07/08/2026
Ernie Parkinson
With the recent passing of Ernie, we take a moment to reflect on a life well lived and the lasting contribution he made to our community.
When you visit the museum, you can read Ernie's story in his own words and discover the memories, experiences, and history he shared. His story sits alongside those of many other families who have proudly called the Shire of Chittering home over the years.
By preserving these stories, we honour the people who helped shape our community and ensure their legacy lives on for future generations.
Ernie Parkinson was born in 1931 to Ernest Norman Parkinson and Louisa Beatrice Armstrong. His mother the eldest of 11 children, spent much of her childhood caring for her younger siblings. Ernie’s father worked on the Midland Railways and the family moved frequently between Guildford, Watheroo, Arrino and Moora. Ernie attended several small country schools, receiving only a basic education before leaving school at 14 to work as a mechanic’s apprentice, doing the dirty jobs in Bill White’s Garage. After a brief attempt to gain a formal apprenticeship in Perth, he returned to Moora and later moved to Bindoon with mechanic Brian Carr to help establish a garage. Although the business struggled, Ernie remembered those years with great fondness and many adventures.
When the garage closed, Ernie worked in the local citrus orchards for Harold Edmonds. There he met his future wife Pat and they married at Holy Trinity Church. Together they built a life in Bindoon, raising two daughters Janice Patricia and Paula Maree. Taking over the family citrus orchard, Ernie transformed it through irrigation. With little information available in Australia, he researched overseas publications and travelled to South Australia to learn modern techniques. His determination increased production from less than one case per tree to six or seven cases, helping establish a successful orchard. Ernie was also active in the community, serving as a shire councilor and playing a leading role in bringing electricity to Bindoon, celebrated with the town’s Turning on the Power Ball in 1974.
Life brought both joy and hardship. Ernie and Pat enjoyed travelling together, but they also experienced the heartbreaking loss of their daughter Jan at the age of 52. In 1996 Ernie overcame bowel cancer and returned to working among his orange trees, a testament to his resilience. Looking back on a long life of hard work, innovation and service to the Bindoon community.
