William Herbert BURGESS

Born 9 December 1890 in Newtown, South Australia ^[55]
Son of George BURGESS and Esther Jane PASCOE ^[55]
Married Alma Chloride STEED on 7 July 1913 in Queensland, Australia ^[242]
Shifted from South Australia to Arrino, Western Australia in 1928 ^{[P2] [4: 1-Nov-1952]}
Resided on Claude E. MALEY's farm 15 miles west of Arrino and sold household materials and linen from a horse and sulky ^[P2]
Around 1930 he purchased land near the Arrowsmith River nine miles east of the Arrino townsite ^{[5: 20-Jan-1933]}
Farmer in Arrino ^[19]
By February 1930 he had established a large irrigated vegetable garden on his farm nine miles west of the Arrino townsite ^{[4: 1-Feb-1930]}
Rendered a vocal item at the Methodist Church Social held in Arrino on Wednesday 29 July 1931 ^{[4: 1-Aug-1931]}
Won 1st for the Best Collection of Vegetables and 2nd for Parsnips and Broad Beans at the Three Springs Show in 1932 ^{[5: 30-Sep-1932]}
By January 1933 his large vegetable garden was said to be the only one of its kind within 100 miles ^{[5: 20-Jan-1933]}
      He had over 2700 big healthy tomato plants growing in addition to over 20 other varieties of vegetables growing in profusion ^[5]
      By January he was supplying Arrino with tomatoes and later hoped to extend to all centres between Carnamah and Mingenew ^[5]
      His vegetable garden was watered through irrigation, the water coming via drains from a nearby swamp on higher ground^[5]
Exhibited in the Vegetable and Poultry sections of the Three Springs Agricultural Show on 21 September 1933 ^{[5: 29-Sep-1933]}
     Won 1st prizes for Collection of Vegetables, 2nd for male Black Orpington and 1st for male and female of other poultry breeds ^[5]
He later delivered vegetables with his canvas covered truck to Three Springs and Mingenew once a week, selling door to door ^[P2]
     Some of the summer vegetables he regularly sold included beans, cucumber, tomatoes, watermelon and rockmelon ^[P2]
Member of the Arrino Football Club - was Vice President in 1934 ^{[5: 27-Apr-1934]}
Won 2nd prize for "Crayon or Pastel Drawing" in the Arts section of the Three Springs Agricultural Show in 1934 ^{[5: 21-Sep-1934]}
Presided over the Arrino Concert of amateur stage artists at the Arrino Hall on Thursday 1 November 1934 ^{[5: 9-Nov-1934]}
Sang a song at the Miscellaneous Evening given to Miss Lucy PEARCE at the Arrino Hall on Wednesday 1 May 1935 ^{[5: 3-May-1935]}
Won 1st prize for Collection of Vegetables at the Three Springs Agricultural Show held on Thursday 19 September 1935 ^{[5: 27-Sep-1935]}
Pallbearer at the funeral of Arrino resident Mrs Isabella ANGEL at the Three Springs Cemetery on 5 January 1943 ^{[4: 9-Jan-1943]}
Father of Wilbur and Verna ^{[5: 29-Mar-1935]}
Died 26 October 1952 in Arrino; buried Three Springs General Cemetery, Three Springs (Anglican, Plot 94) ^[24]


From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 1 November 1952:
Obituary - Arrino Farmer's Death - Late Mr W. H. Burgess
"Under somewhat sudden circumstances, the death occurred on Sunday last of Mr W. H. Burgess whilst working on his farming property at Arrino. The deceased gentleman, who was sixty years of age, was a native of South Australia and had resided at Arrino for the past twenty four years. He was well known as a particularly good neighbour, being ever ready to assist his fellow man quite irrespective of race, creed or colour, and there are many who will doubtless long remember his many kindly and thoughtful actions. The late Mr Burgess is survived by a widow, one son in Mr W. Burgess (Pithara) and one daughter in Mrs F. Brayley (Bickley). In the presence of quite a representative gathering of residents of Arrino and Three Springs, the funeral of the deceased gentleman took place in the Three Springs Cemetery on Tuesday last, the chief mourners at the graveside being the bereaved widow and his son and daughter. The pall bearers were Messrs H. J. Stacey, V. Ferguson, W. Chapman, J. Payne, C. King and C. E. Maley, and the casket was borne from the hearse to the graveside by Messrs K. Haines, N. McNeil, W. Chapman and J. Ovenden. Included in a large number of floral tributes laid upon the grave were those from the following:- Beloved wife and family; beloved grandchildren; Frank, Verna and family; Isabel, Sonny and family; Mr and Mrs J. Ovenden; Pastor Speck; Mr Vern Ferguson; Hazel, Joe and family; Valma and Laurie; Dawn and Keith Haines; Mr and Mrs N. E. Stokes and family; Dot and Norm McNeill and family; Maria, Mell and Loise; Mr and Mrs W. Chapman and family; Ken and Sis Mutter and family; Mr and Mrs H. Sweetman and family; Mr and Mrs C. E. Maley and Verna; Dawn, George and family; Mrs E. Turner and family and Miss Carroll; Annie and John McCagh. The mortuary arrangements were conducted by Mr H.H. Knight of Three Springs."

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