Tuesday 13 April 2021

Trove Tuesday - Elsie Heuston of Coal Point

 This short obituary for a Coal Point resident appeared in Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation.

N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. 1919, 'OBITUARY Miss Elsie L. Heuston', Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation The Federation, Sydney viewed 11 April 2021 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-706601389

Elsie Letitia Heuston's birth was registered in 1884 at Patrick's Plains, Her father was John and her mother Letitia (NSW Birth Index: 30615/1884).

Further digging in Trove found several more mentions of Elsie.

The Sun newspaper reported that Elsie Letitia Heuston was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree on 14th April, 1918. "The ceremony was performed in the Great Hall of the University In the presence of the Governor (Sir Walter Davidson), Lady Davidson and and the members of the senate."

(1918 'THE UNIVERSITY', The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), 14 April, p. 8. , viewed 11 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221949351) 

Elsie actually retired in 1942 not 1940 as stated in the obituary above.

1942 'RETIREMENTS.', Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), 16 January, p. 170. , viewed 11 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225118008

Several other articles in the New South Wales Government Gazette follow Elsie's career through notices of her appointments to schools in New South Wales.

Once she retired Elsie went to live with her sister at Coal Point. 

1950 'IAN HEALY'S Suburbia, This Week', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 11 February, p. 5. , viewed 11 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140634475

Elsie and her sister were given a farewell party in Coal Point before embarking on their overseas holiday. 

1950 'Coal Point Party For Sisters', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 17 February, p. 5. , viewed 11 Apr 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140633705

Elsie must have had an interest in genealogy as is explained in this lengthy article that details the story of her ancestors and how, in the mid 19th century some came to Australia and some to the US. In several overseas trips Elsie visited her cousins in the US and ancestral places in Ireland. That article can be found here: An Exile's Letter To An Exile.

Elsie passed away in 1959 so her death notice is not within the Trove collection. It was published on March 16th, 1959 in the Sydney Morning Herald Archive that is available as an eResource from the State Library of NSW.

Sydney Morning Herald Archive, Monday, March 16, 1959




No comments:

Post a Comment