Euphemia (Effie) Eddy
According to her birth certificate, Euphemia Eddy was born on 7 June 1886 at Dunbulbalane, in the County of Moira in the Yarrawonga Shire in Victoria. She was the daughter of Richard Eddy and Mary Ann Studds. Family tradition reports Invergordon, Victoria, as the place of birth. See the information provided on the page about Euphemia's father in regard to interchangeable use of the locality names Dunbulbalane and Invergordon.
Interestingly, when the birth was registered at Dunbalbalane almost two months later, the name of the Deputy Registrar was John Eddy; while the middle initial is uncertain, it appears to be "John A. Eddy". It is not known if or how this person was related to the family.
Effie lived initially in Dunbulbalane / Invergordon, Victoria. Later, when the family relocated, she lived on the family farm which was described officially as being located at Strathmerton; it was on the Victorian side of the states' border but the farm was very close to the New South Wales town of Tocumwal. More information about the site is provided with information about Effie's mother. At the time of her marriage, Effie's occupation was described as "lady help". After her marriage, she resided in Tocumwal for the remainder of her life.
It is understood that her family was a hard-working farming family with strong Methodist religious convictions. It is thought the family disapproved of the marriage to Peter Francis Dunne who was a drover and of the Catholic religion. Both families would probably have been unhappy when the marriage ceremony was conducted not in a church but in a private home and, avoiding both family religions, it was conducted according to the rites of the Church of England. The marriage certificate records the marriage taking place in the residence of W. Eddy in Mieklejohn Street, Numurkah, Victoria, on 19 July 1904. The witnesses were John Eddy and Margaret Anne Eddy.
The children were
- Adelaide Gertrude Dunne (married John Vivian Endacott; see information provided separately)
- Winifred Mary Dunne (married George Thomas Beckwith; lived in Hay NSW)
- Peter Richard Dunne (enjoyed distinction of having been born 08/08/08, that is, on 8 August 1908; married Florence Isobel Wood; lived in Tocumwal)
- Effie Dunne (born 27 August 1910; died 26 February 1918; buried in Tocumwal cemetery)
- Edmund Ellis ("Mick") Dunne (born in Tocumwal, N.S.W. on 22 December 1912; married Freda Janet Maslen; lived in Tocumwal)
- Kathleen Monica Dunne (born 11 March 1916, married Dudley Leo "Joe" Newport; lived in Shepparton Vic, died tragically on 27 March 1984 in a car accident in Verney Road, Shepparton, returning from a holiday in Finley, NSW)
- Marion (Mae) Theresa Dunne (married Michael Kelly; married Ron Heagney; died 1992)
- Adrian Leslie (Cobber) Dunne (born 24 December 1919; married Marion Iris Crump on 6 May 1943; killed in action in Dutch New Guinea in 12 November 1944)
- Francis Langton Dunne (married Yvonne Thompson; lived in northern NSW and in Newcastle)
(click to enlarge)
Dunne children : not certain but possibly Peter, Winifred (standing)
and baby Edmund Ellis ("Mick") with Adelaide and Effie. (Effie died at age 7)
(click to enlarge)
Peter Francis and Euphemia Dunne and their family : Adelaide (seated);
standing (from left) : Edmund Ellis ("Mick"), Kathleen, Adrian Leslie ("Cobber"),
Marion ("Mae"), Peter Richard, Winifred, and Francis Langton
Euphemia with daughters Kath (extreme left), Winnie, and Mae (right)
photograph taken in 1946, the year after Euphemia was widowed.
Euphemia "Grandma" Dunne, photograph taken at Kellyville NSW in approx. 1954,
with granddaughter Pauline Cleary (nee Endacott) and great grandsons Peter and Michael.
Euphemia ("Effie")
Euphemia died in Tocumwal Hospital on 8 September 1974 and was buried in the Tocumwal cemetery.
The following is an excerpt from a newspaper called " ... ern Riverina News";
A double bereavement for Mr Peter Dunne and the family when his mother Mrs Effie Dunne of Tocumwal, wife of the late Mr Peter Francis Dunne died on September 8 at Tocumwal Hospital at the age of 88 years. Mrs Dunne had been hospitalised for the past four months. She was a resident of Tocumwal for over 70 years and was featured in a TV programme last year with "The Man from Tocumwal" Mr Fred James, who predeceased her by only a few days. She was a life member of the Mooroopna Base Hospital in recognition of support over many years, and was also an avid worker for her church St Peters, Tocumwal. She was also the inaugural secretary of the Tocumwal Friendship club. Burial will take place at Tocumwal Cemetery today (Tuesday) following Requiem Mass at 2:30 pm at St Peter's Tocumwal. Deepest sympathy is extended to the family Mrs Addie Endacott (Sydney), Peter and Ellis (Tocumwal), Mrs Mae Kelly (Sydney) and Langton (Byron Bay) and their families in their loss. Two daughters Winifred Beckwith and Effie and one son Adrian (Cobber) predeceased her.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A photograph of the Effie Dunne's house, after she had gone.
Now the house is gone too.
For many of Effie's grandchildren and great grandchildren, a trip to "Toke" was like a pilgrimage, and "Grandma Dunne" was the arch matriarch of an extended family. The above photograph was provided by Caroline Dunne, who stopped by the house at 62 Kelly Street, Tocumwal, in May 1990, only to see it bulldozed before her eyes.
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the majority of the above poem was written by Addie Endacott,
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