Dadswell Family History

Generation 9
Olive Myrtle Dadswell (1898-1951)

On this page:
Ancestors of Olive Myrtle Dadswell
Olive Myrtle's story
Key family dates
Photographs
Further information

Ancestors of Olive Myrtle Dadswell

Robert Doudeswell 1560 > Robert Doudeswell 1606 > Edward Dodswell 1659 > Alexander Dodswell 1686 > Thomas Dadswell 1732 > James Dadswell 1786 > Thomas William Dadswell 1828 > Charles Thomas Dadswell 1863 > Olive Myrtle Dadswell 1898

Olive Myrtle's story

Olive Myrtle Dadswell, the second daughter of Charles Thomas and Susan (Broadwood) Dadswell, was born at Horsham on 9 April 1898.

She attended Horsham State School 198 and later was one of the original pupils when Horsham High School opened. She passed her Merit Certificate at a high standard.

After leaving school, she joined the Education Department, teaching firstly at Haven and then at McKenzie Creek School. Instead of transferring away from the district, she resigned from the Education Department and took up a position with Massey Harris Farm Machinery in Horsham, where she remained until her marriage to Alex Heslop, a World War One returned soldier, at Horsham on 25 June 1925.

Prior to her marriage, Myrtle was a Sunday School teacher at the Green Park Presbyterian Church in Horsham, was one of the foundation members of the Senior Girls Mission Band which later became the Presbyterian Girls Fellowship, and was a member of the Presbyterian Womens Missionary Union.

The couple settled at Golton Vale, near Dadswells Bridge, where Myrtle helped her husband with the clearing of the land. They farmed there until 1949.

Alex had family who lost their savings and Myrtle helped raise their children as well as her own until they got re-established.

In the early days on the Golton Vale farm, water was carted from a well sunk some distance from the house. During droughts, it was for household use as well as for the garden.

Later, when a dam was excavated closer to the house, water was carried in four gallon ex-kerosene tins to water the garden.

Myrtle also helped on the wood bench and to load wood onto trucks for delivery to homes in Horsham. In fine weather, wood was taken to her parents' home at 33 Stawell Road, Horsham, and stock piled for delivery during winter.

She was also the wool classer in the shearing shed and coped with classing and providing meals for the shearers, as well as raising a family. She also entered into the life of the local community in practically every organisation.

Alex started the school bus service from the Dadswells Bridge area to Horsham in 1946 and operated this until 1951. Myrtle took her mother (Susan) into their home at Golton Vale in 1944 and cared for her until Susan entered hospital prior to her death in November 1950. She also looked after Alex's father while he lived at Dadswells Bridge.

In December 1949, the family moved to Horsham, purchasing a house at 45 Stawell Road, only a few doors from Myrtle's old home. The couple had three children, all born while they lived at Golton Vale.

Myrtle did not survive very long to enjoy her retirement in Horsham. She passed away on 9 March 1951, shortly before her 53rd birthday, and was buried in Horsham Cemetery.

Alex later remarried and upon his death on 9 November 1974 was buried in the same grave as Myrtle.

Key family dates

Photographs

Click on any picture to see a larger size photograph.

Further information

Information on generation 9 brothers/sisters of Olive Myrtle Dadswell

Information on Charles Thomas Dadswell (generation 8, father of Olive Myrtle)