George Netherwood GREENWOOD
Born 10 June 1879 in Hornsey, Middlesex, England [P141] [20]
Son of Harry GREENWOOD and "Minnie" Merrinah MERRALL [20] [21]
Received his middle name after Nether-Wood house, which was owned by his family and situated in Ilkey, Yorkshire, England [P141]
He appears to have grown up in Hornsey, Middlesex, England where his father worked as a Solicitor and Barrister [20]
Initially resided with his parents and siblings Amy, Ernest and Arthur in a house in Totterdown Lane in Hornsey [20]
In 1891 was living with his parents and siblings Amy, Ernest, Arthur, Guy, Minnie and Irene at 70 Southwood Lane in Hornsey [20]
Educated at Leys School and Cambridge University in Cambridge, England and then at Heidelberge University in Germany [P141]
For a period he worked for his uncle William SMALE in Bradford, Yorkshire, England to learn about the woollen industry [P280]
He was said to have been a very good ice hockey player [P141]
In early 1901 he and his brother Guy were boarding in Bradford and were both working as a Wool Trade Clerks [20]
He and Guy departed London on the steamship Orizba and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 29 November 1901 [70]
The previous year their father Harry and uncle George Dean GREENWOOD had purchased land in WA for a sheep farm [P280]
He and Guy came out to establish and run the property which was to supply fine wool for their family's mill in England [P280]
Shortly after arrival they abandoned the property as it contained a plant toxic to sheep and worked cutting railway sleepers [P141]
Farmer of Brooklands Farm in Southern Brook near Northam 1903-1922 in partnership with Guy as "Greenwood Bros" [P141] [6]
They purchased a German made Rumbly traction tractor - the first to be used for cropping purposes in Western Australia [P280]
The First World War spelled the final days for the Rumbly when no spare parts were available and repairs could not be done [P280]
Married "Dolly" Mary Florence Sarah BEARD at Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Northam on 6 July 1910 [P141]
His best man at his wedding was his brother Guy while the bridesmaid was Mary's sister Miss Alma BEARD [P280]
Built a house of adobe construction on Brooklands, while Guy built a house for himself up a hillside of the farm [P280]
Donated ten acres of land from Location 2814 for the Southern Brook State School and Southern Brook Agricultural Hall [P141]
He was Chairman of the Southern Brook Agricultural Hall's Building Committee when it was opened in 1909 [P280]
On 27 August 1921 purchased from the Midland Railway Company 1,000 acres of virgin land in Waddy Forest [27]
The 1,000 acres was Lot M1303 of Victoria Location 2023 and cost £1000/5/9, payable by instalments over 15 years [27]
On the same day his brother Guy purchased the adjacent 991 acres (Lot M1302 of Victoria Location 2023) [27]
In 1922 he and his brother Guy left Northam and shifted to their new farms in Waddy Forest, north east of Coorow [0: image 04183]
Farmer of Maryland Farm in Waddy Forest 1922-1950 [P141]
He cleared and fenced the farm in Waddy Forest, which he named Maryland after his wife Mary [P280]
Their first home on Maryland was of bush poles and corrugated iron, and lined on the inside with white washed hessian bags [P280]
In 1924 he grew 370 acres of wheat, which his daughter Mary wrote was "looking beautiful" in October [120: 9-Oct-1924]
Used horses for transport and wheat carting until purchasing a Chevrolet 4 cylinder 30 cwt. truck in 1927 [P141]
In 1927 he grew 400 acres of crop which yielded six bags per acre and 50 tons of hay [9: 27-Jan-1928]
By early 1928 he had finished clearing his 1,000 acre farm [9: 27-Jan-1928]
Employed Bill & Bert BONSER to construct a new mud brick home on Maryland, which was completed in 1928 and cost £1100 [P280]
The mud bricks were made on-site, were about 12 inches thick and were concreted on the outside and lined with plaster inside [P280]
He was instrumental in getting the State School, local Hall, sports oval and tennis courts established in Waddy Forest [P141]
For all years up until 1928 his wheat crops on his farm in Waddy Forest averaged 18 bushels per acre [120: 20-Dec-1928]
He grew Nabawa and Gluyas Early varieties of wheat, and expected 30 bushels per acre when his farm was more developed [120]
Foundation Member of the Waddy Forest Tennis Club [P280] - was a member until at least 1933-34 [5: 23-Feb-1934]
Member of the Waddy Forest Cricket Club in 1928-29, 1929-30 and 1930-31 [4: 10-Nov-1928, 5-Oct-1929, 15-Nov-1930]
Delegate for the Waddy Forest Cricket Club at meetings of the Coorow and Districts Cricket Association in 1928-29 [4: 3-Nov-1928]
In 1930 he won three guineas for an essay competition on the topic of succession (for Western Australia to form its own country) [P141]
His winning essay on succession was published in The Primary Producer on 21 August 1930 [P141]
Foundation Committee Member of the Coorow-Waddy Forest Districts Agricultural Society 1932-1937 [4: 9-Apr-1932] [5: 20-Nov-1936] [150]
Ringmaster at the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show at Maley Park in Coorow on Thursday 2 September 1937 [5: 7-May-1937]
Won 2nd for Green Wheat for Hay and for Green Oats for Hay at the first Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1932 [5: 16-Sep-1932]
Along with his wife and children arrived back in Waddy Forest on 20 January 1934 after spending a holiday in Northam [5: 26-Jan-1934]
Returned to Waddy Forest with his wife and children after a holiday at Dongara on Tuesday 6 March 1934 [5: 9-Mar-1934]
Won 1st prize for Green Wheat for Hay and 2nd for Green Oats for Hay at the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1934 [5: 7-Sep-1934]
He was an inmate of the Moora Hospital in Moora for a few days in January 1935[5: 25-Jan-1935]
Steward of Horses in Action section at the Coorow-Waddy Forest Districts Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1935 [5: 28-Jun-1935]
Exhibited in the Horse section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show held on Thursday 5 September 1935 [5: 13-Sep-1935]
Won prizes for Team of Two Farm Horses in Harness and bred by exhibitor (1st & 2nd), Draught Mare (1st), [5]
Team of Four Farm Horses (1st); and as result received the Hugo Fischer trophy, which was plough winkers [5]
Donated the trophy for the Coorow Football Club's Fairest & Best player for the 1935 season [5: 27-Sep-1935]
Attended the Coorow Football Club's Wind-up Ball for the 1935 season at the Coorow Hall on Saturday 21 September 1935 [5]
Attended the funeral of Carnamah agent William B. SHERIDAN at the Winchester Cemetery on 27 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
Attended the Silver Wedding Anniversary of his sister Irene and Malcolm L. PATTON in Waddy Forest on 1 April 1936 [5]
He proposed the main toast of the evening "to the health of the bride and bridegroom of 25 years ago" [5: 3-Apr-1936]
Exhibited in the Horse section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show at Maley Park, Coorow on 3 September 1936 [5: 11-Sep-1936]
Won both 1st and 2nd prizes for Draught Gelding, and 2nd prize for Team of Two Farm Horses in Harness bred by exhibitor [5]
Attended Roy M. PATTON's birthday at the dam on Longforest Farm in Waddy Forest on Sunday 8 November 1936 [5: 13-Nov-1936]
He and his daughter Dorothy spent a few days in Geraldton during the latter part of January 1937 [5: 29-Jan-1937]
Member of the Coorow Football Club - was President in 1937 [5: 16-Apr-1937]
Donated a trophy for the Best & Fairest Player to the Coorow Football Club in 1937 [5: 16-Apr-1937]
Played for the defeated Married Men in a cricket match against Single Men in Coorow on Sunday 11 April 1937 [5: 16-Apr-1937]
During the last week of May 1937 he finished his seeding for the season and was the first to do so in Waddy Forest [5: 28-May-1937]
Attended the Silver Wedding Anniversary of Guy & Maude GREENWOOD at Manell Farm in Waddy on 1 June 1937 [5: 4-Jun-1937]
Unsuccessfully requested a reduction to hire the Coorow Hall for a private function at which no admission would be charged [5]
The function was the dance following the wedding of his daughter Mary to Albert E. MILES on 18 August 1937 [5: 20-Aug-1937]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Thomas BONHAM on 10 August 1945 at the Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah [5]
Member of the Coorow Golf Club - served as President [P141]
Served on the Disputes Committee of the North Midlands Football Association [P141]
Assisted his sister Irene PATTON and sister-in-law Edith GREENWOOD with affairs after the deaths of their husbands in 1942 [P141]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Waddy Forest farmer Price Willis HUNT on 11 September 1946 at the Winchester Cemetery [5]
In 1949, after 28 years, he finished paying for Maryland Farm and was elated to finally be debt free [P141]
Pallbearer at the funeral of Coorow farmer Frederick John KAU at the Winchester Cemetery on 27 March 1950 [4]
In his later years he passed management of Maryland Farm to his son Harry [P280]
Described as "a forward thinking man" who was looked up to by all of his neighbours, a good father and husband [P141]
At the age of 71 years he suddenly collapsed and died from a stroke on Maryland Farm in Waddy Forest [P280]
Father of Harry, Mary, Cornelius, Marjory, Anne and Dorothy [P141]
Died 18 December 1950; buried Three Springs General Cemetery, Three Springs (Roman Catholic, Plot 61) [24]
His wife Mary continued to reside on Maryland Farm in Waddy Forest until her death at the age of 76 years on 20 January 1968 [P141]
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Thursday 11 January 1951:
Obituary - The Late Mr. G. N. Greenwood
"It is with regret that we have to record the sudden death on Monday, December 18 of Mr. Geo. N. Greenwood at his residence, "Maryland," Waddy Forest. Although the deceased gentleman had not enjoyed the best of health over the past few years his sprightly manner disguised his illness to a large extent, so that his passing was unexpected and came as a great shock to his family and large circle of friends. The late Mr. Greenwood was born in England in 1879 and came to West Australia in 1901. Commenced farming operations in Northam and remained there until 1922 when he transferred his family and farming interests to the newly opened settlement of Waddy Forest. From this time until his death Mr. Greenwood was conspicuous of his many activities in the district. All his life he was a keen sportsman playing cricket, football, tennis and golf. Not content with playing sport he took a lively interest in the administrative side at various times, being president of the Coorow Football Club and Coorow Golf Club. He was also a foundation member of the Waddy Forest Tennis Club. As well as sporting activities the late Mr. Greenwood was a public spirited citizen who showed a great interest in all district activities. It was mainly owing to his representations that a school was opened at Waddy Forest and for some time he occupied the position of president of the P. and C. organisations. Besides being a committee man of the Coorow-Waddy Forest Agricultural Society for many years he was also President of the organisation in 1938. As secretary of the P.P.A. for some years he worked hard for the betterment of farming conditions and he was always ready to assist later settlers with information and advice on local conditions. Despite his arduous pioneering labours and the time given to district activity he raised a large family and to his wife and children we extend our heartfelt sympathy in their very great loss. His kindly disposition and happy nature endeared him to all he came in contact with and made him a very welcome member of any group. His passing leaves a gap in the memory of his many friends which cannot adequately be filled. The funeral took place in the Catholic portion of the Three Springs Cemetery with the Rev. Father B. Gallagher officiating at the graveside. A large gathering of relatives and friends attended and a profusion of floral tributes was laid on the grave."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'George Netherwood Greenwood' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/george-netherwood-greenwood [reference list] |
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