Leo Joseph Reilly
Leo Joseph Reilly was born in 1890 in Geraldton, Western Australia. His parents were Charles Reilly and Polly Smith.
First Marriage
Leo Reilly was married twice. His first marriage was in 1915 in Moora, W.A., to Clarice Bowden, daughter of Matthew Bowden and Elizabeth Ann Dunn. Together they had two girls, Jessie Catherine Mary born in 1915 and Lucille Philomena born in 1917. Clarice died following the birth of Lucille.
- Jessie Catherine Mary Reilly, born 1915, died 30 Jun 2007 in Newcastle, NSW aged 91. She married Roy Septimus Barker, married 1941 in Perth, WA, born 1909 in Swan, WA, died 31 July 2004 in Nedlands WA, aged 95, buried in Karrakatta Cemetery, WA.
- Lucille Philomena Reilly, born 1917. She married David Charles Card
Second Marriage
Leo remarried, to Alice Emily Carwardine in 1923 in Perth, and had three children: Patricia, Peg and Geoffrey.
- Patrica Reilly, born 1923. She married Phillip Ron Adams.
- Peg Reilly, born 1929. She married (1) Ronald E. Cooper. She married (2) Allan Reynolds. She married (3) Ross Foreman.
- Geoffrey Charles Reilly, born 26 Nov 1933 in Katanning, WA, died 31 July 2000 in Riverton, WA, buried 4 Aug 2000 in Fremantle Cemetery, WA. He married Beatrice Antonina (Nina) Lagana, married 20 Feb 1965 in Narrogin, WA
General Store
Leo and his family lived in the WA wheatbelt town of Dumbleyung. A general store on the main street of Dumbleyung, named Stubbs and Jeffrey, was later taken over by Leo Reilly, who was the manager there. Leo became Manager-Secretary of the Co-Op on 28 Dec 1944 after selling his business to the Co-Op. His shop later became the drapery department for the Co-Op.
“ … there was Leo and Emily Reilly. They had a men’s and ladies’ drapery store and groceries too. You could try on a complete outfit – dress, shoes, hat and gloves and anything else you fancied. …”
extract from Dumbleyung and districts short stories, 1999 Leaderpress W.A. from the article, Dawsons and the Garage by Marjorie Rose (nee Dawson)
Historical Plaque
In 2007 the town of Dumbleyung turned 100. As part of the celebrations, there was unveiling of 30 Historical Place Plaques, situated at places of historical interest and importance to Dumbleyung, including one commemorating Leo Reilly where his shop once stood on the main street.
The text of plaque No. 17 reads:
STUBBS AND JEFFREY: In 1909 two shops were established on this site, Harris and Williams the blacksmith and Stubbs and Jeffrey general merchants from 1909 to 1925. In 1925 long-timemanager Leo Reilly purchased the shop and business. In 1945 the Co-Op bought the business and the drapery was managed by Margaret Chartres and later Maria Idziak.The building was demolished in 1985. The two brick buildings replacing the old blacksmith shop were built in 1926 by GeorgeWilson who leased to Alexander Galt, a hardware importer. The other shop was a tearoom until the Corke family moved across the road and established the Roadhouse in the early 1960s. Carrier and Walduck ran a greengrocer and deli outlet from 1960 to 1975.
School Bus Driver
Later in life, Leo was well known as the Dumbleyung School bus driver.
“ … Leo, as he got older and retired from his business, took on the running of one of the school buses and being quite deaf, didn’t hear the deafening noises coming from the children. … ”
extract from Dumbleyung and districts short stories, Looking Back Down the Main Streets, by Norma Smith (nee Ramm)
The following is a recollection by a young Dumbleyung student on the way to school, of an event which involved Leo Reilly on his daily school bus run.
“ … I was about eight or nine years old and the first on the bus at 7.30 am. This particular morning we hadn’t gone far. A mile or so, and the bus rolled to a stop behind the Williams’ white dam. I soon realised what was going on because the old bloke (Leo Reilly) got his shotgun out of the back, scrambled through the fence and with great stealth, crawled up the bank, poked the gun over and let it rip.
I jumped out of the bus and he appeared back out of the dam with a couple of nice plump mane geese. He put them in the back of the bus (it must have had a back door or hatch) but at the same time, kept an eye on the rest of the ducks which were landing on another dam three or four hundred years away down in another paddock. To my amazement, he suggested I run down and flush them back so he could have another shot at them.
I think I mentioned something along the lines of ‘what about the rest of the kids waiting for the bus to take them to school’ and he decided to let the ducks off the hook and away we went. “
extract from Dumbleyung and districts short stories, Duck Shooting on Reilly’s Bus, by Rodney Frost
Sportsman
Leo Reilly was a well known local sportsman. He played football for Dumbleyung, a star for the team. He played in the first season after a break from the First World War, in 1919. In June 1935 he was second in the second annual Dumbleyung Snooker Tournament. Leo was involved in local horse racing. He was a Lap Steward for trotting in 1925, and in 1920 he was Clerk of Scales for the turf club and assistant to the Secretary / Treasurer. In 1930 he was Judge for the turf club. He also was a champion golfer. Leo was involved in forming the Dumbleyung golf club in 1923, being on the first club committee. The following excerpt highlights the country attitude of having a go.
“ … An interesting story came from Mr Reilly who said that no one understood the handicapping system, so as he was the best golfer, he started on 1 and so on it went. He played a match in Wagin and with his 1 handicap, he was pitted against the district champion and was thoroughly thrashed. From then on, they had learnt about handicapping and what to do “
“The first championship was played in 1924 over 27 holes. Winner was L. Reilly and runner up, H. Padley. The winner was presented with a gold medal suitably inscribed and the runner up received one guinea (f1/ 1/-)”
Sheep were run on the course to keep the fairway in trim and wire placed around the greens to protect them. They also mixed salt with the sand to make the greens. The first score card box was donated by Mr W. H. & N. W. Williams, and the red and white flags were made by Mrs Reilly …”
extracts from Dumbleyung and districts short stories, 1999 Leaderpress W.A. from the article, The Dumbleyung Golf Club by Shirley Ramm
Community
Leo was a keen boating enthusiast, and fisherman. He would go fishing on the lake of course, but also with his mates would head to the south coast in the days when going to Wagin was an adventure.
Leo was on the Dumbleyung Hospital Board in 1953.
Around 1940, Leo Reilly made the news when he was reported as having broken a leg when farewelling soldiers off to war.
“ … In October, 1946, Leo came in his utility to collect Shirley, Gilbert and Peter Bloomer, also Jean and Norma Ramm, to go collecting everlastings on Ross Lloyd’s property. They were sent to the spastic Centre in Sydney and were sold as buttonholes. A photos taken of the occasion records that £1000 was made from this effort … ”
extract from Dumbleyung and districts short stories, Looking Back Down the Main Streets, by Norma Smith (nee Ramm)
Death
Leo died on 11 Apr 1978, aged 88 years, in Forrestfield, and is buried in Karrakatta Cemetery.