Mary ROBERTS / UNDERWOOD
Born 24 October 1916 in Clare, South Australia [55]
Daughter of Ivor Blyth ROBERTS and Margaret Oliver BLAKE [55]
Resided with her parents on Barokee Farm in Waddy Forest, Western Australia [5: 18-Oct-1935] [19]
Won a 1st prize for Needlework and for the Best Worked Apron in the Educational section of the Coorow Show in 1932 [5: 16-Sep-1932]
Won 1st prize for Coffee Rolls made by a lady under 18 years at the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1933 [5: 15-Sep-1933]
Member of the Waddy Forest Tennis Club in 1933-34, 1934-35 and 1935-36 [5: 23-Feb-1934, 7-Dec-1934, 25-Oct-1935]
In February 1934 spent a holiday in Carnamah staying with Charles and Dorothea METTAM [5: 2-Feb-1934]
At the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show on 30 August 1934 was awarded 1st and 2nd prizes for a Maid's Dress; [5: 7-Sep-1934]
1sts for Embroidered Handkerchiefs and Worked Undergarment; and 2nd for Lady's Hand Bouquet and White Table Centre [5]
At the Carnamah Agricultural Show on Thursday 6 September 1934 received 1st prize for Coloured Table Centre; [5: 14-Sep-1934]
1st and 2nd prizes for Maid's Dress made by Girl under 20 years; and 2nd prizes for Snapdragons and Sign in Wildflowers [5]
In October 1934 spent a holiday with Mr and Mrs HORGAN of Stirling Highway in the Perth suburb of Claremont [5: 26-Oct-1934]
Returned to Waddy Forest from Perth accompanied by her aunt Mrs ROBERTS of Adelaide on 3 November 1934 [5: 9-Nov-1934]
Member of the Coorow Golf Club in 1935 and 1936 [5: 2-Aug-1935, 24-Jul-1936]
Won the Mrs L. S. Bingham Trophy at the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in Coorow on Thursday 5 September 1935 [5]
Awarded 1st prize for Toilet Set, and both 1st and 2nd prizes for Worked Undergarment and Handkerchiefs [5]
Also received 2nd prizes for Table Centre, Hand Painted Article, and Maid's Dress made by girl under 20 years [5: 13-Sep-1935]
Won 2nd prize for Table Centre in the Fancywork section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 12 September 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Attended the Ball at the East Marchagee Hall after the Marchagee-Gunyidi Picnic & Sports Day on 14 September 1935 [5: 27-Sep-1935]
Exhibited in the Fancywork section of the Three Springs Agricultural Show in Three Springs on Thursday 19 September 1935 [5]
Awarded 1st prize for the Best Piece of Whitework, and also received a 2nd prize for Worked Toilet Set [5: 27-Sep-1935]
During the second half of October 1935 spent a few days holiday staying with Rev. and Mrs. TOOMEY in Three Springs [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Attended Miss Olive W. KAU's 21st birthday at Meadowdale Farm in Coorow on Saturday evening 18 January 1936 [5: 24-Jan-1936]
Played for the combined Winchester-Waddy-Coorow tennis team against Carnamah-Parkinson on Sunday 5 April 1936 [5: 3-Apr-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Golf Club's largely attended Opening Day for the 1936 season on Sunday 26 April 1936 [5: 1-May-1936]
After the first official ball was hit she was the successful one out of the ladies present who raced to retreive the ball [5]
Spent a few days staying in Carnamah as the guest of Charles A. and Dorothea M. C. METTAM in May 1936 [5: 15-May-1936]
During her stay participated in the Carnamah Golf Club's Club Mixed Foursomes on Sunday 10 May 1936 [5: 15-May-1936]
Attended the Opening Day of the Coorow Golf Club for the 1936 season in Coorow on Sunday 17 May 1936 [5: 22-May-1936]
She and Carnamah farmer Roger W. CLARK came in at second place in the 9-hole Handicap Mixed Foursomes [5]
Attended the Surprise 21st Birthday Party for Nance FOLLAND at Enfield Park in Waddy Forest on 17 August 1936 [5: 21-Aug-1936]
Won the Mrs L. S. Bingham Trophy for the Fancy Work section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in 1936 [5: 4 & 11-Sep-1936]
Won both 1st and 2nd prizes for Toilet Set and Embroidered Handkerchief, and 1st for Maid's Dress by girl under 20 years [5]
Received 2nd prizes for Table Centre, Embroidered Doyleys, Best Worked Undergarment and Table Centre worked in colours [5]
Won 2nd prize for Stocks in the Flower section, and attended the Show Ball wearing "pale pink white spots and satin cape" [5]
Won 1sts for Three Doyleys and Maid's Dress and 1st and 2nd for Toilet Set at the 1936 Carnamah Agricultural Show [5: 18-Sep-1936]
Attended the Ball after the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 10 September 1936 dressed in pink and white polka dotted georgette [5]
Won 1st for Toilet Set and 2nd for Handworked Doyleys at the Three Springs Agricultural Show on 17 September 1936 [5: 25-Sep-1936]
Travelled from Waddy to Perth by car with Donnell E. FOWLER and Miss Adeline B. FOWLER on 2 October 1936 [5: 2-Oct-1936]
After spending an extended holiday in Perth she returned to Waddy Forest on Thursday 29 October 1936 [5: 6-Nov-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]
Competitor in the Parkinson Tennis Club's Tennis Tournament held in Carnamah on New Year's Day 1 January 1937 [5: 8-Jan-1937]
Attended the Carnamah Tennis Dance at the Carnamah Hall on 17 April 1937 in a tunic frock of coronation blue marocain [5: 23-Apr-1937]
Won the Mixed Foursomes 9 Holes Handicap with Andrew S. CUMMING at the Coorow Golf Club 1937 season opening [5: 21-May-1937]
In 1937 she again won the L. S. Bingham Trophy for the Fancy Work section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show [5]
Awarded 1st and 2nd prizes for Embroidered Handkerchiefs, and 1sts for Table Centre and Table Centre worked in colour [5]
Received 2nd prizes for Toilet Set, Embroidered Doyleys and Embroidered Apron [5: 10-Sep-1937]
Married Gilbert James UNDERWOOD on 30 June 1942 at Saint George's Cathedral in Perth [39: 27-Jul-1942]
Their engagement had been announced a little under a year earlier in August 1941 [39: 9-Aug-1941]
Resided with her husband on Hill Crest Farm in Coorow [3] [19]
Exhibited across various sections of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show held in Coorow on 5 September 1946 [5: 11-Oct-1946]
Won 1st prizes for a Cauliflower in the Vegetable section and for Girl's Knitted Frock in the Wool Work section [5]
In the Flower section received 1st prizes for Bulbous Flowers and Three Single Geraniums; and 2nd for Iceland Poppies [5]
Awarded 1st and 2nd prizes for Embroidered Hand-Made Handkerchiefs and 2nd for Most Useful Article Made from Sugar Bag [5]
Again won prizes across four sections at the 10th annual Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show held in Coorow in 1947 [5: 12-Sep-1947]
Received 1st prize for Cauliflower in the Vegetable section and 1st for Man's Sleeveless Pullover in the Wool Work section [5]
Won both 1st and 2nd for Embroidered Hand-Made Handkerchiefs in the Needlework section [5]
In the Flower section she was awarded three 1st prizes for Collection of Cut Flowers, Single Geranium and Daffodils [5]
Also received 2nd prizes in the Flower section for Sweet Peas, Vase of Iceland Poppies and Bowl of Garden Flowers [5]
Won prizes in the Knitting and Flower sections of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 11 September 1947 [5: 19-Sep-1947]
Awarded 1st prizes for Knitted Gent's Pullover or Cardigan; 1st for Daffodils; and received 2nd prize for Geraniums [5]
Judge of the Photography section at the Carnamah Agricultural Show held in Carnamah on 11 September 1948 [5: 16-Sep-1948]
She and Mrs Vera M. BOOTH of Carnamah tied as the joint winners with the most points gained in the Flower section [5]
Awarded 1st prize for Bulb Blooms and two 2nd prizes for Iceland Poppies and Geraniums [5]
Also exhibited in the Knitting section, winning 1st for Gent's Knitted Cardigan or Pullover and 1st for Lady's Knitted Frock [5]
Four days later won prizes in the Wool Work and Cookery sections of the 1948 Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show [5: 23-Sep-1948]
Won 1st prizes 1st for Child's Knitted Frock and Girl's Pullover; and 2nd for Man's Sleeveless Pullover and Lady's Cardigan [5]
In the Cookery section she received 2nd prize for Decorated Sponge Cake, which was judged on its decoration [5]
Exhibited in the Knitted and Flower sections of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 10 September 1949 [5: 15-Sep-1949]
Won three 1st prizes for Jumper or Cardigan, Baby Frock and Iceland Poppies; and received 2nd for Bulb Blooms [5]
She again took out prizes at the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1950 [4: 16-Sep-1950]
Awarded 1st prizes Iceland Poppies, Geraniums and Bulb Blooms and received a 2nd prize for Boy's Knitted Pullover [4]
Attended lectures and completed an examination on home nursing with Mrs Heather TAPLIN in Coorow in 1950 [4: 23-Dec-1950]
Along with her husband embarked from Fremantle on the steamship Orcades on 22 February 1951 [12: 15-Feb-1951]
They arrived at Tilbury Docks in London, England on 16 March 1951 to tour the British Isles and the continent [12] [204]
Awarded prizes in the Flower, Needlework and Wool Work section of the Coorow-Waddy Agricultural Show in in 1952 [4: 20-Sep-1952]
1st prizes for Cut Flowers, Geraniums, Iceland Poppies, Stocks, Bulbous Flowers; Foliage Pot Plant and 2nd for Garden Flowers [4]
Won 1st and 2nd for Handkerchiefs; 1sts for House Frock and Knitted Lady's Bed Jacket; and 2nds for Lady's Cardigan and Apron [4]
Her parents visited the Coorow district and stayed and her and her husband during September 1952 [4: 27-Sep-1952]
Foundation Member of the Coorow Waddy-Forest branch of the Country Women's Association until 1954 [4: 16-Jan-1954]
She was the winner of an apron competition held between the branch's members in September 1953 [4: 12-Sep-1953]
Prize winner in the Fancywork and Flower sections of the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1953 [4: 19-Sep-1953]
In Fancywork she won 1st for Embroidery Toilet Set, Fancy Style Apron, Coloured Traymobile Cloth and Sewn Plain Girls Dress [4]
Awarded 1st prizes for Collection of Geraniums, Collection of Bulb Bloom and Mixed Variety Floating Bowl in the Flower section [4]
After a visit to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) she and her husband flew from Colombo to Perth by Qantas Airways on 25 November 1955 [338]
By 1955 she and her husband had retired and had shifted from the farm in Waddy Forest to 34 Milsom Street in South Perth [50] [338]
They later resided at 2/149 Labouchere Road and 21/10 Gardner Street, both in the Perth suburb of Como [50]
Died 30 May 2013; memorialised at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australian (MC Section, Garden 15, 176) [2]
From The West Australian newspaper, Saturday 9 August 1941:
Engagements
"The engagement is announced between Mary, only daughter of Mr and Mrs I. B. Roberts, of Barokee, Waddy Forest, and Gilbert James, elder son of Mr and Mrs J. Underwood, of Hillcrest, Coorow."
From The West Australian newspaper, Monday 27 July 1942:
Marriages
"UNDERWOOD – ROBERTS. – On June 30, at St. George’s Cathedral, Gilbert James, elder son of Mr and Mrs J. Underwood, of Coorow, to Mary, only daughter of Mr and Mrs I. B. Roberts, of Coorow."
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Friday 12 February 1960:
Champion Lady Bowler Lived in District
"Many residents around Coorow and Waddy Forest will learn with interest of the success of a former resident in Mrs M. Underwood, a member of the Civic Centre Ladies’ Bowing Club, who during last month won the State Singles Women’s Championship, leaving ex-champions and runners-up in this event in previous years in her wake. The gallery to witness the semi-finals and final at Alexander Park far exceeded expectations, and excitement ran high among members and supporters of the Civic Centre Club as Mrs Underwood won her semi-final and then later in the day won the final from a member of the Perth Club (Mrs E. Small), 25-18.
Mrs Underwood has been club champion for two consecutive years and reached the quarter finals of the champions event in the 1958-59 season, but this is the first time she has ever nominated for the singles title event of the State. Further, she has only been playing bowls for a period of six years. Mrs Underwood will be recalled by many residents of the North Midlands as the daughter of Mr and Mrs I. B. Roberts, and others around Coorow and Waddy Forest will remember her as the wife of Mr Gilbert Underwood who some years ago disposed of his farming property in that area."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Mary Roberts / Underwood' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 25 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/mary-roberts [reference list] |
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