RAMM Wally Joyce. RAMM Wally Joyce. RAMM Wally Joyce. RAMM Wally Joyce. RAMM Wally Joyce.
1928- current
Wally’s birth name is Ernest Walter Ramm. His childhood was spent on the family farm north of Nyabing. Most of his schooling was done at Boongadoo School. He used to travel by horse and cart or walk to and from the school.
Wally & Joyce Ramm’s Wedding day in May 1944
At 17 years of age he joined the army and met his wife to be, Ivy Joyce Hosler (known as Joyce), on a railway platform in Sydney. After they were married in May 1944, Joyce travelled by steam train, ‘The Bridal Train’ as they called it, to Katanning, then traveled by horse and buggy to Grandma Ramm’s farm. For six months Joyce had to milk cows every morning and night (a big ask for a city girl) as well as work in the veggie plot, until Wally left the army and returned home. From 1945-1948 they both worked on Bungey’s farm in Borden before moving to Dumbleyung where Wally worked for his brother Len, who owned the International Harvester agency. Here, by correspondence, Wally studied and passed a mechanical course.
In 1952 the couple purchased Wallacup Farm, 13 miles south of Nyabing. By now there were three children: Barry, Greg and Steven. To go to school the boys rode one mile to the bus stop on Harvey Road where the school bus picked them up at 8.05am to take them to Nyabing. After school they would arrive back at the bus stop at 4.30pm. All three boys completed their first year of high school (Year 8) by correspondence at this school.
The Ramm Boys – Barry, Steven & Greg
The early years were very tough going for farmers, with a lot of land to clear and many stumps to pick. There were hundreds of kangaroos and many emus that were forever knocking down the fences. This allowed the sheep to enter the scrub and on many occasions’ large numbers of sheep died from eating box poison, a toxic native plant. While on the farm Wally and Joyce employed a pensioner, Frank Buncket who established a very productive vegetable garden, growing plentiful supplies of cabbages, caulies, potatoes, carrots, etc etc. Many a time the three mischievous Ramm boys were worse than the roos at raiding his pride and joy.
The farm vegetable garden
At around this time Wally and Joyce both became involved in Nyabing’s sports clubs. Wally was involved with the football club (life member) and spent many years as president, and in his later years became the gatekeeper. He also loved cricket (life member) and was secretary more than once. They both enjoyed playing tennis. In the late 1950’s Wally and good friend Tinker Cheetham also founded the Nyabing branch of The Buffalo Lodge. Their sons Barry, Greg and Steven all played football for Kent Districts and cricket for The Nyabing Cricket Club.
Wally Ramm fishing
During all these early years Wally earned a reputation for bringing home fresh bream from the Pallinup River and giving them away in the Nyabing Hotel. With his good friend Bill Treasure they most likely supplied the only fresh fish to Nyabing for many years.
Wally and Joyce moved to Nyabing in 1973 where Wally, over the years, became Kent Shire’s leading hand. Joyce spent 20 years as the Nyabing Primary School’s gardener. Wally was instrumental in the creation and establishment of the Nyabing Bowling Club. Joyce loved golf (life member) and won many championship trophies. She too became involved in the bowling club (life member) and became a regular country week bowls participant.
Eldest son Barry married Nettie (nee Geyteman), a Katanning girl in 1969. They bought Wongalea farm, right next to Wallacup in 1971. Here, they raised their children Ashley (b.1971), Alison (b.1973) and Gillian (b.1976). All children attended Nyabing Primary School.
Both Barry and Nettie were involved in numerous community organisations. Barry held office for the Football Club, was a founding member of the Kent Sprint Cart Club and the Kent District Pistol Club (life member). Both Barry and his son Ashley where excellent marksman and became keen shooters with the Wurgabup Rifle Club. Barry went on to represent the state in the WA Rifle Team for five years from 1973.
Nettie was a foundation member of the Nyabing Netball Club (along with sister in law, Vivien) and coached numerous teams at junior, senior and association level. Both Nettie and Vivien were awarded Life Memberships of the Nyabing Club.
Ashley married a local schoolteacher, Julie (nee Reid) in 1997. They have two children Lachlan (b. 1998) and Monique (b.2000). Both Lachlan and Monique attended Nyabing Primary School up until 2010. Ashley and Julie have been very involved in community sports and social events associated to football, hockey and netball. Julie returned to teaching and for several years held the position of Principal at Nyabing Primary School. Ashley and Julie have taken over Wongalea farm and Ashley has held the position of Chief Fire Control officer of the Kent Shire for several years now.
Alison was a keen netballer, a Girl Guide and she loved to cook, entered many prize-winning exhibits in the Junior Cookery section of the annual Nyabing Agricultural Show (a major social event in Nyabing back then). She went on to become a teacher, then School Principal and now works as a Finance Director for the Department of Education and Training.
Gillian excelled at sports; however, music was her great passion from a very young age. She won many prizes at talent shows and eisteddfods and eventually turned her hobby into a profession as an opera singer. This took her to the UK, where she lives with her husband William and young son George (b.2010). Barry and Nettie moved to live in Mandurah in 2006.
Greg married Vivien (nee Barnaby) of Como in 1970, taking over the family farm in 1973. They too had three children Daniel (b. 1973), James (b.1976) and Samantha (b. 1978). All of their children attended Nyabing Primary School.
Vivien was very involved in the community (e.g. P&C Association) and netball. In the early days she played in the Katanning association, where Nyabing won the A grade premiership. The Nyabing Netball Club later joined the Ongerup association and achieved even further success. Country Weekend was always the highlight of Vivien’s sporting year. They both travelled many miles playing and coaching. Greg played football for Kent, also coaching the juniors and league sides. He was a keen golfer and club secretary, winning the championship on numerous occasions. Greg and Vivien both enjoyed their friends, social and sporting times in Nyabing.
Daniel Ramm finished high school in Katanning and then worked at Edwards Holden as an apprentice mechanic. He now lives in Perth and owns his own business. He was also an active member of The Kent Sprint Cart Club. In 2001 James and Daniel were players in the Kent Football Club premiership team.
James continued on to coach the Kent football Club for four years, and won the Club Fairest and Best in 2002, 2003 and 2005. In 2005 he married New Zealand nurse Lyndal (nee Kerr) in 2005 and they have two children, Ella (b. 2006) and Hudson (b. 2008) James has taken over Wallacup farm, with Greg, his father as his right hand man.
Samantha attended Brownies from 1986 and began netball the same year. In school year 7 she was the Nyabing Junior Netball Club’s Fairest and Best. Currently a Personal Assistant in Perth by day Sam also has followed in the footsteps of her grandfather Wally as an avid photographer. While Wally’s style was more historic documentation, with many a photo published in the Great Southern Herald and the like, Samantha’s passion is people and travel photography.
Steven Ramm, the youngest of the three brothers decided back in 1971 that farming was not for him and after a brief pre-season with Swan Districts Football Club he became a bass guitarist and singer/audio engineer spending 15 years touring Australia. Since 1986 he has been involved in the video production industry and is now a Film/Video/DVD and BD editor, advisor and restorer. Previously married and divorced Steven now shares his life with his long time partner Janet Lankester, a Town Planner. Working in Perth during the week he spends his free time on his rural property near Beverley (Metallup) and is actively involved in the production of live entertainment at The Beverley Platform Amphitheatre.
Wally Ramm passed away in July 1997 aged 75 and Vivien Ramm, aged 51 passed away in February 2002.
When you consider the harsh conditions these early pioneers endured, and some of them are still alive today 2012, you wonder, in an environment that was free from air conditioning, tractor cabs, and bulk grain, free from 4wd utes, 240 volt power and bitumen roads it’s hard to imagine how they farmed and still contributed so much to their local community. God Bless Them All.
Ramm Family – Greg, Wally, Steven, Joyce, Barry
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