Harry Stokes

Speech by Trish Menzies (nee Stokes)

29^th May 2025.
Mullewa Shire Office

Good morning distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Firstly for those of you that don’t know me, my name is Trish, some of you my know me as Judy which is a nick-name given me by Pop Stokes when I was born in 1952….Nearly 73 years ago.
Alongside me today are my two younger brothers….Henry and Neil Stokes. We are 3 of 7 children born to Don and Mary Stokes (Nee Richards) with Don being the youngest of William Henry Stokes’s 6 children

Together we represent the Sixth Generation of the Stokes family…. along with Neil’s Stokes’s 2 sons, Daniel, who is here with us today and Luke, and his two grandsons in Riley and Issac who are the 7^th and 8th generation Australians via a direct link to William Henry (Harry) Stokes

Who was Harry Stokes?

So, to William Henry Stokes or Harry as he was known by so many?
Just who was this tall handsome, well dressed, articulate, hardworking and dedicated Family man?
Some of you may ask, “And where and how did his story begin?”

Back in 1830, that being some 195 years adrift from today, George and Rachel Stokes (nee Carey) arrived at Fremantle Western Australia from England on the ship “Brittania” with their six children that consisted of four sons and two daughters.
Mosses, John, Carey, Matilda, Mary and William.

As these children grew up, they went their separate ways …2 of the 4 sons in Carey and William moved to Greenough to take up farming in the mid to late 1840s, brother John was to follow soon afterwards.

In 1852 at the age of 34 this same John, the second son of George and Rachael, married Jane Rowlands in Greenough where they had 9 children.

One of those 9 children, the 4^th born in 1857 was Harry’s father in William, but known locally as “Longwill”. That birth was back some 168 years ago.

William, at the age of 26, married Mary Ann Otway, also in Greenough in 1883 and together they had 4 sons with the eldest being born in December of that same year, (1883). So that son was to become William Henry Stokes or our Harry!
All four of the boys were born and raised in Greenough and it is in that district that Harry’s interest in farming began.

Early Tragedy

Sadly, in 1893, when Harry was just 10 years old tragedy struck the family when his mother, Mary Anne (Otway) Stokes died from pneumonia aged only 32.

As the 4 boys were all under the age of 10, friends and family stepped in to help William raise and care for them.

However, Harry’s father William eventually left Greenough to become a Station manager in Norseman and left the 4 boys, William, being our Harry, Edward, Sydney and Victor with family in Greenough.

Sadly William Stokes, Harry’s father, died in 1916 aged just 59 years. His death certificate states he passed away at the Home of Peace, Subiaco and one of the causes of death, noted on his Death Certificate was, “Sheer Exhaustion”

Despite those massive setbacks, thanks to family, over the next 10 years or so, Harry became very well educated and learned agricultural skills from his Great Uncle Henry at Greenough and at Mingenew, Arrino, Dudawa and Three Springs, which enabled him to take up his own farming properties.
Together our Harry and his second eldest brother Edward, better known as Nicholas or Nick purchased some land around the Tenindewa area, that being about 80 kilometers east of Geraldton.
By 1906, at the age of 23, Harry had launched off alone and in doing so he becomes one of Tenindewa’s very first farming pioneers by purchasing property along the Tenindewa-Yuna Road.
                                             

On Reflection

If we cast our minds back to the early 1900s and attempt to visualize how the landscape would have looked, well there was nothing – nothing but bush that is!
When these pioneers arrived to take up the challenge of this Virgin Land there was no running water, no electricity, no sewer systems, no bitumen roads, no grocery stores and certainly no mobile phones!! All things that we simply take for granted today.

Tenindewa also lacked the availability running water (e.g. rivers or fresh creeks) to supply all the pioneers and Settlers. So, wells had to be sunk, dams were built, handpumps and windmills installed, and rainwater tanks constructed.

At night the old “Tilly Lamps” gave light with the aid of mentholated spirits or kerosene. If you were lucky, you might have had a petrol-powered pump to move water, but petrol-powered generators were still yet to come!
There was no gas or Electric Cook-Tops or ovens and cooking was mostly undertaken by the good old wood stove, where you had to chop and stack your own wood.
Maybe some of the assembled may still be doing that now… on occasions?

Yes, pioneers did it tough.! Whatever the weather conditions they had to endure, they simply just persevered and soldiered on no matter… come RAIN, HAIL or SHINE.
When these Pioneers came to clear the land all they had was the basic tools and implements, as in shovels, picks, axes and teams of horses, that would pull the ploughs. Otherwise, it was the use of the most basic of machinery to make the task easier.

Even shearing was a backbreaking, gut busting and a most time-consuming job (just hand shears) but they did it and they did it well.

Making a Home

We move forward and Harry has by now, with some assistance, built his mud brick home at Tenindewa on what is now called the Tenindewa North Road. This homestead was the house my dad Don and his siblings grew up in and then later the home my brothers, sisters and I, including of course mom and dad, lived in until 1958 and in which year we all moved the Mullewa.

All these pioneers, many of them young men, literally built everything from the ground up, and let’s not forget the young women, who also sacrificed their young lives with the very basic living conditions to support and enable their husbands to become successful farmers and to raise families through very tough living conditions.
 
Despite droughts, storms, the heat and the cold they forged ahead, no matter the obstacles.

In 1915 a hurricane came through much of the region including Tenindewa, ripping off rooves and demolishing much of Harry’s neighbours infrastructure. Homes and sheds were flattened for miles!
Harry was said to have had to strain all of his muscles to hold down his house all the long night!!

Advancement

As the years went by, all the times of hard work was beginning to pay off and progress was coming to the area. The farms in the Tenindewa area were proving to be very successful and it was known as a place blessed with reasonably reliable rainfall and forgiving soils.

Harry Stokes by the mid 1940s was one of the best known and successful farmers in the area.
By the early 1950’s he owned 12,000 acres of land around the Tenindewa and Devil’s Creek areas.
An example of how much 12000 acres would have looked like is it would be 36.21 Km long and 1.6 km wide.

He was also very involved in the general community and in Local Government being an active member of the Mullewa Road Board- a member of the Mullewa Agricultural Society- and a member of the local Farmers Union.

He was renowned for making himself available to those that were in need either by way of advice or indeed physical assistance.

Harry was an active sportsman representing Tenindewa in both cricket (fast bowler) and football and he was also keen on bush horse racing.

Marriage, Family and Dismay

In 1922, at the age of 39, Harry married his beautiful strawberry blonde and fair skinned Irish Lady. She was Margaret Jane Steele. Maggie as she became affectionately named was 20 years old at the time of her marriage.
They went on to have six children. Margaret (Avis) William (known as Bill or “Longin”), Joyce Audrey, Henry and Donald (Don)

Sadly, tragedy yet struck a double blow to this pioneering family when in 1933, just 11 years into the marriage, Maggie was admitted to the Mullewa Hospital where she passed away due to tuberculosis and pneumonia at the age of 31.
My dad, Don, was only 23 months at the time of his mother’s death with the balance of his siblings all being under the age of 11 years. They too, as was the way when Harry’s mother May Anne passed, were cared for by friends and family. It is known that the Ullrich girls who were residing with their father, mother and brothers at Tenindewa Town were of great assistance to Harry at that ti

 With God’s strength and sheer perseverance Harry somehow soldiered on to be the best father and provider he could possible be.
Pop Stokes, you can hold your head up high, you did an amazing job raising your beautiful family.

The Family Tree Blooms

The years passed and we are now in the 1950s. Harry’s daughters Avis, Joyce and Audrey have now married ….the three boys in Bill, Henry and Don and the girls all now farming the properties that their father Harry had bequeathed them.
In 1952, Don (our dad) married Mary Richards (our mom) and they continued to live at the Tenindewa Homestead on Tenindewa North Road where both Bill and Henry helped their father Harry to run the properties.

Pop Passes

Sadley in July 1953, just 7 months after I was born, Pop Stokes was admitted to the Mullewa Hospital and it was just 12 days later, on the 26^th of July that he passed away aged 69 years and a few months short of his 70th birthday from a heart attack.
He was laid to rest alongside his wife at the “Pioneer Cemetary” – Mullewa

Reminiscing

Years later when I was a young adult, I asked Mum “what was Pop Stokes like”?
Her reply was “he was an absolute thorough gentleman; he was very well respected in and around Tenindewa and in all the Mullewa Community. He had a wicked sense of humour but was very caring. He was also a humble man”.
Mum also mentioned that he loved the simple things of life such as when he would sit at the end of the kitchen table each morning to enjoy toast and tea for breakfast. For dinner he would love nothing more than to have a couple of lamb chops
It is known he would sometimes go into town, go to the pub, sit up at the bar and enjoy a “pony sized” glass of beer and then proceed to enjoy a few games of darts.
He was certainly a much loved and respected gentleman. He was a man who preserved through, whatever life handed him, and one and all admired his tenacity. There were possibly a few who didn’t always agree with his ideas, but such is life!

The Cemetery Donation

We, one and all are essentially gathered here today to acknowledge and show recognition for the donation of the land this thoughtful gentleman, Harry Stokes, gifted the Shire all those years ago for the purpose of this, the current Mullewa cemetery.
This generous land transfer took place on the 19^th of June 1953 and just 6 weeks before he himself passed away.

But it would be remiss of me if, at this juncture, I did not acknowledge that within this very cemetery lay two of his daughters in Mrs. Avis Franklin and Mrs. Audrey Hodson.

Also, within this same precinct lays the mortal remains of our Maternal Grandfather in Oliver James Richards who was a Justice of the Peace in the Mullewa District and where he and Grandfather Harry Stokes shared a most respectful and enduring friendship.
Also here with Oliver James, lays his grandson and our cousin Kevin who was taken so young, the darling little son of Herbie and June Richards.
Herbie and June have recently moved to Geraldton but over the years were lifelong stalwarts of the Pindar and Mullewa districts. Their dedication to the local Anglican Church will remain an exemplary example of that enduring commitment.
We the Stokes Family are very proud of our grandfather’s achievements and all the while, proud that he was such a gentleman, A Dignified Man of Pure Integrity.

Harry was a much-loved Husband, Father and Grandfather.
In closing of this speech today the Stokes Family would like to say a big Thank you to Veronica (Byron) Maidstone. Veronica is Pop Stoke’s eldest Granddaughter.
It’s thanks to her and her acumen that the gifting of this land, made by Harry Stokes all those years ago to the Mullewa Shire for the purpose of a cemetery was brought to light.

They who are gone…

“Are loved and Remembered”

Thank you all.

Trish Menzies

End of Trish Menzies speech

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May 10th, 1922

Tenindewa Notes (From our Correspondent)

No; this correspondent of yours did not die, as you surmised, but has been lying dormant. No great news of vital importance since I last wrote, with the exception that our pioneer, though young, farmer, Mr. W. H. Stokes, not being able to stand the strain of single life a minute longer, went and got married, so he did. It beats my comprehension how it actually happens, that when a young lady or man, well known in the district, gets married, they always hold the festival away from the friends who will surround them all their lives after. Is it a slight on them, or a compliment to them?
It won’t be a case of the early bird getting the fat worm, or the early sower getting the far grain, if the rain keeps off much longer, for those hard working chaps who have made every post a wining one to get an early crop are looking very gloomy, when seeing their seed shooting with no moisture to further its progress.
We have heard speakers of both sides for the election campaign, and judging by the reception given our member, the Hon. Jas Hickey, he must win one handed kneeling, for he did get an enthusiastic reception, and when Jim Bedford, in moving a vote of confidence, said, referring to the member: “He needs no recommendations or letters of sympathy from Lloyd George, Trotsky, Lenin, de Valera, Jimmy Michell, or that other notability, Billy Hughes, for actions speak louder than words,” he struck the right cord, for to gain political honours by the publication of a private letter is more than playing the two spades, absolutely the lowest card in the pack. A pity the holder of such letters didn’t go home with his pal, Sir James Mitchell. He may have got a job with all his references there, but not here. We want merit and ability, and we have it in James Hickey.
Some uncouth, sneaking individual has been going around our district pilfering. A young man named George Cumming had a cheque stolen from the farmer’s house where he was employed, and I, myself, had my hen roost tickled up to the tune of 20 white Leghorns. May the eggs, when he eats them be charged with explosives.

The following 3 paper articles allude to the tensions associated with conscription, recruitment and volunteering (see bold print) for King and Country in the early part of WWI

Harry has his own ideas about such things…read on

August 20th, 1915
Tenindewa Notes
(From our own Correspondent)

The beautiful sunshiny days we are now having after the continuous wet weather will gladden the hearts of farmers. Ever since the beginning of the year the weather has all that could be desired. The rainfall since the growing season commenced is as follows; – May 225 points [56mm] June 355 pts [88 mm] July 313 pts [78mm] August 128 pts [32mm] to date. The rainfall for the year to date is 16 inches [400 mm]. We have had no frosts so far this winter…and vegetation of every description has made marvelous growth. The wildflowers are very numerous and beautiful. The individual blooms beat anything I have seen foe size and excellence, and I think we have a greater variety than I have ever noticed previously. Of stock feed we have an abundance. The crops are making great headway. many of them are already higher than the fences. Mr. J. J. Keeffe has commenced hay cutting and Messes Hunter, Fry, Valentine and Dunkin will shortly follow his example. I notice the wild radish has made its appearance in several fields. The owners should lose no time and spare no energy in ridding this hitherto clean district of this pest. There are over 7,000 acres under wheat in this district and many big yields expected.
I am sorry that I cannot send along a list of recruits for the army from this locality, but so far not a single individual has volunteered, although we have quite a number of able-bodied young men here who should make excellent soldiers. Perhaps after all they can best serve their country by following the plough and doing their bit by growing wheat with which to feed the Empire.
Mr. F. Fuller has just completed a comfortable three-bedroom house on his selection here, and the conclusion one naturally draws is that he is contemplating passing through the third era of life.
We wish him peace and prosperity.

November 22nd, 1915

Tenindewa Notes (From our Correspondent)

Harvesting operations are in full swing on all sides, and one hears some fine yields here and there. Mr. Leo Critch had a field of Toby’s Luck yield him 25 bushels per acre (1.85 tonne per hectare). Mr. Oldham’s Federation is going 24 bushels per acre. Some of the fields have suffered from rust, although I have not heard of one yielding under 10 bushels. The most of the crop was well advanced when the rust made it’s appearance, and many of us thought the yields would not be affected by it. The heads appear to be well filled and the grain fairly plump, but when it dried we found that the heads contained a percentage of shriveled grain, and this in most cases yielded from 2 to 6 bushels per acre (75 to 200 kgs per hectare) In other places the rust appeared to have weakened the straw as well, and a fair amount has been lost by the straw breaking off at the highest joint and letting the heads down on the ground. Septoria has made its appearance in a few patches, but these were promptly turned into hay, so the loss from that source will be very light. Quite a lot of new harvesting machinery has been introduced this year. I notice 5 reaper/threshers and State Harvesters galore. Several trucks [rail wagons] of wheat have already left the district. A few have been sent to the Perth market via. Wongan Hills. This [wheat] fetched 5 shillings and 7 pence per bushel, and after deducting freight and other charges, the owners received a fraction under 4 shillings and 11 pence per bushel net. One hears rumors of wheat buyers travelling through the Eastern Districts (i.e. is along the Eastern and Great Southern railways) offering the farmers 5 shillings and 3 pence to 5 shillings and six pence per bushel for their wheat, but so far, I know not a solitary buyer has yet to come this way. Many of us are in quandary as to what to do with the wheat now that we have got it. We are waiting anxiously to see if the King’s head is still on the half-crown. Why is it that the wheat buyers are neglecting us? Is it that the Commonwealth scheme of handling the surplus has scared the wheat shark out of the business? If so, let’s hope the Victoria District will not be overlooked by those controlling the scheme. I understand there is a limited amount of space allotted to W.A. for December/January shipments. Well, who is going to look out that the Victoria District gets its share of that space? This district is perhaps the earlies in the State, and as 9/10s of our wheat will be available for shipping by the end of the year, we should be allotted the lion’s share of the space that has been allowed to W.A. for the December/January shipments. Whose business is it to see that we get it?
Our first batch of recruits left here on Tuesday last. Mr. L. Stafford, Mr. C. Millward and another Bert Jones have set an example to the slackers of this district and offered their services to their King and Country. I understand that two or three others are seriously “thinking about it” after the crop comes off.

December 14th, 1915
Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent)

Farmers would like to know what they have to do with their wheat, as thousands of bags are lying out in the fields waiting for someone to whom to deliver. While this delay is going on farmers are paying interest on advances, which is no doubt helping them downward. [financially]
I think the Labour Party should have a change to the Opposition for a while. They have not covered themselves with glory in dealing with the country or the farmers. They have certainly had the most exceptional period in the history of the country, but giving all that in, they could easily have done better. If they would trust their trained civil servants more, I think there would be less bugling. It is high time that the retrenching knife was applied to the civil service generally and not leave the matter at putting off a few land inspectors. Although most people think civil servants are good for nothing after leaving their government jobs, it is a mistaken idea, and it would do a lot of them real good to be fired out and have to shift [fend] for themselves, instead of receiving every fortnight or month the consolation of a few pounds. But the Labour Government will never tackle retrenchment.
If the recruiting sergeant comes around here soon, he will find that some fine lumps of men here have finished harvesting.

December 15th, 1915

To The Editor (Tenindewa and Enlistment)
[No doubt this is a response to the August 20th, November 22nd and December 14th, Tenindewa Notes immediately preceding]
The letter is signed W.H.S and would be very likely be Mr. Harry Stokes. A long residing and respected member of the Tenindewa Area.

Sir,–Being a resident of Tenindewa I wish to take exception to the misleading comments appearing in your paper from Tenindewa correspondents, who seem unusually fond of criticizing those settlers, who in their opinion should be at the front. I think your correspondents realize the urgent need for men in the firing line, and I would like to know if they have ever thought of enlisting themselves, setting an example and thereby doing more good, than columns of insults, which if taken seriously would have the effect of checking rather than encouraging recruiting.
Some readers of your paper are no doubt under the impression that this center is over-run with wasters and slackers, while the latest edition of this clap-trap of un unclaimed letter, insinuating that the place is seething with pro- German-ism. I am wondering if he displayed judgment in not signing his name, or weather he has one. in any case when one takes into consideration that personal and not patriotic motives prompted him to try and blackmail a trusted and respected resident. I dont think anyone is anxious to make his acquaintance. I might state i have resided here a number of years, and i claim to know the views, expressed and otherwise, of every settler, and I say unreservedly there is not a German sympathizer in the place.
No one here wants reminding that the British cause is just, but I for one deplore the fact is championed by such a miserable a specimen of humanity as your correspondent in question. Notice the hypocrite’s bid for sympathy by mentioning his “dear ones in the trenches”. He pretends but I doubt if he refers to his relations; if he does let’s hope they possess some of those good qualities that make the world admire a Britisher, qualities your correspondent sadly lacks. Returning to your ordinary correspondent, does he think good soldiers are composed of that material that would be intimidated to enlist for fear of public criticism? If so, he shows his ignorance by estimating other people’s courage by his own weakness. And again, if he realizes there exists a demand for more good men, then it is his duty to enlist, and that at once. He wouldn’t be missed from here and would be no loss to Australia if he never returned. –
Yours etc.
W.H.S (Tenindewa 9th 1915)

Greenough Sun Thursday 30th July 1953
Vale! William Henry Stokes
One of the best-known farmers of the Mullewa District and a farmer of the Tenindewa area in William Henry Stokes passed away suddenly at the Mullewa District Hospital on Sunday last at 5.35 p.m.
Born at the Greenough Flats in 1883, the deceased gentleman was a son of pioneers of that area; his father bore the same Christian names. Some 47 years ago he took up farming at Tenindewa [1906] and over the years by hard work he actively extended his farming pursuits until at the time of his death he and his three sons (William Henry and Don) owned some 12,000 acres (4800 hectares)
Apart from his three sons mentioned above, the late gentleman is survived by 3 daughters in Mrs. V. F. Franklin, Mrs. P. Byron and Miss Audrey Stokes, all of Tenindewa. He was predeceased by his wife by 20 years.
Mr. Stokes was an active sportsman in his earlier days, representing Tenindewa at both cricket (he was a fast bowler of no mean prowess) and football. He was a foot runner of no mean ability and also took an active interest the horse racing events of Tenindewa’s earlier years.
Late gentleman had been a member of the Mullewa Road Board some years ago and throughout his life continued to take an interest in local government affairs. He was also a member of the Mullewa Agricultural Society and the local branch of the Farmers Union.
Although Mr. Stokes had been in hospital for 12 days, he was bright and cheery late Sunday afternoon and, in fact, one of his greatest friends (their association dated back to childhood) in Mr. George Bone was chatting with him until 4.45 pm, and his sudden death came as big shock to many friends.
(Further details will appear next issue –Ed.)

William Henry Stokes married Margaret Jane Steele (1902 -1933)
They had 6 Children
Margaret (Avis) (b;1922) who Married Mr. Victor Franklin
William (b;1924) Bill never married,
Joyce (b;1925) who married Mr. Paul Byron
Audrey (b; 1928) who married Harry Hodson
John (Henry) (b;1929) who married Gweneth Hodell
Donald (b;1931) who married Mary Richards