Neil Seaforth MacKenzie

Neil Seaforth MacKenzie was born at Petersburg (Peterborough). That year the family moved to Adelaide when Neil's father, a shorthand writer with the railways, was transferred to Islington. Neil left Adelaide High School in about 1913 and worked as the assistant to the Manager of a British manufacturer's warehouse in the City. He enlisted in September 1916 and spent almost three years in France - mainly keeping his head down to avoid Fritz and Australian officers! On his return Neil found it hard to settle and went bush, working for twelve months with a surveying team around Overland Corner preparatory to taking up a soldier settlement block growing grapes at Barmera in April 1922. Mr MacKenzie married in 1926, had three children and worked the block until 1955.