Ron, Samuel, Clare, Evelyn, Gove family. GOVE

Story

Samuel Scott and Clare Audrey Gove spent the majority and all of their early life respectively in India.

Samuel (better known as Scott) joined the British Army in England (Cornwall) at the age of 14 as a boy soldier and was shipped to India in 1912. Clare was born in India of English/Scottish descent.

When India was granted independence the army shipped the family, Scott, Clare, Evelyn and Ronald to England where they lived in various army establishments.

It was soon discovered that England with its cold climate and post war austerity was not to Scott and Clare’s liking after India. As a result the army shipped the family back to India. When arriving in India and without a job it soon became evident that India was not the same, so back the family went to England again.

After a short time it was decided to immigrate to Australia.

The family left aboard the P&O liner SS Otranto from Tilbury on 14 June 1951 and disembarked at Brisbane on 24 July 1951 with 60 pounds to start a new life. Brisbane was chosen as the destination as Clare had tracked down her father there. She had not seen nor heard from him for some 30 years.

The journey to Australia was most enjoyable and the family being experienced boat travellers made the most of the time aboard. Scott and Clare made friends with other passengers and remained friends for many years.

On arrival the initial impressions were one of some general amazement.

After a short time living at Acacia Ridge with Clare’s previously estranged father Herbert (Herby) in the southern outskirts of Brisbane the family were given accommodation in a Queensland housing commission camp at Holland Park. These camps were unlike migrant camps and Clare was very depressed about the stark and unsatisfactory accommodation. She spent a lot of time in tears carrying out unfamiliar tasks such as washing, ironing, cooking and cleaning. Eve had taken a job in Brisbane and Ron attended primary school.

Given that Scott and Clare’s life had been predominantly in India with all its trappings they found themselves in somewhat dire circumstances. The army in the early 1900’s did not much prepare one for civilian life. Scott left the army as a Warrant Officer Grade One, but had little experience outside the army life.

The 1950’s was a period when basically no wives worked. Scott was prepared to take on any work that became available. He worked for some years with English Electric and finished his working life at the Princess Alexandra as a wards man.

Eventually the commission provided a newly built house in Coopers Plains again in the the Southern suburbs and somewhat outlying. As a result of the foregoing, the family constantly struggled with a lack of money but made the best of it and generally enjoyed life as best they could and made the necessary sacrifices.

Ron attended Orange Grove primary school and then on to Salisbury High School. Evelyn married Peter quite young and had a family of three children Maureen, David and Angela.

Ron joined the Main Roads Department in 1959 as a cadet engineer. In 1964 he was offered a job in New Guinea. Ron stayed there for a few years and then worked for the same consulting engineer in Brisbane and Sydney. In 1971 he returned to Brisbane with another consulting engineer. In 1975 he established his own business of architects and engineers, ETS Group, which has offices in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Papua New Guinea.

Clare died very unexpectedly in 1967 and Scott later in 1970.

Evelyn became well known throughout Australia for her interest in dogs. She was a very successful breeder of German Shepherds and owned a succession of very successful boarding and breeding kennels around Brisbane. Her three children now also run kennels in Brisbane.

Ron married Mariette – better known as Teddy, and they have one son, Benjamin. Ben attended high school at Brisbane Boys College where he excelled in various sports such a as soccer and athletics. Ron and Teddy met via a soccer club that Ron played for after his time in New Guinea and Sydney. They lived for 34 years on acreage at Pullenvale, Brisbane and have now all but retired to the Sunshine Coast.

In conclusion Australia has been most kind to the family. They have both Scott and Clare to thank for their sacrifice and adventurism .

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