Les Bahr

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Leslie was a Farmer, Labourer, and Carpenter.

I Remember (from "Towards the Mist", p124, compiled by E J Davis, ISBN 0 646 25741 2)

Most of the farms were getting established and there were many acres of scrub being cleared, some independently, but many acres were cleared by contractors. The contractors were often Greeks, Albanians, and Italians. One of these contractors would undertake to cut the scrub for 10 shillings an acre. He would then get a gang together (mostly three or four men) and he would sub-contract to these people to cut the scrub for 2 shillings an acre. Some contractors were successful and others were not, as some of these people would cut for as little as 6 shillings an acre plus a share of the crop. Some Greeks considered if they could make 240 pounds they could retire, go home to Greece and live a life of luxury. These people lived on a very frugal diet and consumed large quantities of bread, usually they had on order two to three dozen loaves per week. They were very fond of tomatoes and used to make a stew in a petrol tin which was cut down for the purpose. They would put all kinds of vegetables into the stew, plus some meat, and when it was cooked they would place the container with the stew into the centre of a group of people. Each person would dip their bread into the pot, they appeared to thoroughly enjoy this meal. The contractors worked from daylight to dark, seven days a week. After their meal, they would sharpen their axes before retiring for the night. The axes were held on their knees and sharpened with a file.

Sources

• Birth certificate (South Australia, District of Flinders #168)
• Death certificate (South Australia, #20107340)