Francis Henry William Thomas Winifred Brownrigg Peter Welsh Thomson Margaret Jean Caldow /Hodsdon Frederick Edward Senior James Roger Francis Wyman Clark Richard Robertson Patricia Mae Mulligan Joachim Dido

Biographical Dictionary - Coorow, Carnamah, Three Springs


Surname

"Nan" Hannah Spence DAVISON / BOWMAN

Born 10 February 1916 in Perth, Western Australia [P1]
Daughter of "Bill" William DAVISON and "Carrie" Caroline JOHNSON [P1]
Resided with her parents at 288 Lord Street in Perth and then at 13 Marlborough Street in East Perth [P1]
Along with her parents shifted to Carnamah in 1933 [P1]
     Resided with her parents within the same premises as her father's bakery at 21 Macpherson Street in Carnamah 1933-1945 [P1]
     Assisted her father in the running of his bakery in Carnamah from 1933 to 1945 [P50]
Member of the Carnamah Basketball Club in 1933 - played for the Rovers [5: 28-Jul-1933]
Member in 1933 and Committee Member in 1935 of the Carnamah Badminton Club [5: 14-Jul-1933, 3-May-1935]
Helped run the Flower stall at the Anglican Church Bazaar held in Carnamah on Saturday 12 August 1933 [5: 18-Aug-1933]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Ball on 2 September 1933 in shell pink georgette with spray over shoulder [5: 8-Sep-1933]
Attended the Three Springs Golf Club's Annual Ball held in Three Springs on Thursday 12 October 1933 [5: 20-Oct-1933]
She was among the 150 who attended the Carnamah Tennis Club's Dance at the Carnamah Hall on 9 December 1933 [5: 15-Dec-1933]
Member of Carnamah's Parkinson Tennis Club 1933-34 to 1936-37, and a Committee Member 1935-36 and 1936-37 [5: 15-Dec-1933] [56]
Attended the Carnamah Church of England's New Year Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 December 1933 [5: 5-Jan-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Tennis Club's Flannel Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 3 February 1934 [5: 9-Feb-1934]
Attended the farewell afternoon for Miss Hilda E. MURRAY held in Carnamah on Thursday 8 February 1934 [5: 9-Feb-1934]
Attended the Dance conducted by the Carnamah Toc H at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 24 February 1934 [5: 2-Mar-1934]
On the evening of Thursday 15 March 1934 attended the Carnamah Race Club's Annual Dance at the Carnamah Hall [5: 16-Mar-1934]
Attended the Parkinson Tennis Club's Dance, which was held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 14 April 1934 [5: 20-Apr-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Golf Club's Opening Season Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 21 April 1934 [5: 27-Apr-1934]
Attended Emily H. TURNER's 21st Birthday at Karragee Farm in Carnamah on Tuesday 8 May 1934 [5: 11-May-1934]
On 12 May 1934 attended the Carnamah Football Club's Grand Opening Ball in a white marocain dress with puff sleeves [5: 18-May-1934]
Attended the Roman Catholic Church's Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 26 May 1934 in a floral silk voile dress [5: 1-Jun-1934]
Attended the Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 June 1934 to raise funds for Church organ repairs [5: 6-Jul-1934]
Attended the Party held at the home of John and Doris MCLEAN in Carnamah on the night of Monday 9 July 1934 [5: 13-Jul-1934]
On Saturday 21 July 1934 attended the Carnamah Hall the Inering School Dance, held to raise money for books [5: 27-Jul-1934]
Attended the Badminton Club Party at John and Doris MCLEAN's home in Carnamah on Monday 23 July 1934 [5: 27-Jul-1934]
Attended the Dance in aid of the Institute for the Blind held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday evening 18 August 1934 [5: 24-Aug-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Premiership Ball on 20 October 1934 in pink georgette dress with silver trimmings [5: 26-Oct-1934]
She and Jack MCGOWAN attended the Nursery Rhyme Ball in Three Springs on 6 November 1934 as "Jack and Jill" [5: 9-Nov-1934]
In 1935 the local newspaper, The North Midland Times, referred to her as "one of Carnamah's most popular young ladies" [5: 8-Feb-1935]
Her friends Elsie REAKES and Helen COWBROUGH organised a surprise party for her 19th birthday in February 1935 [5: 15-Feb-1935]
     Her surprise guests arrived at her parents' home in Carnamah at about 10 p.m. and sang "why was she born so beautiful" [5]
     She was very surprised and embarrassed by the presence and song that she had to leave the room and regain her composure [5]
     The party consisted of dancing, games, supper, music supplied by "Pop" KROSCHEL, and concluded with Auld Lang Syne [5]
Her friend Miss Mollie THOMAS of East Perth visited her in Carnamah for a few weeks in February 1935 [5: 8-Feb-1935]
Returned to Carnamah by train on Monday 1 April 1935 after spending a three week holiday in Perth [5: 5-Apr-1935]
Member of the Carnamah Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows Friendly Society in 1935 and 1936 [5: 3-May-1935, 23-Oct-1936]
Won 1st prize for Table Centre in the Fancywork section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 12 September 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Attended the Carnamah Girls Club's Masquerade Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday evening 7 December 1935 [5: 13-Dec-1935]
     She and "Daisy" Margaret D. BOWMAN were the Most Humorous Couple dressed as Chimney Sweep and Char Woman [5]
Attended the Mad Hatter's Leap Year Ball in Carnamah on 29 February 1936 wearing pink georgette and silver lame [5: 6-Mar-1936]
After a three week holiday in Perth she returned to Carnamah by car on Monday 23 March 1936 [5: 6 & 27-Mar-1936]
Member of the Carnamah Girls Club - was Treasurer in the 1936 [5: 8-May-1936]
     Attended the Carnamah Girls Club's Social & Competitive Evening held in Carnamah on Tuesday 26 May 1936 [5: 29-May-1936]
     At the Social & Competitive Evening presented former treasurer Daisy BOWMAN with a writing stand on behalf of the Club [5]
     As part of the Carnamah Girls Club conducted the very successful "A Night in Iceland" function on 15 August 1936 [5: 21-Aug-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Repertory Club's Social Evening & Play Presentation at the Carnamah Hall on 17 June 1936 [5: 19-Jun-1936]
Member of the Carnamah Social Club in 1936 and 1937 [5: 7-Aug-1936, 9-Apr-1937]
Attended the Carnamah Anglican Church's Mid-Winter Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 11 July 1936 dressed in black velvet [5: 17-Jul-1936]
Attended the Surprise 21st Birthday for Miss Eileen R. PERRY in Carnamah on Saturday evening 18 July 1936 [5: 24-Jul-1936]
Member of the Carnamah Golf Club in 1936 [5: 3-Jul-1936]
Attended the C.W.A. Plain & Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 25 July 1936 dressed as a "Footballer" [5: 31-Jul-1936]
Played for the defeated Carnamah Social Club in badminton against the Carnamah Badminton Club on 5 August 1936 [5: 7-Aug-1936]
Arrived back in Carnamah on Thursday evening 3 September 1936 after a visit to Perth [5: 4-Sep-1936]
Bridesmaid at the wedding of Dulcie F. M. FOSTER and Leo V. GREEN of Carnamah in Perth on 1 September 1936 [5: 18-Sep-1936]
     As bridesmaid she wore an attractive ankle length frock moss pink rice crepe with coronets of pink flowers and silver leaves [5]
     She and the other bridesmaid, Dorothy FOSTER, were dressed alike and carried bouquets of pink and red carnations [5]
Attended the Show Ball after the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 10 September 1936 dressed in pink georgette and lace [5: 18-Sep-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Catholic Church's Back to Childhood Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 17 October 1936 [5: 23-Oct-1936]
Best Couple with Daisy BOWMAN as Boyfriend & Girlfriend at the Masquerade Ball in Carnamah on 5 December 1936 [5: 11-Dec-1936]
After an extended holiday in Perth she returned to Carnamah during the second half of March 1937 [5: 25-Mar-1937]
Competed in the Carnamah Tennis Club's Easter Tennis Tournament at Centenary Park in Carnamah in March 1937 [5: 2-Apr-1937]
Attended the very largely attended Carnamah Tennis Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday evening 17 April 1937 [5: 23-Apr-1937]
Attended the meeting in Carnamah on 28 April 1937 to organise Coronation Celebrations for the children of Carnamah [5: 30-Apr-1937]
     Attended the Coronation Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Wednesday 12 May 1937 dressed in "pale green spotted net" [5: 14-May-1937]
     The ball and its festivities celebrated the coronation of King George VI of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth [5]
She was the Carnamah entrant in the North Midlands Popular Girl Competition in aid of the Anglican Church in 1937 [5: 9-Jul-1937]
     A Social Evening in aid of her candidature was held at the home of George & Rose E. BOOTH on 13 July 1937 [5: 16-Jul-1937]
     Another Social Evening in her aid was held at her and her father's home in Carnamah on Sunday 18 July 1937 [5: 16 & 23-Jul-1937]
     To further her candidature a Barn Dance was held on Percival L. & Lola MILLARD's Gimlet Park Farm on 22 July 1937 [5]
          Trucks left from the Carnamah townsite to transport people to the Barn Dance which receipted £6 [5: 16 & 30-Jul-1937]
     Arnold A. C. BIERMANN organised a Bridge & Card Evening at the Lounge of the Carnamah Hotel on 27 July 1937 [5: 16-Jul-1937]
     A Baby Competition was held at Saint George's Hall in Carnamah in aid of her candidature on 29 July 1937 [5: 23 & 30-Jul-1937]
     Over 300 people attended a Community Concert at the Carnamah Hall on Wednesday 11 August 1937 [5: 30-Jul-1937, 13-Aug-1937]
          The Community Concert included solo, duet and quartette competitions for juveniles and adults, a male ballet and a dance [5]
          It was Carnamah's first community concert and was reported as possibly the most successful event ever held in Carnamah [5]
     A House Party at the home of George & Kathleen F. CATTO on 21 August 1937 raised £8 towards her candidature [5: 27-Aug-1937]
     A committee of men including her father organised a Boxing Tournament in Carnamah on Saturday 28 August 1937 [5: 6-Aug-1937]
          Despite being hurriedly put together and with little publicity the Tournament was a great success and realised £22 [5: 3-Sep-1937]
Part of the Best Set as "Arabians" at the Carnamah Girls Club's Masquerade Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 24 July 1937 [5: 30-Jul-1937]
     Others in the set included Michael R. ROWLAND, Roger F. W. CLARK, Peter W. THOMSON, Grace W. THOMSON, [5]
     and sisters "Daisy" Margaret D. BOWMAN and Ruth I. BOWMAN who would later become her sisters-in-law [5]
Declared the winner of the North Midlands Popular Girl Competition at a Grand Ball in Three Springs on Tuesday 31 August 1937 [5]
     The Very Rev. Dean MOORE of Saint George's Cathedral in Perth crowned her as Empress of the North Midlands [5]
     With 15,066 votes she won by a margin of 1,882 votes through the efforts of her supporters who raised £62/15/6 [5: 3-Sep-1937]
Member of the Five Gums Tennis Club in 1937-38 [89]
Committee Member of the Church of England / Anglican Church in Carnamah in 1938[0: image 03324]
Raised funds for the Carnamah Anglican Church by organising a picnic day near the Mulliah / Yarra Yarra Lakes [0: image 03744]
     The picnic was held on Sunday 15 September 1938 on the back part of James ARMSTRONG's Lakeside Farm [0: image 03744]
     Three trucks left Carnamah loaded with people who spent the day playing sports and games [0: image 03744]
Member of the Carnamah Tennis Club in 1939 and 1940 [0: images 03018 & 03948]
Leader of the Carnamah Brownies Pack in 1939 [52: page 18]
In 1940 spent a fortnights holiday at the beach with Daisy BOWMAN (later her sister-in-law) [0: image 03052]
Leader of the Carnamah Anglican Church's Sunday School in 1941 [0: image 03993]
Member of the Carnamah Ladies' Miniature Rifle Club in 1941 [0: image 04005]
Married "John" David Ian McLean BOWMAN on 21 June 1941 at Saint George's Hall in Carnamah [P1]
     Her bridesmaids were Mollie THOMAS of Perth and Lesley BOWMAN of Carnamah [0: image 04021]
     Witnesses to their wedding were her good friend Mollie THOMAS, Peter Welsh THOMSON and C. J. McCUBBING [P1]
     Her wedding reception was hosted by her sister Mrs "Al" Alice J. GRIERSON at the Carnamah Hall [0: image 04021]
Continued to live with her father and help run his bakery at 21 Macpherson Street in Carnamah until the end of the war [P97]
Travelled to Perth a number of times and once to the Eastern States to see her husband during the war [P9]
On 13 July 1942 she hopped on her brother-in-law Bill GRIERSON's horse to have her photo taken [0: image 04111]
     As she sat in the saddle the flapping of her skirt startled the horse causing it to rear up and fall back on top of her [0: image 04111]
     Although her father and brother-in-law rushed to her aid the horse was slow in finding its feet [0: image 04111]
     Through the horses' plunging and striking she received painful injuries and the horse also kicked her father [0: image 04111]
     Along with her father she was immediately taken to the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs [0: image 04111]
     It was found that she had severe bruising and her father a dislocated shoulder [0: image 04111 / 2]
     As a result of the accident she lost and never regained her sense of smell [P75]
Member of the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club in 1944 [0: image 04288]
Resided with her husband and children at Lockington House on The Home Farm in Carnamah 1946-1953 [P1]
Their home Lockington was burnt to the ground on 24 December 1953 and they spent two years living in the renovated garage [P1]
     On the same location a large new brick and tile house was built over two years by local builder Charles J. DALLIMORE [P1]
Resided with her husband at New Lockington on Prowaka Spring Farm (previously The Home Farm) in Carnamah 1956-1977 [P1]
President of Carnamah's branch of the Country Women's Association in 1951 and 1952 [0: image 04600] [12: 22-May-1952]
"Brown Owl" Guide Leader of the Carnamah Girl Guides 1954-1972 [7: page 223] [P175]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1958-1971 [13]
Won dozens of prizes for handicrafts, knitting, sewing and crochet at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Shows [P9]
     In 1963 she was reported as a "staunch supporter" of the Show with many entries in the Fancywork and Arts & Crafts sections [4]
     Due to illness, she was unable to exhibit her usual amount in 1963, but still won the trophies for the two sections [4: 13-Sep-1963]
Also won dozens of prizes for similar items at the Perth Royal Show in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s [P1]
Mother of John, Ross and Ian [P1]
Died 18 Nov 1977 in Perth; ashes buried in 1996 with her husband at the Winchester Cemetery, Carnamah (Row I, Plot 13) [P1]
Her husband and sons donated and dedicated to her memory the Chalice at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Carnamah [7: page 238]


From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 11 October 1940:
Private
"The engagement has been announced between Miss N. Davison, younger daughter of Mr. and the late Mrs. W. Davison, of Carnamah, and Mr. Dave, only son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bowman, of Carnamah."


Reference:  Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Hannah Spence Davison / Bowman' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 28 March 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/hannah-spence-davison [reference list]




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