Gaby Family.
Written by Enid Russell (nee Gaby)
Ernest Gaby came from Tasmania to Western Australia after service in South Africa during the Boer War [2] and, between 1908 to 1909, established himself as a contract clearer in the Wagin-Katanning area. He then began developing a property named “Quarliming”, after the soak called so by the natives east of Katanning.
Ern Gaby c1922
Clearing was done by hand; axes, shovels, saws and crowbars. He built a house, unfortunately, in the middle of a red sticky loam patch as he thought the soil resembled the good red loam of Tasmania. When the soil was wet, it became the worse possible site for a house, and in summer, it set like cement. Gardening was hopeless, but when rain was good, it grew excellent crops.
On 1st February, 1911, Ern married Hilda May Blee in Wagin. Two of Ern’s brothers, Charles and Alfred, travelled from Tasmania to work with him. However, when war was declared in 1914, they both enlisted in the Army and served overseas. Lieutenant Alfred Edward Gaby was shot by a sniper at Villiers Brettoneux, France, in August 1918 and was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross.
In 1913 the first sports meeting was held in the Reserve with two outstanding local axe-man, Charlie Gaby and George Hobley, competing. Ern Gaby formed a Rifle Club in 1914 which proved very popular with some enthusiasts rode for up to 25 miles during “working bees” clearing the range and digging the markers.
From “Nyabing Notes” 6 September 1916: “The Nyabing Rifle Club has been very quiet for some considerable time owing to the fact that they hadn’t the ammunition to make noise with. This difficulty now being removed, good scoring as well as noise soon to be recorded.“
At a meeting of the Nyabing Agricultural Hall Committee during November 1919, it was agreed to apply for the German gun captured when Lieutenant Gaby was awarded his Victoria Cross and, 29th March, 1920 “The good people of Nyabing have arranged to hold a monster welcome home to the returned men of the district when all soldiers as well as the public, are invited to attend. The object of the function is to raise funds towards the erection of a suitable memorial in Katanning.”
A02622 Alfred E Gaby
4 June 1917 Picardie, Somme, Amiens
A letter from “Digger” on 26th April, pointed out “… one would expect to see a photo of Lieut. Gaby VC in the local school and tablets to his memory everywhere.” At the last meeting of the returned soldiers, it was decided to endeavour to erect a gold shield in the Katanning Town Hall to perpetuate the memory of the late Lieut. Gaby VC.
During 1922-23 the original farm that Ern and Hilda Gaby established was sold to Gus Ramm, and the Gaby family settled on another property east of Nyabing at the same time as the railway line to Pingrup was established. This farm was later sold to Ernie Batt and family when Ern and Hilda Gaby moved into Nyabing and established a butcher’s shop to supply fresh meat to gangers building the railway lines. Hilda Gaby provided morning tea for the train crew when it arrived in Nyabing on Thursday mornings from Katanning and repeated her supply of tea and scones the next day when the train returned. A large house was built adjoining the butcher’s shop; and large it had to be for the Gaby family became nine children
Ern Gaby was a foundation Member of the Nyabing Agricultural Society which began in 1922. A report of the initial Nyabing Agricultural Society Show said’ “Those who had the grit to go on a committee and undertake a task of such magnitude in the almost wilderness, really deserve the congratulations of all on the success they achieved.”
Nyabing 1923 – Gaby’s Butcher Shop, Richardson’s Store, Town Hall, Bakery building in white. Ern Gaby outside the butcher shop with young son, Harold, Mrs Gaby with son Alf, and daughter Gladys standing in front of the car
E A Gaby, the Nyabing Butchery, advertised,
“Best beef, mutton, pork and small goods.
No need to import these articles.
Try your local man.
Prices honest. Quality highest.”
When on occasion, a Christmas tree and treat was organised at Nyabing, the accommodation at Cronin’s and Gaby’s boarding houses was heavily taxed and many families had to camp out.
By 1925 Mr Gaby was advertising that in addition to his butcher shop and store; “Motor Vehicle for Hire” – the only registered hire car in the district. Ratepayers: Nyabing: Mrs HM Gaby (221 acres), Nyabing Town: Mrs H M Gaby (shop) E A Gaby (agent). Ten years later, in September, 1935, Hilda was granted permission from the Road Board to erect a petrol pump on the footpath outside her premises. The family grew up in Nyabing until early 1936 when the boys left home to seek employment elsewhere and the family settled in Kalgoorlie.
Grandma told me many stories about her early days on the farm. One I remember is a time when Grandpa was away clearing the land and she was on her own with three babies. She had to bring the cow in for milking each evening, but could not leave the little ones on their own. So she fashioned a ‘playpen’ outside the back door where she could see them while she saddled up and rode off to fetch the cow. It must have been safe and workable, because those three babies were Walter, Ray and Gladys who all lived happy, healthy lives well into their 80s.
Back Row: Gladys and Hilda
Front Row: Ray, Harold, Elsie, Ern, Harold, Walter and Eric.
Back Row: Eric, Ern, Ray, Alfred & Harold
Front Row: Gladys, Elsie, Hilda, Audrey, Mavis (seated) and Walter.
. Gaby family – 1929
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