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VAREY Dorothy (nee Head)

Written by Dorothy

“I was born Dorothy Grocock on the 28th December 1922 at the first Gnowangerup hospital on the corner of McDonald and Allardyce Streets, to Margaret and Thomas Grocock.
When not quite 2 years old my mother drowned in a dam while trying to fetch a bucket of water, leaving my brother Rueben, 4 years of age and my brother Bill, 6 months of age. I am told my father was beside himself with grief and took off to the Eastern states, taking Rueben with him and leaving Bill and myself behind. 
A very dear lady, in Mrs. Johnstone took Bill to live with her in Albany. Mary-Jane and Thomas Head took me in and adopted me. I had wonderful parents and two ready made loving sisters in Vera Head (Carroll) and Connie Head (McDonald). 
I was bought up in "Heads Hostel" opposite the Gnowangerup School, now owned by the Grace family. 
Dad Head had built this Hostel until he was called up for service in the 1914-1918 war, he finished the task upon his return home. some of the people I remember using "Heads” were Charlie Godbey, Jimmy Laurenson and Billy Bruce. They stayed and were looked after by Mum Head for nothing. they always had food in front of them and for anyone who was in need. 
 

DOROTHY VAREY #1

JENNA HOUSE #2

Mum Head was sometimes able to be paid, the going rate was three schillings per head for a three course hot meal. I learned to swim in the Tambellup river when I was six years old. My teacher being Tom Graham whom was the ANZ teller stopping at the Hostel.
I didn't meet my brother Bill until I was six, or my brother Rueben until I was seventeen. 
At school I remember our sewing teacher, Miss Shannahan, related to the Richardson's. Also Mr. Bob Alderman, the Head Master. the Alderman's had a son Bill, a son Frank and a daughter Mary. 
Head's Hostel was always full of teachers, banking staff and other workers. I still keep in touch with some of them.
 

As a small child, I have vivid memories of going to the “Masonic Hall” every Christmas for the arrival of Father Christmas and presents. Dad Head was a Masonic Member and very proud of it.
My father, Thomas Grocock worked with his brother Jim Grocock, so I am told, who owned the butchers shop where the present shop is situated and currently owned by Copeland's.
Uncle Jim had three sons, James, Felix and Horace, my only relations. I had no Grandmother or Grandfather, a thing I missed.
During my school years, I used to go to the Gnowangerup pool,Swimming with Shelia and Edna Fennell. I had my fourteenth birthday party at “Springvale” those girls in attendance were Jean Johnston, Beryl Adshead, June and Blanche Lower, Gussie Walker, Mona Waterson, Shelia and Edna Fennell, Freda Bearman, Aileen McLean, Cicely Parker, Pat McKnight, Bernice Black, Pat Spence and Doris Hyman.
When Mum Head leased the boarding house for a while, we went to Perth and lived in Rockeby Road, Subiaco.
Vera worked at “Boans”. Connie was a top hockey player and played for Perth “A” Grade. I was allowed to go down to the “Esplanade and watch her play. I think this was the start of my love for Hockey. I went to Thomas Street School while there.
After leaving school I lived at “Springvale” with Connie and her husband Vin McDonald for one year. I went to work at the Gnowangerup Post Office as a telephonist.
ostmasters I remember include Mr. Gillies and Mr. Davies. 
I have many happy memories from there and of the people who used the phone. I applied to join the army but was knocked back and sent to Perth GPO as a telephonist. I stayed there until 1944 and then returned home to Head's Hostel.
 

Amongst the people staying at the Hostel was Bill Varey, an Englishman from Carlisle, who was working on the wheat bins. Coming home late one Friday night he wanted his tea, so I roused around and got him some savaloys and mashed potato, from then on we were an "item". Bill said one night "When will you marry me?” I replied, “On my birthday.” Bill then said, “When's that?, “The 28th December.” We were married on the 16th January 1945 in Katanning.
Bill came out to Australia by boat. He left England 16th November 1926 and arrived in Fremantle 30th December 1926. The boat was called the Ormuz, it was an old German war ship, captured in the First World War and turned into a passenger boat. The fare was 27 Pounds, he received 13 Pounds back from Western Australian Government after he found work.

DOROTHY & BILL VAREY #3

Bill used to go to different bins receiving wheat, some Toompup, Borden, Ongerup and Gnowangerup then he went on to Dumbleyung, Moulyining and Kulin, on the later trips. I went with him Living in tents, shacks and at the Dumbleyung shop. I had to hang sheets to cover the shop window. When we were at Kulin I found I was pregnant. I had to go to Kondinin to have Margaret, as there was no hospital at Kulin. Bills and my mother's name being Margaret there was really not much choice in deciding what to call our beautiful baby, born on the 8th July 1946 “Margaret Dorothy” all 10lb 2oz of her.
We came back to Head's Hostel when Margaret was four weeks old. In October that year we purchased our little cottage in McDonald Street, borrowing 120 pounds from Mum Head. I fell pregnant again in 1953 and sadly “Frances Patricia” was still born, on the 9th July 1954. Great joy was to come in 1957 when “Patricia Anne” was born on the 25th February at the Gnowangerup Hospital, weighing 4lb 31/2 oz.
 I started catering for weddings and parties etc and then opened up the “Boomerang" snack bar where Sumich's corner store is now.Patricia was only little and I had a devil of a time in getting her to eat so a real friend in Barbara Power, the stationmaster's wife, came and coaxed Pat into eating every day. In the end I had to close the Snack Bar.

GNOWANGERUP DRIVE-IN #4

A few years later I went and worked at the Gnowangerup “Drive-In" with Henry Frantom, a job I loved as you met so many people. I stayed there until it closed, June 1969.
Bill left the CBH in 1960 having worked for them for 27 years. He then obtained the caretaker cleaners job at the Gnowangerup School and worked there until 1968. 
I loved playing hockey, I played my last game when I was 52.
Margaret as a young girl was always playing some sort of sport, whether it be hockey in the next door yard on a field scratched out with a pick by Bill, banging a tennis ball against the weatherboard shed or in the back lane with a cut down tennis racquet, Bill had made. Pat on the other hand wasn't interested in getting her shins bashed or chasing the tennis ball down the lane. She loved netball, so a hoop went up on the front of the garage for her. Both girls had plenty of practice on this when basketball became in vogue. 

We had many happy and sad times at 43 McDonald Street affectionately known as “Vareyville” to our family. Bill had a wonderful garden and orchard, he worked day and night to keep it maintained.
Margaret married Ernest John Gollan in 1965. They had three sons: Stephen Paul Born 19th January 1967, Phillip Andrew born 12th February 1969 and Anthony Lee born 23 December 1971.
I won the last small Lotteries draw on the 14th December 1973 Draw No.405 ticket No. 96367 winning $16,000.00. This really put Bill and I on our feet.

Patricia married John Young in 1975. They have two sons and a daughter: Christopher John born 18th October 1975, Brett William born 3rd August 1978 and Zoe Louise born 13th April 1988.Pat and John divorced in 1993.
Bill and I had a wonderful life together, a lot of sickness in our later days, but with the help of our family and friends, managed to get through to 1997 when Bill, suffering the effects of a bad fall and dementia passed away in Katanning Hospital on the 22nd July aged 94.
I managed to stay in our wonderful little cottgae "Vareyville” until 1999 when I shifted into the aged home units in Denny street.

VAREY PARK IN YOUGENUP ROAD #5

My first Great Grandson Daniel was born on the 5th October 1997, Bill would have loved and teased Daniel so much. Stephen and Samantha then had Luke on the 27th March 2000 and Liam 27th September 2002. Anthony and Natasha then presented me with delightful twin Great Grand Daughters on the ist December 2002. 
I love these Great Grandchildren with all My Heart. With the help of my treasured family and friends I have managed to stay independent.

 
Dorothy was born on 28th December 1922 and sadly passed away on 16th March 2010

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References: Article: Dorothy Varey

Image: 1, 3 Dorothy Varey
2, 4, 5 Internet