ADDIS Garth Jo nee Jennings
ADDIS Garth Jo nee Jennings. ADDIS Garth Jo nee Jennings. ADDIS Garth Jo nee Jennings. ADDIS Garth Jo nee Jennings. ADDIS Garth Jo nee Jennings. ADDIS Garth Jo nee Jennings.
1934 – Current
Written by Jo Addis
Garth’s 70th Birthday 2002, with Kathryn, Jo, Garth, Alison, Roy Addis
Garth’s parents moved from East Pingrup (off Featherstone Road) to Nyabing (“Glendargh” 4 ½ miles on the Katanning Road) in 1933. Alwyn Garth was born in 1934 (known as Garth) and he never left Nyabing. Garth attended the Nyabing Primary School in 1941, and he left when he was around age 13 or 14. He always spoke about coming home from school and setting his rabbit traps, and on the way to school, they would check the traps, clean them and sell them to Mrs Atkinson (for about £/-/3). In those days the Rabbit Proof Fence crossed the road (where the rubbish tip is now), and they had to stop to open and shut the gate.
Garth at Ross Mills Wedding – 1988
After leaving school, he worked on the farm with his father, as well as his brothers, Trevor & Barrie after they finished school. Garth purchased a New Land Block, bordered by South Moornaming and Haywood Road, about 22km’s from Nyabing. This would have been on the 1 October 1952, as the balance was due on January 1953. It was called a Conditional Purchase agreement at 9 shillings an acre, for a total of 1859 acres. The first five years was to be a half yearly payment of £1/7/0, and the following 20 year term, to have payment of £20/18/4 every half year.
All of this land was native bush and so needed to be cleared. The first thing that had to occur was to log it. I assume that this would have been done with two tractors hauling a large log or anchor chain between them. As part of the CP Agreement, shelter belts of native bush had to be left standing. After logging, it was time to be burnt with help from neighbouring farmers and their fire units. After burning, it was stick picking time again if they hadn’t burnt. After the stick picking, you would go over it with a plough, chained and raked, and then the stumps were picked. Stump picking went on for many years; we always seemed to be picking them!! It’s amazing to think that nowadays we are chasing wood for our pot belly’s, and back then, the amount of wood that was just burnt to get rid of it is incredible.
On the 5 January 1954, Garth joined up for National Service, as part of the Government initiated National Services Act of 1951, and completed his full Military training on the 12 April 1954. Garth was very proud of the fact that he was a part of the “Queens Intake” which entailed them to form a guard of Honour for the Queen when she visited Perth in 1954. While Garth was in service, Garth’s father -Arthur, brothers Trevor & Barrie were running the farm.
WA Centenary Jo, Kathryn & Alison Addis – 1979
The Addis farming partnership of brothers and Father continued this way until 1969, when Garth’s father Arthur passed away. After this, Barrie worked his own farm, and Trevor and Garth formed a partnership, and they continued on this way accumulating more land. Trevor resided on the home farm of Glendargh (with his mother) and Garth and his new wife Jo, lived in a caravan on the land they called “Oliver’s” (eventually to become part of their own property). After a month of living like this, we moved into the original farm house with Mrs Addis until our home was built in 1970.
After several years with Trevor living with Mrs Addis, she retired into Katanning, Trevor married Elsie, and they continued to live on the farm, until it was sold.
I (Joy Jennings – known as Jo as I prefer) left South Australia in 1966 to visit my Aunty Joyce & Uncle Jack Smart, who had a new land block at East Pingrup. It was while I was working as a Jillaroo for Stan and Barbara Featherstone, that I met Garth at a dance in Pingrup (March 1967). We married in March 1969 in South Australia.
We put a house on the Haywood Road Block, and it was supposed to be finished by the time we were married, but due to Garth’s Dad passing (six weeks after our marriage) the building of the house was halted until the probate was sorted out. This is why we ended up back living in the original homestead with Mrs Addis. While living with Mrs Addis, our eldest son Roy was born (August 1970) and we moved into our own home three weeks after.
Coming from South Australia, the culture shock of being a new bride, in a new land farm, with nil conveniences was huge. We had no power, no telephone, a kerosene fridge, an Everhot Slow combustion wood stove, Mrs Potts Iron to do the Ironing, an old Copper to do the washing in. For lighting we had Kerosene lamps, and candles were our backup for fourteen months. When Roy was 14 months old, we got a 32v Lighting plant – what a blessing!! To socialise, I joined CWA, St John Ambulance, Community Church Committee and the Girl Guides, and am still a member of all of these today.
I remember one night when we had Don and Jan Batt coming over for dinner, and we had run out of Kerosene. So we had the candles lined up down the centre of the table. The kids thought it was a real joke as they kept blowing out the candles, thinking it was a birthday party. And Jan was trying to explain to them that this was the only lighting we had at the time!
Farming in Nyabing during the mid 1990’s
One of my memories from the 1960s and 1970’s was the Entertainment at the Town Hall. Roadshows included Slim Dusty & wife Joy, Rick & Thel Kerry, Bryan Letton (came in the 1980-1990’s), and the hypnotist Rocky Martin came once as well. The hall was packed that night! We hadn’t been married that long and I had decided that I was going to volunteer to be hypnotised. Well, Garth was so embarrassed, but luckily it didn’t work! I was the only one he couldn’t hypnotised! It was such a funny night!!
After Roy, Kathryn arrived in the February of 1972, on a beautiful day…. 40 degrees in the old ute, and she was nearly delivered near the Katanning Rubbish tip!! Alison was born in April 1974. It was while the kids were very young that I used to take them all out while I went stump picking. We loaded up the truck, kids in bassinets or toddling around, and did this for many trips over many years. And when the kids were old enough, they too helped pick, and boy did they hate it!!
The kids all attended the Nyabing Primary School. While at the school, they partook in every aspect of school life – camps, sports days, and excursions. In those days the school had Sports Factions (when the school had around 90 children attending), and our kids were in the Red Faction, they loved it! Competition was fierce but friendly, especially amongst the Herseys’, Ogles’, Darwoods’, Hobleys’, Jurys’ and others that I have probably forgotten.
During these School years, we only went on holidays back to South Australia every four or five years. This was unheard of for many locals, as they holidayed every year, but to us, it was what we did. We crossed the Nullarbor in the station wagon, three kids across the back seat, no seat belts, and in the heat of January school holidays.
Jo Addis with OAM in 2005
Garth and I were committed community workers. Garth was President of the P&C for three years, while I was always Parent Helper, Sports Helper- Trainer, and then followed up after school activities with Girl Guides leader (1969-86), Brownie Guides Leader (1980-2002), Junior Red Cross (1989-2004), and currently Youth Group. I was also a community member of the School Council for ten years, and am still involved with the school P&C and helping where needed. I received an Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education at the Nyabing Primary School, and in June 2005 received the Order of Australia Medal for the Service to the Community through a range of social support and youth organisations.
When Roy came home from High School, we started a Black Suffolk Stud, which over the years we gradually built up, and then moved into White Suffolks as well. It was quite successful until it was sold with the farm in the August of 2009.
Roy in 1986 Nyabing Show – Grand Champion Sash
Champion Strong Wool Fleece
Nyabing-Pingrup Show 1974
From Cathy Crosby’s Eulogy:
“During Garth’s time on the Shire Council, he was President for seven years in all, and he served on every committee that Council has. All together he was a Councillor from 1976 to 2005, he then had a break, and returned in 2007 till the present day. He always made sure he attended meetings unless it was impossible for him to do so. He was involved with getting the water pipeline to Nyabing/Pingrup, and that line celebrated its twenty years in 2010. He was quietly involved with the completion of bitumising of the Kwobrup Road, and the now erected Locality Signs situated around our Shire. He was also involved in getting plaques for all the old school sites within the Shire.”
Garth was a Justice of the Peace from 1994 to 2011 when he passed away, Received a Certificate of Appreciation for “Council of the Shire of Kent 1976-1993” presented by the Minister for Local government. He also received a Meritorious Service Award in 1998 & Distinguished Service Award – presented by Country Shire Council Association of WA and WALGA respectively.
Both Garth and I are keenly interested in the preservation of our history, and both joined the Nyabing Historical Society Inc. when it was commenced in June 2009. Garth was a member of the Nyabing-Pingrup Agricultural Show Committee for many years, and also as an exhibitor. I joined the committee when we married, and also exhibited in the show. When our children were old enough, they also carried on the family tradition of exhibiting right up until the show closed. Garth was also active with the Rabbit Proof Fence Committee as the Shire Representative, and loved being able to share his knowledge of the district with people. This was often at his favourite pastime of Bowls, usually with a Diet Coke at hand, whilst serving the bowlers as Bar Manager for eight years. I played hockey for about eight years, and thoroughly enjoyed watching the girls play many games over the years.
Roy married Melinda Rob in 1990, Joshua arrived in 1990, Kyla in 1992, and Brenton in 1995. They all attended the Nyabing Primary School, and they relocated to Perth when the farm was sold.
Kathryn was awarded the CWA State prize for cookery in 1986. She married Ross Williamson in 2000 and they have three children; Hayley (born 1996), Adam (born in 1998), Monique (1999). They now reside in Albany
Alison resides in Nyabing, and is working in Katanning at Bethshan Aged Care Residence. Even though Garth passed away on the 4 February 2011, I love living in Nyabing, and am still as busy as ever!
Kathryn, Alison, Roy, Jo & Garth Addis in 1993
G & J Addis Grandkids – Back – Kyla & Joshua Addis, Front – Hayley, Monique & Adam Williamson, Brenton Addis – 2004
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