Thursday, July 23, 2026

Pakenham South, Cardinia, Clyde, Tooradin and Warneet - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Subscriber Truck Dialling (S.T.D.) came to Koo Wee Rup on Sunday June 24, 1973, so you no longer had to ring an operator to have a call put through to another exchange or interstate. On the same day telephone subscribers from Bayles, Beaconsfield Upper, Lang Lang, Nar Nar Goon, Nar Nar Goon North, Officer, Pakenham, Pakenham South, Pakenham Upper, The Gurdies and Yannathan South could also access S.T.D. calls. People also received a new 6-digit telephone number (with an 059 area code) and thus the Koo Wee Rup Sun telephone number changed from Koo Wee Rup 16 to 971-416 and the Bayles Milk Factory changed from Bayles 201 to 977-201.

The PMG produced an Interim Telephone Directory in 1973 with all the new numbers and these are the entries for  Pakenham South, Cardinia and Clyde, Tooradin and Warneet.

See the entries from the 1973 Interim Telephone Directory for -
Koo Wee Rup, Bayles and Catani,  here.
Lang Lang, Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South, here.

Pakenham South - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Pakenham South - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory
Cardinia - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Cardinia - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Clyde - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Tooradin - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Warneet  - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory


See the entries from the 1973 Interim Telephone Directory for -
Koo Wee Rup, Bayles and Catani,  here.
Lang Lang, Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South, here.

Lang Lang, Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

 Subscriber Truck Dialling (S.T.D.) came to Koo Wee Rup on Sunday June 24, 1973, so you no longer had to ring an operator to have a call put through to another exchange or interstate. On the same day telephone subscribers from Bayles, Beaconsfield Upper, Lang Lang, Nar Nar Goon, Nar Nar Goon North, Officer, Pakenham, Pakenham South, Pakenham Upper, The Gurdies and Yannathan South could also access S.T.D. calls. People also received a new 6-digit telephone number (with an 059 area code) and thus the Koo Wee Rup Sun telephone number changed from Koo Wee Rup 16 to 971-416 and the Bayles Milk Factory changed from Bayles 201 to 977-201.

The PMG produced an Interim Telephone Directory in 1973 with all the new numbers and these are the entries for Lang Lang, Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South.

See the entries from the 1973 Interim Telephone Directory for - 
Koo Wee Rup, Bayles and Catani, here.
Pakenham South, Cardinia, Clyde, Tooradin and Warneet, here.

Lang Lang - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Lang Lang - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Lang Lang - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Yannathan South - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory


See the entries from the 1973 Interim Telephone Directory for - 
Koo Wee Rup, Bayles and Catani, here.
Pakenham South, Cardinia, Clyde, Tooradin and Warneet, here.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

The Telephone in Koo Wee Rup

The telephone was connected at the Post Office in Koo Wee Rup in 1916, as part of the line between Springvale and Korumburra.

The telephone is connected at the Koo Wee Rup Post Office.

It appears that the uptake of the telephone by businesses in the town was fairly slow as in February 1920, the Koo Wee Rup Sun published this short article -


Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 19, 1920, p.4

'Phone Facilities
It is a surprising oversight on the part of some business people of Kooweerup and Cranbourne who still muddle on without installing a telephone, thus placing themselves and customers at great disadvantage and inconvenience. Whether they want an eye-wash or their brains swept, matters little - the isolation and handicap is no credit to their intelligence. When outside trade is sought, 'phone service is surely needful, and the writer wants several trading businessmen, in the centres referred to, to weigh the point we raise and install that belated telephone, and to keep abreast of the times and not live as in the days of ancient runners that the telephone service has pushed out of work.
(Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 19, 1920, p.4)

The first Koo Wee Rup business I could find which advertised with a telephone number was A.C. Colvin for his car hire business. 


Koo Wee Rup Sun, November  25, 1920,  p 3

The Koo Wee Rup Sun had a ‘telephone directory’ published in its November 10, 1921 with sixteen subscribers.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 10, 1921, p.2


Who were these sixteen subscribers?  (1)
Amalgamated Wireless Company, had established their Receiving Station here at Koo Wee Rup and in December 1921, the Station received the first direct radio message from Wales to Australia. 
Biggar, J is James Biggar, who owned land at Monomeith. Mr Biggar had purchased part of George Glassock’s Estate after Glasscock died in 1891. Glasscock’s land was originally part of the Monomeith Estate owned by John Mickle (1814-1885).  I presume as he is IJ and W.C Greaves is IM that this was a party line.
Bourke Brothers also owned part of the Monomeith Estate.
Colvin A.C.  Andrew Colvin opened a cycle shop in 1911 in Koo Wee Rup, and later became an Agent for Ford cars. 
Cougle, E. Ernest Cougle owned a General Store in Station Street.
Ellis, F.F.  Fred Ellis was the Draper. His shop was where Broadbent’s was located in Rossiter Road.
E.S. & A. Bank. The English, Scottish & Australian Bank merged with the ANZ in 1970. The London Bank (later the E.S. & A. Bank) acquired the site of the old ANZ Bank in Station Street (which is now a Chemist) in 1912 and the existing building was erected in 1919. 
Greaves, W.C. William Clement Greaves (1866-1936) owned Warook and various other properties. He was a Committee member of the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) and a Cranbourne Shire Councillor from 1898 to 1920. His son of the same name was also a Committee member of the RAS and a Councillor from 1924 to 1959. 
Gippsland & Northern Co-Operative Co. Ltd -  the Stock & Station Agents. 
Johnson, E.  This is Eliza Johnson -  a Baker and Pastrycook, located in Station Street.
Morrison, J. Joe Morrison, the blacksmith and wheelwright, was located where the Cellarbrations store is now in Station Street. 
M'Namara, D. Denis McNamara owned the Royal Hotel. 
O'Riordan, J.L.  John Leslie O’Riordan and his wife Margaret (the sister of A.C Colvin) lived at Mallow, which is now the home of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society. They operated a general store in Station Street. 
"SUN" Office. The Sun newspaper had started as the Cranbourne Shire Record in 1894, moved to Lang Lang and became the Guardian in 1902 and moved to Koo Wee Rup in 1918. It ceased publication in 1980s.
State Rivers & Water Supply Commission is now the Rural Water Commission. 
Woodman, A.  I presume this is either Alfred or Albert Woodman. Their parents were George and Ann Woodman, who took up land at Yallock in the 1870s. Other siblings included Charles, Henry, Emily, Helen and Florence (Mrs Norman Bethune) 

In June 1923 it was announced that a trunk line between Koo Wee Rup and Bayles was established, and in March 1927 a  new telephone line between Koo wee rup, Dalmore, via Mancks [sic] road, has been completed. A new line is contemplated between Koo-wee-rup and McGregor's Estate.  Then in December 1927 a report noted that telephone facilities have been extended to Rythdale and to Lisbaun. (2)  Lisbaun State School, No.4196, operated from 1924 until 1937 was located in McCormack’s Road in Clyde North.(3)

In November 1927 a new switchboard was installed at the Koo Wee Rup Post Office capable of connecting 150 subscribers. Then in December 1927 there were two announcements  - A telephone box has been placed under the verandah of the Kooweerup Post-office, and non-subscribers will be able to use same at any time. And from  December 8 -  It is gratifying to announce that from to-day a continuous telephone service will operate in Kooweerup. (4)

Subscriber Truck Dialling (S.T.D.) came to Koo Wee Rup on Sunday June 24, 1973, so you no longer had to ring an operator to have  a call put through to another exchange or interstate. On the same day  telephone subscribers from Bayles, Beaconsfield Upper, Lang Lang, Nar Nar Goon, Nar Nar Goon North, Officer, Pakenham, Pakenham South, Pakenham Upper, The Gurdies and Yannathan South could also access S.T.D. calls.  People also received a new 6-digit telephone number (with an 059 area code) and thus the Koo Wee Rup Sun telephone number changed from Koo Wee Rup 16 to 971-416 and the Bayles Milk Factory changed from Bayles 201 to 977-201 (5)

The PMG produced an Interim Telephone Directory in 1973 with all the new numbers, you can see the entries for -
Koo Wee Rup, Bayles and Catani  here.
Lang Lang, Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South, here.
Pakenham South, Cardinia, Clyde, Tooradin and Warneet, here.

The Directory also had this  helpful advice on how to make a telephone call -


How to make a telephone call
Pakenham Area Interim Telephone Directory, 1973


Footnotes
(1) This information comes from the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Death and Marriages, the Electoral Roll on Ancestry.com; The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (F.W. Cheshire, 1968);  Mickle Memories of Koo Wee Rup - for young and old by Dave Mickle  (The Author, 1983) and my own research as presented in this blog.
(2)  Bayles connection - The Argus, June 12, 1923, see here. Dalmore connection - The Argus, November 5, 1927, see here and also reported in the Koo Wee Rup Sun on March 31, 1927. p.4. Rythdale connection - The Argus, December 21, 1927, see here.
(3)  Williams, Eileen & Beard, Jewel Look to the rising sun: a history of Cardinia and District including Rythdale and Pakenham South (Back to Cardinia Committee, 1984), p. 63.
(4) Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 1, 1927, p.2;  Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 8, 1927, p.4
(5) Koo Wee Rup Sun, June 20, 1973, pp 10-11.

Koo Wee Rup, Bayles and Catani - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Subscriber Truck Dialling (S.T.D.) came to Koo Wee Rup on Sunday June 24, 1973, so you no longer had to ring an operator to have  a call put through to another exchange or interstate. On the same day  telephone subscribers from Bayles, Beaconsfield Upper, Lang Lang, Nar Nar Goon, Nar Nar Goon North, Officer, Pakenham, Pakenham South, Pakenham Upper, The Gurdies and Yannathan South could also access S.T.D. calls.  People also received a new 6-digit telephone number (with an 059 area code) and thus the Koo Wee Rup Sun telephone number changed from Koo Wee Rup 16 to 971-416 and the Bayles Milk Factory changed from Bayles 201 to 977-201 (5)

The PMG produced an Interim Telephone Directory in 1973 with all the new numbers and these are the entries for Koo Wee Rup and Bayles. 

See the entries from the 1973 Interim Telephone Directory for -
Lang Lang, Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South, here.
Pakenham South, Cardinia, Clyde, Tooradin and Warneet, here.
I have written about the history of the telephone service in Koo Wee Rup, here.

Koo Wee Rup - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Koo Wee Rup - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Koo Wee Rup - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Bayles - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Bayles - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Catani - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory

Catani - 1973 Interim Telephone Directory


See the entries from the 1973 Interim Telephone Directory for -
Lang Lang, Yannathan Lower and Yannathan South, here.
Pakenham South, Cardinia, Clyde, Tooradin and Warneet, here.

Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Fisher family of Bunyip - eight sons and a grandson fight for Australia

 I came across this article in The Herald from May 1916, with the headline - Footscray Family Produces Nine Men for Ranks

As it turns out four of the sons were born in Bunyip and some of the children also went to school in Bunyip. These men were the family of John and Annie (nee Whelan) Fisher. John and Annie married in 1876 and they had either fourteen children or fifteen children. (1) The death notice for John who died on August 27, 1913 says fourteen children; however the death notice for Ann, who died February 10, 1928 has a list of fifteen children 



The article notes that the family lived in Bunyip, the Berwick Shire Rate books lists a John Fisher from 1884 until 1897, he was a farmer and owned 62 acres being Lot 78, Parish of Bunyip. (2) I presume they they moved to Melbourne, but I can not with any certainty tell you where they were living until 1913 when John dies when they were in Warwick Sunshine, in 1916 the article has their address as 2 Newell Street, Footscray and when Annie died she was living at 34 Errol Street in Footscray.

The article on the family was published in The Herald of May 27, 1916 (see it here) It is transcribed below in italics and I have added their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full record on the National Archives, www.naa.gov.au.  

Eight of their sons enlisted in the A.I.F, one son had poor eye sight so was not accepted. Their eldest son John who had died in an accident in 1911, his son John also enlisted to fight alongside his eight uncles. The article has a photos of all the Fisher boys, and this photo of their mother, Annie, who deserves a medal for giving birth to so many patriotic children and suffering the heartbreak of the death of three of her sons and of her husband between 1911 and 1919.


Mrs Annie Fisher

A remarkable record of enlistments is claimed by the family of the late Mr. John Fisher, formerly of Bunyip, Gippsland, and Mrs. Fisher, of 2 Newell street, Footscray. Eight of their sons enlisted and a ninth has been rejected.

The eldest son, John, was a lieutenant in the Scottish Regiment, but was killed many years ago, leaving a son, who is now at the front.
John died in a motor car accident on July 28, 1911. He was married to Frances and they had nine children, including a little baby only two weeks old. You can read a report about his accident and military funeral in the Coburg Leader of August 4, 1911, here.


Edward Fisher

Staff sergeant - major, Edward Fisher, the eldest son, is now in the Broadmeadows camp. He was born Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo, and later attended school at Bunyip, Gippsland. He was a member of the Fourth Contingent in the South African War, under Colonel Kelly, and gained a Distinguished Conduct Medal. His wife and children live at Essendon. 
Edward (SN 6765) Returned to Australia July 24, 1919.


Walter Fisher

Lieutenant Walter Fisher was the next son, and he is now at Broadmeadows camp. He was formerly a color-sergeant in the 5th Australian Infantry Regiment, and won the battalion badge for shooting and the company's badge five yearn in succession. His is the only name on the merit-hoard of the company. He enlisted as a private on September 24, 1914, in the 7th Battalion, and was promoted lieutenant at Gallipoli. He commanded the battalion in the battle of Lone Pine. In the first landing he was wounded in the arm, leg and side, but returned to the firing line after four weeks' absence. At Lone Pine he was again wounded in the right arm, the bone being partly shattered. He was buried at Steel's Post, Gallipoli, in July, 1915 through the bursting of a high explosive shell, and it took 20 minutes to dig him out. In the following week he had a similar experience. He was invalided home on August 20, being discharged as unfit, for further, service. His wife and five children live at Frankston. 
Walter was born at Kangaroo Flat, he Returned to Australia March 20, 1916.


James Fisher

Sgt James Joseph Fisher is now in Wandsworth Hospital, London, having been wounded in Gallipoli in the Lone Pine attack. He is married, 30 years of age, and his wife and five children live at Sunshine. James (SN 1621) was born in South Melbourne and Returned to Australia in August 1916 and discharged on medical grounds in March 1917 and died June 29, 1919 of influenza.

Death notice of James Fisher, who was a father of six when he died. 



Terence Fisher

Sgt.-Major Terence Rufus Fisher, 38, is married, and has a wife and four children. He is an engineer, and lived in Milton street, West Melbourne. He is in camp, being a member of the Pioneer Battalion. Terence (SN 1502) was born in Bunyip. He Returned to Australia June 12, 1919.

Mr Robert Fisher, 36, married, of Footscray, has made five efforts to enlist, but has failed to pass the sight test. He is the only living boy in the family that has not enlisted.
Robert was born in Bunyip.
 

Martin Fisher - Died of Wounds received while fighting at Lone Pine

Cpl. Martin J. Fisher, 24, single, was killed at Lone Pine. He was shot through the thigh on the day of the landing, and returned to the firing line five weeks later. He was a first-class shot and was selected as one of five battalion snipers. He was a member of the Coburg Harriers, and lived at Sunshine where he worked as a carpenter
 Martin (SN 439) was born in Bunyip; he Died of Wounds on August 9, 1915.

Martin's death notice
The Age, September 11, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154987819


George Fisher

Armourer-Stg George Fisher, 22, of Sunshine, has a wife and two children. 
George (SN 63) was born in Bunyip. He Returned to Australia June 12, 1919.


Eli Fisher

Driver Eli Fisher, 20, single, is now at Broadmeadows, in the Pioneer Battalion
Eli (SN 12) was born in Melbourne. He Returned to Australia June 12, 1919.


Cecil Fisher

Private Cecil Fisher, 18, is in camp at Broadmeadows

Cecil (SN 2742A) was born in North Melbourne. He was awarded the Military Medal and Returned to Australia December 18, 1918.


John Fisher

Pte. John Fisher, 18, of the 8th Battalion, is the son of Lieutenant John Fisher. 
John (SN 3754) was born in Brunswick, and he Returned to Australia April 12, 1919.

Footnotes
(1) Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. The only registrations I can find of the children are - Walter (1877), Edward (1879), Theresa (1881),  James Joseph  (1883), Terence (1885), Robert (1887), Catherine Ellen (1889), John Martin (1891), Eli (1896). I can't find a registration for John, Alfred, Annie, Lucy, Cecil and George - who are listed in Mrs Fisher's death notice. 
(2) Shire of Berwick Rate books.


This is an expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appeared on my work blog Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Saturday, July 18, 2026

A letter from Egypt from Charles Ware of Yallock

The Lang Lang Guardian of March 15, 1916 published the following letter from Charles Ware of Yallock.

Soldier's Letter
The following are interesting extracts from letters received by his people from Pte. Chas. Ware, late of Yallock, dated from Egypt, Jan 24:

Do not worry about me, as I will be all right. I've got my chance to take like the rest, but I hope to get home again safe. I don't think any one could die for a better cause, and l'm willing to do my little bit as soon as they want me. I hear the boys in Australia are enlisting well. There are a lot of new lots coming forward. We are here just six weeks tomorrow, so we are used to the place now. The sand is crook, though, for drill, I have not done any drill now for a month, as I've been on light duties owing to having my stay in the hospital.

I've written nearly fifty letters since I've been here, so I am expecting a big mail. I was as pleased as if I were home when I got your letter last night, but I hope this time next year to be back again with you all. If you have any papers send them along, as we never get anything here to write about. I went in to Heliopolis on Saturday night and had my photo taken in a group. I had three of my old mates with me. I sent you five of my p.c. in my last letter. You can see I'm not looking to bad on it. I think I put in most of my time writing letters.

I am sick of Cairo. I don't go out much of week nights. I hope we get a shift before long, as this is very little good here as far as the safety of the soldier is concerned, as Cairo is the worst place on earth. I had a walk about yesterday, and went over to see the Virgin Tree and the Holy Well. It was lovely to see. First of all I went to the R.C. Church, which is supposed to be the first Church the Virgin Mary went into, after leaving Jerusalem, I am also sending you the piece of wood I cut off the tree.

I saw young Bob Gray from Lang Lang. He is camped in with Frank McGrath. He's a big fellow, too. I've met dozens of the boys here. They do a lot of heavy drill now, with full packs up and our rifle too. It weighs about 60lbs, and it's pretty crook carrying it all day.
(Lang Lang Guardian, March 15, 1916 see here)


Heliopolis, where Charles had his photo taken in January 1915.
Heliopolis - Avenue des Pyramides, c. 1915. State Library of Victoria Image H99.166/308

Charles William Francis Ware was born in 1892 at Nyora to Charles Joseph Ware and his wife Christine Wilson (nee Carlton); he was the second of their five children. (1)  Charles  (SN 3285a) enlisted at the age of 23 on July 27, 1915; his next of kin was his mother, Christina, of Kongwak and his occupation was a railways employee. Charles suffered a severe gun shot wound to his right buttock and Returned to Australia on March 17, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds on July 9, 1917.  (2)  Charles was welcomed home at a function held at Yallock after his discharge and this is his thank you letter published in the Lang Lang Guardian - 

Thanks To the Recruiting Committee of Yallock.
Gentlemen,
I beg sincerely to thank you and all the kind residents of Yallock for the kindness shown to me in giving me such a warm welcome home on Thursday, July 12. I regretted very much at the time being unable to return thanks, owing to the fact that I was overcome by the very feeling remarks made by your President. I feel all the more grateful, seeing that I had left the district for some time, for your kind presentation, for which I thank you sincerely, and it will help me to keep in remembrance all my many kind friends for years to come.
C. Ware jnr.
Reservoir Park, Kongwak.
(Lang Lang Guardian, July 25, 1917, see here)

Charles married Elsie Priest in at St Mary's Catholic Church at Ararat in March 1919. The Advocate had this report - 
A pretty wedding was celebrated on March 4th at St. Mary's Church, Ararat, when Miss Elsie Priest, second eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs, J. Priest, of Grano-street, was married to Mr. Charles William Francis Ware, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Ware, of Kernot, Gippsland. The ceremony was conducted by the Very Rev. P. O'Hare, P.P. The bride, who was given away by her father, was tastefully attired in ivory silk, trimmed with silk lace, with wreath and veil. The bridesmaid wore embroidered voile, relieved with pink, with pink hat to match. The bridegroom's present to the bride was a massive gold bangle; that of the bride to the bridegroom, gold sleeve links and shaving outfit; bridegroom to bridesmaid, handsome spray brooch. Mr. M'Grath (cousin) acted as best man.

After the ceremony, the happy couple motored to the residence of the bride's parents, Grano-street, where some 70 guests enjoyed the wedding breakfast. The Rev. M. Conlon, who presided, proposed the toast of "The Bride and Bridegroom." He had known the bride from childhood. She took great interest in Church matters, including the choir, and he regretted her departure from Ararat. He wished Mr. and Mrs. Ware every happiness and prosperity. The bridegroom suitably responded. Mr. Quiney proposed the toast of "The Best Man" (Mr. E. M'Grath), who suitably responded. Mr. Gardner proposed the toast of "Mr. J. Priest," who replied in a few appropriate words. Mr. Carroll proposed the toast of "Father of Bridegroom" (Mr. C. Ware), who made a happy little speech in reply. The health of the chairman was honoured, and the happy gathering then separated. Mr. and Mrs. Ware, who received many presents, left for Lakes Entrance, where they spent the honeymoon. Their future home will be Kernot, Gippsland. The bride's travelling dress was fawn velvet, with hat to match.

(The Advocate, March 15, 1919, see here)

As noted in the wedding report, Charles and Elsie lived at Kernot, where Charles had been granted a Soldier Settlement farm (3).  Charles is listed on both the Yannathan and the  Yallock Honor Boards, see here and here

Charles and Elsie had six children - Charles, Vera, Joan, Elsie, Patricia and Brien. Charles died on May 27, 1944, aged only 52 years of age; and Elsie died on April 16, 1991, aged 92. They are buried at the Grantville Cemetery. (4)


Charles' death notice

In his letter, Charles mentions 'Bob Gray from Lang Lang' - this is Robert John Gray (SN 1478). Robert enlisted at the age of 18 on August 14, 1915. He survived the War and Returned to Australia June 15, 1919. The Frank McGrath mentioned is possibly Francis Edmund McGrath (SN 1178), born in Poowong and who lived at Woodleigh.  Frank enlisted at the age of 20 on June 8, 1915. He died of wounds at Beersheba on October 30, 1917, a long way from Gippsland. (5)

Footnotes
(1) Children as listed in parent's death notices - Christina  died April 3, 1937 -  death notice below; Charles died seven month later on November 23, 1937, death notice also below. They are buried at the Coburg Cemetery.





(2) Service record at the National Archives of Australia   https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8347508
(3) Soldier Settlement Farm - see file at the Public Records Office of Victoria   https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/8FE663DB-F8CF-11E9-AE98-190BE0175593?image=1
(4) Death notice, The Age, April 5, 1937, see here; Find a Grave  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206390610/charles-william_francis-ware
(5) Service record at the National Archives of Australia 
Robert John Gray (SN 1478)
Francis Edmund McGrath (SN 1178)

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Right sort of Colonist - Kenneth Fyffe of Bunyip

Kenneth Thompson Grant Fyffe (SN 6798A), a farm labourer from Bunyip, enlisted in the A.I.F., on September 3, 1917 at the age of 21 in the 21st Infantry Battalion, 20th Reinforcements. After serving overseas, he Returned to Australia January 5, 1920. (1)


Kenneth's enlistment paper showing his permanent adress as c/o Henry Berry, 
Bunyip, Victoria.
National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

As we can see above, Kenneth's address was c/o Henry Berry at Bunyip. This is farmer Thomas Henry Berry. Henry, born in  South Australia in May 1885, was the second eldest of the nine children of  Joseph and Emily (nee Darby) Berry who took up land at Tonimbuk  in 1893. In 1901 they took up land just south of Bunyip, and later gave their name to Berry Lane which is next to the Recreation Reserve. Henry did not marry and died on September 2, 1935. (2)

Kenneth was the subject of an interesting article published in the  Herald in July 1917, which shows the connection at the time between  patriotism, colonialism and nationalism; as well as Kenneth's sense of adventure that he would move to the other side of the world on his own.


Kenneth - the right sort of Colonist

Right Sort of Colonist. Australia good to him, so he will fight for her. 
Three years ago Kenneth T. Fyffe, a youth of Brixton, London, was serving behind the counter of a provision merchant in High road, Streatham, when he read of the opportunities for young men in Australia. He went to the Immigration office in the Strand, passed the doctor, and came to Australia.

Most of his time has been profitably spent in the Bunyip district, as farm hand and employe in a local cheese factory. He has tried several times to enlist, but as his parents are in England he was unable to obtain the necessary consent. Yesterday he became 21, and was accepted at the Town Hall Depot for service.

"Australia has been good to me," he remarked to the enlisting officer, "so I am going to fight for her and the Mother Country." His parents reside at Cornwall road, Brixton.
(3)

In the 1921 Electoral Roll, Kenneth was living at 53 Kneen Street, North Fitzroy and had an occupation of an engine cleaner. Also living in the house was Phillip and Emma Baussmann, their son Phillip and daughter Amelia Evelyn. Kenneth married Amelia on November 18, 1922 at the house in Kneen Street, the service being conducted by the Presbyterian Minister, the Reverend John Garnon-Owen. He was listed on the marriage certificate as a 26 year-old tram conductor and Amelia was a 23 year-old machinist. In the 1924 Electoral Rolls the couple were in Brighton Avenue in Preston, where they remained until the mid 1940s. Kenneth ad Amelia had one daughter and three sons, however the marriage broke up and in 1950 Kenneth married Betty Parker. (4)

Amelia died on July 8, 1957 and is buried at the Fawkner Cemetery; and Kenneth died on November 12, 1964 aged 68 and was cremated at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.  (5)  You can read more about Kenneth on the RSL Virtual War Memorial  here - https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/162981

 I wonder if Kenneth ever returned to visit Bunyip after he returned home from the War?


Footnotes
(1)  First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920   https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4036340&S=1&R=0
(2) Genealogy SA https://www.genealogysa.org.au/Call of the Bunyip: a history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk, 1847 - 1990 by Denise Nest  (Bunyip History Committee, 1990), pp132-133. Joseph Berry died in February 1932 - death notice - The Argus, February 10, 1932, see here; Emily Berry died September 4, 1947 - death notice - The Argus, September 5, 1947, see here.
(3) The Herald, July 31, 1917, see here.
(4) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Kenneth and Amelia's marriage certificate; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. Children as listed on an Ancestry family tree - Elsie (1923-1991), Kenneth (1925-2012), Frederick (1930-2003), Alfred died as a infant in 1932. 

Address - the Electoral Rolls from 1924 to 1946 list Kenneth and Amelia at 19 Brighton Avenue, however the 1946 Electoral Rolls list their children Elsie and Kenneth at 2 Brighton Avenue.  The Sands and McDougall Directories (digitised at the State Library of Victoria) lists their address as 2 Brighton Avenue in 1930, 1935 and 1940 - and it is the first house in  Brighton Avenue which is off Hotham Street. In the 1925 Sands and McDougall Directory the street is not numbered.  Presumably, initially their house was numbered as 19 Brighton Avenue, later renumbered to 2 Brighton Avenue, and they didn't get around to changing their address on the Electoral Roll. There are only ten houses on each side of the Avenue and the Sands and McDougall entries show the Fyffe house in the same position in the street in each entry, so they did not move,  see below. 

Sands & McDougall Directory 1925

Sands & McDougall Directory 1940

(5) Amelia death notice - The Age, July 10, 1957; Kenneth death notice - The Age, November 13, 1964 - from newspapers.com.

This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.  I think the article about Kenneth is so interesting that it is worth repeating here.