The Story of James Thomas O'Donnell / Memories ... June 14

This post tells the story of my maternal uncle, James Thomas O'Donnell  1928 - 2005.  

Our common ancestors are:  James O'Donnell and Sarah Mary Josephine McCane

I'm publishing this post on the anniversary of his birth.

Anniversary of a Birthday

(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page) 

So many of my family stories are about milestones but also about the fabric of ordinary daily life - about the land beneath our feet, the people who raised us, and the quiet, enduring contributions of those we knew and loved.  This is another of those stories.

James Thomas, affectionately known as "Jim", was born into the close-knit O'Donnell clan on the family farm at Armstrong Creek, near Gumlu in north Queensland.  He was born in June of 1928, the son of James O'Donnell and Sarah Mary Josephine McCane.  His birth wasn't just a family event - it was a family affair.  His maternal grandmother (my great grandmother), Margaret McCane nee Farrell, a nurse and midwife, attended the delivery.

Born into a large and loving family, James Thomas was the fifth of eight children born to James and Sarah, both of whom were deeply connected to the land and to community life.  By the time James was born, there were already four siblings:

- Edmond James born in 1922

- Margaret Brigid "Mina" born in 1923

- Maurice Owen "Morrie" born in 1925

- John Joseph "Jack" born in 1926

Following James Thomas's birth, another three siblings were born:

- Edward Martin "Eddie" was born in 1931 when James was three years old

- Marcella Therese was born in 1934 when James was six, and

- Terence William "Terry" was born in 1937 when James was nine years old.

James Thomas grew up among these seven siblings in a warm, boisterous household.  The family home was nestled amid sugarcane fields, vegetable plots filled with crops of tomatoes and pumpkins, and other small crops.  It was a rural life, with children helping with the planting and harvesting, often barefoot and sun-browned, steeped in the rhythms of seasonal farming.

James Thomas (far right), aged 5, with five of his siblings in 1933.
L-R:  Maurice Owen, John Joseph, Edmond James with his arms on the shoulders of Edward Martin, Margaret Brigid (my mother) and James.

This special black and white family photo, taken on the O'Donnell family farm, features the six eldest children standing together in an open paddock, framed by a vintage utility truck and the tall, sparse gum trees of the surrounding bushland.  The backdrop - dry earth and scattered eucalyptus - tells a story of place: one where family, nature and hard work shaped the childhoods of these O'Donnell children.

The O'Donnell family farm was located in the same vicinity as the properties of many close relatives.  James Thomas's maternal grandparents, Owen and Margaret McCane, and several of their grown children also lived and farmed in the district around Gumlu.  James Thomas's aunt, Susan Bidgood nee McCane, and her husband Frank Bidgood were among the nearby neighbours, and together the extended family formed a strong and supportive farming community. 

This treasured family photo taken around 1935 shows the matriarch, Margaret McCane nee Farrell, seated in a wicker chair surrounded by her adult children, their spouses, and her grandchildren - many of whom would become James Thomas's classmates, teammates, and lifelong companions.  This interwoven, family-centred, rural existence was foundational to James Thomas's sense of belonging and shaped the rhythm of his daily life until the end of his teenage years. 

James Thomas, aged 8, with seven of his siblings in 1936.
L-R:  Edward Martin, Edmond James holding Marcella Therese, James Thomas,
Margaret Brigid (my mother), John Joseph and Maurice Owen.

Another cherished photo captures a moment in 1936 on the O'Donnell family farm and shows all seven siblings gathered together.  They are standing on a dusty farm track, surrounded by tropical foliage and all are dressed in neat attire.  Perhaps they were off to a special family event or perhaps headed to church for Sunday Mass. 

James Thomas was enrolled with the Primary Correspondence School (what was later named Distance Education) in January of 1934 when he was 5 years old.  His mother Sarah had been a teacher before her marriage so she would have educated James Thomas at home, using the materials provided by the Correspondence School.  Lessons would have occurred in between the daily farm routines and James's older siblings would have been his home school classmates. 

In February of 1938, at the age of nine, James Thomas was officially enrolled at Gumlu State School along with his brothers John Joseph (Jack) and Edward Martin (Eddie).  That meant the brothers would have then received a more formal education at a school which was a round trip of about 10 kms / 6 miles away.

The record indicates that James Thomas was enrolled in Third Class at the start of 1938 and he remained at school until the end of 1942, completing Seventh Class when he was 13 years old.  

Gumlu State School was a one teacher school at the time and the teacher was his uncle, Thomas Owen (Tom) McCane (his mother's brother), making school yet another family environment.

The 1939 school photo shows all the students that attending Gumlu State School that year, with James Thomas circled.  These were true bush kids: most rode bicycles or horses to school, some walked.  Uniforms were not worn, and shoes were rare - but the education was well-rounded.  Art, music, woodwork, craft and sport, along with the 3 R's were part of the curriculum.

Among James Thomas's classmates were his brothers Morrie and Jack, and several of his McCane and Bidgood cousins; illustrating how deeply rooted the extended family was in the region.  The school had its own clay tennis court and two cricket pitches.  Sport was taken seriously, and the O'Donnell and Bidgood boys were remembered as being very athletic and competitive.  They even created a cycle circuit around the nearby Gumlu Store, and informal cycle races were often held.

Photo likely taken in 1939/1940.
James Thomas is seated in the back row on the left, aged 10.
Back row L-R:  James Thomas (Jim), Margaret Brigid, John Joseph (Jack).
Front row L-R: Edward Martin (Eddie), Marcella Therese, Terence William (Terry) and
Maurice Owen (Morrie). 

Yet another treasured family photo shows seven of the O'Donnell children sitting outdoors in what is likely to be the back yard of the house on the family farm.  There are established bushes in the background and what could be the corrugated iron wall that is the side of a shed or water tank.  The oldest brother Edmond, aged 17, is noticeably absent in this photo, likely working out on the family farm or perhaps working away from home.  This photo includes the youngest of the O'Donnell children, Terence William (known as Terry), the baby of the family.

Fortunes changed significantly for the family in the early 1940s.  After many very difficult seasons, with lots of hard work and very little return to support the family, James Thomas's parents made the heartbreaking decision to walk off the family farm at Armstrong Creek and leave that lifestyle behind.  By 1945 the entire family had relocated to Bowen, which was about 66 kms / 41 miles away on the coast.  

Back row L-R:  James Thomas (Jim), John Joseph (Jack), my mother Margaret Brigid (Mina), Maurice Owen (Morrie), Edmond James.
Front row L-R:  Terence William (Terry), mother Sarah O'Donnell (nee McCane), Marcella Therese,  father James O'Donnell and Edward Martin (Eddie).

This photo was taken soon after the move from the farm to a rented house on Richmond Road in Bowen.  At the time this rented property would have been on the outskirts of the township.  

In November of 1945, when he was 17 years old, James Thomas was mentioned in the local Bowen newspaper after he was involved in a cycle race smash.  He had become a member of the Bowen Cycle Club, along with a couple of his brothers and cousins.

According to the newspaper item, James Thomas came down as the race was almost over and suffered abrasions to his left elbow, right knee, shoulder and forearm.  He was treated at the site of the accident and didn't need hospitalisation. 

Just a little while after this, the family moved once more to a house on Dalrymple Street, which was located close to the main street of Bowen and just one hundred metres from the front beach and port.  That house was the one that the grandchildren of James and Sarah, and nieces and nephews of James Thomas, knew as the O'Donnell home.

Back row L-R:  Edward Martin (Eddie), James Thomas (Jim), Edmond James, Maurice Owen (Morrie), father James, John Joseph (Jack).
Front row:  Terence William (Terry).

The photo above was taken in the back yard of Dalrymple Street in the early 1950s.  By this time James Thomas was employed with Queensland Rail along with his brothers Edmond, John Joseph (Jack) and Maurice (Morrie).

James Thomas was an active participant in the local Bowen sporting community, and was a strong presence in Bowen's cricket scene.  His name was often mentioned in the local newspaper highlighting his prowess in the sport.

This is a photo of the Railways Institute Cricket Team taken during the 1951-1952 cricket season.  James Thomas is seated in the front row, second from the right.  The team were the runners-up in the Camp Cup that cricket season.

My father Bede (known as Bernie or Bern) Connors is seated third from the right, next to James Thomas.  They knew each other very well as they both worked for Queensland Rail and played on the same cricket team for many years.  My father was also dating James Thomas's older sister, Margaret Bridget, during this time.

When there was a break from work and sport, James Thomas and my father, along with other work mates or team members, enjoyed taking holidays together.  

This photo shows James Thomas and my father holidaying on South Molle Island (known as Molle Island then) in the early 1950s.

In January of 1953, James Thomas was playing for 'Railways Cricket Team' and despite the loss his side endured that day, James's name was listed on the Honour Board for both his batting and bowling.

The same local newspaper published an item in August of 1953 that listed his name among "Bowen's leading players", alongside his cousin Fred Bidgood and my father Bern Connors.

In October that same year, James Thomas was mentioned in yet another local newspaper item.  This time James was listed amongst the top scoring batsman for the 'Railways' team.

These frequent mentions in local newspapers over the early 1950s highlights James Thomas's talent and community presence.

The 1954 electoral record shows James, aged 26, living at his parents' home on Dalrymple Street with brothers John Joseph (Jack) and Maurice Owen (Morrie).  His occupation was listed as Railway Fireman, which was essentially the second-in-command to the engine driver.

The 1958 electoral record shows James Thomas, aged 30, living on Dalrymple Street with his parents, James and Sarah, his sisters Marcella and Margaret, and his brother John Joseph (Jack).  James's occupation was listed as Railway Fireman.  

These photos were taken on Christmas Day, either in 1957 or 1958, and shows James Thomas with his parents and siblings sitting around the Christmas Day lunch at Dalrymple Street.  Sadly, it turned out to be the last time that they were all gathered around the table together.

There were two guests who joined the O'Donnell family at the table on that Christmas Day - Desley Yvonne Hockings (first on the left) and Maureen Currie (second on the left).   These two young ladies would marry into the O'Donnell family not long after - Desley Yvonne married James Thomas (Jim) while Maureen Currie married John Joseph (Jack).

James Thomas married Desley Yvonne Hockings in 1959, when he was 31 years old.  They began their married life together at 9 Livingstone Street in Bowen, a home filled with the bustle of railway routines, the laughter of family, and the trials of everyday life and it was there that they raised two daughters, Therese and Kristine.  

The 1963 electoral record shows James Thomas living on Livingstone Street with his wife Desley.  His occupation was listed as:  Railway Driver, as he had advanced in his working life and this new position marked a career milestone.

Not long after his wedding day, there were a few family tragedies that unfolded and heralded a significant change in the O'Donnell family life for James Thomas.

In 1961, James's younger sister Marcella Therese Webber nee O'Donnell passed away.  James Thomas was 32 years old at the time.

In 1968, James's older sister Margaret Brigid Connors nee O'Donnell passed away.  James Thomas was 39 by that time.

Two years later, in 1970, James's mother Sarah Mary Josephine O'Donnell nee McCane, died.
Then four years after that, in 1974, James's father James O'Donnell also died.  James Thomas was 45 years old when he lost his father.

James's brother Edward Martin O'Donnell passed in 1986, and his brother Edmond James O'Donnell passed in 1995.

James Thomas died in April of 2005 at the age of 76.  At the time he was living in Brisbane, in southern Queensland, but he was buried at the Bowen General Cemetery - the final resting place of his mother, his father, his two sisters and four of his five brothers.

This was a final return to the place that shaped his beginnings, his family, and his legacy.

James Thomas's life is remembered through photos, newspaper mentions, cricket scores, railway service, and the enduring bonds of a family who shared work, faith, hardship, and love in the bushland and a coastal town of northern Queensland.

Special Note to any family members:  If you have memories to add, photos or information to share, can I graciously ask that you do so.  If there are events that are not quite correct, do please let me know.  Please use the comments box below or email me.  All contributions are invaluable and will provide future generations with a story to truly treasure.