Russ Family, Russ Family. Russ Family. Russ Family.
A SETTLER’S REMINISCENCES
Great Southern Herald
22 December 1950 – P5
In November, the Katanning Historical Society held a picnic outing at Badgebup and during the evening a meeting was held in the Badgebup Hall. Three papers were read, one being presented by Mr. T. E. Russ, one of the early settlers. Mr. Russ retired last January, and he and his wife are residing at Albany after 41 years on a West Australian farm.
In presenting details of his early experiences, Mr. Russ said “at the age of 23, I decided to leave South Australia and try my luck in Western Australia. In January 1909 I came over on the P. & O. liner, “Mooltan” and, on arriving at Fremantle, I thence journeyed to my sister Mrs. Tom Antonio, at Ewlyamartup. Tom and Charlie Antonio had just bought Harris’ farm from Mr. E. L. Holly.
As Antonio Bros, required help, it was arranged that I work for them for twelve months, during which time 100 acres of wheat was sown on the half share system on the property of the late Arnold Piesse known as “Langaweira.” The season was a good one and we averaged six bags to the acre. As I sold the wheat for 4/6 a bushell I had rather good wages for my first year in Western Australia.
In February of the next year, I returned to South Australia and married Ida Parsons on March 1, 1910. We then returned to Western Australia, where I share farmed at Carrolup on Mr. Ted Holly’s farm, previously owned by Ran and Don McDonnell. The first year was very wet; rain every other day during the winter. The crop was bogged out and my cheque for the whole crop was £70. I also had a small wool cheque.
In those days, Mr. Dixon of Henry Wills and Co. used to travel around after shearing and buy nearly all the wool privately and the price was always from 10d to 1/- per lb (in the year 1914 my wool was sold for 7d. per lb. all round.) Although the winter was very wet the second year was better. We used to muster the sheep in the bush paddocks on horseback. The hack I rode I had brought over from South Australia with me, and she used to get very hostile in the bog, plunging and throwing the mud all over me from top to bottom. My wife rode a bush brumby which was more used to the bog.
After two years of share farming, I leased the property from Holly for £200 per year for 4 years, and considering the prices were very low did very well. When we first went to Carrolup it reminded me of my old school days in South Australia, as the Washington’s had settled at Carrolup many years before I came over. Bert, Arthur and Grace used to walk the 31 miles with me to school in Minlaton, South Australia. There were no school buses those days. While at Carrolup we made many friends, among them being the Longmire’s, Holdings, Trees and Henry and Jos Ladyman, who all lived within two miles of us.
When my lease expired, I bought a farm south of Badgebup, 25 miles from Katanning. I made many trips with the wagon and horses shifting the implements and furniture. On the farm was an iron house which required a great deal of work before it was fit to live in, as it had to be lined, new floors and a new fireplace built; but we made it into a comfortable house. There were about 250 acres cleared and also two sheds. As the only dam was dry, I had to cart water for the stock; however, arrangements were made for Mick Daly to put down a new dam for me at the time. The clearing of the land was heavy and expensive. 35/- per acre, but with the assistance of the Agricultural Bank I was able to clear some of the land every year. During the second year I purchased 65 sheep from Mr. Longmire for 13/6 per head.
As dingoes were worst about May every year, I always started yarding them from then on every night for several months. My loss through dingoes the first year was over 200 sheep. The biggest drawback was the long distance from Katanning, especially in case of sickness. I remember only too well one night when our eldest daughter was taken ill and I had to get the horses in from the paddock at 8 o’clock and drive in as far as Antonio’s, where I was able to telephone through to Katanning for a taxi to come out and take us the rest of the way.
However, as there was a store at Badgebup, we seldom went into Katanning. There were no means of educating the children, so after a few years of tuition by a governess, we had to board them in Katanning to finish their schooling. As motor cars become a little more plentiful, I bought a Chevrolet, from Mr. J. Wanke, who was the agent at the time. This purchase made farm life far more pleasant, as we could go to Katanning in the afternoon and still be home in time to attend to the animals that same night.
Soon motor trucks started to carry our produce and Mr. Jim Old carted my wheat, and was the first to cart wheat to Badgebup, where everyone agreed that it was an excellent time saver. A few years later, tractors came in and that seemed to take the worst part of the work out of the farm. I have always liked horses, but they do not compare with the tractor and truck of today.