Crosby family. Crosby family. Crosby family. Crosby family. Crosby family. Crosby family.
Ross and Pat Crosby bought “Balcathring” farm on Crosby Road in 1964 from Snow and Doreen Collins and moved out from Woodanilling to commence their farming in Nyabing. They had three children; Graeme who started high school that year, Karene who was in grade six, and Helen, who was only three. After completing two years at Katanning High School and two years at Narrogin Agricultural School, Graeme returned to the farm to help and, in between the busy times, did shearing around the district.
Ross Crosby at CBH Sampling Hut 1991
Karene went to Nyabing Primary School then to Katanning High School and later worked in Katanning and Nyabing until her marriage to Nick Thomas, from Pingrup. Nick did shearing within the district and then, in 1974, they bought a business and fuel run at Pingrup which they ran for many years. They then bought a farm on the Katanning-Kojonup Road in Katanning in 1989 where they still farm today. They have three children, Emma, Hayden and Shannon and now have seven grandchildren.
Taking samples of grain
Helen attended Primary School in Nyabing and then went to Kobeelya in Katanning as a boarder and when her parents moved to Katanning she continued as a day student. She then worked at Taylor and Nott’s in Katanning before marrying Harley Bairstow from Dumbleyung and that is where she and her family are today. They have three children Ylana, Regan and Courtney.
Graeme continued to work with his parents and in shearing sheds around the district and in 1974 he met a girl who was from Sydney on a working holiday and was working at the Nyabing Inn, her name was Catherine Mayne.
Cathy and Graeme married in 1976 and Ross and Pat built a new home and moved to Katanning to live. Pat still lives in Katanning in the house they built in 1976. Ross passed away in 1995. This was very sudden as Ross was still very active on the farm and the day before his death had been grubbing out rabbit holes up on the boundary of Grantley Smith’s farm “Tarworrie” and Foxall’s farm. It was after Ross’s death that John Jolley came and worked with the Crosby’s for a number of years.
Cathy & Scott with baby kids October 1980
Graham shearing goats October 1980
Graeme and Cathy moved into the homestead at “Balcathring” in January 1976. Some people have thought that the farm name “Balcathring” had something to do with Cathy’s name. This is not the case as the farm had that name when it was bought from the Collin’s family and apparently was the name of the farm from previous owners. Graeme and Cathy had three sons Scott Ross (born 1977) Mitchell Dean (born 1979) Bryce McDonald (born 1981)
Harvest time “Kybunga” 1997
Graeme and Cathy have been actively involved within the community as well as increasing their farming land over the years. “Kurrajong” on the South Road was bought in 1980 from Harry and Bernice Ripper and in 1989 the adjoining farm “Singleton” from Geoff and Roz Foxall. Then in 1996 “Kybunga” from Harry and Margaret Phillips on the Dumbleyung Road. When the Nyabing Pastoral land was all split up in 2000, both Scott and Mitchell were home farming and Wallace’s block was purchased.
Crosby Family 1994
In January 2001 Scott married Michaela Pearson and, later in the year in September, Mitchell married Melanie Bertei. And so the family was growing. In 2004 “Homelands” was bought from Lindsay and Shirley McDougall.
It was at this stage that a change of houses was decided. Scott and Michaela moved into the “Homelands” homestead on the Kukerin Road and that is where they live today. Graeme and Cathy moved into Aspendale Street Nyabing. Graeme would prefer to live on a farm but has adjusted well and goes out to the farm every day. Cathy loves living in town.
Mitchell and Melanie moved into the homestead at “Balcathring”. During 2010 Mitchell and Melanie decided that they had had enough of farming and, at the beginning of 2011, they moved to Narrogin with their four sons Elliot Ross, (b. 2003) Wesley Peter, (b. 2006) Jonah Charles and Noah Mitchell (b.2008). Mitchell is now working for Landmark as a State Stud Manager and really enjoying it.
Scott and Michaela are still at “Homelands” with Graeme and Cathy remaining in Nyabing. A workman has been employed to help with the running of the farm and he and his family live at “Balcathring”. Rob, Clare, Baden and Lachlan Crapella have added to the community of Nyabing.
Bryce on leaving school did an apprenticeship in diesel mechanics and has enjoyed working in that industry ever since. He married Nicky Pollard in 2009 and they have just welcomed their first child into the family; a boy Lucas Mac Crosby. Bryce continues to work for McIntosh’s in Katanning.
Once the boys started back on the farm Cathy’s roll changed. In 2001 she took on the roll of Councillor at the Shire of Kent. She has enjoyed this role and is currently the Shire President. This may change as there are elections in October 2011. Life never stays the same with changes happening all the time which is great. You never know what is around the corner.I hope you enjoy reading about the Crosby Family and where members are today.
Cleanup after Cyclone Alby 1978 Balcathring
Cleanup after Cyclone Alby 1978 Balcathring
Nyabing Creek 1983
ST QUENTIN IN THE NEWS
Western Australian win:
St Quentin Stud wins National Merino Pairs
Jamie-Lee Oldfield,
Western wonders:
Ashley Lock, Scott Crosby and Joseph Crosby, 5, from St Quentin, at Nyabing, in WA, with the winning national Merino pair.
Pictures: Andy Rogers
With the National Pair are judge Wes Daniell, Mitchell Crosby, Landmark Breeding, St Quentin stud co-principal Scott Crosby and judge Paul Norrish.
Western wonders:
Ashley Lock, Scott Crosby and Joseph Crosby, 5, from St Quentin, at Nyabing, in WA, with the winning national Merino pair.
Picture: Andy Rogers
WESTERN Australia has taken out the National Merino Pair title for the second year running.This time around it was the Crosby family of St Quentin stud at Nyabing who exhibited the winning pair. Continue reading >>>
Return to HOME Page
Return to Nyabing PEOPLE Page
Visit the LOST NYABING Facebook Group