History of Yarrabilba, Logan Village & Surrounds – Part Thirteen
Reflections Of A Well-Known Family – The Musch Family
If there was a community organisation going you can bet Mervyn and Olive “Ollie” Musch would be in it. The couple held the lifeblood of Logan Village for as long as anyone can remember.
Merv’s parents settled on the family dairy farm in Stockleigh, originally farmed by his grandfather one of the pioneers of the district. Merv was born in Beaudesert and was only two months old when he travelled with his parents to Logan Village by horse and sulky. Merv, born and bred in the area, raised on a dairy farm at Stockleigh, and his wife Ollie were members of almost every club at some stage. Amongst their list of community organisations were the Logan Village Tennis Club, Sporting Club, P&C, Fire Brigade, SES, Girl Guides, Playgroup, Community Centre, Hall Committee, ANZAC Committee and Lions Club. The biggest involvement for both Merv and Ollie was the Hall Committee.
The Stockleigh School was built on their property on the corner of Musch Road. In 1935, the school closed and was auctioned by the government. Joe Wearing from Maclean and Ted Randall bid for the school at the auction. Ted Randall’s bid was for 100 pound, 100 guineas, and Joe Wearing bid 101 pound and 1 shilling and won the auction. The old school was dismantled and rebuilt on his property at North Maclean.
As well as her community work, Ollie and Merv raised 35 children – five boys of their own, two adopted girls and 28 foster children.
Merv Musch died at his home at Logan Village in October 1999. Olive Musch died at the Logan Hospital on May 17, 2011.
Arbor Day, on 5 June 1953, also incorporated a Queen’s Coronation Celebration. Trees were planted, the one nearest the Logan Village School being named the Coronation Tree. The school room was decorated with streamers of red, white and blue, radiating from a crown as a central motif, whilst around the walls were shields bordered with red, white and blue bands, the bearing inscriptions such as “God Save the Queen”, “Long Live the Queen”, and “God Bless the Queen”.
The Logan Village Sunday School commenced on 6 February 1955 with 15 children on the roll, aged from 5 to 17 years, the oldest being Douglas Bobermien and the youngest, Laurence Musch.
In 1955 Polio cases were reported in Logan Village.
A re-enactment of the arrival of the German settlers was held in 1964 – and a commemoration plate was laid at Eden’s Landing by the Queensland Women’s Historical Society.
In 1965, Australia commits troops to the US war effort in Vietnam. Australian troops left for Vietnam in 1966 – the biggest deployment of Australian troops since World War II. A task force of 4,500 men left for Vietnam.
Battle of Long Tan was the biggest battle for Australians since the Korean war.
In 1966, Australia begins converting to decimal currency in a predicted two-year conversion period.
Written by Noeleen Bobermien (De Lange) and her 81 year old father, Graham Bobermien, from extracts of their recently published book, “A Journey through Logan Village”, which is available to purchase direct from the Author or from the Logan Village Museum. Email: noeleendl@gmail.com
By Noeleen Bobermien (Local Historian & Resident of Logan Village)
The unfolding story of the region continues in the next edition ..