#52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Week 36, Prompt: ‘Work'

Week 36:  'Work'

I was thinking about the ’work’ prompt and started to reminisce about my father and his hard work on the orchard.  Then back to his father who came out from Scotland to become an orchardist in Victoria.  That led me to wonder how long orchards had been established in the Goulburn Valley where we lived.

Regarding the ‘white’ habitation of Victoria - in 1800 the ‘Lady Nelson’ was first to sail through Bass Strait from West to East, and in 1802 she brought the first Europeans to Port Phillip, ten weeks before Flinders arrived in the Investigator in April 1802. 

Another year passed and in January and February 1803 Grimes, for Governor King of NSW, also surveyed Port Phillip and discovered the Yarra River but discouraged settlement.  It was over 30 years before Melbourne was established when the explorers helped with opening up the land and influence the further settlement of the Port Phillip region.

In 1835-6, Surveyor-General of NSW, Major Thomas Mitchell crossed the Murray River and proceeded south to Portland then northeast finding fertile land which impressed him so much that he termed the region ‘Australia Felix’, thus inspiring subsequent settlement.

Aboriginal groups inhabited Victoria including the Goulburn Valley region prior to European settlement. There was an existing culture and peoples specific to this area, fully formed and complex.  (It is still living and vibrant today.)  Downstream at Shepparton, the area was inhabited by the Yorta Yorta people.

^“The Aboriginal peoples lived harmoniously according to the natural cycles of the land and rhythms, and moved through country on a seasonal basis, occupying the cooler more mountainous areas in summer and autumn, and the tributaries of the Goulburn in winter and spring.

Food was plentiful around the region’s waterways with emus, kangaroos, possums, wombats, freshwater fish and abundant plant foods harvested by the clans”.

I haven’t been able to find how these first inhabitants were treated by the European settlers.  But I know there was an Aboriginal Protectorate Station from 1840 - 1853 at Murchison  34.5 km (21.4miles)North of Shepparton on the Goulburn River.  It was the focus of interaction between Aboriginal communities, including the Yorta Yorta peoples, government officials, and settlers during the early years of contact in the Port Phillip District. The site continued to hold significance to Aboriginal people after the 1850s, linking pre- and post-contact histories and geographies.

In 1836 Major Mitchell crossed the Goulburn at Mitchellstown near Nagambie and soon afterward overlanders and other early settlers began to use this crossing place on the Melbourne-Sydney route (now known as the Hume Highway).   

Commercial fruit growing in Australia began with the First Fleet and can be said to be based largely on introduced species.  On the voyage to Australia, Governor Arthur Phillip obtained seeds and plants of fruit trees en route from Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope, which were planted at Farm Cove in Sydney, in 1788. Early settlers created a growing demand for fruit, vines and other plants for their estates, and many cultivated their own orchards and vineyards.²

The Goulburn Valley has some of the most fertile soils in Australia and is a major fruit-growing area. The Shepparton Fine Sandy Loams which dominate the fruit growing areas are highly suited to irrigated annual and perennial horticultural crops.  The Mediterranean climate suits the production of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the season and is renowned as the food bowl of Australia.

This sub-region of the Hume consists of those areas in the catchment of the Goulburn River and other nearby streams and is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. Water for irrigation is sourced from Lake Eildon and Goulburn Weir, with Lake Eildon supplying over half the water used in the Shepparton irrigation district.  The fruit grown,  supplies the processing plants in Shepparton and nearby. The SPC Ardmona plant, founded as SPC in Shepparton is one of the world's largest fruit canneries.

The industry, which is labour intensive and seasonal, comprises small-scale family farms, but with a fast growing trend towards larger scale operations. Production involves the growing of fruit and vegetables for domestic and export markets, as well as large-scale processing and canning operations. With its soils, irrigation water and connectivity to capital cities and export markets, the Goulburn Valley has prospered.  The industry has a long-held reputation for quality, primarily due to the high standards across all stages of the supply chain, from farmer to consumer.

The first fruit growers association was formed in the Goulburn Valley in 1891.  

Before the 19th century industrialization, 'paddock to plate' distribution usually involved face-to-face contact between growers and consumers. Local farmers brought their excess produce into town for direct sale at the market. Time taken getting produce to market took its toll on quality and productivity as carting goods by road took farmers from their fields. 

Transportation by river, rail, and motorized vehicles saw increased productivity while canning, drying and refrigeration allowed for long distance freighting without waste. 

Since the mid 20th century, most products on our grocery store shelves have usually travelled countless miles and been handled by many people by the time they are ready for purchase. The increasing number of processes between the farm gate and our plates has seen primary producers and consumers pushed ever further apart.

Up until the 1980s, the industry was cushioned by protectionist policies; but in later years, Goulburn Valley growers have unfortunately been put under increased pressure by international markets and retailers.

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So back to how my family joined the hard working orchard community.  I am including below memories from my Aunt Tib, my father’s sister, that she wrote in her later years.

“In August 1912  settlers were needed to take over the irrigation blocks then being opened up  in the Goulburn Valley.  With eight sons in our Pearce family, there was not enough work for them all in the family business: Wm Pearce & Sons. Soft Drink Factory.

Four of the boys decided to emigrate, three to Canada and one to Australia. 

George Francis Pearce [‘Geordie’, My Grandfather] thought there would be good prospects in Australia for his family. He and his wife Isabella and their five children sailed on the Demosthenes on 25 June 1912“. 

'Demosthenes'

Notice in paper 10 August 1912 re: the arrival of 'Demosthenes'

“Our family had a short stay in Melbourne while Dad [Geordie] came down to Shepparton to choose a block of land a few miles east of the town in what was called No 2 Settlement and later became known as Orrvale and Shepparton East.  Irrigation channels were new and mostly had just some muddy water lying in the bottom.  Blocks were marked out with surveyors pegs. The land had been used to grow wheat and there were old farmhouses here and there, but our block had no home on it and we lived in a tent for 6 weeks all through a rainy September, while our two-roomed house was being built. It was the standard type of weatherboard dwelling provided for the settlers  - 2 large rooms and a verandah, roofed with corrugated iron and lined with tongue and groove boards. There was a corrugated iron tank for water on a strong stand at the back door.

Dad built all the fences and then planted the young trees with help from us.

[There was a lot of work to maintain the trees and keep them watered, working the irrigation system day and night depending on the weather.]

By 1916 fruit trees were coming into bearing and markets had to be found.  A Fruit Grower’s Association had been formed and we had all learned that orcharding was to provide our livelihood, and we would all be involved.  Dad had been employed by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission as a channel guard for the statutory wage of eight shillings per day, 5 1/2 days per week.

In late 1917, a meeting was held in the Orrvale church with a parliamentary representative, some Shepparton businessmen, and leaders of the fruit growers. The meeting determined to build a cannery - Shepparton Preserving Company.  The cannery opened in early 1919, ready to process the peach harvest.  This was all overshadowed from the background by World War One and the restrictions that that imposed."

Geordie Pearce

"Sadly, Dad died 30 June 1922 of pneumonia.  William [my dad] as the oldest son managed the orchard with his mother and the 2 younger boys helping. They took over the orchard block and house next door when the earlier owner left it. This made a fair size and worthwhile orchard of 45 acres.

Summertime in the old days on the orchard - I think of the routine - sorting and packing fruit, stamping boxes, cutting ripe apricots and spreading them out on trays to dry in the sun.  Oh my, how good it was to come to ‘knock off’ time at the long day’s end”.⁶

The first farm tractor

^{Boxes for packing fruit for the Melbourne market}

Hand sorting and grading

James, Sarah (Ray), William and George Pearce

William spraying the trees

^{Sultanas drying on racks}

#52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. Week 14: 'The Maiden Aunt'

Week 14 Prompt: 'Maiden Aunt'

My Auntie Tib is my maiden Aunt.  Her real name was Isabella Macintosh Pearce. She was an IMP just like me !   Tib or Tibbie is a Scottish nickname for Isabella.

Auntie Tib was born on 08 November 1899 at home in Miller St, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, Scotland. Innerleithen is in the area called The Border Country on the River Tweed and close to the English border.

Family photo of Sarah (Ray), Bill, & Isabella (TIbbie) Pearce, C1906, Scotland

The Pearce family emigrated from Scotland in 1912 and Tibbie was 12 years old when they sailed on the ‘Demosthenes’.  Father - Francis George Pearce wanted to give the family a new start in a new country and applied for land to grow an orchard in the irrigation areas of Victoria.  He was given a block in Orrvale and eventually when the family next door walked off their land, he was able to add that block on as well.

Although life was hard work, all the families in the orchard areas became very good friends helping each other out in difficult times. There were socials, concerts, a debating society, young peoples’ clubs, church groups, sports and plenty of home-made amusements.

On their new block, the family lived in a tent until the two-roomed house was erected.  Tibbie and her sister Sarah (Ray) managed to complete schooling taking correspondence lessons from Melbourne High School and were passed as Sewing Mistresses.  Tibbie worked at the local country school (Orrvale) teaching for a few years.  She then worked as temporary relief school staff taking charge of small country schools. Always Tibbie was to return home to the orchard to help out in her holiday periods.

In 1922 Grandad Pearce died when he became sick and developed pneumonia. Tibbie returned home for a while to be with Grannie Pearce.  It may have been at this time that she had a suitor, a local man.  A boy whom she had known at primary school whose family had come from America. The family myth is that he and Tibbie got engaged, but her brothers did not think he was suitable for their big sister and somehow warned him off. 

In the thirties, TIbbie changed jobs and worked as a Sub-Matron in the Presbyterian Children’s Home in North Melbourne.  This gave her a taste of nursing, and she enrolled in training. On completion, she also did the Midwifery course.  Tibbie joined the Melbourne District Nursing Society and practised midwifery with them for 3 years.  She said these were some of the happiest days of her life, as she made so many friends.

Tibbie’s siblings all married apart from George the youngest – he was in the militia and was called up for World War II. Sadly he was killed in New Guinea on the Kokoda Trail in 1943.  His death was announced in the paper the same day as the news arrived that he had been awarded the Military Cross.

After the war, and her son’s death, Grannie Pearce was not managing so well, so Tibbie resigned her position and came home to care for her.  Of course, Tibbie helped out on the orchard as well, but she was able to fit in local community activities like CWA, Sunday School teaching, playing the organ at church, etc.  I think at this time that she was also working as an Infant Welfare Nurse.

In 1954 Grannie Pearce aged 84 years, died, and Tibbie’s brothers Bill and Jim arranged an overseas trip for her to visit all the relatives in Scotland and Canada.  Though the families were spread around the world, they had kept continually in touch through the mail.  Tibbie decided to lengthen the trip to over 2 years and nursed in a hospital in Saskatchewan in Canada.

On her return, Tibbie bought a block of land in Kialla over the road from her sister Ray.  She busied herself, planting native trees and encouraging the birds to her home.  The gum trees grew tall, and she loved to listen to the magpies and join in whistling the chorus.  Late in her life, Tibbie went overseas with a niece and husband and visited ‘a dear friend’ who we believe was her ex-fiancé.  She said they had a lovely time, that it was wonderful to catch up after all this time, but she was glad to get back to her own home on return.

Around this time, my father, her brother Bill donated land to the Infant Welfare group, and they built an office and centre.  It was named ‘The Isabella Pearce Child Centre’, honouring Auntie Tib.

Once she could no longer manage her little block, Tibbie moved into the ‘Miller Homes’ in Shepparton.  She gave up her car but could still get around utilizing the bus stop out the front of her cottage.  Tibbie was never left out of things.  She took it upon herself to become the Matriarch after Grannie Pearce died.  All the nieces and nephews visited her and took her to places and to family gatherings.

I remember my Auntie Tib as a very strong-minded woman with a Scottish accent.  She was intelligent and knowledgeable about so much, being very well-read.  She had very fine frizzy hair that she braided and tied around her head.  At night she would put her plait into rags and wear a night bonnet on top.  My mother told me that she had a soft spot for my brother Bill as he suffered from eczema when born and Auntie Tib was always telling Mum how she should be treating him, etc.  Until one day Mum refused to visit and demanded that Dad speak to her about her intrusive 'help'. He explained that Mum was the boy’s mother and knew what was best for him.  Things cooled for a while but then came right again.  Auntie Tib always kept in touch with my brother, writing regularly to him when he was at boarding school for 7 years.  She also attended his graduation from University just like a proud mother.

Tibbie was the keeper of our family history and was very involved in the local Family History Society.  She was a keen writer and poet.  She also interested my brother Bill in genealogy and research.  He passed it on to me.

We all loved Auntie Tib and remember her fondly, but I still feel very sad for her missing out on the chance of a married life with her fiancé and struggle to believe that her brothers would do that to her.

I think this photo was taken for her 90th birthday.

Auntie Tib was almost 91 when she died 26 September 1990 in Shepparton, Victoria.  (She always said she hoped to see in the new century.)