The history of the ‘Dance’ family has been extensively researched, this small section covers the family during their time in Yarri in Western Australia. They are fortunate indeed to have so many wonderful family photos. They are reproduced here with thanks to the Ridgers Family.
One of Ted Dance’s Camel Teams – Tom Lowe from Mt Remarkable station in ‘Niagara – Kookynie – How it was’ a book by Margaret E Pusey.
In the early days, the Dances had a spring cart and delivered the mail out to Yarri and the surrounding area. Eventually Mr. Dance bought a small red car and I remember when he’d lose control on rough ground he always grabbed for the cart hand brake and called out orders to his horses.
Three generations at Yarri, Western Australia. John (1838), his son Ted Dance (1864), with wife Jane Anderson nee McKenzie, Welsh grandson John (Jack) Griffiths and at the back Ted’s children Annie, Jean and Norman.
Ted Dance’s coach from Kookynie to Yerilla, Yarri and Edjudina. Early 1900s.
Ted Dance’s Pioneer Store at Yarri
This is the shop at Yarri. Ted is holding Norman’s hand and Jane is on the other side of Norman. Annie Frances is in the middle of the 3 children and her sister Jean Florence is next to her. Lardi is the man on right in front with dark pants and white shirt, he could have been a silent partner.
Ted and Jane with their two youngest children, John Andrew (born 1899 at Paddington) and Annie Francis (born 1901 at Northam).
This is Jane holding Jean Florence and Ted holding Annie Frances outside the door to the house. The Police Constable stationed at Yarri , Const Dodd, used to take photos, so I think they took this opportunity because their first born John Andrew died at age 1. They were to have two more children, Jean Florence born Paddington 1902 and Norman Eglington born 1904.
Norman E DANCE 1904 – 1964
Norman and his sisters. Annie 1901-1986, and Jean 1902
Ted and Norman Dance with a loaded truck.
A heavy Load
Ted’s Truck
Moving Day from Yarri
Photos show John Dance with a mate at Yarri, Western Australia
A man called Stepini worked for Ted Dance at his goldmine. When the gold went too deep, Ted walked away from it. Stepini could be the big man on the right in the photo with John under the gum tree. (Above)
Jane (Jenny) Dance applied for and was granted a boarding house license at Yarri in 1907. A boarder in later years who was to become a family friend was local Yarri school teacher John Trezise Tonkin. Born at Boulder City in 1902, Yarri was his first teaching assignment after attending Claremont Teachers College. A staunch Labor supporter he set up a branch of the Australian Labor Party at Forest Grove in 1923 and was one of the youngest delegates elected to the ALP’s State Executive. He had two unsuccessful attempts at entering Parliament before winning the seat of North-East Fremantle in 1933. During his time in Parliament he served as Minister for Education, Social Services, Agriculture and Works, and Water Supplies.He became Deputy Premier in 1955 under Bert Hawke. In 1967.
Moya Sharp
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