b'KENNARDS HIRE Since 1948TAKING HIRE HIGHER | 4After settling in Chatswood, New South Wales, Walter Sr struggledgame and more control over his work. So he corralled his remaining to get his tea merchant business off the ground in Australia. Lizziebrothers and formed Kennard Brothers (also known as the Kennard took responsibility for providing for the family by buying two cowsBoys) and entered the hardware industry.for milk, and trading with local merchants for groceries. Sons George and Wally, who were close in age and close friends, at firstWALLY AND THEOwore the suits and boaters that were fashionable in England. ThisWally met Joan Theodosia Pockley in 1933. She came from a family led to teasing by the local children who called them dandies, whichof writersher aunt was Ethel Turner, author of the classic childrens made them feel insecure. However, a visit to Manly Beach and abook Seven Little Australiansand started going by Theo when swim in the ocean reassured them that they were in the right placeshe discovered that her letters to the newspaper had a better shot at and that they could eventually become Australians themselves. being published when she used a traditionally male name than when she signed them Joan. The boys left school at around age thirteen to give their father a hand selling tea, and took on other jobs to help the family. Wally,Wally set to courting Theo with games of golf, picnics and beach who had severe asthma, worked full-time to pay for his treatment,trips, and they tied the knot at St Augustines church in Neutral but eventually had to move to the country while still a young teen,Bay on 14 July 1935. Theo packed up her comfortable Sydney life in the hope that fresh air would help. He accompanied his olderand followed Wally wherever his health and business took them. brother John, who had the same affliction, to work as a jackaroo atThey ended up living in various places such as Orange, Oberon and Bindango in southern Queensland. The climate did wonders for theirthe Blue Mountains. Their first child, Neville, was born in October health and during his four years there Wally learned valuable skills1937, followed by Joan in August 1939. Around this time, they also such as milking cows, horseback riding, and sheep butchering. purchased their first home in Carlingford Road, Epping, where their third and final child, Andrew, also known as Andy, was born in When Walter Sr died in 1917, his sons had to step up and provideDecember 1942.for the family. With John and Wally away and Sid married, George became the head of the household. He worked as a delivery man forTwo years later, the family moved to Mitre Street in Bathurst, Hill & Co Stock and Station Agents, but tragedy struck when he wastheir house built at the highest point of the town, hoping the dry mowed down on his bicycle by three drunk men in a horse and sulkycountry air would be good for Wallys asthma. They also bought in 1920. He was taken to North Shore Hospital but died a little later,asmall asparagus farm by the Macquarie River. Although his asthma at just twenty years old. His mother never recovered from the loss. seemed to improve, he still had severe attacks that sometimes landed him in the hospital. There, he was treated with heroin (times Wally returned to run what was by this time a successful dairy farm,sure were different!) and even given some to take home to inject but a resurgence of his asthma forced him back to the country tohimself during attacks. Theo thought Wally enjoyed the heroin work on a sheep station. His condition frequently debilitated him,alittle too much and soon put a stop to that particular treatment.but he was a warm and charming person who also had a bit of a hide on him. He once landed a job as a mechanic by pretending toLife in Bathurst was great for the family. Wally grew all sorts of have the skills and then teaching himself from a Ford manual on theveggies and won prizes for his massive pumpkins. Andy has fond train ride to the job. This experience showed him that he could teachmemories of bush picnics, birthday parties and hunting trips. Joan himself most things, and he applied this approach throughout hisloved the swimming pool her father built on the block of land he life. By the time he was thirty, he was a self-taught, leading pumpbought next door, and riding the horses he bought. Sometimes expert, travelling all over New South Wales and Queensland to sellWally would hook up a sulky and take the kids on excursions and service Cooper Engineering engines and pumps. However, heand adventures. Trips to the snow of Mount Canobolas were a wanted to go into business with his family to give him skin in thegreat treat, and the kids built snowmen, had snowball fights,'