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Clifford (Cliff) was the youngest of four sons born to Oswald John and Hilda May Stewart in Moonta on the 31st January, 1921. His older brothers were Hendry Lionel, Melville Giles and Clarence William, plus two sisters Audrey and Marjorie Lola. The family lived in an area known as New Jerusalem, a suburb which was part of Kadina on the Yorke Peninsula. New Jerusalem, later just called Jerusalem, was originally designed to provide housing for those working at the Wallaroo Mines, part of the Copper Triangle.
Cliff initially attended the Wallaroo Mines School but, as an eight-year-old, the Kadina and Wallaroo Times reported that ‘Master Cliff Stewart met with a painful accident on the way home from school, for while playing with other boys he fell and broke his collarbone. He is doing well under medical treatment.’ Fortunately, this did not affect his academic progress. In ’33 he was presented with a red ribbon for being second in his Grade VI class. His sister Audrey was awarded a mauve third place ribbon in her Grade II class. With the district inspector present, the head teacher coordinated the ceremony and pinning of ribbon awards: blue for first, red for second, and mauve for third, with each beautifully inscribed in gold lettering. The local paper described the final moments of that school day: ‘To the accompaniment of the march in "Scipio" played by the school band, the children then marched out to a well-earned vacation.’
Cliff’s family was active in the Jerusalem Methodist Church, including running a "Gum Leaf Fair" with Cliff being chosen to present the Reverend Greig with a button hole.
As a 13-year-old, Cliff played football for Kadina, in the forward lines, being a regular scorer and frequently being nominated in the list of best players. This form continued in succeeding years with him joining older brother Clarrie to play in the same team. That year was also one for the young lad to remember as his family home was broken into, and Lola’s two gold bangles ‘valued at 19 guineas’ stolen. The ensuing court case had Mrs Stewart, Lola and Melville all giving evidence, resulting in two young men being apprehended and taken to the Adelaide Gaol. It was a troubling time for the family.
By ’38 Cliff and Clarrie were both involved in the first outing of the newly formed Kadina Riding Club where many of the riders had established a local Trotting Club and been involved in the breeding and training of the lighter, more graceful horses. However, this interest was put on hold with the outbreak of WWII. The brothers were eventually able to return to this sport in the ‘50’s with several horses, including Patalla, Vin Redmond, Walla’s Patch, Pleasant Bronte and Heather’s Choice, racing.
Cliff also briefly took up cycle racing with the Kadina Club and proved to be successful in the two lap sprint. However 1940 was the last time Cliff and Clarrie were able to play football together, playing in the Kadina Old Scholars football team against Yorketown. The team was hailed as containing ‘a good sprinkling of the district's prominent players, and the boys will do their best to avenge last year's defeat.’
Two of Cliff’s older brothers enlisted with the outbreak of WWII. Clarrie was first, on the 2nd July 1940 becoming SX7508 in the 2/48th Battalion. This was just prior to his 28th birthday. Born in 1912 Melville Giles was next to enlist following his 31st birthday in January ’42 as SX16943 and was eventually discharged in September ’44. Cliff then followed, also enlisting soon after turning 21. He became SX17982 and was allocated to Clarrie’s 2/48th Battalion. The Kadina Mayor gave a public send off to Private Cliff and two other enlistees. His service lasted until he was finally discharged in August ’45.
In April ’46 he and Shirley Pegler of Mitcham, announced their engagement, marrying at the end of July at St. Angustine's, Unley in an evening ceremony. However that year Cliff lost his 57-year-old mother, Hilda. A fitting tribute appeared in the local Kadina newspaper. “Mrs Stewart. The area known as Jerusalem has been called upon to lay to rest one of its well known residents in the person of Mrs Stewart. Many of us did not anticipate that Mrs Stewart would pass away so quickly, but evidently her health was more impaired than many of us realised, and so we saw one of our people pass out Mrs Stewart was noted for her work in the district, and, I understand that she was one of the foundation members of the Jerusalem Ladies' Guild, and did good work while she was a member, right up to the end. Mrs Stewart also assisted during the war, especially working for the various patriotic appeals, and her work was highly appreciated. Then we must not forget her services in the district as a nurse. People remember her over the years, and they speak of her in high terms for her work among them. For some time Mrs Stewart- had been having a hard time with her health, and it was obvious that it was to be a battle, and so the end came to our late friend who passed on, leaving her work behind to speak for itself.”
The following year, on the anniversary of her death, Cliff, Shirley and their new daughter placed a memorial to Hilda, as did other members of the family. ‘STEWART.—ln loving memory of our dear mother and grandma, passed away one year today. Memories sweet of one so dear, treasured deep from year to year. She lives within our memories still not just today, but always will.— Lovingly remembered by her son Cliff, Shirley and baby Christine.’
Following Christine’s birth, Cliff and Shirley welcomed other children Karen, Annette and Darryl. However in April ’53, tragedy struck the young family with the death of their third daughter, two-year-old Annette Joy who had been taken to the Children’s hospital as a result of an accident. STEWART.—On April 18, at Adelaide (result of accident), Annette Joy, the dearly beloved youngest daughter of Cliff and Shirley Stewart, of North Yelta, Moonta, and loved sister of Christine and Karen. Aged 2 years. Another little bud to bloom in heaven. STEWART.—Annette Joy, aged 2 years 1 month (suddenly), at Children's Hospital on April 18, loving granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. Pegler, 8 Mitcham avenue, Lower Mitcham. Only lent.’
Aged 76, Cliff died on the 12th December ’98 and was buried in the Moonta Cemetery in West 24 Plot 38 with his baby daughter Annette. Shirley lived to be 90 and died in July 2012. She now rests with them both at Moonta Cemetery.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.