Les and Phyllis
Les was born at Tullyvea, attended by midwife Grandma Louisa Pumpa (God-parents: Albert Pumpa, Chris Pumpa & Helena Nuske). He commenced his schooling at Tullyvea and Glenlee, but when family moved to New South Wales, (Les was aged 9 years at the time) because of lack of schools in the area, none of the children received any schooling for the best part of the first year. Until a Government subsidised teacher could be appointed, the older children were all sent back to Victoria to stay with various aunts and uncles to enable them to continue their education. Brother Kelly and Les went to live with Uncle Herb and Aunt Bertha Starick at Mellis (about 8 miles South East of Warracknabeal), where they attended the Witten Swamp school. As soon as a teacher was appointed the children returned to Neimur to continue their schooling from home. Les completed his education at Tarranyurk after the family returned to Victoria.
After leaving school at the age of 14 1/2 years, Les worked at home and for various neighbors until he was about 21 years old. Les also spent a considerable amount of time hunting and rabbiting, etc. for pocket money
Phyllis received her schooling at Kiata East, Kiata and Tullyvea, after which she worked at home and for a neighbor - for the princely sum of 4/- (40 cents) a day.
For the first 7 months of their marriage Les and Phyllis lived at Tarranyurk in a house on the banks of the Wimmera River, while working for Norm Werner. In the ensuing years they moved many times, first to Clarrie Schultze's at Woorak (about 7 months), then to Aug Gebert's at Ellam, next was to Bob Charles' at Ellam, then on to McCallum's on the Geodetic Road at Willenabrina. Roy Quick's at Willenabrina. Otto Altmann's at Ellam. Returned to Tarranyurk to work the Kluge (Phyllis' parents) property.
Still at Tarranyurk at Milkins', then to Albert Zanker's at Jeparit, before moving to Biloela, Queensland, in March of 1967, when they moved again in December, 1977, this time to Buderim, where still not content, they moved again, but still at Buderim, where they are today.
Misfortune struck the family when in March of 1980, Les was involved in an accident whilst working on the farm at Buderim. A tractor rolled on him, causing him to suffer serious injuries, resulting in Les becoming a paraplegic and being confined to a wheelchair.
When recalling events of Les' early years, one has to relate a certain incident which occurred when he was a young man working with his father. One morning there had been a break with the combine wheel spokes, and Les was instructed to take the part into Jeparit for Frank Glourey, the blacksmith, to repair. Rosalinda was to go with to do the family shopping. Les spruced himself up in his best "bib and tucker", and spent the best part of the day in town watching some of the town's menfolk playing billiards, while his mother shopped. On their return home where his father had been anxiously awaiting the repaired part, guess what? Les slapped a hand to his forehead and had to sheepishly admit "Dammit all, never even took them in!" To this day, he has never lived it down!