William Emanuel James Douthat

Son of William & Mary Ellen (nee Cassidy)

“We left Waanyarra when I was only young and came to live at Koondrook but often I would travel back to Waanyarra with Dad’s brother, Uncle Manuel in his gig.

The gig was a beautiful contraption with red wheels. His horse was a lovely bay mare. She was kept in top condition and was one of the ‘flashest’ around the district.

We’d leave Koondrook early in the morning and just jog along, we’d get to Waanyarra in a day.

My mother was Mary Ellen Cassidy from Waanyarra. My father was William Douthat, the eldest son of Emanuel William Douthat and Mary Ann Cogswell.

I had a brother named John Richard and my sister’s name is Mary Eliza. We have a half brother named Douglas from Dad’s marriage to Jane Kimpton.

I saw my father as a hard man who expected every bit of work out of us he could get. My mother was a great friend to me, we got on well together and were very close.

I married my wife Winnie (Eva Winifred Grigg) and had two sons Neville and Alan, and a daughter June.”