Vida Emilene WELLS / WHITEHURST
Born 31 May 1928 in Three Springs, Western Australia [P22]
Daughter of "Ned" Edmund Keane WELLS and "Maggie" Margaret Agnes KROSCHEL [P22]
Fourth generation Australian on her mother’s side and fourth generation Western Australian on her father’s side [P1]
She was born at the Cottage Hospital on Charles C. MALEY’s Parakalia Farm in Three Springs [P22]
The doctor of the hospital at the time, Dr Mario A. MAYHOFER, later married her father’s cousin C. Annie BYRNE [P22]
Received her first name of Vida after her father’s sister Vida and her middle name after her father’s mother Emily [P22]
The Midlands Advertiser reported "Mr and Mrs E. K. Wells have been blessed by the arrival of a little daughter" [9: 8-Jul-1928]
Resided with her parents on her father’s farm on the Yarra Yarra Estate just north of the Carnamah townsite 1928-1932 [P22]
Baptised by Rev. E. G. JAQUET of Three Springs at the Carnamah Hall on Sunday evening 16 September 1928 [4: 15 & 22-Sep-1928]
Attended the Children’s Fancy Dress Ball held in Carnamah on 18 August 1932 dressed as "Pierrette" [5: 26-Aug-1932]
After her father lost his farm resided with her parents on Jasper W. GREEN’s Bushy Park Farm in Carnamah 1932-1938 [P22]
Attended the Children’s Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 23 November 1933 dressed as an "Early Victorian" [5: 24-Nov-1933]
Student at the Carnamah State School in Carnamah 1934-1940 [P22]
When she first started school she boarded with the PARKER family at 5 Macpherson Street in the Carnamah townsite [P22]
She and later also her sister Margaret later walked three and a half miles to school and the same home each day [P22]
Often on Monday mornings she got a lift to school with John M. TULLY and on Friday mornings with John LANG [P22]
Usually got home on Friday afternoons with her parents, as they went into Carnamah to shop once a week on Fridays [P22]
Also spent time living with her grandparents "Charlie" Carl F. W. and "Maggie" Margaret A. KROSCHEL in Carnamah [P22]
Her grandparents lived in the residence adjoining their Don Tea Rooms at 10 Macpherson Street in the Carnamah townsite [P22]
Won a 2nd prize for Cane & Raffia Work in the Educational section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Attended the inaugural Combined School Sports of the Carnamah Road Board district in Carnamah on Saturday 19 October 1935 [5]
She was the winner of the 7 years Girls Running Race and came 2nd in the 6-7 years Girls Sack Race [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Attended the Children’s Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 2 November 1935 as "Jolly" [5: 8-Nov-1935]
Came 2nd in the 7-8 Girls Race at the Carnamah R.S.L. Easter Sports Meeting in Carnamah on Monday 13 April 1936 [5: 17-Apr-1936]
Attended the Inter-School Sports of the Carnamah Road Board district at Centenary Park in Carnamah on Friday 2 October 1936 [5]
Came 2nd in the 8 Years Running Race and the 7 & 8 Years Skipping Race, and 3rd in the 8 & 9 Years Egg & Spoon Race [5]
Along with Dorothy MCSWAIN she won the 6, 7 & 8 Years Girls Siamese Race [5: 9-Oct-1936]
Came 3rd in the 7 & 8 Years Girls Skipping Race at the North Midlands Athletic Sports in Three Springs in 1936 [5: 30-Oct-1936]
Attended the Children’s Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 14 November 1936 as a "Japanese Lady" [5: 20-Nov-1936]
In 1938 shifted with her parents into the Carnamah townsite when they took over her grandparents' tearooms [P22]
Resided with her parents in the residence adjoining the tearooms at 10 Macpherson Street, Carnamah 1938-1940 [P22]
Attended with Joan M. TUCKER the Children's Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday evening 15 October 1938 [5]
They attended the Fancy Dress Ball dressed as "Peter’s Two-in-One" and were awarded the prize for Best Poster [5: 21-Oct-1938]
Attended the Sunday School Picnic held in Carnamah on Sunday on 5 November 1936 [5: 10-Nov-1939]
While taking part in the scramble for apples she received a black eye after being hit in the eye with an apple [5]
Won the 8-10 Years Girls Running Race at the Easter Athletic Sports Meeting in Carnamah on Monday 29 March 1937 [5: 2-Apr-1937]
With E. Gwyneth BROADHURST tied for 1st in the Girls Siamese Race against Patricia C. LYNCH and Dorothy I. BRADY [5]
Attended and received a Coronation Medal at the Coronation Celebrations at Centenary Park in Carnamah on 12 May 1937 [5]
During the children’s sports she won the 8 Years Girls Running Race [5: 14-May-1937]
Attended the Children’s Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 11 November 1939 as an "Orange" [5: 17-Nov-1939]
Member of the Carnamah Girl Guides in 1940 [5: 20-Dec-1940]
Won 1st prize for Scones in the Girl’s portion of the Cookery section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show in 1940 [5: 20-Sep-1940]
Attended the Children’s Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 14 September 1940 as "Rule Britannia" [5: 20-Sep-1940]
Student at Girdlestone High School on James Street in Perth in 1941 and 1942 [P22]
During this time she lived in North Perth with her grandparents "Charlie" Carl F. W. and "Maggie" Margaret A. KROSCHEL [P22]
She and her grandmother spent Easter in April 1941 in Carnamah with her parents [5: 18-Apr-1941]
After spending a week in Carnamah with her parents she and her grandmother returned to Perth on 17 May 1941 [5: 17-May-1941]
In 1942, during the Second World War, she was sent home to Carnamah in fear that Perth would be bombed [P22]
Resided with her grandmother Mrs Emily HOWE and step-grandfather Robert W. HOWE in Carnamah in 1942 and 1943 [P22]
She and her sister Margaret lived with who they called "Grandma and Grandpa Howe" at 3 Niven Crescent, Carnamah [P22]
In October 1942 she began working as a Telephonist in Carnamah [5: 23-Oct-1942]
Telephonist on the Telephone Exchange at the Carnamah Post Office at 12 Macpherson Street in Carnamah 1942-1946 [P22]
Member of the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club in 1944 [5: Aug-1944]
Member of the Carnamah Air Observation Post during the Second World War – was the Chief Observer in 1944 [5: 31-Mar-1944]
Member of the Younger Set of Carnamah's branch of the Country Women's Association (C.W.A.) – was Secretary in 1944 [5: 21-Jul-1944]
Won at euchre at the Card Party held at the Presbyterian Church Hall in Carnamah on Tuesday evening 24 April 1945 [5: 27-Apr-1945]
Member of the Carnamah Tennis Club in 1946 [5: 7-Jun-1946]
Member of the Carnamah Badminton Club in 1946 and 1947 [5: 2-Aug-1946, 3-Oct-1947]
Married (1) "Ted" Edward James WHITEHURST in Carnamah on 3 October 1946 [P22]
They resided in Carnamah 1946-1948, in Mullewa 1948-1951 and then in East Perth 1951-1953 [P22]
During early December 1952 she spent a holiday with her parents in Carnamah [5: 4-Dec-1952]
In 1953 she and her children James and Sylvia left East Perth and shifted to Carnamah [P22]
Telephonist on the Telephone Exchange within the Carnamah Post Office at 12 Macpherson Street, Carnamah in 1953 and 1954 [P22]
One night in 1953 while on duty at the telephone exchange two men came in to make a phone call [P22]
She had no idea at the time, however, it was later discovered that the two men had murdered Herbert S. ROBERTS [P22]
Partner of (2) "Alex" Alexander John ROBINSON [P22]
Resided with her partner Alex at 10 Niven Crescent in Carnamah from 1953 to about 1954 [P22]
They then rented and lived at the stone house at 5 Macpherson Street in Carnamah from about 1954 to May 1959 [P22]
From 1953 to 1958 their home was telephone number Carnamah-64 [60]
In May 1959, along with their children Yvette, Yvonne and Isaac, they shifted to 16 Railway Avenue, Carnamah [P22]
Over many years worked doing catering for local weddings, agricultural shows, Shire events, local functions and for shearers [P176]
Member of the Carnamah branch of the Country Women’s Association [P176]
Member of the Carnamah Golf Club – was Vice Captain of the Associates in 1957 [4: 12-Apr-1957]
Captain of the Carnamah Golf Club Associates in 1959 and Associates Champion in 1961 [7: page 213]
Patron of the Carnamah Golf Club Associates in 2003 and 2004 [P1]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1957-1971 [13]
After her brother's marriage ended, she and her partner Alex became the guardians of her brother's son Keane E. WELLS [P176]
She and Keane continued living at 16 Railway Avenue, Carnamah following the death of her partner Alex in 1973 [P176]
Financial Member of the North Midlands Agricultural Society 1975-2007 [13]
Phenomenal exhibitor at the annual North Midlands Agricultural Shows in Carnamah over many years [P1]
First winner of the Silver Jubilee Trophy in 1977 and again numerous times over the following thirty years [P1]
Regularly the most successful exhibitor of the Cooking, Flower, Artistic Flowers and Preserves sections of the Society’s Shows [P1]
Life Member of the Carnamah Bowling Club – served as Captain and President, and was innumerably Champion [P176]
She was the Bowling Club's nomination as their "outstanding player" in the Carnamah Sports Star of the Year Awards in 1979 [P22]
Life Member and Supporter of the Carnamah Golf Club – their 15th Life Member and their first female Life Member [7: page 199]
Member of Carnamah's branch of the Red Cross Society – was President 1981-1985 [141]
Awarded the 10 year Long Service Medal and 20, 30 and 40 year bars for services given to the Red Cross Society [141]
She manned the Red Cross Society’s op-shop weekly on Wednesday mornings for many years [P22]
Attended the "Day of Pioneers" luncheon held at the Shire Council Chambers in Carnamah on 13 October 1982 [253]
Celebrated her 70th Birthday with her extended family at Prowaka Spring Farm in Carnamah on 31 May 1998 [P1]
Those at her 70th Birthday included her daughters and son-in-laws Yvette & Ross Bowman, Yvonne & Kevin SCHORER, [P1]
and Sylvia & Mark STEWART; son and daughter-in-law Jim & Jenny WHITEHURST; son Keane WELLS; [P1]
daughter-in-law Lee WHITEHURST; grand-daughters Suzie GEORGE, Paula BARNDEN and Rebecca STEWART, [P1]
grandsons Bon, Dominic, Aidan and Caleb WHITEHURST, Andrew BOWMAN and Israel SCHORER; [P1]
grand-daughter-in-law Lisa DOWNING; great grandson Jackson GEORGE; great grand-daughter Abby BARNDEN; [P1]
sister and brother-in-law Margaret and Bill REYNOLDS; and her brother Ted WELLS [P1]
Celebrated her 80th Birthday with about 70 family and friends at the Carnamah Bowling Club on Saturday evening 31 May 2008 [P1]
She was rushed to Perth in 2012 in urgent need of a pacemaker and was thereafter unable to return home to Carnamah [P1]
Resided at Bassendean Aged Care at 24 Hamilton Street in the Perth suburb of Bassendean 2012-2022 [P1]
Mother of James, Sylvia, Yvette, Yvonne, Isaac and Keane [P1]
Died 31 March 2022; cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia [2]
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Friday 13 September 1963:
Major Show Carnamah
"For the second year in succession Mrs Vida Whitehurst, of Carnamah, won the coveted President’s Trophy for most points gained in all sections except ring events at the annual Carnamah Show. She is particularly well known for her cooking and excellent flowers and is a major supporter of the district show, usually bringing in between 70 and 80 entries. Mrs Whitehurst really earned her trophies, which included the Mrs D. Bowman Trophy for overall sections, Mrs C. F. Kenny Trophy for cooking, Mrs K. McCooke Trophy for flowers, C.W.A. Trophies for preserves and second prize in the twelfth cake class and the Mrs K. W. Bodycoat Trophy for artistic division of the flower section. This outstanding exhibitor carried her great effort for the annual show rather lightly. Asked if she had time for anything else except show preparation for days before the annual event, she replied:- “Only the usual work that every housewife does."
Eulogy for Vida Emilene Whitehurst, written and read by her grandson Andrew Bowman-Bright:
"Vida Emeline Wells was born on 31 May 1928 at the cottage hospital in Three Springs. She was the daughter of Ned and Peg Wells, and received her given names after her father’s sister and mother. She spent her early years on her father’s farm in Carnamah and then on the Green family’s Bushy Park Farm, also in Carnamah, which was managed by her father. She was later joined by a younger sister Margaret and a younger brother Teddy.
At the age of nine Vida moved into the Carnamah townsite with her parents, who took over her grandparents' tea-rooms, or cafe, in the building that is now the Carnamah Museum.
Vida was a student at the Carnamah State School from 1934 to 1940 and was a regular winner of running races during her youth. Her prize-winning at local shows began all the way back in 1935 when she won a 2nd prize for Cane & Raffia Work in the children’s section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show. As Vida approached being a teenager she was a member of the recently formed Carnamah Girl Guides.
In 1941 and into 1942 she lived with her grandparents Maggie and Charlie Kroschel in Perth and attended Girdlestone High School on James Street in Northbridge. With fears growing that Perth might be bombed during the Second World War, she was sent home to Carnamah during 1942. Vida then lived with her Dad’s mother and stepfather, who she referred to as Granny and Grandpa Howe, in a small weatherboard house on Niven Crescent in Carnamah.
In 1942 she began working as a telephonist at the Carnamah Post Office, which involved manually connecting and disconnecting telephone calls in addition to noting the duration of calls so the caller could be billed appropriately. During this time Vida was a member of the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club, played tennis and badminton and was secretary of the Younger Set of Carnamah’s branch of the Country Women’s Association (or C.W.A.). In 1944 she contributed to the war effort as the Chief Observer of the Carnamah Air Observation Corps, which was a volunteer group that kept an eye on local skies for enemy aircraft; and reported all sightings to authorities.
Vida married Ted Whitehurst in Carnamah in 1946 and they had two children - Jim and Sylvia. They lived in Carnamah for a few years, in Ted’s hometown of Mullewa for a few more and then in East Perth. Following the end of their relationship Vida moved back to Carnamah with her two children and returned to working as a telephonist at the Carnamah Post Office.
After shifting back to Carnamah Vida met Alex Robinson, who was working locally as a barber and hairdresser, and they spent the next 20 years together in Carnamah. They lived briefly on Niven Crescent, for a few years in the old stone house on Macpherson Street and then for a number of years in their own home on Railway Avenue in Carnamah. Vida and Alex had three children - Yvette, Yvonne and Ike; and in the late 1960s they went to court and became the guardians of Vida’s young nephew Keane Wells. In the 1960s Vida also provided a home for Robert Traynor, with Robert coming to affectionately refer to Vida as ‘Ma’.
Vida was a natural cook and could make something out of nothing. For many years she worked catering for local weddings, agricultural shows, Shire events, local functions and for shearers. She’d often be asked for the recipe for a well-liked dish but would firmly decline - wanting to ensure she could continue to contribute her own unique dishes! To a few insistent requests, she responded they could have the recipe when she wasn’t around anymore. One of those dishes, which was for a very popular noodle salad, is on one of the two bookmarks being handed out today.
A neighbour once remarked to one of Vida’s children “Your Mum makes bread and butter taste like a sponge cake!” Vida had a number of dishes that her extended family remember with fondness - including her pasties with home-made pastry, salmon patties that were actually made with tuna, cream rice, and sherry trifle.
During the 1950s, 60s and early 70s Vida spent many happy holidays out at the coast in Green Head, where the family had a shack, spending days reading and living off fish. As soon as school finished, the family would pack up and head for the coast. In summer they would often stay there for the whole seven weeks of the school holidays. Vida and the kids would remain there when Alex had to return to his job as a telephone linesman in Carnamah, however he would come back on weekends with fresh bread. Good times were spent with those in neighbouring shacks - the Clark and Forrester families from Carnamah. Morning tea would be shared each day with the Clark family, with Vida and Mrs Clark hosting on alternating days. Special times were spent at Green Head and also at Augusta with Alex’s sibling's families - the Bellamys and the Robinsons.
Over multiple decades Vida was a prolific and phenomenal exhibitor at the agricultural shows held in Carnamah each year - often winning the Cooking, Flower, Flower Arranging and Preserve sections of the show; and very often being the show’s most successful exhibitor. She had the edge of other keen floral exhibitors as she could not only grow quality flowers but was also skillful at arranging them. She had a few specific rivals that she fiercely competed against each year.
In the weeks leading up to the show, her home would be in chaos with dozens and dozens of exhibits in progress. There was often a cupboard you’d not dare open as there would be flowers in the dark which Vida didn’t want to open just yet… through to cakes being stored in suitcases! She would exclaim ‘Don’t let it fall over, don’t let it fall over’ about one thing or another as car or ute loads of exhibits were moved from the house over to the showgrounds. On one occasion a pot-plant fell out and went everywhere but she quickly put it back together, and of course, won first prize. One year, in the lead-up to the show, Alex complained they hadn’t had a decent breakfast for a while, so Vida smashed that criticism by cooking and serving a full roast dinner for breakfast on the morning of the show!
Often people would come and stay or live with Vida and her family for weeks on end because they’d had a fight or falling out with their parents. Vida would take them in without much thought. When sometimes challenged by their parents, she’d respond along the lines of “What do you want him to do, live on the street.” A defensive and to the point response was something Vida was particularly good at. She was quite skillful at shutting down a conversation she wasn’t interested in having. She could be direct and to the point while also cheeky, with a great sense of humour.
Vida was a very community minded person and volunteered for the Carnamah branch of the Red Cross, filling the role of President and for many years manning the organisation’s thrift shop in Carnamah one morning a week. She was awarded the 10 Year Long Service Medal and received 20, 30, 40 and 50 year bars for the services she gave. She was furious when the Red Cross closed the thrift shop in Carnamah as it only turned a small profit. In her eyes, and quite rightly so, its purpose wasn't just about making money for a charity - but providing cheap household goods and clothing for those who couldn’t afford to shop elsewhere.
Vida was a lover and keen watcher of all sport, a one-eyed fan of the East Fremantle Football Club in the WA Football League and of the West Coast Eagles in the AFL. She gave many hours to the Carnamah Football Club over the years - cooking, manning the canteen, assisting with functions and finishing up as a Life Member. In 1970 when Carnamah won the grand final against Three Springs, the team ended up at Vida’s house after staying up all night. She turned her table around in her kitchen and squeezed in the entire team for a cooked breakfast!
For a number of years Vida had the biggest collection of stiletto or high heel shoes to be found locally, and her footwear was often the envy of the town. Her daughters also put her shoes to great use playing dress-ups.
Having never learnt how to drive, Alex gave Vida a driving lesson, however, with her children all laughing, instead of breaking she accelerated. The car ran off the road and into the bush. She never drove again and if the kids were ever too noisy Alex would threaten that if they didn’t shut up, their mother was going to drive!
Vida was a firm mother. No doubt for good reason, one day she was chasing Jim with an egg slice and he jumped the fence thinking he was safe but his mother was still very much right behind him and before he could barely look back … wack! Following Alex’s death in 1973 Vida continued to live in their home on Railway Avenue in Carnamah for another 40 years. She formed close friendships with her neighbours and those who lived nearby - especially the Martin, Boyer, Lucas and Gilbert families.
No one loved cricket more than Vida, and she would watch or listen to every second on TV or radio. If the TV wasn’t on, the radio would be and she’d always have an ear on the commentary. She would later spar about cricket with her grand-daughter Rebecca - especially after Rebecca said she was going to barrack for South Africa instead of Australia!
Vida was an active member of the Carnamah Golf Club, serving as Vice Captain and Captain of the associates, and attaining the honour of being the Club’s Champion. She was the 15th life member and the first female life member of the Carnamah Golf Club, and in later life served as patron for a number of years.
Bowls and the Carnamah Bowling Club was a huge part of Vida’s life over four decades. She served as Captain and President and was innumerably champion of the Club’s associates and was later made a Life Member of the club. She was in charge of catering for many years, both for bowling events and to help raise funds for the club, being described as a catering guru extraordinaire. For bowls and its catering she’d often make curried egg for sandwiches but didn’t like getting all the shell off the eggs, so it was joked that if there wasn’t eggshell in the curried egg, then Vida hadn’t made it!
Vida was a stalwart of the TAB in Carnamah, attending every week to place a very social bet on races, where those present would wind each other up. If you couldn’t find Vida and the TAB was open, there was a high chance that’s where she’d be!
Vida was extremely well read and knowledgeable. She’d leave the radio on all night while in bed, listening to all manner of things being discussed. From staying up late watching sport, she’d sometimes sleep as much in her armchair as in bed!
For her grandchildren, there are many memories of a direct and no-nonsense but ever so loving Nana. She dosed her grandchildren up on strong red cordial, insisting it would give us a strong stomach (and in her defence, I have to confess, I and some of my cousins do in fact have very strong stomachs!). She seemed to have an endless supply of green apples that she’d peel and quarter; and iced buns or cupcakes with hundreds and thousands were never far away! All of her grandchildren have happy memories of time spent with Vida at her home, playing in the creek across the road, nights under the stars, or waiting around while she did one thing or another at the bowling club!
Vida loved music and was a prolific reader. She was an enthusiastic book club member in Carnamah and enjoyed the challenge of reading and discussing books she wouldn’t choose to read herself. Mulled wine was a fixture of any book club meeting when she was the host.
Vida was an avid gardener whose garden in spring was truly a sight to behold. She particularly liked gerberas, pansies, carnations, geraniums and hippeastrums; and a later favourite to join the list was ornamental kale. Vida tore strips off Jim and Robert when they destroyed a plant that kept getting in the way while putting in a new septic tank. Years later Jim, while doing some work on her house, effectively concreted in one of her geraniums near her front step. I’m not sure who had the last laugh in this instance though, as the geranium thrived for a number of years despite being surrounded by concrete!
In 2012 Vida was rushed to Perth to get a pacemaker, and with Alzheimer's having commenced, doctors advised she was no longer able to live on her own. She spent the last decade of her life at Bassendean Aged Care and sadly both her memory and eyesight significantly deteriorated during this time. Despite this, she always maintained a strong interest in her extended family and her hometown of Carnamah. In late March Vida contracted Covid-19 and on 31 March 2022 she passed away in her sleep at the age of 93 years and 10 months."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Vida Emilene Wells / Whitehurst' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 19 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/vida-emilene-wells [reference list] |
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