1908-1967
Father
Mother
Siblings
Gertrude, Mary Rebecca, Elva Myrtle, Ethel Bedelia, Samuel John, Edward Milton, Gwenneth Rita and and Dorothy Isabel
Married
Children
Noelene Margaret, Allene Lee
Joe’s Life
Joe was born at Inglewood, Victoria in 1908, the second son and sixth child of John Strudwick and Bedelia Jenkins.
Joe grew up in the Inglewood district participating in various clubs and sports. Joe developed a passion for cycling and competed very successfully in several endurance races. Joe and his fellow cyclists utilised their bikes not only for sport but as their main conveyance to work. Joe also played football, Australian Rules, which he continued to pursue in Tullamore.
Joe left school at 14, he commenced his trade as a builder/carpenter, under the guidance of Mr J Secombe, a trade he continued when he moved to Tullamore. Mr Secombe was a building contractor of some note in the district and built the new Methodist Church at Bridgewater, Victoria that was opened in 1926, it was built in the English Gothic style.
The Strudwicks were successful in land ballot in Tullamore. Early in 1927 Joe’s father, John, sold the property at Inglewood and at the same time ‘Bercham Station’ at Tullamore was divided up and he bought a portion of it. They named the property at Tullamore, Kingower at Joe’s mother, Bedelia’s, request. Bedelia was born and raised in Kingower, Victoria, her children were born in that district and so they bought a little piece of Victoria to Tullamore with them.
The three brothers, Jack, Joe and Milt travelled to Tullamore by horse transport, Jack in the covered wagon, Joe in the horse and sulky and Milton in the dray full of chaff and leading spare horses.
The adventure took them three and a half weeks and they arrived in Tullamore about the 23rd of February 1927.
Once the Strudwicks settled in at Kingower, Tullamore, Joe set about building a homestead for the family. It was a magnificent house that boasted large rooms and a beautiful verandah. Tragically this house burned down – the clean-up team remarked on the superior foundations and workmanship of the house.
Joe continued to build many homes in the Tullamore and Tottenham districts. As a keen cyclist he would ride his bike to the jobs – even as far as Tottenham 30 miles away with tools on board. Joe would also ride to visit family and friends on the weekends. He would do various odd jobs, including cutting wood to assist these family and friends, a very generous man.
Joe was a valued player in the Tullamore AFL team which met other teams around the district, he was often cited in the newspaper reports from 1929 to 1933 of being a key player. They played such teams as Parkes, Gunningbland, Forbes, Wongalea. An insight into the Victorian influence of this district. The first mention of Joe playing Rugby League was against Tottenham in 1929. A sporting all-rounder. Joe was also a keen bowler once the Bowling Club was established.
When Joe’s father died in 1947, he then built a beautiful house for Bedelia, his mother, in the township of Tullamore. Equally as lovely and sturdy as the house at Kingower.
Joe was always there to assist his mother after his father passed away. She had a magnificent garden and continually asked Joe to fashion wire supports for her plants. He did so with pleasure.
In 1950 Joe met Roma Reynolds who was visiting her aunt and uncle in Tullamore. They married in Victoria and made Kingower their home, welcoming two daughters, Noelene and Allene. Joe was a very attentive family man and was beloved by his wife and daughters.
Joe ensured that his daughters were involved in all facets of farming life, developing in them a love of the land that was to continue for many years.
Joe succumbed to a heart attack and passed away in the Tullamore Hospital in 1967. He was only 57 of age. He left a bereft and bewildered family and was mourned by the whole district.
As told by Noelene Strudwick/Guy