Bocks family history
A book which outlines a local family’s significant contribution to Mathoura and district will be launched in Mathoura next weekend.
The publication – Bocks – Three generations as Mathoura Bakers - has been written by Deniliquin’s Ian Lea.
The launch will be presented by Ian and Jeanette Fealy (nee Bock) at the Mathoura Uniting Church Hall on Saturday, April 9 at midday.
John Henry Bock was the first of the family’s bakers in Mathoura, having arrived in 1890.
He constructed the town’s first bakery on the site currently occupied by the Tattersall’s Club Hotel.
The fact that he didn’t actually own the land on which it was constructed didn’t deter him at the time, but later caused the building to be relocated to the adjoining block further down Livingstone St.
The oven was pulled down and the house was skidded along greased railway rails, and jacked along by Torella jacks borrowed from Optiz’s Sawmill.
The oven and chimneys were rebuilt and the bakery was back in business.
The business later expanded to include a Cash Store next to the family’s
Livingstone St home.
While business may have been good, the family, like so many others of the time did not escape the horror of losing family members to the range of horrific diseases which were prevalent for many years.
A devout Christian, Bock was a great supporter of the local Methodist community, building a hall for use by the congregation.
John Henry’s son, Ernie, and his wife Soph took over the business in 1924, later being joined by Soph’s brother, Ted, and the business then traded as Bock
& Cook.
The third Mathoura Baker was Edwin ‘Ted’ Bock who operated the bakery for many years.
The Bock family’s interests in Mathoura were not restricted to their business, but took in the whole community.
They were renowned as community contributors, holding positions in many community organisations.
Ted Bock’s involvement in a range of community organisations earned him the Murray Shire Council Australia Day Citizen Award in 1992.