Peter Trail, first child of Peter and Mary Miller, was born at the Pine Paddock on the 12 March 1870 and moved to Craggy Lea with his parents, brothers and sister and lived there for the rest of his life. Peter was known as “Pete” or “PT”.
Pete, Ken and Win
Peter married Winnifred Goodes at the Keyneton Church on the
21 March 1917 at the age of 47. Winnifred was born on the
26 October 1888 to parents George Goodes and Annie Goodes (nee Corner). Her eldest sister Eva had married Edward George Miller in 1915. Winnifred was known as Win.
They lived at Craggy Lea and on the 28 April 1919 their only child,
Peter Kenneth (known as Ken) was born.
Pete and his two brothers, William and John (known as Jack), worked all of their land in a partnership with their father until his death in 1926, after which they each managed their own properties.
Family was a very important part of their lives, and there were lots of visits with various members especially on Sunday evenings.
Pete was dedicated to the South Rhine Church. In his diaries, each Sunday he would record the text for the week, the theme of the sermon and also who the preacher was that day. In 1903 he was approached by Mr. Thomson, the then minister, to take up ministerial work for the church. Some-one had offered to pay all of his expenses as well.
After refection Peter declined the offer, but continued to be very involved in the Presbyterian Church at South Rhine and in the Assembly.
Below is an edited extract from the Memorial Minutes of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria recorded in a letter to Mrs. Miller dated June 1950;
“Peter became a member of the South Rhine Church in 1889 and was ordained as an elder on 9 Sept 1923.
During vacancies, whenever necessary, he presided at meetings of the Session. He was appointed Representative Elder to the Onkaparinga Presbytery in 1930 and gave continuous service until his death. He also became
Representative Elder to the Assembly. On one occasion he occupied the important post of Moderator of
Presbytery. Peter Miller rendered long service to the church he loved”.
Pete was the first president of the Springton Agricultural Bureau which started in 1927. During the Second World War years Peter had to decline his nomination as President as there was petrol rationing.
Pete was active in the Springton Progress Association being one of the founding members in 1928.
Pete was elected to the District Council of Mount Pleasant as a councillor in 1937 and was Chairman from 1939 – 1946.
Pete contributed to concerts as he was very good at renditions and also sang with other members of the family. He participated in debates and was a member of literary groups in the district. He was responsible for ordering of the books for the “South Rhine Mutual Improvement Society” of which he was a member.
Win, was very involved in the Springton Red Cross Branch being President for 21 years. On her 70th Birthday her service of 20 years as President was recognized. She continued her membership of the Branch until her move to Adelaide in 1965.
Pete died on the 30 Dec 1948, aged 78, after living all of his adult life at Craggy Lea.
Win continued to live with Ken and Una until her move from Craggy Lea to Alexandra Avenue, Rose Park, Adelaide in 1965. She died on the 22 July 1972 at the age of 83.
