Beginnings at Esperance
The family first settled in Esperance in February 1960.
The family, as it was then, included Harold aged 31, Barbara aged 30, David aged 7, Helen aged 6, Tim aged 4, Paul (had his 2nd birthday on the way), and Wendy aged 6 months.
It was a mamoth effort to get everything loaded and into the old Bedford truck and station wagon for the 350 mile drive across many rough, gravel roads. It must have been a relief to finally arrive two days later! Fortunately Dad's father Charles had insisted he build a house before he moved the family down so it stood ready. There was much to be done before it became home.
Fifty years on we can only marvel at what a challenge that must have been and that was but one of many. Other anectdotes tell us that wives and mothers didn't really have much say in those days, if the man wanted to move the family moved. None of the hand-wringing of our generation!
The family farm named Yowadda after the original farm at Kondin was 2,600 acres and situated 23 miles north of Esperance on location 1621 at Gibson. The road has long since been called Brownings Road but then it was unsigned and known as the Lauriana West Rd - Lauriana being a large property to the west. Our nearest neighbours were Bevin and Barbara Schultz opposite who arrived a year or so later. Stewart and Judy Hockey and Bob and Jill Hockey also lived further south, with Fitzpatricks, Dwyers, Rennies and Ainsworths surrounding us.
Gibson was a place of promise...