Tom‘s first job was a lumping wheat with older brothers Fred George and Fred Chapman. He was determined to succeed in his new country and worked at various jobs including clearing with axes at the property known as “Corackerup”.
This property had been purchased by two bookmakers Ireland and Wheeler, and it was managed by Ireland’s sons, Victor (now of Gnowangerup) and Norman, now in Albany.
World War II
Tom joined the Army in May 1940. He enlisted in the AIF at Karrakatta, after traveling a long distance to Perth on mostly unsealed roads on his motorbike.
Other local identities in the 2nd 16th battalion with Tom were his brother Jim and the brothers Tom and Roy Thompson.
Tom Hounsham‘s battalion left for the Middle East in November 1940, and saw active service in Syria during 1941 and marched along the oil pipeline into Bagdad.
Christmas was also spent near Alappo on the Turkish border.
After crossing the Sinai desert in convoy, the whole battalion sailed for Bombay.
Tom‘s battalion was making its way to Java. The whole of the Infantry Brigade which comprised the 14th, 16th and 27th Battalions, doubled back to Colombo (Sri Lanka).
They eventually made it back to Fremantle and arrived on March 17, 1942.
After only 24 hours leave, Tom was on his way to the Atherton Tableland in Queensland en route to New Guinea.
The 2nd 16th left Australia in the first of the old American Liberty ships bound for Port Moresby.
Tom was on the Kokoda trail and it was here he and George Marris nearly lost their lives.
They were cut off from the others for some 10 days without provisions. This, coupled with swamps full of leeches and malaria carrying mosquitoes made life difficult for those two.
Tom and George eventually found their way back to the unit just in time as their health had deteriorated badly. Fortunately
Tom recovered from this ordeal and served with the AIF until he was discharged on November 28, 1945.
Man of many jobs.
Tom‘s first job after he was demobbed was working for Alby Carpenter at Ongerup. He then worked with Tod Mills and his brother Fred Hounsham on the Ongerup Wheat Bulkhead. Before that, Tom and Vic Carpenter went rabbit trapping at “Jarramongup”.
Always industrious, Tom turned his hand to anything. For Tommy had a boot and shoe repair business which he also used as a barber shop in Ongerup.
On August 16, 1947, Tom married Mary (Siss) Hodgens of Gnowangerup. They raised a family of three boys and a girl.
Early in 1948 Tom and Siss put down a deposit of 1 pound (two dollars) on a school bus. He drove the chassis from Perth and Hendry’s of Gnowangerup built the bus on.
This was the first official school bus for the Ongerup school. Previously the children of the area attended two “Bush” schools West and East Ongerup before they were amalgamated into one at Ongerup.
Tom Hounsham was a popular figure with his children, as the writer knows from experience. He was always cheerful and the journey never seemed too long with Tom at the wheel.
CBH
Tom had commenced working part time for CBH when it took over the Ongerup grain storage. However from 1949 to 1976 he was a permanent member of the Ongerup CBH staff.
Tom was thought of as highly so highly by the farmers and CBH that a testimonial and evening was held for him on his enforced retirement due to ill health.
Tom‘s eldest son Chris, is carrying on the Hounsham tradition at the Ongerup CBH bins, where he has been employed for many years.
Gardener
The Hounsham garden is admired by everyone. Tom’s many hours of enjoyment were rewarded when their garden won first first prize in the garden competition during the Tidy Towns competition last year. He also helped the sisters of St. Joseph Convent at Ongerup with their garden.
He especially enjoyed working with black boy as woodwork was another of Tom‘s hobbies many at home has a piece of Tom‘s handiwork on display..
Tom achieved his dearest wish of never having to leave Ongerup. Mourners came from all over the State to pay their respects to one of Ongerup’s most popular identities on February 23, 1984.
Pall bearers were Kevin Chapman, Kelly O’Neill, Mick Jaekel and Robert Foster. Requiem Mass was said by Father Pat Rooney at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church at Ongerup.
Tom is survived by his widow Mary (Sis) and sons Chris, Kevin and Brian and daughter Margaret.
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