Whoppit Whip Around

29/3/2017

Busy bee

Dumbleyung Events Committee will be holding a busy bee at the Dumbleyung Town Hall this Friday March 31st from 1pm (Taste of Dumbleyung Setup) and on Sunday April 2 from 1pm (Taste of Dumbleyung Clean Up). All help is greatly appreciated. Please contact Janelle on 0414 017 551.

Dumbleyung Tennis Club AGM

Dumbleyung Tennis Club AGM will be held Tuesday April 4th at 7pm at Stubbs Park. Please contact Tara Ball for more information.

Yabbies Wanted!

Taste of Dumbleyung is seeking fresh and delicious yabbies! If you have a dam/s that we can access or if you can throw nets out and catch a few please contact Robbie McDougall on 0428 461 344.

Taste of Dumbleyung

We are still looking for seasonal fruits, vegetables and lemons. Please drop off your local produce to the Town Hall Thursday from 9-4pm or Friday morning before 9am. If you have a spare hour or two, please join us Friday to help with kitchen preparation at 9am in the Town Hall Kitchen.

Still seeking volunteers for Saturday in the kitchen from 1pm-10pm.

Thanks so much in advance from everyone. For more information please contact Janelle on 0414017551.

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In loving memory - Ken Kenward
18th March, 1918 - 21st March, 2017
A celebration service for the life of Ken Kenward was held on 27th March, 2017 at Greenfields, Mandurah. Thanks to Ken's family for permission to print the following eulogy with additions.

Pictured above: Datatine Bus Run 1983
Front: (Preschoolers) Beverley Ward, Jeremy Cheetham, Richard O’Donnell, Daniel McDougall.
2nd Row: Shannon Bateup, Michael Thompson, Nathan O’Donnell, Daniel Thompson, Kathryn Bateup, Melissa Hall, Nadine Ward.
3rd Row: Belinda O’Donnell, Paula O’Donnell, Natasha Dicker, Ashley Ward, Bradley Hall, Michael Mutter.
Back Row: Brendon O’Donnell and Driver, Ken Kenward.

Kenneth George Kenward was the second child born to Fred and Gladys Kenward on the 18th March, 1918 in Katanning. Ken had four siblings, Eric, Vic, Cecil and Winsome (m.Wann). They all lived on a farm at Datatine called 'The Grange' - now 'Grandale' farmed by McDougalls. Ken attended Datatine School in the hall.

Sadly, when Ken was twelve, his mother passed away. His father, Fred,remarried Ivy and they had three children, Shirley (m.Hoskins), Gwen (m.Taylor) and Graeme.

On leaving school the boys commenced working on the farm. Eric and Ken were responsible for breaking in the horses which were used on the far. They used up to ten horses in a team for ploughing the paddocks. 'Black Bess' was Ken's favourite horse and unfortunately she was gouged by a bull and Ken had to put her down. Sundays was the only day that they ever had off and all the families would gather for a swim in the dam with a picnic lunch after. Ken's first farm was called 'Hopland Park' (originally Marquis's later 'Hopeland Park' farmed by Crosbys, now Miles). The farm house for Hopland Park was made from stones Ken dug by hand and carted for the stone masons to use.

The family moved to the new farm called 'Cloverly', north west of Dumbleyung, in 1954. (Later Warren and Pam Bairstow's, now farmed by Bartrams).
Many happy hours were spent with the family playing tennis on the courts Ken built. Ken continued farming and purchased the Datatine school bus run which his father had run for eighteen years. Ken kept it until at the age of 70 when the law required him to give it up. Each year Ken received birthday and Christmas cards from Belinda (n.O'Donnell), one of the children from the bus. Ken would make up a bed for little Melissa Hall on the bus and drive her right to the door when she fell asleep on the way home from school.

Ken was a lover of all sports, participating in tennis, golf and bowls. Another talent of Ken's was he became an expert water ski instructor, teaching many people the art.

In 1982, Ken and Ivy moved to Safety Bay where he lived and spent time fishing. After he was unable to take his boat out he spent many hours sitting in his gopher and watching the coming and goings at the boat ramp.

Even though Ken was unwell, he still was able to celebrate his 99th birthday recently with his family which he loved more than anything. He even made a speech thanking everyone for coming and expressed his love for them all. Ken's greatest joy was spending time and celebrating with his family.

Further memories were shared by John Richardson who spoke of Ken (and Ivy's) contribution to the Dumbleyung community, in particular the tennis club and how Ken was always at the busy bees and Ivy's beautiful cooking was remembered by all.

Two of Graeme's granddaughters spoke at the service. Stories were related of Ken's time spent with his nephews; especially a time when he took them roo shooting after there had been fires in the area and getting his nephew to check the pouch of a dead roo where a box of matches was found! "Ah - now we know how all those fire's started" Ken said...

The Memorial Card given to all read: "Thoughtful and Considerate to the very end. He wasn't a man who lived by words, He lived by his actions. Always with respect and kindness. Always with love. Rest in Peace Ken.

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