# Timeline: 1950s The family moves through Angaston, Bray/Robe, and the [Sth Purrumbete](/places/south-purrumbete-victoria) dairy farm as most of the 14 children are born. ## Events - **6 Sep 1950** — D & C sell their house in [Angaston](/places/angaston-south-australia). - **27 Aug 1950** — Cath's mother [Catherine Gunn](/people/catherine-gunn-macleod-b1873) died in Adelaide, aged 77; buried 29 Aug at Dudley Park Methodist Cemetery, SA. See [death certificate](/documents/catherine-gunn-death-certificate-1950). - **1 May 1951** — [Janet Barbara Whillas](/people/janet-barbara-whillas-b1951) born, Murray Bridge (birth certificate gives Robe as home address; Dick's occupation "Grazier"). - **4 Sep 1952** — D & C, with [Norman McLeod](/people/norman-macleod-b1880), lease Crown Land at [Bray, near Robe](/places/bray-robe-south-australia). - **21 Apr 1952** — [Charlotte Whillas](/people/charlotte-sloggett-whillas-b1879) (Dick's mother) died, Adelaide, aged 72. **24 Apr** — [Norman Vincent Whillas](/people/norman-vincent-whillas-b1952) born, [Millicent](/places/millicent-south-australia). - **Feb 1953** — [Fran](/people/frances-louise-whillas-b1915) retires from COR as ledger keeper (aged 35). - **21 Mar 1953** — [Fran marries Reg Hall](/events/marriage-frances-whillas-to-reg-hall-1953) in Woodville. No children. - **24 Apr 1953** — [Lea Graham Whillas](/people/lea-graham-whillas-b1953) born, Millicent(?). - **12 May 1954** — [Stuart James (Jim) Whillas](/people/stuart-james-whillas-b1954) born, [Camperdown](/places/camperdown-victoria). - **6 Jul 1954** — D & C, with Norman McLeod, sell the lease of Crown Land at Bray. - **14 Apr 1955** — [Mark Campbell Whillas](/people/mark-campbell-whillas-b1955) born, Camperdown (birth certificate held). - **31 Jan 1955** — [Norman McLeod](/people/norman-macleod-b1880) died in Melbourne. He had remarried (to Lileen Kallady) just before his death; cremated, location of ashes unknown. - **29 Sep 1956** — [Fiona Victoria Whillas](/people/fiona-victoria-whillas-b1956) born, Camperdown. - **21 Aug 1958** — [Susan Catrina Whillas](/people/susan-catrina-whillas-b1958) born, Camperdown. - **22 Aug 1959** — [Craig Douglas Whillas](/people/craig-douglas-whillas-b1959) born, Camperdown. ## Notes & uncertainties - Around 1949–50 the family left Angaston on a camping trip (Morris Oxford + trailer) up the east coast, ending at [Bray/Brae](/places/bray-robe-south-australia) on a square mile of virgin country. They lived in a tent while Dick built the house; he worked as a wool classer and grew strawberry clover for seed. The children attended school in Robe and by correspondence; Nan went to Millicent HS. Norman lived with them for much of this time. - Because of high wool prices (Korean War) Dick couldn't afford to stock Bray with sheep, and schooling was difficult, so D & C bought a dairy farm at [Sth Purrumbete](/places/south-purrumbete-victoria) in shares with neighbour Vin Witwer (~125 cows). The children attended [Tandarook South School](/places/tandarook-south-victoria) and bussed to [Camperdown](/places/camperdown-victoria) HS. Nan met John Walsh on the bus. The family left c. late 1959/early 1960 for a drier, warmer climate — [Invergordon](/places/invergordon-victoria) Post Office near Numurkah. - [Teena's interview](/documents/interview-teena-mclean-2026) recalls the childhood move as to [Cobden](/places/cobden-victoria); whether this is the wider district or a separate move is an [open question](/open-questions#teena-birth-residence-and-chronology-questions). ## Related pages - [1940s](/timeline/1940s) · [1960s](/timeline/1960s) ## Sources - Whillas–McLeod family history spreadsheet (Rev 4), *1950s* sheet.