Nellie Katrina BERTHELSEN

Nellie Katrina Berthelsen 1887-1933

Introducing Nellie Katrina

When Nellie Katrina Berthelsen was born on 21 March 1887, in Bundaberg, Queensland, her father, Jørgen, was aged 46 years and her mother, Elin, 35. She was the sixth child in a family of nine. Her three younger siblings Sissa, an un-named brother and Arthur did not survive infancy.

Nellie grew up in Bundaberg before moving to Brisbane where she spent the rest of her life. She was mother to three children—one son and two daughters who were all born in the Queensland capital over a period of 14 years.

Nellie’s married name was Chenery and she and her family kept in close touch with her sister’s family, the Pollitts, in Bundaberg.

Siblings

• 1. Alfred Magnus Waldemar was born on 30 May 1876, in the Hervey Bay township of Pialba, Queensland.

  2. Thyra Eleanora, 11 December 1877, Pialba.

  3. Olga Sophie, 24 May 1881, Pialba.

  4. Ida Matilda, 14 February 1883, Pialba.

  5. George Christian, 5 August 1885, Bundaberg.

  6. Sissa Elizabeth, 14 September 1889, Bundaberg.

  7. An un-named son, 15 January 1892, Bundaberg.

  8. Arthur, 23 January 1893, Bundaberg.

Death of Mother

Ellen’s sudden demise at age 41, on 25 January 1893, only two days after giving birth to Arthur, her ninth child, was a devastating blow to Jørgen and his young family. Elin and Jørgen had only been married 19 years. Prior to her demise, Nellie’s mother had lost her last three born—Sissa, named in memory of her sister, an un-named son, and Arthur.

Marriage

Nellie married Martin Frederick Chenery in Brisbane on 21 November 1910. He began work as a clerk in the post office in Bundaberg and later came to Brisbane where he was employed at Allan & Stark in the packaging department. He later resigned his position there to go to the rival Finney Isles & Co. [In 1955 Finney Isles was taken over by David Jones Ltd].

Children

• 1. Martin Lacey was born on 16 December 1910 in Brisbane.

  2. Irene Lorna May, 1 May 1920, Brisbane.

  3. Mavis Nellie, 5 February 1924, Brisbane.

Death of Father

Jørgen Berthelsen lived out his twilight years at Kinagin, on the Kolan River, west of Bundaberg and died at Bundaberg on 30 September 1917 aged 77 years.

Death of Nellie

Nellie died on 5 June 1933, just 46 years old. She was buried in South Brisbane (now Dutton Park) Cemetery.

Death of her beloved Husband, Martin

Martin served in the First World War and returned home with one leg severed and suffering “shell shock” all of which most certainly contributed to his demise on 12 September 1947 at age 62.