Meet Jim Dunt, a regular at the old Basso from the 1930’s to late 1960’s. Not long after we re-opened, Jim’s family reached out to share a very special photo of him perched at the bar enjoying a beer.
Jim was a generous, hardworking local who lived on Wilson Street. One of the first caretakers of the Masonic Hall and with his wife Edith, they would cater events there and at the MacDonald stand in Bassendean Oval (where he also worked on the gate).
Around 1927, Jim was involved in an explosion while clearing land, he lost his right hand and all his fingers except the little finger on his left hand. In order to help their family out, various communities around Bassendean held fundraisers for Jim and Edith, and using those funds they purchased the Maple Tea Rooms on Old Perth Road.
Jim’s family told us stories of how he would care for his customers over the depression, accepting IOU’s over payment and even gifting his artificial hand to a solder who was in need. He would often be seen wheeling a keg in a wheelbarrow from the pub toward the oval or the hall, likely very challenging, with his injuries to manage.
Stories have it that Jim was a loyal regular, and while he’d only ever perch at the bar for one… We thought he might like a special spot at the bar.
Jim’s Lager is now pouring at The Basso, head down and have a pint with us to toast him!
A very special thanks to Jim’s family, we loved hearing about your pop and his visits to The Basso.
