Noel Francis Fooks1

#232, (25 December 1886-1968)
FatherRev. Henry Samuel Cox Fookes (11 Jan 1848-9 Feb 1924)
MotherJane Maria Murray (6 Sep 1850-22 Aug 1903)
Last Edited2 Sep 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Fookes-33.
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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Noel Francis Fooks was also known as Noel Francis Fookes. Noel was born on Saturday, 25 December 1886 at Emu Bay, Tasmania.2,3 He was the son of Rev. Henry Samuel Cox Fookes and Jane Maria Murray. He presumably lived with his parents at Waratah, Tasmania, in 1890.4

His mother died 22 August 1903 at the age of 52. Noel was aged 16 when this happened.5 Noel was employed in his first job after leaving school at the post office at Waratah, Tasmania.6 He was as a woodcutter "at 2/6d per day and averaging 3 tons a day."6 He was employed.6 Noel was employed by the District Surveyor, Mr. D. Jones, as an axeman and chainman in 1907.6

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of Charles Leigh Clare Nicholson and Louise Augusta Fookes in a Church of England ceremony at St. Martin's Church on Sunday, 8 December 1907 at Queenstown, Tasmania. Louise and Charles went on to have three children together.7
St Martin's, Queenstown (rear)
Source: National Library of Australia
Noel was employed in a variety of roles for by the company his father managed, the Mt. Bischoff Mining Company at Waratah, Tasmania.68
Bischoff Football Team - Premiers 1908. (Eric is third(?) from the left on the top row; Noel is left-most on the bottom row)
Source: The Weekly Courier 24th September 1908


Noel worked for a while as assistant surveyor to his uncle Louis as he surveyed Tamar Heads and Scottsdale, Tasmania.6

In his biography, Noel says he worked:
...in the Electrical Department, first as pole and cabling erecting, then was sent to the Power Station assisting in the erection of machinery and switchboard wiring and to learn operating. I afterwards took charge of a shift as operator but lost this job on account of not having a steam ticket. I was transferred to Electrical Work Shops assisting in the erection of motors and wiring, then house wiring. During slack periods I was sent to the Moulding and Blacksmiths Shops as labourer. I got sick of this pillar to post style and eventually left Waratah and went to W.A.6

Noel Francis Fooks was a farmer, working for W. Lindsay at the small Tasmanian town of Evandale at Evandale.6

Noel was very proud of his spoting achievements saying:
I took an active part in all types of sport, Football Running, Cycling, Chopping, Game Shooting and Trout Fishing . . . [i]n Football, I played with the old Bischoff Team and was second ruckman, rover, half-back and centre forward- position . . . In Foot-running, I was only once defeated in six starts over 880 yards . . . [i]n the 100yds Local Handicap run on Boxing Day, in three years I was placed 3rd 2nd and 1st - the last event I won off 7 yds in 9 4/5 seconds. I won considerable money in this event

It was the winnings from this event that allowed him to travel to Western Australia. He also mentions that his fishing and hunting provided the family with food.6

Hi trainer, Jack Stanton, went with him to W.A. But he was "yards off" his previous form, which he attibutes to the hotter climate.6 He initially went to Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, but couldn't find work in three weeks, so joined his uncle Henry William Murray who had a wood contract for a local mine.6 Again he moved on, this time to Leonora, Western Australia, where he had a short-term job house wiring. He tried to get games with the local football team but couldn't adjust to the different bounce of the ball on hard ground.9

As he puts it:
Out of work, and no money, I set off with my belongings for Sandstone, Western Australia, on foot. Arriving there, I had to send to my brothers for financial help. I followed up t the change of shift for 3 weeks before getting a job.6

Noel was employed by the Oroya Black Range Gold Mine as un derground shoveller, before being promoted to Trucker and six mon ths later, became a full-fledged miner..9 He was an electrical engineer.10 Noel lived in 1946 at at Rothley 13 Sorrett Avenue in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern.10

Noel died in 1968 at the Melbourne suburb of Kew.1,11

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
1886BirthEmu Bay, Tasmania2,3
EmploymentWaratah, Tasmania6
Occupation6
Employment6
1907Employment6
Occupation-hide6
EmploymentWaratah, Tasmania6
Note memo only CR CRScottsdale, Tasmania6
Quotation type 36
Occupationthe small Tasmanian town of Evandale6
Quotation type 36
Note memo only CR CR6
Note memo onlyKalgoorlie, Western Australia6
Note memo onlyLeonora, Western Australia9
Quotation type 3Sandstone, Western Australia6
Employment9
Occupation10
1946Residence at Rothley 13 Sorrett Avenue in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern10
1968Deaththe Melbourne suburb of Kew1,11

Citations

  1. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1968 #11860 (index only).
  2. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.31).
  3. [S734] E-mails from Julian Hawley to Tim Hill, 2014- 'ThoseBefore.com - Henry Samuel Cox Fooks' - 11 Jan 2019, 04:48 - attachments.
  4. [S1227] City Directories Australia,Australia (1845-1948), Tasmania PO Directory (Wise) 1890-1891 p.199.
  5. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 27 Aug 1903.
  6. [S1281] Noel Fooks, manuscript, February 1943 p.1.
  7. [S261] Tasmania, Birth Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1910 No.1271.
  8. [S1230] Pioneers of the Tasmanian Northwest (http://www.tasmanianpioneers.com/) http://www.tasmanianpioneers.com/waratah-p-2.html
  9. [S1281] Noel Fooks, manuscript, February 1943 p.1a.
  10. [S886] E-mails from Di Foster to Tim Hill, 2015- 'Looks family history' - 13 August 2015 at 17:11.
  11. [S728] GEDCOM file created by Donald L. Reid, 17 Feb 2014 (companion to 'Descendents of James MCKENZIE.rtf' p.20).