Spotlight ... In The Beginning!

Lately, I've been deeply invested in uncovering the exact birthplaces of my ancestors and extended family.  This pursuit has been spurred by the realisation that familial accounts of birthplaces were often misleading or outright incorrect.  

Though verifying these details has sometimes required purchasing official birth records - an expensive endeavour - I find immense satisfaction in knowing I am uncovering and preserving the truth about precisely where my ancestors' and relatives' stories actually began.

The Start of My 'Beginnings' Quest

I started this recent journey of discovery with the exact beginnings of my parents and their siblings.  

In this post however, I will only share some of the interesting details uncovered in relation to the births and birthplaces of my mother and a couple of her siblings, because it led to a further discovery - an intriguing story about someone who is not a relative, but who's impressive story I'd love to share.

Accessing birth records through the Queensland Registry of Births, Marriages and Deaths has been a valuable resource, albeit with limitations.  Currently, only birth records up to 1925 are available, so I've only been able to locate records for three of my maternal grandmother's eight children:  my uncle Edmond James O'Donnell, my mother Margaret Brigid Connors nee O'Donnell, and my uncle Maurice Owen O'Donnell. 

Upon initially receiving these records a few years ago, I really only gave them cursory glances.  Recent deeper dives, however, have revealed fascinating insights.

Birthplaces and Surprising Details

The birth record of Edmond, my grandmother Sarah O'Donnell nee McCane's first child, lists his birthplace as "Kyburra, Bowen-Ayr Railway."  

At first glance, this might sound as though he was born at a railway station!  Not so.  Edmond was born at home on his parents' farm near the Kyburra siding, along the Bowen-Ayr railway line.   

This entry highlights how rural life during the 1920s shaped the recording of important events in my grandparents lives.  They didn't live in a town.  They lived in a farming community that was recognised and named according to the nearest important landmark - the railway siding where the farmers loaded their produce onto trains for shipment to markets elsewhere in the state.

So this home birth provided me with a very interesting insight into how a fact like "where born" was completed by my grandparents on their child's birth record.  An interesting aside is what's recorded in the 'witnesses' column further along on the record.  

There are three possibles for an entry in this column.  

1. is for the name of a medical attendant (usually a doctor).  

2. is for the name of a nurse attending the birth.   

3.  is for the name or names of any other witnesses (such as family members - husbands, aunts, grandmothers etc.)

Immediately I noted that my maternal great grandmother, Margaret McCane nee Farrell, was listed as the attending 'nurse'.  

This indicates she acted as a midwife during the birth of her own grandchild.   This role within families would have been quite common for women in her era.  Many would have gained hands-on experience assisting relatives and neighbours in childbirth.  My great grandmother Margaret had first-hand knowledge, having witnessed her mother giving birth to her siblings when she was 14 and 21 years old, and having given birth to seven children herself.

In addition, Margaret lived on a farm that was located quite close to daughter Sarah's home.  This proximity to her daughter and son-in-law's farm further cemented her role as a supportive presence during childbirth. 

Along with all of that, the tradition of midwifery appears to have run in the family.  My great grandmother's sister, Helen Ann Davies nee Farrell, had made a career of it, operating as a midwife after her husband's death in 1911.  No doubt, Margaret and her sister Helen would have had long conversations about childbirth over the years, and this combined wisdom would have comforted my grandmother Sarah during the delivery of her first-born.

When Sarah gave birth to her second child, my mother Margaret O'Donnell, in 1923, the birth record lists her birthplace as "Broadlands, Ayr-Bowen Railway", which essentially means that she was also born at home on the family farm, just like her older brother Edmond.   Instead of using 'Kyburra' as the recognisable local landmark, my grandparents used the name often used for the area around the Kyburra siding.

 

The role my great grandmother Margaret played in the birth of this grandchild of hers was once again listed as 'nurse'.  By this time, my great grandmother was aged 56, supporting her daughter (my grandmother) Sarah once again with the birth of a child.

Shifting Traditions

When my grandmother Sarah gave birth to her third child however, things had changed.

It was 1925 by then and the birth record for my uncle, Maurice Owen O'Donnell, lists his birthplace as "Palm Cottage, Poole Street, Bowen".  This means that my grandmother Sarah had travelled almost 70 kilometres / 43 miles to the nearby town of Bowen to give birth.

The name "Palm Cottage" intrigued me and I wondered what sort of place this was!  I also noticed that the witness listed for this birth was not my grandmother Sarah's mother (my great grandmother Margaret) as before, but someone named Nurse Amy Field.

I realised in that instance that my grandmother had travelled to what was called a "lying-in hospital" run by a midwife named Nurse Field.

Uncovering Nurse Amy Field's Legacy

My previous research into the history of the midwifery career of my maternal great-grandaunt, Helen Ann Davies nee Farrell (mentioned before as the sister of my great grandmother Margaret and therefore the aunt of my grandmother Sarah) had uncovered the fact that she had been running her "lying-in hospital" for around 23 years by this stage.  

(Her story can be found here:  The Story of Helen Ann Farrell )

It was not common practice for women to give birth in hospitals back in the early 1900s.  The beginning of many babies' lives happened in a "lying-in hospital", which was a facility run by a private midwife in her own home.  Pregnant women would go there just before the birth of their baby and remain there throughout labour and for several days afterwards, supported by the midwife.

It would seem highly likely that my grandmother Sarah had received advice from her aunt Helen about the benefits of giving birth at a highly regarded establishment like Nurse Field's 'Palm Cottage'.

My interest had been piqued!  I was curious about Palm Cottage and I embarked on a research journey to learn about Nurse Amy field.

Immediately, I found that she had been mentioned in a blog post written by Trisha Fielding, a professional historian and writer who has worked at my local university, James Cook University.  Trisha Fielding is a Special Collections Library Officer there, and is a published author of quite a number of books about aspects of North Queensland history.

The post from Trisha's blog North Queensland History is titled NQ Midwives - "Invisible Heroines" and there is a great photo of Nurse Field at the top.

The author of this post, Trisha Fielding, goes on to say:

"Born in Bowen in 1879, Amy Louisa Wilcox Field trained as a nurse in Warwick for three years under Matron McNamara and later nursed in private homes in Bowen and Proserpine. ....  In 1908 she opened a private hospital in Bowen called Palm Cottage, where, by the time of her retirement in 1936, more than 2,000 children had been born. .... Nurse Field died in August 1939, at the age of 68, only three years after retiring from nursing."

There was an excerpt from a newspaper obituary included in this post as well, so I went off to Trove (Australia's free online research portal located at the National Library of Australia) to see what I could find in the newspaper archive.

In the Bowen Independent, dated Friday 28th of July 1939, this obituary appeared:

It was followed by this "Mother's Tribute":

An article published in the Townsville Daily Bulletin, dated Monday the 24th of July 1939, mentioned that from Bowen's early years in the late 1860s, up until 1922, there had been around 948 successful births in the town, but by 1936 (when Nurse Field had retired), the number had passed 2000!

That particular article also stated that "She had a marvellous record.  Her patients always returned".  

Historian Trisha Fielding had described Nurse Field as one of the "invisible heroines" of North Queensland's history, and this sentiment was echoed in contemporary newspaper articles, praising her exceptional record and the loyalty of her patients.

A Broader Perspective

The shift from home births on rural farms to seeking care at facilities like Palm Cottage highlights the evolving practices of childbirth in the early 20th century.  Discovering these details has enriched my understanding of not only my family's history, but also the broader context of maternal care in rural northern Australia.  It has also connected me to remarkable individuals like Amy Field, whose contributions deserve to be remembered and celebrated.

I now wonder if Palm Cottage might appear on the birth records of my other maternal aunts and uncles.  Did my grandmother Sarah return to Nurse Field's care for the birth of her subsequent children?  This question is a tantalising thread I intend to follow in my ongoing beginnings research.

I'm joining Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.

The prompt for this week's challenge is:  In The Beginning.

Anyone who wishes to join the challenge, please click on this link:  Generations Cafe (Facebook Group)

Memories ... August 13

 Remembering two Wedding Anniversaries

(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page)

Today is the anniversary of my maternal Grand Aunt Susan McCane's wedding day,

and my maternal Great Grand Aunt Helen Ann (Annie) Farrell's wedding day.  

These two women were related.  Helen Ann was Susan's aunt.  They both married on August the 13th, but their wedding days were 29 years apart.

Helen Ann Davies nee Farrell

(Sadly, I have no photos of Helen Ann or her husband to share).

• Helen Ann (known as Annie) Farrell was born in north-eastern England in July of 1871.

• She was the fourth of nine children born to Irish-born immigrants Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney (Downie).

• Her parents had left Ireland years before Helen Ann's birth, and had moved firstly to Scotland (where they had married) and then to England, where all their children were born.

• Helen Ann emigrated to Australia with her older sister Margaret in December of 1885.  Helen Ann (Annie) was only 14 years old when she left England, arriving nearly two months later in Townsville, north Queensland.

• Helen Ann and her sister travelled to Charters Towers, west of Townsville, where they both worked as servants.  The remainder of their family, their parents and siblings, all emigrated in late 1887 and travelled to Charters Towers to be with Helen Ann and Margaret.

• Helen Ann met her future husband, David Davies, whilst living and working in Charters Towers.

I can only share a few details about their wedding day.  I have no information about what the bride's wedding dress looked like, or who was in the wedding party.  Whilst I have searched for local newspaper records from that time, I have not been successful in finding any so far; and there are no family stories to share either. So, here the scant details that relate to Helen Ann's and David's special day.

• They married in August of 1890.  Helen Ann was aged 19 at the time, and required the permission of her father to marry (as she was under the age of 21).  This permission was given and the wedding was conducted at the Catholic Presbytery, as the Church itself (St Columba's) was a building site where major extensions and alterations were being carried out at the time.

  

• Helen Ann and David were married according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church.

• One of the witnesses to the marriage was Margaret Farrell, Helen Ann's older sister.

  

• The other witness, identified as a 'sponsor' was likely someone known to David.  The name originally recorded was "Mary Agnes Tippett", but then there has been a correction made and a note recorded beside the last column that the name should read "Henry James Tippett".  I have no more information about who these people might have been.  Perhaps Henry Tippett was David's employer.  

• Helen Ann and David went on to have nine children, including twins daughters. Sadly their daughter Eileen Monica Davies, who was born in 1903, passed away aged just one week old.

• Tragically, the marriage of Helen Ann and David only lasted until March of 1911, when David was lost at sea during the sinking of the S.S. Yongala.  This was just five months before they would have celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. 

 

• Helen Ann was widowed at the age of 39 with eight children to care for.  Susan was 19, David was 18, the twins Helen and Margaret were 15, Elizabeth was 12, Mary was 9, Thomas was 6, and Rita was just one year old.

     

• Helen Ann never re-married.

I have previously shared Helen Ann's story with many more details and for those who are interested in reading more, please follow this link:  The Story of Helen Ann Farrell

For anyone interested in reading a little more about David's sad demise, please follow this link:  Shipwreck! Townsville's Titanic. 

Susan Mary Bidgood nee McCane

• Susan Mary McCane was born in November of 1892, in Charters Towers, Queensland.

• She was the eldest of seven children born to Irish-born immigrant Owen McCane (Muckian) and English-born immigrant Margaret Farrell (mentioned above as the sister of Helen Ann). Sadly, one of Susan's younger brothers, Edward William McCane, died as a result of a drowning accident in 1905, when Susan was 12 years old.

• Susan began her teaching career around the age of 20.  She initially taught in Charters Towers, but then became the head teacher at Molongle Creek Provisional School (later named Gumlu State School) in Gumlu in 1914.

• By 1914, Susan's entire family, her father Owen, her mother Margaret, and the five surviving children including Susan (aged 21 at the time), had all moved to a property that Owen had purchased on the south side of Molongle Creek, in the area around the small township of Gumlu.

• This is where Susan met her husband-to-be, Frank Alexander Bidgood.  He was a farmer who had also purchased property in the area, although his land was near the Wakala railway siding.

• Susan and Frank's courtship was interrupted by World War 1.  Six young men from the area went off to serve their country, including Frank, who enlisted in mid-1916 when he was 32 years old.  He saw action in France and was captured by the Germans, becoming a prisoner of war in April of 1917.

• Thankfully, Frank survived, after being a prisoner of war for over two years.  He was repatriated to England in January of 1919, and then shipped home to Australia in May of 1919.  Three months later, he and Susan were wed.

 

• Susan and Frank were married according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, even though Frank was not a baptised Catholic.  (He was Church of England).

• The witnesses recorded on the marriage certificate were Sarah Mary Josephine McCane (Susan's only sister) and John Lennane (who I assume was a good friend of Frank).

• As recorded on the marriage certificate, Susan and Frank married at "the residence of Owen McCane (Susan's father), Gumlu" on the 13th of August, 1919.  There was no Catholic Church in the area at the time, so weddings were usually conducted at the home of the bride's parents.

• In the photo above you can clearly see that the wedding portrait was taken outside at the family farm, where two large mats had been laid down on the ground.

• An item printed in a local newspaper gave more details about their special day:

On 13th August, a wedding of much interest was celebrated at "El Rita," Gumlu, the residence of the bride's parents, when Miss Susan McCane was united in the bonds of holy matrimony to Mr Frank A. Bidgood, Toowoomba (late A.I.F.).

The Rev. Father Morley (Bowen) officiated.

The bride wore an exquisite frock of ivory crepe de chine, beautifully hand embroidered and trimmed with orange blossoms.  She also wore a lovely veil, which was kindly lent by Mrs. W. S. Gordon, Proserpine (a recent bride).

The bride was attended by her only sister Sarah, as bridesmaid.

The bridegroom was supported by Mr John Lennane, late A.I.F., as best man.

The bride's present to the bridegroom was a handsome gold Albert (a watch).  The bridegroom presented the bride with a diamond and pearl pendant, and the bridesmaid with a pearl and emerald brooch.

The happy couple received many congratulatory telegrams, and the presents, which included many cheques, were numerous and costly.

After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents.

Previous to her marriage, Miss McCane, who has been head teacher of the Molongle Creek State School, Gumlu, for over five years, was presented with a beautiful silky oak duchess by the Gumlu residents.

The school children, at an afternoon tea, presented their teacher with a handsome eight-day clock, suitably inscribed.

• Interestingly, the school Susan taught at closed down upon her marriage until a new teacher could be found.  In the early 1900s women were not allowed to continue teaching once they had married.  

• Susan and Frank were married for just twelve and a half years until sadly, Frank passed away at the age of 48 in early 1932.  I think that the conditions he endured during his years as a prisoner of war would likely have impacted his health and perhaps contributed to his shortened life span. 

 

• Together Susan and Frank had seven children.  At the time of Frank's death, the children's ages were: Leonard 11, Ernest 9, Lorna 7, Irene 5, Alfred 3, Frank 1 and Neville 5 months old.  

 

• Susan never re-married.

I have also previously told Susan's story.  So for anyone interested in reading a little more about her, please follow this link:  The Story of Susan Mary McCane

The Stories of Laurine Florence Farrell and Myreen Catherine Farrell / Memories ... April 2

Today I'm telling the stories of twin sisters Laurine Florence Farrell  (1916-2015) and Myreen Catherine Farrell  (1916-1995).   

Our common ancestors are:  Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney/Downey.

I'm publishing this post on the anniversary of their birthday.

Anniversary of two Birthdays:   

(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page)

These twin sisters were my maternal 1st cousins 2x removed.  Myreen however was also the wife of my maternal grand uncle, making her my grand aunt as well.  This is the first instance I've uncovered where I have two different relationship paths to a relative.  

Discovering that Myreen had a twin sister was a recent find and set me off on a frantic research effort so I could tell both their stories today, on the anniversary of their birth.

• Laurine Florence and Myreen Catherine were born on the 2nd of April 1916 to parents Michael Farrell and Hannah Margaret Hynes.  Laurine was the first born of the twins.  The girls were born in Charters Towers, Queensland.

• They were the youngest of the seven children born to Michael and Hannah, and entered a family already scarred by loss.  Their eldest sibling Myreen Florence has passed away tragically just a month short of her second birthday.  In her honour, Michael and Hannah gave one of the twins her name.

• Laurine and Myreen's siblings included:

- Myreen Florence born in 1902 (died in 1904)

- Muriel born in 1904

- John Michael born in 1905

- Arthur Thomas born in 1907

- Edward Francis born in 1911.

• It appears that the children had a rather chaotic upbringing.  Father Michael Farrell ran a busy auctioneering business and was a well-known figure in the business community.  Mother Hannah (although she was also known by her middle name of Margaret) was a licensed victualler and ran The Australian Hotel in Charters Towers.

• With both parents engrossed in their extremely busy working lives, the children appear to have spent a lot time being cared for by their grandparents in Charters Towers initially, and then by their aunt Margaret McCane nee Farrell and their uncle Owen McCane (Muckian), on their farm near Gumlu.

Enrolment No 42 should read 'Muriel Farrell' not 'Murill Farrell'
(William Patrick Farrell is from a different family)
Source:  Gumlu State School Centenary Booklet

• The older siblings, Muriel aged 14, and Edward Francis (Ned) aged 7, appear to have been dispersed to their aunt and uncle first.  In 1918 they were both enrolled at the Molongle Creek Provisional School (later it became the Gumlu State School).  That is a clear indication that they were living with their aunt and uncle, and no longer living in Charters Towers.

(An interesting side note: The teacher at the school from 1914 to 1919 was Susan Mary McCane.  She was an older cousin to Muriel and Edward, as she was a daughter of Owen and Margaret McCane.  Susan was also living on the McCane family farm at the time.)

• Tragically, in mid-1918, when the twins were only two years old, their father Michael died rather unexpectedly leaving their mother Hannah widowed at the young age of 36.  It seems Hannah struggled to manage the children still under her care, and more went to stay with their aunt and uncle. 

Source:  Gumlu State School Centenary Booklet

• At the start of the following year, 1919, older brother Arthur Thomas, aged 12, was also enrolled at the Molongle Creek Provisional School (later the Gumlu State School). 

 

• In a heartbreaking twist of fate, the twins' mother died in 1923, leaving the Farrell children orphaned - Muriel was 19 at the time, John Michael was 17, Arthur Thomas was 16, Edward Francis was 12, and the twins were just 7 years old.

Source:  Gumlu State School Centenary Booklet

• At the start of 1924 the twins, Laurine and Myreen were enrolled at Gumlu State School as well.  (The school had been re-named in 1920).

(Another interesting side note:  In mid-1924 the teacher at what was then Gumlu State School, Thomas Owen McCane, was another of Laurine's and Myreen's cousins.  He was also a son of Owen and Margaret McCane, and brother to Susan Mary McCane who had taught the twins' older siblings.)

• Laurine and Myreen's early childhood years had unfolded against a backdrop of familial upheaval but after the move to the McCane farm at the age of 7, they were then living and seemingly thriving in a more stable family home.  Their education, initially disrupted by family circumstances, regained momentum and their talents began to shine.

• Their names appeared in newspaper items in local newspapers a few times in the late 1920s and early 1930s.  By that time they had both moved to the Catholic Convent Boarding School in Bowen, and were attending the Catholic Convent School.  They were excelling in their studies and showcasing talents in drawing and music.

 

• In 1929, when they were both aged 13, they were winning prizes in the local show competitions for drawing:

• Laurine won second prize in the 'Best Drawing Book, 12 drawings shaded' competition and won 2 shillings.  Myreen won first prize in the 'Best Group of 5 drawings in free-hand design, shaded large'.  She won 5 shillings.  I wonder if they pooled their winnings and spent it on something special?

• In 1930, aged 12, they completed their Australian University College board examinations for piano, as well as examinations for commercial subjects:

• Laurine achieved a credit on her Grade V piano examination, and Myreen achieved a credit on her Grade V1 examination.  They were impressive results!  They both passed Elementary Typewriting, Elementary Bookkeeping and Junior Shorthand, typical subjects offered to girls in their final years of schooling paving the way to a career in secretarial work. 

(Note:  There was a misprint in the newspaper - under the results for Elementary Typewriting the name 'Kathleen Farrell' should have read 'Laurine Farrell'.  There was no Kathleen Farrell enrolled that year!  There was a Kathleen Caldwell and a Laurine Farrell.) 

• In 1931, aged 15, the twins were completing their last year of schooling.  The Queensland school leaving age had been raised from 12 years to 14 years, back in 1912.  It's likely the girls had missed a year or so of their education during their younger years, so then stayed in school until they completed their final year, even though they were probably older than their peers.

  

• As reported in this end-of-year newspaper item, their commercial subject examinations results were rather good:

• Laurine and Myreen passed the Advanced Bookkeeping, Intermediate Shorthand and Speed Typewriting subjects.

• As they approached adulthood, Laurine and Myreen faced diverging paths.  While one pursued a career, the other embraced married life and motherhood at a young age.  Their lives took them to opposite ends of the country where they carved out their individual stories.

Laurine Florence Farrell

After completing her education and honing her skills as a typist, Laurine sought opportunities away from home.

 

The 1937 Australian Electoral Record shows Laurine living and working in Brisbane, Queensland.  Her occupation was listed as:  typist.

Her name was recorded on the Supplemental Roll for the Division of Toowong.  The original roll showed her older sister Muriel and brother John Michael also living in Brisbane.

It seems that these three siblings had all embarked on a journey southward seeking employment and independence.  They were all living together in a boarding house / property on the corner of Milton Road and Ridley Street in the Brisbane suburb of Auchenflower.  

By 1939 Laurine's career had flourished and she was working for Butler Brothers in Brisbane.  Her photo (third from the left) appeared in a local newspaper in late 1939, attending the first annual staff ball for that company.

War was now looming and Laurine answered the call to serve her country.

Enlistment Photo 1942

In March of 1942, a month before her 26th birthday, Laurine enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force.  

She served at various wireless / telegraphic stations in Melbourne, Victoria; and in Townsville and Brisbane, in Queensland.  After the war, Laurine's life took a new turn.  She was discharged in Victoria, where her beloved older sister Muriel and brother John Michael were then living.  So it was that these three siblings moved even further away from the rest of the family, and continued their life journeys in Victoria.

By 1949 Laurine was living with her older sister Muriel in South Yarra, Victoria, and was now working as a stenographer.  The role of a stenographer is to record spoken words using a stenography machine, typically at legal proceedings, and this is the career that Laurine continued for the remainder of her working life. 

Older brother John Michael had remained in Victoria after serving during the war years, also living in Melbourne. 

In 1952, at the age of 36, Laurine married Ronald Vincent John McInnes, aged 30, at St. John's Catholic Church in East Melbourne.  

The marriage certificate shows that Laurine's husband was a soldier with the Australian Armed Forces and Laurine herself was working as a stenographer.  

Laurine and Ronald were married for 23 years, until Ronald passed away in 1975.

Laurine and Ronald spent their married life living in one of Melbourne's eastern suburbs.  They had no children.

Laurine outlived her siblings by many, many years.  Her twin sister died 20 years before Laurine passed away.

The two older brothers Arthur Thomas and Edward Francis died in Queensland.  They had remained living on their aunt and uncle's farm for many, many years; then as they grew older moved a little further away.  Arthur Thomas Farrell died in Mareeba, Queensland, in 1961, aged 54.  Edward Francis Farrell died in Bowen, Queensland, in 1977, aged 66.

The two eldest siblings, who had moved to Victoria, never returned home to Queensland.  Eldest sister Muriel Farrell died in Victoria in 1984, aged 80.   She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Melbourne.  Eldest brother John Michael Farrell also passed away in Victoria in 1989, aged 83.  He was cremated at the same crematorium as his sister Muriel.  His ashes were interred at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.  His memorial plaque is located at the A.C. Downard Lawn, Bed 19, Position 57.  John Michael also has a memorial plaque at the Victorian Garden of Remembrance.

Laurine died on the 29th of April 2015, aged 99!  

She was cremated and her remains were collected from the Springvale Crematorium, situated within the Springvale Botanical Cemetery in Melbourne, Victoria.  I have no other information, but I'm assuming her remains would have been collected by a family member, possibly a relative of her husband.

Myreen Catherine Farrell

Myreen married not long after she had completed her education.  In 1933, at the age of 17, Myreen married John Michael (known as Jack) McCane.  

(Yes, Myreen's husband's Christian names are the same as her brother's - John Michael - so in order to avoid confusion I'll refer to Myreen's husband as John Michael (Jack) from now on.)

Myreen (in the middle) standing beside the car that her sweetheart had won!

John Michael (Jack) is on the far left of this photo.
The photo was taken on his father's farm. 
Owen McCane, John's father (and Myreen's uncle), is far right.

John Michael (Jack) McCane
Photo taken at his sister Sarah's wedding in 1921
John was 20 years old

John Michael (Jack) McCane was the son of Myreen's aunt Margaret and uncle Owen McCane, so he was Myreen's cousin.  

Obviously, Myreen and John Michael (Jack) had spent a lot of time in each other's company after Myreen had moved to her aunt's and uncle's home, and it seems a romantic relationship had developed.

At the time of their marriage John was 32 years old, so there was a considerable age difference between them.  Permission to marry was needed as Myreen was under the age of 21 at the time.  It was her older sister Muriel who provided that permission, as she was Myreen's legal guardian. 

Myreen's uncle, and John Michael's (Jack) father, Owen McCane had passed away by the time they were married. After Owen's death, John Michael (Jack) and his brother James (known as Jim) stayed on the family farm with their mother Margaret.  They had spent years and years helping their father work the farm, and had now taken up residence on the property.  Settling into life as a farmer's wife, Myreen embraced her role with determination and she remained living on the farm where she had spent many of her childhood years.

Myreen and John Michael (Jack) were married for 52 years, until John died in 1985.  They had three children together over a period of sixteen years.

- Margaret was born in 1933, when Myreen was still 17 years old.

- Florence was born in 1940, but sadly passed away the following year.

- Ailsa Janice was born in 1949.  Myreen was 33 years old at the time.

Myreen, husband John Michael (Jack) and baby Margaret are all circled in orange

The photo above shows the large family unit that enveloped Myreen with love throughout her lifetime.  The McCane farm served as the heart of this tight-knit family as they all either lived close to the McCane family farm or indeed on the family farm for many, many years through the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and some into the 1960s.

In the middle of the photo is Myreen's aunt, and John's mother, Margaret McCane nee Farrell.  Around the matriarch of this close family are Margaret's children (Myreen's cousins), Margaret's daughters-in-law (including Myreen) and Margaret's grandchildren.  This photo was taken the year after Myreen had married on the McCane family farm, and I think shows a very happy and contented Myreen.

As the years passed, her life would have revolved around the rhythms of farm life and the warmth of frequent family gatherings and celebrations.  

Myreen and her husband bid farewell to the family farm that they had called home for decades in the late 1970s.  The electoral record for 1977 shows them living at 38 Fourteenth Street in Home Hill where they were still surrounded by members of the McCane clan.

In 1985 husband John Michael (Jack) passed away at the age of 83.  Myreen was widowed at the age of 68, and then sadly, she died after a stroke in 1995 when she was 79 years old.

Myreen was buried at the Home Hill Cemetery alongside her husband John.  She was survived by her daughters Margaret and Ailsa, and her twin sister Laurine.  I do so hope that the twins had kept in touch over the years and that the bond between them had remained unbreakable.