Before proceeding any further I must also acknowledge the immense help provided to me by the book ‘The Thiele Family Of Doncaster, 1849-1989’ which was written/compiled by Eric Collyer and David Thiele (published by Lutheran Publishing House, Adelaide, SA 5000). Nearly all of the information which follows (as well as a lot of the earlier information) has come from this book. Many of the photos in the book have also helped considerably in identifying individuals and locations in the photos presented here.
- Johannes Traugott Bunge (known as John)
Born July 18, 1860. Died April 7, 1950.
John was born at Tarrington in the Western District. His parents were Heinrich and Maria Bunge. He was active in civic and community affairs for many years. This included being a Councillor of the Borung Shire from 1894-1903, and again from 1908-1917. He was President of the shire twice, in 1900 and later in 1912. On October 3, 1888 he married Anna Thiele.
- Anna Martha Thiele
Born March 3, 1863. Died January 24, 1931.
Anna was the tenth child of Gottlieb and Phillipine Thiele. She was born at ‘Friedensruh’ in Doncaster, the home of her parents. The Thiele family were among the pioneers of fruit growing in the Doncaster area, an industry which flourished there for more than a century.
John and Anna were married at Friedensruh. They were to have six children:
- Clara Phillipina Maria Agnes Bunge
Born December 16, 1890. Died November 10, 1955.
- Hermann Johannes Edmund Bunge
Born July 1, 1892. Died May 16, 1976.
- Anna Emilie Bunge (known as Anne)
Born April 16, 1896. Died February 23, 1952.
- Agnes Sophie Bunge
Born November 11, 1897. Died June 2, 1922
- Walter Otto Bunge
Born March 18, 1900. Died March 17, 1975.
- Max George Carl Bunge
Born March 6, 1906. Died November 2003.
John and Anna retired from Walden in 1923, and moved to Coleraine in the Western District. Hermann continued to work the farm, and maintain the Clydesdale horse stud. On April 28, 1927 Hermann married Rubina Henrietta Elsa Nuske (known as Ruby). Ruby was the daughter of Ernst Gotthard and Maria Anna Nuske of Kewell (in the central Wimmera District). Hermann and Ruby lived at Walden until 1953, when they retired to Warracknabeal. Their son John continued living at Walden, and worked the farm from then on.