The Opening of the New Hall

Tenindewa Notes
Greenough Sun
(December 24th, 1947)

The scene at Tenindewa on Saturday, December 20, will long live in the memory of those fortunate to be present.
The district, always noted for its hospitality, surpassed all previous records in this respect. Although it was termed the Annual Christmas Tree, which has been an unbroken sequence since since 1913, it was something more than that. It was really the unofficial opening of the new hall, which was taken down at the Geraldton Aerodrome and erected on its present site almost entirely by co-operative voluntary effort. This surely, is an example of what can be done through a social scene including the loyalty of settlers in their own district.
A sit down was provided to all by a willing bunch of lady helpers. A touch of harmony, combined with humour, was lent to the party by the decorated paper hats. Much laughter was invoked by the shape and feather decorations on them especially when placed on odd angles on bald heads. The arrival of Santa Claus was the cause of much rejoicing and cheering, and judging by the facetious remarks made by Father Christmas, one gleaned he had made many visits to this settlement. The Tree was tastefully decorated with tinsel and toys, and sixty seven children received a present and a bag of lollies. As there must have been two hundred adults in the hall, Santa Claus had some trouble interviewing his patrons. However all good things must come to an end, so to the cheering of all he departed on his way.
The children were then given the floor to play and dance, which they did willingly. In the break between their party and the adults dance, a presentation was made to Mr. Fletcher Waldeck, the school bus contractor, who obviously was deeply moved by this fine gesture on the part of the children.
Dancing to music of a gramophone amplifier was indulged to the “wee hours”.
The success of the evening by the following: Mesdames Butler, Olman, Brenkley, Eves, Wells, J. Obrien, Cherico, Davis, G. Rumble, Reay, McCarley and George, Messers. Butler and Sons, Smith G. Rumble, Cherico, Foster and others

To see more on the Christmas trees please click on 100 years of the Tenindewa Christmas Tree, The Foster Years

Terry Cream, Kevin Weir, Robbie Weir, Joan Weir (her 21st) Mel Weir, Joan’s Aunt, Brian Weir

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Mullewa Mail
Friday 3rd October 1947
Tenindewa Notes
(By a Correspondent)

I would like to record the proceedings of a meeting held in Tenindewa for the purpose of finalization in regard to the local hall building. Mr. W-Brenkley presided, and the attendance included representations from practically all parts of the district. By resolution it was agreed to “incorporate” the Progress Association and legalize the precedence of raising money by debenture issue. A debate look place regarding the question of interest free or interest-bearing debentures, and a divisional vote on the subject resulted in a decision that debentures would be interest free repayable in ten years. The building will be constructed out of timber secured by the demolishment of a military hut purchased at Narngulu aerodrome by Mr. Brenkley and will be 22 feet by 40 feet and will provide a much-needed place for people to meet and hold social and other meetings. The writer, a visitor to the meeting, was greatly impressed by the high order of the debate on finance and some arguments in favour of interest-bearing money conveyed the impression that public opinion was beginning to realize that cheap and a plentiful supply of money might easily be a bad thing for everyone. For instance, hundreds of pounds were • available here free of interest to pay for our hall, but material and labour are not available because as money becomes more plentiful the purchasing power of it recedes, as does’ the incentive to earn of required money resulting in the rapidly vanishing supply of existing commodities, with no inducement by way of remuneration for replacement. People on fixed incomes becoming worse off and more people forced into the fixed income category in the downhill rush to ” Communism” and “disaster,” and we will have to wait a long time before we will have our hall completed. From enquiries made among the farmers attending the meeting I learned that an excellent season was concluding under fairly good climatic conditions and good wheat and wool were assured, On the average crops had passed the critical stage and the wool clip was better than the last’, while prices for both ‘wool and wheat never looked better. Lambing in most cases had resulted in a very high percentage, while here was little trouble with flies or foxes, but there were complaints about the sudden appearance of rabbits which seemed to have made their presence felt. Just after the annual inspection of a departmental inspector I was informed that farmers were advised to the seriousness of this invader and systematic steps will be taken to deal with this pest. Another nice thing is the hundreds of acres of fallow on farms that had been abandoned and neglected during the war years and being prepared for seeding next year and at the same time wiping out the grasshoppers

November 9th, 1950
Geraldton Sun
Tenindewa Pars

Our local Hall was the scene of a happy gathering recently when all our folk got together and gave a sendoff to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hayes, who have been farming in this district for 20 years. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes will be greatly missed by our Tennis Club as they were both very enthusiastic members of the club for a number of years. Mr. Hayes was also a keen supporter of our Progress Association. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes had to give up farming on account of ill health, and they are now living at Safety Bay.

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Today (2014) I visited David Latto at his retirement home in Inglewood.
David is 84 and left Tenindewa when he was 9 years old, but his memory of the place (and everything) is simply unbelievable. His family had a farm next door to Dunkins which eventually became part of Dunkins farm that Whites purchased and then/now Thomas’s
Filling in the gaps on the story that we have heard that he lived at Tenindewa in the “big weatherboard shed” (which turns out to be correct) it seems that his farther rented the building from Alec Butler so that he and his mother could live there during the week so he could attend school. His mother had tried to home school him with little success it seems. He revisited Tenindewa in the late 80s and saw that a house had been built pretty much on the spot where that building was (Des and Annette Foster’s house) When he was living there, he remembered the old shop being there still also, and the new one of course, but seems to think a fellow named Jupp lived in it at that time.
Bill Peet’s memory on the placement of this building concurs exactly with David’s and Bill’s information on the removal of the building also tallies but he (David) had no idea where it had been relocated. Also, his father was a “Saddler”, but he did not think he had ever run that business out of Tenindewa but certainly had done business along these lines in Mullewa.
His memory of the fettlers is amazing and can describe the houses and who lived which and particularly Weirs and Smiths. He remembers going to at least two Christmas Trees at the Fry House and remembers Vic Ullrich.
He remembers Sava Singh but is adamant he was an Indian Sikh and not an Afghan??
But anyway, I think it narrows down the mystery on the “Old Hall”. The Old Shop and this Old Shed/Hall/House were pretty much evenly spaced to the east of the current shop. What is interesting is that at that time (1930s) seemingly it was no longer in use as a hall, and he remembers it simply/only as a house. This is as Vera Sands (Rumble) remembers it too.
He is a close relative to the Valentines (I think his father’s mother was a Valentine) The story that either of the Valentine’s was a South African is incorrect but the Valentine that owned the farm had a sister that lived there. (i.e. South Africa)
His daughter is Rochelle Bradley.
Tony Critch

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June 29th 1922

Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent)

The Tenindewa Cooperative Store is being would up–not enough cockies to keep it going. The building used by the Co-op has been sold to the Sports Club, who intend removing it to a townsite from Mr. Petroff’s place [over the road]. The building is a fair size and gives young people a good place to amuse themselves at dancing and other games……mostly other games (See entry June 1926 below)
Farmers have finished seeding, or nearly so. The season so far has been a bad one, the ground being too hard at the start from want of rain. Most crops are up but there has been little growth and far too many frosts. Feed is scarce although stock look fairly well, especially cattle that can reach the good top feed.

June 1st 1926

Tenindewa Notes (From our own Correspondent

There is a very large area of wheat around here seeded this year, and nearly all have finished, there being just a few stragglers to wind up
The rains have been good and feed is plentiful; stock are improving fast. If the season keeps on as it is then a bumper harvest (discounting rust) should be the result.
Mr. Palmer, (sen) is home again but is still unwell. His trip to Perth evidently has not benefitted him much.
Mr. H Johnson has been in Mullewa Hospital with pneumonia, but thanks to his robust nature he is about again and hard at work.
Farmers generally are pleased at the result of the Council election, but would rather have had “Old Joe” in power and many think and say Mr. Joe Mills should contest the Greenough seat against Labour.
Tractors are still arriving in this part and every cocky has a motor car and not just a “tin lizzie” either.
Personally, I would have a “lizzie'” every time, if only to support a wonder man like Henry Ford. If more industries would adopt his methods the great revolution would perhaps be staved off. Capital and Labour cannot agree under present methods, even the farmers are adopting “slight co-op” methods. It is a common practice now for farmers to give their employees an area to crop and a portion of the crop.
I know a farmer around here (an oldish man too) who should be sent to the Olympic sports as a jumper. The other day he was standing along side a cow bailed up ready to milk, when another cow objected to his presence and charged him, and he was in such a hurry to get away that he cleared cow and fence in a standing jump. Its wonderful what a man can do if the matter is urgent.
Mrs. Stafford is on a visit here to her son in law (Mr. R. Dunkin)
The hall recently used for dances etc, has been sold and removed much to the regret of the young people.