That square part of the shed was where Charles Blegg commenced his life and lived until he was 4. Also in that shed were his parents John and Margaret and 8 siblings, including a baby younger than Charles.
That was the gardeners and grave diggers shed at the Anglican Church at Ouse Tasmania. It wasn’t much to call home but as many only had a small tent or canvas lean too it was better than some.
When Charles was 4 disaster struck, his 69 year old father died, and so his job went to someone else and with the job and the tools for grave digging they also lost the shed they had called home.
Charles found himself at the age of 4 dumped by his mother at the Hobart Orphans home, with not a thing to call his own.
After a short time there a foster family was found for him, many farm women liked the idea of fostering a boy, he could help on the farm, and she got paid to care for him, plus there was an extra amount as soon as he was old enough to go to school, there were clothes supplied by the department, which if you worked it right would be used for one of your own children, and there was a shoe allowance.
So Charles found himself aged 4 as a farm worker, his job was to clear a new field of all the rocks and stones before the plough went through, and with the rocks he had to take them to the edge of the field and build a wall that was taller than he was, this was done year round in inadequate clothes and just heshin bag tied on his feet for shoes.
I am certain those who have ventured to Tasmania have seen the rock walls that line the back roads, some were built by convicts but many were the result of child slave labour..
Charles did this 7 days a week, never attended school for even one day, if asked if he went to school, he had to say yes sir, but today I am helping the farmer. Child welfare called to check about once a year, the record of Charles said he knows so little there is something wrong with him to not be able to add 2 and 2. Nor spell his name. Not only could he not spell his name he was illiterate, having never been given the opportunity to learn.
He would spend some evenings watching the families children wear the clothes meant for him and his shoes. The bed in the house they said was his he never slept in, his bed was straw in the shed, remember it was southern Tasmania so summer could be cold but winter was bitterly cold.
What sort of life foundation was this for a young man, he was destined to grow older breaking the law and going to jail.
But that didn’t happen
He grew into the loveliest kindest person you could meet anywhere his wife taught him to read …. But that’s another story
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