Historical information
In 1901 Cameron was captain of the Rokewood Rifle Club. John Cameron was a Rokewood blacksmith in 1902.
John (Jack) Richard Watson was the son of Thomas Watson (10/11/1838 - 27/04/1920) and Emma Eliza Jane Phillips (25/05/1844 - 12/10/1925) and was born at Yendon on 16/12/1876 and died 11/10/1973 aged 96 at the Wimmera Base Hospital in Horsham while residing in Murtoa.
Still a teenager Thomas reached Melbourne in the 1850's and found work helping to build the Spencer Street Bridge over the Yarra Yarra, as it was known then, before making his way to the Ballarat Goldfields. After being tricked out of a claim he sought work with the Victorian Railways, and later acquired a farm at Yendon.
Emma Phillips was born in Geelong and had moved with her mother to Ballarat. Emma was a member of the Ballarat Philharmonic Orchestra and sang in the choir of St Pauls Church in East Ballarat, where they were married.
Jack worked in the gold mining industry - firstly as a braceman at the New Kohinoor Mine at Sebastapol and then to a mine at Rokewood, both times following his older brother Frederick George. He later worked in 15 different mines before changing occupations. He was employed as an engine driver for the Murtoa Waterworks Trust at the Murtoa Power Station when he lost his lower left arm when it was caught in an engine belt in 1929.
Jack married Edith Emma Yung (01/07/1887 - 05/10/1988 ) who was born at Allendale and died aged 101 at Wendouree after livivng most of her married life at Murtoa. They had five children all born in Murtoa: Richard Henry (Harry); Edith 'Alice'; Grace; Ernest Alfred (Alf) and Jonn Grenville (Gren). They were married at Yendon.
Physical description
Sepia photo of eighteen men and one girl. Eight are in uniform, and two are identified as Boer War soldiers. They all stand in front of Cameron Coach Builders showroom and workshop. The person fifth from the left is J.R. Watson.
Inscriptions & markings
Front top Rifle Club (Murtoa - crossed out) Rokewod 1898; Lower LHS South Africa Boer War; C - Rokewood Rifle Club; Loer RHS J.R.Watson. Sign on Building: Agricultural & Mining & Smith above Cameron Coach Builder. Verso: Madeley Photo Corindhap plus a signature.
