See also
| Husband: | William Henry SAFFIN (1912-1990) | |
| Wife: | Esther Caroline MIRTSCHIN (1907-1984) | |
| Children: | PRIVATE ( - ) | |
| PRIVATE ( - ) | ||
| PRIVATE ( - ) | ||
| PRIVATE ( - ) | ||
| Marriage | 3 Jun 1939 | Hamilton, Victoria, Australia |
| Name: | William Henry SAFFIN1 | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name Prefix: | Mr | |
| Father: | George SAFFIN (1885-1926) | |
| Mother: | Catherine (Kate) ANNETT (1884-1938) | |
| Birth | 10 Feb 1912 | Wallacedale, Victoria, Australia. |
| Death | 8 Sep 1990 (age 78) | Geelong, Victoria, Australia. |
| Burial | c. 12 Sep 1990 | Meredith, Victoria, Australia. |
| Name: | Esther Caroline MIRTSCHIN1 | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Name Prefix: | Miss | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
| Birth | 9 Jul 1907 | Penshurst, Victoria, Australia. |
| Baptism | 1907 (age 0) | Tabor, Victoria, Australia. |
| Confirmation | 1 Jun 1952 (age 44) | Meredith, Victoria, Australia. |
| Death | 15 Sep 1984 (age 77) | Meredith, Victoria, Australia. |
| Burial | c. 18 Sep 1984 | Meredith, Victoria, Australia. |
| Name: | PRIVATE | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name Prefix: | Mr | |
| Spouse: | PRIVATE ( - ) | |
| Name: | PRIVATE | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name Prefix: | Mr | |
| Spouse: | PRIVATE ( - ) | |
| Name: | PRIVATE | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Name Prefix: | Miss | |
| Spouse: | Eugene Johannes Gerardus Marie ROEP (1944-2002) | |
| Name: | PRIVATE | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Name Prefix: | Mr | |
| Spouse: | PRIVATE ( - ) | |
Esther Caroline (Ettie) Mirtschin and William Henry Saffin were
married at Christ Church, Church of England in Hamilton on the third
of June 1939.
Report of the wedding, Hamilton Spectator.
A pretty wedding was celebrated on June 3 at Christ Church, Hamilton,
between Esther C., daughter of Mr and Mrs Fred Mirtschin of Tabor, and
Henry W. son of the late Mr and Mrs Geo Saffin, of Wallacedale and
Hamilton. The Rev. Cannon Jessop was the officiating clergyman.
The bride who was given away by her brother, Mr Harry Mirtschin, wore
a gown of
off-white bridal satin, cut with a square scalloped neckline and long
slim fitting sleeves, slightly shirred at the elbows, with points over
the hands. The bodice was softly shirred to a point at the waist
line, and the skirt fell into soft folds to the ground, graduating
into a full train at the back.
As the bride entered the Church her beautifully embroided veil was
worn over her face, and the veil was held to the head with a coronet
of orange blossom. Her shower bouquet was comprised of cream roses,
Irises, lily of the valley and fern.
Her bridesmaid was Miss Edie Saffin, sister of the bridegroom, and
little Shirley Thomas, as trainbearer.
The bridesmaid frock was of cyclamon chiffon, rucked from the neckline
to halfway down the skirt. She wore a small coatee, with short puffed
sleeves, and matching topnot of pleated tulle and flowers, and carried
a small shirred muff.
The trainbearer's frock was made on similiar lines to that of the
bridesmaid's, her headdress being a garland of flowers, and she also
carried a basket of flowers.
The bridegroom was attended by his brother Fred. Lucky horseshoes were
hung on the bride's arm as she left the church.
After the ceremony, the bride's mother, in a black ensemble, with the
assistance of Mrs. A. Handberg, sister of the bridegroom, who was
attired in a black tailored suit, received about 50 guests at the
Hollywood Cafe, where a sumptuous wedding breakfast was partaken of.
The tables were tastefully decorated with autumn leaves and berries.
The usual toasts were honoured, and congratulatory telegrams and
letters of good wishes were read by the best man.
The happy couple left on their honeymoon, the bride travelling in a
tailored suit in green tonings, with brown accessories to match. They
were the recipients of many useful gits, including several cheques.
They intend making their future home at Duverney.
William Henry Saffin was born and educated at Wallacedale. When he was about fourteen ,
his father George died.
His Mother then continued to operate the Butcher Shop at Wallacedale with the assistance
of an employee and her family.
Henry as her oldest son was called, must have learnt his butchering skills from his father as
Henry's sons, Noel and George, recall his extensive knowledge of butchering and remember
timing him when he dressed a sheep he had killed, it took him less than 3 minutes.
Henry told his son's (Cath Price also mentioned this fact), that he had worked for Simon Black
on a property known as "Balure" (or possibly "Brae Park") in the Branxholme area.
Esther Mirtschin (his future wife) also worked at a property called "Cherritta" which was
owned by the Armitage Family in the general area and that they initially came in
contact either through their work or socially in the district.
They married in Hamilton at Christ Church, Church of England, on 3 June 1939.
Following their wedding Henry and Ettie established their home in a cottage located at
"Strathvene", Duverney, where Henry was working for the Armitage family. George and Noel (their
twin sons) were born at the Lismore Bush Nursing Hospital whilst they lived at Duverney.
When World War two broke out, Henry enlisted in the Airforce and
the family moved from Durvney to Hamilton to live in Henry's mother's
home whilst he was away enlisted. His mother Mrs Catherine (Kate) Saffin - nee Annett,
had died in 1938, (the home was still owned by the family) and Henry's brother Fred had lived
there also until he obtained his own home in Hamilton about the same time.
After the war finished, Henry worked on the railways for a short time at Hamilton
until he found work as station hand on a property called "Brung Brungle" at Wannon.
Shortly afterwards he took up employment as a Farm Manager at Drysdale for
Mr Harold Fowler on a property called "Leura Park". Mr Fowler also owned the
"Sunnyside" Wool Scouring Works at Breakwater, Geelong.
After the sale of Leura Park, Henry then managed a property known as "Ingleby" at
Armitage (approx 16 Kilometers west of Winchelsea in Victoria again for Mr Harold Fowler.
Henry left Mr Fowler's employment and moved back to Drysdale, living on a property owned by
Mr Leo Cooney until he took up employment on a property known as "Golf Hill" located at Shelford
where he worked as a station hand until he was granted a Soldier Settlement Block on
"Morangurk Estate" at Meredith in 1952.
When Henry moved onto the Soldier Settlement Block which he had been allocated, he and the other
returned servicemen who had "blocks" allocated to them, initially were paid a basic wage by the
Soldier Settlement Commission and worked together clearing the land of rabbits and getting their boundary
fences erected. Initially Henry and his family lived in a garage to which he added a side skillion.
Henry erected all the fencing necessary on the block over several years, and a new woolshed/machinery shed was also
constructed by the Soldier Settlement Commission. This was followed by a new home being constructed on the block, some two/three years later by the Soldier Settlement Commission which enabled the family to move out of the garage.
Access from the block to the nearest made road was by a track until a new road was constructed giving all
the new settlers better access to their properties.
This road when it was completed, provided access from Meredith to Shelford and serviced about 25 blocks.
on the Morangurk and Golfhill estates.
Henry was a hard worker and developed his block into a successful farm producing excellent fine wool from his Merino flock.
William Henry Saffin died at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Packington Street, Newtown, Geelong on Sept 9th,1990.
War Service Record for William Henry Saffin.
Service: Royal Australian Air Force
Service No. 56383
Date of Enlistment 25 May 1942
Locality on Enlistment Duverney, Victoria.
Place of Enlistment Melbourne, Victoria.
Date of Discharge 26th Feb 1946
Rank Corporal
Posting at Discharge 9 WMU Royal Park
Esther Caroline (Ettie) Mirtschin was the oldest of thirteen children of Friedrich and Marie Mirtschin nee Bunge.
She like all the children in such a large family, helped her parents on the farm with the many chores
and the raising of the younger children.
It is believed that Esther was working for the Armitage family on a property called "Cherita" which was in the general
area to where her future husband Henry Saffin was working. It is understood they met through their work.
They were married at Christ Church, Church of England in Hamilton on 3 June 1939. The following
is taken from an Item as printed in Hamilton Spectator - February 1939.
A pretty wedding was celebrated on June 3 at Christ Church, Hamilton, between
Esther C, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mirtschin, of Tabor, and Henry W., son of the
late Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Saffin, of Wallacedale and Hamilton.
The Rev'd Cannon Jessop was the officiating clergyman.
The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr Harry Mirtschin, wore a gown of
off-white bridal satin, cut with a square scalloped neckline and long slim fitting sleeves,
slightly shirred at the elbows, with points over the hands. The bodice was softly shirred
to a point at the , and the skirt fell into soft folds to the ground, graduating into a full train at the back.
As the bride entered the church her beautifully embroided veil was worn over her face, and the
veil was held to the head with a coronet of orange blossom. Her shower bouquet was composed
of cream roses, irises, lily of the valley and fern.
Her bridesmaid was Mrs Edie Saffin, sister of the bridegroom, and little Shirley Thomas, as trainbearer.
The bridesmaid's frock was of cyclamon chiffon, rucked from the neckline to halfway down the skirt.
She wore a small coatee, with short puffed sleeves, and a matching topnot of pleated tulle and flowers,
and carried a small shirred muff.
The trainbearer's frock was made on similiar lines to that of the bridesmaid, her headdress being a
garland of flowers, and she also carried a basket of flowers.
The bridegroom was attended by his brother Fred. Lucky horseshoes were hung on the bride's arm
as she left the church.
After the ceremony, the brides mother, in a black ensemble, with the assistance of Mrs A. Handberg,
sister of the bridegroom, who was attired in a black tailored suit, received about 50 guests at the
Hollywood Cafe, where a sumptous wedding breakfast was partaken of.
The tables were tastefully decorated with autumn leaves and berries. The usual toasts were honoured,
and congratulatory telegrams were read by the best man.
The happy couple left on their honeymoon, the bride travelling in a tailored suit in green tonings,
with brown accessories to match. They were the recipients of many useful gifts, including several cheques.
They intend making their future home at Duverney.
In the course of Henry's working life, Esther and her family moved several times from job to job,
location to location, until Henry moved to a soldier settlement Block at Meredith. She supported her husband
wherever he worked. They lived on their farm at Meredith for 32 years until her death in 1984.
Esther (Ettie) died at her home "Hillview" Meredith, Victoria, Australia.
While at Meredith she was confirmed in the Anglican Church. She was examined and presented by
Rev'd Richard H Pidgeon, to Bishop Donald Baker for confirmation.
During her life, Esther took an interest in her church and her family and the community. She taught in the
Sunday School at Meredith and played the organ on several occasions whilst the organist was absent.
Anyone who visited the farm was offered a meal, and Esther always cooked for the annual shearing.
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