ALFRED AND JEANETTE BULMER

Robert Alfred (known as Alf) was born 13th

May 1896 to parents Malcolm and Ellen Bulmer at Numulgi. They moved to Boatharbour after a few years where Malcom worked clearing timber in the big scrub. Malcolm along with William Smith were the frst men to spread gravel in Molesworth Street, Lismore using a tip dray. The Smith Pavilion at the Lismore Showground was named after William Smith. Malcolm and Ellen Northan were married at Wingham before moving to Numulgi. The family moved in 1870 by a wagon pulled by two horses with a horse and dray following.

Their Family: Thomas, Alice (both died as infants) Malcolm, Ada, Emma, Caroline, Alice, Ellen, Arthur, Ruby, Robert Alfred, Hughie, Escott, Albert, Hopetown and Alexander.

In 1896 the family moved to Shannon Brook to start dairying. Malcolm had the frst milk run delivering around Casino. He also raised pigs and sold smoked bacon to the hotels and shops in Casino.

Alf worked on a cream coach from Hogarth Range to Leeville. The cream was picked up from the farms and delivered to the Leeville Railway Station to be transported to Norco in Lismore.

At the age of 19 years, Alf enlisted in the Army on 12th August 1915 where he saw service in Egypt and France. Christmas 1915 he was in Egypt. He was No 155 and joined 31st Battalion (Royal Queensland

Regiment) as a driver. The 31st Battalion arrived in Egypt in December 1915 and proceeded to France and the Western Front in Jun 1916 remaining there until March 1919. Their frst battle was at Fromelles in July 1916, a disastrous introduction to battle suffering 572 casualties. Other major battles in which the 31st Battalion participated in were Polygon Wood, Amiens and the Hindenburg Line. Alf was admitted to Northampton War Hospital in 1917 with trench feet and remained there for 3 months, returning to France in May. The War ended on 11th November 1918 and Alf returned to Australia on 7th April 1919. He disembarked at Brisbane and was unable to return home to Woodview due to fooding. When he was able to return, he found his mother seriously ill with the fu epidemic. She died a few days later.

On 7th April 1920, Alf married Jeanette Yates. Jeanette being the daughter of Joseph

People Product Partnerships

By Helen Trustum

now belonging to Allan and Helen Trustum). The water had to be carried up for use. After the trees were felled on the property the creek rapidly formed. Alf started off

Railway Station and loaded on to the train for Lismore. Alf remembered going down to the Siding and opening 11 gates to do so. There was no sale for bobby calves till about and Emily Yates of Codrington.

Their family: Ellen born 11th January 1921, Phyllis born 2nd February

Manifold in 1917 for soldiers from the First War. Mr Manifold gave three thousand acres of rich scrub land on the

1924 and Lorna born 3rd November 1927.

They began farming at Hogarth Range then Woodview before moving to Bentley 1925. Alf was allotted No 13 on the Runnymede Soldiers Settlement Scheme set up by James Chester eastern side of the Station, to be developed into 20 dairy farms. On his 144 acres, Alf had to clear the land and grass had to be planted. The only watering place at the time around the area was a well which was three farms down (the property in Bentley with two cows and one horse.

Apart from dairying they grew bananas. Alf and Jeanette built up a milking herd of 50 cows all milked

1930. Ralph Cosgrove would come around and buy calves and give 18 pence a hide.

To earn extra money, Alf obtained work with the PMG (Post Master General’s Department) digging holes for the