WHITE, Harold (Hal) Edward

25/11/1884 - 8/7/1955

Harold Edward White was born on 25th November, 1884 to William Bailey White and his wife Barbara Ann (nee Gass) at what is now 25 Victoria St. Creswick.  He was one of eleven children.  His father ran their livery stable business from that site and horses were a large part of Hal’s life.

Hal married Jesse Ward in 1909 and they had two children, Anna Markman (Trixie), and Harold George who died aged two months.

For many years Hal, with his horses, conducted a carrying business between Creswick and Ballarat, and a fruit, vegetable and confectionary business at the bottom of Albert St. Creswick.

As a young man he joined a detachment of the 9th Light Horse Regiment in Creswick, which was started in August 1904.  He had a natural skill in handling the big animals.  Many postcards were kept by his sisters that told of Hall being at camp.  He would have been at Gallipoli had he passed the fitness test but he was totally deaf in one ear because of his brother exploding a fire cracker in that ear.  He suffered humiliation in the community of the white feather for not enlisting and going to World War 1.

A large part of Hal’s community service was at Calembeen Park.  In 1914 a delegate of the Education Department met a delegation of local people to examine sites for a swimming education program.  The Black Lead Dam site was chosen and the community worked hard raising the funds required.  This became Calembeen Park.  Over the following years Calembeen Park was the centre of Creswick for swimming and many social activities in the warmer months.

Hal was on the Calembeen Park Committee and the Swimming Club Committee.  These were very active Committees.  People would come from Melbourne on the train for swimming and diving competitions.  The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra would also come and have well attended concerts.

Hal taught children to swim using a novel way of teaching children to dog-paddle.  He tied a rope around the child’s waist and held onto the other end to support the child in the water.

The kiosk at Calembeen Park was built in 1929 and Hal ran it in the warmer months of the year until his retirement in 1946.  The opening hours were from 11.00am until 11.00pm in the height of summer.  He had great pride in Calembeen.

He was a coach of the Creswick football team during the 1920s.

Hal had a quiet, calm manner and an understanding of animal behaviour.  This meant animals would allow him to handle them without fear or panic.  Creswick did not have a veterinary officer at that time and people would come to Hal for help and advice.  His granddaughter remembers him being taken from his evening meal to deal with a cow with mastitis.  He invented a cure for that disease which his son-in-law marketed.  So accepted was it by the rural community that the big drug companies soon copied it, forcing the little man out of business.

Hal’s legacy continues to this day. He planted the water lilies on the back lake at Calembeen Park, and they continue to bloom prolifically each year.

Hal’s obituary in the Creswick Advertiser on 15th July, 1955 said:

“He has been in most movements for the advancement of the town and particularly with the Swimming Club, whose committee found him a valuable helper, until failing health caused his absence.