Harriet Amelia DUNKLEY
Name: DUNKLEY Harriet Amelia
Date of Birth: August 17, 1870
Birth Location: Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Maiden Name: McLEISH
Also Known As: Gran
Age at Burial: 76 years
Date of Death: February 9, 1947
Death Location: At home, “Summerlea”, Stirling Estate, Capel.
Date of Burial: February 10, 1947
Denomination: Anglican B
Row/Grave: Row 7 / Grave 90
Grave Transcription:
In Loving Memory
Of
HARRIET AMELIA
DUNKLEY
LOVING MOTHER OF
SOPHIA, GEORGE, RUBY, THIRZA,
WILLIAM, HENRY, FRANK, & ALFRED.
DIED 9 TH FEB. 1947
AGED 78 YEARS
———————-
ABIDE WITH ME.
Father: Alexander “Sandy” McLeish born: March 22, 1839, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: January 24, 1885, Buried Pentridge Prison Cemetery, Victoria.
Married: September 7, 1859, Launceston, Tasmania.
Mother: Elizabeth Simpson born: 1836 Scotland. Died: March 1, 1882, Buried Melbourne General Cemetery.
Grandfather (Father): James McLeish born: 1807 Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. Died: September 8, 1847, Melbourne, Victoria.
Married: March 21, 1828, St. Andrews, Holborn, England.
Grandmother (Father): Ann Harriet Bartlett born: 1809 London, England. Died: November 14, 1867, Launceston, Tasmania.
Grandfather (Mother): James Simpson born: Scotland.
Grandmother (Mother): Alvina / Elvina born: Scotland.
Siblings:
Elizabeth Ann McLeish born: April 8, 1860, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: 1918 Melbourne. Married: 1883 Victoria, Henry Sleep Irving.
James Alexander McLeish born: November 6, 1861, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: January 5, 1927, Richmond, Victoria. Married: December 18, 1889, North Melbourne, Alice Harley.
William John McLeish born: August 20, 1863, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: April 6, 1889, East Melbourne. Married: 1883, Elizabeth Jane Logan.
Isabella McLeish born: November 24,1865 Launceston, Tasmania. Died: October 11, 1944, Footscray. Married: 1885, Charles Couacaud.
Alfred Edward McLeish born: November 17,1867 Launceston, Tasmania. Died: Unknown.
Emily McLeish born: April 28, 1872, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: April 29, 1872, Launceston, Tasmania.
Alvina / Elvina Bartlett McLeish born: March 23, 1873, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: January 21, 1953, Victoria. Married: 1890, John Wooster.
Matilda Jane McLeish born: May 2, 1875, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: May 10, 1961, Footscray. Married: 1892, Frederick William Willshire.
Robert David McLeish born: April 6, 1877, Launceston, Tasmania. Died: October 19, 1942, Footscray. Married: 1900, Barbara Duncan.
Spouse: George Albert Dunkley born: June 8, 1864, Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, England. Died: August 10, 1919, Buried Capel Cemetery.
Married: May 19, 1886, Victoria.
Children:
Sophia Elvina Dunkley born: 1888 Williamstown, Victoria. Died: November 21, 1927. Buried Capel Cemetery. Married: 1925 Perth, Charles Cassimer Babb.
George Alexander Dunkley born: 1891, Footscray, Victoria. Died: March 12, 1945. Buried Yelbeni Cemetery. Married: 1916 Perth, Victoria Fitzgerald Conder.
Ruby Elizabeth / Hepzibah Dunkley born: 1893, Footscray, Victoria. Died: July 19, 1913. Buried Capel Cemetery.
Thirza Netherlea Dunkley born: December 15, 1896, Footscray, Victoria. Died: December 3, 1995. Buried Capel Cemetery. Married: 1919 Bunbury, Edwin Raymond “Joe” Upson.
Frederick William “Bill” Dunkley born: 1899, Footscray, Victoria. Died: July 1, 1912. Buried Capel Cemetery.
Henry Thomas “Brown” Dunkley born: October 20,1902, Footscray, Victoria. Died: March 1, 1956. Buried Capel Cemetery. Married: 1926 Bunbury, Ursula Roberts Shiel.
Frank Stirling “Pat” Dunkley born: December 23,1905, Bunbury, W.A. Died: August 4, 1956. Buried Wagin Cemetery. Married: 1933 Fremantle, Vera Treloar.
Alfred Ernest “Alf” Dunkley born: June 17, 1908, Bunbury, W.A. Died: October 17, 1998. Buried Capel Cemetery. Married: 1940 Perth, Gwenyth Clarinda Negus.
Unnamed Male Dunkley stillborn: October 31,1910, Bunbury, W.A. Buried Bunbury Pioneer Cemetery.
Occupation: Homemaker, Farmer.
Their Story
Harriet’s father Alexander was born in Launceston in 1839. His mother, Ann, and father, James, had married in England and arrived in Sydney, September 11, 1832, on the “Arundel” with their two eldest children. They were living in Hunter Street, Sydney in 1835, where James was a baker. In 1840, James was baking at Launceston Army Barracks in Tasmania. From 1842 until James died in 1847, the family had a bakery at Little Bourke Street in Melbourne. Ann returned to Launceston in 1850 and remarried in 1857 to George Davis Burgess.
Harriet’s mother Elizabeth was born in Scotland to James and Elvina. James worked as a quarryman. Elizabeth, 19, and her older sister Barbara, 25, arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, August 29, 1855, on board the “Storm Cloud”. They were both listed as dairymaids and were sponsored by Alexander Learmonth. Barbara married in 1856 to William Reeves.
Alexander, a tradesman in a tannery and Elizabeth, a dairymaid married in Launceston, September 7, 1859. The first of their ten children was born the following year. All ten children were born in the Launceston area. Harriet Amelia McLeish was the sixth child born.
Harriet’s mother Elizabeth died in 1882 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Melbourne General Cemetery. Children Alfred, Alvina, Matilda and Robert are listed as State Wards in Victoria after their mother died. Their father Alexander lived with his son William and his wife Eliza. It is here that he committed burglary and multiple stealing offences with his son. He was sentenced to three years in the Old Melbourne Gaol (Pentridge). He died in 1885 after having a stroke and was buried in the Pentridge Prison Cemetery.
Harriet met Englishman, George Albert Dunkley in 1885 and they married May 19, 1886, in Melbourne. Harriet was 15 years and 9 months. George was nearly 22. Their first child Sophia Elvina was born in 1888 in Williamstown, Victoria. George was a dairyman in Dover Road. They moved to Rye and leased a farm. One of Harriet’s sisters lived in Footscray, and this is where Harriet gave birth to her next five children, George 1891, Ruby 1893, Thirza 1896, Frederick (known as Bill)1899 and Henry (known as Brown)1902.
Harriet and George worked hard on their small holding. They grew hay, cabbages, cauliflower, swede, turnips and potatoes. Selling any excess to help bring in some money. George had cows that were milked and Harriett made butter to sell. George drove his wagon with their produce into the city and would pick up a back load for someone on the return journey to help make a little extra money.
They moved their growing family and bought a small farm at Carrum, near the Patterson River. They continued to farm the same things as in Rye, growing vegetables and hay, milking cows and making butter. The older children helped with the cows before school and on their way to school, they would take them to the day paddock and bring them back home in the afternoon. On Saturday afternoon there were chores to be done. Cleaning the stove, washing up, cleaning and mopping the floors and raking up the leaves in the yard. They all had a job to do.
In her oral history, Thirza remembered her aunts and uncles coming to visit. She remembered their house with a big yard, chooks and a tall hedge that they kept clipped. They had a well that Harriett put the milk down in summer to cool before she made the butter. She remembered going to the Presbyterian Church with her mother and siblings. Harriet had a good voice and sang at both church services that were held on a Sunday. George had a brass bell and if he had a problem at home whilst Harriet was at church he would ring the bell for her to come home. Sunday nights Harriet would get the hymn book out after dinner and the family would sing. Harriet had a piano. She hadn’t ever had lessons but could play by ear. Thirza also remembered the Patterson River bursting its banks and flooding across their farm, ruining the vegetable crops and flooding through the haystack. A fire started a couple of weeks later in the haystack because of the dampness. George and Harriet made the decision to look elsewhere for land. There was an article in the daily newspaper advertising land that was opening up for sale in Southwest, Western Australia. George travelled to Western Australia to look at the land. He liked what he saw.
When George returned to Carrum, he and Harriet sold the small farm, their cart horse, Tommy, and all but 13 of their cattle. They also kept their pony. The wagon was loaded with their furniture and household belongings. They drove the cattle to Williamstown ready to load on the ship to Western Australia. After the passage was paid, for the family, their animals and wagon there wasn’t much money left. It was mid February,1904 when George and Harriet, Sophia 16, George 13, Ruby 11, Thirza 8, Bill 5 and Brown 2, said goodbye to their aunties on the wharf and boarded the “Pilbarra” for the 7 day journey, arriving February 20, 1904 in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Harriet was not a good sailor! She spent much of the time on board the ship in her cabin. The children took turns in keeping her company. George and George jnr looked after the animals on the journey. Sophia and Ruby did the milking. The ship stopped off at Port Adelaide and then continued its rough passage across the bight and around to Fremantle.
George had a plan to first farm at Manjimup where land was opening up. On landing in Fremantle, the family stayed one night and then, after Harriet had bought some food, they loaded their cattle, the pony, the wagon full of household possessions and the family onto the train to Wonnerup. On arriving at the Wonnerup Siding the family possessions were unloaded. After some inquiries George went to hire two draught horses to pull the wagon, from a Mr Pries at Pidgeon Grove and the family of 8 set off for Nannup. Sophia and brother George took turns riding the pony and looking after the cattle. At night, a tarpaulin was put over the wagon and the beds were made underneath. The cows were milked on the way and each night Harriet made damper in the campfire for the next day. Sandwiches were eaten for lunch, then in the evening bread and milk with sugar sprinkled over was eaten for dinner. After Nannup they headed for Bridgetown. Harriet was very particular and made sure everything was right. She did the washing in the river. Winnejup was the next stop. Here they stayed at Mr Giblett’s, where there was an orchard and vineyard, which he kindly told them to help themselves. George and son George went ahead to check the land where the family were hoping to farm. Harriet read the local paper while they were away and was very interested in an article about the Busselton Creamery. On George’s return she wanted to know what was in the Manjimup area where they were headed. George told her there was a siding but no school. Harriet showed him the article in the paper and said that she wasn’t going to Manjimup she was going to Busselton! She gathered the children, turned around and set off. George and son George, who both still thought Manjimup was where they wanted to go, were left watching Harriet and the other children walking back the way they had come. They turned the wagon and the cattle around and accompanied Harriet and the children back to Wonnerup. They leased a small farm off Mr Pries on the Sabina River near the estuary, where they continued milking cows. They lived in a little stone house and the children walked to school in West Street, Busselton. The family lived on this farm for 9 months until 1905 when the Stirling Estate was open for sale. Allotments of 14 acres each were applied for in the names of George, Harriett and Sophia. The family were allocated 2 lots, which were both very low-lying ground. After packing up at Pidgeon Grove they made their way, camping at Moriarty’s farm on the estuary side of the Old Coach Road, for one night. When the family reached their land, they once again lived in a tent made from a tarpaulin over a big tuart log which acted as the back wall. Harriet went to Bunbury when baby Frank Stirling Dunkley was born in December 1905. He became known as Pat.
George took any work that was available. He did fencing, and helped make the banks on the Capel River. The younger children thought their life was a great adventure. They gathered wood for Harriet’s fire. She was a good cook and always had plenty of food. The Dunkley family spent their first Western Australian winter living in their tent on the low-lying allotments, near the river, on the Stirling Estate. The following year they applied for some higher land near the tuart forest. They were granted Locations 170,172,173,174, being 60 acres in total, at a cost of £1/2 per acre which took them a long time to pay off.
It was on the higher ground that the Dunkley family home was built from face cut timber that was sawn with crosscut saws at Summers Timber Mill. The planks were placed upright and then another was nailed on the outside to cover the gap between. Harriet created a home for her family. She made a garden, grew vegetables and planted vines and fruit trees and she had a new metters stove in the kitchen. The farm was named “Summerlea”. She and the older girls milked the cows. The cream was put down the well to keep cool and twice a week they would churn butter. George took the wagon to Bunbury selling the butter to clients on the way and the remainder to the Narrogin Trading Co in Bunbury.
The family helped petition the Government to get a school built on the Stirling Estate, as the number of children in the area had grown with the opening of the land. In 1906 the Stirling State School was opened. Mr Jerry Murnane was the head teacher and there was a monitor to help. Around 30 children attended. Harriet must have been very pleased that her children could now go to school, leaving her with more time to do her endless jobs. Sophia was at home helping on the farm and in the house, along with George jnr., who helped on the farm and worked for other farmers around the district. Harriet again went to Bunbury for the birth of their eighth baby, Alfred Ernest Dunkley in June 1908. In September 1908, George jnr. got himself into a bit of trouble by changing an earmark on a lamb belonging to Mr Lang, a neighbour and shortly after he left Capel to work in the Yelbeni district. George snr had been elected to the Capel Roads Board and took his roll very seriously. He was also a member of the Stirling Drainage Committee.
The younger children walked the two miles to and from school each day. Every year Arbour Day was held, and the children planted trees in the school grounds. Ruby and Thirza planted the two Moreton Bay Fig trees that still mark the location of the Stirling State School. Most Arbour Days, pine trees were planted. When family picnic days were held at the school the mothers, including Harriet always provided a sumptuous feast for all. They were great community get togethers, usually having games for the younger ones and continuing into the evening with a dance or concert.
Trove Article – Picnic and School Prizes
Once again, at the end of October 1910, Harriet went to Bunbury to hospital for the birth of their ninth child but sadly their little boy was stillborn. He was buried in the Bunbury Pioneer Cemetery.
By now Harriet and the children were milking 30 cows, all by hand. The butter was still churned twice a week and taken to Bunbury to be sold. George was slowly expanding their land holdings when he could.
In 1912, George was elected Chairman of the Capel Roads Board. This took a lot of his time. Harriet and the children did what farm work they could. George was still clearing and establishing the farmland and had help from Mr Block. Towards the end of June 1912, Bill complained of a sore foot. Harriet looked but nothing could be seen. He tried to walk to school the next morning but didn’t get very far before it became too painful. That evening Bill’s foot was examined more closely as it was now very painful, and he was not well. Still nothing could be seen. Mr Block, who was helping George clear some land was also asked if he could see anything. Nothing, but he suggested that Bill needed to go to Bunbury to see the Doctor. In Bunbury, the Doctor decided Bill should be admitted to hospital, as he was now very unwell. Harriet stayed with Bill. Sadly, there was little that the Doctor could do for poor Bill, and he passed away the following day, from blood poisoning. It was thought to be caused by a splinter. Harriet returned home and Bill was buried the following day, July 2, at the Capel Cemetery.
At the beginning of the school year in 1913, Alf, just 4 ½ , went off to Stirling School with Henry and Frank. Each afternoon the teacher, Miss Hanet, put him in a corner for a nap. Alf was the last of Harriet’s children to go to school. July 1913, the family would have remembered the sad passing of Bill the year before, but life had to go on and there were cows to be milked, butter to be churned, vegetables and potatoes grown and harvested and land to be cleared and developed. George used gelignite to blow the trees and stumps, which was a common practice. He kept the gelignite in a cupboard in the bedroom and always made sure the detonator caps were kept somewhere else so there wasn’t any risk of it exploding. He had read somewhere that in cold weather or if the gelignite had sweated it should be warmed before use. On Saturday morning, July 19, 1913, George sat a box of gelignite next to the stove in the kitchen, before he went out to check on Mr Block, who was helping him. Ruby and little Alf were in the kitchen when he left the house, Harriet and the other children were out milking the cows. As George walked back from the paddock there was a loud explosion from the house. Harriet and the other children saw tin and timber flying in the air. George ran back to the house and found Ruby lying amongst the debris. The gelignite had exploded, and the stove top had shattered both her legs. George carried her to her bed and sent Brown to Capel to summon the Doctor. There was little hope for Ruby’s survival as she was bleeding heavily. The other children were sent to look for Alf in the wreckage of the house. He was found outside, very frightened and hiding in the outhouse. Sadly, Ruby died just after the doctor arrived. There was nothing he could do to save her. Her funeral was held the next day, and she was buried with her brother Bill at the Capel Cemetery. George had to attend an inquest into Ruby’s death, the following day. He had to answer many questions about the use of gelignite and what he knew about the dangers. He was cleared of any blame, and it was concluded the death was accidental. Both Alf and Thirza mentioned in their oral histories that their father never got over the death of Ruby.
Most of Harriet’s house had been destroyed in the explosion. The girl’s bedroom and the boy’s bedroom were still standing and didn’t have too much damage, but the rest of the house had to be pulled down and rebuilt. A bigger and more spacious house with verandahs was built. This house still stands.
The world was changing with the approach of World War 1. Harriet only had George Alexander, who was old enough to enlist. She would have hoped that his farming pursuits in Yelbeni would keep him busy. She helped raise funds to support the war when Capel held events.
Trove Article – Donations to the Capel Patriotic Fund
Thirza had met Edwin Raymond Upson, who they called Joe. He and his brother, Harold had bought the local shop of Mr A. G. Layman, in 1912. They were Butchers, Bakers and Pastrycooks. There was a business arrangement with Thirza’s father George. Pigs in the Busselton Show in 1912 were owned by Upson Bros. and G. Dunkley. Maybe George supplied the meat for the butchering business. Thirza and Joe struck up a friendship.
George continued his busy Roads Board commitments and developing and extending his farm. Harriet, Sophia and Thirza managed most of the lighter, everyday work on the farm. Brown and Pat were now old enough to help George with the heavier farm work when they weren’t at school. Brown was now going to Bunbury High School.
In 1916, George jnr tried to enlist but was medically unfit because he had a hernia. Harriet must have been very relieved when he declined the operation that would allow his enlistment to be accepted. Thirza had to say goodbye to Joe in February 1916 when he enlisted and was sent to France. Harriet and the rest of the family had the excitement of a wedding in June 1916, when George jnr got married in Rivervale, to Victoria Fitzgerald Conder. Thirza was one of the bridesmaids.
Harriet accompanied George to Roads Board and Community functions when the ladies were invited. Since the death of Ruby, George had not been quite the same. George blamed himself for causing the explosion. Harriet noticed that he tired quickly when working and was not as well as usual. Eventually Harriet got George to see the doctor who failed to find anything wrong with him. George slowly declined in health but refused to let this stop his commitments. After a stay in St. Clairs Hospital in Bunbury and an operation, George came home but his health didn’t improve. He went back to hospital and sadly died on August 10, 1919, from hydatids.
Trove Article – Death of Husband
Harriet was the beneficiary of George’s will, which he had made on June 13, 1919. She was left his conditional purchase land, his life policies, money and securities, stock, furniture and effects. She had Sophia, 31, Thirza, 22, Brown, 16, Pat, 13 and Alf, 11, still living at home. Thirza and Joe were going to get married prior to George’s passing but because he wasn’t well, they put the wedding off until he improved. Brown was still at high school in Bunbury but was finishing at the end of 1919. Pat was at Narrogin Agricultural School and Alf was still attending Stirling School.
The family celebrated Thirza and Joe’s wedding in Bunbury just before Christmas 1919. It was held on Thirza’s birthday. Thirza and Joe moved to Kalgan River, Albany to farm. This must have seemed so far away for both Harriet and Thirza.
Trove Article – Thirza’s Wedding
Harriet became a grandmother in 1920 when Thirza and Sophia both gave birth to baby boys, two days apart. Brown, who was turning 18, had now become the man of the house and had taken on the running of the farm with Harriet. Pat, 15, was still at Narrogin Agricultural school and Alf, 12, was now attending Capel School. Alf went to Narrogin Ag School the year he turned 14. Thirza’s second baby, another boy was born in 1922. They were still living in Albany.
Harriet got on with life and running the farm. She called for tenders in the Bunbury Herald in March 1920, to clear, make drains and banks on her farmland at Cokalup Swamp. In 1921 she writes to the Capel Roads Board complaining of straying stock on the Stirling Estate roads, she also bought Lots 83 & 84 on Stirling Estate.
1922 saw Harriet selling 125 hoggets. Frank was home from school and had joined the Rifle Club along with Henry. Both boys and Sophia were helping Harriet run the farm.
Thirza, Joe and babies Ray and Ted came back to Capel from Kalgan River around 1923. They returned to the shop that Joe and his brother Harold had bought from A. G. Layman in 1912. The family lived in the house at the shop.
Harriet must have thought Brown took after his father George when he nominated and was duly elected as the council member for the Stirling Estate ward in 1924. He was also secretary for the Stirling Drainage committee. Pat continued his rifle shooting and helped his mother on the farm. Harriet had now sent Alf to Narrogin Agricultural College.
There was a shoemaker in part of Thirza and Joe’s shop. His name was Charles Babb. Harriet must have been very pleased when Sophia and Charles became a couple and then married in Perth in 1925. They leased some land on the Stirling Estate from Mr Ben Prowse and ran a dairy. Sophia had her own cows that she milked. Although Charles wasn’t a farmer he helped Sophia on the small farm. In December 1925, Sophia went to Perth for an operation.
With Brown and Pat helping Harriet run the farm, it was decided that Alf would go to Yelbeni and help his oldest brother, George when his schooling was completed in about 1926. This was the year that Brown married local girl Ursula Roberts Shiel in Bunbury. When the Stirling State School closed in 1926, polling for elections was held at Harriet’s residence.
Trove Article – Kitchen Tea for Ursula
Harriet now only had Pat living at home with her. She would have been pleased that Alf was enjoying helping his brother George and learning to be a wheat belt farmer. He had fitted into the community well and was playing football and cricket when time allowed.
In 1927, Harriet watched as Sophia’s health deteriorated. Thirza helped nurse her until she was too sick and went into St. John of God hospital in Bunbury. She passed away from cancer November 21, 1927. Her little son Ken, 7, stayed with his Aunt Thirza for six months and then went to live with Harriet, his Gran. Ken was going to Capel School. In 1929, Ken attended the Centenary Celebrations in Capel and placed well in the 9 year olds races at the sports day. Harriet went to the Perth Royal Show to watch the Dunkley Bros. many entries. Ken was also successful with his pony at Busselton Show in November that year.
Harriet turned 60 in 1930. She had lost her husband and four children. She still had Pat and her grandson Ken living at home with her. Thirza and her family were in Capel, Brown was living on the Stirling Estate and George and Alf were in Yelbeni. Alf came home in 1931 and took on his farming duties as part of Dunkley Bros. Pat got married in Fremantle in 1933 to Vera Treloar.
Harriet now had three sons, Brown, Pat and Alf all farming on Summerlea and making a name for themselves as successful cattlemen. Brown and Pat were often called on to judge the cattle or milking competitions at Agricultural Shows. With the expansion of their farmland, Pat and wife Vera were living on Summerlea land in East Capel, and Brown and his wife Ursula lived close to the river not far from Harriet. Alf who was unmarried lived at home. Ken was now at Muresk Agricultural College.
In February 1936, Harriet, Henry and Ursula were among the 150 guests at the Capel Hall celebrating the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Thomas and Bridget Moriarty.
Alf had met Gwenyth Negus from Perth and in 1939 it was reported that she was staying with Harriet for a short time. In 1940 Alf and Gwen were married in Perth.
In June 1941, Harriet, Thirza, Joe, Brown and Ursula attended the silver wedding anniversary of George and Victoria at the Yelbeni Hall. The ladies all received special mention for their choice of attire.
Trove Article – Silver Wedding at Yelbeni
Harriet only had her grandson Ken left at home, and it wasn’t long until he and both of Thirza’s boys enlisted in WW2. Pat and Alf felt the need to contribute to the war effort and enlisted too. Pat went on to become a wireless mechanic and served in Australia. Alf was classed as an essential worker and was discharged after a short time. He and Brown then joined the Volunteer Defence Corps in Capel. Harriet must have worried about her grandsons. Ken stayed within Australia as a leading aircraftman, while both Ted, a flying officer and Ray, a sapper in the army, were posted overseas and saw active fighting.
Harriet’s son, Pat stayed for a few days in January whilst on leave from the army and then George and his wife Victoria stayed at Summerlea for a holiday in February 1944. Pat was discharged from the army in June 1944 and he and wife Vera made the decision to leave Dunkley Bros. and go their own way. Their share was paid out and they bought a wheat and sheep farm at Arthur River. Later that year Harriet went to Yelbeni and stayed with George and Victoria. She must have been relieved when grandson Ray was discharged from the army in October 1944.
Trove Article – George Jnr & Wife holiday
Trove Article – Harriett at Yelbeni
On March 12, 1945, Harriet would have received the sad news that her son George had been killed in a farm accident in Yelbeni. He had been crushed between his truck and tractor while working on a dam. His son Bevan was helping his father when the accident occurred.
Trove Article – Death of George Jnr.
Harriet would have welcomed the good news that grandson, Ted had met a lovely girl, Marion Green, who was a telephonist in the British Army. They married in Palestine and returned to Western Australia in October 1945, to begin their lives together. Grandson Ken was discharged from the army around this time and came home to Summerlea. Ted was officially discharged the following year. Harriet’s grandson, Bevan, his fiancé Helen and his mother, Victoria came to stay in July 1946. At the Perth Royal Show that year the Dunkley Bros. and Ben Prowse took many of the prizes for shorthorn cattle.
Harriet had turned 76 in August 1946 and must have reflected on her life. The sadness of losing five children and her husband, all at an early age but also the good times and successes of the family with what they had set out to do 40 years before.
On February 9, 1947, when Harriet passed away at her home, Summerlea, she had three sons, a daughter, nine grandchildren and a great grandchild.
Links to other websites with additional information included in story.
Reseached and compiled by DC volunteer member of CDCP.
Oral History’s by Alfred Ernest Dunkley and Thirza Netherlea Upson held in the Archives Room at Capel Library.
If you are visiting this page and have further information or photos that pertains to Harriet Amelia Dunkley that you would like to add, can you please contact the Capel District Cemeteries Project via the CONTACT US section at the bottom of the main page.
© Capel District Cemeteries Project 25/02/2025
