It covers the history of both Ian’s mother and father and their respective families in moving to a new district and starting ‘fresh’ with virtually nothing, not even a house to move into.
The book is titled ‘The Doncon and Lea Families – Early Settlers of the Warbreccan Subdivision’.
Ian’s mother Bessie (Doncon) had on occasions mentioned that her family had originally moved from Nathalia to a farm in the Walliston district before finally settling at ‘Quondong’, while he knew that his father (Wen) was one of three brothers who came from Bears Lagoon to start farming at Deniliquin.
The Doncon and Lea families were two of the original settlers of the Warbreccan Station subdivision with the book identifying all the other original owners of the subdivision, what blocks they selected, and their struggle to survive with low wheat prices, drought and recession during the early 1940’s.
Ian said it had been a rewarding experience researching the book as there is such a lot he didn’t know about, for instance it was only recently he discovered the location of the first house in which his mother lived.
It is at least 103 years old and still standing near Nathalia, yet they would drive past it every time they travelled to Shepparton and not know the family connection.
He also learned about the farm at Walliston that Bessie’s parents shifted to when she was just three years old.
Similarly, with the Lea family, Ian wasn’t aware where his grandfather Lea’s house was at Bears Lagoon and how the family of 11 children coped after the sudden death of their mother when the youngest was only 4 years old.
The book, Ian’s third, provides more fascinating insight into pioneers of the Deniliquin district. It is available at Deniliquin Newsagency and Bookstore in Cressy St, Deniliquin, or phone Ian Lea on 0418468857.
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