The Kidd Family A Family History
Chapter Two · Thomas & Mary Rebecca Robens

The White Way Shoe Specialist

Harold James Fuller Robens

1887–1976

Sixty-four years in one country town — a shop assistant who came over the mountains at twenty-five and ended up with two stores, five committees and a pair of boots for a fifteen-year-old Cecil Pepper.

Born
31 March 1887 · Dulwich Hill
Died
7 June 1976 · Parkes
Married
Alfrida “Freda” Elizabeth Nash (1891–1969)
Trade
Boot salesman, shoe retailer, assurance agent
Lived
89 years

Born at Dulwich Hill on 31 March 1887 and registered at Petersham under 6461 — the eighth child and fourth son of Thomas Robens and Mary Rebecca Jane Jeffries.1 He was the one who went inland, and he went early.

By July 1912, at twenty-five and unmarried, a Sydney paper reporting a Pitt Street wedding could describe the best man simply as “Mr. Harold Robens, of Parkes.”2 Two years later he married a Parkes woman; sixty-four years later he died in the same town. He was not a man who followed his wife to the country — he was there first, and married there.

This history has called him a stock and station agent. He was not. He was a shoe man, in his father’s trade — and the record of it is unusually complete.

The next generation

Children

  • Thomas Keith (1915–1993) — “Keith”; went to Sydney and married there
  • John Harold (1917–1984) — Royal Australian Navy; stayed at Parkes
  • Hazel Alfrida (1919–2014) — married a Meers and went to Grafton
1914

Freda, and Messrs Howard and Sons

On Wednesday 15 April 1914 he married at the Methodist Church, Parkes. The notice is worth its whole length, because three separate facts are buried in one sentence.3

He is “of Messrs R. S. Howard and Sons” — the firm whose boot department he was later running, so he was behind another man’s counter at twenty-seven. The bride is “Miss Freda Elizabeth, daughter of Mr and Mrs J. A. Nash” — she was Alfrida Elizabeth, and this is the only source that gives the name she was called.34 And they married in the Methodist church, which is the denomination he gave the army twenty-seven years later.5

On his 1941 attestation he put his wedding down as 14 April 1913. He was out by a year and a day.53

Forbes Advocate, 21 April 1914 — “Mr Harold Robens, of Messrs R. S. Ho[w]ard and Sons, was married to Miss Freda Elizabeth”
The Trade

Two Shops, Two Towns

By March 1927 he had left Howard’s and was employing men of his own. A Parkes news column that month reports Herbert Heaton coming home from the Western Stores at Narromine, on his way to Lithgow “to manage the branch boot store of Mr. Harold Robens, of Parkes” — Heaton having had “his early training under Mr. Robens, when the latter was in charge of Messrs Howard and Sons’ department here.”6

Thirteen years from another firm’s counter to two stores in two towns, a hundred and thirty miles apart, with a manager under him. He was thirty-nine.36

Forbes Advocate, 18 March 1927 — the branch store at Lithgow, and where he had learnt the trade

The White Way

The shop advertised under a name that has been misread ever since. In March 1932 the Western Champion carried: “Robens’. Harold Robens, ‘White Way’ Shoe Specialist, is specialising this week in ladies smart two tone house shoes in various colors at 8/11, 9/11 and 11/9.”7

The White Way was not his shop’s name — it was a place. A carnival notice of 1928 lists three shop windows in Clarinda Street for a display: “Broadway, Mr. Webb (Moneysavers); White Way, Messrs. Foots and Lancaster; Central Way, Messrs. Howard Sons.”8 Broadway, White Way and Central Way were named stretches of Clarinda Street — the term country towns used for a strip lit with white electric lamps, after New York’s Great White Way.

So he was the shoe specialist of the White Way, and the shop that later traded as the Whiteway Shoe Store took its name from where it stood. Which puts it in Clarinda Street — exactly where the police put him in January 1931.789

Western Champion, 17 March 1932 — advertising ladies’ shoes at 8/11 in the third year of the Depression
1931

A Forged Cheque, and Six Months

On 31 January 1931 a fair, curly-headed young man came into the shop, bought a pair of shoes at £1/9/6, tendered a cheque for £1/18/- and said he would call for the change on Monday. He did not come back. The cheque was returned from the bank marked “Unlike signature.”910

Harold did not write the loss off. A warrant was issued, the *Police Gazette* circulated a description — “very rarely wears a hat, but has a new bluish-grey felt hat with ‘Webbo’ on sweat band” — and three weeks later the man was in the dock at Parkes.9

Sergeant Ferris had caught him with a pen. Asked in the police office to write out the name of the farmer whose cheques he had forged, he spelt it with two m’s — exactly as the forgeries did. Percy William Fleming gave evidence that there was only one *m* in his name.10

Jack Edwards pleaded guilty. He was already serving six months at Muswellbrook for illegally using a motor cycle; Parkes gave him six months more.10

Western Champion, 19 February 1931 — “his shoe store”, sworn in open court
The Public Man

Five Committees in Nine Years

He was not a quiet shopkeeper. In February 1924 he was elected to the Parkes District Hospital committee, fifth on a poll of nineteen with 122 votes — a result carried not only by the local paper but by the *Sydney Morning Herald*’s country column, under a lead item about a farmer savaged by a boar at Kyogle.1112

In May 1924 he was made secretary of the Empire Day picnic committee, which among other business voted to divert part of the children’s sports money to buy toys for the smaller children who could not take part in the racing.13 In November 1927 his congregation sent him to the Methodist Western Synod at Orange — he went for the Wednesday session only, the minister having travelled down on the Tuesday, because there was a shop to keep.14

In July 1928 he took on the whole secretaryship of the Business People’s Carnival at six days’ notice.8 And in September 1928 he founded the Waratah Cricket Club and made himself president, honorary secretary, delegate to the association and selector — all four at once. He was still turning out for the side two years later.1516

A Pair of Boots for Cecil Pepper

In April 1932 the paper reported that Cecil Pepper, in scoring 125 not out against Broken Hill, had won “the pair of boots presented by Mr. Harold Robens, of the Whiteway Shoe Store, for compiling a century in an inter-district match.”17

Pepper was fifteen years old. He went on to New South Wales, to the Australian Services side after the war, to twenty years as one of the great figures of the Lancashire League, and to first-class umpiring in England. The boots came first.

Western Champion, 4 April 1932 — a shoe man’s prize for a boy’s hundred
1928

His Father, Named at Parkes

Thomas Robens died at Baulkham Hills on Thursday 15 November 1928 and was buried the next day at Rookwood. The Parkes paper printed an obituary — not because Thomas was known there, but because Harold was.18

It is the only document in this whole history that locates all twelve children at one moment: Archie at North Ryde, William at Bathurst, Aubrey in Western Australia, Harold at Parkes, Norman in Queensland; Mesdames Cook at Wentworthville, Grieve at Merrylands and Gage at Ashfield; and the Misses Alice and Stella at Baulkham Hills, Rhoda at Surry Hills and Ida in Sydney.18

It also names him plainly: “Mr. Harold Robens, of Parkes, being the fourth son.” And it closes with a line the family would have read twice — “Sympathy with Mr. Harold Robens in his bereavement is extended by his large circle of friends in Parkes.”18

Western Champion, 19 November 1928 — twelve children, placed by town
1941

Over Age, and Ruptured

He was fifty-four when he presented himself at Parkes for a medical examination on 9 July 1941. The examining officer struck out “Fit for Class I”, struck out “Temporarily unfit for Class I”, left “Fit for Class II” standing — and wrote the reasons straight across the form: “Over age” and “Double Inguinal Hernia.”5

They took him anyway. He attested at Paddington five weeks later, witnessed by James Cobley, J.P. — the same Jim Cobley the cricket column had named as one of the best bowlers in the district eleven years before.516

Parkes, 9 July 1941 — the reasons written across the form, and Class II left standing

1,538 Days

He served four years and two months in supply and transport and never left Australia. First detached for duty to Parkes itself, then to Dubbo, then down to the Base Supply Depot at Marrickville and 96 Australian Supply Depot Platoon.19

The hernia he enlisted with was repaired while he served. He carried it from July 1941 to November 1943, went into 113 Australian General Hospital at Concord at fifty-six, and spent nearly three months there and at “Bonnie Brae” convalescent home before marching back to his depot. While he was at the convalescent depot that December the dental clinic fitted him with full upper and lower dentures and stamped his card “Fit.”19

His discharge medical lists arthralgia, mild conjunctivitis of the left eye, a congenital deformity of the coccyx and herniotomy scars. Degree of disability: nil. Decorations: nil.20

October 1945 — his age scored him more than his war did

The demobilization form makes the arithmetic plain. Fifty months of service at two points each came to 100. Age at enlistment, fifty-four, doubled, came to 108. Four years and two months in uniform earned him fewer points than simply having been fifty-four when he started.20

The Children

Three, and Where They Went

Three children, all born at Parkes between 1915 and 1919. All three married and all three left, in three directions — and their father held one house in one street while they went.21

Thomas Keith

1915 – 1993

Known as Keith; the eldest son

Born
26 April 1915 · Parkes
Married
Jean Naylor, at Hurstville, 1938
Served
Citizen Military Forces, N351598, enlisted Forbes
Buried
Woronora Memorial Park, Sutherland

He went by Keith, and he went to Sydney young. His engagement notice of September 1937 has him “of Gladesville” at twenty-two — so he had already left Parkes before he married, not because of it.22

Her name is carried here as Jean Naylor, on the marriage index of 1938 — which also indexes him as “Thomas Keith Robins”. The engagement notice of the year before calls her Jean Taylor. It is the same woman beyond doubt, but the two sources cannot both be right, and her certificate has not been obtained.2223

He died at Cronulla in 1993, and lies at Woronora with Jean, who had gone ten years before him.23

John Harold

1917 – 1984

The only sailor in this history

Born
6 February 1917 · Parkes
Served
Royal Australian Navy, 26188
Married
Lorna Mary Willis (1922–1988)
Buried
Parkes General Cemetery

A motor mechanic living at home in 1943, and the one who stayed. Every other serving man in these twelve families was army — Aubrey, Norman Sidney, Leslie Cocks, Thomas Peter Cox, his own father, his own brother. John Harold went to sea.24

He brought Lorna into his father’s house after they married, and the rolls catch them there together at 35 Victoria Street. By his father’s last years the couple had moved two streets away to 14 Elizabeth Street.21 He died at Orange in 1984 and was buried at Parkes; Lorna followed in 1988.24

Hazel Alfrida

c. 1919 – 2014

Went four hundred miles north

Married
Darval Rendle “Darby” Meers, Parkes, 1947
Lived
109 Alice Street, Grafton
Died
29 June 2014, aged 94

A shop assistant at her parents’ address in 1943, she married in 1947 and went to the Clarence. Her husband was a salesman — the same line of work as her father.2125

She outlived both her brothers by thirty years and died at Grafton at ninety-four. Her indexed death record names her children Bruce, Tony and Melaine “Dougherty” — an error: she died at *Dougherty Villa*, an aged-care home, and the indexer attached the house to the forenames. The 1977 Grafton roll proves Melaine a Meers.25

She is Hazel Alfrida on her marriage registration and on that roll, matching her mother. Only the 1943 roll and her father’s army file read “Alfreda”.25

Last Years

35 Victoria Street, Alone

Alfrida died on 1 September 1969, having been born, married, widowed and buried inside the one shire.4 The last electoral roll that holds him is the loneliest document in this branch: Harold James Fuller Robens, 35 Victoria St, Parkes 2870 — and the occupation column left blank.21

Retired at last, after some sixty years of selling things; a widower keeping alone the house he had held since the 1930s, with his son and daughter-in-law round the corner in Elizabeth Street.

He died at Parkes on 7 June 1976, aged eighty-nine, and was buried in Parkes General Cemetery.26 He had come to the town as a shop assistant of twenty-five in 1912. He stayed sixty-four years — longer than any of the twelve stayed anywhere.226

The Record

Sources & References

  1. 1

    Birth

    NSW BDM registration index — Harold J F Robens, 1887, Petersham, reg. no. 6461; father Thomas Robens, mother Rebecca J Robens. A memorial summary refines the place to Dulwich Hill and gives the date as 31 March 1887; the two agree, Dulwich Hill lying in the Petersham registration district.

  2. 2

    “Of Parkes” by July 1912

    Sun (Sydney), Friday 26 July 1912, p. 5 — the Eade–Harris wedding at the Congregational Church, Pitt Street, on Wednesday 24 July: “Mr. Harold Robens, of Parkes, was best man”, with Mr Stanley Buchanan as groomsman. Arthur C. E. Eade of Cobar married Olive Erminie Harris of Wollongong; among twenty-six guests at the A.B.C. Rooms were the Mayor of Wollongong and the Solicitor-General, Mr D. R. Hall. A second, fuller report of the same wedding is held, undated but of the same week. He was twenty-five and unmarried.

  3. 3

    Marriage, 15 April 1914

    Forbes Advocate, Tuesday 21 April 1914, p. 1, “Parkes Pars (From the Local Papers)” — “A very pretty wedding took place at the Methodist Church on Wednesday afternoon, when Mr Harold Robens, of Messrs R. S. Ho[w]ard and Sons, was married to Miss Freda Elizabeth, daughter of Mr and Mrs J. A. Nash, of Parkes.” The Wednesday before was 15 April 1914. Registered 8824/1914, Parkes, as Harold J F Robens and Alfrida E Nash.

  4. 4

    Alfrida Elizabeth Nash, and her people

    Born 14 April 1891, Parkes Shire, reg. no. 28078; father James Alfred Nash, mother Elizabeth. Died 1 September 1969, Parkes Shire; buried Parkes General Cemetery. Her mother’s death notice — Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 5 January 1933, p. 8 — gives Elizabeth Nash dying at Parkes on 1 January 1933 aged 67, wife of James Alfred Nash and mother of nine: Helen (Mrs Claude Fletcher), Alfreda (Mrs Harold Robens), Ethel (Mrs David Read, Gulgong), Linda (Mrs David Guthrie, Rockdale), Vera, Mollie, Bert, John (deceased) and Norman. Her name appears as Alfrida on every registration and roll, Freda in her wedding notice, and Alfreda in her mother’s death notice and her husband’s army file. Note that a separate and unrelated Catholic Nash family of Coradgery, near Parkes, appears in the same 1914 column as her wedding.

  5. 5

    Attestation and medical examination, 1941

    NAA: B884, N278820 — medical examination at Parkes, 9 July 1941: “Fit for Class I” struck out, “Temporarily unfit for Class I” struck out, “Fit for Class II” left standing, with “Over age” and “Double Inguinal Hernia” written across the form. Mobilization attestation at Paddington (Recruiting Depot E.C.), 12 August 1941, witnessed by James Cobley, J.P.; age 54; occupation assurance agent, with the service form annotated “(A.756 Boot salesman)”; religion Methodist; certificate for entry to secondary school and nothing beyond; never convicted by a civil court; date of marriage given by him as 14 April 1913; next of kin Alfreda Elizabeth Robens, 35 Victoria Street, Parkes.

  6. 6

    The Lithgow branch store, 1927

    Forbes Advocate, Friday 18 March 1927, p. 3, “Parkes: News of the Week (Pickings from Friday’s Parkes Post)” — Herbert Heaton, four years manager of the boot department at the Western Stores, Narromine, going to Lithgow “to manage the branch boot store of Mr. Harold Robens, of Parkes”; Heaton “had his early training under Mr. Robens, when the latter was in charge of Messrs Howard and Sons’ department here”.

  7. 7

    The Whiteway Shoe Store

    Western Champion (Parkes), Thursday 17 March 1932, p. 13 — “Robens’. Harold Robens, ‘White Way’ Shoe Specialist, is specialising this week in ladies smart two tone house shoes in various colors at 8/11, 9/11 and 11/9. Also very smart black and white shoes, low or high heels, at 14/11, 17/9 and 19/6.”

  8. 8

    Business People’s Carnival, 1928

    Western Champion (Parkes), Thursday 26 July 1928, p. 1 — “Mr. Harold Robens was appointed as sole secretary for the Carnival”, six days before it was held on 1 August; and the three shop windows chosen in Clarinda Street for the last week’s display: “Broadway, Mr. Webb (Moneysavers); White Way, Messrs. Foots and Lancaster; Central Way, Messrs. Howard Sons.” The same page records Mr Esmond Howard listing donations from Messrs R. S. Howard and Sons.

  9. 9

    Police Gazette, 1931

    New South Wales Police Gazette, 11 February 1931, p. 136 — warrant issued by the Parkes Bench for Jack Edwards, charged with forging a cheque for £1 18s. purporting to be drawn by P. W. Flemming on the Government Savings Bank, Parkes Branch, and uttering the same at Parkes on 31 January; offender 29, 5 ft 4 or 5, fair curly hair brushed back, “very rarely wears a hat, but has a new bluish-grey felt hat with ‘Webbo’ on sweat band”, a native of England. Complainant, Harold James Fuller Robens, Clarinda-street, Parkes. A following notice covers E. S. Almond, wanted for obtaining £5 10s. 6d. from Alfred Thomas Tweedie, also of Clarinda Street, the same day.

  10. 10

    The conviction, 1931

    Western Champion (Parkes), Thursday 19 February 1931, p. 7, “Uttering. Valueless Cheques. Six Months for Edwards” — “Harold James Robens said that defendant came to his shoe store on January 31 and bought a pair of shoes priced at £1/9/6. He tendered a cheque for £1/18/- and said that he would call for the change on the following Monday. The cheque was returned from the Bank, marked ‘Unlike signature.’” Sergeant Ferris obtained a handwriting sample of the name “P. W. Fleming”; Percy William Fleming, farmer of Back Trundle Road, gave evidence that there was only one “m” in his name. The second victim, Mr Webb, had taken a cheque for £10/14/- and given a suit. Edwards pleaded guilty, was already serving six months at Muswellbrook for illegally using a motor cycle, and had a prior conviction for embezzlement at Parkes with £30 restitution unpaid.

  11. 11

    Parkes District Hospital ballot, 1924

    Western Champion (Parkes), Thursday 21 February 1924, p. 16, “The Hospital Ballot” — the adjourned annual meeting of the Tuesday, Mr T. P. Hourigan in the chair; Harold Robens elected fifth on the poll with 122 votes, behind G. F. Vernon (132), Arthur Davis (130), W. A. McGee (128) and P. T. Hourigan (125). Thirteen elected of nineteen standing.

  12. 12

    The same ballot in the Herald

    Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 21 February 1924, p. 10 — the country column, under a lead item on a farmer savaged by a boar at Kyogle, carrying the Parkes result without the vote counts and setting Walter Smart for W. G. Smart and W. P. Perkins for W. T. Perkins.

  13. 13

    Empire Day picnic, 1924

    Western Champion (Parkes), Thursday 1 May 1924, p. 13 — a meeting at the Council Chambers arranging the picnic for 21 May, a public holiday proclaimed and the showground secured; prize essays at 10/6, 7/6 and 3/-, on “British Ideals” for children 12 to 16 and “The visit of the British Squadron to Australia” for children 11 and under; car owners to carry the workers; part of the children’s sports money diverted to buy toys for the smaller children who could not race; “Mr. Harold Robens was appointed as secretary.”

  14. 14

    Methodist Western Synod, 1927

    Forbes Advocate, Tuesday 1 November 1927, p. 3 — “Rev. W. B. Roden, Methodist minister, Parkes, will attend the Western Synod to be held at Orange commencing on Tuesday next. Messrs Harold Robens and Jack Watson, lay representatives, will follow on for the Wednesday session.”

  15. 15

    Waratah Cricket Club founded, 1928

    Western Champion (Parkes), Thursday 20 September 1928, p. 5, “The Waratahs: New Club Formed, for Arnolds Cup Competition” — the inaugural meeting at the rooms of Reeves and Green; “President: Mr. Harold Robens”; “Hon Secretary: Mr. H. Robens”; delegates to the association “Messrs. H. Robens and L. McLean”; selection committee “J. Dean, T. Rodda and H. Robens”, empowered to buy the club’s material; membership fixed at 12/6. His sons were then thirteen, eleven and nine, so all four offices are the same man.

  16. 16

    Still playing in 1930

    Western Champion (Parkes), Thursday 11 September 1930, p. 11, “Cricket Chatter” by “Cover Point” — “Nothing is known yet of Waratah; but with the team at their disposal last year … they should again be a hot side. Jim Cobley, I hear, intends to play regularly this year and Jim is still one of the best bowlers in the district. With Rev. Bunn, who is a nice bat, Harold Robens, Pat Kinsella and some of last year’s members, they should be O.K.” The same column notes a new club joining the Wednesday competition, which Waratah had dominated the season before.

  17. 17

    Cecil Pepper’s boots, 1932

    Western Champion (Parkes), Monday 4 April 1932, p. 6, “News in Brief” — “Cecil Pepper, in securing 125 runs, not out against Broken Hill on Wednesday, won the pair of boots presented by Mr. Harold Robens, of the Whiteway Shoe Store, for compiling a century in an inter-district match.” Pepper was born at Forbes on 15 September 1916 and was fifteen. The same column reports an excursion train leaving Parkes on 24 March for the Harbour Bridge celebrations.

  18. 18

    Thomas Robens’s obituary, 1928

    Western Champion (Parkes), Monday 19 November 1928, p. 8 — the death at Baulkham Hills on “Thursday last”, 15 November 1928, aged 80; a traveller for leather grindery, later in business on his own account at Newtown, and at the end turning his gardening to account; survived by a widow, five sons and seven daughters, “Mr. Harold Robens, of Parkes, being the fourth son”; the twelve located by town; funeral on the Friday to the Methodist portion of Rookwood, the service by the Rev. Mr Putland.

  19. 19

    Service, 1941–1945

    NAA: B884, N278820 — service and casualty forms. Marched in to General Details Depot, Sydney, 12 August 1941; to 5 Supply Personnel Company and detached for duty to Parkes, 14 August; detached to Dubbo ex Parkes, 7 October 1941; to the Base Supply Depot, Marrickville, 25 January 1942; to 96 Australian Supply Depot Platoon, 20 May 1943; admitted 113 Australian General Hospital, Concord, 6 November 1943 with bilateral inguinal hernia; “Bonnie Brae” Convalescent Home 30 November; 103 Australian Convalescent Depot 28 December; rejoined unit 23 January 1944; granted proficiency pay; to HQ 1 Australian Supply Reserve Depot, 21 September 1944; to 3 Australian Air Maintenance Company, A.S.C., October 1945. Dental card, 103 Convalescent Depot, 29 December 1943 — full upper and full lower dentures, marked “Fit”.

  20. 20

    Discharge and demobilization, 1945

    NAA: B884, N278820 — proceedings for discharge: home address 35 Victoria Street, Parkes; age 58 years 6 months; 5 ft 10½ in, medium complexion, brown hair, brown eyes; disabilities arthralgia, mild conjunctivitis of the left eye, congenital deformity of the coccyx and herniotomy scars, degree of disability nil; continuous full-time war service in the C.M.F. from 12 August 1941 to 26 October 1945; total effective period 1,538 days, of which 1,292 were active service in Australia and none overseas; decorations nil; certificate of discharge 248445. Determination of demobilization priority, 4 October 1945: length of service 50 months × 2 = 100; age at enlistment 54 × 2 = 108; dependency status 50; total 258. A note of 11 October 1945 records “NO WILL (A.131) AVAILABLE”.

  21. 21

    The Parkes electoral rolls

    Commonwealth Electoral Rolls, Subdivision of Parkes. 1943 (pp. 64–65, entries 3876–3880): Alfrida Elizabeth, Harold James Fuller (agent), Hazel Alfreda (shop assistant) and John Harold (motor mechanic) at 35 Victoria Street, with his brother Norman Sidney at “Malvern”, Victoria Street, a mill hand. An undated later page (pp. 66–67, entries 3915–3919) replaces Hazel with Lorna Mary; an undated page of the Dubbo era (pp. 74–75, entries 4372–4373) leaves only Harold and Alfrida; and a page after 1969 (entries 5240–5242) has Harold alone at 35 Victoria St, Parkes 2870, the occupation column blank, with John Harold and Lorna Mary at 14 Elizabeth Street.

  22. 22

    Keith’s engagement, 1937

    Forbes Advocate, Tuesday 7 September 1937, p. 7, “Parkes Pars: Show-week Personalities” — “The engagement has been announced of Miss Jean Taylor, of Hurstville, to Mr. Keith Robens, of Gladesville, Sydney. Mr. Robens is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Robens, of Victoria Street, Parkes.”

  23. 23

    Thomas Keith Robens

    Born 26 April 1915, Parkes Shire; married 1938 at Hurstville, reg. no. 2289, the index giving the bride as Jean Naylor and the groom as “Thomas Keith Robins”; Army, Citizen Military Forces, service no. N351598, enlisted Forbes, next of kin Jean Robens; died 8 January 1993 at Cronulla; buried Woronora Memorial Park with Jean, who died 6 November 1983. Her surname is taken from the registration index in preference to the 1937 engagement notice, which reads Taylor; the marriage certificate has not been obtained and the point is not proved.

  24. 24

    John Harold Robens

    Born 6 February 1917, Parkes Shire; Royal Australian Navy, service no. 26188, enlisted Sydney, next of kin Lorna; married Lorna Mary Willis, born 1 January 1922, died 20 November 1988, buried Parkes General Cemetery; died 8 March 1984 at Orange; buried Parkes General Cemetery.

  25. 25

    Hazel Alfrida Meers, née Robens

    Married Darval Rendle Meers, 1947, Parkes, reg. no. 8707. Commonwealth Electoral Roll, Subdivision of Grafton, p. 23, made up to 16 September 1977, entries 5222–5224 — Darval Rendle Meers, salesman, and Hazel Alfrida Meers, home duties, at 109 Alice Street, Grafton 2460, with Melaine Elizabeth Meers, typist, at flat 1 of the same address. She died on 29 June 2014 aged 94 at Dougherty Villa, Grafton, and was buried on 3 July; her husband is given in the notice as “Darby”. The indexed record names her children Bruce, Tony and Melaine “Dougherty”, which is an artefact of the residence name.

  26. 26

    Death, 1976

    Died 7 June 1976, Parkes Shire, aged 89; buried Parkes General Cemetery. NAA: B884, N278820 closes with a Notification of Death giving 7/6/76, the printed “Period of Service 1914/18” struck out and “1939/45” left standing.