HARRISON, William Arthur was Jack Harrison‘s oldest brother – “Bill” Jnr.
On 13th February 1926 in Subiaco, 28 year old William Edward Harrison and 19 year old Edna welcomed their first child, son William Arthur Harrison, who was the first grandchild of Phoebe and Arthur Harrison.
At the time, the Harrison family was living at 64 Bruce Street, Nedlands.
William Arthur was known as Bill Jnr.
His parents had been engaged to be married since August 1924, but the fact he was born 7 months after they were married worried Bill Jnr his entire life, feeling perhaps, they were married due to necessity.
At this time, his father William Edward Harrison was a civil servant in the Titles office by day and an active musician and R.S.L. supporter by night, attending meetings and performing with “Bill Harrison’s Orchestra“.
In 1926 Bill Snr was the Musical Director of the Amusu Theatre at 443 Albany Highway in Victoria Park for two months and was invited to perform with his orchestra in the “Dover Road” season with “The Repertory Club” in August 1926. He also performed for the silent movies.
Bill Snr didn’t enjoy good health, was dogged by bouts of malaria and persistent bronchial problems.
Fortunately, at the time of Bill Jnr’s birth, Edna had plenty of relatives close by to help her as Arthur and Phoebe lived in Merewa Street Subiaco and her own parents moved down from Midland to Subiaco around this time.
Her sister Bessie lived in Subiaco with her husband Wilfred and had produced the first grandchild for Walter and Amy Kerr the year before – Ross Wilfred George, born on 20 May 1925 in Subiaco.
It was a bumper years for the Harrisons as on January 16th 1926, William’s sister Nellie married Edward Francis McDavitt with Charlie Harrison as a groomsman and on February 13th 1926 William’s brother Arthur “Lou” was married to Vera Fryer and Charlie Harrison was again best man.
Another cousin was produced for Bill Jnr when Bernice Mac George was born on 21 January 1928 in Perth, Western Australia, to Edna’s sister, 23 year old Bessie and husband 26 year old Wilfred. Bessie and Edna had 3 children under 3 between them.
William Senior had continued working day and night with consistent musical employment at the silent movies, with the Repertory Club, performing with his orchestra at the “Digger Fairs” at White City and even a tour to Geraldton.
1929
In 1929 when Bill jnr was 3, his brother Ramon was born, followed in 1931 by his twin siblings Jack and Jill.
1932
In 1932 Bill Jnr attended Nedlands State Primary School.
In 1935, the family moved to its brand new home at built by Arthur and Lou Harrison at 24 Highway Nedlands.
1938
Bill Jnr attended Scotch College from 1938 and from the age of 15 in 1941 started working, initially in the administration of steel companies.
1944
Australia entered World War II on September 3, 1939, immediately following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany. Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced the involvement, prompting a rapid volunteer mobilization for the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) to support British forces in Europe and the Middle East, while initiating home-front preparations.
Bill’s uncle Charles Harrison enlisted aged 33 in the Royal Australian Airforce in Harvey in August 1940.
Bill enlisted in the RAAF (#441924) aged 18 in 1944 and was just about to get his wings when the war stopped.
1945
Music was a compulsory part of Bill Jnr’s life, surrounded by his father on piano, brother Ray now a drummer with twins Jack and Jill in their own fully professional jazz band.
Bill played saxophone in the Harrison family jam sessions with his father and siblings, but his genius lay in business and he pursued this career.
Bill Jnr started dating Mavis Mary Sansom, born on 12 June 1926 to 34 year old father Frank and her 38 year old mother, Eleanor May (nee Smallgood). Mavis had an older sister Doris Adele, or “Dot”, and the family lived at 291 Churchill Avenue, Subiaco.
On 19th February 1945 the engagement was announced :
Mr and Mrs Frank Sansom, of 291 Churchill-avenue, Subiaco, have much pleasure in announcing the engagement of their youngest daughter, Mavis, to Bill, eldest son of Mr and Mrs W. E. Harrison, of 24 Highway. Nedlands.
1947
On the 15th February 1947, 21 year old William Arthur Harrison married 20 year old Mavis Mary Sansom and Jill Harrison was a bridesmaid. Being just 2 days after Bill Jnr reached the age of 21, the minister asked for Bill Snr’s blessing of the marriage – which he did.
Their first home was on Cooper Street, Nedlands, where Bill Jnr had purchased a hardware shop and built 3 shops adjoining this property along Broadway. Later, they moved to 172 Hensman Road, Subiaco.
1948
The following year on 16th July 1948 Bill Jnr and Mavis provided Edna and Bill Snr with their first grandchild, Susan Mary.
HARRISON (nee Sansom): On July 16 at Tresillian Hospital,to Mavis and Bill – a daughter (Susan Mary)
In 1949, Bill Jnr was a clerk and a “travelling salesman” selling for steel then hardware with Stewart and Lloyds. At the time of the census Bill’s address was Hensman Road, But Mavis was at Bruce Street with her in-laws, perhaps becasue she had a new baby and Bill Jnr was working and travelling.
1950
1950 25th Wedding Anniversary party: Ray, Norma, Bill Snr, baby Susan with Edna, Jack, Mavis, Bill Jnr
Around 1950, Bill purchased property at 176 Stirling Highway on the corner of Rockton Road, Claremont, which consisted of a bank on the corner with vacant land behind on which he built two shops. Bill used one of these shops for his real estate office and offered the other to his brother Ramon to rent.
Bill Jnr was best man at the wedding of his brother Ramon to Norma Webber 16th December 1950, at 4.30 pm, St George’s Cathedral, Perth.
Mavis and Bill had their second daughter Pauline May on 26th February 1951, her father, William, was 25, and her mother, Mavis, was 24.
Bill’s brother Jack announced his engagement to Marcia Chayter on 12th August 1952 – Jack and Jill’s 21st birthday
1953
On April 2nd 1953 Bill Jnr’s only sister Jill Lois married double bass player John Alan William Mowson.
Married at Saint Andrew’s
A full skirt frock of crisp embroidered Swiss organdie with a fitted long sleeved bods was worn by Miss Jill Harrison when she was married to Mr John Mowson, the son of Mr and Mrs A. T. Mowson of Caulfield Victoria, at Saint Andrew’s Church, Perth on Thursday evening. A halo or fresh flowers held her veil of raw cut tulle. Her bridesmaid, Miss Ann Poynton, wore a ballerina length frock of fine white organdie with a halter-neck bodice and an extremely full skirt. Mr Bruce Mowson was best man. After the ceremony, the bride’s parents, Mr and Mrs W E. Harrison of Nedlands, held a reception at the Nedlands Tennis Club.
Bill’s youngest brother, Jack married Marcia Chayter on 14th December 1953 and Bill was a groomsman.
1953 Berwyn Allen and Bill Jnr at Jack and Marcia’s wedding
1954
Bill and Mavis’s son Trevor William was born on 11th March 1954. Their address was 29 Broadway, Nedlands.
During the 1950’s Bill Jnr and Jack bought a shack at Whitfords beach together which was used for holidays. Julie Harrison remembers the long journey off the main road, (Wanneroo Road) through the sand dunes along the limestone tracks, it seemed to take forever to get to the coast.
Trevor Harrison believes it was approx 10 kms, turned left off Wanneroo Road, then left again into a gate (farmer’s gate) which was padlocked but the Harrison’s had keys. Trevor said that the tracks had old plasterboard sheets laid on them to stop the cars getting bogged, similar to the old switchback roads in City Beach. One thing that sticks Julie’s mind, was the old (antique now) furniture inside the shack, sideboard etc.
1963
Bill Jnr and Mavis were living at 50 Florence Road, Nedlands.
Around 1963, Bill purchased Coolbev Hire in Nicholson road, Subiaco and asked his brother Ramon to work for him, which Ray did for a couple of years. Ray’s job was to deliver the gear and products for hire and sale to functions, such as alcohol, party and catering supplies.
Bill was one of the first people (before Roy Weston) in Perth to franchise real estate, buying up houses and blocks of land and reselling them after development or subdivision.
Some of his investments included:
Rockton Road Claremont
A butchers shop opposite Guildford Chapel which was his real estate office
Land in Kalamunda, Rockingham and Mandurah in the late 1960s.
He bought streets of Mandurah off the map and pre sold them prior to them being titled.
He built a shopping centre with Dixon (Road named after him) and Patterson. It included Tom the Cheap Grocer with 6 boutique shops.
He bought the Boathouse Tavern and renovated it at the same time he owned the Parkerville Tavern.
Bill and Mavis’s daughter Susan was married in 1967, but the marriage didn’t last.
By 1968 the Bill Jnr family was living next door to his parents at 22 Highway, Nedlands. A gate was created between the properties to allow easy access for visiting cousins.
1969
18 year old Pauline May Harrison married Kevin David Baird (born on 9 February 1950) on 3 May 1969.
They had three children together: Anthony, Andrew and Karen.
1970
Bill was a life member of the Subiaco Football Club from 1970 and was involved on committees and with fundraising. With manager Basil Fuller, he was involved in booking the first overseas trip by any Australian football team to Singapore. Bill established business links whilst in Singapore. The football team also travelled to the Eastern states, all which required sponsorship as it was in the days when the players paid to play and weren’t even provided with parking.
In 1972 the family is registered as living at 54 Bruce Street Nedlands.
On 1st July 1972 Susan Harrison married ex S.A.S. Vietnam veteran Colin James Jackson (born 1946). They had three children together: Todd, Rebecca and Heath.
Around 1976 Bill Jnr and Mavis bought the Parkerville Tavern at Lot 72 Owen Road, Mundaring. They had a horse, donkey, a dalmation called “Puddles” and hosted fabulous lunches for all the family.
1977
On 1st Jul 1991 Trevor Harrison married Glenda Joyce Maidment (born 1948) at the Australian Consulate in Kuala Lumpur.
In 1996, Bill Jnr’s mother died just shy of 90.
In his retirement, Bill Jnr and Mavis moved to a property that had been a plant nursery on Gnangara Drive in Wanneroo.
Bill Jnr died 8th February 2000 aged 73.
HARRISON (William Arthur) “Bill”
13.2.1926 – 8.2.2000
Love husband of Mavis and father of Susan, Pauline and Trevor. Father-in-law of Kevin and Glenda, respected grandfather of Anthony, Andrew, Todd, Karen, Rebecca and Heath and loved great grandfather of Aaron, Jarrod and Hayley.
A chapter closes.
Rest in peace.
HARRISON (William Arthur)
In memory of my brother Bill who never appreciated his worth. Loved brother of Jack, brother-in-law of Marcia, uncle of Jay, Kim and Jody. In peace at last.
HARRISON (Bill)
Fond memories of happy times. Loving thoughts to Mavis and family. Brother Ray, Norma, Jeff, Julie, Jack and Elaine.
HARRISON (William Arthur)
Loved brother of Jill. Brother-in-law of John, uncle to Penny, Peter and Paul. Rest in Peace, Bill.
HARRISON (William)
In memory of Bill, brother-in-law of Dot and Dan, uncle of Neil. Passed away 8.2.2000.
HARRISON William (Bill)
A Life Member of the Club since 1970, Bill passed away after a long illness. Our sincere sympathy to his family. President, Directors and Players, Subiaco Football Club.
