It was a trip down memory lane for some of the City of Canning’s older residents, as the City paid tribute to its longest-standing residents last Wednesday, honouring the community’s pioneers with a heartfelt afternoon tea at the Canning Exhibition Centre.
More than 220 residents attended the annual Pioneers Tea on Wednesday, each having lived in the City for at least 50 years. Together, they’ve watched Canning grow from quiet farmland into a residential and commercial centre.
Ninety-eight-year-old Edna Wendt, who has lived in the area for 96 years, said she could still recall a time when the streets were cobblestoned and Leach Highway was little more than a narrow road called Swan Street.
“It’s so different now, with the wide highways and the new train line, but it has changed for the good and it’s been a wonderful place to live,” she said.
A proud great-grandmother of 13, Edna keeps busy playing scrabble and cards with friends, and volunteering at events such as the Canning Show. She was recently awarded life membership of the Canning Horticultural Society.
Asked about the secret to her long life, Edna simply said, “I don’t think about getting old.”
Mayor Patrick Hall, who also grew up in the City, said it was a privilege to recognise the contributions of those who shaped Canning into what it is today.
“Our pioneers are the very essence of community,” he said. “So much has changed in the last 50 to 100 years, and we have seen Canning grow into one of the most sought-after places to live.”
John Varvell, 88, has also lived in Canning all his life. He moved from Queens Park to Wilson in 1963 with his wife Glenise, and they have lived in the same home for the past 62 years.
“I remember, in the old days, riding my bike up Albany Highway, past the old Packers Greengrocers,” he said. “Back then there was just bush on the other side of Albany Highway.”
“We used to ride our bikes from our homes in Queens Park to school in Victoria Park. I can’t imagine young people doing that today. The City of Canning was certainly a great place to grow up.”
Residents who have lived in Canning for more than 50 years can express interest in attending next year’s Pioneers Tea by calling 1300 422 664 or emailing events@canning.wa.gov.au.
