William Smail

Story

My father, William Gardner Smail, was born at North Middleton, a small village south of Edinburgh, Scotland. His parents, John ‘Jock\’ Smail and Elizabeth ‘Liz\’ Gardner, were married in 1923 at Longridge, in present day West Lothian, where Liz had grown up. Several generations of the Smails and Gardners had resided in these areas; working in agriculture, coal mining and as roads men.

After their marriage, Jock and Liz lived at North Middleton. Later that year their first child Mary was born, next came Frankie, Nettie, and Ian. My father, Bill/Wull/Will/William, followed in 1944. My cousin now owns my father\’s family home; an ex-council attached three-bedroom bungalow.

The Smail children attended Borthwick Primary School adjacent Borthwick Castle where Mary Queen of Scots once stayed. They weren\’t well-off but were hard working and had what they needed from hot ‘stovies\’, live fiddle music, to imaginary pet bears in the woods.

Dad finished school at 15 and gained an apprenticeship as a blacksmith, later working at ‘Guildie Howes\’ lime works. As youngest child he was soon surrounded by nephews and nieces who still remember how brilliant he was at making ice-cream sodas!

In 1966 just before his 22nd birthday, Dad investigated the possibility of immigrating to Australia with the ‘Bring-out-a-Briton\’ campaign. How he came to this idea is not quite clear but I think he was keen for an adventure and to break free from village life. He did not give thought to this being a permanent move.

Within a month he was on a train bound for London, then South Hampton to join the Sitmar Lines ‘Castel Felice\’. After reclaiming his lost suitcase, which he still owns, the ship passed through the Mediterranean Sea. At Egypt the travelers had the option of going by bus via the Pyramids or as Dad choose; to sail through the Suez Canal. He recalls the Arab merchants, some just children, trying to sell their wares to the tourists; he resisted and bought nothing!

Sailing over the Equator and Indian Ocean, his first siting of Australia was of the Western Australia coastline. The ship made stops at Fremantle and Adelaide experiencing the roughest seas of the trip when passing the Great Australian Bite. The passengers disembarked at Station Pier, Melbourne, and were able to visit a nightclub before passing through customs the next day!

Dad was then welcomed to Victoria\’s South West by Reverend Shrader. At Allansford he met the Dumesney family with whom it was prearranged he would live and work at their Nullawarre dairy farm until he found his feet. He could not believe how big this country was; a three hour journey only covered a small area on the map!

After three months Dad found a job in Terang and also became Junior Chief of the Warrnambool Caledonian Society. He often attended social dances in Warrnambool; here he met my mother.

Maree Jennifer Haberfield was the youngest of six children from a local dairy farming family. While courting this young lady, Dad gained employment as a Welder at Spikins Engineering in Warrnambool, where he still works to this day.

After asking for my Grandfathers permission to marry his daughter, which Mum overheard, they married in 1969 at St. Johns, Warrnambool. Dad and his best man wore kilts and a bag piper played as they left the church. My sister Helen was born in 1973, Katherine in 1975 and I, Roslyn, came along in 1978. Mum and Dad still live in the same house and Dad is now a short way away from retirement.

We had a family holiday to Scotland in 1984; one of the most memorable experiences of my childhood. Mum and Dad also went back in 1989 and Dad by himself in 1996. His parents and brother Frankie have now passed away, but his other siblings and their descendants remain mostly in Midlothian and the Borders. Both my sister Katherine and I have visited Scotland as adults and last year I had the privilege of living in Edinburgh allowing me to be part of my Scottish heritage and to feed my innate haggis-supper appetite.

From the day he arrived in Australia, Dad was considered a permanent resident. In 2002 he became an Australian citizen. His fine Scottish blood is flowing through the veins of many lucky people as he has been a regular blood donor for over 40 years. He barracks for Hawthorn in the AFL but still has some room left for his beloved Edinburgh ‘Hearts\’ football club. Dad is a successful lawn bowler, including club champion, and has also been his clubs green keeper for 17 years.

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