Individual Notes
Note for: Alice Maud Heatley, 13 FEB 1895 - 29 SEP 1985
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY written by Allan Dawson (dec.)
Alice was brought up on her parents property, "Hillview" Collins Creek
Road, via Kyogle. She attended New Park School until it closed, then
attended Kyogle school. It is interesting to note that a new suburb to
be called New Park, has been created for Kyogle in 2002. New Park was
the original locality for the town.
Mother once told me of an incident when one of her siblings had
swallowed her mothers sewing thimble and it was caught in her/his
throat. With the child in her arms, Grandma rode on horseback to town,
but on the way the thimble jolted clear. All ended well.
In 1919, during an outbreak of the Spanish Flu (Influenza), from which
many people in Australia died, Alice travelled to Melbourne. It was
there at one of the major Hospitals that she worked as a Nurse's Aid.
She met and married my father, Bill Dawson in 1924. I think at the
time Dad and his brother Ernie were leasing a property near Kyogle.
After their marriage, they moved to Brushgrove on the Clarence River.
Dad opened a Saddlers shop at Ulmarra on the river below Grafton. The
shop is still there, Most of the small shopping centre is now Heritage
listed.
Sometime between 1926-27, they moved to Casino where Dad opened a shop
in Walker Street. Three daughters were born there then myself in 1933.
Lola was born in '34 but died in February '35. In the time at Casino,
the family lived in Johnson St, then to South Casino, and then to a
house where the Aerodrome is to-day. The next move was to Short St,
off the Lismore road. It was while living there that I (Allan) was
born. While all the others were home births, I (Allan) was born in the
"Innesfail" private hospital in Johnson St,. It was run by a Midwife
and her daughters. The house is still there in 2005, and the name
plate is still beside the front door. It is no longer a hospital.
The Depression came in the early 1930's, and my mothers story of those
years until 1940 is told in a separate article.
In Short St, we had enough land to keep a cow allowing mum to make her
own butter. She also made her own bread and had a vegetable garden.
During those years, my mother was faced with Lola's death, her
husband's Bankruptcy and he having to leave the district to find work.
Then moving to Ebor on the Northern Tablelands, where we lived in what
would be today, almost third world conditions. Richard was born there
in a Bush Nursing Home. He then had medical problems, and had to be
rushed some distance to Armidale Hospital. Later we moved to Grafton
and then South Grafton. It was there that Carole was born. Again we
were able to keep a cow and grow our own vegetables
My mother was a very gentle & kind person. She had a hard life in the
early days in raising her family of eight. At times it was very
difficult to put food on the table and clothes on her children. But,
this was something she always managed to do. During the war years,
even with food rationing, we never seemed to go hungry. We had a big
backyard with a garden and a "chook run". As well we milked our own
cow. In 1942, the 59th Battalion AMF was camped outside South Grafton,
I can remember a number of the Bandsmen, who had been befriended by my
sisters, being invited to our house. With their help, mum always
managed to put a meal on the table for them. One of those bandsmen was
Sgt Gordon Ayes, who became well known as the First Aid man helping
Private Bill Johnson across a stream in the well known Damien Parer
photograph from WW2.
In later years, life was much easier for her, with the family grown up
and working. She was always there for her family, to help in any way
she could.
Sometime in 1957, Mum, Dad and Darb moved to Coffs Harbour, while Dick
stayed on in his employment at South Grafton.
At Coffs Harbour, Mum always had family nearby. During those years she
travelled to Tasmania, Western Australia and many other parts of
Australia as well as New Zealand.
I can clearly remember the Saturday morning in 1985 when her Doctor
told her that he would have to stop her Medication. Her children took
turns sitting with her through the night. Unbeknown to the rest of the
family, she spoke to "Darb", her eldest son and said "I did not think
it would be so soon". Mother loved her drop of Brandy. She was given
little sips throughout the night. She passed away at 4.30 am, We know
that she went to her Maker feeling warm and much loved. She has been
sadly missed by all the family since her passing. Following her
Cremation, a Memorial Service was held in the Presbyterian Church in
Coffs Harbour. The Service was attended by many relatives and friends.
Individual Notes
Note for: Joan Dawson, 23 JAN 1925 - 5 NOV 2012
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
In the early 1940's, Joan worked as a Waitress at Langley Bros Cafe in
Grafton. This was one of two Cafe's owned by Nick & Jim Langley. These
were two of a number of Greek Cafe's in Grafton & South Grafton. Nick
ran the Grafton one while Jim ran the one at South Grafton. Both
Cafe's were very popular, as were most Greek Cafe's in the 30's &
40's. In 2007 both are still operating. It was while working there,
that Joan met Thomas Clarkson, who was stationed at South Grafton in
the Army.
Individual Notes
Note for: William John (Darby) Dawson, 12 MAR 1926 - 13 FEB 2009
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY - as related by Allan Charles Dawson (dec.)
William John never married. He has always been called "Darby". He left
school at 13 years of age. He later joined his father in the Saddlery
Shop. He never liked that trade and later taught himself to make
kitchen units. This was in the 1950's. As well as cabinets, he and his
father made a number of plywood caravans. In 1957, they purchased land
with a small house and attached garage at Coffs Harbour. The garage
became his workshop. He worked for a local builder for awhile until
sufficient work in the cupboard business allowed him to devote his
full time in that trade.
Later on his youngest brother Richard moved from South Grafton and
joined him in the business. During 1960 they moved to larger premises
in 19 Gordon Street. They took on extra staff and extended the
business. This became the start of Dawsons Joinery and later
W.J.Dawson & Co. Sister Patricia and brother Allan later joined the
Company.
Darb retired from the business in 1980 and joined Richard in growing
Bananas at North Boambee.
After the closure of the Cupboard Business in 1982, Allan also joined
them in the bananas enterprise.
Following the purchase of their grandfathers old property "Glen Huon"
at Old Bonalbo, via Casino, Darb eventually moved there and in 2004 is
still assisting Richard with the operating of a calf rearing business
owned by Richard's son Peter.
Footnote by Julie: Darby died 13 February 2009 at Grafton.
Individual Notes
Note for: Christina (Ina) Elizabeth Macknight, 9 DEC 1859 - 1943
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Christina had four children to William Ware and five to William
Newton.
Individual Notes
Note for: John Good (2), 1821 - 3 MAR 1907
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
John was the eldest of eight children of John Good and his wife
Elizabeth of "Rockgrove", Coachford, Co. Cork, Ireland. The Good's
were Anglo-Irish, and the descendants of a "Merchant adventurer" who
probably arrived in Ireland in 1599 with the Earl of Essex. In the
early nineteenth century, the Good family were well established land
owners and in addition to "Rockgrove", controlled other Estates in the
area. So, in 1841, the young John Good sailed for Australia as a
private passenger aboard the "William Metcalf", arriving in Port
Phillip on the 8th September. Some months later he was Managing for
the Bolden brothers on their Grasmere run. When the Bolden's failed,
Good purchased the right of run to part of their holding on Spring
Creek which he called "Injemira". Good began developing his property,
which was heavily timbered. He spent many adventurous years there
owing to the hostility of the "blacks". By 1849, Good was well enough
established on "Injemira" to bring out his two sisters, Catherine
(Kate) and Mary and his younger brother Henry, from Ireland. However,
disaster struck on "black thursday", 6th February 1851, when bushfires
raged across the colony and the small homestead on Spring Creek was
destroyed. This may explain why Good briefly joined the goldrush to
the diggings in Ballarat. His search for gold was unsuccessful and
after a few months returned to farming life at "Injemira". Land prices
soared and with his property secured, Good visited Ireland in 1859. He
returned with another sister, Annie Amelia, to housekeep for him. She
later married William Brereton Allen in 1874. Good's sister Kate
married James Atkinson, a Surveyor. Good's brother Henry, married Mary
Jane Allen and shortly after died of snakebite, leaving a young
family. Good's property produced sheep, cattle, sheepskins, bacon,
tallow, potatoes, fruit, peas, honey, barley, wool, slabs and hides.
Soon after his brothers death, John Good met and married Louisa Sophia
Heatley at St John's Church, Port Fairy. He built a new Villa at
"Injemira". John was a very competent horseman and was a keen follower
of horseracing. He served for a period on the Warrnambool Shire. John
was a progressive farmer who planted his property with stands of both
native and European trees. John Good died at his beloved "Injemira" on
the 3rd March 1907 and was interned at Warrnambool. He is listed in
the Victorian Pioneers Register, No 47.
Individual Notes
Note for: Norma Dawson, 2 SEP 1928 - 5 MAY 2008
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Norma was born in a house in Johnson Street, Casino. N.S.W.
She was tragically killed in a car crash on 5 May 2008 while traveling to a family reunion.
Individual Notes
Note for: Allan Charles Dawson, 19 JAN 1933 - 5 NOV 2008
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Allan Dawson is the author of this Family Tree. Allan was involved
with Surf Life Saving since 1948, when he joined the Woolgoolga
S.L.S.Club. He held many positions in that Club prior to moving to
Port Kembla. Shortly after joining that club he became an Examiner
with the Illawarra Branch of the N.S.W. Surf Life Saving Association.
For a short time, he was a member of Thirroul Surf Club, before moving
north to Coffs Harbour. He then joined the North Coast Branch of the
Association as an Examiner and Carnival Judge. He held a number of
positions after joining the Coffs Harbour Surf Club. Back in 1952,
Allan did his National Service Training with the 13th Battalion at
Ingleburn, Sydney. He then trained with the 41st Battalion,The Byron
Scottish Regiment in Grafton. On Her Majesty's Queen Elizabeth's visit
to Australia in February 1954, the Regiment, dressed in full
Regimental Uniform (Kilts), did street lining for her Tour to Lismore,
N.S.W. Allan is presently (2006) an active member of the Gold Coast
North Branch of The National Servicemens Association of Queensland.
His Surf Life Saving involvement continued on and in 1982, he was made
a Life Member of the Coffs Harbour Club. In 1980, he was selected in a
State Team to Tour Europe for six weeks. In May of 2005, he organized
a Reunion for that Team which was held in Newcastle. In 1983, he was
awarded Life Membership of the N.S.W. North Coast Branch of S.L.S.A.
He was Branch Superindendant, a position which covered all aspects of
lifesaving and competition, from 1976 until 1983. In 1988, he took on
the position of Branch Secretary. This lasted until 1992. This also
included the position as Branch Delegate to State Meetings. It was
while at a State meeting in Sydney in 1990, that it was announced that
he had been made a Life Member of Surf Life Saving New South Wales.
Allan had been a Carnival judge and had officiated at State and
National Championships from 1957 until 1996. He still maintains a
strong interest in Surf Life Saving.
He once wrote an article titled "my fifty years in surf life saving",
which may be updated.
Allan is also the author of "The Military History of William Vesey
Dawson', his father.
In 1961 Allan joined Dick, Darb & Pat in the Kitchen Cupboard
business. He was Salesman for the business and travelled around the
North Coast and Tablelands of N.S.W. On the closure of the business,
he worked with the others on the Banana plantations. He moved with the
three partners to "Glen Huon" Old Bonalbo. This property was
originally selected by their Grandfather, William Henry Dawson around
1911 and established as a Dairy Farm. It went out of the family around
1933. The Dawson's re-established it as a modern Dairy Farm again with
around 500-600 head. However, feed problems caused by drought, forced
them to sell. Following Rosemary's illness, he moved to Springbrook
in the hinterland of the Gold Coast, Queensland. There he was
Caretaker of a property. In 2003, he and Rosemary retired to Miami on
the coast.
Individual Notes
Note for: Mary "May" Lilly Heatley, 1871 -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Mary Heatley was thought to be slightly retarded.
Individual Notes
Note for: Mark Laming, -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Mar Laming and Patricia live on their property at Willowbridge, near
Waimate.
Individual Notes
Note for: John Campbell, 1680 - 1743
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
The 2nd Duke was one of the first two Field-Marshalls to be created in
the British Army. He helped put down the 1715 Jacobite rising and was
created Duke of Greenwich in the English peerage.
Individual Notes
Note for: Hirani Te Hei, - 1904
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Hirani was a Maori Princess. Apparently she & Conrad adopted two
children. Hirani died of TB.
Individual Notes
Note for: Michael McLaren, -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Michael worked for Talley's in Nelson. He was involved with the
fishing industry all his life. He had a boat in Marlborough Sound. He
retired to Havelock Sound.
Individual Notes
Note for: Barclay McLaren, -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Barclay worked for the Apple & Pear Board.
Individual Notes
Note for: Nancy McLaren, -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Nancy was a Air Hostess.
Individual Notes
Note for: Brian Muir, -
Index
Individual Note: BIOGRAPHY
Brian Muir was a Psychiatrist in Dunedin. They have 2 children and
live in Melbourne, Australia.