Issue 6 2023 - Old Collegians
Old Collegians
Don McCausland
Hi everyone,
As mentioned in the last article, I am writing about Brian Woodhead who passed away last month aged 85 years. A private funeral was held, followed a few days later by a gathering of family and friends at the Bluewater Grill, Applecross on 1st September. Mike Martin and myself were invited and I was asked to talk about his time at Denmark School of Agriculture (DSA). Daughters Wendy, Jenny and Denise gave eulogies and I have put together his story with their permission.
Brian was born in Bridgetown in 1938 to parents Emily and Les. He was the middle child with older sister Lorna and younger sister Peggy. They lived on the family farm in Noggerup where his father was involved in earthmoving. His parents were killed in 1951 when their car was hit by the Australind train. Brian was only 13 years old at the time and boarding at Guildford Grammar School. He left to live with his maternal grandparents and went to Collie High School.
In 1953, Brian joined 22 others of us at DSA in 1953 for a 2 year course, obtaining a Diploma in Agriculture. From Noggerup there were two ways to travel to Denmark – by road or train. If you were lucky enough to have a car, the road between Manjimup and Walpole was a single lane limestone corrugated road. By rail it was Noggerup to Bunbury, Bunbury to Perth, Perth to Albany and Albany to Denmark – in all 28 hours from start to finish. At school, bicycles were our mode of transport.
There was manual farm work, dairy, piggery, poultry and general farm, everything done by hand and foot using pitchforks and horse and cart. One of the funniest incidents was when Brian, Mike Martin and myself, together with staff member Bert Mumford, drove the horse and cart down Scotsdale Road to River Road to get to the back block of the Research Station farm. Brian was handling the reins. A magpie used to swoop from a tree, so Brian, ready for the swoop, fired a ging at the magpie but hit the horse in the ‘arse’ instead, making it bolt, throwing Bert onto the floor of the cart, shouting in his strong English accent “You’re all fooking mad”. The horse couldn’t be pulled up until it turned into River Road. He was a prankster and enjoyed short sheeting the ‘melons’ beds.
Brian played football, cricket (a good bowler), basketball, volleyball and athletics. He was sergeant major in our cadets, performing at the Anzac Day parade, and represented the school in the 303 rifle team which went to Swanbourne where the school won trophies.
In the workshop he forged metal items which he donated to our memorabilia cabinet at the college. In the 1954 school photo, Brian is wearing a bow tie just to be defiant. He was cheeky and strong willed, which often got him into trouble.
He organised a few of our annual reunions in Bunbury and attended three years ago when we all met in Mandurah. Unfortunately, ill health prevented him from travelling in the last few years.
After Ag school, Brian returned to live in Collie, boarding with different families and working for local farmer Sid Jackson, as well as driving International and Mack trucks, hauling logs for Palmer Transport.
He met Pat while boarding in the same street. At first Pat thought he was a right ‘drop kick’ but he persisted and they were married in 1961. They shifted to Perth and eventually bought a house in Applecross in which they lived for 46 years and had four children. They also built a beach house at Lancelin.
He worked for Houlahans in Fremantle, driving trucks for a while, and eventually bought a road grader. As a final trim grader operator, his skills with the task by eye only were well respected in the industry. He practiced by making a circular motion in a bowl of ice-cream or gravy on a plate to obtain perfection in levelling.
He became a foundation member of Melville Glades Golf Club, using his grader to level the course. His love of golf was evident, especially the 13th fairway where he performed at his best. Naturally, when they moved from Applecross, he had to live next to a golf course which they did at Serpentine 16 years ago. Unfortunately, ill health eventually prevented him from playing.
Brian had a contract for grading of the highway between Stratham and Capel and had his own successful business. It has been a wonderful journey over 70 years of friendship. May God bless him and keep him safe.
As this will be my last segment before our 70 year reunion, planning is all in hand for the event and I’m so looking forward to meeting with past students 1952 to 1956 as well as families of the deceased from the 1953 year.
As always - get your name on the honour wall - contact us to have your name added. Contacts are: Wendy Sutton 0419 048 694; Marjorie Morrison 9848 1633; Delys Ravenhill 0427 408 051 or myself 0428 526 398, email: hisylvi@bigpond.com.
News from all years of the College are always welcome.
Cheers,
Don McCausland