Family Histories

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STEWART Thomas "Tommy" Duncan

Thomas ‘Tommy’ Duncan Stewart Junior was born in Leith, Scotland in 1893 son of Thomas and Christina nee Robertson. His father Thomas senior was an accountant for the Scottish Government Railway in Leith. Tommy had two brothers – Samuel ‘Sam’ and John and two sisters Helen ‘Ella’ and Margaret ‘Maggie’.
Tommy had studied as a Motor Draughtsman at the Leith Academy, but decided to follow his older brother Sam to Western Australia and arrived in January 1911 aged 17 via the steamship Otranto. He travelled immediately to the Gnowangerup District where his brother Sam had been working for a few months.
Tom’s parents Thomas Snr and Christina arrived from Scotland in October 1911 with their two daughters Margaret ‘Maggie’ and Helen ‘Ella’. Thomas and Christina bought a house in Denny Street close to Sam and Dorothy’s home and resided in this house for the rest of their lives.

THOMAS "Tommy" DUNCAN STEWART              #1
 

Initially Tommy worked for Tom Farr cutting sandalwood at Chirellilup and surrounding areas. He also cut white gum trees for railway sleepers and collected mallet bark which was mostly exported and used by tanneries in Germany.
Tommy later worked as a ‘lumper’ lifting and stacking wheat bags at the Gnowangerup railway yards. He and his brother Sam had purchased land at Kwobrup. This consisted of just over 1073 acres in 6 different locations some of which were adjacent.
The property was not worked intensively for some time whilst Sam and Tommy built up funds through other employment. They later named the property ‘Clontarf’.
Tommy enlisted in WWI in June 1916 aged 22, and served as a signaller in the 43rd Battalion – 11th Brigade.
George Pinney and Bill McDonald were also in the 43rd Bn. Tommy arrived in France in June 1917, and was involved in heavy fighting north of the river Douvre the following month. He served as a Morse Code operator in Pres and Passchendale. In October 1917 they were involved in a battle near Ypres, and he was wounded slightly at the battle near Mericourt on March 27, 1918.
His battalion moved around a great deal and was present in areas at times of significant battles.
After the war Tommy returned to Gnowangerup, disembarking at Albany in April 1919. He resumed farming at Kwobrup with his brother Sam. His other brother John had also purchased a farm in the area.
Sam and Tommy cleared some of the land and planted crops. They kept cows, sheep and Berkshire pigs. Tommy became the secretary for the Gnowangerup and Districts Soldiers Aid Society (now the RSL) and worked towards raising funds for the Gnowangerup Memorial Hall and establishing the Roll of Honour.

 

    THOMAS "TOMMY" DUCAN STEWART & LILIAN ALICE SCLATER ON THEIR WEDDING DAY         #2

 

Tommy married Lillian Alice Sclater on February 25, 1922. Lillian’s parents had moved to the town site of Gnowangerup by this time, and they were married in the garden at her parent’s home in Denny Street. Lillian had followed her family to Western Australia, arriving at Fremantle on September 2, 1920 aboard the ship Orsova. Lillian had served in the Land Army in Devon and Somerset (England) during the war years.
In 1926 Tommy and Sam sold their block at Kwobrup. In July 1926 Tommy bought a Kojonup Location 7359 at the Pallinup Soldier settlement from Albert Rodda which consisted of 743 acres. He named the property ‘Glenalmond’. Although some clearing had been completed, little work had been undertaken on fencing or dam construction.

A typical settlers weatherboard house had already been built on the property by Arthur Thorpe, carpenter by trade and one of the soldier settlers.
Tommy undertook the correspondence on behalf of the settlers and was also in charge of the roster required for the shearing shed and dip at the main homestead. He was an active member of the local RSL.
Tommy and Lillian had five children - Mona, Charlie, Donald, and Barrie. Their son, Peter, died soon after birth in 1926.
In the pioneering years Tommy was closely involved in the Pallinup State School. He served as Parents and Citizens President and was a foundation member of the District Interschool Sports competition along with Dick Chambers and Claude Cockram.

     TOMMY STEWART WITH CHILDREN          #3
 

   TOMMY STEWART WITH CHILDREN          #4
 

        TOMMY STEWART WITH CHILDREN       #5
 

In 1939 his mother Christina died in October and his father Thomas passed away 12 months later in October 1940.
During World War II Tommy was one of the first to join the local Volunteer Defence Corps (the V.D.C.). His eldest son Charlie served in the Army.
During the 1950’s Tommy gradually handed over the farm to his second son, Donald. Following two hip replacements, Tommy retired from the farm around 1960. He continued to live in the original house at Glenalmond, travelling into Gnowangerup almost every day in his pale yellow FC Holden ute.
He was a well known patron at the Gnowangerup Bowling Club and hotel.
Tommy enjoyed catching up with his RSL friends, especially Taffy and George Pinney. When questioned why he stayed late at the bowling club or pub every day was “It’s dangerous to drive into the sun so I have to wait until it goes down....”

      TOMMY STEWART & "TAFFY" AT GNOWANGERUP HOTEL         #6
 

LILL!AN & TOMMY STEWART             #7
 

All of Tommy and Lillian’s children were involved in farming, and many of their descendents still live in the Gnowangerup District.
Tommy had a great sense of humour and was very quick-witted. He was a devoted and much loved family member and made a significant contribution to the local community. He will be remembered as one of the pioneers and great personalities in the early days of the Gnowangerup District.
Lillian died on May 7, 1969, and Tommy passed away almost one year later on April 22, 1970, and is buried in the Gnowangerup Cemetery.

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

 

References:                 Article:      Research by Merilyn Stewart

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Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2024