Frederick George Grow (1911 - 1995)

Born 26 Jul 1911 in Boulder, Western Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Naomi Rosetta (Peart) Grow — married 11 Apr 1935 in Gwalia, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 24 Mar 1995 at age 83 in Collie, Western Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Beverley Grow [send private message]

Biography

Frederick Grow was born in Western Australia, Australia

Frederick was born 26 July 1911 in 121 Wittenoom Street, Boulder, Western Australia. His mother, Clarice Phoebe's doctor rode in a horse and trap - two wheels. Frederick George Grow was born at 1.00pm in the family home. The midwife Moltman lived behind. He was baptised 13 December 1917, St Matthew's Church, Boulder, Western Australia. ^[1]

Early Years Fred spent a lot of time in hospital as a child with rheumatic fever. His eyes were poorly, even then at school, studying under bad light (kerosene/carbon lamps). He was a keen roller skater as a child. He was approximately 15 years of age when he gave his earned money to his mother for board and savings, as he wanted to buy a bicycle. Unfortunately his savings went into the family home and he never forgave his mother. He never trusted anyone with his money after that. In years to come, his sister Lorna got the house.

At the age of sixteen, Fred rode and trained horses for the Mines Manager, Mr Vial in Kalgoorlie. During his time spent at the racing stables, he was asked to accompany some horses to Perth where he was expected to care, train and continue track work. Upon his father learning of this, Christian (Grow-623) strongly objected to the idea and so Mr Vial then offered Fred a position with the Mines as a junior labourer. The Kalgoorlie mine was called the Lake View and Star. Working on the shovel for 7/6d (75 cents) for an eight hour day, it was tough going but the opportunity soon arose for an apprenticeship in the electrical workshop - a five year apprenticeship and a six working day week. For an eight hour day/forty eight hour week, Fred was paid 15/- ($1.50) a week with a 5/- (50 cent) pay rise each year. Fred could recall that during this time, at the age of 21, an electrical fitter earned 18/4d ($1.83), a trades labourer 14/10d ($1.49) and a labourer on a shovel received 14/4d ($1.43). This was their weekly wage. Fred and a close mate called Jack Corry did their apprenticeships at Lake View and Star mine. Observed by Vial and Joe Thorn, Fred and Jack worked on the installation of a new diesel plant - a power plant which held new beginnings. There was a lot of shift work involved, working afternoons and nights. Their higher rate of pay was welcomed.

It was after this project that Fred then became the leading hand at the Sons of Gwalia Mine and during his next two and a half years of working there, he met Naomi Rosetta Peart who was working as a laundress for the White Horse Hotel, under the scrutinizing eye of the Manager, Mr Webb. Fred invited Naomi to a ball held in the Leonora Hall and approximately six months later, on 11 April 1935 they were married in the Gwalia Methodist Church, Gwalia, Western Australia. ^[2]

In 1936, Fred was Shire Engineer in Coolgardie, Western Australia. He worked there for two and a half to three years and constructed the Rustin Diesel plant for the first mercury vapour lamp outside the area of Perth. The lamp was so powerful, it could be seen some eighteen miles away at Bullabulling. A promotion came about as an Electrical Engineer with Tindal's Gold Mine and it was not long before Fred was promoted again to Chief Engineer of the power plant. He stayed at Tindal's for three years.

Military

• W72936, unit Volunteer Defence Corps. Fred enlisted for war service at Coolgardie, Western Australia on 23 April 1942. His permanent address at the time was Tindal's Gold Mine, Coolgardie. His occupation was Electrical and Diesel Engineer.
• W53308, unit General Reinforcements. Fred enlisted for war service at Coolgardie, Western Australia on 29 March 1943. His permanent address at the time was c/o Post Office, Coolgardie. His occupation was Electrical Engineer. His Army No. then became WX39610.
• WX39610, unit 66 Aust. DCRE (Works). Fred enlisted for service at Merredin (approximate time bombing of Darwin) and held the rank of Senior Officer Electrical and Mechanical. Transferred to 66 DCRE Merredin - Nungarin Ordinance Work (Deputy Command of Royal Engineers) on 22 October 1943 then was based at Northam in the 69 Aust. DCRE Works. His rank of Staff Sergeant, Unit 69 Australian DCRE (Works), was issued 11 April 194. A posting to Broome as Staff Sergeant was given and there Fred spent the next twelve months as Town Manager of the power house, Public Works Department and Sanitary. Fred received two medals - War Medal and Australia Service Medal for dispatch. It was big money to earn 7 pounds ($14.00) per week then. Approval was given on 31 October 1944 to Fred, to be discharged at Broome without reporting to RR&GDD for finalisation E/Service, Broome Road Board. On 20 November 1944, Fred was discharged AMR&O E/Service CRMPR W6486, discharge certificate no. 147090, Francis Street, Fremantle. His position at the time of discharge was Staff Sergeant. During his service in the Army, he was involved in the installing of guns on Rottnest Island whilst stationed in Northam, Western Australia. Rank - Private, Unit VDC Coolgardie. Technical qualifications - diesel course of WAS of Mines, Kalgoorlie, A-grade Cinematography Operators Certificate, 1st Class Internal Combustion, A Grade Electrical Installers Certificate.

Employment Fred then found employment at the Phoenix Mine for approximately four to six months as an electrical fitter on tradesman's wages for a cousin of Naomi's, Bill Thirlway, the Manager. In 1946 the Sons of Gwalia Mine offered Fred an electrical engineer's position and Naomi stayed in Coolgardie with young Owen (Grow-611) and Brenda (Grow-610) for the twelve months Fred was there. Once Fred had returned to the civilian workforce, he had started up an open air picture theatre in Coolgardie. Naomi was paid 10/- ($1.00) per night for ticket collection/door keeper for the Coolgardie Picture Theatre. It cost 2/6d (25 cents) for the best seats and 1/6d (15 cents) for the back seats which invariably sat only locals. The State Government's entertainment tax was 3d (2 cents) on a 2/6d (25 cent) ticket sold. Percy Dewar looked after the theatre for Fred for eight years. It was leased for twelve months to Dewar and it was sold approximately in 1948.

In early 1951, Fred and Naomi moved to Collie with their four children. By then Robert (Grow-608) and Fred jnr (Grow-612) were born and on 1 February 1951, Fred was employed by Western Collieries No. 1 Deep Cut Mine, employed as an electrical engineer for the whole company which involved the deep mines and workshops. From Gwalia they moved into a house on the corner of Throssell and Bert Streets, then later moved to Ewington, corner Lane and Palmer Roads. Whilst living in Ewington, Fred was approached by the Mines Department to become their electrical engineer and this was where Fred worked for the next seventeen years. During this time, the family moved to 37 Wittenoom Street, Collie. Fred resided here until his death.

Fred retired from the Mines Department in June of 1976, at the age of 65 years. He was soon asked to become a relieving supervisor, joining the Mines Department on their relief staff and it wasn't long before he was back into the workforce once more. His relieving positions took him to Kalbarri, Meekatharra, Norseman and back to Meekatharra, all within Western Australia, with the State Energy Commission (now known as Western Power) Country Power Stations. Fred fully retired on 25 January 1980. He was an Associate Member of the Association of Electrical and Mining Engineers (AMI) and a Corporate Member of the Institute of Electrical Inspectors (IEI).

He died 24 March 1995 in the Collie District Hospital, Collie, Western Australia. Cause of death: Cardiac arrhythmia, acute anterior myocardial infarction, congestive. ^[3] A Graveside Service took place in the Collie Cemetery, Collie, Western Australia at 11am on 28 Mar 1995. Fred was interned with his wife Naomi, No. 11 Anglican portion of Collie Cemetery, Collie, Western Australia. ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Registrar General's Office, Perth, Western Australia"; Name: Frederick George Grow; Date of Birth: 26 Jul 1911; Where born: 121 Wittenoom Street, Boulder, Western Australia; Registration Number: 422/11
2. ↑ Marriage: "District Registrar's Office in the State of Western Australia"; Marriages in the Mount Margaret Registry District of Western Australia; Christian name and Surname of the Parties: Frederick George Grow and Naomi Rosetta Peart; When and Where Married: 11 Apr 1935, Gwalia, Western Australia; Registration Number: 6/35
3. ↑ Death: "Registrar General's Office, Perth, Western Australia"; Name: Frederick George Grow; Date of Death: 24 Mar 1995; Registration Number: 66/ 100/95/A in the District of Wellington
4. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (no image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #180799785 (accessed 2 September 2022)
   Memorial page for Frederick George Grow (unknown-24 Mar 1995), citing Collie General Cemetery, Collie, Collie Shire, Western Australia, Australia; Maintained by gale jones (contributor 49763651).

• B M Grow (nee Hurst), my father-in-law