Daughter of Frederick Kimberley and Ethel
Eunice was born at Barraba on 4 February 1925, living her early years at “Campo Santo”. Eunice (k/a Sal to her family) was educated at “Tareela” School and Tamworth High School.
‘After achieving my Intermediate Certificate in 1941 I then joined the Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney Ltd. in 1942. My interview with the manager, Mr McKinlay, did the trick and I worked with them until late 1949 at Quirindi, Scone and Muswellbrook branches – I never wanted to go to the city. We all were sworn to secrecy and a strict code of ethics in relation to bank business, and you were out if you broke it. My goodness, how we pushed pens in those years, my pay was never more than two pounds, five shillings a week. Dad came to my rescue when I wanted my train fare home – same with clothes. I must admit it was good training working at the bank, to experience people saving, squandering, big spending and an odd client testing the system! I still look back on those years, and at the end of 1949 I resigned to get married.
During her time in the bank at Quirindi, Eunice performed in local drama productions.
‘I married Beauchamp Edward Goddard on 20 January 1950 at
Tamworth. He was the eldest son of the late Edward B. Goddard and Jeanne F. Beauchamp Edward began his career as jackeroo on “Fernlee” Bollon, QLD, followed by nine years on “Midkin” Moree, and then was appointed manager of “Walhallow” and “Piallaway” Quirindi, NSW. We took up residence at “Eucumbene” Bollon to begin with, and in 1952 moved to “Deelamon” (27,526 acres) just next door. There B.E. Goddard died suddenly from heart seizure on 11 December 1967, aged 56 years, after a progressive land career. This left myself and Dease our son (aged 12) to carry on.’
While at “Deelamon” Eunice took pride in her garden. Though life on an outback station was arduous, she always found time for her garden. It was like an ‘oasis in the middle of a desert’.
‘William Edward Dease was born at Moree on 16 June 1955. Dease was enrolled at Southport School from 1966 to 1971, and from there he went to Longreach College, and graduated in 1973. He came home and is still there working away. He married Jane Veivers in Southport on 10 August 1985. The Veivers family originated at Southport and is now involved with grazing interests at Toobeah, QLD. Dease and Jane have three girls – Sarah Jane (4), Kate Amanda (2) and Sally Dease (6 months). I was pensioned off in 1989 and moved into Bollon and live in Bligh and Jean Khan’s old residence and it’s treating me well.’
A special interest for Sal in recent years has been her wool art pictures. She has won several prizes and has the honour of ore of her pictures, “St. George’s Bridge, 1846”, being hung in the Queensland Parliament House. Her work has been exhibited in several art shows in QLD, NSW and Victoria, and numerous pieces have been sold.
Other interests while at “Deelamon” included the CWA and tennis. Eunice has always had a keen interest in tennis, having played at “Campo Santo” and Quirindi in her youth, as well as Bollon in later years. She now takes a special interest in tennis with the children at Bollon.