by Alvyn Hopgood
Sydney Overall
The Overall name has had a strong association with the Milang area for many years. In October 1854, the South Australian Governor, Sir Henry Fox Young, had been petitioned by sixty-nine owners and holders of the land in the Hundred of Bremer and Alexandrina, to proclaim under the District Council Act, the district of Bremer. George and Jesse Overall were two of the petitioners.
Sydney Overall was born in 1895 at Milang and lived there all his life. He never married. His parents, Sarah and Walter, had a grocery shop opposite the Milang Post Office. In his early working days, he was a farm contactor – rolling scrub, ploughing, harrowing, seeding and reaping.
Sydney had a contract to plough the paddock behind the Milang Butter Factory, which was used to disperse the waste water and whey. This method increased the drainage properties of the soil and reduced the, often strong, smell. Ten shillings was the contract price for the ploughing, paid by SAFU, for one man, one horse and single plough. This was from the 1920s until the factory closed in 1951.
Syd Overall’s property was west of the Milang township and surrounded by the railway corridor, Milang to Finniss Road and Landseer Road. In the 1950s, Syd purchased the Moulds’ property next to the Milang township, which made his farm entirely within this area, with the exception of the Milang Cemetery.
Syd had a small dairy on about 200 acres. He had approximately 15 to 20 milking Shorthorn cows, with bulls occasionally purchased from the Findlaters. They hand milked at first, then a machine was installed to make things quicker and more convenient. Syd had a number of pigs which used up the skimmed milk. The cream went to the Milang Butter Factory.
As well as serving in WWI, Syd was a ward councillor for Milang in the Strathalbyn District Council and on the Strathalbyn Hospital Board for many years. He was a foundation member of the committee that arranged the building of the Memorial Gates in the Milang Soldiers Park.
Syd was President of the first Country Fire Service in Milang in 1948, Secretary of the Milang Bureau, and active member of the Dairyman’s Association, and an RSL member. Syd Overall was also the curator of the Milang Cemetery and grave digger for many years.
Syd played no sport but enjoyed playing piano accordion at functions and he was known for his ever presence at the Milang Church of Christ services.
Syd bought a new black Ford 10 utility around 1936 and kept it in mint condition and I believe this vehicle is still in the district. On the humorous side, Syd once was awakened in the middle of the night by a neighbour’s bull making a nuisance of himself very near his sleeping quarters on the farm. Armed with a broom and with lots of yelling, Syd took chase and drove the bull to its rightful owners in just his pyjamas – for about a mile.
Syd Overall passed away aged 81, in 1976 and is buried in the Milang Cemetery. Syd’s contribution to the Milang area was somewhat amazing – Well done Syd!