BILL KIDMAN

William John Kidman, DOB 19th April 1905. Died 3rd January 1995.

I Nephew to Sir Sydney Kidman who brought his relatives out to Australia to work for a pittance on his stations.

Sailed from England on the TSS Barabool on 23rd December 1927 and arrived in Australia at Fremantle on 26th January 1928.
Joined Army on 17th November 1941 and discharged on 1st December 1943, 596 days.

Married Ida Grace Crowhurst on 26th March 1942 at Berri.

Bill and Ida lived at Mildura and Bill worked for the Mildura Cooperative Packing Shed and then as a porter and then drink waiter at the Wintersun Hotel.
In 1947 they returned to Berri and Bill took up a job as builder's labourer the Trish Moritz. Wanting less strenuous work he joined BCWD in the Bond Store for a period and then left to work for the E&WS Department. Again returned to Berri in the late 1950's to work in the Bond Store. Following Tom Kennedy's death, Bill was offered the postion in the Wine Sales. He refused, because being a good friend of Tom, it would be as if he was taking Tom's job.

Peter Nairn left in 1964 and Bill took over as Bond Office clerk until his retirement in January 1970. Both Bill and Ray Harrip finished on the same Friday.

Bill Kidman seen here with his book On the Wallaby.