August Ashlen Rohde

AUGUST ASHLEN 1879-1955. The last surviving child of Johannes and Mary Ann Rohde was born at Vales Reef in 1879. August was barely two years old when his mother died. Grandmother Bridget Passow was the one who stepped in to mother the young family. Starting school at Homebush Lower school, August had brothers and sisters already attending and would have joined them for their long walk along the dusty track daily. The children may have detoured to the main street where Gran lived for a cool drink and a biscuit. Augie was 13 when father Johannes went back to Germany with sister Tilly. With eldest sister Tina away working and Gran often away as housekeeper/midwife, the three boys were left on their own. Augie left school shortly after and worked in Frying Pan Flat sinking a shaft with brother Hannas. Brother George offered the younger boys 5/- if they bottomed a shaft in a fortnight, and they were down thirty feet with almost the fortnight to go. He enjoyed hunting with dogs and shooting, and liked sport, football and cricket. In 1898 he joined brothers working in Rutherglen and by 1901 was closer to home at Burnt Creek mine near Dunolly. Older brother Hannas had been to Western Australia mining and Augie joined him there for some time. After their Aunt Auguste in Germany left money, the three brothers bought a dairy farm at Eddington on the Loddon River. Mining behind him, August became a dairy farmer for several years. At age 28 August, farmer from Eddington, married Jane Gouge, aged 22, from Avoca, in 1907 at Maryborough Church of England. Jane, a domestic, was working and residing in Maryborough at marriage; daughter of John and Elizabeth Gouge. After selling his share of the dairy farm August went wood contracting at Avoca; August and Jane returned to settle in Avoca. August continued sporting activity, playing football and being Captain of Avoca team. He enjoyed cycling and paid £14 for his first bicycle. He won the Chain wheel bike race at Maryborough sports and was nicknamed “Joe Diggs” for his prowess on the bicycle. Image caption: Avoca Football Team - Aug back row, right of centre with cap.

During the 1st World War Aug worked as a postman at Northcote Post Office. Returning servicemen got their old jobs back after the war and so Aug and Jane and family moved to Kallista in the Dandenongs where they had a Berry farm. Because of son Carl’s health they had to leave Kallista and about 1926 Aug returned to Wood contracting in Avoca. Daughter Till stayed behind as she was doing her teacher training. In 1935 Aug managed a mine at Nowhere Creek, Glenpatrick (near Avoca). In the 1940’s August and Jane shifted to Bendigo where Aug worked at a mine for a while before starting a woodyard with son Carl. August died in 1955, aged 76 years, buried in Bendigo Cemetery. Jane lived to 83 years of age, dying in 1968. August and Jane’s children: Matilda Elizabeth (Till), born 1909; Carl August, born 1910; Iles Bertrol Robert (Bob), born 1919; John Alfred George, born 1924; one child stillborn. Gouge Family: Jane’s father, John Hector Gouge; Jane’s mother, Elizabeth Golder. Elizabeth was a pioneer resident of Avoca, having arrived at 9 years of age with her parents Mr & Mrs Alfred Golder from Oxford, England. Mr Golder conducted a wheelwright business in Avoca for many years. Image captions: Jane Gouge; Augie, Jane with Tilly & Carl.