Harry Frederick Cleaver KAU
Born 20 June 1916 in Perth, Western Australia [16]
Son of "Fred" Johann Frederich KAU and May Minnie Annie BOTHE [P15]
Grew up with his parents and sister Olive on Meadow Dale Farm in Coorow [P15]
Student at the Coorow State School and following its closure was a boarder at Christ Church Grammar School in Perth [P509]
First Patrol Leader of the Coorow Scout Troop in 1931, having previously been part of the Christ Church School Troop [4: 15-Aug-1931]
About 30 of his friends attended a party for his birthday on Meadow Vale Farm in Coorow on 20 June 1934 [4: 30-Jun-1934]
Farmer of Meadow Dale Farm in Coorow [19] [80: 13-Mar-1964]
Travelled to Round Hill to play football in the early 1930s prior to the reformation of the Coorow Football Club [P361]
Others to do so were John F. THOMAS and Peter W. THOMSON of Marchagee, and William H. JOHNS of Coorow [P361]
Attended the Carnamah Tennis Club's Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 9 December 1933 [5: 15-Dec-1933]
Also attended the Carnamah Tennis Club's Flannel Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 3 February 1934 [5: 9-Feb-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Golf Club's Opening Season Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 21 April 1934 [5: 27-Apr-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Roman Catholic Church's Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 26 May 1934 [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 Dance in aid of the Institute for the Blind held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday evening 18 August 1934 [5: 24-Aug-1934]
Received 2nd prize for a male Black Orpington in the Poultry section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1934 [5: 7-Sep-1934]
Spent a holiday at in the coastal Perth suburb of Cottesloe staying with Alan ROBERTSON in February 1935 [4: 23-Feb-1935]
Attended the 50th wedding anniversary of BOTHE grandparents at the Coorow Hotel on 26 February 1935 [86: 5-Mar-1935]
Member of the Coorow Football Club in 1935, and a Committee Member in 1936 and 1937 [5: 24-May-1935, 10-Apr-1936, 16-Apr-1937]
Won 2nd prize for Oaten Chaff in the Grain & Fodder section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1935 [5: 13-Sep-1935]
He was also one of the many active officials on the day, who helped run Coorow's fourth agricultural show [4: 7-Sep-1935]
Attended the Carnamah Girls Club's Masquerade Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 7 December 1935 as a "Bull" [5: 13-Dec-1935]
He was part of the Best Dressed Set as "Spaniards" with nine others from Coorow dressed as Toreadors, Senoritas and Bulls [5]
Attended his sister Olive's 21st birthday at Meadowdale Farm in Coorow on Saturday evening 18 January 1936 [5: 24-Jan-1936]
He and David TODD journeyed from Coorow to Perth on Monday 3 February 1936 [5: 7-Feb-1936]
Attended the surprise 21st birthday party for Arthur E. TYLER in Coorow on 11 May 1936 [4: 16-May-1936]
Attended the Coorow Tennis Club's Back to Childhood Ball at the Coorow Hall on Saturday 22 August 1936 [5: 28-Aug-1936]
Along with and David TOOD received the prize for the Most Humorously Dressed Couple as "Twins" [5: 28-Aug-1936]
Member of the Coorow Tennis Club in 1936-37 [5: 23-Oct-1936]
Attended Roy M. PATTON's birthday at the dam on Longforest Farm in Waddy Forest on Sunday 8 November 1936 [5: 13-Nov-1936]
One of the Stewards of the Sheep section of the Coorow-Waddy Forest Districts Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1937 [150]
He and David TODD spent their annual holiday at the coastal Perth suburb of Cottesloe in February 1937 [5: 19-Feb-1937, 12-Mar-1937]
Attended the surprise 75th birthday for his grandfather Heinrich W. BOTHE in Coorow on Tuesday 13 April 1937 [5: 16-Apr-1937]
Member of the Carnamah Repertory Club in 1937 [5: 2-Jul-1937]
Best Dressed Gent as a "Spaniard" at the Carnamah Girls Club's Masquerade Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 24 July 1937 [5: 30-Jul-1937]
Attended the meeting in Coorow to discuss constructing a direct road from Coorow to the coast on 11 September 1937 [5: 17-Sep-1937]
Member of the No. 2 Troop of the "C" Squadron of the motorised 25th Light Horse Machine Gun Regiment in 1939 [P15]
The No. 2 Troop was a local militia unit made of people from the North Midlands and trained in Carnamah once a fortnight [P15]
Later trained full time with the 25th Light Horse Machine Gun Regiment at Canning Weir [P15]
In 1941 was a sergeant in the local 25th Light Horse Machine Gun Militia Unit [0: image 04022]
Married "Lorna" Loreeta Gertrude ULLRICH on 3 March 1942 at Saint Patrick's Mount Lawley WA [P15]
Enlisted in the Australian Army on 1 September 1942 [16]
Lieutenant WX33128 in the Australian Army's Australian Infantry Reinforcements during the Second World War [16]
Discharged from the Australian Army on 18 July 1944 [16]
Was given leave from the Army to run his father's Meadowdale Farm as his father was unwell and in hospital [16]
Committee Member of the Coorow-Waddy Forest Districts Agricultural Society 1946-1948 [150]
Vestryman on the North Midlands Anglican Church Vestry 1947-1952 [167]
Member of the Coorow-Waddy Forest branch of the Farmer's Union of WA in 1950 [4: 18-Mar-1950]
Vice President and Committee Member of the Coorow-Waddy Forest District Agricultural Society in 1951 [4: 7-Apr-1951]
Member of the Coorow-Marchagee Fire Brigade - was one its Lieutenants in 1951 [4: 8-Sep-1951]
Became a member of the Carnamah Masonic Lodge No.150 WAC on 16 November 1951 [96]
Served on the Board of the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs for 33 years, from 1951 to 1984 [109]
Member of the Coorow Golf Club 1952-1958 [4: 2-Aug-1952, 11-Jul-1958]
President of the Coorow-Waddy Forest District Agricultural Society in 1954 [4: 18-Dec-1954]
Member of the Coorow Masonic Lodge however became an Associate Member of the Carnamah Lodge on 1 November 2000 [96]
Father of Alan, twins Gay and Jeanette, and Gayle [P189]
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 26 June 1937:
21st Birthday
"On Sunday evening last a number of young people were the guests of Mr and Mrs F. Kau of Coorow, who arranged a party in honour of the coming of age of their son (Mr Harry Kau). Music, games, dancing and competitions occupied the evening. Amongst those present being Mr and Mrs H. W. Bothe, Misses O. Kau, T. Bothe, I. Bingham and Messrs D. Todd, A. Tyler, T. Bogue, J. Bingham, A. Bothe, W. Brownell and H. O’Connor. During the supper interval Mr H. W. Bothe proposed the health of the guest of honour, stating that he was very proud of him as a grandson. Mr Kau, who was also made the recipient of a key autographed by all present, made a suitable and happy response. Prior to the resumption of dancing Mr D. Todd returned thanks to Mr and Mrs Kau for having provided such an enjoyable evening for all concerned."
"Mr H. Kau, of Coorow, was the guest of honour at an enjoyable party held in the Coorow Hotel on Monday night last, the host being the licensee of the hotel (Mr Tom Bogue). The occasion was in celebration of Mr Kau’s twenty-first birthday, those present being Misses O. Kau, Ivy Bingham, T. Bothe, O. Todd, M. Bogue, Q. Barclay, and Messrs. D. Todd, H. O’Connor, D. Grant, A. Tyler, J. Bingham and A. Bothe. All present wore or carried an article representing a song, and for having nominated the greatest number of songs represented Miss O. Kau was awarded a prize. Games, singing, dancing and various competitions combined to make a delightful evening."
From The Old Boys Newsletter of Christ Church Grammar School, 18 August 2015:
Harry Frederick Cleaver Kau
"Harry Frederick Cleaver Kau (1933) our oldest living old boy was born on 20 June 1916 and attended CCGS from 1924 until he was forced to return to Coorow to help on the family farm, cut out of virgin bush by his father in 1910. It was extraordinarily hard work, initially using horse drawn carts, planting and cropping equipment. In the 1930s he helped survey and create a road from Coorow to greenhead on the coast; this was just a small part of the extensive community work he would undertake over the next half-century. Harry enrolled in the 25th Light Horse during WWII, was on the Board of the Three Springs Hospital for 33 years, became a JP, is still a member of the Freemasons after more than 60 years and has honorary life membership in the Coorow Football Club where he remains the Patron, Harry had very happy memories of the CCGS and was delighted when his son Alan and four grandsons (Mostyn and Reagan Kau, Piers and Zane Randell) subsequently became students at the school."
From The Magpie Squawk newspaper, 15 June 2016:
Harry Kau
"Everyone in Coorow and the surrounding area should know Harry Kau, as he has been around to see them all born! Since 1916 he has lived at Meadow Dale and has been involved in every aspect of the community. A farmer first, he has been a part of all social activities of any Australian town. As a member of the Coorow-Waddy Forest Agricultural Society he won prizes for his sheep, wool and grain.Sport has been a big part of Harry’s life in Coorow, with the Football Club in particular. He was a player in the Premiers team in 1936, and eventually became their Patron. In time, he also played tennis, golf and bowls, the games providing as much pleasure as the 'couple of coldies' afterwards when his remarkable gregariousness took full flight. Although extraordinarily well connected with his community, Harry placed even more importance on family. Nothing made him break out in a smile faster than seeing 'the littlies' coming through the door.
His community commitment has been evident in several significant areas. Firstly, the community decided in the late 30s that there was a need for a rod to the coast from Coorow, and Harry with a few of his mates volunteered to survey the route. This they did by horseback then gathered their machinery and scraped and filled the 34 miles to the old stock yards near current Eneabba. In 2003, Harry had the honour of cutting the ribbon when the then professional realigned bitumen road was opened.
Secondly, he was greatly committed to the health of the community and spent 33 years on the Board of Management at the Hospital in Three Springs where he now resides. Other aspects of health were addressed by his prominent involvement in the local Anglican Vestry. Harry also took great pride in his association with the Freemasons Lodge, being given his medal for 60 years' service a few years ago. Rotary elected him an Honorary Member also, for his community help. In 1963 he became a Justice of the Peace and quietly chipped away at local justice problems for decades.
During the war he served with the 25th Light Horse Brigade and made great friendships which endured, and he enjoyed catching up with them each Anzac Day in Perth and later Three Springs. For Harry, there was nothing like a natter at any time of day, while for other chores timing 'could be a bit elastic'. Having stretched his time out to 100 years, we all say to Harry Kau a great big “Happy Birthday!’ To that happy man with his permanently three-quarters full glass. What a role model for us all.
Gayle. Alan and their families take this special opportunity to send their most sincere thanks to all the dedicated and kind staff at North Midlands Health Service for their exceptional loving care of Harry, whom they treat like a family member."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Harry Frederick Cleaver Kau' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 23 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/harry-frederick-cleaver-kau [reference list] |
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