THOMPSON Roy  NEW

Compiled by Gordon Freegard based on research by Merilyn Stewart

Roy Thompson's 80th birthday in 1986 had resulted in a fond reunion for many former residents of the Great Southern farming community of Ongerup.

Among the 300 people who helped Mr. Thompson celebrate were four of his five sons, 12 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

It was one of the happiest events held at Ongerup for many years, with guests from Perth, Albany, Mandurah, Donnybrook, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Ravensthorpe, Gnowangerup, and Ongerup.

Roy's eldest granddaughter, Lynette Mann, had travelled from Melbourne with her husband and sons, including two-week-old Michael.

Also among the guests was 86-year-old Doll Hounsham, of Albany. Formerly of Ongerup, Mrs. Hounsham remembered when Mr. Thompson had come to the town and said she had thought he was "a brash young man."

Mr. Thompson, a widower, had been born at Subiaco. Fifty-nine years prior, he had decided to visit his brother, Tom, who was working at Ongerup. Roy was so taken with the outdoor life of lumping bags of wheat and cutting fence posts that he decided to stay, returning only to resign from his city job.

 ROY THOMPSON, GRAND DAUGHTER YVETTE MANN
& HER TWO WEEK OLD SON, MICHAEL        #1
 

In his first year at Ongerup, in 1926, he lived and worked at Toby Carpenter's property. In 1928, he began work for Victor Moir, with whom he remained all his working life, except for 4½ years overseas, serving in the Middle East and New Guinea with the A.I.F. 2nd/16th Battalion.

Roy Thompson had earned the respect of all who employed him, with a reputation for being a thorough, reliable man who always did the job properly. Roy was no stranger to many different jobs, and one of his earliest was selling newspapers for the West Australian.

Always a contributor to the community, Mr. Thompson had helped prepare the first Ongerup golf course and was the inaugural secretary of the Ongerup Football Club.

He remembered that the first Ongerup football team had consisted of nine Aboriginals, with the balance made up of English soccer players. He also remembered the difficulty Andy O'Neill had in gathering the team after a match. Mr. O'Neill's truck was the source of transport for the footballers. It was not unusual to have 17 of the lads on board and, while Andy went to look for the missing one, half a dozen others would wander off.

In keeping with his sporting ties, a banner was erected for his birthday celebration. In Ongerup's sporting and school colours of royal blue and gold, the banner had proclaimed "Happy Birthday Pop."

Photo: Roy Thompson with his grand daughter Yvette Mann, and her two week-old son, Michael.

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.