It was while on a visit to Jerramungup and only by coincidence that Charlie had stopped to bid farewell to the Hassell boys that he was asked to assist a family seeking directions to Bremer Bay that he met Doris Barnes, his bride to be.
After Bill married, the partnership started to deteriorate and finally ended. Bill stayed on at Bremer and Charlie moved to Marningarup. The depression years meant that Marningarup had to be self sufficient, and Charlie was able to put his skills as a gardener and orchardist to good use.
The depression worsened, the children were of an age that education was a priority, so in 1942, the very difficult decision was made to leave Marningarup. Essential things like beds, clothing and cooking utensils were loaded onto the rubber tyred buggy, the truck had broken down and had been left in Ongerup. The sheep were rounded up and the family headed for Ongerup, fifty miles away (80 kms).
Upon arriving, the family occupied a deserted farm next door to North and Eileen Garnett, Doris' sister and brother-in-law. Only days later, Charlie accompanied by his son John, returned to Marningarup. They rounded up some of the cattle and drove them to Ongerup. Before riding away for the last time, they opened all the gates, leaving behind the horses, pigs, chooks, joeys, garden and most heartbreaking of all, their home.
Charlie took the train from Ongerup to Perth to find work. He found work alright, for a few days later he returned wearing the uniform of a 10th Light Horse Trooper.
He had joined the army, and was destined to stay in this service from May 21st, 1942, until September 4th, 1951.
Some months after Charlie enlisted, he contracted hepatitis and was confined to hospital in Perth. This isolated him from his family. As his hospitals was going to be a long one the army saw fit to have him transferred to the family in Katanning and Charlie arranged to rent a house in Katanning for his family and they moved into the Cove Street house where they lived for five years. In January 1947 they moved into a brand new State Housing Commission home in Harris Street.
After Charlie's discharge from the army in September 1951 he worked on various farms around the Katanning area. He then worked doing odd jobs until his retirement.
Carrying on the family tradition, Charlie always had a large vegetable garden, and not to be outdone, Doris had a beautiful flower garden. Doris and Charlie kept poultry and through their efforts all their Katanning relatives were kept in fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs.
Charlie and Doris both died in Perth in 1984 and 1990 respectively. Both were cremated and their ashes were scattered on Tooleburrup Hill, near the old home, Mt. Joy, Bremer Bay.
There is a headstone erected to their memory in the Bremer Bay Cemetery.
