Frank Wallis Gill
Frank Gill moved to Woodanilling from Northampton after marrying Woodanilling born Martha Bell. He started farming with his brothers-in-law but later became an agent for Westralian Farmers in town. He was the inaugural manager of the Woodanilling Co-op, a position he held for over thirty years until retirement bought about by ill health.
Great Southern Herald
4 December, 1943
Although it was known that he was mortally ill at St. John of God’s Hospital, Perth, the news that Mr Frank Gill had succumbed to his illness on Thursday ,November 25, came as a shock to his many friends in the Woodanilling and surrounding districts.
Coming originally from England, Mr Gill followed farming pursuits with his brother at Northampton. While there he married Miss Martha Bell, of Woodanilling, who was postmistress at Northampton. About 30 years ago, he and his wife returned to Woodanilling to join his brothers-in-law in their farming activities at Marracoonda.
Shortly after, however, he established himself in the Woodanilling township as an agent for Westralian Farmers and in the wheat business. The next step was the formation of the Woodanilling Co-Operative Co., in which he was deeply interested, and of which he was the first and only manager until his retirement through ill-health last year. The success of this venture must be ascribed to Mr Gill’s business ability and kindly temperament.
His wife pre-deceased him by some four years, and he leaves a daughter, Mrs Dawson Longmire, and a son, Frank (POW in Sumatra) to mourn his loss. He was 63 years of age.
The burial took place in the Anglican portion of the Katanning Cemetery on Saturday, 27 November, 1943, the Rev. T. R. Pelham-Thorman officiating. Funeral arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. C. E. Courtis and Co., Katanning.
Chief mourners present were: Mrs. Dawson Longmire (daughter); Mr. W. I. Gill (brother); Mrs. Frank Gill (daughter-in-law); Mrs. W. L. Gill (sister-in-law); Mr. Dawson Longmire (son-in-law); Messrs. Luke and Robert Bell (brothers-in-law), and nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were Messrs. W. L. Bailey, H. Mouritz, D. A. Paddick, A. G. Bunes, A. Radford and J. W. Old.
Among those present at the graveside were Messrs. H. C. Ainsworth (representing Wagin Co-Op.); Jack Armstrong; R. S. Bell; L. S. Bell; O. B. Beeck (rep. Marracoonda Baptist Church); P. L. Bolto (representing Filmer & Forbes Ltd.); H. Bradbury; A. Brackie; E. Beeck, Kelvin Beeck, Lea Beeck, E. L. Bell, J. E. Coate, P. H. Crossley; F. Carter, (representing Woodanilling Co-Op. and Road Board); J. B. Cornelius: M. H. Douglas; J. Dinwoodie; J. Dvoretsky (rep. Westralian Farmers Ltd.); S. Hedges Dale;
R Dinwoodie; Geo Douglas; S. R. Evans; J. H. Fidock (Albany); R. K Gordon (rep. Westralian Farmers Ltd.); C. R. Garstone (rep. Katanning Agricultural Society); L. G. & G. V. Greay; W. G. Greay; W. Haddleton; Keith Harris; A. G. Hobbs; J. F. Haddleton; Herbert Hood; G. L. J Jefferies; M. R. Kealley; H. J. W. Mouritz (rep. Gare & Mouritz); S. F. Meharry; B. G, Marots; G. T. Mader; N. R. McDonald (rep. Commercial Bank); J. W. Old (rep. R.S. League); F. A Pfeiffer; W. Patterson (rep. Woodanilling Co-Op.); R. T. Patterson;
Don & Mort Quartermaine; A. Rickard (rep. Katanning Trotting Club); G. T, Timms (rep. Pool Petroleum Pty. Ltd.); O. A. Terlick; W. Williams; C. Worsley; O. Ward; I. Wilhelm; Lieut. E. N. Walker; D. Wilson; H. E. Wise; R. E. Wilhelm; Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox; Mrs. I. Wilhelm; Mrs. M. J. Sugg; Norma & Jack Sugg; Mr. and Mrs. Ramm; Mrs. M. Quartermaine; Mrs. S. E. Patterson; Mrs. R. T. Patterson; Mrs. M. R. Kealley; Mrs. R. Dinwoodie; Mrs. H. Douglas; Mrs. A. Caldwell and Mrs Longmire; Mrs. E. L. Bell; Mrs. A. Brackie; Miss Bell; Mrs. H. Baxter; Mr. and Mrs. Heyton; and many others.
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Frank Wallis Gill
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