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- Robert Barnes Baxter
Robert Barnes (Bob) was the third child, and second son, of Charles Farquharson and Jessie Minnie Baxter (nee Millsom) and was born in Perth WA on 2 August 1907. After his birth he was taken home to his parents' property at 'Whitehaven,' which his father purchased in 1904. This was to be his home for the first seven years of his life. In 1914 his father was elected to the Legislative Council of the WA Parliament and the family moved to Perth.
They travelled from Quairading to Perth in a Studebaker sedan, which was loaded with, not only the family of seven and their luggage, but also two pet kangaroos and two caged cockatoos. It took all day to drive the 170 kms, over the gravel roads, and after numerous flat tyres they finally arrived in Perth around midnight. The family temporarily resided in St Alban's Av, Highgate. In 1915 the family moved into their new residence at 23 Vale Road, Mt Lawley, which was to become and remain the family home until 1952.
It was while they were living in St Alban's Av that Bob commenced his education at Highgate Primary School, Lincoln St, Highgate. After completing his primary education he attended Perth Boy's School, James St Perth and later attended to 'The High School' in West Perth, now Hale School, where he completed his Junior Certificate. After leaving school, in 1923, he joined Elder-Smith &Co and a junior stock and station agent.
While Bob was working at Elder-Smith's, his father sold 'Whitehaven in 1924 and shortly purchased a wheat property at Waeel Siding. In 1928, Bob left Elder-Smith's and joined his older brother Russell, on the farm at Waeel. In 1929, their younger George joined them and they, all worked on the farm. The farm not making enough to support the three of them and in 1930 Russell left the farm to try dairy farming in the southwest. Bob and George continued working on the farm. Not long after Bob and Bertha Janet Findlay were married, on 8 November 1934, George also left the farm and Bob took it over.
Bob and Janet had two children, Craig Robert, born in 1935, and Lesley Jean, born in 1937. Over the years Bob took and active interest in the affairs of Cunderdin, and served on the Roads Board and other community organizations. He was a Freemason and a member of the Cunderdin Lodge and was elected to serve his term as Master of the Lodge.
Bob, and Craig, continued to work the farm until his death, on 10 October 1982. The property was passed on to Craig.
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1907 - 1982 (75 years)
