Family:William Porter and Mary Martin (1)

WILLIAM was born in Geelong on 2nd January 1858, the second child of Richard and Phyllis. His young days were spent at Black Hill and about 1880 he left to work in the Goulburn Valley where the larger pastoral runs had recently been opened up to closer settlement. He married Mary Martin in 1885 at Mooroopna and they made their home in North Nooroopna at a settlement called Coomboona on the Goulburn River. William and Mary had a family of seven children, one child having died in infancy. William’s work took him away from home regularly and Mary and the family worked hard to keep the small farm going. In summer William travelled all around the north east building hay sheds and in winter he had a contract to cut sleepers which necessitated making camp in the bush. The sleepers were taken out by bullock wagon. They moved to Shepparton about 1907-1910, mainly for the education of the younger members of the family. The small local schools were closing. Mary was a staunch member of the Presbyterian Church and was also an active member of the women’s section of the Loyal Orange Lodge. William died in 1931, aged 73 years and Mary in 1937, aged 72. Both are buried in the Mooroopna cemetery.

All the family of William and Mary were born at Mooroopna. Elizabeth and Beatrice attended Coomboona State School and helped on the farm before moving to Melbourne. Elizabeth married James Phillips and they made their home in Malvern. Beatrice married Thomas Irving and they also resided in Malvern. After leaving Coomboona State School Elizabeth and Beatrice worked for some time in Shepparton, before moving to Melbourne in 1914, to accept positions as domestics, wages were 8 shillings a week.

Elizabeth married William John Phillips, Jim as he was known, after he was invalided home from World War 1. Beatrice opened a Cafeteria in High Street Armadale, which she named “Goulburn” The business operated until 1940, when the premises were then converted to a private home. Beatrice married Thomas Irving, who was employed as a taxi driver, but following an accident, he opened a fruit shop, and later again it is understood he was employed by the Tramways Board. Elizabeth had been left with 5 children, so Beatrice offered the family accommodation in her home. Elizabeth died in 1943, aged 55. The children all stayed on with Beatrice until they married.

George was educated at Coomboona State School. He enlisted and served overseas during World War 1. He married Mary Taylor and they made their home in the Tatura district. George became the water bailiff in that area. He later had teams at Yarrawonga, constructing irrigation channels following the opening of the Hume Weir.

Elsie also received her education at Coomboona State School. She married Richard Sloane and they resided in Shepparton. William completed his education in Shepparton, gaining his merit certificate at age 13, school leaving age was 14, so he returned to repeat the year. He became very disinterested and began work at Shepparton Printers for 15 shillings a week. He applied for a position at Albury Printers and was accepted there in 1918, his salary being 4 pound 10 shillings a week. He remained with. the firm until he retired in l975.

William married Frances Buntz in 1924 and they made their home in Wodonga where they enjoyed 58½ years together. William moved to Albury after the death of Frances in 1982. He keeps reasonably good health and is able to make visits to the Gold Coast and to his son and family in Sydney. David completed his education in Shepparton. He married Isabella Hall and they made their home in Mooroopna. David became a qualified baker, having served his apprenticeship at McMillan’s Bakery in Shepparton. He later opened baker’s shops in South Yarra and Seville. After retiring from baking he resided in Albert Park and worked as a mail sorter for the P.M.G.