COOPER Lance Alyson. COOPER Lance Alyson. COOPER Lance Alyson. COOPER Lance Alyson.
“Tarworrie”
By Alyson Cooper
Lance came travelling into Nyabing on an 8-12 week seeding job for John and Paul Berger (“Green Gables Pastoral Company”, Mindarabin) in 2004 from Taupo, New Zealand, and he never left!! Having left his managers job in Dunsandle (south of Christchurch) looking after a dairy herd of 900, he went to work for his uncle welding full time. The Foreman gave him an advert for Rural Enterprises for agricultural jobs. Making the decision to apply, John and Fiona collected him from Perth and brought him into our lives! He first lived next door to Phillip and Carol Riley (on Berger’s farm) and then, in 2006, Ben and Jarrad Hobley (who was courting my sister Ellaine at the time) purchased the Riley’s farm. The boys entertained themselves by sharing the driving to footy training and pub sessions!! Some things never change!
Lance left the Berger’s in 2007 after learning a lot about the Australian farming way of life, and commenced working for Duane and Mick Jury. When John passed away in 2009, Lance certainly felt the loss as both John and Paul had been a sounding board of good advice for Lance. He certainly enjoyed their chats, learning to drink red wine, and puzzling their way through issues of the day.
Working for the Jurys, his days are entertained on the farm doing many jobs, mainly truck driving, spraying, fencing, and all the usual jobs farm hands are entrusted with. In the summer of 2010/11 Lance carted 5.55 million (out of a total of 7.5 million) litres of both stock and scheme water as Nyabing had been declared “Water Deficient”. In season 2011/12 (one of the wettest), and after speaking with Terry Hobley who asked: “if Lance was available to cart some water” (We looked at him quizzically), only to be told…. “Out of the bloody paddocks!” Just for a little laugh!!
Lance in his “new” Ambulance Uniform, July 2010
I (Alyson) grew up at “Mailbox Hill Farm” (Kent Location 1452) in Needilup, (opposite the Brown’s family farm of “Mort-lea” settled in 1908) and the second of four daughters to Graeme and Penny Brown (nee McRae). Mum and Dad (with help from Grandad Brown) purchased the farm from Gerald Quinn and commenced breaking in the new ground immediately. Many years of hard work (scrub burning, poison, rock and mallee root picking later!) as well as community involvement followed. This helped to mould all of their daughters with the same brush – a good work ethic and community spirit and, even though we all went to Swanleigh Boarding School, we have all ended up in the bush; albeit spread between Merredin, Esperance, Nyabing and Albany now!
Dad played cricket against Nyabing and Pingrup in the mid-late 1980’s and I always remember Kath Badger telling the story of how she was mesmerized by these four little girls, dressed immaculately, getting out of the old Ford station wagon. Little did she know that the youngest sister would marry her nephew!! We all had a go at gymnastics in Ongerup, pony club in Jerramungup, as well as netball and Minkey Hockey. I learnt the guitar and stayed Wednesday night at Nana and Pop McRae’s to have lessons. We also stayed in town when mum and dad were working away in shearing teams, and usually on a Thursday night after netball/hockey training.
Alyson reading the Anzac Day Service 2011
Anzac Day services were quite special watching Pop and old Mr. Gomm march so fluidly despite their arthritis. Also great recollections of picking fruit warm from the apricot/plum/nectarine/fig/mulberry tree’s, getting squirted with warm milk from the cow while watching Mum or Dad milk it, running around with the horses, dogs, chooks, geese, turkeys, orphaned lambs, playing cubbies down the bush…. So many happy memories were made growing up on our farm.
When mum and dad sold our farm in 1996 I have to admit I was quite lost as it was planned for me to come back onto the farm. I went to work for Wesfarmers Dalgety in Jerramungup, followed by many roles in many industries, including hospitality, freight, pharmacy, Electrical Training College and eventually back to agriculture – all over the state!! After returning from Europe in July 2006, I returned to the corporate jungle of the city, only to realise that I am a country girl and needed the fresh air, so moved to Katanning (where Sister Maxine was working).
During this period, both Granddad (Jim) Brown, and Pop (Stan) McRae had passed away, so mum and myself commenced studying our family tree, gathering photos and records, and scrapbooking these into our own family album. Realising that much of our history was linked to our farm, I think this is where my interest in local history was piqued and I love locating and looking through our towns history today!
I first saw Lance in Easter of 2006 at Jarrad and Lainey’s, but “officially” met him in October 2006 at the “Girls Night In” breast cancer awareness day where Lance was working behind the bar. In the September of 2006 I started worked at Farmers Centre (1978) Pty Ltd, and then. in April of 2007, Lainey asked me to come out for a run at netball training to “help make up the numbers” and, well, the rest is history! We married in 2009 and I remained at the Farmers Centre till 30th June 2011, when, after hitting a roo, I was paid out so left work to have our baby, Isobel, who is now the light of our life!!
Isobel Cooper April 2012, on her rocking chair with her “gummy” smile.
Lance played football for KDFC as well as held various committee positions since 2006, plays lawn bowls, played in annual cricket games and enjoys volunteering with the St John Ambulance since 2006. I had played netball for Nyabing, joined the Country Women’s Association (CWA) in 2010, enjoy Tuesday night fitness classes since 2007, member of the Nyabing Progress Association, inaugural secretary/treasurer for the Nyabing Historical Society, and share presidency duties with Bronwyn Ferry for the 2012 Centenary Committee. Just slightly hectic!
Lance and Alyson Cooper March 2012, in Matamata, New Zealand for Lance’s cousins wedding.
Over the past sixteen months (and counting!!), I have been busy accumulating photographic evidence, scanning and maintaining our history for Nyabing. The roles that I enjoy being involved in are Australia Day and ANZAC Day celebrations. I enjoy taking photo’s, and have accumulated a large stockpile of sports photos from the lead up to the demise of Kent being fixtured out of the OFA. I hope that these are enjoyable to other people, as well as for future reference.
We are hoping to remain in the farming game as we love the lifestyle and
freedom, and hope to be able to raise our family in the same great community that we have known and loved over the past eight years. If not, then I am sure that we will maintain the firm friendships that we have nurtured during our time in Nyabing for many years to come.
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