SHIPS

In March 1921 my grandfather, Alexander William (Sonny) Frazer married Bernadine Monica Grant in Wyandra. Wyandra was home to both the Frazer and the Grant families at that time. In November 1924, Sonny’s father, Alexander Fraser, selected a block of land that was halfway between Cunnamulla and Bollon. He named this property Werona.

In March 1928 Alexander Fraser became the owner of a property outside of Wyandra that was called Clover Lake. This block was then run by his daughter Alice and her husband, Christopher George White, who became the owner of Clover Lake in March 1936.  

When the the resumption ballots of Saltern Creek were opened in the June of 1928 Alexander Fraser supported the applications of his sons, Albert and ‘Sonny’. At this time Albert was working as a mechanic in Wyandra and ’Sonny’ as a carrier. For the first time numbered marbles were used to decide winners.  One of the marbles drawn was the application in the name of Albert Edward Frazer. Both brothers and their families began to work on the block of land near Barcaldine that they called Avonslea.

 In the eight years prior to Sonny’s death he and Bernie and their children lived on Avonslea in quite harsh conditions. Bert was not constantly present on the property due to his work as a shearing contractor.

Following their father’s death in August 1936 Tom and Noel were sent away to boarding school for a short time. (When his grandfather died in March 1937 Tom was brought home from Southport School to help run Werona.)

Sonny Frazer’s son Tom is in the front of the cart ~ Avonslea abt. 1935