What do we pay her?

Daphne Saw, the unexpected Road Board Secretary

City of Armadale - History House

Published:
Friday, 21 May, 2021 - 15:48
City of Armadale - History House

Miss Daphne Saw (1914 - 2008), who had grown up in Armadale, started working for the Armadale Kelmscott Road Board as the assistant Road Board Secretary in 1931. Daphne married RAAF pilot Herman Sass in 1939; tragedy struck, however, when he and his crew were killed during a mission the following year.

Three men, two sitting, middle man standing all wearing dark suits. In the middle standing on a stand is a female toddler in a white dress.

Daphne Saw as a child in 1917 with 3 generations of Saw men. Daphne Saw, aged 3, poses with Francis Saw (standing), William Saw (seated right) and Thomas Saw (seated left). FPHCsaw014, Birtwistle Local Studies Library

Daphne was appointed Acting Road Board Secretary (equivalent today to the Chief Executive Officer) in 1942 when then Road Board Secretary, Spencer Gwynne, left for military service. Daphne was one of the first women in Western Australia to hold this important position. It was so unprecedented that the Armadale Kelmscott Road Board wrote to the Road Board Association seeking advice regarding her salary.

Official photograph of the 1939 Armadale Kelmscott Roads Board councillors and staff. Features two rows of mainly men with the back row standing and the front row sitting on chairs. Daphne Saw, the only woman in the photo is sitting second from the right.

Armadale Kelmscott Road Board Councillors and Staff, 1939. CPH45, Birtwistle Local Studies Library

Daphne held this position for two years, ceasing employment at the Road Board in 1945 after marrying Ross Martin. Ross and Daphne left the district, first running a general store at a mine near Southern Cross before settling down in Rockingham. They started a family and ran the Parkin Street General Store, the West Rockingham Post Office and Commonwealth Bank agency. They later built the Palm Beach General Store at the end of Fisher Street.

A man and a women sitting outside on a brick patio. To the left is the brick entrance with a metal sigh handing above it.

Daphne Martin (nee Saw) and Frederick Saw at Gaynor's Ye Old Narrogin Inn, 1954. Daphne and her father enjoying some sunshine at the Narrogin Inn. The inn was established by her great grandfather Frederick John Saw. FF5, Birtwistle Local Studies Library

Can you help us? If you have or know of anyone who has more information, photographs, or objects associated with Daphne Martin (nee Saw) or the history of the City of Armadale, please contact either History House on 08 9394 5670 or museum@armadale.wa.gov.au, or the Birtwistle Local Studies Library on 08 9395 5641 or birtwistle@armadale.wa.gov.au
Image showing side view of a chair from the Armadale Kelmscott Roads Board

View record 'CHAIR - ARMADALE KELMSCOTT ROADS BOARD' »
c. 1930 } - 1967

Council Chamber Chair c1934 - 1959 This is one of a set of at least 12 chairs used by the Armadale Kelmscott Road Board Council at the Jull Street Road Board Offices. They were also used for the official 1939 Road Board photograph, featuring Daphne Sass (nee Saw) sitting on one of the chairs. COA2007.41, Donated by the City of Armadale

Rectangle metal plate with raised circular disc. Text on disc around image of a swan under the Southern Cross constilation

View record 'DIE - ARMADALE KELMSCOTT ROAD BOARD COMMON SEAL' »
c. 1910

Armadale Kelmscott Road Board Common Seal Die, c1910-1961 This die was used to create the common seal stamp for the local council. Daphne Sass (nee Saw), as acting Road Board Secretary, would have signed many documents featuring the common seal made from this die. AK1990.11, Donated by the City of Armadale