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.
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
The PMG transferred Doug to Coolgardie in 1937. Doug tells us about the people and the stores of the town, Ben Prior, Moran’s Store, Jim Larcombe and the Golden Eagle Nugget find, Sam Cash (no relation), the Railway and Denver City Hotels, Modesto Varischetti and the Bonnie Vale mine accident. @kalgoorliehistory @coolgardievisitorscentre
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.