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William Shenton Rowe in 1994
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AS Bill Rowe contentedly sits on the
wooden verandah (left) of his
charming Bluff Point home he happily
reflects on the 80 years he has lived in
Geraldton.
If anyone can describe the significant
changes which Geraldton has gone
through during this time it is Bill
Born in Shenton Street in 1914, he has
lived here all his life apart from two years
he spent in the army.
Looking back, Bill says he has enjoyed
his life during which the development and
progress of Geraldton has been
monumental.
One of 13 children. Bill was a middle
child and said that although he had a
great life as a youth, he did have to work
hard.
At the age of eight he helped his father
on weekends as a blacksmith striker,
using a seven-pound (3kg) hammer.
He also sold newspapers and
watermelons from a horse and cart and
worked in his father's tomato garden on
the Shenton Street property which was
home to many farm animals.
Bill attended the Geraldton State
left at the age of 13 and worked as a
painter for 12 months and a mechanic for
a further year.
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14th April 1994
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At 15, he became a labourer for the
next 25 years and for the following 25
years he worked as an electrician.
"I was not qualified as an electrician
but I was paid as if I was," he said.
"I worked 41 years straight without a
break."
Suffice to say Bill looked forward to his
retirement at the age of 65.
This year Bill and his wife Delis will
celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
Delis was also born in Geraldton in 1918
and the couple were married in 1934
when she was just 16 and Bill was 20
years old.
They bought a house in Bluff Point
where they raised five children, one of
whom died at a young age. The other
four children still live in Geraldton.
Bill said one of his great pastimes
now, apart from playing bowls, was
sitting on his verandah with Delis.
"We practically live on our verandah,
even in winter."
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