Jesse Wright (2nd great-grandfather, maternal side) was born in 1845 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. He died in 1899, possibly in Wentworth, NSW. He was the son of George Wright (1807-1882) and Mary Ann Crooks (1809-1880).
Jesse was a grazier.
Mary Ann Hancock was born in 1851 in Euston, NSW and died in 1931 in Mildura. She was the daughter of John Hancock and Louise Gibbs.
Mary Ann was a mid-wife [who] travelled on paddle-steamers on the Murray and Darling River systems to homesteads of pregnant women. [She is] written about in the book, ‘Water into Gold’ by Ernestine Hill.
Jesse and Mary Ann married in 1871 in Wentworth. They had ten children, including their first born, Frederick George Wright (16 September, 1872) who married Josephenna Theresa Cramer.
Frederick and Josephenna were Cyril Wright’s parents. They’re my great grandparents on my mum’s side (Eileen, Mary Wright-Curran).
Information Source: Mary Davis – Family History Records
My paternal grandparents, Herbert Curran and Kelleen (also known as Queenie) Cullinan met in 1918 at the Pooncarie Ball (in New South Wales, Australia).
They married on June 4, 1919 at Mullingar Station (New South Wales), in a dual wedding with Herb’s mate, Ernie Page who married Herb’s sister, Annie Herbert. Herb was 22 years old, Kelleen was 20 years old.
Herbert and Kelleen lived at the following places during their life together:
1919 Curlwaa (corner of Channel and Poplar roads, lot 5, section 2), Victoria. This was a dried fruit and citrus block.
1920 Mullingar Station, Pooncarie, New South Wales
1921 – Telegraph Hotel, Pooncarie, New South Wales
Herb and Kelleen lived in the original slab hotel building (erected 1875 – demolished 1925) which had an iron iron roof, and was located on McKinley and Mallara Street.
The existing Telegraph Hotel (see image below) began life in 1922, the year Herb and Kelleen moved to Benetook Avenue. This hotel was completed in 1925.
1925 Telegraph Hotel, Pooncarie (Photo by Greg Curran 2009)
1922 – Benetook Avenue, Mildura, Victoria
Mud brick or adobe house, destroyed in Murray River floods in 1956 (Curran, D. The Family History of Michael Curran1836-1997)
Patrick Curran (2nd April,1865 – 10th November, 1954) is my paternal great grandfather, being the father of my grandfather, Herbert Curran.
Patrick was born in Ballagh, near Mullingar, Ireland. His parents were Michael Curran (1836-1881) and Annie Doyle (birth year unknown, died about 1881). Patrick went to school at Curraghmore.
Patrick immigrated to Australia about the age of 18, in 1883 after his father (Michael) was stabbed to death in Rathconnell, Ireland in 1881.
Kelleen Lillian Mary Cullinan (also known as Queen or Queenie) is my paternal Grandmother. She was born on 10 February 1899.
Here’s some of the key places and events in her life:
1899 Lived at Kelleen Station, Pooncarie, New South Wales, Australia
Attended Connorgie State School (no longer exists, building moved to Pomona). Kelleen had to cross the Murray River and walk a mile to attend this school near Lethno. She went to school till the age of 12.
Kelleen’s chores at home included bringing in the goats, having to search miles in the scrub for them. Also milking the cow.
She learnt to row the flat bottom boat across the Murray River (to collect mail) – by herself.
With no elder sisters at home, Kelleen began running the home at 12 years of age.
Annual Events
St Patrick’s Day Races at Wentworth
2 day trip in a double seater buggy pulled by two horses. At night a communal camp bed was prepared.
Pooncarie Boxing Day Races and Pooncarie Hall Dance
Kelleen met her future husband, Herbert Curran, at the dance.
New Year’s Day Picnic – Lethero
Events: Athletics, Dances at night
1919 – She married Herbert Curran at 20 years of age on 4 June 1919 at Mullingar, Pooncarie. See Herbert Curran page for photos of places below.
Herbert Curran and Kelleen Cullinan’s Wedding Day
1919 Lived at Curlwaa (fruit block), New South Wales
End of 1920 – Mullingar Station, Pooncarie, New South Wales
1921 – Telegraph Hotel, Pooncarie, New South Wales
Kelleen and her husband were licensees of the hotel. Kelleen didn’t like the life here (and was a teetotaler her whole life) so they moved not long after.
1922 – Benetook Avenue (fruit block), Mildura, Victoria, Australia
Kelleen took on Blockie Wife duties including assisting in picking, spreading, shaking pulling out, rolling on, and pitting apricots for drying.
Times were tough due the depression so they sold the block in 1925.
1925 Cowra Avenue (rented house), Mildura
1926 – 1939 66 Eighth Street, Mildura
1939 – 1993. Thirteenth Street (fruit block alongside the railway line), Mildura
Kelleen was an avid Mildura football club supporter, often attending games, right up until 6 weeks before she died.
(L-R) Doug Curran, Kelleen Curran, Kevin Curran, Valda Curran (Kerr), Herb CurranKevin Curran and Kelleen (son and mother) at 13th Street house.
Kelleen died in 1993. She was 94 years old.
Information sourced from Doug Curran’s, The Family History of James Cullinan 1816-1990.
