A frustrated farmer with a penchant for the pool
My first memories of pop were at Orange Grove. The first night we shifted, uncle Harry and Pop erected an old army tent for us to live in whilst a large wood and iron shed was being built. Orange Grove is notorious for strong east winds. Half way thru the night I awoke to a large roar, with Pop and Uncle Harry hanging on to the central pole to keep the tent from blowing away.
The shed was eventually built, followed by a house some time later. The years that followed at Orange Grove were great, with pop being vice-captain of the footy team and me being the team mascot. Mum knitted me a footy jumper which matched pops, except that mine had no. 1 on the back. Every time the team played I would proudly lead them onto the ground. Pop was a great competitor, playing against rising stars from Sister Kate’s, such as Polly Farmer and Ted Kilmurray.
It was also a good time for me as I had a newish little sister. While Fay had my measure, I could tease this new one to distraction. i.e. Judy the ‘brat’. Pop, in some ways, was a frustrated farmer. His grandfather had settled the original Williams clan at Coolup – just south of Pinjarra, and his uncle Wes had a farm at Ballidu, so at Orange Grove we had two cows, crooks, ducks and of course the obligatory dog and cat.
At the bottom of the block was the best soil in Orange Grove, and for years Pop would plant peas and sell them to the local green grocer. The country atmosphere at Orange Grove meant we knew everybody in the district, with Pop in his element organising dances at the local hall, sawdust for the dance floor, with pigs trotters for supper. The hall for a time was also the school, movie theatre and church.
During this time he formed a friendship with Bert Berryman and this association continued until Uncle Bert passed away a few years ago. Pop would take us all up to Minginew to help uncle Bert with the wheat harvest. Afterwards we would all take off to Dongara to camp by the sea. All the kids went swimming and the adults partied – which I don’t think pop really minded.
Pop joined Uncle Ernie working at his upholstery factory a stones throw from the causeway. During the week they supplied lounge suites to Zimpels, Hearnsteads and Boans. On saturday mornings I got to go with pop when they concentrated on re-covering old lounge suites. It was my job to pull off the backs and sides of these suites. Sometimes I found old coins which had been lost from the owners’ pockets. It was pure joy to occasionally find a 2 Shilling piece.
Pop also tried his hand at being a bookie. In those days there wasn’t TAB’s, only registered bookmakers who paid a licence fee to the government. However, there were unlicenced bookmakers who operated outside the system. Pop and one of his mates decided to set up a venture under the bridge on Albany highway next to the Gosnells hotel.
This was moderately successful with the police making random raids. Pop had a contact in the police force who advised him when the raids would take place. Pop would then hand the bag to a stoolie who would ‘take the rap. However, one day a new member joined the squad and wasn’t aware of the arrangement -pop was caught redhanded and taken to court. Mum and Nanna not amused – his bookie days were over.
In 1955 following the passing of Aunty Nell, the family shifted to Inglewood to look after Uncle Harry, who was a jack of all trades. He was the architect who oversaw the construction of the Donnelly river mill for the Bunnings timber group.
Uncle Harry and Pop got on very well together – Uncle Harry introduced pop to gold prospecting.
The Cockrobin mine on Lake Ballard, Menzies, became the focus of their attention. In December 1955, I embarked on a great adventure with Pop and Uncle Harry to Lake Ballard to find our Eldorado. Alas, after encountering two billion flies, 200 tons of soil, we came home with three ounces of gold. But wait…the story doesn’t end there. Fast forward to the next generation – Pop, Frank and Stuart embark on the same quest, to the same creek.
When we arrive a loud-mouthed American tells us – this is his creek. Pop said, don’t worry Frank, there is another creek just over the hill. We get out our brand new metal detector and within 10 minutes we have found a 10 ounce nuggett… wow…we thought we will fill up the back of the ute with gold, then head for home alas, again, two small nuggets was all we found.
Pop was also a punter of some renown. In 1956, he picked five winners at the trots and shared with nine others a jackpot of 90,000 pounds. In the last race, if the horse that had come third had won, Pop would have collected the full 90,000 pounds.
By now I was following in my father’s footsteps and wanted to become a farmer. His win meant I could attend Muresk Agricultural College. I am eternally grateful for that opportunity.
Pop was extremely competitive in nature. When in the water he was like poetry in motion, his style and speed saw him with a state blazer in 1936. If world WWII hadn’t intervened then who knows what he could have achieved….however, he did resume swimming later in life, winning several world titles for his age group. He was still swimming regularly up until about three years ago.
Pop lived his life surrounded by his family and many friends. He died as he lived-surrounded by his family, still joking and having a beer. May he rest in peace as he rejoins mum. We will miss him.
9/8/2014