Ellen Dowling...Subiaco Pioneer (1939).
This is one of the wonderful stories I found by chance on an old pioneer woman Ellen Dowling living with her daughter in Hensman Road, Subiaco. In 1939, Ellen celebrated her 84 th birthday.
The Mirror newspaper and West Australian wrote a story about her. I will let Ellen share her story through her own words.
Ellen died on 5 February, 1942 aged 86 years. She was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Karrakatta Cemetery.
The article and photograph is from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Mirror, 23 September 1939.
KNITS SOCKS FOR SOLDIERS
ON 84th BIRTHDAY
Knitting socks for soldiers is how a Subiaco lady, daughter of a soldier, celebrated her 84th birthday on Thursday.
Mrs. Ellen Dowling, who resides at the home of her daughter, Mrs. T. Coultas, at Hensman-road, Subiaco, enjoyed her birthday despite her age, and the fact that she has been bed ridden for some years through a leg injury.
Usually she fills in her time trying to help along and cheer people up, but now with knitting needles in her hands she is busy knitting socks for the soldier boys. 'You see I'm a soldier's daughter,' she said. 'My father, Sgt. Kenny, was a member of the old convict guard in Perth. He fought in the Crimea and India. His father was a soldier too, and served under Wellington at Waterloo. 'I helped to make things for the boys in the South African War and in the last Big War, when my favorite nephew Jack was a digger.
'When I was a girl we used to live down by the river, where the old wishing well is at the bottom of Mount Eliza. I can remember people coming with carts and big barrels to take the beautiful spring water away.' Asked what she thought of Hitler she replied: 'I'd like to get him. I know what I would do. Send him to me.' (Photo on Page One.)
West Australian, 21 September 1939.
AN OLD COLONIST. VIVID memories of the old convict days in Western Australia were recalled yesterday by Mrs. Ellen Dowling, of Hensman-road, Subiaco, who celebrates her 84th birthday today.
Mrs. Dowling was born in 1855, her former home being situated on the site as the foot of Mt. Eliza where the small enclosure and water fountain may be found today.
Her father, Mr. John Kenny, was a warder and supervised the working of the prisoners on the first strong bridge to be made at the causeway. Many of the prisoners were sent to Australia for trifling and petty crimes, she said, and there were many good men amongst them.
Later, Mrs. Dowling went to Melbourne, for four years, where she married.
Her health has been good always, but she has been confined to her bed for the last three years owing to a bad fall. She is bright and cheerful, however, and spends her time reading and doing fancywork.
Today, she will have a birthday party at which her two daughters, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren will be present, in addition to other relatives and friends.
