Charles Samuel Sparks Yeates...(1872 - 1961).
Charles Samuel Sparks Yeates (Yeates, C. S. S.) was born on the 5 March, 1872 in England. The family migrated to Australia and then move to Western Australia where he gained a position at the Perth Observatory. The family lived at 441 Rokeby Road, Subiaco.
"...Charles Yeates was born in England and came to Adelaide in 1881. He later went to Melbourne, where he was apprenticed to his father, a maker of scientific instruments. He spent some time in work at the Melbourne Observatory and came to this State in 1895, before the observatory was founded. When the observatory was founded in the next year Mr. Yeates joined the staff as mechanic and clerk under the Government Astronomer of the day, Mr. Cooke..." (West Australian, 5 November 1935).
Charles married Catherine Janet Hinckley in 1889. They lived at 441 Rokeby-road, Subiaco. The following notice was put in the West Australian .. "YEATES - HINCKLEY (Silver Wedding). On January 6, 1898, at St. Alban's Highgate, by Rev. F. J. Price, Charles S. S. Yeates, youngest son of late Horatio Yeates, Melbourne and Tasmania, to Catherine Janet second daughter of the late Thomas and Mary Hinckley, South Australia and Western Australia. Present address: 441 Rokeby-road, Subiaco, Western Australia. Victorian and South Australian papers please copy." They have two children Mary Kathleen (Kath) Yeates (1900), and Horatio Thomas Yeates (1898).
The Mirror newspaper wrote the following article about Charles and his daughter Kathleen who trained to be a nurse...
"Charles Yeates, who has been on the staff of the Perth Observatory since 1897, is one of the best know of our citizens. He reads the stars and their courses and is regarded as one of Australia's foremost astronomers. He first saw the light in England in 1881, and after experience in S.A. and Vic. came West and joined our Observatory. Charles Yeates has given much of his private time to those interested in the mysteries of the heavens and many a party can thank him for conducting them.
Charles Yeates has given much of his private time to those interested in the mysteries of the heavens and many a party can thank for conducting them. The Observatory to him has been something more than a bread-winning establishment and over a long association he has given his knowledge freely with the hope of making the Western Australian Observatory a model in the Commonwealth. Mr. Yeates is proud man these days in his daughter Kathleen, a native of the West, recently topped the State in her maternity course at the King Edward Hospital, Subiaco.
She is fully qualified, having taken out A.T.N.A. certificate at Perth Hospital where she underwent her training. She is at present finishing a child welfare course prior to commencing active practice of her profession. The possessor of a charming personality this young lady is a real chip of the old block and a credit to her Dad to whom she is more a pal than a daughter. Incidentally when Kathleen qualified as a trained nurse she gained fifth place in the State and as she followed up this performance with a first in maternity nursing it can be seen that is going to be a star in her particular sphere." (Mirror, 14 Saturday, 1931). Kathleen Yeates went on to be a highly decorate nurse.
In 1935 Charles Yeates explained the total eclipse of the moon in the Daily New newspaper..."TOTAL ECLIPSE OF MOON For the first time since September 27, 1931, a total eclipse of the moon will be observed by Perth people tonight. It will begin at 11.4 p.m. and finish at 12.31. We have not made any special arrangements to observe it, said Mr., C. S. S. Yeates, of the Observatory today. 'An eclipse or partial eclipse of the moon is a common thing.'
'One interesting point to note is that during the time of total eclipse, the moon appears to be copper colored. This is due to the reflected light off our earthy said Mr. Yeates. It is proof that our earth throws out a red light into space. As seen from Mars we would appear to be a red planet. The earth gets between the sun and the moon, completely cutting off the sun's light from the moon. Therefore, if no light were thrown off from the earth we should not be able to see m moon at a1.1 during totality.' The total eclipse occurs only during the time of full moon. 'We shall take a photograph of the partial eclipse,' said Mr. Yeates. 'We cannot take one of the total eclipse, as we would obtain no results, copper colored light being bad for photography. There was a partial eclipse of the moon on July 26, 1934, but there he been a total eclipse since September... (Daily News, 19 January 1935).
In 1936 Charles Yeates retired and the following article was published in the Western Australian...."ASSISTANT ASTRONOMER. Mr. Yeates's Long Service Ends. After having been associated with the Perth Observatory throughout its whole life-some 40 years-the Assistant Government Astronomer (Mr. C. S. F. Yeates) will retire today.
He will be remembered and missed by some thousands of members of the general public who visited the Observatory and listened to Mr. Yeates's painstaking explanations. Mr. Yeates was born in England and came to Adelaide in 1881. He later went to Melbourne, where he was apprenticed to his father, a maker of scientific instruments. He spent some time in work at the Melbourne Observatory and came to this State in 1895, before the observatory was founded.
When the observatory was founded in the next year Mr. Yeates joined the staff as mechanic and clerk under the Government Astronomer of the day, Mr. Cooke. The department was then housed in the building now occupied by the Agricultural Department. The staff was later transferred to the present main observatory building-the familiar domed building did not exist until some years later-before the building was completed. The staffs first work in its new quarters, Mr. Yeates relates, was carried on while the finishing touches were being applied to the building. Yesterday the Government Astronomer (Mr. H. B. Curlewis) paid a tribute to his assistant's reliability and precision in his duties. He had a record unique in the civil service, if popular opinion was to be believed, said Mr. Curlewis, of having never been late in his 40 years service" (West Australian, 5 November 1935).
Charles Yeates died on 22 November, 1961 aged 89. His ashes were scattered at Karrakatta Cemetery.
The photographs are from the State Library of Western Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
The articles are from Trove the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
The groom C.S.S. Yeates is seated second from left beside his bride Kate (Catherine Janet) Yeates nee Hinckley. They were married at St Alban's Church, Highgate Hill at 4pm 6 January 1898. The wedding is described in an article published in the Western Mail 14/1/1898, p.44."
"BA3491/65: Left-right standing: Unknown, C.S.S. Yeates; sitting: Mary Kathleen 'Kath' Yeates, Catherine Janet 'Kate' Yeates, Horatio Thomas Yeates, ca.1906."
Daily News, 10 January 1928.
