Waldo Ernest Catlett (1870-1937)
Waldo was born on Christmas day, 1870 to Arthur Edward and Agnes Simmons (reference). In August 1895 Waldo married Matilda Margaret Gardiner at the Bunbury Catholic church (reference). Matilda was a popular girl in Bunbury known for her quiet manner and worked at John Hands' shop for eight years. The couple began their one-month honeymoon trip to Sydney aboard the Bunbury railway (reference). They had six children who survived to adulthood, Vera, Arthur, Phyllis, Cora, Stanley and Margaret (reference; reference).
Waldo Ernest Catlett was a well-known watchmaker on Victoria Street who set up his business in Bunbury in 1891 (reference). His business was also the family home, situated on Victoria and Wellington Streets (reference). He advertised his business as being located on Victoria Street, three doors from the Wellington Hotel (reference). Waldo’s watchmaking and jeweller business had a reputation of supplying only the best material (reference). He also crafted old fashioned jewellery into new designs (reference). Other services at his business included selling watches, clocks and cleaning watches (reference).
In 1896 Waldo’s services were highly commended in the Bunbury Herald:
“To the Editor of The Herald Sir, — Before leaving Bunbury, I desire to speak of the work manlike manner Mr. W. E. Catlett repaired my chronometer at short notice. I tried several watchmakers in W.A. and none of them could repair my chronometer in time, as I am leaving port tomorrow. Mr. Catlett took the work in hand and made a good job of it. The chronomoter is now keeping proper time (reference).”
In December 1897 in the lead up to Christmas the Bunbury Herald published an article about what Bunbury shops offered for Christmas presents. Waldo’s business was included:
“W. E. Catlett has opened a superb collection of glass and electroplated ware ' in ornaments very suitable for Christmas presents and has also an extensive stock of watches, clocks and jewellery of the high standard deservedly acquired by his wares. He makes a specialty of watchmaking and repairs (reference).”
In October 1898 Waldo witnessed a forgery crime at the Bunbury court and in 1902 a witness in a murder trial (reference; reference).
His daughters Phyllis and Cora were members of the girls' football team, the Kangaroos (reference). The team of red and gold were one of two women's teams in Bunbury and were met with controversy, as in 1921, it was not acceptable for women to play sport, let alone football, a 'men's game' (reference).
In 1933 the couple lived at 31 Kimberly Street in West Leederville (reference).
On 29 November 1933 Matilda and Waldo's son, Stanley, was killed in an aeroplane accident at Picton Junction at 26 years old (reference; reference). The plane stalled, went into a spin and crashed into trees, smashing the machine to fragments reference). Stanly was interested in mechanics and speed since he was a child and achieved international fame as a speedway racer (reference; reference). In 1932 Stanley returned from England after participating in international dirt-track riding championships in England (reference). Upon returning to Bunbury, Stanley joined the Aero Club as a pilot as he had learnt to fly in England (reference). Clarence Stafford, the owner of the Picton Junction Hotel, was witness to the crash (reference).
Waldo died on 31 October 1937 at the Claremont Old Men's Home at 67 years old. He is buried in the Karrakatta cemetery (reference; reference). His wife, Margaret, outlived Waldo, dying in 1959 (reference).
More information on Stanley Catlett can be found at speedwayandroadracehistory
Many thanks to Leger Martin for the lovely family photographs.