Notable People Western Australia - Part Two.
C M Nixon (Photographer)
Edith Wauhop (Mother, Wife and Mayress of East Fremantle)
Marjorie Alma Green (First Woman Councillor of East Fremantle)
Joy Aston (Dancer)
Charles Millington Nixon
Photographer (1834-1934)
50 Alexandra Road East Fremantle
Charles Millington Nixon was born in Kapunda, South Australia on the 12 February 1870 to father Stephen Edward Nixon and mother Mary Anne Ellis. He came from a family with a strong interest in photography including his father, grandfather and uncles who were pioneers in the industry in South Australia (Reference).
When Nixon returned to South Australia briefly in 1894, he married Annie Blanche Newman (1870-1956) on 12 September, 1894. Together they had three children Jack Millington Nixon, Charles Erroll Nixon and Sadie Blache Nixon. They lived at 50 Alexander Road East Fremantle (Reference).
When Nixon came to Western Australia around 1892 he immediately set up a photography studio with Henry Merrilees in High Street, Fremantle but shortly after moved to William Street. Nixon and Merrillees worked together for almost 10 years.
Together they toured the state and took numerous landscape and panoramic photographs and presented them in albums for souvenir for sale to tourists. Late in the 19 th century Nixon and his partner Henry Merrilles published a book of photographs titled ‘100 Glimpses of Western Australia’. In 1902 Nixon dissolved his partnership with Henry Merrilees and continued upon his own (Reference). Nixon opened another studio in Northam .
Nixon took photographs around Fremantle for nearly 40 years. In 1929 Nixon was commissioned by the City of Fremantle to provide photographs for a book by J. K. Hitchcock’s titled ‘The History of Fremantle’ (Reference). He was also the official photographer to the Fremantle City Council and The Fremantle Tramway Board. “He was at all times known as real artist, and possessed a notable collection of historic photographs which record many places and incidents, around which a great deal of the early history of this State, and Fremantle in particular could be woven (Reference).
Throughout his life Nixon had a number of interests that included music and church work. He was organist at the Lodge Richmond and was an old member. He was also choir master at the East Fremantle Presbyterian Church. In his younger days Nixon was interested in outdoor sports and played cricket (Reference). As Nixon was one of the longest operating photographers in Western Australia he was elected as the inaugural President of the Perth Professional Photographers Association (Reference ).
Nixon collapsed and died at his home in East Fremantle in 3 February, 1934 at the age of 64. (Reference).
Some photographs by Nixon and Merrilees from the collection of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society. No copyright infringement intended.
Mrs Edith Wauhop
Mayoress of East Fremantle and Labor Woman’s Honour Role Nomination
118 Duke Street East Fremantle
Edith Willambury Wheelock was born in 1891 at Gascoyne River in Western Australia to Charles Thomas Wheelock (1858-1916) and Jessie Nevin Wheelock (1863-1946). She was one of seven siblings, May Elizabeth (b date unknown d 1886), Darcy Logan (b 1888 d 1962), Jessie Neethan (b 1893 d 1946), Charles Edward Gerald (b 1900 d 1964), Annie Mary (b 1914 d 23 1952), Teresa Grace and (b 1898 d unknown ).
Prior to marrying and moving to Fremantle, Edith worked at the Carnarvon Post Office and in the telephone exchange.
On 25 October, 1911, William married Edith Willliambury Wheelock from Carnarvon. Edith was the daughter of Charles Thomas Wheelock and Jessie Wheelock (Nevin). The couple were married in the Congregational Church in Carnarvon in front of family and friends. Together they had three children, Edith May (1921-1973), Grace Nevin (1912-2001) and William Gerald (1914-1976).
When William and Edith moved to Perth they moved to Duke Street in East Fremantle close to William’s parents Isaiah and Grace.
In 1961 William and Edith celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. In a newspaper article Edith talked about how the couple first met. “... Mrs Wauhop was in charge of Carnarvon’s post office and telephone exchange. I used to spend evening after evening talking to each other over the wires. So when we were officially introduced some months later at a party we already knew each other well… ” They moved to Fremantle following their marriage in 1914.
Although Edith was busy raising children and a family as many women of the time were, she was also an active member of the Australian Labor Party. In 1942 Edith was nomination to the Fremantle Labor Party roll of honor for her work in the community.
In an article published in The Westralian Worker for 5 October 1943, describes how Edith joined the East Fremantle Australian Labor Party and later she joined the Fremantle Women’s Labor Organisation and the Red Cross at the outbreak of the war in 1914.
The article goes on to describe how “...Mrs Wauhop has always taken an interest in the Labor Women’s Central Executive and has represented Labor organisations at the Annual conference of Labor Women…Mrs Wauhop is an amiable person of a retiring disposition who does not court publicity but has always been a good helpmate to her husband in labor matters and interested in the movement for its own sake…”
Wauhop became a council member of East Fremantle Council. In September 1944 Wauhop as a councillor was elected mayor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr H. J. Locke. He served as a councillor and mayor of East Fremantle for 21 years from 1944 to 1964. William Wauhop along with Vic Ulrich served a total of 42 years as a councillor and mayor. They were both honoured with the title of Freeman of the Town.
William died on the 17 September, 1971, aged 84. Edith died several years later on the 12 March 1974, aged 82. They were both cremated and memorialised at the Fremantle cemetery.
http://john.curtin.edu.au/diary/primeminister/1941.html
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148420343?searchTerm=wauhop#
First Woman Councilor of East Fremantle.
Marjorie Alma Green was the first female elected as a female to the Town of East Fremantle from 1974 to 1985 and was acting Deputy Mayor during that time.
“....Marjorie Alma Green made Council history in 1974 when she became the first woman to be elected to the Council… Though she gave “home duties” as her occupation, the modest Mrs Green had made her impact on the community in kindergarten work and had been made a Life Member of the East Fremantle Kindergarten Centre…” Lee (1975. p.111).
Marjorie Green worked as a nurse at Royal Perth Hospital prior to moving from Victoria.
In 1982 the Australia Day Honors were announced in the Commonwealth Gazette. Marjorie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service in the field of child care and to local government.
Marjorie Green was the first female elected as a female to the Town of East Fremantle from 1974 to 1985 and was acting Deputy Mayor during that time.
“....Marjorie Alma Green made Council history in 1974 when she became the first woman to be elected to the Council… Though she gave “home duties” as her occupation, the modest Mrs Green had made her impact on the community in kindergarten work and had been made a Life Member of the East Fremantle Kindergarten Centre…” Lee (1975. p.111).
Marjorie Green worked as a nurse at Royal Perth Hospital prior to moving from Victoria.
In 1982 the Australia Day Honors were announced in the Commonwealth Gazette. Marjorie was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service in the field of child care and to local government.
Joy Ashton
Dancer
East Fremantle
Miss Joy Ashton was a talented all round dancer in Perth. In 1938 she opened a dancing school in the Scottish Hall, Fremantle where she taught all branches of dancing, performed in professional recitals and recitals with her pupils.
Miss Ashton was an accomplished dancer from an early age. She trained with the Lashbrooke’s Studios. The West Australian newspaper July 26, 1935 published the results of a dance competition run by the Caledonian Society in 1935 and a photograph of her and the many trophies she had won from a young age. “She was the winner of the Peter Cox Cup as the champion dancer of Western Australia in a competition run by Caledonian Society. She gained the highest points in a recent operatic dancing examination held in Perth.” Late in 1935 she obtained the highest marks for Operative Dancing in a competition.
On the 24 November, 1938 the Fremantle Advocate published a review of a performance that her dance school put on. She often performed in the recitals... “A large audience waited in the Fremantle Town hall on Friday night last with keen anticipation. The occasion was the initial concert presented by Miss Joy Ashton and her pupils and familiar with Miss Ashton’s reputation as a dancer, those present expected something special. They were not disappointed.
The show went with a swing, the frocking throughout was striking, the scenic effects extremely good, and the whole performance showed evidence of careful stage-management.
Miss Ashton pleased her audience with solo items. She took the main part in the prologue: her Spanish dance showed character and originality: and the toe speciality emphasised the intensive training she has had in operatic dancing.
The items of the programme were varied, and a number of them were outstanding. Special attention was paid to “The Proposal,” a dainty toe speciality by an intermediate pupil who showed remarkable talent as an operatic dancer: to Everybody Dance” a smart song and dance number: and to “La Militare.” Other notable items included a smart tap by Master Mat. Brown, a talented junior pupil: “Easter Parade,” with Early Victorian costume, Harlequin and Columbine, Demons and a Devil a male impersonator: an adagio by an intermediate and a junior pupil: the balloon dance; Toyland; and the Silver Slipper. Several prettily-frocked kicking and tap ballets were staged by both junior and senior pupils.
The finale, which brought on the stage nearly all the pupils, included a naval wedding with two talented kiddies, and had naval effects most appropriate to Armistice Day. The lowering of the Union Jack and the singing of Rule Britannia brought the show to an effective finish…”
Miss Ashton also performed with her students in the dance reviews put on by the school. In an article in The Fremantle Advocate 16 November, 1939 titled “Again Successful...Miss Joy Ashton’s Concert.” described the performances... “Showing to a large audience Miss Joy Ashton’s juveniles proved themselves to be some of the cleverest little artists in Fremantle. The frocking was most elaborate and left nothing to be desired. Miss Ashton proved her talent with two very clever and outstanding items. A character dance, ‘Tarantelle’, showed her technique and ability and a rhythm tap was well received by the audience…”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/75447549?searchTerm=ashton%20joy%20dancer&searchLimits=
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/255768720?searchTerm=ashton%20joy%20dancer&searchLimits=
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/255772978?searchTerm=ashton%20joy%20dancer&searchLimits=
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32873194?searchTerm=ashton%20joy%20dancer&searchLimits=
