As children even from the age of 5 in Grade 1 we (my brother John and I) would make our way to school under our own steam – bicycle or walking (there were no parental ‘kiss & drop’ in my day) and we often took the ‘Back Track’ or ‘Rokewood ‘ way to school. If we went Rokewood way, we would cycle out along Illawarra Road and turn off and go down past the Smailes orchard then through the center of Rokewood orchard up to Brookton Highway and then into the school grounds.

I would ride home by myself sometimes with Joan Simpson and stop off at her place for a short ‘play’ session.  Not a care in the world and no consideration for my mother at home who had not yet seen me come in. There was not too much worry in those days as she knew we would be home when hungry and certainly before dark. We had not wrist watches for time keeping (time was plentiful as children) so it was all just a guess at the sun angle in the sky and the length of the shadows if the day was well and truly on its way home for the day with the darkness following soon after the setting sun.

I remember Joan lived in a little house on Rokewood orchard with her father, Lloyd Simpson. I can recall that he cut a fine tall figure with dark hair and cast a tall shadow when I met up with him – everyone is ‘tall’ when one is a child. Joan also had that thick dark hair and we all appeared to have the ‘basin’ cut inflicted upon us by our guardians as not affording a hairdresser cut.
They were ‘good’ days in the sun and rain at Rokewood orchard with my school friend Joan Simpson

I do not know what became of our Joanie Simpson – if you ever read this story Joan, we would love to touch lives again and remember those days of our childhood at Rokewood orchard and at Karragullen school

Karragullen has honored Rokewood Orchard and the elder of the Simpsons, George Simpson, by naming 2 roads in the district: – Simpson Road and Rokewood Way

The true and whole story of the Karragullen pioneer George Simpson of Rokewood Orchard fame can be found also on our Heritage Site.
The story is quite an enthralling one – a early pioneering Karragullen orchardist sending cases of the apples (Granny Smiths, Yates, Dohertys and Dunns Seedlings – all varieties except for the Granny Smith now long gone from our green grocer’s shelves) to the ‘Imperial Fruit Show’ in London England (1931). His entries won him the ‘Challenge Cup’ and Gold Medal, with 3 firsts and 1 Second and the name of ‘champion apple grower of the Commonwealth’ and of the ‘West’ (back home).
He also shipped a case of apples directly to Buckingham Palace for his Majesty the King.
The fruit was packed in wooden (jarrah) fruit boxes and air freighted on a Hercules aircraft London and the case of fruit for His Majesty the King was sent with the backing of the Western Australian Government.
Please …. read the story via the newspaper clippings of 1931 – it is really quite an amazing read. You can also see current photographs of George Simpson’s grandchildren holding that converted cup, still in the Simpson family possession and much treasured.

The Pickering Brook Heritage Group President, Beverley Giumelli and the Web Master Stephanie O’Meagher recently took the great grandson and great granddaughter of George Simpson back to the remains of Rokewood orchard for them to feel the earth and see where their ancestor’s toiled and reminisce the ‘good old days’ and when they were children.
The orchard land has been resumed by the Water Authority some time ago and all the buildings (old homestead and other homes & packing facilities etc.) were bulldozed and replanted with trees to reforest the arable and prized land
Only relics visible here and there – rock foundations, easter lilies, the odd pear tree (gone to wood stock) and a giant palm tree that graced the gardens of the old Simpson Homestead (that story also is attached to the ‘Challenge Cup’ story)

Written by: Stephanie O’MEAGHER 3rd August, 2022 E & OE