Perroomba

been run off a nearby road in her horse & buggy by a motor The Munificent Don 187 car. Fortunately, she was only shaken, but the buggy was badly damaged and the horse had run off9. Young Mollie took to the Don Whittam and Mollie saddle to find the missing horse, returning it to the yard soon McDonald on their wedding afterwards. day at Preamimma Station, In 1929, Mollie had a brush with fame, although she would Monarto, 27 August 1932. not have known it at the time. Her parents hosted a dance at Preamimma, inviting a number of families of German descent. View of Preamimma Station, Amongst the diverse crowd was a nine-year-old Colin Thiele, Monarto, 1930’s who would later go on to write such classic stories as Storm Boy and The Sun on the Stubble10. How Mollie found herself at the Strathalbyn Bachelors Ball that August night in 1929 is unclear, but it seems that her younger sister Lorna had been down once or twice11, and perhaps dragged Mollie along as a chaperone. At some point, Don & Mollie found each other in the large crowd, and so began a long and difficult courtship, separated by distance. Monarto and Ashbourne are only twenty nine miles apart by road, but this was no easy commute in the early 1930s, even though it appears that Don had a car. However, they managed to continue dating and were married three years later on 27 August 1932 in the Monarto Presbyterian Church, by Reverend W. Floyd Shannon OBE12. Mollie wore a simple ivory satin gown and carried a bouquet of white hyacinths, camelias and orange blossom. Her sisters Marjorie and Lorna were her bridesmaids, wearing pale blue frocks and matching hats & shoes. Don’s best man was Chris Morton, who had travelled from Geelong to be there. His other groomsman was Hal Pitt, a good friend and cricketing mate from Ashbourne13. After the wedding, they drove to Melbourne for their honeymoon14. On their return, they moved into Mayfield House, a large home owned by Harry and Dorothy Meyer15. It was not long before Mollie discovered she was expecting, and they welcomed their first child, Elizabeth Douglas, on 7 October 1933. It seems that life was not to be a bed of roses for Don and Mollie. Elizabeth, better known as Betty, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. This caused her head to swell, and the poor child suffered headaches

188 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Mollie and Don Whittam and was constantly crying. It would be some (centre) with guests as time before doctors could install a shunt to they prepare to depart reduce the pressure, and Betty was treated their wedding reception at with kid gloves, lest a knock to the head cause Preamimma in 1932 serious damage, or death. Mollie McDonald with her Despite Betty’s health issues, children were to sisters Marjorie and Lorna be a source of joy for them both, with McDonald as bridesmaids, Preamimma Douglas arriving on 17 February 1935. They 1932 may have considered calling him Douglas McDonald, but his uncle Doug Whittam was already living in Ashbourne, even though his name wasn’t actually Douglas. McDonald Douglas also sounds like a make of airplane, but it turns out that Don and Mollie were way ahead of their time, with the McDonnell Douglas aircraft company not being formed until 1967. At any rate, his name was forever shortened to “Mac”. In 1937, Don had his car stolen from North Terrace in Adelaide, which was recovered in Melbourne after the thieves had changed the number plates to avoid detection16. Valued at around £350, this was a relatively minor crime, but the fact it was solved so quickly across two states is a testament to the policing and investigative skills of the officers of the day. The family continued to grow, with Peter Douglas born on 29 August 1938, followed by Merian Dorothy on 11 May 1940, during the early days of World War II. At some point, Don’s brother-in-law Harry Meyer referred to the infant Merian as “Tiddles”, and the name stuck. Another thirteen years would pass before Don and Mollie’s last child was to arrive, with David Douglas Sweet Whittam born on 2 Feruary 1953. At forty-five, Mollie was starting to think that having children was behind her, but their home once again heard the cries of a newborn. Don’s brother Ken was the only Whittam boy interested in the rough and tumble of Australian Rules football, with the rest preferring the more strategic and sedate game of cricket. Don’s interest had begun at college, and he took it with him when he first moved to Ashbourne, immediately joining the local team at the age of seventeen17. He also joined the YMCA18, which often fielded cricket teams in tournaments around the country. In 1925, he was able to join his brother Ted in representing the state on a tour of Tasmania. Later tournaments were held in Perth19 and Brisbane20, providing a cheap and enjoyable way

to see Australia, doing what he loved. The Munificent Don 189 Don continued to play for most of his adult life, Don Whittam, centre, acting and was a wonderful team player, proving quite the clown with hat turned competent with both bat and ball. He was not what up and a makeshift gong in one would call an exceptional cricketer, but played his hands, probably to call mainly for the enjoyment and cameraderie. However, on one occasion, whilst running down the slight hill of guests in for lunch. Date and Ashbourne Oval to catch a lofted ball, Don collided location unknown. Possibly with his team mate John Pitt, who also had his eyes Preamimma fixed skywards. The two men clashed heads, with Don coming off second best and being knocked almost New Dodge lorry, harvesting senseless. Clearly concussed, Don suffered from this potatoes at Ashbourne, for some weeks, with headaches and dizziness. February 1941. Don Whittam He was also a keen golfer and would head out regularly to play with friends, crouching down and drinking and occasionally by himself, on the course created by Harry Meyer just over the back fence of Mayfield. out of the water bag, Harry Meyer driving. From the very beginning, Mollie had found that married life on the farm was not entirely what she expected. After so much responsibility and freedom as a child on Preamimma, at Mayfield she was expected to keep a home, raise the children and look after the shearers while they were working at the farm. These were tasks for which she was ill equipped, but she tried her best. Harry Meyer was a stern operator who believed in traditional gender roles, and he would not allow Mollie to do anything around the farm, though she was more than capable. The spectre of lost opportunity had sown the seeds of a downward spiral for which neither Mollie nor Don were prepared. In order to escape the feeling of being trapped at home, Mollie found a release in the tingling buzz of a glass of wine. Just enough to take off the edge. But a glass turned into two, or three, and soon she found herself in the perilous grip of the bottle. Living in a small community only added to the problem. If she ever over- indulged at a social occasion, tongues would wag, and the feeling of helplessness and isolation would only increase. To alleviate the stress of perceived shame from her peers, she would undoubtedly ‘socially lubricate’ at the next function, which would repeat the cycle. Don was a very loving & caring father, and the children could always go to him if they had problems or needed advice. A versatile man, he could shift from sheep to apple picking or any other task required on the

190 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Ashbourne War Memorial farm, but he did struggle with the problem of Mollie, Hall, November 2017. and was burdened by her inability to cope with life. On top of the farming, he had to carry the balance Source: Ashbourne Community Hall & Oval of the load at home, and co-opt the children into - Cover Photos. www.facebook.com. household chores like chopping wood, sweeping the verandahs and general cleaning. Young Betty, Don Whittam leaning on his as the eldest child, would often step into the breach trusty ute, c1968 to help with cooking and cleaning when Mollie was unable. In 1944, with four children in the house, it was decided that additional help was needed to run the household. Don placed an advertisement in the local newspaper for someone to assist, along with the very specific requirement that they be a Protestant. This would ensure they could also take the children to the local Methodist church on Sundays if required.21. As a distraction from home life and managing Harry Meyer’s farm22, Don had a passion for gardening, and would maintain a beautiful, if slightly rambling garden around Mayfield, full of flowering plants. He would teach the children the tricks of good gardening, including gathering and using the sheep manure that would fall under the shearing sheds. There was a stand of beautiful gladioli that would rise up near the manure heap behind the garden shed each spring. He loved singing and would often break out in song with his fine tenor voice as he worked around the garden or house. Despite everything else going on in his life, Don continued to be involved in the local community, giving freely of his time. whenever he could. He joined the Strathalbyn Grand Lodge, like his big brother Doug23, and later became president of the local branch of the Agricultural Bureau in 1935. He was also active in arranging social events to support the local tennis club24. Don was always to be found cooking on the BBQ at these sorts of events and sharing a yarn with friends and visitors alike. During World War II, Don felt the call to sign up, though he was too old to serve overseas. His brother Doug had gone over to Stratalbyn to sign up in April 1942, and Don followed the lead, signing up as a Private in the Volunteer Defence Corps a month later. However, farm life was demanding, and he was unable to make it to regular parades. Either Don or the army decided enough was enough, and he was discharged just six months

The Munificent Don 191 later25. Mayfield, August 2020 With a larrikin spirit like his older brother Ken, Don would never be afraid to Poorly worded advertisement act the clown in order to get a laugh from a crowd. On a memorable occasion that sounded like Don had in 1945, he and best friend Hal Pitt dressed as two women, and participated lost his life. in a ‘gossip competition’ against the wives of local cricketer Vin Payne and schoolteacher Charlie Faehrmann, with the two ladies also dressed as men. Much hilarity ensued as Don and Hal hammed it up with falsetto voices, with Don ratting on his team-mate at one point and siding with the opposition. They didn’t win the prize of movie tickets, but the audience were the real winners, and Don never stopped entertaining26. Don’s humour was such that friends would be forgiven for thinking he was pulling their leg when an advertisement appeared in a 1950 paper that suggested Don had passed away. Thanks to some very poor grammar, a life insurance announcement from the AMP was actually saying that Don’s life insurance policy had been lost, rather than Don’s actual life!27 His munificent community spirit also made him the secretary of the Ashbourne War Memorial Hall committee, arranging various events and dances to raise money for its construction. Don’s good friend and groomsman, Hal Pitt, was the Treasurer28. Fundraising began in 1947, with the hall being opened in 1960, and the foundation stone laid by Don’s brother-in-law Harry Meyer29. All in all, the building of the hall was a clear demonstration of the

192 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Ashbourne community spirit, and it remains in use to this day. At some point while working the Meyer farm, Don became acutely aware that although he was considered an equal partner in the farm operations, he had no landholding of his own. Farming had supported him and his family well, but he had nothing material to pass to his children. He spoke to Harry Meyer about this, and felt that he had reached an agreement for the farm around Mayfield, and the home itself, to be passed to his family. There may have been a handshake, or a simple nod to form a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ and nothing more was said. As he entered his sixties, Don started to feel some loss of energy and tiredness by the end of the day, which he would probably shrug off as normal for a man his age. However, this would occasionally turn into shortness of breath, and maybe some tightness in the chest. Consulting his doctor, he was told he had develped heart disease. Whether this was a result of narrowing of the coronary arteries or valve failure is unknown, but major heart surgery was still in its infancy in the late 1960s, so there was little that could be done besides a change of lifestyle. Don hung up his farming boots and slowed down. Unfortunately, this was not enough to prevent the inevitable, and his health continued to decline, passing away in Strathalbyn Hospital on 19 August 1970. Mollie was not to be far behind. Her own health was undoubtedly compromised by her drinking and anxiety, and the loss of her dear Don was too much for her body to bear. She passed away just over a year later, on 7 November 1971, aged just sixty-four. As for the interest in Harry Meyer’s farm, this never eventuated. Either Harry had a change of heart, forgot about the agreement, or simply had a different view of what was agreed, but he denied all knowledge. Although Mollie had inherited some three hundred acres of the Preamimma estate prior to her father’s death in 1941, she had sold this offsoon after30. Don and Mollie had lived off the land for most or all of their lives, but they were never to own any. Mayfield passed back into Harry Meyer’s hands, and is now occupied by his grand-daughter Robynn Johnston. Land Grant of 5190 acres in Monarto South on 8 Jan 1936. CT1654/101, which fell to the girls on RSM’s death. Sold to Colin Furst on 4 Feb 1952. Original Preamimma land bought on 8 Mar 1888 by Walter and Robert S McDonald - Vol CXXIII, Fol 217. Transferred to Marion on 7 Oct 1915. Then to daughters after Marion’s death in 1943. Sold to Frank & Margaret Howard on 16 Apr 1952.

The Munificent Don 193 Gordon Douglas WHITTAM Joshua Whittam (1858-1934) William WHITTAM (1822-1887) (17 Nov 1904 – 19 Aug 1970) Kate MITCHELL (1866-1948) Anne DOUGLAS (1829-1891) Robert McDONALD (1866-1941) James MITCHELL (1843-1885) m. 27 Aug 1932 Marion GREENWOOD (1867-1943) Elizabeth JELLEY (1843-1879) Alexander McDONALD (1824-1904) Mollie McDONALD Jane SWEET (1836-1911) (27 Aug 1907 – 7 Nov 1971) James GREENWOOD (1829-1896) Anna TOD (1838-1888)



Natural Teacher 195 William Matthew William Maxwell Douglas 21 1822-1887 1853-1940 1901-1991 1930-2020 Natural Teacher There are many reasons that drive people to teach. For some, it is the Principal Max Whittam can’t help joy of shaping young people and seeing their future unfold before but gently share his knowledge them. For others, it is a love of people, the students, their colleagues. For a select few, it is driven by wonderment. A view of the world as something amazing that simply must be shared with others. This enthusiasm is contagious, not in a demanding or forceful way, but it calls others to come, look, see. Max was such a teacher, and he wanted everyone to sense the wonder that he felt for the acquisition of knowledge and the pleasure that came from truly understanding. Maxwell Douglas Whittam began his life in the front bedroom of his grandparents’ home of Sonoma on 12 February 1930. Sonoma was a typical 1920’s bungalow located at 78 Anthony Road, West Ryde (now Denistone). Born to William and Elsie Whittam near the beginning of the Great Depression, Max was dropped into hard times. His father William had lost his job, and was forced to move in with his parents-in-law, Alexander & Catherine Hosie, who were already sharing the house with Elsie’s sister Sadie. For the first four years of Max’s life, his father had to struggle to make a living by growing and selling fruit and vegetables house-to-house from his push-bike. Uncertainty around work meant that the family moved several times, first to a Maxwell (L) and David Whittam, rented house at 8 Goodwin Street, North Ryde, and then to Willoughby, sharing 1933 a rented house with Max’s grandparents, Matthew & Emily Whittam. When Max’s father found full-time work, the family moved yet again to 87 Acacia Avenue, Punchbowl. It was here that Max started school in 1935 at Bankstown East Public School. He would walk across grassed paddocks to get to school with a sandwich packed in his bag ready for lunchtimes sitting on wooden seats built

196 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Max Whittam with his parents around a large tree. Elsie and Will, 1930 Max’s grandparents were living with them at Punchbowl, Max Whittam, 1930 but they were unhappy and moved back to Artarmon. This meant that Max’s parents could no longer afford the rent at Punchbowl, so they moved to a cheaper rented house on the old Pacific Highway at Belmont, Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle. The house was next door to the school so Max would climb through a gap in the fence to attend classes, where he would write on slates with slate pencils. This was such a novelty that he would eagerly await the chance to give out or collect the slates. In 1938 the family moved again to a rented house in the back-blocks of Turramurra at the corner of Charlton Avenue and Buckra Street. Max shifted school again, this time to St. Ives Public School, a modern two storey building, which sat on the other side of the St Ives Golf Course. Max’s parents could not afford shoes, so Max had to walk to school across the golf course with bare feet. Bindii-eye prickles, also known as three-corner jacks, would poke painfully into his feet, but he soon learned to drag his feet in the dirt so they didn’t stick in so much. On the very rare occasions when Max had threepence in his pocket, he would stop by the shop near the school. Here, he could buy a paper bag full of broken biscuits, which was a real treat. To bring in a bit of extra cash, he would line up with a group of other boys on Saturday afternoons at the St Ives Golf Club to caddy for golfers. If chosen, Max would score four or five shillings and if lucky, a free drink and sometimes a small tip. With the proceeds, he bought a second- hand pushbike which he rode to school, even though it was further going around the golf-course by road. After completing his High School Entrance exam, he moved on to Naremburn Boys Intermediate High School in 1942. This was a convoluted trip, requiring a bus to either Turramurra or Pymble station, then a train to Chatswood and finally a tram to Naremburn. Sometimes it was better to take a train to St Leonards, which required a half mile walk to the school on Dalleys Road. Max found a new way to earn pocket money during these years, collecting two big baskets of bunched roses from a small rose farm near his home in Charlton Avenue. Catching a bus and train to Milson’s Point station, he would then sell the roses to passers-by or hawk them

around the many flats near the station. The drawback was that if he Natural Teacher 197 didn’t sell the flowers, he did not get paid, so he found a job in a Strand Arcade coffee shop in the city. Max Whittam, 1930 Passing his Intermediate exam at Naremburn, Max moved on to Max Whittam’s baptismal North Sydney Boys’ Technical High School, right at North Sydney certificate railway station to complete his final years. Physical Education was as much a part of schooling then as it is today. One day, during gymnastics, Max was practicing the vault when he landed awkwardly and broke his left arm. Afer his first trip in an ambulance1 to Crow’s Nest Mater Hospital, he was promptly plastered up. Somehow word got to his parents, despite them not having a telephone, and they came to take him home. Another source of income came from his Aunts Marjorie & Maude’s chemist shop in Milson’s Point, not far from the school itself. Max would go after school, borrow their bicycle, and deliver prescriptions around the neighbourhood in return for a small payment, and probably a drink and snack to tide him over for the trip home. When World War II ended in 1945, Max walked across the Harbour Bridge to join in the many celebrations taking place in the city. Whilst at one of these, he stepped into Dymock’s Book Arcade in George Street, and found himself a job, working Saturday mornings and school holidays. In 1946, Max sat for his Leaving Certificate in English, Maths 1, Maths 2, Physics, Chemistry and French. Results were published in the Sydney Morning Herald in mid-January, so Max searched and searched for his name, but to no avail. Clearly he had failed, but his parents could not afford to send him back to school for another year. Dejectedly returning to work at Dymocks full time, he saved every penny to pay for four months coaching at a private college near his work in George Street. French had been his downfall the first time, so he dropped this, given that only five subjects were required. A year later, he once again found himself thumbing through the paper looking for his name, this time successfully, having passed in all subjects. Max had wanted to be a teacher since he was five, so his mother helped him apply for a place at Sydney Teachers’ College. However,

198 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Max Whittam, 1932 with a huge influx of returning servicemen, demand for teaching placements was high. This meant that despite his success, Max’s Belmont Public School, 1938. marks were insufficient to get into his chosen course. Had he Max Whittam back row, second persisted with French, and failed, he would have had enough from left points to make it over the line. So, it was back to Dymocks to earn more money and wonder what to do next. But Max’s mother was not to be deterred, and began exploring all possibilities to get him into teaching. She discovered a pathway into a mature age class at Armidale Teachers’ College, but there was a catch. Max would first have to spend a year in the country at a subsidised school - one without enough pupils for a normal teacher. So after an interview at the Sydney Education Department in Bridge Street, and giving a practice lesson in front of a school inspector at Glebe Public School, Max was appointed as Teacher-in-Charge at Wattagan Creek Subsidised School. Max probably wished he had added Geography to his study plan, as Watagan Creek was not a town, but rather a tiny dairy farming community fifty-eight miles due north of Sydney and twenty-five miles inland from Lake Macquarie. To get there required a train to Hexham, another to Cessnock, and then to join the mail van through Wollombi and Laguna to his destination. However, his train into Cessnock was running late and missed the mail van, so he had to catch a taxi for the remaining twenty-eight miles. This part of the journey was so bumpy over corrugated dirt roads that the taxi driver reduced the fare, saying the vibrations always increased the distance shown on the meter. The school was a rudimentary affair up near the head of the Watagan Creek valley. It was a big long-house, mostly wooden slabs, with one room fitted out as a schoolroom2. There were thirteen students ranging from kindergarten to year nine, with the three oldest pupils doing ‘leaflet’ lessons, which had to be posted away for marking. Being a subsidised school, Max was paid a minimal salary, with the local parents taking turns to accommodate and feed him. As the families were all dairy farmers, Max soon learned to hand-milk cows and even ride a horse.

One of the families had three adult daughters who were Natural Teacher 199 deaf and dumb, so Max added their one handed sign language to his growing list of skills. Max Whittam with new puppy, 1940 Without any form of transport, Max found it difficult to move freely about the district, so he brought his pushbike Max on his first day of high up on the train. This gave him more independence, school, 1942 although the rocky, hilly and bumpy roads were a challenge to navigate, especially when wet and slippery. Despite all this country culture shock, Max enjoyed the quieter community lifestyle, and the school life reaffirmed his wish to become a teacher. Leaving Watagan Creek in September 1949, Max made his way by train to begin his formal training at Armidale Teachers College. The main men’s accommodation was in The Minto, an 1894 hotel on the corner of Jessie and Rusden Streets. However, this was filled with the February intake of students, so Max was allocated a place with seven other male students over in Brown Street. The house was run by an old lady, Ma Inch, and had only three small bedrooms and a very small glassed in verandah. With Ma occupying the main bedroom, things were very crowded indeed, but she managed eight lively young men, and was up at dawn each day to milk the cow she kept in the adjoining paddock, wash, starch and iron fifty-six long-sleeved shirts each week and provide three meals a day, prepared on an old fuel stove and served at 12:45 precisely, whether the boys were there or not. Max found that the rent exceeded his teacher training scholarship payment, so he was forced to keep working at Dymocks during the holidays. Despite these extra burdens, Max found his two years at Armidale very happy and interesting as he learned the finer art of teaching young minds. But what made Armidale particularly memorable was the very first Saturday night college dance, where Max bumped into Wilma. Wilma Joy Walker had missed out on a place in the girls’ accommodation of Smith House, and she had found board with a couple further down Brown Street. There were only two other College girls boarding here so her living conditions were probably better than those at Smith House, and certainly better than those enjoyed by Max. Wilma was born in Coffs Harbour Private Hospital on 10 July 1932, the middle of three children to Ernest Victor Walker and Gertrude Florence Pateman. Ern and Trudie (she hated the name Gertrude) were born in England and engaged before Ern came out to look after his recently widowed aunt’s farm near Nambucca Heads. Ern worked the

200 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Wilma Joy Walker, 1933 farm by day and studied at nights for his teaching qualifications. Trudie courageously sailed out to Australia alone at a later date for the wedding. Wilma Walker (centre) with her mother Trudie, brother Donald Ern and Trudie were very upright and religious, and went to great and younger sister Bonnie, c1936 pains to point out that they had married immediately upon Trudie’s arrival. They were also very musical, with Ern training a boys’ flute band whilst a teacher at Bexley’s Boys School. Trudie had been a member of Luton Girls’ Choir as a child, and would sing at the local Methodist church where Ern was a lay preacher. These talents and traits were passed on to Wilma, who learned piano and would later train choirs for performances and Eisteddfods in the schools where she worked. She also valued her Christian beliefs, which have guided many of her choices and influenced her attitudes later in life. As a small child, Wilma travelled back to England with her mother, and has distinct memories of walking up steep gangplanks over the ominous-looking water, which made a lasting impression. On her return, she began her schooling at Upper Orara, a tiny, one-teacher country school outside of Coffs Harbour with her father as her teacher. Naturally following her father’s teaching postings, she then went to Bexley Girls School in Sydney, across the road from the boys’ school where her father was teaching. The shift to a big school was very overwhelming, with masses of children, concrete and brick buildings. Her sister Bonnie suffered greatly from Asthma, so the family moved to Beecroft, away from the more rural Bexley. Here, Wilma attended Carlingford School, before another move out to Inverell, about 125 miles inland from Coffs Harbour. It was here that Wilma began to develop a love for teaching, with a Year 6 teacher who spent most of her time teaching English, Music and Art, all things that Wilma loved. Inverell High School followed, up until fourth form, when her father was transferred to Macksville, and Wilma completed her schooling at Coffs Harbour High. Playing catch-up on two new subjects to match the changed curriculum, she was still able to top the Year in English and win herself a scholarship to Armidale Teachers College, which sent her to that first college dance and into Max’s orbit. Max and Wilma continued with their studies, with full days of lectures, followed by movies, picnics, dances, sport and occasional snow fights in the winter. Eventually, graduation day arrived in August 1951, complete with gown and mortar-board, with much better results than Max had ever received at school. This was followed by telegram requesting that he report to Ulong Public School at the start of the school term in September.

Max searched maps, but could find the town of Ulong anywhere. He Natural Teacher 201 eventually found it in the NSW Railway Timetable, an unattended station between Glenreagh and Dorrigo. He was entitled to a first-class Wilma Walker (L) and friend at rail seat and sleeper, but there were none available, so Max had to sit Armidale Teachers College, 1949 up all night on the long winding journey. Max (L) and David (R) with their Ulong was a tiny timber milling town some three hundred miles north second cousin Ruth Whittam at of Sydney and twelve miles inland from Coffs Harbour. It had a small Manly, 1950. two-teacher school, two grocery shops, a butcher, a picture theatre, a church, two tennis courts and a hall. Max was trained as a primary teacher, but found himself with nearly forty children under eight years old. Luckily Wilma had been trained as an infant teacher, so she could help out from afar, and Max’s previous experience at Watagan Creek helped him get by. The old headmaster, Mr Rooney, was only interested in teaching and did not get involved in village activities. Not Max though. He soon found himself secretary and treasurer of both the tennis club and the youth club, arranging dances and picnics. He also ended up as the assistant projectionist at the local picture theatre, purely because he could write legibly on the glass plate slides used for showing advertisements on screen. Without a doctor to attend the many accidents at the local mill, bush nurses played an important role in the community. Max was drawn in to be secretary and treasurer of the Ulong Bush Nursing Association. This was a difficult task, handling the costs of the wages and medical supplies and keeping the committee busy with fund-raising needed to meet the shortfall from the governing association. One such fundraiser was an annual sports day, with woodchopping, horse events, and athletics. Max entered the 100 yards sprint, using his long legs to advantage to tie for first place3. Unlike college in Armidale, Max was very fortunate with his accommodation in Ulong, boarding with a childless local mill worker. Harry and Pat Simmons treated Max as if he was their own son, helping him feel a true part of the community. He was also spoiled by the Parbery family with hot scones, cakes and the occasional meal, just for collecting their mail. Wilma had been posted as a kindergarten teacher 160 miles away in Kootingal, a small town just outside Tamworth, working for her father, who was headmaster at the local public school. Max

202 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Max and Wilma at Max’s would spend his holidays at either Kootingal, a rather convoluted graduation ceremony, 1951 train journey away, or Sydney with his mother at Denistone, who was staying with her sister while Max’s father built his new house at Max and Wilma’s engagement Oberon. notice in the Sydney Morning Herald on 25 July 1953 Eventually, Max decided it was time to ‘pop the question’ to Wilma, and they became engaged on the weekend of Wilma’s twenty-first birthday. Independent transport was going to be a necessity, so in 1953, Max bought his first car from his aunts Marge & Maude, a 1935 Willys Roadster, with a canvas hood, perspex windows and a dicky seat in the boot. His first trip back from Sydney was a tortuous one over corrugated dirt roads as it would be many years before the Pacific Highway was sealed. However, when he got back to Ulong he found he was able to travel at will and not depend on locals for a lift. The car served him well until he left Ulong to get married, where on the rough road to Dorrigo part of the chassis broke. Max managed to nurse it back to Tamworth, where Mr and Mrs Simmons lent him their utility for the honeymoon. Max & Wilma both put in applications to teach in the same location after they were married Max and Wilma were married on 28th August 1954 - the first Saturday of the school holidays - in the Tamworth Methodist Church with a reception in the adjacent church hall, catered for by the church ladies. Max’s brother David was best man and Wilma’s sister Bonnie was bridesmaid. Their honeymoon was a week at the Brunswick Heads Hotel, just north of Byron Bay, followed by a few days in Brisbane. As they prepared to head home, they received notice that they had both been appointed to teaching positions in Ballina, just south of Byron Bay. Wilma was to work in the Ballina School Infants Department and Max in the District Relief staff, stationed at Ballina Primary Department when not needed to replace sick teachers. Max spent most of his time at the Alstonville Public School, just west of Ballina, replacing the headmaster who had taken some sick leave. Max then had to return the borrowed car to Ulong, hitch a ride back to Tamworth with Wilma’s parents who were holidaying at Nambucca Heads, pick up the repaired car, and then to travel back to the coast to find accommodation in a flat in East Ballina. By mid-term, Wilma discovered she was expecting their first child. However, this was coupled with the alarming news that she also had an ovarian cyst. An operation at Ballina Hospital was required, which was a traumatic experience, not knowing the effect it may have on the unborn child. Fortunately all went smoothly, and Max taught Wilma’s infant class as she recovered.

Despite the north coast being the Natural Teacher 203 popular destination for most teachers, Max and Wilma had applied for Max and Wilma’s wedding, with teaching jobs in Sydney. During the bridesmaid Bonnie Walker and Christmas holidays, Wilma resigned4 best man David Whittam, and Max was appointed to Rydalmere 28 August 1954 Public School and they moved into the back verandah of Max’s Aunt Max and Wilma exploring the Sadie’s house of Sonoma, Denistone. wildlife on their honeymoon at In February, 1955 they found a two- bedroom fibro house being built at 20 Lone Pine Sanctuary in 1954 Gladys Street, Rydalmere, only a block away from where Max was teaching. Borrowing a whopping £3,000, they moved into their first home, with barely any furniture, an ice chest, and a very pregnant Wilma. Four months later, on 19 June 1955, Max and Wilma welcomed their first child, a daughter they named Robin Joy, born at The Poplars hospital, Epping. Their second daughter, Debra Anne, arrived on 28th October 1957, also at The Poplars. Wilma focussed all her attention on the girls until Debbie turned three, when she returned to teaching as Teacher-Librarian at Rydalmere School. With the extra income, Max and Wilma were able to buy their first new car in 1962, a light green Ford Falcon station wagon. They could now go camping during school holidays, particularly to Werri Beach, taking a lean-to tent with double bunk stretchers for the girls, while Max & Wilma bunked down in the wagon. In 1963, both Max and Wilma were transferred to Terrey Hills Public School, with Wilma returning to full time teaching. Here, Robin was taught by Max in fourth class and Wilma taught Debbie in kindergarten. The moved into a solid brick home at Elanora Heights, overlooking Narrabeen Lakes. This was an enjoyable time, with family often dropping by to visit the beach and occasionally stay for tea and an evening of cards. Max’s community spirit was such that he volunteered to coach the school Rugby Union team for Saturday games. This proved to be quite amusing since Max had never played football and had no idea of the rules. However, with a lot of help from the players and friendly ‘suggestions’ from the parents on the sidelines, he got by and even wound up being referee for some lesser games. After commencing a university degree to improve his promotion

204 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Max with daughter Robin, 1956 prospects, Max found this was not necessary and he was offered a role as principal of Gum Flat School, about five miles west of Inverell, L-R, David, Wilma, Debbie, Will, in June 1967. Wilma was appointed as assistant teacher, in charge of Robin, Elsie and Max Whittam at the lower division. Gum Flat was a very friendly, close-knit community Gum Flat, c1968 of wheat and cattle farmers whose activities usually revolved around the school. The whole family was involved with working-bees, tennis, dances, social club outings, sports days, rodeos and various charity fund raisings. Their house, however, was rather rudimentary, with the toilets being outside over a large pit, which made visits very quick, and only when necessary, particularly in hot weather. It was while at Gum Flat, after just spending a fortnight with Max’s parents at Pothana in Oberon, that Max’s mother passed away suddenly in the Oberon Hospital on 13 September 1969. Max had decided to continue with university from Gum Flat, switching to a correspondence course. Over the next three years he managed to earn enough points to make it to the half-way point of a full degree in Earth Sciences5. However, the universe had other plans and Max put his university degree on permanent hold when Wilma delivered their first son, Darren Douglas, at Inverell hospital on 1 June 1971. In 1974, Max was transferred to Grose Vale School, five kilometres west of North Richmond, a citrus growing area in the Lower Blue Mountains. The school was only a two-teacher school, with Max teaching in the old one-room building and the assistant in the community hall across the road. The area around North Richmond was growing rapidly, and in a couple of years the smaller schools were closed and combined into Grose View School, a two-storey building where Max was teaching principal. With six teachers working for him, and Wilma doing a couple of days there as well, he was able to build up the new school with the help of a strong community of interested parents. With their children growing older, Max and Wilma were proud to see their daughter Robin marry Greg Smith in 1976, followed a few years later by the arrival of their first grandchild. Through this time, Wilma had some complications from a large operation, developing blood clots in both lungs, which required some time in Royal North Shore hospital intensive care unit. Grose View school had grown considerably by this point, with over two hundred students, so

Max became a full-time principal, spending all Natural Teacher 205 his time in the office. Teaching was always what Max preferred, and office life made him restless. Max, Wilma and Darren Whittam, He must have done a reasonable job though, for Grose Vale, c1973 he was transferred to the much bigger Londonderry school as deputy principal in 1982. Max was not at Max with his first grandchild, all happy in this role, buried in administration and Kate Joy Smith at Inverell, 1980 carrying much of the leadership burden. After two painful years at Londonderry, Max was transferred to Crystal Creek school, a small community eight kilometres from Murwillumbah, where he was once again a teaching principal. Getting back in front of a class was like a breath of fresh air after the claustrophobic environment of the office. A short search found Wilma a role as teacher-librarian at Murwillumbah Public School, having to drive there and back each day. In December 1988, Max finally put away his chalk and duster, retiring from teaching after forty years with the NSW Education Department. Crystal Creek were sad to see their headmaster go, and gave him a huge send-off. Max and Wilma then bought a new home built on three levels, on an acre of sloping land, on the banks of the Tweed River in a new subdivision at Dallis Park just south of Murwillumbah. The views from this house were spectacular, overlooking the patchwork of sugarcane fields and the river, particularly when the river flooded and the sugarcane fields were set on fire prior to harvesting. Wilma continued working for another year as teacher librarian at Murwillumbah School to help pay off the new house, and then retired in December 1989. Max couldn’t quite seem to retire fully, and for a little extra cash worked as a district leader and collector in the Australian census. He also ran election booths in the local school halls, which were long days for little reward beyond meeting a large variety of people from the district. Teaching was never far away from his mind, and he would supervise students doing their Higher School Certificates, including some previous Primary School pupils going through the system. Teachers get a few more weeks off each year than their counterparts in other professions. This worked perfectly for Max and Wilma, who knew how to enjoy their time off and loved to get away whenever they could. Max’s love of a holiday began

206 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia at a young age when his mother Elsie inherited some money from her wealthy Uncle George Hosie who had died without children in 1947. As none of the family had flown before, Elsie decided that they would take a plane from Sydney to Adelaide. Max was quite excited about his first trip in an airplane, although this was most likely a Douglas DC4 and the four hours of droning engines may have tempered his excitement somewhat. Landing at Parafield Airport, the family made their way to the city, and Max had his first ever stay in a hotel at the Grosvenor, on North Terrace. Over the next two weeks, Max was introduced to people he had only heard about previously. First stop was the original Whittam homestead of Perroomba in Beulah Park, where Max met the last remaining sibling of his grandfather. Aunt Nell was quite stooped and looked much older than her seventy-nine years. She had very shaky hands and had to drink her tea through a glass straw. Next was to visit each of the Adelaide-based cousins, Os, Ken and Ted who were all Max’s father’s age. He also got to meet their children - Max’s second cousins - Russ, Jeanette, John, Ruth and Claire. Max got on particularly well with the latter three and remained in close contact with them for the rest of his life. It was then off to Ashbourne to stay with cousins Dorothy and Harry on their farm. They showed the family around the district and Max also met Doug, Clarice, Don and Mollie. Max got on well with Don and Mollie’s children, and formed a close bond with their middle child, Peter. After Max’s dad returned to work in Sydney, Max, David and Elsie flew on to Melbourne without him. During this flight, Max took a photograph of Lake Alexandrina through the window of the plane, as he had been teaching about it at Watagan Creek earlier in the year. Landing in Melbourne, the family stayed with one of Elsie’s long time friends, Dorothy Gledall, who had always sent David and Max a book each Christmas. Next was Mount Dandenong to stay with more of Elsie’s old friends, Jim and Win Hutchinson, before heading back to Melbourne for the flight home. After children came into their life, Max and Wilma had to settle for the less luxurious option of camping, with trips to Canberra in May 1963 and a visit to the Snowy Mountains Scheme in 1964. On the latter trip Max and Wilma left the girls with Max’s parents in Oberon for a while, and both of them went down with measles. 1965 was a trip to the Warrumbungle National Park, and the following year was snow skiing in Thredbo. In January 1967, the family sailed off on the Fairsea bound for New Zealand. Taking in Wellington, Christchurch, Mt Cook, the Tasman Glacier and Rotorua, they also managed to fit in a visit to a couple of relatives. Unnervingly, one of the

Natural Teacher 207 ferries they travelled on, the Wahine, sank during a storm fifteen months later with the loss of fifty-three lives. Max decided to lift the standard of family holidays by heading to Repton near Coffs Harbour, where the family learned to waterski behind boats owned by friends. After a few years, Max bought his own ski boat that the family christened Robbie, and they would spend hours during school holidays perfecting their skiing up and down the river. Wilma even obtained her boat license so that Max could take his turn behind the boat. In 1976, once Darren was old enough to travel further, the family headed to the Whitsundays, Brampton Island and then Lord Howe Island. In 1982, and not enjoying his new role at Londonderry School, Max took a period of long-service leave to jet off with Wilma and Darren to Japan, Alaska and, after a flight over the North Pole, London. After visiting some of Wilma’s relatives, they drove around England, Wales and Scotland, before taking a hovercraft to the continent for a two-month rail tour. Holidays went on hold for a while as Max’s father became older and more frail, requiring regular trips to Oberon to check on his welfare until his eventual death in 1990. Max and Wilma then took another trip overseas via Singapore, stopping in Egypt to see the pyramids and the Nile, before heading on to see England in a rental car. Near the end of 1993, they received word that their caravan had been stolen from its storage at Repton, which put an end to twenty-eight years of holidaying and skiing there. They decided to sell the ski boat as well and settled for a smaller caravan which just the two of them could use. More overseas holidays followed, including Canada, Niagara Falls and Alaska in 1995. For the Alaska tour, the group had the private use of a hired DC3 plane to see parts of Alaska where roads did not go. Later, they took another trip to Europe, doing a caravan tour of England, France and Guernsey Island, followed by a coach tour through Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Gibralta and then Italy. In 1998, fifty years after his last visit, Max took Wilma in their small van along the Murray River to Adelaide. Once again, Max made contact with his second cousins John and Ruth and their families, and toured the hills and countryside, including the small German town of Hahndorf. After a return visit to Ashbourne and Strathalbyn to meet up with second cousin Mac, they drove home via the Great Ocean Road. Determined to see all of Australia from their caravan, they took a couple of large trips. The first of these was a circular tour of Tasmania, after putting the

208 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia van on the Spirit of Tasmania for the overnight trip to Devonport. Next was their longest trip of all, a ten thousand kilometre trek through central Queensland to the Northern Territoy and Darwin, then onwards to Karumba on the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria and back around to Cairns and the Daintree Rainforest, before following the coast all the way back home. Rounding out the Australian tour was Western Australia. In late 2005 they flew to Perth and joined a coach tour of the famed Wild Flower Route. This took them south of Perth, visiting Margaret River, Pemberton, Albany, Kalgoorlie and Hyden. The bus then headed north to cover Geraldton, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia and New Norcia. They loved this trip so much that they signed up again two years later with the same tour company on a four-wheel-drive bus tour of the Kimberley region. Part of this experience included a ride in a small helicopter, without doors, over the strange formations of the Bungle Bungles. Wilma, with a fear of heights, did her best not to faint with fright as she tried to take in the wonderful sights. When Max was seventy-two, he realised that the large sloping block at Dallis Park was going to be difficult to maintain as he got older. He and Wilma moved to a new home on a smaller, flat block at 98 Overall Drive, Pottsville, just across the road from the Mooball Creek estuary. Being close to the beach, with places to fish, paddle canoes and ride bikes, it was a big hit with the grandchildren, who would come to visit during school holidays. Unfortunately, in 2012, Wilma suffered a stroke, which severely affected her movement and her speech. The home at Pottsville was no longer suitable to her increased needs and they moved northwards over the border to the Gold Coast. They shifted into a two-bedroom unit in Galleon Gardens at Currumbin Waters, in a retirement village adjacent a nursing home. Retaining their independence, they were secure in the knowlege that their future needs would be catered for as they got older. A few months after his ninetieth birthday in February 2020, Max started having difficulty breathing. After some concern that he had contracted COVID-19, it was determined that he had a major issue with a heart valve and he was admitted to hospital. Wilma was moved to the nursing home section of Galleon Gardens to ensure she was adequately cared for. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Max was not able to recover, passing away on 23 July 2020. Wilma was just able to attend his funeral before the nursing home was locked down to thwart another COVID outbreak. She continues to live at Galleon Gardens, and despite her obvious disability, she focusses on what she is still able to do and maintains a happy demeanour.

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William Matthew William David Alan Animator 217 1822-1887 1853-1940 1901-1991 1932- 22 Animator Pausing on the trail, David took in the sights and sounds around him. David Alan Whittam shares his The breeze rustling the grey gums, birds flitting through the leaves artistic flair and talent for cartoons and the bouncing call of a nearby kurrajong. The afernoon light drew long shadows from the twisted trees across the grey sandstone boulders. Dusky greens, blues, and browns created a typical Sydney scene. David took it all in with the experienced eye of an artist, already seeing the layers of colour to be laid down on canvas. A few words from Tennyson sprang to his mind: The hills are shadows, and they flow from form to form, and nothing stands; they melt like mist, the solid lands, like clouds they shape themselves and go. Later, he would send this painting, The Hills are Shadows, to a friend as a gift. Although he is talented with brush and canvas, David Alan Whittam loves to create art that tells a story, that has purpose and direction. And nothing tells a story better than art that moves. Chaining a series of drawings together into a smooth animation is a distinct skill, requiring incredible consistency in the formation of each drawing, and a constant focus on the overall effect the animation is meant to convey. David used this skill not just to carve out a living for himself, but to bring delight to people both young and old, and also to change many lives for the better. Born in the Sydney suburb of North Ryde on 4 July 1932, David knew he Abstract collage in the style of the had a knack for art from an early age. Where other kids could draw a passable ‘burning bush’ found in Exodus house or tree, David could truly see what he was drawing. The form, shadow, and 3:1-17. The flame is also in the perspective in things were obvious to him, and he enjoyed trying to bring these form of a dove, a symbol of the to life. For many, hand-eye coordination comes in the form of a ball, racquet, hammer or wrench, but for David it was always a pen or a brush. Holy Spirit. David Whittam c2015.

218 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia St. Ives Public School, 1941. David’s early years were spent moving David Whittam far right, back around a lot as his father moved from job to row, with dark hair. job during the Great Depression. He began his schooling at Belmont Public School, near David Whittam, Turramurra, Lake Macquarie. When the family moved February 1942, age 9. back to Turramurra in Sydney, he continued at St Ives Primary. It was here that the family attended Turramurra Methodist Church, and David was sent along to Sunday School, striking up a life-long friendship with Max Lalchere, the son of the school superintendent. Although his older brother had started at Naremburn Intermediate High School, David went straight to North Sydney High in 1944. He did fairly well, passing his Intermediate certificate in 19461 and his Leaving in 1948, with second-class passes in French and Modern History, and first-class passes in English and Music Theory2. According to the paper anyway. Not saying David isn’t musical, but it seems a little incongrous for a talented artist not to have done Art in his final year of schooling. The answer here may be purely typographical as the Daily Telegraph coded the results with numbers for each subject. Music Theory was 20, and Art was 22. Following school, David spent much of his time at Oberon with his father, who had just moved out there to relieve his asthma with fresh air. David helped out his dad, who was growing vegetables for the Ludowici family out near Jenolan Caves. He also began a correspondence Art course with the East Sydney Technical College3. With some further education underway, he was able to commence work at Press Features Service, starting as an artist. He moved back in with his aunt Sadie, and his mother was also there until she left to join David’s father to live in Oberon. Press Features proved to be a good training ground, and David’s talent and diligence was noticed quickly. He would often work back late to get work done, and had to limit this at times in order to keep up his studies. However, around this time he started to have nagging feelings of self-doubt, unsure whether he had the imagination or the talent to do the job as well as it should be done. Nowadays, we call this Imposter Syndrome - a feeling that one does not have the right to be entrusted with a particular job. This is a perfectly normal feeling, but for David it ran a lot deeper, and started to bring

periods of depression. If it was starting to consume Animator 219 David, it went un-noticed by his manager, Arthur, who saw potential and management skills, promoting him Max (L) and David (R) Whittam to Art Director when the current person left. with their mother Elsie, 1945 Still, the spectre of depression loomed large in David with the family dog on the David’s mind. Although he continued to function property at Oberon, c1955 satisfactorily at work and in other activities, he curtailed his social activities, becoming very quiet and unresponsive at home. He knew this was something more serious than simple anxiety, and he could not quite escape its grip on his subconscious. He had kept up his involvement in the church youth program, especially through the Methodist Order of Knights, or OKs, which was a boys’ youth group fashioned around elements of King Arthur’s legend. There were many organisational & leadership roles through the OKs, which helped build some self-confidence. For several years he lead the local group, the district organisation and was involved at the state level. There were church camps to be organised, Bible studies and a real sense of growth, learning and helping others, giving him a sense of purpose and direction. He had moved to West Ryde Church in around 1950 when he was eighteen, but kept contact with Turramurra and his good friend Max Lalchere. He also made another strong friendship with a lad named John Andrew, which was to prove pivotal in the coming years. In late 1956, David and John made the somewhat impulsive decision to travel overseas and discover the world. Max Lalchere joined in the plans soon after. David felt the cloud of depression lift virtually overnight. The laser sharp focus on a new adventure was enough to distract him from the depression, pushing it firmly into the background, but (as is the nature of the beast) not off the stage altogether. Such was Press Feature’s opinion of David that they even offered to pay his travel fares and keep the job open if he would commit to returning within twelve months. However, David declined, having planned to stay overseas much longer, and not willing to constrain opportunities by prior commitment. The impending journey presented another opportunity, which was to terminate a relationship

220 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia David Whittam, c1965 that did not seem to be going anywhere. David had dated several girls over the years, but was never really interested in taking them further than David at work in the Freia just pleasurable company. Two relationships petered out for this reason, Chocolate Factory Art with the girls exploring interests elsewhere. The third was heading down Department, Norway, 1958. a similar path, and rather than making a permanent commitment, David took the overseas trip as a natural ending point. It seems that this was David’s last foray into relationships of this nature, realising that he was simply not attracted to women in that way. Ultimately, this would result in a more monastic live, but excellent friendships and purposeful activities would prove to be a suitable foil for the loneliness. Waving goodbye to family & friends, the three young men boarded a ship for a six-week journey to England. Accompanying them was David’s aunt Sadie, who had originally offered to travel everywhere with them in return for housekeeping services. The boys quickly dismissed this offer, understandably feeling it very restrictive, but agreed that she could join them on the boat. After a couple of weeks in England, they headed over for a two-month tour of the continent, travelling by car and staying in youth hostels. With the fun dealt with, and funds depleted, they returned to England to find work. Landing a job as an assistant animator, David began to learn this demanding and painstaking artform. On weekends, the lads would pack up the car and tour England, taking in as much as they could while the chance lasted. They marked all their journeys on a map, which soon filled up with a network of lines stretching out from London all the way into Scotland. This continued well into 1958, but still being considered British citizens, their had been a rule that would see them called up for military service if they stayed for more than two years. Although the law had changed by this time, David and John had already decided to head across to Norway to avoid the draft. Max Lalchere had gone back to Australia at the end of 1957, so the two remaining young men sailed across to Belgium. Hitchiking northwards, eventually they made their way to Oslo and settled down to sharing a flat, with both finding jobs in the local Freia chocolate factory, David in the Art department and John in the workshop. After spending Christmas there, they would try their hands at skiing on the weekends, or do a little travel when the weather permitted. Unfortunately, John shared David’s tendency towards depression, and he sunk to extreme lows during this time. David often found himself skiing and travelling alone, and having to deal with John’s

variable moods in the meantime. Eventually, Animator 221 it became too much to bear and they parted ways, with John returning to England. Oil painting of Pothana at Oberon, home of David’s parents, In May 1959, David headed north to Lapland to witness the midnight sun, then 1970s southwards through Finland, Moscow and finally to London. Finding a short-term job Screen grab of Mr. Sheen with the Automobile Association, he bided commercial, 1962 his time waiting for a passage back to Australia. After a short trip around Ireland Source: National Film and Sound Archives, https:// with an old colleague from Press Features, Margy Crawford, he was on his way home www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/mr-sheen- by October. and-mrs-sparkle-advertisement David could feel the change within himself. Three years of adventure, taking opportunities by the horns, and learning a little of the size and diversity of the world all helped shape attitudes and build a little self-confidence. The ability to learn animation was also to prove very beneficial. David’s former manager at Eric Porter had recommended him to a friend that needed an art director at his business in St. Marys. This very generous offer included a car, but David declined, preferring a hands-on role rather than an administrative one. More offers followed. All three of Sydney’s animation units had heard of this young fellow who had worked in animation overseas, and wanted David on board. David took an offer from Eric Porter Studios, then best known for creating the Aeroplane Jelly commercials in the 1930s and 40s. Little did he realise it at the time, but one of David’s artistic creations was to become iconic in Australian advertising culture. Asked to create a character for a popular furniture cleaning spray, David drew a portly bespectacled man, who was to become the animated character for Mr. Sheen advertisements. Obviously it was just a routine day at the office and there was to be no special recognition for its creator, financially or otherwise, but it was a remarkably ‘sticky’ advertising device, which is still in use today4. Soon after starting at Eric Porter, David moved out of his aunt’s house because she had met and married Bill Luff on her overseas travels. There was

222 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Will, Max, Wilma and David no room for a single man in their home, so Whittam at Oberon, 1970s David rented a room at Naremburn. In that first year back home, David found a great Beatles cartoon cell deal of freedom, with few responsibilities apart from work and the occasional visit to Source: Axelrod, Mitch, Beatletoon Facebook page. Oberon. With a love of the theatre, he found https://www.facebook.com/beatletoons that he usually saw each new play within the first week of its opening. He would also spend time water skiing and playing squash when he could. He switched his church to Chatswood South Methodist, mainly because Max Lalchere was a member and he wanted to stick with familiar faces. After a short time, he was pressured to take over the running of the Youth Fellowship, which proved to be fairly intense, widening out eventually to looking after the district Ecumenical Youth activities and state Methodist Youth Fellowship as President. Suddenly, David’s free time evaporated, requiring late nights at work and carrying on to early morning hours to deal with youth work. During the busiest years he was spending about forty hours on youth work as well as forty hours at animation. He did find work to be quite a lot of fun, with each chore also a creative challenge, and animation was a particular spark of motivation. However, the need to promote one particular brand of petrol, wine or soap as being better than another became rather tiring. Having read John Galbraith’s Affluent Society, which criticised the pure money-making mindset at the expense of social and personal wellbeing, David’s more socialistic leanings caused him to resign in search of something more beneficial to society. Papua New Guinea, through Australian government departments, was calling for teachers and offering a six-month course to untrained applicants. David applied, and was in the slow process of references, assessments etc., when two fellows from Pilgrim Church approached him with a proposal, requiring an animator for a major film for the Bible Society. Rather than having to re-train for Papua New Guinea, here was an opportunity to use his existing skills for something truly worthwhile. After the Bible Society film was completed,

David took up a role with Artransa Animator 223 Park Film Studios at Frenchs Forest, in northern Sydney. Here, he was able Storyboard for a Beatles cartoon, able to work on another iconic piece 1965 of entertainment, the Beatles cartoon series. The series ran from 1965 to “The Hills are Shadows”, 1969, and David worked for two of oil on canvas, 1983/84 these years, creating the drawings for the show based on templates and Source: Live Auctioneers, https://www. story-boards provided by the team in liveauctioneers.com/item/29901260_david- England. whittam-xx-australian-royal-art-society-of-nsw During this time, David decided to seek a better result for his Leaving Certificate, as many job opportunities in education or social work seemed to call for better qualifications than he possessed. He would study most nights, taking Economics, Art, English and History as well as Maths 1 & 2. He saw good passes in most subjects, although Maths was a struggle, with a narrow fail in one. Despite this last setback, it was enough to give him entry to the newly opened Macquarie University in 1968. Unfortunately, David’s depression had begun to return around 1965, sufficiently so for him seek psychiatric help and be prescribed medication, but it withdrew with the excitement of studying and beginning University. However, during those early days at Macquarie, a close personal friend and doctor challenged David about his level of anxiety and encouraged him to get further help. A few events were about to transpire that would cause pressure to mount. Early in his degree, David received an invitation to re-join Pilgrim to organise the production of a series of educational films made for Australian classrooms using Australian content. With this extra commitment, poor study planning and a tendency to leave assignments to the last minute, he found himself slipping behind at University.

224 Perroomba: A History of the Whittam Family in Australia Monkey in the Bog comic strip, Growing depression also drained a lot of illustrated by David Whittam, energy and motivation. The vicious cycle had 1981 begun. Source: https://ausreprints.net/ Early in 1969 he moved into a flat in issue/17620/0#222158 Artarmon, which made for a pleasant change. But in Septemer that year, David’s David Whittam (L) with Graham mother died rather suddenly at Oberon. He Wade, the creator of the Monkey was devastated, having lost a steadying Doctor series, 2006 force in his life, but he tried desperately to push on. Source: http://www.christiancomicsinternational. org/series_jungdoc.html By Easter 1970, University work was way behind, and then Pilgrim sent him to New Guinea for six weeks to undertake some filmmaking. This was the final blow in an already lost cause, and he withdrew from the course. David managed to continue working with Pilgrim and a few smaller projects, but any sense of direction in his life was lost and he became like a loose sail flapping in the breeze. From 1972 through to 1975, the depression reached its deepest, and he would sometimes find solace in the silence of his father’s property at Oberon. In 1974, David joined his father on a trip to the UK, to journey back to Yorkshire and Scotland and help him research the family history. However, David’s constant depression, lack of interest and negativity nearly ruined the relationship with his father permanently. On his return, David rediscovered his paintbrushes, and started creating art again. This seemed to provide a form of therapy, slowly lifting his depression. Some additional travel with Pilgrim to Korea and Japan in 1976 provided another welcome distraction and the dark clouds began to dissipate. It seems obvious now, but David’s loss of direction and significant contribution to society during his time at University was a major contributing factor to his depression. He was sufficiently recovered by 1981 to begin a freelancing business, creating Whittam Graphics, which enabled him to pursue work that was more in line with his principles. This included some work with

Paul White and Graham Wade, who produced the Jungle Doctor Animator 225 series of Christian comics. These books featured a mischevious monkey who would often do the wrong thing, straying from the Promotional flyer for Whittam right path. This was always presented as a metaphor for sin, and Graphics, 1981 the wisdom of sticking to God’s teachings. David illustrated a couple of these books, including Monkey in the Bog in 1981. David Whittam at his home in West Pymble, April 2021 Social justice has always been a key feature of David’s life, from those early years when he sacrificed a promising career in favour of working with the Bible Society. He continued in this vein in the early 1980s when Chatswood South Church started to work with refugees, mainly from Central and South America. He would assist new arrivals with finding accommodation, learning English and finding employment. He moved into a rented house in Chatswood with three young male refugees, and for the next decade lived with other refugees, helping them find their feet in a new land. One of these was Yosuke Motai, a Japanese refugee around David’s age and they became close friends. Although he found significance and direction in his charitable and paid work, his sense of it had been dulled by the events of the early 1970s. The depression never fully lifted and has plagued him to varying degrees ever since. Even painting brings him only slight satisfaction, although it does bring pleasure and has provided a social outlet through the years. Towards the end of the century, David finally retired from work and moved out to Rooty Hill, on the plains west of Sydney near Penrith. In 2002, he found a retirement village in West Pymble with a small one-bedroom unit nestled amongst the trees. This was perfect for his needs, and he was able to use his long association with the Methodist, and later Uniting, Church to ensure his application was viewed favourably. David remains at West Pymble, but a mild stroke in 2018 slowed him down, and has affected his memory somewhat, particularly planned dates and putting names to faces. Despite this setback, he is still able to fend for himself and has been blessed with many strong friendships over the years, including some good neighbours.

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Robert Henry Douglas Meyer 231 Robert Henry 23 Douglas Meyer A fine golfer and sole heir to the Meyer farming dynasty

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