Name: COOPER Ernest Jeffrey

Date of Birth: June 5, 1921

Birth Location: At home – Wellington Street, Northam

Also Known As: Ernie, Coop, Rip

Age at Burial: 78 years

Date of Death: October 31, 1999

Death Location: Joondalup Health Campus.

Date of Burial: Cremated Karrakatta – Interred Capel Cemetery November 22, 1999, in the grave of his mother-in-law Margery Stirling Hazelton & her sister, Florence Mary Roberts and wife Rosemary Cooper.

Denomination: Anglican B

Row/Grave: Row 2 / Grave 14

Grave Transcription:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

ERNEST JEFFREY COOPER           ROSEMARY COOPER

5.6.1921 – 31.10.1999                     30.12.1928 – 4.11.2008

LOVING PARENTS OF

WAYNE & RHONDA, PHIL & ROS

& GRANDCHILDREN.

Father: George Boon Cooper born: April 22, 1892, Northam. Died: January 17, 1948. Buried Karrakatta Cemetery.

Married: April 25, 1918, Northam.

Mother: Eva Maude Ashman born: 1896, Northam. Died: September 27, 1986. Buried Midland Cemetery.

Grandfather (Father): Henry James Cooper born: c.1867, Bermondsey, Surrey, England. Died: October 6, 1961. Buried Karrakatta Cemetery.

Married: 1889, Perth.

Grandmother (Father): Clara Ellen Jeffrey born: July 7,1870, Perth, Western Australia. Died: April 22, 1945. Buried Karrakatta Cemetery.

Grandfather (Mother): Henry John Ashman born: November 4, 1858, Lillimur, Victoria. Died: August 12, 1942. Buried Northam Cemetery.

Married: July 1, 1891, Northam.

Grandmother (Mother): Eliza Coates born: 1861, Mahogany Creek, W.A. Died: April 11, 1915. Buried Northam Cemetery.

Siblings:

Jessie Edna Cooper born: March 24, 1919, Northam. Died: October 24, 2012. Buried Midland Cemetery. Married: July 9, 1941, Northam, Michael Phillip Powell.

Melva Doreen Cooper born: November 9, 1922, Northam. Died: July 13, 1996. Cremated Karrakatta Cemetery. Married: 1944 Northam, Jack Osborne.

John Maxwell “Max” Cooper born: August 21, 1926, Northam. Died: November 5, 2021. Cremated Bunbury Cemetery. Married: 1948, Dulcie Doreen Roberts.

Spouse: Rosemary Hazelton born: December 30, 1928, St. Clair’s Hospital, Bunbury. Died: November 4, 2008. Interred Capel Cemetery.

Married: April 26, 1947, Northam.

Children:

Wayne Jeffrey Cooper born: 1950, St. John of God Hospital, Northam.

Phillip Ian Cooper born: November 18, 1952, St. John of God Hospital, Northam. Died: November 10, 2015. Cremated Pinnaroo Cemetery.

Occupation:  Hairdresser’s Assistant, Examiner at West. Australian Govt. Railways (for 39years). After he retired, he worked at a local nursery in Northam.

Military Service: Service No WX27294 Australian Garrison Battalion.

Their Story

The Cooper family came from England, in 1884, on the “Kingdom of Saxony”. Ernest’s great grandfather, George Boon Cooper (Snr), and son, Henry James Cooper (Ernest’s grandfather) arrived in Fremantle on February 4th, 1884. His great grandmother had died in England.

Trove Article – Arrival in Fremantle

Ernest’s grandfather, Henry James Cooper married Clara Ellen Jeffrey in Perth in 1889. The first of their 10 children was born the following year. Their second child, (Ernest’s father), George Boon Cooper (Jnr), named after his grandfather, was born in 1892. As Henry worked for the railways the family were often on the move. The first three children were born in Perth, then the next two were born in Yilgarn and Southern Cross, then back to Perth, then Collie, Bunbury and Donnybrook. The last of their children was born in 1913 in Northam.

Whilst working in Bunbury, Henry presided at the opening of the Bunbury Railway Institute in September 1905. In Donnybrook he was in charge of the Donnybrook Ambulance Corps. The family were living at “Signal View”, Donnybrook when their eldest daughter was married in 1909. Shortly after they were transferred to Northam.

Trove Article – Cooper Family move to Northam.

Trove Article – Guard Cooper arrives in Northam

George Boon Cooper (Jnr) joined the railways in Northam on October 23, 1911. When he enlisted in WW1 in 1915 his occupation was fireman in the railways.

Military Records – George Boon Cooper

George was discharge from the army in 1917 and went back to his job in the Railways. On April 25, 1918, George married Eva Maude Ashman in Northam. The Ashman family were long time residents of Bakers Hill.

Ernest Jeffrey Cooper was the second child born to George and Eva Cooper. He was born at the family home in Charles Street, Northam.  His big sister Jessie had been born in 1919. When Ernest was 17 months old, he became a big brother, his sister Melva was born and then in 1926, when Ernest was 5, his brother John Maxwell or Max as he became known, was born. This completed the Cooper family.

The newspapers of the day gave lengthy reports of the attendees at the local Children’s Balls and the Cooper children, in their fancy-dress costumes were regulars. Railway Picnics were another great social event. Mrs Cooper often won or was placed in the married lady’s race and the children were amongst the placings in the various novelty events being held. Sunday School picnics were also attended by the family.

Trove Article – St James Children’s Ball 1930

At the completion of Ern’s primary school years, he  went to Northam high school, after passing the entrance requirements. Ern’s sister Melva went to high school at the same time. The family were now living at 211 Wellington Street, Northam.

Trove Article – Entrance to Northam High School 1935

After leaving High School, Ernie was employed as an apprentice hairdresser. He continued this job until he enlisted in the Australian Army, in December 1941, as part of the 10th Australian Garrison Battalion. His regiment went to New Guinea. Whilst serving in the Northern Territory, Ern was hospitalised when he was injured in a grenade accident. He was discharged from the Army in January 1945.

When Ern went back to Northam, he took on a job at the West Australian Government Railways. He met a young Rosemary Hazelton who had come from her grandparents’ farm in Capel, to live with her father Cecil. Rosemary’s mother had died in 1939. She and her sister Heather had then lived with  their grandmother and Aunt. Their father had remarried in 1941, joined the army and moved to Northam.

On April 26, 1947, Ern and Rosemary were married in Northam. They lived in Ern’s parents’ house at 211 Wellington Street, Northam. Rosemary was a dental nurse in Fitzgerald Street and Ern continued his job at WAGR. Shortly after their marriage, Ern’s father died. He had been living in residential care at Edward Millen House in Perth. Ern’s father was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth in the same grave as his younger brother, Harry, who had died in 1937. Ernie’s mother, Eva still lived in the family home with them.

Trove Article – Death of Father

In 1950, Ern and Rosemary welcomed their first child, Wayne, and two years later their second son, Phillip was born. This completed their family. Ern’s mother had now moved to Perth.

Trove Article – Birth of a Son

Trove Article – Birth of Second Son

Whilst the children were small, Ern and Rosemary took in senior school boarders. When the boys went to school Rosemary was able to do casual work to help supplement Ern’s wages. Ern had worked his way up and become an examiner at WAGR.

Ern had a movie camera that would accompany him wherever he went. He took movies of family get togethers, and holidays, and would show them when next on a visit. This was a great delight to all that would find themselves starring in the movie!

After Ern had worked for 39 years at the West Australian Government Railways he decided to retire. As he was only 60, he took on casual work at a local Nursery in Northam, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Ern’s mother Eva, aged 90, died in Perth in 1986. She was buried in Midland Cemetery.

In August 1994, Ern and Rosemary sold their family home in Northam and relocated to Beldon, Perth, so they could be closer to both boys who were now living in Perth, with their wives and families. Ern worked in his garden and made sure it was always neat and tidy.

After living in Perth for 5 years, Ern got sick and passed away at Joondalup Health Campus on October 31, 1999.

Information by WJC (son). Researched and compiled by DC (Capel Districts Cemeteries Project Volunteer)

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© Capel  District Cemeteries Project 10/12/2024