Badger Neville Mary
1952-1983 ‘Durrunnook’
Written by Neville Badger
When I came home from Ag School to the farm in Pingrup, my Father (Clyde Badger) assured me that if I were to help him for a few years, he would help me buy my own farm. What I had always wanted… and to be my own boss.
Neville Badger & Mary Coutts married at Lake Grace Church on 23rd February 1952
In 1952, I married Mary Coutts from Pingrup, and we moved to Nyabing where we had bought “Durrunnook” (1,700 acres not all cleared) from Stephen Shields. What a battle it was for a young married couple whose only possession was a 2nd hand Fargo Ute. The bank had 1st Mortgage, my father 2nd mortgage and having to pay interest, due twice a year. We borrowed from Elders Goldsborough Mort. Luckily I always had a good relationship with the stock firm and they got us through those tough years. I can’t speak highly enough of the Elders Goldsborough Mort staff.
In 1952 we have no crop, no tractor or plant to do some fallowing, and generally get ready for 1953. W.G. Mills (Gordon) helped us out with a tractor and plough. In return, I did his shearing. Early in 1953, Bob Coutts (Mary’s father) gave us a Fordson Major tractor and Amy (Mary’s Mother) gave us a milking cow. Okay crops in and yes, no harvester, once again, generosity prevailed. My Uncle Frank Kett lent us his 8ft Taylor Sunshine Header. [ii] My first harvesting was 65 bags of oats. We purchased our first mob of ewes from a clearing sale in 1952, and received our first wool clip the following year.
Mary, Nev with Lindsay (Gail on the way) in oat crop 1953
To pay our bills, I cut and sold thousands of jam posts. I was able to cut and cart out (with horse and cart) 200 posts a day. I remember promising a young man that he could knock off for the day if he cut 100. No chain saw back then, only axes. Unable to raise finance with the banks, I needed a cash flow. No better way to do this than to run and breed pigs. It was a great success!
1954 was a bad year, only 750 points of rain. We were out of water before Christmas. Then came a succession of wet years and I spent more time getting bogged then I care to remember. The crops were ordinary, but I managed to establish sub clovers in the pastures. They enjoyed the wet years.
Neville with his first Tractor a Fordson Major in 1953
About 1960, we applied for 1200 Conditional Purchase (CP) Land to the east and North of “Durrunnook”. Then in 1969 we added 212 acres, a bush block came up for sale and we bought this from Barry Mills. When Alan Gerhardy wanted to sell his land, we bought that. So gradually each year we made progress. 1972 was the last year we were clearing and after 11 years, no more summer burns.
As our farming began, so did our family. There were three babies in quick succession, Lindsay in 1952, Gail in 1954 and Robert in 1955. In 1958 we were devastated when Lindsay died with Encephalitis, a complication of the measles. Then our second family began… Bevan in 1959, Sharon 1960 and Ken in 1964.
- Gail married a farmer in Kukerin and now lives in Albany, has three children and two grandchildren.
- Robert married local girl Kathryn Hobley, they farmed at “Sunnyview”, Pingrup and now live at Elleker. They have three children and two grandchildren.
- Bevan married a Pingrup girl Robyn Duncombe, farms at “Durrunnook” and has three children.
- Sharon married an Ongerup farmer, is now living in Albany and has three children.
- Ken married an American girl, Diane McCormack and they live in Colorado where they have a business and two children.
- With a family of three sons and two daughters, our school years stretched over 21 years.
Neville with a Dingo he shot in 1955
In 1964 we built a new house of cement brick and tile. A great improvement on the mud brick house built by the Shields family. New shearing shed and other sheds were built along the way. In 1979, we purchase a half share in Sunny View Poll Merino Stud, which my father had started up at Pingrup. We also purchased the “Sunnyview” farm at Pingrup where Robert and Kath moved to when they married.
1954 Durrunnook wool clip
Because I did not have time to train for football, I started to play golf. At that stage the golf course was six holes with no club house, situated where the Shire Depot now is. We added three more holes, built a club house and Jock Guelfi made a huge open fire place, enjoyed by all. These nine holes were often closed due to major creek flooding. When Rita and Dick Charsley made a generous donation of approximately 180 acres of bush, more than enough for a new 18 hole golf course, it was gratefully accepted. One of the conditions was to build the same club house with the same fire place. Jock Guelfi obliged. Tim Catling was assigned the task of deigning a championship course. The whole community became involved. Col Manuel and I found a large log and with two wheeled tractors, one at each end, logged all the small scrub. The heavy timber was bulldozed into windrows. These were burnt when fire season opened; it was supervised for many hours and days to prevent mishaps. Looking back the good news is that Nyabing Golf Club is still active and a great asset. As in all small Shires, if something was wanted, the community got involved.
Lawn bowls was our next project. A club was formed and with Shire help, sand was carted, lawn ready to plant, but there was no water. Lots of fundraising and Shire help saw a dam sunk. The idea being that water would gravitate to the tank at the green. It did not work. Five years later, water became available and members began bowling. Now Nyabing Bowling Club, with only a small membership of ladies and men, would have to be the most successful club in the league. Many pennant flags and league championships have been won.
Mary and I moved to Albany in 1983. I travelled up to the farm during the week for a few years and still enjoy visiting and helping out where I can. 2012 will see Mary and I celebrate our 60th wedding Anniversary.
Bevan, Sharon, Ken, Neville & Mary Badger, Gail Kent and Robert Badger – June 2011
“Sunny View” Field Day at Durrunnook. Mary, Neville & Bevan Badger with Joe Davies in background – 16th September 1998
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