5.2 William Arthur Rowland

˪    5.2            William Arthur Rowland was born on the 31st of March 1869, in Perth (Birth Reg. 11382/1869) to his parents Michael and Rebecca Rowland.

William Arthur was baptised by the Methodist Minister, Rev. William Lowe of Perth, later that year, on the 25th of June 1869. William Lowe was the minister for Wesley Church when the current church building was opened the next year in April 1870. (Mr. William Lowe was later to marry Mary Hardey, the daughter of Joseph & Ann Hardey. [Passengers on the Tranby])

   William was educated at Perth Boys School to start with. William then moved with his parents, and four other children, at the age of nine, (during 1878) to the Irwin area by horse and cart. His father, Michael Rowland was listed in that year, as a 'Mail Contractor, Farmer and Butcher'. The family lived in a two-story house on the bank of the Irwin River.

  William became a Farmer and a Miller at Dongara.

  William married the 22-year-old, Rachael "Amy" Joanna Ridley (born during 1867, [Birth Reg.18184], in Toodyay). She was the daughter of Joseph Beete Ridley (born during 1823, in the West Indies - died 28th April 1893, in the Irwin) and Rachel Bennie Johanna Walcott (born in 1836, in WA - died during 1879). Rachael had been nine years old when her mother, Rachel Ridley (nee Walcott) died.

  William and Amy were married at the Irwin State School, on the 15th of May 1889. The first Dongara School had been built in 1870 on the site of the present police station, but by 1906 increased student numbers led to the construction of a two-room school with a veranda and shelter shed in the grounds.

In 1906, the 37-year-old William, Amy and family were listed as living at the 'Railway Siding, Irwin'. William listed as a 'Contractor'. The Moreton Bay Fig Trees that line Irwin Road, (now named Moreton Terrace) of Dongarra were planted in 1906 as part of the earliest civic improvement program in the district, and the town of Dongarra began to spread out in the area between the new Dongarra Hotel and the Royal Stream Roller Flour Mill.

Later, during 1910, William Arthur Rowland was listed as a 'farmer' in Dongara.

They had five children.

Moreton Bay fig trees lining Irwin Road. Image via the Irwin Districts Historical Society. Pat and Elva Ellery on Moreton Terrace, formerly Irwin Road, c1935. | IRME 1725

   5.2.1       William Joseph Rowland was born the year after his parents were married, during February 1890, in South Greenough (Birth Reg. 385/1890).

  William Joseph attended the Irwin State School. In 1906, the 16-year-old William was living with his parents at the Railway Siding, Irwin.

   William then became a Police Constable. William had joined the West Australian Police Force on the 18th of August 1913, as a Probationary Constable, rising to Constable 2nd Class on the 21st of November 1913. He served in Perth (twice), La Grange, then Broome, and at Ora Banda (twice).

William never married.

Following the outbreak of World War I, the Australian government decided to raise an all-volunteer force for overseas service. This force was known as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) William enlisted for service in the AIF (with Service No. 2396) at Perth, on the 26th of June 1916. His father, and next of kin, William Rowland Snr. (5.2) was living in Elanor Street, Geraldton, at the time. William's grandfather, Michael Johnson Rowland [5.] had died earlier that year, on the 13th of February 1916. His younger brother, George Forrester Rowland, [5.2.2] had joined up 11 months before, in August 1915, and was serving in France.

William was very tall at 6 feet, 2 inches high, weighed 173 lbs (78Kg), with dark brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was listed as 'Church of England' in religion.

William trained with the 86th Infantry as a Private. While in camp at Blackboy Hill he contracted measles, where he was hospitalised for 14 days, from 27th June to the 9th of August 1916. On recovery, Will was posted to the 44th Battalion.

Pte William Joseph Rowland.

The 44th Battalion had been raised at Claremont, Western Australia in February 1916. It formed part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division and soon became known as "Old Bill's Thousand" after its first commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel William Mansbridge. The battalion left Australia on the 6th of June 1916 and proceeded to Britain for further training. It arrived in France on the 27th of November and entered the front-line trenches of the Western Front for the first time on the 29th of December.

HMAT Port Macquarie (ship A39)

William had embarked from Fremantle as part of Convoy 24, bound for England, on the HMAT Port Macquarie (ship A39). He was aged 26 years. William left on the 13th of October 1916, (four months after enlistment) as part of the 44th Battalion re-enforcements. His younger brother, George Forrester Rowland [5.2.2] had departed the previous November and was serving in France. There were 312 troops on board the Port Macquarie (and no horses). Cargo ships used for troop transport were specially outfitted for their new wartime role. Cargo holds were hurriedly converted to accommodate many more berths, and conditions on board were very cramped.

On board during the day there were drills, exercises, games and sports, all taken in shifts, as were guard duties and mealtimes. William disembarked, in Plymouth, on the 12th of December 1916. William then became part of the 11th Training Battalion.

The reinforcements then proceeded overseas to France, on the S.S. “Invicta”, from Folkstone, on the 4th of February 1917. They arrived in France at Etaples. Étaples is a town about 27 kilometres south of Boulogne in northern France. During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. By the 8th of February, William was with his Battalion in the field. German losses as a result of the Somme winter offensive were considerable and in February 1917, they retreated to a shorter line known as the Siegfried Line.

The 44th Battalion as a whole, had arrived in France, on the 27th of November and entered the front-line trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 29th December. The 44th spent the bleak winter of 1916-17 alternating between service in the front line, and training and labouring in the rear areas. This routine was broken by only one major raid, an ill-fated effort involving almost half the battalion on 13th of March 1917 as a German retreat commenced along the Somme. The Australian 2nd, 1st and 5th Divisions were holding the line when the retreat commenced and with many British divisions the began to follow the retreating, Germans.

 William Joseph Rowland was still a Private when he was Killed in Action, In the Field, France, with the 3rd D.H.Q. Étaples, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, on the 14th of March 1917. He was aged twenty-seven, after having been only three days in the trenches of the Somme.

His death was only days after his younger brother; George Forrester Rowland was killed in the 28th Infantry Battalion (see below 5.2.2).

Private William Joseph Rowland's body is buried in France, in the '922 Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery', Armentieres. Plot 5, A39. (near the Belgium border)

The headstone reads: "HEAVENLY FATHER - IN THY KEEPING - LEAVE WE NOW - OUR DEAR ONES SLEEPING" The same inscription as his brother's headstone, both organised by 'Mrs. W.R. Rowland, Irwin'.

Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery via Commonwealth War Graves

A tribute was published in the Geraldton Guardian on the 12th of April 1917:

"Much sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Rowland in the sad loss of their two fine sons. These boys were natives of Dongara and it is only five short months since we met to say farewell to Private Will Rowland. He was a fine man, in the prime of life, well respected by all who knew him. He gave his all."

5.2.2 George Forrester Rowland was born on the 20th of February 1892 (Birth Reg. 411/1892). George was baptised the next month, aged 5 weeks old, on Sunday, the 27th of March 1892 at Parkfield, in the Irwin, by the Rev. H. Faull.

In 1906, the 14-year-old George was living at the Railway Siding, Irwin, with his father William working as a Contractor. George was educated at the Irwin State School.

George was a farm worker and labourer at Mingenew when he enlisted in the Australian Army, on the 9th of August 1915, with the Service Number 2786. George enlisted in Perth and was assigned to the 6/28 Battalion. He had never married and was aged “23 5/12” years old, 5ft 11 inches high, and weighed 172 lbs. (78Kg). He had a fair completion with blue eyes and light brown hair.

George embarked, from Fremantle, on the HMAT Ulysses (ship A38) on the 2nd of November 1915. He was then a member of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 28th Infantry Battalion, 6th re-enforcements.

HMAT Ulysses (Via AWM)

George disembarked in Cairo, Egypt, and served some time in Heliopolis, in the outskirts of Cairo. George was admitted to hospital on the 7th of February 1916 with influenza and was discharged on seven days later, on the 14th of February 1916.

About a month later, after more training, he then embarked from Alexandria, on the 21st of March 1916, across the Mediterranean on the troopship “Oriana”. George and his companions were disembarked at Marseilles, in the south of France, on the 27th of March 1916. Troopships carrying the Australian 1st and 2nd Division had begun to arrive in Marseilles from the 19th of March.

The 28th Australian Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Brigade, was part of the 2nd Division. The Australian troops were then moved by rail north to the battlefields. The Australian troops are billeted in the St Omer-Aire-Hazebrouck region of French Flanders which was known as the "Nursery".

George Forrester Rowland.

In early April, the 28th Infantry Battalion entered the front line around Armentières, holding the right-hand sector of the 7th Brigade's line. A report in the Western Australian Daily News on 22nd of June 1916, listed as George as seriously wounded, but that report was incorrect.

The 28th's first major action came during the Battle of Pozières in late July and early August when they took part in two attacks. During the first attack, the 28th suffered heavily when they were committed to a night-time attack on the heights that got held up in heavy wire entanglements that the preparatory bombardment had failed to destroy; the battalion's losses were the heaviest in the 7th Brigade, amounting to 10 officers and 360 other ranks.

After this, the 28th was moved to a quieter sector around Ypres before returning to the Somme, in the later part of 1916, and taking part in further fighting around Flers.

George Forrester Rowland was Killed in Action, in France, on 12th of March 1917 (two days before his older brother William Rowland). He was aged twenty-five years and serving with the 28th Infantry Battalion. He was buried in the “Martinpuich British Cemetery 5 ½ miles E.N.E of Albert”. Row A, Grave 8. The Headstone Inscription reads: "HEAVENLY FATHER - IN THY KEEPING - LEAVE WE NOW - OUR DEAR ONES SLEEPING". George was posthumously awarded the 1914/1915 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory medal.

In late March, his mother (Rachael) who was living in Gregory St Geraldton ...

‘.... and formerly of the Irwin, received during the week the distressing news that her two only sons were killed in France. Private George Rowland was killed on 12th March and Private Will Rowland on the 14th. The double calamity was confirmed in a wire to the Rev. J. G. Jenkin from the Commandant. One of the sons had been at the front for twelve months whilst the other had only been in the trenches three days.’ Geraldton Guardian - 31st of March 1917.

via Irwin Shire Council.

Six members of the Rowland families enlisted from the Irwin District, with four - Killed in Action. The Great War had a huge impact on the district, with about 20% of its young men killed and more maimed and wounded. The Irwin War Memorial, Moreton Terrace, in Dongarra erected in 1919 (initially in the cemetery) records their names.

In Memory Of
the SONS of DONGARA
who FELL in the
Great War 1914 to 1918”.

Notice of Thanks - Geraldton Express 4 April 1917.

5.2.3 Ada Mary Rowland was born on the 8th of March 1894, at Strawberry (Birth Reg. 469/1894). Ada was baptised at her parents' residence at Strawberry, on Friday, the 27th of April 1894, by the Rev. A.C. Plane, aged seven weeks old.

Ada was educated locally. At 12 years old, Ada was living with her parents at the Railway Siding at Irwin. Her sister Myrtle had just been born.

18-year-old Ada married Alfred Walter "Digger" Buckey (born on the 24th of November 1883, in Hackney, London, England).
They were married on the 25th of September 1912, by the Rev. W.R. Lang, in Dongara. (Marriage Reg. Irwin: 006/1912)
Alfred was a member of the West Australian Police Force in Geraldton. The couple then lived in Elenore Street, in Geraldton.
In 1917, Ada was listed as living at Grantown House, in Geraldton.

Husband Alfred Buckey had enlisted, in Geraldton, for service during WW1. Before coming to Australia, he had spent 3 years in the Forth Royal Fusiliers, City of London Regiment. He then joined the Australian Imperial Force on the 1st of April 1915. He was 29 years of age. He was listed as a Wesleyan.

Alfred embarked from Fremantle, on the 7th of September 1916, via the 'Clan MacGillivray'. They disembarked in Plymouth, on the 2nd of November 1916. He proceeded to France, and was wounded, in action, on the 9th of April 1917. Alfred was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1918, and then to Corporal in 1919.

Alfred returned to Australia on the Ceramic on the 26th of February 1920. After some time in hospital, he finally disembarked, at Fremantle, on the 18th of March 1920.

They had one child before Alfred went overseas.

5.2.3.1    Roy Alfred Buckey was born on the 23rd of October 1913, in Geraldton. (Birth Reg. 2900175/1913)
Roy was baptised on Sunday, the 14th of December 1913, in Geraldton Methodist by the Rev. J. E. Stone.

His parents divorced during November 1935, when Roy was 22 years old.

Roy became engaged to Nora Wilcox in Perth, during January 1941.
  Roy then married Nora Wilcox (born abt. 1912). They were married in the Wesley Church, during October 1941.
(Marriage Reg. Perth: 102268/1941)
Nora was the eldest daughter of Mr. & Mrs. F. G. Wilcox, of Nottingham, Waterman's Bay.
Roy served in the Australian Army during WW2, as Service Number WX29653. He had enlisted in Moora.
He became a Lance Corporal while serving with the 11th Infantry Battalion AMF.

Roy and Nora had one child.

5.2.3.1.1                 June Mary Buckey was born in the Parkview Hospital, on the 15th of September 194x.

  Nora Buckey (nee Wilcox) died on the 12th of August 1970, in Applecross, Perth (Death Reg. 3084/1970).
In 1977, the widower Roy is listed as living at 6 Francis Road, Applecross, with his occupation still listed as a 'lumper'.

Roy Alfred Buckey died on the 4th of January 1990, at Applecross, aged 76 years.
(Death Reg. Fremantle: 2700049/1990)

In 1925, Alfred was a tramway employee, and Alfred and Ada were living together at 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Balactta.
A divorce which was granted to Ada Mary Buckey (nee Rowland) and Alfred Buckey, on the 15th of November 1935.

Ada later married a Mr. Jim MacInnes, in Melbourne, during 1939. Alfred Walter married Ernestine Joan Mitchell around 1942 and had
two children.

  Ada Mary MacInnes (nee Rowland, Buckey) later died in Victoria.

  Her first husband, divorcee Alfred Walter "Digger" Buckey died on the 22nd of September 1961, in Bassendean, aged 77 years.

5.2.4 Ivy Rachel Rowland was born on the 20th of July 1896, at Hunts Farm, in Irwin (Birth Reg. 998/1896).
Ivy was baptised on the 20th of September 1896, at Dongara Methodist by the Rev. J.G. Mitchell.

At 10 years old, Ivy was living at the Railway Siding, Irwin, with her family. Her father was a 'Contractor'. Ivy grew up in the Irwin district.
By 1917, when Ivy was 21 years old, her parents William & Rachel Rowland were living in Eleanor Street, Geraldton.
Her father William Rowland by then was listed as 'a Labourer'.

Ivy married William Nathaniel Hasleby (born on the 8th of June 1888, in Northampton) He was the son of James Hasleby, (A former Convict, born in 1833, in Lincolnshire) & Elizabeth Barlow (born in WA). of 'Hillgrove', Northampton. William was one of seven children. William had grown up in Northampton with his father a storekeeper and teacher.

Ivy and William were married on the 11th of April 1917, in Christ Church, Geraldton, by the Rev. A. Craven, B.A. (Geraldton Marriage Reg. 10/1917) This was the month after Ivy's brothers George Rowland and William Rowland had been killed in France.

William Nathaniel Hasleby. Via Susanne White.

William was a storekeeper in Northampton and had a home called 'Hazelhurst'.

Northampton in the late 19th and early 20th century was a mining and pastoral town, known for copper and lead mining as well as sheep grazing.

Northampton c1900 Image via SLWA

William and Ivy had three children together.

5.2.4.1 Ivy Joy Hasleby, was born on the 26th of May 1919, at home at "Hazelhurst", Northampton.
(Birth Reg. No. 5000019/1919)
As a three-year-old child in 1922, Ivy was living with her parents on Northampton Road, Northampton.

Ivy married Sergeant John Lawrence (Michael) Cross (born on the 16th of March 1919)
They were engaged on the 22nd of February 1941 and married during 1941 in Perth. (Marriage Reg. Perth: 102074/1941)
He was the youngest son of Mr. Percival Raymond Cross & and the late Doris Eva Hearn of Fremantle.

John had joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), at Pearce, on the 25th of September 1939.
(Service No. 210005).
He attained the rank of Warrant Officer and served during the war.

John was discharged on the 19th of November 1945.

After the war, during 1949, the family were living in Mason Street, Cannington. John was then a civil servant.
They had three daughters and two sons.

5.2.4.1.1   Michael John Cross Jnr. was born on the 6th of April 1942.
Michael became a Clerk.

Michael John married Maxine Margaret Ferguson (born in 1937) during 1962, in Fremantle.
  (Marriage Reg. 18/1962)
They had two children.
5.2.4.1.1.1 Ferguson.
5.2.4.1.1.2 Ferguson.

In 1968, the family were living at 13 Buxton Road, Wembley Downs.

Michael John Cross died on the 5th of August 1989, in Nedlands, aged 47 years.
   (Death Reg. Perth:103223/1989)

Maxine Margaret Cross (nee Ferguson) died on the 5th of July 2012, aged 74 years.
Buried at Karrakatta.

5.2.4.1.2 Stephen William Cross was born in 1954.
Stephen became an Engineer.

Stephen married (after 1970) and had one child.
5.2.4.1.2.1 Cross

  Stephen William Cross died on the 25th of May 2018, aged 54 years. He last lived at Halls Head.
Buried at Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park.

5.2.4.1.3 Cross.
5.2.4.1.4 Cross.
5.2.4.1.5 Cross.

In 1977, John Lawrence was a Clerk living with his wife Ivy Joy (working as a Saleswoman) and son Stephen William Cross
at 53 Dundas Road, Inglewood.

  John Lawrence Cross had died on the 16th of January 1984, in Nedlands, aged 64 years old. (Death Reg. Perth: 100446/1984)
Buried at Fremantle.

  Ivy Joy Cross (nee Hasleby) died on the 28th of September 1991, in Subiaco, aged 71 years. (Death Reg. Perth: 104202/1991)

5.2.4.2 Hilary June "Joy" Hasleby was born on June 26th, 1923, at her parent's residence in Northampton.
Seven-year-old Hilary was a bridesmaid at her aunty Myrtle Rowland's [5.2.5] marriage to Eric Brinkworth during June 1930,
in Bayswater.

Hilary joined the AWAS during World War 2 and was a Sergeant when she married John Francis Considine. John had been born on the 19th of June 1920, in Perth. He joined the RAAF at Pearce on the 26th of February 1944.
Joy's parents were living in Mount Lawley at the time she was engaged in May 1944. (Three months after John enlisted) They were then married in St George's Cathedral, Perth, on the 20th of May 1944. (Marriage Reg. Perth: 101275/1944)

At that time, her parents were living in Adelaide Terrace.
John discharged from the RAAF as a Leading Aircraftsman on the 10th of May 1946.

They had two children.

5.2.4.2.1 Jeffery John Trevor Considine was born on the 14th of October 1948, in Perth.

Jeffery John Trevor Considine died on the 16th of March 2009, aged 60 years.

5.2.4.2.2 Considine.

Hilary June Considine (nee Hasleby) died on the 20th of December 1997, in Scarbough, aged 74 years.
John Francis Considine died on the 30th of March 1998, in Subiaco, aged 77 years old..

5.2.4.3 Trevor Forrest William Hasleby, was born on 25th January 1918, at Nurse Chamber's 'Stewkley" in Geraldton.
(Birth Reg. No. 2900017/1918)
In June 1946, Trevor then aged 28, was convicted of stealing 4 shirts in the Perth Police Court.
He was listed as being a sawmiller.
Later, he was charged with stealing clothes from a clothesline behind the flat in which he was living.

Trevor Forrest Hasleby married Nellie Mavis Morris,
in Perth, during 1937.
(Marriage Reg. No. 2075/1937).
In 1943, Trevor is listed as a 'sawmiller' living at
Flat 3, 265 Stirling Street, North Perth.

In December 1948, Nellie Mavis Hasleby was granted
a divorce on the grounds of desertion.
Trevor was living in Moora at the time.

Birth Notice for Trevor Halseby - Geraldton Guardian 29 Jan 1918

Trevor Forrest remarried, during August 1950, in Perth, the teacher, Dorothy "Dot" Joan Moore (born 1st of November 1926)
(Marriage Reg. No. 2041/1950)
  They lived in Moora had a son together in July 1952.

5.2.4.3.1 John Hasleby was born in King Edward Memorial Hospital in July 1952.

In 1977 to 1980, Trevor is listed as being a Bank Officer, living at 4 Loma Street, Cottesloe with Dorothy.

  Trevor Forrest William Hasleby died on the 9th of September 2000, aged 81 years old, having lived at Glen Forrest.
Cremated at Karrakatta.
  Dorothy Joan Hasleby (nee Moore) died on the 29th of July 2005, in Midland, aged 77 years old.
Cremated at Karrakatta.

In March 1925, Ivy and her husband Will, placed a
family notice in memory of Ivy's two brothers,
George Forrester & William Joseph Rowland,
killed in the Great War.

The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Sat 14 Mar 1925 Page 1 Family Notices

By 1936, William Nathaniel Hasleby and Ivy were living at 453 Beaufort Street, North Perth, with William employed as a 'traveller'.
Ivy divorced William Nathaniel Hasleby on the 8th of September 1954.

Then, two years later, during 1956, Ivy married a Harold William Matters. (Marriage Reg. 69/1956) Harold was a 'Gasfitter'.
  In 1963, they were living in Flat 202/ 1217 Hay Street, Perth. It is not known if she had further children.

  Ivy Rachel Matters (nee Rowland/ Hasleby) died on the 18th of February 1967, at Embelton, aged 70 years (Death Reg. 606/1967).

  Her former husband, William Nathaniel Hasleby had died on the 9th of October 1961, in Nedlands, aged 71 years.

Second husband, Harold William Matters died in Embelton, during 1969. (Death Reg. Perth: 103494/1969)

5.2.5       Myrtle Amy Rebecca Rowland was born on the 13th of December 1905, at Irwin (Birth Registration 004/1906).
Myrtle was baptised early the next year, on Sunday the 14th of January 1906, in Dongara Methodist be the Rev. J.E. Stone.
In 1906, she was listed as living with her family at the Railway Siding, at Irwin, where her father William was a Contractor.

  By 1917, when Myrtle was 12 years old, her parents William & Rachel Rowland were living in Eleanor Street, Geraldton.
Her father William by then was listed as 'a Labourer'. The family later moved from the Irwin area.
Myrtle became a typist in Perth, and in 1928, was living in Foyle Street, Bayswater, with her parents, William & Rachel Rowland.

Myrtle married Eric "Cyril" Courtney Brinkworth (born on the 2nd of April 1907, in Cottesloe, where his father was a produce
merchant at the time.)
   Eric was the youngest son of Edwin Charles Brinkworth & Elizabeth Mary Edwards of James Street, Guildford.
They were married on Saturday, the 21st of June 1930, in Bayswater Methodist Church. (Marriage Reg. 857/1930)
The two small train bearers, Hilary Hasleby (niece of the bride), and Betty Crouch (niece of the bridegroom) wore dainty frocks
  of pink with touches of blue, and large tulle bows in their hair. They each carried a basket of pink roses and forget-me-nots.
Mr. Max Brinkworth (the bridegroom's brother) carried out the duties of best man.
The reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents in Foyle Street, Bayswater.
The couple then lived in Burnside Steet, Bassendean. (Eric's father Edwin Charles Brinkworth died in 1936.)
Eric was a Storeman/Clerk.

The 35-year-old Eric enlisted in the Australian Army on the 18th of July 1942 (Service No: WX27999) after having been in the CMF for a year. He had two children under 16 years and one over at the time. He was 6ft 1 inch tall and was a Methodist.
He rose to the rank of Sergeant. Myrtle was listed as his next of kin and living at 10 Ida Street, in Bassendean. Eric served in New Guinea from September 1944 until June 1945.

Eric was discharged on the 13th of November 1945, while serving with the 140 General Transport Company.

Eric became a 'Business Manager'. Eric Courtney Brinkworth was on the Bassendean Roads Board from 1947 to 1956.

Together Myrtle and Eric raised two children.

5.2.5.1 Ronald "Ron" Eric Brinkworth was born during on the 1st of February 1933, at the Seaton Ross Maternity Hospital,
in Guildford.
When he was 9 years old his father Eric joined the Australian Army.
Ron commenced a Post office career during 1948 as a Clerk.

Ron became engaged to Dorothy 'Doss' Christina Parker in
December 1954. Doss had been born during 1943, in Perth,
and was living in Buxton Street, Mt Hawthorn. Ron was a
Postal Clerk living at 10 Ida Street, in Bassendean.

The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Sat 18 Dec 1954 Page 15 They Are Engaged

The couple were married in Victoria Park, on the 10th of March 1956. (Marriage Reg. 661/1956).
   Ronald became the Postmaster, at Toodyay, and lived in the Post Office Quarters with his wife.

They had three children.

5.2.5.1.1                Susan Lee Brinkworth was born during the 1950s.
Sue attended the Pinjarra Senior High School in the 70s.
Susan became a teacher and in 1977, was living with her parents in George Street, Pinjarra.

   Susan married fellow teacher Neville Dennis King and lived in Kirkham Street, Pinjarra.
Susan later married Alan Edge and lives in Mandurah. Happily involved in the performance arts.
They had two children.

5.2.5.1.1.1    Joshua 'Josh' Edge.

Josh married Raf.

5.2.5.1.1.1 Natasha "Tash" Edge.

Tash married Lukas Murphy in 2022.

5.2.5.1.2   Janine Kay Brinkworth was born in the 1960s.
In 1980, Janine was a student living with her parents at 20 George Street, Pinjarra.

  Janine married a Mr. Savage and had two children.

5.2.5.1.2.1 Jeane Savage.
5.2.5.1.2.2 Savage.

5.2.5.1.3                Amanda Jane Brinkworth was born in the 1960s. Mandy attended the Pinjarra Senior High School.

   Amanda married a Mr. McQueen.

  Ron and his family were living in the Post Office Quarters in Toodyay, during 1968. They then moved to Pinjarra.

Pinjarra Post Office

Both Ron and Doss are remembered for teaching the town youth ballroom dancing in the 1960s and 70s.
Ron finished his Post Office career as the Postmaster at Pinjarra during 1983.

Doss also wrote Happenings for the local Herald for some years. Ron was also a volunteer Driving Instructor at the local Pinjarra Senior High School in 1991.

Ronald Eric Brinkworth died on the 9th of January 2009, in Furnissdale, WA, aged 75 years.

His widow, Dorothy 'Doss' Brinkworth (nee Parker) died during June 2025,
aged 82 years old.

Doss Brinkworth. Image via Facebook 2025

5.2.5.2 Allan Courtney Brinkworth was born on the 2nd of March 1936, in the Seaton Ross Private Hospital, Guildford.

   Allan started school at Eden Hill for a few months. Then for a few months he was taken to St Michael’s in Bassendean.
  Then he was transferred to the West Road Primary School, and he later went to Forrest High School, Mount Lawley.
  Allan was an active volunteer with the Guildford and Bassendean Fire Brigade for over 30 years.
  Allan worked at the WAGR, then did a short stint in the Navy, for National Service, in the 1950's.
He was identified on discharge as suffering with TB. Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection caused by the bacterium
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs but capable of damaging other body parts.
  Allan played hockey as a sport and loved dancing.

At 19 years old, in 1954, Allan was injured when his bicycle ran into a truck near
Geraldton Railway Station.

The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Mon 11 Oct 1954 Page 3 Cyclist Runs Into Truck

  Allan spent time at the Wooroloo Sanitorium where he met a young Anne Ivy Veronica Rakich, also suffering from TB.
In 1958, Allan was a 'car builder' and was living at 10 Ida Street, Bassendean. The 23-year-old Allan married the
  23-year-old Anne Ivy Veronica Rakich. Anne had been born during March 1938, in Midland, and then lived in
Caversham. Anne had contracted TB at the age of sixteen.

Allan and Anne were married during 1959, (Marriage Reg. Swan: 130/1959) and then went to live in Bassendean.
Together they had four sons.

  5.2.5.2.1   David Brinkworth,
5.2.5.2.2              Mark Brinkworth, lives in Eden Hill.
5.2.5.2.3   Stephen Brinkworth,
5.2.5.2.4   Craig Brinkworth.

In 1963, Allan was a Fireman and living with his wife Anne at 20 Ida Street, Bassendean, down the street from Allan's parents.
Anne Ivy stood for Council in the West Ward of Bassendean in 1988. She was successful.
Anne spent over 23 years as a Counseller for the Town of Bassendean and lived locally. She followed her father-in-law
Eric Courtney Brinkworth into Council where he had spent nine years.
  Anne was very involved and well recognised with Red Cross.

Allan Courtney Brinkworth died on the 16th of January 2014, in Claremont, aged 78 years.

From 1963 to 1968, Eric was a Storeman and was still living with his wife Myrtle at the family home at 10 Ida Street, Bassendean.

Myrtle Amy Rebecca Brinkworth (nee Rowland) died peacefully on the 4th of May 1989, in Guildford, aged 83 years. (Death Reg. Swan: 6100097/1989)
Her body was cremated at Karrakatta.

Her husband, Eric Courtney (Cyril) Brinkworth died on the 28th of June 1975, in Leederville (Death Reg. Perth: 102519/1975)
He was also cremated at Karrakatta.

Memorial to Myrtle Brinkworth (nee Rowland) - via BillionGraves.com

In 1917, William & Rachel Rowland were living in Eleanor Street, Geraldton. William was 'a Labourer'. William Arthur Rowland and his wife Rachel later resided in Foyle Street, Bayswater. This was during the 1930's and early 1940's.

William was holidaying in Carnamah at the time of his death, residing with his brother Frederick Rowland [5.3] or his cousins, James H. Rowland or Clarence A. Rowland.

William Arthur Rowland (the second son of Michael & Rebecca Rowland) died on April 2nd, 1942, aged 73 years, at Three Springs.
(Death Reg. Irwin: 3300009/1942)

He was buried in the Three Springs General Cemetery. (Methodist Section, Plot 14).

The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Sat 4 Apr 1942 Page 1 Family Notices

His wife, Rachael "Amy" Joanna Rowland (nee Ridley) also died peacefully later the same year, on the 19th of August 1942, in Bayswater. (Death Reg No. 2048/1942)

Buried in Karrakatta Cemetery.

The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Thu 20 Aug 1942 Page 1 Family Notices

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