was and said 'You're the boy from Australia'. We talked then her mother came home and we talked some more. I told her I was looking for a girl to marry, and if she was willing, to come to live in Australia with me. "I asked if I could visit tomorrow and we went to church together. It was New Years Day. Every night I visited her and proposed to her and one month and sixteen days later on 16 February 1935 we were married in the Catholic Church at Pers Maiano by Father Gamboso!! The night before we were married Ancilla was very sick with influenza. I could just see her bedroom window (in the village next to ours) from our house. I told her if she was too sick to be married the next day to hang a sheet out her window early in the morning and I would then know. I was very happy when I awoke next morning and could not see a Dionigi with his Mother - 1927 Leaving for Australia sheet!! "We returned to Australia in May 1935 on the ship `Remo' and disembarked at Melbourne, then caught the train back to Griffith. We lived with my brother, Romano Snaidero, and his wife Leonilda on Farm 1241 at Griffith. "In June 1936 I purchased Farm 95, from Archie Evans. I didn't have to go to the bank for money, my brother helped me out. The farm was thirty-two acres and very run down and neglected. The house was small and needed a lot of work to clean it up. When we moved in Romano gave us some chairs tied up with wire! I went to a sale and bought a table, one sewing machine and one cow which all cost me £24. "We had one horse and a very old tractor which needed lots of work to get it going. My first vehicle was a Model T Ford truck which cost £15. The truck had no doors on the sides and I drove it flat out. (They called me the 'Red Terror'!) "Farm 95 had twelve acres planted with oranges and four acres of apricots. The first year we cleared the other sixteen acres, there were lots of Bathurst burrs and weeds. Then in October 1936 we planted a further ten acres of Granny Smith apples and five acres of oranges. We planted the apples because the soil was heavy clay and no good for oranges. The apricots were a lot of work. We had eight or nine helpers, all local ladies, to pick, pit and put the fruit on trays. It was terrible when the weather turned bad with rain or dust. We had to stack and cover all the trays, sometimes there were over a thousand. "When we came to Australia I told my wife she wouldn't have much to do!! Just the cooking and cleaning and there would be plenty of time for sewing. She was upset that she hadn't had time to sew the things for her glory box before our marriage. "Instead she had to put down her sewing and learn how Ancilla aged 20 in 1935 to drive the tractor!! We ploughed with a single furrow plough (Passport Photo) - I was on the plough, Ancilla drove the tractor. 779

Dionigi and Ancilla Honeymoon trip to Castehuonte

Dionigi and his brother-in-law, Lauro cycling through North Italy Mountains

Dionigi and Ancilla at Colombo on their way to Australia - 1935

780

"Even though we had nothing and the work was very hard we were always happy. Ancilla always sang even when she prepared our meal at night. "We bought things very gradually. I was always scared of debt and wouldn't borrow money so we fixed the house up a bit at a time. Probably I could have done better on the farm if I'd had a Bank loan - especially to buy a good tractor. "We had a nice life, a very good marriage, Ancilla was a good partner. "When the first baby, Robert, was born we used to put him in a box and take him with us as we worked on the farm. I remember taking him in his box on the land grader. He was covered in dust! "When War was declared Italian people were visited by the Australian Army. All Fascists were put in POW camps. When the church was opened at Yoogali the Italian Consul came from Sydney and instead of making a religious speech he made a political one. Police took some people away after the church service. "The next day the Police and Army came to our farm to ask for volunteers to go to Darwin in case the Japanese invaded. I said I could not go. I had a wife and baby and I grew peas and fruit. I needed to stay and work. The police said they wanted to search the house. They were looking for I had been in Italian political books. telegraphic communications in the Italian Army for one and a half years. The police took my army papers and photos to the Police Station. They gave them back after the war. "My son, Robert, walked into the house after school and was frightened with all the army people everywhere. I said to him in English 'Don't be frightened Robert. They're just asking questions.' "They asked 'Why do you speak to your son in English?' I replied 'My wife Wedding Day - 16 February 1935 and I always speak in English. This is our Nieces Eddi and Miriam were Flower Girls new country and we must all be able to speak good English. We are going to live the rest of our lives here.' I was not interned. "It was very difficult being an Italian in Griffith during the War. Most of us had left Italy to start a NEW LIFE in Australia and bring up our children away from the political pressures (Fascist and Communist) and the hard times, with so little work available and money so short. "We really only wanted to work hard, save money and provide our children with a good home, education and good honest values.

781

"Some Australian people understood this, but with others it was different. It was also very hard to know that our families in Italy were at war with Australia. We used to read the Italian newspapers to find out what was happening. It was terrible to read of all the fighting. "Eight children were born while we were on the farm (one premature child died three days after birth). The first child attended Yoogali Public School and the next two children went to Hanwood Catholic School. When the Yoogali Catholic School was built six of the children attended there. Robert went to College in Sydney to obtain his Leaving Certificate. "We sold the farm in 1972 and retired to live in town at 21 Murphy Crescent. My wife, Ancilla, died on 17 April 1979. I still live at Murphy Crescent."

Angelo Snaidero married Maria Ferrino

Angelo Candusso married Felicita Ceccone

Fiorendo Snaidero born Italy 7 October 1877 died Italy 4 January 1962 married Edvidge Carnelutti born Italy 17 February 1877 died Italy 11 June 1970

Alberto Candusso (birth date unknown) died 1916 married Assunta Ferro born Italy 24 October 1894 died Griffith 29 May 1979

Dionigi Snaidero born Italy 10 May 1905 lives at Griffith

married 16 February 1935

Ancilla Candusso born Italy 14 February 1915 died Griffith 17 April 1979

• 1.

Robert born Griffith 1935; married Ada Battochio; three children.

Rosemary born Griffith 1937; died 30 September 1989. Married Mirco Plos; two children.

Rinaldo born Griffith 1942; married Nell Locke; five children.

Frank born Griffith 1945; died at Griffith aged three days old.

Gloria born Griffith 1946; married Denis Piva; three children.

Louisa born Griffith 1951; married Frank Feltracco; two children.

Mirella born Griffith 1953; married John Mears; one child.

Rita born Griffith 1958; married Jeff Condon; four children

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Dionigi Snaidero, 21 Murphy Crescent, Griffith 2680. 782

SNAITH William Snaith was born in the north of England in a town called Blyth in the County of Northumberland on 10 October 1893. He was the eldest child of seven children, his parents being Elizabeth and William Snaith. William Snaith was educated in England and after completing his schooling he worked on a farm to gain experience in this field. In 1911 he developed TB and suffered continued ill health. The Doctor suggested to William that it would be good for his health if he migrated to Australia which was a much warmer climate, and if possible to work outside in the fresh air. So in 1912 William left England by boat, on his own, to begin a new life in Australia. On arrival Will, as he became known, went to Queensland and worked on farms at Toowoomba. He stayed at Toowoomba until 1918. Will had heard that irrigation farms were being opened at Griffith, not only for Soldier Settlers but also for civilians, so he set out from Toowoomba on his push bike, with all his possessions on his bike and back, heading for Griffith. He arrived safely after many weeks of cycling and bought Farm 14 at Hanwood which was 31/2 miles the other side of Hanwood opposite Jim Sainty's farm. First of all Will had to clear the farm and build himself a shack to live in. It was known that all the surrounding men would help each other clear the land as none of them Will Snaith could afford to pay labour. Will's Courtesy I) Ward farm was 28 acres, only a small farm. He planted grapes and had an orchard of peaches, plums and apricots. Later he planted oranges. Will worked from daylight to dark, having to do all his own washing and cooking and had very little money so would allow himself 10/- (ten shillings) a week to live on. This included all food and any other expenses!

783

In 1926 Will's father, mother and four sisters migrated to Australia to join him, so it was much better for him. Will was known to be a very quiet, serious man who rarely smiled. When his sisters came he loved to have them help him on the farm and would really enjoy their youthful enthusiasm. He would tell them that if they didn't stop making him laugh they would "make his face crack". It was a new life for Will and he enjoyed it so much having the family with him in Griffith.

First house the Snaith Family lived in when they arrived in Griffith in 1926. It was in Yambil Street. (Note the 'Drip Safe' on the verandah) From the left: Emily, Dora, Mrs Elizabeth Snaith, Mr William Snaith Courtesy Elizabeth Josling

In 1927 Will built a new house and that same year his sister Lilly migrated from England and came to live with him and look after him. Will was a very good and successful farmer, being very methodical and clean. He made a reasonable living and managed to keep out of debt. He dried his apricots, sultanas and currants and would send his produce off to the markets by train. In 1932 Will had the opportunity to return to England for a holiday, so he decided to go, as his brother Joseph and wife Eva still lived in Birmingham. His sister Emily and her husband, Ted Josling, had also returned to England and lived in London. He stayed with both Emily and Ted, and Joseph and Eve, visiting many relatives in Britain. He stayed in England for three months, but felt the cold intensely and was taken very ill with pneumonia so returned to Australia to the warmer climate again. His sister, Emily, and her husband Ted also decided to return to Australia in 1933. On his return Will felt he didn't want to do farming any more, so he sold his farm to Jim Sainty who put his son Roy on the farm to work it.

784

Clearing Farm 14, 1920

Dora, Emily, Ivy (sisters of Will) & Will among his vines - 1926

Currant grapes drying on racks - 1926 Photos courtesy D Ward

785

Ted Josling, Will's brother-in-law, was thinking of starting a produce business and asked Will if he would go into partnership with him. He agreed, and the business called "Josling & Snaith" was started. The business was at the top of the Banna Avenue in a building built by Will's father, William Snaith snr and the building still stands to-day. Many people told them it would not succeed as it was too far out of town, but they were wrong as it developed into a very successful business. Will was a very honest, ethical man and his customers and friends held him in high esteem. In 1938, after being a bachelor for 45 years he met Molly Hodge and married her in Sydney. They then returned to settle in Griffith, living for some time in the flat above the Produce Store until they built their home in Konoa Street. Will didn't have any children of his own, but his wife Molly had a daughter Gladys, from a previous marriage. Will continued to operate the store until he retired on 1 October 1961. He sold his share of the business to his nephew Peter Josling. Molly and Will then moved to Sydney where Will died in 1981 aged 87 years. As far as we know his wife, Molly is still alive and would be 97 years old.

Staff of the Griffith Co-operative Society Ltd in 1927 IN lien it faced Joudaryan Avenue. Ivy Snaith - woman second on the right. Courtesy Elizabeth Josling

By courtesy Peter and Elizabeth Josling (nee Broome), Griffith.

786

SPEIRS Gold! Precious metal! Makes beautiful jewellery - which leads us to the story of the Speirs family. Joseph Speirs came from Paisley, Scotland. He was born c.1829, married a widow, Isabella Campbell, on 8 October 1852. He and Isabella, together with her daughter, Mary Angus, migrated to Australia at the end of 1852. Joseph became a labourer at historic "Douro", Henry O'Brien's property at Yass, in 1856 was a hired servant at Tumut, and in 1860 a carrier in Adelong. He was running a coach service in 1875 and mining at Adelong in 1883. The first edition of the Adelong Mining Journal and Tumut Express (Vol 1 No 1 dated 9 October 1858) carries an advertisement for "SPEIRS & HENDERSON, QUARTZ REEF BAKERY", evidently an enterprise of Isabella's. Joseph died on 13 April 1883, aged 54 years and Isabella died on 17 June 1891. They are buried together in the Adelong Cemetery. The eldest son, the second Joseph, was born in Yass in 1854 and died on 16 February 1919 at Wyalong. He married Catherine Hamilton on 29 September 1875 at Adelong. Father of five sons (including George William - G W Speirs) and a daughter, Joseph was a farmer at Gilmore in 1875 and at Tumut in 1883. By 1886 he had seven Cobb & Co coaches running between Gundagai, Tumut, Adelong and Tumbarumba. In 1888 he acquired the Royal Hotel, Adelong. In 1895 he was a gold assayer at Wyalong and part of the syndicate Speirs Family working the Mallee Bull Mine and later, L to R - Back: George William, Robert, Joseph, Walter set up the Cyanide Treatment Works. Front: Joseph (father), Margaret, Catherine (mother) and Andrew sitting at the front Catherine Speirs (nee Hamilton) died on 12 September 1938, aged 84 years, and they are buried together in the Presbyterian section of the West Wyalong cemetery. Catherine and Joseph's eldest son was the third Joseph, but it was not he but the second son Robert who opened the first jewellery business in West Wyalong and trained his brothers in the trade. By 1920 Robert Speirs had a flourishing business in West Wyalong and another in Temora; Joe Speirs was well established in Wagga, Walter in Coolamon and George in Tumut and Adelong. Until 1915 Andy was in business in Junee but was badly wounded in World War I and became his brother Joe's watchmaker in Wagga after his return. When the railway line was extended from Temora to Griffith, Robert invested in a block of land in the new town. He offered it to his younger brother, Walter, who declined as "Griffith was too far from civilisation". However, George was interested after he and his brother Walter had ridden bikes from their respective homes to inspect the growing township. That was in September, 1918. 787

George was a man of vision and the immense possibilities of this area fired his imagination. He determined to be part of its growth and prosperity. His brother Robert built a small shop on the block in Banna Avenue - one of the very few then established. For this George paid the princely rental of £2 a week. The shop still stands on the same spot and the business George established, although now under new ownership, still trades under the name of G W Speirs. In 1913 George married Edith Elphick and she came to Griffith in 1922 accompanied by their children, Beryl born 1916, Frank born 1918 and Jack born 1922. Edith had a fine singing voice and became involved in a group called the "Mirthmakers" started by her brother, Roy Elphick, who was working for George at the time. This group put on many dramatic revues, comedies and musicals which added greatly to the social life of early Griffith. Some members of the group were Ted Couchman, Frank Beverley, Fred Hudson, Stan Cummings, Tom Simpson and Paul Druitt.

George and Edith Speirs outside the shop in llama Avenue - 1925

p E 10

Wi I

A lt 'M ii t

Ada ("Ina") Groan and other unknown "Locals" Ada ("Ina") Groan (later Butler) outside outside Speirs Jewellers and Anthony's Speirs Jewellers - 1919. Note the barren landscape beside the shop Drapery, Mercery & Footwear Courtesy Frank Speirs

788

The following are extracts taken from an Area News story by Mary Ann Stenberg dated 27 February 1991 featuring Frank Speirs, the son of George and Edith. Frank has vivid memories of his mother cooking family meals in camp ovens in the backyard of the business premises, until the family was able to move into shared accommodation in Barellan Street. "This was our first real house in Griffith but it was pretty cramped and Dad soon bought a half completed house in Yambil Street, added an extra room and we moved in," Mr Speirs recalls. "Our next home was a new fibro, four-roomed cottage further up Yambil Street, which Dad had had built. There were verandahs on three sides with a tennis court, a billiard table and a player piano. " The Speirs home soon became an entertainment centre for the local people and Frank attributes the tennis court for inspiring in him a love of tennis. Mr Speirs recalls the early days in Yambil Street, when The Oakland outside the Yambil Street home a big ditch ran down the centre of the road Courtesy Frank Speirs for water runoff, "at times it must have been badly needed, as I can remember walking along the footpath on duckboards to keep my feet dry". Under headmaster, Archie Milligan, the young Frank began his schooling at Griffith Primary School. "I well remember my first day at school when Miss Kelly - later Mrs Aiton said 'Frank 1 want you to write on this blackboard', 1 said 1 couldn't write but Miss Kelly showed me how to write the figure 1 and with a marvellous sense of achievement I filled the blackboard." After completing his primary education, Frank was enrolled at Hay War Memorial High School, for three years, staying in a Church of England hostel, Lynton House, while his sister, Beryl, stayed at the Church of England hostel for girls. "My sister says one of the worst male impositions she has ever suffered was having to clean and press my trousers, while she was doing the Leaving Certificate," he said. "We boys all enjoyed ourselves with plenty of sport, including cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming in the Murrumbidgee, together with a tiny bit of learning." The tiny bit of learning was put to good use, when after transferring to Sydney Boys' High and attaining his Leaving Certificate, Frank Speirs went on to spend five years at University qualifying as an optometrist. After graduation, Mr Speirs returned to Griffith for a year and met his wife-to-be, Peg Carter, who was at that time teaching. (Arthur Frank Speirs married Marguerite Carter in February 1943 at St In the Tennis Courts - Yambil Street John's Church, Randwick. They have one son, Ian L to R: Beryl, Jack and Frank born 1951, and two daughters, Amanda born 1955 Courtesy Frank Speirs and Georgina born 1969.)

789

After Mrs Speirs completed her commitments to the school year, the young couple went to Sydney for a week's holiday which turned into several years. It was War time and as a fully fledged optometrist Mr Speirs found himself entangled in the field of optical munitions "without much choice since I knew a little bit about optics". Over the next few years, Frank Speirs and his colleagues made all types of optical sights, like binoculars, and repaired thousands which had been damaged in the war zones. "The firm I worked with soon got the job of looking after the optical instruments of the United States Navy," he said. "The Yanks' idea of servicing their instruments was very different to the Aussies. They provided us with a great box, as big as a trunk, which held every replacement lens, prism or whatever. All we had to do was mark off each replacement part we needed and sign for it." Mr Speirs said things were very different in the repair trade for Australian optical instruments and equipment. "Whenever someone broke a lens or prism in an Australian instrument we had to start from scratch," he recalls. "Working out the formula and making each particular replacement individually. Worse - the Australian Government called in all the 4 , • .4 r-1"1 binoculars among the civilian population for use by the armed services. I think some of them were so old they pre-dated the Boer War Top - Camping on Little River at Goobaragandra Bottom - L/R: Jack, Frank, Edith and Beryl and we had to repair the lot." Courtesy Frank Speirs It wasn't all hard work, although the Americans were hard task masters and expected their work to be completed on time, meaning very long hours were worked to satisfy them but they also appreciated the efforts made. "They threw an occasional party and also made sure we had plenty of cigarettes," Mr Speirs said. Like many Australian families the heartache of war was brought home to the Speirs family. "My brother, Jack, joined the RAAF and was lost over the Bay of Biscay," Mr Speirs said. "He was, for a tragically short time, a member of the No 10 Squadron stationed at Mountbatten, Plymouth." At the time of his tragic death, Jack Speirs was in a Sunderland aircraft attached to Coastal Command. After the War, Frank Speirs and his family returned to Griffith where Mr Speirs ran an optometry practice. In 1962, when his father, G W Speirs died Frank took over the jewellery business, running the store for his widowed mother. "My wife, Peg, joined me in running the business and it gave us a fresh outlook on life as we knew very little about jewellery and had a lot to learn," Mr Speirs said. "1 helped to start a jewellery wholesale company, Chronogem, and we visited Sydney three times a year to attend Chronogem meetings which helped us to learn fairly quickly."

790

Banna Avenue - 1918 (where Tucker Box Mini Market and TAB are now situated) This photo was taken by George Speirs on his first visit to Griffith by bike Courtesy Beryl Daley (nee Speirs)

Beryl, the only daughter and eldest child of George and Edith looks back through the years and muses - "Was Riverina peopled when the gold gave out on the Adelong diggings. Was that Australia's first essay in multiculturalism? I suspect so when I finger through the names of my forebears: the English Elphicks (convict descended); the Germans Bechling (among the first nine men into Adelong) and Schintler (my maternal grandmother's name); the Scots - Speirs (who ran the Cobb & Co coaches and the Royal Hotel and moved on to Wyalong) and Hamilton (my paternal grandmother's name) who left the diggings by dray to take up land at Illabo. "So, polyglot, I was born on 24 January 1916 in Tumut. "After matriculation from Hay War Memorial High School in 1930 further formal education was obtained at Wagga Commercial College, before I became proprietor and Principal of that College in 1931. This purchase was made possible with money borrowed from my father who framed my first repayment cheque! "Eight years on Miss Kathleen Ferguson was employed as relieving principal, to enable me to travel overseas to attend Pitman's College in London. When war broke out at the end of that year I worked for a time as private secretary to an underwriter at Lloyds of London. At the same time, in company with my Wagga college friend Betty Furze (now Hibbert) we took courses in first aid and ambulance driving. Soon after the fall of France, concerned about the flood of refugees from the Continent and the ever-increasing toll of injury from the Luftwaffe raids, Betty and I became trainee nurses at Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex, completing the course in six weeks.

791

"In August 1940 I responded to a call from Australia House for suitably qualified Australians to escort British children to Australia and sailed home - one of thirty-six escorts - with 477 children in the Polish ship `Batory'. On board I met and married Lieutenant John Drysdale Stevenson of the Manchester Regiment, then the Fortress Troops at Singapore. At this time there was prohibition against army wives living in Singapore. As it was impossible to join my husband I reconciled myself to a lonely war. At this time I was persuaded to establish a hostel in Wagga to accommodate out-of-town students so 52 Gurwood Street was rented to accommodate both classrooms and dormitories. "I continued to hope that it would be possible to rejoin my husband. The opportunity came unexpectedly. Steve was accepted into an officers' training course in Poona, India. There was no prohibition against army wives in India. I flew KLM - five days in the air and five nights in exotic places and then the days-long train journey from Calcutta to Poona. Then followed seven weeks learning about India - and 'how to behave as an English Army Officer's Wife Abroad' in what turned out to be the last days of the British Raj." Because of her skill as a stenographer (160 words-per-minute) plus references from Lord Lloyd, Chairman of the British Council, for whom she worked as Minutes Secretary - "famous everywhere the world was painted red" - Beryl suddenly had a job which gave her the right to stay in Singapore. It was May 1941. After the Japanese invasion and evacuation to Batavia en route to ABDACOM (American, British, Dutch, Australian Command) Headquarters in Lembang, Java for the seven weeks of its existence, she fled to Broome the day before a Japanese raid laid that refuge waste. Back in Melbourne, Beryl next worked for General George Brett, then commanding all Americans in the south-west Pacific. She continues - "The following year, 1943, I was commissioned in the Women's Army Corps, Army of the United States, which made it possible Major Beryl Stevenson LM (USA) Courtesy Beryl Daley (née Speirs) for me to work with the air forces in New Guinea, in Leyte, Manila, Okinawa and Japan. At the end of the war I was decorated with the Legion of Merit, USA, rank of Legionnaire, for 'outstanding service'. I hold the rank of Major. "After a devastating war and the loss of my husband, I returned once again to the Wagga Commercial College and, in 1948, remarried."

792

Continuing a life full of diversity and adventure, Beryl did a stint of broadcasting having been asked to establish the "Women's Session" for Riverina and north-east Victoria on Station 2C0 from the ABC's regional station in Wagga. After graduating from Macquarie University, with BA Hons, she taught Australian and English Literature at the University of NSW, then cadet reporters at News Limited (Rupert Murdoch's base). Beryl goes on to say - "I established the Alternative Publishing Co-operative Limited and became a director of an alternative-living community near Lake Macquarie. "I have five children, John, Megan, William, Rouna and Rosemary and seven grandchildren."

"What is it possible to remember of my brother Jack, born six years after me at a time when girls' activities were separated out? Jack had a sense of the ridiculous precious in our household. Not easy to define but evidenced perhaps one lunchtime on the back verandah of the fibro house in Yambil Street - gone now - where we grew up. The back verandah was our diningroom, with music from the gramophone flowing in through the window from the billiard room and out through the grapevine trellis. Dad asked Mother who was coming to afternoon tea? She said 'Mrs Bott, Mrs Blumer, Mrs Wetten...' and Jack laughed. "Before that, as a nappied toddler, Jack was with a group of men in the backyard fixing the old Oakland and discussing the merits of Metz, Sunbeam, Benz. 'Buick a' me!' announced the babe, breaking up the party. "At that stage of development Jack's brain was strictly rational. The family referred to the bathroom, the bedroom, the billiard room (people provided their own diversions in those days!) so Jack called the most lived-in room in the house 'the kitchroom'. Not far from the truth, that, when I think of the crowded mantelpiece over the old wood stove! "There were always cricket bats, and bets on the teams to be chosen for test matches to be played far away. Each male member of the household, no matter how small, sternly assessed the merits of Fingleton, Bradman et al - and the iniquities of `bodyline bowling' - over weeks of mounting suspense. Ceremoniously they placed their lists in Mother's brass jardiniere on top of the piano and awaited the judgement. I can't remember whether there was a prize but I think not - the glory of judgment vindicated was sufficient for those would-be champs. Once we went to Melbourne to see Bradman bat. All I remember of the occasion is standing all the Jack Speirs interminably long, hot day crushed among Courtesy Beryl Daley sunburnt people wearing knotted handkerchiefs in a crowd so thick I couldn't reach my sandwiches!

793

I didn't care that Bradman made his century - all I wanted was out - but Jack, on Dad's shoulders, joined in the ecstasy - the young fraud. "There was the day he and I were idling, after school, on the back lawn under the apricot tree. 'That dog's teeth are yellow,' said Jack, 'We'll clean them!' So he brought Dad's toothbrush and the toothpaste and we did. Don't ask me if Dad ever knew. Heaven forbid!! "Then came the day we found our father's Masonic regalia laid out on the bed blue apron, red apron, sword! Oh dear. That's the only hiding I remember copping in the whole of my childhood - for leading my small brother into the mortal sin of dressing-up before he'd reached adulthood! "Jack did his Leaving Certificate at Caulfield Grammar School in, I think, 1940. He was so eager to get into the Airftirce that he studied Morse Code while swotting. It was a fatal mistake because after initial training he was sent directly to England as a radio operator/air gunner without Empire Air Training in Canada, joined No 10 Squadron, RAAF at Mountbatten and was lost on his third mission. Our Aunt Emily - whose husband Bert Jenkins began the first school in Darlington Point and broke Education Department rules by bringing in Aboriginal children from the Station - kept the letter, written after his first mission, telling her of the terror. She never showed it to Mother. When I visited Runnymede Island, where Empire airmen lost in World War II are commemorated, the snow was almost impenetrable. So was the maze of plaques recording the multiple thousands of pitiful dead. But I found Jack's record. When he was killed he had just turned twenty-one. "Comfort is impossible, but memories help. "Jack walked into my office in Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, early in '42. He had a white sliver on his airman's cap. 'What's your rank?' I asked him. 'Aircraftsman Second Class.' `Already?' `It's the lowest you can be - lower than a private in the Army!' "At this point the boss, Lieutenant-General George Brett, commanding all the American forces in the south-west Pacific at that time came through on his way to lunch. I introduced Jack. The General promptly invited both of us to eat with him and his staff at Heathfield, Sir Keith Murdoch's mansion in Toorak, lent for the duration. So there was Jack with his white sliver being introduced to generals and colonels in bewildering variety, awed out of his appetite even for the gourmet food prepared by Sir Keith's chef. I hope he got some satisfaction from the experience. I don't know, because it was the last time I saw my brother Jack." George Speirs was born at Gundagai in 1888 and died in Griffith in 1962. Edith Speirs (nee Elphick) was born at Adelong also in 1888 and died in Sydney in 1975. They are both buried in Griffith.

By courtesy of Frank Speirs, PO Box 1011, Griffith 2680, Beryl Daley, 44 Hopetoun Avenue, Mosman 2088 and The Area News, Griffith. 794

SPRY Edward Ernest Spry, known as "Ted", came to the area from Hay in 1909 with his bullock team. He brought the first steam engine to the area, clearing a lot of land for farms around Hanwood and Yoogali. Ted was born on 20 March 1879 in Simpson Street, Hay NSW, the son of William Henry Thomas and Emmeline Matilda Florence Spry (nee Donnelly). Attending his birth were Dr Wilbue and Mrs Fayle. Ted married Elsie May Irvin on 18 April 1912 at Elsie Narrandera. was the daughter of James Irvin and Mary Ellen (nee Warren). Ted lived in a tent at first, then when married, in a tin house with a dirt Ted Spry and Elsie Irvin floor on Farm 158. Wedding Day 1912 They then moved Courtesy Mrs Mary Kissed (née Spry) across Middle Road to a house with the kitchen as a separate building with a roofed walkway between it and the three bedrooms and loungeroom. Ted was granted Farm 158 on 22 June 1914 and later part of 156 beside it which had been surrendered. They moved to their permanent home, Farm 2349 ("Rosewood") in April 1930. This was a raw block, uncleared and unfenced. Ted sank a dam there himself. Their house built here had a round log frame covered with galvanised iron. The rooms were divided with six feet high hessian partitions, painted with lime and white wash. This house had board floors. 795

Ted Spry next to wheel and Grandad William Thomas Spry with sulky and pair at rear. 1910

Elsie Spry (nee Irvin) 22 October 1911 Photos courtesy Mary Kissell (née Spry

796

They conducted a dairy and delivered milk to Hanwood and Griffith residents daily, until 1948. They were also early rice farmers and did contract chaff cutting. Daughter Mary recalls that the present Hanwood Post Office, Butchery, Bertoldo's Bakery and houses from the Bridge to Crook's farm are on the land that the WC & IC used for their Depot and this adjoined their land. Kevin and Merylise Calabria now own Farm 2349 on Spry Road. Mary recalls that "Mother was a good horsewoman and competed in early Griffith Shows. Prior to Griffith town being built, Mum used to graze the cattle all over the present hill and town area. She was also a good rifle shot and shot many a rabbit for tea". The children all attended Hanwood School and walked along the top of the channel bank to get there. "Grandad", William Henry Thomas Spry lived with various members of the family and died in Griffith on 17 September 1933 aged 92 years. Edward Ernest (Ted) Spry died on 9 January 1949 aged 69 years and Elsie May Spry died 21 July 1975 aged 82 years. They are buried in Griffith Cemetery. Children of Ted and Elsie Spry 1.

Mary Florence horn Narrandera 27 December 1913; married Jack Kissell; lives Farm 1581, Griffith

Fanny May born Griffith 2 November 1915; married (1) Harold Lockhart, (2) Arthur W Clifton (dec'd); lives Terrigal NSW

William Henry Thomas born Griffith 30 July 1917 (dec'd); married Ivy Condon

James Irvin born Griffith 25 December 1918; died 5 December 1920 aged nearly 2 years, buried Bagtown Cemetery

Dorothy Elsie born Griffith 24 June 1921; married (1) Jack Edwards, (2) William Searle (dec'd); lives Nambucca Heads NSW

Edward James born Griffith 3 December 1922; married Helen Stevens; lives Wagga Wagga NSW

Robert Arthur born Griffith 6 October 1924; married Molly CameII; lives Campbelltown

Ronald Clarence born Griffith 16 March 1931; married Patricia Tracy; lives Griffith

Nellie May born Griffith 22 November 1932; died 26 April 1991; married Michael Sheehan.

797

Family of Ted and Elsie Spry c.1943 Back: Bill, Dorrie, Robert, Eddie Front: Ron, Mary, Fanny, Nellie

By courtesy Mrs Mary Kissell (nee Spry), Farm 1581, Griffith 2680.

798

STACY The Australian branch of the Stacy family dates back to 1828 with the arrival on the "Magnet" of Dr John Stacy, his wife Jane and two young children. John was surgeon to the Australian Agricultural Company and had learned about Australia from his eldest sister, Anne Maria, who had lived in Australia for thirty years with her husband, Major George Edward Abbott who retired to live in Van Diemen's land. Fitzroy, the thirteenth child of John and Jane, was born in Newcastle and became a master mariner. His son, Herbert Maitland Stacy was born in Redfern in 1886, and later acquired a dairy farm at Rowlands Plains near Pt Macquarie. It was from here that he enlisted in World War I, in 1914, and served three years in 1st Field Squadron Engineers as a corporal. He was discharged medically unfit, but re-enlisted in 1918 in the 25th General Service Reinforcements and served another ninety-seven days twenty-one overseas. Altogether he served nearly three years overseas. On discharge, Maitland came to the new settlement of Griffith and on 7 May Herbert Maitland Stacy & 1919 applied for 139 acres of irrigated land, Alice (née Bennett) - January 1920 Farm 603, in the Parish of Wyangan, Courtesy Roy Stacy County of Cooper, land district of Yanco. This was at Beelbangera, a dairy farm and was granted on 11 June 1919. While waiting for allocation of a farm he worked on construction of irrigation channels and in the cook-house with Hubert Bennett. Alice Emelie was the only daughter of John Hubert and Alice Lilian Bennett and was born on 8 April 1900. While on a visit to her brother, Hubert, at Beelbangera she met Maitland Stacy and they were married at Beelbangera on 13 February 1920. They had eleven children, nine of whom are still living (1992). Alice Lilian Bennett, or Grannie Bennett as she was known, lost her husband from pneumonia early in their married life, leaving her with two babies to bring up, a difficult task in those days with no social security. She spent most of her later life in Griffith, helping with the Stacy children. After several disastrous fires the Stacy family moved to Farm 1191 in Griffith West on Walla Avenue. After clearing the land a mixed fruit farm of wine grapes, citrus and nectarines was established. As well as working his farm, Maitland had job with the PMG

799

Dept and was awarded a certificate for excellent driving. All members of the family helped with farm work. A big thrill was the arrival of their first tractor in the early thirties. It was a Fordson, followed in 1937 by a new "Silver King", with the famous Hercules Motor. For many years on Empire Day in May the family built a huge bon-fire up to 25 feet high. People came from near and far to see the spectacle. The tennis courts on the farm were a popular venue for tennis parties at the week-end and during the week school children used the courts until the school acquired its own courts. Maitland and the older boys gave much time to making the school tennis courts, ploughing, cultivating and grading, using two horses, and erecting the fences. They also scooped out the hole for the school swimming pool, near the tuck shop. In 1933 the Griffith Intermediate High School was opened and the oval was pegged out for a football match. Maitland ploughed the oval with a two furrow plough and two horses and graded the ground ready for sowing grass, helped by his eldest son, Roy, after school. Alice Stacy was very much involved in community work as well as caring for her family. She was involved in the school, Presbyterian Church, ambulance, RSL, 100F Lodge and the Sunshine Club Alice Lilian Bennett 1871-1958 riding to meetings on her bike. During World War II (known as "Grannie" Bennett) when troop trains came through the "Loop", she Courtesy Roy Stacy helped feed the troops with hot meals and drinks, while her husband provided fruit. Mum Stacy was well known for her excellent cooking and luscious cakes. On the farm they had their own fowls, cow for milk, cream and butter, pigs for meat and home-grown vegetables. All the family helped with the making of bread and preserving fruit. In 1948 additional land was granted opposite Farm 1191. This is now the Pioneer sub-division. The old town tip is now the location of Dave Taylor Park at Pioneer. Roy remembers that Walla Avenue was a quagmire when it rained and he was often called upon to pull vehicles from a bog, doing so with horses. The boys collected tins with pressed-down lids from the rubbish tip and received 4d a dozen for them from the WC & IC, who used them on test wells on various orchards. Memories are of dust storms which caused lights to be switched on during the day. After a night storm the only white part of the sheet was where the body lay, everything else was covered with red dust. Picnics were at Lake Wyangan, Scenic Hill, the Murrumbidgee River - conveyed there in a model T truck. Roy remembers scouting, Church Fellowship camps, swimming carnivals, two open-air picture theatres, mini-golf, balls in the Palais in Yambil Street, big celebrations in 1938 for 150 years of European settlement, with a big procession, swimming carnival in the new town reservoir in Jondaryan Avenue and sporting events. 800

A big event was the arrival of Charles Kingsford Smith in his Southern Cross plane. Roy nagged his father for 10/- for a flight. A grass-hopper plague in 1935 blacked out the sun and denuded the fruit trees of all their leaves. Afterwards to protect the trees from the sun, all branches had to be trimmed and every part of the trees had to be painted with white-wash, leaving a ghostly spectacle. For devilment the Tennis Court on the Stacy farm young boys released bags of grass Courtesy Roy Stacy hoppers in the class room! During World War II vegetables were grown to help the war effort, with town folk coming from offices, shops, banks etc after work and at week-ends to harvest the crops. Roy spent seven years in the RAAF and John served in 1st Armoured Division in Western Australia where he married and has since lived. Twins, Doug and Don, both spent time in Korea with the army, and Doug some time in Vietnam.

The Stacy Family L to R: Standing - Ralph, Mervyn, John and Helen Middle - Donald, Betty, Alice, Maitland, Roy and Brian Standing in front - Sandy and Douglas Courtesy Roy Stacy

801

In 1946 the dirt tennis court was replaced with a concrete court - with tons of stone being carted for the base and concrete being mixed and layered by hand. In 1949 tragedy struck the family when 18 year old Brian was accidentally killed, followed a few months later by the death of his father. The family farm was sold and Mum Stacy died in 1955.

Dr John Edward Stacy and Jane (née West) arrived Australia 1828 • Capt Fitzroy Stacy married Elizabeth Weber

John Hubert Bennett married Alice Lilian Neild

• Herbert Maitland Stacy 11 Nov 1886 - 23 July 1948

married

Alice Emelie Bennett 8 April 1900 - 10 May 1955

• 1.

Herbert Fitzroy (Roy) born 27 November, 1920; married Nancy Braby; two daughters. Roy and Nancy live in Griffith NSW.

Elizabeth Alice (Betty) born 2 May 1922; married Kenneth Harley Niven; four daughters and one son. Betty and Ken live at Warrawidgee NSW.

John Maitland born 1 August 1923; married Nancy McSwain; one son. John lives in Western Australia.

Helen Joyce born 13 October 1924; married Fred Clarke; two daughters, two sons. Helen and Fred live at Coleambally NSW.

Eric Mervyn born 27 June 1926; lives at Cervantes, Western Australia.

Joan Winifred born 10 August 1927, died aged 11 months.

Ethiard Ralph born 9 December 1928; lives at Cervantes, Western Australia.

Brian Weber born 30 January 1930; accidentally killed 1948.

Alan Graham ("Sandy") born 29 March 1931; married Elaine Miller; two daughters and one son. Sandy and Elaine live in Griffith NSW.

10.

Douglas Hubert born 31 January 1932; married Norma Hicks; two sons. Douglas and Norma live at Canberra ACT.

11.

Donald Allison born 31 January 1932; married Margaret Dunning; three daughters and live sons. Donald and Margaret live in Sydney NSW.

By courtesy of Betty Niven (née Stacy) and Roy Stacy, Griffith 2680. 802

STEN IENS Frank Stephens born 5 December 1883 (died 9 September 1949) was the eldest son of Thomas George and Grace Stephens (nee Rosevear) of Camelford, Cornwall, England. He worked as a miner in the Cornish tin mines and also with his father, who was master of the horse stud on an estate in Cornwall. Frank migrated to Australia in 1908 and went to work on a dairy farm on the south coast of New South Wales. The working conditions were very hard and living conditions primitive, so, on hearing of the gold mining in Wyalong he went to work in the mine there, thinking it would be a better life. When World War I broke out he joined the AIF, on 14 August 1914, and was put in the 1st Tunnelling Company (No 287). He did his training at the Liverpool Army Camp and embarked for France in January 1916. While in the AIF he served in France and was involved in the action at "Hill 60" where the Tunnellers (British, Australian and Canadian) mined the Hill over a period of several months and blew it Frank and Ivy Stephens 1920 up on 7 June 1917. Prior to this the German army, by holding "Hill 60", had been able to stop the Allied advance. The capture of the Hill enabled the eventual capture of Messines Ridge. (Daughter Grace recalls "In 1986 my husband and I joined the RSL tour to Gallipoli and the French and Belgium battlefields, including 'Hill 60'. We saw the remains of the huge German gun blockhouses, which had had walls over two feet thick and were blown to pieces during the explosion. The craters in the ground are still very evident.") Frank was gassed and suffered shell shock in France. He never had good health afterwards. The hardships and the impossible tasks he later had on the MIA took their toll. After his discharge on 26 July 1919, having served for 348 days, he became engaged to Ivy Ellen Carnell (2 October 1886 - 21 June 1974). Ivy was a teacher, with whom he had been friends in Wyalong before he had enlisted and with whom he corresponded whilst overseas. Ivy's father, James Camel!, was a miner who had been injured in the mine and died from typhoid fever on 26 May 1899, aged 40 years. Her mother, Hepsibah Carnell, was a midwife and after her husband's death opened a cottage hospital in Wyalong to support her family of seven children. Frank then came to the Beelbangera Camp, where after serving his time with the clearing gangs he drew Farm 508 - on 13 November 1919. The Returned men who wished 803

to take up farms, with the promise of making a fortune, came to the district camps and cleared and fenced the land. As the new farms became ready they were balloted for by the ex-soldiers and allocated accordingly by the WC & IC. Frank returned to Sydney and he and Ivy were married at Hurstville on 1 March 1920. Ivy was by then Deputy Headmistress of Dumbleton School, near Hurstville. He was 37 years and she was 34 years of age. Frank and Ivy came to Yenda on the Temora Mail, to a two room roundback shack that he had built and lived in after drawing the

Early Rice Crop "Shack" in the background

ram 70. CROWN LANDS CONSOLIDATION ACT, loll.

60.1

irrigation Area.

Certificate of ()ranting of an Application for a Holding within an Irrigation Area. Nat. floor. Wro..1

70 WIT.

da, of_. November

WIIRRIAll . rim

101 9

MACK. .ati.Pur.iis lorlord rila the

DriLSAVOITA

Chaarsindenaron Water Cormarvatios and Irrigation Ma Norwolr _, an aridirotioa for

2 rondo and

163 ..ern

of land ma win _Irrigation Fare Tana mil ie

perrhra

iii that dm said application ••• mi ilo• lt.i ' ,

day of_ . :Tor e,ber

. thirteenth

grantee, br lb. said Commission/It, for the lead hereand"

a 40 margloaed

— FAN. OP Suva ()../.1,

Alva I•rm Ilik 1

509

Pwilee 1.6.

FT.

282. 283

1:64 * :85

P•44.

P•.... ,

Stanbrides

Cooper

163

OtYlitt and.* In, head Oda_.....__

alJ

day of

yob .1

>4.:-•,,Pc

1,114/Zg-e:/:,- ; r,. T.. _ r.ft•philne

......,.. —

804

farm, as the house (a Type 7) was not finished. The shack was lined with hessian painted with white lime and had a dirt floor. Some of the furniture, purchased from Anthony Hordems, had to be stored, covered with a tarp, under a tree until the house was finished. Anthony Horderns, George Street, Sydney was seen by many NSW people as THE store for all purchases, from the smallest to the largest item. In the Type 7 houses there was one room which served as combined kitchen, dining/sitting room. Frank didn't like this room being used as a kitchen so they continued to use the kitchen in the shack until about 1929 when they had a kitchen built onto the house. The shack was about thirty yards from the house so it would have been very inconvenient for Ivy. Having to cart all water used, coping with dreadful duststorms and feeding all the men who were employed on the farm, plus keeping all the

farm records and books, her life would have been very hard - just as everyone else's was. However they made some very good and true friends and always had time to help each other. Between 1921 and 1926 they had four children. The first, a girl was born on 4 January 1921, but died shortly after as the doctor (it is not known whether it was Dr Bodycomb or Dr Watkins) could not be contacted. This babe is buried in an unmarked grave at Bagtown Cemetery. As Frank was away overnight in Binya, borrowing a combine from his brother-in-law, Ivy walked to Mrs Owens who did her best to help. The only phone link between Yenda and Griffith was the WC & IC offices, so contacting the doctor was very difficult. Then in March 1922 they had a stillborn son. On 11 April 1924 Edith Grace was born in the Loretta Private Hospital, Griffith. Lorna was born in the CWA Hospital, Yenda on 23 February 1926 and died of meningitis on 29 July 1948, aged 14 years. Living was arduous and money was short. Some prices from this era were: Cart £47, sulky £45, sulky horse £27, set of sulky harness £12, 3 coils barbed wire £3, 1 tarp (from Anthony Hordens) £10/7/6, draft horse £32, £6 and £20. The farms were classified as dairies but the closest milk processing factory was at Leeton, so there was no hope of transporting milk that Frank stripping the first rice crop c.1930 distance by horse-drawn lorries. with new Sunshine Header and 8 horse team Consequently the farm was never run as a dairy. Pig raising was tried. Old account books show Frank purchased four sows from his brother-in-law, Mick Came11 of Binya for £3 each, twenty one weaners for £1 each and a boar from H Hinds for £2/10/in June 1922. In October he sold twenty porkers at £2/15/- each a total of £55. Some costs were; pollard 16/- a bag, bran 11/3 a bag, chaff £6/5/- for one ton. Whether there was much profit made from the operation is hard to tell. Frank also grew oats (for grain and chaffcutting) and wheat - and paid harvest hands £3 per week. By this time some of the farmers were walking off their farms; the "experts" had put the soldier settlers in an impossible position. Even without the Depression there was no way they could make a living on the acreages they had been given. As well as the hopeless task of paying off the debt with which they were saddled and their general poor health, coupled with the lack of proper farming knowledge, they were not helped by the bad advice from the authorities. Frank started with 163 acres, 2 roods, 30 perches. With the granting of additional area from farmers who had walked off their properties his area was increased to 325 acres. About 1929 the farmers in the area between Yenda and Bilbul were each granted 300 acres of dry area which had formerly been part of "Merribee" Station. The blocks were all covered with large box and pine trees and Grace's first recollection of the block (Portion 94) was going out with her father in the sulky to see how Moses Gollan was getting on clearing the timber. She would have been about five years old and the huge steam engine, winching down the trees, was really fearsome in her eyes and she remembers clinging to her father's hand!

805

Rice was first grown on Farm 508 in 1932. Growing rice was a fmancial lift for all farmers. Frank grew wheat on the dry area, but being so far away (61/2 miles) the two farms were hard to supervise and it was not unusual to find the back fence cut and cattle let in on the growing crop. This was heartbreaking after the work and cost of having to take the horsedrawn, ironwheeled machinery out, camp in a shed while preparing the ground and sowing the crop. Moses Gollan's steam engine and chaff cutter In 1935, after an investigation, Mr at "Stephenvale" c.1938 Jack Kelly put forward a proposal that five Yenda farmers who had irrigable and dry area land should relinquish their irrigation land and take up additional dry area land to increase their acreage to 1,630. The relinquished irrigation land was divided between adjacent farmers to bring their areas up to a "living area". This proposal was financed by the Rural Bank - thus putting the five farmers (Frank Stephens, Bill Wood, Reg Smith, Fred Halse and Finlay Stewart) into debt once more. However the move was seen by these farmers as the only way they could survive. Grace remembers that time clearly - "Our house was cut in half, we lived in one half on 508 until the other half was installed on the new farm. There was a delay in moving the second half so we were camped in the half-house on 508 for quite a while. The delay was probably caused by Lorna and I contracting measles! Mum must have had a difficult time looking after two sick children in half-a-house. Finally one morning we left for school in the horse and sulky from Farm 508 and came home from school to `Stephenvale' - the new farm. All this upheaval didn't worry my sister and I much but it must have been a nightmare for our mother. "In 1937 we were granted irrigation, but `Stephenvale' still had a lot of timber on it so it needed much hard work and money to make it viable. In 1939 we were allowed to grow rice - this was the beginning of a better life to make up for all the hard times and heartbreak which had gone before. But by this time Dad's health had deteriorated and he was never able to fully enjoy the fruits of his labour - after twenty-one years on the farm. "We children had to help a lot on the farms but we thought nothing of it. It was just part of life. We also found time to play. On 508 our friends were the five Farley children, Val Hayes-Williams and when the Alf Millers came to the end of our road we had lots of playmates. When we moved to `Stephenvale' we had Margaret Wood (we remained friends and neighbours until Margaret's death in 1988), the two Potter girls, Jessie Blackburn, the Kilpatricks and the Chapman girls to play with. Great fun was had L to R: Grace, Val Mayes-Williams, with cubbies made of sticks - not having the Ivy Stephens and Lorna toys of to-day our fun was from make believe. 806

We rode horses and bikes to the hills in the winter and swam in the channel in the summer. Even though money was obviously scarce we had a happy childhood. "When I started school, aged 5, I rode a horse. The fat pony, 'Nellie', would take me to the main road then, despite my whipping and kicking, would take me back home again, crying with temper and frustration! Dad would have to get behind her with the whip as far as the bridge to make her take me all the way to school. This was a daily occurrence for some time until I got big enough to handle her myself. When Lorna started school I drove the horse and sulky (aged 7). When we moved out to `Stephenvale' Paddy Greenshields started a school bus service - an old truck which broke down regularly, when we wouldn't get to school at all! Of course, we could have walked but it was much more fun playing where we were and waiting for the bus to get fixed!! That was until it broke down all day; one boy walked to school and reported us; the next day the rest of us were kept in and severely lectured - so we didn't do that again!" Grace concludes "Frank, Ivy and Lorna Stephens are buried in the Yenda Cemetery. In 1945 I married Angelo Forner and we have two children; Peter John (born 8 April 1949) and Stephanie Ruth (born 10 March 1954). We still live on and farm `Stephenvale'."

James Carnell born Yass NSW married Hepzibah Bush

Thomas Stephens born Cornwall UK married Grace Rosevear

I. Daisy 2. May 3. William 4.lvy Ellen 5. Jessie 6. Michael 7. Claude 8. Annie

married

1. Frank 2. Eliza 3. Ethel 4. Hilda 5. Tom 6. Arthur 7. May 8. Dorothy I

Daughter horn 1921

Son stillborn 1922

died 1921

Edith Grace born 1924 married Angelo Forner

Lorna born 1926 died 1940

horn 1922

l'eter John

Stephanie Ruth

born 1946

born 1954

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Grace Fomer (née Stephens), "Stephenvale", Yenda 2681. 807

STEWART Bob Stewart, my father, was a native of New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the youngest of a family of six and at the age of 15 years left home, without his parent's knowledge, to join the army. He did his early military training at Aldershot and received the meagre sum of five shillings (5/-) weekly. For twelve years he was a member of the British Army, 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, Glasgow Regiment, serving in Malta and India and took part in quelling an uprising of tribesmen on the Afghanistan border. At the age of 21 years Bob Stewart received the Punjab Frontier Campaign Medal for Service in that area in 1897-98. He subsequently left for New Zealand where he remained for eighteen months, then came to Melbourne, Adelaide and finally reached Sydney in 1902. Here he carried on his occupation as masseur working with many Macquarie Street doctors. Lillian Chitty, my mother, was born near London in 1881 and brought up by her grandparents from the age of three years after the death of her mother. Her love of flowers and gardens started at a very young age. She spoke of assisting her grandfather in his hot houses where he raised exotic flowers for sale in Covent Garden markets and for export overseas. For several years she worked as a manageress in a large hotel in Bournemouth. She had the pleasure of attending many concerts, ballets and operas at the Royal Albert Hall and Covent Garden. Often tickets were given to her by' courtesy of guests. In her late twenties she was advised, for health reasons, to leave England for a warmer climate. So she came to Australia.

Robert Stewart - 1896 Just prior to sailing for India

Robert Stewart - 1915 Just prior to embarking for Egypt and France

808

In Australia, Lillian Chitty took up a position in the Hydro Majestic at Medlow Bath where she met Robert Stewart who was then the Hydro's masseur. Numbered among his clientele were businessmen who founded large stores in Sydney, such as Mark Foys, Anthony Hordems and many others. Robert Stewart and Lillian Chitty married in 1914 and they moved to Moree where Robert established a business specialising in massage and health treatments in conjunction with the Moree Hot Bore Baths. Their stay in Moree was short and despite his forty years, Robert joined the AIF L to R: Ann Hopkins, Mr Hopkins, Phyllis Hopkins, and saw service in Egypt and served with Mrs Hopkins, Bob, Margaret and Mary Stewart. The Hopkins family lived in what is now known distinction in France. For outstanding as MaHinson Rd gallantry in the face of the enemy he was awarded the Military Medal, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and was mentioned in despatches. In one battle he was one of sixteen who survived out of a company of one hundred and fifty. At the end of the war in 1922 they travelled by train to Griffith to take up a Soldier Settlers block of land at Lake Wyangan. While the land was cleared and a house built they boarded with Jack Tebbutt, also a settler at Lake Wyangan. Life in those early days was fairly rough. Dust storms of beautiful red dust were frequent. Our only means of transport was the horse lorry. Many years later we acquired a rubber tyred sulky, real comfort and style!! Meat and bread were delivered by horse drawn carts once or twice a week. I can remember my mother telling of one butcher who would only deliver to the front gate. He sat the parcel of meat on the gate post and it was alive with maggots when she went to collect it so my mother left it for him to collect next time. PHEW!! I can recall bath time on the farm required much preparation - filling the copper out in the yard from the dam, stoking up the fire, then carrying the hot water by bucket to the round tubs in front of the kitchen stove. Trips to town were few and far between. The horse lorry lacked all forms of comfortable travel - no springs, no shelter from sun or rain, no padded seats - it was a very long, hot, dusty hour to do the five miles to town. We kids survived the journey with the promise of a special Mary, Rob and Margaret Stewart large sixpenny ice cream from Wallace's Cafe to 1932 look forward to.

809

During the Depression days we had quite a number of hawkers calling, trying to survive by selling odds and ends such as brooms, brushes, needles, buttons, cottons, material etc. Most were travelling on foot. Mum always seemed to find something in the cupboard for a meal to help them on their way. Rabbits, at ninepence a pair, were a popular substitute for meat in those days cooked in every possible way. It's a wonder we didn't grow cotton tails! Christmas time was apricot harvest, a time we kids did not enjoy. It meant long days pitting trays of apricots for drying and during the night it was all hands on deck at the slightest sign of rain. The apricots out on trays for drying in the sun had to be stacked and covered before getting wet. At the time the fruit was setting on the trees, it was possible a frost would come and wipe out the whole crop. This was what we children hoped for, not realising the disaster it would be to our parents. The first few years of our school days we walked the two miles each way to school - one room with six classes in it. A mighty task for one teacher. In later days we had a push bike. My sister Mary rode a pony into High School in Griffith. Bob and Lillian Stewart The school Christmas party was an c. 1956 occasion I will always remember. Christmas tree, presents for all children, prizes and Santa Claus (Jim Richardson) arriving in a horse drawn sledge (forked branch of a tree) and ice cream for everyone. After twenty years my mother and father retired from the farm. They moved to Fivedock, a suburb of Sydney. Then for seven years they lived at the Darby and Joan Village, Collaroy conducted by the Salvation Army. My father, Bob Stewart, died aged 90 years on 8 June 1966 and mother, Lillian Stewart, aged 89 years died May 1970. Both were cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney. The Family of Robert and Lillian Stewart 1.

Mary Isabelle born Sydney 1915; died January 1972 (buried Griffith); married Ron Kubank.

Robert Gordon born Sydney 13 September 1919; married Patricia Moe (deceased - buried Adelaide); Robert lives at Adelaide SA.

Margaret Joyce born Sydney 4 December 1921; married Victor Coleman; lives at North Epping NSW.

Entry and photographs contributed by Margaret Coleman (nte Stewart), 9 Roma Street, North Epping 2121.

810

STOCKTON Belle and Ruth tell us the story of the lives of their parents, Arthur Albert and Maggie May Stockton (nee Lamont) - "Our father was one of a family of thirteen. His family had a small farm on the outskirts of Wagga. We believe it was where the Sturt University now stands. He was born in 1887. From the tender age of twelve, he was considered an outstanding horseman. He started droving and working with stock at an early age to help support his recently widowed mother and the younger members of the family. His love of horses stayed with him all his life. "At the age of 28, he had taken up an uncleared mallee farm situated eighteen miles north east of Barellan, at South Yalgogrin. He met and married Maggie May Lamont, whose family had recently moved from Arthur Albert Stockton aged 22 years the Ophir goldfields, to the new promised land - the new 'Garden of Eden' centred around Leeton. "The following is an account of the move of the Lamont family as written by our 96 year old aunt, Mrs Alice Rigby of Auburn. She is our Mum's sister." "We came from the goldfields near Orange to where our brother, Sandy, was working on the new channels at Leeton. Sandy had sent reports of plenty of work being available and the great need for a boarding house to supply meals. My Mum and Dad (Alexander and Selina Alice Lamont) had always been roamers (much to the displeasure of Grandmother and Grandfather Wilcox, whose graves are still to be seen on their former property in the Orange district). Mum had provided meals for the diggers at the goldfields, thereby making more money than most of the poor unfortunate diggers. As far as 1 can remember it was about 1911 or 12 when we set out for the Leeton site, travelling in a canopy-covered bullock waggon - together with another couple of men, friends of Dads who thought they may be helpful on the journey to our family of eight! They had their own conveyance and we only saw them at meal times and when setting up for the night. The men slept on the ground, the women in the waggon. By today's standards it sounds a very rough experience. But, as 1 remember, all went well, as the weather was kind, and we enjoyed every minute of the trip.

811

After about two and a half weeks we arrived at where Sandy's gang was working -it is now called Brobenah Bridge. I remember our amazement - we saw tents, more tents, rows and rows of never ending tents! In a very short time there was a "bag house" ready for us and a "dining room" with built-in tables and stools instead of chairs. I forget what stove was made available, but in no time, everything was ready and about thirty hungry men presented themselves for a meal. Leeton was mainly a bag town, but there must have been a few shops somewhere. Our residence was a long way from the main camp. The ganger and his wife lived in a little bag house nearby. She was the only lady anywhere to be seen and she certainly welcomed us four new females. I remember, as a young girl of seventeen, thinking that our place, from the outside, looked like a big circus tent. The men used horse teams, scoops and ploughs to form the channels. It was a busy time for all, but after six months, the gang had moved on to a new locality. The men tried to persuade us, the Lamont family, to go on with them. However, in the mean time, my Dad had met Arthur Stockton, who had a house nearly built at South Yalgogrin with plenty of clearing to be done, so off we went. Arthur and my sister, Maggie, had by this time become engaged and decided to get married. I married Fred Heath at Ardlethan, where he and his family farmed. It was at this time that Mum and Dad with the rest of the family moved to the Yenda site." Belle and Ruth again take up the story - "Back to the history of Maggie and Alexander Lamont Arthur Stockton. Maggie was born at who brought his family to Orange, but started school at Summer Hill Leeton about 1911/12 Creek at the age of five - the same day as a young school teacher, Mr Barnes, started his teaching career. They were student and teacher for ten years. This education was to stand Mum in good stead in later years. "Mother and Dad lived on at Yalgogrin after their marriage enduring heat, flies, dust, drought, crop failure, a mouse plague and the final straw - a bushfire! With three small children they decided to move - choosing the new irrigation area where there was plenty of work for a man capable of doing anything with horse or bullock teams. "Our Dad obtained contracts with the WC & IC to supply posts for the soldier settlers for their new farms and with the Railway to supply sleepers for the railway construction works which was progressing. He also worked on the construction of the channels with a horse and scoop. "Now Mother's education came to the fore, as Dad often had several gangs working on different projects. Bookkeeping had to be top priority - not to mention cooking, washing, 812

bread making and sewing, besides the many other jobs of a young mother under the most harsh of conditions!! "Their home at this time was a camp site under the Binya Hills. Belle, their fourth child, was born during this time. "Eventually a 'Tent School' was opened at Yenda. Education was very important to both parents. They rented a house just over the main canal and their eldest children, Ettie and Bruce, started school. At this new residence Mother boarded a lovely, young English school teacher - Miss Alice Cooper, who had been appointed to Yenda School. Miss Cooper drove the children to school in a horse and sulky and always kept to the middle of the road. This caused great inconvenience to others!! "Our parents then bought a large shed at Yenda (now Bingar Street) and this is where Ruth was born. The next move was to the two acre block in what is now Dredge Street where Joan was born. "The final move was to a house on the corner of Railway Road and Stanbridge Street where the rest of the family were born - Maisie, Don, Allan and Daphne. This house was added to as needs required (which proved to be often and extensive!) "Memories of our lives in that house are mostly happy. We were taught to be a happy, loving, united family. We were reared on the old Biblical sayings - Do unto others as you would have others do unto you - If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all - Judge not, and you shall not be judged - He who is without sin, cast the first stone (and many others). "The year 1927 was a very exciting one for us. Mum and Dad arrived home from Sydney with a Maggie May Stockton new Dodge touring car. What a wonderful thrill!! We would pile in, with Dad at the wheel, Mum, six kids, plus others who were there playing with us, and Grandfather (who always held onto the wooden stay across the hood). Dad drove at one speed - 'flat out' - taking corners, ruts, bumps and anything else that got in the road as he went. No seat belts or limit on the number of passengers then! "Our Stanbridge Street house, we believe, was the first built in the street. As time passed new families arrived. Mr and Mrs Phillips and daughter, Mary; the Fox family (which eventually reached ten), the Shannon family with three children, and newly-weds Em and Olive Girdler who over the years had six children. "Many happy hours were spent playing on 'the flat' which was behind the 'Old Bungalow' then a boarding house run by Miss Gladys Foley. We played many games rounders, cricket, drop the handkerchief, vigoro, two and threes and anything that was new at the time. "We always had a wonderful bonfire on 24 May - everyone helping and joining in the fun - up early the next morning to look for the crackers that hadn't gone off.

813

"There are many wonderful memories. Dad remained a lover of good horseflesh, so we always had lovely ponies to ride. We are sure that half of the Yenda school children learned to ride on our little chestnut mare, `Chessie'. She was very cunning. When she tired of it all, she walked either into the channel and shook the new chums off or took them under a low hanging branch. Nobody ever seemed to be hurt. "Despite difficult times, Belle was taught elocution by Miss Eileen Hanley (who became Mrs Dick Twigg); Ruth and Joan singing and dancing by Miss Mary Pearson (who became Mrs Foley); Bruce and Mervyn were sent to Hay High School. Many happy hours were spent around the piano and we children entertained our parents and friends with impromptu concerts. Mr and Mrs Charlie Davidge and sons, Ken and Ian, were frequent guests at these evenings. "Later we had a sing-along on Sunday nights. We started early as the boyfriends of we girls had to leave at ten o'clock unless there were other guests present!! "We had many people pass through our home - the three Richardson brothers, who came from England under the Dreadnought Scheme, became part of our extended family and Dave and Gabe lived at our home for many years. Jack Richardson worked on the HayesWilliams farm for most of his life, eventually becoming sharefarmer and then partner in the property. When war broke out Jack joined the AIF but soon after, while in camp at Wagga, he became very ill with pneumonia and was discharged medically unfit. He eventually died in October 1976. "Mr Richardson senior came over from England to visit the boys on the condition that one of them returned to England with him. Much to his dismay, Dave drew the short straw. He had left England at the age of fifteen to seek a new way of life. However, he fulfilled his obligation and returned to England with his father. War broke out shortly afterwards and Dave joined the RAF and spent much time trying to transfer to the RAAF. However, it was not to be. He was a tail gunner in a plane that crashed into a mountain in Scotland - killing all on board. (When we visited England many years later we were unable to find his grave - his father had passed away by that time.) "Gabe joined the AIF, 2nd 13th Batt, 9th Division, and saw service in the Middle East, including the siege of Tobruk. Later he served in New Guinea. He returned to Yenda and sharefarmed for Reg Smith until he drew a farm at Tamworth. He married Del Barber. Gabe died in June 1976. "Dad died in 1943, on 13 December at the age of 59 years. Of the ten children, aged from 9 to 28, Mum still had three to support which she did without the help of a widows pension. "All the family married from the old Stanbridge Street home. As time went on, it was decided the house was too big for Mother, and that she would be closer to her family if she moved to Bilbul - which she did in 1973. Mother continued to have young Bank boys as boarders (she enjoyed young company) until a few weeks before she died in her own home on 26 January 1985. "How grateful we all are that we had a lovely big family birthday party for her 90th birthday, some months before, at which she had danced and enjoyed every moment. Aunty Alice Rigby, Mother's 88 year old sister, came for the occasion. She later told us they `talked themselves out' after going to bed - then Mum would ask her to recite Banjo Patterson's poem 'Over the Range'."

814

The family of Arthur and Maggie Stockton 1.

Esther Alice ("Ettie") married Horace Roffe (dec'd). Two children Linda and Neville.

Bruce (dec'd 1974) married Dulcie Jean Mitchell. Robyn, Ray and Errol.

Mervyn (dec'd 1944) - unmarried.

Isabel Mary ("Belle") married Richard Barber. Four children - Dale, twins Maurice and Merrilyn, and Richard (dec'd 1970).

Ruth married Bill Collier (dec'd). Two children - Rozanne and Greg.

Joan married (1) Pat Cooper (dec'd). Four children - Garry, Lindsay, Jennifer and Christine. Married (2) Reginald Grieve (dec'd).

Maisie married Ron Weir (dec'd). Four children - Kerry, Robert, Jeffrey (dec'd) and Rhonda.

Don married Maree Dunn. Four Children - Kim, Debbie, Shelly and Donna.

Allan married Edith Saunderson. Three children - Ann, Fiona and Peter.

10.

Daphne (dec'd) married Norman Chauncy. Four children - Caroline, David, Margo and Ian.

Three children -

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Belle Barber and Ruth Collier (daughters of Arthur and Maggie), Griffith.

815

STOCKTON The first member of this Stockton family to arrive in Australia was Thomas, born 1812 at Bunbury, Cheshire, England. He arrived aboard the "Waterloo" in 1833. He married, in 1844, a Scottish lass, Betsy Tomeny, who had arrived in 1838 aboard the "Planter". Thomas died in Wagga Wagga NSW in 1852. Betsy died in Wagga Wagga in 1861. Thomas and Betsy had six sons and two daughters. The first son, Thomas was the father of Patrick Alfred Stockton. James ("Jim" - born 1906 at Coolamon NSW) the grandson of Thomas, arrived in Yenda with his father Patrick Alfred ("Fred") in 1919, at the age of 13. They travelled by horse and cart from Ardlethan where Jim's mother, Sarah (née Hanes), had recently died of rheumatic fever. Jim had gone to school in Wagga and Ardlethan. He started work in Wagga at Mr Sheady's store. About 1918 he worked on "Yamma" Station, Wagga Wagga, carting fence posts. "Yamma" had been badly burnt out by a bushfire in which most of the fences had been destroyed and had to be renewed. This required huge quantities of replacement posts.

Jim and Lillian (at* Bourman) Stockton, February 1971 Courtesy Maurice Stockton

When they came to Yenda Jim worked for his father, Fred, tanksinking and clearing mallee near Erigolia. He also worked for his uncle, Arthur Stockton, who operated a brick kiln on the northern side of Mirrool Creek, just west of where the stock route now crosses the creek on the Yenda/Leeton road. This kiln wasn't successful because the bricks proved to be too soft. However, many of them were used in the construction of the Yenda Hotel, the old bakery on the corner of West Avenue and Bingar Streets (now used as a private 816

residence) and the houses on the corner opposite Suman's Engineering Works - just to name some of the buildings in which the Mirrool Creek bricks were used and which are still standing and occupied today. During this time Fred and Jim lived at the Commission Yards Camp in a bag hut. This camp was on the eastern side of the junction of the main canal and the Yenda/Beelbangera Road. Both men worked from this camp also and often had to ride a bike to Hanwood and back to Yenda every day. Each Spring, in the twenties and thirties, Jim returned to Wagga (to work for his Uncle Jim Stockton) breaking in horses. These horses were mainly all sent to India where they were used as remounts by the British and Indian Army. During these years he also worked on the Stations of "Deepwater", "Big Springs" and "Borambala". In 1925 he went on a voyage to India with the remounts, looking after their food, water and keeping the stalls clean. (On the return voyage these ships brought back loads of jute from India). In 1936 Jim Stockton married Lillian Bourman. Lillian was the daughter of Annie and William Bourman. The Bourman family, Annie and William, their sons Percy, Norman, Syd and Lillian (aged 10 years old) had come from Broken Hill in 1920. William a Broken Hill mine worker, was part of a group of miners who came to Yenda from Broken Hill suffering from a condition known as "dusted". This was a debilitating illness, also referred to as "dust on the lungs" (fibrosis) and was caused by the constant inhalation of the fine lead dust over a period of time working below ground. Among other miners who came at this time were Scotty Willington and Bill Boag. William Bourman took up Farm 1547 where they grew sultana grapes. Their first home was a mud hut with no water and, of course, no electricity. Lillian went to school in Yenda in 1920 when the public school was held in a tent. Later, as well as William Henry Bourman, 1877-1960 working on her parents farm, she did & Annie Sophia (nee Przibilla), 1874-1946 housework for the Tony Wood's Courtesy Maurice Stockton family and Mr Keys.

817

After their marriage, in Griffith in 1936 Jim worked for the Yenda Producers and picked fruit seasonally before settling permanently on their own farm No. 2241. Here they grew apricots, and during World War II, vegetables for the war effort. Lillian and Jim had four children: 1.

Desmond James born 1936; married (1) Elaine Arnold, (2) Carol Taprell; lives Sydney.

Beryl June born 1938; lives Yenda.

Alfred William born 1940; married Denise Greenless; lives New Zealand.

Maurice Milton born 1942; married Carol Clarke; lives Yenda.

"Jim" - James Stockton lives in Yenda and his wife, Lillian Stockton (nee Bourman) died 21 February 1991 at the age of 80 and was buried in Griffith Cemetery.

By courtesy of Maurice Stockton, Bingar Street, Yenda.

818

STOKES Henry Stokes, with brothers-inlaw, Clarrie and Charlie Clark, arrived in Hanwood before their family to prepare living quarters on the farm. In 1919 Nellie Stokes, with two sons, Clarence Henry aged 10 years and Mervyn Thomas aged 8 years and Nellie's widowed mother, Harriet Clark arrived. They had travelled from Adelaide by train, via Melbourne and Junee, to Willbriggie and continued in a spring cart to Farm 12, Hanwood, a partly planted block of fifty acres. The farm was granted on 26 June 1919. The Stokes family, in partnership with Clarrie Clark, planted prunes on Farm 12, first drying them on trays in the sun and later building one of the first dehydrators in the district. Later Henry and Clarrie split the farm into two thereby creating Farm 2355 for the Stokes and Farm 2357 for Clarrie Clark.

Nellie and Henry Stokes with Harriet Clark (nee Stokes) and Mervyn Stokes - 1920s Courtesy Zeonee Stokes

L to R: Harriet Clark (nee Stokes), Zeonee Stokes (nee Everingham), Mervyn Stokes Nellie Stokes (nee Clark), I lenry Stokes with Oldsmobile car in Leeton in 1940 Courtesy Zeonee Stokes

819

Henry Stokes and Nellie Augusta Clark, who were cousins, married in Adelaide in 1909 and both their sons were born there. Henry had been born on 16 March 1886 in Adelaide and raised by his grandfather, Thomas James Stokes, an early resident of Adelaide, South Australia. Nellie was born on 30 May 1888 at Port Augusta, the daughter of John and Harriet Clark (nee Stokes). Harriet Stokes had arrived in Adelaide aged 17 years with her parents, Thomas James Stokes and wife Hannah (nee Davies) and family on the "Salisbury" on 8 January 1879 after leaving Plymouth on 4 October 1878. Harriet who by 1919 was a widow, accompanied her daughter Nellie to Hanwood. She died in Griffith on 24 July 1947 aged 85 years. Nellie Stokes (nee Clark) had spent some of her school years in Perth WA and worked for a Salvation Army Captain and his wife in their home at Kalgoorlie, doing welfare work amongst the locals and the Chinese miners. In 1946 Henry and Nellie retired to live at Manly after their two sons purchased their farm. When Henry died on 2 July 1953 aged 67 years, Nellie came back to the farm and lived with Mervyn and Zeonee and later with Zeonee in Griffith. Nellie, known as "Nan", died on 11 April 1991 aged nearly 103 years in the Griffith Nursing Home where she had resided for nine years. The two sons worked the farm in partnership until 1975, retiring to live in Griffith after selling the farm to the Careri brothers. The family of Clarence Stokes Henry and Nellie's elder son, L to R: Back - Harry, Clarence, Peter Clarence Henry Stokes, was born 25 Centre - Nellie Stokes (nee Clark), Christina Front - Valerie. October 1909. His early working life Courtesy Harry Stokes started as a builders' apprentice in Sydney but this was put to an end after one or two years because the Great Depression meant he was needed back on the farm to help his father. This early training was to stand him in good stead with whatever building was needed, in later years, on the farm. Clarrie and his brother, Merv, eventually purchased and became partners in, the farm when their father retired. Both of them giving their respective families the "gift of the good life" until retiring. One of Clarrie's interests was photography, but it could be said that along with his wife, Chris, gardening was his great love. Christina Sarah Lucy Berthon (known as "Chris") came from a large family in Sydney (thirteen all told). Due to her mother's ill health, Chris had very little schooling as she was kept home to do a great deal of the mothering/caring for her family. Thus it was, for a much needed break, she came to Griffith on a working holiday and met Clarrie. They were married on 7 July 1945 in St James Church, Parramatta and subsequently had three 820

children, Valerie, Peter and Harry. Harry married Annette (née Favell) in 1975 and had two children, Kim and Lee. Chris as a young mother, made many of her own and her children's clothes, being a keen dressmaker. She also excelled in handicraft and cake decorating. Over the years she worked both for the local branch of CWA and the Spastic Centre. On many occasions she opened her home for garden parties to raise funds for these causes. Clarrie died 8 October 1989 and Chris died 7 March 1988. Both are buried in the Griffith Lawn Cemetery. Mervyn Thomas Stokes, the second son of Henry and Nellie, was born 30 July 1912 and married Muriel Zeonee Everingham in Leeton in 1937. Zeonee is the daughter of Wesley Amos and Lilian Blanch Everingham (nee Skinner). Zeonee began elocution lessons with her mother and has been performing ever since she was four years old, successfully entering Eisteddfods, also performing with amateur dramatic societies. Their daughter, Merelyn born in 1942, married Bill Bardney of Yenda. Mervyn lived in Leeton from 1934, gained his Automotive Engineering Certificate with Oags Garage and worked through the War years for the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission and then farmed at Hanwood until ill health forced retirement in 1975. Mervyn died on 28 Bertha Stokes February 1979 aged 67 years in Griffith. His wife Zeonee continues Courtesy Carol Stokes to live in Langley Crescent, Griffith. Earlier Henry's cousin, Thomas James Stokes had come from Broken Hill to Leeton, in 1912, to take up one of the very first fifty acre fruit blocks, granted on 1 July 1912. He built a large cement block home, which is still occupied today, on Farm 347 fronting onto the main Leeton-Griffith road. After its sale in 1940 he purchased a rice farm at Widgelli - Farm 2346. Thomas was born about 1889/91, the son of Edward and Sarah Stokes (née Pelgrave). He died in Griffith on 25 July 1969 aged 78 years. His wife Bertha (née Curgenven) died in Sydney on 22 February 1965 aged 77 years. Their son Mervyn Curgenven Stokes, born 20 May 1917 in Leeton, married Carol Edna Chant at the Wamoon Church on 12 January 1938. Their wedding was the second of only three weddings celebrated at that little church. Mervyn and Carol had two children, Douglas James and Ann. Douglas (known as "Billy") with wife Elvira and family now own the Widgelli farm. Their daughter, Ann Davis and her family live at Newcastle. Always a quiet, modest man, this Mery Stokes was considered "a perfectionist" farmer by many of his contemporaries. Added to this he was also a tremendously hard worker. The first year he came to Farm 2346 at Widgelli - 1940 - he grew 180 acres (72.84 hectares) of rice, the ground preparation, banking, sowing and Mery Stokes and his father, harvesting for which was done using horses only. Quite an Thomas James Stokes achievement to grow such a large acreage using horses Photos courtesy Carol Stokes only. 821

When power boats and skiers first started on the old Lake Wyangan (the small lake) Mery was one of the foundation members of the Power Boat Club. Both he and Bill were very much involved in the clearing of cumbungi and other rubbish from the foreshores of both lake sites to make it suitable for skiers. Many of the first skiers on Lake Wyangan owed their first faltering "steps" on skis to the patience and kindness of Mery and his boat "Maree". The shelters built on the shores of the big lake were due to the initiative of Merv. Carol, who is an exceptionally good cook, produced afternoon teas at the Stokes shelter which became legendary. Where everyone else would bring a basket of "goodies" Carol always arrived with a LARGE suitcase full of delicious things. The hospitality dispensed at this shelter was also just as large. Mervyn Curgenven Stokes continued farming Farm 2346, with his son Bill, up to the time of his death on 14 November 1976. The overflowing crowd of friends and family that attended the service at the Griffith Methodist Church, prior to interment in the Lawn Cemetery, was ample witness to the respect in which this man was held.

"The Pyramid" Bottom row: Mery Stokes, Bill Bardney, Barry Pauling Top: Merelyn Bardney (nee Stokes), Robin Brown (nee O'Sullivan) Courtesy Ann Davis (nee Stokes) and Merelyn Bardney (nee Stokes)

Mery and Bill Stokes at Lake Wyangan with their boat "Maree" Courtesy Carol Stokes

Mery Stokes and Merelyn Bardney Courtesy Ann Davis (nee Stokes) and Merelyn Bardney (nee Stokes)

822

Men, and Carol Stokes.

Courtesy Carol Stokes.

A brother of Thomas J Stokes (son of Edward and Sarah) was George Stokes who bought Farm 1302, Tharbogang, a fruit farm, in 1937. George married Lillias May Lanyon in Broken Hill. George died on 24 February 1969 at Wollongong NSW. Lillias and George had two daughters - Joyce and Phyllis. THOMAS JAMES STOKES & HANNAH (Nee DAVIES) arrived Adelaide on "Salisbury" 8 January 1879 (Descendants who settled in the Griffith district are shown in bold print)

EDWARD STOKES married Sarah Pelgrave - six children: Edward J Stokes 1. 2. Robert William Stokes 3. Edith May Stokes George Stokes, married Lillias May Lanyon - two children: 4. (1) Joyce Stokes born 1916; married Stanly Roy Wheeler. Lives at Wollongong. (2) Phyllis May Stokes born 1918, died 1970; married Ralph Bradley. Thomas James Stokes married Bertha Curgenven - one son: 5. (I) Mervyn Curgenven Stokes married Carol Edna Chant 6. Annie

HARRIET STOKES married John Clark - three children: I. Nellie Clark married Henry Stokes - two sons: (I) Clarence Henry Stokes married Christina Sarah Lucy Berthon (2) Mervyn Thomas Stokes married Muriel Zeonee Everingham 2. Clarence Leslie ("Clarrie") Clark married Bertha Hawkins Charlie Clark 3.

3. THOMAS 1 STOKES 4. SAMUEL 5. ELIZABETH 6. LOUIS 7. SARAH

By courtesy of Mrs Zeonee Stokes, 32 Langley Crescent, Griffith Mrs Carol Stokes, 72 Ross Crescent, Griffith Mrs Merelyn Bardney (née Stokes), Farm 1600, Yenda. 823

STRACHAN Mrs Ruby Hare (nee Strachan) tells us - "My great grandparents John Strachan and Isabella Copeland were married on 10 September 1841 at St Nicholas Church, Aberdeen Scotland. Four weeks later they boarded the ship `The Margaret' at the Port of Greenock and set sail for Australia on 6 October 1841 arriving in Sydney on 24 January 1842. They were `Bounty Immigrants', a bounty of £38 being paid. The Shipping Indenture shows that John's trade was a house carpenter and Isabella a house servant and also that they could both read and write and were in good health. "I don't know what sort of work my great grandfather did the first few years after arriving in Australia. However, he may have been a farm labourer as later, in partnership with others, he owned the properties of 'Inch' (1848-1855), `Jingellic North' (18571874), 'Ournie' (1858-1875) and `Jingellic South' (18621865). "After the sale of `Ina in 1855 John bought `Marackee (a property on the Murray River between Jingellic and Talmalmo) as a sole owner. John saw the Jack Hare with Baby Irene, Ruby need for an Inn in the area and built an eight room hotel Hare (nde Strachan), Bill and Jean on this property which he called `Border Inn'. "The Inn was quite successful and was for many years a stopover for travellers from Albury as well as a mail receiving office and a change station for coach horses. When John died in 1870 the property passed to his widow and was still held by his sons in 1920. One of John and Isabella's daughters, Jessie, was still living there just prior to her dying in Melbourne in 1930. `Marackee was eventually sold by the Strachan family in 1934 to the McInnes family.34 "John and Isabella had ten children who appear to have been born in various places between Sydney, Goulburn, Yass and Albury area. We were told very little about our family background and a lot of our questions went unanswered. The birth date and place of my father, Robert Charles Strachan is unknown. However at the time of his marriage he stated that his birthplace was `Marackee. "He was first married to Mary Elizabeth Ross Cliff at Germanton (now Holbrook) and their daughter Mary Elizabeth Ross (named after her Mother) was born on 4 December 1897. Tragically the mother died on 20 December 1897, sixteen days after the baby's birth. It must have been a terrible shock to my father to have only had his wife for such a short time. When married he was an overseer on `Kinross' owned by Mary's father, Isaac Cliff. The baby was reared by her Mother's spinster sister, Ruby Cliff.

Source - "The First Settlers of the Upper Murray" by Dr A Andrews and "Jingellic" - A History written for Jingellic Public School Centenary 14 & 15 April 1979.

824

"I guess my father stayed on as overseer on 'Kinross' for a time after his wife died but then moved on looking for work in other areas. He tried train driving on the Michelago line but had to give that up because he had a problem with his eyes. He was a shearer on a number of stations over the years - 'Benerembah' and `Toganmain' are two that come to mind.

"Togamain" Station Shearing Shed - 1920s Robert Charles Strachan standing on the left in the foreground

"It was on his travels around these stations he met Edith May Simpson whose parents, John and Emma, lived at Darlington Point. John conducted a blacksmith shop at Darlington Point in 1900 - at this time the bridge over the Murrumbidgee opened for the wool barges and boats that went up and down the river. Emma is buried at Darlington Point and John at Junee. "Robert Charles and Edith May were married on 8 September 1913 at the home of Edith's sister (Mrs Susan Murray) on the property of 'Restdown'. (This is the property which was donated to the Rotary Club in 1990 by Mrs Daisy Murray.) "After Mum and Dad were married, Dad worked as a fettler on the railway line between Narrandera and Hay - their first two children were born while he was working on this line. John Robert at Narrandera in 1915 and Alick at Hay in 1916. After Alick was born, Mum and the two babies went back to Carrathool to live with her sister, Susan, as she found it hard to cope living in a railway tent with two babies. I'm not quite sure where the family were living when I, Ruby May, was born in January 1919 at the Bagtown hospital with Dr Watkins and Nurse Savage in attendance. It must have been a rough, hot and slow trip in the horse and dray to the hospital for Mum at that time of the year. About this time Dad was working with a team who were building the channels in the Griffith area. The 825

Commission owned the teams of horses but each of the team drivers were responsible for their horses. I think this was why Dad decided to buy a one acre farm at West Griffith - it was Farm 1212 - on the corner of what is now Walla Avenue and Merrigal Street. Dad grazed the horse team on the land. On the farm there was a two roomed house and a small shed about the size of a small garage. I slept in the bedroom with Mum and Dad but the boys slept in the little shed. We bathed in a tub in front of the kitchen stove and the washing was boiled in a copper out in the yard. "Our youngest brother, Arthur Foster was born in 1924 while we were still living on Farm 1212. We all went to the Public School and I can remember the teachers - they were Miss Aitken, Miss Bruier, Mr Bassett and Mr Palmer. One of our pleasures was to go fishing down at the river. "One day when Dad was working on the channels the horses bolted and he fell and broke his hip. I'm not sure what year that was. After his hip mended he went to work on Mr Alick Strachan and Mavis Kubank's farm for a time. On 10 October 1932 Dad sold Farm (née Walker) 1212, he was only able to get £90 for it so he had to go and find work elsewhere. I think Mum had had enough of moving around so she took John, Arthur and I back to Carrathool to live with her sister, Mrs Susan Murray. My brother, Alick, worked for Nat Spry and also lived on the property so for Mum that was a blessing as that meant one less to feed and clothe. In 1936 Mum and the two boys, John and Arthur went back to West Griffith to live in a house behind Warren Hoad's house. As times were hard I had to go out and earn my own living and I was sent out to Rankins Springs to help Mrs Grace Heidtman look after her children and do the house work. "It was while I was working for the Heidtmans I met John Herbert Hare, better known as Jack and nicknamed `Yorky', because he came from Yorkshire in England. We were married at St Alban's Church in Griffith on 11 May 1937. At first we lived on the property `Wingabulla' at Rankins Springs where Jack was working. While there our first child, William Henry (Bill), was born on 19 March 1938 at 'Woodlands' Hospital in Griffith. We moved to Hanwood and Jean Lillian was born on 22 July 1940 at St Lukes Hospital and then to Yenda when Irene Margaret was born on 25 May 1945 at Griffith Hospital. We then shifted to Griffith and lived in a flat at the Golf Club which was then situated in Wakaden Street. While there I worked in the Golf Club kitchen. Finally in about March 1950 we were lucky enough to draw a two bedroom Commission home in Curtin Street. "After having lived in so many small places I thought we had moved into a palace! As well as the two bedrooms it also had a lounge room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet and laundry and a small back verandah which was where our son, Bill, had to sleep. After many years we were able to own our little home with the help of the money I earned grape picking. I still live there. Unfortunately, due to ill health, Jack now resides in the Pioneer Nursing Home. "My brother, Arthur, was accidentally killed in a semi-trailer he was driving for Tom Ward on 14 December 1947. He was only 26 years of age and he had served in the armed forces during World War II, as he had joined up at the age of 17 years. "About the same time as we moved into Curtin Street Jack started work at the Producers. He stayed there for 25 years and was about 67 years old when he retired. 826

However, that wasn't his last job as he then went to work at the Rice Mill, mainly at harvest time. Eventually, that got too much for him so he only worked for them pre-harvest time cleaning out the tunnels ready for the rice season. He actually retired from the work force at the age of 73 years, in 1981. "My eldest brother Robert John died, on 23 August 1975, as a result of war wounds in the Repatriation Hospital at Concord. John (as he was always known), Alick and Arthur had all fought in World War II but were all spared to come home to us. "My mother, Edith May, lived alternatively with Alick and I. She was with Alick prior to entering the Nursing Home in Leeton where she died on 13 April 1968. She was brought back to Griffith and is buried with her son Arthur in the Griffith Cemetery."

Robert

John ("Jack") flare and Ruby (nee Strachan) Hare

Alick

Arthur

Robert Charles Strachan born "Maracket", Jingellic date unknown; died Albury 28 March 1939 Married (1) Mary Elizabeth Ross Cliff (Mary died 20 December 1897) 1.

Mary Elizabeth Ross Strachan born 4 December 1897

Married (2) Edith May Simpson 8 September 1913. (Edith was born Moulamein 1 November 1891, died 13 April 1968, buried at Griffith). 1. 2. 3. 4.

Robert John Strachan born Narrandera 6 August 1915, died 23 August 1975 and is buried in the Rookwood Cemetery. Unmarried. Alick Strachan born Hay 4 October 1916. Married Mavis Edith Walker in 1945 and they have two sons and seven grandchildren. They both still live in Griffith. Ruby May Strachan born Griffith (Bagtown) 4 January 1919. Married John Herbert Hare 11 May 1937 and have three children and five grandchildren. They both still live in Griffith. Arthur Foster Strachan born Griffith 30 June 1924, died 14 December 1947 and buried in the Griffith Cemetery. Unmarried.

Contributed by Mrs Ruby Hare (née Strachan) with assistance and research by Mrs Margaret Hare (née Morrison) of Griffith. 827

SUMMERS Alexander Summers and Helen Elizabeth (nee Liddell) who came to Griffith in 1922 were both descendants of Scottish grandparents. Alexander was born in 1882 at Hallett SA and Helen was born in Yongala SA in 1886 Alexander's parents were Alexander Forrest Summers and Jane Summers (nee Neil). This Alexander was a boot-maker in Hallett SA and he and Jane were married in Hallett on 31 July 1876. They had five children. Jane's father was David Neil who had come from Parish Renfrewshire Scotland in 1855 and settled in South Australia. Jane's mother was Janet Morris also from Scotland. Alexander's grandfather, Robert Summers, was a farmer in Gumeracha SA. He married Jane Forrest. They both came from Scotland about 1848. Helen Elizabeth's parents were John Liddell and Ellen Ann (nee Fox) who were married in Yongala SA on 12 August 1885. They had six daughters and three sons. Helen's grandfather, William ("John") Liddell born 1829, arrived from Helen Elizabeth (nee Liddell) and Alexander Summers married 5 October 1909 at Broken Hill Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1857 on the "Sumner" and died in 1882 in Port Wakefield SA. Alexander was a silver miner at Broken Hill and was one of thirty-four silver miners from Broken Hill who were given ten acres of land to start farming at Griffith. They sold their house at Broken Hill and with their five children travelled by train via Adelaide, Melbourne and Leeton to Griffith. The journey took three days and nights. The youngest child, Ray, was only five months old at the time and he was made comfortable by sleeping on the luggage rack of the train. They arrived in Griffith in September 1922. Because the Summers family was the biggest of the mining group, the other silver miners banded together to help to clear their land first. The miners helped clear each block in turn using a "forest devil" while they were constructing their Molonglo huts. These huts had been used as POW camps at Molonglo (hence the name) and were brought to Griffith after the war. While they were waiting for their block to be cleared of the trees and scrub a Mr Crocker gave them bunks to sleep on in his house which had a dirt floor.

828

Alex, Helen and family settled on Farm 1000 after it was cleared. It was a mile from the Griffith Public School and the children walked to school. They built their home of hand-made bricks and timber they had purchased from the old Red Cross Hospital at Beelbangera. At the front of the house they had beautiful rose bushes, and red, white and pink climbing roses grew over the front gate. The ten acre farm was planted with grape vines, peaches, pears, lemons, oranges, apricots, figs and apples. Alex had planted Granny Smith apples down the driveway to the house. One year they were loaded with apples when a couple of men called and said they would buy the lot. They took the apples and said they would be back the next day to pay for them but the men, apples and payment were never seen again. As the years went by this story was passed on and the family could always laugh over the incident. The children, Jean, Una, Olga, Colin and Ray had a happy childhood. Their first memories were of the emus and kangaroos racing down the dirt road now named Murrumbidgee Avenue, the black dust storms and the quite frequent dry storms with accompanying chain lightening, which was frightening for the young children. They remember the few shops, Taylor Bros where you could buy almost anything, a dress shop and two bakeries owned by Claude Hanna and John Jacob. They remember the fun they had on the farm, swimming in the dirt dam, going yabbying and swinging on a home-made swing made from an old tyre. They had an old white draught horse called "Major" of whom they were frightened. Their father, Alex, had poor health. He suffered from silicosis (dust in the lungs) The Summers Children - taken c. 1921 Broken 1101 caused by working in the mines at Broken L to R: Cohn, Jean, Olga. Sitting in front - Una Hill. The ex-miners all received a (Ray was born in 1922 just before coming to Griffith) fortnightly compensation cheque from the Broken Hill Mines and this money was used to live on, plus some cash crops, until the farm came into production. The children worked hard on the farm to help their father. Olga recalled having to stand on a spring dray drawn by a horse, pruning trees and every time the horse stopped she fell over in the dray! Some of the children left school at fourteen years of age, to help on the farm during the Depression. Helen (their mother) found it very difficult to adjust to living in Griffith after being raised by wealthy grandparents in Yongala. She didn't help on the farm as she was fully occupied cooking on an old black fuel stove, washing, gardening and sewing for the family 829

and generally looking after her husband, the children and the household chores. Helen was a gifted singer and pianist and played the organ in the Methodist Church. On 10 November 1922 Helen paid £10 deposit on a Beale piano from a travelling salesman from Maples Store (Wagga) to pursue her love of music. She made regular payments and finally owned the piano in 1926! Helen and Alex later sold c*, I their farm and bought a home in Yambil Street. In 1941 Colin enlisted and saw active service during World War II. His brother, Ray, also enlisted in the AIF in 1942 and served in Darwin. Alex died in Griffith in 1943 at the age of 60 years and Helen died in 1953 aged 66 years. They are buried together in the Methodist Section of the Griffith Cemetery. Two of the Summers' children, Olga and Colin, lived the Alexander & Helen Summer's home remainder of their lives in Griffith. on Farm 1000, Griffith

Five Generations - taken c.1948 at Griffith Back: Moina Johns (nee Main) holding baby Jennifer Johns, Jean Main (nee Summers) Front: Ellen Liddell (nee Fox) and Helen Elizabeth Summers (nee Liddell)

830

Robert Summers born Scotland 1824 arrived Australia c.1848 married Jane Forrest born Scotland 1825 arrived aboard "Angus"

William ("John") Liddell born Scotland 1829 died SA 1882 married Isabella (?)

Alexander Forrest Summers born SA 1851 died Broken Hill NSW married Burra SA 1876 Jane Neil born SA 1858

John Liddell born SA 1863, died Broken Hill NSW 1902 married Clare SA 1885 Ellen Ann Fox born 1865 *

Alexander Summers born Hallett SA 1882 died Griffith 23 May 1943

Helen Elizabeth Liddell born Yongala SA 1886 died Griffith 14 April 1953

married * * *

Jean born Broken Hill 30 July 1910; died at The Entrance NSW 10 February 1992. Married Harold Main (dec'd). Two children - Moina and Neil.

Una Joan born Broken Hill 5 August 1914. Married Charles Gronn (dec'd). One son - Robert. Una now lives at Batemans Bay NSW.

Olga born Broken Hill 15 March 1916; died Griffith 24 March 1989. Married Bob Stevenson (dec'd). Three children - Graham (dec'd), Jeffrey and Kay.

Colin Liddell born Broken Hill 10 June 1919; died Griffith 29 September 1972. Married Jessie Hetherington. Eleven children - Brian, Garry (died in infancy), Rhonda, Bruce, Penny, Dell, Ann, Gregory, Darrel, Paul and Kimberley.

Raymond Neil born Broken Hill 24 April 1922. Married Valerie Watson. Two children Suzanne and Kerrie. Ray and Valerie now live at Kogarah NSW.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Kay Mitchell (daughter of Olga Stevenson nee Summers), Griffith and Una Gronn (née Summers), Batemans Bay NSW. 831

TAYLOR James Jeffery Taylor arrived in Australia about 1857 from Port Glasgow. He was to marry Mary Anne McLinden who had arrived in Melbourne from Wicklow, Ireland, in 1855 on the "Frederick". The marriage took place at Chiltern, Vic in 1861. James and Mary had three children. Mary Elizabeth was born in 1862, David Peter was born in 1864 and Robert Hugh was born in 1866 but died the following year. James Jeffery died in July 1907 and Mary Anne died in July 1906. They are both buried at West Wyalong. Geoffrey Herbert Taylor, born in 1893 at Albury NSW, was the son of David Peter He arrived in Leeton from West Taylor. Wyalong in 1912 with his father and brother They were tank sinking David Henry. contractors and did some work round Leeton in that capacity. They opened the first store in Leeton later that year at Crushers Camp, which was situated down behind where the Hydro Hotel now stands and was Leeton's equivalent of Bagtown. In 1915 the business was sold to Sykes Geoff Taylor & Watson and Geoffrey's father and brother, David, went to the war. Geoffrey married a Leeton girl, Rubertha Dunn, in Sydney in 1915 and stayed on as bookkeeper at the shop in Leeton. When David Peter and David Henry arrived back from the war they, together with Geoffrey Herbert, came to Griffith in 1919 and opened the first store later that year in Banna Avenue. It was known as Taylor Bros Store. In 1921 Geoffrey left the shop to join his wife, Rube, in her drapery store which she had previously opened in 1919 with her brother. They traded under Rube's name next to where the Area Hotel now stands. They lived in the residence behind the shop. Geoffrey and Rubertha had four children. They were Aileen Violet, Geoffrey Herbert, John James and Marilyn Bernadette and they are all still living. Geoffrey Herbert was a very good athlete and would have competed in the Stawell Gift in Victoria had the war not broken out. He was also a well known bike rider and trotting driver. In 1940 Geoffrey and Rube sold out to Jim Gordon and moved to Sydney where they bought a mixed business at Clovelly and remained there until the business was sold in 1942. Geoffrey worked in a couple of different stores in Sydney until he retired in 1966. He died in August 1984. 832

Geoff & Rube Taylor & family standing outside the shop

Geoff Taylor - behind the counter of the drapery shop

833

Banna Avenue The shop of R M Taylor on the left and J G Gordon's Garage to the right.

James Jeffery Taylor married Mary Anne McLinden

•

David Peter Taylor married Violet Parsons ■ Geoffrey Herbert Taylor born Albury NSW 1893 died Sydney 1984

Henry Dunn married Anne Elizabeth Clear married

Rubertha May ("Rube") Dunn born 7 November 1890 died Sydney July 1968

Aileen Violet born Leeton 1 February 1916; married John Patrick ("Jack") Troy; six children - John Patrick (dec'd), twins - Brian Douglas and Sandra Therese, Margaret Mary, Terrence Michael and James Edward.

Geoffrey Herbert born Griffith 26 November 1923; married Betty Fitzgerald; four children Robyne, Geoffrey Wendy, and Debra.

John James David born Griffith 16 January 1928; married Lola Mc Anally; three children Jan Elizabeth, Gregory John and Stuart William.

Marilyn Bernadette horn Griffith 7 July 1932; married Richard Crouch; three children Adrian John, Gavin Matthew and Michael Damien.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Aileen Troy (nee Taylor), 2 Cudgerie Ave, Leeton 2705. 834

THEEUFF James Helmuth Theeuff (pronounced Fee-if) was born at "Glenforslan", which is the old "Murbko" station's homestead, situated on the Murray River between Blanche Town and Morgan in South Australia. Later on in his life he moved to Broken Hill and became a member of a party of twenty three fibrosis affected Broken Hill miners who came to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area in May 1922 to inspect farms at Yenda and Griffith. At this time he prepared an application for Farm 1582. James had previously been a miner and had contracted the lung disease, 'Miner's Phthisis', which he had for approximately eleven years before his death in Griffith District Hospital. Before bringing his family to the farm James and his friend, Henry Henderson, travelled from Broken Hill to Griffith in horse drawn wagons and brought some of their belongings with them. They settled on their respective farms and set about clearing the land and building rough shacks for their families. Interestingly, their families travelled from Broken Hill to join the menfolk by train via Adelaide and Melbourne, then to Junee and finally to Griffith. It was quite a large group of travellers. Sarah Jane Theeuff (née Edwards), always known as Fanny, and her five young daughters and Bertha Henderson and her seven children. Other families on this journey included the Pikes, Donovans and Thorpes.

The Theeuff Family L to R: Pearl, James Helmuth, Florence, Frances (sitting at the front), Sarah Jane, and Alice

835

Plantings on the newly cleared land were apricots, sultana grapes and oranges with prune trees planted around the boundary as a wind break instead of the usual almond trees. James and his family began to establish a new life for themselves on the farm. However, they had only been in Griffith for about eight years when James died as a result of the disease contracted whilst working in the mines, leaving Sarah and her family to fend for themselves. Sarah kept the farm going with hired labour and the help of her girls until around the time of World War II. She then sold the farm but remained on about a half an acre which was excised from the main farm and lived there until her death in the early 1960s. Four of their daughters remained in the Griffith district after their marriage and many of James and Sarah's descendants still live here.

James liehnuth Theeuff

married

born "Glenforslan" South Australia c.1883 died Griffith NSW 23 December 1930

Sarah Jane Edwards born Broken Hill NSW c. 1890 died Griffith NSW 23 October 1961

• 1.

Florence Martha Mae born Broken Hill 2 September 1911; died Griffith 27 January 1972; married William Bull (dec'd). Four children - Elaine, Mae, Bnice and Dawn.

Alice Mabel born Broken Hill c.1913; died Hay NSW 13 August 1943; married (1) Walter Cook; (2) Alan Wynne. One son, died in infancy on 1 August 1943 at Hay.

Pearl horn Broken Hill 9 January 1915; died Griffith August 1967; married Charles Kissell (dec'd). Seven children - James, Lorraine (dec'd), Robert, Barry, Peter, Ronald and Edward.

Frances ("Fannie") born Broken Hill 2 August 1918; died Griffith December 1981; married Clive Howe (dec'd). One daughter - June.

Gloria Elmira born Broken Hill NSW 26 May 1922; died Griffith 29 October 1978; married Harold Mardon. Four children - Violet, Edwin, Ross and Ruth.

Photograph and entry by courtesy of Miriam Dawn McPhillips (née Bull), 45 Langley Crescent, Griffith 2680.

836

TIIOMPS ON Audrey Tan (nee Thompson) relates - "My grandfather, Joseph Peebles Thompson, came to Australia about 1880 from northern Ireland (although his father, James Peebles Thompson lived in Liverpool, England according to a family bible). Joseph married Mary Ann Warren from 'Three Legs of Lamb Creek' farm near Berrima. They had three children my father, Charles Joseph (12 May 1893-10 August 1982), Freda and Clive Townsend. Clive was killed near Ypres, Belgium in 1917 where he is buried in Zonnelicelcse Weg War Cemetery Lot III Row F, Grave 25. My sister Winifred and I were, in 1990, the first relatives to have visited his grave which was a very moving experience. "My father, Charles Joseph was born at Parramatta NSW and educated at Sydney Grammar School and later attended Bathurst Experimental Farm to equip him for future life on the land. He became a jackeroo in the Brewarrina district until his father bought him a farm, "Carlowrie" three miles east of Binya NSW which he owned till 1949. "During his time he persevered through the difficulties of drought, countless grasshopper and mice plagues, poor wheat and wool prices and somehow managed to survive. Our wheat was filled into three bushel bags which had to be hand sewn and then carted on a lorry drawn by three draught horses to Binya rail siding. Here it was stacked by men known as 'lumpers' who were incredibly strong and agile as they carried each bag upon their shoulders to build the stack. "My mother, Winifred Heard was born in Pocklington, Yorkshire England on 23 May 1889 and died at Griffith on 11 June 1990. Her brother, Geoffrey, came out to Australia about 1912 and later his parents, Walter and Mary Louisa Heard, emigrated and bought a farm - "Elbury" - at Binya. "During World War I my mother supervised the household and staff of her grandparents, Alfred and Eliza Dunhill of Manor Farm, Market Weighton. About 1920 she came to Australia presumably for a two year holiday arriving at Binya by train swathed in veils for protection from the sun and dust and wearing a long skirt down to her ankles as was the fashion of the day. Hopefully it wasn't a heat wave! "She married Charles Thompson at St Anne's Church of England, Homebush, Sydney on 12 March 1924 and afterwards lived at "Carlowrie" until it was sold in 1949 and they moved to 102 Binya Street, Griffith. "Their firstborn, a son, Walter Townsend only survived three days. He died on 11 April 1925 and was buried in Barellan Cemetery with his grandfather, Walter Heard. Walter had died a short time previously (26 February 1925) when attending to a machine drawn by a team of horses which bolted and ran over him. "I was born on 4 February 1927 and then my sister Winifred ("Wendy") was born at Leeton Hospital on 5 September 1928. (She died recently on 11 February 1993). Winifred married Allan Smith, son of Pearl and Bert Smith, early Griffith settlers (See Series 2). "I married John N S Tan, son of George and Enid who were pioneers at Farm 129, Hanwood from 1912 and subsequently moved to "Marathon" farm Barellan and then back to "Brendon" Griffith in 1937 which we still own and run with our son, John. We have five children - Virginia, Geoffrey, Suzanne, John P and Michael, all of whom have children of their own. "My mother spent the latter days of her life living in Griffith Pioneers Lodge and celebrated her 100th birthday by way of a morning tea amongst her many friends and relatives, some of whom even travelled from as far as New Zealand to be present." 837

to R: Enid Tarr, George Tarr, Audrey Tarr (née Thompson), John N S Tarr, Win Thompson, Charlie Thompson

Win Thompson's 100th Birthday at "Brendon" Griffith 23 May 1989 Michael Tarr, Trevor O'Brien, John and Diane Fraser, John Heard, David Burnham, John P Tarr and Sally Tarr, Mary Allison, Geoffrey Tarr, John N S Tarr Middle - Elizabeth Matthews (friend), Diane Tarr (nee Amaro), Virginia Tarr, Marie Heard (née Slater), Sue Locker (nee Heard), Betty Heard, Mary Fraser (nee Heard), Winifred (Wendy) Smith (née Thompson), Katrina Smith-Gardner, Suzanne Fordham (nit Tarr), Audrey Tarr (nee Thompson) Vanessa O'Brien, Simon Gardner, Emily Fordham, Win Thompson (nee Heard - Mother,Aunt,Grand Front & Great Grandmother), Alicia J Gardner, Carly Fordham, Garth Tarr, Nigel O'Brien

Back -

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Audrey Tarr (ne;e Thompson), "Brendon", Griffith 2680 838

VARDANEGA Pompeo Vardanega (better known as "Bob") was born in Possagno, Italy on 28 March 1909, the son of Olivo Vardanega and Regina (nee Foggiato). His father conducted the local brickworks but Bob did not show much interest in following the family trade. He had limited schooling, attending the local school to the equivalent of 6th Grade. In 1925, at the early age of 16 years, he emigrated to France in search of employment and adventure. France in those days was considered the ,411 , best country closest to Italy for emigration, due to good employment prospects. In 1928, aged 18 years, he decided to take the then momentous decision to emigrate to Australia. On his arrival at Adelaide SA he was somewhat disillusioned with the city, believing that Lyon in France was better than this provincial town "so far west - out into the desert". His stay in Adelaide was short and he travelled to Sydney, again remaining only briefly, until he finally found his way to Griffith where he remained until his death on 23 July 1987 - 59 years later. In Griffith, following upon Bob's initial shock at having to sleep on a straw pallet, his activities became many and varied. He commenced work as a nurseryman with Weares Nursery, then conducted by Arthur Weare (Senior). He remained there for ten Bob Vardanega with his parents, years acquiring a solid foundation in the nursery trade, Olivo and Regina Vardanega, a trade with which he retained close links until his before leaving Italy death. Bob's one great early passion was his love of music. He settled at Yoogali where he eventually acquired a house in Lee Lane and, from humble beginnings, built the Yoogali Store. With two partners, Peter Pavese and Tony Dal Broi he started the first Italian Social Club known as the Coronation Club which was originally conducted at Yoogali. It is now located in new premises in Harward Road, West End, Griffith. Bob conceived the idea of building and conducting a hall for social gatherings at Yoogali and in 1937 his dream became a reality with the opening of the Coronation Hall, which for many years was the social hub for many Italian and Australian families. The hall was the venue for dances, weddings and social gatherings and here Bob's love of music came to the fore. With his ability to play the piano accordion, clarinet, guitar and mandolin, he was much in demand as a musician in his early days at Yoogali, often earning more for playing at functions than he earned at his regular employment. In 1939 Bob married Evelina Cappello, the daughter of Ferdinando Cappello and Anna (nee Toscan). Bob and "Lina's" marriage was a "grand affair" which lasted for three days. His unfailing good nature ensured that all patrons of the Coronation Club and all his friends were invited to the wedding. Three hundred guests attended and the wedding was reported in the newspaper. What was not reported was that the bride had to do much of the 839

cooking for the reception which, in those days, consisted of killing and plucking a multitude of chickens and, for good measure, had to do the cleaning up afterwards. It wasn't until Bob was in his sixties that the tables were ultimately turned when Lina had a full social life and Bob was left at home to attend to the household chores.

The Wedding of Bob and Lina Vardanega - 1939 L to R - Back: Angelo Salvestro, Giovanni De Valentin , Bob Vardanega, Lina (nee Cappello), Presede Cappello, Antonio Dal Broi, Front: Julia De Valentin (now Mrs Tony Co11a), Lydia Salvestrin (now Mrs Mario Baron), Bianca Salvestro (now Mrs John Rossetto) and Angelo Dal Broi

In 1943 Bob with two partners, his brother-in-law Roberto (Bob) Cappello and Luigi (Louie) Lazzarotto acquired a block of land at Yoogali and there commenced a nursery under the name of "Premier Nurseries". This ultimately grew into one of the largest nursery businesses in New South Wales - outside of the metropolitan area. In 1962, Amelio Colla, a long serving employee whom Bob regarded as another son, became a partner and today the nursery is still conducted by the Vardanega and Colla families. Bob moved to Griffith in 1958 and built a new house in Ortella Street. The previous year he had acquired a rice farm, "Rancho Grande" at Benerembah, which he owned for many years and which was managed and sharefarmed by a close family friend, Giovanni ("John") Rosato. Bob loved to travel and with his wife Lina went on many overseas trips, more often than not to Italy but also to Japan, America and other European countries. He had two brothers, one of whom, Primo, died in World War I and the other, Siro, passed away shortly after Bob's death. His sister, Adelina Ziliotto, aged 90 years, still lives in Griffith and his

840

other sister Corrina, was a nun who spent her life in an Italian Convent and passed away in 1990. Bob's epitaph bears the inscription "His Family was his Life" - he was a good and loving husband, father and friend. Bob and Lina had three children:1.

Silvana born Griffith 1940; married Bob Moore; two children - Sharonne Lee and Garry Robert. Silvana and Bob live at Griffith.

Roger born Griffith 1945; married Rosalin Phillips; four children - Michelle, Melissa, Justin and Melinda. Roger and Rosalin live at Griffith.

Louise born Griffith 1952; married Ross Reid; two children - Rebecca and Scott. Louise and Ross live at Canberra ACT.

Angelo Cunial and Bob Vardanega

River Picnic L to R: Unknown, Antonio Boito, Sereno Aliprandi, Nini Campaner, Bob Vardanega, Aldo Visentin, Sebastian Cunial, Antonio Cunial (known as Tony or "Crodo")

By courtesy of Roger Vardanega and Silvana Moore (nee Vardanega), Griffith Photographs by courtesy of Lina Vardanega (née Cappello), Griffith.

841

VILLATA/GUADAGNINI VILLATA: Luigi Villata was born at Casorzo, Asti, Northern Italy on 19 May 1900, the youngest child (believed to be a twin) of Francesco and Severina Villata. Francesco, a farmer, was also born at Casorzo and Severina (nee Acuto) was born at Grana Monferrato, Northern Italy. Early in the 1900s Luigi's two older brothers emigrated to America.

L.A-ct de ct 5 • e.,c_cc.444;1.4.-VIA:•••14

yRCrF r'

.40

447,

II p,.00,0, roo•operto 0 valid(' per as anno

11'

; ONNOTATI Failark m. •

IN NOME DI SUA MA ESTA.

Fronts.

VITTORIO EMANUELE III ••• eattlt

•4

Ocobi

It oro t 'WAFT/ "MM.& ••tifl•

Ease

tiO

RE D' ITALIA

Boons Oopelli

PASSAFPRTO

Borba

g?-/c.a.; 'ircryz'

rilasciato a

Baffl

Alio di e di

r',.rsto

at Is

* natio a 112-46",

12e;t1 „

tr.

.4'1"—i/91 Y

Prov. dl

•-/f•

/9- 13

Fits.,

1 titalare

Vista et Joe

Prov,di dge--11.4‘.'

residente a

i par

a della !utensil e dolls firma.

Stato.c1v11e. Profcssione

So leggere

Sa scrivere

4., Passeporto Ilaeciito

i'etzeci ."1 I cu.? /6; c_."

offs 1g

de): Piesaporto

ilea&

4 41.4.4 , _

Regietro oorrivendentp-

SP /47 I the

✓

4,4TA

Pas‘sportn.

del lila/iota

. 9 ‘i

4 1

•-

•

fa l'autentlatzione.

Luigi arrived in Brisbane on the SS "Ormonde" on 11 September 1922. He headed up to Ingham where he cut cane for a few years. Crops varied but the average Ingham farm yielded five to twenty-eight tons to the acre. Cane cutters were paid by the ton cut (8/- a ton) and they averaged four or five ton per day, depending on the crop. After a few years of careful saving Luigi and partner, Lino Castelaro, bought a cane farm two to three km out of Ingham towards Trebonne. They scrimped and saved and bought an old Ford tractor. 842

An old family friend, Eugenio (Jim) Olivero, tells (with great glee!!) how "the partners argued over who was to be the first to drive it. Lino won and jumped on the tractor and promptly drove it through one wall of the shed and out the other side!!" They owned this farm for six or seven years then sold up and moved to Griffith. Luigi came to Griffith with Luigi Scaliotti about 1934. Jim Olivero continues:- "In 1934 1 was leasing thirty acres from Billy McCann at West End growing vegetables, mainly peas and rock melons which were bagged and sent to the Sydney markets. Luigi (known as "Bigin" a nickname given to all Italians named Luigi) Villata worked for me for a while. Later, Bigin and I leased sixty-five acres (Farm 227 at Yoogali) from George Keith Pike the son of Judge Pike of Sydney. There were seventeen acres of oranges, four acres of table grapes and two acres each of apricots, apples and prunes. This fruit was all sold to the Producers. Four acres of carrots and tomatoes were also grown for the Sydney Markets. The farm was leased for five years but after a year Angelo Cunial joined the partnership and we three worked together for a year. Then Bigin and Mr Cunial had a disagreement and Bigin left. I applied to purchase the farm at the end of the lease but permission was refused as it was listed as a Returned Soldiers Settlement Farm. This farm was later owned by Bartholomews. "We shared a great life long friendship and many times I accompanied Bigin to Barellan, Narrandera and other greyhound race meetings around the district. I remember he bought a book from which he very carefully trained his 'champion' greyhound 'King'. He was going to become a millionaire and retire!! I don't remember if it ever won a race but we had a lot of fun!!" Jim adds "I remember Agnese, Luigi's wife, as a quiet, kind lady who was always smiling and happy."

Crespano Del Grappa, Province Treviso, Northern Italy

843

GUADAGNINI: Crespano Del Grappa, Province Treviso, Northern Italy was the home town of the Guadagnini family for many generations. Giovanni Guadagnini was born 9 August 1818 and married Maddalena Dei Rossi (born Crespano 2 July 1820) on 28 June 1840. Six children were born to this couple. Andrea Guadagnini, the first born son (born 25 July 1842), married Maria Sarnagiotto on 16 Agnese and Bortolo Guadagnini (on the left) with their February 1870. Their ten children family in Italy before emigrating to Australia were all born, lived their lives and died in Crespano. Sebastiano Guadagnini (born 4 March 1878), the sixth son of Andrea and Maria, married Angela Ziliotto at Crespano on 16 March 1902. There were nine children born to this couple. Agnese Guadagnini was the sixth child of Sebastiano and Angela (born 10 September 1911) and spent her early life at Crespano until she was twenty-five years old when she and her older brother, Bortolo (Bill), emigrated to Australia. They arrived on the ship "Esquilino". Customs stamped Agnese's passport at Fremantle on 26 June 1937 and she disembarked at Sydney a day later. An uncle and aunt, Giosue and Benedatta L to R: Mrs Maria Forcer, Agnese Villata, Ziliotto, farmers at Bilbul, Luigi Villata and Bill Guadagnini sponsored Agnese and Bill out to Australia. They lived with this family after their arrival in Griffith. Bill then worked for Mr Henry Allan Moseley, Farm 515 at Bilbul - a mixed fruit farm and Bill lived in a "baracha" (old shack) on the Moseley farm. Agnese was a tireless farm worker for her aunt and uncle. It was while living at Bilbul that Agnese first met Luigi Villata. He owned greyhounds and regularly, and more regularly, walked them past the Bilbul farm! 844

V I LLATA story continued: About this time Luigi Villata purchased his first vehicle, a second hand 1936 Willys 77 ute from Mr Ray Hanrahan, the auctioneer. Farm 832, Bilbul (3 '.4 acres opposite the school) was purchased by Luigi from Luigi Quarello on 21 October 1938 and this is where Luigi and Agnese lived after their marriage at St Therese's Church, Yenda on 7 October 1939. Father John Bryce officiated and attendants at the wedding were Bill Guadagnini and Mrs Maria Forcer. From 1940 to 1947 Luigi sharefarmed for John Joseph ("Jack") Kearey, a Bilbul Soldier Settler on Farm 564. This mixed farm produced apples, pears, prunes, plums, table and wine grapes and some vegetable crops. During the war many Italian men from Griffith were interned (some at the Hay P.O.W. camp) for many reasons:Ex Italian Military Personnel Luigi Villata Some whose Italian passports were stamped with a Fascist stamp Communist sympathisers After War was declared the Police guarded the roads around the Catholic Church and parishioners were expected to disperse promptly and not fraternise after Mass Identity cards were issued and if they were stopped and questioned by police and not in possession of the card they were "taken in" "Old scores" were settled and neighbours "dobbed in" neighbours and many were interned because they were Italian and could be a security risk. (Germany and Italy were after all at war with Australia.) Jack Kearey "spoke up" for Luigi and he was not interned, it is believed, as he was helping to grow fruit and vegetables for the troops. However he had to report to the Police Station each week. The process of applying for naturalization was a complicated and long winded exercise and many non-Australian subjects would have had great difficulty in coping with the "system". Dickson and Morgan from the Broadway Buildings, Kooyoo Street, Griffith, were the Solicitors who handled Luigi's applications for a Certificate of Naturalization. For a man who could speak little English at the time he would have been totally bedazzled by the "Red Tape". The solicitors forwarded to The Secretary, Department of the Interior, Canberra, ACT the following:(1) Application for Certificate of Naturalization (2) Statutory Declaration by Mr Villata duly completed (3) Certificate by two householders and a Justice of the Peace (4) Sydney Morning Herald and Area News advertisements (5) Cheque for £5-0-0. 845

FORM A.

'For OE. U.. 0•17

Fee paid Papers in order Prepare E. Ccl. Mts. Approved Est. Cel. Oath Sent No. of Cart Date of Cert. Cert. Posted Card Written, &c

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Nationality Act 1920-1936.

Application for Certificate of Naturalization. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. Christian Names.

Kegs.

Name m lll.

of,

1 French. Ulan. or ea the cue

oft

m•Y a

Example—JONES )

fre 3...1

ag, '& ene

?erfil, 13,2

Surname.

V/ LLA rvi

(Write $n block Went end underlinetSr,...,. 2. Address and

'C)

LV/

nationality, hereby apply for a Certificate

Act 1920-1936, and in support thereof.subgsj

of Naturalization under the Nationality

a Statutory Declaration setting out particulars regarding myself. 2. I desire that the names of such of my children mentioned in the Stittutory Declaration herewith as are under the age of 21 years and are residing in Australia with I.

no children. Of the. clastred, please unite out.

me shall be included in my Certificate of Naturalization.' 3. I forward under separate cover copies of the following newspapers :— Area News dated 7th, June,1940. Sydney Morning Herald dated 7th,june,1940 in which are marked copies of the advertisement inserted by me. 4. 1 also forward certificates from the following :—'

5 Not.. .3 three natural-born Bram/. tub's.. t.,,,,,,, whom ere lunneholdere. and one of whom a . bat.. of the Peace. POIIZOONtf. Teacher of • Stew School or Police OAcer.

(a)

.‘. .„2. r5...0 dew ,‘ .p.e

,, ) tIO

„-- / „... t.'" a-4 driet ' trat ass-I

of /9,........t.a. ,4- .1e-0,-.4t4. of /i4a--rii-.-.0.

8 ..--4X/ 4.'

a-4-e--.-4-, "...:‘/ , 3-41e'

and (c) ...41:-. /0:-..4-e4-/0-ft, PAta,0"..c‘7 /5-a+-44-

two of whom are householders

certifying to my character, and that I have an adequate knowledge of the English language. 6.2rtn, lrc.n y &rat . ure

(Also to be signed below where marked X.) thee`

Dated at . COLL

PAID TO

cAiorhe tees Jo •

P.2CEIPTS ACCOUNT

?a..... ..— I

44.

MOO

CA:A-11ER

846

$.4 ov

•

19 4/i2

X Specimen Signature.

2. HOUSEHOLDER'S CERTIFICATES (A) AND (B).

(A.)

Referred to In Paragraph 3 of

ed Application.

I. Full usow• mid a natural-born British subject and a householder residing at / ..e " ...1.0" c5-444.4a. in the State of . if/.

1 ,4".., A.m.. certify that2./

r -Z / ec-4. in the CornmonWealth of Australia

Z ' &e,.frat,a &ate of Naturalization under the Nationality Act 1920-1936. whose personal

an applicant fora

description appears in the attached Statutory Declaration. has been known to me for 6t77 01.-40, .years is • person of good repute, and has an adequate knowledge of the English language.

(Signature) 7

(B.) I. rue mow said

eetz....... sIdc.oq I: r'et,,,„..40. / Wates

e/fes4

in the State of...

certify thaa.- ::"VIU.

holder residing at ... 'S.:

a natural-born British subject and • h

L Num el Amass.

in the Commonwealth of Australta,

111 LAA. (4,4.€.:

' to of Naturalization under the Nationality Act 1920-1936. whose personal

an applicant fora

description appears in the attached Statutory Declaration. his been known to me for414.0w is • person of good repute. and has an adequate knowledge of the English language.

Lo-tAw

k\retil.

CERTIFICATE (C.) (This Certificate can only be given by • Justice of the Peace, Postmaeter, Teacher of State School, or Officer of Police.) , I

71 ,

4r,

a= 161 4',4-4

::4--4•€/i/A/ /11 A

residing at in the State

—AAP- /Vs's-

7;4 /4.4.- -2,

in the Commonwealth of Australia. being

a natural-born British subject, certify that)

an appliunt for a Certificate of Naturalization under the Nationality Act 1920-1936, whose personal description appears in the attached Statutory Declaration, ii known to me. is a person of good repute. and has an adequate knowledge of the English language.

(Signature) L

847

s_ '

/.rideeo'r rg-s`s,

Joinisrov, Common...Rini Goverestat Priam Ca•bom.

♦e

A (1) No.

13122

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION.

Luiz/. ..VILLATA

WHEREAS

has applied for a Certificate

himself a the particulars set out on the back of Naturalization, alleging with respect to hereof, and has satisfied me that hhas fulfilled the conditions laid down in the

Nationality Act 1920-1936 for the grant of a Certificate of Naturalization :

AND WHEREAS the said

V.I.LLATA

has

foi ,

and

has sworn allegiance to His Majesty King George VI., his heirs and successors

NOW THEREFORE I, the Minister of State for Immigration, hereby grant, in pursuance of the said Nationality Act and the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Acts, 1914 and 1918 of the United Kingdom, to the said Luigi. V I Lid=

this Certificate of Naturalization whereby, subject to

the provisions of the above-mentioned Acts, and of any other law affecting the rights of naturalized persons, the said

Luigi V.ILLATA

becomes entitled to all political and other rights, powers and privileges, and becomes subject to all obligations, duties and liabilities to which a natural-born British subject is entitled or subject and, as from the date of these presents, has to all intents and purposes the status of a natural-born British subject.

DATED this

nineteenth

One thousand nine hundred end

day of

November

fort—five.

t.-- ; Minister of State for hnmigration.

1303.

By authority: 1.. a. Ammon. Commonwenitb Government reinter, Cool:men,

848

The first application in 1939 was refused. The reason given by the Department of the Interior was - "it was then the practice to refuse applications by enemy aliens". Many letters went back and forth from the Solicitors to Canberra and in August 1944 The Secretary for the Department of the Interior wrote to Dickson and Morgan to say:"If you will arrange for your client to renew his application on the enclosed forms the matter will receive consideration." Advertisements were once again placed in the Sydney Morning THE AREA NEWS, TUESDAY, AUG. 29, 1944 Herald and The Area News. All documentation had to be re-done and rttriG?VILLATA, of Italian nation this time John Kearey, Leonard Harris i*114 11:-.borz :Casonzoi Province 'of •Aztl and Justice of the Peace, Frederick Italy,:..and• resident tventztrtwo (22) Moon supported Luigi's, this time OrgArs, : AuetralIa; ':nciar: 'residing • at He was successful, application. iFerip 564, :Bilbui, near drifilth.. (.•• • naturalized on 19 September 1945. a. er)gationalitIJN Ant. '422174#36t401-0 At Griffith Court House on 27 September 1945 before Keith William Smith (Clerk of Petty Sessions) Luigi THE SYDNEY HORNING HERALD, renounced his Italian Nationality and SATURDAY, AUG 26 1944 Allegiance to the Kingdom of Italy and vn.tArt.. et Itallaniati7naliTyl swore an Oath Of Allegiance to His ears% Cuomo. rrovuutip et• £$L. Italy. and -resident treaty-two (22) years tn. Australia. Majesty, King George VI. Agnese new- reading at . Term 384. 1311bui. near Ontatn. intend to apply for naturalleatieti under the Nationality Act. 1130-1836. was naturalized on 3 January 1946. Their first son, Frank, was born at St Lukes Private Hospital on 25 August 1940 and then Louis arrived on 30 January 1947. Both boys were born while the family lived on the Bilbul farm and Agnese was kept very busy bringing up the boys and helping with growing and packing the vegetables crops (mainly tomatoes, carrots and parsnips). In October 1949 Farm 1588, Lake Wyangan was purchased from Saverio Mittiga for £1,500 plus a mortgage debt of £400. This was a mixed farm of pullar peaches, grapes, lemons, oranges, apricots and almonds. Frank remembers:that the house and shed were on the lower slopes of the farm and in March/April 1950 there were heavy rains and the drainage channel couldn't cope with the overflow. the water was eighteen inches deep around the house and shed and the house was flooded with muddy water. his mother crying and sobbing and running around trying to collect the bags of almonds that were floating away. the hardships on this Lake Wyangan farm were awful - salt was a major problem and income was very low. rabbits were a big part of the family's staple diet. He and schoolmates trapped them at Nericon. Mr Rowe, a heavy smoker with nicotine stained fingers, was his teacher at Lake Wyangan School. helping his parents pit and dry apricots and many other farm chores!!

849

The Villata family moved back to Bilbul in 1952 and on 18 August that year Francesco Catanzariti purchased the Lake Wyangan farm for £3,000. Frank and Louis attended Bilbul School (Frank for one year only until he went on to St Brendan's Marist Brothers School). On 26 June 1955 Luigi and Agnese, as joint tenants, bought twenty acres at Beelbangera from Cecil Goodfellow (Farm 1654 on the Rankin springs Road). Sixteen acres were planted to oranges, peaches, quinces and apricots. The remaining four acres were planted with vegetable crops (carrots, onions, gherkins and tomatoes). An additional twenty-nine and a half acres were purchased in 1961. In 1970 Luigi and Agnese purchased 159 Wakaden street and "retired to live in town". It was not quite a year later (7 August 1971) that Luigi died and the farms were sold to the boys in November that year. Agnese lived in her Wakaden Street residence until her death on 9 March 1985. The "shed" block further down the Rankins Springs Road (Farm 468) was purchased from Angelo Provera on 24 April 1979. Frank and Louis continue to farm these three blocks of land, now planted to citrus only. They also grow Agnese Villata trees and nursery stock in conjunction with Ian Weare of Weare's Nursery on the Rankins Springs Road at Myall Park. Footnote: Bill Guadagnini remained a bachelor all his life. He worked on various farms around Griffith until 1952 when he moved to Cootamundra and bought a fruit shop (Cootamundra Fruit Shop, 196 Parker Street). He also owned a market garden at Bethungra. Dennis Piva was in partnership with Bill for a few years and remembers "Bill's great friends in `Coots' were Con Pappas (California Cafe) and Nick Theodore (Popular Cafe). Bill (the bachelor!) ate all his meals at these cafes. Two of his great loves in life were watching rugby league football and, every night when he closed the shop he walked down to the station, to watch the big steam trains pass through". After Dennis returned to Griffith the shop was renamed "Bill's Fruit Market". Bill's association with Griffith continued as he bought a lot of his fruit and vegetables from the Griffith farmers. The shop was sold Bill Guadagnini in his in 1972 and Bill then returned to Griffith to live with fruit shop at Cootamundra Agnese at Wakaden Street. He was a real character and had a great love of children. For the last few years of his life he lived six months in Italy and six months in Griffith. It was his proud boast that he didn't see a winter for about ten years!! Bill died on 16 August 1984 and is buried at Crespano, Italy.

850

Francesco Villata married Severina Acuto

Sebastiano Guadagnini married Angela Ziliotto married Yenda NSW 7 October 1939

Luigi Villata born Casorzo, Asti Province, Italy 19 April 1900 died Griffith NSW 7 August 1971

•

Agnese Guadagnini born Crespano Treviso Province, Italy 10 September 1911 died Griffith NSW 9 March 1985

• I.

Frank born Griffith 25 August 1940. Married (1) Ornella Maria Vardanega (dec'd 1985). Three children - David, Sandra and Brian. Married (2) Lynnette Lappan (widow with two sons - Steve Mason and Brett Lappan).

Louis born Griffith 30 January 1947. Married (1) Christine Preist. Two sons - Paul and Justin. Married (2) Toni Reddacliff. Four children - Glen, Jamie, Timothy and Kate.

SKETCH SHOWING THE PROVINCES OF ASTI AND TREVISO, NORTHERN ITALY

ficelinool Qsli

0 Vend,' Report

Region

Ire t so rrott i me

.Pro to nee

Researched and compiled by Mrs Lynne Villata, Farm 1654, Beelbangera 2680. Photographs by courtesy of the Villata Family.

851

WATSON As recalled by the late Mona Duchatel (nee Watson) "In 1921 the New South Wales Government in conjunction with the Broken Hill Mining Companies, made available a number of small blocks of orchard land (if I remember correctly 27) for those miners whose lungs had been affected (by what is now known as fibrosis) because of their occupation. "My father William Watson was one of them. These blocks were balloted for by these men. dew "My father travelled to Griffith r by train, which entailed a long journey Broken Hill, Adelaide, Melbourne then via Tocumwal, Narrandera to Griffith. "The Block he had drawn consisted of 10 acres. It was on the corner of Murrumbidgee Avenue and what is now known as Watson's Road. "While here to inspect the blocks, he learned that he would need draught horses and a lorry. He knew also that he would be able to acquire both in Broken Hill so decided to return by train and set about bringing my mother, myself - their only child - and as many of our special belongings as could be carried on a fourwheeled lorry to Griffith. "At that time my father was 50 years old, my mother 39 and I was 17 years old. "Father had been a coach driver for Cobb & Co before he turned to mining so he had no hesitation in attempting the journey through bush land from Broken Hill to Griffith with horses and our belongings. "In those days, horses were used Maud and Bill Watson in the mines underground, pulling the ore trucks to the conveyor belts that brought the ore to the surface. After a number of years the mine horses were brought up and were sold. Father bought two horses and a lorry. "My mother was reluctant to trust my piano to the Railways, so along with cases of crockery, ornaments, etc, etc, trunks and cases, 44 gallon drums of chaff, bran and oats also water, bedding, a wicker chair in which my mother sat and a cushion for me, we drove away from Broken Hill on the 27th August 1922. "We arrived in Griffith on the very spot the Regional Theatre now stands on the 2nd October. Thirty- five days and nights travelling at the rate of no more than 12 to 15 miles 852

a day via Menindie and Ivanhoe. We came to the railway clearing which was to become the Trida to Hillston line. We followed this and came at last to Griffith. Living off the land, we ate wild duck, rabbits, galah, fish at Menindee, on the Darling River and Hillston on the Lachlan River. There was no bridge at Menindie at that time, just a punt, so we had to haul ourselves over using a cable. "Just before we reached Ivanhoe we came upon some quandong trees with beautiful ripe fruit on them. Mother made a quandong pie. The fruit was as big as apricots. "We went to Farm 1005, it was just a vacant block without even a fence. Nearby were the Hendersons, Summers and Theeuff and on Watson Road, adjoining my father's block, were the Mills and also the Crockers. We stayed with the Summers family. I sat on the wood heap and balled my eyes out for three weeks! I missed Broken Hill, which had at that time a population of 156,000. Griffith had nothing! There would not • have been ten buildings looking down Banna Avenue on the right hand side looking east. "My mother, who was a qualified midwife, had trained at Adelaide. Shortly after we arrived my father built our house - Queensland style, up on poles. It had three bedrooms, a big closed-in L-shaped verandah and a big lounge room. My mother delivered or helped to deliver Sister Maud Watson many babies in early Griffith. At this time she would stay with the new mother for some time after a child was born - then the new mothers stayed in bed for fourteen days after the birth. Mum travelled around in a horse and sulky. She wore a veil and white uniform with a starched apron. Later, at Dr Watkins' suggestion, our house was used as a maternity hospital and it was here that my first born, a daughter, was delivered by Dr Watkins and my mother on 29 July 1924. My parents retired to Toowoomba in Queensland where my father died in 1935 and my mother in 1955. 853

licgustratiun N.

5fS8/7

( Fot, 8.) .

• •

NEw Souru: WALLS. • • NURSES' REGISTRATION ACT, 1024

arse_

0.1ertifirateof gegistration as. a

•

•.:;

.•

THIS IS TO:CERTIFY. that

of u_it Irv/ has been -, registered .as a m 11 n w I rE e Y_nurse in the State of provisions of -.the:" Nurses' New South; .. Wa . les under the.... • •,•;• Registration'Act, 4924." Dated at Sydney Ibis

! • '

Fourth

Ilenry William Watson of Brighton England married Emily Deardon died Toowoomba Qld William Watson Born Warwick, Qld 20 Sept 1872 Died Toowoomba Qld 1935

day

John Grace married Mary Tannock died Toowoomba Qld married •

•

Maud Margaret Grace Born White Swamp NSW 1882 Died Toowoomba Qld 1955

Mona born Killarney, Queensland 20 December 1905 (midwife was her grandmother, Mary Grace née Tannock). Married John Duchatel at Griffith in March 1923. Mona died in 1993. They had four children Cecilie born 29 July 1924 John born 31 May 1926 Phillip born 31 May 1930 William born 9 August 1934.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of the late Mona Duchatel (nee Watson), Griffith.

854

WATTS Alexander Bathurst Watts (known as Alex) was born at Bathurst NSW on 25 January 1893 to Alexander Watts and Susan (nee Wells) of Kelso near Bathurst. Alexander and Susan's grandson, Jim Watts, relate their story. "Both Alex's parents were born in Australia but I do not know in what area. Alexander senior was a tailor by trade but I do not know what Susan's calling was before marriage. As far as I know my father Alex had three brothers and two sisters. One of the brothers, Jack, took up a holding just out from Yenda for a time - Farm 1321. "Alexander senior passed away in the early 1930s. Susan Watts passed away when Alex was quite a young man. "My father, Alex Watts, was employed as a salesman, most likely in the drapery business before enlisting in the AIF on 3 September 1915 at the age of 24. He became Private No 1850, 13th Battalion, 4th Division. He served four years and twenty days in the AIF of which Alexander Bathurst Watts three years and two hundred and three days were abroad, most of this time in France and Belgium. "Discharged from the army, my father came to Myall Park near Yenda in 1920. He made application for Farm 1597, of 145 acres, which was granted to him on 13 June 1922. Among his early neighbours were Russel Drummond of Farm 1598 and Frank Lemmon of Farm 1596. Russel Drummond surrendered his farm in 1929. Frank Lemmon's was surrendered prior to the end of 1929. It was added to our farm, thus increasing the acreage to 307 acres. A non-irrigated area of 317 acres was taken up by Alex Watts about 1931, increasing Farm 1597 to 624 acres. "On 4 June 1927 Alex married Ella Vera Nunn (always known as Vera) at All Souls Church, Leichardt, Sydney. Vera was one of a family of six - four girls and two boys. Her parents, Frederick and Martha Jane Nunn (nee Scovell) arrived in Australia from Plymouth England, on 5 July 1885 with four children (two boys and two girls) aboard the S.S. `Chimborazo'. "Fred Nunn was a joiner by trade and later became a builder in Sydney and was involved in the building of several public schools around Sydney." Jim continues - "I was born, on the farm, on 20 May 1928 and baptised Alexander Frederick Scovell Watts but grandmother Nunn gave me the nickname "Jim" after a child she had lost years before. I have been known as Jim ever since. "My brother, Charles Beresford Scovell Watts, was born 23 June 1935 at the Griffith Hospital. "My early memories of farm life are of sheep, pet lambs, turkeys, fowls and baby chickens. We also had a few guinea-fowl. Later we had some white Muscovy ducks. We also kept pigs, so, roast suckling pig was on the menu at times.

855

A MESSAGE TO - YOU • FROM THE KING.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE OVERSEA FORCES :—

It is with a heart full of pride and gratitude that I take your salute to-day as you march in triumph through London. The Peoples of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, by their instant readiness to share in the trials and responsibilities of the great War, have shown to the World the unity of the British Empire. You, with your comrades from the Mother Country, vied with one another in noble deeds, which will ever be held in proud remembrance. Readily you adapted yourselves to the changing conditions of a new and formidable kind of warfare, and endured physical hardships and exacting mental strain. Whether on the plains of Flanders, or the heights of CAllipoli, in France, in Palestine, or other theatres of war, you displayed gallant endurance in defence and vigorous initiative in attack_ We and future generations will never forget the part played by the Canadians in the second Battle of Ypres, and on the Vimy Ridge, by the Australians and New Zealanders at Gallipoli and in the advance in France in the spring of 1917, by the Troops of all three Dominions in the breaking of the Hindenburg line last year, by the South African Brigade in Delville Wood, and by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Monchy le Preux. Now, in the day of victory, I wish to express to you, who represent the Oversea Forces, my unbounded admiration for splendid feats of arms and for sacrifices made.

I wish you all God-speed on your homeward journey, with a hope that the outcome of this world struggle may assure Peace to your children and your children's children.

aray 3rd, /9/9.

This letter was received by A B Watts as did all other Australian men who served.

856

"Our father Alex very often made and smoked his own bacon and hams. To carry out the smoking process the hams and bacon were hung in a square smoke stack made of corrugated iron. The smoke stack would have been about ten feet high, with an opening at the base for setting the fire for smoke and updraught. Once the fire was going well it would have been damped down, perhaps with damp straw or sawdust, to create the smoke. The bacon and hams were hung close to the top. "The house was fenced off so it was possible to have a garden if the stock and fowls could be kept out. However it was not unusual for a 'nosy' fat lamb to fmd its way into the garden. This intrusion sometimes ended in a one way trip onto the dinner table! We also had our share of chicken and turkey. "Our father was also capable of making a very good drop of 'Home Brew Hop Beer' and although the alcohol content was not very high the desire of the bottle's content to escape was. Therefore, caution was needed when opening the bottle otherwise you would get a bath of froth and bubbles. "Keeping things cool in the early days was not easy but we had an ice chest and the ice was delivered perhaps once or twice a week. We had a cellar dug under the house and that helped to keep things a bit cooler and was in fact a great place in the middle of summer. Later, in the 1920s, we got an Electrolux kerosene refrigerator and this made life a lot better. "Our mother, Vera, had a `Vacola' preserving unit and with this she preserved various fruits in season and also some cuts of meat. I remember her also preserving lambs tongues in this way. The tongues were purchased from the butcher. Some Vera and Alex Watts vegetables were also preserved in this way. with son Jim "We had several cows so there was always plenty of fresh milk and cream; butter was made too. When a pig was killed for bacon and ham there was, apart from other cuts of pork, a pig's head and pig's face. From this can be made a very fine brawn. After the head is cooked by boiling, the meat has to be removed from the bones - a rather tedious, messy and sticky job. After helping out on this job for the first time, brawn was not one of my favourite dishes for quite some time! "Our mother was very musical and as a young woman, before marriage, was involved with ballet dancing, singing and the piano. She was able to put these talents to some use while on the farm. I remember several young people coming out to learn singing and there were dancing lessons as well. "I was put to learning the piano and was given lessons by the good Sisters at St Therese's Convent in Yenda. However, I was not to become a musician. I think this was 857

a disappointment for my parents but my brother, Charles, took my place in that field by showing very early signs of interest in the violin so he made music his life. After finishing schooling he took up a career in music, specialising in the violin. He studied in England and Switzerland. On his return to Australia he married Pauline Sweeney of Hobart and took up a position teaching violin at the Newcastle (NSW) Conservatorium of Music and held that position for a number of years. They had four children - Catherine, Stephen, Michael and Margaret. Catherine carried on the family tradition by marrying a dairy farmer from the Newcastle area. "The house on the farm was originally a building of two rooms, each about sixteen feet long and twelve feet wide, with a door between them. One had an open brick fireplace and this was the lounge and/or dining room. The other room was the bedroom. The windows of these rooms opened out onto the verandahs, one each side of the two rooms. The house sat in a north/south direction and the kitchen was on the south end of the eastern verandah, facing the Cocoparra range. The kitchen had a wood fuel stove and a door opened into a pantry built onto the house at the fireplace end of the lounge room. The pantry door was next to the stove. A bathroom was at the other end of this verandah. "There was a sleepout on the other verandah next to the lounge room and also the lounge room had a door opening onto each verandah. Another house of the same design and dimensions was later added to the original house and set in the same direction, bringing the two verandahs together. I think that the second house came from Lemmon's block. That Charles Watts would have been in the early 1930s, after I was born. "Our grandfather, Fred Nunn, being a builder, had the roofs of the verandahs hipped up to form one roof and built the verandah floors into one. The ends were then closed in with sliding windows and glass-panelled doors. This formed a large room close to thirty-two feet long and eighteen feet wide, making it a good party and dance area. "Prior to the additions things were a little different. There was no laundry and the washing had to be boiled in a copper out in the yard. Hot water for a bath had to be heated in the copper or on the kitchen stove. Fresh drinking water was collected from the house roof and stored in a tank of about a thousand gallons. Another tank was installed later and there was a tank water tap into the kitchen. There was no kitchen sink so all washing up had to be done out of a large tin dish, the garden getting the suds, or more correctly the cold, greasy water. "Not far from the house there was a dam. It was about 80 feet from the kitchen. A windmill was installed later, after the second house was added. With the windmill came an elevated tank and plumbing to the bathroom and the garden, but not to the kitchen. Life was not meant to be that easy. In fact the water from the dam was not suitable for the kitchen. "Lighting for the house at night was by kerosene lamps as there was no electricity to the house and the cost of installing power, when it was put along Myall Park road was too high.

858

"Our 'House of Profound Thought' wherein was the seat of 'Forward Planning and Great Decisions!' - (ours had two seats; a special, small one for me) - and was, as they all were and, in some cases, still are, some little distance from the kitchen door. Ours had lovely water views of the dam and scenic views of the Cocoparra Range. But why it had to be installed outside the boundary fence of the house is beyond View from the "House of Profound Thought" belief!! As I grew older it was expected that I should go forth, alone, when the call of urgency came. There was a Bunyip in that dam. A nasty big one. I never saw it but I know it was there! So, the hurricane lamp was of great comfort on dark and sometimes stormy nights, when a slow and cautious trip out was called for. Bunyips become very restless on such nights, so it was a very short call and a very fast trip back and through the kitchen door to safety!! "That house had a 'LADIES' sign on it. A white enamel plate with black lettering. I've often wondered whose sense of humour saw to that. It was still in place until a few years ago. "I am not sure when rice was first grown by Alex Watts. Our mother, Vera, took a lot of photographs of the farm and one of these shows a rice crop being harvested, the header being hauled by a bullock team of at least twenty-two beasts. I am standing in the foreground and was about three years old so that makes it the 1930/31 crop. "Another reason for this belief is that, when only about two and half years old, I went missing and was later found by my mother on the Myall Park road - on my way to Yenda. I think I may have been called some rather unkind names as we came home but I was able to point out that the `Wice is Geen'. The rice would have been ready for harvest about the time of my third birthday. I was never allowed to forget that little incident. "Before rice could be harvested in those days the rice bags had to be branded and then hung out on the fences to soften up for filling and stitching. Another job to be carried out before harvest was the cutting of a break, about nine feet wide, from the check bank into the rice around each bay. This was to allow for the width of the header and the bullock or horse team as the comb that did the stripping was out on the right-hand side of the header. The cutting of the break was done by hand with a sickle and the rice Jim and Charles - late 1930s then stacked at intervals on the check banks for thrashing at a later date. 859

"On the left-hand side of the header was a platform on which the bags were filled from a seed box. As the bags became full they were set aside on the platform to be offloaded at several positions around the bay. There was a lot of weight in the bags and this also caused problems for the header because of the rice having been grown in water for about six months. Although the bays had been well drained prior to harvest and the ground felt good and firm it was not always the case. The headers were heavy machines all made of steel, sheet metal and timber. The bullock teams were of at least twenty-two or perhaps more animals. All these hoofs going ahead of a heavy machine on such ground meant trouble was bound to come and come it did. Harvesting a rice crop is a lot different today but the mud is still there. "Great care had to be taken when sewing the bags of rice. The 'ear' of the bag had to be 21/2 inches long and, as I was instructed, 22 stiches and only 22 stitches, had to be sewn between the ears. The bags also had to be clean and dry and well filled, otherwise they were sent back to the grower! "Charles and I, however, were never to become farmers. About 1944 our parents purchased a house at Newport, north of Sydney, and the family moved there. For a number of years our father had suffered severe ill health caused by a stomach ulcer which nearly took his life on several occasions and ultimately prevented Jim and Charles his farming the property himself. Our father was very fortunate when he entered into a share-farming agreement with Mr Harry Sim and family in 1945. This agreement was to prove a blessing for our family over the years. It was to last for just over forty years being carried on by Keith Sim when Harry passed on. "After finishing school I joined the Australian Merchant Marine in 1945, one of the best things I ever did, and spent about eleven years in the service. I married Norma Reeve of Sydney and took up a life ashore after leaving the service. "Alexander Bathurst Watts died on 18 May 1985, in Sydney, at the age of 92 years. "Our mother, Ella Vera Watts, died at Newcastle on 25 December 1985 at the age of 89 years."

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Jim Watts, 32 Smalls Road, Ryde 2112.

860

WELLS Edith McGuire (née Wells) was eight years old when her parents came to Griffith from Hillston in August 1919. They travelled by train to Willbriggie and then by Micky Cush's coach. The first night was spent in Mirrool House. Their home was in the Railway Construction Workers Camp which was situated in the area between the Catholic church and the Jondaryan Club - as we know them today. When land was thrown open in Merrigal Street, facing the showground, this was where William and Catherine Wells made a permanent home and there brought up their family of nine children. Edith says there were various camps in the area. An Aboriginal lady ran a boarding house in the Railway Camp and one night it was burnt down. The people from Dillon's Camp were blamed. People from one camp visited the other camps - mainly to obtain liquor. Two men ran "a sly grog" behind the Railway Camp. Edith said she and her brothers and sisters walked to and from Merrigal Street to the Catholic School on the hill and never thought anything of it. She remembers one day, when a terrific storm came up, the Sister in charge got them all to stand on the verandah of the school and hang onto the straps of the blinds so that the roof wouldn't blow off. They succeeded as the roof of the school remained fast, despite the fact that the storm blew down the Lyceum Theatre and one wing of the partially built Penfolds Winery. Edith went on to say that the first school she attended after arriving was held in the Lyceum theatre. Later Griffith Primary was built and later still when Father O'Dea built the Catholic school, they were sent there. She remembers having Sisters Dominic, Clare, Claude and Benedict teaching her. Other students she recalls were the Pages, Savages, Buttons, Morrisons and Mitchells. On the Feast Day of each of the Nuns the students used to give them a party and a gift. One day Fr O'Dea paid a visit to the school and said he wanted the students to write him a composition on the "Sacred Heart of Jesus" and he would give a prize for the best entry. The prize was a picture of the "Sacred Heart". Edith said she wasn't much good at composition. This her best friend was quick to tell her - by saying "No need for you to enter as you can't do compositions". So, Edith said, she went home and wrote compositions on the "Sacred Heart" on every piece of paper she could find. Her mother asked her about this and when she found out the reason she told her to pick the one she thought best and enter it, but not to expect too much. Edith did this and the day arrived when Father came to announce the winner. Edith said she sat there thinking, "I won't win", "I can't win", Why did I enter" and then she heard Father asking if she was asleep. She answered and said "No", she wasn't! Father told her he had just said she was the winner and to come out front and receive her prize. Edith says she still can't believe she won! Three generations of Edith's family have gone to St Patrick's School and there is a possibility of a fourth, if the parents remain in Griffith. Edith married Walter John McGuire and they had five children:Alva born 8 July 1930 who married Paul Cudmore Raymond John born 25 June 1931 who married Emily Johnstone Neil Thomas born 11 December 1938 not married Noel William born 19 January 1941 - not married Rosemary Ann born 30 March 1942 who married Douglas Hill Edith has thirteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. 861

Thomas Cook born Suffolk England c. 1815 married 11 February 1852 Independent Chapel, Redfern Rose McMahon born Glasgow Scotland c. 1835 Thomas William Cook born 17 March 1858 (baptised 18 July 1858 at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney) married 6 October 1880 Sydney Catherine Carolan born Sydney 6 August 1859 (daughter of James Carolan and Winifred (née Hogan) who were married at St Mary's Sydney 1854)

• William Joseph Wells born 7 January 1885 died July 1966 buried Griffith

Catherine Winifred Cook born 21 April 1883 died 16 May 1957 buried Griffith

married • •

William Thomas Wells born 24 November 1906; married Merle Woodbridge; died 29 December 1985 (buried Griffith).

George Cecil Wells born 6 February 1909; missing in action WWII.

Edith Catherine Wells born 26 April 1911; married Walter J McGuire (born Sydney); five children; lives at Griffith.

Rose Winifred Wells born 1913; died 1939; married John McKenzie.

Margaret Rose born 1915; died at the age of 3 years.

Kenneth Frederick ("Paddy") Wells born Griffith 1920; died 1946; buried Griffith Cemetery.

Daphne Wells born Griffith 1924; married Ron Gorey; lives at Moulamein.

Reginald Wells born Griffith 1927; died 1989, buried Griffith; married Daphne Turner.

Keith Wells born Griffith 17 July 1929; lives at Cootamundra NSW.

By courtesy Edith McGuire (née Wells), Macarthur Street, Griffith. 2680.

862

WOOD Edgar Allan "Jack" Wood was born at Sebastian near Bendigo in Victoria on 22 January 1888. He was the son of John William Wood, a miner, and Catherine (née Daly). His grandparents, John, a farmer from Eaglesfield, Cumberland, and his wife, Mary, arrived in Australia in 1852 and settled in the Moe district in Victoria. Jack learnt the hairdressing trade on leaving school and worked around various parts of Victoria, particularly around the Kyabram and Bendigo areas. He met Dorothy Ruth Parry in Seymour and they were married on 30 September 1914 at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church at South Yarra in Melbourne. They came to New South Wales soon after where Jack worked at his trade at Lockhart and Narrandera before coming to Griffith in 1920. Their first place of residence was with the Boyle's at Hanwood who Jack Wood were the parents of Pat, Leo and May (now Fallon), Courtesy Terry Wood well known identities in the district. Jack worked for Les Chettle who had a hut-like barber shop at the old Bagtown, at the time when the main canal and railway were being constructed. When the Hotel Griffith was built around 1926 Jack obtained a shop in the building and began his own business. In 1936 he moved to premises in the newly built Area Hotel and later bought the business of Len Harris where he remained until he retired. Jack and Dorothy had nine children, the first of whom, Kathleen, died at 13 months from pneumonia. Two sons died in World War II, Fred in Malaya on 25 April 1942 and Jerry in New Guinea on 12 December 1942. Two sons, Frank and Terry and two daughters, Pat and Margaret still reside in Griffith and the now eldest son, John, lives in Queanbeyan. Jack was well known in Griffith for his love of sport. He was an original founder and long serving committeeman of the Australian Rules Football code, and trained footrunners to the standard where they won several "Gifts" in NSW and Victoria. He was an exceptionally good billiards player and in earlier years toured Victoria with members of the Lindrum family and often played against billiards and snooker exhibitionists when they visited Griffith. He was the first to realise the potential of boxer Jack Haines, and trained him during his career in the Riverina. He handed him over Dorothy Wood to Sydney trainer, Jack Dunleavy, and Haines went on Courtesy Terry Wood to become middleweight champion of Australia.

863

Jack also had a great love for thoroughbred horse racing and in particular the Melbourne Cup. It was ironic that he passed away at 2.45 pm on the day of the Cup which was the starting time of the great race in 1972. Wife Dorothy had put him in the Hospital sweep and he drew Piping Lane which duly won the Cup. She presented the winnings to the nursing staff who had so wonderfully cared for him prior to his passing. One humorous story Jack told - Around the 'Beatles' era in the 1960s, when long hair was the 'in thing' with the younger generation, a young lad of about 12 years came into the barber shop with a mop of unruly hair. When his turn came Jack said "Righto son, you can hop in the chair now". The kid replied "It's OK mister, I'm not here for a haircut. My old man is going to give me a hiding for giving him cheek and this is the last place he will look for me"! Jack Wood passed away on 7 November 1972 aged 84 years and his wife Dorothy followed soon after on 3 September 1974 aged 77 years, both at Griffith Base Hospital. They are interred in a joint grave in the Griffith Lawn Cemetery.

Wood Family - c.1903 L to R: Standing - Wilfred, Frederick and Alfred Sitting - Edgar ("Jack"), Catherine, Kate, John Senior, John Junior, Alice and William Courtesy of the Wood Family

864

John and Mary Wood married Cross Canaby Church Cumberland, England 10 Oct 1846

Robert Parry born Caledonian Diggings Vic 4 May 1860 married Charlotte Moult born Merri Creek, Melbourne Vic 15 January 1855 died Seymour Vic 22 June 1934

John William Wood buried Eaglehawk 11 Feb 1910 married Primitive Methodist Church Eaglehawk Vic 24 Apr 1878 Catherine Daly buried Kyabram Vic 20 Dec 1930 *

Edgar Allan "Jack" Wood born Sebastian 22 Jan 1888 died Griffith 7 Nov 1972

married * * *

Dorothy Ruth Parry horn Alhury 10 June 1897 died Griffith 3 Sept 1974

Kathleen Lorraine born Seymour Vic 4 April 1915; died 29 May 1916, buried Seymour Vic.

Frederick Allan born Seymour Vie 4 July 1916; died 25 April 1942, buried Taiping War Cemetery, Malaya.

John Grahame born Seymour Vic 29 May 1918; married Mary Frances Coves; lives at Queanbeyan NSW.

Patricia born Seymour Vic 19 April 1920; married Robert Collins Thomson; lives in Griffith.

Gerald Joseph ("Jerry") born Seymour 7 June 1922; died 12 December 1942, buried Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby NG.

William Barry born Griffith 29 July 1924; died 18 May 1993; married Ursula Maureen Carroll; lives in Griffith.

Francis Noel ("Frank") born Griffith 23 December 1926; married Dorothy Elizabeth Wilson; lives in Griffith.

Terrence Vincent ("Terry") horn Griffith 2 January 1929; married Joan Una Potts; lives in Griffith.

Hilda Margaret born Griffith 2 March 1935; married Barry Michael Scobie; lives in Griffith.

By courtesy of Frank Wood, 39-41 Macarthur Street, Griffith 2680.

865

WRIGHT Thomas Gordon Wright and Nellie Elizabeth Seymour were married at Nottingham, England on 10 March 1917. They lived in Lambeth (London) and Gordon (as he was known) worked as a ship's cook with private shipping companies. They came to Australia in 1919 and Yenda in 1920. When Gordon, Nellie and their daughter, Gwen, first came to the area they lived at the Barracks near the Whitton Stock Route. However they had not been there long when the hessian tent caught fire and was burnt to the ground, together with all their belongings that they had brought from England. Gordon was one of the original Soldier Settlers and his Farm 1489 was Gwen Newth (nOe Wright) off to town in Ford VS Utility near the northern canal not far from the At the time she was one of the few female drivers in the district train line. The Wright family remained on this farm for 25 years. The eldest daughter, Gwen, recalls "my sisters and I walked the 2 1/2 miles each way to attend Yenda Primary School and later when we attended Griffith High School we joined Cameron's truck, which was covered with a canopy, to go the extra 10 miles into Griffith."

Thomas Gordon Wright born Hendon-Willesden, England April 1891 died Sydney 21 April 1976

married

Nellie Elizabeth Seymour born England 1889 died Wollongong 1962

Gwendolene Mabel born Lambeth, England 31 January 1918; married William Henry Newth. Two daughters Lorraine and Fay. Gwen and Bill live at Moss Vale NSW (See entry this Series).

Lillian Grace born "Tent Town", Griffith 22 October 1920; married Len Kirk. One son - Barry.

Winifred Leonora born at home on the farm at Yenda 17 July 1923; died Wollongong 1972. Married Brian Nicholls. One daughter - Kerry.

Bernette Doris born at home on the farm at Yenda 20 August 1930; married Jim Bradley. No children.

By courtesy of Gwen Newth (née Wright), 2A East Street, Moss Vale 2577.

866

ZANATTA Rosario, the son of Dominico Raymondo Zanatta and Filomena (nee Girardi) Zanatta, was the first member of this family to come to Yenda arriving about 1927 or 1928. He came from the town of Cusignana in the Province of Treviso in northern Italy which was where his family lived. After working for a time he endeavoured to bring out his parents and the rest of his family except for the eldest daughter, Rosalia, who had married and lived in Rome. However, in those days (the early 1930s) only the father could sponsor a whole family so their father, Dominico, came alone in 1933 making it possible for Filomena and the rest of the family, except Rosalia, to come in 1934. With her came their other son, Juliano, and daughters, Ginevra, Dominica, Elisa and Lina. Their first home in Yenda was on Rosario Zanatta Farm 775. Prior to leaving Italy there was so little work for the whole family that Ginevra and Rosalia had had to go as far from home as Venice (and other places) to find work. Upon arrival in Yenda the whole family found work wherever they could. Their father, Dominico, worked mainly in the village of Yenda. Dominica worked at De Bortoli's winery. There she met Francesco ("Frank") Foscarini who also worked and lived there. They married in 1936 and then went to live on Farm 1366. (See Foscarini entry this Series). Rosario married Irene McKenzie and they had one daughter, Silvana. Rosario served in Darwin with the Australian Forces during World War II and suffered severe shell shock during the air raids on Darwin by the Japanese. As a consequence he was to spend some time in Concord Repatriation Hospital. After the war Rosario and Juliano were fruit and vegetable hawkers and worked very hard, long hours selling fruit and vegetables in all the surrounding towns - as far away as Tumut - to make a living. Rosario eventually bought a grazing property at Tumut. The house where Dominica was born and lived until she came to Australia - the Zanatta family home.

867

After the death of his wife, Irene, Rosario moved to Rockhampton to live with his daughter, Silvana. A year after the family arrived Ginevra married Emilio Signor. They lived at Yenda then Batlow for a number of years before returning to Griffith where Ginevra still lives. Juliano married Elsa Piva in 1940. After living for some years on a property at Deniliquin he and his wife Elsa now live in Griffith. Elisa married Guiseppe Scandurra in 1936 and they lived in Yenda. They were both tragically killed in a car accident near Leeton in August 1971. Lina married Luigi Signor in 1946. For the first two years after their marriage they lived at Liverpool before returning to live in Yenda. Dominico and Filomena both died in 1956, he at the age of 76 years and Filomena aged 70. Both are buried in Griffith.

Three Sisters - Ginevra, Dominica and Elisa, on their arrival in Australia - 1934-35

Some of the Zanatta Family Members before they left Italy in 1934 L to R - Standing at the back: Ginevra, Dominica, Dominico (father), Juliano Front: Lina, Filomena (mother) and Elisa

868

Five Zanatta Sisters L to R: Elisa, Lina, Dominica, Rosalia and Ginevra The photo was taken when Rosalia, who had remained behind in Italy (Rome), came to visit her family in 1969

Dominico Raymondo Zanatta born Cusignana, Italy c.1881 died Griffith 22 July 1956

married •

Filomena Girardi bomCusignana, Italy c .1886 died Griffith 22 October 1956

Rosalia born Cusignana 1907; married in 1933 Elio Callegari (dec'd). Three children Sergio (dec'd), Juliana and Sergio. Rosalia lives in Rome.

Rosario born Cusignana 1908; died May 1993; married Irene McKenzie (deed). One daughter - Silvana.

Ginevra born Cusignana 1913; married at Griffith Emilio Signor (dec'd). Two children Franco and Corrado (dec'd). Ginevra lives at Griffith.

Juliano born Cusignana 23 Sept 1914; married at Griffith in 1940 Elsa Piva. Three children - Julian (dec'd), Renee and Raymond. Juliano and Elsa live at Griffith.

Dominica born Cusignana 1916; married at Griffith 1936 Francesco Foscarini (dec'd); Three children - Joyce, Bruna and John. (See entry in this series.)

Elisa born Cusignana 1919; died 1971; married Griffith 1936 Guiseppe Scandurra (dec'd). Five children - Angelino, Elena, Vicky, Fancie and Norma.

Lina born Cusignana 1926; married at Yenda 1946 Luigi Signor. Two children - Garry and Alan. Lina and Luigi live at Yenda.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Joyce Manera (née Foscarini), PO Box 62, Yenda 2681. 869

ZANDONA Antonio Zandona, who was born at Castelcucco, Province of Treviso, Italy, arrived in Australia at Fremantle WA, 3 April 1926. He came with his friend, Francesco Foscarini, who also came from Castelcucco, and they disembarked from the SS "Caprera" at Melbourne after a voyage of two months. He was the only one of his family to come to Australia - his mother, father and a sister remained in Italy. He travelled by train from Melbourne to Griffith and found accommodation in a farmhouse at Yenda. Tony, as he was known, worked at McWilliams Winery at Yenda and mention is made here of his courage in an incident which happened at the winery. Three men (including Mr Doug McWilliam Snr) were overcome by gas in a vat they had gone into to clean. Other workers were fearful to enter the vat to attempt a rescue. Wedding Day - 23 May 1931 Brought to the scene by Mrs L to R - Standing: Andrea Piva, Peter Piva, Jim Piva Front: Angelina (née Piva) and Tony Zandona McWilliam's screams Tony Courtesy Angelina Zandona suggested they tie a rope around him and lower him down with another rope and to immediately pull him back up if they saw Tony also being overcome. By some miracle, he was not overcome, so one by one, he tied the rope around each of the three men and had them hauled to safety. All the men recovered. Mr McWilliam expressed his gratitude by donating a barrel of wine for Tony's wedding. Tony married Angelina Piva who had come to Griffith in 1931, together with her brother, to join their father, Andrea, and older brother Giovanni (known as "Jim"). Her mother, Giuditta, and sisters, Maria and Elsa joined the family later in the same year. Angelina vividly recalled the floods when she arrived at Yenda and being bedded down at McWilliams Winery, on mattresses on the floor, because it was not possible to get out to the farm to join her father and brother. After working at McWilliams Wines for seventeen years Tony saved enough money for the deposit on a small farm of his own - Farm 1488. The deposit was £100 but they had to take over the existing debt to the Bank of £400.

870

During World War II Tony was interned for three years. He "was arrested after neighbours reported that he owned a camera. It was little use his protesting that the camera had been a wedding present to his wife and he had never used it."' (Angelina refused to give up her camera!). He worked on the overland railway from Port Augusta to Darwin and was paid £6 a week - £3 for himself and £3 for Angelina. While Tony was in internment Angelina, with three small children, John, Gino and Elis ("Alice") to support, worked the farm with the help of her elder son, John who at the time was only ten yers of age. Life was very hard. The farm was a mixture of wine grapes, market (table) grapes and Angelina stayed up at night packing the grapes for the markets, often until one o'clock in the morning. John helped her by nailing all the boxes. The next morning the boxed grapes were delivered by horse and trailer to the station to be sent to the Sydney markets. Angelina also grew vegetables and both the fruit and vegetables were very popular with the dry area farmers from Binya and Barellan. A great deal of assistance was also given by her Australian friends when needed. As a result of the war, crops sold well and they were able to pay off their debt to the Bank. Because of John being in a critical condition in Griffith Hospital and requiring emergency surgery Tony was released from internment on compassionate leave. This came about through the intercession of Dr Burrell who notified the authorities of the urgency of the circumstances. After this Tony did not have to return. During the three years of internment Angelina, Alice and John were able to visit him only once. Tony's release was cause of great happiness to this family. The family lived in a small house on the farm and after the war the original house was renovated and extended and it is still on the farm today. Angelina and Tony sold the farm in 1953 and bought a home in Bingar Street, Yenda, as well as a green grocery and mixed busines in Yenda township which they operated for about five years. They reared their family of five at Yenda. The children, John, Gino, Alice, Robert and Phillip all attended St Therese Convent at Yenda. Angelina and Tony retired to a new home they built in Gibbs Street in Griffith and lived there until they moved to Pioneers Lodge. Tony died in 1986 aged 85 years and Angelina still resides at Pioneers Lodge. Giovanni & Maria (nee Forner) Zandona r Antonio Zandona born 20 September 1901 Castelcucco, Italy died 28 April 1986 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Andrea & Giuditta Piva married •

•

Angelina Piva born 1 July 1906 Crespano, Treviso, Nth Italy lives Pioneers Lodge, Griffith

John born 17 March 1932; married Maly Toscan. Gino born 17 April 1933; divorced. Elis ("Alice") born 25 May 1937; married Giulio Ceccato. Robert born I I December 1946; divorced. Phillip born 11 February 1954; married Cheryl Shanahan.

By courtesy of Angelina Zandona, Pioneer Lodge, Griffith 2680 and Alice Ceccato (nee Zandona), Rhoda Place, Yoogali 2680 with assistance from Muriel Poscoliero.

Sydney Morning Herald 29 January 1993.

871

ZERBST Albert Zerbst and his wife, Mary Ann (nee Pannowitz) were both of Polish descent. Albert was born in 1878 at Minyip Vic, the son of Gottlieb Zerbst and his wife Emily Jane (nee Eyers). Mary was the daughter of George Pannowitz and Harriet (nee Knapp) and was born at Hamilton Vic in 1873. After their marriage he and Mary Ann lived at Nhill where Albert followed various occupations - sharefarmer, builder and bullock driver. Prior to 1927 the Zerbst family leased a farm at Miram (near Nhill) where they raised turkeys, chickens, cows and horses and grew wheat. After they were burnt out on this farm they decided to leave Nhill and come to Griffith as Mary's relations were living near Whitton. Albert sold his stock at auction. They stayed with a relative in Nhill for about six weeks where Albert purchased two TModel Fords, a new one and a second-hand one. Albert, Mary and their children Binny, Manda, Lester and Pearl - set out in the two vehicles to have a look at the Griffith area. They left one vehicle at Whitton and continued north looking for land near Tullamore in the Parkes area. It was very hot and on their way south they ran out of water. They had two dogs with them and Pearl saved one of the dogs by draining the radiator water. Fortunately another traveller, carrying a water bag, shared his water with them. Continuing their journey Pearl became very ill and on their arrival in Griffith they camped near Penfold's Bridge. Albert bought a small farm at Hanwood from Mr and Mrs White as soon as they arrived on a "walk in walk out" basis. They later sold this to Mr Percy Melling and moved to a small farmlet east of Hanwood village. Early in March 1929 he purchased a Albert Louis Zerbst and Mary Anne (née Pannowitz) nursing Lester and Manda new T-Model Ford and began the Hanwood Courtesy John Robinson School bus run. Prior to this Fred Helmkemp had had a horse-drawn bus and Mr Anstee also had a van which was pulled by two horses. Albert constructed a striped canvas top over the tray of the T-Model for protection from the weather and added three stools - one on each side and one in the middle. Fifty children were carried to and from school each day and as the tray was only about 10 ft by 6 ft it was very crowded. Two of the children sat in the front with Albert and one even sat on the tool box. Some of the families who travelled on the bus over the years were Murphy, Stark, Howe, Lenehan, Dance, Gras, Sainty, Snaith, Whiting, Pride, Bagatella, 872

Andreazza, Boots, Plos, Erskine, Lasscock, Colautti, Ward, Sara, Bounds, Connor and Peruzzi. He began at 8am and it was an eleven-mile trip. The dirt roads were often almost impassable in wet weather. When the bus became bogged Albert organised the boys to help push him out. He soon realised that the boys were pulling instead of pushing!! So he carried a rope for the boys to tow the bus through the mud. When he first began the run the Government paid 7d per day per child. After six months the rate was cut to 6d. Under school-age children had to pay 1/6d per week to travel to school which was paid by their parents. Albert made about £1 a day but he didn't always have a full bus and often had to wait about three months for his money. Albert had the T-Model Ford for about ten years and then purchased a Bedford for the run. He had the school bus run for Zerbst Family about fifteen years. Lester, Pearl, Binny and Manda Courtesy John Robinson Albert also had the mail contract from Hanwood to Griffith and back to Hanwood. The mail was collected and delivered every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. He began this contract in the 1930s and ran it in conjunction with his school bus run. The mail route was along Old Willbriggie Road and he collected the CSIRO Private Mail Bag at the old Bagtown site. He sold the mail contract run to the McCudden family in 1948.

The first Millwood School Bus in 1914 owned by Mr Fred Helmkemp Courtesy Western Riverina Community Library

873

Albert and Ann's eldest daughter, Manda, worked as a seamstress for the Bemsteins before her marriage to Tom Robinson. Pearl worked for the McWilliam family and married Walter Clark (who also worked for McWilliams). Their only son, Lester, was killed in 1931 - whilst riding his bicycle he was hit by a car at the Main Canal Bridge (near Donaldson's). Brenda, or "Binny" as she was known, worked as a domestic for Bob Smellie.

Gottlieb Zerbst born South Australia 10 March 1839 married Vic 1877 Emily Jane Eyers born Cornwall * Albert Louis Zerbst born Minyip Victoria 16 July 1878 died Griffith 2 August 1966

married 1905 *

George Pannowitz born Poland married Vic 1870 Harriet Knapp born Hamilton Vic - 1854 * Mary Ann Pannowitz born Hamilton Vic - 1873 died Griffith July 1947

* * 1.

Manda Joan born Kaniva Vic 22 November 1905; died Griffith 18 March 1979; married Alfred Thomas Robinson. Three sons - Allan (dec'd), Albert and John.

Lester Harold born Minyip Vic 1908; died Griffith 16 May 1931.

Linda Pearl born Kaniva Vic 27 October 1911; died Griffith 14 January 1984; married Walter William Clark (died June 1991). Four children - Lorraine, Beverly, Lynette and Walter.

Brenda ("Binny") born Miram 19 January 1914; married Jim Giles. Lives at Hopetoun Vic. Four children - Betty, David, Judith and Jimmy.

By courtesy of Lynette Stewart (nee Clark), Farm 1858, Willbriggie 2680 and John Robinson, Carrathool Street, Griffith 2680. 874

ZILIOTTO Giosue Ziliotto was born in Crespano Del Grappa in 1885. His father was Bortolo Ziliotto and his mother Giuditta (nee Cadorin). Times were very tough in Italy and money was scarce, so as a young man Giosue worked in Germany and America for sixteen years before World War I. When he returned home to Italy he found it very hard to find work and settle down to live with the tough times again. Giosue and Benedetta (nee Ziliotto) were married at Crespano Del Grappa about 1920. Two daughters were born, Norma in 1922 and Ester in December 1923. Giosue left his wife and baby daughters in Italy and came by ship to Australia in 1924 to make a new life. A year later he sent for his wife and daughters, Norma aged three and Ester aged two, and they travelled by ship to Melbourne, then by train to Griffith. The family first lived at West End (on a three acre block) in a tworoomed hut with hessian walls. Giosue grew vegetables. After a year or so the family moved Italy c. 1924 from West End to Yoogali and lived in a house Back: Giosue and Benedetta Ziliotto with boards outside and fibro walls. Norma Front: Giuditta Ziliotto (nee Cadorin), remembers "that every time it rained the roof Norma and Ester there were buckets everywhere to leaked catch the water!! The farm was about fifty acres and there were some prune trees. Dad grew vegetables on the vacant land. The 'vegies' were sold to hawkers, who called to collect them - at first with a horse and cart and in later years a truck. The hawkers sold the 'fruit and vegies' around Griffith and the outskirts of town. "I went to school at Yoogali for a few months then the family moved once again, this time to Farm 514, Bilbul, which Dad purchased about 1928. (Farm 514 incorporated Farm 513 also and was later subdivided back to the two separate farms). The farms were of thirty acres each and planted to apricots, nectarines, peaches, pears, prunes and wine grapes. "We sun-dried a lot of fruit. The prunes were dipped in caustic soda, then placed on trays to dry. The pears, nectarines and elberta peaches were pitted, then placed on trays in a sulphur box (about two hundred trays at a time). The fruit stayed in the sulphur box for about six hours then took about a week to dry in the sun.

875

"My parents, Ester and I and about eight to ten farm labourers worked flat out to pick and dry the fruit. I remember the absolute mayhem when the weather turned bad. Especially if it was at night!! We all staggered out of bed half asleep and raced around, by the light of hurricane lamps, to stack the trays of fruit and cover them with 'tarps'. The dried fruit was sold to agents from the cities." Norma goes on to say - "one thing that sticks in my mind from my early years in Australia, and contrasts greatly with the corresponding situation today, is the trip from Bilbul to Griffith to attend Church. "When I was about seven years of age and we were living at Bilbul, Sundays always followed the same pattern. Our whole family went to great lengths to prepare ourselves to attend church in Griffith. But then going to church meant a full days outing and we never wore anything but our Sunday best. To get to Griffith we travelled with the horse and spring cart - a trip that took an hour or more. It was an uncomfortable trip over bumpy, dusty roads and by the time we returned to our home at the end of the day, our Sunday best was in need of a good clean! "Farm 513 was sold, before Dad died in 1944, to Giacomo Zalunardo because there was too much work with the two farms. Dad was still living on Farm 514 when he died. "The farm was sharefarmed for a few years until it was sold to my brother-in-law, Alasko ("Alex") Ceccato. Mother continued to live with Ester and Alex until she died in 1956. "Alex sold the farm to Lino Mazzocato in 1975"

Spreading fruit in trays for drying

Ciosue and Benedetta Ziliottu - 1937

Trays of pears set out in the sun to dry 876

Back: Norma Signor (nee Ziliotto), Luigi Signor, Ester Ziliotto Front: Giosue and Benedetta Ziliotto

Giosue Ziliotto born Italy 13 January 1885 died Griffith 17 February 1994

married Crespana Del Grappa Italy *

Benedetta Ziliotto born Italy 30 November 1887 died Griffith 17 August 1956

* 1.

Norma born Italy 28 July 1922; married Luigi Signor; three children Vernon, Vonda and Neil. Lives Bilbul.

Ester born Italy 10 December 1923; married Alasko Ceccato; two children - Raymond and Sylvia.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Norma Signor (nee Ziliotto), Portion 1017, Ireland Road, Bilbul 2680.

877

ZILIOTTO Isidoro Ziliotto was born at Pademo, a village about 60 km north of Venice (in the Griffith sister city region) on 11 July 1893. He arrived in Melbourne in 1924 and immediately came to Griffith. This was not his first trip away from home in search of a better way of life. In 1912, when he was about 18 years of age he went to the USA. He worked in the states of Nevada, Arizona but mainly in California at San Francisco, Lompoc, Frezno and Santa Barbara.

The Ziliotto Family - c.1932 L to R: Don, Isidoro, Eric, Antonietta, Ray Edwin (Photo taken by a travelling photographer near where the CWA now stands.)

878

After ten years he returned to Italy, married Antonietta Filipin and purchased a small property. Antonietta was born in the same village, Paderno on 2 February 1897. However he couldn't settle down and accept the conditions prevailing in Italy at that time and decided to return to America. In the meantime their first son, Ezio ("Eric"), was born at One de Fonte, North Italy on 1 August 1924. There was a delay in getting a passage back to America and as Isidoro was impatient he couldn't wait. He wanted to get away. He heard that he could get a passage to Australia so he departed as soon as arrangements were made. When he arrived in Melbourne he had no idea what he would do or where he would go. However there were people on the ship going to a place called "Griffith", so he joined them. He had an advantage over most migrants as he could speak some English as a result of his ten years in the USA. There was no one to welcome these early arrivals. In fact they were mostly unwelcome. Very different to the migrants who came after World War II, who were made welcome by the government. If they had no relatives or friends to meet them, work and accommodation was found for them. They were looked after at a migrant camp while waiting for work and housing. Conditions were difficult in this new developing district of Griffith and many hardships were endured by all. He found primitive accommodation and work and decided that this was where he would stay and did so for the rest of his life.

Ziliotto Family - River Picnic (Ori Pastega in background) Courtesy Ori and Roy Pastega

In 1925 his wife and son joined him at Griffith and they later purchased Farm 986, a two acre block in Murrumbidgee Avenue. The house was very primitive but somewhere to live and they owned it. They grew vegetables on the land and worked for others when the opportunity came up. He worked for Frank Stafford who had an orchard across

879

Murrumbidgee Avenue and often mentioned working for a green grocer - packer called Mat Bush. Their second and third sons were born at Farm 986, Densy ("Don") 9 December 1926 and Ray 20 April 1928. In 1929 they sold this block and purchased Farm 1657 at Beelbangera - a 52 acre partly planted orchard. The house was fairly good for that era, although the electricity was not connected until about 1937. They struggled through the Depression years like everyone else however, being on a farm was a big help. They were able to grow their own fruit and vegetables and a house cow provided milk, butter and cheese, even though there was very little cash coming in from the farm produce. The three brothers attended Beelbangera Public School and Griffith High. Eric enrolled at Beelbangera in September 1929 when there was only one room and one teacher. Mr J Dutton was the teacher at the time and he drove to school each day from Griffith in a Chevrolet 4 until a residence was built on the corner and the grounds fenced in by the Parents & Citizens. At this time most of the abandoned Red Cross Hospital buildings were still in place on the hill about one kilometre north east of Beelbangera. Some of the cement foundations are still there. Eric can remember some of the buildings being towed past the school by a steam engine. They became homes in Griffith and part of the original Jondaryan Club. Eric started at Griffith High School in 1937 and travelled in by bicycle on a very rough gravel road. About 1938, Jock Ritchie started the first school bus run from Yenda through Beelbangera and Eric was on that first school bus. The brothers made their own fun as kids. They spent a lot of time exploring the hill, rabbiting, bird nesting and swimming in the canals. There were rabbit burrows on the canal banks and they poured water into them to get the rabbits out and the dog would chase them. On the hill they got to know the Hermit, who on a couple of occasions came down to the farm to visit. During the summer the whole family was busy harvesting fruit. Pitting apricots now seems a thing of the past but it was very real at that time. The trays full of cut apricots were spread out on grass to dry in the sun, and if it rained or one of the frequent dust storms of that time came along all the trays would be stacked and covered, even in the middle of the night. Sometimes the storm would pass in just a few minutes, but that was long enough to damage the fruit if it were not covered. Another of the "out of school" jobs during summer was keeping the starlings off the ripening grapes. At that time, there were many more trees on the hill and the surrounding area than now and the starlings would fly in low to the ground in huge swarms and settle on the grape vines. The kids would bang tins and ring a cow bell. Even so, many rows at the end of the paddock would be eaten out every season. When "bird nesting" the only eggs they destroyed were starling eggs. In 1942 Eric joined the army and served 23 months in New Guinea; Ray served two years in the Royal Australian Navy, and was a member of the Occupation Force in Japan on the battle ship HMS "Quiberon". Eric and his wife Zoe's first babe was a daughter, born with a heart defect, referred to at that time as a "blue baby", which meant she had a hole in the heart and a faulty valve. There was no open heart surgery then, but she had two major shunt operations which did not 880

improve her condition. She died on 19 April 1959 at the age of 7 years and 10 months. Now the operation to rectify her problem is common practice.

Lsidoro Ziliotto born Paderno, Italy 11 July 1893 died Griffith 7 July 1985

married

Antonietta Filipin born Pademo, Italy 2 February 1897 died Griffith 12 December 1977

Ezio ("Eric") born One de Fonte, North Italy 1 August 1924; lives in Griffith. Married Zoe Manera. 1. Lorraine, deceased 18 April 1959 2. Dean lives in Sydney

Densy ("Don") born Griffith, 9 December 1926; lives in Sydney. Divorced. Larry lives in Griffith 2. Verne lives in Sydney

Ray Edwin born Griffith, 20 April 1928; lives in Sydney. Married Nell Barry. 1. Karen lives in Sydney 2. Lynne lives in Sydney.

By courtesy Eric Ziliotto, 4 MacKenzie Place, Griffith.

881

ZUCCOLOTTO Giovanni Zuccolotto was born at Cavaso del Tomba, Province of Treviso Italy on 4 August 1901. He was the eldest of the six children of Luigi and Maria. As times were hard he borrowed money and came to Australia ("the new Land") in 1923 at the age of 22 years. When he arrived, like many other Italians, he went to the farm of Valentino ("Gian") Ceccato. He lived in a shed with others, and as there was no work, after a few months he went to Broken Hill to work in the mines. He saved sufficient money to repay his debt to friends in Italy and to bring out Giustina Mezzomo (his next door neighbour in Italy) so that they could be married. Giustina was born in Cavaso on 20 September 1904, the eldest of four children of Giovanni and Lucia Mezzomo. She arrived at Adelaide, via Fremantle, in 1925 on the "Orama" after a forty day trip in a crowded ship. Because her mother had told her "she must marry immediately on arrival" Giovanni and Giustina were married in Adelaide in April 1925. They then went on to Broken Hill. When leaving Cavaso, Giustina's girl friends had said how fortunate she was to be going to Australia. On arrival in Broken Hill Giustina thought how fortunate they were to be in Cavaso, surrounded by the beautiful Mountains. Giovanni worked in the mines and Giustina cooked for five men to supplement their income. She had to do her own shopping even though she could not speak a word of English. However, there was a shop that stocked everything and the owners had a lot of items listed in Italian and that list was used to do the shopping for people who could not Giovanni and Giustina Zuccolotto speak the language. Their first child, Maria, was born in Broken Hill in 1926. In 1927 Giovanni took his family back to Griffith where he bought Farm 1863, Lake Wyangan. Their second child, Yolanda, was born a few months later on that farm. They took in more boarders to again supplement their income. They both worked long hours on the farm. The ploughing was done by horse drawn ploughs etc and produce taken to Griffith by horse and cart. The Italian families would help each other picking the crops as no one had money for labour. In the thirties Giovanni bought the adjoining Farm No 1855 from Mr Spratt and the first wireless came with it. Sultanas were picked, dipped and dried on racks. Apricots were put in the sulphur boxes and then put in trays and dried in the sun, first of course, having been pitted. Rain and dust storms would come up and everybody, including the children, had to run out whether it be day or night, to collect and stack the trays and cover them up and to put 882

hessian around the sultana racks to protect them. In the Christmas holidays the children had to pit apricots, pick up apples and put them in the "pit" covered for the prevention of fruit fly. Prunings were also gathered and heaped to be burnt later. At one stage the three horses got into the wheat which they ate and as a result died. Fortunately however, the tractor had been ordered and was about to arrive. Giovanni and Giustina still used a horse and sulky. One day Giustina got off to open the gate, the horse bolted and Giovanni and kids went flying. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt. Entertainment was visiting other Italian families in Lake Wyangan (on foot) including the Valentini family when Battista Valentini would play the accordion and everybody danced. They also went to Cunial's place at Yoogali, where dances were held every so often. Giustina loved dancing and singing. On these occasions various men and women would group together and sing. Giovanni loved to play bocce and the Cunials also had a bocce court. The river at Darlington Point was also a gathering place at Christmas or New Year. Family groups would travel the twenty-one miles, at first by horse and cart and later by truck, making sure that plenty of water melons, beer and food were taken.

Giovanni with "Jepsy", "Baldy" and "Browny" - late 1930s

Giovanni Zuccolotto

Giustina Mezzomo

married

born Cavaso del Tomba 20 September 1904 Now living at Pioneers Lodge Nursing Home

born Cavaso del Tomba 4 August 1901 died Griffith 23 September 1989 aged 88 years

Maria born Broken Hill 12 March 1926. Married Giovanni (Johnny) Dal Santo (dec'd). Two daughters and two grandchildren. Maria lives in Queanbeyan.

Yolanda born Griffith 6 May 1927. Married Giacomo (John) Vardanega. One daughter and two grandchildren. Yolanda and John live in Griffith.

Alvina born Griffith 3 October 1944. Married Gregory Dark. No children. Lives at Queanbeyan NSW.

Entry and photographs by courtesy of Yolanda Vardanega (née Zuccolotto), 22 Lawford Crescent, Griffith 2680. 883

884

GRIFFITH - A Jekyll and Hyde Version

by Charles Cairns Mitchell

Where is the 'beast' who planned this place? Is he "above" or "below"? I'm sure that when he got his deserts He went far "below" - I know!

It is Saturday morning in Griffith Banna Avenue is packed with cars. The women are doing the shopping While the men line up at the bars!

He must have had asbestos skin To stand this Griffith heat! And Anti-Freeze mixed with his blood `Gainst Winter-time's cold feet!

A remarkable town is this Griffith Conceived on a far-western plain Where people were few, with little to do, For want of a little more rain.

If it isn't the heat, it's bitter cold! If it's neither those, it's dust! Oh! Many a time have I suffered the lot And cussed, and cussed, and cussed!

Thirty years ago no-one saw Griffith! 'Twos a name in a town planner's mind; And even he could not have visioned How it would leave other towns far behind.

We're a hundred miles from any place That's worth a cent to see! We're stuck out here upon this plain Oh! miserable are we!

There is no town growing like Grif fith! Its growth is a marvel to see. More people keep coming and staying, And the reason's no mystery to me.

"Go west, my son," was said to me Some thirty years ago. But I never knew what lay in store "They" did not intend I know!

There'll soon be a "City of Griffith!" With such growth that one cannot deny, For its products are worth o'er a million And they're products the whole world must buy!

But I'll defeat my jailers yet; Though they keep me here to die. For the westerly winds will blow my dust To the seashore by and by!

Here's a toast to this grand town of Griffith! That has shown such a pace to the rest. Keep on bringing forth from the good earth All those things which we humans love best.

885

INDEX Abbott 799 Acuto 842, 851 Adams 644, 646, 666 Aganetti 615 Ainsley 777 Aitken 826 Aiton 508, 686, 769, 770, 789 Aliprandi 592, 841 Allen 582 Allison 838 Alpen 758 Alston 764 Altman 634 Alvaro 733 Amaro 838 Ambrosi 596 Amerio 601, 604 Anderson 491, 621, 716 Andrea 596 Andreatta 556 Andreazza 556, 732, 873 Angas 651 Anstee 559, 560, 872 Aramini 616 Archer 697, 698 Armanini 685 Arnold 818 Arthur 550 Ash 588 Atkinson 451 Axford 587, 588, 669 Ayres 519

Bagatella 478, 722, 734, 872 Bailey 690 Bailiff 646 Bakewell 525 Baldo 737 Balduzzo 603 Ballestrin 627-629 Balms 602 Balmer 488 Baltieri 640, 643, 710 Bandiera 616, 640 Bando 466 Bannerman 459 Ranting 460 Barbaro 481 Barber 539, 814, 815 Bardney 662, 682, 821-823 Barichello 626, 629

Barker 521, 773 Barlow 543 Barnardo 483 Barnes 649, 812 Baron 525, 840 Barrett 660 Barry 881 Bartholomew 576, 843 Bartlett 516, 519 Bartley 520 Barwick 765 Bassett 826 Bastianon 737, 738 Bastick 621 Bates 656 Batros 690 Battistel 591 Battochio 782 Beasley 513 Beaumont 466, 618 Beazley 512-514 Bechling 791 Beckmann 617, 621 Beecher 528, 530, 531 Beilby 531 Bell 521, 580, 644, 646 Bellato 576 Bellicanta 744, 745 Bellman 582 Beltrame 479, 529 Bends 616 Bennet 464 Bennett 519, 567, 578, 799, 802 Bent 686 Bernstein 874 Berthon 581, 820, 823 Bertoldo 592, 629, 797 Berton 741 Betts 633 Beverley 572, 761, 788 Bianchi 730 Bianchini 482 Bicego 554, 603, 667, 669, 670, 672 Bickerstaff 763 Binello 745 Bisa 640, 641, 643 Bisol 503 Black 500, 696, 742 Blackburn 806 Blackford 451 Blackstock 483 Blair 609

887

Blake 565, 650 Bland 717, 718, 726 Blight 530, 531 Blows 565 Blumer 508, 793 Blundell 660 Boag 817 Bobato 727 Bock 634 Bodycomb 775, 805 Bohme 596 Boito 841 Boller 704 Bone 656 Bonomi 667 Booth 778 Boots 873 Borden 608 Borger 492 Borland 454, 455, 457, 530, 592, 594 Bott 793 Bounds 648, 873 Boundy 578 Bourke 550, 709 Bourman 816-818 Bove 572, 576 Bowditch 483 Bowe 708 Bowen 655, 656 Bowling 707, 708 Boyle 453, 863 Braby 595, 802 Brack 526 Bradford 458 Bradley 823, 866 Bradman 606, 793, 794 Braithwaite 472, 473, 494, 695, 704 Braund 530 Brayne 495 Breheny 530, 569 Brett 792, 794 Bridge 465 Briggs 584 Brissenden 530, 531 Broderick 618, 623 Bromley 454, 455 Brooks 717 Broome 460, 487, 495, 786 Brown 500, 570, 600, 626, 678, 822 Bruier 826

Bryant 723, 724 Bryce 845 Budd 526, 566, 577 Buffon 754 Bugno 589, 666, 672, 676, 678, 732 Bull 513, 538, 836 Bulmer 713 Burge 459 Burgess 647 Burnham 838 Burns Philp 592 Burrell 492, 626, 647, 663, 668, 669, 675, 681, 747, 871 Bush 681, 683, 807, 880 Bushell 538 Butler 461, 580, 647, 788 Button 571, 861

Cable 725 Cadorin 503, 504, 736-738, 741, 875 Calabria 763, 797 Calio 489 Callaghan 562, 563 Callegari 869 Cameron 459, 866 Campaner 474, 841 Campbell 530, 531, 582, 758, 761, 787 Candusso 782 Canzian 625 Cappello 478, 504, 839, 840 Carberry 571 Cardalana 629 Careri 820 Carlyle 459 Carmichael 560 Carrell 797, 803, 805, 807 Carnelutti 778, 782 Carney 472, 558, 581, 687, 765 Carolan 862 Carr 580, 679 Carroll 596, 865 Carter 683, 789 Casella 741 Casey 489, 606, 607 Cass 492 Castelaro 842 Catanzariti 850 Catapano 572

Cater & Blumer 478 Cauduro 585 Cavanagh 500, 661, 663 Cave 687, 716 Ceccato 503, 528, 602, 667, 669, 672, 674-676, 701, 702, 732, 733, 736, 737, 871, 876, 877, 882 Ceccone 782 Centofanti 481 Chadwick 458 Champion 765 Chandler 453 Chant 821, 823 Chapman 578, 806 Chauncey 531 Chauncy 530, 655, 687, 716, 815 Cheesbrough 654 Chettle 863 Chilvers 585 Chitty 808, 809 Churton 507 Cirillo 489, 607 Ciscato 640, 643 Clancy 605-607 Clark 460, 687, 710, 719, 819, 823, 874 Clarke 453, 456, 457, 530, 561, 605, 607, 693, 802, 818 Clear 834 Cleman 611 Clemetson 469 Cliff 824, 827 Clifton 797 Coady 600 Cobb & Co 852 Cochrane 661 Coggan 551 Colautti 873 Cole 556, 749, 751 Coleman 539, 590, 810 Colla 840 Collett 493 Collier 453, 815 Collins 585 Collopy 650 Comarin 489 Combe 486 Condon 623, 782, 797 Connolly 558, 560 Connor 610, 873 Cook 836, 862

888

Cooney 551 Cooper 538, 813, 815 Copeland 824 Coppard 757, 759 Corbett 751 Costa 727 Couchman 661, 788 Coudrey 524 Coughlan 492 Coultham 532 Coves 865 Cowan 717, 724-726 Cox 706, 713-715 Coysh 689 Craig 611, 774, 776 Cranston 566 Crawford 596 Creef 742 Cremasco 640 Crisafi 590, 591 Croce 639-641, 643 Crocker 828, 853 Crook 797 Crooke 726 Cropper 759 Crouch 834 Crozier 539 Cruickshank 550, 583, 609, 755 Cudmore 594, 607, 861 Cullen 585, 623 Cummings 581, 788 Cummins 466, 467 Cunial 530, 578, 602, 603, 623, 672, 728, 735, 737, 762, 764, 841, 843, 883 Cunningham 647 Curgenven 821, 823 Currie 488, 500 Curry 481 Cush 458, 463, 703, 704, 718, 861 Daines 530, 531, 539 Dal Bon 732, 737 Dal Broi 555, 556, 557, 590, 591, 839, 840 Dal Nevo 478, 604 Dal Santo 883 Dal Soglio 553, 557 Daley 651, 656, 791, 794 Dalton 466, 571, 578, 646, 672 Daly 863, 865

Dance 872 Daniels 485 Dare 519 Dark 883 Darrington 638 Davey 483 Davidge 461, 662, 709, 814 Davies 820 Davis 821, 822 Davison 708 Day 492, 764 De Bortoli 589, 867 De Marco 591, 722 De Martin 478, 731 De Paoli 589 De Valentin 840 Deardon 854 Dearling 451 Dei Rossi 844 Deissel 663 Del Amatea 602 Delaney 460 Delves 519 Demien 464 Depledge 697, 698 Devery 581, 582 Devitt 481 Dick 765 Dickens 514 Dickson 716, 744, 845, 849 Dickson & Morgan 845 Dilger 713, 715 Dillon 751, 861 Dixon 459, 766 Doak 485 Dodge 459 Doherty 661 Donnelly 795 Donner 561, 563 Donovan 600, 835 Doolan 593, 594, 623 Dossetor 749, 751 Dougherty 562 Downey 505 Doyle 540 Drennan 607 Dreyer 516, 712 Driver 666 Druitt 788 Drummond 855 Drury 459 Duchatel 459, 530, 578, 852, 854 Duck 580

Eardley 672 Earle 602 Eastman 591 Eaton 513 Ebert 726 Ecob 722 Edge 687, 714 Edmiston 673, 676 Edmonds 530, 531 Edwards 523, 588, 603, 758, 797, 835, 836 Egan 459 Eldershaw 459 Ellesmere 521 Ellis 489 Elphick 788, 791, 794 Enshaw 473 Enticknap 594 Erskine 726, 873 Evans 542, 581, 779 Evatt 765, 770 Everingham 819, 821, 823 Eyers 872, 874

Fergusson 714 Ferrarin 622, 623 Ferrino 782 Ferro 782 Field 588 Fieldhouse 530 Fieldsend 594 Filcich 489 Filipin 879, 881 Fingleton 793 Fitzgerald 525, 834 Fitzpatrick 459 Flack 508 Flannery 460 Fletcher 519, 581, 611 Foggiato 629, 839 Foley 813, 814 Ford 459, 460, 463, 527, 530, 531, 593, 708, 742, 745 Fordham 838 Forlico 732 Forner 623, 701, 807, 845, 871 Forrest 828, 831 Foscarini 867, 869, 870 Foster 481, 659, 660, 733 Fowler 617, 621 Fox 623, 813, 828, 831 Franco 486-489, 629 Fraser 592, 838 Freeman 756, 761 Fregona 623 Fuks 662 Fuller 515, 519 Furness 459 Furze 791

Fairman 453, 457 Fallon 581, 863 Farley 492, 687, 806 Farrell 526, 527 Fatta 557 Fattore 489 Faulkner 460 Fava 571 Favell 821 Favero 589, 591, 732 Fayle 795 Featherstone 638 Feltracco 782 Feltraco 604 Fenn 564, 565, 718 Fenton 453, 457 Ferguson 577,579,791

Gabrielli 733 Gadsby 459 Gales 461, 462 Gall 638 Gallard 622 Gallo 488, 629 Gamble 757, 758 Gamboso 779 Gammon 508, 509 Gardiner 483, 588 Gardner 838 Garroway 507 Garton 507 Gaspari 643 Gatenby 712 Gatto 640 Gavenlock 564,565

Duffy 459, 646 Dun 666 Duncan 683 Dunhill 837 Dunleavy 863 Dunn 815, 832, 834 Dunning 802 Durnan 696 Dutton 507, 508, 880 Dyball 773

889

Geaney 485 Gee 460, 530, 705 Gersbach 492, 493 Gibbing 542 Gibbons 690, 722 Gibbs 466, 467, 473, 530, 531 Gibson 452, 758 Gilbert 530, 587, 656 Giles 874 Gill 656 Gilliard 593 Gilmartin 550 Gilmore 758 Ginn 683 Girardi 867, 869 Girdler 562 Girvan 696, 698 Giudice 576 Glascow 583 Gollan 658, 805, 806 Golsby-Smith 655, 661 Gonzo 639 Goodfellow 850 Goodsell 596 Gordon 466, 493, 582, 593, 595, 729, 747, 749, 751, 832, 834 Gorey 453, 457, 661, 662, 862 Goring 512 Gorman 631 Gould 459 Gow 593, 646 Grace 854 Graf 758, 761 Graham 542, 633, 753 Grant 492, 748 Gras 504, 872 Grassi 615, 616 Green 452, 507, 525, 556, 769 Greenless 818 Greenshields 807 Greig 770 Gribble 501, 657, 659, 662, 682, 683 Grieve 815 Griffin 459, 496, 497, 638, 709 Griffiths 514 Griggs 649 Grimes 513, 514 Grogan 582 Gronn 788, 831

Guadagnini 629, 763, 842-851 Guascoine 614 Gudgeon 635 Guerra 666 Guglielmini 602 Gugliemini 677 Guidici 672 Guihen 567, 592, 593

Haehoe 467 Haines 531, 596, 726, 863 Hall 659, 708, 716 Halse 662, 806 Hamilton 508-510, 719, 722, 724, 787, 791 Hams 492 Hancock 595 Hand 673 Hanes 816 Hankinson 515 Hanley 814 Hanna 697, 718, 829 Hanrahan 603, 845 Hanson 466 Hardwick 566 Hardy 464 Hare 824, 826, 827 Hargreaves 460 Harkis 508, 509 Harnett 623, 664, 758 Harper 534, 535 Harriman 666 Harris 460, 461, 501, 592, 594, 661, 765, 849, 863 Harrison 500, 751 Hart 647, 650 Hartman 481, 562, 563 Hassall 505 Hassell 657, 659 Hawken 771 Hawkins 823 Hawland 560 Hay 621 Hayes 461, 607 Hayes-Williams 806, 814 Hazel 529 Hazelwood 459 Heard 837, 838 Heaslip 555 Heath 776, 812 Heckendorf 630 Heidtman 826

890

Heino 462 Helmkemp 872, 873 Hemson 561, 563 Henderson 530, 531, 787, 835, 853 Henniker 469 Henny 656 Herlihy 451 Hetherington 594, 831 Hewitt 764 Hewlett 770 Hibbert 791 Hicken 598 Hicks 802 Higgins 530 Hill 641, 705, 714, 758, 861 Hilton 650 Hinds 805 Hirchorn 464 Hoad 826 Hoare 562, 563 Hodge 786 Hogan 582, 862 Hogbin 709 Hoggard 596 Holden 454, 455, 457, 524, 611, 614, 634 Hollier 541, 542 Holroyd 726 Holt 578 Hone 565 Howe 719, 836, 872 Howell 502 Howie 687 Hudson 516, 519, 566, 571, 788 Huf 634 Hume 561 Humphries 560, 684 Humphry 683 Hunt 511 Hurley 451 Huscroft 635 laconissi 486 leraci 488 Imhoff 630, 634 Ireland 761 Irish 656 Irvin 485, 536, 585, 666, 795 Irvine 662 Irwin 663 Isles 509

Jackman 744 Jackson 613, 614, 656 Jacob 459, 468, 508, 535, 693, 705, 829 James 530, 618, 621 Jardine 638, 710 Jarvis 655 Jenkins 530, 794 Jennings 595, 755 Johns 830 Johnson 519 Johnston 457 Johnstone 452, 562, 563, 861 Jones 492, 530, 531, 562, 572, 613, 649, 744, 749, 751 Josling 744, 784, 786 Josling & Snaith 786 Lugo 527 Justice 710

Kayess 687 Keam 506, 561 Kearey 845, 849 Kearney 587 Kelly 460, 701, 705, 789, 806 Kemp 542, 639 Kendall 564, 581 Kennedy 562 Kennett 461 Kenningale 465 Kenny 632 Keys 463, 817 Killen 758 Kilpatrick 451, 503, 513, 514, 562, 595, 806 King 758 Kingdon 660, 664 Kingsford Smith 474, 695, 801 Kinkead 611 Kinnalin 580 Kirk 866 Kirkman 662 Kissell 796-798,836 Kite 561 Knapp 872, 874 Knobel 747 Kocaj 663 Kook 469, 472, 473, 529, 694, 695

Koth 621 Kubank 810, 826

La Rosa 556 Lamb 459, 505 Lamond 508 Lamont 516, 811 Lander 621 Lane 483, 500 Lang 753 Langburne 638 Lanyon 823 Lappan 851 Larsen 713 LaRuffa 616 Lasscock 726, 778, 873 Latimer 716 Lauder 661 Lawler 459 Lawry 460 Lawson 523, 530 Lazzarotto 840 Leach 595 Leaver 451-452, 562, 563, 687 Leckie 453-457 Ledgwidge 459 Ledwidge 609, 610 Lee 491, 689 Lemaire 526 Lemmon 855, 858 Lenehan 719, 872 Leonard 458-464 Leone 573, 576 Letheby 465-467 Lewis 646 Liddell 828, 831 Lindrum 863 Liston 459, 704 Litchfield 663 Little 461, 466, 467, 690 Livanes 477 Loban 538 Locke 782 Locker 838 Lockhart 530,797 Long 466,468-473,516, 519,567,693, 694,695 Longhurst 595, 716 Longmore 526 Lorenzi 474-479 Louez 520, 648, 649 Lougher 550 Low 510

891

Lowe 754 Lowrie 595 Lucca 480-485, 602, 762 Luck 606, 607 Luke 453, 457 Lunati 601 Luton 464

Macedone 486,489 Mackay 487, 562, 624, 642, 649, 662, 687 MacKenzie 490, 491 Macquarie 686 Madden 460 Maher 571 Mahy 492, 493, 623 Main 830, 831 Maken 527 Malfitano 591 Mallaby 459, 721 Mallinson 697 Maloney 722 Mambrini 603 Manera 474, 481, 589, 735, 869, 881 Manning 591 Manser 494-497, 726 Manton & Snow 468 Marchant 725 Marchioro 639, 642, 643 Marcus 498-502, 659, 661-663,754, 755 Mardon 836 Marin 503-504, 590, 732, 762 Mark 708 Marks 501, 505-507, 709 Marriot 459 Marriott 508-510 Marshall 516, 713 Martin 461, 511-514, 515-519,596, 661,692,697 Mason 485, 520-521, 703, 712 Matthews 838 Matthewson 595 May 776 Maynard 524 Mazzarolo 616 Mazzocato 876 McAlpine 752

McAnally 834 McCallum 568 McCann 603, 843 McCarron 455 McCarthy 459, 460, 522- 524 McCaughey 696, 766 McClellan 593, 594, 696 McConnell 773 McCudden 501, 550, 687, 873 McCurdy 460 McDonald 461, 525-532, 550, 771 McEachern 461, 533-535, 696 McEwen 591 McFadzean 536, 538 McFarlane 754 McGrath 647 McGregor 607, 654 McGuire 861, 862 Mclnernry 576 McInnes 637, 638, 824 McIntosh 527, 530, 531, 638 McIntyre 632 McKay 596, 756 McKellar 500, 502 McKenzie 539-540, 862, 867, 869 McKern 692, 761 McKirdy 530, 541-542 McLaren 651 McLean 461, 581, 692 McLinden 832, 834 McMahon 527, 716, 862 McManus 543-547 McMillan 521 McNabb 548-550, 722 McNeil 656 McPhillips 836 McRoberts 542 McShane 519 McSwain 802 McWilliam 466, 480, 572, 573, 603, 615, 639, 645, 690, 719, 735, 740, 764, 870 Meagher & Co 592 Mears 782 Meehan 530, 551-552, 559 Meggitt 745 Melling 690, 872 Melville 542

Menegetti 629 Meneghini 553-557 Meng 701 Menzies 654, 655, 656 Metcalfe 547 Mezzomo 882, 883 Milford 459 Millar 581 Miller 558-560, 562, 563, 566, 714, 716, 771, 777, 802, 806 Milligan 483, 789 Millington 497 Millis 452, 561, 563, 623 Mills 480, 485, 531, 564-565, 853 Millynn 466, 526, 566-571 Milne 464, 610 Miotello 629 Miranda 572-576 Mische 493 Mitchell 461, 539, 577-579, 580582, 583-585, 815, 831, 861 Mittiga 849 Moe 810 Mogliotti 573, 574 Molesworth 531 Molloy 562, 563, 638 Monahan 459 Montagner 641 Moon 849 Moore 596, 629, 754, 755, 841 Moorhead 664, 665 Mora 474 Morgan 759, 845, 849 Moriarty 547, 561, 563 Morley 744 Morris 459, 460, 828 Morrison 459, 827, 861 Morrow 552 Morshead 756, 759 Moseley 844 Moses 721, 726 Mott 530, 646 Moulder 458 Moult 865 Mowles 538 Moxham 547 Muller 743, 745 Mullet 460 Murdoch 793, 794

892

Murdock 638 Murphy 571, 696, 707, 872 Murray 461, 571, 586-588, 673, 687, 714, 741, 825 Myott 632

Naratone 603 Nathan 561 Neal 708 Neate 491 Negro 589-591, 672, 732 Neil 828, 831 Neild 802 Nelson 531 Neville 592-594 Newman 459 Newtb 546, 595, 866 Nicholls 596, 599, 866 Nicholson 746, 748 Nisbet 748 Niven 597-599, 802 Nixon 685 Noble 742 Norkett 541, 542 North 452, 459 Nowotina 726 Nunn 855, 858

O'Brien 460, 481, 526, 595, 600, 787, 838 O'Callaghan 479, 526 O'Dea 558, 592, 605, 861 O'Donnell 649 O'Keefe 774 O'Meara 699, 706, 749 O'Rafferty 607 O'Shaunnessy 459 O'Sullivan 584, 712, 822 O'Toole 561 Oag 821 Oaks 530, 531 Offley 723 Olivero 601, 604, 843 Onus 644, 770 Oslington 533-535 Owen 459, 612 Owens 805

Packham 607 Page 605, 607, 861 Painting 459 Palframan 530, 531, 608-610, 638 Palmer 459, 593, 594, 706, 826 Pandolfo 629 Pannowitz 872, 874 Papalia 489 Papasidero 487 Pappas 850 Parker 540, 560, 611-614, 621, 743 Parry 863, 865 Parslow 532 Parsons 464, 834 Pascoe 600 Pasin 629 Pastega 480, 699, 732, 879 Pastro 615-616, 629 Paton 614 Pauling 595, 623, 743, 772, 822 Pavese 530, 582, 722, 839 Peacey 646 Peacock 621 Pearson 458, 612, 709, 814 Pedley 458, 726 Peeck 617-621 Pelgrave 821, 823 Pemberton 503 Penfold 861 Perri 489 Perry 744 Peruch 622-623, 624-625, 641 Peruzzi 626, 629, 873 Pese 603 Pete 504 Peucker 634 Pfitzner 455, 457, 630-634 Philipson 588 Phillips 722, 726, 813, 841 Pierro 591 Pike 577, 603, 835, 843 Pilgrim 743, 745 Pilloni 722, 737 Piper 719 Pitt 533, 623, 696 Pittavino 672 Piva 782, 850, 868-871 Pividori 737 Plant 610 Plos 735, 782, 873

Polese 622 Pomfroy 777 Poole 583, 610, 635, 638 Porto 602, 603 Poscoliero 623, 625, 639-641, 642-643 Potter 459, 575, 585, 595, 806 Potts 865 Power 748 Pratt 644-646 Preist 851 Prest 647, 650 Prestage 522, 524 Pride 461,872 Priest 566 Prince 459, 774 Prior 651, 656 Pritchard 526, 529 Procter 500, 502, 657-659, 661, 662, 683 Provers 850 Pryde 722, 724 Pryor 548, 550, 656 Przibilla 817

Quarello 845 Quarisa 483, 591 Quigley 562, 563 Quince 505, 507, 651, 656 Quist 658

Raccanello 504 Radcliffe 459 Radford 668, 752, 755 Raggott 490 Raines 493 Ramella 480 Rand 744 Rangott 466 Raso 486, 488, 489 Ravenscroft 705, 709 Ravenscroft-Smith 705 Rawle 500, 660-663, 664-665, 682 Rawlings 487 Recetti 666-676 Reddacliff 851 Reedman 656 Reeve 860 Reghellin 553, 557 Reginato 627, 629, 677-678 Reid 841

893

Reidy 459, 679-680 Reilly 501, 661-663, 681-683 Renee 686 Reynolds 751 Rhodes 561, 563 Richards 463 Richardson 698, 810, 814 Richerson 611 Richmond 608, 610 Riddle 490, 491 Ridley 603, 684-685 Rigby 811, 814 Riley 526, 708 Ritchie 686-689, 714, 716, 880 Rixon 659 Rizzardo 640, 737, 738 Robb 510, 568, 647 Roberts 530, 531 Robertson 494, 497, 607 Robins 776 Robinson 468, 472, 473, 623, 644, 690692, 693-695, 713, 770, 874 Rochester 751 Rodda 461,697 Roffe 546, 815 Rogers 712 Romeo 486, 488 Ronaldson 685 Rosato 840 Rose 687, 696-698, 714 Rosevear 803, 807 Rosewarn 686 Ross 493, 550, 611, 612, 668, 702, 761 Rossetto 603, 699-702, 722, 731, 732, 737, 840 Rossi 735 Rossini 572 Rostirolla 483, 732, 733, 735 Rounce 703-712 Rowe 849 Rubie 511 Rudolf 466 Rundle 497 Rushworth 748 Russo 576 Ryan 461, 595, 630 Rydon 687, 713-716 Ryrie 765

Saggin 624 Sainty 717-726, 783, 784, 872 Salisbury 632 Salvestrin 840 Salvestro 588, 616, 727-731, 732, 733-735, 736741, 840 Sampson 527, 528, 694, 695 Sams 709 Sandberg 742-745 Sanders 481, 746-748 Sands 773 Sangster 581 Sankey 723 Santa Caterina 553, 557 Santarosa 624 Sara 873 Sarnagiotto 844 Sartor 479, 616, 627, 629, 764 Saunders 562, 563, 777 Saunderson 815 Savage 565, 589, 590, 602, 706, 825, 861 Savina 603 Sayers 460 Scaliotti 843 Scandura 616 Scandurra 868, 869 Scarfo 488 Schiavenin 733 Schiebel 526, 528, 567 Schintler 791 Schoer 773 Schultz 687 Schwalke 596 Scobie 865 Scott 451, 459, 530, 543, 547, 657, 660, 671 Scovell 855 Scrivener 749-751 Searle 797 Sellars 751 Semmens 604 Sergi 486,489,722 Seymour 866 Shanahan 871 Shannon 813 Sharam 502,752-755 Sharp 527 Shaw 756-761 Sheady 816

Shearer 634 Sheather 606, 607 Sheehan 797 Sheirson 690 Sherlock 459 Shiaz 611 Shiel 538 Shields 580, 623, 656 Shiress 522 Signor 731, 762-764, 868, 869, 877 Signorini 678 Silvester 705 Sim 860 Simpson 529, 656, 661, 765-770, 788, 825, 827 Sinclair 756, 761 Skene 459 Skinner 821 Slade 758 Slater 748, 838 Slingsby 771-773 Smailes 486, 487 Smeeth 774-776 Smellie 460, 874 Smith 452, 502, 518, 519, 538, 607, 612, 656, 705, 761, 769, 777, 806, 814, 837, 838, 849 Smith-Gardner 838 Smyth 666 Snaidero 778-782 Snaith 783-786, 872 Snow 468, 758 Socal 550, 722, 737 Soper 716 Southgate 623 Southy 526, 527 Spada 678 Spalding 596 Speirs 787-794, 794 Spencer 596, 673 Spittle 608 Spratt 882 Sprulom 708 Spry 461, 466, 718, 726, 795-798, 826 St Clair 706 Stacy 528, 799-802 Stafford 879 Stannard 459 Stark 718, 719, 726, 872 Starr 481

894

Steer 617, 621 Stefanin 727 Stenberg 789 Stephens 803-807 Stevens 748, 797 Stevenson 566, 792, 831 Stewart 611, 806, 808810, 874 Stiler 777 Stockton 585, 811-815, 816-818 Stokes 596, 719, 819-823 Strachan 824-827 Strang 492 Styles 457 Such 589 Suine 474, 629, 735 Sully 623 Suman 817 Summers 527, 530, 828831, 853 Sutherland 758 Swales 508-510 Sweeney 858 Sykes & Watson 832

Tango Joe 535 Tannock 854 Taprell 818 Tarr 582, 719, 837, 838 Tavaso 602 Taylor 459, 461, 473, 493, 502, 526, 548, 560, 577, 583, 585, 596, 606, 623, 630, 665, 678, 686, 730, 747, 749, 751, 757, 762, 769, 777, 800, 829, 832-834 Tebbutt 656, 809 Testini 675 Theeuff 835-836, 853 Theodore 850 Thewl 505, 507 Thistlewaite 748 Thomas 451 Thompson 607, 837-838 Thomson 865 Thorpe 835 Tickle 604 Tilden 460, 596 Tilsley 529, 765 Tipaldo 489

Todd 523 Tomeny 816 Tongs 774 Tonkin 595 Toscan 741, 839, 871 Townsend 562, 563 Tracy 797 Trainer 709 Trebilcock 542 Trenerry 501, 531 Trimarchi 488, 489 Trimboli 489 Trims 485 Triola 576 Troy 834 Truda 507 Trudgeon 501 Tucker 701, 766 Turnell 687 Turner 465, 467, 862 Turton 530, 531 Turvey 751 Twigg 814 Tyrrell 649, 650 Tyson 488, 579, 633

Vagg 726, 771 Vaiano 576 Valentini 669, 883 Valenzisi 488 Vardanega 555, 747, 839841, 851, 883 Vaughan 463, 596, 705 Villata 601, 603, 842-851 Visentin 841

Wade 528-531 Walker 571, 827 Wallace 485, 525, 703, 708, 809 Walmsley 683 Walsh 501, 709 Walters 505, 507, 579 Warburton 755 Ward 474, 475, 641, 730, 873 Warren 795, 837 Waters 502 Watkins 526, 548, 596, 704, 805, 825, 853 Watson 530, 531, 663, 665, 831, 852854

Watters 716 Watts 493, 723, 855-860 Weare 466, 541, 839, 850 Webb 481 Weber 802 Webster 600 Weight 704, 705 Weir 815 Wells 539, 776, 855, 861862 Welsh 607 Wennerbom 580, 752, 755 West 526, 802 Westman 618, 621 Westmore 460, 530, 531 Wethum 604 Wetten 793 Wheeler 488, 577, 578, 823 Whelan 623 White 659, 872 Whitehurst 571 Whiting 494, 719, 722, 726, 872 Whitlock 748 Whitman 512, 514 Wilbue 795 Wilcox 811 Wilde 494 Will 560 Williams 459, 503, 638, 704, 748 Williamson 566 Willington 562, 563, 817 Wilson 514, 523, 531, 865 Wincey 778 Winn 652, 656 Wirth 770 Wood 459, 460, 466, 608, 806, 817, 863865 Woodbridge 539, 862 Woodhouse 686 Woods 530, 560 Woodside 758 Wright 489, 595, 596, 634, 687, 704, 712,866 Wrinkel 571 Wynne 605, 607, 836

Youll 758 Young 513, 514 Yull 723

895

Zalunardo 616, 876 Zanatta 623, 867-869 Zandona 603, 604, 870871 Zanundrea 677 Zerbst 690, 692, 872-874 Ziersch 634 Ziliotto 687, 763, 764, 840, 844, 851, 875-877, 878881 Zilliotto 716 Zuccolotto 882-883

401 Griffith

western ,iverina LIBRARIES

Kerwin Maegraith visits Griffith Z2) irc,R / *mow 4.b

Joyous

moer

-51 I 5'

Cost: c

HottePigi.st

4,••1 i."111CR As

imPovra,-ir

0.4

II II II uii 11

30004149709

_tokee'Rar,

1'0%44, -5,71./4/-0

'1. LF- U

.14PARrz).

/Ts Wo...i.bieltrio.. Mow /14ay *LL

iT ss 4

Hoof

'755"

ScabE

avER

1,4Fira 1144 Local-

-26av

Supplier:

Date:

£1. Theilthavis 'rob "taS iblv4 )344.1 C'Rif Fr714

0 ti Ct tf- Lt V

air

iThour fge S •

PizoE oF

Cali No:

is 666'41.1 £41.1. raos‘ 044

imp.tni,,,r

+moll 401 '34kg Eoirom:

'Rif* Int ZffrmoZZE is ifit moor i4FelSomei: CAP osi /SIC vdtkat.E. or 1

-Dok-Fil H1441.14 Sort Contitsis 4 Orr f2c

WigaNt c.4 IRS larci WAS .4.1•4

IvP-)3Rov.r4 o.s•rdei

ftliX4 1Z14,4

1;61 mess. s6R4E-r.G M1172K g,4 ri4c.e41

SINE .4.1b

fie./

Hi otiraR Rxe•ris.

044J

cis t.A.iirt

Grit sks A airr)

vIsA4c.44y.

jimmy Yodu. wg." Is V.E.zy 4,4E VicKwicA

"up./ cop4 1;/E 3304

Wis..SoN IncSiS, la TAKES

MAN AsEs 1.1 K4 46.4

a...)

Re-Ps oiler eF Ktliv4R176..s

HERE , fur 1us ,X14:srexritesgf 8,4 foriff

0.c.pei1t

/RR i -r7PrIc.,4

i7. ass

a'Pr

I13EeR — ork So ME

-rov1,4

16 dfo-,1*- OF 11064 ir:gliR

kyzs .2301s C44 L.O.:b kVolfr

ANA So ,boos S1.a.t )3R...me

)144 g'ows.s

fowl/ 11)4CA*.

ro•M

41?)o, YouRfi Ka.04

By courtesy of Peter Maegraith Compiled from an original feature in "Beckett's Budzer dated 14 June 1927 held by the State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney

Pc44,,,re

1-4RAIIT

Griffith & District Pioneers (Series 3, Part 2): A Biographical Register