"Leslie" / "Les" Reginald Leslie MACPHERSON
Born 12 May 1881 in Yandanooka, Western Australia [15] [119]
Son of "Locke" Lachlan Wilson MACPHERSON and Rodda Lowe WALDECK [15]
Resided with his parents on Yandenooka Station in Yandanooka and later at Yarra near Northampton [119]
He was riding his father's racehorse Black Jack in Geraldton on Friday afternoon 22 April 1899 when the horse was hit by a train [39]
The horse bolted onto the railway line after being scared by the train's engine, and was grazed on the hocks bruising its sinews [39]
He was thrown off but escaped serious injury, while the horse's injuries it was believed would end its racing career [39: 22-Apr-1899]
Station-hand for his uncle Alexander MACPHERSON on Billabalong Station at Murgoo in the Murchison 1901-1907 [269: 5-Oct-1945]
Following the death in November 1907 of his uncle, who managed Billabalong Station, he was appointed its manager [269: 5-Oct-1945]
Manager of Billabalong Station at Murgoo in the Murchison 1907-1913 [269: 5-Oct-1945]
In 1909 the station was described as being one million acres with 100 miles of frontage onto the Murchison River [120: 11-Dec-1909]
The station contained 230 miles of fencing, was divided into 14 paddocks which were watered by 42 wells and 16 windmills [120]
Stock run on he station consisted of 12,000 sheep, 2,5000 head of cattle and 75 horses [120: 11-Dec-1909]
His parents, described as "two well-known Western Australians" lived with him on Billabalong Station [120: 11-Dec-1909]
He and his cousin placed an In Memoriam notice for their uncle Alexander in The Geraldton Express newspaper in 1908 [31]
"Macpherson - In sad and sorrowful remembrance of our dear uncle, Alexander, who died November 5th, 1907. [31]
The call was sudden, the shock severe, To part with one we loved so dear. So true and loving, so gentle and kind, [31]
Hard in this world his equal to find. Sleep on, dear uncle, and take thy rest, God called thee home when He thought best. [31]
Inserted by his loving nephews, T. C. and R. L. Macpherson." [31: 17-Jan-1908]
Manger of Woolgorong Station in the Murchison 1914-1919 [269: 5-Oct-1945]
Steward of the horse races at the Picnic Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Saint Patrick's Day 17 March 1917 [124]
Farmer in Carnamah in 1919 [6]
In February 1919 cashed two £1 cheques from his uncle Donald MACPHERSON at the Carnamah Supply Stores [92]
Committee Member of the Carnamah Race Club in 1919 and Handicapper at their Annual Races in 1919 [9: 7-Mar-1919] [10: 21-Feb-1919]
Handicapper of the Three Springs Race Club's Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Thursday 6 March 1919 [10: 31-Jan-1919]
Handicapper and Steward of the Saint Patrick's Day Picnic Race Meeting held in Three Springs on Monday 17 March 1919 [124]
Donated 10/- to the Three Springs Saint Patrick's Day Committee in 1919 and again in 1920 [124]
Presumably left Carnamah after his uncle Donald sold out to the Repatriation Department in April or May 1919 [10: 9-May-1919, 6-Jun-1919]
Manager of Meeberrie Station at Murgoo in the Murchison 1919-1945 [6] [269: 5-Oct-1945]
Married Mary Jane Cecilia Josephine RYAN in Greenough in 1922 [66]
His brother-in-law Clarence F. T. RYAN was a bookkeeper and accountant in Carnamah 1924-1938 [4: 1-Sep-1928] [6] [19]
Father of Mary, "Bill" Leslie and John [119]
Died 30 August 1945 on Meeberrie Station at Murgoo in the Murchison; buried at the Mullewa Cemetery in Mullewa [240: 21-Sep-1945]
From The Perenjori Pioneer newspaper, Friday 21 September 1945:
Funeral - Late Mr R. L. Macpherson
"At the Anglican cemetery, Mullewa, on Sunday, September 9, the remains of the late Mr R. Leslie Macpherson were laid to rest, the last rites being performed by Rev. A. W. Kerr. The deceased gentleman, who was 64 years of age, passed away at his home at Meeberrie Station the previous Thursday night. He was most favourably known throughout the Murchison, where he spent 44 years of his life, the last 26 of which he lived at Meeberrie. There was a large gathering of friends at the graveside to pay their last respects; among those present being:- Chief Mourners: Mrs Macpherson, widow; Miss M. Macpherson, Messrs W. and J. Macpherson, Mesdames Jones (Boogardy) and Leeds (Yallalong) and Miss Macpherson, sisters. Pallbearers: Messrs F. Bell, J. Keogh, F. Lefroy, R. Cambell, J. O'Halloran, A. Mitchell, C. O. Unmack, W. Coroish, J. Lyall, M. Scott, D. Sharpe, G. Boddington and J. Officer. Others present were Messrs G. Sopp, J. Moorhead, T. Shannon, Jack, P. C., F. D., T. S. and W. J. Keefe, N. Adams, M. Burleigh, Ernie, Tom and Charlie Boddington, H., F. and J. O'Brien, R. Milne, H. Wright, R. Macpherson, C. Simpson, A. Clarke, W. Jones, O. Richards, J. McNamara, F. Wass, P. McCracken, R. Jensen, V. McGuiness, H. Waldeck, J. Crameri, A. Gosden, Ray and Syd Criddle, R. Fremlin, N. Carson, Roy Molster, W. Smith, J. Turley, J. Fitzgerald, H. Pest, K. Bone, W. Olsen, W. Evans, S. Yoxall, Son, C. and J. C. Whitehurst, G. Eves, W. Strang, E. Ridley, D. McGauran, C. Rasool, S. and E. McCarley, W. Woodvin, J. Ventura, A. Mitchell, G. Elliott, H. Ring, G. Stoner, A. Brand, O'Donnell, Bobby Lefroy; Mesdames Stoner, Brand, Eves, McDermott, L. C. Bennett and O'Donnell. Floral tributes were sent by His Widow and Children, Mr and Mrs Leeds, Staff Meeberrie Station, Mrs J. Butcher and family, All at Wooleen, Ranji and Olive Taylo, Narryer Station, Nancy and Gilbert Elliott, Mrs M. J. Campell and Margaret, Bob and Ethel Jensen, Boolardy Pastoral Co., Pinegrove Station, Mr and Mrs J. S. O'Halloran, Tim and Jean Officer and family, Mrs Molster and Roy, Dalgety & Co. Ltd. Perth and Geraldton, Elder, Smith & Co. Ltd Mullewa and Geraldton. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr N. Jose."
From The Mullewa Mail And Magnet newspaper, Friday 5 October 1945:
A Murchison Pioneer - The Late Mr. R. L. Macpherson
"Mr Reginald Leslie Macpherson, who died suddenly at Meeberrie Station on August 31, at the age of 64, will be missed by a large circle of friends. The only son of the late Lachlan Macpherson, who had early pastoral interests on the Murchison, and his mother, who prior to her marriage was Miss Rodda Waldeck, a member of a well known Greenough family. Upon leaving school Leslie Macpherson spent some time at Northampton and Mandanooka. He then turned his attention to the pastoral industry, and went to Billabalong in January, 1901, to gain experience under his uncle, Alick Macpherson, who was then managing the property - a very hard master, but a most practical and efficient station man. The severe training tested the junior to the fullest, but he carried it through, and this early tuition stood to him twofold in the years to follow. At the death of his Uncle Alick in November, 1907 Mr Leslie Macpherson was installed as manager. Billabalong and Meeberrie (then known as Midgee Midgee) prior to the end of 1913 were all one station and owned by Messrs E. R. & G M. Dempster. The properties were disposed of at that time, and the lower end, known as Ballabalong, was purchased by Messrs Darlot Bros. Ltd., and the top end, now known as Meeberrie, by Messrs J. & C. Berry Ltd. After the handing over of these properties, Mr Macpherson took over the management of Woolgorong (owned by Mr H. A. Lee Steere) on January 2, 1914, and remained in that capacity until the end of March, 1919, when he accepted the position of manager of Meeberrie, which he held continuously and successfully for over 26 years. He was conscientious and capable, and had few equals as a station man. The late Mr Macpherson leaves a widow, two sons and one daughter. His eldest son, Bill, is in the R.A.A.F."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Reginald Leslie Macpherson' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 10 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/reginald-leslie-macpherson [reference list] |
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