CHILDREN OF THE TIELKEMEYERS
Part 3 of our book takes the Tielkemeyer family from the early 1900's to the end of World War II.
On their return from German New Guinea to North Queensland in 1907, the family took up land in Mourilyan. Their 3 daughters, Leishon (11), Minnie (10) and Frieda (almost 5) attended the newly opened State School the following year. Max would have been 23.
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Grosfodder and Max worked the cane farms, and built the boarding house and refreshment room, with a view to providing an occupation for Leishon, Minnie and Frieda. The Tielkemeyers also built three, 2-bedroom cottages beside the boarding house.
LEISHON, MINNIE AND FRIEDA
Daughters of Grosfodder and Granny
LEISHON (Louise) AND GEORGE VASS
Louise married Walter (George) Vass in August 1916 in Innisfail.
George was born in 1884 in Crondall, Hampshire, to Charles and Mary-Ann Vass.
At the age of 21 he left home and travelled to Canada, spending 2 years in Toronto, 2 in Manitoba and 3 years in British Columbia, where his brother Reg joined him. A photo of the brothers suggests they worked as lumberjacks. Reg and George decided to migrate to Australia, arriving penniless. The date of their arrival is unknown.
In 1917 Louise and George's son Carl was born.
MINNIE AND ERIC HALL
Minnie Tielkemeyer married Eric Hall on 4 April 1921, in Townsville. No other Tielkemeyers were present at the wedding as Louise and George were in South Johnstone with two young children, and Grosfodder, Granny and Frieda were in Southport at Theo’s, waiting for a boat to Germany.
The Halls moved into Tielkemeyer’s house at 5 Middle Avenue, South Johnstone. Granny and Frieda returned to South Johnstone in about May 1920, also moving in with the Halls. Frieda helped her sisters with their growing families.
Grosfodder returned from Germany, arriving in Brisbane on 27 November 1921.
Eric Hall started a bus service. His and Minnie’s first child - Eric Davin (Perk), was born on 31 August 1922.
HOME HILL PICNIC 1926
TIELKEMEYER, VASS AND HALL FAMILIES
In 1922, Grosfodder and Granny left South Johnstone to buy a farm in Home Hill. In December of that year the Vass family visited them.
In January 1923, the Vass family also moved to Home Hill. Frieda then moved between Home Hill and South Johnstone, still helping her sisters with their children.
By 1926 there were 3 Hall children in South Johnstone and 4 Vass children in Home Hill. ​
FRIEDA AND HAROLD WYATT
By the end of 1927 Frieda Tielkemeyer was pregnant. She married Harold Augustus Wyatt on 9 January 1928. No birth was recorded. Whatever happened seems to have precluded subsequent pregnancies. Frieda and Harold Wyatt never had any children.
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The Tielkemeyer girls remained close throughout their lives through letters and family visits. Only a few photographs of the three girls together, by themselves, exist. They never all lived together in the same town after they married.
Etty Bay 1953. Frieda Wyatt (49) Minnie Hall (55), Louise Vass (56)