The story of Des Dicker and the little boot

May 27, 2023 | Gympie District Families, Pioneer families

Desmond (Des) Dicker was born in Gladstone in 1924. He was the fourth youngest of nine
children born to Elizabeth Clara Long and Charles Dicker. Elizabeth was a daughter of William Long, Chatsworth pioneer, and Sarah Lee Jones. Charles was a labourer and later railway porter In Gladstone. Des now lives with his daughter and will be 97 years old this year.  The Busy Bee Boot Bazaar operated in Mary St in the 1920s and boasted the best of boots ladies’, men’s and children’s shoes and boots. Advertisements claim the importing of fine American and English boots as well as those made on the premises. In a time when shoes were an investment they also did considerable trade in shoe repairs. It is not known what caused Des’ mother to seek the help of the Busy Bee Boot Bazaar. Perhaps she sought medical advice for his foot and was advised to consult the Boot Bazaar or knew that this company could make a shoe that could correct whatever was wrong with his foot.

Here is the story of the little boot as told to his daughter in May this year.

“Mum told me the bootmaker who made the boot originally lived at Bungendore, Braidwood in New South Wales and he used to make Boot for the Ned Kelly Family. I wore the boot from when I was about two years old from 1926. The boot was to help straighten my left foot. I don’t know whether I was born with my foot not being straight or it happened after I was born. They were a pair of leather boots, but Mum only kept one. The boot is now approximately 100 years old. Mum gave me the boot just before she died in 1982.”

Thanks to Margaret Long, Karele MacLean and of course Des for a charming piece of history and the story that goes with it. Hopefully, this will lead to a family treasuring this artefact for the future.

Des Dicker and his little boot.

 

This story was written by Denis Juler and was written in 2021. 

Sources:  Trove