Lillian Minnie (Arrowsmith) Bowey 1890 - 1970
Lillian was born in 1890 in Sunderland, England, the eldest
of four children to Sarah (Snowdon) and Robert William Arrowsmith. Her father
worked for the Sunderland and South Shields Water Company for 31 years. He
earnt a good wage and was able to afford education for all the children, including
the two girls. When Lillian was 20 and Winifred 18 they both gained 1st
class with their Drawings in Light and Shade at the School of Art in Sunderland.
The whole family emigrated to South Australia but not
together as a family group. I haven’t yet found Lillian on a passenger list but
it was probably early 1912 when she emigrated. After disembarking at Adelaide she
went to Maitland, on the Yorke Peninsula, where she had a job to go to in the
dress and millinery department at Tiddy’s Store. Lillian quickly became
involved in the community and there was much excitement when Maitland received
its first visit from the State Governor for the official opening of the
hospital. A fete was held on the grounds and nearly £190 was raised. It was the
biggest fair ever held at Maitland and “the success of the fete was entirely
due to the energies of the ladies.” A great number of stall holders were at the
fete including Miss Arrowsmith. This must have been Lillian as Winifred didn’t land
in South Australia until 24 days after the event. Winifred, aged 20 Teacher,
and Robert (jnr), aged 16 Clerk, travelled together and they also went to
Maitland. The parents Robert and Sarah were last to travel and arrive in Maitland
on 29 August 1913. Robert too worked for the Tiddy’s store as the accountant
and the family became stalwarts of the Maitland community.
In 1914 Winifred married Robert Oxenberry Harris and Lillian
married Percy James Bowey. Lillian moved to Port Victoria where her husband was
farming and their first son Edmund was born there in December 1914. In 1916
Percy took over the Bowey farm “The Cedars” which was one mile from Maitland on
the Moonta Road and both Phyllis (1916) and Jim (1922) were born in Maitland.
Percy sold “The Cedars” and the clearing sale was held on
the farm on 31 March 1924. Everything was sold – 45 horses, 750 Merino sheep,
100 tons new seasons hay, 18 cattle, 9 pigs, 100 Leghorn chickens, a huge array
of farm machinery, and a houseful of furniture and sundry items. The auctioneer
was instructed to sell everything and there were no reserve prices. The Ladies
of the Methodist Church provided a luncheon, with proceeds jointly in aid of Sunday-School
and Manse renovations.
The family moved to Prospect for a short time but Percy had
heard good reports about farming land in Western Australia. Percy inspected
many farming areas in WA before deciding to purchase the well-known property of
Fisher Beard, six miles east of Kulin. In June 1924 he returned to South
Australia on the Great Western Express train and made arrangements for
the whole family to relocate. Travelling on the SS Katoomba Percy,
Lillian and the three children disembarked at Fremantle on 18 September 1924
and made their way directly to Kulin.
Both Lillian and Percy were very involved in building the
Kulin community with Percy on the Road Board and Lillian with CWA. In November
1929 the women of the Kulin district formed a branch of the CWA and Lillian was
a founding member. CWA was to become a large part of her life for the next 30
years or more. Over the years Lillian served as President (1933) and Vice
President (1937 & 1945). She helped the formation of the “Younger Set” and
her daughter Phyllis was elected as inaugural Vice President in 1939.
Lillian was a renowned cook and she was often pulling
something out of the oven. Her fruit cakes were always dense and packed with
fruit and nuts and highly sought after when raffled or as a prize for one
fundraiser or another. Even during the depression Lillian managed to find the
ingredients – of course it helped living on the farm where she had chickens, a
dairy cow and a vegetable garden.
Lillian excelled in cake decorating with elaborate designs
and over the years she decorated many weddings cakes as well as the annual CWA
birthday cakes. She was a big supporter of the Kulin Agricultural Show and for
more than 20 years she entered her home produce. She won awards for a wide
range of produce including locally cured bacon, home-made soap, fruit cake, bottled
fruits, tomato sauce, cream puffs and of course cake decorating. In the 1930s
she established the Mrs Bowey Trophy which was awarded for the highest points
in Section K Home Produce for girls under 16. Lillian continued to sponsor this
award even after her and Percy officially retired to Albany.
In 1949 Lillian and Percy retired from the farm and
went to live in Albany. They lived in a 2 bedroom house at 12 Denman Rd, Albany.
It was a small house on a huge acreage. During the late 1960s the land was sold
and subdivided and more houses were built. In 1970 a new house was built on the
corner block and the address of the original house is now 8 Woolcott St,
Albany. Even though the house was small Lillian welcomed her grandchildren and
she made room for them all so they could stay. Judith’s bed was in the main
passage, while Evelyn, Mauree and Peter all slept in the sleep out.
In Albany Lillian continued with her passions which included the CWA, gardening, cooking, sewing, croquet and bowls. She was an active contributor to the Albany community and a great supporter of many causes and events. Each year she entered her sewing in the Albany Show – she had a good year in 1949 gaining two seconds (table centre and novelty tea cosy) and a first for sugar bag article as well as a second in the coveted sponge competition! In 1950 the Albany Branch hosted the State President of CWA Mrs Dempster who presented four twenty year long service badges. Lillian received hers as a foundation member of the Kulin branch.
Lillian was a great dressmaker and she could turn her hand
at anything it seems. She gave the CWA ladies a short demonstration of the
making of felt toys at a general meeting. “The toys are easy and interesting to
make, and it was decided to call a special meeting later for the sole purpose
of cutting out felt, and sewing toys under Mrs. Bowey's supervision.” Her
sewing skills were again put to good use when her and other CWA ladies were
called on to repair the District Hospital linen. Lillian was a supporter of the
Red Cross and helped out with their annual appeals. She also loved gardening
and participated in the annual Open Gardens displays.
Both Lillian and Percy were regulars on the bowling green.
Percy was Captain for a number of years and Lillian established a trophy in her
name – Mrs Bowey’s Trophy for runner-up of Singles Women’s player. Lillian also
enjoyed croquet at the green next to the historic St John’s Church.
After her husband died in 1961, Lillian stayed in Albany but
she moved back to Kulin in about 1967 where she had a small unit. When she
needed care she had to go to Katanning as there weren’t the facilities in
Kulin.
Her granddaughter Evelyn recalled the events of Lillian’s
last day. “Nanna had been living in Bethshan in Katanning for a few years and was
in Katanning Hospital when we last saw her. We called in on our way to
Broomehill but couldn’t stay long because of three restless children. As we
said goodbye to Nanna, Robert leant right out of Bob’s arms to kiss her. He was
18 months old and he was the past person to do so; she died by the time we got
to Broomehill.”
Lillian died on 3 May 1970 aged 79 years. She is buried in
the Albany cemetery next to her husband.
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