But, in 1915, that changed because the new house was built.
Here I quote directly from Doreen’s hand-written book.
“The new house cost just under 1000 pounds; yet it had extra-large foundations (which the architect thought would prevent cracks forming) and granite doorsteps throughout, 14 foot walls for coolness, and wide verandahs on north and east.
Dad had received about 700 pounds in insurance on the old house and furniture.
New furniture was bought, and the house was equipped with electric power, which had just come to Shepparton.
It was a very good home for those days and we were happy to be all together again.
Luckily Grandma was staying in Elsternwick and missed the fire, but she came back to us and was overjoyed to find that ‘Mikie’ could really pay for the house or had actually paid for it.”
Despite this, that year was not a happy one.
The boys, Brian, 12 and Kevin, 10, drowned in a dam.
It was more than heart-breaking, because one of them fell into the water and the other went to help him.
It was Easter Saturday; they had been to Mass that morning and had just been made ‘altar boys’.
Their prayer books and rosary beads were still in their pockets when they were brought home.
Bernie, at this time, was just four years old.
Michael had great hopes for his sons, and Doreen has written that her father was never the same.
The compassion from the community was wonderful, with cards and letters from friends and strangers.
And the boys’ grandmother died shortly afterwards.
The Fryers St store
Eileen and Kathleen had both gone to work in the business.
Eileen enjoyed her work, but Kathleen decided to stay home and help her mother.
Mona did one year of secondary education, then went into the business to take care of the book-keeping.
Doreen stayed on at school, obtained her leaving certificate, and decided to be a teacher.
She worked initially at Sandringham, which was not a good school, but was soon transferred to Numurkah, where she was happy.
After three years in Numurkah, she developed pleurisy, followed by an abscess on her lung.
It was two years before she was well enough to return to work.
Kathleen married Jim Mahoney at St Brendan’s and they set up home on a soldier settlement block.
However, her health failed, and she died just three years into her marriage.
Eileen’s marriage to Jim Grace lasted just seven months.
Eileen’s symptoms developed when they were on their honeymoon; it was a terminal illness.
Mona married Frank Daly and they bought a home in Bentleigh.
Girlie (Marion) was now running the sales end of the business – but Bernie was growing up, and after a year at Shepp High studying commercial subjects, began to learn the business.
Michael relied heavily on him and was able to focus on his gun work.
The rest of the business was soon taken care of by Bernie and Marion.
Doreen gave up teaching, at the request of her parents, and worked in the shop until 1934 – when she married Pat Leahy and went to live in Claude St.
Bernie married Betty Moncrieff, a nursing sister, and they had two sons. He passed away in September 1994.
With a wide range of goods (including toys pre-Christmas) Halpins Sports Store was an important destination for the people of the district and its sponsorship of junior sport was appreciated.
Towards its closing, one of Michael’s granddaughters, Liz Dainton, was giving a helping hand.
The business was relocated to Vaughan St in 1987, and closed in 1988.
I can’t help thinking that, when Michael opened his tiny gun shop in 1884, he’d not have expected his business to survive for 104 years.
Let’s just have a chat next week.
May it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Phone: Text or call 0409 317187
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