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Biographical Dictionary - Coorow, Carnamah, Three Springs


Surname

"Bill" William Michael Clive WHITE

Born 10 September 1903 in Wanneroo, Western Australia [P379]
Son of Stephen WHITE and Alicia Emilie HARRIS [15]
He grew up and was educated in the Perth suburb of Wanneroo which was then a farming district [P379]
Motor Driver in Galena in 1925 [50]
Married Phoebe Maud Isabella HOLT in Perth in 1928 [66]
Served in the Western Australian Police Force from 14 September 1928 to 10 September 1963; regimental number 1624 [87]
     Police Constable in Pingelly 1931-1933 [6]
     Resided at 116 Forrest Street in North Perth in 1934 [6]
     Resided at 10 Victoria Avenue / 10 Stirling Highway in North Fremantle 1935-1937 [6]
     Police Constable in North Fremantle prior to his transfer to Carnamah in 1938 [88]
Police Constable in Carnamah from 28 April 1938 to 16 February 1944 [87] [88]
     Arrived in Carnamah at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday 28 April 1938 to take over the Carnamah Police Station [88]
     Took charge of the Carnamah Police Station from relieving constable John F. CROWE at 5 p.m. on 28 April 1938 [88]
     The district he was responsible for included Carnamah, Winchester, Waddy Forest, Coorow, Marchagee and Gunyidi [88]
     His furniture was carted from the Carnamah Railway Station to the police quarters by the local carrier for £1/10/- [88]
     Took up residence in the police quarters on Saturday 30 April 1938 [88]
     The police quarters were a stone house next to the weatherboard Police Station in Railway Avenue, Carnamah [8: page 31]
     Attended in an official capacity all balls, dances, boxing events, football matches and stock sales in both Carnamah and Coorow [88]
     Checked on the Carnamah and Coorow Hotels at least once a week, to ensure they were adhering to their respective licenses [88]
     Also checked on a number of the trains that passed through Carnamah [88]
     Generally travelled to Coorow once a week to check on the hotel and make general inquires [88]
     Worked 56 hours one week and 48 hours the next with every second Monday off on bi-monthly leave
The first public event he attended was a Country Women's Association Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 7 May 1938 [88]
On 10 May 1938 appeared before the Three Springs Police Court on behalf of the Commissioner of Natives [88]
Made his first visit to Gunyidi on 18 May 1838 to investigate a complaint of straying sheep at East Gunyidi [88]
In June 1938 undertook the quarterly inspections of the Coorow and Carnamah Hotels and found all to be correct [88]
Spent a number of weeks in July and August 1938 collecting agricultural statistics from farms between Carnamah and Gunyidi [88]
Made his first arrest at 7:30 p.m. on 12 December 1938 when he arrested a farmhand of Waddy Forest who had stolen £16 [22]
     The case went before the Carnamah Police Court where the man was fined and ordered to pay costs, both totalling £1/17/6 [22]
     The man had pleaded guilty, returned the £16 to its two owners and the charge of stealing was withdrawn [22]
Three days later he made his second arrest, of a Perenjori farmer who was drunk in Macpherson Street, Carnamah [22]
     This man also went before the Carnamah Police Court, pleaded guilty and was fined 10/- and ordered to pay costs of 2/- [22]
Later arrests included disorderly conduct, abusive language, failing to produce a driver's license and fighting [88]
From 6 November 1939 to 18 December 1939 was on annual leave, during which time he was relieved by Const. Edward R. LEE [88]
At 1:30 p.m. on 22 December 1939 had a telephone call informing him there was a fire on Clerklands Farm in Winchester [88]
     He proceeded to Winchester with a car full of fire-fighters and had notified the Carnamah District Road Board of the fire [88]
     The Carnamah District Road Board sent a truck loaded with fire fighting equipment and more fire-fighters to the fire [88]
     Further calls were made and between 75 and 80 men were reported to have helped put out the fire [88]
At 9 a.m. on 2 January 1940 Carnamah farmer Harold F. DUNNING reported 68 ewes and 62 lambs of his had been stolen [88]
     It was reported the 130 sheep must have been stolen from the farm between 18 July 1939 and 25 August 1939 [88]
     The sheep had previously been believed to have perished in the winter floods when large parts of his farm were underwater [88]
     In December a pet sheep who had gone missing at the same time re-appeared and had his and someone else's brand on it [88]
     After interviewing DUNNING he made two visits to his farm and on inspection actually found a number of the sheep, dead [88]
     He believed many of the sheep could have been washed away, especially in the creek where a number of bodies were found [88]
     He also made note that no one would want to steal sheep in such poor condition (however did not act on the brand on the pet) [88]
Member of the Carnamah Football Club - was Treasurer in 1939 and 1940, and Secretary-Treasurer in 1941 [5: 29-Sep-1939, 6-Jun-1941]
     He kept Aboriginal football players in the Police Station's lock-up overnight so he'd be sure they showed up to the game [P22]
Foundation Committee Member of the Carnamah District War & Patriotic Fund in 1940 [5: 21-Jun-1940]
Member and Secretary of the Carnamah Miniature Rifle Club in 1941 and 1942 - was Secretary in 1942 [0: images 02956, 03995 & 04053]
In February 1944 he was transferred from Carnamah to Tambellup [87]
Police Constable in Tambellup 1944-1953, in Roebourne 1953-1960 and then in Perth until his retirement [P379]
Resided in the Perth suburb of Yokine until the 1980s when himself and his wife moved to Mandurah [P379]
Later resided at Bedingfield Lodge in Pinjarra [P379]
Father of Enid and Jack [P379]
Died 1 July 1987; ashes interred Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA (MC Section, Garden of Remembrance, 6, 155) [2]


Reference:  Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'William Michael Clive White' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 26 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-michael-clive-white [reference list]




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