1879-1945
Father
Mother
Siblings
William Amos, Ada May, Percy Charles, Ella Gertrude, Elsie Jane, Roy Edward Thomas, Howard James Miller
Married
Children
David Anthony, Norman Arnold, Florence Edith, Charles Oliver, Thelma Elsie, Harriet Irene, Rebecca Ella, Benjamin Albert, Joseph Orlando, Lillian Ann, Miller Adele, Grace Iris
Martha’s Life
Martha Anna was born in Molong on 14 October 1879. She lived the life of a farmer’s daughter assisting her parents when required. Her parents were earnest Christians and heavily involved with the Cranbury Church of England community.
Martha and George were married in 1902 and eventually made their home in the Tullamore/Fifield district. The first confirmation of their arrival at Loomvale, Fifield is early 1907 when George is mentioned in a Police Gazette regarding stolen horses (he was not the perpetrator). Although Norman John Strudwick (my Father) advised that George came to Fifield before he was married. This is indicated in the 1901 Molong Census. Their first four children, David, Norman, Florence and Charles were born at Cargo with Harriet being the first child born at Fifield in 1909. Norman John Strudwick has confirmed that George moved up first, lived in an old hut on the place and prepared the way for his wife and children. The first Parish Map that shows the Dousts owning land in the Parish of Fitzroy is dated 1914. It appears the land was taken up from a subdivision of the Burra Burra estate and some land may have been leased as well, hence the ability to name their property Loomvale in keeping with Martha’s family.
Martha and George built a pisé house for the family to live in. They used butter boxes to form the walls. Dad remembers as a child his brothers and he filling buckets of clay for running repairs. The house was listed in the National Trust but unfortunately the subsequent owners did not value it and allowed stock to destroy it with the job being finished off by mining activities. The floors were of pounded earth and the walls were whitewashed (Dad remembers getting special clay to facilitate this). As the family outgrew the house, a structure of canvas and corrugated iron was added out the back for the girls.
George and Martha had twelve children, seven girls and five boys, one of the girls dying in infancy. Their happiness was not last though with George dying in 1920. A rainstorm while George was working a paddock with his team of horses forced him to take the team back to the stables. George ensured that his horses were all rubbed down and dry to keep them healthy for work before looking after himself. The stable was full of humidity and wet, hot horses providing an atmosphere that led to George sickening then dying of pneumonia. He was only 44. Martha was 40 with 11 children aged 18 years to six months old and very much on her own. The families tried to assist Martha. William and Rebecca Loomes took over the care of Harriet and the Dousts cared for Charles.
Martha reared a very happy caring family who loved her dearly. My father commented often that no one had been able to surpass the biscuits she made.
Authored by Leah Burnheim