Mary Elizabeth Newport
Submitted by Des Noonan
Some of the older Katanning residents may remember Mrs Newport and some of the now men may have been in the Cub Pack she ran in the old RSL Lesser Hall in Carew St. She used to live on the corner of Broome and Beaufort Streets and ran the Cubs for many years. As you can see this cutting comes from the Weekend News 1960 (56 years ago).
Mary Elizabeth Newport (nee Brennan) was born 7 October, 1894, married Alfred George Newport in May,1924 making her home in Katanning, and died in Perth 15 March, 1983.
Mary Elizabeth Newport (aged 67)
At 67, she likes life in the open air
From The Western Mail
17 September 1960.
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Newport is the only person in the state to belong at the same time to the Boy Scouts’ Association and the Pensioners’ League. And her friends were intrigued this week to see the diminutive, grey-haired cub-master return from a boisterous camp at Kelmscott, promptly change into a neat frock and set off for the Over 60 Club.
As assistant cub master of the second Wembley Pack, Mrs Newport has just completed 24 years’ service to the Boy Scouts Association. Several trophies on her mantelpiece testify to her skill at tying intricate knots – which baffle the smallest of her eight grandchildren. On wet, windy days she is quick to find a sheltered spot, mysteriously produce dry bracken and soon have a fire going.
Formerly of Katanning, Mrs Newport came to Perth last year and considered resigning from the Association. “But I just couldn’t do it – I would be scared about my health if I gave up life outdoors.” Mrs. Newport’s medals and bars include some from Lady Baden-Powell. A land girl in World War 1, she migrated to Australia in 1922 under the Commonwealth scheme for ex-Service personnel.
Good deeds
Though she lives alone in a rented room in Hay Street, Mrs Newport is constantly on the alert for an opportunity to maintain the scouts’ tradition and do her quota of good deeds. But in some respects she is handicapped. “I see scouts help old women across the road,” she said, “but I can’t help there. It’s as much as I can do to get myself across.”
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