Early Years

When Pah was two his father, John, was spraying poison on lantana bushes on their farm when he accidentally inhaled some of the arsenic and was killed. A week after Pah's father's tragic death, his mother gave birth to their second child, Barry. Dorothy took Keith and Barry to live with her mother-in-law, Susannah Hunter (nee Smith) at Kangaroo Point, Brisbane. Susannah and James had eight daughters and three sons, with most of them living at home. During this period of just a few months Dorothy strived to convince the State Government Insurance Organization to honour John's life insurance policy. The government denied the claim and no reason is known why this decision was taken. This left Dorothy with very little money and no source of income. On a happier note, during this time, Pah forged strong bonds of love with his many aunts. One moment he would be one girl's duck, the next, he would be another girl's chicken. They called him 'Dargypoo', mimicking his own early attempts to pronounce his own name. Hence, the name of this blog being a portmanteau of 'Dargypoo' and the more recent nickname 'Pah'. James, Pah's paternal grandfather, was not often present on the homefront due to his work in the timber industry. He and Susannah owned property in Kangaroo Point, Archerfield, Rocklea, Peak Crossing and Yulbah (near Dalby). He spent a lot of time cutting and hauling trees at Yulbah. After a few months at Grandma Hunter's house in Kangaroo Point (not far from the Story Bridge), Dorothy took Keith and Barry to her parents home at Kaimkillenbun, also near Dalby, close to the Bunya Mountains. For more information about this town, nicknamed 'the Bun' by those who know and love the place - go to this link. The following image is a recent picture of the Kaimkillenbun State School, where Pah and Barry received their early schooling.