Rhonda was born in 1927 to William and Petina Stidworthy who were farming at Lake Grace at that time. Within three years of her birth, drought and the Depression forced the family to walk away from farming and move to Carnarvon to help manage the Gascoyne Hotel.
Later in the 1930s the family moved inland to manage the Bangemall Hotel, store and post office (now Cobra Station), a remote outpost servicing the thousands of hopeful gold prospectors who passed through the area. The family were to relocate numerous times to other unique locations such as Onslow, Pindar and Reedy.
Despite an interesting and adventurous childhood, the disadvantage, according to Rhonda was that her early education was a bit "hit and miss". During the war years the family relocated back to Carnarvon and Rhonda was able to complete her education at the Presentation Convent school in Carnarvon. Rhonda loved the nuns and thrived academically under their tutelage.
After leaving school Rhonda was encouraged by her father to seek a trade and she chose hairdressing. She became a small business owner opening her own hairdressing salon in the 1950s at Attadale. Rhonda loved the world of business and invested her savings in real estate. Her professional life would prove to be both successful and lucrative; she was a natural and driven entrepreneur.
Rhonda's first marriage in the 1950s to Desmond Harper Brown, a musician with whom she had two children, was brief. In 1960 she married a second time to Allan McDonald of Mangaroon Station. This saw a brave and challenging move to a remote and isolated sheep station in the North West. While at Mangaroon, Rhonda wrote her first book Gold in the Gascoyne, an anecdotal history of the station.
She and her husband retired from station life in the mid-70s however Rhonda did not slow down. She continued her interest in real estate. Always an energetic person Rhonda generally attended to the property improvements herself; she was very handy with a paintbrush and DIY skills.
Rhonda was a founding member of the Property Owners Association of Western Australia, which was started in 1985. She held the position of secretary from its inception. She was an instrumental member of the association when they lobbied Parliament to allow their input into the Residential Tenancies Act in the mid-80s.
Rhonda was disappointed when she learnt that the Shire of Carnarvon was planning to demolish the town's original cemetery and build residences on the site. She formed a committee to work on preserving it and as part of these efforts started an annual and popular reunion called Back to Carnarvon as a fundraiser. Described as hard slog, they were successful in saving the cemetery and having it heritage listed.
Similarly, when she heard that a businessman had been given permission to demolish the unique home her stonemason grandfather had built for his family in South Perth she went into action and succeeded in having the building preserved on the State Register of Heritage Places.
Rhonda continued to write. Two further published books chronicled the establishment of pastoral properties in the Gascoyne and Ashburton districts, titled Winning the Gascoyne and Along the Ashburton. Although hard work, Rhonda enjoyed researching material and recording oral histories as she had a deep appreciation and love of the outback and its people.
Needlework skills learnt during her time with the nuns in Carnarvon saw a prolific output of creative work throughout her life. Rhonda's dressmaking skills were in demand by the family and many of her embroideries continue to be treasured by her family. She developed a passion for finding and salvaging old and rare dolls that she would restore and dress beautifully in appropriate costume of the era.
Rhonda loved to dance; she was an accomplished ballroom dancer achieving a string of ballroom dance medals. A highlight in her senior years was to perform alongside her granddaughter in a multi-generational professional dance production with Link Dance Company through the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Although small in stature, Rhonda had presence and could be a formidable force. She was a strong and successful woman whose achievements, in many ways, defied the era in which she was born. Her passing has left a huge gap in the family.
She leaves behind two daughters, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
By Helen Duncan
Later in the 1930s the family moved inland to manage the Bangemall Hotel, store and post office (now Cobra Station), a remote outpost servicing the thousands of hopeful gold prospectors who passed through the area. The family were to relocate numerous times to other unique locations such as Onslow, Pindar and Reedy.
Despite an interesting and adventurous childhood, the disadvantage, according to Rhonda was that her early education was a bit "hit and miss". During the war years the family relocated back to Carnarvon and Rhonda was able to complete her education at the Presentation Convent school in Carnarvon. Rhonda loved the nuns and thrived academically under their tutelage.
After leaving school Rhonda was encouraged by her father to seek a trade and she chose hairdressing. She became a small business owner opening her own hairdressing salon in the 1950s at Attadale. Rhonda loved the world of business and invested her savings in real estate. Her professional life would prove to be both successful and lucrative; she was a natural and driven entrepreneur.
Rhonda's first marriage in the 1950s to Desmond Harper Brown, a musician with whom she had two children, was brief. In 1960 she married a second time to Allan McDonald of Mangaroon Station. This saw a brave and challenging move to a remote and isolated sheep station in the North West. While at Mangaroon, Rhonda wrote her first book Gold in the Gascoyne, an anecdotal history of the station.
She and her husband retired from station life in the mid-70s however Rhonda did not slow down. She continued her interest in real estate. Always an energetic person Rhonda generally attended to the property improvements herself; she was very handy with a paintbrush and DIY skills.
Rhonda was a founding member of the Property Owners Association of Western Australia, which was started in 1985. She held the position of secretary from its inception. She was an instrumental member of the association when they lobbied Parliament to allow their input into the Residential Tenancies Act in the mid-80s.
Rhonda was disappointed when she learnt that the Shire of Carnarvon was planning to demolish the town's original cemetery and build residences on the site. She formed a committee to work on preserving it and as part of these efforts started an annual and popular reunion called Back to Carnarvon as a fundraiser. Described as hard slog, they were successful in saving the cemetery and having it heritage listed.
Similarly, when she heard that a businessman had been given permission to demolish the unique home her stonemason grandfather had built for his family in South Perth she went into action and succeeded in having the building preserved on the State Register of Heritage Places.
Rhonda continued to write. Two further published books chronicled the establishment of pastoral properties in the Gascoyne and Ashburton districts, titled Winning the Gascoyne and Along the Ashburton. Although hard work, Rhonda enjoyed researching material and recording oral histories as she had a deep appreciation and love of the outback and its people.
Needlework skills learnt during her time with the nuns in Carnarvon saw a prolific output of creative work throughout her life. Rhonda's dressmaking skills were in demand by the family and many of her embroideries continue to be treasured by her family. She developed a passion for finding and salvaging old and rare dolls that she would restore and dress beautifully in appropriate costume of the era.
Rhonda loved to dance; she was an accomplished ballroom dancer achieving a string of ballroom dance medals. A highlight in her senior years was to perform alongside her granddaughter in a multi-generational professional dance production with Link Dance Company through the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Although small in stature, Rhonda had presence and could be a formidable force. She was a strong and successful woman whose achievements, in many ways, defied the era in which she was born. Her passing has left a huge gap in the family.
She leaves behind two daughters, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
By Helen Duncan
Rhonda was born in 1927 to William and Petina Stidworthy who were farming at Lake Grace at that time. Within three years of her birth, drought and the Depression forced the family to walk away from farming and move to Carnarvon to help manage the Gascoyne Hotel.
Later in the 1930s the family moved inland to manage the Bangemall Hotel, store and post office (now Cobra Station), a remote outpost servicing the thousands of hopeful gold prospectors who passed through the area. The family were to relocate numerous times to other unique locations such as Onslow, Pindar and Reedy.
Despite an interesting and adventurous childhood, the disadvantage, according to Rhonda was that her early education was a bit "hit and miss". During the war years the family relocated back to Carnarvon and Rhonda was able to complete her education at the Presentation Convent school in Carnarvon. Rhonda loved the nuns and thrived academically under their tutelage.
After leaving school Rhonda was encouraged by her father to seek a trade and she chose hairdressing. She became a small business owner opening her own hairdressing salon in the 1950s at Attadale. Rhonda loved the world of business and invested her savings in real estate. Her professional life would prove to be both successful and lucrative; she was a natural and driven entrepreneur.
Rhonda's first marriage in the 1950s to Desmond Harper Brown, a musician with whom she had two children, was brief. In 1960 she married a second time to Allan McDonald of Mangaroon Station. This saw a brave and challenging move to a remote and isolated sheep station in the North West. While at Mangaroon, Rhonda wrote her first book Gold in the Gascoyne, an anecdotal history of the station.
She and her husband retired from station life in the mid-70s however Rhonda did not slow down. She continued her interest in real estate. Always an energetic person Rhonda generally attended to the property improvements herself; she was very handy with a paintbrush and DIY skills.
Rhonda was a founding member of the Property Owners Association of Western Australia, which was started in 1985. She held the position of secretary from its inception. She was an instrumental member of the association when they lobbied Parliament to allow their input into the Residential Tenancies Act in the mid-80s.
Rhonda was disappointed when she learnt that the Shire of Carnarvon was planning to demolish the town's original cemetery and build residences on the site. She formed a committee to work on preserving it and as part of these efforts started an annual and popular reunion called Back to Carnarvon as a fundraiser. Described as hard slog, they were successful in saving the cemetery and having it heritage listed.
Similarly, when she heard that a businessman had been given permission to demolish the unique home her stonemason grandfather had built for his family in South Perth she went into action and succeeded in having the building preserved on the State Register of Heritage Places.
Rhonda continued to write. Two further published books chronicled the establishment of pastoral properties in the Gascoyne and Ashburton districts, titled Winning the Gascoyne and Along the Ashburton. Although hard work, Rhonda enjoyed researching material and recording oral histories as she had a deep appreciation and love of the outback and its people.
Needlework skills learnt during her time with the nuns in Carnarvon saw a prolific output of creative work throughout her life. Rhonda's dressmaking skills were in demand by the family and many of her embroideries continue to be treasured by her family. She developed a passion for finding and salvaging old and rare dolls that she would restore and dress beautifully in appropriate costume of the era.
Rhonda loved to dance; she was an accomplished ballroom dancer achieving a string of ballroom dance medals. A highlight in her senior years was to perform alongside her granddaughter in a multi-generational professional dance production with Link Dance Company through the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Although small in stature, Rhonda had presence and could be a formidable force. She was a strong and successful woman whose achievements, in many ways, defied the era in which she was born. Her passing has left a huge gap in the family.
She leaves behind two daughters, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
By Helen Duncan
Later in the 1930s the family moved inland to manage the Bangemall Hotel, store and post office (now Cobra Station), a remote outpost servicing the thousands of hopeful gold prospectors who passed through the area. The family were to relocate numerous times to other unique locations such as Onslow, Pindar and Reedy.
Despite an interesting and adventurous childhood, the disadvantage, according to Rhonda was that her early education was a bit "hit and miss". During the war years the family relocated back to Carnarvon and Rhonda was able to complete her education at the Presentation Convent school in Carnarvon. Rhonda loved the nuns and thrived academically under their tutelage.
After leaving school Rhonda was encouraged by her father to seek a trade and she chose hairdressing. She became a small business owner opening her own hairdressing salon in the 1950s at Attadale. Rhonda loved the world of business and invested her savings in real estate. Her professional life would prove to be both successful and lucrative; she was a natural and driven entrepreneur.
Rhonda's first marriage in the 1950s to Desmond Harper Brown, a musician with whom she had two children, was brief. In 1960 she married a second time to Allan McDonald of Mangaroon Station. This saw a brave and challenging move to a remote and isolated sheep station in the North West. While at Mangaroon, Rhonda wrote her first book Gold in the Gascoyne, an anecdotal history of the station.
She and her husband retired from station life in the mid-70s however Rhonda did not slow down. She continued her interest in real estate. Always an energetic person Rhonda generally attended to the property improvements herself; she was very handy with a paintbrush and DIY skills.
Rhonda was a founding member of the Property Owners Association of Western Australia, which was started in 1985. She held the position of secretary from its inception. She was an instrumental member of the association when they lobbied Parliament to allow their input into the Residential Tenancies Act in the mid-80s.
Rhonda was disappointed when she learnt that the Shire of Carnarvon was planning to demolish the town's original cemetery and build residences on the site. She formed a committee to work on preserving it and as part of these efforts started an annual and popular reunion called Back to Carnarvon as a fundraiser. Described as hard slog, they were successful in saving the cemetery and having it heritage listed.
Similarly, when she heard that a businessman had been given permission to demolish the unique home her stonemason grandfather had built for his family in South Perth she went into action and succeeded in having the building preserved on the State Register of Heritage Places.
Rhonda continued to write. Two further published books chronicled the establishment of pastoral properties in the Gascoyne and Ashburton districts, titled Winning the Gascoyne and Along the Ashburton. Although hard work, Rhonda enjoyed researching material and recording oral histories as she had a deep appreciation and love of the outback and its people.
Needlework skills learnt during her time with the nuns in Carnarvon saw a prolific output of creative work throughout her life. Rhonda's dressmaking skills were in demand by the family and many of her embroideries continue to be treasured by her family. She developed a passion for finding and salvaging old and rare dolls that she would restore and dress beautifully in appropriate costume of the era.
Rhonda loved to dance; she was an accomplished ballroom dancer achieving a string of ballroom dance medals. A highlight in her senior years was to perform alongside her granddaughter in a multi-generational professional dance production with Link Dance Company through the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Although small in stature, Rhonda had presence and could be a formidable force. She was a strong and successful woman whose achievements, in many ways, defied the era in which she was born. Her passing has left a huge gap in the family.
She leaves behind two daughters, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
By Helen Duncan
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