Some brief history from the Merrett's early days in Victoria.
When the Merretts moved to Leeor South, education was a problem as it was with all the settlers. The emigrants who came out from England and settled on the land were at a disadvantage compared to those who stayed in the cities and towns, for education facilities had not reached out into the country. Many of the settlers could not read or write, so it was difficult for them to teach their children, and with the districts becoming rapidly populated, their children's education suffered.
The Government of Victoria was aware of the settlers' plight and passed an Act in 1872 that primary education in the State was to be regular, compulsary and free, and the children had to attend school conducted by an Education Department teacher.
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An early school photo.
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Leeor South School Picnic 1890.
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When the rail link between Victoria and South Australia was finally complete, William was the mailman for Leeor South. He would pick the mail up at the Leeor Railway Station and deliver it to Mr and Mrs Reiher's home at Leeor South, where each settler would collect his own mail.
The Merrett family supported the Saint Clement's Church of England at Leeor South, where the children also attended Sunday-school. William was a very active member of the church, and was the reader at services when the minister was absent.
He was often called upon by his neighbours for advice on lagal matters and other problems which arose through writing and answering business letters. It was always said of William that he was a gentleman; he would raise his hat when meeting or passing a lady - even his own daughters-in-law. He always had a beard, and this became red with age. Yes, he was a man with a strong character and full of courage. After a life of adventure and hope, in which he and his wife Mary Ann had to make far-reaching decisions, and a life of toil and hardships - and no doubt it's share of disappointments - William took ill with a cold. On July 20, 1901, he passed away at his homestead at Leeor South, at the age of 64 years. William was buried at the Kaniva-Lillimur Cemetry.
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It was while Mary Ann was visiting her youngest daughter, Alice Rosetta, and her husband at Hopetoun, Victoria, that she died - an August 11, 1916, at the grand old age of 80 years. She is buried beside her husband William at the Laniva-Lillimur Cemetry.
Mary Ann was the only daughter of Hezekiah Painter, labourer, born at Wiltshire, England, on July 17, 1836. She had a brother, Thomas; their mother died when Mary Ann was three years of age. She had no education - Mary Ann signed her name on the marriage certificate by making an X. After her husbands death she carried on with the farm. Her grandchildren would stay with her from time to time, and the thing she enjoyed most of all was when her grandchildren read passages of Scripture from the Bible and hymns from the Hymn Book. Mary Ann could recite many a Scripture passage and hymn.
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A photo of Mary Ann and most of her family.
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Gravesite in Kaniva-Lillimur Cemetry.
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Another of Mary Ann's great pleasures and something she enjoyed, was when they had a big christening Sunday and feast, as was the custom in those days. This often took place at her eldest daughter's homestead, Sarah and Robert Hawker's at Yearinga, north of Lillimur. At times some 20 children would be christened.
Mary Ann would drive from place to place visiting her children by horse and buggy, telling her grandchildren many stories of the past. Eight of her children lived in the Lillimur and Leeor districts at that time.
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Memorial cards of William & Mary Ann Merrett.
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