DAVEY Edward (Ted)  NEW

Walter Edward Heydon Davey, known as Ted, was born on the 10^th May 1916. He had a brother, Cecil born in 1912 and a sister, Linda May born in 1914.

Linda May Davey married Leonard V. Walsh in 1936. They had a baby boy born on 11th July 1937, named Robert James.

Cecil A. Davey married Grace E. Holman in 1946.

Ted’s father, Frederick A. Davey married Caroline Baker in Fremantle in 1911. He owned property in Patterson Road, Pickering Brook. Lot No. 781 of 28 acres and Lot No. 782 of 25 acres.
 

TED DAVEY       #1
 

THE THREE DAVEY CHILDREN  1918       #2
LINDA 4y. CECIL  6y & TED  2y
 

Ted married Mavis Emily Roads, daughter of Tommy and Mabel Roads, of Pickering Brook, on 8^th July 1944 at Saint Alban’s Church, Highgate. Mavis was born on 17^th August 1919 at Nurse Beadon’s Private Hospital, 10 Smith Street, East Perth.

MAVIS DAVEY (nee ROADS)       #3
 

On the 26^th May 1945 their first child, Patricia Maude was born at Hawthorn Hospital. Patricia first married Richard Spivey. Her second marriage was to Brett Belstead. She had two children, Trevor and Michelle. Trevor who married a Michelle, and Michelle who married Simon. She had two grand-children Dokota and Dechlan. Sadly Patricia passed away on 18^th October 2014.
 

Ted’s wife, Mavis ran a small school tuckshop type of business from the front room of their house on Pickering Brook Road, just past the school.

Mavis was a foundation member of the Pickering Brook R.S.L. Sub-branch and Women's Auxiliary. And was also Captain and Associate of the Pickering Brook Sports Club Golf Association.

TED DAVEY'S HOUSE WHICH CONTAINED THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE 
AND THE SCHOOL TUCKSHOP       #4

ADVERTISEMENT FOR TED'S BUSINESS       #5
 

On the 9^th August 1949 their second child, Frederick, was born at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland.

Ted was very active among the community and held quite a few official positions; President Pickering Brook P. & C. Association 1949 – 1954
               Captain of Pickering Brook Fire Brigade 1952 – 1954

Ted and Mavis was always involved in various fund raising functions held locally. Listed below is one such function reported in the local newspaper.

The annual concert arranged by the Xmas Tree Committee was held at the Carilla Hall on Saturday night 25^th July 1953. Over 200 people attended and spent a most enjoyable evening and the sum of 21 pounds ($42) was cleared for the kiddie’s Xmas tree. The programme opened with a piano accordion recital by professional artist Eddie Spinning, who also supported the other artists. The lighting effects, blue, green, and red, were very effective, especially for the song “Silent Night” sung by Misses Laurel Roads, Lyn Beard and Kathleen McCorkill, dressed as angels. The male mannequins, John Stewart, Alec Niven, Ted Davey, Cecil Davey, Fred Cunnold and Frank Giddings, paraded in the fashions of the Gay Nineties, neck-to-knee bathers, short beaded frocks and good old style nighties brought the house down with applause and when later they appeared on the programme in modern style bathers, day dresses and night wear the applause was deafening and they were really “some girls”. Wigs, make-up and the cutest figures. John Stewart, of Perth, gave a running commentary as each mannequin paraded. Another popular item was the exhibition of tap dancing and convolutionist by Miss Susanne and Miss Karen Nasso, of North Perth. Musical and singing items and humorous sketches added variety. Special mention to Miss Gretchen Loaring, of Bickley, and we are still wondering if she has found Algie the Flea. Another very amusing sketch of Dals and Gert, Nita Niven and Grace Davey, making the Xmas pudding with very little of the brandy was put in the pudding and we know why Dals had such a red nose. The organisers are to be commended on the arrangement of the programme and the local artists on their enthusiasm and ability. Syd Russell’s public address system was used in the hall and the concert finished up with community singing in which all joined and a most enjoyable evening came to a close about 11.40 p.m.
 

TED & MAVIS DAVEY       #6
 

The P.M.G. Department announced in June 1949, that a new telephone exchange would be installed at Ted Davey’s shop as soon as equipment became available. After it was installed, Mavis’s young sister, Laural Roads worked on the exchange after leaving school at 14, for eight years until she married Bruno Gava on 12^th September 1959. There were about 69 subscribers and some others on party lines. Phone call costs were one penny for local calls and four pence for Trunk calls. Country calls were dearer depending upon distance. The little tuckshop business grew taking on agencies for newspapers, books, insurance and also Emmerson Orchard Sprays and Requisites

CARILLA BUS SERVICE TICKET       #7
 

TED DAVEY, LAURAL ROAD & MAVIS DAVEY ON LAURAL'S WEDDING DAY   1959        #8
 

On 7^th December 1964, whilst Ted was away on a fishing trip, Mavis was murdered by a young orchard worker employed by them. Tommy Trantom grabbed Ted’s gun and shot her in the kitchen. He was charged and convicted of her murder.  and was serving his sentence in the Geraldton Regional Prison. A bus load of prisoners were returning after a local sports match when the bus they were riding in was involved in an accident and rolled. Tommy Trantom was killed in this accident.

Mavis had been a foundation member of the Pickering Brook R.S.L. Sub-branch and Women's Auxiliary, and at the time of her unfortunate death, was Captain and Associate of the Pickering Brook Sports Club Golf Association, Vice President of the Pickering Brook Sports Club and a member of the Pickering Brook Ladies Night Tennis Club. She was described as a tireless worker for the club.
 

Ted remarried later in 1965, to Sylvia Gladys Young who already had a young son, Jeff from a previous marriage. She declared she would not married Ted and come to live in Pickering Brook until Ted had built a new toilet and washroom attached to and under the same roof as the house. She detested the outside toilet that was around behind the old Packing Shed. Ted obliged and they were married.

In the late 1960s he built a new packing shed next to the house, out of second hand material. His step-son Jeff, helped preparing the used bricks.

TED & SYLVIA  1976       #9
 

JEFF YOUNG       #10
 

 JEFF PREPARING BRICKS FOR PACKING SHED 1967     #11
 

PREPARING TO BUILD NEW PACKING SHED  1976       #12
 

TED & SYLVIA READY TO GO FISHING 1967       #14
 

TED & SYLVIA AT PICKERING BROOK  1976       #15
 

Ted developed a small poultry farm selling eggs before venturing into a brand new business, of mushroom growing. Ted’s property had Forrest Road running through the middle of it, dividing it into two lots. As this venture expanded Ted sold the original small orchard fronting Pickering Brook Road and moved to live on the back half of the property on the other side of Forrest Road. He built a new house right up the top of the block overlooking the valley.

Ted was a very good poet and he wrote many poems about local situations. Listed below are a few of the favourites.

TED DAVEY AND HIS DAUGHTER PATRICIA   1989      #16
 

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.

POEM WRITTEN BE W.E. (TED) DAVEY FOR MAC BEARD

TO MAC

Well Mac we know in hospital there’s time you’re feeling low,
There’s some who call to visit you, but others never go;
And so you just can’t get to hear the things they have to say,
But round this place you may be sure they think of you each day.

So Myrt said let’s arrange a night and give folks a chance
To show the way they really feel by coming to a dance;
The crowd rolled up from near and far and packed the hall up tight,
The cars were jammed outside the door, it really was a night.

The four-piece orchestra was free, and played the whole night through,
And local artists volunteered to give a song or two;
And all the folks were giving cash, you mustn’t think us nuts;
For all had but one single thought, they like a boy with guts.

They tallied up the takings and the pounds were ninety-three,
Vic Osborne held the tin aloft for all the crowd to see;
Let’s build it to a hundred, was heard above the din,
We really had to fight to get our money in the tin.

Your old man said that he was proud, that touched us deep inside,
it really is a fine reward, a parent’s love and pride.
For though you work with truck and book, who cares the way or place,
While you’re honest in your efforts, you’re a credit to your race.

So whether that old leg of yours gets better or gets worse,
I hope you read the moral that I’ve written in this verse;
A man is never beaten if he simply won’t say die,
There’s always ways to win the day, so keep your courage high.

 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.

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:      Gordon Freegard

                                  Image:     Laural Gava     1, 3, 6, 8
                                                 Kalamunda & Districts Historical Society     2
                                                 Gordon Freegard    4
                                                 Trove                   5
                                                 Jeff Young            7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Copyright :   Gordon Freegard     2008 - 2023