After his working day as a blacksmith, Jack Parker would meet regularily with other volunterr firemen in Meekatharra for a chat and for training. Out would come the big hoses and reels for ‘wet work’ routines.
The traditional brass helmets were worn for occasions such as Easter demonstrations but the most essential commodity for firemen everywhere, water, has only been plentiful in floods in Meekatharra. The name Meekatharra is an aboriginal name meaning ‘place of little water’.
However gold had been found in great abundance which is how the township was started in 1898.
By Mr Parker’s time in the 1920’s, mining was stagnating, so there was great joy when a rich find was made just to the east of the town in 1922.
An annual highlight for the Meekatharra residents was the springtime railway picnic to Nallan Lake just north of Cue on the rail line to Perth.
“The Prettiest Spot on the Murchison’ proclaimed the advertisements. The day promised, log chopping, dancing and a Grand ‘Tug of War’ with teams from Cue, Day Dawn and Mt Magnet attending.
Jack Parker was to leave Meekatharra and go to Melbourne were he met and married a nurse called Rachel. They adopted a little girl and Jack died of spinal paralysis at the outbreak of WW11.
The Meekatharra Fireman photograph, belongs to Jack’s nephew, Ken Parker, of Carine WA. Another Meekatharra boy is Rodney Ihms who was also a volunteer fire fighter in the 1950’s to 1960’s when he worked for Elders. He still has his brass helmet. His wife said that he was sometimes away for three days when firefighting bush fires.
Meekatharra Volunteer Fire Brigade 1922. Jack Parker is third from the left in the front row.
Ref:- The West Australian 12 March 2001 Pg 13
Meekatharra Fire Brigade 1951
Meekatharra Fire Brigade 1963
Moya Sharp
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