Family Tree Puflett (Part 3)

A. Harriet PUFLETT, born 1845 in Batesford, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, baptized 1845 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, died 1921 in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, buried 1921 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, electoral roll 1919 showed her living at 49 Leonard Cres, Ascot Vale, Melbourne. She was an accomplished painter and several of her works are still owned by her descendants.

After her husband died in 1889, she had several young children to bring up then the 4 children of her daughter Harriette when she died. Her house at 49 Leonard Crescent Ascot Vale was auctioned on Saturday 22 May 1921, advertisement in The Argus Friday 21 May 1921.

Harriet Morrison (nee Puflett)	Harriet later photograph

She married Joseph MORRISON, married 19 November 1867 in Puflett Residence, Corio Street, Geelong, Victoria.

He was born in Torwood, a small hamlet or an estate just off the A9 highway and about 3 miles from Larbert which is near Falkirk in Scotland in 1839. The exact date has not yet been found in the Scottish Old Parochial Records. His parents were James Morrison who was a horse trainer (probably on the estate) and Margaret Leckie. They were married in Polmont, in the parish of Stirling. There was at least one elder sister, Margaret who was born in 1825.

In latter years his autobiography was written in the book, VICTORIA AND ITS METROPOLIS 1888 and in the flowery style of writing of that era describes his early training. His association with racehorses and the saddle dates almost from the cradle, his preparatory lessons having being administered by his father Mr. James Morrison an owner and enthusiast. His first connection with an employer began in 1851 when he entered the services of Mr. Halliwell of Gillon near Edinburugh and during this period he made his debut in the saddle as a jockey for Sir James Boswell and Mr. Murray of Glasgow. Five years later (1856) he was figuring in France for Count Pride. For him he was to have ridden in the French Derby but arrived too late to fulfil the engagement. Shortly after he entered the stable of the celebrated Thomas Jennings under whose supervision he received the modelling lessons of his profession. Mr. Morrison next linked his fortunes to the famous Count Lagrange's stable which then possessed such animals as Monarque, Mademoiselle de Chantilly etc. With the last named he scored several success in France. In 1858 Mr. Morrison journeyed to Baden Baden where he rode Glorieux in the 14000 francs prize into second place, but on the following day he steered the same horse to victory in the 6000 franc event.

Upon returning to England he was determined to visit Australia and in 1859 he carried out his intention and landed in Victoria (arrived 10 April 1859 in the sailing ship Beechworth which was then leased to the White Star Line which later merged with other lines to form the Cunard line. William Train was the Captain. He came as an unassisted immigrant and travelled steerage. At this time before the faster clipper ships were developed the voyage out would take around 10 weeks). It is not known why he decided to come to Australia but due to the discovery of gold a few years earlier Australia was attracting a large number of immigrants and was experiencing a very profitable period of growth. The Falkirk area at this time was also experiencing a prosperous period due to the Industrial Revolution and as two major canals met at Falkirk it became an important centre for the iron and steel industry. So it was not the poor economic conditions which caused him to leave Scotland to seek his fortune elsewhere, as other ancestors had to.

He immediately entered the service of Mr. Mckenzie of North Melbourne for who he trained and rode several winners. His colonial career is associated with such equine celebrities as Despatch, Mormon, Flying Buck, Falcon, Fishhook and his connection with the owner of the last named (Mr. C. Fisher) was signalised by many successes. An accident when he was riding Chester in the Melbourne Cup terminated his career in the saddle and since then he has allied himself closely to the preparation of thoroughbreds, such winners as Hyacinth, Commotion, Wellington, Reginald etc. having been turned out by him. As a trainer and a horseman Mr. Morrison has already figured in the foremost rank and his happy state of independence is traceable to essentials possessed by few of his profession in a more pronounced degree.

After riding for Mr. McKenzie he was associated with Mr. Fisher of Maribyrnong for some years and rode a number of winning races for him. He was also chief rider for Mr. Dowling of Caulfield. Mr Morrison in 1860 rode the celebrated Flying Buck for Mr. W. C. Yuille and won the second St. Ledger for him. This horse won the first Champion Stakes ever run in Australia. Since his arrival in the colonies the subject of this notice has taken high rank as a trainer and a jockey. In the saddle he is a first rate artist and his integrity is unimpeachable.

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s major annual thoroughbred horse race. Billed as The race that stops a nation, it is for three-year-olds and over, and covers a distance of 3,200 metres. It is generally regarded as the most prestigious "two-mile" handicap in the world. The event is held on the first Tuesday in November by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemmington Racecourse in Melbourne. This day was traditionally only a public holiday within metropolitan Melbourne, but is now also observed as a holiday in the entire state of Victoria. The race was originally held over two miles (about 3,218 metres) but following the intoduction of the decimal system in the 1960s, the current race distance of 3,200 metres was established in 1972.

He rode in the first few Melbourne Cups and his record was:

1861. Rode in the first Melbourne Cup unplaced. . (Sporting Globe 25-10-1939). “Three horses fell at the home turn - Twilight, Medora which were both destroyed, and Despatch which was ridden by Joe Morrison who had his left arm broken in two places.” The rider of Mormon claimed afterwards that he had been ‘inconvenienced by the fall and also the uneven cut of the grass which was at times a foot long and at others about three feet’.

Archer was the winner and at this time it had a very successful race record. The horse walked to Melbourne from its stable in Nowra, a distance of 800 kilometres, the journey would have taken several weeks.

1862. Came third on Camdem.

1863 Came fifth on Falcon.

1865. Rode Panic in the Melbourne Cup.(Sporting Globe 25-10-1939). It had been handicapped 10.0 stone. He got away with the leading bunch and held a leading position to the half mile where Morrison kicked him to the lead. Soon after he was joined by Toryboy, another aged runner who was in the race with 3 stone less than Panic. The two aged gallopers cleared away from the rest of the field and as the pair made the turn into the straight the crowd roared for Panic to win. The English horse answered Morrison's whip gamely but with his huge weight advantage Tomboy drew away over the last hundred yards to win by 2 lengths with Riverinna a further 3 lengths away.

1869 (Sporting Globe 25-10-1939.) Won the Melbourne Cup on Warrior.

1876. On 9 September the S.S. City of Melbourne sailed from Sydney to Melbourne crammed to capacity with passengers returning from the AJC Spring Meeting. It also had on board eleven racehorses in charge of trainer and leading jockey Joe Morrison. The horses included the favourite for the Melbourne Cup and other races such as the VRC Derby. On Sunday morning a strong southerly gale set in and as the ship was not far from Jervis Bay, Joe Morrison asked the ship's skipper Captain Paddle to take shelter or return to Sydney as the storm might endager the lives of the valuable horses in his care. Captain Paddle ignored his request and was determined to face the gale. Soon after passing Cape St. George the vessel shipped a number of heavy seas and the gale increased to hurricane force; the wheel was smashed and the binnacle was washed away, the ship at that time was going around like a top and being in danger of floundering.

As some of the horses had fallen, a temporary steering gear was fitted and the Captain decided to return to Sydney. He put the ship's head to the sea and it was at this moment that two of the horses were washed on to the deck and killed. Five other horses were drowned and another fell under the other horses and despite the efforts of Morrison and the other 2 jockeys, he was killed.

Only 2 horses survived out of the eleven. One was so far gone that it was not expected to live but constant rubbing by Morrison and plentiful doses of beer and gin kept him alive. When the ship reached Sydney on Tuesday he had to be carried ashore. He later had a distinguished career as a race horse and sire. This was the era of corrupt racing in which the bookmakers were suspect of playing a leading role. Following the death of the Cup favourite and several well backed runners the Melbourne bookmakers were thereby saved many thousands of pounds, and they presented a purse to Captain Paddle as a token of their appreciation of the part he played in the disaster.

1878 Melbourne Cup. Tom Kirk and Glengarry ran against Chester who fell, throwing his jockey Joe Morrison against a post. Morrison suffered a badly injured leg and never thoroughly recovered from the effects of the accident. Eleven years later he underwent an operation to straighten his leg but died on the operating table. As a result of his fall, the VRC built running rails at Flemington. Prior to this widely spaced posts had marked the track.

After the accident in the 1878 Melbourne Cup, he was unable to continue as a jockey and instead worked as a trainer. His first stables were in Newmarket and the Post Office Directory 1872 shows him living next door to the Racecourse Hotel with saleyards and a tannery on the other side. The Victorian Railways purchased the land and it became part of the Newmarket marshalling yards for the railways. He then moved further out and in 1884 the Baillieres Directory gives his occupation as a trainer at Ascot Vale Road. There were several racetracks in the neighbourhood, Flemington and Ascot Vale where, after WWII, the Housing Commission Victoria resumed the land to build flats. By the 1880s this area started to develop when several large farms were broken up and the tram line was extended out to Essendon. .In 1882 the National Agricultural Society (later the Royal Agricultural Society) relocated its showgrounds from South Melbourne to 30 acres (12 ha) of government reserve on the northern edge of Flemington racecourse and they bought the area where his stables were. He then moved to 49 Leonard Crescent at the other side of the Flemmington Racecourse, this area was known as Bagotville. Sometime during the mid 1950’s this area was again taken over and it now covered by the car park for the Flemmington Racecourse Railway station.

Joseph died on the 22 August 1889 and was buried 3 days later in the Melbourne General Cemetery. His death was reported in the local newspapers as such.

The news of the death of J. Morrison, well known on the turf, formerly as a jockey and lately as trainer, which is announced in our obituary column this morning, will be received with great regret by all racing men. Some years ago Morrison received a severe fracture of the leg while riding in a race and though the injury was duly attended to the limb never became thoroughly sound again, and lately it had been giving Morrison so much pain that, acting on the advice of the leading surgeons in the city he decided to undergo an operation. This duly took place but did not result so satisfactory as was wished, and Morrison was laid up for some time in Mr. Fitzgerald's private hospital. Recently his condition became critical but he seemed likely to get over the effects of the operation. However yesterday morning he took a turn for the worse and he expired at three o'clock in the afternoon.

For about 30 years Joseph Morrison was intimately and honourably associated with the sport of racing in this colony. Twenty five years ago he was the principal jockey in the stable of Mr. C.B. Fisher - the present Chairman of the Victoria Racing Club - when the Fisher stable was as much the leading one of the Australian Turf as Mr. James White is now.

Marriage Certificate	Death Certificate Joe Morrison

As a jockey he was skilful, unassuming and straight forward and these traits of character, which were noticeable in him as a young man, were his through life. In 1866 Morrison rode his only Melbourne Cup winner, Warrior, for Mr. Austin Saqui, but for Mr. Dowling he rode in 1861 Camden,winner of the Derby. In the same race he also piloted Seagull to victory in 1866 and Charon in 1869 for Mr. Fisher. He rode the winners of the Oaks on three occasions, he being on Illumination in 1864, Seagull in 1866 and Sylvia in 1867. He rode three winners of the Ascot Vale Stakes - Sour Grapes in 1866, The Roe in 1870 and His Lordship in 1878. He also won the St. Ledger three times- on Flying Buck for Mr. W. C. Yuille in 1860, on Illumination in 1865 and on Fishhook in 1867.

Morrison was about equally successful at the meetings of the Australian Jockey Club at Randwick, where he rode Charon, Robinson Crusoe, Fenelta, Grand Prix and other horses, whose names are now historica,l to victory in the most important events ran there. He rode the winner of the AJC Derby on three occasions, winners of the Champagne Stakes four times and of the AJC St. Ledger twice. Latterly Morrison has been engaged in training horses and, though he was not what might be described as lucky, he achieved the success which so careful, intelligent and experienced a man he was must always achieve. He was closely identified in racing with the late Mr. Samuel Martin, whose death only occurred recently. Morrison, who was 50 years of age, leaves a widow and young family. His remains will be interred in the Melbourne General Cemetery on Saturday afternoon, the funeral leaving his late residence, Bagotville, Newmarket, at 3 o'clock.

The racehorse Pippo, which was the property of J. Morrison, whose death is recorded above, accidently killed himself yesterday morning. He threw his boy and in galloping about afterwards he ran into a fence and broke his neck. Pippo was a grey gelding, three years old, by Chester-Mascotte. It was bred by Mr. James White, and was bought after winning a selling race at Flemington by the late Mr. S. Martin. When the executors sold Mr. Martin's horses on July 22 Pippo was purchased by his trainer, Morrison for 450 guineas.

Details from local newspaper which did not show the date.

J Morrison, the well known trainer, died in Mr. Fitzgerald's private hospital yesterday. Morrison had recently underwent an operation that it had been found necessary to perform on his leg, which was very badly fractured in the Melbourne Cup, when Chester carried his rider against a post. The offending member has been a source of trouble and pain which Morrison has born unflinchingly for years, but it eventually became so unbearable that Mr. Fitzgerald decided to operate with a view to permanent relief. The patient, however never recovered from the shock of the operation, and gradually sank and died as stated yesterday afternoon. The funeral will leave the deceased's late residence, Bagotville, Newmarket, on Saturday next at 3 o'clock.

HERALD newspaper 23.8.1889.

1. Harriette Puflett (Cissie) MORRISON, born 08 September 1868 in Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, baptized 1869 in Christ Church, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, died 15 May 1912 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, buried 1912 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, occupation 1912 Married woman. Death details show name as Purflett cert. 4456/1912.

1912 Electoral Roll shows Harriet Pufleth living at 135 Mundy Street Bendigo, home duties.

She married John Munro NICOLSON, married 1891 in Victoria, Australia, born about 1860 in Victoria, Australia, died 09 November 1918 in Woodstock, Victoria, Australia, buried in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. After the death of his wife he lived with his widowed sister at Woodstock outside of Bendigo. The daughters stayed with their grandmother until her death then they purchased a house in Hawthorn.

He rode in the Melbourne Cup in 1883, came 4th 1880, no placing 1878 and 1877 His father trained Dunlop which won the Melbourne Cup in 1887. After he retired from being a jockey, he worked on his sister's property near Woodstock outside Bendigo.

Harriet with daughter Harriette Puflett Morrison	Harriette (Cissie) Morrison
Harriette’s school report	Harriette’s Baptism and Comformation card

a. Harriette Mary Cox NICOLSON, born 14 July 1892 in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, baptized July 1892 in Victoria, Australia, died 21 September 1977 in Hawthorn, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, buried September 1977 in Victoria, Australia, never married. The four sisters purchased a house and lived there until the 1980s. I can remember visiting the four Nics as they were known and for many years, Harriette was the boss. None of the other sisters would speak until she would give them a little nod. By the 1970s this had ceased.

Their family bible was handed down from their mother and Harriette had altered the dates in the bible to appear older than she actually was.

In their younger years they had good connections in the racing industry and were mentioned in the social pages attending some of the Race balls. Cuttings were kept by Bertha Cobby but they seemed to have been destroyed by the Adamsons. Cox was one of the bigger racing names of that era.

b. Florence Clarice NICOLSON, born 20 October 1896 in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, baptized October 1896 in Victoria, Australia, died 07 August 1988 in Camberwell, Victoria, Australia, buried August 1988 in Victoria, Australia, never married.

c. Ruby Ethel Catherine NICOLSON, born 05 June 1901 in Taradale, Victoria, Australia, baptized June 1901 in Victoria, Australia, died 06 October 1977 in Canterbury, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, buried October 1977 in Victoria, Australia, occupation Married woman. They lived in East Camberwell after their marriage. Victor had to wait until his mother died before he could marry Ruby.

She married Victor Norman LEWELLYN, married about 1960 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, died 14 June 1980 in Canterbury, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, occupation 1980 Gentleman. He died while having an operation and died a few years after his wife.

d. Jessie Alice Puflett NICOLSON, also known as Trix Nicolson, born 19 June 1908 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, baptized June 1908 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, died September 1991 in Glen Iris, Melbourne, Victoria, occupation Secretary Kraft Cheese, Melbourne, never married.

Harriette and Jessie Nicolson.	Jessie and her music class around 1924.

2. Joseph MORRISON, born 09 March 1870 in Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia), died 26 March 1870 in Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

3. James MORRISON, born 31 October1872 in Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, died 31 October 1872 in Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

4. Percy Puflett MORRISON , born 20 January 1874 in Flemington, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and it is believed that Percy died in India but date unknown. He lived in India for all his adult life though he did return to Australia and several Indian artefacts were owned by relatives. He never legally married Jean whose legal husband was an inmate of an asylum with no hope of release. She was never able to marry Percy because of this. They had one daughter and on the death of Percy they went back to Scotland.

Shipping to WA shows a P Morrison on the ship “Hymettos” from Calcutta to Fremantle on 26/04/1906 occupation was a jockey in transit.

Percy Morrison travelled 2 nd class, jockey, in “Ormuz” from Colombo to Melbourne 29/04/1908, nationality shown as 'Colonial'.

Partner Jean ____, not married India, born in Scotland, died in Scotland.

5. Joseph MORRISON, born 16 October 1875 in Bagotville, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, died 16 October 1875 in Bagotville, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, buried October 1875 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Harriette with Charles 1877,

6. Thomas MORRISON, born 16 October 1875 in Bagotville, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, died 16 OCT 1875 in Bagotville, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, buried October 1875 in Victoria, Australia.

7. Charles Puflett MORRISON, born 14 October 1876 at the Racecourse, Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria, baptized 21 November 1876 in Victoria, Australia, died 10 November 1921 at 15 Tennyson St, East Malvern, Melbourne, Victoria, buried 11 November 1921 in Cemetery, Brighton, Victoria, Australia, occupation Jockey then clerical officer Victorian Rail. He was employed as a jockey, length of service unknown, then as a railway employee. VR lists showed him as being in the clerical area.

Cause of death Asthma and acute ? for 2 years.

Address 1908 Baillieres 36 Bloomfield Rd. Ascot Vale. 1912 Electoral roll address given as Downing Street Oakleigh, Railway employee and May Olive home duties. Elect Div Balaclava Sub Div Oakleigh. Address on death certificate Tennyson Street East Malvern.

He married May Olive BOLDING, married (religious) 27 April 1905 in Holy Trinity Church, Taradale, Victoria, born 30 May 1882 in Taradale, Victoria, Australia, (daughter of Stephen Otto BOLDING and Letetia Cooper WITHERS) (See Bolding line later on) baptized 1882 in Taradale, Victoria, Australia, died 20 February 1976 at “Bethamy”, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia, buried 24 February 1976 in Springvale Crematorium, Melbourne, Victoria.

She was the youngest child in the family but some possessions and gold samples passed down to her were destroyed in a fire, believed deliberately lit. Date not known. She lived at Taradale and could remember travelling into Malmsbury on a dray and the trip would take nearly all day.

Not known how she met her first husband.

Remarried in 1923 Mervyn Fricker who also worked in the Victorian Railways as a clerk, may be in the same area as her first husband but there was no issue and they separated soon after.

Address.

May Fricker and grandson Robert 1948 Launceston

1908 census. 38 Bloomfield Rd. Ascot Vale.

1912 electoral roll Dowrine St. Oakleigh Home Duties.

1915 The Roads Parade Ascot Vale.

19?? 3 Glenferrie Road Glenferrie.

1921 15 Tennyson St. East Malvern.

1932 4 Armadale St. Armadale.

1948? Moved to Launceston Tasmania stayed in various addresses.

Moved back to Victoria around 1956 living in various addresses.

i. Joseph Otto MORRISON #12, born 26 April 1906 in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, baptized June 1906 in Holy Trinity Church, Taradale, Victoria, died 1969 in Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, buried 1969 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, occupation Mail Sorter. Worked for most of his life as a letter sorter in what was then the GPO. He had an interest in the alternative religions to Christianity for many years. He appeared to have separated from his wife as I never met her though Joe came several times to our place in Blackburn. We never visited his place.

His christening certificate shows his middle name as Otto, the death index shows it as Stuart possibly changed due to the anti german hysteria of World War 2.

He married Flo _______

ii. Phyllis May MORRISON, born 27 October 1907 in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, baptized OOctober 1907 in Holy Trinity Church, Taradale, Victoria, died 07 March 1968 in Walter Eliza Hall Hosp, Melbourne, Vict., occupation 1930s Shop assistant then home duties, resided 1931 in 4 Armadale Street, Armadale, Melbourne, Victoria, occupation Electoral Roll 1931, Sales, resided 1936 in 16 Westgate Street, Oakleigh, Victoria, occupation Electoral Roll 1936, Home Duties. Funeral 12.3.1968 conducted by Le Pine, Box Hill.

Grave Springvale Banksia Lawn Garden 4 Bed 7 No. 48 near wall.

Cause of Death was cancer of the stomach which she had suffered from for a while.

See Bolding /O’Connor for descendants.

8. Herbert Joseph MORRISON, born 17 July 1878 at the Racecourse, Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria, baptized 1878 in Williamstown, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, died July 1955 in Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, buried in Victoria, Australia, Electoral roll 1901 showed him living in Charles Street, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, occupation 1901 Horse Trainer. Electoral roll 1924 he was at 49 Leonard Cres, Ascot Vale, Melbourne. Electoral roll 1931 in 49 Leonard Cres, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, occupation 1931 Horse trainer and Publican, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, electoral roll 1936 in 49 Leonard Cres, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, occupation 1936 Horse Trainer.

As a jockey he rode for W.R. Wilson. Rode in Ceylon with moderate success then returned to Victoria and managed several Melbourne hotels but he still kept his trainer’s licence up to date. When his wife became ill he became a trainer at Ascot Vale where his father had his stables (the area is now part of the showgrounds) with some success.

Date of death from daughter. I can remember visiting the stables in 1952, by then there were no horses, just the empty buildings and some fowls.

Sporting Globe 25/10/1939 Melbourne Cup 1894 H J Morrison rode Nada came 3rd.

Melbourne Cup 1897 rode Aurum came third. Caulfield Cup 1891 rode G'Naroo came first. Still held a training licence in 1939.

Percy and Herbert	Herbert around 18 years old	Herbert with Robert 1945

He married Emily KENRICK, married 11 July 1901 at St. Peters Church, Melbourne, Victoria, born 1876 in Echuca, Victoria, Australia, (daughter of Orlando Lionel Kenrick Capt. and Alice Jane MCLACHLAN) baptized in Echuca, Victoria, Australia, died 24 August 1915 in Bagotville, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Her occupation when she was married in 1901 was Hotel Licensee, residing in Wellington Street, Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria. Her mother had several children from her first marriage and as a widower she remarried again. (See Kenrick section

a. Bertha Emelie MORRISON, born 31 May 1907 in Echuca, Victoria, Australia, baptized June 1907 in Echuca, Victoria, Australia, died 21 February 2000 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia after being transferred from the Healesville Base Hospital. Buried 23 February 2000 in Springvale Crematorium, Melbourne, Victoria. Resided to around the mid 1960s in 4 Morphett Avenue, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, then moved to F3/ 7 Through Road, Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria until 1976. She then moved to 2 Herbert Street, Yarra Junction, Victoria). The Electoral roll 1931 and 1936 showed her at 49 Leonard Cres, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, occupation Typiste, living with her father.

After the death of her mother, her "Aunt" ? assisted in looking after her and she became her companion when Roy Cobby died. He had a job in Kiewa with the Electricity Commission but Bertha found the conditions there rather hard as the town was then being established, and it was above the snow line.

Bertha with Trix Nicolson around 1990

They moved back to Melbourne during the early ‘50s. She worked for many years as a social worker with Legacy until she retired then later she moved to Yarra Junction and lived there until she passed away. She had quite a few items from her father and possibly her grandfather and some of these were donated to the Melbourne Jockey Club. Some items seemd to disappear after her death when the Adamsons moved in.

She was a bridesmaid at Phyllis Morrisons wedding and could remember the terrible pink dress she had to wear,

She married Cecil Roy COBBY, married 15 May 1948 in Victoria, Australia, born 1896 in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, (son of Arthur Edward Stanley COBBY and Alice NASH died 16 April 1955 at 4 Morphett Avenue, Ascot Vale, Melbourne, Victoria, buried 18 April 1955 in Springvale Crematorium, Melbourne, Victoria. His occupation in 1955 was a Clerk. He served in WW1 in the Australian Flying Corps and in WW2 in the RAAF.

Death notice Age Newspaper 18-4-1955. On April 16 (suddenly) Cecil Roy beloved husband of Bertha at 4 Morphett Avenue Ascot Vale (late AFC and RAAF). Funeral T Bathurst & Co. palour, Corner Glenhuntly and Kooyong Roads to Springvale Crematorium.

Details from wife B Cobby.

His brother (Arthur Henry) was an air ace from WW1 and awarded the DSO, DFC +2 bars, AFC, GM, MID. He was ADC Director of RAAF recruiting, formerly Controller of Operations Civil Aviation Board, Department of Defense. He was one of Australia's outstanding air aces in World War One. He was educated at University College, Brighton and served in the AIF Air Force Corp No. 4 Squadron as Captain and Flight Commander. Mentioned in dispatches DSC.

1918 he was awarded the DFC with 2 bars. He served with the RAAF since WW1 and attended courses at the staff college Andover. He became a Group Captain in August 1940. Married Hilda on 24.4.1920 and has one son and one daughter.

Address 27 Cosham Street Brighton.

1944 He was awarded the George Medal in March 1944 for rescuing his staff from a crashed Catalania. Address 67 New Street Brighton.

1947 Air Commodore. CBE awarded for directing air operations in New Guinea.

In 1946 he returned to the Department of Civil Aviation. He published in 1940 High Adventure which dealt mainly with his experiences in WW1.

1954 He became regional director NSW of Civil Aviation.

He died 11 November 1955 at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital leaving one son and one daughter.

*reference Various issues of WHOs WHO

AGE newspaper 12/11/1955. page 1. Air Commodore A. H. Cobby CBE, DSO, DFC and 2 bars GM Australian air ace of WW1 died in Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital yesterday afternoon, he was 65. Air Commodore Cobby was a leading personality

in Australian Civil and service aviation for almost 40 years. At the time of his death he was director of flying operations in the Civil Aviation Department.

A.C. Cobby was one of the few airmen decorated for gallantry in both wars. As a fighter pilot with No. 6 squadron AFC he was the leader of a band of combat airmen who made Australians reputation in the skies over war torn Europe in WW1. By the Armistice he had shot down 34 enemy aircraft and had been decorated 4 times. He won his DSO in France in 1918.

Death notices Age newspaper 12/11/1955.

... Father of Alice and Neil. Father in law of Jean and grandfather of David.

...Father in law of Arthur, grandfather of Robert and Stanley.

Funeral notice.

Cobby ...Legion of Merit USA etc will leave St. Mary's Church of England Glen Eira Rd Caulfield tomorrow (Wed 16/11) after a service commencing at 1.30. for the Springvale Crematorium. There was also an entry from the Peace Commeration

Lodge 519 AF and A Masons.