Gnowangerup History

On the 13th April 1951 our first child Geoffrey Ronald was born. He developed a rash which we found out was Weeping Infantile Eczema. This was a trial for both him and us with trips to several different doctors for a cure. On several occasions we were asked to leave cafes because people were worried Geoffrey's rash might be contagious.
Eventually when he was about 18 months old it was suggested we try Dr Halleen in Kondinin. He gave him some calcium tablets to chew a prescription for an ointment which consisted of a different Items and Ideal milk to drink which was scarce to buy.
From that day on he never looked back and in 2 weeks time there wasn't a mark on his body.
In late 1961 we were in Perth with Geoffrey‘s eczema problems and staying with my sister and her husband Aubrey. Knowing that the delivery of our car was not too far away he suggested we put a For Sale sign on the Chev and park it on the front lawn. Aubrey suggested we ask 638 pounds ($1070) for it. Within 48 hours the car was sold.

How do we get home? I knew Spencer Stanes the Austin Agent was in Perth so I contacted him and he had several vehicles to take back to Gnowangerup. We went home in a brand new Hereford Austin utility.
When Geoffrey was about 4 years old I came home from work one evening and noticed he was missing. On enquiring about his whereabouts Maud said, "He's left home. Look outside and you'll see him up at the iron gate by the road." "What are you going to do?" asked. "You know he doesn't like the dark.
He'll be home when it gets dark” was her reply.
As darkness started to fall he gradually worked his way back to the house. So much for Geoffrey leaving home at an early age!
After the installation of the 32volt lighting plant we acquired a Hoover electric washing machine, vacuum cleaner, fans, electric Iron and a 32volt Mixmaster. One night I made a big song about women's work being made so easy with all these electric gadgets.
In 1959 the decision was made to sell Brookdale to our neighbour Noel Parnell who was the son of World War I veteran Dick Parnell.
He had earlier been able to purchase a second block so with Brookdale it gave him 1900 acres.

A local builder Ernie Bennett came out and replaced the stove with a Metters No. 2 stove with a hot water coil in the firebox. He also did improvements in the bathroom. 
I painted the rooms a lighter colour. While painting I used a tank to stand on and shifting it to the bedroom I turned my back of the tank was missing because of the slope on the floor which I hadn’t noticed. It had rolled out the door into the next room. 
One day when Ernie was working there, a thunderstorm broke and it rained and thundered. I realised the front veranda guttering needed attention. So I stood on the table and reached up to the guttering at this moment a crack of lightning struck and I received a shock which broke my wrist watch and at the same time I heard Maud scream from the transportable home. 
I ran down and found her standing in the middle of the kitchen floor in hysterics. She had been using the 32volt mixmaster when the lightning struck. The power point blew out of the wall and the mixmaster was damaged. 
I took Maud in to the doctor to get a checked out as she was pregnant with our daughter Ann at the time. 
Dr. Winrow asked her what she had on her feet and when Maud said “Thongs” he replied “That is what saved you”.
 