150 Years in Australia
Descendants of Mahalia Bolger (Weymouth) 

Mahalia Rumbelow was born on 5th December 1840 at West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk England. She accompanied her family to Australia on the Pestonjee Bomanjee and then from Port Adelaide to Encounter Bay at the age of 14.

Mahalia met and married Henry Matthias Weymouth, who was born in Penzance, Cornwall, England in about 1840 and had travelled to Port Adelaide on board the “Poitiers” in 1849.

Henry was a builder who either built or worked on the Hotel Victor and Clifton Guest House. He died on 25th September 1863 while digging a canal on the Goolwa to Victor Harbor railway line. He was buried in a cave-in, died and is buried at the Victor Harbor Cemetery. Mahalia died on 21st January 1879.

Henry and Mahalia had two children.; Henry 2nd and Ephraim.

[3] Henry Matthias Weymouth 2nd (1st child) was born at Encounter Bay on 15th October 1861 and married Adelaide Elizabeth McBeath on 6th October 1886. Henry 2nd was a mason/builder. Henry 2nd and Adelaide were married in Fitzroy, Victoria and their first three children were born in Victoria. The family moved back to Encounter Bay around 1893 as the remainder of the children were born at Victor Harbor.

Like many of his contemporary cousins, Henry produced a family of ten children; Irene, Leonard, Harry, Nita, Lorna, Vida, Rupert, Kevin, Helen and Joan.

[4] Irene May Weymouth was born in 1888 at Collingwood, Victoria and married Leslie McEllister Gleeson on 22nd August 1911. Irene died in Adelaide on 7th August 1960. Irene and Leslie had five children; Philip, Shiela, Robert, Alan and Barbara.

[4] Leonard Clifton Weymouth was born in 1890 and died of diphtheria on 26th August 1898, aged eight.

[4] Harry Gordon Weymouth was born at Clifton Hill in Victoria in 1892 and enlisted in the AIF on 8th January 1918. He sailed for Suez on the HMAT (SS) Port Darwin and was a driver in 35th Company, Aust Mounted Division. He then sailed to Tripoli in December 1918 and served at Moascar.

On 26th July 1919 he embarked on HT Burma to return to Australia where he was discharged on 23rd September 1919. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Harry married Gwennyth Kelvin Jones on 30th March 1937. Again, our records do not reveal any children.

[4] Nita Helen Weymouth was born at Victor Harbor on 24th March 1894 and died of diphtheria on 26th August 1898 on the same day as her brother Leonard.

[4] Lorna Weymouth was born at Victor Harbor on 19th January 1896 and married Alfred Charles Ernest Groves Fry on 25th July 1917.

[4] Vida Adelaide Weymouth, the twin sister of Lorna, was born at Victor Harbor on 19th January 1896 and married Herbert Lesley McLean on 5th February 1927. Herbert enlisted in the Australian Army during WW1 on 14th March 1916 and served in 4 Division San Soc. He returned to Australia on 10th March 1918. They had a son, Ian.

[4] Rupert Howard Weymouth, known as Howard, was born on 4th April 1898. He enlisted in the army and left Outer Harbour on 11th April 1916 and sailed via Fremantle, Colombo, Port Said and Gibraltar to Plymouth. 

His diary indicates that they had a great time in London as they were the first Australian troops to disembark in England. He was a rascal who made an impression on the ladies of London. He soon departed for Europe where he saw action in Belgium. He was wounded in action in France in May 1917 and shipped back to London to a hospital near Hyde Park. He left Plymouth on 22nd December 1917 and sailed home via Cape Town. Howard then married May Montieth on 17th August 1921.

Rupert Howard Weymouth rejoined the Australian Army on 13th March 1941 for a second war effort and was discharged on 19th February 1944 with the rank of Lieutenant attached to AAOC 4 BOD. 

He worked a soldier settler property at Truro then grew tomatoes at Glenelg and Bolivar. Howard was an excellent golfer and was Secretary of the Mount Osmond Golf Club. He died on 21st December 1964 and May died on 6th January 1996 at the grand age of 102. Howard and May had two sons; Peter and Stuart.

[5] Peter Montieth Weymouth was born on 3rd August 1923, married Jean Marion Jamieson and they had four children. Peter attended St Peters College, worked at 5DN and then enlisted in the Australian Army where he served in the Pacific region.

At discharge he was posted to the 2/3 Tank Attack Regiment. Peter then became a salesman for Beaurepaire Tyres and later was sales manager for Uniroyal Tyres. He retired to Coffin Bay but later returned to Adelaide.

[5] Stuart Monteith Weymouth was born on 27th February 1929 at Adelaide and married Doreen Todd on 16th July 1955. They have three children. Stuart went to school at Salisbury and Lockleys Primary Schools and Adelaide High. 

He farmed at Bolivar with his father for two years and then joined the merchant navy where he worked on local freighters and overseas on an oil tanker.

He worked at Woomera in 1946, completed an electrical course by correspondence and worked at Gerard and Goodman. He then became shipping supervisor for the British Phosphate Commission followed by a stint as technical salesman and manager for Gilbert Lodge and Co., who manufactured machine tools and electrical equipment.

Stuart then worked as a technical representative with Pirelli Cables before retiring to Carickalinga. He loves sailing and has won championships in the Dinghy Class and served as coxswain in a rescue crew.

[4] Kevin Ross Weymouth was born at Victor Harbor on 1st March 1902 and married Grace Lily Reid on 9th May 1925. He died on 2nd February 1956. Kevin and Grace had one son.

[5] Grant Ross Weymouth was born about 1936 and died on 2nd April 1973.

[4] Helen Gwynda Margaret Weymouth was born at Victor Harbor on 22nd August 1904 and married Dr Melville Ernest Chinner on 16th August 1926. Melville enlisted in the Australian Army on 5th August 1943 and at the time of his discharge on 6th August 1946 he was a captain in 106 Casualty Clearing Station. 

Helen died in the USA on 16th November 1939 at the age of 35. Helen and Melville had two daughters; Betty and Pauline.

[5] Betty Chinner was born in 1927 and married Alf J Pearson in 1952.

[5] Pauline Margaret Chinner was born in 1935 and married Walter James Berry in 1956.

[4] Joan Weymouth was born at Victor Harbor on 4th March 1909 and married William Ewart Crafter on 26th May 1930. Ewart had a number of occupations including gardener, welder, panel beater and shop assistant. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force on 29th October 1940 and his posting on discharge on 1st November 1945, was as Corporal at 6 Service Flying Training School, Mallala. 

Joan and Ewart had three children; Murray, Brian and Nannette.

[5] Murray Richard Crafter was born in Adelaide on 1st December 1930 and married Sheila Mary Burton in 1951. They have four children. Murray Crafter was highly respected as one of the best professional golfers in Australia during his playing life.

[5] Brian William Crafter was born in Adelaide on 27th December 1931 and married Margaret Heather Hall. Like his brother, Brian was highly respected as a playing and teaching golf professional. He was also well known and respected for his commentary at major golf tournaments both in Australia and overseas. 

Brian and Margaret had two children; Jane and Neil, who’s success in the sport of golf deserves special mention.

Jane Crafter who was born in Perth, WA, on 14th December 1955. She has based herself in Florida, USA and enjoyed a highly successful professional golf career over many years. She won her first US LPGA event in 1990 and won the Australian Ladies Masters twice. She still plays golf, comments for the LPGA on TV with NBC and ESPN and writes for the Golf Digest Magazine.

Neil Ewart Crafter was born at Broken Hill, NSW, on 19th July 1957. He was also an excellent golfer who has taken over a business started by Brian in the 1960s. The Golf Strategies Company designs and reconstructs golf courses and, in recent years, has expanded into Asia where they have designed courses in Malaysia, China, Vietnam and India. 

Neil is a director and principal golf course architect.

[5] Nannette Joan Crafter was born in Adelaide on 1st August 1935 and married John Northcott on 7th February 1956. They have three children.

[3] Ephraim Malen Weymouth (2nd child) was born at Victor Harbor on 2nd March 1864 and married Margaret Horan in 1911. Ephraim lived in the town for much of his life and died on 24th July 1953 at 89 years of age.

Henry, her first husband having died in 1863, Mahalia was married again on 1st September 1866 to Edward Robert Bolger in the home of Alice and Cain Jelliff at Encounter Bay. This was to become the first of three marriages for Edward to Rumbelow sisters. He married Alice in 1879 and Emma in 1921 when he was 77 years of age.

E R Bolger Sen. died at Strathalbyn on 13th March 1927, and is buried in the Victor Harbor Cemetery. Mahalia and Edward had four children.

The following are some extracts regarding E R Bolger Sen.

“Arrived in the “Punch” from Tasmania
Occupation Mail Driver, Bullock Driver & Contractor.
Resided Hindmarsh Valley, Victor Harbor, Strathalbyn.
Religion: Congregational.

Edward Bolger married three of Malin & Alice Rumbelow’s daughters. First he married Mahalia Weymouth and when Mahalia died he married Alice Jelliff. Edward and Alice were married for forty years before Alice died. Alice had no children of her own but she helped raise Mahalia’s children. After Alice died Edward married Emma Watson of whom it is said he wished to marry before she married Thomas Watson.” - The obituary in “The Biographical Index of South Australian 1836-1885”

Edward Robert Bolger 1st

“The Late Mr. E R Bolger - Died in his 82nd year at Strathalbyn on Sunday. Born at Hobart in 1845 and later the family arrived at Port Adelaide and came straight away to Hindmarsh Valley by bullock dray. From there they went to Port Elliot. When Mr. Bolger was 9 years old he was obliged to find work as a bullock driver. Until he was 20 he was a rural labourer but eventually became driver of the tramcar, which ran between Goolwa and Victor Harbor. This he abandoned in favour of road making. Later he became a storekeeper and a carrier. 

Was Past Master of the Corinthian Masonic Lodge (associated with it for 35 years) and with the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows for 60 years. For years a member and Chairman of the District Council. In 1898 E R Bolger purchased Lot 90 in Ocean Street from John Hindmarsh. Here a two storey shop built a year or two later.  E R Bolger took over the Encounter Bay store and Post Office from J S Reid in 1884. “ 

From “The Victor Harbor Times” 18/3/1927 - Obituary.

Another newspaper cutting (not dated) states 

“ Mr. Edward R Bolger, who is the direct descendant of an Irish Lord, carried the mails from Goolwa to Yankalilla in the early days on horseback and he had to ford the Hindmarsh and Inman rivers which were no inconsiderable streams.”

[3] Edward Robert Bolger 2nd (Bob) (3rd child) was born at Port Victor on 22nd June 1867 and married Eva Emily Maidment on 25th December 1890. His occupation was listed as “Storekeeper and Gentleman.”

Bob and Eva had three children; Robert, Marjorie and Edward.

[4] Robert Perciful Roy Bolger (Roy) was born at Victor Harbor on 12th December 1891. Roy was an apprentice to a dentist in Victor Harbor before enlisting in the First AIF on 19th August 1915. He joined 12th Field Ambulance and sailed from Australia for the Middle East in February 1916. He served with the 57th Battalion at El Kebir and then sailed to France where he served with 12th Field Ambulance and was promoted to Lance Corporal. He was awarded the Military Medal.

This extract from his service record outlines his bravery.

5th April 1918

On 5/4/18 South-East of Millencourt L/Cpl Bolger showed exceptional courage and devotion to duty under very heavy shell fire whilst carrying wounded from the R.A.P. about three quarters of a mile south-east of Millencourt to the field ambulance post at Millencourt West of Albert. Shortly after the commencement of the enemy attack about 7 a.m. he continued to carry on for many hours and when the other members of his squad were too fatigued to carry on he continued his work under heavy shell fire with fresh helpers. His disregard of personal danger and his cheery optimism under the most trying of conditions inspired his fellow bearers to greater efforts and he was at all times a source of comfort to the wounded.

10th April 1918

Recommended for the Military Medal. The recommendation was signed by A.H. Gibson, Lt Col. C.O., 12th Australian Field Ambulance. The action for which he was commended is set out under the 5th April 1918. The recommendation was then signed by A.H. Moseley, Colonel A.D.M.S. 4th Aust. Division, E.G. Sinclair MacLagan. Major-General Commanding 4th Australian Division and W.R.Birdwood, General Commanding Australian Corps. 

21st April 1918 Awarded Military Medal.

He was promoted several times and attained the rank of L-Sergeant before returning to London where he married Elsie Beatrice Pearl Harvey on 8th November 1919. Roy was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Roy and Elsie returned to Australia together on the HT Ormode and he joined the railways. After retiring from the railways he became an insurance agent and retired for the second time at 85 years of age. He was 100 years of age when he died in August 1992. Roy and Elsie had two children; Majorie and Edward.

[5] Marjorie Hilda Bolger was born in Adelaide on 20th August 1920 and married Kenneth Neal Sinclair on 21st May 1946. Marjorie was a registered nurse and midwife and Kenneth was a stock and station auctioneer. Kenneth enlisted in the Australian Army on 29th June 1940 and was discharged on 4th October 1945 with the rank of sergeant posted to Ord Prov Section. They had three children.

[5] Edward Harvey Bolger was born at Bordertown on 16th September 1927 and married Margret Loraine Davison. Edward was a cabinet-maker and he and Margret had two children. Margret died in 1975 and Ted married Cora Betty Schmidt in 1981.

They live at Goolwa in retirement.

[4] Ida Gladys Bolger was born at Victor Harbor on 5th December 1897 and married Charles George Walker on 23rd February 1920 at Yilki. Charles was a farmer. They had a son, Donald Charles Walker.

[4] Eva Rita Bolger was born at Victor Harbor on 3rd August 1903 and married Gordon Leslie Adey on 26th August 1925. Gordon and Rita sang in the choir of the Newland Memorial Church at Victor Harbor.

[3] Alice Anne Bolger (4th child) was born at Victor Harbor on 20th July 1869 and married George Honeyman on 11th February 1889. According to Lindsay Honeyman, George’s father William had an interesting life. He and his brother ran away to sea in the 1830s and their ship sprung a leak and was beached at Encounter Bay for repair. The brothers jumped ship and lived with the local aborigines for a time until William walked to Adelaide where he became a chainman for Colonel Light, surveying the streets of Adelaide. He then married an Irish woman and returned to Encounter Bay where he rejoined his brother and they continued whaling before taking up land at Port Elliot.

George Honeyman was born at Hindmarsh Valley and worked for his father as a shepherd until he started a livery stable. Early each morning he used to visit the hotels and guest houses to drum up business for his four horse drag trips into the country. This led to the start of the horse tram business and for many years George drove the horse tram to Granite Island, first for the SA Railways and then as lessee. The lease was controlled by the family for 50 years as George’s brother Frank took over after George died in 1942 at 76 years of age. Alice and George had four children; Mahalia, George, Darcy and Victor.

[4] Mahalia Alice Honeyman was born at Encounter Bay on 21st September 1889 and married John Scott Philps on 9th April 1914. John, an accountant, became Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 1954 to 1957. He was knighted so they became Sir John and Lady Mahalia Philps. They both attended the celebration at Encounter Bay in 1955 for the centenary of the family on the South Coast. They had three children; Yvonne, John and Donald.

[5] Yvonne Mahalia Philps was born on 2nd February 1915.

[5] John Bryan Philps was born Adelaide 3rd March 1916. He enlisted for WW2 in 1940 and was discharged in 1945.

[5] Donald Campbell Philps was born in Adelaide on 2nd November 1918, married Patricia in 1939 and had two children. Don enlisted in the Australian Army on 3rd November 1939 and was a Prisoner of War. He was discharged on 8th October 1945 with the rank of Sergeant attached to 2/3 Field Regiment.

[4] George Edward Honeyman was born at Encounter Bay on 1st March 1893 and died on 25th September 1907 at 14 years of age.

[4] Darcy Ernest Honeyman was born at Encounter Bay on 19th March 1898. Darce joined the AIF on 21st July 1915 and sailed to the Middle East in October. He then sailed to France where he received a shoulder wound in September 1916. He convalesced in England. Darce and authority did not always see eye to eye and he frequently appeared before the C.O. on charges. Without going into detail it must be said that his service record makes interesting reading. He then received a leg wound in action and got into more serious trouble with army discipline. He married Alice May Goodwin, a 23-year-old nurse on 21st July 1919 and returned to Australia with his wife on the HT Osterley in September 1919. Darce and Alice had one son.

[5] Darcy George Henry Honeyman was born in Adelaide on 28th December 1920. Darcy joined the RAN on 29th October 1940 and when discharged on 18th February 1946 was attached to HMAS Torrens.

Darce then married Essie Alma Annie Beyer in 1941. Essie was the daughter of Andy Beyer who had a fishing tackle shop in Victor Harbor that was later the grocery store that Ken and Reta Rumbelow operated for a number of years. Darce and Essie lived in a flat behind the shop and Darce provided a TAB type service for his friends before it became legal to do so. 

Essie died in 1968 and Darce married Martha Ann Murray on 5th February 1970. Darce died in 1974.

[4] Victor William Honeyman was born at Victor Harbor on 5th May 1902 and married Marjorie Irene Bickle on 18th April 1924.

Vic and Marj had a dairy farm at Waitpinga and, again according to their son Lindsay, the most traumatic event of his life occurred in 1932 when tragically David and Walter Rumbelow drowned and Lionel Rumbelow, the survivor, crawled and stumbled from the beach to Honeyman’s home. This created an “unbelievable bond” between the Honeyman and Rumbelow families and Lionel and Vic were partners in a fishing business after World War Two. 

Vic enlisted in the Australian Army on 2nd July 1940. Vic was taken prisoner by the Japanese in Java and sent to work on the infamous Burma Railway where hundreds lost their lives. He was discharged on 9th January 1946 was a sergeant.

Vic and Marjorie Honeyman had one son; Lindsay.

[5] Lindsay George Honeyman was born at Victor Harbor on 15th September 1924 and married Daphne Edith Murfitt on 24th January 1948. Lindsay worked on the dairy with his mother during WW2, then had a wood and ice business at Strathalbyn, was a carpenter and joiner at Victor Harbor for 7 years and then a plumber for about 29 years. He then leased a milk round.

Lindsay has been very active in the community. He is a life member of the Youth Club, was on the committee of the Recreation Centre, vice-president of the VH Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association, a member of Friends of the Parks, helps Neighbourhood Watch and was involved in the Home and Community Care Program. Lindsay and Daphne had three children.

[3] Leonard Bolger (5th child) was born at Victor Harbor on 11th November 1871 and married Fanny Howe on 21st August 1895. At 12 years of age Len’s first job was to deliver meat on horseback from Encounter Bay to Yankalilla. The meat was killed in the morning, placed in calico bags, hung on both sides of the saddle and Leonard would make the trip surrounded by flies. He would wash the blood from the bags and horse on arrival, stay overnight, and ride home next day (with a lot less flies).

Leonard served on the HMSAS Protector early in his marriage. As the Protector sailed to China during the Boxer Rebellion, Len chose to stay home to provide for his four children driving the horse tram/train between Goolwa and Victor Harbor carrying the wool that came down the Murray. In the early 1900’s, Len was allocated a farm at Narrung when a large property owned by Sir Sidney Kidman was subdivided.

He left his family whilst he built a house, and subsequently a school, on the property.

Len moved to Port Albert in Victoria in the 1920’s and succumbed to his love of fishing. He had two 8 or 9 metre boats and endured hard living conditions and high freight charges. He then bought a larger boat the Lee Runner and started shark fishing in Bass Strait. When Len retired to Goolwa his boat was taken over by his grandson, Brian.

At Goolwa, Len was always busy; cockling on the beach, yabbying, fishing and, at 76 years of age built a six metre open boat and a 4 metre dinghy in 12 months, hand sawing all the timber. 

Len and Fanny returned to Port Albert Victoria, late in life to be near family support and they died a year apart in 1952 and 1953. As has become a feature of families around that time, they also had ten children in their family;

Elizabeth, Mahalia, Kathleen, Francis, Ida, Glinda, John, Edward, Dorothy and Leslie.

[4] Elizabeth Mabel Bolger (Mabel) was born at Encounter Bay on 16th June 1896 and married Bertram Henry Spencer, an engine driver with South Australian Railways, on 26th August 1916. Mabel and Bert parted company in 1927, taking two partners after Bert. Bert raised their three children; Robert, Mahalia and Donald.

[5] Robert Henry Spencer was born at Port Augusta, SA, on 8th November 1916, and married Lesley Eileen Gumley on 22nd June 1940.

Bob, a maintenance engineer in multi-storey buildings, enlisted in  the Australian Army on 9th March 1942 and was discharged on 9th January 1946 with the rank of Staff Sergeant, attached to 10 Australian Army Transport Company. Bob and Lesley had two children.

[5] Mahalia Alice Spencer was born at Port Augusta on 15th August 1918 and married Norman Charles Key on 8th February 1941. Norman enlisted in the Australian Army on 27th December 1939 and when discharged was a trooper attached to 18 Machine Gun Regiment.

Mahalia and Norman had three children.

[5] Donald Bertram Spencer was born at Port Lincoln, SA, on 5th May 1923, and married Valerie Mary Marsden on 10th February 1949.

Don, an electroplater, enlisted in the Australian Army on 27th January 1943 and when discharged on 10th January 1946 was a sapper attached to 10 Australian A Troops Company RAEME. Don and Valerie had three children.

[4] Mahalia Alice Bolger was born at Encounter Bay on 16th March 1898 and married Eli Ignatius Neville on 29th October 1924. Eli was a railway ganger at Coomandook, Reynella and Riverton and enlisted in the Voluntary Defence Corps on 29th May 1942. He was a corporal when discharged on 24th October 1945. They had four children; Mary, James, Patricia and Colleen.

[5] Mary Jane Neville was born in South Australia on 21st September 1926 and died six hours later.

[5] James Anthony Neville was born in South Australia on 29th September 1928 and died after nineteen hours.

[5] Patricia May Neville, a secretary, was born at Kingswood, SA, on 20th October 1930 and married Norman Tyerman on 21st December 1958. Norman had a number of occupations in Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and New Zealand.

He enlisted in the RAAF on 19th May 1944 and when discharged on 6th February 1946 was a Leading Aircraftsman posted to 7 Aircraft Depot, Tocumwal, NSW. Patricia and Norman had one son.

[5] Colleen Anne Neville, a optometrist, was born at Kingswood, SA, on 30th March 1932 and married Francis Joseph Barrett, a grocer.

They had seven children.

[4] Kathleen Jean Bolger (Jean) was born at Encounter Bay on 28th March 1899 and married Richard Gordon Harris on 3rd June 1930.

Jean was a nurse at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and then became Adelaide’s third female police officer under Kate Cocks. Richard was a farmer and waterside worker. They had six children; Barbara, Margaret,

Doreen, Kathleen, Geoffrey and Veronica.

[5] Barbara Grace Harris was born in Adelaide on 30th November 1930 and married Wesley H Jowett Taylor on 4th February 1963. Barbara was a nurse and they had one daughter.

[5] Margaret Kay Harris was born at Springton, SA, on 29th December 1931 and married Harold Ninian Anderson on 27th August 1951. Kay was a nurse, Harold a waterside worker and apiarist at Pt Lincoln and they had two children.

[5] Doreen Maisie Harris was born in Adelaide on 18th February 1933 and married John Maurice Mc-Geever on 12th January 1953. Doreen became the secretary of St Mary of the Angels Parish in 2000 and John was an administration officer with South Australian Railways. They had eight children.

[5] Kathleen Ruth Harris was born at Port Broughton, SA, on 15th January 1936 and married Brian Percival Whitehead on 26th January 1959. Ruth was an office worker and Brian worked in a plant nursery. They had two children.

[5] Geoffrey Gordon Harris was born on 19th July 1940 and married Sandra Helen Cook on 16th April 1964. Geoff was an airline pilot, Sandra a schoolteacher and they had two children.

[5] Veronica Christina Harris was born at Salisbury on 12th March 1943 and died on 23rd May 2000.

Kathleen and Richard divorced and she then married Julius Herman Rosenzweig on 20th December 1952. He died in 1955 and Kathleen married William Oliver Partington, farmer from Eyre Peninsula, SA, on 9th March 1957.

[4] Francis Emily Sheila Bolger (Poss) was born at Victor Harbor on 22nd August 1900 and married Thomas Michael Murphy on 15th June 1922.

She gained her nickname from her husband who claimed, “She was not much bigger than a possum”. Poss was a dressmaker and she and Thomas had ten children; Leslie, John, Mahalia, Leonard, Harold, Edward, Shelia, Georgina, Abert and Faye.

[5] Leslie Thomas Murphy married Linda White in 1955 and had six children.

[5] John Edward Leonard Murphy was born at Yarram, Victoria, on 8th November 1923 and married Joan Jackson on 11th March 1948.

John enlisted in the Australian Army on 12th December 1942 and when discharged on 21st August 1946 was attached to 2/23 Australian Infantry Battalion. Joan then enlisted in the Australian Army on 23rd February 1943 and when discharged on 5th May 1944 she was a signalman attached to A WA S 2 Sigs. Training Battalion. They had two children.

[5] Mahalia Fanny Anne Murphy was born at Yarram on 11th November 1924 and married William Jacobson in 1957. They had five children and Mahalia later married Robert Clarke with whom she had another four children.

[5] Leonard Howe Murphy married Melba and then Faye with whom he had three children.

[5] Harold Francis Murphy was born in Victoria on 29th February 1929 and married Maureen, having two children.

[5] Edward Michael Murphy married Elizabeth Ryan and they had two children.

[5] Sheila May Murphy married Gregory Allen and had five children.

[5] Georgina Elizabeth Murphy married Noel Daniel and they had four children.

[5] Albert Lawrence Murphy married Janet Paddington and they had four children.

[5] Faye Evelyn Murphy was born about 1942. It is believed that Nicholas Ronald Beveridge was her partner and she later married John Patrick Pedlar in 1958. She had one son. Faye was herding sheep on horseback, and it is believed that her pony tripped in a hole and fell, throwing her and fatally fracturing her skull. John found her when she failed to return home. She died on 24th March 1971.

[4] Ida May Bolger was born at Victor Harbor on 3rd March 1902 and married Neil Richard Duncan Avery (Dick) on 31st July 1937. Dick had been a fruiterer and had enlisted in the 13th Battalion of the AIF on 16th September 1914 before his marriage to Ida. He was wounded twice in the Dardanelles and was discharged on 24th October 1916 at the age of 21.

At the time of his marriage he was a fruiterer and in about 1943 was part owner of Seafarer which he purchased outright in about 1950.

He became a professional fisherman at Port Albert and it was the Seafarer that foundered when Brian Bolger was drowned. More of this shortly. Ida was known as Casey in her youth and was very proud of her family. She knitted beautifully and kept her children and grandchildren in jumpers and baby clothes that lasted for years.

She was a tireless worker for the Australian Red Cross Society and proudly received a medal for 20 years service. She was a life member of the Yarram Hospital Auxiliary and held executive positions. Ida and Dick had three children; Richard, Neil and Gary.

[5] Richard Neil Avery was born on 12th November 1939 and died at birth or shortly after.

[5] Neil Richard Avery was born at Yarram, Vic, on 3rd January 1941 and married Lesley Ann Burge on 24th April 1965.

Neil attained his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne in 1965 and, with Lesley, spent two years (1966-67) at the University of East Anglia in Norwich completing his Post Doctoral Fellowship. He then accepted the offer of another Post Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago (1967-68).

He then commenced work at the CSIRO in 1968. He was invited to the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) in 1981 and the whole family moved to Pasadena for about eight months.

Neil retired from the CSIRO in 2000. He spent many years as a member of the Port Melbourne Yacht Club and competed in club races, Victorian and national championships. He graduated from Moth Class to Jollyboats and Lightweight Sharpies. He sold his last boat in 1980 and now plays golf.

Following his retirement in 2000 Neil formed a company, “Avery Technology Pty Ltd”, in order to further his research into Fuel Cell technology.

His wife Lesley Avery was employed at Gibbs Burge (Aust) Pty Ltd, a family business, until its closure in November 2000. Lesley has undertaken an enormous amount of family research for this book, for which we are indebted.

Along with Mary George, she has collected and analysed the data that has created the completed family tree. Lesley has a genuine interest in genealogy and has corrected some of the misconceptions that existed for many years. Lesley and Neil have three children.

[5] Gary Douglas Avery was born at Yarram, Vic, on 25th April 1942 and married Marian Alma Mattern on 13th November 1965.

They have two children.

[4] Glinda Helen Bolger (known as Nell) was born at Victor Harbor on 18th May 1903 and had a child, Brian, who was raised by his grandparents.

Nell married Horace Henry Watson on 6th February 1925. He was in the US Army during WW2. She later married Wilfred George Frederick Sawyers. She died in 1946 at 43 years of age.

[5] Brian Bolger was born at Carlton, Vic, and married Jean Ferguson. Brian joined the Australian Army on 27th November 1942 and when discharged on 8th July 1945 was attached to 11 Small Ships Company.

Brian was a fisherman, and in 1946-47 when his grandfather, Leonard, retired to Goolwa he took over the shark boat at Port Albert. In February 1963 the boat was dry docked for repairs and Brian went fishing in Dick Avery’s boat. In heavy seas coming into the entrance to the port some 3 to 4 miles out at sea the rudder pintles broke and the boat overturned in the heavy surf. Brian, who could swim like a fish, was drowned entangled in the long shark lines and his two mates also drowned. Sadly, yet another Rumbelow descendant to die at sea! Brian and Jean had three children.

[4] John Edward Cain Bolger (Jack) was born at Victor Harbor on 15th November 1905 and married Doreen Alexander Tucker in 1929. Jack enlisted in the Australian Army on 5th July 1940 and was discharged on 29th January 1942 attached to the Infantry Training Battalion at Balcombe. On 11th May 1942 he enlisted in the RAAF and was discharged on 13th January 1947 as a leading aircraftsman attached to 1 OB Unit Mallacoota.

Jack lived in Richmond, Vic, and loved visiting Port Albert to see his sister, Ida, and to go fishing. He had a narrow escape from drowning when he went out with his father. The boat hit a sand bar and Jack, in chest high waders, hopped over the side thinking they were still on the sand bar. He went under water and thankfully surfaced, and was grabbed by his father who had quite a struggle to pull him inboard in his water filled waders. Jack and Doreen’s first son died at birth, the second son being named John.

[5] John Martin Bolger was born at Yarram, Vic, on 16th March 1937.

[4] Edward Leonard Bolger was born at Victor Harbor on 25th September 1907 and married Florence May Danzic on 10th April 1929. Ted left Port Albert in 1924 and went to Port Lincoln. He stayed on the West Coast of SA for the remainder of his life apart from several years spent with Flo on Alcoota Station, NT. 

Ted inherited his father’s boat building skill and, a carpenter by trade, he built a six metre deep sea yacht. Ted and Flo had five children; Brian, John, Beth, Maureen, and Gary.

[5] Brian Lenard Bolger was born at Port Lincoln on 20th December 1932 and married Margaret Cook on 18th September 1961. Brian was in the Navy and later a waterside worker. Brian and Margaret had a daughter.

[5] John Phillip Bolger was born at Port Lincoln on 21st April 1934 and married Pauline Rae Muller on 29th October 1955. John was a waterside worker at Whyalla and they had three children.

[5] Beth Pamela Bolger was born at Port Lincoln on 28th July 1937. Beth died of a brain tumor on 28th February 1958. She was a nurse of whom it was said, “Beth was a beautiful person who spent her short life helping others”.

[5] Maureen Florence Bolger was born at Port Lincoln on 1st April 1942 and died on 3rd February 1948.

[5] Gary Edward Bolger was born at Port Lincoln on 8th January 1946 and married Joy McCuspie on 11th April 1966. Gary was a transport driver in the RAAF, and they had three children.

[4] Dorothy Fanny Bolger was born at Victor Harbor on 7th October 1909 and married David Lewis on 25th August 1927. According to her daughter, Dorothy (Dolly) and her two sisters went to school in a horse drawn jinker and on one occasion while trying to increase the speed of the horse by applying her umbrella to it’s tail it bolted with shafts and harness but no jinker or children.

They had to ride to school bareback until the equipment was repaired. David Lewis was a railway man in Victoria. David’s family report that he enlisted in the Australian Army on 4th August 1941 and when discharged on 6th June 1948, was a Staff Sergeant. This has not been able to be verified from Army records.

Dorothy and David had nine children; Dorothy, Elizabeth, Nancy, Ronald, Geoffrey, Beryl, Barry, David and Darryl.

[5] Dorothy Ellen Lewis was born at Yarram on 31st January 1928 and married Hugh George Hendry in 1947. They had six children and divorced. Dorothy then married Terrence William Fisher on 27th November 1976.

[5] Elizabeth Fanny Lewis was born at Yarram on 10th March 1929 and married Robert Colin Barnes on 22nd February 1947. Due to her asthma, she spent a lot of her childhood in Port Albert with her grandparents and her Auntie Ida. Her doctors had recommended the sea air. She was employed for many years at the Korumburra Hospital, and Bob was a timber worker, railwayman, footballer, coach and horse breeder. They had five children.

[5] Nancy Lewis was born in Melbourne on 15th May 1930 and married Ronald Frederick Gilder on 9th November 1946. Nancy experienced hardship with Ron in the RAN and at sea for long periods but she was an excellent seamstress and supported her young family with her sewing. 

Ron was on the HMAS Melbourne when it entered the Monte Bello Island Atomic Bomb Test Area. He later died of cancer in 1977. 

They had three children before divorcing. Nancy then married Augustus Kinsman Pearce Beachley (George) on 8th July 1961 and they had a daughter. George joined the Australian Army on 6th June 1940 and when discharged on 4th January 1946 was a driver attached to 2/5 Australian Infantry Battalion

[5] Ronald David Lewis was born on 5th January 1934 at Kyneton, Vic and married Valda June Cook on 6th November 1954.

[5] Geoffrey Lewis was born at Kyneton on 20th February 1935 and married Gwendoline Rose Hossack on 29th July 1961. Geoff has been a cabinetmaker, the proprietor of a motor body building business and a factory maintenance engineer. They had two children.

[5] Beryl Elaine Lewis was born at Kyneton on 30th April 1936 and married Rex Stainley in 1956. They divorced and she then married Robert Shields Freeman in 1965. They had six children.

[5] Barry George Lewis was born in Victoria on 29th August 1940 and married Denise Helen Cook on 9th October 1963. Tragically, Barry and Denise were killed in a car accident on 14th May 1983 and their daughter Heidi died in hospital on the following morning. They have a surviving son.

[5] David Ian Lewis was born on 12th August 1944 and married Elaine Joyce McKeough on 13th June 1964. David and Elaine had three children before divorcing. He then married Jean in about 1987.

[5] Darryl William Lewis was born on 7th September 1951 and married Lynette Gail Price on 9th October 1971. They had two children.

[4] Leslie Robert Bolger (Bob) was born at Victor Harbor on 18th August 1912 and married Edith Ruth Shields on 16th April 1938. Bob was a motor engineer who enlisted in the Australian Army on 27th June 1940.

For some reason his discharge details are not known but his army record shows that he re-enlisted on 21st July 1942, and when discharged was a sergeant attached to 22 Australian Infantry Battalion. They had one daughter, Glenys.

[5] Glenys Bolger, was born in Victoria on 10th December 1940 and she had a child, Simone.

[3] Theophilus Bolger (6th child), the last child of Mahalia and Edward Bolger was born at Victor Harbor on 31st December 1873 and died two years later on 28th March 1875.