Alexandros (Lex) KANAKIS - a dedicated life

 

In the space of barely a year we have sadly lost two stalwarts of our community – Alexandros (Lex) and Matina Kanakis. They were highly visible for the prominent businesses they ran in the Ingham district and for their out-going personalities and engagement with the wider community. They were also of Greek nationality. Lex was born in Ingham to Greek immigrants. Matina immigrated as a young woman from Greece. Greek immigrants have contributed much to Australia’s multi-cultural way of life.

I have been given permission to share the eulogy given by family at Lex’s funeral. For those who would like to read on there is also a little about Greek migration to Australia and to Ingham.

Alexandros (Lex) Kanakis was born 28th June 1933 to Emmanuel and Koulla Kanakis at the Italian Hospital in Ingham. Lex's parents had migrated to Ingham from the Greek Island Crete. Emmanuel had established multiple businesses in North Qld, including the Majestic Cafe. Lex grew up at 36 Atkinson Street in the Kanakis family home which is an architecturally designed Queenslander with art nourveau influences.

Lex's younger siblings Harry and Mary had a Scottish nanny. Even in his later years, Lex could still recite the Scottish nursery rhyme taught to him as a baby. The children were boisterous, competitive, and playful. Tragedy struck when Lex's father died suddenly. It was 1941 and Lex was eight years old. Lex's mother Koulla was left to raise the three children on her own. Life changed quickly but Lex was loved and cared for by his mother.

Lex's best friends growing up were Adrian Keyes and Tommy Martin. Tommy remained a close friend until the end with regular phone calls. Growing up Tommy and Lex would ride wild horses and ride their bikes to the top of the Cardwell Range. Later, Lex went to All Souls Boarding School in Charters Towers. His mother would prepare care packages filled wiht homemade goodies and take the train to Charters Towers to visit him and his brother Harry.

At 17, Lex bought a new car it was his pride and joy as he was the first of his friends to buy a car. Cars played a large part of Lex's life from the International Truck to the 1964 EH Holden station wagon to the Ford Fairlanes, Lex loved his cars and was known for his lead foot. As a young man, Lex enjoyed fishing and crabbing with the Girgenti brothers at Mungabulla and would speak of how they would cook mudcrabs and drink whisky from the nippers. In 1953, Lex was dispatched to the Brisbane Oxley Barracks for National Service Training. Lex enjoyed his time in National Service. It was a time of great growth.

During the fifties, Lex and his family would drive to Innisfail for the Greek dances. It was there he met his future wife, the beautiful Matina. Matina had arrived form Greece to be with her friend Voulla. Lex and Matina married in 1959 and moved into the Kanakis family home. Three children Manole, Van and Kerry quickly followed. A granny flat was built onto the house for his mother Koulla who lived there for 50 years.

After leaving school, Lex took up a plumbing apprenticehip with Stephensons. After completing his apprenticeship and at the age of 21, Lex set up his own plumbing business with all the bravo and confidence of youth. Looking back over that time Lex could not believe he took such a big step without any idea of how to run a business. Over the years numerous apprecitices owuld come through the business. Including David Hogan, Peter Glover, Louie Sossai and his sons Manole and Van. In 1970, while repairing the gutters at the Noorla Hotel, Lex had a life changing accident when he fell over 7 metres from the roof. Lex had serious injuries which required a long period of rehabilitation. The business continued operating with Lex's staff while Matina had to learn to write English to do the books.

Lex's forte was installing Southern Cross Windmills across the district and many farms to this day have the three-legged 7 to 16 metre windmills towering over their fields. Back in those days, farmers' wives would supply lunches, morning and afternoon teas to tradsmen or a shot of brandy if you were hurt. In his later yers, Lex couldn't believe he had outlived many of the windmills.

Lex was a dedicated Rotarian. Together with his Rotarian friends, Sam La Spina and Noel McClintock, Lex would volunteer at many events. Including the Ingham Toy Factory, food stalls at the Ingham Show, Maraka and Ingham driver reviver. Lex was the proud recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowhsip for his voluntary work and dedication to Rotary.

In 1983, Lex and Matina bought back the Majestic cafe. They worked in the cafe for 30 years with Lex in charge of public relationships. Matina was an exceptional and creative cook and Lex would often say he had married the best cook this side of the black stump. Lex would be seen talking, regaling stories, or gossiping out the front of the cafe in his signature unbuttoned open tropical shirt and white singlet. Lex loved his food and was a true foodie. When Lex spoke of his travels it was always in terms of food he ate. Together with Matina they would travel to food and wine shows.

Lex continued to keep busy in his retirement. When asked what he was doing now, Lex would reply, "running around after Kerry's kids". Which was true. Lex was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren's achievements.

In his later years, Lex cared for Matina as her memory failed. Lex continued to adore Matina and at the age of 85, finally learnt to cook to care for his bride. As they aged, many wonderful individuals came into their lives for support. His carer John Alappatt was a faithful companion and support worker. The family would like to sincerely thank John Alappatt, the Rondoletti neighbours, Tracey Trecco, Livia Monahan and Susan Barret for their care and support.

Lex and Matina were often seen holding hands and Lex remained besotted with her until the end. The loss of Matina last year saw Lex's health decline. He died after a short illness with his grandson Jack Russo by his side. The family would like to thank you all for sharing your lives with Lex. They are grateful to have had him as a father and grandfather. Lex's quick wit, storytelling, and support will be greatly missed. They were lucky to have him in our [sic] lives.

Photographs from funeral booklet provided by Kanakis family 

Besides Italians, Greek, Spanish and Spanish-Basque, and Maltese people immigrated to this district in significant numbers beginning in the late 1800s, early 1900s. They worked in the cane fields, replacing the Melanesian indentured and time-expired labourers, and the Chinese workers. The Greeks and the other Southern Europeans were considered to be more ‘racially’ suited to working in the tropics than Northern Europeans. Though the migration of Finnish people here who also cut cane proved that to be a nonsense!

The first Greeks to arrive in Australia may have come as convicts in the late 1820s. By the 1850s other were arriving: sailors and deckhands of sailing ships who jumped ship and who found work in Australia on coastal shipping boats and as wharf labourers. Others were drawn to the gold fields. By 1900 only about 1 000 people of Greek nationality resided in Australia, but these were scattered across the country and engaged in a variety of occupations. There were graziers, farmers and small-business operators and cafes owners. Preceding World War 1 the numbers increased greatly with 1 000 In Sydney alone and 400 in Queensland.

From a census taken in 1916 there was a significant number of Greek males living in Ingham and Halifax either working as cane cutters, cooks or as restaurant keepers in their own right. Initially, few women arrived from Greece.

Continued political unrest in Greece drove up emigrant numbers but by the 1920s a quota on migration had closed off a favored destination, the USA. Australia became the alternative destination. Greek immigrants took up residence not only in capital, but provincial cities and in small towns in rural areas, including the sugar towns of north Queensland. Conducting cafes was a particular business they were identified with and so everywhere, it seemed, there sprang up Busy Bee or Blue Bird Cafes, Paragon and Majestic Cafes and Bellevue Cafes! And so in Ingham, true to the trend, Greek immigrants opened the White Rose and the Majestic Cafes.  

Once Greeks took up residence in Townsville informal social, cultural, and religious activities were arranged which the Ingham Greeks would attend. In nearby Innisfail, the second Greek Orthodox Church in Queensland was built in 1935. Until the Saints Theodores Church was opened in Townsville (after World War 2) a visiting priest from Innisfail would conduct services in the Anglican St James’ Cathedral. It was there or in Innisfail that Ingham Greeks would go if they wished to observe the ritual observances according to the Orthodox rites.

After World War 2 thousands of Greeks came to Australia and the Commonwealth Government conducted an Australian Migration Office in Athens in the 1950s to facilitate the passage of those wishing to migrate to Australia. In the years 1961 to 1966 alone, 140 000 Greeks migrated to Australia. Ingham was one of the few northern towns that continued to receive small numbers of Greek immigrants in that time.

(Source: Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui, Herbert River Story (Ingham: Hinchinbrook Shire Council, 2011)

The mysterious Caterina Cordelia

 

As an historian with a particular interest in sugar and migration history I find myself immersed in predominately primary and secondary sources written by men. Fleshing out the lives of women from the few women’s memoirs and the men’s insubstantial recordings of women’s lives on the north Queensland frontier is no easy task. 

The invisibility of women in the history of the Herbert is typified by the mysterious Caterina Cordelia and begins with the land upon which she walked. White men named the geomorphological features they observed, in complete ignorance of the names already given those features by the Indigenous landowners. The features were given names according to physical attributes, for example Valley of Lagoons, Stoney Creek or Waterfall Creek, or named after prominent male identities. Hence the Herbert (named Bagirr by the Warrgamay) was named after colonial secretary and later Queensland’s first premier, Robert G Herbert while Stone River was named after the aforementioned Henry Stone, Ingham after the failed planter William Bairstow Ingham, Halifax after George Montagu Dunk, Earl of Halifax Secretary of State in England from 1763 to 1765, and so on.  Disproportionately few to the European male appellations were Indigenous names. Examples though, are Jourama Falls (singing or murmuring waters), or Toobanna (plenty of big rushes near water).[i] The same was for European female place names. The latter include: Francis Creek named after Mrs Francis Allingham of Waterview Station, Helen’s Hill and Mount Helen named after a daughter of William Ewan of Waterview (its Indigenous name of Mandabin or Mandalin was ignored) and Mount Cordelia, Mount Catherina, Cordelia Creek and Catherina/Catterina Creek named after the enigmatic Caterina Cordelia — the spelling of whose christian name is disputed, while it is not known whether Cordelia was her surname or a second christian name.[ii]

Cordelia Vale homestead 1883 along the Lower Herbert River. The old McKenzie house from the Gairloch.
Source: Flickr Hinchinbrook

According to local lore an Italian woman, Caterina Cordelia, arrived on the Herbert as the housekeeper for a Maurice O’Connell.[iii] The honour of the first plantings of sugar in the Herbert River Valley is awarded to licenced surveyor, Maurice Geoffrey O’Connell, his brother John Geoffrey O’Connell and William McDowall (McDowell).[iv] By 1869 the O’Connell’s had abandoned their venture and forfeited their lands. McDowall, who actually come to the Herbert looking for pastoral land, left in1870 to pursue a pastoralist’s life. That Caterina should be with the party in 1868 was a remarkable example of fearlessness and sense of adventure. At the time, on the lower Herbert, there were no public facilities as the European population numbered little more than 12 people, while clearly the party had not considered what they would do with any crop they produced for there was no mill to crush their cane, nor did they have the resources to build one of their own. The blunt reality was that their enterprise had no possibility of expanding and their cane had no market.[v] And why or how Maurice inveigled Caterina to accompany him will forever remain a mystery. Housekeeper could be a euphemism for a more intimate relationship and some infatuation on the part of O’Connell is indicated by several landscape features being named after her. What happened to the O’Connells and McDowall can be tracked through newspaper reports and documents, but Caterina Cordelia remains an enigma

SOURCES:

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[i] Family history of the district: Landmarks, streets, parks or buildings named after local ancestors, Herbert River Express, Ingham, n.d., p.20.

[ii] Queensland place names search, https://www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/qld/environment/land/place-names/search#/search=Catherina%20Creek&types=0&place=Catherina_Creek6521; and Map. Parish of Cordelia, County of Cardwell, Survey Office, Department of Public Lands, Brisbane, October 1922.Variously spelt also Caterina, and Catterina.

[iii] Alec S Kemp, The Kemp Report, Second instalment of History of the Herbert River: The dawn of sugar, unpublished text, n.d., p. 5.

[iv] Queensland Government, Queensland Government Gazette vol. X, 1 January to 31 December 1869, p. 361; Douglas R. Barrie, Minding My Business: The History of Bemerside and the Lower Herbert River District of North Queensland Australia, Douglas R. Barrie, Ingham, 2003; and Bianka Vidonja Balanzategui, The Herbert River Story, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Ingham, 2011.

[v]  ‘Cardwell and the Vale of Herbert’, Queenslander, 23 September 1871, p. 10. 

Edward Charles and Christina (nee Beatts) BIGGS

Edward Charles and Christina (nee Beatts) Biggs 

A Snapshot of Life in the Young Settlernent

Written by Noela Costello of Sydney, formerly of Halifax and lngham. My thanks to my cousin Tim Kemp who found the articles whilst researching old newspapers. Also to my sister Janet, my niece Janelle and various cousins for their help. June 2014

If you have ever been in Mercer Lane you would have seen the family stories on the laneway posts. They are riveting reading of days long past and of families who, in many different ways, have contributed to life in this district. This is one of those stories which I have been kindly given permission by family to reprint here. It is long but so very worth the read. 

Edward, a carpenter, was born in Newport, Wales in 1861. He landed in Townsville in 1882 with a passage ticket to Brisbane. lt was the fact that he missed the boat when it sailed that brought him to the Herbert River District the following year. 

Christina was born in Liverpool, England, to Scottish parents in 1868. She arrived in Townsville with her mother and three siblings on the S.S. "Quetta" in 1883, reuniting with her father who arrlved at the Herbert a year earlier. He had signed off as a crew member of the S.S. "Nevada" in Newcastle N.S.W. in that year. 

ln 1886 Grandfather and Gran were the first couple to marry in the new Halifax Anglican Church, built of mangrove timber and split palms by the early settlers. 

After Edward's and Christina's marriage they lived at Macknade Estate where Grandfather worked as a carpenter. ln 1887 Grandfather embarked on a land venture in the Four Mile area - a freehold block - in partnership with three others. He acquired full ownership in 1889. "Springfield" as it was named consisted of 1280 acres. He developed it chiefly as a cattle breeding proposition, although he had 50 acres under cane in L890. 

ln early 1893 while Grandfather was absent on business a serious grass fire occurred, reducing to ashes his crop, yards, stables and other effects. The dwelling of grass thatching was saved by Gran, her sister and young children. 

During their time at "Springfield" four children were born - Madge in 1887, Glad 1889, Fanny 1890 (dying seven days later) and Bill in 1891. Gran used to tell us stories of walking into Halifax for supplies, usually with a child on each hip, and meeting Aborigines on the way. They became quite fond of Gran, so much so that they presented her with a Nulla Nulla (a war weapon) which remained on the back porch of " Agra House" (Gran's home in Halifax) for many years. 

We know how hard the early [European] settlers worked clearing land, building houses, fences etc but by the 1880's they did find time to 'play'. 

ln 1883 the school building was completed and was the venue for weekend dances, 'penny' (one cent) concerts and the annual 'Break-up Day'- a community picnic day. Grandfather was a member of a comedy group "The Halifax Minstrels" that played to packed houses at the concerts. 

After the fire Grandfather returned to his position at Macknade Mill, and with Gran and family moved into a mill house. Two more children were born - Evelyn in 1893, Elsie in 1896. 

While at Macknade Grandfather sold "Springfield" and took up a farm on the Macknade Estate which he named "Newport" after his old home in Wales.

ln 1893 the two oldest children, Madge and Glad, were enrolled at the Provisional School Macknade. ln 1894 Grandfather was elected to the school committee.

  

At Newport" four more children were born - George, the twins Alice and Bob (Bob dying at nine months) and Charles Edward (dying at ten months). 

During the period two balls were held at Macknade Mill. The first, in December 1892 was to celebrate the end of the season. lt was held in the Sugar Room which had been cleared of mountains of sugar for the occasion. Hanging in the middle of the room was a large Punka [Punkah - a type of fan] with the words "A Merry Xmas" painted on it. This was kept going until dawn when dancing ceased, and made the room deliciously cool. Music was provided by piano and Mr John Anderssen on the violin. 

The ladies' gowns were charming and varied. However the person who appeared to have the most admirers was Grandfather who, assisted by Mr Wiskar (Gran's future brother-in-law) and others, presided at the bar. He showed himself to be as adept with the corkscrew as he was with the cricket ball. 

A second ball was held in the Sugar Room in 1893, again to mark the end of the crushing season. The music was provided by Messrs Pearce, Anderssen, Johnson and Young. Great credit was given to Mr Wiskar, the secretary, and Grandfather who served as M.C., for the efficient manner in which the arrangements were carried out. Again the ladies looked charming in their colourful, hand sewn gowns. Amongst the ladies present were Mrs Alm, Mrs Carr, Gran, Mrs Beatts (senior) Mrs J. Beatts, Mrs Skinner, the Misses Alm, the Misses Rosendahl, Miss Scott, Miss Beatts and Miss Herron. 

The popular dances at this time were the waltz and tango. ln 1914 the foxtrot made its debut.

The information above was taken from the 'Ladies' Page' of the "North Queensland Register". On the same page were sewing tips and recipes for savoury toasts, sardines, and egg and anchovy- Recipes were usually handed down from mother to daughter, but in 1861 Mrs Beetson published her famous "Book of Household Management" which by 1868 had sold over two million copies. 

ln the 1890s picnics were quite the rage, involving travel to the beaches and occasional overnight stays. 

ln 1895 cricket was featured in a news article. A match was arranged between the 'Australians' and 'Allcomers'' According to the article, "the 'Australians' have the strongest team, and it will take the 'English' and 'Allcomers' all their time to beat them." To me, this begs the question "Who were the 'Australians'?" 

ln the young settlement the horse would have been man's best friend. lt was used for transport - riding, pulling sulkies and buggies and taking children to school. The draught horse was used for farm work such as pulling drays, ploughs etc. sadly, serious and sometimes fatal accidents occurred often when a horse shied, throwing the rider, or bolted when suddenly frightened.

Our early settlers were also troubled by pests like ticks, bandicoots and cane beetles. They built dips to rid the horses and cattle of ticks. ln 1899 Felice Regazzoli (Gran's brother-in-law) was successful in having a bandicoot trap filed at the lnternational Patents office in Sydney. ln 1897 it was reported that the cane beetle had decreased in numbers due to a subsidy from the government which paid collectors quite handsomely. The beetles were collected by placing a white sheet with a bright light under a tree and then shaking the tree vigorously. ln later years the cane toad was introduced to eradicate the cane beetle, and what a pest the cane toad has become! 

Obviously Grandfather was a member of the Hinchinbrook Divisional Board for Subdivision 3 because in 1897 he was returned unopposed to the Board. At this meeting a notice of motion was brought forward suggesting an alteration to the timetable of trains run by the C.S.R. Company Ltd. 'At the moment travellers from the north are unable to travel to lngham when they arrive at Lucinda Point. lf the C.S.R. would agree to put on an extra train, all this would be avoided.' 

Eighteen hundred and ninety seven was quite a busy year. The Halifax Rifle Club played a match against the Johnstone River Club. Some of the shooters were A.W. Carr, E. Regazzoli, J.A. Menzies (Gran's cousin) and F. Robinson. As well, nominations for the Boxing Day Races were declared at a meeting of the Halifax Jockey Club. There were 58 horses, and all were local. 

ln 1899 Grandfather made a sea voyage back to Newport, Wales to visit his parents and family members. To mark the occasion of this visit, he was presented with a very ornate time piece barometer which remains proudly in the possession of a grandson.

ln 1898 the Herbert River Pastoral and Agricultural Association held their first show. ln the 1902 show, horses appeared to be the popular exhibit as quite a bit of space was allotted to them in the "North Queensland Register". Grandfather was a member of the committee as well as being an exhibitor. He exhibited 'Prince', 'Colonel' and 'Donald' in the draught stock section. ln the Light Harness Horse or Mare, Grandfathe/s 'Starlight' came second. There were many different events for horses. 

In 1903 Grandfather purchased 'Mona' farm for five hundred pounds (1,000 dollars) from the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney. At 'Mona' he had about 70 acres under sugar cane and 220 acres of grazing land. 'Mona' had common boundaries with 'Norwood' farm, owned by John L. Beatts (Gran's brother) and 'Rest Downs' farm owned by Harald Hoffensetz {John Beatts' father-in-law). 

At 'Mona three more children were born - Jessie 1904 and twins Tom and Gwen in 1906. From 1905 the Biggs children were enrolled at the Halifax State School - Bill, Evelyn, Elsie and George in 1905, Alice in 1906, Jessie in 1911 and Torn and Gwen in 1913. 

Grandfather built 'Mona' homestead, which was quite large to accommodate ten children. It was set in the midst of palm and mango trees, well kept lawns, flower beds and a fernery (Gran's passion). These all added to the charm of this very desirable home. People lived in 'Mona' homestead until Cyclone Yasi in 2011 caused considerable damage. However Terry Carr, a great grandson, is hoping to restore the home as the timber is still in good condition. 

Grandfather was regarded by his younger children as a disciplinarian, but he was actually very good to them. He saw that they were well educated. Bill, his oldest son, attended Gatton Agricultural College in his teens. Grandfather built a tennis court on 'Mona' and arranged social tennis weekends. He supported his children in district competitions. They all had good singing voices and were involved in district choirs. 

ln 1914 World War 1 erupted. lt was to be a devastating war - a war in which 2.5 million of Australia's youngest and strongest enlisted. Three hundred and fifty thousand would never return and one million returned wounded, ghosts of their former selves. Many young men from the Herbert enlisted. Gran and her family would have grieved with her brother John and his family when their oldest son John Beatts was killed in action in 1917. They would again have worried and prayed with Gran's sister Aggie and her family when their oldest son John Regazzoli was reported missing in action for a lengthy period. He was found to be a prisoner of war in Germany. 

The Australian Red Cross was established on 14th August, 1914. Fine work was achieved by this organisation and many others, as they collected funds to send food parcels, hand knitted scarves and socks, and helped our soldiers in so many ways. Branches were quickly formed in towns and cities throughout Australia. On 22nd September 1914, at a well attended meeting in Halifax, it was resolved that all present would form a committee to be called The Halifax Red Cross League'. Gran was in the chair; Mrs Allison was secretary and Mrs Vignolia treasurer. lt was decided the Halifax branch was to collect funds and raise cash by holding dances, euchre (a popular card game), parties etc. Price of admission to the dances was to be set at one shilling and sixpence (16 cents). 

ln 1921 Rosina (Grandfather's youngest sister) arrived from Wales and spent about five months with the family at 'Mona'.

Grandfather died in 1924 from tongue and throat cancer. Sadly, just over two weeks later his oldest son Bill, who had helped nurse Grandfather during his illness, died whilst having his appendix removed. He left a wife and five young children.

After Grandfather's death Gran had a house built in Anderssen Street Halifax, which she called 'Agra House' after her grandmother's home in Scotland. Gran and her unmarried daughters lived there. She leased 'Mona' to her two sons George and Tom. This proved unsatisfactory so she leased 'Mona'to her daughter Elsie and her husband Sticks Carr, who purchased 'Mona' after Gran's death in 1945. 'Mona' remains in the Carr family to this day. 

I am not sure of the year the first motor car arrived in the Herbert, but I do know that Felice Regazzoli owned it. In an article in "The western Champion" (Barcaldine) in Decembee 1924 it was noted that a family named Regazzoli had had remarkable luck in Art Union Drawings some years before. Mr Regazzoti (snr.) won first prize - a black Buick - in an Art Union and just some weeks ago Mr F. Regazzoli (jnr.) won a Hudson super six in the Toowoomba Public Hospital's Art Union. The question was asked, 'May we soon see a Golden Casket go that way?' 

ln the 1920's the Carr Brothers operated the Austin Agency in the district, selling both cars and tractors. Even though there were so few cars on the road there were accidents. As you can imagine the roads were just bush tracks and full of pot holes. My mother, Miss Gwen Biggs, was involved in two accidents while driving. The first was on the Taylor's Beach Road - she rolled the car. My cousin, Beth, who is now 90 was four or five years old at the time and was in the car. Fortunately nobody was injured and they were rescued by relatives following in the car behind. The second accident occurred in 1928 on the main road from Halifax to lngham. Mum again rolled the car, trying to avoid a cyclist who had crossed to the wrong side of the road. Gran, who was travelling with Mum, injured her shoulder and was conveyed by ambulance to the lngham Private Hospital. The cyclist was admitted to the General Hospital with a knee injury.

ln !927 a tropical cyclone formed, resulting in heavy rain. The Herbert River broke its banks, causing heavy flooding in the Herbert Valley. Hundreds of people were forced to leave their homes. Many houses were washed away and twenty three people were drowned. This number included the lngham ambulance superintendant, who was attempting to reach sick people. The loss of crops, property and stock was considerable - some 2500 cattle and 1500 horses were drowned. The one level Halifax traffic bridge was also washed away. 

I don't know how the early settlers in 1927 were warned that a cyclone was approaching, but when we were children the post master would fly a red flag at the post office to warn everyone. This would cause much hovering by Gran, Jess and Mum in front of Grandfather's barometer to check the deteriorating weather.

ln the early 1930s Gran converted 'Agra House' into two flats to accommodate her daughter Alice (Cockburn) who had lost her husband, and her three young children - John (world renowned artist), Ann and Margaret. Alice and Jess operated a drapery store - 'Biggs and Cockburn' - for a few years in Halifax. Alice and her family moved into accommodation attached to the store.

In 1937 Mum (Gwen) with three young children Janet, Bill and Noela, moved into 'Agra House'- her marriage having ended. Mum lived in 'Agra House' until 1990 when she moved into 'Blue Haven'. ln 1939 the world was at war again. ln 1942 there were fears that a Japanese invasion of Australia threatened. Gran with her daughters Glad, Elsie, Jess and Gwen, her daughter-in-law Audrey, her niece Ruth and all their children evacuated to Glen Morgan in south west Queensland, below the Brisbane line' All of Queensland north of the Brisbane line was to be left undefended should the Japanese invade. Many families evacuated or had plans in place should this occur. We swelled the population of Glenmorgan, a town of one shop, a small one teacher school, one hotel and about ten houses. Husbands who weren't in the forces remained at home to work the farms. As well the Carr brothers served as coast watchers - they had to report any planes flying over or any unusual activity on the coast. 

We all returned to Halifax in June, after the 'Battle of the Coral Sea', when it looked as though, with the help of the Americans, our Australian forces were getting the better of the Japanese. lt would be another three years before peace was declared. Again there would be great loss of life and terrible atrocities carried out on our soldiers in prisoner of war camps. 

Gran died peacefully in her sleep at 'Agra House' in December 1945, having borne thirteen children and lived through two world wars. She was blessed to have a loving family who all adored her. 

As you can see by this story Gran, Grandfather and family were very much involved in the young settlement of Halifax. They, along with all the early settlers, showed resourcefulness that made it possible to overcome the hardships and difficutties which crossed their paths. Their spirit enabled them to combat sickness, trouble and sorrow with strength that words cannot describe.