The following story was written by Halbert Edgar Hope and typed by his daughter, Pam Beeching; and appears in Marilyn Fordred's book "Family Ties":
Halbert [Albert, or Habby] Edgar Hope, born 29 July 1911 in a private home in Addison Street Casterton, the second son of Richmond Armstrong Hope and Edith May Badams. His father was a Police Constable when Edith May died from tuberculosis in the December of 1913. Halbert, just 2 years old, was reared by his grandmother Isabella Hope until he was 14.
Habby died 27 July 1996, at Kew (Melbourne), Victoria.
He left Casterton Primary and Higher Elementary School on 1 August 1925 and headed for Chilwell in Geelong where his father was living. His first job was at the Valley Woollen Mills near the Barwon River. He was an assistant machinist and stayed there for about 12 months. This was followed by time spent at the Excelsior Woollen Mills. His third job was at Solomon's the Draper. His tenure lasted 2 weeks, as when smoking in the passage, he accidentally set fire to a roll of suiting material. It was then on to Butterworth's in Geelong where he cleaned pie dishes for about 3 months. By this time (1926) his father had moved to Diamond Creek and Halbert paid 17/6 for private boarding in Geelong. He soon moved to live with his father in Diamond Creek and lived there in the police station on top of the hill not far from the railway station. This was very handy as each day he would catch the train into the city where he worked as an office boy with Cyclone Fences at 189-191 William Street.
Eventually he left home and with his brother Jack (who was by now married) found jobs on farms. His first was at Jones' farm in Cranbourne and after an initiation into milking cows he was left with extremely sore and swollen hands and arms. Other farm jobs followed and one was at Mill Park. During the depression years he walked to Lochart near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales where he worked for 12 months on a dairy farm. The walk to Lochart took just on a week and to feed himself he asked for work on farms in return for a meal. especially as the job had cost him 3 shillings from an employment agency.
Sleeping arrangements were where he could find a safe and dry spot. One night was spent in a "haunted house" but luckily the ghosts were also tired! As jobs during this time were very difficult to acquire, he telegrammed the farm at Lochart when he neared the border to ensure they held the job, as walking meant he had taken longer than expected.
Another job was as an assistant in the kitchen at the Shamrock Hotel in Bendigo (this was before his trip to Lochart). At the Shamrock Hotel he learned the fine art of pastry making but as he was sleeping in a tiny room at the top of the famous hotel and the mosquitoes were extremely bad he departed for Eaglehawk and another job. In 1935 Halbert decided to join the Victoria Police Force and in doing so, joined his father and brother, Jack. Whilst awaiting the results of his entrance exam he worked at Hume Pipes in Maribyrnong and on several farms. As a result his father had to trace him through several farms to pass on the news that he had passed the exam. And so it was that he joined the police force on 23 July 1935.
It was when requesting a birth cetificate that he realised that the Registrar in Casterton had written his name as Albert instead of Halbert and so Albert became his unofficial official name. In the Police Force he was known as Bert, to his father and brother Jack he was Dougal, to his sister and other relatives as Hal and to his grandchildren as Habby.
He had joined the Police Force with 91 other new recruits including Jack Dyer (Richmond footballer).
A letter from the Victoria Police Force dated 19 January 1984 confirmed that Albert Hope was born in Casterton, Victoria on 29 July 1911. He was appointed as a Constable on 23 July 1935 and allotted the Register Number 9030 and was promoted as follows:
First Constable 5 October 1941
Senior Constable 3 February 1949
Sergeant 29 June 1954
Inspector Grade II 22 November 1961
Inspector Grade I 8 April 1962
The following story was written by Halbert Edgar Hope and typed by his daughter, Pam Beeching; and also appears in Marilyn Fordred's book "Family Ties":
"Habby was only a tot when he came to live with Granny Hope. Her old brown house snuggled close to the Bahgallah Road just three miles out of Casterton. Fruit trees abounded behind the house but they had seen better times and fought for their existence with the chooks which scratched at their roots for an extra feed. Emerald green ferns grew thickly beside them and it was just the perfect spot for the broody hens to rear their chicks. Within the yard roamed Bruno, Granny's collie dog and he guarded the house with such ferocity that he had worn his own private path along the side fence. He detested the cats who would slink to snatch his food and many met their death in his Vice like grip. The foxes and bandicoots which roamed in hundreds in the area dared not enter his domain.
And so it was that Habby found his new home after his Mum had died of consumption in the December of 1913. He had joined a large household of aunts and uncles, some still at home whilst others were away pursuing careers or married.
Effie was a nurse in Melbourne, Molly had found her niche in teaching and Jessie worked locally as a telephonist. Freda was still at school in Casterton while Edgar (Bill) drove the local breadcart.
Heading the household was Grandfather Hope (Richmond). A religious and intelligent man, he was retired after a life working on the land. In his younger days he had been widely respected in the area for his mathematical skills and people would often visit him in the hope that he could solve their problems. However he was now very old and quite sick and spent most of his days in the back room smoking his pipe and playing "one handed" draughts. Although his hair had lost its natural shade, he was still young enough to enjoy his whisky and beer. He read the Weekly Times and Argus regularly and Habby dared not touch them until Grandfather had finished his reading. Grandfather also insisted that Sunday was kept as the Sabbath, hence Habby had to control his whistling.
The house was quite small - only four rooms in total until a new bedroom was added to the front of the house, beside the dining room. Granny's bedroom was shaded by a pepper tree which had been planted many years before. A passage ran from the front to back doors and in the back yard were two tents, both permanent fixtures, which were used as bedrooms to ease the overcrowding within the house. They nestled beside the huge pear tree, an old fashioned Golden Spy, which every year produced the juiciest fruit.
Granny's home was spotless. She had married Richmond at an early age and so knew nought but how to run the house, and that she did well. Two large crocks dominated the kitchen; one for sugar and the other flour. From these she created magic. Treacly brown sugar tarts and bubbling jam tarts of every sort imaginable. Feeding a large family, these did not last too long so she resorted to placing her rock cakes into a bell jar (made out of wood like mahogany - the sort that chimed loudly when little boys needed a snack. However Granny was kindly and often turned a blind eye when the jar jangled its warning.
Full use was made of the daylight hours as at night the house was lit only with the dim glow of kerosene lamps and candles.
Granny's day started early and finished at dusk and 'twas full of household chores. As the water tanks were often full of wrigglers there was the 100 yard trek down the hill to fetch fresh water from the spring in the creek. The water not needed inside was placed in the Coolgardie safe along with the butter and milk. It hung from the verandah where the breezes would whisper through the flannelette cooling the perishables inside.
Creek water was also used for the washing of clothes. This was always done on a Monday. Granny would fire the old copper and would scrub and rub the clothes on the corrugated washing board before putting them into the boiling copper to which caustic soda had been added.
As would be expected Tuesday was ironing day. The old flat irons would heat up on the wood fired stove, each taking its turn to iron away the creases in the clothes. The irons were then returned to the stove to reheat and so the wearying cycle continued. Many fingers were burned when testing the heat and no wonder Granny encouraged trousers to be "pressed" under the mattress at night.
Milking occurred everyday. As Habby grew older it was his job to herd the cows home both morning and evening as there was no room to graze the six milkers on the house block. Their home was on the roadside verge and they took it upon themselves to decide which way to roam. Habby delighted when they strayed towards the Chinaman's house down the hill - as close by flowed the mighty Glenelg and what a place to swim, while the cows and Granny waited patiently.
Other chores filled Granny's day. In her ankle length dresses she dusted, cleaned and cooked. Many times Habby sauntered in from school to the smell of freshly baked bread, while on the table waited the usual potatoes and ham or pork which Granny had cut from the sides hanging in the old shed outside. Wednesdays were always busy as it was the day when final preparations were made for the weekly trip into Casterton. Granny would collect the eggs and finish making the butter which she would sell on the Thursday trip. She was lucky to have a separator which made the job so much easier. The small amount from these sales supplemented the weekly pension on which they lived.
So, early Thursday morning Grandfather would hitch up Old Nobby to the gig and away they would set, his long white beard flowing in the breezes and a twinkle in his eye at the thought of the couple of pints in which he would imbibe at the local in Casterton. After procuring provisions, including the vegetables from the neighbouring China man, and after selling the dairy produce the trek home was begun. It was never as quiet as the trip into town as Grandfather enjoyed his beer and whisky. Old Nobby, slow but steady, often felt the wrath of his tongue while Granny sat bolt upright, looking straight ahead in case any others heard what so offended her ears. She never chided her husband about his weekly outing but quietly worried about getting home safely. They always made it, much to Habby's pleasure!
This meant he would get his weekly penny and it was off to the lolly shop the next day. he delighted in buying large gob stoppers which seemed to last all day or enormous bars of red, brown and yellow caramel squares. To finance this ever-lasting sweet tooth he often chanced his luck fishing in the "Ess" lagoon. It was said that the lagoon was bottomless and had once swallowed a whole bullock team in its depths. However the lagoon held other treasures - Marble bottles for which Habby would fish. The local bottle-o gave him half pence a bottle and a good catch would yield him three pence - money, sweet, sticky lolly dreams are made of. Just imagine! Three pence would buy six all day or sherbet suckers!
Habby walked the three miles to and from school in Casterton each day, dressed in his long black socks, shorts and jumper. Sometimes he was accompanied by Freda who was four grades ahead of him at school or by his Aunt Jessie who worked in the Post Office as a telephonist. She made sure he made it in time in the mornings, but coming home was a different matter as the thought of a quick swim in the Glenelg or a romp around the sawmills often lured him away from his chores. On one such evening he presented himself at Granny's door around 6.00pm. Her displeasure at his tardiness was quickly alleviated when he presented her with a note written on (of all things) the back of a cigarette box. ""Dear Granny, please excuse Habby for being late as I kept him in to help with the boards. Signed Teacher" On another evening, when he was 11, Jessie was not around to stop him getting into a fight after school. Habby was clever at school but rather a show-off and on this particular night he had said just enough to enrage the senses of young Albert Picken. Before you could blink an eyelid the two youngsters were at each others throats. However Habby hadn't picked a very good spot to fight for it was just outside his Aunt Belle Harris' house. Habby was mortified when she came storming out and could only think of Granny's displeasure on hearing of this altercation. Belle tore the pugilists apart but then astounded them both by refereeing the fight to the end. It was only then that Habby realised that his Aunt had been refereeing whilst dressed only in her petticoat.
At other times Habby trapped for rabbits or fished. Usually the dogs reaped the benefits of his endeavour and at times there was even some left for Freda's three legged pet cat called "Old Mother". By this stage Habby had his own dog, Drummer, a staghound who accompanied him on his outings and barked at the rabbits.
When not swimming or rabbiting Habby played with his simple toys; a pop gun, a top, marbles and cards. He also read, his favourite book being "The Count of Monte Cristo". As a special treat he could listen to the household gramophone. The sound boomed from the big round funnel and filled the room with music of Harry Lauder and the old Scottish traditionals. The piano was reserved for Freda who took lessons in at Casterton.
Every now and then Habby would go to the pictures in Casterton on a Saturday afternoon. As it was three pence for a seat in the stalls of the Mechanic's Institute, Habby attended about once a month. Showing were the first flicks, the early black and white silent two reelers accompanied by a pianist sitting on the stage. Habby's favourite film star was Pola Negri but he also like Gloria Swanson, Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks senior. and Mary Pickford. Of course Saturday afternoons were not complete without the latest episode of a serial and in Casterton the hero was Stanley of Africa.
At times Habby went to see old Goody Harris train his horses and this was the beginning of a life long love of horse racing and betting. (In 1923 Harris' horse Affirm ran second to Lilypond (but check with Keith!!!) in the Caulfield Cup).
Schooling was interrupted quite often during Habby's early life, as even though he lived with Granny Hope he often went to stay with his father, stepmother and their young family. At the old brick State and Higher Elementary School in Casterton he was taught by Miss Cochrane. Although she was elderly she made sure Habby learned the basics of Spelling, Reading, English and Arithmetic. As Habby was bright he learned quickly so his absences and transfers to Primary Schools in Hamilton and Kyneton were not detrimental. There were about 300 children at the school in Casterton and Habby studied for his Higher elementary Certificate with 50 other pupils. The rooms were small and ill-ventilated but in the grounds the children were able to view a captured German gun, much to their delight. Mr Symes and Mr Menzies were head teachers during Habby's stay at the school.
He gained a "wanderlust" feeling at an early age and often when visiting his Dad ran away with his brother Jack. Once when at Hamilton the two boys were later found miles away at Mt Muntham and from Footscray the two youngsters made their way to Werribee. They were found and returned to their respective homes.
Visits from others to the house were really treasured. Visitors included the Cox's, the Munn's from Apsley, the Jordan's and Granny Badams and Aunt Fanny who were rearing Habby's younger sister Edna. it was always exciting when aunt Molly came home from her teaching duties during the school holidays and Habby also liked watching his Uncle Bill (Edgar) getting ready to go out for a night on the town. Trips away from home were rare - sometimes to stay with his father and stepmother and once even all the way to Melbourne by train. Granny had shown him the room in the Menzies Hotel where she had been married and had spent her honeymoon. She also bought him a brand new cap. However the hat never made it back to Casterton as it blew out the train window on the way home.
On another trip to Melbourne (on February 25, 1920) this time with his Dad, he went to see Ross and Keith Smith land at Flemington Racecourse in their triumphant Vickers-Vimy. The brothers had won ten thousand pounds as the first prize for being the first Australian crew to fly between London and Australia in less than 720 hours. Habby became part of the huge crowd that enthusiastically welcomed the pioneer aviators to Melbourne.
On the 1st August 1925 Habby left the Higher elementary School in Casterton. He had turned 14 and made his way to Chilwell in Geelong where he joined his father. His first job was at the Valley Woollen Mills by the Barwon River and it was the first of many in factories and on farms before he eventually joined the Victorian Police Force on July 23rd 1935."
It was only when requesting for a birth certificate that he realised that the registrar in Casterton had written his name as Albert instead of Halbert and so Albert became his unofficial official name. In the police force he was known as Bert, to his father and brother Jack he was Dougal, to his sister and other relatives as Hal and to his grandchildren as Habby. He had joined the police force with 91 other recruits including Jack Dyer (Richmond footballer).
Initial training for 5 months, was at the police training depot in St Kilda Road. His training involved strict descipline and was physically strenuous with sessions of wrestling, boxing and physical culture. Despit being very fit Halbert was not too keen on running continual laps of the training depot oval. After graduating he was working at Russell Street Police Headquarters. It was followed by time at Bourke Street West and he can recall the bike races which he and the other Constables had up Queen Street. He was then transferred to Fitzroy Police Station which was just beside the Town Hall (13 Condell Street). He lived in police quarters on the first floor of the Town Hall. During this time all police carried weapons, a practice which was later discontinued only to be reintroduced in later years. He joined the Criminal Investigation Branch and was based at Fitzroy and Northcote for about 10 years.
During this time he earned promotion to Senior Constable which was quickly followed by a shift to Robinvale where he was in charge as Senior Constable. during the war years he performed special patrol duties with the 58th Battalion (Home Forces) which was under the control of Colonel Wellington. Halbert had wished to join the A.I.F. during the war but was unable to get leave to do so. Duties during the war included checking internment camps in Victoria as well as patrolling the American Service Clubs.
A vivid memory of the time he spent at Robinvale is of a car chase; something he and Constable Kevin Curran had never experienced before. It seemed that everytime their old police gun was fired into the air to stop the offender the police car swerved dangerously due to the fright which the officer driving experienced from the noise.
Halbert played many sports; tennis, golf and bowls and was accomplished at them all. He has always been interested in horse racing and for a time after his retirement worked at a trotting stud not far from his home at Keilor. He was also an excellent swimmer teaching all his children how to swim as well as spending many hours whilst living in the country rabbiting. He also possessed considerable literary talents, having had a short story published by the Sydney Morning Herald written under the pseudoym Alan Edgar.
He married Olive Lilian Gladys Steward, (daughter of Hubert Orlando Steward and Lilian Elizabeth Brown) in Melbourne on 4 September 1937.
Before their marriage Lilian had been a textile worker at Fetter's sock manufacturer in Fitzroy.At Fetter's she started work at 8.00am and finished at 5.30pm and working on a "piece work contract" was only paid for the socks she completed. She had been working at Fetter's since she was 13, so when she "retired" a day before her marriage she had been working continuously for 8 years. This included the years of the depression when she was the only member of the household holding a job.
Lilian's early memories of life are similar to her husband's. As she was brought up in the city life was more hectic. She remembers life with kerosine lamps, iron pots and urns, wood fired stoves, coolgardies, gramophones, flat irons, coppers and washing boards. However, her family possessed a mangle which made washing day a little easier. Her family bought milk but raised their own hens for eggs and made bread each day. Her mother made most of her clothes on a treadle sewing machine and Lilian remembers the spittoons which "graced" each home. She listened to the radio on a crystal set and on a Saturday afternoon went to see the silent movies. Aeroplanes caused great excitement and if one passed overhead everyone would race to see it. She usually travelled to the city in a horse drawn gig which was tied to one of the many railings, but also went by train and cable tram. The city was invariably busy with many horses and carts and it was here that she would see the then rare sight of a car.
Marilyn Fordred also wrote of her mother "Mum was the eldest of six - she lived all her life in Fitzroy before marrying my father. Her father (Hubert) worked in the boot trade and later sold wood, fruit and vegetables from his horse and cart around the streets of Fitzroy. He was an avid supporter of Fitzroy Football Club and began a "horde" of supporters!!! He was the 3rd of 8 children. Grandmother was the 2nd of 11 children - she was very religious and produced wonderful handicrafts. She lived all her married life in Fitzroy."[1]
NOTE: There's heaps more stories about Halbert (Albert) Edgar Hope and they have been well documented by Marilyn Fordred and her family. May I suggest you contact her, if you want to know more about his amazing and interesting life, including his story called "The Whale".
[1]Family Ties by Marilyn Fordred
Thanks Marilyn for this amazing legacy you have captured for Habby's descendants.
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Richmond Armstrong Hope (father)
Richmond Armstrong Hope (grandfather)
Thomas Hope (great grandfather)