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May Wallden's Memories of Earlier Days in Katandra  (written c2005)

Growing up on a mixed farm in Marungi Rd 1915, my father cropped the land with wheat and oats, also ran sheep. We walked 3 miles to school, lucky to be ever driven in horse and gig. Started writing with slate and pencil as progress reading primer and first book.

When Mum first married and came to live at Katandra during World War I, a lot of unemployed men found work very hard to get. This meant a lot of them walked the roads, looking for work (swaggies). She often had swagmen call for some sandwiches and a billy of tea, then went on their merry way. It was a long day for Mum as Dad worked on his father's farm for quite a while after they wed. Shearing time was a busy time, as she would have three or four extra men for meals, as well as often a new baby to care for, as well as toddlers as she had eight children, very little convenience in those days. A copper to boil the washing, no water laid on in those days, which had to be carried by bucket from the tank. There were no telephones, the nearest about 3 miles away. Washing and ironing done by Mrs Potts, flat iron heated on the stove. When these people sold out we purchased their phone, which seemed to us kids a luxury. We would often visit our grandparents (Ford), which was about 2 miles away. Grandma would always make us welcome, she would butter a slice of bread and put sugar on it, which we loved.

 When Mum's parents two farms were sold, Dad bought one, this meant we would have to drive about 10 miles to attend the sheep, cutting thistles and jobs which had to be attended to, often spending a day out there, having to drive home afterwards. No made roads, wet and muddy and rough, getting home after sunset often.

 Saturday in wintertime there would be football, played in paddock at Katandra North hall (originally O'Dwyer's). Game would commence at 3 o'clock in afternoon, finish after 5 pm. Teams of Katandra, Drumanure, Muckatah, Numurkah imperials, Katamatite, (Dookie) formed the association. Katandra North memorial hall built in memory of world war one soldiers. Opening of this hall a fete was held, stalls of cakes, sewing, etc, raffles, afternoon tea and evening entertainment.

  Anzac sports were held annually, all local schools competing (approx 12 schools). School with highest number of points taking the shield which was hung in their school for 12 months, a small silver shield engraved with name of school and year of winning was then attached to the wooden shield. Also a Diggers cup was competed for. The returned men of the war competed a handicap race. Some of the names were John Gervasoni, Hubert Jenkins, Reg Nunn, Bob Newing (Marionvale), Geo Parkinson, Ern Jones, Ted Graham, Reg Chapman, Ian Mollison (Invergordon South). (Alf Draper). Killed in action were Linehan, Lemuel Batey, R Tate and Prideaux. (Some of the names known to me).

Sports events: Flat races, girls and boys age groups, under 6 yrs, 8 yrs, 10 yrs, 12 yrs, 14 yrs. High Jump boys of all age groups. Long Jump, Hop Step and Jump, Relay Race Open, 2 boys and 2 girls to run and carry flag in school colours. A very enjoyable day, more so if your school was taking home the shield.

            When I left school I helped to milk the cows with my two younger sisters. We separated the milk and the cream would be picked up by a truck and taken to a butter factory where it would be made into butter, the whey would be made into cheese. We really had to make our own pleasures and girls played basketball and tennis; the boys played tennis, football and cricket of a Saturday afternoon and go dancing at night, Katandra North Hall, Katandra West and Youanmite.

            When the Closer settlement bought the farmers land (1924), we had unoccupied farms, most of these farmers owned three to four hundred acres. As it was all vacant for many years, saffron thistles about 7 feet high along with a rabbit plague took over this land. Gun clubs (about 50 to 60 shooters) from Shepparton would come out shooting rabbits of a Sunday afternoon, and stand in one spot and shoot hundreds of rabbits. Eventually they contracted the work of making channels to irrigate; this was all done by horse teams, a plough and a scoop. Imagine the time it would have taken! From Old Katandra, Marionvale and Marungi, most of the workmen had tents built in a certain area, a big marque for meals, which was run by a married couples and these people would provide 3 meals a day for the workers. Mr and Mrs Cosgrove ran one of these boarding places.

            When the channels were made the land was surveyed into 60 or 70 acre farms and homes built, also a shed to milk the cows, which was by hand until they were able to purchase milking machines. Most of these farms were purchased by English people brought out from England by the Government. Very few of these English settlers stayed on the land, took a Government allowance went back to England. Some returned to Australia. The people who stayed purchased adjoining block which would give them about 120 acres. The home on the block purchased were sold and removed. These farms have changed hands many times over the years. A small grocer shop was built in the township, later an exchange, and most people had the phone connected. Initially open 9.00 am to approx 5.00 pm, later continuous service. The exchange was run by shopkeeper with help of a couple of girls who would man the exchange. There was a school, hall, butchers shop and a few residents, a head of the settlement to help the farmers settle in to farming, which was very different to some English people, a bush nursing residence, a water bailiff residence. Later a school residence, churches, sports ground and then dressing rooms etc. Lights installed on basketball court. Courts for Men's Basketball to play at night, lights much later on Football Oval for night football which was very successful. Teams entered from district clubs from far and near as this was the first club to install lights in country area, it was very popular with night football for a few years. A bowling club was formed for men only to bowl and was very popular, later ladies were able to play.

            The Grounds Committee organised an annual sports day. There were races for all children, married ladies race, married men's race as well. Shepparton cycling club ran bike racing, also guessing the weight of the sheep, stepping the distance for ladies and gents, throwing the gumboot, miss and master tiny tot and miss sports girl. There would be a dance in the hall after the sports. Ladies would cater for this day and night.

            For all Annual Balls the copper had to be lit and filled with water and boiled, make the tea also to wash up after each sitting. Scotch night was an annual event for a number of years, this was also very successful. The hall would be filled, to hear bagpipes, scotch songs. When WW2 ended the GVCL football association, Katandra joined and travelled as far as Undera, Ardmona and Toolamba to play each Saturday afternoon. After home matches there would be a euchre party till about 10 pm, a dance to follow till 12.00 pm. Later Katandra joined the Tungamah then the Picola and District League where they play at present (2005) having won premierships over the years. The Katandra Football club have a Memorial clubroom, with catering venue also bar, in memory of player who died as result of accident against Ardmona in 1946.

            I remember visiting the Cemetery with Mum. In springtime there were many wild flowers that grew in the country. As kids we used to love picking harbingers of spring buttercups, cowslips. There were white wooden stairs to enter the Cemetery from North, South and East road which was around the cemetery.

            Going to school, Swamp Peas, Batchelor Buttons and pretty purple flower which smelt like chocolate. These flowers are all long gone, which is sad as we thought they were lovely, blooming in springtime, picking these flowers.

            A family who came out from Canada, Coleman's, brought their T Model ford with them and took up a block of land and settled in to dairy farming. Some members of the family still live in Katandra. These blocks had a house cow shed and yards but no cows to milk. Lighting was a kerosene lamp; they purchased wood stoves to cook and a cow to milk, gradually building up a reasonable size herd. It must have been very difficult for them as most of them were in offices and knew little about farming. Children had to walk 2 to 3 miles to school.

            There was initially very little social life to help them meet. A CWA (Country Women's Association) group was formed, membership five shillings, (Our money was pound, shilling and pence), and they were able to meet and enjoy each other's company. That was only once a month, we still meet once a month but only a few members these days, a battle to keep going. Now in 2005 membership is forty dollars, a postage stamp fifty cents. In 1920/30 a postage stamp was one-penny halfpenny (one and a half cents). In early twenties an amateur theatre group was formed, they put on a play "Leila Wall?" which was very well received, a lot of work for the ones involved with practice, costumes, etc it was well worth the effort.

            The daily newspaper was printed in Melbourne, The Argus and Age sent to railway station by train then delivered to Post Office by horse and gig. At times roads were nearly impassable, especially if winter was very wet. Mail always arrived, sometimes late in the afternoon. Now days mail arrives by motor vehicle to the post Office by 6.00 am. We have progressed a long way with every family having a car, some families have a second car. School busses bring children to school.

            When I married we moved into a home on one of these blocks of 60 acres, had a few cows to start with and gradually building up a herd of about 50 cows, reared heifer calves and also had pigs as milk was separated and cream sold to butter factory. The skim milk was used to rear heifer calf replacements and pigs for market. Later we had fowls and sold eggs to the egg board, the eggs had to be gathered once a day also cleaned and packed into egg cases, which held 24 dozen. We would also cut hay, rake it and stack it loose. This was done for many years, very busy time in hay season, milking twice a day, carting hay and watering. This was done by horses, mower rake and lorry then stacked. This was made much easier when a small tractor came on the market to work all the implements. Our first tractor was John Deere, later we bought a Ferguson tractor, they had just come on the market. The tractors became very popular especially on the small farms to pull the farm implements to cut, rake and cart the hay then feed out to stock in winter months. 

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