"Bill" William David GRIERSON
Born 28 March 1932 in East Perth, Western Australia [P50]
Son of "Bill" William Leonard GRIERSON and "Al" Alice Jane DAVISON [P50]
Resided with his parents in Koorda 1932-1940 [P50]
In the 1930s he and his parents spent a number of holidays in Carnamah, where his grandfather Bill DAVISON was the local baker [P50]
Among the best dressed at the Children's Fancy Dress Ball in Carnamah on 15 October 1938, dressed as a Red Indian [5: 21-Oct-1938]
In early 1940 shifted with his parents from Koorda to in Carnamah [P50]
Resided with his parents on La Colline Farm near Prowaka Siding in Carnamah [P50]
As a local rather than a visitor, he attended the Children's Fancy Dress Ball in Carnamah on 14 September 1940 as a Cowboy [5: 20-Sep-1940]
Junior Member of the Carnamah Social Club in 1941 [5: 21-Nov-1941]
Educated at the State School in Carnamah and then at Narrogin Agricultural College in Narrogin [P50]
While attending school in Carnamah he lived some of the time with his grandfather Bill DAVISON at 21 Macpherson Street in Carnamah [P50]
After completing his education he farmed his father on La Colline Farm in Carnamah [P50]
Committee Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1945-1969 [58]
Member of the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club in 1946 [5: 31-May-1946]
In 1949 he was a member of both the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club and the Three Springs Rifle Club [4: 3-Sep-1949]
Assistant Steward of the Wool section at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society’s Annual Show in 1949 [13]
He obtained the 5,000 acre Victoria Location 9921 on the north side of the Carnamah-Eneabba Road between Carnamah and Eneabba [P50]
Farmer of Illyarrie Farm between Carnamah and Eneabba from 1950 until 30 January 2003 [P50]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1952-1971 [13] and then of the North Midlands Agricultural Society [P50]
Married "Al" Alice Maud JOHNSON in Perth in 1954 [66]
They lived part-time on La Colline Farm and part-time on Illyarrie Farm until 1966 and then moved full-time to Illyarrie Farm [P50]
In early 1957 he lost about 15 sheep through dingo attacks at Illyarrie [4: 15-Mar-1957]
Committee Member of the Carnamah Pasture Improvement Group in 1957 [4: 5-Apr-1957]
When his father retired in 1977 in addition to farming Illyarrie also took over La Colline Farm in Carnamah [P50]
In early 2003 sold Illyarrie Farm in Eneabba to Carnamah farmer Peter RAYNER [P50]
Retained ownership of La Colline Farm which was share-cropped by his son in law Derek FOWLER [P75]
Had a new brick and tile house built at 4 Lucas Drive in the Carnamah townsite and resided there 2003-2026 [P50]
Member of the Carnamah Bush Fire Brigade from 1952 to the mid 1980s – served as Chief Fire Control Officer [P50]
Member of the Carnamah Small Bore Rifle Club in 1958 [4: 3-Oct-1958]
Obtained the telephone at Illyarrie Farm in Eneabba in 1967 – was telephone number Carnamah-541 [60]
Timekeeper for the Carnamah Football Club [P50]
Officer in Charge of Sector 7 of the Carnamah Bush Fire Brigade in 1973 and 1974 [100]
Attended the official opening of the restored Macpherson Homestead in Carnamah on Saturday 23 October 2004 [270]
Attended Bert TURNER's surprise 80th Birthday Party at the Carnamah Hotel on Saturday 25 June 2005 [P8]
Attended the 80th Birthday of Mrs Vida E. WHITEHURST at the Bowling Club in Carnamah on Saturday evening 31 May 2008 [P1]
Father of Linda, Sandra, Pauline, and David [P50]
Died 4 July 2026; ashes interred Pinnaroo Valley Memorial Park in the Perth suburb of Padbury (Bulgalla Walk, Garden 1, 138) [2]
Eulogy for "Bill" William David GRIERSON, given at his funeral by his grandson Mathew GARLAND:
"William David Grierson, was born on the 28th of March 1932 at Nurse Harvey's Hospital in Bulwer Street, Eat Perth. Grandad's dad was also known as Bill. His mum was Alice, who brought her son home from the city to Koorda, where the family was share farming. Grandad was an only child, and when he was seven, his dad bought a farm nine kilometres from Carnamah at Prowaka Siding, a former railway stop on the historic Midland Railway line. The farm was named La Colline, French for 'The Hill', and had originally been a established under the Solider Settlement Scheme in 1921.
Grandad attended school in Carnamah before going to Narrogin Agricultural College in 1947 and 1948, where he received the school's award for Best Practical Student. In 1951, Grandad applied for a block of just under 5,000 acres between Carnamah and Eneabba under the Conditional Purchase Scheme. He was granted the land in 1953, soon becoming the outright owner of the property that would come to be known by family and friends simply as 'the farm'. It was also in the early 1950s that romance blossomed between Grandad and the love of his life, Alice. They had known each other since childhood as their respective mums, Alice and Maud, were friends. They became engaged in 1953 and married on 27 February 1954. Their marriage lasted 72 years and was blessed with four children: Linda, Sandra, Pauline and David. In time, Grandma and Grandad became the much-loved parents-in-law of David, Derek and Nerida, and the proyd grandparents of Amie, Brett, Kris, Emma, Scott, Alyce, Samantha, myself, Jarrod, William, Elliot and Travis. They also welcomed 20 great-grandchildren.
It was tough going on the land early on. When Grandma and Grandad first moved to the farm , they were living in what was essentially a bush camp. Then came a large caravan and shed, followed by what was known as a 'Mallochs' building. The Malloch was essentially a glorified shed: one room, about 20 feet by 14 feet. Buildings like these were common during the post-Second World War agricultural expansion in Western Australia. Initially, the farm was accessible only by a dirt road, and there was no electricity or telephone. Together, Grandad and Grandma added a bathroom and sleepout to the Malloch to accommodate their growing family, all while growing wheat and steadily building up a large flock of sheep. It is difficult for many of us today to imagine raising a family in those conditions. It says so much about Grandma and Grandad: their strength, resilience and ability to simply get on with whatever needed to be done. Those qualities were passed on to their children, and I hope at least some of that strength and resilience has continued through to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1975, Grandad and Grandma moved the family into a house on the farm. They lived there for 30 years before building a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Carnamah, where they lived until Grandad's passing.
Grandad was a farmer in every sense of the word. He worked for as long as there was daylight, and often even when there wasn't. When he was not out on the farm, he could usually be found in his shed, building something, repairing something or lending his practical skills to whatever needed doing. There was very little Grandad could not build or fix. It was one of the many ways he showed his love, by making, fixing and providing for those around him. To this day, I, along with I'm sure half the people here today, still have one of Grandad's handmade fly swats, fashioned from a piece of leather and an old wire coat hanger, or one of his dustpans, made from an old broom handle and a Roundup container cut in half. These much-loved tools are a lasting reminder of the pride Grandad took in working with his hands and a perfect example of his generosity Grandad somehow found time to be an active member of the .22 Bore Rifle Club, and he was a great shot. He won a Small Bore Rifle state championship under the postal shoot format. He was also a great supporter of the Carnamah Football Club and served as the timekeeper on match days. He was the patron of the local bowling club and made a significant contribution to the community through the Carnamah-Eneabba Bush Fire Brigade, where he served as chief fire controller. Throughout his long farming career, Grandad was also involved with Junior Farmers, the Farmers' Union and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association. He gave his full support to events held in the area and promoted Carnamah's famous Big Tractor. Every September, Grandad spent the two days of the Carnamah Agricultural Show serving as a steward in the wool pavilion.
Nobody worked harder than Grandad, but that never interfered with his devotion to his family. He and Grandma spent as much time as they could with their children during their formative years, instilling in them a strong work ethic, a willingness to give everything a go and a determination never to give in. An annual highlight was the Christmas school holidays spent enjoying family time at the house in Dongara, which had once been the old harbour master's cottage. Grandad loved going to Dongara because it gave him the chance to go beach fishing, which he did often. To this day, there are drawings on the garage wall at the Dongara house showing some of the fish Grandad caught, although there remains some debate as to the scale used in those drawings compared with the size of the actual fish.
In later years, Grandad and Grandma joined a group of farmers on a tour of the United States to study the latest developments in John Deere tractors. They also enjoyed many holidays to Bali and Thailand with the extended family, as well as several coach trips around Australia. On one of the Bali holidays back in 2005, we encouraged Grandad to come white-water rafting with us. The boat flipped over, and we were horrified to find Grand ad floating face down and motionless in the river. At that moment, I did not think Grandad would live to be 74, let alone make it to 94. Grandad had a great fondness for animals, especially those on the farm. Over the years there were dogs, chickens, cockatoos, and even pet emus, kangaroos and sheep. Perhaps the most memorable was Purdy, the pet cow, who needed a little more care and attention than most. Grandad always made sure she was looked after, although she was not always as appreciative as she could have been. One day, Grandad was trying to move Purdy into another paddock by following closely behind her in his ute. Purdy did not appreciate what was happening, so she turned around and slammed her hooves into the front of the ute, smashing the radiator.
Grandad loved growing things. His chickens, vegetable garden and fruit trees kept the family supplied with fresh eggs, grapes, oranges and plenty of home-grown vegetables. His love of nature showed in everything he did. On one occasion, while clearing a paddock, he discovered birds nesting in a tree. Rather than remove it, he left the tree exactly where it was. That was the kind of person Grandad was. His commitment to caring for the environment was so well known that his family affectionately called him their own Harry Butler. Long before recycling and sustainability became buzzwords, Grandad was quietly doing his part to care for the environment, including through the way he farmed and looked after the land. Looking after the world around him was not something he did for recognition; it was simply part of who he was. Grandad was disciplined in the way he cared for animals, looked after equipment, protected the environment and expected people to treat one another with respect and good manners. Perhaps at times, these qualities were taken for granted, but as time passes and we reflect on his life, their true significance becomes clearer. Grandad's uncompromising standards and integrity were central to the man he was, and they remain an enduring part of the example he leaves behind.
When he was not outside, Grandad enjoyed life's quieter moments too. He was a keen stamp collector in his younger days. He enjoyed settling down with a good cowboy novel, and never missed the chance to have a laugh watching his favourite British comedy shows on TV. As a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, farmer and friend, Grandad leaves behind a legacy far greater than anything that can be seen or measured. It lives on in the values he passed on, the lessons he taught by example, the laughter he shared and the love that continues to bind his family together. We will miss his steady presence, his gentle humour, his generosity and that familiar twinkle of mischief. We are richer for having known him, and we will carry his memory with us always, in the stories we tell, the traditions we keep and the lives we lead. Thank you, Grandad, for a life so well lived, so deeply loved and so generously shared. May you rest peacefully, knowing that your legacy will continue through all those whose lives you touched."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'William David Grierson' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 12 August 2026 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-david-grierson [reference list] |
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