“Who Do You Think You Are” Revisited- A Pictorial by Trevor Dunen

 

Pictured: The boarding house where Rod's real Grandmother Amy died in Geraldton in 1920 is now a Thai Restaurant & a Backpackers Hostel

Pictured: Rod Marsh’s adopted Grandparents, Tom & Millie Marsh’s home at 15 Shenton Street Geraldton. Rod Marsh spent a lot of time at this house as a child. Two of Rod’s distant cousins, Ailsa & Shirley live at the house now, they once lived at the house next door.

Pictured: Dan Marsh. Rod’s great grandfather had an engineering firm in Geraldton, the first one burned down and a second one was built on the site pictured above as it is today. The original building is gone.

Pictured: The grave site of Rod Marsh’s great grandparents in the Geraldton cemetery.

 

Rod Marsh, 1947-1922. Rod was not only one of my childhood hero’s, he was also nicknamed after my home-town of Bacchus Marsh. I also happen to live in Geraldton where Rod Marsh grew up, so I had to do this story to record the history of Rod Marsh forever.

How many times did we see “Bowled Lillee caught Marsh” on the scoreboard? We all remember Alan Border, The Chappell brothers, Len Thompson, Kim Hughes and Len Pascoe amongst many other cricket greats, but Rod Marsh was in a category all of his own. The greatest wicket keeper ever to live.

He also had the dubious honour of holding the world record for the most beers consumed on a plane flight from Australia to England.

In 1983 he is said to have broken Doug Walters record of 44 cans, when they got to England he was wheeled through customs on a luggage trolley he was that blind drunk!

I was lucky enough to see Rod Marsh play test cricket at The Gabba in Brisbane & the WACA in Perth with my best mate Garry Goyne. I was also lucky enough to be at the infamous one-day game against New Zealand at the MCG with Bacchus Marsh local Nigel Omerod & my younger brother Martin Dunen. The last ball in this game was bowled underarm & caused a worldwide controversy akin to the bodyline series in 1932 against England.

This story follows the ABC television show, “Who do you think you are” where Rod Marsh was featured.

Rod was born in Western Australia in 1947. Rod Marsh’s father Ken was adopted, his mother was Barbara. Ken had been adopted by Tom and Millie (nee Congdon) Marsh. They lived at 15 Shenton Street in Geraldton

Rod’s father never spoke about his adoption. Ken had two sisters, Aimee and Dorothy who were also adopted out, although all three siblings kept in contact with each other throughout their lives.

Ken’s parents & Rod’s real grandparents were Robert William Holgate and Amy Hall. Although technically, Robert Holgate was away at the war for three years and when he got home his wife was pregnant with Rod’s father, the real father was a boarder, Jack Dutton, who lived at Amy’s house with his wife. What a scandal!

Rod’s youngest Aunt, Dorothy was born in Geraldton where I now reside & his father Ken also lived there as a child in Marine Terrace at a boarding house.

Rod’s Grandmother, Amy died in the boarding house in Marine Terrace on 10^th December 1920. She died in childbirth giving birth to Dorothy and was buried the same day. (See picture above)

Rod Marsh’s father Ken was adopted, by Tom and Millie (nee Congdon) Marsh. Rod’s Grandfather Tom was part of a very prestigious Geraldton family. Tom’s father was the great Dan Marsh.

Dan Marsh had an engineering firm in Geraldton & he is credited with creating all of the engineering work needed to bring electricity to Geraldton & built the first electricity generating plant there. The site of this business is pictured above as it is today. The original building is gone.

Dan Marsh died on 25^th of June 1928 Louisa Marsh died on 24^th November 1922. (See picture above)

Photographs: Ryk Chalmers & Trevor Dunen

Locations & information: ABC Television