"Belle" Isabella Melville EASTON
Born 6 April 1892 in Wemyss, Fife, Scotland [28]
Daughter of coal miner William EASTON and "Maggie" Margaret WATSON [21] [28]
She was named after her maternal grandmother, whose maiden name was Isabella MELVILLE [28]
In 1901 was living with her parents and siblings John, William, Nellie, Maggie and Jessie at 24 Jordan Terrace in Wemyss [21]
Employed in Scotland by John BOWMAN as a household assistant and companion to his wife Margaret [P9]
By the age of 19, in 1911, she was with the BOWMAN family at Rosefield House at Uddingston, Lanarkshire, Scotland [21]
When the BOWMAN family decided to move to farmland in Carnamah, Western Australia she requested to accompany them [P9]
They departed London, England on the steamship Osterley and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 11 May 1915 [P1]
Arrived in Carnamah with the BOWMAN family in May 1915 [P9]
Resided with John and Margaret S. BOWMAN and family at The Homestead on The Home Farm in Carnamah 1915-1952 [P9]
The Homestead was situated on Lot M950 off the east side of the Carnamah-Perenjori Road about four miles out of town [P9]
She was known as "Aunty Belle" to the BOWMAN children [P9]
Employed by John BOWMAN to help with domestic duties and at times to cook the workmen's meals [P9]
Gave her occupation as "Companion" and "Home Duties" for Commonwealth and WA Legislative Assembly electoral rolls [19] [50]
She witnessed the signing of most of the contracts between John BOWMAN and the Midland Railway Company [34]
Often travelled with John BOWMAN from the family homestead to The Camp each morning to cook the workmen's meals [P9]
The Camp was workmen's humpies, a cookhouse, dam and yards on a part of the farm north-northwest of The Homestead [P1]
Her brother William Watson EASTON worked for her employer John BOWMAN in Carnamah from 1922 to 1925 [19]
Signed the petition in February 1923 for the Irwin Licensing Court to grant a hotel license for Carnamah [10: 9-Mar-1923]
Attended the Carnamah Race Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 10 April 1924 in a dress of black and white crepe de chene [10: 24-Apr-1924]
Won 1st prize for Fancy Scones at the Carnamah Agricultural Show on Thursday 30 September 1926 [9: 15-Oct-1926]
At the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1927 she won 1st prize for Plain Scones [9: 21-Oct-1927]
Won 1st prizes for Plain Scones and Fancy Scones at the Carnamah Show and Sports Carnival on 4 October 1928 [4: 13-Oct-1928]
Passenger in John BOWMAN's truck returning from a visit to some of the back blocks of his farm on 6 January 1929 [4: 12-Jan-1929]
At about 4:15 p.m. something went wrong with the steering gear and the truck turned aside and struck a tree with great force [4]
The truck was badly damaged and she was fortunate in receiving only slight cuts and John BOWMAN only bruising [4]
Annie S. ROSS, another passenger, was severely cut on her face and arm and was taken to the hospital in Three Springs [4]
"Tom" Thomas J. BUCKINGHAM threw himself back in the seat upon seeing a smash was inevitable and escaped injury [4]
Won 1st prize for Fancy Scones at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show on 19 September 1929 [4: 28-Sep-1929]
Foundation Member in 1929 and Treasurer 1930-1932 of the Carnamah Presbyterian Ladies Guild [105]
Won 1st prize for Fancy Scones in the Confectionary section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 18 September 1930 [4: 27-Sep-1930]
Attended the evening Ball after the Carnamah Races on Thursday 2 October 1930 in a dress of black lace over taffeta [4: 18-Oct-1930]
Ran the Fancy Stall at the Carnamah Presbyterian Church Ladies Guild's Sale of Work held on 13 December 1930 [4: 20-Dec-1930]
Won 1st prize for Fancy Scones in the Confectionary section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 15 September 1932 [5: 23-Sep-1932]
Member of the Carnamah Repertory Club in 1933 [72]
Steward of the Confectionary section at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Shows in 1933 and 1934 [5: 3-Aug-1934] [13]
Won 1st prizes for Plain Scones and 2nd for Fancy Scones and Jams at the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1933 [5: 22-Sep-1933]
Ran the Needlework Stall at the Carnamah Presbyterian Church's Fete and Concert in Carnamah on 2 November 1933 [5: 10-Nov-1933]
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 Farewell Social to Miss Doris MCLEAN at BERRIGAN's home in Carnamah on Wednesday 11 April 1934 [5: 13-Apr-1934]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Exhibited in the Fancy Work and Confectionary sections of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 6 September 1934 [5: 14-Sep-1934]
In Fancy Work won 1st prize for a Baby Set and in the Confectionary section 1st for Shortbread and 2nd for Plain Scones [5]
Member of the Carnamah Tennis Club in 1934-35 [5: 12-Oct-1934]
Committee Member of the Carnamah Badminton Club in 1935 [5: 3-May-1935]
Member of the Carnamah Golf Club 1935-1954 [4: 4-Apr-1951] [5: 24-May-1935, 26-Jun-1936, 6-May-1954]
Committee Member in 1936, President in 1951, and Vice President in 1954 of the Carnamah Golf Club's Associates [4] [5]
Ran the Produce Stall of wheat, oats and chaff at the Presbyterian Church's Fair in Carnamah on Saturday 18 May 1935 [5: 24-May-1935]
It was reported that "the business psychology of Miss Easton reaped a 40 bushel harvest of cash" from the Produce Stall [5]
Assisted the committee of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society with their Annual Show on 12 September 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Won 1st prize for Fancy Scones exhibited in the Confectionary section of the Show, which was held at Centenary Park [5]
With ticket number 178 she won the Carnamah Tennis Club's raffle in September 1935, which was a £3/15/- racket [5: 27-Sep-1935]
During February 1936 she spent an enjoyable holiday in Perth [5: 21-Feb-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Golf Club's 1936 season Opening Day at Centenary Park in Carnamah on Sunday 26 April 1936 [5: 1-May-1936]
Attended the Coorow Golf Club's Opening Day for the 1936 season in Coorow on Sunday 17 May 1936 [5: 22-May-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Repertory Club's Social Evening & Play Presentation at the Carnamah Hall on 17 June 1936 [5: 19-Jun-1936]
Won 2nd prize for Shortbread at the Carnamah Agricultural Show at Centenary Park in Carnamah on 10 September 1936 [5: 18-Sep-1936]
Member of the Carnamah Social Club in 1937 [5: 30-Apr-1937]
Donated a supper cloth to the Carnamah Tennis Club, which they raffled at their Dance on Saturday 17 April 1937 [5: 23-Apr-1937]
Her friends bid her farewell before her departure for Scotland at the home of Mrs Winifred M. ROBERTSON on 28 April 1937 [5]
That evening the Carnamah Social Club tendered her another farewell and presented her with a small parting gift [5: 30-Apr-1937]
Travelled to Scotland in 1937 with Mrs Effie FORRESTER, Mrs Mary LANG and John LANG Jnr of Carnamah [5: 30-Apr-1937]
The four of them travelled from Carnamah to Perth by train on Tuesday 4 May 1937 [5: 7-May-1937]
Departed Fremantle, Western Australia on the steamship Largs Bay on 17 May 1937 and arrived in England on 20 June 1937 [5] [204]
Proceeded to Scotland and during her visit her address was Whyte Rose Terrace in Methil, Fife, Scotland [204]
She presumably stayed with her sister Mrs "Meg" Margaret Stewart HOUSTON, who lived at 57 Whyte Rose Terrace [P381]
Returned to Australia on the steamship Jervis Bay and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 3 December 1937 [63]
On arrival in Fremantle she was met by John and Margaret BOWMAN and returned with them to Carnamah [5: 10-Dec-1937]
Steward of the Cookery section at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show on Thursday 7 September 1939 [13]
Resided with John and Margaret BOWMAN at their homestead in Carnamah until John's death in 1952 [P1]
Resided at 9 Yarra Street in Carnamah from 1952 until at least 1961 [P1] [60]
David I. M. BOWMAN had purchased the vacant block at 9 Yarra Street, Carnamah (Lot 13 of Victoria Location 1936) [3]
He had also purchased a house off "Bill" William A. TURNER's farm and had it re-erected on the block for her to live in [P9]
As a source of income she rented out some of the house' spare rooms to boarders [P9]
Received electricity at her home from local firm Henry Parkin & Son; in 1952 electricity for the month of December cost £1/0/4 [53]
Had the telephone connected to her house in Carnamah by 1957 - was telephone number Carnamah-83 [60]
In December 1954 her niece Miss Melville EASTON of Geraldton visited her in Carnamah for a few days [5: 23-Dec-1954]
Departed Fremantle, Western Australia on the steamship Strathnaver and arrived in London, England on 20 July 1958 [204]
She spent nine months with her sister "Meg" Margaret S. HOUSTON at 57 Whyte Rose Terrace in Methil, Fife, Scotland [203] [204]
Initially she was booked to depart London, England on the steamship Orsova on 28 November 1958, but she stayed longer [203]
Departed London, England on the steamship Orsova on 18 April 1959 bound for Fremantle, Western Australia [203]
Arrived on the steamship Orsova in Fremantle on 11 May 1959 and then returned to Carnamah [P1]
Resided in Carnamah until the early 1960s when she again returned to Scotland [P9]
Was met in London by her sister-in-law Mrs Jean H. EASTON and then travelled to Saint Andrews, Fife, Scotland by train [P381]
She stayed with her brother George and his wife Jean at Saint Andrews for three months and then at a short-term rental flat [P381]
The small flat, across the street from her sister "Meg" Margaret S. HOUSTON, was at 60 Whyte Rose Terrace in Methil, Fife [P381]
When her sister took ill she decided to stay on longer in Scotland, and remained at 60 Whyte Rose Terrace the rest of her life [P381]
As she was still a British citizen she was able to get a pension, which was her only source of income [P381]
She is said to have been happy in Scotland but had serious reservations at being away from Australia and her Australian family [P381]
It is believed by Australian family she meant the BOWMAN family, who she kept in touch with through the writing of letters [P381]
Around November or December of 1967 she fell at home and broke a hip, and spent about a month at the Leven Cottage Hospital [P381]
She returned to her flat but never fully recovered from her injuries, and was never able to properly walk again [P381]
Passed away at 76 at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy from coronary thrombosis, general arteris sclerosis and cardiac failure [28]
Died 14 May 1968; buried in the same lair as her parents at Methilmill Cemetery in Methil, Fife, Scotland [28] [P381]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Isabella Melville Easton' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 23 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/isabella-melville-easton [reference list] |
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