PAGE Fred 

Compiled by Gordon Freegard based on research by Merilyn Stewart

(Written in 2003 when Fred moved from Ongerup to Gnowangerup)

“Fred Turns A Page"

On the morning of Saturday, June 14, Mr. Fred Page's last links with Ongerup were severed when his house and all his belongings were sold by auction. A very good attendance from local and adjoining areas set the mood for brisk bidding and realistic prices. Fred, a man of many talents, presented a big array of useful and unusual items.
Over two hundred and twenty items were sold, including a caravan, which was where Fred and his wife, Rosalie, lived when they first came to Ongerup some fifty years ago. His trusty 1969 vintage Holden ute also went under the hammer, realizing twice as much as he had paid for it. Everything was sold, including a large stack of firewood, which was knocked down to a lucky bidder for $5.00—a real bargain in this day of wood shortages.

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Fred Page came to Ongerup as a builder and was kept busy with various jobs. There was nothing he could not fix, and he made an effort to understand exactly what was needed, particularly for the women, before beginning the work. He built a wood box for my kitchen cupboard, and although it took some time, it was beautiful when completed.
After the town lost its plumber and electrician, Fred was called upon to repair blown fuses or put new plugs on irons, handling those frustrating little issues that arise when men are too busy or unavailable. Fred first went to Borden and then came to Ongerup, doing a lot of work at Jerramungup while the Land Settlement Scheme was being established.
The Ongerup football and cricket ground lie adjacent to Fred's property, with the cricket pitch at his front gate. A plaque of remembrance was placed there during the Sesquicentenary Celebrations. He built a comfortable home for himself and his wife, where he always maintained a lovely garden, spending much of his time tending to it.
He stayed connected with the world through two-way radio, using Morse code and other receivers to communicate with people. Fred had a deep fondness for music, evident from his large collection of records, tapes, and CDs. He even bought a keyboard and taught himself to play.
In later years, Fred dedicated a lot of his time to picking up cans, bottles, and general litter around the townsite. After any function, he would head to the sports complex to sort out the cans, which he took home, flattened, and filled into wool bales for transport to Perth when the opportunity arose. The Ongerup School Parent's and Citizens' Association benefited from the sale of these cans, raising a significant amount of money due to his efforts. They expressed their gratitude in a small ceremony before he left town.
Several months ago, Fred decided to take up residence at the Gnowangerup Hospital, where he now has a very comfortable room in the "Mallee Springs" units. He is very happy there, keeping himself busy gardening and cleaning up. We wish him many happy years in his new environment. We miss him in Ongerup; our loss is the hospital's gain.
Fred passed away at the Mallee Springs Nursing Home in Gnowangerup in 2009 just a few months short of his 90th birthday.

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