Gnowangerup History

Family Histories

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BLACK Ethel Mary.

Written by Bernice Black

‘Nan Black’ Ethel Mary Black
Ethel Mary Black nèe Porteous married Thomas John Farr.
Ethel and Thomas 
They had three daughters -
Gwendoline Ethel Farr, 
Ellen Hannah Mary Farr,
Esther May (Maisie) Farr.
(Admin: Ethel later married John Black and they had a daughter - Bernice Black)

"Because she was full of loving kindness, and willing to lend a helping hand, she was “Nan Black“ to so many.Her house was always a ‘drop in center’ to people from the outlying districts, it made her place special to visit for a cuppa or a meal.
Her friendship once given was for always.
War service people from the Pallinup estate, especially, as some had served with Charles Black in World War I.
(Nan Black)..Served on the Hospital board for many years with Jim Dyson, N.P.Davies, Jack McDonald, Jim Grocock, and Ethel Venning.

PORTEOUS STITERS #1
ADA PORTEOUS Standing Married Malcolm Woodward
ETHEL PORTEOUS Sitting Married Thomas Farr

Kept a cow on the Commonedge (back of Sam Stewart’s) where people kept their cows locked in for the day.
I remember one cow called Myrtle. I had to take her to this paddock, through the streets, then cross the railway line to school after school I would have to round her up and walk her home.
She was kept locked in a little yard near the milking shed at night.

CHARLIE BLACK WITH HIS DAUGHTER BERNICE
AT HER WEDDING #2

The milk was scolded, (later a separator was bought), the cream was skimmed off the milk when cold, and used as clotted cream for scones and jam or whipped for cake cakes – or made into butter.
The Porteous family came from South Australia in (?) by boat.
Grandma and Grandpa Porteous rode on the wagon – the family walked behind leading the livestock from Albany to Gnowangerup.
Thomas Farr was accidentally killed in 1914(?)He was a surveyor on the railway line.
She left her children with her mother, Ellen Porteous, and sister Ada for periods of time, and until she earned enough to buy boarding house in Gnowangerup….(no widows pension in those days) she was an excellent cook, and could always find employment.
She always said it was so hard when she had to leave her girls, and made sure that they would all have a good education so they didn’t have to work as hard as she had because cooking was the only trade she was able to earn money because of limited education.
She would’ve liked to have become a nurse – Gwen and Maisie became nurses – she was so proud for them.
The boarding house was the house that was burnt down.

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References: Article: Written 2009 by Bernice Black

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