Father: Oliver Henry POTTS
Mother: Elizabeth CARR

Family 1: Ruby Caroline MILLER

1. Noel Jagger POTTS
2. Ruby Yvonne POTTS
3. Velma Jeannette POTTS
4. Geoffrey Jagger POTTS

Family 2: Mary Jane SASSELLA

1. Athol Jabez POTTS
2. Lynette Anne POTTS

INDEX

Notes

JABEZ JAGGER POTTS, sixth child and fifth son. Jabez remained at school till he was 15 years of age. He then worked for a blacksmith (Cobden) in Healesville for 5s. a week and keep. Cobden was a socialist and used to talk on the Yarra Bank on Sundays. After 10 months in the blacksmithing trade, an opportunity offered to become a Printer. A chap named Patterson (a Greek scholar and spiritualist) founded the Healesville Standard news- Paper. The other paper, The Guardian, was Printed at Lilydale. Therefore, the Standard became the local popular paper. Mum, with her usual perspective and devotion to her children, interviewed Mr. Patterson and secured a Position for Jay. So he entered the world of Printing and Journalism. He moved on to Lilydale after T. A. Pettit bought both Printing offices. Anxious to learn as much as Possible. Jay travelled the 23 miles by steam train from Melbourne once a week to attend the Royal Melbourne Technical Lilydale to College, where he proved efficient and won several awards. He moved to Yarraville and later to a city office; and continued his studies at the College for three years. He also attended Stott & Hoare's Business College to study shorthand and Journalism. After serving with the 7th Battalion, A.I.F., In World War 1. he worked at Box Hill, travelling daily from Mordialloc by Steam train. He was offered a Position at Cheltenham with the News (now Standard) newspaper group. He was outside representative from Mentone to Frankston.

Owing to his wife's Ill health, he took a Position as manager to the Dimboola Banner, In April 1924. In collaboration with the owner he bought the opposition paper, The Chronicle. After looking for a place without a paper, he eventually sold the goodwill to the Banner and moved the plant to Kaniva at the end of 1930. He had taken over the Lawloit (now Kaniva) Times in July, 1929. He has remained at Kaniva since 1930, and built up a sound business and large circulation. His two sons: Geoff and Athol, who are Partners, now manage the business, although Jay drives to the office each day(1967) and still writes reports and the leading articles. He was made a Justice of the Peace and in the 1967 Queen's Honours List, had the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) conferred on him. He was nominated for the honour by the Shire Council for his work In education and civic life. He Is a life member of the Kaniva Agricultural and Pastoral Society and the Kaniva Brass Band. He was president of the society and later as honorary secretary for a further four years. Also a life membership of the Kaniva Chamber of Commerce has been conferred upon him. He is also the only honorary member of the Victorian Wheat and Wool Growers' Association He received this honour for his work for primary producers, more particularly in his work for the Wheat Stabilisation Plan. His first wife, Ruby Caroline Miller, a great and conscientious girl, died on May 6, 1933.

There was a family of four children-Noel (deceased); Yvonne (Mrs. L. MePhee), Velma (Administrative Officer Shire of Kaniva):and Geoffrey, advertising manager and linotype operator at Kaniva Times.

On February 5, 1936, he married Mary Jane Sassella, a girl who devoted herself to the family and its career with loving care and affection. There are two children Athol (editor Kaniva Times), and Lynette (Mrs A. H, Collins).