Olive May PARKIN / GRANT
Born 1899 in Saint Erme, Cornwall, England [20] [21]
Daughter of "Harry" Henry PARKIN and "Mary" Philippa Mary BILKEY [20] [21]
She was living with her parents and her uncle John PARKIN in Newlyn, Cornwall, England in 1901 [20]
In 1911 was living with her parents and siblings Elsie, Maud, Tom and Millie at Wheal Hope in Perranporth, Cornwall, England [20]
Her father arrived in Western Australia in January 1912 and began working as a Railway Fettler in Carnamah [7: page 142] [19] [70]
Along with her mother and siblings, she departed London, England on the steamship Ajana on 24 December 1912 [203]
After a voyage of just over a month, they arrived on the Ajana in Fremantle, Western Australia on 1 February 1913 [70]
They arrived in Carnamah on 13 February 1913 to join her father, who they had not seen in over a year [7: page 142]
Resided with her parents and siblings at Gable Cottage or The Gables at 4 Yarra Street in Carnamah [92]
With her sisters sang "exquisite songs" at the farewell in Carnamah for the stationmaster and his wife on 7 May 1913 [9: 16-May-1913]
Postmistress in Carnamah - ran the Carnamah Post Office inside their home at 4 Yarra Street 1915-1921 [7: page 182]
Along with her father ran a general store known as The Supply Stores from their Yarra Street home 1916-1921 [6] [9: 17-Mar-1916] [92] [P18]
Their general store opened in March 1916 and was the second shop in Carnamah [9: 17-Mar-1916]
Carnamah's polling place for the Commonwealth election of 5 May 1917 was at their store [39: 12-Apr-1917]
From 1917 to 1919 many of the goods for their store were purchased from Fremantle merchants Messrs G. Wood, Son & Co [92]
Potatoes, onions, self-raising flour, plain flour, sugar, brown sugar and rice were purchased by the bag full [92]
Tinned items purchased included skim milk power, meat, sardines, salmon, fresh herrings, kippered herrings, fruit and mustard [92]
Other goods purchased from Wood Son & Co and sold at their store included mouse traps, benzine, boraire power, dates, [92]
boiled lollies, polish, chocolate, butter scotch, wafers, bacon, bottles of Wood's Great Peppermint Cure, packets of sultanas, [92]
tins of kerosene, bottles of Charles' eye lotion, Morris eye ointment, bird seed, oatmeal, white and black cotton, machine oil, [92]
Excelsior baby powder, writing pads, packets of candles, matches, block cakes, blocks of cheese, tins of Ginger nuts, soap, [92]
boxes of peppermints, tins of Baking Powder, washing soda, knife polish, pain-killer, boot laces, shoe laces, cases of fruit, [92]
cigarette papers, packets of butter, crackers, castor oil, pure nectar coffee, parrot food, cases of jam, liquorice powder, cocoa, [92]
trouser buttons, arrow root, fruit cakes, honey nectar, egg powder, shoe polish, packets of soup, envelopes, lemon crystals, [92]
currant, starch, linseed oil, bottles of Chamberlain's cough remedy, and various brands of tea, biscuits and tobacco [92]
Candidate for Carnamah in the Ugly Woman Competition conducted in Three Springs for the Y.M.C.A. in May 1917 [9: 25-May-1917]
She came seventh in the competition with exactly 2,000 votes which helped raise £208/17/6 for the war efforts of the Y.M.C.A. [9]
In 1919 she contacted the Australian Imperial Force requesting a photo of the grave of the late Aeneas MURRAY [30: item 7989566]
Aeneas MURRAY had been a fettler in Carnamah prior to enlisting in the A.I.F.; he died of wounds in France on 31 July 1918 [30]
Winner of the Single Ladies Running Race at the Peace Day Celebrations held in Carnamah on Saturday 19 July 1919 [10: 25-Jul-1919]
Entrant in the "Popular Girl Competition" held in Carnamah in 1920, which raised funds for the Carnamah Hall Fund [9: 9-Jul-1920]
To further her candidature a Euchre Party, Basket Social & Dance was held at the local State School on 24 June 1920 [10]
The evening raised £17, by which time she had 6,200 votes in the competition [10: 16-Jul-1920]
When the competition was finalised in early 1921 she was the runner-up with 13,779 votes [10: 1-Apr-1921]
Rendered a vocal item at the official opening of the Carnamah Hall on Thursday 17 February 1921 [9: 25-Feb-1921]
Married "Jack" John Alexander GRANT on Tuesday 5 April 1921 in the Carnamah Hall [9: 1-Apr-1921]
Resided in Carnamah 1921-1927 [19]
They initially resided on Dalveen Farm in Carnamah, which her husband managed for Gerard A. NEWMAN [19] [50]
Attended the Carnamah Race Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on 10 April 1924 in a dress of peacock blue georgette [10: 24-Apr-1924]
Attended the Grand Plain & Fancy Dress Ball in Carnamah on 6 August 1925 in an evening dress of green shot silk [9: 21-Aug-1925]
Resided on Woodlyn Farm in Perenjori 1928-1974 [19]
Wore a frock of primrose crepe de chine to the Show Ball after the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 18 September 1930 [4: 4-Oct-1930]
Attended the Ball following the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 15 September 1932 in a gown of lemon crepe de chine [5: 23-Sep-1932]
Wore white satin to the Show Bell held after the Carnamah Agricultural Show on Thursday 12 September 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Her father spent several days staying with them in Perenjori during January 1938 [5: 7-Jan-1938]
Resided in Perenjori until her death in 1974 [2]
Mother of Yvonne [P413]
Died 17 October 1974; ashes interred at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth (EC Section, Garden of Remembrance, 2, 97) [2]
From The Midlands Advertiser newspaper, Friday 1 April 1921:
Wedding Bells
"On Tuesday next at Carnamah Hall, the marriage of Miss O. Parkin and Mr J. A. Grant is to be solemnised by the Rev. F. W. Gunning, of Moora."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Olive May Parkin / Grant' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 19 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/olive-may-parkin [reference list] |
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