From Ireland to Australia: Winters Family History
Kathleen Winifred Johnson (1909-1995)
Kathleen Johnson was born on the 7th September 1909 in Watford Middlesex, the 4th child of Henry and Elizabeth Johnson (nee Foakes).
In December 1911 the family sailed from Liverpool on the vessel the Waimana bound for Western Australia. As mentioned in the story for Henry Johnson the family had considered migrating to Canada on the Titanic however for unknown reasons changed their mind and decided upon Australia arriving at Fremantle in late January 1912.
Initially living in May Street West Perth (now called Mayfair Street) the family built a home at 50 First Avenue Graylands in 1914. Kathleen attended Graylands Primary School for several years before moving to the Claremont State School in Claremont. Kathleen left school at the first opportunity at age 14 and secured a job at a Claremont fruit shop before securing a position with the Singer Sewing Machine Company, adding to her knowledge of sewing machines and becoming a demonstrator at the Market Street Fremantle Office.
Kathleen lead a fairly adventurous life as apart from her 2 brothers being accomplished motor cycle riders and competitors, she was active in motorcycle activities, tennis, local dances, rollerskating and with groups visited Bunbury and Albany on the vehicles of the 1920 and 30s. She visited New Zealand with her mother in 1934.
Kathleen met John Winters at a Claremont Football Club dance in 1934 and they married in August 1935 at St George's Cathedral Perth. John was a Mental Health Nurse working at the Claremont Mental Hospital. John and Kathleen moved into their new home in Napier Street Claremont on return from their honeymoon in August 1935. This marriage produced 4 children born between 1936 and 1949 namely Ken, Graeme, Alex and Janet
John found the work at the hospital stressful and his health suffered because of this a also because he was found to have a heart problem in 1935 prior to their marriage. John died suddenly in April 1962 leaving Kathleen to care for Alex then aged 21 and Janet aged 12. Alex had qualified as a fitter and turner and decided to join the Merchant Navy and in late 1962 he went to sea. Janet married in 1972 and moved to New Zealand
As early as 1950 Kathleen had taken in students from the Claremont Teachers' College as boarders partly to supplement the household income but in later years simply for company in the large house. Many of these students remained friends for years to come.
Maintenance became a problem at Napier Street and in 1978 Kathleen sold and purchased a smaller home unit in Como and then in 1983 sold at Como and moved into an independent unit in a Retirement Village called Rowethorpe in Bentley. Kathleen suffered several strokes and with failing eyesight moved into a low care unit until her death in May 1995