Trove Tuesday - Lives lost in Lake Macquarie

 In this post we remember some of those people who have lost their lives  in our Lake.

1878 'COUNTRY NEWS.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 19 December, p. 6. , viewed 29 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13426498

1903 'BOATING FATALITY.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 22 December, p. 5. , viewed 29 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14588390

The remainder of this long article can be read via the link above.

1933 'FELL OVERBOARD INTO SEA', The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938), 4 January, p. 5. , viewed 29 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237062749

1939 'PROMPT RESCUE BY LAUNCH', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 28 November, p. 7. , viewed 29 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135454500

The remainder of this long article can be read via the link above.

1946 'Child Drowned at Coal Point', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 4 September, p. 2. , viewed 29 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133164268

1952 'Lake Search For Airman's Body', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 29 September, p. 3. , viewed 29 Mar 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article160329081

Private Albert Harris, Australian Army Ordnance Corps

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for permission to share this post on our blog.

__________________________________________________________________

27 October 2021

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, will my Honour and Dignity be restored?

80 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 27th October 1941, Private Albert Harris,
Australian Army Ordnance Corps, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion (Reg No’s - 428 & 4312A), apprentice fitter (engineer) and Warrant Officer, from 15 Northumberland Street, Mayville, New South Wales and "Birkenhead", Coal Point, N.S.W., father of two (Joan and Rosalind), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 45. ANGLICAN 2-115. 9.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134073343 - funeral notice states service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134071465 - obituary.

Born at Islington, New South Wales on the 26th June 1896 to Albert Edward and Annie Elizabeth Harris nee Matters; husband of Dorothy H L Harris nee Chettoe (married 1929, Carey Bay, N.S.W. or Waverley, N.S.W., died 1984, unmarked grave, sleeping side by side, ANGLICAN 2-115. 11., 43 years a widow), Albert enlisted July 1915 with the 30th Battalion at Liverpool, N.S.W.

Recalled by the Railway Commissioners.

Reenlisted April 1917 at Newcastle, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133750230 - send-off from the Smedmore Mechanics' Institute.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138747281 - report that Albert has arrived safely in England.

Admitted to hospital 16.3.1918 (trench nephritis and bronchitis).

Albert returned home October 1919, being discharged on the 13th December 1919.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140068911 - report that Albert is returning home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140068478 - report that Albert due to arrive home soon.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140074574 - welcome home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162596390 - welcomed home at the Smedmore Literary Institute.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162595160 - report that Albert had returned home (with photo).

Mr. Harris’s name has been inscribed on the Cooks Hill Superior Public School Roll of Honour, Islington St. Mark's Anglican Church Roll of Honour, Wickham Municipal District Roll of Honour Board (1), Honeysuckle Point Railway Workshops Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 25th May 1915, 10 names originally inscribed, 44 names now inscribed, 5 Fallen), Newcastle Amalgamated Society of Engineers Roll of Honour, Newcastle Loyal Union Lodge Manchester Unity I.O.O.F. Roll of Honour and the Newcastle 39th Fortress Company, Australian Engineers' Roll of Honour. Name probably inscribed on the Smedmore Mechanics' Institute Roll of Honour. Name not listed on the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919.

I located Albert resting in an unmarked grave, now long forgotten, so December 2018 I placed a cross adorned with poppies on the gravesite, taken a photo of the grave and uploaded the photo onto the Northern Cemetery website as a permanent record of his service.

http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/.../index.php...

I submitted an application to DVA October 2020 asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip, but unfortunately STILL waiting for a decision.

Lest We Forget.

Trove Tuesday - Suburbia

From at least 26 October 1935 someone using the pen name Suburbia has been posting articles in the Newcastle Morning Herald. These articles under the heading SUBURBAN ROUND  appear to be posted regularly until July 1939.

On 3 March 1945 a new column Suburbia - This week appeared in the newspaper until 4 December 1948. Was the author of this column the same person as the author of the previous column? Was he a serviceman who was absent between 1939 and 1945?

On 18 December 1948 a similar column appeared with the title Ian Healy's Suburbia, This Week. The column ran until this notice appeared in the column on 30 January 1954:  "PUBLICATION of Suburbia will be suspended while Ian Healy is reporting for the "Newcastle Morning Herald" Her Majesty the Queen's tour of  eastern states". As coverage of the NMH on Trove ceases in 1954 it is not known how long the column continued after that date. Hopefully someone reading this post will be able to add that information in a comment below.

These columns are most useful for those researching family members in our area as they relate many stories of ordinary people going about their daily lives. Following are links to some of these stories on Trove.

At Swansea: She Wanted A Book About Shells - a story about Mr and Mrs Charlton of High Street
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135294371

Nord's Wharf: A Blue And Green Mirage -  a short history that mentions many locals
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140295262

Fassifern Awaits A Wagtail Family  - about a feathered family and their two-legged friends
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140343175

A Pennant And Six Forced Landings - a WW2 story about Harold N Berrick from Coal Point
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133570883

A Long, Long Village -- Warner's Bay -  mentions many early residents
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133180351

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

Trove Tuesday - Birthdays at Coal Point

In days gone by the people of Coal Point appear to be a social crowd who enjoyed celebrating birthdays.

1933 'COAL POINT AND KILABEN BAY', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 23 May, p. 9. , viewed 02 Mar 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135101042

1935 'COAL POINT PARTY', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 6 June, p. 11. , viewed 02 Mar 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139259701

1947 'Old Coal Point Couple Congratulated', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 18 July, p. 5. , viewed 02 Mar 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140323854