Allan Charles WATT
Allan Charles WATT (1917-1956) was born to Charles WATT and Elen Ferguson McGUIRE and his birth was registered at Nowra. Allan was the youngest sibling and had three sisters.[1] The family lived on the Main South Coast Road near the sawmills. This would become the Princes Highway and then Kells Road. Allan's father Charles worked at the Sawmills and Allan, his sisters and other children would walk the 1700m to Tomerong School.[2] Allan was a foundation member of the Tomerong Junior Farmers Club at the age of 17 in 1934. He was elected as the Treasurer and the Club would partake in calf-raising, pig-raising, poultry-raising, vegetable gardening, stock judging and maize growing competitions.[3]
Like his father Alan became employed in the timber industry and by the age of 29 he had his own Mill at South Tomerong that was ready to receive the power that came to the area in 1946. The Mill, next to what is now Battunga Drive, was a small one powered by a car engine. [4] Alan married Valerie Gwendoline CROFT (1922-2008) at Milton in 1944.[5] Valerie was the daughter of Leslie Arthur Croft and Alice Bertha George of Milton.
On returning to Tomerong from Nerriga in 1950 with his father-in-law, Leslie Croft, they encountered a huge Kangaroo on the road. The Kangaroo was despatched and would measure 3.8m from nose to tail.[6] The following year Alan and others, including Manning DAVIS and George Walker McGUIRE, would provide assistance and materials for the installation of a tennis court on the Union Church grounds.[7] Suppliers and workers at Alan's Mill included Bill McKinnon, Ian McKinnon, Snow (Horace) Schutz and A H Jones & Sons. Alan also carted timber to the Davis Mills.[8] Like many in the community Alan was a member of the Tomerong Dramatic Company which often performed at the School of Arts.[9]
In 1951 Alan purchased a small lot (0.4a) just to the north of the Highway near the Mills. They built a house there. It took part of Portion 36 and 37 (Lot A) and adjoined George and Nina McGuire's home fronting the Highway, now Kells Road. In 1950 he had received from his mother about 324 acres comprising parts/all of Portions 100, 38, 41, 39, and 37.[10]
Alan Watt died from a heart attack whilst riding his horse in 1956 and is buried in Nowra Cemetery, predeceasing both his parents. Athol GOODSELL would purchase the Mill at South Tomerong. Valerie would marry James Leslie Smith in 1962 and is buried at Mollymook. "The recent news of the death of Mr Allan Charles Watt, of Tomerong, came as a sudden shock to the entire Shoalhaven district. The late Mr Watt, who was only 39 years of age, died from a heart attack while mustering cattle for the Nowra Rodeo last Weekend. Born in Tomerong, where he had lived all his life, the late Mr Watt was well known and respected as a husband, father and citizen, and had a very wide circle of friends. After leaving the Nowra High School at the age of 16, he began dairy farming, after which he began drawing mill logs with a bullock team. The late Mr Watt started a sawmill in 1945 with an old Buick engine to drive his sawbench, but later installed electricity. He carried on this business until August this year when the mill was formed into a company, known as South Coast Sawmilling Pty, Ltd. The late Mr Watt was also interested in a sawmill at Dalmeny, near Narooma, and the first load of timber taken from this mill was taken out on the day of his death. Left to mourn their loss are his wife, Valerie, and three children, Meredith, Mareana and Selwyn."[11]
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Notes and References
- ↑ Tomerong Genealogical Database R212.
- ↑ Family School Photo 1925c. TP2850.
- ↑ ST 11 Jul 1934 TP904, 28 Nov 1934 TP1060.
- ↑ Ken McGuire 12 May 1999 TP2965.
- ↑ SN 17 Jul 1946 TP1260.
- ↑ Braidwood Dispatch 18 Aug 1950 TP6254.
- ↑ Church Minutes 21 Mar 1951 TP3538.
- ↑ Colin Schutz 15 Apr 1999 TP2883. Toby Davis 26 Jun 1999 TP3023. Ron McKinnon 25 Jun 1999 TP3161. Ian McKinnon 13 Jan 2000 TP3278.
- ↑ Concert Party Photo 1951 TP2777. School P&C Photo 1954 TP4128.
- ↑ LTO TP5893.
- ↑ NL 15 Nov 1956 TP3027.
Images
- School Children and Car TP2850.
- Watt Family Home TP2775.
- Giant Kangaroo TP6254.
- Tomerong Concert Party TP2777.
- Allan, Car and Camera TP3508.
- Sawmill Aerial TP4663.
- Bullock Team 1 TP5650.
- Bullock Team 2 TP5651.
- Bullock Team 3 TP5647.
- Bullocky TP5650.
- Sawmill Aerial TP4663.
- Mill Sign TP5677.
- Grave R212.
- Origin Map TP6266.
Links
- Tomerong Local History Web Page- tomeronghistory.com
- Tomerong Past Facebook Album- Tomerong Past Facebook This site may provide more information relative to this family. Check the 'Families' and 'Monuments' albums and those institutions that the family contributed to e.g. 'School', 'Sawmills', 'Clyde Shire' etcetera.
- Allan Charles Watt on Wikitree- Allan Watt Wikitree
- WATT Family Links to this family's biographies.
