Farmed outside Tocumwal on 550 acres, next to his brother Robert.

(Research):Goorambat is a rural township 17 km. north of Benalla, on the route between Benalla and Yarrawonga. It is set in mainly flat country with little tree cover, two kilometres east of Broken Creek. The name came from the Goorambat pastoral run, and is thought to be an Aboriginal word meaning nonsense or frivolity, although another authority puts the meaning as hunting ground. Selectors took up farms near Broken Creek in 1861, forming the first Goorambat settlement. A Methodist church was opened in 1865 and a primary school in 1866. Primary production was given a boost when the railway was extended through Benalla in 1873, and a greater boost when the branch line to Yarrawonga, via Goorambat, was opened in 1883. The line, however, was east of the settlement at Broken Creek and a new Goorambat developed around the station. A wood yard - for the transport of fire wood to Melbourne - and a flour mill were opened beside the station. A hotel had been opened at old Goorambat in 1879 and the (inevitable) Railway Hotel was opened opposite the station in 1884. A mechanics' institute was opened in 1888. Goorambat was described in The Australian Handbook, 1903, as -

Old Goorambat beside the Broken Creek had the benefit of water for agricultural activity, and the population was sufficient for the school to be kept open until 1931. Goorambat has a township of about sixty houses with two churches, a large public hall, the mechanics' institute and a general store which celebrated its centenary in 1984 and the Railway Hotel. The railway station has been converted to a scout hall, and on the other side of the line there are grain silos. A recreation reserve is next to the school. Surrounding farms have been consolidated and some farm families have moved to town dwellings. Wheat-sheep farming has replaced dairying. Goorambat's census populations have been 62 (1901), 334 (1911) and 321 (1966). Further Reading: Bassett, Judy and Latch, Joyce, "Goorambat: Yesterday and Today", Neptune Press Pty. Ltd., 1987. (A remarkable description of all the town's buildings, many depicted concludes the book.) Dunlop, A.J., "Benalla Cavalcade: A History of Benalla", Mullaya Publications,

BENALLA EXEMPTION COURT Further Claims Heard Mr. Pennefather sat at the Benalla Court yesterday to deal with applications it's men who had been called up for military service and passed as fit. Captain Taverner represented the Defence Department Captain Taverner before the proceedings opened said he had received a communication from the Defence Department the previous night to the effect that all the men called up were only required to do thirty days training. They had up to February 1st to do the training. Mr. Pennefather: Can they start then, or have they to complete it by then? Captain Taverner said he thought that the training had to be completed by 1st February. Jas. Stewart. Burnside, farmer, Marraweeney said he had 200 sheep to shear, and his only brother had enlisted in August, 1915. To Captain Taverner : His brother was In the artillery. He could not get away for the thirty days' training. — Granted. John Francis Dodd, Benalla (an adjourned case) said he was employed by his brother. He had five brothers; two had enlisted, and another had gone into camp that day. — Conditional exemption. John Hocking Pascoe, farmer, Ryan's Creek; only son.— Granted. Norman Roy Richards, teacher, withdraw his application, as his name was not included in the block application. Win, Christian, Devenish, and Wm. Cooper Hall, Goorambat. In these cases Captain Taverner said that the Medical Referee Board had classed the men as unfit. — The cases were struck out. Wm. Robt. Barklamb, Benalla, had already enlisted, and was in camp.. Benjamin MCFarlane, Benalla — No appearance struck out. Geo. J. Weston, farmer, Winton, said he applied for exemption to shear sheep, but he had sold them since. None of his brothers had enlisted. — Exemption to January 31 granted.

James Woods, Tungamah, said he was 37 years of age, and the case had been adjourned from Tungamah for him to pro produce his birth certificate. — Certificate produced and the case withdrawn. Deglan M. O'Brien, farmer, Upotipoton, only son.— Granted. Wm. John Dennis, farm laborer, Swanpool Struck out; no appearance. Geoffrey R. Hosie, farm laborer, Devenish claimed that be was the only son. Adjourned to Tungamah court for declaration by parents to be produced. Richard Charles Martin, Devenish, said he bad 230 acres under crop. His brothers thers had not enlisted. — Exemption granted until January 31. Albert Victor Little, farmer, Benalla said he had 400 acres, and also managed 600 acres for his father. He had one married brother. There were 80 acres under crop. — Exemption granted until January 31. Wm. Fells Wilson, farmer, Upotipotpon said be had 150 acres under crop. His only brother went into camp in July, 1915, and was now at Ballarat. Captain Taverner, said he would ask that it be a conditional certificate on applicant's brother serving. — Conditional exemption granted until January 31. Alexander McPherson Gunn, carrier, Baddaginnie, said his father was very ill and could not be left. Applicant had volunteered two or three times, but was put out. Had married brother and sister. Temporary exemption granted for a month. David Green, farmer and grazier, Lurg, said he bad 450 acres. Had seven brothers one had enlisted. — Exemption granted to January 31. Thomas Waters, farmer, Upotipotpon, said the firm was his mothers. 300 acres were under crop. Had eight brothers, one went into camp three weeks ago. Captain Taverner : He was called up, sir Temporary exemption granted until January 31. John NicbolsoD, farmer, Sb. James, said he had four brothers. One enlisted last month. Had 20 acres crop.— Tempo- rary exemption granted until January 31. Alex. R. Moodie, farmer, Goomalibee, said he worked on bis father's farm. Had 200 acres under crop. His only brother was under 21 years. — Temporary exemp tion granted until January 31. Daniel Kenneally, farmer, Goomalibee, applying on behalf ot his son Jeremiah, said he bad three sons over 21 years, but none had enlisted. The three had served four years in the Light Horse, and he aeked if that would count. — Mr, Penne father: It will be of great assistance to the officials. (Laughter.) It will help the sergeants major.— Exemption granted temporarily until January 31. Wm. S. Neale, farmer, Benalla, said he had 900 acres, 160 acres being under crop. Had one brother, who enlisted and went away with bhe first lot.— Granted. Frederlok Horsburgb, laborer, Swan pool, Bald be had four brothers. Two had enlisted— one laet Christmas, aod the other eight months before thab.— Granted. Richard R. Green, farmer, Lurg, said one brother out of six had enlisted. — Exemption granted until January 31. Leslie John Wilson, laborer, Tatong. — No appearance; struck out. John Edward Mooaghan, farmer* Ta tong, only son, eaid his father and mother were dead.— Granted. William James Bush, carpenter, etc., Tatong, said he was an only son. His parents were in England. He had been out here five years. Would nob mind a month's braining later on.— Granted. Harry Malletb, farmer and grazier, Lima, said he farmed his own and bis father's land. Had 50 aores of orop. Had one brother going to school, and another, on accounb of ill health, was ordered away from the district. — Tem- porary exemption granted until Jan uary 31. Norman Cooper, hairdresser, Benalia, said there were three sons in the family. One was in the Army Service Corps, and the others had been called up lately and had alnce enlisted.- Conditional certifi cate of exemption granted. Albert Llghton, farmer, Devenish, said he was in paitnership with three brothets. There were five brothers altogether, 340 acres was under orop. None of the bro thers had enlisted. They were all over age. — Temporary exemption granted until January 31. Themas Henry Woois, farmer, Devo. nish, said he had 330 aores. He had two brothers; one was In the A. IF.— Exemp- tion granted until January 31. Wra. Francis Payne, farmer, Sbe warton, said ho had 126 aores under crop and 154 aores on bhe shares. One oub of three sons bad enlisted prior to October, and another volnnteered on the day of enrolment. — Conditional certificate granted. Henry Vernon Williams, farmer, Ste warbon, said he bad 230 aores. Had one married brother, who had nob enlisted. — Exemption granted until January 31. Rupert Charles Powell, farmer, Badda ginnle, said he was in partnership with his father and two brothers. The latter were in Castlemalne camp, but had been allowed out. — Exemption granted until January 31. Thomas Ieato Sullivan, farmer, Ta bong, said there were four sons in the family, and bwo bad enlisted ab bhe oub break of bhe war, — Granted. Wm. B. Thompson, elauuhterman, Be nalla, only son. — Granted. Henry J Gidney, Lima, applied for an exemption on behalf of Franklin George M4Don»ld, who was his manager. — L'o Captain Taverner: Ib was necessary that Mr. M'Donald should manage bhe pro perty, while witness looked^after bhe re mounb work. Witneaa had a Bon, who looked afber his own property. Mr. M'Donald had been with him since a boy. ir anything happened to Mr. M'Donald, wlbnew would return home from bis re. mount work.— To Mr. Pennefather: If the Defence department released him Mr, M'Donald could go.— Captain Taverner said he would ask for a conditional certi ficate so long as Mr. Gldoey remained with the Defence department and Mr. M'Donald was manager of the farm. — Conditional certificate granted. Wm. Pearson, farmer, St ckyard Creek, said he hid 230 aores uuder orop. He had five '??? :!.eis. n.r,i two had volun teered. H^ -vaoti'.i lo get his crop off, but he thought he would have time to do Pour weeks' training. — Exemption granted nnhil .1inn»n 91 James John O'Brien, farmer, Upobl pot pon, said ho had 30 acres of crop. Had throe brothers; none had enlisted. — Ex- emption granted till Junuiry 31. David James Black, farmer, Kilfooraj said he had 300 acres under crop. Two brothers were in oamp. — Exemption till January 31 granted. Hector Claude Cook, storekeeper. Bad daginnie, said he was In partnership with two other brothers. He hai four brothers. Two had enlleted about August, 1915.— Exemption granted for a month. — Appli* cant said it was very awkward, coming on summer time.— Mr. Peonofathor: You will have to make arrangements, that's all, Joseph Andrew, farmer, Sb. James, had 200 acres under crop. Had one brother, married.— Exemption granted till Janu ary 31. Claude Harold Hoyebed, farmer, Mo koan, had 200 aores under crop. One brother was married, and the other was at home.— Exemption granted till January Laurence L. Oorboy, farmer, Major Plains, had 150 acres under crop. Had bwo brothers, who were crolnc kn snhooi. — Exemption granted till January 31. Thomas Alfred Moore, farm laborer, Molyullab, said he only wanted exemption till January 31. Had six brothers living. One bad died in camp. Four had en listed.— Exemption granted till January James Muir Johnson, farmer, Lake Rowan, eaid his only brother had enlisted. —Granted. George Willis Stodart, farmer, Mounb Ada, said there were four sons In tho family. Tnree had enlisted, one of whom had returned, and was discharged. — To Captain Taverner: One brother was in tho Royal Flying Corps, and enlisted in Eng land. —Exemption scanted. Archibald R. M'Lelland, shearer, Lurg, said one of his brothers had enlisted. Two other brothers had applied for ex- emption, but he did not know how they had got on.— Exemption granted till 31at January. Arthur Goring Stanley, farmer, Lake Rowan, worked his mother's farm. 'Had 135 acres under crop. Had a half-brother 11 years of age. His father was nearly blind, and was 75 years of age. — Exemp- tion granted till January 31. Frederick Montgomery, farmer, Lake Rowan, and Alexander Halliburton Wann, only sons, were granted exemption. Thomas Hammond, farmer, Goorambat, had 60 aores of crop, but had no objection to one month's braining if the time were Fix this textconvenient.— Exemption granted till 31«t January. Benjamin Haley, farmer, Devenisb, had 300 acre of crop. Had six brothers; none enlisted. — Exemption granted till January 31. Cyril G. Hargreaves, farmer, Like Rowan, only son. — Exemption granted. Digitisation generously supported bymore info Public Record Office of Victoria Pause