John - How did the scheme work?
Iris – The Soldier Settlement area is a very important part of the Western District. Lots too small, dry areas but after WWII all soldiers would have a chance to study towards a university degree or invited to apply for land that was acquired by the Government in western Victoria in Hawkesdale, Colac, Warrnambool areas. You would apply directly to the Soldier Settlement Commission, many tried time and again without success. My husband Ellis, was interested in commercial art, farming. A self-educated fellow joined the Air Force at 18 and served out of Australia. Attended Dookie Agricultural College and applied some ideas straight away. We bred fine wool sheep.
Offers to resettle servicemen by offering blocks of land 300-400 acres, we were lucky Ellis was granted 1,000 acres (nicknamed ‘the Boy’ – 24 at the time). You had to pay something every year to the Government, and if you sold the property you had to pay the Government. You acquired stock in your own way.
There were 18 people in our settlement, ranging in all ages from many walks of life; bankers, farm workers etc. We had a daughter, only 12 months at the time. Not everyone was successful, 2 out of 3 cases of ill health resulting from war service made times difficult.
Once you were allocated a block, materials were hard to acquire. We lived in a garage ‘hut’ for three years, open fireplace, water tank and each Saturday Ellis would walk into Caramut for groceries with a bag slung over his shoulder … our second daughter arrived in the family.
Our neighbour was living in a caravan, one story we could tell was of the cow who put its head in the ‘cool safe’ and ate the vegetables.
Our neighbours; most folk were married, most had children, we worked together, would entertain together. There were more students going to school, playing sport; cricket, tennis, the Golf Club was established and the community grew.
Before long a Mechanics Institute Hall was built, Ellis was Secretary until we moved. Once a month a family night was organised in the Hall, dancing … Ellis was a good dancer, I organised games nights for the children and worked on auxiliaries including the RSL, CWA, Red Cross, Mother’s Clubs etc.
With a growing community, Mortlake Higher Elementary opened which meant children didn’t have to board away in Hamilton.
We jelled, Caramut was a happy village around the Soldier Settlement, however there were some failures. We had two paddocks over 1,000 acres, no telephone … a party line in time. Teachers came to board.
Finally, we moved into our homes we thought were ‘palaces’ after living in huts for so long. We had four acres around the house, park area and orchard. You were offered one of four designs for a house, no say really in construction but they were substantial homes, we extended twice over the forty years we lived on the block. We saw power delivered to the area in the mid 50’s.
We had a ‘T’ model Ford and whilst on the way to hospital with imminent arrival of daughter number three, Ellis stopped the car to pick up a shearer and then the vehicle wouldn’t start. We just made it to hospital in time.
Finally, we sold our property divided between the neighbouring properties.
It was a proud day to see my two granddaughters graduate from Melbourne University; one a doctor and the other a physiotherapist whose family origins were the salt of the Soldier Settlements.
