Ken Bailey

Ken’s dad, Bob, worked at a local bakery. Bob had tried to enlist for World War 11 but was knocked back initially because of varicose veins in his legs. When Bob’s brother Charlie was killed at Benghazi, Bob had his veins repaired and joined up. He spent all four years in a tank brigade around Queensland. Ken, born in 1928, was at home during this time with his mother and younger sister. When he left school before the end of the war, he sought work through “Manpower”. This was a division of the Government of Australia, established in 1942 to be responsible for active service and support industry recruitment during World War 11 to combat labour shortages in strategic areas. Ken began working in a factory but didn’t enjoy the indoor work. Through “Manpower”, Ken requested work on a farm and was sent to a mixed farm at Bullioh, near Tallangatta. Ken discovered he loved this environment and the outdoor work. He would have stayed there, but he quickly realized he would be unlikely to ever be able to own his own farm.