Winkler Generations
Sydney Percival Winkler was born on 19 April 1904 at Wallaroo, South Australia. He was the seventh child and youngest son of Charles William Winkler and Elizabeth Jane Hicks. Perce, as he was known, attended Wallaroo Primary School until he was about 9 years old.
Perce idolised his older brother, Bill (Charles William jnr.). He used to say that Bill was the best of the lot. When World War I broke out in 1914, Bill along with two of his brothers, Benjamin and Fred, enlisted in the Australian Infantry. Their father, Charlie, still felt an allegiance to Germany, due to his German heritage. He was unhappy that his sons had chosen to join up and fight against Germany. Ultimately, this caused a rift between Charlie and Elizabeth and they separated in 1915. Shortly afterwards, Elizabeth brought the younger children to Adelaide to live. They didn’t settle in one place for very long; according to Perce, the family would often just pack up and do a ‘moonlight flit’. At one time, they lived just off Payneham Road, near the Payneham Town Hall. In 1920, Perce was living with his eldest brother, Richard, at Kent Town. |
Perce went to school in Adelaide for a year or two. He remembered walking through the parkland's bouncing his football on the way to school. Quite often the ball would be kicked up into the trees. Eventually he learnt how to do a good drop-kick to avoid the trees.
After he left school, Perce took work wherever he could get it. At one time he drove a horse and dray down to Port Adelaide for Harris Scarfe Department Store. For about three months he worked on a farm in the Murray Mallee clearing mallee roots. As it was quiet out there at night, most evenings Perce would ride the farmers old horse about a mile to Karoonda, the closest town. There he would spend his time learning to play Billiards.
In 1921, when Perce was about 17, he went to live in Broken Hill. Both his father and one of his Uncles had lived and worked in Broken Hill over the years. Perce lived in Railway Town, Broken Hill; the home of his late Uncle August. August had died a few years earlier, but his second wife, Eustella, continued to live in the family home in Pell Street. Perce got a job working at the mines and joined the West Broken Hill Football Club. The club had a successful season and won the Premiership in 1922. Soon after he arrived in Broken Hill, Perce began joining his mates in the courting ritual that took place in a local park. The boys would walk one way around the park; the girls would walk around the other way. This is likely where he met Jean Griffiths. 15-year-old Jean lived in Pell Lane, the next street over from Pell Street, with her parents, Richard and Edith. |
West Broken Hill Football Club were runners-up in 1926. Perce began to be noticed by football scouts looking for players for the South Australian Football League. The West Adelaide team selected quite a few of his team-mates in 1927, but when Perce was selected, he chose to go to Glenelg Football Club. Unlike today’s football players, back in 1928, players had to work full-time as well. The 2/6 a week the players got each week wasn't enough to live on. Glenelg had managed to secure Perce a job working as a gardener for local businessman, Harold Law-Smith.
Harold Law-Smith was a director of Harris Scarfe and was quite wealthy. One day he needed a new chauffeur and asked Perce if he could drive. Never having driven a car in his life before but always ready to try anything, Perce said that yes, he could drive. He practiced a few times in Mr. Law-Smith’s driveway and then took himself off to the Glenelg police station to get his driver’s license. He was then at the beck and call of Mr. Law-Smith, day and night. Whenever he needed to go somewhere he would say “I need you tonight Winkler.” Perce would never get paid any extra wages though. When Mr. Law-Smith went to England on holiday, he put Perce off for 6 months.
When Jean turned 21 in December 1928, she left Broken Hill and came to Adelaide to get married. Her parents were horrified and unfortunately, Jean was estranged from them for many years afterwards. Perce and Jean were married on 20th March 1929 at the Glenelg Methodist Parsonage. |
Perce continued to do well in is football and quite often got a mention in the after-game reports in the newspapers. In 1936, Perce won the Centenary Cup for kicking ten goals in one game. He kicked 149 goals for the club during his playing career – 55 goals in one season alone. He wasn't just a forward player though; he played in defense as well and made a most favourable impression as goalkeeper the first time he played that position. In fact Perce played well in just about any position on the field. One Glenelg fan even wrote a letter to the newspaper requesting that Perce be moved back into the centre, where his well-directed hand passing and accurate kicking had helped Glenelg win four of their first six games that season.
Perce also had his share of not so good games. When Glenelg went to Broken Hill one season to play a match, not only did they come back defeated, but a number of players were injured as well, including Perce. He sustained a broken nose during this match. Another time he was reported for striking an opponent. Perce admitted the charge but told the Football League Commissioner that he was provoked. (According to Perce, he was grabbed in the ‘goollies’) Agreeing that the action was most probably quite involuntary, and in view of Perce’s long unblemished football career, the Commissioner deemed that no penalty would be imposed.
Perce also had his share of not so good games. When Glenelg went to Broken Hill one season to play a match, not only did they come back defeated, but a number of players were injured as well, including Perce. He sustained a broken nose during this match. Another time he was reported for striking an opponent. Perce admitted the charge but told the Football League Commissioner that he was provoked. (According to Perce, he was grabbed in the ‘goollies’) Agreeing that the action was most probably quite involuntary, and in view of Perce’s long unblemished football career, the Commissioner deemed that no penalty would be imposed.
In 1931, Perce and Jean’s first daughter, Roma Margaret, was born. Another daughter was born to Perce and Jean in May 1940, she was named Jennifer Margaret. Football and work commitments often kept Perce away from home. Saturday was game day and Sunday was usually spent at the Doctors recovering from the day before. Jean didn’t go to watch Perce play football but Roma remembers going to the games sometimes and getting in free at ¾ time. She doesn't remember watching her dad play though.
Perce played 92 games for the Glenelg Football Club between 1928 –1932 and 1936-1938. He was coach of the B-side from 1933 – 1935 and, therefore didn’t play in Glenelg’s Premiership team of 1934. Perce and Jean did not tend to join in any of the social side of the Football Club though. Perhaps, because they were non-drinkers, they didn’t feel they would fit in. Perce was quite against drinking; he didn’t like it at all. Maybe this was because he knew the effects alcohol had on some of his family who were drinkers. |
Perce didn’t visit with his brothers and sisters very often, but sometimes the whole family would ride their bikes down to Semaphore to visit Perce’s sister, Ettie. Perce and Roma would ride up front and Jean, with Jennifer in a seat on the back, would follow. Ettie had a deli on Semaphore Road near the Railway Station. There was a boarding house out the back too. Lined up along the shop counter were lots of very tempting lolly jars.
On September 3, 1939 World War II was declared. Perce had wanted to join up straight away, but Jean wanted him to wait until Jennifer was older. It wasn't until April 1942, when Jennifer was almost 2 years old, that Perce enlisted in the Royal Australian Army. As a gunner in the 2/9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, he spent most of his war service in Papua New Guinea. Roma learnt to be quite self-sufficient while Perce was away in the Army. She used to help her mother around the house, run her messages, and look after her little sister when she was sick.
On September 3, 1939 World War II was declared. Perce had wanted to join up straight away, but Jean wanted him to wait until Jennifer was older. It wasn't until April 1942, when Jennifer was almost 2 years old, that Perce enlisted in the Royal Australian Army. As a gunner in the 2/9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, he spent most of his war service in Papua New Guinea. Roma learnt to be quite self-sufficient while Perce was away in the Army. She used to help her mother around the house, run her messages, and look after her little sister when she was sick.
In November 1945, after the war had ended, Perce returned home safely to Jean and the two girls at Glenelg. It took him quite a while to get used to sleeping in a bed again – it was too soft! It took a while for the family to get used to having him home again too. Roma, who was a teenager by then, remembers that it took quite a while to get to know her dad again. He seemed like a stranger at first and she resented being given directions by him.
Perce was soon involved with the Glenelg Football Club again, but this time as a selector. In 1948 he was made a Life Member of the Football Club. He also played a bit of cricket with some of the Returned Soldiers at the local RSL.
There still wasn't much time to spend as a family. At least the rift between Jean and her parents had healed by this time. Richard and Edith Griffiths came for a visit towards the end of the War. Richard had been a mine-worker at Broken Hill and it had affected his lungs (pneumoconiosis). It did him good to get away from Broken Hill for a while and his condition improved a little. Richard lived until he was 71 years old. After he died in 1948, Edith would stay with Perce and Jean, or one of Jean’s sister’s, for about 3 or 4 months out of each year. Edith died in 1961, aged 83 years. Edith and Richard are both buried in Broken Hill.
Perce was soon involved with the Glenelg Football Club again, but this time as a selector. In 1948 he was made a Life Member of the Football Club. He also played a bit of cricket with some of the Returned Soldiers at the local RSL.
There still wasn't much time to spend as a family. At least the rift between Jean and her parents had healed by this time. Richard and Edith Griffiths came for a visit towards the end of the War. Richard had been a mine-worker at Broken Hill and it had affected his lungs (pneumoconiosis). It did him good to get away from Broken Hill for a while and his condition improved a little. Richard lived until he was 71 years old. After he died in 1948, Edith would stay with Perce and Jean, or one of Jean’s sister’s, for about 3 or 4 months out of each year. Edith died in 1961, aged 83 years. Edith and Richard are both buried in Broken Hill.
In his later years, Perce took up bowling. Always excelling at whatever sport he played, he became a top bowler. Eventually Perce and Jean started to take regular trips with the Bowls Club and often went to northern New South Wales. Perce would play bowls and Jean would socialize with the other wives. Perce remembered speaking with his father shortly before they left for a bowls trip in July 1967. He had a feeling that Charlie wasn't too well at the time. While they were gone, Charlie passed away.
The only time Roma recalled seeing her Grandfather was at Ettie’s house at Blackwood once. Charlie was sitting outside with his hat on having a rest. She was later reminded of Charlie when she saw Perce sitting outside on the veranda with a hat on; he looked just like his father. Roma never met her Grandmother, Elizabeth; Perce wasn't inclined to talk about her at all. He did mention his brothers occasionally though. He sometimes talked about one of his brothers, Fred. Ginger, (as he was known to the family), had diabetes and had lost feeling in his feet. Ginger would joke about the night he was sitting by the fire and his toe caught alight. |
Roma went to school at Glenelg. She got her intermediate certificate when she was 15 and went to work in Myers in the city as an office girl. Eventually, after much pestering, she was taught how to use the Comptometer and was promoted to the pay office. Roma continued to work at Myers for about three years after her marriage to Robert Graham Childs in 1954. Susan Jean was born in 1957 and David was born three years later. Susan Childs is married to Frank Grosser and they have three children, Darren, Tracey and Michael. David Childs is a plumber, and lives in Western Australia with his wife Deborah, and their children Jenna, Frazer and Mason. David also has two older children, Andrew and Sera, from his first marriage to Christine.
Roma’s younger sister, Jennifer, moved to Queensland and has three children, Paul, Greg and Lisa, with Clem King.
During their marriage, Jean had always been the homemaker and Perce looked after the house maintenance and the garden. Sadly, as Jean grew older, she developed some dementia. While she was still able to do so, she began to teach Perce how to cook. He soon learnt how to make soups and stews, custards and pancakes. He liked to watch the cooking shows on television and eventually became quite a good cook.
Perce and Jean were married for over 64 years. Jean died at the Walkerville Nursing Home on 5th May 1993. Perce and Roma took Jean’s ashes to Broken Hill and put them in her parent’s grave. Roma became very close to Perce after Jean’s death. They would go out to lunch each week; Perce would enjoy playing the pokies. He was quite deaf by this time and communication could be difficult, but Perce continued to look after himself in his own unit for the next ten years. At 99 years old, he was still extremely independent.
Perce managed on his own quite well until January 2004, when he had a bad fall. He was left a paraplegic after the fall. He was hospitalised for a month before being moved to the Western Community Nursing Home and later the Charles Young Nursing Home at Morphettville. On the 19th April 2004, a lovely birthday party was organised to celebrate Perce’s 100th birthday. Despite Perce’s earlier protests that he didn’t want a big fuss, he thoroughly enjoyed his special day surrounded by his family.
Roma’s younger sister, Jennifer, moved to Queensland and has three children, Paul, Greg and Lisa, with Clem King.
During their marriage, Jean had always been the homemaker and Perce looked after the house maintenance and the garden. Sadly, as Jean grew older, she developed some dementia. While she was still able to do so, she began to teach Perce how to cook. He soon learnt how to make soups and stews, custards and pancakes. He liked to watch the cooking shows on television and eventually became quite a good cook.
Perce and Jean were married for over 64 years. Jean died at the Walkerville Nursing Home on 5th May 1993. Perce and Roma took Jean’s ashes to Broken Hill and put them in her parent’s grave. Roma became very close to Perce after Jean’s death. They would go out to lunch each week; Perce would enjoy playing the pokies. He was quite deaf by this time and communication could be difficult, but Perce continued to look after himself in his own unit for the next ten years. At 99 years old, he was still extremely independent.
Perce managed on his own quite well until January 2004, when he had a bad fall. He was left a paraplegic after the fall. He was hospitalised for a month before being moved to the Western Community Nursing Home and later the Charles Young Nursing Home at Morphettville. On the 19th April 2004, a lovely birthday party was organised to celebrate Perce’s 100th birthday. Despite Perce’s earlier protests that he didn’t want a big fuss, he thoroughly enjoyed his special day surrounded by his family.
Perce Winkler died on July 20th 2004, 3 months after his 100th birthday. A quiet, unassuming man until the very end, he didn’t want any plaque or memorial. Instead, his ashes were scattered near his home, at the Old Gum Tree Reserve at Glenelg.
Descendants of Sydney Percival Winkler
Sydney Percival Winkler was born on 19 April 1904 in Wallaroo, South Australia and died on 20 July 2004 in Morphetville, South Australia at age 100 years. Perce married Jean Griffiths on 30 March 1929 in Glenelg, South Australia. Jean was born on 11 December 1907 and died on 5 May 1993 in Walkerville, South Australia at age 85 years. They had two children: Roma Margaret and Jennifer Margaret Pearl.
- Roma Margaret Winkler was born on 23 September 1931 in Hilton, South Australia. Roma married Robert Graham Childs on 20 March 1954 in Glenelg. They had two children: Susan Jean and David Graham.
- Jennifer Margaret Winkler was born on 5 May 1940 in Glenelg, South Australia. Jennifer married Clem Patrick King in 1958. They had three children Paul Stephen, Gregory John and Lisa Jane.