Sepia Saturday 182: 22nd June 2013 - Shovel and Pick

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Photo of William Joseph Hinde (far right) by L & D Keen Commercial Photographers c1948

If you like to match the theme of our Sepia Saturday prompts, how about: bowler hats, milk churns (or dairies), men (or women) posing on horseback, Australia, farms, or any combination of these.
Marily (Little Nell), Sepia Saturday Blog


Well I know we won't be getting any milk out of the above healthy specimen, but I do believe that I have struck the jackpot with a man in a bowler hat.  And I can vouch for this being Australian and probably a bit to do with farms.  In particular - a prison farm.

This is a picture of my husband's Uncle Bill (great-uncle really) - that is to say, William Joseph Hinde.  

Uncle Bill was born 28 November 1903 at Gilston, Queensland.

He was the younger brother of my husband's grandmother, Dorothy or Dolly.  One of 7 brothers and 2 sisters.  

Uncle Bill doted on my husband when he was little.  

Unfortunately he died too soon aged 61 on 16 July 1965 in the Warden's Quarters at Her Majesty's Prison at Wacol.  My husband was one of the pall bearers along with Uncle Vincent and Uncle Lawrence at his funeral.

I'm  not sure when this photo was taken.  I am guessing c1948 at the Royal Brisbane show.  There are a few articles which mention a champion bull owned by the Comptroller General of Prisons called Lyndley George.  Lyndley George was bred by Mr James Sparkes of Dalby according to an article in the Queensland Times 10 October 1946 about the Nerang Shire Show.  Uncle Bill was described as the manager of the stud in the article.  

 I'm not sure who the other men are in the photo - maybe Mr Sparkes and Mr JF Whitney, the Comptroller-General of Prisons.

 Uncle Bill had a horse too which was "borrowed" during an escape from the prison.
The Courier Mail Tuesday 2 March 1948 from Trove


Numinbah prison farm was built in 1940 by prison labour.  It housed 26 prisoners.  According to an article in the Courier Mail 28 February 1948 the routine for the prisoners was as follows:

 6:20 Get up
6:30 Breakfast
7:30 Jobs around the farm until they break for lunch at midday.
5pm Tea 
9pm Last muster.

 In 1948 the journalist observed that prisoners "walls are covered with photos of General Montgomery side by side with Lana Turner or a  calendar with a small child saying her prayers."



 Hmm - Lana Turner or General Montgomery???  Which one would you choose?
I'm thinking a bit of music would have been played too..

 Please see other Sepia Saturday contributions here.

Comments

GeniAus said…
No prison greens in those days.
June 22, 2013 at 7:55 PM
Wendy said…
The story of the prison escape is rather amusing. The prisoners didn't have much time left, so the failed escape just made it longer.

Handsome bull -- his hair looks so soft giving him a cuddly appearance, but I've never met a cuddly bull.
June 22, 2013 at 9:12 PM
Sharon said…
We recently did the tour of the Beechworth gaol, which operated from 1856 - 2004. It was very interesting but hard to believe it operated until 2004.

The stories that Uncle Bill would have been able to tell. Such a shame, he died young.
June 22, 2013 at 9:29 PM
Hazel said…
I can understand Lana Turner on the wall, but wonder why General Montgomery. Your Uncle Bill's horse being 'borrowed' during a prison escape sounds quite an adventure.

Hazel
June 22, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Little Nell said…
That's a great story; those prisoners weren't very bright were they?
June 22, 2013 at 10:31 PM
Unknown said…
Lyndley George? What a wonderful name for a bull -- dignified, indeed! Was Lyndley George somebody historically important?
June 22, 2013 at 11:01 PM
Jackie McGuinness said…
It's great you have all this history about the photo! I know nothing about the one I posted today.
June 22, 2013 at 11:38 PM
anyjazz said…
Loved this bit of history! Good post!
June 23, 2013 at 1:13 AM
Alex Daw said…
Yes I'm not sure what they were allowed to wear. The article from 1948 by Adrian Deamer says that they "are dressed in blue jeans and army hats. The guard, distinguished only by the khaki he was wearing worked with the mean clearing the timber, carrying no weapon of any sort."
June 23, 2013 at 7:22 AM
Alex Daw said…
Dear Wendy - That's exactly what I thought...couldn't they have just hung out a bit longer??? And yes I agree Lyndley George is very handsome.
June 23, 2013 at 7:23 AM
Alex Daw said…
Now Sharon is that the gaol that they called Whitinbah after the Comptroller-General (Whitney)? It had 22 milking Jerseys apparently which earned it money in cream chques and young calves went for 5 pounds a head.
June 23, 2013 at 7:26 AM
Alex Daw said…
Hazel my next task is to find a picture of my husband on Uncle Bill's horse - apparently it exists somewhere...now where? And was it the same horse???

I too wondered why General Montgomery but apparently he was very popular with Australian folk. According to an article in the Courier Mail 15 July 1947 no less than 25,000 waited in the dark for his arrival at Eagle Farm at 5:30 in the morning. It was the biggest crowd since Kingsford Smith arrived in 1928. He was mobbed with women begging "Just let me touch you". Patients were standing outside hospitals to wave to him. Mothers with babies were waiting on Milton Road as he drove by on his way up to the Governor's House. His father was Bishop of Tasmania in his early years which is maybe part of the reason we claimed him as our own.
June 23, 2013 at 7:42 AM
Alex Daw said…
Little Nell - In my limited experience I find that young men at the age of 20 don't really think much beyond the next hour or so. As in "What's for dinner?" "Where are my socks?" and "Ooh there's a horse and I think I'll go...."
June 23, 2013 at 7:44 AM
Alex Daw said…
Hi Deb - It is a grand name isn't it. Lyndley is the name of the property that Mr Sparkes owned out of Dalby. I know that much. I should do a bit more research on that. Mrs Sparkes went on to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly or MLA.
June 23, 2013 at 7:46 AM
Alex Daw said…
Dear Jackie/Jake - I didn't really know much about this photo at all - apart from it being Uncle Bill and that he was a prison warder. I really had to hunt and hunt and hunt to get the rest. But the hunt was quite exciting ;)
June 23, 2013 at 7:46 AM
Alex Daw said…
Glad to be of service anyjazz. It was fun to do.
June 23, 2013 at 7:49 AM
Nigel Aspdin (Derby, UK) said…
Your photo reminds me of a fact that I failed to be able to write into my post this week, that the only time I ever see a bowler being worn these days is by stewards/judges at agricultural shows, or army officers at formal ceremonies but when uniform is not appropriate.
June 23, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Alex Daw said…
Nigel - they always look faintly ridiculous to me....no doubt being brought up on Monty Python didn't help.
June 23, 2013 at 10:27 AM
Brett Payne said…
Lana Turner for me too, please.
June 23, 2013 at 10:31 AM
Alex Daw said…
Well I could say something about the Full Monty but I'll refrain. Oops I think I said it.
June 23, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Brett Payne said…
A bit dangerous to mention The Full Monty in prison, methinks.
June 23, 2013 at 10:37 AM
Bob Scotney said…
Intriguing that Monty was so popular. Lyndley George was a beautiful beast.
June 24, 2013 at 12:15 AM
Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said…
What a great post! I enjoyed it all, and that picture of Lana Turner is very pretty.

Kathy M.
June 24, 2013 at 12:29 AM
Alex Daw said…
Yes Bob - I need to speak to someone from the era to confirm just what it was that appealed so much to the Ozzie psyche.
June 24, 2013 at 5:54 AM
Alex Daw said…
Thanks Kathy - I'm glad you enjoyed it. There were so many pictures of Lana - it was difficult to choose.
June 24, 2013 at 5:55 AM
Postcardy said…
The bull looks very self-satisfied.
June 24, 2013 at 6:16 AM
Joan said…
Alex, Enjoyed the history that went along with the posts -- and and escape on a borrowed horse cracked me up. You are right, many times young men of a certain age and disposition do not appear to think past that very minute.
June 24, 2013 at 6:41 AM
Alex Daw said…
Now I'm going to laugh every time I look at that photo postcardy!
June 24, 2013 at 6:54 AM
Alex Daw said…
Dear Joan - I'm so pleased you like the history. I, of course, found it fascinating but you're never sure if you're boring the pants off everyone else.
June 24, 2013 at 6:55 AM
Jackie van Bergen said…
A good story and I'm so glad I was late reading this week - I got all the extra bits in the comments here - it so added to the story! What a great name for the bull too.
June 24, 2013 at 9:58 PM
Bruno Laliberté said…
You've certainly hit the jackpot with this one.
Interesting tale, even the "borrowed" horse...
:D~
HUGZ

PS: My vote goes for Lana!!
:)~
June 27, 2013 at 8:25 AM
Alex Daw said…
My vote goes for Lana too Ticklebear - way more oomph!
June 27, 2013 at 7:09 PM
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