Memories left behind by former Yala National Park Ranger in Charge Travis Meynert – 1930s to 40s
Source : photos.google
Introduction by daugther Forrest Meynert Woodbury –
Travice and Kathleen met when Kathleen was still in school. He was keen to marry her and they became engaged when she was about 16 and married in 1939, when she was 18 and Travice was 29. I think they went to live at Palutupana after the wedding.
I was born 5 years later in 1944. At some time they moved to Hambantota because I remember living there when I was 2 years old. I also remember visiting Palutupana when I was 4, but only living there for a short time. We also visited Buttuwa, and Yala at that time. Some time later Dad joined the Forestry Dept and we lived in Elpitiya. Phil, my brother, was born in 1948 while we were still in Elpitiya. With two children to care for Mum preferred living in Colombo and we stayed with relatives. I started school in 1949 at Bishop’s College. The constant separations did not help the relationship and Travice and Kathleen were divorced around 1952. At this stage Kathleen had moved in with her parents in their home in Bambalapitiya, and Travice was working for a large irrigation scheme which was the daming of Gal Oya. The scheme was run by an American Company and Travice lived in Inginiyagala. He was married again to Charmian Pate at this stage.. Forrest and Philip visited them in Inginiyagala a few times. Kathleen, Forrest, Philip and Kathleen’s parents George and Myra Pereira, migrated to Western Australia in December 1955.
Travice did eventually migrate to Australia as well in the early 1960’s but lived in Sydney, working for Dunlop Rubber Co in a clerical position – very different work from all he had done in Yala for so many years. He eventually moved to Perth around 1970 and worked for the Perth City Council, again in a clerical position in the Parking Department. He had contact with his children throughout this time in Perth, and passed away in October 1997.
