SOLLY Sam (Hajridin)

Compiled by Gordon Freegard based on research by Merilyn Stewart

Thank you to Cheryl Berry for sharing the newspaper item celebrating the life of Sam Solly

Born in Albania, in 1921, when at the tender age of 14 he was put on a boat and sent out to join his brother on a farm at Quairading.
Unable to speak English, Sam found the going tough for a young lad but soon adapted to the then Australian way of life of hard work and sport. In his earlier days it was all hard work and not much play.
It was in 1947 when Sam joined Vic and Peggy Ireland at Borden. During the long journey down by train, Sam thought he would never reach his destination. By the time he reached Formby's siding, he decided he had enough of the endless miles into nowhere and told the driver of his intentions to return to Perth.
It may have taken 2 or 3 days to get from Quairading to Borden on the railways at that time depending on the schedules.
Sam did not know there was no return train for several days. It was this beginning with Vic and Peggy that proved to last a lifetime of friendship with the Ireland family.
Whilst at Borden, Sam joined the Golf Club and forged more bonds with the district and its people. However, work and children remained his passion.
He was a man of many talents, turning his hand at any trade. During the hard times, he worked as a bulldozer driver with "Speedy" Bennett sinking dams in the area. He also spent time at the Kwinana super works and at a cafe in Barrack Street, Perth.
One of his mainstays of work was a grader driver for the then Gnowangerup Roads Board. This was at the time when men would camp in the bush for two weeks at a time.

 SAM SOLLY (Harjridin)     #1
 

On his odd weekend off, he could be seen grading culverts for farmers and helping the elderly with their gardens.
Sam's prowess as a bowler soon became evident and he was a supporter of Country Week, where he held his own against the State's best.
As an adversary on the local rinks, Sam had few peers and contested many finals and championships. On retiring from the Shire, instead of taking life at a slower pace, Sam established the gardens at the Gnowangerup Kindergarten.
Many children, now grown up, would remember Sam as the man who always had the time for a laugh and the time to allay the fears of the young on their first days away from home.
Sam had the knack of enjoying life and living its moments and it is with regret that with the passing of a fine person, Australia lost a man who came, contributed and truly called Australia home.
During his life, Sam never returned to his native country. He was indeed a gentle person.”

After two years of hospitalisation, sadly Sam Solly, of Gnowangerup was interred at the local cemetery on Tuesday, February 2, 1993.

Lisa Hajridin: Uncle Sam’s name was Hussein Hajridin. I’m the daughter of his brother (Jack) Nevrus Hajridin.
 

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.