-PN-

Born at Petersham

NSW 1896

In 1910 became "copy-boy" on West Australian Newspaper.

Then joined the firm of Charles Atkins and worked for them all his life.

Finally retired completely

at age 75.

¹ 16015F

umfrey, or "Humf" as he was known, the fourth son of Harry Rumble & Kate Knight, was born at Petersham, NSW on 25 February 1896, and came to Western Australia with his parents in 1897.

At the age of fourteen, in 1910, he left school and for about eight months worked as a copy-boy for the West Australian newspaper. He then joined the firm of Charles Atkins and worked with them for the rest of his life, retiring from the position of Manager of the Mechanical Department at the age of 65, but continuing on in their employ, in a part-time capacity, as Security Officer, until the age of 75. This earned him honourable mention in the newspaper as perhaps the only person in Western Australia who had worked as an employee of a single company for a period of sixty years. The firm of Charles Atkins, in Hay street, eventually became Atkins-Carlyle and moved to Belmont but, in the early days, it had a number of departments: Mechanical, Electrical, Cycles. . The Mechanical Department dealt with the wholesale distribution of hardware, handyman and industrial machine tools. Humf's daughter Lesley¹ recalled that he was manager of that department from the early 1930s.

His mother Kate, living in Bunbury between 1915 and 1922, kept in constant contact with Humfrey, and they exchanged frequent letters. During Easter and summer holiday periods he took the train to Bunbury and stayed a few days, as did other members of the family who were based in Perth.

21st birthday

² 15013F

Meets and later marries

Muriel Love.

His mother's description

of his wedding

³ Kate and Harry had

become Catholics, and good Catholics at that time were not permitted to enter churches of other

denominations.

Kate wrote in her diary for Friday 23 February, 1917:

Made Humfrey a ginger sponge, the same as Maudie's² for his 21st birthday and sent it up by tonight's train, with a pair of links enclosed by Phyllis.

Humfrey met Muriel Love at Atkins, where she worked in another department as a typist. Lesley recalled that Humfrey asked Muriel several times to go out with him, but she did not take to him, and refused. The other girls in the office said, "You are mean, he's such a nice young fellow. Why don't you go out with him? You might just like him."

In the paper on 26 October 1922, there appeared the following wedding notice:

RUMBLE - LOVE - On October 26, 1922, Euean Humfrey, youngest son of Mr.and Mrs. H.H.Rumble, of North Perth, to Alison Muriel, only daughter of Mrs. M.G.Love, of Subiaco.

On that day, Kate wrote in her diary:

I went to 7 mass specially for Humfrey's and Muriel's wedding today. Frank and Maudie were bestman and bridesmaid. Phyl and Dolly also went to Wesley Church where the Rev. Jenkins performed the ceremony. Dad and I met them coming out of church³ and joined the reception party at Albany Bells. Humf. and Muriel went straight to the photographer's from the church and returned to us at 7.30, when we all sat down to the 'wedding feast.' We saw the bridal couple off to their hotel at a quarter to nine. They left next morning for Mandurah.

For their wedding Kate and Harry gave ,10 to each of them. Maudie and Dolly gave a silver plated coffee pot and Phyllis, a silver plated sugar basin. Kate also gave Muriel a pair of embroidered pillowslips.

Just before his marriage, Humfrey bought a new house at 32 Federal Street, Subiaco. Kate recorded:

He buys a house in

Federal Street, Subiaco

30 September, 1922 Humfrey came out for his belongings and a shelf full of books from Pa, for his new home he has bought and moved into today - in Federal Street, Subiaco.

On Friday 3 November Humfrey and Muriel returned from their honeymoon. Kate recorded that in the evening Maudie and Dolly went to a `Surprise' Pantry Tea held for the newlyweds when they arrived home.

He & Muriel had three girls.

He died in 1979 from a heart attack.

Cycle club activities

as a youth

⁴ 15016F

Swimming activities

His interests after marriage:

Fishing, camping &

Horse-racing.

They had three girls, Lesley, Ailsa and Alison. In 1979 Humfrey spent a holiday with Ailsa, who had come down from New Guinea in 1978 to live in Sydney. He was with her for ten days when, on the twenty-fifth of April, after taking a swim, he collapsed and died of a heart attack. He was buried in Western Australia.

In his youth Humfrey belonged to the Perth Cycle Club, being Club secretary at one time. He was a very keen racer. Once, he won a Perth to Bunbury cycling race. In later years, his sister Dorothy Fall⁴ recalled how Club members would come to the family house the night before an important cycling race to tone up Humf's muscles by pounding him, and by rubbing him down. She recollected hearing all the noise of the slapping and pummelling coming from his room. He once pitted himself against the train from Perth to Mundaring Weir - and beat the train!

He also took part in swimming events, and entered several "Swim through Perth" races. His daughter Lesley said that, in later years, Humf was always talking about these races, which were from Guildford to Perth.

Lesley said that after marrying at the age of 26, he gave up cycling and swimming, became an enthusiastic fisherman, enjoyed camping with his fisherman friends, and became interested in horseracing. He was also a great handyman.

Holidays and Camping		Muriel did not enjoy camping, so the whole family spent several holidays at beach cottages in the south-west of the State. Lesley recalled that they went to the Leeuwin, or to Busselton. Humf sometimes called at Yarloop on the way, to visit his sister Dorothy and her family who lived there.Most of his camping trips were for a week or two with a couple of men friends. Often they went fishing to Yanchep where the Hon. Mrs. Lindsay owned a large property right on the beach. He was an enthusiastic fisherman, and enjoyed it immensely.
Sailing with his brother Eric. ⁵ 15010M ⁶ 15011M ⁷ 16009M He was the book-maker at sailing races		For a number of years Humf sailed as a crew member in the yachts of his two brothers, Horace⁵ and Eric⁶. Jim Rumble⁷, the elder son of Eric, in 1989 recalled the days of his youth: Humf was the local bookmaker of the Royal Perth Yacht Club. He was my father's sheet hand, and the main SP bookie in the club. I used to race as a youngster, at eleven, twelve or thirteen years of age with my father, Humfrey Rumble, and other friends whom my father knew through the yacht club. Humfrey was always in the betting business, and he would have odds, which were laid off on other boats that were racing on Saturday afternoon - and when somebody would want another "quid" this way on somebody else's boat, Humfrey would put it down in his book. It was all done on an honesty basis and collected after the race. There were copious pound notes distributed from time to time after the race was over.
As a horse-racing man he was a shrewd and disciplined better.		It is not known when Humfrey became interested in horse racing, although his daughter Lesley said he was a racing man on a regular basis by 1950. In 1990 she said: He was a very shrewd better. He was the only man that I knew who could go to the races and win on the first race - it might be ,5 or ,10 - whatever it was in those days - and he would not have another bet all day. He'd made his profit for the day, and that was it. He would sit there, watch all the remaining races, have his entertainment at watching them, but wouldn't invest any more money. If his first race lost, he would keep betting, but as soon as he had a winner, when he was on top, or just got back even, he would stop. Or, if it was going bad, he would still stop, figuring that on the law of averages you could just get further and further in. Very strong willed, Dad was; he had a will of iron when it came to anything like that. His racing went on from the end of the war years for practically the rest of his life.
His temperament		Lesley said that her father was essentially a "man's man," but was surrounded by women in his home: I often think he would have loved to have had a son, because he would have had more things in common with a boy than perhaps with us girls, who lent more towards Mum. He never really told us very much. He was an undemonstrative man. We used to say that Dad had a poker face because, if he went to the races, you would never know, by looking at him, or by his temperament, or manner, whether he had won or had lost. He didn't come home moody because he lost, or happy and excited because he won. It was all private within him. He kept many things to himself. He did that in all walks of life. Dad was very quiet in many ways, but he had a wonderful memory of people, and he was a great teller of jokes. His memory for jokes was phenomenal.

A handyman around the house, he was slow to finish a job.

Humfrey was a handyman around the house, being a gifted, self-taught carpenter. He made toys for his children, and was a perfectionist. Unfortunately this meant that he often took months to finish a job. Lesley said:

Although he meant well, what with work and going to the races, there was not much time left. So when he would get an idea to do something, the job would go on for months before he finally constructed something worthwhile. He was a man who hated to buy something if he thought he could do it himself.

He might want to make mum a bench for the kitchen and it would take months and months. Naturally, that used to upset mum a bit. She felt like calling someone in who would have done it. But Dad didn't want to pay for that because he knew he could do it, and do it better.

He was a hoarder and collected junk

Humfrey was a hoarder and could not bear to part with something that would one day prove useful. His garage was overflowing with bits and pieces, and only he knew what was there.

Lesley recalled that Muriel would say: "You've got to get rid of some of that junk." So, he would load up his trailer with everything he thought he did not need and take it to the dump. He loved looking over the rubbish tip, and invariably he would return home with the trailer laden with an equally large pile of new junk.

"I just saw this old bike out there," he would say. Home it would come, to be combined with previous "finds" from the dump, and eventually a good, usable bicycle would emerge.

As Lesley said: "Dad couldn't bear to waste anything. He loved fiddling and making things. Bikes, too, from his racing days; it was a hobby to him. He loved doing all that, so if he saw anything discarded on the dump, he would bring it home. Of course, this cluttered the garage absolutely."

Born in Victoria in 1894

She had a difficult childhood due to her parents' divorce.

uriel, the daughter of Alan Joseph Love and Mabel Grace Witton, was born on 10 September 1894 at Warragul, Victoria. In 1990, her daughter, Lesley, said that growing up was very difficult for her mother. Muriel endured the turmoil of her parents' divorce, had no sisters, and virtually no brothers. When her mother tried to make a living as a midwife, she was pushed from pillar to post. She spent most of her young life at boarding schools and took holidays with relatives at Dumbleyung. For a period she did not even have a proper mother. Eventually her mother was able to establish a house in Perth where she and Muriel settled down together.

She became a typist at Charles Atkins and married Humfrey Rumble.

The spelling of her name

When Muriel left school she went to a secretarial school and, after a few positions, became a typist in Charles Atkins in Hay Street, Perth. There she met, and eventually married Humfrey Rumble. They had three daughters, Lesley June, Ailsa May and Alison Lynette.

Muriel always thought that her first name was spelt with one `l' - and so named her third child `Alison.' At one time she obtained her own birth certificate and found that her name was spelt `Allison' - she also discovered that she was born a year earlier than she thought!

Muriel's mother lived for some years with them at Subiaco.

Harry Rumble also wanted to live with them

After her marriage, Muriel's mother came to live with them at 32 Federal Street, Subiaco. Lesley commented on this:

Most of the time we had my grandmother living with us. This caused problems after a while. Dad had had enough of it - which is only natural. Eventually my grandmother got rooms of her own, two or three streets away. This gave mum and dad a little privacy. As a young child, I can visualise my grandmother living with us the whole time. She used to sew for us and do all sorts of things.

At about this time Humfrey's father, Harry, wanted to live with the family. Lesley said:

Grandpa was practically prepared to pay mum the world if she'd take him to live there, but she said `No, I couldn't go through it.' She had been through enough with her own mum.

It was sad, really; nobody wanted to take him in because of his drinking problems and his domineering nature. He was probably looking for love and affection, which he did not get.

Lesley reflected on her mother's life and character:

Muriel's character.

¹ 15010M

She died in 1975

Mum was a very quiet person, who kept to herself. She liked gardening, and was a church goer. She was a lifelong friend of Eric's first wife, Issie, whom she regarded as a sister. Like Issie, she belonged to the Christian Science Church, although the Wittons were originally Methodists. She was always very nervous with other people, and was so very shy about meeting anybody. In her early days the person who would most overpower and terrify her was Uncle Horace¹. He had an imperious manner and a beautiful speaking voice, but he was a very aloof type. Maybe she felt overwhelmed by him. She couldn't compete with him.

Lesley remembered her mother saying how terrified she was when she first met members of Humfrey's family, who were then living at Bunbury. It was probably Easter or Christmas, when the whole family congregated together. Muriel came away with the most monstrous headache. She said, "I have never in all my life met so many people who could talk at the same time and yet not miss what the others were saying across the other side of the room."

Late in life Muriel suffered from Arthritis. She died in Perth on 8 September 1975.

Summary		dward, the eldest son of Mr & Mrs John Chown of Norbury, England, was born on 1 November 1897. He went to sea, and served his time on the sailing vessel Monkbarns and later transferred to steamships. In November 1918 the Monkbarns called at Bunbury, Western Australia, where he met Phyllis Rumble. They corresponded and Ted, as he was known, migrated to Western Australia in 1923. He and Phyllis married on 19 November 1927. In 1928 they adopted Miriamme, the infant daughter of Phyllis's sister Maudie who had died in 1926. They had two children of their own, Joseph (b.1929) and Edward (b.1937). Ted became Secretary of the Road Board at the small country town of Goomalling. Later he moved to Perth as an Auditor for Local Government, first in country and then in metropolitan districts. He died on 7 January 1976. g
Family and early life: ¹ 15138F ² 15155M ³ 15154M		Little is known of Ted's early background as he was very reserved, and rarely discussed personal matters with his children. Miriamme, who throughout her life called her adopted parents Uncle and Aunty, recalled: He had a sister, known as "Cis"¹, and two brothers. One was Frank² and the other was Arthur³. One died when quite young. Uncle rarely wrote to his parents, and I remember that, in Goomalling days, Aunty wrote to his mother, and tried to persuade him to write. She'd scold him and say it was dreadful not to write home. Uncle was so very reserved. He rarely talked about his life. As a small boy he sometimes went into central London with young companions to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. At the age of fifteen or sixteen he joined the Merchant Navy. He then had little contact with his family, although he stayed with them between voyages. His son Edward had the feeling that he might have been sent to sea involuntarily, or that there was some estrangement with his family.
⁴For details of the Monkbarns see the entry for Victor Fall 15016M. ⁵For details of Ted's meeting with Phyllis, see the entry for Phyllis 15015F.		In 1918, the Monkbarns sailed from Rio De Janeiro to Bunbury in Western Australia⁴. Ted was then a junior officer on the ship, twenty-one years of age and senior to ten young apprentices who had just been taken on board. At Bunbury on 14 November he met Phyllis Rumble⁵, daughter of the Resident Civil Engineer in the town. Phyllis and Ted saw much of each other over the short time that the Monkbarns was in port. Phyllis's younger sister, Dorothy, met Victor Fall, a fifteen year old apprentice on the ship and, after the Monkbarns sailed, both sisters corresponded with their new-found boyfriends.
Ted leaves the Monkbarns and joins the Clan line		Little is known of Ted's life between that time and his migration to Western Australia. It is known that he left the Monkbarns at Cork, Ireland in mid 1919 and joined steamships in the Clan line. A few snippets of information are contained in letters written by Victor Fall to Dorothy Rumble, and in Kate Rumble's diary. For example, from Victor: 24 January 1920: Have you seen anything of Chown yet? I expect the Clan Matheson is on the Australian run. I really cannot imagine him getting a prize for dancing! 'Tis the very last thing he would have shone in, I should imagine. Good old "Chubby"!

1921: The Clan Matheson calls at Busselton and Bunbury. Ted and Phyllis meet again.

In April 1921 the Clan Matheson called at Busselton. Kate Rumble wrote in her diary:

Sun 24 April 1921: Captain Pearson motored our girls, Mrs Johnston & Mr Webster to the Caves at Yallingup this morning, staying the night in Busselton. Called on board the "Matheson" & saw Ted Chown & his Captain.

Next day they drove back to Bunbury. On Thursday 28 April, the Matheson arrived at Bunbury.

Fri 29 April 1921: Maudie and I went crabbing in morning. Caught 12, she boiled and sent to the Hands' for a salad for their party tonight. . . Ted sent Mr. McCrone, 2nd officer on his boat, up to afternoon tea. Ted came later to tea and took the girls to the Hands' dance. As it was drizzling I rang up a car for them.

Next day the girls went to see the "Matheson" boys play the Bunbury football team, and Ted Chown came up to spend the weekend with the Rumbles. On Sunday afternoon the whole family went to afternoon tea on the ship. Ted and Phyl saw each other every day while the ship was in Port. On Wednesday 4 May they all went to the Sailors' Rest Dance in the Bedford Hall, where Captain Redford from the Matheson met the Rumble family, and invited them to Dinner on the ship on Thursday. This was its last night in Port.

Kate wrote:

Fri 6 May 1921: Phyl's 22nd birthday. Pa gave her 2/6d . . . As the boat was not leaving until mid-day Ted came up for a last peep at Phyl, and brought her 3 boxes of chocs. She walked back as far as the jetty tea-rooms.

News of Ted from letters written by Victor Fall:

In October 1921 Victor Fall, returning home at the end of a voyage, made his way to Norbury, a suburb of London, where he met Ted before continuing on to his mother's home in Northamptonshire. In his letter to Dorothy he wrote:

I had a very interesting yarn with Ted Chown last Thursday - on my way home. I stayed the night with him in London and heard all the latest Bunbury news. I had not seen him for over two years and found him looking very fit. He is waiting for another ship, having left the Clan Matheson. He seems to have had a great time in Bunbury and elsewhere in W.A.

A month later, in another letter to Dorothy, he wrote

Ted becomes third-mate on the Clan Buchanan

Ted and I have written several times to each other since I was with him in London a month ago. He is now at Glasgow on the Clan Buchanan, from where he goes to Liverpool and on to East African ports. So I don't suppose I shall hear much from him after he leaves England - especially as I hope to be going early in the New Year - if not before.

He is really lucky to have got a third-mate job today, with all these thousands of officers out of employment. The prospect is none too hopeful for the unfortunate Merchant service today. I would throw it all up for `two-pins' and try something else. Not in England, however.

In his diary for 12 July 1922, Victor Fall again recorded meeting Ted, this time in Buenos Aires:

Ted and Victor discuss the "emigration problem"		When in South Dock, two days before leaving, I found that the Clan Buchanan, Chown's ship, was lying in New Dock, right at the other end of the city. So I rushed ashore to see him, arriving after some trouble to find him aboard. I discovered that he had been there several weeks, all the time, in fact, that I had been in No.4 berth, that he had had a pretty good time, and that they were homeward bound in a few days after a ten-month trip. We had a good yarn about Australian matters, but had no time to decide anything on the "emigration problem", as I had to rush to get aboard to keep my 12 - 4 watch. Neither the sea, nor employment in Britain held many prospects for either Ted or Victor. British unemployment was increasing, and both men were seriously considering giving up their life at sea, and migrating to Australia. In June 1922, Victor had written: I have heard from Ted - when he was in New York last April - and he seemed in a very downcast mood, chiefly I think owing to the drastic cut in wages; he swears he will quit the sea. That is what we are all swearing, but the question is, "What then?" Anyhow, good luck to him, and if he does, I hope he gives W.A. a trial. Again, in September 1922: While I was in Buenos Aires I met Ted Chown again and we were also together for a short time when homeward bound at Las Palmas. I rather think he will be acting on the suggestion made by Phyl in a recent letter - and that W.A. may soon see him as a resident. Of course I cannot say, but personally I advised him to go and I think he agrees. So perhaps we may be together again before this year is over.
Ted gives up the sea and arrives in Western Australia in January 1923. [See entry for Phyllis Rumble]		It was on 9 January 1923 that Phyllis heard from Ted that he was on his way to Australia as a passenger on a P & O ship. He arrived on Saturday 20 January 1923 and, on 3 February, they became engaged.
⁶ 14004M He starts work at Benger on a potato farm.		Ted looked for a job. Phyllis's father, Harry Rumble⁶, made inquiries on his behalf and, on Wednesday 28 February 1923, Ted received a letter from a Mr. Lang Knight from Benger stating that he would give him a job on his farm. Ted took the train to Benger on the following Saturday, but he did not enjoy work on the potato farm. On 20 May 1923 Phyllis told her parents that Ted was leaving the farm at Benger in a week's time.
He thought of setting himself up as a farmer, but had insufficient knowledge.		Next, he explored the possibility of setting himself up as a farmer. He applied for, and paid a deposit on a piece of land near Northam. However, to acquire this land he had to demonstrate that he had sufficient farming knowledge for the venture. On 27 June 1923 he attended an interview during which his knowledge was probed. The panel quickly discovered that he knew nothing about farming, and rejected his application.
Next he started evening classes in accountancy and took a job as a tally clerk at Fremantle harbour.		It was not easy to find jobs in the early 1920s. He applied for an office job, was successful, and started work on 10 July 1923. He also commenced evening classes. Then, on 3 December 1923, Harry Rumble gave him a letter of introduction to Fremantle harbour. He went for an interview and was told on 4 December that, starting after Christmas, he could have work as a Tally Clerk at ,4/7/- a week. He kept looking for a better job but could not find one, so on 14 January 1924 he started work at the harbour.
He went to a boarding house in Cottesloe.		Ted had been living with the Rumble family in North Perth but two days after he started work in Fremantle he moved to a boarding house in the road next to Lady Lawley's Cottage for Crippled Children, Cottesloe. On 12 November 1924 Ted sat for his first accountancy exams. On 8 August 1923, Kate wrote in her diary: Phyl and Ted came up and she broke the news to me that Ted was taking instruction from Fr.Fagan, preparing to become a Catholic.

He becomes a Catholic		He was baptised into the Church on the 6 October. He took his first communion on 1 November, his twenty sixth birthday. A little dinner party was held for him at 317 Fitzgerald Street, North Perth to which Horace, Frank Spencer, Thelma Lloyd and Molly Rocket came. After dinner they played Rummy.
In 1926 he worked in Merredin for a short time		Ted continued his studies in accountancy. The following entry appears in Kate's diary for 7 August 1926: (Ted) went to see Mr Courthorpe at 9.30, who offered him a billet with a firm of accountants in Merredin, so he rang Vic, who got Phyllis on the phone to talk it over with him, as Ted had to decide by 2 pm today & they decided to accept it, so as to get a start in the accountancy world. Phyllis's sister Maude had married Frank Spencer in 1925. He was now practising law in Goomalling, and Mr Courthorpe may have been one of his business associates. On 15 August both Frank and Ted left Perth with Mr Courthorpe. They stayed the night at Goomalling and next day Ted went on to Merredin with Courthorpe.
He then became Road Board Secretary in Goomalling.		It seems as though Ted did not stay long in Merredin. By October 1926 there is no further mention of Merredin in Kate's diaries, but there is constant reference to Ted and Frank travelling together between Goomalling and Perth. It is likely that Ted secured the position of Road Board Secretary at Goomalling at this time. He remained in Goomalling until the early 1940s.
1927: Marriage and family responsibilities		Ted and Phyl were married on 19 November 1927, but because of ill health, she did not join him in Goomalling until September 1928. Ted proved to be very conscientious and responsible both in his work, and towards his family. Like the local Bank Manager or the Doctor, the Road-Board Secretary was regarded as a "somebody" in the town, and had to live up to his responsibilities.

His work

Living in a small community, where the Road-Board secretary knew everybody, sometimes caused problems. Once, he impounded a stray cow found wandering down the main street of town. The owner, on paying the fine to Ted, said, `Well, if that's what one Catholic does to another, that's the end of Church for me!' He was not seen in Church again for many years.

Miriamme recalled:

The position of Road Board Secretary is today known as Shire Clerk, and there were periodic meetings of Board members. As Secretary, Uncle attended all these. During the meetings most members had a drop of whisky, or something else, to drink. After the meeting they all went down to the pub to continue their drinking, but Uncle never joined them. He told me that he refused because he could not afford it, and his first duty was to Aunty and to us children.

He was never a sociable type, he always remained a reserved Englishman who never really embraced the great Australian tradition of mateship. He worried terribly about owing money to anyone and, in the early years, Aunty's operations and hospital bills were expenses he could ill-afford. Only once did he have to borrow money to pay for one of her operations. In those days there was no form of hospital insurance or other benefits.

The years leading up to, and during the great depression of the early 1930s were times of great financial difficulty for most people. Fortunately, Ted had a regular job for the whole period, so he could feed his family adequately, and his children went to school properly clothed. Some of the poor children at school wore tattered clothes and went barefoot.

He was reserved

Golf practice

His experience at

driving a car

Ted was always a reserved person and made few close personal friends. He was happy with his own company. In Goomalling he took up golf and at first practised by himself in the back paddock. His son, Joseph, recalled:

I caddied for him on the local golf course. He got quite upset when he played a bad shot and that may be why his interest in golf was short-lived.

In the mid-1930s he bought a big, old-fashioned car but did not keep it long. Miriamme recalled:

The problem was that he was of a nervous disposition and there were no driving teachers, as such. Perhaps some local men might have taught him to drive, but he probably thought it unmanly to ask one of them to teach him. He simply got in the darned thing and pulled and pushed things until he got it going.

I remember he took us for a drive one day. The car jolted along, stopping and starting. We were on the Toodyay road when he hit a gully and swerved slightly, veering towards the gutter. Aunty shrieked, `Oh, Ted! We're Gone!' and grabbed on to him. He was nervous enough driving the car without this happening to him. After a few months, he sold it.

Joseph recalled:

Dad disliked cars because he felt unsafe in them. He thought that Mum had taken up driving too late in life. He argued, quite logically, that for him travelling by bus and, when necessary, by taxi was less expensive than owning a car. Mum wanted a car so that she could run messages for housebound old ladies and the like, and to drive them to Church.

Leaving Goomalling to become Auditor for

Country Roads Boards

Metropolitan Auditor

In the early 1940s Ted and his family left Goomalling. He joined the `PWD' - the Public Works Department - and was assigned to auditing work for Country Roads Boards. Edward recalled:

He spent much time travelling around the bush to the furthermost parts of the State: from the Kimberley in the North, to Esperance in the South. He travelled right through the Murchison. There were few towns in the State that he did not visit in an Auditing capacity. For large sections of my life he was away for one or two weeks at a time. On returning home he often complained about all the travelling and the need to live out of a suitcase. He found some of the country hotels in which he stayed very uncomfortable.

Eventually he became Auditor to the metropolitan municipalities, and became Assistant Secretary for Local Government. The Local Government Act was introduced in 1960, and Road Boards then became Shires, Towns and Cities. Dad no longer worked for the PWD but came under the Minister for Local Government. To achieve what he did in his career, given his initial background, I believe he did very well to become second in charge of the department.

Ted's character and interests

Whereas Phyllis had an extrovert character, Ted was an introvert, happy with his own company. He enjoyed taking long walks and, when he lived by the sea at Cottesloe, he took long swims for exercise. He was of a studious nature, as Joseph recalled:

He was always interested in discussing or reading about religious issues, as well as philosophy. He bought a moral theology manual to help him resolve personal moral dilemmas he encountered as an auditor when he detected mismanagement or fraud. He never seriously questioned the stand of the Catholic Church on moral issues, but saw its teachings as the most consistent and enlightened. He enjoyed humour and would sometimes laugh aloud when reading O'Henry, Stephen Leacock and similar writers.Ted was a sound thinker, cautious, a careful planner, and not very venturesome. He was keen on Chess and, after moving to the city, sometimes played with his brother-in-law Victor Fall, or with Phyllis's brother Eric, who also lived in Cottesloe.

Chess was a game that he took seriously. He bought numerous books on the subject and studied moves and strategies. He puzzled over the finer points long into the night and eventually found that it stimulated him so much that he could not sleep. He then gave up the game.

In Cottesloe he also enjoyed social games of bridge with family friends. Another interest was photography. The bathroom in their flat at Cottesloe became a temporary dark-room when needed, and here he developed and printed his own films. He enjoyed this hobby, but did not develop special photographic skills.

During the second world war he was envious of Victor Fall and of Miriamme's father, Frank Spencer. They had both enlisted in the armed services. His application to join the Navy was refused because he had an eye problem. This was the result of injured nerves behind the eyes caused by an accident during his seafaring days.

Difficulties in later years

Edward recalled the period before and after his father's retirement:

In his later years he often looked back with great affection on his early sea-days. Some of his more stimulating discussions would have been with his brother-in-law Victor, because they had shared that early experience when they were young together on the Monkbarns. I don't think I have ever seen Dad more happy than when recalling youthful incidents and recollecting those early days at sea.

Dad often told me that anyone who went through life looking for something soft, would usually find it under his hat. He found life difficult especially towards the end of his career. He once said to me - and I think he would have been in his sixties at the time - that he used to pray every night that he would have the strength to carry on until retirement at sixty-five. In the last few years he had hardening of the arteries and, on at least one occasion, he had collapsed.

I can remember him going off in the morning, looking pretty old and haggard. He found it very difficult in those last couple of years: catching the bus in and out of town each day, keeping on at work so that he could continue to meet his family commitments.

Sometimes, while still visiting country towns, he would come home from a tiring trip feeling exhausted, and relaxed with a little wine. Phyllis disapproved of this as she felt that alcohol and hardening of the arteries, from which he suffered, did not mix. Once, she discovered a bottle of Frontignac and quickly hid it in the oven. She forgot this and, when she next turned on the oven, the bottle blew up, caught fire, and gave her a terrible fright.

Because of the difference in their natures, Ted played second-fiddle to Phyllis in most things. She was extreme in her religious commitment. He went to Church every Sunday, but was less demonstrative about his religion. She always enjoyed the company of other people. He liked solitude. Once he said to Miriamme: `One day, we'll go away and live on a desert island, won't we Mimsie-bobs. We'll leave the noisy ones behind.' There were times when he regretted giving up the sea. He and Miriamme shared a love of music and an odd sense of humour that Phyllis did not appreciate.

Concern for his children

He had an enormous commitment to his family: providing for them materially, and showing concern for his children. Since he had few outside interests, he placed great store on how they grew up and on what they did. He made time available for them.

Miriamme remembered how at night, when they were small children, he told them stories of his own:

We knew that he made up these stories about his early days at sea, and that they didn't really happen to him, but we loved him to repeat them to us. He told us how he was once stranded on a desert island and how he tried to push a row-boat into the water so he could escape. Suddenly some little monkeys jumped down to help him. He had variations in this story: sometimes the monkeys threw nuts down from the tree and he got a whack on the head. We would shriek with laughter, and think it marvellous. We loved those stories. I can remember Aunty telling him not to excite us too much because we wouldn't go to sleep.

Retirement and death

After retirement, Ted had few interests. He suffered from headaches, which he diagnosed as neuralgia, and failing eyesight. This made reading difficult and finally impossible. Sometimes he wrapped a scarf like a turban around his head to protect it from cold draughts. Before retirement he had discovered that he had a heart problem. He died on 7 January 1976 from congestive cardiac failure.

Summary of her life

hyllis, the second daughter of Harry Rumble & Kate Knight, was born on 6 May 1899 at Fremantle, Western Australia. She lived with her parents in Fremantle and Perth until 1915 when the family moved to Bunbury. She was very popular in Bunbury, enjoying an active social life.

In November 1918, at the end of World War I, she met Edward John (Ted) Chown who was a young officer on the Sailing Vessel Monkbarns. When the ship left Bunbury, she and Ted corresponded and he eventually migrated to Western Australia where they were married in 1927. In the early 1920s Phyllis trained as a nurse, working both at the Children's Hospital in Perth and at Lady Lawley's Cottage for Crippled and Hospitalised Children in Cottesloe.

Phyllis suffered poor health in her early life and was warned about the dangers of childbirth. In 1928, she and Ted adopted Miriamme, the child of her elder sister Maude who had died in 1926. They had two children of their own, Joseph (b.1929) and Edward (b.1937). Before and after the birth of Joseph, Phyllis was seriously ill.

Phyllis lived for many years in Goomalling where Ted became Road Board Secretary. She took an increasing interest in Catholicism and in the welfare of the nuns and clergy, often going out of her way to do things for them and for the Parish. In the early 1940s she and the family moved to Perth where she lived until her death on 6 February 1988, apart from a few years spent with her younger son and his family in Esperance.

Social life in Bunbury

1917:

Swim Through Bunbury

Phyllis spent her late 'teens in Bunbury. She was a popular girl and joined wholeheartedly in the life of the small community. On 29 January, 1917 there was a "Swim through Bunbury" in which she took part. She was not one of the winners, but participated, and received honourable mention in the local paper next day. The newspaper account of the race was as follows:

SWIM THROUGH BUNBURY

A Great Success

Yesterday morning saw the Estuary a scene of gay activity reminding one unconsciously of those happy days before the war when the people of Bunbury in holiday mood, well dressed, happy, and seemingly with no thought for the morrow used to assemble along the water front from time to time to witness those water sports which were so popular then, and which events have proved are no less popular today. There was a sharp breeze blowing yesterday morning, and the outgoing tide was flowing strongly, the water was thus a little too choppy for the conditions to be regarded as ideal. But this neither damped the enthusiasm nor lessened the ardour of participants or public. In every way the event was a pronounced success. The course was from the Parade Hotel to the Boat Sheds, over a measured distance of 1,266 yards. The whole of that distance was most closely patrolled by motor and row boats, and indeed we have been asked specially to convey the thanks of the Swimming Club to the boat owners of Bunbury for the way in which they placed their craft at the disposal of the club, and for the furtherance of a grand sport yesterday. Promptly to time at 10 o'clock the limit swimmer dived. This is worthy of notice as showing the perfection of the arrangements. Twenty-two swimmers faced the starter - all of them young, and to the credit of the fair sex be it mentioned that seven of the number were representatives of our budding womanhood. Only four of the starters failed to finish the race. The conclusion of the Homeric struggle was remarkably close. Only about 70 yards separated the first four. The winner was warmly applauded as the finishing flag was passed. It may be mentioned that all the more credit is due to the winner owing to the fact that he has only recently recovered from a most severe illness.

The times were then listed. The winner, Herbert Hayes, completed the course in 19 min. 32 secs. Miss Needham came second at 22 min. 50 sec. Phyllis was unplaced, but completed the course in 27 min. 55 secs.

Raising camp comforts for soldiers:

The Unpopular Girl

competition

In August 1918, the local Red Cross ran an "Unpopular Girl" competition to raise funds for camp comforts for the soldiers. Phyllis decided to organise a children's dance. Kate stated in her diary that a number of friends helped to cut sandwiches on the morning of the twenty-ninth, for the dance in the afternoon. Unfortunately,

being a wet day only forty came and one little girl of twelve broke her arm, so I had to motor her to Dr.Flynn's, but she returned to the party when he had set it and put it in a splint.

The local paper reported:

THOSE UNPOPULAR GIRLS

Miss Phyllis Rumble's Efforts

On Thursday afternoon last a children's dance and tea was held in the Rechabite Hall, which was tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers. Miss Phyllis Rumble, the organiser, started the ball rolling with a dance and the rest were not long in following suit. Dancing and games were kept up till tea was announced and then there was a rush for places, and a look at the happy faces of the children showed that they were having a thoroughly good time. When tea was finished dancing was resumed and at 7 p.m. a happy and well spent afternoon was concluded.

The end of World War I

Phyllis meets Ted Chown on the S.V. Monkbarns.

For details of the visit of the Monkbarns to Bunbury,

see the entry for

Dorothy Rumble (15016F)

On 11 November 1918 Germany surrendered, the World War ended, and Bunbury celebrated. On Thursday 14 November a school "treat" was held. Phyllis worked much of the previous day cutting sandwiches for this event. While serving drinks to the children, she met Ted Chown, who was a young officer on the sailing ship "Monkbarns" that had come into Bunbury on the 8 November. She met Ted again a few days later on the twentieth when the Mayor, Mr. Baldock, gave a party for the officers from the ship. She saw him again on the twenty-fourth and, after the ship left Bunbury, they corresponded.

A nursing career:

Probationer at

Bunbury Hospital

In 1919 Phyllis followed in the footsteps of her sister Maude. On the 16 November, her father took her in his motorcycle and sidecar to St.Clair's Hospital in Bunbury, where she started nursing as a probationer. She did not stay long in this position, as her mother's diary for 26 November shows:

Phyl came in afternoon, Pa motored her back at 6.30 as she has been put on night duty - did 14 hours, looks overtired, so Pa notified Matron he would fetch her away at 9 a.m. tomorrow, as it was too strenuous for her.

Exams to enter the

Children's Hospital

in Perth

On 29 November Phyllis sat for the exam to enter the Children's Hospital in Perth. She was not required to commence at the hospital until 9 January, so Kate started sewing blue uniforms and aprons for her. On 16 December a letter arrived from Maudie to say that Phyllis had passed her exams, and was now wanted by the hospital immediately.

She left next day, as was noted in the Bunbury paper:

Miss Phyllis Rumble, who has joined the nursing staff of the Children's Hospital, Perth, left Bunbury for that centre, by Wednesday's train. Miss Rumble will be greatly missed by her large circle of friends in Bunbury.

Phyllis was in Perth for her twenty-first birthday on 6 May 1920. Although her grandmother Letitia was ill she sent Phyllis a birthday letter and a gold chain with diamond and pearl pendant from England.

1921: Phyllis takes a position with Lady Lawley's Cottage, Cottesloe.

On 8 July 1921 Kate wrote in her diary:

Letter from Phyllis to tell us she has accepted a position at Lady Lawley's Cottage at Cottesloe Beach, starting tomorrow - we sent up a uniform etc. to go on with, a box of chocs from me and 30/- in it from Pa in two notes.

Lady Lawley's Cottage was a home for crippled and hospitalised children, and Phyl remained with them until she resigned on 10 September 1924. In October 1924 she travelled by ship to Sydney as a nurse for John, a fifteen year old paralysed boy. Kate's diary entry for 18 October states:

1924: She accompanies a 15 year-old paralysed boy on a sea trip to Sydney.

Phyllis said goodbye to Dolly & me at 9.30. Ted and Maudie went with her to Eric's warehouse, he then motored them to Fremantle, picking up Jimmie and Ross too at his home, Phyllis had to be on board the `Katoomba' at 10.30 to look after her new little patient - a paralysed boy of 15 - `John' - After fixing him up she was allowed to go ashore and dine in Fremantle with Ted and Maudie, then Horace came in afternoon before the boat left at 3 p.m. - he gave Phyl a pound and Ted had made her take ,2, the day before, as well as one each from Pa and me - I made a calico pocket on the centre of her corsets to button over with a flap to put her money in. I wrote letter to Phyl to Adelaide, as Dad and I were going into town before tea. On our return we found Ted and Maudie had just got home, very excited at the beautiful boat and nice people that Phyl seemed to be travelling with. She also liked her patient. . .

Phyllis returned to Perth on 1 April 1925. Her mother, although in bed with a bad throat and a temperature, recorded this in her diary:

After lunch, Dolly caught the 2 train to Fremantle, Ted joining her at Cottesloe Beach, to meet Phyllis on the "Karoola", which came in at 3 p.m. They returned here about 5 p.m., & all came into my room to shew herself & all the purchases she had made in the East, & heaps of presents received. John's father gave her ,10 on saying goodbye, extra to her 1st class fare home & other gifts. She had called on Sister Conleth in Melbourne, was met & motored to John's relatives for the 1st night in port, & the 2nd she spent at Doreen Shaw's home. She is looking much better for her trip. After tea Mrs. Stanbury, Evy & Mrs. Brennan came to see Maudie, & how I was - so I listened to their merry noise in the dining room. . . Later on Frank & Kitty McAdam came, bringing a dozen beautifully cut wine glasses for Maudie, so Pa gave them all drinks out of them at Maudie's request. Ted did not sleep the night here. Pa had Dolly's bedroom, & she shared with Phyllis.

1921:

She meets Ted Chown again

Phyllis continued writing to Ted Chown who had left the Monkbarns and had joined the Clan line. On 24 April, 1921 Kate wrote in her diary:

Captain Pearson motored our girls, Mrs Johnston and Mr Webster to the Caves at Yallingup this morning, staying the night in Busselton. Called on board the "Matheson" and saw Ted Chown and his captain.

Later the "Clan Matheson" sailed to Bunbury and on the twenty-eighth Ted came to the Rumble home for tea and the evening. Over the next few days he was a constant visitor to the Rumble's. He and Phyl went to dances, and the whole family was invited several times to dine with the captain on board the ship. The Clan Matheson left Bunbury at mid-day on Phyl's twenty-second birthday on 6 May. Kate wrote,

Ted came up for a last peep at Phyl and brought her three boxes of chocs.

Eventually Ted gave up the sea and migrated to Western Australia. Kate wrote in her diary:

1923: Ted migrates to Australia.

Phyl and Ted become

engaged.

9 January 1923 :Phyl heard from Ted today - he is on his way here on a P & O ship as a passenger.

20 January 1923 : Phyl and Doll went to Fremantle to meet Ted's boat - they returned with him about 4 p.m. having had to wait to get his luggage thro' the customs. He and Phyl, Maudie and Frank went to the "Grand" pictures in the evening.

He and Phyllis became engaged on 3 February, 1923. The notice in the paper, read:

The engagement is announced of Phyllis, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Humfrey Rumble, of North Perth, to Edward John, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Chown, of Norbury, England.

Because of ill-health, Phyl and Ted did not marry until 1927.

Ted, after several earlier forms of employment, settled in the small country town of Goomalling. For a period Phyllis was unwell. She had problems with her teeth, which gradually were all extracted; she had problems with her ears, and with her kidneys. Over the next ten years she was to suffer a succession of illnesses culminating in 1932 with a major kidney operation. Miriamme recalled:

Not only did she have kidney trouble, but there was also something wrong with her stomach. She had it X-rayed before her marriage and her doctor warned her of possible problems with childbirth. In later years Aunty often boasted that she had twice received the Last Sacraments.

The need for Ted to establish himself in Goomalling, and concerns for Phyllis's fitness for marriage delayed the wedding until 1927.

Her mother's diary for 12 October 1927 has the following entry:

The Wedding

Phyl asked Dad's consent this evening to get married on 19 November, have a week's honeymoon, and then return to live here, until Doctor agrees she is strong enough for married life. He said yes, so she at once rang up Goomalling and told Ted.

They were married on 19 November 1927. The marriage notice in the paper, read:

CHOWN - RUMBLE - On November 19, at St. Brigid's church, West Perth, by the Very Rev.Fr.Fagan, Edward John, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Chown, Norbury, England, to Phyllis, eldest surviving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Humfrey Rumble, North Perth.

Her mother, Kate, wrote the following in her diary:

Saturday 19th November 1927

We got a 'Yellow-Cab' at 6.30 a.m. and Phyl, Dolly and I motored to the quarter to seven mass at St.Brigid's where Ted arrived soon after and we all four went to Holy Communion together. Then went round to see Father Fagan, and brought Ted home to breakfast with us, in another 'Yellow-Cab'.

The girls stayed home this morning, and several telegrams arrived for Phyl between breakfast and dinner. I went into town by myself to bring home the wedding dress and my own, for which I paid, and Mrs Groom tied on the parcel a little china powder-bowl as a wedding present to Phyl. I also bought 6 yards white satin ribbon for Frank's motor car and a new leather handbag for Phyllis, to match her 'going-away' frock. . . Frank motored the girls and Vic to Mt.Lawley at 4 p.m. to fetch Doreen Shaw, the bridesmaid, and the two wedding bouquets.

¹ 16005F

² 16020F

We only hired one car for the wedding trips, as Frank and Eric both lent theirs. Jean¹ brought Miriamme to the church, and Dolly brought Joan², but after the ceremony, they motored home with the babies to put them to bed. Vic went too, then he and Dolly motored to the presbytery to fetch Fr. Fagan to us at the "Savoy Hotel" where we were having the wedding breakfast in their private dining room, he presided over for us.

Frank motored the bridal party to `Lafayette's' to be photoed at 6 p.m., but they arrived in time at the Savoy Hotel, where we were introduced to the proprietress, Mrs Shea, by Ted, who had met her at Goomalling. We then went into the dining room, 21 in all laid for, the tables very prettily decorated with roses and arranged T shape. Cold chicken, ham and salad, with trifle, fruit salad and claret cup, chocolates and wedding cake to end up with.

Frank motored Fr. Fagan to St.Brigid's at 7.30 with the bride, groom and bridesmaid, dropping him at the presbytery, then they went to the convent to see Sister Mary Claver and give her the bridal bouquet for Our Lady's Altar, and all the other nuns came out into the hall to kiss the bride, except Rev.Mother who was with one of her young nuns (who is ill with pneumonia) at St.John of God's hospital - Sister Mary Sebastian, only 20 years old.

From there they motored home, just in time to receive the friends she had invited to taste her cake and drink her health at 8 p.m. Mrs Kavanagh and 2 daughters, Mr and Mrs Greayer, Eleanor Mulgrue, Mrs Stanbury, Eva Williams, Mrs Brennan and Josie, Mrs Henderson, Mr Gallop, Hilda and Doris Hedges. Then Frank motored back for us at the Savoy, Dad and myself, Vic and Dolly - the other boys had returned to their own homes with their families.

Frank motored Phyl across to Mrs Cripps as she was sick in bed, to shew herself in her bridal array. She wore my lace veil, over 100 years old, that had belonged to her great-grandmother - worked in Brussels net. Frank took Doreen beside him, about 10 p.m. when he motored Ted and Phyl to Claremont where they were spending their honeymoon at the hotel Continental.

The bridal dress was white georgette, sleeves, neck, and flared skirt beaded with tiny glass beads, the front of skirt draped with old lace. The `going-away' dress was a figured crepe-de-chine in navy blue, tango and fawn - with navy hat and fawn silk stockings and fawn kid shoes. We had a thunderstorm in the morning which relieved the heat of Friday.

Adoption of Miriamme, baby daughter of her late sister Maude.

Ted was now Road Board Secretary at the small country town of Goomalling but, because of continued ill health, Phyllis did not join him there until 23 September 1928. Phyllis's sister Maude died in 1926 and just before her death she asked Phyllis to look after her baby. Phyllis and Ted adopted Miriamme in June 1928. Miriamme always called them Aunty and Uncle, never Mother and Father. Phyllis and Ted had two sons, Joseph (b.1929) and Edward (b.1937).

The problems of childbirth.

Fearing death, Phyllis

dedicates her son to the priesthood.

Phyllis's sister Dorothy always said that Phyllis dedicated Joseph to the Priesthood from the time of his birth.

Miriamme recalled:

The doctors told her that she wouldn't carry Joseph to full term and that neither she nor her child might survive if she continued with the pregnancy. Aunty told me that at an early stage the doctors wanted to "take" Joseph - that is, to have an abortion. Naturally, with her religious convictions, she refused.

It was then that she prayed to St.Joseph and promised him that, if he helped them both survive the ordeal, she would call her baby Joseph. She also promised to do all she could to have him enter the priesthood. She told me that she wanted to dedicate him to the priesthood, to give him back to God.

She kept her word, and Joseph grew up to become a priest.

³Extreme Unction is the

Sacrament in which a Priest

anoints with blessed oil

those who are sick and in

grave danger of death.

The diaries of Kate Rumble confirm the illness of Phyllis during pregnancy. By mid-March 1929 she developed severe `morning-sickness'. She could keep down neither solids nor fluids and vomited many times each day. She developed cystitis. By mid-April the local doctor ordered her into the Goomalling hospital. She became very weak and, on 23 April, the local Catholic priest gave her Extreme Unction³.

On 30 April she was taken by train to Perth in a reserved carriage to obtain specialist advice on her kidneys. On 27 May Kate wrote that, following X-rays, she appeared to have a stone in one kidney, and that both were affected. It was decided not to operate before her confinement. With careful nursing, Phyllis improved and was able to return to Goomalling on 17 July.

Her father brought her back to Perth on 7 September, and Kate remarked that she looked wonderfully well. She was quite active until her confinement, even polishing the dining-room floor on 13 November. She then had a very prolonged and difficult labour before Joseph was born at 4.55 pm on 15 November. Kate wrote on that day:

After tea Dad took Joseph Edward Claver's birth notice into the Terrace to get it in Saturday's paper. He and I both felt the strain of these last two days and thanked God Phyllis was so brave over it, coming thro' so wonderfully to what we feared, an answer to the many prayers of priests, nuns and friends.

1932: Phyllis has a major

Kidney operation.

While in hospital, her mother dies.

⁴Joan (16020F) =

daughter of Dorothy Fall

When Joseph was two years of age, Phyllis had an operation for kidney stones. At that time this was considered a dangerous and major operation. Phyllis was admitted to St. John of God Hospital and Miriamme and Joseph spent six weeks staying with their Aunty Doll in Yarloop.

While Phyllis was in hospital her mother Kate died on 31 October 1932. Miriamme remembered this:

Granny died while Aunty was still in hospital. I was six and remember Aunty Doll coming out to the back lawn, where we were playing, to tell us. She was crying and this made both Joan⁴ and me cry. I don't think we had ever seen a grown-up cry. Aunty was not told of her mother's death until ten days after the operation.

It took Phyllis a long time to recover but she eventually returned to the house in Goomalling that had now become her home. Miriamme said:

The Altar in the house

The Wash-house

and Mrs Singh,

the washer-woman.

⁵Coolgardie Safe =

A primitive cooler in which water dripped down the hessian sides. Evaporation cooled the contents of the safe by a few degrees.

By now, like her mother, the practice of the Catholic religion had become very important to Phyllis. Miriamme recalled:

In the house we had a little Altar. Aunty placed a red velvet kneeling stool, that once belonged to Granny Rumble, in front of it. We children had to kneel there to say our prayers every night. In the room she had a crucifix, little statues and holy pictures. She put flowers in the room and, when we said our prayers at night, she lit a little candle. I often think how terribly religious Aunty was and how she did her best to bring us up in the same way.

Outside the house there was a wash-house made of corrugated iron. Phyllis employed a Mrs Singh once a fortnight to do the clothes-washing and to wash the floors. She arrived early in the morning and stayed until four or five in the afternoon, for which she received ten shillings. Miriamme recalled:

It was said she was of Indian extraction, or that her husband was Indian. But no one ever saw her husband. There were rumours that he lived in Northam, and she had quite a few children. She came to wash for Aunty almost up to the day that a child was born. Often she brought a couple of her kids with her - those who were not at school. She lived in a little tin shack made of flattened-out kerosene tins on the outskirts of town. Perhaps she was part-Aboriginal, as there were fringe-dwelling Aboriginals at Goomalling.

I liked her because she played with me. She gave me water to wash my dolly's clothes and allowed me to hang them on the line. We had two big lines held up by old wooden clothes props. We usually purchased these from aboriginals who went from door to door, selling them.

In those days ironing clothes was a frustrating task. Most people used "Mrs Potts'" irons. These were heated on top of the wood stove, then rubbed clean on a cloth covered with salt. Mrs Singh and Aunty ironed the white shirts Uncle used for the office - a hazardous exercise, as can be imagined.

Mrs Singh was also good at chasing and killing snakes. Some were quite dangerous tiger snakes. These abounded in summer and, as our house was surrounded by bush on three sides, a snake once came on to our back verandah to drink from the bottom of the Coolgardie⁵ safe. One even got into the house and entered the vegetable cupboard. Mrs Singh was not afraid of snakes. I remember her scaling the side picket-fence once, whacking a snake with a stick to kill it. She was a tough lady!

Our washer-lady knew all the town gossip. When Aunty gave her morning or afternoon tea, or lunch, she loved to relate the latest news. Later, when Phyllis repeated it to Uncle, she would not realise that we children were listening, probably thinking we were asleep.

Ted tries to find home help

⁶ 15089F

1937: The birth of Edward

At times when Phyllis was not well Ted obtained home-help both for the housework and to have someone to look after Miriamme and Joseph. This was not easy for him. During the great depression years, he was short of money, and women or girls to do house-work were seldom available. Many girls on leaving school departed from Goomalling for the city. For a short period Miriamme's aunt, Gladys Spencer⁶, stayed with them so she could help.

In 1937 Phyllis was again ill during her pregnancy with Edward, but this time she was not given the Last Sacraments, as had been the case with Joseph, and with her kidney operation. In later years when her health improved she often enjoyed talking about the severity of these illnesses.

Religious commitment

Influence of her mother

and of her brother, Les

Religion probably became of importance to Phyllis through the influence of both her brother Leslie, who became a celebrated priest, and her mother. Kate was afraid that, if her children did not remain firmly within the Catholic faith, then, when they died, she would never see them again. She implored all her girls to remain firm in their faith.

Throughout her life, Phyllis wore two badges of great honour: She basked in the glory of having a brother who was a famous priest, known throughout Australia because of his work on radio; she was immensely proud that her son Joseph had followed in his footsteps by entering the priesthood. She proudly told people that the famous Reverend Father Dr Leslie Rumble was her brother.

Phyllis had an extroverted pride in her family

She had the gift of faith and a simple approach to religion

She loved the company of others

This was in keeping with her extrovert nature and the pride that she had in all her family. As her son Edward recalled:

She took great pride in the worldly achievements of her brother Eric, and in the success of Uncle Horace with his yacht, Mercedes. But my Uncle Les was her favourite. I think that a boastful, extrovert nature is part of the Rumble character. Being such a dynamic person she had great influence on our lives as children.

In spite of early ill-health, I think she had a sound constitution - another Rumble heritage. Her enormous commitment to religion was emotional - if you like, she had the gift of faith. She had no intellectual understanding of her religion. It filled a void, and she enjoyed the company of people that it gave. Provided she had people around her, she could always find happiness in their company. She had a very positive approach to life, so people sought her out. Sometimes this created tensions as Dad liked a quiet life with his family, whereas Mum was involved in everything and everyone, welcoming them into the house, making cups of tea and forever chatting with them. She loved being in the "know", and in the thick of everything.

Like most people, there were contradictions in her. In her commitment to religion and the things she would do for people, you could almost say that she was saintly were it not for her boastful streak, and for the judgement she could mete out against some people. But, the positive virtues she displayed in life far outweighed the negative.

She gave much time to the Church		In Goomalling, Church activities and friends occupied much of her time. She helped the nuns and the priests. On the day of the annual convent ball she and other ladies worked hard preparing the local hall; often she made a dozen trifles, trays of sausage rolls and the like for supper. Occasionally she invited priests home for a meal with the family and made a great fuss of them.
Religion gave Phyllis support but there was much superstition In spite of appearing strong to others, beneath the exterior she had anxiety.		Miriamme felt that Phyllis needed religion for the support and acceptance it gave her: There was much superstition in religion in those days. It played a large part in my own religious upbringing. I remember that at school we were told that God could strike you dead if you were in a state of sin, and we were even quoted an example where this had happened. Mission priests gave fire and brimstone sermons. I can remember a lady in church fainting during a mission sermon. Fear and guilt were great weapons used by the Church. Aunty clung to many of these superstitious ideas, and used religion as a prop. Of course, she also had a lot of sickness and that often helps to turn a person to religion. Religion helped her cope with anxiety. Aunty was a lot more anxious than most people realised. They saw her as a very outgoing and strong person, constantly chattering, constantly interested in, and helping everybody. I think that underneath this she was a very anxious person.
The contrast between the approach of Phyllis and Ted to religion		Ted had become a Catholic before marrying Phyllis, but their attitudes to religion were quite different. Whereas Ted was an introvert, Phyllis was an extrovert. This often left him on the outskirts of social activity. Their son, Edward, recalled: Attendance at Church service showed their differences very clearly. Before the Mass started, Mum would be up there lighting candles, or arranging flowers on the altar. As soon as Mass finished, there were always a thousand people she wanted to see, and she would rush from one to another. Dad would be left very much on his own, wondering what to do with himself. For us all, she was a bit of an embarrassment.
She was very kind hearted and generous		Phyllis was very kind-hearted and generous. She would do anything for someone who was sick, or who had personal troubles. People often came to her home to discuss their problems with her. She thrived on this, and it became an important part of her life. The more praise she received, the more she felt driven to do more, even when she was tired and worn out. Although most trades-people - the butcher, the baker, the grocer and greengrocer - came to the door to take orders and, later, to deliver goods, Phyllis often went to town with her children on Saturday afternoon. Sometimes she paid an outstanding account, and bought a bag of boiled-lollies for the children, but her main reason was to meet and to talk with farmers' wives and others who came to town every Saturday. g

Social life in Goomalling

Fancy dress balls for

children

Adult's Ball

Fortnightly Women's

bridge club

Phyllis won prizes at the

Annual Show

The country people made their own entertainment. Miriamme recalled:

There was an annual Children's Fancy Dress Ball, for which Aunty made our costumes. Occasionally, they held a ball for the adults. It was for one of these that I remember Aunty wearing make-up. This was most unusual for her as Uncle strongly disapproved of make-up.

They were friendly with farmers and we sometimes paid visits to farms in the district. Aunty took part in a fortnightly women's bridge club. It rotated from one home to another and four or five tables of ladies took part; those who didn't play bridge, played rummy. Everyone brought a plate: marvellous sponge cakes, cream puffs and the like. The highlight of the afternoon was an enormous afternoon tea at which some ladies positively gorged themselves.

Then we had the annual Agricultural Show. Aunty won many prizes for her Stocks and Iceland Poppies in the gardening section, and she won prizes for her cakes. She was a good cook. But, like all little towns, there was always some bitchiness. There would always be someone who thought that their cake was better than the one that gained the prize. Much criticism went on behind each other's backs.

Goomalling in the depression years.

The depression years were times when many people had troubles. Miriamme recalled:

I can remember Uncle telling me that in the depression years some of the farmers could not pay their bills for months on end. They had to wait until after the harvest. Some had to sell their properties and watch the bailiffs take everything - everything, that is, except the woman's sewing machine. It was an unwritten law that this was always left so the woman could make clothes for her children.

I was told this by one of my school friends whose father was Paddy Lowry, a big Irish policeman. She also told me that he doled out one shilling a day to men passing through the town in search of work. Sometimes they did a day's work for somebody and would be given a meal in return as full payment. Aunty always gave them something, or she'd give them a billy of tea; they'd take it down to the recreation ground where they slept on tables that were normally used for serving afternoon teas.

I have vivid memories of this long stream of people, and Aunty invariably gave them something. If she gave them a meal, they would sit on the back verandah to eat it. I can remember standing at the back door, looking at them, and wondering at the strangeness of it all. As I grew older, I understood.

1942: Phyllis and family move to Perth

In 1942, during the second World War, Ted became an auditor. He and his family left Goomalling to live first in a flat at 58 Forrest Street, Cottesloe, then in Nicholson Road, Subiaco and later in Osborne Park. When at Osborne Park Phyllis took driving lessons and gained her licence at the age of sixty-two.

Her attitude to alcohol

Entertaining the Benedictine monks with Ale

Because of her father's periods of drunkenness, Phyllis felt strongly about the abuses that alcohol could cause - and was very wary of it. However, both in Goomalling and in Perth she often had visits from the Benedictine monks from New Norcia. She discovered that they liked, but seldom had opportunity to have, beer. When they visited her, Phyllis would say, `Father, would you like a glass of Ale?, knowing that they would love it. Being Spanish, they only drank wine at the monastery. Beer was a treat for them. But Phyllis never called it beer. It was Ale. Sometimes she made a greater fuss of a priest than of her husband, and Ted may have resented this.

Joseph leaves the Church

Ted's death.

Phyllis lives with Edward's family in Esperance

1988: her death

In September 1972 Joseph left the Priesthood. Ted was sorry to see this happen, but seemed to understand Joe's decision. Phyllis was shocked, and found it more difficult to cope with the news.

Ted died on 7 January 1976 and Phyl continued living in the Osborne Park home until she sold it early in 1980. She then spent almost five years living with her son Edward and his family at Esperance. Later, she took up residence at the Catholic Servite Villa for older people in Joondanna, and lived there until her death on 6 February 1988.