Bessie Amelia Kerr was Jack Harrison‘s Aunt
28.12.1904 – 8.1.1977
Bessie Amelia Kerr was born in Midland Junction to railway carriage painter William Walter Kerr and Swan River Pioneer Amy Louisa Gane.
She attended Bayswater Primary School and was a champion highland dancer associated with the Caledonian Pipe Band, of which her father was a member. In her teenage years, Bessie began performing with her sister Edna. for fund raising events in the entertainment troop the Rainbow Pierrots.
ANZAC DAY CONCERT
24th April 1920
The grand military concert in celebration of Anzac Day on the 24th, was quite a financial’ success. Under patronage of his Ex., quite a number of leading Perth artists were in attendance and gave spirited rendering of a great variety of items. Among the artists who took part were : — Misses Elsie Rosslyn, Rene Fell, Dora Clark, Flora Crooks, Bessie Kerr and Messrs. H. C. Goff, C. L. Green, Lionel Carter, Lionel Hart, Percy Coward, Donald Stuart (late Melrose), E. Scott, Reg. Jackson, W. A. Caledonian Pipe Band, The Harmonists Quartette Party, Geo. Horton, all of whom deserve the most hearty congratulations and thanks for their part in an excellent show. Secretary Menkins did the organising and publicity work, and as usual made a success of it. [1]
In March 1921 she was Champion Highland all-round national dancer under 16 years.
“THE AWAKENING OF AUSTRALIA.”
Saturday 2nd July 1921
On Saturday night so many people had to be disappointed because of lack of room in the Melrose Theatre, that it has been decided to repeat tonight the presentation of the remarkable series of historical tableau, “The Awakening of Australia.”
The musical programme has been completely changed, the artists to take part being Miss Violet Peet and Messrs. Frank L. Robertson, Hugh Torrance, A. Lynche, and Rex Montgomery, while Miss Bessie Kerr, the champion national dancer, will also contribute to the entertainment. The principal representations in the tableaux are: “Mercury” (Mr. Jack Dent), “Diane” (Mrs. McLean), “The Pipes of Pan” (Miss Trethowan, “The Cup Bearer of Zeus” (Miss Hilary Rolls), “Pandora” (Miss M. Hocking), and “The Three Graces” (Mesdames Alec McLean, and Cameron, and Miss Gwen Forbes).
To-night’s performance will include all that was best of those previously given with so much success, and will naturally specially feature the full-blooded aborigines in the tableaux, trained by Matron Cameron, of the Moore River Settlement, whose services were arranged for through the kindness of Mr. A. O. Neville.
The admission prices have been altered to 7s. to all parts of the house, with an extra shilling for reserving at Nicholson’s up til 5 p.m., and afterwards at the theatre. [2]
Concert at Parkerville
Saturday 3 June 1922
The Rainbow Pierrots on Saturday last gave a well appreciated programme in the Parkerville Hall to a packed audience. All the artists were well received and many encores were demanded. The programme embraced solos, part songs, ragtime, comic, dancing, monologues, etc.
The contributors were:-Misses O. Brosnan, W. F. Hartwell, M. Batey, E. Reynolds. B. and E. Kerr; Messrs. W. E. Harrison, A.T.C.L. (musical director),
A. Bowden. W. Cryer, A. McLennon, C. M Reynolds (managing director). The Pierrots were the guests of the residents during the week end. [3]
In 1924 she married Wilfred Goulburn George.
She ran a catering business with her sister Edna.
1939 At around this time Edna Harrison and her sister Bessie started a catering business called George Harrison Caterers. Both their houses had large areas set up mass cooking (pastry made by hand using lard). Lois: I use to scrub the cake tins out in the backyard drain for a shilling, I’d say I was about 6. So maybe 60 years ago. They never advertised it was all word of mouth. They used the back outside room to Bessie’s house to do a lot of prep. All the dishes etc were kept in the second garage/shed they had 3 at 3 Croydon st shenton park. They always made trifles for dessert. I am sure there was always a beef curry with keens curry powder and rice and probably a tuna mornay. They had little bacon cheese savouries. Ross George’s wife was an expert wedding cake decorator and most likely contributed. Doug: I recall Grandad Bill George making bricks and building the small kitchen at the back of the house and it probably was 60 years ago. I did a couple of waiter jobs for them. They would be in the kitchen cooking for hours on end. Think they also made sausage rolls.
R.A.A.F. COMFORTS FUND.
In connection with the march through Perth today by men of the Royal Australian Air Force, a street appeal will be conducted by the R.A.A.F. Comforts Fund. Stalls will be situated as follows:
Airways House, Mrs.. Norman Brearley; corner of Howard-street and St. George’s-terrace. Mrs. Davis and Miss Young: Newspaper House.
“Virgilians”; London Court (St.George’s-terrace end).
Mrs. Harrison: City Mutual building (St. George’s-terrace).
Mrs. G. S. Cargeeg: Foy and Gibson (W.A.). Ltd. (St. George’s-terrace end),
Mrs. M. G. Daniell; Palace Hotel corner,
the Young Contingent of the Victoria League; “‘The Daily News” office,
Mrs. Lund; Commercial Travellers’ Club.
Mrs. Burgess-Lloyd; Forrest-place.,
the bridge committee of the R.A.A.F. Comforts Fund:
Charles Moore and Company (Hay-street).
Mrs. Haines; Perth railway station, Mrs. C.
A. McCaul: Western Australian Bank corner.
Mrs. Bronder; Mends-street (South Perth). the South Perth branch of the fund.
More helpers are required, and any one willing to assist at the above or any
other stalls which may be formed is asked to call at the R.A.A.F. Comforts
Fund office, room 13, second floor, Nestle House, St. George’s-terrace. [4]
She had two children: Ross (1925) and Bernice (1928)
Bessie had a stroke on her birthday on 28.12.1976 on the veranda of her home at 3 Croydon Street Shenton Park and died aged 72 on 8th January 1977.
[1] W.A. Family Sphere (Perth, WA : 1919 – 1920), Friday 7 May 1920, page 6
[2] The West Australian Monday 4 July 1921 page 7
[3] The West Australian Wednesday 7 June 1922 page 8
[4] The West Australian Friday 18 October 1940 page 6