His family's situation during his time in Boulder was reportedly "beset with difficulties", living in a home of hessian and bags and struggling with insufficient water rations.
He was a builders' labourer, worked in the bicycle trade and carted sandalwood before joining the Western Australian Government Railways in 1911.
[1][2] Initially working as a porter, Bennetts was promoted to acting conductor in the WAGR before joining the Commonwealth Railways in 1913.
Bennetts was a councillor of the Municipality of Kalgoorlie from 1935 to 1952, was variously president or secretary of the Commonwealth Railways section of the Australian Workers' Union for 30 years, was a justice of the peace from 1943 and a superintendent of St John's Ambulance at Kalgoorlie.
[1] Bennetts retired to Perth after leaving parliament and died in a convalescent home in Como in 1980.