POWELL, Thomas
| Service Numbers: | 337, Q54820 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 11th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Roma, Queensland, Australia, 1 September 1883 |
| Home Town: | Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Hand & Farmer |
| Died: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 19 November 1976, aged 93 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Mount Gravatt Cemetery & Crematorium, Brisbane Lawn Cemetery - Portion L2 - Grave Number 872 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 337, 11th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, Q54820, 11th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 2 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 337, 11th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Borda, Brisbane |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Jul 1941: | Involvement Private, Q54820 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 1941: | Enlisted | |
| 26 Jul 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q54820 | |
| 17 Jun 1947: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, Q54820 | |
| 17 Jun 1947: | Discharged |
Thomas Powell - A Chapter in the LIfe and Times of Thomas Powell
Fernbrook is owned by the veteran coach driver, George Powell. With him in the venture is his son Thomas, who enlisted at Charters Towers and put in over four years of service, with the 11th Light Horse in Egypt. I have known George Powell a number of years. As quite a young man, he followed the construction of the railway line from Dalby to Roma. He used to pull down and re-erect his hotel at each standing camp, as the line progressed. His stables always housed Cobb and Co.’s horses. The railway contractors were Overend and Bashford. Later on the Fountains came on to the line.
George Powell was a brother-in-law of that well-known sporting hotel keeper, the late John Morrissey. Morrissey owned some good horses. He was an inveterate gambler, and would as soon toss a coin for a thousand pounds as he would for a penny. He would never pass without a shake or toss. On one occasion I won his line of coaches and the teams of horses. He had the mail contract to Yeppoon at the time and George Powell was the driver. By sundown I had lost the lot back to him, and four good milking cows to boot.
George Powell had the usual experience of a Queensland battler –Coach driving, Horse-breaking and training, Hotel-keeper, Miner, Station Manager, Kangaroo Shooter. He always managed to knock a bit out of anything he tackled.
Finally George settled down at Fern Brook, a distance of about two miles from Yeppoon. He has been there four years, and made wonderful progress, with his thirty-four acres. The land was all lantana when be bought it. Charlie (Alton Downs), Adam was the prior owner. The property has for a long time been in profit, which is increasing yearly.
On George Powell’s farm Fern Brook there are two hundred orange and mandarin trees, forty paw-paw, forty-four custard apple and one thousand banana’s sugar and Cavendish. Tomatoes gave a nice and payable crop. Passion fruit and granadillas thrive, as also do a few apple trees. The fruit is of the crab variety, and is a little bit tart, but tasty.
Mango is grown in the varieties of Bullock's Heart, Banana, and the Cherry which grow in clusters. Mrs. Powell has her own area of cotton, and it turned out fairly well.
The oranges and mandarins are Emperor and Washington navel (the latter fruit is very large) the scarlet, and Valencia.
The soil is dark chocolate, and volcanic, and water bra been procured at shallow depth B on different parts of the property. The supply is unfailing. The house well is 15 feet deep, and the well on top of the hill is 22 feet. Deep. This country is fenced with palings and wire netting. Spring Creek runs through the property, and two oil engines arc used to pump the water for irrigation purposes. 1 forgot to mention the splendid quality of the lime and lemons growing they are easily equal to the imported one's.
Bananas have been sold carrying eighteen dozen to the bunch. The conformation of the country is such that drainage for fruit growing is perfect.
The daughters of the house arc all married, but four of the sons are home and have farms of their own.
I spent the night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Powell, and in the reminiscences that flowed many a forgotten incident was brought back to light. I have to thank the worthy couple for a very comfortable time.
Written by "Battler"
Morning Bulletin Rockhampton, Qld. 1878 – 1954 Monday 30 April 1923, page 8
Submitted 7 January 2019 by Raelene Acheson
Biography contributed by Raelene Acheson
Fernbrook is owned by the veteran coach driver, George Powell. With him in the venture is his son Thomas, who enlisted at Charters Towers and put in over four years of service, with the 11th Light Horse in Egypt. I have known George Powell a number of years. As quite a young man, he followed the construction of the railway line from Dalby to Roma. He used to pull down and re-erect his hotel at each standing camp, as the line progressed. His stables always housed Cobb and Co.’s horses. The railway contractors were Overend and Bashford. Later on the Fountains came on to the line.
George Powell was a brother-in-law of that well-known sporting hotelkeeper, the late John Morrissey. Morrissey owned some good horses. He was an inveterate gambler, and would as soon toss a coin for a thousand pounds as he would for a penny. He would never pass without a shake or toss. On one occasion I won his line of coaches and the teams of horses. He had the mail contract to Yeppoon at the time and George Powell was the driver. By sundown I had lost the lot back to him, and four good milking cows to boot.
George Powell had the usual experience of a Queensland battler –Coach driving, Horse-breaking and training, Hotel-keeper, Miner, Station Manager, Kangaroo Shooter. He always managed to knock a bit out of anything he tackled.
Finally George settled down at Fern Brook, a distance of about two miles from Yeppoon. He has been there four years, and made wonderful progress, with his thirty-four acres. The land was all lantana when be bought it. Charlie (Alton Downs), Adam was the prior owner. The property has for a long time been in profit, which is increasing yearly.
On George Powell’s farm Fern Brook there are two hundred orange and mandarin trees, forty paw-paw, forty-four custard apple and one thousand banana’s sugar and Cavendish. Tomatoes gave a nice and payable crop. Passion fruit and granadillas thrive, as also do a few apple trees. The fruit is of the crab variety, and is a little bit tart, but tasty.
Mango is grown in the varieties of Bullock's Heart, Banana, and the Cherry which grow in clusters. Mrs. Powell has her own area of cotton, and it turned out fairly well.
The oranges and mandarins are Emperor and Washington navel (the latter fruit is very large) the scarlet, and Valencia.
The soil is dark chocolate, and volcanic, and water bra been procured at shallow depth B on different parts of the property. The supply is unfailing. The house well is 15 feet deep, and the well on top of the hill is 22 feet. Deep. This country is fenced with palings and wire netting. Spring Creek runs through the property, and two oil engines arc used to pump the water for irrigation purposes. 1 forgot to mention the splendid quality of the lime and lemons growing they are easily equal to the imported one's.
Bananas have been sold carrying eighteen dozen to the bunch. The conformation of the country is such that drainage for fruit growing is perfect.
The daughters of the house arc all married, but four of the sons are home and have farms of their own.
I spent the night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Powell, and in the reminiscences that flowed many a forgotten incident was brought back to light. I have to thank the worthy couple for a very comfortable time.
Written by "Battler"
Morning Bulletin Rockhampton, Qld. 1878 – 1954 Monday 30 April 1923, page 8