Letters from the (Prothero) Past- Part 2- Guest Blog Post

Letters from the (Prothero) Past- Part 2

Inspirational letters, stories and photos of life "in the olden days"

Guest blog post by Carmel Peek- Marcella Hingerty descendant

Great great grand daughter of John Hingerty and Isabella McDonald

Living in West Wyalong in the Early 1900's

My mother, Mary Lillian Kemp nee Prothero was the 3rd child born to Frank and Bridget Prothero. His wife Bridget nee Martin wrote the following reflection:

Prothero Family off to Mass 1921

Jack and Edna standing on back. Mary between Frank and Bridget holding baby Margaret.

The following photos tell the story of "Avoca", the Prothero family home.

Avoca Farm House (before relocation)

Avoca- on the move

Avoca- in town in 2000

In the above story Mary referred to the need for all the Prothero kids to walk 3 miles to and from school despite the distance. What she did not write about but often told us the story of how they all wore hand me down shoes and clothes.

She also often told us that to save the leather on the soles of the shoes they all took off their shoes to walk the distance into town and they would put their shoes back on when they got to school!

These were the depression years and mum frequently told us kids that she "would not wish a depression on even her worst enemy". Walking to school barefoot winter and summer left its lasting effect on Mum and her siblings.

My aunty Margaret (Mum's sister and the 4th child of Frank and Bridget Prothero) wrote the following story that her children agreed to share with us all here:

Prothero Children living on farm in 1924
Edna 14, Jack 12, Mary 10, Margaret 8, Claire 5, Tony 2

The back of the truck was well utilised for trips to places such as Talbingo in 1933; Lake Cargellico in 1924; Cotter River ACT in 1928; Sandy falls on the Murrumbidgee River to name but a few.

This is a copy of the back of the above photo identifying the occupants. This tells us that "Lorry" the truck above was at  The Lake (Cargellico) in Feb 1924 Neil West, Lil Prothero (Frank's sister) are the two ladies and seated at the back are Margaret, Mary, and Claire Prothero.

I would like to acknowledge the wonderful family members who wrote of their experiences living on a farm miles from town, travelling to mass in a horse and buggy, driving miles and miles for camping holidays etc. These letters, stories and photos are truly GEMS that help us to only imagine their lives without power, telephones, sealed roads, and all the modern amenities we take for granted today.

That they capture so much in their photos, letters and stories is a real reminder to all of us to write our own stories for our grandchildren and great grandchildren still to come.

Carmel Peek May 2022

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