Home Up Cyrol Gray Dorothy Carnegie Norma Thompson Con Callaghan Mary Rosa Scott Gil Leslie Les Falconer Bill Allan Sister Gerard Mrs Imelda Woods Sister Marie Walker Mrs Marie Barlow Lillian Smith Thomas Clarkson Jean Costello Laurel Ward

DOWN MEMORY LANE
 

Laurel Ward nee Gartrell

I was born on a farm at Tammin in Western Australia.  My family moved to Perth when I was four years old. My primary school education was at Highgate School in North Perth, followed by Perth Girls School in James Street until I left at the age of fourteen..

When I was eleven I began National Dancing and at the age of fourteen, with school days behind me, I started studying music at Mrs Black's classes in Kimberley Street Leederville, for the next four years.

At eighteen, I began teaching the piano and continued on and off for many years to come. In the meantime, I did floral work for a florist, but I always loved reading and had more than a passing interest in writing.

In 1939 I married Nelson Ward and eventually had three daughters. I delighted in reading to the girls, teaching them the piano and helping them with their English, especially their grammar, literature and spelling.

At one stage I wrote a poem called "Bushfire" which was submitted to the Forestry Department's magazine. Not only was the poem published as "The Bushfire" but the editor of the newspaper invited me to do a course in journalism as he felt I had the ability to fill a gap in his staff on a part-time basis.

I did the course that I was encouraged to do and was on the staff of "The Farmer's Weekly" for ten years, also doing freelance work for the paper as well. I also freelanced for other magazines and newspapers. In my ten years at the "Farmer's Weekly", I was sent to country shows - machinery days as they were known back then - to cover events and I also wrote about the Albany woollen mills, the royal garden party with Prince Philip, ladies fashions, the gown-of-the-year at Government House and the wool board fashion show at the Palace Hotel which was on the corner of William Street and St George's Terrace. I also covered the week long event of the CWA world conference.  During the sixties these were some of the highlights of my career as a journalist at the "Farmer's Weekly".  I also did a children's page called "Cousin Anne".

During these years my three daughters married and my husband Nelson passed away. I became a member of the AJA (Australian Journalists Association) through the support of my editor who presented me with the office of the AJA.

I retired from the "Farmer's Weekly" and went to the UK to see family members on my late husband's side. I also toured Europe and later returned to Perth to work for two years at the "Leederville Star" which was eventually taken over by the Community group of newspapers.

Whilst at the "Star" I had the opportunity to go to the West Coast of the USA and Hawaii for six to eight weeks.

After leaving the "Star" I returned to Perth and was approached by the editor of the "Subiaco Post". I had by this time started playing bowls and I was asked to write up the local bowls notes which led to a host of other writing assignment including, historical articles and origins of subject matters such as the Subiaco band, Perth schools, football in Subiaco, the royal mail and the start of the Perth Royal Show. I loved the work and enjoyed imparting this information. In all, my fulfilling work as a journalist spans some forty years, during which time I was held in high regard.

I am still with "The Post" to this very day and was given a great mention in their recent birthday book.

I have written four books with help from two members of my family. Three of the books deal with the series of events in the Goldfields around Kalgoorlie, as told by people who had spent their childhood there.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Cyrol Gray ] [ Dorothy Carnegie ] [ Norma Thompson ] [ Con Callaghan ] [ Mary Rosa Scott ] [ Gil Leslie ] [ Les Falconer ] [ Bill Allan ] [ Sister Gerard ] [ Mrs Imelda Woods ] [ Sister Marie Walker ] [ Mrs Marie Barlow ] [ Lillian Smith ] [ Thomas Clarkson ] [ Jean Costello ] [ Laurel Ward ]