RUSSELL  Alfred Stephen 

Research by Gordon Freegard

Alf Russell was born on 5th October 1888 at Nairne, South Australia, the fifth child of Vere and Emily Russell. He was eleven years old when his father died in 1898. His early schooling must have been at various schools along the railway line in South Australia as the family moved fairly often, and they were at Bordertown when his youngest brother, Bert, was born in 1892. Alf told his son Syd (Pip), that he had to catch the train to go to school so the children must have gone from their camp to the nearest school along the railway line.

ALF RUSSELL
 

VERE & EMILY RUSSELL FAMILY c1894
 Rear Left - Right; CHARLIE, EMILY, VERE, WILLIAM
 Front Left - Right: ALF, BERT , MARTHA
 

After his father's death, Alf, his mother and the rest of the family went to England and lived in Somerset in a little village called Huish Episcopi near Langport. His mother, Emily, thought they'd be better off there and I suppose she wanted family support.

Alf worked at Kelway's Nursery, which also employed other members of the Russell family. The family stayed in England for about nine years and then returned to Australia in 1908. Alf was given a reference from Kelway's before leaving. This time they came to Western Australia as the eldest son, Charlie, had married Maggie Phillips in Perth in 1906, and arranged  for the rest of the family to come out to Australia. Will, the second eldest, had married his cousin, Bessie Vile, and he stayed behind and lived in England for about twelve years after his marriage, leaving only after Bessie died.

Alf was about 20 years old when he returned to Australia and for a few years worked in the south-west of Western Australia, at Hawter's Orchard in Mullalyup with Bert, his younger brother.

In about 1912 Alf went inter partnership with Bert, in a nine acre property in Canning Vale (Lot 46 on plan 2902 - Canning Location 21) and shared in the cost of having a house built in which the two brothers and their mother lived. They developed the property as a market garden.

RUSSELL BACHELOR CAMP AT MULLALYUP
 

BERT RUSSELL & KANGAROO AT MULLALYUP
 

After World War 1 started in 1915 the young men considered joining the army. Alf was medically examined but found to be unfit. Alf was 28 at this time. Bert, however, did join up and went to France.

Alf continued to run the property and, on 18th December 1920, in Perth, he married Frances Kate Gibson, who was born on 22nd October 1885. Kate's parents were John and Annie Gibson (nee Brown). Her father was an orchardist. Alf and Kate lived together with Alf's mother but Kate and her Mother-in-law didn't get on well living together so Alf bought the property next door and had another house built.

ALF RUSSELL
 

ALF RUSSELL PACKING TOMATOES

When Bert returned from the War in 1919 he went back to work on the property and lived with his mother.

Alf and Kate had a baby son, Sydney Veran, born 2nd October 1921, who died at birth or very soon after. The baby funeral was conducted by Donald Chipper and Son on 6th October 1921.

Another baby, Sydney Leicester (Pip) was born on 2nd April 1925.

Bert Russell married Thelma Lucretia Watts on 24th April 1924 and the two families lived next door to each other. Other neighbours were Nichol Brothers, Bill Cabassi (who later went to Pickering Brook), Keilman (who had a dairy) Brady, Packers and Richards.

Alf and Kate bought an orchard at 70 Forrest Road, Pickering Brook and moved there in 1931 where they lived running the orchard with Pip until they died.

RUSSELL ORCHARD AT PICKERING BROOK
 

RUSSELL ORCHARD AT PICKERING BROOK
 

THE RUSSELL FAMILY HOME AT PICKERING BROOK       #3

VEGETABLE CROPS LOST
SETTLERS FACING RUIN     Reported "The West Australian" Thursday 4th April 1935

"Settlers for several miles along the upper reaches of Piesse's Brook, in the Pickering Brook district yesterday gave vivid accounts of the severity of Tuesday's storm in that district. Mr. A. Russell, of Pickering Brook, whose small property adjoins that of Nicol Brothers on the north side was almost completely ruined by the storm. All he saved from hundreds of pounds worth of vegetables was a few hundredweight of potatoes, which, although not quite ready for digging, had to be taken from the ground yesterday before they started to rot. His patch of sweet potatoes which on Tuesday morning was knee-high was leveled to the ground, with a number of the potatoes washed to the surface. His cauliflowers were in a similar state to those of the Nicol Brothers, and the cabbages, almost ready for picking, looked as if they had had the tops eaten by cattle. His most serious loss, however, was the crop from a number of lemon trees which are his mainstay. The trees had been heavily laden with ripened lemons., but most of those were yesterday lying on the ground, while those still on the trees were torn and damaged by the hail. Four years ago when Mr. Russell took over the property it was in a dilapidated condition and this year, after giving it all his time and money, he was looking forward to its giving him a satisfactory return. Even next year the lemon crop will not be satisfactory, as the hail destroyed nearly all the young shoots."

Alf Russell died on 6th February 1966 at the age of 77 and Kate died on 19th November 1967, aged 82. They both willed their bodies to the University if Western Australia. Alf was quite a good artist and painted a few pictures and also decorated Kate's autograph book with many illustrations. He also made some of the household furniture, a hall-stand and a folding chair, which were shown to me by his son Pip. He was an atheist and wrote many letters to the newspapers against religion and kept a book of newspaper cuttings about religion and letters he had written.

POEM WRITTEN BE W.E. (TED) DAVEY FOR ALF RUSSELL

HIS OPINION

His home is nestled by a brook
And peace pervades this tranquil nook.
He seeks not grandeur, power or wealth
But claims the right to please himself
In work or thought, to judge the worth
Of any scribe who's dwelt on earth.

So if you meet him, heed me well
And never, ever talk of Hell
Or how you plan to make a date
With Peter at the Pearly Gate
For he will ask you how you know
And you'll be heading straight for woe.

He'll know the passages you quote
And soon he'll make you feel a goat
Then send you packing on your way
Enraged, bemuse, or led astray.
Now if you have some wondrous tale
Morocco bound, gilt edged, for sale

Pass on, oh pilgrim, let him be
You'll never earn your salesman's fee.
He cares not if the faithful weep
No devils seem doth please him well
Of life hereafter, who can tell?
He'll go the way that all men must.

His dust will mingle with our dust.

RUSSELL  Kate Francis

Kate Russell, nee Gibson, (called Kitty by her brothers) came from Leicester in England. She kept diaries during her life at Pickering Brook which show her to be a kindly, sociable woman who entertained her neighbours for lunch or afternoon tea fairly frequently, and later, when they bought a television set, had people over to watch television.

Kate kept several diaries over the years which make interesting reading as they give an indication of the kind of life they led, the hospitality shown to their neighbours, Kate's love of gardening and the making of jams, preserves etc. and the time Pip was at school and later, in the Air Force and at home.

KATE RUSSELL

KATE RUSSELL & BABY PIP
 

She also like gardening, as she mentions in her diaries planting flowers and vegetables. She also did a lot of bottling of fruit and jam making as her garden and the orchard produced plenty of fruit and vegetables. She was, of course, very proud of her son, Pip, and her diaries are full of notes about him - going to school, having his 18th and 21st birthdays, fixing people's radios, joining the Air Force etc. In fact, her diaries give a good insight into her life and nature - she never says anything nasty about anybody.

She had an older sister, Elizabeth Baird, who lived in Canada with her husband Ed. and had a daughter, Olive. She also had two brothers, Syd and Bert Gibson, who lived in Albany. Syd Gibson had an orchard at the Kalgan River, 15kms out of Albany. He never married.  Bert was married to Annie and had a son named Jack (Pip's cousin). After Annie died Bert married Gladys. Bert ran Gibson's Garage in Albany. Pip went to High School in Albany because of having his two Uncles living there.

Kate always had poor eyesight, according to Pip and later developed heart trouble but she kept up a regular correspondence with her sister in Canada and also with her brothers.

Kate died on 19th November 1967 aged 82. Pip found her dead in bed one morning which was a big shock for him.

GRANDMOTHER ANNIE GIBSON

OLD RESIDENT PASSES ON

Reported in the "Albany Advertiser" on Monday 3rd November 1941

"An old Albany resident in Mr. John Gibson passed away in "The Rocks" Hospital on Saturday evening at the age of 86 years. The late Mr. Gibson was the father of the well-known Albany councilor, Mr. A. H. Gibson. Although the deceased had been in ill health in recent months, he had enjoyed good health and had led an active life until this year. several years ago he journeyed to England on an extended holiday, returning to Albany some time after the outbreak of the war. The late Mr. John Gibson's association with Albany extends over a long period of years. He arrived here in 1909. taking up land in the Kalgan River district, where a son, Mr. Syd Gidson now has a property. Later he was associated with the well known garage and service station of Gibson and Son on the Albany Highway. He is survived by his two sons and also two daughters, Mrs. Baird (Canada) and Mrs. Russell (Pickering Brook). The remains of the late Mr. John Gibson were privately interred this morning"

BABY PIP RUSSELL

Left-Right: ALF & KATE RUSSELL and KATE'S FAMILY

RUSSELL Sydney Leicester "Pip"

Pip Russell (called "Pip" after the Dickens character) was born on 2nd April 1925 and lived at Canning Vale as a baby until the family moved to Pickering Brook when he was about 2 years old. He started school at Pickering Brook in February, 1931, at a one-teacher school and continued until Standard 6 (or year 7) when he gained a scholarship to attend Albany High School. He had the choice of Albany, Bunbury or Northam, all five-year high schools, but he chose Albany as he had two uncles there (his mother's brothers).

PIP RUSSELL

PIP RUSSELL & HIS MUM KATE

He did his Junior and Leaving Exams and then went back home at the end of 1942, helping his father in the orchard and starting to do repairs to radios in the district. In his Mother's diary for 1943 she states that, on 2nd April, Pip celebrated his 18th birthday and went to town to buy valves etc. During the war, Pip was called up for the Army at 18 but was sent home manpowered as he was needed to work on the orchard. Later, on 6th May 1944, he joined the Air Force and did radio courses in Busselton, basic courses in Perth, a six-month radio course in Adelaide and three months in Melbourne. He finished in Bathurst Island with the Americans in 1946. On May 7th, 1946 Pip arrived home after being at Bathurst Island and Darwin, and discharged from the R.A.A.F. on May 20th 1947.

PIP RUSSELL

PICKERING BROOK SCHOOL GROUP 1934

PICKERING BROOK SCHOOL  1934
 

ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL   c1942
 PIP RUSSELL (third from right)
 

After returning to Perth he did a Repatriation course in electrical work at Perth Technical School, later working at putting in 32 volt lighting plants around the State and then stayed home and worked for A. J. Sharp in Perth.

Pip did a lot for the community at Pickering Brook, repairing radios and television sets and using his own equipment, such as record player and records and microphone etc. for the dances and socials held at the Pickering Brook Club. He liked to socialize at the club. After his death his record player and tapes were given to the Club, which were very pleased to have them.

BOB TREPP & PIP RUSSELL
 

MAC BEARD, KIRTH MAIN?, GRETCHEN LOARING, PIP RUSSELL
 AT CANNING DAM  #1
 

Pip was very popular and made many friends in and around Pickering Brook. Amongst those were Gretchen and Elva Loaring. If fact so close was his relationship with Gretchen that he called her "Sis" and transported her back and forth to her workplace each Friday and Monday over more than twelve months.

Things improved after the War. He still helped his father on the orchard and, after his father's death on 19th November 1967, at the age of 77, Pip kept working the orchard at Pickering Brook until it became too much for him and he sold it.

  ELVA LOARING, PIP RUSSELL &    ?
 

PIP RUSSELL IN UNIFORM (center)

After he sold the orchard he lived in the house rent free. He invested his money and lived on the interest earned. Over the years his health deteriorated, probably helped by his heavy smoking. He had a lot of pain in his legs brought about by poor circulation. He lived by himself and gradually it became impossible for him to look after himself properly. He could drive himself to the shops and to the Doctor but walking was very difficult and he did less and less. At last, in 1996, he rang his cousin, Joy Harnett, and explained that he could no longer look after himself. He could barely walk from his bedroom to the kitchen chair and sit down.

PIP RUSSELL   #2

PIP RUSSELL'S CAR

He had never let any of his relations into his house because he always said it was too untidy. Joy and brother Graham came to his help. He was immediately put into Kalamunda Hospital where he stayed for six weeks while they looked for a suitable hostel for him. One was found at Lesmurdie - Sunshine Park Hostel - where he went after leaving Kalamunda Hospital. Here he had his own room and was well cared for but had to make several trips to Royal Perth Hospital for tests in preparation for a bypass operation on his leg. Unfortunately his condition continued to deteriorate with complete kidney failure and the breakdown of the circulatory system and he died on Saturday 15th March 1997.

POEM WRITTEN BE W.E. (TED) DAVEY FOR "PIP" RUSSELL

RUSSELL'S RASH

He has a gauge that shows the faults in any radio.
 His meters measure ohms and amps, and signals high and low
 He seems to know before if starts when something's going wrong
 But still he was a sitting shot when measles came along.

We miss the music that he played from amplifier loud
 For now upon his bed he's laid, secluded from the crowd
 And instruments with lights lie idle by his side
 For Pip has got his warning spots all glowing on his hide.

While yesterday, as welcome guest, he had an honoured place
 Today he finds all things have changed, and doors slam in his face
 For fickle is the common man, and heedless of his kind
 But fearful most of measles germs that Pip could leave behind.

And so our radio must wait in silence for the day
 When Pip is on his feet again, with spots all cleared away.
 Then we will change our ways again. One more will ring "Two-O"
 And ask him when he's going to call and check the radio. 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                Article:      Joy Harnett
                                                Gordon Freegard
                                                The West Australian
                                                Albany Advertiser

                                 Images:   Joy Harnett
                                                2    Gordon Freegard
                                                1    Gretchen Loaring
                                                3    Kalamunda & Distrrict Historical Society

Copyright : Gordon Freegard.   2008 - 2020