Doug and Joan head to Melbourne and then board the Kuala Lumpur for PNG, Japan and Hong Kong. A stage show, new shopping experiences, a royal encounter, a new suit in HK and then a peek into forbidden China.
Doug’s maiden speech. Frequent flights to Canberra for sittings of parliament and many speeches made, and questions asked, by Doug in his time in parliament.
Newly elected Federal Member for Stirling, Doug Cash, and family to Canberra for the Opening of 23rd Parliament. Back at home, life as a local MP is busy with many community engagements.
In 1958 Doug stands as Liberal candidate for Stirling in the Federal Election. A family effort and a close-fought battle but Doug narrowly wins against C H Webb. Congratulations all round.
Doug’s mum Sarah decides to visit her old home in England and so Doug joins her on the P&O Strathnaver. London, Birmingham, Dosthill, Tamworth Castle, Peterborough, Hoddlesden. Sarah stays on and Doug flies home via New York.
Arthur and Lucie open a shop in Wembley, four generations in a two bedroom house. Choc tops. Grandpa P C McKenzie dies. All move in with Doug’s parents in Belmont. Then a new home back in Wembley. Ken and Merle wedding. Sarah Cash dies in a tragic accident. Move to West Perth and then the wheatbelt town of Bullfinch.
1946, first Christmas as a married couple, rations still in force. In early 1947 first daughter Lynne born and in late 1948 Pam born. Cecil, Roly and Alice also welcome new arrivals. Mistaken for John Bottomley. Doug joins the Freemasons. In 1949 the Moore’s sell their 21 Victoria Square house.
Doug takes up an idea he had in the RAAF and gets approval to import stamps from the USA and sell to collectors. Maybe not the way to become a millionaire and Doug gives no indication this was anything but a small hobby.
In late 1946 Doug purchases a newsagency on busy St George’s Terrace in Perth from Laura O’Hara. Over twenty years and through multiple renovations by their landlords, Zimpels the furniture store, Doug and Joan open a separate greeting cards store within Zimpels and a chocolates store.
1944 and Doug meets Joan and the Moore family at 21 Victoria Square home in Perth. Doug and Joan get engaged via post in June 1945 while Doug was serving on Manus Island. They are married in May 1946 and tales of kitchen teas, could the bride have changed her mind (of course not) and happy celebrations followed by a honeymoon in Bunbury.
Doug returns to Kalgoorlie and Joan follows, Doug almost burns down the house, Joan expecting first child, rationing and refrigerators, Doug resigns from PMG and they move to Perth to open a newsagency.
VJ Day, war in the pacific is over. Roly married. Off to 2MRS where Doug learns to drive. Xmas dinner at Madang. And then the long journey home before being discharged.
Doug gets posted to Air Defence HQ, Madang via Bradfield Park (Sydney), Townsville, Cairns, Port Moresby and Lae. Promoted to Flight Sergeant. Football accident. Moved to Admiralty Islands, a tour around Manus, Lorengau, Lombrum and Seeadler Islands.
Doug sent to 14 Squadron, RAAF Pearce. Base active with patrols up the WA coast. Pilots needed, Roly to UK. More on planes, life on base, pilots “Bluey” Truscott, Keith Chisolm, Keith Truscott, and Charles Learmonth. Tales of pilots lost and Beauforts crash problem.
Kalgoorlie (1939) I arrived in Kalgoorlie on Thursday 26 January 1939. I was met at the station by the Post Office mailroom supervisor, “Paddy” McMorrow. Mr McMorrow took me up to where he had made arrangements for me to stay with Mrs Quealy and her family. The house was located
Doug was a lifelong Aussie Rules fan, barracking for West Perth in the WAFL. He played amateur footy in the Band of Hope Association at age 14, the Towns team in Coolgardie, Railway Rovers in Kalgoorlie and Towns at RAAF Geraldton. In later years Doug umpired matches, was a vice patron of the West Perth Football Club a patron of the Osborne Park Sunday League Football. #WAFL #AussieRules @WestPerthFC
Dating back to his early days in Canada, Doug’s father was involved in horse racing. In Perth they had success with many horses, most notably the 1932 Easter Cup win with Dainty Princess. There were hard times and some bad accidents for father Walter. Doug has some betting wins and after the war was a ‘betting clerk’ for a friend.
Aged 15 Doug joins the Postmaster General’s Department as telegraph messenger. Many of the messenger boys would go on to prominent positions in the public service. Passes exam and made permanent. Moves departments including to Tax. Then sent to Coolgardie, to Norseman and finally Kalgoorlie until the War. After the war asked to move to Leonora which he refuses and quits.