Personal Details
| Surname | Bullen (Snr) |
|---|---|
| First name | William 'Bill' |
| Middle name | John |
| Date of birth | 16/10/1909 |
| Place of birth | Longreach |
| Date of death | 10/12/1992 |
| Age at death | 83 years |
Details
[Ref:1909/000160]
Son of William Bullen & Mary Ellen ‘Nell’ McCarthy
Husband of Florence ‘Doodie’ Ethel Cocking m.3 Jun 1934 St John’s Parish Church Muttaburra
Father of –
William ‘Billy’ John
Ellen ‘June’ [Jones]
Norman Charles
Mervyn Douglas
School Records
| Muttaburra State School | |
|---|---|
| Start Date | 1915 |
| Position | Student |
Cemetery Record
Download the Cemetery Map| Cemetery | Muttaburra |
|---|---|
| Location | North Western |
| Grave number | 325 |
| Address | Pioneers Home, Longreach |
| Occupation | Pensioner |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Date of funeral | 15/12/1992 |
| Comment | Died from Cerebrovascular occlusion “Bill attended school at Longreach until the final years, when he spent 2 years at Nudgee College Brisbane. Bill’s early working life was spent on stations in the Longreach & Jundah districts. He moved to Muttaburra in the late 1920’s where he followed shed work. He soon graduated to shearing sheep, a calling he maintained most of his working life. Bill met his wife to be, Florence Ethel Cocking soon after arriving at Muttaburra. Times were tough during the Great Depression – in his first year of married life Bill earned 69 pounds & their kitchen/dining room furniture was made up of strategically arranged butter boxes. Bill’s attempts to enlist for service in the Armed Forces 1939-1940 during the 2nd World War, was rejected on the grounds that the pastoral industry (wool) was essential to the war effort. Bill was an above average all round sportsman. He was the open 100 yards swimming Champion of Muttaburra for 10 consecutive years. His talents as a boxer were such that a backer was prepared to back Bill for 100 pounds to beat any man of his weight in the central west. He also represented Muttaburra at Football, Cricket & Tennis. He took up golf when well into his 60’s and he won trophies when in his early 70’s. He was forced to retire from the game he loved, when he had a series of life threatening strokes. Bill was a staunch unionist and labour party supporter during his working life. He was an official on the strike/relief committee during the Great Shearer’s strike of 1955 and though he did not work for 11 months, he declined to apply for strike pay or provisions because he felt that there were others in greater need. Bill’s life was shattered when his beloved Doodie passed away at the age of 53, he never quite recovered from the loss. Bill took up residence at the Pioneer Nursing Home in Longreach in 1982 where he spent 10 wonderful and happy years. He held the home and it’s staff in the highest regard, and that feeling was reciprocated by all who knew him at the home. Bill passed away peacefully at the Home on Thursday 10th December 1992. How will we remember Bill; – Extract of Eulogy |
