Glenn Zwar

Detailed biography

Birth and Baptism

Glenn Arthur Zwar was born in the Laura Hospital on the 10th January 1938, the third of five children of Edgar and Rita Zwar nee Becker. On the 13th February Glenn was baptised in the Pine Creek Lutheran Church by Pastor G. Stolz.

Farm and Schooling

Glenn grew up on the Zwar family farm about 12 km out of Laura. He started school at the Caltowie Extension School in 1943 and in the following year went to the Stone Hut School as the tiny Caltowie Extension School had closed. Glenn went to the school with older brother Melville and sister Rhonda by horse and jinker, and finished going to the primary school with younger brother Kevin and sister Valma in 1950. The next year he became a boarder at Immanuel College in Walkerville in Adelaide. He spent the two years 1951 and 1952 at Immanuel and would have liked to spend more years there but it was not possible as his youngry brother Kevin began at Immanuel. Glenn began farming and he enjoyed it even more than school.

Marriage

Glenn enjoyed attending Youth Groups and their Meetings, Socials, and attending their State Conventions. At one of the socials he met his future wife Judith Scholz. They were married on 7th October 1967 in the Wirrabara Lutheran Church by his young brother Kevin who had become a Lutheran Pastor. Glenn and Judith had two children, Peter – born in 1969, and Karen, born in 1972.

Community roles

Glenn continued his church life at the Pine Creek Lutheran Church where he served as a steward and his daughter remembers spending Sunday afternoons helping to count the collection offerings. Other community roles Glenn served in included serving as a Councillor on the Laura District Council, and later on in the Northern Areas Councils and as President of the Laura Primary School Council.

Married Life

Glenn and Judy started their married life at their new property “Lonsdale”. When they were first married they didn’t have a kitchen and got hot bread delivered to their mail box on the main road and they used a frypan for all their cooking. Glenn and Judith continued to reside at the ‘Lonsdale’ farm until 2006 when they retired into Laura. Their son Peter and family live on the farm and Peter is still working the farm today.

Sport

Glenn was a keen sportsman and enjoyed playing cricket for Appila, football for Laura, and later in life Lawn Bowls for Laura, a sport in which he enjoyed a measure of success. The family home had a cupboard full of trophies and prizes and included a screw driver set, bowls, air water pots, car jacks and glasses. He was the club ‘Champion of Champions’ two or three times, chairman of the Club and lawn keeper. Glenn enjoyed bowls practices and also going to a lot of tournaments both in the neighbouring towns and the nearer Associations.

Bred a Farmer

Glenn was a farmer born and bred, and he especially loved his sheep. When shearing time came around that was all he could and would think about. Later in his farming life he enjoyed buying, selling and feed lotting the lambs. He would go to the Gladstone weekly markets, as well as the monthly markets in Jamestown, Melrose, Peterborough, and sometimes even Burra to check out the stock, chat about the local footy and bowls.

Bowls and the Markets took up all of his time, especially once son Peter began to work on the farm, this allowed Glenn more time to pursue his hobbies. After many years of hard farming life, like many farmers it took its toll on him physically. He would take his gopher to the markets and always found someone to help him load it. If he wanted someone’s attention he would bump into them with the gopher. Glenn continued to attend markets until he was no longer able to stand or get around.

Go-kart

Glenn liked to tinker in the shed. He built Peter and Karen a go-cart that needed motors replaced every couple of years and these motors increased in size and speed from lawn mower motors and then scooter motors. The go-cart was especially good fun in the winter mud and anyone who got on it was hosed down on the lawn by Glenn before they were able to go inside the house. This go-cart just managed to survive Peter and Karen’s childhood.

The ‘Pecker’

We built the ‘Pecker’ with Peter Hill who was the ‘A’ grade football coach helped by Clive Thomson. They spent many nights working in the shed and the family were told they weren’t allowed to see it until it was finished. It’s wing flapped with one horn noise and it rocked back and forth with another wing. This was taken to the Laura/Wirrabara football games as the mascot. It now resides in Myponga as the Myponga Mudlark.

50th Wedding Anniversary

On the 7th of October 2017 Glenn and Judy celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Glenn could never have made a better choice for his wife than asking Judith to marry him. She was a wonderful and caring wife to Glenn for more than the 50 years they were together.

Grandchilden

Glenn left behind his two grandchildren, Hailey and Thomas, whom he adored, and they were the reason for most of his smiles in the later years of his life. He would take them for rides on his walker or the gopher and he had to hide the keys so they didn’t ride off on their own.

Glenn passed away in the Crystal Brook hospital where he had resided for two and a half years.

Gone but not forgotten.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Nancy Elizabeth BIDSTRUP

Celebration of the life of Nancy Elizabeth Bidstrup

27-5-1930 to 30-6-2017

Nancy

Prahran

Nancy was born in 1930 in the City of Prahran, not far from where her maternal grandparents lived in Caulfield. Her mother, Lizzie Bidstrup, was 42 years old and her father Ernest 43. Nancy was the third child and only daughter.

‘Annadale’

Nancy grew up on the farm at ‘Annadale’, undertaking her schooling at the Sugarloaf Creek School. Like her brothers, George and Alan, she participated in farm life, including riding horses. Her senior years of schooling were at Firbank Girls Grammar School in Brighton.

Brother George:

Towards the end of WW2 she tragically lost her oldest brother George, a flight officer with the RAAF, to a plane crash in the Barrington Tops.

Home Life and Travels:

After finishing schooling Nancy returned home, assisting her mother. She would travel with her father and mother, including visits to her Uncle Walter and cousins in Queensland. It would have been quite an undertaking considering the likely state of the roads in the late 40’s post war and the 1950’s. They would also make an annual event to go to the Royal Melbourne Show, often staying at St Kilda or with Uncle Finn and Auntie Fanny in Ascot Vale. Cousin Frances, Uncle Finn’s daughter was a frequent visitor to ‘Annadale’. Nancy had a nasty fall from a horse at one stage and badly fractured her left elbow, an injury that bothered her until her death.

Mother Lizzie:

By the late 50’s her mother’s health had become quite bad, suffering from severe arthritis and asthma, and Narycy nursed her mother at home until Lizzie’s passing away in 1961.

Father Ernest:

During the 1960’s through to the early 80’s Nancy took care of her father Ernest and held the fort while he went to innumerable meetings (many years president of the Broadford and Pyalong Shire councils, member of the water works trust in Seymour etc). She was a great maker of plum-puddings and yoyo biscuits, and knitted jumpers and other things for her nephews.

Outside Interests:

Her outside interests included photography and travelling. She travelled around parts of Australia and also overseas to Fiji. Nancy was quite active with the local CFA, supporting the crews by manning the radio etc. She was also a member of the St John’s Ambulance and donned the uniform many times.

Father Ernest final years:

During the early 1980’s , due to his failing mobility, Nancy’s father Ernie had to move in with her brother Alan and sister-in-law, Esme’. Nancy was no longer able to manage him, having considerable back pain which required a back operation (she had a laminectomy in 1983). Ernie sadly passed away in 1985.

Geelong:

Nancy inherited ‘Barrington’, their home at Broadford, and a significant portion of “Annadale” from her father. Wantjng a new start, she sold Barrington and her stake in Annadale and moved to Geelong where she bought a house in Mt Pleasant Rd, Belmont. It was to be her home til her passing in 2017.

In Geelong Nancy connected with some of her old friends and her cousin Edna Pritchard (nee Bidstrup). She also joined the Highton Anglican Church and became one of their community. In the 90’s she took some sewing classes in Geelong.

Medical Troubles:

Nancy’s medical woes were extensive:

Current Medical History: *

12/05/2015 Hip Pain – Left. Osteoarthritis of many joints including left hip and both shoulders and elbow. Rheumatoid arthritis of hands and feet.

31/03/2015 Pancreatitis

03/01/2012 Anaemia Of Chronic Disease

10/11/2011 Atrial Fibrillation

10/10/2011 Mild Lvf 49% Ef, ,mild To Moderate Mi

11/05/2010 Chronic Renal Failure .

? 2010 Fusion of right ankle.

26/09/2005 Lvf (Left Ventricular Failure)

26/08/2005 Hyperthyroidism

26/08/2005 Cardiomyopathy – Dilatation

01/04/2003 Gord (Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease)

01/12/1999 Arthritis Knees And Hips*

13/10/1998 Osteo arthritis Knees/Ankle/hips/hands/back (Right)

13/10/1998 Gastritis

pain management

inguinal hernia or hip pain

Generalised Weakness

ankle edema *

Past Medical History:

17/12/2007 Knee Replacement – Right

26/04/2007 Mva

26/04/2007 Fractured (R) Tibial Plateau

10/05/2006 Hyperthyroidism – Radioactive Iodine Therapy

09/03/2006 Cataract Removal & lol Implant – Left

12/01/2006 Cataract Removal & lol Implant – Right

2001 Knee Replacement – Left

22/03/2000 Carpal tunnel – Ulnar Nerve Palsy – Left

1997 Thr (Total Hip Replacement) – Right

1983 L4/5 Laminectomy _f

1959 Septoplasty Of The Nose

1959 Osteotomy Antrums (middle ear infection)

As a child Measles, left elbow fracture.

Nancy Bidstrup

Travels:

While in Geelong Nancy went on many trips around Australia and also visited New Zealand. She made extensive photo albums of her travels. It was a great disappointment to her later in life that her mobility became so poor that she was unable to travel anymore. To her that was the end of her worthwhile life.

Final Years:

The last few years have not been kind to Nancy. Sadly she was not good at making the best of her bad situation. Nancy stayed at home way past when she would have had a better life in a nursing home. For the last three years she has very vocally expressed her wish to pass to the next life. On Friday 30^th June 2017, after fracturing her left hip 9 days before, she was finally granted that wish. May she rest in peace.

Rex Lloyd BECKER

THE LAURA FARM

Birth and Baptism

Rex was born in Laura, South Australia on 7^th August 1928, the last of seven children born to Richard Becker and his wife Emma nee Zanker. Rex was baptized on the 9^th September and was one of the first children baptized by Pastor Ernst Stolz who had been ordained as a Lutheran pastor and then installed as the new Pastor of the Appila Parish a week before Rex was born. Rex said that Pastor Stolz must have been nervous. He baptized four babies that day and he actually baptized Rex as ‘Ray’.

Rex’s eldest sister Rita was 20 years old and she loved to nurse and care for baby Rex. This was much appreciated by their mother Emma as her husband Richard was a sick man.

Uncle

Two years later Rita married Edgar Zwar who was also a member of the same Pine Creek Lutheran congregation. They lived about four k’s away ‘as the crow flies’, directly northeast over farming paddocks. Rex could recall that when he was four years old his mother lifted him up and sat him on a table and announced in German that he was now an uncle as his sister Rita now had her own baby they would call Melville. Rex enjoyed playing with his little nephew. One day Rex was missing and after much searching they found him on his three wheeler bike out on the main road on his way to visit Melville.

School

Rex said he began going to school in Laura when he was five years old so he could go with his sister Linda who was in her last year and Linda could look after him as he could only speak German and she could help him learn some English. Rex said he was the only one of the children to begin school when they were only 5 years old. They went the four miles to school by a horse and sulky (a light two wheeler pulled by a single horse). During the day they left the horse and sulky at the home of Mrs McHugh who was a music teacher in Laura and taught Linda, and Rex thought she may have taught Rita too.

Father

Rex told me that all his memories of his father were as a sick man. He remembered the doctor calling regularly to drain the fluid from his father’s body – Dropsy/Oedema. When Rex was eight years old his father Richard died. He was 66 years old. Rex would go through some difficult times in his life but he had a strong faith in the love of God and a ready sense of humour that helped him to carry through life as it came to him.

The Willows

“The Willows” as the Becker home was named, remained the home and the family centre of the Becker families. Even when they married and left home they all lived nearby for some years. The love and care of her families was focused on Emma. To all the grandchildren she was affectionately called ‘Mutter’. We loved to go there for holidays. Grandmother Emma Becker would live for another 41 years after the death of her husband.

QC Certificate

Rex continued his schooling in Laura until the end of 1939. He said his family thought it would be good for him to have some religious learning while at school. Rex and Max Zanker would travel together the six miles to the Pine Creek Lutheran School and would pick up some of their Zanker cousins on the way. Rex completed his year 7 QC certificate in 1940 when he was 12 years old under the teacher Albert Fehlberg. Rex was looking forward to going to the high school at Gladstone in the new year.

The Great Flood

In January 1941 an exceptionally rare event in nature changed his plans. Two of Uncle Rex’s Zwar nephews, Melville and Glenn and a niece, Rhonda had come for a holiday, as their baby brother Kevin was in the Laura hospital fighting for his life. One day a freak heavy rain storm in the Appila district sent a giant flood down the Pine Creek and the floodwaters went through the Becker homestead and farm, nearly two metres deep though the Becker house. The three Zwar children were put on the top of a car shed roof and watched pigs and other animals washed away. The flood waters went through the farm buildings and some, including the sheep yards and shed were washed away. The cellar was filled with water and mud and were never opened. The main timbers of several bridges up stream washed down through the farm and took down some huge gum trees and these were left scattered over the farm. Most of the town of Laura was flooded too, but no one suffered as much as the Becker property as the Pine Creek takes a bend right next to the homestead and the flood waters went straight ahead and through the house and all the farm buildings.

The three Zwar children were taken to Uncle Herb and Auntie Mary Schultz’s to sleep that night.

The Flood Clean-up

Rex would be involved for most of the year in clearing up the mess the flood had made over much of the farm, including clearing fallen gum trees. One large gum tree was washed up next to the home garden. All of his brother Melvin’s 21^st birthday presents were lost to the floodwaters. New sheep yards and a new shearing shed were built on a different part of the farm.

For more details of the flood one can read Melville Zwar’s account of the flood.

One can read newspaper reports of the flood in the newspapers of the time.

Confirmation

During the year Rex attended weekly confirmation lessons in Laura with Pastor Roehrs. Rex was confirmed in the Wirrabara Lutheran Church which was part of the Laura Lutheran Parish, and was a separate parish from the Pine Creek Appila Lutheran Parish his family belonged to.

Family Marriages

Rex’s sisters and a brother were marrying and leaving home. Rex’s sister Frieda had married Rheinhold Wurst three months before the big flood and they had settled on their farm south of Appila. The following year his oldest brother Eric Becker married Anna Borgas and they lived on their farm west of Caltowie. Several years later his sister Linda married Walter Bartsch and they lived in Laura.

By the end of the Second World War Rex and his older brother Melvin were left at home with mother Emma.

Christmas Celebrations

I can recall the Becker Christmas celebrations held each year. They were usually held at ‘The Willows’ Becker homestead. It was a feast. It was about the only meal of the year when we ate roast chicken! The fowls on our farms were primarily kept for the money from the sale of eggs. These were the Great Depression and War years and each penny was precious. On the farms we regularly killed our own sheep for meat, and once a year a pig. One only shopped at the local butcher to buy sausages and maybe some mince meat.

I can recall a Christmas session in the large Becker parlour room when I was only about three years old. One night Uncle Reinhalt Wurst showed some of his movie films in the darkened parlour room. I was terrified and cried as it was a completely new and unexpected experience for me.

Grandmother Becker gave each grandchild a Christmas present.

Fishing

The Becker families would sometimes go fishing along the coast near Port Germein. The fishing net was kept at Rex’s. Over the years we tried different fishing spots. The families had invested in a long fishing net. I hesitate to guess it’s length. A few of the men would lead out into the sea pulling one end of the net until the water was up to their shoulders, then go parallel to the shore until the net was fully out and then pull their end of the net in to the shore. Hopefully a lot of whiting would have been trapped along with other fish and some large crabs. As children we played in the sea waters and in the sand dunes with our cousins.

I recall on one fishing trip the radios announced that the King had died. There has not been another similar announcement to this day! [2017]

Holidays

We children continued going to the Becker Willows homestead for holidays. The Pine Creek always had water running and included some long and deep stretches of water. We could go out in a rowing boat with our aunties and uncles.

We also enjoyed fishing in the Pine Creek for yabbys. On one occasion Uncle Rex had slaughtered a sheep for meat and we were trying to catch yabbies’. Rex brought the head of a killed sheep over and put a long piece of string on it and lowered it into a deep pool. When he pulled it up after about 15 minutes it was covered with large yabbies. After repeating this several more times we had caught far more yabbies’ than we had ever seen!

Uncle Rex would also take us out in the utility to feed the sheep out in the paddocks. It was hot summer time and the sheep needed extra feed. Uncle Rex would start the utility and set the choke to drive us at a very slow speed, and then he would jump up into the back to throw out the hay as we young children steered the vehicle round the paddock.

There were also several sheep dogs on board and one day they took off after a fox and eventually caught it and killed it. One was an old dog and he had so exerted himself in the chase that now he collapsed and couldn’t stand up, so he had to be carried home.

Marriage

I was 11 years old when Uncle Rex married Auntie Grace Ottens, and I was thrilled to go to the wedding and the wedding reception. It was a rare experience for me at that age. My brother Melville Zwar was pleased to be in the wedding party of his uncle. He also milked the cows for Rex and Grace when they went on their honeymoon and says it must have been quite a challenge in those days for Rex to milk over 40 cows twice a day as well as working the property as a wheat and sheep farm.

The marriage produced two children, Judith and Jeffrey.

Author Leaves Home

Several years after the wedding I went to Immanuel College in Adelaide. I didn’t realize it at the time but I would never live permanently at Laura again. After going to Immanuel I went to Luther Seminary in Adelaide for five years, and was then ordained as a Lutheran pastor in the Pine Creek Lutheran Church and then went to serve in the new Gympie Lutheran parish in Queensland. South Australia would never be my home again and I had little with the Becker family.

It has always been a pleasure to meet up with Uncle Rex and Auntie Grace when on holidays in South Australia. I have found it is usual for those who move interstate that they often like to keep up with their family history. It is Uncle Rex who supplied me with much helpful information on his family during his life time, and I think we all owe him a special word of thanks.

Changes Over 100 years

Rex Becker’s father Richard Becker bought ‘The Willows’ farm from his brother in September 1909. I think it was great that the recent Annual Becker Family Reunion in 2016 was held in Laura and a visit was made to ‘The Willows’ Farm.

One hundred and seven years after Richard and Emma bought their farm their descendants still own land in a virtually unbroken line from the Rocky River near Laura that reaches eastwards almost to Caltowie. These properties include Valma Thomson, Melvin Becker, Rex Becker, Rita Zwar, Wayne and Peter Zwar, and Eric Becker families.

The homes of Rex Becker, Rita Zwar, and their neighbours the Stakers, Westons/Zanker, and three families of the Saegenschnitters who were also Becker relatives, are all now empty houses or no longer even standing. These changes reflects the changes in the size of farms and families in our society over the past 100 years.

© Kevin P Zwar

Adelaide

Seaview Downs

After a family discussion in 1980, it was decided to sell the farm and move to Seaview Downs to be closer to the children. Both Rex and Grace quickly adapted to city life.

Fishing

As long as anyone can remember, Rex always had a great love of fishing. We can’t quite remember when be purchased his first boat, a small wooden craft with a very basic outboard motor, but over time his boats became larger, faster and more luxurious. He often commented that the size or style of the boat did not have much effect on the amount offish that he caught. Grace also.enjoyed her time on the water, and was always available for a fishing trip when the weather was right. When asked whether he had a successful day fishing, he would often say, no, but we had a lovely day boating. If he had a good catch, he would weigh the fish and compare the current price of his catch against the cost of the fuel he used on the day.

Judith

Sadly, in 1994 Judith after a long battle with cancer, passed away at the tender age of 39 years, leaving two grand sons, Jack and Brett with her husband, John. The boys continued to be a great source of enjoyment to Rex. Judith’s untimely death caused both Rex and Grace a great deal of sorrow, Rex finding it difficult to accept that one’s child should be taken before the parent.

Fishing

After fishing, Rex also had a great love of working with wood. One of his first projects when moving to Adelaide, was to build a large purpose built workshop, fitted out with all the machinery and tools that would make some professional carpentry workshops look amateur. When he wasn’t fishing he spent most of his time in the workshop. And of course he also bought a bigger and better boat.

Part Time Jobs

He also took on several part time jobs, as he felt a little guilty not having a “proper” job at his age. The boss of a factory that he helped maintain quickly realized that Rex had many skills (gained from working out mechanical and other problems on the farm), and insisted that Rex assist the professional engineers with their problem solving. Rex had a very practical way of working things out. He was often asked to help sort out and fix problems on the boss’s yacht.

Travelling

Grace loved travelling, so in 1982 Rex fitted out a large F100 four wheel drive vehicle, and they took off on a trip around Australia.

Then in 1984 they purchased a purpose built campervan and travelled to New South Wales and Western Australia along with many shorter trips.

Seaview Downs to Pasadena

After putting their names on a waiting list, in 2005 they were told that a nice three-bedroom unit in Trinity Place, Pasadena was available. After some discussion, Rex and Grace sold their home (and boat) in Seaview Downs and moved into their new-home in Pasadena.

Once again Rex quickly converted the garage into a work shop so he could continue his love of working with wood. With his ingenious skill he managed to make the work bench and other machinery mobile, so that it could be moved to make room for the family car.

Rex did miss the boat, and the fishing trips, but understood that as he was aging, handling the boat was not as easy as it once was.

Rex and Grace adapted well to the new village lifestyle. Grace involved in many church and community activities and Rex spending his time in the workshop. It didn’t take long for word to get around that if you wanted anything made of wood, or repaired, Rex was the man to see.

Serious Accident

In May 2016, while visiting his son Jeffrey in Melbourne, Rex suffered a serious accident resulting in a number of broken bones in his ankle. Following several spells in hospital and a long (far too long according to Rex) 90-day period on very strong antibiotics, he continued to suffer from a previous medical condition. He managed to get back to some kind of normal life, even driving the car for shopping and doctor’s appointments.

He did however, get weaker, and after a fall early in December, he was admitted to hospital. He stayed at Flinders Hospital until the 17^thDecember when he was transferred to Daw House in Daw Park where he continued to receive special, comforting care.

19th December 2016

Rex passed away peacefully on Monday the 19^th December, 2016.

On Tuesday 3rd January 2017 Trinity Lutheran Church was filled with many relatives and friends in a service of thanksgiving to God, led by Pastor Mark Kaesler, for the life of Rex Becker.

Rex had two brothers, Eric and Melvin, and four sisters, Lorna, Rita, Frieda and Linda who all pre-deceased him.

We remember Rex for his great sense of humour, his wonderful generosity and his friendship.

© Jeffrey Becker

Thelma Marie KELLER nee Borgas

Biography

Twins

Thelma Marie Keller (nee Borgas) was born on February 2^nd 1929 at Booleroo Centre, South Australia. Thelma was baptised on February 8^th at the hospital by Pastor Rudolph. Thelma was the twin daughter of Emil and Agnes Borgas. Her twin brother, Arnold, died in 2011, and her brother Lloyd in 2014. Her remaining siblings are Ronald, twin brother to Lloyd, who lives in Wirrabara, South Australia; and her sister Rita Parsons, who lives in Taroom QLD.

School and Teenager

Thelma went to school in Wirrabara, walking in all sorts of weather with her brothers until grade seven. Thelma’s father had her and her brother Arnold exempted from school at age twelve to help at home as Arnold did not want to go to High School. Thelma did not like this arrangement as she was keen to go on further and study to learn music, cooking and sewing. After leaving school she helped on the family farm doing house work, gardening, milking cows, working in the area known as the forest picking fruit and other farm work.

Marriage

On June 9^th 1953 Thelma married Ron Keller from Rainbow at the ‘Gloria Dei’ Lutheran Church at Appila, South Australia, by Pastor Peter Mattiske.

On significant days in Thelma’s life, such as her wedding, confirmation, and 21st, it rained. The day of her funeral was no exception!

Ron and Thelma then went to live on the family farm at Pella in Victoria. They initially shared the house with Ron’s parents. They had four children: Mervyn, Kevin, Annette and David.

Garden

Thelma loved the vegetable garden and always had an abundance of vegetables which were often shared amongst others. Flowers and fruits trees were also spread throughout the garden. Eventually the garden extended well outside the initial fence around the house.

Animals

Thelma loved all of her animals – chooks, ducks, geese, turkeys, but unfortunately for many, they had their heads chopped off to feed the family!

She was always willing to help on the farm chasing sheep, milking the cows, as well as finding time to cook, preserve fruits and make jam when in season, prepare meals, etc.

Sheep

As the boys, Merv, Kevin and David, grew older, they were given the responsibility to catch and kill the sheep as part of the family diet.

“Mum loved Liver which she cooked in many different ways, but after a while you can only eat so much, so occasionally we would have to tell her that the liver had a lump or something wrong with it and we had fed it to the pigs!! After a while she cottoned on to the game and used to come and help, mainly to check the liver!” … Annette

Sport

In her younger years Thelma played tennis and netball, known as to her as basketball at Wirrabara. In her later years she joined the local Bowls Club winning several championship trophies. She loved helping others out. She also worked at the football club and in recent times, spent time with the young kids selling lollies, while in earlier years she watched her very talented sons play football! She also enjoyed watching all of her grandkids play sport, especially, football and netball.

Craftwork

Thelma loved doing craft work, baking and knitting. She showed a lot of her craft and cooking in the local show, which won many prizes. In the later years, she enjoyed helping Brittany and Mikayla put entries into the show.

Thelma attempted to teach all of her grandchildren how to bake and to knit, with varying degrees of success!! She knitted baby matinee jackets for all of her grandchildren. These are to be worn by any great grandchildren at their baptism.

Thelma’s cooking specialty was the Honey Roll. Her recipe has been passed on to her children and grandchildren. The ability to replicate Thelma’s standard of Honey Roll is in progress, and a competition between the grandchildren is underway!!

Thelma loved to play games with the grandchildren, especially Chinese Checkers. Her competitive nature is evident in some of her grandchildren’s personalities when the board comes out!!!

Thelma cross stitched the Lord’s Prayer for each of her grand children to ensure the Christian faith was present in their lives also.

Lutheran Church

Thelma regularly attended church and had a strong faith in God. She was always available to talk to and to help when needed. While living out on the family farm, Thelma attended the Pella Lutheran Church before transferring to St Stephen’s Rainbow, having moved into Rainbow after David and Jodie were married. First living at 31 Bow St, and then when Kevin married Bernadette, Ron and Thelma moved to 15 Sanders St.

Farewell

Thelma left us to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday 17^th January 2016 at around 8.30pm leaving behind her much loved husband, Ron, with whom she had celebrated 62 years of marriage; her four children and their spouses, and eight grandchildren whom she loved very much.

Her children will remember her as very patient, loving mother with a very soft heart. She was always very hard working, installing a good work ethic in all of them. She was always a good provider for the family. We will miss her dearly.

_________________________________________________________

Alan Ernest BIDSTRUP

Biography

Arrival

Alan Ernest Bidstrup was born in Melbourne on the 8th of October, 1925. He was the second son of Ernest Oliver and Lizzie Marie Bidstrup.

Schooling

His first school was Kur Kurruc State School, Sugarloaf Creek, Broadford, which was 400 metres from his family home, “Annadale.” The teacher boarded with his parents. In 1938, he joined his brother George at The Geelong College, where the annual fee for boarding and tuition was 150 pounds [($300) = $5000 in 2016 dollars]. The following year he was awarded a scholarship, which paid half the fees for the next two years.

Farm and Young Adult Life

At the age of 15, after completing the equivalent of Year 10, he returned to the farm where he worked until retiring at 83yrs of age. On returning, he joined the Air Training Corps but was “man-powered” back to the farm when he became 18. Petrol rationing during the war limited the family car and the shearing plant to 13 gallons per month, so many trips were made by bicycle, horse and jinker. Entertainment consisted of football, dances, balls or gymkhanas. Together with his brother George, he successfully competed in riding competitions in both the Royal Melbourne and local Shows.

‘George on a pony‘

His very good eventing pony, Tocum, gave him a lot of pleasure. He was a member of the Findon Hunt Club. Another past- time was his involvement in the Seymour Young Farmers club where he was President in 1947. He was also a member of Seymour Presbyterian Fellowship Association.

A highlight of his year would be accompanying his uncle J.F.'(Fin) McNab, a noted Merino Sheep Stud Classer, to various flocks in his circuit covering Victoria, the Riverina and South Australia.

Brother George

In April 1945, his brother George was reported missing. He was flying on an exercise out of Williamtown a RAAF Mosquito Aircraft. The wrecked plane was found 9 months later, by Les Collison, a local grazier, on the Barrington Tops of NSW. Les went on to be a great family friend for over fifty years. Alan and his father visited the site on horseback, as did Esmé some years later. Alan and his father Ernie attended the funeral at Sandgate War Cemetery near Newcastle.

Marriage

Alan became engaged to Esmé Hayes in February 1950. two weeks before she sailed to Europe to backpack for the rest of the year, which also included travel around the UK. Esme’s original plan was to be away for two years, and to teach for twelve months in England. Plans changed! They were married in December 1951 and lived at “Annadale”, where Alan’s father was born in 1886. He and his father farmed in partnership until his father’s death in 1985. He and his father had a wonderful relationship, and never had a cross word between them.

The first of four sons, George, was born in 1956, the second Ian in 1957, the third David in 1959 and the fourth Roger in 1963.

Awards

In 1969, after moving into their new homestead at “Annadale”, he was successful in winning the Hanslow Cup for Soil Conservation and later the Royal Melbourne Show Victorian Farm Management, Production and Improvement Competition. With improved farming practices, and hard work, “Annadale’s” wool production was increased from 60 bales per annum to in excess of 300 bales.

Properties

Over the years the land holdings at “Annadale” were expanded, as well as buying a property in the Western District. This farm was later sold, and after George and Anna were married, a property named “Bornholm” was purchased at Culcairn NSW in 1978. Bidstrup Pastoral Company was formed with Alan, George and David farming together.

Community Involvement

At all times Alan was community minded, being a member, Lieutenant and Captain of Glenaroua Fire Brigade over a period of more than 70 years.

At 20 years of age he became a member of the Seymour Agricultural Society, which continued until his death. He served as President, an appointment which included being the first President of the Victorian Wines Show.

He was a committee member and volunteer of the Broadford Cemetery Trust for 44 years. He spent 10 years as a member of the Seymour Rotary Club, being the President in 1996-1997. He remained connected to the club, which gave him great pleasure.

The Broadford Masonic Lodge was an important part of his life, beginning in 1948, where he was the organist for many years, as well as holding various offices including that of Lodge Master. He received his 65-year Masonic Jewel in 2014.

Family

Alan was a devoted and loving brother of George (Dec.) and Nancy. He was a very proud and supportive father of his sons and their partners. Namely; George and Anna, Ian and Judy, David and Judy and Roger. Papa cherished his Grandchildren and Grandchildren in law; Robert and Jodie, Samantha and Anthony, Rebecca and Vinnie, Tom and Rachael. Max, Laura, Luke and Courtney, Peter, Alex and Hugh. Grandpapa adored his Great Grandchildren; Madison and Brayden. Maya and Emma.

Sadly, on the 16th of April 2009. he lost his youngest son, Roger.

He and Esmé did a great deal to bind together the broader family including members from W.A, S.A, Vic, and Qld. He had a special connection with the Queensland Bidstrups, especially his cousin Clive. He also had a very special relationship with Esme’s twin brothers, Gilbert and Bruce. They were like brothers to him.

Travels

Along with Esmé, he greatly enjoyed travel to the U.S.A., Europe, Egypt, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Uzbekistan.

Of particular interest to him was a visit to his Bidstrup ancestral home on the Danish Island of Bomholm, in the Baltic Sea. He also visited the birth place of his Great Grandfather Michael Zwar, near Dresden in Germany.

He, however, did not neglect Australia, travelling extensively by car and light plane.

People Person

Many a neighbour would testify to his willing response whenever they were in need of help. This often resulted in strong friendships to be formed, and help when he needed it, especially as he got older.

Alan liked to meet and talk to people of all ages and backgrounds, and was genuinely interested in their lives and families. He was a “people person” who touched many people’s lives both here and around the world.

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© Alan and George Bidstrup

Dennis Kevin SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

The following biography is the work of the late Dean Saegenschnitter, who collected and compiled ‘Before and After’, a Family History of the Saegenschnitter descendants of Auguste Emilie Lydia Becker and Carl Friedrich Gustav Saegenschnitter.

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Childhood

I was born in Adelaide on 31st May, 1945 and arrived at the home of Albert & Gertie Saegenschnitter, who then lived in Laura, when I was 6 weeks old.

I was Baptised by Paster W. F. Roehrs on the 22^nd July 1945, in the Easter Lutheran Church Laura. My Sponsors were Edna Saegenschnitter (Curtis ), Albert Pech and Conrad Wegner.

Education

Schooling began in 1951 at the Laura Primary School, and in Grade 1 I achieved my best results for all my school life by topping the class (the first and only time this happened). In September our family moved to Tanunda, and my education continued at the Tanunda Primary School till 1957, then to Nutioopta High School 1958-1960. I attended religious instruction, and was Confirmed at Langmeil Lutheran Church, Tanunda on the 12^thOctober, 1958 by Pastor Ivan Witter.

Employment

I commenced employment with E. H. Hage & Co., who were G M H Dealers in the Barossa Valley, as an Office Clerk. Here I learnt basic book keeping skills and office procedures.

Hermannsburg

This lead me to accept the position of Bookkeeper at the Hermannsberg Mission, south west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, in 1966. As a Bookkeeper I also ran the Post Office, and the Commonwealth Bank Agency, drove the truck into Alice Springs once a fortnight for supplies, acted as a part time store assistant, and assisted in the meat store ( Butcher Shop). It was a great learning curve for a 21 year old while living in relative isolation, and learning the culture of the Aboriginal People.

Barossa Valley

In 1968 I returned to the Barossa Valley, and after some time with casual work, and travelling. I was offered a full time position back at Hage & Co. “if I was ready to settle down”, as Mr. Ed Hage put it to me.

In 1985 I was offered a position with Steinhage Holden (now Steinborer Holden) at Gawler, till 1989. In that period of 1968-1989 in the Barossa I worked in the Royal Automobile Association District Office, handled finance for vehicles sales, spent a time as a vehicle salesman, became a Service Department clerk, and spent many years as a Service Department Controller.

After a 3 month break, I worked as a bottling line attendant for Penfolds (now Southcorp) for four months, until I had the opportunity to run the local Kawasaki motorcycle agency at Nurioopta, and the Honda Motorcycle Agency at Gawler until it closed in early 1994.

After a lot of thought I applied for work in the Funeral Industry and was able to gain employment with Piitzner Funerals at Kapunda in August 1994, They were sold to Clayton Scott Funerals of Nurioopta in 1999, and now I hold the position of Branch Manager for both firms.

Marriage

On the 5^th May, 1973, Joanne Carol Richter and I were married in the Langmeil Lutheran Church, Tanunda, We have lived in Tanunda all our married life, raising four children, Paula 1974, Adam 1975. Laura 1979, and Sarah 1982.

Church Life

Most of my out of work hour activities have been centred around church, I have held many and various positions within the Church. Joanne and I were actively involved in Youth Activities even after we were married. I joined the Langmeil Church choir in 1968, and still enjoy singing with them. I also sing with the Tanunda Liedertafel and the Barossa Boys choirs.

I have served as secretary of the Tanunda Lutheran Primary Executive Committee for 5 years, Vice-chairman for 2 Years, and Chairman for 2 years. During this time I was also secretary of the Tanunda Football Club for 5 years, as well as holding other positions with the club.

Travellers

In June 1988, Jo & I travelled to Brisbane with the Tanunda Liedertafel to take part in the Snagerfest, a choral festival for German singing choirs in Australia. We also stayed on and spent time with our daughter Paula who lives in Brisbane. In July in the same year we had a motoring holiday to Darwin with friends. Travelling is something we hope to do more of in the next few years.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Doris Gertrude KLAEBE nee Saegenschnitter

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Wonderful Childhood

Doris was born on Good Friday the 9^th April, 1936 and was Baptised in the Pine Creek Lutheran Church. She grew up in a family home having a wonderful childhood, having single Uncles and by people helping her parents, and also by being the first child in the family.

School

When 5¾ years old Doris commenced at the Caltowie Extension School in 1942. In 1944 the family sold the farm and moved into a lovely old home on the edge of the I Laura Township. After Laura primary school she attended Gladstone High, thoroughly enjoying this period, but in 1950 Doris had to spend three months at home to look after a 5 year old brother while her mother underwent an operation in the Laura hospital.

Employment

The parents decided that Doris leave school and go to work in the Office at the Laura Flour Mill. Doris stayed there till the latter part of 1953, when again she was told to go to work in the office of a hardware store in Nuriopta in the Barossa Valley.

Barossa Valley

The parents and family then moved to Tanunda in the Barossa Valley. Here Doris met Howard and they bought a block of land where they built a small cottage. On its completion she married Howard Albert Klaebe in the Langmeil Church in Tanunda on the 14th November 1959. Doris continued working until May 1961, when their son Stefen Albert was born, and at the end of the following year their daughter Francesca Gertrude was also born in Tanunda.

Outside Employment

In February 1967 Seppelts winery needed another person for 2 weeks, and this eventually became permanent. In 1968 they began to build a house onto their cottage. Doris then answered an advert and was chosen as an office worker by the Kaiser Stuhl Community winery at Nurioopta. At the end of 1972 she resigned, wanting to spend time at home with the two children and join in their school functions etc. After a while at home Doris I was asked to work a day every so often in the Tanunda Rest Home. The hours varied for the next 27 years that she spent there, and finally on 15th September 2000 she retired. (What a day.)

Husband Howard

During the time Doris was working, Howard was awarded the ‘Super Service 1984 at Hages’ This was an Australia wide contest, and this enabled them to have a trip to Vanuato in 1983 and a trip to Singapore in 1985.

In 1994 they did a trip with “Lutheran Tours” to Thailand, England, France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Holland and Belguim.

Son Stefen

Their son Stefen completed his education, and after a number of jobs joined Orlando Wines and was instrumental in Howard getting a position there too. Howard wanted to give away being a mechanic.

Daughter Fran

Daughter Fran completed her education and in 1973 she applied for and was accepted to become a Junior School Teacher.

Retirement

Howard retired on 31st December 2002. They now have five grandchildren. Adrian, Jeromy, Trudy, Julius and Lyndall.

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Children of Doris and Howard

Stefen and Francesca

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Herbert Edwin SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Church and School

I was born at Sandleton on August 12^th 1931. Was Christened in the local Lutheran church. Near the church was the school, this I commenced going to in 1938 and for another 3 years. The School then closed due to lack of numbers, finally I completed my education by correspondance lessons in 1945.

Work

After completing my education, I helped my father on the farm until 1956, when I bought my own farm in the Sandleton district, which I have to this day. Besides farming, I did casual work, such as fencing, woodcutting, shearing, and truck driving in the Truro Blanchetown area.

Marriage and Home

On 19^th. May 1962,1 married Jennifer Phillips who came from Tea Tree Gully, Adelaide. In the same year we built our house on the Old Sturt Highway, Nurioopta, in which we still to this day.

Also in 1962, I began working at the Angaston cement works. This I did for 20 years

Family

Both our daughters Debra and Sharon were born in Angaston.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Gordon Roy SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Childhood

I was born at Sandleton on 27th December 1928. I lived with my parents and brothers on the farm at Sandleton. I was christened in the nearby Lutheran Church, and this was also where the family went to Worship.

I commenced school in 1936. This was near to the Church, but unfortunately this closed in 1941, due to lack of numbers, so then I had to complete my education by correspondence lessons.

Confirmation

I undertook Confirmation lessons, this was given by Pastor Bartholomew at Stonefield, often riding the bike the 10 miles to attend these lessons. I was finally Confirmed on 31/10/1943 at Stonefield.

Farming

After leaving school, I with my brothers helped the parents on the farm,which consisted mainly growing wheat and with sheep. In the late 40’s I went to the Barossa for the grape harvest for 3-4 years, and later in the 50’s for a period did some grape picking.

Retirement

Dad died in 1957, Mother 1964, thus Les and I continued running the farm till 1976, when I retired to live with my Sister-in-law Edna on the Nurioopta/Angaston road. I kept an interest in the farm, occasionally going to help brother Les’s son, Michael who now owned the farm.

Gordon died on 2nd December 2002.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Richard Gustav SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Birth and Baptism

Richard was bom at Caltowie Extension on 18^th June 1898. He would have been baptised, confirmed and, with his parents, attended church at the Pine Creek Lutheran Church.

School

He went to the Caltowie Extension School, this he attended until he was 12 years old.

Tragedies

He lost his Mother and young Sister, in early 1908, this was a great loss to the family. After leaving school, he helped his father on the farm.

Farm and Marriage

In 1921 he bought his own farm which was located about 6 miles east of Laura. Richard on the 16^thApril 1925, married Hilda Saegenschnitter.

He continued to work this farm until he had heart problems in 1939. He then sold all his implements and horses, he then share-farmed, until November 1945.

Barossa Valley

He sold the farm and went to live in the Barossa Valley, at Nurioopia. Here worked at the Viticulture Station until his retirement in 1965.

Adelaide

Richard and his wife Hilda went to live in a granny flat at the rear of their daughter’s home in Adelaide. Hilda passed away on 28th October 1979. Richard remained with his daughter until early 1981, when he went into the Fullarton Lutheran Homes. He passed away on June 15th 1983. Both he and Hilda are buried in the Enfield cemetery.

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Edna Gladys CURTIS nee Saegenschnitter

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Births

I was born at Laura on 14^th July 1926. Baptised at the Pine Creek Lutheran Church 15th August 1926. God parents were Rita Becker, Elsie Lange and Ben Saegensachnitter.

Learning

I commenced my education at the Caltowie Extension School in 1933, then to the Stone Hut School in 1934-35, and then 1936-39 went to the Laura School.

I was Confirmed in the Pine Creek Lutheran Church on November 10^th 1940

Farm to Barossa Valley

On leaving school I worked with my parents on the farm until 1945, when the farm was sold and with my parents moved to the Barossa Valley, firstly to Stonefieid. I stayed with my Auntie Lydie Evers. Then in March 1946, my parents rented a house in July 1950 in Nurioopta, while they had a house built on the Old Kapunda Road. I then went and lived with them.

Marriage and Piccadilly

On August 12th 1950 I married Clarrie Curtis at Nurioopta, and from there we went to live at Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills. The purpose of going to Piccadilly was for Clarrie and I to live in Clarrie’s father’s house there, this became Clarrie’s an on the death of his father in 1958. We lived there with our family until 1965, the older children were then ready for further education, so it was more beneficial for us to move to Adelaide.

Adelaide

We bought a house in Brooklyn Park in Adelaide. It is here we still live today.

My parents came to live with us in June 1965, they moved into our granny flat, until Mum passed away in October 1979. Dad remained here until January 1981, when he went to the Fullarton Lutheran Homes until his death in 1983.

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Children of Edna and Clarence:

Bevan, Kelvin, Adrian, Charmaine and Shane.

Grandchildren:

Mathew, Danielle, Jarrod, Arron and Shaun.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Leslie SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Twin

Leslie was born at Sandleton on 27th December 1925, a twin to brother Eric. He was christened at Sandleton Lutheran Church, and with the family attended Church there.

Education

He went to the local school, this was adjacient to the church, completing Grades one and two in the first year, and finally gaining his Q.C. in 1941. With brothers Eric & Colin he received religious instruction, they were Confirmed by Pastor Reidal on 20/4/1941.

Family Farm

After leaving school he helped on the family farm. This consisted mainly of sheep and wheat, as well as cutting wood which was then sold. Later for a short period Leslie went to the Riverland for grape picking.

Marriage

After marrying Edna Schiller in 1962, they went to live in nearby Neales Flat. In 1970 the couple moved to Nurioopta/Angaston Road, leaving their son Michael to continue to the running of the farm on behalf of the brothers Les & Gordon.

Passing

Les died in 1975, after a few years of heart problems. He is buried in Light Pass cemetery.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Eric SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Twin

Eric was born on 27/12/1925 at Sandleton. He and his brother Leslie were twins. He would have been christened at the Sandleton Lutheran Church and attended church there with his parents.

Education

He with Les attended the local school which was adjacent to the Church, believed he gained his Q C with brother Les in 1941. Eric with brothers Ives & Colin undertook religious instruction and were confirmed by Pastor Reidal on 20/4/1941.

Home Farm

After leaving school with his brothers, helped his parents in the operation of their farm, which consisted of wheat & sheep, as well as cutting wood for sale.

Riverland

Eric shifted to the Riverland on leaving the farm, where he met and married Barbara Perry in 1951. He bought a vegetable property on what the locals call the Ridge. Here he grew a variety of vegetables, such as peas, tomatoes and pumpkins.

While still owning the block, Eric took a job with the then P.M.G,. Then he sold the block in 1964 and the family moved into the township of Barmera where they lived until shifting to Loxton in 1975.

During this time Eric moved around the state, to places such as Cleve, Jamestown (where the family lived with him for 9 months) Tailem Bend, Lameroo, and finally Loxton. Eric did this to improve his job opportunities in the P. M. G. (later Telstra). He eventually reached the top of his career which was Manager of the lines section in Loxton, until he retired at the age of 61 and a half years.

Retirement

Eric continued to live in Loxton doing a lot of charity work with the church, Loxcare and St Johns Ambulance until he died in 1990 aged 64 and a half years.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Colin Edgar SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Sandleton

Colin was born at Sandleton on 29^th. 1927. He was the third son of Meta & Bert. He would have been Baptised at the local local Sandleton Lutheran Church, and with his family attending services there.

Education

Colin with his older twin brothers, attended the local school, which was adjacent to the church, and believed he completed his education in 1941. After receiving Religious instruction, Colin with brothers Eric & Les were confirmed by Pastor Reidal on 20/4/1941.

Farming

On leaving school ,with his older brothers helped on the family farm, which consisted mainly of sheep and wheat growing. This was supplemented by cutting wood, which was sold, as well clearing further ground for farming. It is thought that the brothers did supplement their income by grape picking, during the farm offseason.

Marriage

While attending Lutheran Young People groups, Colin met Joyce Lowke, they were married on the 23 rd. January 1954. A few weeks after their marriage the couple bought a house in Angaston. A short time later Colin commenced work at Adelaide Brighton Cement Company, he was there for 34 years, which was for the remainder of his life.

Church

Colin was a faithful member of Light Pass Immanuel Church, where he was a Lay-reader for 21 years, he also served on the Hall committee, church council and as an Elder. Colin was a foundation parent of the Good Shephard Lutheran School at Angaston, where he served as treasurer for 12 years.

Passing

Colin enjoyed good health for most of his life, but unfortunately passed away, on his way to work on 7^th. October, 1988, aged 61 years. His funeral was held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Light Pass. He was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Johannas CARL SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Caltowie Farm

Carl was born at Laura on the 16*. November 1914. He was Baptised, Confirmed and with the Family attended worship the Pine Creek Lutheran Church.

Carl went to the Caltowie Extension School, after completing his primary education, he with brother Eddie helped on the family farm. This continued until the death of his Father in 1931.

Immanuel College and Seminary

Some time later Carl went to Immanuel College, (then located in North Adelaide), for his secondary education, then hi 1937, commenced in the

Seminary, but unable to master languages, came back to Caltowic and stayed with his brother Albert, which he

probably helped, and perhaps even his brother Richard.

Marriage and War Service

Carl joined the Armed Services in WW2. While doing his training, through a friend he met Hilda Ellen Johnson. Hilda was born on 13th August 1918 and came from Cheltenham. They got married 15th December 1941.

A short time afterwards Carl was posted overseas. Carl served in some of the bitter campaigns in New Guinea, mainly at Banu and Sananda with 2/10 Australian Infantry Batallion. He was serverely wounded on 26/12/1942. After he was missing for a month, the Fuzzy Wuzzy’s brought him into an American Hospital. He was brought back to Australia and spent 8 months in a Repatriation Hospital.

Carl was then sent to Loveday, and with his fluency with the German language he was of great assistance during the inquiry which followed the sinking of the HMAS Sydney by the German raider Kamoran, and the capture of its crew and with their internment in South Australia at Loveday. He was finally discharged in 1945.

ALP and Trades Union

Hilda and Carl went to live at Beverly, there raising two children. After his discharge, he joined the Waterside Workers Federation, and he became very interested in trade union matters. He served for many years on the Branch Committee, and became a Delegate to the ALP and Trades and Labour Council. He was appointed as a full time officer, afterwards playing an important role in bringing about many changes in the industry.

Boomerang Club

Carl also served as a leader for many years on the Kilkenny Primary School Committee, later as secretary of the Booomerang Social Club, where he raised large sums of money for the ALP and their new Trades Hall.

Carl finally passed away on the 10th November 1977, and he was laid to rest in the Cheltenham cemetery.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Ida Pauline KARGER nee Saegenschnitter

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Childhood

Ida was bom on the 11th October 1921 at Caltowic Extension. She was Baptised at the Pine Creek Lutheran Church. Ida also attended there for Worship with her Parents and Brothers and was also Confirmed there.

For her education she went to the local Caltowie Extension School.

Death of Father

After leaving school, Ida helped her family on the farm. Unfortunately her Father died when she was only 10 years old. This left the Mother to continue the farm operation with the help of the three children.

Move to Laura

In 1946 the farm was sold and Ida with her mother and brother Eddie moved into a house in Laura. Her Mother finally passed away in early 1951, thus leaving Ida and Eddie to continue to live there. Sometime later Eddie bought his own house in Laura.

Marriage

Thus Ida continued to live there on her own until she married on the 10th November 1961 Gordon Karger, in a ceremony conducted in the Laura Lutheran Manse. Unfortunately after nearly 25 years of marriage, Gordon passed away. He is buried in the Laura cemetery.

Booleroo Centre

Ida continued to live on her own, when she finally sold the house to move into a unit. In January 1996 she, due to poor health finally moved to Booleroo Centre Nursing Home. In October 2001 she celebrated her 80^th Birthday.

Ida passed away 23rd February 2003 and was buried in the Laura cemetery.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Edgar Paul SAEGENSCHNITTER

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

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Caltowie

Eddie Saegenschnitter was bom at Caltowie on the 15^thDecember, 1910. He lived with his parents on the Section 337 in the Hundred of Caltowie.

Eddie would have gone to church at the Appila Pine Creek Lutheran Church, been Baptised there and Confirmed. His education would have been at the Caltowie Extension School, how long Eddie would have gone for is unknown. On leaving school he helped his parents on the farm. His Father died in 1931. Eddy Continued on with his Mother and sister until the farm was sold in 1946.

Laura

They moved into a house in Laura, until the Mother’s death in 1950.

Sister Ida continued to live there until her health needed extended care.

Eddie in the meantime had purchased a house in West Terrace, Laura. He had also developed his business interests in the town and district. This consisted of doing contract milk carting for Golden North in Laura, wood carting in the district and also carting children from Laura and district to the Gladstone High School.

Laurie and Zella Kotz

In 1956, he invited Laurie and Zella Kotz to come and live with him, Laurie at this stage was working for Eddie. Zella looked after Eddie’s welfare, such as cooking and doing his washing.

Bus Driving

Later he was using two buses to cart children to Gladstone, one belonging to Eddie, the other to the Department of Education. On most Saturday nights Eddie would cover his truck with canvas and using bench seats, and then take 20 or more people to the various dances in the district

Death

Eddie died in August, 1969 and he is buried in the Laura cemetery.

On his death Eddie left his house to Zella and Laurie.

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by Dean Saegenschnitter

Linda SAEGENSCHNITTER

Biography

The following article was written by Linda for the late Dean Saegenschnitter, who collected and compiled Before and After, a Family History of the Saegenschnitter descendants of Auguste Emilie Lydia Becker and Carl Friedrich Gustav Saegenschnitter.

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the following article.

Births

I was born at the Nurioopta hospital ( which no longer exists ) and baptised at Salem Lutheran Church, Penrice by the late Pastor F J Lehmann on the 3rd June, 1934, my Sponsors were Gertie Graetz, Elsa Saegenschnitter & Gerhard Saegenschnitter.

School

I grew up on my parents farm which was used to grow wheat and grapes at a place called Moppa, 4 kms west of Nurioopta. My schooling days were at Nurioopta Primary School. When I first started, my Father had to take me on his bike in the mornings. I walked home after school.

In mid year Dad bought a second hand bike from an Uncle whose family had no more use for it. After learning to ride it, I then used to ride to school with sister Dulcie, thus saving Dad from having to take me anymore.

Weekends

I had a good and happy home life. Went to Nurioopta Lutheran Sunday School, as Penrice had Saturday School and it was too far for us to ride our bikes.

I always enjoyed our Sunday trips, several times a year, going down to the Murray Fiats, to visit Aunts, Uncles & Cousins at Sandleton, Stonefield and Towitta for the day. It was usually an early start at 7.30 taking two and a half hours to get there in the older type tourer cars, which compared to today’s modern cars would do it in half the time.

Confirmation

My Confirmation lessons in 1948 were at Angaston, so I rode my bike 4 miles to Angaston every Saturday morning, and these started at 9.00 a.m. After Confirmation lessons I attended Saturday school, this commenced at 10.30 a.m. Seeing I was the only one to be Confirmed from Penrice, I was Confirmed in Angaston with the class of 5 young people, plus myself on October 24th 1948 by the late Pastor Norm Sander.

1949

After leaving school, I helped at home, also did some grape picking at home and for neighbours. In the beginning of 1949 went and worked in Nurioopta house cleaning for people, my wages were 2 shillings per hour ( 20 cents). As the year went on I got more jobs in house cleaning, also some places I did the washing and ironing.

Neukirk and Nurioopta

In June 1949 Dad sold the mixed farm and bought a small place at Neukirk 10 kms north from Nurioopta, so I had to ride my bike a bit further to go to work. For several years I went and lived with an elderly lady, Mrs Lehmann in Nurioopta, she was a mother-in-law to one of the ladies whom I worked for.

In May 1953 my Mother passed away, so I went back home and looked after Dad, but still rode into Nurioopta and kept some of my house-keeping jobs, four days a week. In June 1955, Dad passed away following a stroke, so our home was sold at Neukirk.

For some months I lived with an Uncle and Auntie in Nurioopta, continuing with house cleaning. In September 1955, 1 finished my jobs of house cleaning and left Nurioopta, then going down to Bow Hill to my sister Dulcie & Husband Bob to live and help picking peas for some months.

In November 1955 I went to help a family at Lameroo until mid January, then I went to work for a family, who had a baby at Light Pass. Also worked at several other families where babies were born at Tanunda, Angaston and Perponda.

Adelaide

At the end of January 1957 I started at Immanuel Seminary at North Adelaide (now Luther Seminary ) staying there for three and a half years. Then I went to Burnside hospital as a Nurses Aide, but only lasted 6 months. I enjoyed the nursing and looking after patients, but didn’t like shift work. So I applied for a job advertised in the Lutheran Herald (now ‘The Lutheran’) for the job as Assist. Matron at the Horsham Lutheran Rest Home.

Victoria

In January 1962, went to Victoria and commenced at the Rest Home. During that year, I went down to Melbourne and worked a Private Hospital in Toorak for some months.

South Australia

Early in 1963 came back to S.A. again and worked in a number of homes with house-work and vine-yard work.

Cook

In November 1963 I became a Cook at Lutheran Girls Hostel at College Park. The Hostel was for young girls from the country to board at while going to Teacher’s College, Uni and working in Adelaide. I held this position for 7 years.

Parliament House

I then gained a position at Parliament House as a domestic but after 3 months became the Cook, this I remained at for nearly 23 years, till I retired in May 1993.

Retirement

I enjoyed working at all my places of work, making many friends. Now I live in retirement in a unit in Hope Valley, which I purchased in 1981. I now do voluntary work several days a month, plus I enjoy going out for lunch, joining girls that I have worked with.

_________________________________________________________________________

© Dean Saegenschnitter

Stella Irene SCHULZ nee Saegenschnitter

Biography

The following biography is the work of the late Dean Saegenschnitter, who collected and compiled ‘Before and After’, a Family History of the Saegenschnitter descendants of Auguste Emilie Lydia Becker and Carl Friedrich Gustav Saegenschnitter.

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Early Years

I was born on the 20th August 1937, in Nurioopta. and Baptised at Salem Lutheran Church, Penrice on September 12th. 1937, by the late Pastor F. J. Lehmann. My Sponsors being Gustav Saegenschnitter, Gertie Saegenschnitter and Flora Henske. My parents were members at Penrice until 1949. For Sunday School we went to Nurioopta. I started my education at the Nurioopta Primary in 1944, riding a bike there and back, I finished at Nurioopta in 1949, when Dad sold the property at Moppa we then moved to Ebenzer.

Ebenezer

In 1950 I went to Neukirch Lutheran School to finish year 7. After moving to Ebenzer the Family joined St. Johns Lutheran Church, Ebenzer. In 1950 I had confirmation lessons at Light Pass, riding my bike every Saturday morning. This instruction was combined with the Light Pass class. I was Confirmed at Ebenzer Church on the 19th November 1950 with two other children.

In 1951 I commenced High School at Nurioopta, riding my bike 4 miles to get there. Finally left school at the end of that year.

Family Care

In 1952 I did some grape-picking for neighbours, and in May of that year started working for the Spanagel family, looking after their family while the mother had a new baby, staying there till 1955, and then moved to Brinkworth to help two other families, also at Blyth. In 1958 moved to Nurioopta to help another family.

Nursing

In September, 1958 I started nursing at Eudunda Hospital, after completing 2 years, I then transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but only staying for 7 months. In October 1961 I started nursing at the Tanunda Rest Home as a Nurses Aid.

Marriage and Farming

While at Eudunda I got to know Dennis Schulz, and on 9th February 1963 we were married in Langmeil Lutheran Church, Tanunda. Dennis and I now lived on a farm at Hamden, and there we milked cows, had fowls, pigs, and as well Dennis did some cropping. The dairy was a 10 unit walk through style, milking 20-30 jersey cows. At that time we were selling the cream, and the separated milk was fed to the pigs. Dennis would buy sucker pigs from the local markets and feed them up to baconer stage, before selling them.

The Dairy

A few years later we changed to selling the milk, so we then increased our dairy herd, at that time milk was transported in cans, this was collected on the road side by 8.30 a.m. by truck. In Augast 1971-72 we went into bulk milk, the milk was held in a vat with 2000 litre holding capacity. The milk was collected every second day by a tanker. At this stage we were milking between 80-90 cows.

In 1980 Dennis and the boys started building a herring bone dairy, this took a few years to build, as they did all their own work. At this stage we had a mixture of Jersey & Friesian cows. At the same time we had 1000 fowls which were housed in cages, keeping the eggs in a cooling fridge, as the eggs were only collected weekly. We sold the fowls in 1980 and then increased our dairy herd.

In 1975 we built a new house on the farm, in it our second son Richard now lives. A new dairy was built in 2001. which is a herring bone rapid release, milking 100 cows an hour. Richard intends to milk 140-150 cows.

Retirement and our Family

In 1995 Dennis and I had our semi-retired home built on our property not far from the farm.

Dennis still helps on the farm.
Our first son, Allan has a farm out east of Eudunda at Neales Flat, there he has pigs and does cropping. Our only daughter, Karen, lives at Para Vista, while the youngest son is a bricklayer and with his wife Julie live in Brisbane.

We hope to do a bit more travelling, mainly to see more of Australia.

______________________________________________________

by Dean Saegenschnitter

Rita Erna LAMBERT nee Saegenschnitter

Detailed biography

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

Pompoota and Murray Bridge

Rita was bom on 12th October 1930 at Murray Bridge, growing up at Pompoota where her Parents had a dairy farm. As with her brother, she went to the Pompoota school, leaving when 13 years old, to help on the farm and in the house, as her mother was sick for a long time, and often in hospital. Her parents sold the farm in 1947, moving to Murray Bridge, while waiting for their house to be built, the family spent some time visiting relatives in the mid-north agriculture region.

While living in Murray Bridge she had a few part time jobs, but most of the time was spent looking after her mother. Following her mother’s death and her brother’s marriage in 1953, she left home and moved to Adelaide.

Adelaide

There she worked at Mareeba Babies Home, later at the Railway Station as a waitress in the dining room, living on the premises. She vividly remembers the earthquake on the 1^st March 1954. They were trapped, because the lift would not operate, and being scared of after shocks, she stayed at her Fiance’s place.

She married Roy Lambert in September 1954 in Adelaide. They had a family of a daughter and twin sons. Rita worked most of the time during the marriage. Many years later, when the children were older, the couple separated, later divorced. Following the divorce, Rita changed her name by deed-poll to Connery.

She continued to work until involved in an accident, and following this, was unable to continue to work, so finished up on an invalid pension.

Retirement

For a time she lived at Woodville, finally in January 1989 moved to a Trust unit at Ridgehaven, just north of Tea Tree Plaza, here she remained, but having to battle poor health, she finally, quietly passed away at home on the 5^th March, 2001. She was laid to rest in the Enfield cemetery a few days later.

by Dean Saegenschbitter

Dean Hedley SAEGENSCHNITTER

Autobiography

The following autobiography is the work of the late Dean Saegenschnitter, who collected and compiled ‘Before and After’, a Family History of the Saegenschnitter descendants of Auguste Emilie Lydia Becker and Carl Friedrich Gustav Saegenschnitter.

Permission was given by Deans’ family to publish the biographies which he called ‘Backgrounds’.

LAURA
I was born at Laura on the 10th July, 1928. Living with my parents who had a small farm in the Caltowie district in South Australia. I was Baptised at the Pine Creek Lutheran Church by the late Pastor Ern Stolz, just a few weeks after his induction into the Parish.

POMPOOTA
In 1929 the parents sold the then too small farm and then purchased a dairy in the irrigated settlement of Pompoota, located between Mannum and Murray Bridge. Besides milking 30 odd cows they also had 300 fowls and a small number of breeding sows, selling the young from the sows as suckers.
I attended the small school at Pompoota, completing my Q.C. in 1941. Then leaving school to help on the farm, this was to offset Mums poor health. In 1942 I attended religious instruction at Murray Bridge, and then confirmed on 1st November 1941 by Pastor John Doehler.

MICE AND RABBIT PLAGUES
During 1943-44, which were drought years, we suffered mice and rabbit plagues, this had one good aspect, it enabled me to trap the rabbits, selling skins and carcases. The return from this enabled me to buy my 1st. bike, thus enabling me to go to Murray Bridge to the pictures on some Saturday nights, a trip of 15 miles each way.

DAIRY
After milking the cows, the milk had to be carted to a wharf about one mile away, here the cans of milk were collected by boat for delivery to the Farmers Union factory at Murray Bridge. This was collected twice daily during the summer months and once during winter months. This boat also delivered any produce for the various farmers, for us, butter, cheese. meat, fowl feed and super.. The river collection ceased in 1944, being taken over by a truck at the dairy door.

MURRAY BRIDGE

In 1947 the parents sold the dairy, due to Mum’s poor health, we moved to Murray Bridge, there having a house built. Dad went to work in Farmers Union factory in the boiler room. I later joined him there, but going into the milk receival area, so one day I were sending, the next receiving. As time progressed I moved into various areas such as casein making, powdered milk and finally cheese makng. Starting as a factory hand, then cheesemaker, and then assistant foreman.

FOOTBALL
In 19481 joined one of the local football clubs, there to play a sport I greatly loved, prior to now never had any opportunity to learn or participate. This I thoroughly enjoyed. It was here that I met a fellow who was getting married, he asked me to be his Best-man. It was through this I met Ronda Cooper, she was the bride’s sister.

MUM

Mum after long health problems, finally passed away on august 1952, she was laid to rest in Murray Bridge.

MARRIAGE

In October 1952 Ronda and I became engaged, then married on the 14th. February 1953 by Pastor John Doehler, in the Swanport Rd. Lythcran Church. Later that year we bought a 2 roomed dwelling with an enclosed back. Dad then came to live with us, but unfortunately was unable to cope with with the loss of Mum, he ended his life in October 1953.
In the beginning of 1956 I added more rooms to our dwelling, this was needed for the additions to the family. The first of our daughters arrived on 5th November 1954, the second on 29th July 1956, and the 3rd. on the 3rd November 1958. All were bor in Murray Bridge, and all were baptised by the same Pastor and in the same church that Ronda and I were married in.

WORK AND PROMOTIONS

In early 1961 I was offered a job at Moorak, just south of Mount Gambier, by Farmers Union, This was a promotion. Initially boarding till a trust home became available for us. This took place in May 1961. The two older girls went to the North Gambier primary school. Our fourth daughter was bom on 26th December 1962. I stayed at Moorak for 3 !/2 years, then to Kraft at Mil Lel for a few months, then to Glencoe for 13 months, this proved unsatisfactory, the opportunity came so I went back to Kraft at Mil Lel living in a company house. I remained here till I retired on 2nd. January 1992. I startedcd at Mil Lel as foreman cheesemaker, finishing in the position of Services Manager. I was responsible for all the milk collection in the South East and part of Western Victoria, its distribution to the four Kraft factories as well the Co-op.

OUR GIRLS

The girls all went to Mil Lei primary school which was about one mile away. Fortunately a school bus passed our front door so they travelled by this for their primary education at Mil Lei, and later their secondry, in Mount Gambier. The girls were all Confirmed in the Mount Gambier Lutheran Church. Some time after the youngest daughter commenced school, Ronda went to working in Mount Gambier 11 Kms away, firstly to a laundry, then Fletcher Jones, and finally Oaks Nursing Home. The last she enjoyed the most because of her ability in dealing with older people. She remained there until she was injured in ,1986.
After Ronda started working. we had our first real holiday, I took some long service leave, firstly going to see the youngest daughter who lived in Copely, then driving to Brisbane to see our 3rd daughter, then travelling down the east coast via Sydney, then to Canberra, and then home.

RONDA

During the time Ronda worked, we purchased a house in Klemzig. This later was sold and we bought another in Plymton Park. This was to have been for our retirement, but unfortunately Ronda in early 1988 was diagnosed to have Emphysema, finally ending her life on 12th August 1989. She was laid to rest in the Garden cemetery Mt Gambier.

MY LUCKY DAY

In 1990 I decided to sell the Plymton Pk home, and this enabled me to buy a Unit in the Tea Tree Gardens Retirement Village. This was finalised on the same day as Grandson Thomas Minge’s birthday, the same day I bought the car, this all taking place on Friday 13!h. 1990 which proved to be my lucky day. After aquiring the Unit I used it whenever coming to Adelaide. Actually in 1991 I came to Adelaide 13 times, up to my retirement.

MELVA

On the Easter weekend 19911 met Melva Fair, a widow in this Village, this progressed to her consenting to marry me. This took place on the 4th July 1992, in the Dernancourt Lutheran Church, the ceremony conducted by Pastor Ray Schmidt. Melva’s brother Les and my daughter Wendy were our witnesses. Melva and I have a lot in common, she was born at Mambray Creek which is on the western side of the Flinders Ranges. I was born at Laura on the eastern side, only a few miles apart, and both of us come from a farming background. The final aspect is that we both like Aussie football, and align ourselves to the same Club.
Both of us have become involved in Village activities, including committees. The Village presents plenty of scope, because of its size. We are very greatful to Our Heavenly Father to be given me another opportunity to form a Partnership, and living in a pleasant environment, which is mutually agreeable and giving us a contented and happy companionship. On the 4th. July 2002, we celebrate our 10th. Anniversary.

Clement Edgar ZWAR

Detailed Biography

Birth and Baptism

Clement Edgar Zwar was born at Booleroo Centre (S.A.) on October 6, 1922, the first child of four (3 boys and a girl) born to Walter Gustav Carl Zwar and his wife, Esther Ella nee Schwartz. The Zwars had a farm near Wilmington, not far from the St. John Lutheran church, Gregory. Clem was baptized at the Gregory Lutheran church on October 29,1922 by Pastor A. Mackenzie, who served that church and others as far away as Quorn from Booleroo Centre, often being hosted overnight by the Zwar family.

School

Clem grew up on the family farm, attending school at nearby Terka to Grade 6, and then at Wilmington for Grade 7. From 1936 to ’37 Clem attended the Booleroo Centre High School to the then Intermediate standard.

First Jobs

Clem left school to help on the family farm and worked around in that district and others performing a range of activities, including bag sowing, road work for the District Council of Wilmington, shearing shed work and working in a winery (Clare Valley).

Confirmation

Clem was confirmed at the Gregory church, Wilmington, on New Year’s Day, 1939, by Pastor J.H.B. Traeger. One of the texts on Clem’s Confirmation certificate is Hebrews 13:5 “The Lord says,’I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”

R A A F in World War 2

World War 2 broke out later that year and came to the Pacific a couple of years later. Clem enlisted in the R.A.A.F. at the beginning of 1943. In May of that year he was posted overseas to Goodenough Island to Australia’s north, and spent time at a number of different locations in and around New Guinea. He was discharged in October 1945, after 2 years and 9 months of service. Clem came back to the family farm near Wilmington and spent two years share-farming Mr. Dave George’s neighboring property.

Globe Hotel

In 1948 Clem’s father sold the family farm and the family moved south to the Maitland district, from where Clem’s mother had originally come. While the rest of the family lived with three of his mother’s sisters on different farms in the Maitland area for a short time, Clem found work at the Globe Hotel in Wilmington.

Arthurton

The family bought the Arthurton store and Clem came to help with the new business for three years until 1951, when Clem’s father sold the store and bought a property in Arthurton, beginning an engineering business, which is still run by the Zwar family today in 1996. With the advent of bulk grain handling and the need for bulk bins the engineering business became very busy, Clem and his father being joined later by his younger brother, Max.

District Council

In 1957 Clem successfully applied to work for the District Council of Clinton at Arthurton. He remained Council Clerk for 31 years, until the Clinton Council merged with the C.Y.P. District Council from 1987 to 1988. Clem continued to assist with the C.Y.P. District Council at Maitland, postponing his retirement for some time.
Clem never married, but remained a great support to his parents, to his mother after his father died in October 1978, and to the rest of his family.

Wide Variety of Activities

Clem also became involved in a wide variety of activities and clubs, often as inaugurator, always as an officer of some kind – president, secretary, etc. for over forty years. He was involved in the Arthurton/Price R.S.L. sub-branch, the Arthurton Coursing Club, the Arthurton Recreation Ground Committee (later re-named the Arthurton War Memorial Oval Committee, then the Arthurton War Memorial Sports Club) and many others.

Football

Clem supervised the erection of the first Arthurton Football Club rooms in 1953, and later organized and supervised the construction of the second Football Club rooms, Tennis club rooms and toilets. He also designed the Memorial Gates and Archway entrance to the Oval. He organized voluntary assistance and working bees to enclose the tennis courts and surround the oval with railing. He was instrumental in the establishment of a Bowling green for Arthurton after a successful private project with brother Max and others. Clem was involved with the Arthurton Football club for many years and became the Football League Commissioner for 2 years. After a long-term commitment to lawn bowls, holding official positions with the Arthurton club for some years, Clem served as Yorke Peninsula Bowling Association President for 1989/90.

Flying

Clem learnt to fly, becoming an inaugural member of the Kadina Aero Club in 1965, gaining his restricted pilot’s licence in 1967. He became part-owner of a small plane.

Rotary

Clem became a member of the Rotary Club of Maitland, serving as Secretary for 3 years and later President in 1980/81. He chaperoned the first three Rotary Exchange students1outback bus trip Safaris organized by the Maitland club from 1977 to ’79. He also served as the Rotary District Governor’s representative in this area in 1981/82.

Lutheran Church

Clem was a member of the Lutheran Church from the day of his baptism until his death last week. Along with his brother, Max, he has the distinction of being one of a few people to actually own a Lutheran church – buying the Arthurton Lutheran church after it closed in 1971. Clem and Max had a common interest in many things, not the least being engineering and the restoration of old motor vehicles. Clem served as President of the Yorke Peninsula Local Government Officers Association for a year. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1973.

Australia Day Award

Clem travelled extensively, touring many countries around the world, but was always happy to be a resident of Arthurton (which was his home for nearly 48 years), contributing to his Arthurton community publicly for most of his adult life. On Australia Day, January 26, 1991, at Maitland, Clem’s contribution to public life was recognized when he received an “Australia Day Citizen Award”.

Hospital

Earlier in 1996 Clem suffered a serious illness which had him going to stay in the Maitland hospital. Even in the final weeks of his life Clem maintained his usual calm composure, welcoming visitors and entrusting his life to the hands of the Lord of life.

Death

Clem died peacefully Wednesday morning, March 6, 1996, having reached the age of 73 years and 9 months.
He leaves to mourn his passing his mother, Mrs. Esther Zwar (in her 96th year!), his sister Ivy Nankivell (whose husband Ivor passed away in 1994) and her children and their families: Brenton and Anna, Gregory, Rowan and Dianne – his brother Max and wife Josephine and their children and families: “Justin and Debbie and Aidan, Marcelle, Leah and Konrad and Randy, Kristina and Tegan ,
his brother Keith and wife Helen and their boys: Simon and Michael,
and many other relatives and friends.

_______________________________

Gwenda Rae OBST nee Zwar

Detailed biography

The Obituary for Gwenda

The Youngest Child

Gwenda Rae Zwar was born at Booleroo Centre on the 9^th of February, 1935, youngest daughter to Alfred Edgar Zwar and his wife Johanne Ernstine. She was baptised at St Trinity Lutheran Church, Appila on the 10^th of March, 1935. She grew up on the family farm at Wirrabara with her sister Joyce and her brother Reg. When Gwen was about four years old, her parents were told that it was very unlikely that she would live very long. Well, she sure proved them wrong. She suffered from Bronchiectasis. As a result, she had two major operations in her late teens that really improved her health, however they left her with a persistent cough that stayed with her throughout her life.

School

Gwen attended Wirrabara school for 7 years, and then spent one year at Immanuel College in North Adelaide as a boarder. While here she was confirmed at St Stephen’s Church by Pastor J. E. Auricht on December the 5^,h, 1948. Whilst at Immanuel, Gwen befriended a girl from Mundulla, Lorna Obst. An invitation to Loma’s 21st proved to be a life changing occasion, as this is where she met Loma’s brother Ron.

Marriage

Gwen’s parents retired to Tanunda at about this time, and Ron got very familiar with the road to the Barossa. Exactly one year after their meeting the couple were engaged, and were married at Langmeil Lutheran Church, Tanunda on the 23^rd of February, in 1957. Ron remembers being so nervous that he couldn’t even remember the best man’s name.

Mundulla

The young couple lived on the farm at Mundulla. Gwen loved to be outdoors, and loved the country life. Ron fondly remembers watching Gwen rounding up the sheep while pushing David in a pram with the dog in tow.

Children

After several heartbreaking miscarriages, Gwen and Ron were blessed with three wonderful children, David, Jenny and Nick. Gwen loved being a mum and all three have wonderful memories of games, and ideas, and Amazing birthday cakes. They also got some good parts in the school plays because she made the best costumes. Jenny remembers all the times that Gwen would take the kids out into the pines to create cubbies and have picnics in them.

Creative

Gwen loved Ideas; she loved ideas and she loved making things. Once she had one thing perfected, she would move on to find something else to challenge her. She made jewellery, ceramics and hobbytex. She spun wool and knitted and crocheted it, even having her own flock of coloured sheep for wool variety. She could sew anything and often the kitchen table was taken over by her projects. She tried lead lighting, paper tole, polishing and setting gemstones, coin and stamp collecting. Nick remembers coming in cold and wanting a hot bath to find that the tub was full of wool being soaked. Whenever anyone in the family wanted to try a different pursuit, she would join in. She learnt how to ride a skateboard, a motorbike, and a horse so that she could ride with Jenny. She turned part of the house into a dark room when Nick was interested in photography, including blacking out the whole bathroom. Many hours were spent helping, supporting and encouraging David with his wooden toys. She made skimmer boards, and dedicated herself to learning how to use the new-fangled notion of computers. Gwen was blessed with a wonderful artistic talent, which lead to her being involved in the design of many things, including the Guiding Hand book shop logo, the cross at the front of the Church, the Centenary logo for Mundulla and the Gates at Appila Church.

Gwen was a prolific reader and loved puzzles of every kind. Christmas every year had a jigsaw puzzle on the table. She spent a great deal of time collecting and researching the Zwar family history Tree. It was a great passion of hers to see it published, but for various reasons, it unfortunately never was.

Music

Music was a major part of Gwen’s life, and she had such amazing natural talent. She learnt piano and piano accordion as a child, and it was a life-long love. She played for many occasions, from socials, state-wide conventions, weddings, funerals and church services. She even played for a funeral the day before she died. She was an organist here at Trinity for 55 years. Jenny remembers going with Mum to practice the pedal organ in the old church and pedalling for her while she played the top. She would sit at the piano for hours, just playing her favourite music. She also taught several of her grandchildren how to play piano, and was so proud of the musical talent that she could see in all of them.

Mundulla

Soon after she came to Mundulla, Gwen re-formed the town’s Women’s Agricultural Bureau, and was a very active member until her death. She was also involved with the WAB before moving here, and this year would have been her 60th year. The Guiding Hand book shop in Bordertown was Gwen’s idea, and she was instrumental in its establishment and growth. She was an exhibitor at the both the Mundulla and Bordertown shows, and was involved with the Mundulla show society.

T V and Newspapers

Gwen was passionate about causes, and when she felt that something not right she would speak out. She wrote many letters to papers and to politicians, supporting the rights and needs of all people, but particularly rural people and Christian Values. This lead to her being asked to write a regular article for The Chronicle, and then the Farmer and Grazier. Her Non-de-plume was Jane. She was also asked to write a “My State” article for the Advertiser. She wrote many letters to SES channel 8 about the appropriateness of some of their programs. No matter what she had to say, she would always start her letters with a compliment. The manager of Channel 8 probably almost felt like he knew her personally.

Lutheran Church

Gwen dedicated herself to her Church life. She worked in the office for many years, printing the bulletins, creating the directories, forming programs for different groups, was involved in cleaning the church and leading the choir. Her faith was central to her life, and it reflected in all that she did. In the last few years we have seen how tired she has been getting, and we know that she is now at rest in our loving Father’s arms.

Tributes

There were so many facets to mum, and we will miss all of them. Life was never boring, and she has instilled that love of learning in her children and grandchildren. We have shared so many fun memories in the last few days, and we would love to hear the many more stories that you have.

RIP mum. We love you so much.

_____________________________

Lloyd Malcolm BORGAS C 6.2.4

Eulogy for Uncle Lloyd

by Heather Borgas 6th August 2014

Today I would like to take a little time to remember Uncle Lloyd as not the old
man we bury here today, but as a child, a teenager and for most of his life a large
fit active man.

Childhood

Uncle Lloyd was one of 5 children, inclusive of two sets of twins. Life was tough for kids of this generation. Farming life was a hard slog, children were given no choice but to help out, and from an early age expected to work.

The Farm

The farm in its heyday consisted of a massive fowl yard with geese, chooks and
turkeys.
There were sheep, horses and the cows needed to be milked before a 2 mile walk
to school.

High School

Uncle Lloyd went to Gladstone high school, the bus left the garage around 8 am.
The 1s’ bus had a gas producer on the back to run it as this was the war years and
there was a shortage of petrol.
One day when Uncle Lloyd didn’t do his homework his teacher asked him how
far away Ron lived, trying to ascertain if they could share some textbooks.
When asked by the teacher just how far away Ron did live, Uncle Lloyd simply
replied “not far”.
Apparently it was a long time before the teacher found out that they were twins.He left school at 14.

Farming

His teenage years were spent working on the farm and shearing. The 3 brothers started share farming in the 1950’s until Uncle Arnold and later

Dad (Lloyd’s twin brother) were married and Uncle Lloyd then ran his own farm.

Christmas

For a long time Christmas day was held at the homestead. The large extended
family would gather and lunch was served on the big trestle table. Those days are precious memories for us now.

Football

Uncle Lloyd played football for Wirrabara for many years,
He helped his brother put a bore down on the footy grounds to water the oval,
and he helped to build the first clubrooms.

Bowls

Uncle Lloyd helped to build the Wirrabara bowling green, they cut brush to
make a fence and he started playing as soon as the green was ready. He played for
many years, and was possibly the longest serving greenkeeper the club has ever
had. He won several championships and remained a life member of the bowls
club, only giving up the game when those hips of his said “no more”.

Active

Uncle Lloyd was a kind quietly spoken man who was an active member of the
Lutheran church for most of his life.
He travelled extensively around Australia, visiting friends and relatives.
In the 1970’s he went on a ship to Japan for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and in
the 1980’s made the big trip to visit England and Scotland.

Sheepdogs

There are a couple of things that I would especially like to make mention of
today.
One is of Uncle Lloyd’s deep affection for his working dogs. Some of the dogs I
remember were the sweetest dogs ever and certainly this man’s best friend. It was
a lucky puppy that got picked from a litter by Uncle Lloyd.

Whiskers

Lloyd as the first bearded footballer in South Australia. “The Chronicle”

And finally I must make mention of Uncle Lloyd’s beard, which is legendary in
our family, earning him the nickname “whiskers” from his brothers.
No nephew’s attempts at a beard ever got remotely close in competition to Uncle
Lloyds.

Lloyd as a footballer for Wirrabara. “The Chronicle”

The beard made its debut in the 1950’s and has only been known to have been
shaved off twice. He was the first player in the northern areas football association to
play with a beard.

Lloyd was a keen bowler.

A trendsetter well before his time.
The last time Uncle Lloyd had a shave was March 1962, in his duty as best man at
Mum and Dad’s wedding. Mum was never going to allow that beard in her
wedding photos.
I suspect Uncle Lloyd was none too pleased about it, but off the beard came and
was no doubt on it’s way back by the time Mum and Dad were on their
honeymoon.
I guess every niece and nephew had a good pull on that beard. As one of the
youngest I certainly remember sitting on his lap and shoving his beard up into his
face repeatedly. Mind you I can’t ever remember being allowed to put ribbons in
it; he was a kind man but not that kind.

Farewell

A lot of us have travelled a long way to be here today and I thank you all for
coming to help our family say farewell to a brother, a twin, an uncle, a friend and
a kind man, Lloyd Malcolm Borgas.
Rest in peace Uncle Lloyd.

LLOYD BORGAS AND OLD TREASURES

Kevin P Zwar

Lloyd Borgas had a great sense of history. A visit to his home was in some ways like stepping back 100 years! For example, Lloyd cared for the lounge seating of his grandparents Peter and Minna Zwar who married in 1894.

Lloyd and a lounge chair of Peter and Minna Zwar

Lloyd and a lounge chair of his grandparents Peter and Minna Zwar

Photos

Lloyd kindly lent me a carton of loose photos, and a small album, many of them old photos from his mother and grandparents.

Many of the people on these photos I didn’t know, but 148 had names on the back of the photos. I scanned 233 photos in high resolution onto C D’s for safe keeping, and sent copies to relatives including Joyce Schmidt (nee Zwar), Ralph Zwar, and Rhonda Traeger (nee Knauerhase) who were able to help in identifying a number of people in many of the remaining photos.

The Original photos were then returned with special thanks to Lloyd.

Over time I hope a number of these photos will be added to the becker-zwar.com website.

Kevin P Zwar

Paul Gerhard (Garry) ZWAR

Autobiography of Garry Zwar

Introduction by Kevin Zwar

When beginning a new Lutheran Parish in Gladstone in Queensland late in the 1960’s I became aware of a Garry Zwar who lived over 400 k’ms away in Brisbane. So I contacted Garry for information on our relatives and was able to visit him several times before we moved to the Warrnambool Parish in Victoria.

Garry was related to me through both my mother Rita Becker – and my father Edgar Zwar. In the Zwar Family we were only distant cousins, but Garry’s mother Bertha Becker was my Great Auntie through my mother Rita Becker.

Garry grew up in South Australia and then lived interstate in Victoria and New South Wales before he settled permanently in Queensland, where he lived for most of his life. In his many travels with his work over a number of years Garry visited more of our distant Zwar relatives throughout Australia than anyone else ever did! He often called on them and sometimes stayed with them.

The following account of his life is made up of quotes taken directly from his letters telling me about his life and our Becker and Zwar relatives. It is an Autobiography. I think it gives us a good overall picture of life with his Becker and Zwar family connections in the first half of the 1900’s.

Autobiography

“Dear Kevin,

Now to the chief items you wish to know:”

Mother

“Re my late mother Bertha M. Zwar, she was a sister to your grandfather Richard Becker – the late father of your mother Rita. She passed away in 1942 aged 67. Her birthday was July 7th.

Children

“Her children of six [actually 8 – K P Z]I happen to be the eldest.

1. Paul Gerhard Zwar born Oct 20th 1899.

2. Brother Edward Herrmann Zwar born Feb 7th 1902.

3. Alfred Zwar born Mar 30th – 1902

4. Sister Frieda M Zwar born Mar 16 – 1905

5. Sister Mary July 20 – 1906

6. Brother Rudolph – born Oct 23 – 1908”

[7. Martin – born Nov 8 1911 … K P Z

8. Conrad – born June 20 1914 … K P Z]

[from Letter: To K P Z from 37 Hawthorne St. Woolloongabba 4102. Jan 15 1979]

School

“My late grandmother taught me to read German when I was five so when I went to Ebenezer Lutheran School I was proficient in this. Still now “Wenn ich nür dass Englische nicht zu güt fort kann, spreche ich Deutsch.” Then when I was 12 I was sent to the Stockwell State School. We had a brilliant teacher from London who was afraid I could not pass an exam. I was determined to pass it he gave me three hours night school for months. Anyhow I passed the exam in six subjects – English, Arithmetic, Algebra, History, German which was no problem and one subject I forget. This with 18 months at this State School.” [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Grandfather Johann Zwar

“I was 11 years of age when my good grandfather Johann [Zwar] passed away. As his house was only 2 chains from ours that is why I saw him nearly daily and so remember his various interests so well, also the last few years of his life he enlisted me to drive him to Tanunda occasionally as he had to cross 2 railway crossings as he was turning deaf. He would not have heard the train whistle. My grandfather Johann Zwar was born in 1821 died at 90 in 1911 when I was 11 years of age.” [Letter to K P Z Oct 17 – 1976]

“My late grandfather Dr John Zwar, my late mother liked him very much as also us kids.” [Letter July 19 and 24, 1976]

Becker Visits

“I am very happy to have had the pleasure to meet you and get to know you as after all we are also related as the Becker family descendants as your great grandfather the late Uncle Richard Becker was brother to my late mother. He used to visit us occasionally many years ago and we liked him very much as also Auntie Emma. We of course returned some visits to him. My late mother visited him 3 months before he died as she felt she wished to see him before he passed on. This of course was many years ago when I was a boy and … Henry Wegner who married Auntie Edel (my mother’s sister) told us that Uncle Richard used to have a ‘Star’ English motor car his first a late Readers Digest tells that a Star motor car … is now worth $30,000 in U S A as an antique.

The original (Becker) was Uncle Gunder as we called him liveda few miles from us a really lovely man cheerful always had a cheerful laugh and manner so of course was popular by everybody.

He was a brother to late Uncle Richard [Becker’s] mother. I believe he had 7 daughters, one son all of which had fairly large families only one daughter is still alive a lovely person now 83 – used to write to us frequently.

Also was glad to get to know each of late Uncle Richard’s brothers and sisters one Uncle Gotthold at Henty N S W. He had two sons good chaps both and one daughter.” [Letter to K P Z: July 19 and 24, 1976]

Rabbits

“As a teenager at our Ebenezer home we had [pet] rabbits Grey white and yellow in a cage on the farm. Whenever we were short of meat one of us used to shoot a few rabbits in adjoining vineyards.” [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

The Schliebs family

“The late Emil Schliebs and his wife (nee Schulz) had a family of six children all of which were good friends of mine. Their names from the eldest are Richard (about my age of 70) Alma who married my brother Eduard. Then Gerhard then a daughter whose name I can’t recollect married a Mr Woods at Nuriootpa then Ivy, married a Mr Miller near Truro last Leslie, a school teacher. Don’t know what Gerhard is doing now but Richard has his late parents farm at Muculta married a Miss Parbs?. Was a councillor for Angaston for some years.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Interstate

“I left South Australia permanently in 1930 and 1939, and only paid very occasional visit to S. A. mainly to my mother and some immediate relatives and old friends between 1930 and 1939 – since only one in 1945 – since 1930 I travelled interstate to 1942 approximately 4 years each in the 3 Eastern States . So I have had very little personal contact with most members of the Zwar families in South Aust since 1930 except for a 100 or so cousins and friends visiting us in Qld over the years mainly from the Barossa my home district. When I was in Victoria for 4 years viz 1930 to 1934 I occasionally visited my Uncle the late Dr Bernard Zwar. Also spent many happy weekends with Mr H. P. Zwar and his sisters at Broadford, children of the late Michael Zwar, who was a brother to my grandfather Dr John Zwar of Ebenezer and your great grandfather Peter Zwar. Michael Zwar had 8 children [actually 11 – K P Z] however I only got to know four.…I’ve been more in touch really with this Victorian branch of the Z family since 1930 than the South Australian and still hear from a daughter of the late H. P. Zwar also saw her when visiting Brisbane a few years ago telling us all about her impressions of numerous world tours she had, also hear from one of his grand daughters occasionally.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Immediate Family

“My own immediate family are poor and occasional corresponders, and often have to wait some years for a reply, although I am happy to say many of my cousins in the Barossa Adelaide etc write to us regularly. Also are happy to visit us when visiting Queensland, as we are also very glad to see them and usually visit Queensland during the Winter.Have not heard from brothers Alf and Rudi for some years, but from information Alf is in Adelaide and Rudolf stays with Wasyl Petaluk, husband of very late sister Frieda. Wasyl I learn is again married. Wasyl, I never knew him at all,Frieda used to write to us occasionally before she passed away.

Our Ebenezer family of my brothers and sisters valued and saved none [of historical papers] they were relegated to a heap and burnt . I could not carry them with me in my extensive travels all over Sth Aust, Victoria, N S W and Qld travelling about 50,000 miles each year.

I am glad you received a lot of information from Arthur Zwar he made a special hobby of records of the big Zwar family for years more so than any Zwar I know … he would be very reliable.” [Letter to K P Z: Feb 5 1970]

South Australian Visits

” I always stayed with Ben Gunder who has an 800 acre farm at Hornsdale. His late father was a cousin to your late grandfather Richard Becker. Ben is one of my best friends ever since we were together in the Barossa.Also I paid a brief visit to Aunt Emma [Becker], Rita’s mother who I always found a very lovely person to visit, met Rev Stolz there … and had pleasant chats with him for hours on Auntie Emma’s lawn one afternoon. Also spent one evening at your Auntie Mary (Mrs Shulz [Schultz]) who I always found a humorous and congenial person.” [Letter to K P Z Oct 17 – 1976]

Peter Zwar at Ebenezer

“You mentioned that your great grandfather Peter Zwar spent some years after he arrived in Australia with my grandfather at Ebenezer, and did carpentry jobs – maybe he made the doors and windows of the first church at Ebenezer which were of extra good workmanship and strong construction. My late father bought all the windows and doors of this original church when it was demolished and had them fitted into a 3 chain long wheat shed built of bricks and stone and held 2000 bags of wheat which still stands today as far as I know has double front doors which would be as sound today’s as when they were made. This very useful shed was built by an Uncle of the late Rev F Noack – Hermann Noack.Peter Zwar your great-grandfather I took to Moculta when a boy to visit a Koch family.” (Elisabeth Koch, a daughter of Peter – K P Z)

“I still remember a Karl Zwar who used to visit us some times at Ebenezer when I was a school boy a friendly man a brother to your grandfather Peter Zwar – quoting from memory.”

Toowoomba Friend

“I am also blessed with a wonderful [friend] who gives me genuine brotherly love even though he is not related is a dedicated Lutheran at Toowoomba Hume St Church visits me almost monthly, spends 2 days with me and is wonderful company kn own him for 40 years does jobs for me here is an efficient tradesman and reasonable in his charges. I could not find a better friend in the whole world.” [Letter to K P Z May 23 1976]

Victoria

“Just a bit re the Victorian branch of the Z family of the late Michael Zwar .… I spent many happy weekends at the three sisters at Broadford also at the house of H. P. Zwar, who was a most interesting personality, he was mayor of Preston for years, also chairman of 3 companies – also a State member for 12 years and considered one of the most popular personalities in Melbourne. He had a tannery at Preston which his son Hermann (who I also met at his father’s place) sold I am informed for 400,000 pounds some years ago.”

Association with the late H. P. Zwar

“His suggestions helped me a lot in my business owing to his much maturer experience in business. H. P. Zwar passed away at 85 years.

His brother Albert Zwar had a tannery at Beechworth Victoria … Albert was also a member in the Vic State parliament for 12 years.

Another, Charles Zwar son of late Charles Zwar Vic is a noted musician now in London.

The above elder Zwars were cousins of your grandfather Peter Zwar. They were well and favourably known in Victoria.”

Toowoomba Home

“We have a nice house in Toowoomba, now let, where we intended to live, however we could not stand the cold there in the Winter which is 3 degrees below Adelaide, so when you visit us here, don’t expect to find a posh house.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Postcards

“Still have some colour postcards Uncle Bernard sent to my grandfather by B. Zwar in 1905.”

Piano and Organ

“My late Mother [Bertha] – sister to the late Richard Becker – learnt to play starting at 11 years of age and used to play our lovely organ at home every evening for half an hour also played the organ at Ebenezer and Stockwell Churches whenever their constant players went on holidays.I still remember [Del] playing one of my favourite ‘Under the Double Eagle” by Wagner. Mary used to play it every evening for half an hour, included Sacred Songs. I miss this and particularly Mary who was a lovely wife and companion.”

Newspaper Clipping from Garry

Education

“Sometimes the well educated with degrees today do not achieve as much as the self educated… the late H. P. Zwar Mayor of Preston Victoria for 12 years also State member for that electorate for 12 years put the labour man out for 12 years also director of 3 companies he had a very ordinary State School education mainly milking cows.

His son Herman sold his tannery for 600,000 pounds when a pound was worth a pound.

Mr. A M Zwar of Beechworth was a Country Party member for 12 years.

The late Bernard Zwar who could not speak English when he was till 12 at a Lutheran School – who ended up as one of the leading surgeons in Australia as acc. M.D. M.S. CBE. FRAC. S etc etc. In 1905 he was asked to represent Australia at the Berlin Medical Congress, and on return he gave lectures to professional Doctors in some Australian cities lecturing on what he had learnt there. I saw him last in Melbourne in 1942 always found him friendly to me. Also he sent some illustrated cards of the district in Germany where my late Grandfather came from. The Johann Zwar of Ebenezer of which I found a few. Dr Hermann Zwar I remember when he died unfortunately early in 1902 being then Surgeon at Clermont hospital at the time when Clermont was booming.

A Charles Zwar who got his legal LLB first then decided to make music his career used to play the Melbourne Town Hall organ for awhile prior to that. This is just to mention a few.

My late grandmother taught me to read German when I was five so when I went to Ebenezer Lutheran School I was proficient in this. Still now “Wenn ich nür dass Englische nicht zu güt fort kann spreche ich Deutsch.”

Then when I was 12 I was sent to the Stockwell State School we had a brilliant teacher from London who was afraid I could not pass an exam. I was determined to pass it he gave me three hours night school for months. Anyhow I passed the exam in six subjects – English, Arithmetic, Algebra, History, German which was no problem and one subject I forget. This with 18 months at this State School. Today unfortunately many graduates in medicine, law etc cannot get a job owing to the present depression. Even many educated pupils in Qld cannot even spell words correctly, according to C M Courier [Newspaper]. I may misspell some words in this letter owing to very poor eyesight.”

Zwar Vacuum Machine

Zwar Vacuum Machine – Keith Zwar

Name Plate – Kevin Zwar

Plunger – Kevin Zwar

“The [washing] machine is easy to operate by hand for a copperful for 5 to 7 minutes when I used to sell I took a boy with me to prove to customers how how easy it is to work.

The fact that [I] sold 15,000 with no complaints speaks for itself.” [ Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Catalogue

“I enclose a catalogue of the line I used to handle interstate from 1930 to 1942 ended up selling 15,000 units. But the war terminated our supplies in 1942.

G. Z.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Warrnambool

“I know Warrnambool well as I sold 700 – 800 Zwar Washing machines in your city and District as including the towns and districts of Pt Fairy Camperdown Terang and Colac. At Colac I became friends with its leading solicitor P. Arundell M. A. L.L.B. who invited me to his house to have tea whenever I was in Colac. He could speak four languages but not too Good in German so after tea he invited me into his lounge to only speak to him in German so he could brush it up. He visited us on his annual holidays her [Brisbane] and at Toowoomba about 12 times. He was one of our very best friends.” [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Re Western District Vic

“In 1932 The Western District of Victoria that is Colac, Terang, Camperdown, Warrnambool, Port Fairy etc had also had a good season enabling me to sell approximately 7 to 8 hundred Washing Machines at that time. Nine years later I paid a short visit to each of these towns met many old customers who were friendly by expressing the [good] purchase of their Washing Machines.” [Letter to K P Z Jan 15 1979]

Illness

“For 20 years local and interstate doctors specialists etc told me I had a tired heart. Dr Sheil after sending me to an Xray also an electrocardiograph specialist that my heart was O K but I had an unusual large hiatus hernia pressing against my vital organs thereby giving me long bouts of severe pain at my age then 62 an operation was ill advised the P. A. hospital will not touch it even today – that is to operate. [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Wife

Wife Mary Zwar, two visitors, Garry Zwar (1969)

“Since the sudden passing of my dear late wife Mary 5 years on Feb 11 – she was a wonderful wife and companion for over 20 years. We were very happy throughout. She used to play sacred hymns on our lovely piano daily for half an hour and had a gifted singing voice. Now it is an empty house. Also I haven’t the energy to keep my house as tidy as a good wife can.

… I sincerely hope that this finds you in reasonable good health,

With Christian greetings to yourself, Del and family,

Yours Sincerely,

Garry [Letter to K P Z: Jan 15 1979]

Original Page of a letter in Garry’s distinctive handwqriting.

Paul Gerhard (Garry) Zwar

Autobiography of Garry Zwar

Introduction by Kevin Zwar

Autobiography

“Dear Kevin,

Now to the chief items you wish to know:”

Mother

“Re my late mother Bertha M. Zwar, she was a sister to your grandfather Richard Becker – the late father of your mother Rita. She passed away in 1942 aged 67. Her birthday was July 7^th.

Children

“Her children of six [actually 8 – K P Z]

I happen to be the eldest.

1. Paul Gerhard Zwar born Oct 20^th 1899.

2. Brother Edward Herrmann Zwar born Feb 7^th 1902.

3. Alfred Zwar born Mar 30^th – 1902

4. Sister Frieda M Zwar born Mar 16 – 1905

5. Sister Mary July 20 – 1906

6. Brother Rudolph – born Oct 23 – 1908″

[7. Martin – born Nov 8 1911 … K P Z

8. Conrad – born June 20 1914 … K P Z]

[from Letter: To K P Z from 37 Hawthorne St. Woolloongabba 4102. Jan 15 1979]

School

“My late grandmother taught me to read German when I was five so when I went to Ebenezer Lutheran School I was proficient in this. Still now “Wenn ich nür dass Englische nicht zu güt fort kann, spreche ich Deutsch.

Then when I was 12 I was sent to the Stockwell State School. We had a brilliant teacher from London who was afraid I could not pass an exam. I was determined to pass it he gave me three hours night school for months. Anyhow I passed the exam in six subjects – English, Arithmetic, Algebra, History, German which was no problem and one subject I forget. This with 18 months at this State School.” [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Grandfather Johann Zwar

“I was 11 years of age when my good grandfather Johann [Zwar] passed away. As his house was only 2 chains from ours that is why I saw him nearly daily and so remember his various interests so well, also the last few years of his life he enlisted me to drive him to Tanunda occasionally as he had to cross 2 railway crossings as he was turning deaf. He would not have heard the train whistle. My grandfather Johann Zwar was born in 1821 died at 90 in 1911 when I was 11 years of age.” [Letter to K P Z Oct 17 – 1976]

“My late grandfather Dr John Zwar, my late mother liked him very much as also us kids.” [Letter July 19 and 24, 1976]

Becker Visits

“I am very happy to have had the pleasure to meet you and get to know you as after all we are also related as the Becker family descendants as your great grandfather the late Uncle Richard Becker was brother to my late mother. He used to visit us occasionally many years ago and we liked him very much as also Auntie Emma. We of course returned some visits to him. My late mother visited him 3 months before he died as she felt she wished to see him before he passed on. This of course was many years ago when I was a boy and … Henry Wegner who married Auntie Edel (my mother’s sister) told us that Uncle Richard used to have a ‘Star’ English motor car his first a late Readers Digest tells that a Star motor car … is now worth $30,000 in U S A as an antique.

The original (Becker) was Uncle Gunder as we called him liveda few miles from us a really lovely man cheerful always had a cheerful laugh and manner so of course was popular by everybody.

He was a brother to late Uncle Richard [Becker’s] mother. I believe he had 7 daughters, one son all of which had fairly large families only one daughter is still alive a lovely person now 83 – used to write to us frequently.

Also was glad to get to know each of late Uncle Richard’s brothers and sisters one Uncle Gotthold at Henty N S W. He had two sons good chaps both and one daughter.” [Letter to K P Z: July 19 and 24, 1976]

Rabbits

“As a teenager at our Ebenezer home we had [pet] rabbits Grey white and yellow in a cage on the farm. Whenever we were short of meat one of us used to shoot a few rabbits in adjoining vineyards.” [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

The Schliebs family

“The late Emil Schliebs and his wife (nee Schulz) had a family of six children all of which were good friends of mine. Their names from the eldest are Richard (about my age of 70) Alma who married my brother Eduard. Then Gerhard then a daughter whose name I can’t recollect married a Mr Woods at Nuriootpa then Ivy, married a Mr Miller near Truro last Leslie, a school teacher. Don’t know what Gerhard is doing now but Richard has his late parents farm at Muculta married a Miss Parbs?. Was a councillor for Angaston for some years.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Interstate

“I left South Australia permanently in 1930 and 1939, and only paid very occasional visit to S. A. mainly to my mother and some immediate relatives and old friends between 1930 and 1939 – since only one in 1945 – since 1930 I travelled interstate to 1942 approximately 4 years each in the 3 Eastern States . So I have had very little personal contact with most members of the Zwar families in South Aust since 1930 except for a 100 or so cousins and friends visiting us in Qld over the years mainly from the Barossa my home district. When I was in Victoria for 4 years viz 1930 to 1934 I occasionally visited my Uncle the late Dr Bernard Zwar. Also spent many happy weekends with Mr H. P. Zwar and his sisters at Broadford, children of the late Michael Zwar, who was a brother to my grandfather Dr John Zwar of Ebenezer and your great grandfather Peter Zwar. Michael Zwar had 8 children [actually 11 – K P Z] however I only got to know four.

…I’ve been more in touch really with this Victorian branch of the Z family since 1930 than the South Australian and still hear from a daughter of the late H. P. Zwar also saw her when visiting Brisbane a few years ago telling us all about her impressions of numerous world tours she had, also hear from one of his grand daughters occasionally.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Immediate Family

“My own immediate family are poor and occasional corresponders, and often have to wait some years for a reply, although I am happy to say many of my cousins in the Barossa Adelaide etc write to us regularly. Also are happy to visit us when visiting Queensland, as we are also very glad to see them and usually visit Queensland during the Winter.

Have not heard from brothers Alf and Rudi for some years, but from information Alf is in Adelaide and Rudolf stays with Wasyl Petaluk, husband of very late sister Frieda. Wasyl I learn is again married. Wasyl, I never knew him at all,Frieda used to write to us occasionally before she passed away.

Our Ebenezer family of my brothers and sisters valued and saved none [of historical papers] they were relegated to a heap and burnt . I could not carry them with me in my extensive travels all over Sth Aust, Victoria, N S W and Qld travelling about 50,000 miles each year.

I am glad you received a lot of information from Arthur Zwar he made a special hobby of records of the big Zwar family for years more so than any Zwar I know … he would be very reliable.” [Letter to K P Z: Feb 5 1970]

South Australian Visits

” I always stayed with Ben Gunder who has an 800 acre farm at Hornsdale. His late father was a cousin to your late grandfather Richard Becker. Ben is one of my best friends ever since we were together in the Barossa.

Also I paid a brief visit to Aunt Emma [Becker], Rita’s mother who I always found a very lovely person to visit, met Rev Stolz there … and had pleasant chats with him for hours on Auntie Emma’s lawn one afternoon. Also spent one evening at your Auntie Mary (Mrs Shulz [Schultz]) who I always found a humorous and congenial person.” [Letter to K P Z Oct 17 – 1976]

Peter Zwar at Ebenezer

“You mentioned that your great grandfather Peter Zwar spent some years after he arrived in Australia with my grandfather at Ebenezer, and did carpentry jobs – maybe he made the doors and windows of the first church at Ebenezer which were of extra good workmanship and strong construction. My late father bought all the windows and doors of this original church when it was demolished and had them fitted into a 3 chain long wheat shed built of bricks and stone and held 2000 bags of wheat which still stands today as far as I know has double front doors which would be as sound today’s as when they were made. This very useful shed was built by an Uncle of the late Rev F Noack – Hermann Noack.

Peter Zwar your great-grandfather I took to Moculta when a boy to visit a Koch family.” (Elisabeth Koch, a daughter of Peter – K P Z)

“I still remember a Karl Zwar who used to visit us some times at Ebenezer when I was a school boy a friendly man a brother to your grandfather Peter Zwar – quoting from memory.”

Toowoomba Friend

“I am also blessed with a wonderful [friend] who gives me genuine brotherly love even though he is not related is a dedicated Lutheran at Toowoomba Hume St Church visits me almost monthly, spends 2 days with me and is wonderful company kn own him for 40 years does jobs for me here is an efficient tradesman and reasonable in his charges. I could not find a better friend in the whole world.” [Letter to K P Z May 23 1976]

Victoria

“Just a bit re the Victorian branch of the Z family of the late Michael Zwar .

… I spent many happy weekends at the three sisters at Broadford also at the house of H. P. Zwar, who was a most interesting personality, he was mayor of Preston for years, also chairman of 3 companies – also a State member for 12 years and considered one of the most popular personalities in Melbourne. He had a tannery at Preston which his son Hermann (who I also met at his father’s place) sold I am informed for 400,000 pounds some years ago.”

Association with the late H. P. Zwar

“His suggestions helped me a lot in my business owing to his much maturer experience in business. H. P. Zwar passed away at 85 years.

His brother Albert Zwar had a tannery at Beechworth Victoria … Albert was also a member in the Vic State parliament for 12 years.

Another, Charles Zwar son of late Charles Zwar Vic is a noted musician now in London.

The above elder Zwars were cousins of your grandfather Peter Zwar. They were well and favourably known in Victoria.”

Toowoomba Home

“We have a nice house in Toowoomba, now let, where we intended to live, however we could not stand the cold there in the Winter which is 3 degrees below Adelaide, so when you visit us here, don’t expect to find a posh house.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Postcards

“Still have some colour postcards Uncle Bernard sent to my grandfather by B. Zwar in 1905.”

Piano and Organ

“My late Mother [Bertha] – sister to the late Richard Becker – learnt to play starting at 11 years of age and used to play our lovely organ at home every evening for half an hour also played the organ at Ebenezer and Stockwell Churches whenever their constant players went on holidays.

I still remember [Del] playing one of my favourite ‘Under the Double Eagle” by Wagner. Mary used to play it every evening for half an hour, included Sacred Songs. I miss this and particularly Mary who was a lovely wife and companion.”

Newspaper Clipping

A Newspaper Clipping included in a letter from Garry.

Education

“Sometimes the well educated with degrees today do not achieve as much as the self educated… the late H. P. Zwar Mayor of Preston Victoria for 12 years also State member for that electorate for 12 years put the labour man out for 12 years also director of 3 companies he had a very ordinary State School education mainly milking cows.

His son Herman sold his tannery for 600,000 pounds when a pound was worth a pound.

Mr. A M Zwar of Beechworth was a Country Party member for 12 years.

The late Bernard Zwar who could not speak English when he was till 12 at a Lutheran School – who ended up as one of the leading surgeons in Australia as acc. M.D. M.S. CBE. FRAC. S etc etc. In 1905 he was asked to represent Australia at the Berlin Medical Congress, and on return he gave lectures to professional Doctors in some Australian cities lecturing on what he had learnt there. I saw him last in Melbourne in 1942 always found him friendly to me. Also he sent some illustrated cards of the district in Germany where my late Grandfather came from. The Johann Zwar of Ebenezer of which I found a few. Dr Hermann Zwar I remember when he died unfortunately early in 1902 being then Surgeon at Clermont hospital at the time when Clermont was booming.

A Charles Zwar who got his legal LLB first then decided to make music his career used to play the Melbourne Town Hall organ for awhile prior to that. This is just to mention a few.

My late grandmother taught me to read German when I was five so when I went to Ebenezer Lutheran School I was proficient in this. Still now “Wenn ich nür dass Englische nicht zu güt fort kann spreche ich Deutsch.”

Then when I was 12 I was sent to the Stockwell State School we had a brilliant teacher from London who was afraid I could not pass an exam. I was determined to pass it he gave me three hours night school for months. Anyhow I passed the exam in six subjects – English, Arithmetic, Algebra, History, German which was no problem and one subject I forget. This with 18 months at this State School. Today unfortunately many graduates in medicine, law etc cannot get a job owing to the present depression. Even many educated pupils in Qld cannot even spell words correctly, according to C M Courier [Newspaper]. I may misspell some words in this letter owing to very poor eyesight.”

Zwar Vacuum Machine

Zwar Vacuum Machine – Keith Zwar

Name Plate – Kevin Zwar

Plunger – Kevin Zwar

“The [washing] machine is easy to operate by hand for a copperful for 5 to 7 minutes when I used to sell I took a boy with me to prove to customers how how easy it is to work.

The fact that [I] sold 15,000 with no complaints speaks for itself.” [ Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Catalogue

“I enclose a catalogue of the line I used to handle interstate from 1930 to 1942 ended up selling 15,000 units. But the war terminated our supplies in 1942.

G. Z.” [Letter to K P Z Feb 5 1970]

Warrnambool

“I know Warrnambool well as I sold 700 – 800 Zwar Washing machines in your city and District as including the towns and districts of Pt Fairy Camperdown Terang and Colac. At Colac I became friends with its leading solicitor P. Arundell M. A. L.L.B. who invited me to his house to have tea whenever I was in Colac. He could speak four languages but not too Good in German so after tea he invited me into his lounge to only speak to him in German so he could brush it up. He visited us on his annual holidays her [Brisbane] and at Toowoomba about 12 times. He was one of our very best friends.” [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Re Western District Vic

“In 1932 The Western District of Victoria that is Colac, Terang, Camperdown, Warrnambool, Port Fairy etc had also had a good season enabling me to sell approximately 7 to 8 hundred Washing Machines at that time. Nine years later I paid a short visit to each of these towns met many old customers who were friendly by expressing the [good] purchase of their Washing Machines.” [Letter to K P Z Jan 15 1979]

Illness

“For 20 years local and interstate doctors specialists etc told me I had a tired heart. Dr Sheil after sending me to an Xray also an electrocardiograph specialist that my heart was O K but I had an unusual large hiatus hernia pressing against my vital organs thereby giving me long bouts of severe pain at my age then 62 an operation was ill advised the P. A. hospital will not touch it even today – that is to operate. [Letter to K P Z Aug 31 1978]

Wife

Wife Mary Zwar, two visitors, Garry Zwar (1969)

“Since the sudden passing of my dear late wife Mary 5 years on Feb 11 – she was a wonderful wife and companion for over 20 years. We were very happy throughout. She used to play sacred hymns on our lovely piano daily for half an hour and had a gifted singing voice. Now it is an empty house. Also I haven’t the energy to keep my house as tidy as a good wife can.

… I sincerely hope that this finds you in reasonable good health,

With Christian greetings to yourself, Del and family,

Yours Sincerely,

Garry [Letter to K P Z: Jan 15 1979]

Original Page from a letter

A page from Garry’s letters in his own distinctive handwriting.

Gotthelf Benjamin RICHARD BECKER

Barossa Valley

Richard [the name he was always known by] Becker was born at Neukirch in the Barossa Valley of South Australia on 22^nd June 1870, the fourth of seven children of Auguste and Gustav Becker.

Appila

In 1872 his father bought section 75 of newly opened virgin land in the Appila district in the mid north of South Australia. I assume the family moved north soon after this land purchase when Richard was still a little child.

Schools

In 1775 a Lutheran School had been built on Joppich land in the Appila District and it would serve as the Lutheran School for the Lutherans in the District for almost 100 years. It is likely that Richard received some of his education in this school.

It is likely that Richard also attended school on a property [section 17 Appila] his father had purchased and where a building was used briefly, maybe only for several years as a school. There are no School records. Part of this section of land was bought by a Lutheran Congregation [Later part of the E L C A Lutheran Synod].

Loss of Parents

The family was linked to several different Lutheran Synods at different times. Richard’s father died in 1899 when Richard was 29 years old, followed by his mother three years later. Their gravestones stand in the Pine Creek Lutheran Cemetery, shared by Lutherans of different Synods.

Farmlands

The Land Titles to the Becker Appila District Properties, sections 16, 17 and 75, were taken over by Gotthelf Benjamin RICHARD BECKER on 31st January 1903, when he was 33 years old.

Church

At some point the Becker family had joined the Pine Creek Lutheran Church of Pastor Ortenburger [later U E L C A Synod]. In family letters Richard and his siblings report on the building of the new Pine Creek Church, opened in 1901. They could see the construction of the new Church from their home farm.

Marriage

On 3^rd October 1906 Richard married Emma Cecilia Zänker in the Pine Creek Lutheran Church near Appila. Emma was 21 years old and Richard 35.

First Child

In 1907 their first child Rita arrived. She was their only child to be born on this property.

Laura Farm

In 1909 the Newspaper recorded:

LAURA. September 23.

“On Tuesday the farm of Mr. G. E Becker, who has purchased land in New South Wales, was submitted to auction by Elder, Smith, & Co… It consisted of 446 acres, suitable for irrigation, in the Hundred of Booyoolie, about four miles from Laura. The purchaser was Mr. Richard Becker, and the price paid was 10 pounds 10 shillings per acre.”

Richard bought the property from his brother. This property became known as “The Willows” and is the central Becker Property in this Becker website.

The Willows

“The Willows was only a six room house when Richard Becker moved in. He added three rooms [on the Pine Creek side of the house]. The front room was built by a tradesman using fine sawn quality timber and professionally cut stone. Richard added the other two rooms himself, using rough timber. [This can be seen when one looks in the ceiling]. The walls were gravel and lime plastered to look like stone on the outside. The date 1922 was added to the outside of the front room – parlour / living room – after the additions had been put on. There were now nine rooms and eight of them had chimneys! [One of the chimneys was removed in later years.]

Richard also added the underground tank, the cellar next to it, and the room above the cellar that was used as a laundry, and included a bake oven and a small room on the Pine Creek end of this building.” … Rex Becker

Children

Five more children were born to Emma and Richard at the Willows: Eric in 1910, Frieda in 1913, Melvin in 1916, Linda in 1921, Lorna in 1926 and Rex in 1928.

Eric, Frieda and Rita Becker

The Orchard

Richard planned to turn an acre of the farm into an orchard. It would be irrigated with the plentiful stream of the Pine Creek fresh water flowing through the property and past “The Willows” homestead. On one side of the road that led into the farm from the main road, and nearly up to the homestead, he installed a windmill, and planted vines and a wide variety of fruit trees, and dug channels for the water to feed the orchard. Approximately ten acres that included the orchard and acres of lucerne were leveled for irrigation. The lucerne was prime stock feed for the horses and cows.

Salt

At some point the Pine Creek water became salty. There are several theories on the cause.

One is that an earthquake had released a lot of salt that washed into the small creek that became known as “Salt Water Creek”, and flowed into the Pine Creek on Weston’s property about three k’s north of “The Willows”. [This small creek began in what was originally Prior’s farm, then flowed through Peter [and later Ed] Zwar’s farm before entering the Pine Creek on Weston’s [later Ralph Zanker’s] farm.

Another possibility was suggested to me by Malcolm Ives, a friend of mine who has a Doctorate in Horticulture. I described the situation to Malcolm.

He suggested that the natural soil running along the sides of the creek had “perennial, deep rooted vegetation, including shrubs and trees. It had deep, absorptive soil, that kept the salt in check. When the soil was cleared for farming, ploughed up and maybe overgrazed, the soil profile on low flat land became shallow and concrete-like on the surface. Evaporation now led to surface salt residue from salt water raised by capillary action. This led to increased salt water runoff in rainfalls.

I think this could also have happened along many sections of the Pine Creek upstream of The Willows farm on the Appila plains.

Wherever the salt came from, it eventually ruined the irrigation project at “The Willows”. The family still enjoyed peaches, apricots and grapes at home, but not on a commercial scale.

The Barn and Sheep Yards

On the other side of the driveway into the Becker farm Richard built an open drain and a culvert to take rainwater runoff from the main road, to flow under the driveway and water the orchard.

Further along this northern side of the driveway there were many large gum trees, and at the house end stood the barn and the sheep yards.

The Barn

The barn had a wooden floor. It was used to store grain used as stock feed, and seed grain for the following year, as well as bagged fertilizer. Rex Becker said the only social event he could remember held in the barn was for a 21^st Birthday, possibly for his brother Melvin.

The Sheepyards

The Becker Barn and Sheepyards – later destroyed in 1941 Flood

The main road past the Becker farm was a wide three chain road

“and a government proclaimed stock route called the ‘Laura-Hammond Stock Route’.(… Rex Becker).

It was used by sheep drovers to drive their flocks of sheep through this area in the early days. Near the farm gate, on the Laura side, there was a small paddock fenced off so the drovers could leave their sheep in the paddock overnight.

The large barn by the sheep yards had a small room in it. The drovers would sleep in this small room in the barn.

The Barn and Sheepyards – later destroyed in 1941 Flood

“Richard always welcomed drovers to ‘overnight’ their stock here. Richard would spend half the night yarning with drovers.” (Rex Becker).

The sheep yards included a swim through sheep dip. Farmers in the district would bring their blocks of sheep to be dipped.

Adelaide Show Winner

Richard enjoyed entering competitions in the Shows with poultry and other live stock. His greatest win came in the Adelaide show in 1921 with his Clydesdale “Royal O’Groat”.

Adelaide Show Cup 1921

THE ANGAS CUP

“Fortis est Veritas” (‘Truth is Strength’)

(There is a coat of arms that looks like a lion and a snake with a worm in it’s mouth.)

“ROYAL A & H SOCIETY of S.A.
September 1921
CLYDESDALE ENTIRE
3 YEARS OLD
WON BY
R. BECKER’S
“Royal O’Groat”

Kookaburras

Once Richard mentioned in passing to a drover that his wife Emma was fascinated by kookaburras. Some months later the drover came by and handed Richard a pair of young kookaburras – still furry and not long out of their nest. The kookaburras became family pets. Melvin remembered that they ate lots of meat!

A tub was kept under the tap of a rainwater tank and they kept the tub full of water for the kookaburras who loved to bathe in it. One day the tub was half empty. The kookaburras went in for their bath and the water weighed them down and they drowned as they couldn’t get out of the tub.

Wedding Receptions

“The wedding reception for Rita Becker was held in the workshop! An extension was built on the southern side. It was to be temporary but was still there ten years later for Frieda’s wedding. Many years later Rex replaced the sliding doors and it still remains that way today!” …Rex Becker

The Well

On the bank of the Pine Creek and nearer the house Richard built a well, driven by a belt from a shaft at the top. Buried pipes took the water past the barn and into the fruit and vegetable gardens.

The Big Flood

The big flood in 1941 led to many changes. It washed the well, the barn and sheep yards away. Today there is still a mound covered with grass where the barn had stood.

New sheep yards and a shearing shed were built on the southern side of the house and farm buildings, near the round brick water tank and next to the a new dairy and cow yard.

Richard Becker

Richard had died five years before the Big Flood.

His son Rex said his father regarded German as God’s only language. He spoke English with an accent and loved to chat with his neighbor (Higgins) and the sheep drovers and other local farmers.

The Beckers showed horses in the Country shows. Their greatest thrill was the year their Clydesdale won the cup in the Adelaide show.

Rex was only six years old when his father died. All of his memories of his father are of him as a sick man. He remembers the doctor calling regularly to drain the fluids from his body, due to his Dropsy / Edema.

Reginald Colin ZWAR

Detailed Biography

Early Years

Reg Zwar

Reginald Colin Zwar was born on 6^th October 1926 at Booleroo Centre, the second child of Alfred and Johanna (Jane) Zwar. Reg was baptised and later confirmed at the Pine Creek Lutheran Church.

Reg Zwar

Reg grew up on the family farm near Wirrabara together with his two sisters, Joyce and Gwenda. He attended the Wirrabara school.

Marriage

Reg and Elsie Zwar

In 1949 Reg married Elsie Keller, who became his lifelong companion. They made their home at Wirrabara and from modest beginnings, built a substantial farming enterprise. Reg and Elsie were blessed with four sons. Geoff, Don and Tim carried on the farming tradition to become the fifth generation of Zwars to farm in the Wirrabara district since Peter Zwar took up land at Appila in about 1880. Their third son, Brian, established an engineering business in Adelaide.

Church

Reg and Elsie raised their family in the love and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Over the years Reg held many offices in the church, including layreader, chairman and elder.

Inventor

Stemming from times when necessity resulted in innovation, Reg enjoyed developing solutions to problems, and won several awards and held a number of patents for his inventions. These included :

A chemical extractor (for safer handling of agricultural chemicals)
An automatic bale density control unit for small square balers
A quick change scarifier share clamp
An auxiliary airbag suspension kit for trucks

Lucerne

Early on, he found a need to diversify into lucerne seed and hay production and in many respects was a pioneer in this field. Lucerne seed from his property was included in the first to be exported to Libya in 1973.

District Council

Reg’s community activities included serving on the Port Germein District Council (which became the District Council of Mt Remarkable) for 11 years, where he also served a term as chairman.

School Centenary

In 1979, Reg achieved much pleasure and satisfaction as chairman of the organising committee for the Wirrabara Primary School centenary celebrations.

Charateristics

While often strong in his views, Reg was universally respected for his integrity and honesty, and deeply ingrained work ethic. His travels in his enterprise took him to every corner of the state and beyond, and as a result of his ability to relate well to people, made many hundreds of business and social acquaintances.

Hobbies

In later years, as the weight of responsibility was increasingly shared by his sons, Reg took up and enjoyed lawn bowls and golf, and indulged his hobby of collecting machinery of many varied shapes, sizes and vintages. Reg and Elsie also enjoyed travels both within Australia and overseas.

Final Year

Following a fall in 1995, Reg’s health deteriorated which necessitated full-time care at the Booleroo Centre District Hospital, where he passed away on 7^th August 1996. His funeral was held on the 10^th August 1996 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Wirrabara.

Amelie Lydia META SAEGENSCHNITTER nee Saegenschnitter

Detailed Biography

Childhood

She was commonly known as Meta, and was born on 26 June 1896 at Caltowie Extension. Meta would have been Baptised, Confirmed and attended church with her Parents at the Appila Pine Creek Lutheran Church. She probably went to the Local Caltowie Extension School, but it is unknown for how long.
After leaving school Meta helped her parents on the farm, but unfortunately the Family lost their youngest child and Mother in early 1908.

Teenager

Meta, with her older sister Hulda continued to look after their Father and brothers until the Father remarried in September 1909. Unfortunately this did not work with the new wife, so the Father took the two girls to live with Aunties of the Becker family, Meta with Auntie Bertha & Uncle Paul Zwar in the Barossa Valley.

Sandleton and Stonefield

Some time later when visiting Aunties in the Sandleton & Stonefield region, Meta met her future husband, Bert Saegenschnitter. They were married in the Sandleton Lutheran Church on February 18th. 1925.

The couple lived with Bert’s Father, and later the home had to be enlarged to cope with the growing family that included nine children.

After the death of Bert’s father, Meta & Bert continued to operate the farm, right up to their deaths, Bert dying in 1957 & Meta followed in 1964. Both are buried in the Sandleton cemetery. They had a family of nine boys. Their farm is still in the hands of their descendants.

Family

Three sons, Les, Colin and Eric Saegenschnitter on their confirmation day 1940 at Sandleton.

Altogether they had a family of nine boys, including

their seventh child, Reginald Percy, born 16th February 1933 at Sandleton, and died 30th December 1933 (Buried in the Sandleton cemetery):

their eighth child, Walter Alex Saegenschnitter, born 24th May 1934 at Sandleton, and died 20th November 1935 (Buried in the Sandleton cemetery):

their ninth child, Ronald Kevin Saegenschnitter, born 27th June 1936 at Sandleton, and died on 1st March 1937 (Buried in the Sandleton cemetery).

______________________________________

© ‘Before and After’

by Dean Saegenschnitter

Rita Phyllis MODRA nee ZWAR (C8,8)

Detailed Biography

Port Pirie

Rita was born at Port Pirie, South Australia on 2/9/1923, as the youngest child of Charles Jacob (Jack) and Emma Marie Louise Zwar (nee Staehr). They lived on a farm 5 miles south of Pt. Pirie, towards Warnertown.

Mangalo

When she was 4 years old, the family moved to Mangalo, north of Cleve, on Eyre Peninsula where Jack share farmed for his brother in law Fred Will. The farm was a little over 5 miles (8km) from the Mangalo Hall (which was also used as the school) on the main road to Cowell. It was customary to go shopping in Cowell every Thursday afternoon, as that was the day the boat arrived from Adelaide bringing fresh food supplies. The fishermen also knew the town would be busy, so were always on hand with fresh fish, which needed to be scaled and cleaned once the family were home. Rita was fond of fresh fish meals, and told her children in later years how she occasionally pretended to have a fish bone stuck in her throat, thereby causing her mother to panic until the laughter came.

The family only got their mail twice a week – on Thursday shopping trip and Friday evening with the mail delivery run to Mangalo. The closest Lutheran Church was at Crossville some 22 miles (35km) away and the trip would take an hour each way in the old Chevrolet utility at 25 miles per hour (40kph) on the dirt roads, and when it was wet, they sometimes had to use tyre chains to be able to make the trip, but the family never missed attending Church because of bad weather.

School

Rita started school at 6 years of age, and with her brother Rex, who was 2 ½ years older, travelled to Mangalo in a horse and cart that had steel rims on the spoked wheels (no rubber tyres) and this would take an hour each way, but was better than walking. Rex did most of the driving, but occasionally would hand the reins to his younger sister. On one occasion she steered too close to the edge of the road and a wheel hit a tree stump and flipped the cart over. Rex walked to a nearby farm for help, and with the cart back on its wheels they headed for home, with Rex driving. Another time, the leather traces wore through, and “Bob’ the horse kept jogging along while cart and passengers remained where they were.

If it was raining in the mornings when they woke, the children would hope to be allowed to stay home that day, but mostly her father would check the weather and say, “Rain before seven – fine before eleven”, so off to school they went.

When Rita was 11 years her brother Rex suddenly took ill with double pneumonia and died the next day, only 14 years of age. Since she now had no companion for the school trip, her parents decided that as she had 5 ¼ years of schooling, and could read and write, it was sufficient reason for her to leave school.

Teenage Years

Rita then helped at home with housework, milking cows, feeding calves, trapping rabbits, and sometimes chopping wood. She loved music, and was able to have music lessons at Cowell, but after only nine months her teacher married and left the district, so to her disappointment, that was the end of music lessons. However, she persevered and eventually was able to play most of the hymns in the tune book. For 7 years she was the only organist in her congregation, and even played for the service the day after her wedding.

When she was 13 years, a week long stay in Cowell hospital as a patient convinced her she would like to become a nurse, and this desire became stronger in her teen years. Although her mother was supporting, her father discouraged the idea. The family doctor encouraged her, and even spoke to her father about it, but her dream of nursing never came to fruition. However, many years later, her own youngest daughter became a nurse, much to Rita’s delight. When Rita was 19 years, her parents moved from the farm to their retiring home on the outskirts of Cleve.

21st Birthday

The Port Lincoln newspaper recorded the celebrations under the heading

21st BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT CLEVE

To celebrate the 21st birthday of Miss Rita Zwar approximately 50 young people of the Lutheran congregations of Cleve, Yadnarie, Crossville and Cummins gathered at the supper room of the Cleve institute on Sep 11th. Miss Zwar, unaware of the arrangement, was much surprised when brought to the room to find herself the guest of honor.

Games, competitions, and community singing were indulged in, and special items were rendered by the Misses Edna and Thelma Jericho, and a song by the Misses Stolz.

During Supper, Pastor C Stolz honoring the toast of the guest, also presented her with a golden key, the gift of her parents. Congratulatory reemarks on behalf of their respective congregations were made by R. Jericho (Yadnarie), C. Lienert (Crossville), W. Modra (R.A.A.F on leave, for Cummins).

Miss Zwar, assisted by Mr. A. Modra, suitably responded. The guest was the recipient of many valuable gifts and a beautifully made posy by Mrs E. Kraehe. The singing of “God Save the King” brought a most happy evening to a close.

Marriage

Chronicle Sat 20 Oct 1928

At 22 years of age Rita married Alfred Sydney Modra from Yeelanna at Crossville Church on 3/11/1945, exactly 10 years after they had both attended confirmation lessons in that same church. Their first home of four very small concrete rooms was built in the corner of a paddock of Alf’s parents farm at Yeelanna. There was just a rain water tank, a ‘Dunlight’ wind-operated generator which charged the bank of batteries for 32 volt lights, a heap of mallee stumps, and the essential ‘long drop dunny’ complete with spiders and the occasional snake. Until there was a bathroom added, they needed to go to the Modra homestead on Saturday evening for a bath. They did not own a vehicle for the first nine months, either. They lived in this home for 10 years and their first 3 children (Alan, Leon and Elaine) were born during that time. In October 1955, after 10 ½ months of building, their spacious new home was ready for occupancy, complete with indoor toilet. Two more children (David and Christabel) completed their family.

Cummins And Yallunda Flat Shows

When the children were older, Rita developed an interest in entering exhibits at the Cummins And Yallunda Flat Shows. Her specialties included uncooked slices, Genoa cakes and vegetable preserves. Over the years her preserves tended to take on an artistic flair, with new creations being ‘released’ each year. Daughter Christabel recalls watching her complete a jar of peas and carrots, the carrots cubed to the same size as the peas and arranged in a checkerboard pattern. As she rotated the jar to check her masterpiece, she noticed a pea near the bottom had been slightly squashed and lost its rounded shape. To Christabel’s amazement, Rita tipped it all out and started again!

Retirement

In February 1985 they moved to their retiring home in Cummins. Rita’s priorities were her family, church, home and garden. Alf passed away on 10/2/2003.

Rita taught Sunday School, and was an active member of the Ladies Guild. She was often convenor for Sunday School picnics, and rarely missed spring cleanings and catering functions. She doted on her grandchildren and they enjoyed her sense of humour and fun and also the endless supply of baked treats always available. Despite her age, she was able to amaze them by bending over to touch her toes, despite having just consumed a large Christmas dinner.

After several months in the Cummins Hospital, Rita passed away on 14^th April, 2009, and is buried alongside her husband at Cummins.

Oscar Carl ZWAR (C8.2)

Detailed Biography

Childhood

Oscar Carl Zwar was born on the 7th March 1900 at Port Pirie, the second child of Charles Jacob and Johanna Pauline Marie (nee Will) Zwar. His older brother Herbert died in 1899 aged just 14 months. His other siblings were Lucia (born 26.9.1902), Crispina (born 26/7/1904), and Harrold (born 16/11/1908).

Schooling was at Pirie Blocks State School.

Work

Oscar worked on the family farm, some six miles south of Port Pirie, and also worked on the sugar cane fields in Queensland for several years.

In 1928 the family moved to Eyre Peninsula to share farm for Fred Will, who was a brother of Oscar’s mother. Oscar eventually owned his own farm nearby until he sold in 1952.

Married

Oscar married Regina Vera Hauschild (known as Vera) on 4/10/1928 at Crossville Lutheran Church, which is a few miles east of Cleve. Their daughter Myra Pauline was born at Cowell on 14/4/1932. They lived on the farm in a four room dwelling which he later extended to a four bedroom home.

Four Generations Standing: Oscar Zwar, Myra Schutz Seated: Jack Zwar and baby Christine Schutz

Mechanic

Living a distance from any town, his mechanical ability was much sought after by many of his neighbours for repairing tractors and farm machinery. At times there could be a dozen or more vehicles and tractors lined up in front of his workshop. During World War 2, he was a member of the VDC (Voluntary Defence Corps), and was appointed the local constable for the area.

Devout Christian

Oscar was a devout Christian, serving as Lay Reader and Treasurer of the Crossville congregation for many years. He also was very involved during the construction of the Cleve Parish Hall in 1959. After disposing of their farm in 1952, Oscar and Vera lived in Point Pass and Berri until about 1954 when they returned to Cleve.

Lee Transport

At Cleve Oscar took over as manager of Lee Transport, later to become Western Hauliers, on the current site of the offices of the District Council of Cleve. They built a new house of white Mount Gambier stone on the adjacent block to the north of the freight depot.

Oscar remained in this role until ill health forced him to retire.

Oscar passed away on 12^th October 1962 and is buried in the Cleve cemetery.

© Myra Schutz
(The above information was provided by his daughter Myra Schutz, living at Point Pass, South Australia. July 2013)

Some Reminiscences I have of Uncle Oscar (Alan Zwar)

The Motor Bike

I remember my Dad (Harrold) telling me that one time when he was probably a teenager, Uncle Oscar and a mate had been working on a motor bike but had been able to get it to start. I understand that at that time motorbikes did not have a ‘kick start’ mechanism, so the rider had to engage the gear, then holding the clutch lever disengaged run with the bike to get some speed then release the clutch and leap astride when it started. Dad was laughing at these two older fellows becoming exhausted from their efforts, so they told him to see if he could do better. He began pushing it and next thing it started and as he’d never ridden a motor bike before, he was running alongside calling, “What to I do now ?”

Blacksmith Hammer

A story I was told about, probably when Uncle Oscar was in Queensland and looking for work, he got a job as a blacksmith’s helper. His duties included swinging a sledgehammer to flatten or shape the red hot metal which had been heated in the forge and placed onto the big anvil. Of course he’d told his employer that he knew all about what was required. Now, the blacksmith has a small hammer which he uses to tap the spot on the hot metal where the helper needs to hit it with the heavy sledge hammer. But if the small hammer is placed on the anvil itself, and not on the heated metal, it means to not swing the sledge hammer this time. Uncle Oscar wasn’t aware of that part. So his boss tapped the little hammer on the anvil then leaned over to inspect the shaping of the metal, just as the sledge hammer was swung again. Apparently, when the blacksmith recovered, he sacked his new helper.

Our Faithful Pet

When Uncle Oscar left the farm I was still at school, and they had a farm sheep dog which was mostly black, called ‘Nigger’. (So politically incorrect nowadays). Nigger was good with children and as he wasn’t sold at the clearing sale, was given to us as a pet. I remember on the way home from the farm to Rudall we had no where to carry him except with us three children in the back seat of the Vanguard car. Nigger was standing in amongst our legs. Along the winding road from the farm to Cleve, Nigger vomited all over my lap from car sickness in these cramped conditions. When we got home, Nigger was chained up, but next morning was missing, having broken either the chain or his collar. However, before we left to catch the bus to school, he was waiting at the back door of the house, much to our relief. He was our faithful pet for a number of years.

Farting Muffler

When they were living in Cleve, Uncle Oscar had an Austin A70 car, I think silver or grey in colour. Once when they were visiting us at Rudall for Sunday lunch, I tied a length of bicycle tube to the end of the exhaust pipe, as I knew that would make ‘farty’ noises when the engine was running. Imagine my disappointment when they drove off with no obvious extra noises, and the bike tube just hanging limply off the end of the exhaust pipe. Apparently, there were so many holes in the muffler, there wasn’t much gas pressure coming out the end.

Spot Light Shooting

Some time in the early 1960’s, as a result of a spotlighting night shooting kangaroos, I’d accidentally got a 50mm long laceration to my right hand at about midnight, when someone’s knife slipped while skinning a ‘roo for barbequing. So one of my mates was driving me to Cleve hospital along an unfamiliar dirt road, and came to a tee junction just over the top of a rise. The driver tried to brake hard and make the turn to the right but on loose gravel we skidded sideways, hit the edge and flipped on to the roof. We were in my Dads Vanguard ute, which had hurdles on the back for safety while spotlighting, and these prevented the roof from being badly crushed, but they and the roof were bent somewhat sideways. So we then walked by moonlight until we saw a farmhouse perhaps a half mile from the road, and woke up the farmer to take us to Cleve. It could have been as late as 4 am by the time we arrived at the hospital. They called the Doctor (who’d only got to bed at 2 am after delivering babies) to stitch my hand. Then we walked down to Uncle Oscar’s house and woke him to take us home, as my parents were away. A few hours later, and the local anaesthetic had worn off, and I was wondering how to rescue the damaged ute, and lo and behold, it arrives around the corner with the roof bent sideways and Uncle Oscar at the wheel. He’d gone out with the Lee Transport delivery truck and pulled the ute onto it’s wheels. However, the engine wouldn’t turn over since the cylinders had filled with oil while it was upside down. So he’d removed the spark plugs and spun the engine over to clear the oil out, but forgot to stay clear and got sprayed with oil for his trouble.

Lucia Emma Magdalene HAUSCHILD nee ZWAR

Detailed Biography

Early Years

Lucy, as she was known, was born on 26^th September, 1902 at Port Pirie, South Australia. She was the third child and eldest daughter of Charles Jacob and Johanna Pauline Marie Zwar (nee Will). Her oldest brother, Herbert, died in 1899, aged only 14 months. Brother Oscar was born 7.3.1900, then sister Crispina “Crissy’ 26.7.1904, and brother Harrold on 16.11.1908. Her mother, Marie, died on 16.3.1911.

On 30.4.1917, her father married Emma Marie Louisa Staehr, and siblings Fredrich was born on 6.3.1918, but died after only 6 months; Rex born on 3.5.1921 but died in his teens at only 14 years; and Rita, born 2.9.1923.

Her childhood was spent on the family farm some 10km south east of Port Pirie, and schooling was at Pirie Blocks State School, travelling there by horse and buggy. Pt. Pirie was part of the Appila Lutheran Parish, and she would have been confirmed there, in the foothills of the Flinders Ranges.

Eyre Peninsula

The family sold the farm and moved to Eyre Peninsula to share farm for her mother’s uncle, Fred Will, at Mangalo, north of Cleve.

The family were faithful worshipers at Crossville Lutheran Church, east of Cleve, and it is likely that Lucy met her future husband, Cyril Hermann Hauschild through his cousins who were also members there. Her brother Oscar was married to Vera Hauschild, one of those cousins, and perhaps they met at that wedding on 4^th October 1928.

Adelaide

Lucy and Cyril were married in the Crossville Church on 9^th November, 1935. They lived in Carter Street, Prospect. Their house was on the northern side of the street. The imaginary line that divided Prospect from the ‘upper crust’ suburb of Thorngate ran down the middle of the street. Cyril was a self employed builder.

Lucy did not enjoy good health, and in her lifetime endured a reported 26 operations for various afflictions. Unable to have children of their own, Lucy and Cyril adopted a red headed baby, Joylene Dawn Hauschild, born 23^rd September, 1949.

Lucy deceased on 21^st July, 1971, and Cyril on 24^th January, 1984.

After a long battle with cancer, Joylene succumbed on 17^th November, 2008.

All of Lucy’s generation have long since passed on, and those relatives of the next generation I have contacted have been unable to provide any information about Lucy’s interests or community involvement. I do remember, however, that Lucy was a ‘one eyed’ supporter of the North Adelaide Football Club, and attended matches whenever she could. I also recollect that Lucy made some of her families clothing on her sewing machine. A friend of Joylene’s when they were both high school age has told me she would look forward to freshly baked streusel kuchen (German yeast cake) when she’d visit.

“As a tribute to his wife Lucy, after her death Cyril began collecting the names and details of the Zwar Families in Australia. He drove many kilometres and interviewed many of her relatives. Following his passing his daughter passed his valuable research on to me. It became the basis for the research that I and my cousin Gwenda Obst would develop over many more years to make this Zwar website possible.” Kevin P Zwar.

© Compiled by Alan Zwar, son of Lucy’s brother Harrold, February 2014. What I have been able to put together above is from ‘family tree’ research done by Cyril and others, plus my own recollections. Whenever my family visited Adelaide for medical, shopping or business reasons, we were mostly accommodated by Auntie Lucy and Uncle Cyril.

Crispina Alma Pauline KRUGER nee ZWAR (C8.4)

Detailed Biography

Childhood

‘Crissy’ (as she was known) was born at Port Pirie, South Australia on 26^th July, 1904, the fourth child of Charles Jacob and Johanna Pauline Marie Zwar (nee Will). Older siblings Herbert, born 26.3.1898 (died 11.5.1899), Oscar, born 7.3.1900, Lucia, born 26.9.1902, then younger Harrold on 16.11.1908. Their mother (Marie) passed away on 16.3.1911, leaving father ‘Jack’ to care for four young children. After a succession of housekeepers, their father married the last, Emma Marie Louise Staehr on 30^th April 1917.

Her childhood was at the family farm and schooling was at Pirie Blocks State School, travelling by horse and buggy. She was in Port Pirie when the First World War ended, and people celebrated by rattling tin cans, which frightened the horse and it bolted.

The family attended the Appila Lutheran Church, where she was confirmed.

Mangalo and Marriage

In 1928 the family moved to Mangalo, north of Cleve on Eyre Peninsula, where they share-farmed for her mothers brother, Fred Will.

Crissy and Andrew moved to a farm north-west of Cleve, Section 5 Hundred of Campoona, which was their home for the rest of their lives. Carlene Marie was born on 20.2.1938 and Colin John on 1.2.1941, both in Cleve Hospital. For many years the family lived in 2 rooms enclosed in the end of the main shed. In 1962 they had a new house built slightly up the hill from the sheds, which gave a panoramic view across the farm. In March 1967 the shed dwelling burned down due to a kerosene refrigerator ‘blowing up’, and much memorabilia, photos, etc. were lost in the fire, as they were still being stored down there.

Correspondence School

Living 16 miles (25 Km) from Cleve, and with no school bus service, Crissy tutored the children using lessons and material by post from the Correspondence School in Adelaide, until Carlene was in Year 5 and Colin to Year 3. Colin remembers pestering his mother even before he was 5 years old, “When can I start school, Mum?” In 1947 the Cleve Area School was opened and Crissy dutifully drove the children the 4Km to the nearest school bus route each morning and collected them in the afternoon.

Andrew, Crissy, Carlene & Colin Kruger

Dairy

Crissy hand milked sometimes in excess of 12 cows, then also separating the cream with a hand turned ‘separator’. With calves to be fed and gathering the eggs from their free range chickens. The cream and eggs were sent to Port Lincoln to supplement household income.

Community

The family were active members of nearby Yadnarie Lutheran Church, and Crissy held various offices in the Ladies Guild including Treasurer for many years. She was a good cook, and made many sausage rolls, cakes, etc. for suppers and afternoon teas. And the veritable feasts for Sunday School picnics. Biscuits and bread were baked, as were many bottles of jam, pickles, sauces and preserves. In the late 50’s and early 60’s she was also involved with the Kielpa CWA (Country Womens Association).

Mod Cons

To get an idea of how the family lived without the ‘mod-cons’ most of us take for granted, kerosene lamps provided lighting until an engine, generator and batteries were installed to provide 32 volt lights, just prior to their Silver Wedding Anniversary in 1956. Kerosene refrigerators were used until 1968 when 240 volt power extended past the property, and they were able to enjoy the convenience of electric appliances including refrigeration. The telephone only came in the late 1970’s.

Retirement

In 1974 Carlene and husband Dudley Thiele bought the farm, and a new transportable home unit was placed just up the hill from the main house for Crissy and Andrew.

In her last 15 years Crissy had quite a few hospital stays, and in 1986 was hospitalised again this time with Multiple Myeloma and passed away in the Cowell District Hospital on 15^th April 1987. By this time, Andrew was also a hospital resident, and he survived her by only 13 days. They are both buried in the cemetery of the now disused St. John’s Lutheran Church, Yadnarie.

Harrold Jacob ZWAR (C8.5)

Detailed Biography

Childhood

Harrold was born 16^th November 1908, the third son and fifth child of Charles Jacob and Johanna Pauline Marie Zwar (nee Will) in the district of Hundred of Port Pirie, South Australia. When he was 2 years and 3 month of age, his mother died after a very short illness. He lived with his father, brother and two sisters on a farm about 6 miles (9.6km) south-east of Pt Pirie, and all his schooling was at the ‘Pirie Blocks’ State School.

Uncle Peter Zwar

Aged 14 years, he lived with his Father’s brother Peter Zwar and family for some months on their farm at Laura, while attending confirmation lessons at the Lutheran Church. It was during this time while helping the menfolk at chaff-cutting that he lost the tip of his right middle finger to the first joint when a piece of string was caught in the machinery.

Eyre Peninsula

When aged 19 years (1928), the farm was sold and the family moved to Mangalo on Eyre Peninsula, to share-farm as C.J. Zwar and Son for his Uncle Fred Will (his mothers brother). On April 16th 1936 he married Linda Anna Zobel, of Eudunda. They lived in a separate iron dwelling on the same farm, and two children were born while there. Shirley Annette on February 14th 1939 and Alan Raymond on October 28th 1940. In early 1943 they relinquished farming and purchased an unfinished building at Rudall, 13 miles (21km) west of Cleve. The building had walls erected and a roof, but the stone walls of the living area had never been plastered and there were no floors, so there was a lot of work to do before they could move in, but being wartime it was the only place available. They used the larger portion of the building as a workshop for Garage and General Engineering for 10 years and were then able to purchase three additional adjoining blocks of land and built a house on one of these, enabling the original dwelling to be used as office and spare parts storage. While living under the same roof as the workshop, Joan Elaine was born on February 2nd 1944 and Lynette Norma on 16th August 1946. All four children were born at the Cleve hospital.

Volunteer Defence Corps

In 1939, while still at Mangalo, Harrold joined the Cowell-Coolanie Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) and transferred to the Cleve unit once living at Rudall. There were regular weekend training sessions until the end of the war in 1945, and Harrold reached the rank of Corporal. Young son Alan, at probably only 4 years age remembers clearly the Lewis machine gun his father brought home from training to practice disassembly, cleaning and reassembly, so he could demonstrate proficiency at the following weeks training.

Garage and Engineering Business

Harrold was the local dealer for the ‘Waymouth Group’ as agent for Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge cars and trucks, Standard Vanguard cars, Field Marshall and Ferguson tractors. His first new car was a 1948 Hillman Minx, followed by several Vanguards. He never had any problem selling one of his cars when updating to the later model, as locals knew they had always been well maintained. In Post-War times new cars were still in short supply and he’d sold the family Vanguard car, on the understanding that the new Vanguard would arrive by ship from Britain ‘very soon’. However, they had to borrow a 1928 Falcon-Knight car from a farmer friend for 2-3 months until the new car did eventually arrive. The children probably still have memories of travelling in this old car with its canvas roof and celluloid ‘windows’ during winter conditions that year. Definitely not water tight or heated.

Engineer

His engineering knowledge was self taught, and while still on the farm did all their own mechanical repairs and maintenance, as well as repairs for neighbours and friends. For his whole working life he had the reputation that if a machinery part was broken and a new one not readily available, he could repair it and get the machine working again. While on the farm he built his first metal lathe with a 300mm swing and 760mm between centres from farm scrap materials. Some time after establishing at Rudall he sold this and purchased a new one. While on the farm he built his first oxy/acetylene welding set, manufacturing the acetylene himself for a couple years until the gas generator exploded, and with ‘discretion being the better part of valour’, he purchased a second hand gas welding unit which was only replaced after sometime at Rudall. While on the farm he designed and built extension steering and controls using ropes and pulleys for their Caterpillar RD4 tractor. This enabled him to drive and control the tractor remotely from the front harvester, while towing a second harvester behind this one, on which his father was operating the controls on that machine. They used two machines behind this tractor whether plowing, seeding or reaping, but it was only for reaping that a man was required to operate each harvester. He also built extension controls for a number of other farmers tractors. (Hydraulic controls only came much later). He conducted a successful Garage and Engineering business at Rudall for 31 years. In 1956, son Alan joined him as apprentice, and in 1963 they went into partnership as HJ&AR Zwar. The partnership was suspended in 1968 when Alan left to work in Papua New Guinea, and dissolved in 1970 as Alan intended continuing to work in PNG. As a point of interest, the hourly rate for mechanical repairs when he started in business in 1943 was 4/6d (four shillings and sixpence) or 45 cents.

Blacksmith

Harrold had taught himself blacksmithing skills so was able to reshape worn tools, and harden and temper the tips. At one time when business was seasonally slow, he made up a steel cutting guillotine from scrap metal, using cutting blades made from broken truck leaf springs tempered in the forge. Over the next two years he made a further 15 during quiet times, and all readily sold.

Community

Harrold was an Elder at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Yadnarie, a country church 14 km from Rudall. He was a member of the Rudall Hall management committee for most of the time they lived at Rudall. Concerned about the lack of fire protection in the district, he called a public meeting and the Rudall and District Emergency Fire Service (now known as ‘Country Fire Service’) was formed in 1959. He was elected foundation President and Chief Fire Officer. From humble beginnings, relying on public donations for funding, and using any available truck to slide an empty tank and pump unit onto and fill with water from the mains before the volunteers could attend the fire, they progressed to second hand ex-military 4WD trucks. The Zwar family built up efficient fire fighting units on two of these trucks. Harrold and Linda were always ready to offer their services for community working bees and functions, qualities which were passed on to their children.

Retirement

In April 1974 (at 65 years age), they sold the Rudall business and home properties, and purchased their ‘retirement’ home in Sauvignon Street, Nuriootpa. They joined St. Petri Lutheran Church and Nuriootpa Senior Citizens Club. He worked part time in a Garage at the end of the street for some 18 months, but then in 1976 became handyman for the Barossa Valley Domiciliary Care Service for some 7 years, driving as far as Swan Reach and Riverton. From August 1975 he was also a volunteer Meals on Wheels deliverer for 17 years. Then in August 1982 they purchased a newer, smaller house with less land and garden on Elizabeth Avenue, Nuriootpa, and sold the other one. Until they went to Darwin for daughter Lynette’s wedding in 1970, Harrold had never been outside South Australia, except for a brief few hours spent over the border at Mildura in Victoria some years earlier. Then in 1974 they both flew to PNG for son Alan’s wedding and to Tasmania in 1980 with a tour group. When Linda died in December 1992, Harrold moved to the Nuriootpa Senior Citizen’s Village some months later. Here he put his handyman skills to good use again repairing wheel chairs and many similar tasks. Eventually, daughter Joan and her family took him into their home at Karoonda in 1994, where he lived until moving to the Nursing Home section of the Karoonda Hospital until he passed away on 19th July, 2000.