SALA TENNA Millie   NEW

Researched and compiled by Gordon Freegard February 2025
Acknowledging information gathered from many sources including three oral history interviews with Millie Sala Tenna  conducted by Gigi Hesterman on behalf of the Kalamunda and Districts Historical Society in 2020

Early Life and Family Background
Mildred Mary Sala Tenna, known affectionately as Millie, was born on August 29, 1940, in Kalamunda, Western Australia, in a home along Orange Valley Road. Her mother, Maud Mary Hawking, chose home birth after a previous stillborn experience, relying on a local nurse, Mrs. Hallahan, for assistance. Millie's family originated from Yorkshire, England, with her father, William Percy Hawking, immigrating to Australia seeking better opportunities. The family settled in Kalamunda, where they established a small orchard on five acres, growing apricots and other fruits, which became their primary income.

           MILDRED "MILLIE" SALA TENNA       #1
 

       WILLIAM PERCY (ROGER) HAWKING       #2
 

     MAUD MARY HAWKING (nee BURTON) 1910s         #3
 

Growing up, Millie had a close-knit family that included her older sister, Pansy, and brother, Robert. Life on the orchard was simple, with the family relying on their land for sustenance during the tough years of the Great Depression. Millie’s childhood was marked by the vibrant community of Kalamunda, her experiences at Lesmurdie Primary School, and the laughter shared with neighbours.
 

      MAUD & MILDRED HAWKING Early 1940s        #4
e

     ROBERT & MILDRED HAWKING 1942         #5
 

      MILDRED WITH PET GUINEA PIG 1940s        #6
 

      ROBERT & MILDRED PLAYING IN THE CREEK Late 1940s        #7
 

School Years and Teen Life
Millie's educational journey began at Lesmurdie Primary School, where she thrived under the nurturing guidance of Mrs. Goerke. She fondly remembers the small class sizes and the joy of learning alongside her friends. After primary school, Millie attended Perth Girls' School, where she faced new challenges, including adjusting to a uniform and the rigors of high school education. Despite the transition, she excelled, ranking well in her class.
During her teenage years, Millie took on a part-time job at Robbie’s Tea Rooms, where she learned valuable skills in waitressing and customer service. She also became involved in the local theater scene with the Darling Range Repertory Company, where she performed in various productions, fostering her love for the arts.
 

  LESMURDIE PRIMARY SCHOOL            #8
CLASS IN TEACHER Mrs. GOERKE'S GARDEN 1940s
 

      LESMURDIE PRIMARY SCHOOL        #9
TEACHER Mrs. GOERKE. MILDRED HAWKING THIRD GIRL FROM LEFT STANDING BELOW THEACHER 1945
 

    ROGER & ROBERT WITH MILDRED WEARING HER CONFIRMATION DRESS           #10
 

     MILDRED OUTSIDE  ST. SWITHUNS CHURCH  Late 1940s        #11
 

  MILDRED HAWKING, MAUREEN COWEL & MAUREEN STEWART 1953-55            #12
 

  MILDRED HAWKING IN PERTH GIRLS SCHOOL UNIFORM 1953-55            #13
 

    BARBARA JACKSON, MILDRED HAWKING, EVELYN GARRET & ROSEMARY HOWES c1955          #14
 

    DARLING RANGE REPERTORY CLUB 1950s. MILDRED HAWKING 4th FROM RIGHT          #15
 

   "ROBBIES" TEAROOMS 1950s           #16
 

"George" the Scooter and Teaching
Millie decided to become a teacher and signed up for the course at  Claremont Teachers' College for two years.
Then towards the end of the first year,  she was now seventeen and old enough to drive, somebody at Teachers’ College had a friend who sold motor scooters. Millie had fifty pounds in the bank and that was going to be YMCA trip to Sydney that Christmas but her Mum was in hospital so, of course, the trip was cancelled; and with that fifty dollars she bought a motor scooter, second hand or third hand. It was a bit of a heap but it got her around until her friend Margaret who’s father went to Rotary in South Perth with Ken George,  bought a Puch motor scooter with the advice that if they could find another customer she’d get a five pound bonus to spend. So Millie went along to Ken George's and bought a brand new Puch scooter; and that took two years to pay off.  This scooter she named "George".
After my two  years at Teachers’ College she was sent to teach at Mount Many Peaks Primary School in the Albany district. She spent 1960 and 1961 there before being transferred to Maidavale Primary School in 1962.. After her first year at Mount Many Peaks Millie and her friend Eunice planned a big expedition to ride their scooters over to Brisbane. Millie starting from Kalamunda and Eunice starting from Southern Cross. Because the highway across the Nullarbor was still dirt, they caught the train across. After she got back from this fantastic holiday she did her second year at Mount Many Peaks Primary School.
Her love of teaching persisted over the years and much later she spent many years assisting the teachers at Pickering Brook Primary School.
 

 MILDRED HAWKING & "GEORGE" HER SCOOTER             #17
TEACHERS TRAINING CAMP 1958/58
 

     "GEORGE" THE SCOOTER AGAINST TREE         #18
OUTSIDE MOUNT MANY PEAKS PRIMARY SCHOOL c1960
 

   MILDRED HAWKING NEAR REAR GATE c1950           #19
 

        MILDRED HAWKING & "MAK" THE DOG c1955      #20
 

Marriage and Family Life
On the 12^th January 1963, Millie married Vincent JosephSala Tenna, a man with Italian roots who had grown up in Pickering Brook. The night before the wedding Vin had a hard time. His friend from Karragullen had driven a load of apples down to the wharf at Fremantle and taken his girlfriend with him and there was a hold-up in the unloading of the trucks. Because they came from two good Italian families he could not spend the night down there in the truck with his girlfriend, so he rang Vin at some ungodly hour and said, “Help! Can you come down and rescue me? I’ve got to get my girlfriend home before midnight.” So Vin spent that night down on the wharf at Fremantle waiting for the truck to be unloaded. By time they had finished it was daylight and he was very tired by the time he got back to Pickering Brook. 
The workmen were tickled pink about their boss getting married and they decided to get up to some mischief. They hid his suit pants in one place and his suit coat in another place.
 

     MILLIE HAWKING &  VIN SALA TENNA'S  WEDDING GROUP         #21
RACHEL ARMSTRONG, MILLIE SALA TENNA (nee Hawking), PANSY ARMSTRONG (nee Hawking)
EUNICE GETHIN, SUSAN GODFREY
 

Vin agreed to drive himself into Kalamunda instead of having a taxi come all the way out to Pickering Brook for him, so he drove into Kalamunda where the wedding was. He was in such a mess that the lady who was doing the catering sat him down with a cup of tea and a couple of Bex and let him collect himself. He’d located his suit by then.
Millie was home getting dressed up in her beautiful angel-skin dress. The rest of the bridal party were also getting ready, the bridesmaids, Millie’s sister and friend Eunice, and two little girls for flower girls.They were married in the hall at St. Brigids because the catholic church that is now opposite had not yet been built  Their wedding was a blend of cultures, with Millie incorporating her Anglican traditions while respecting Vin’s Catholic upbringing.
They settled in Pickering Brook, where Vin worked in agriculture, gradually shifting from orchard management to irrigation services and crop spraying.
Millie and Vin welcomed five children into their family: Mitch, Andy, Rosemary, Debbie, and Susan. With each child, Millie balanced motherhood with her community involvement, volunteering for organizations such as Meals-on-Wheels and Someone Cares, which provided vital support to those in need.

MILLIE & VIN SALA TENNA 12th January 1963              #22
 

      WILLIAM "ROGER"  & MAUD HAWKING        #23
 

  VIN SALA TENNA BUSY MAKING IRRIGATION  PARTS            #24
WITH ANDY & ROSEMARY c1972
 

Community Involvement and Career
Millie’s passion for community service flourished as she became deeply involved in local initiatives. She played a significant role in the development of the irrigation business, which grew from Vin's innovative ideas about water conservation in agriculture. Their home became a hub of activity, with children and neighbors often stopping by for advice or assistance.
Despite the challenges of raising a large family, Millie found joy in her work, her children, and her community. Her resilience shone through during difficult times, including the loss of her mother at a young age and the pressures of balancing family responsibilities with her husband’s demanding work schedule.
 

   SALA TENNA'S HOUSE AT PICKERING BROOK           #25
 

       SALA TENNA'S HOUSE AT PICKERING BROOK        #26
 

    MITCH & INDIRA SALA TENNA'S WEDDING   1995         #27
Back Row L -R:  ROSEMARY SALA TENNA, DEBBIE SALA TENNA, ANDY SALA TENNA, SUSAN SALA TENNA
Front Row L - R:  MILLIE SALA TENNA, MITCH SALA TENNA, INDIRA SALA TENNA, VIN SALA TENNA
 

Later Years and Reflection
As the years passed, Millie continued to adapt to changing circumstances. After Vin's health declined, she became his primary caregiver until he required more specialized care. Following his passing in 2011, Millie reflected on a life filled with love, service, and community.
Millie's journey is a testament to her strength, adaptability, and commitment to family and community. She has written about her experiences, documenting the rich tapestry of her life and the many connections that have shaped her along the way. Today, she remains an active member of her community, cherishing the memories of a life well-lived, filled with laughter, love, and resilience.

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:        Kalanunda & Districts Historical Society

                                  Images:     Kalanunda & Districts Historical Society    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. 24. 25. 26. 27

Copyright :   Gordon Freegard     2008 - 2025