Rebecca MADDEN

Rebecca Madden

1876 - 1946

Rebecca (née Madden) and Michael Kirby

Rebecca, the first daughter and the second child of William Patrick and Nora (Ford) Madden was born while the family lived at Cobar, a copper mining town in NSW. From about 1870, the transport of copper from Cobar was added to the pastoral trade of the steamers plying the Darling River of western New South Wales and I quite confidently believe Rebecca's father was contracted, using his bullock teams, to cart copper to Bourke, Louth and other river ports along the way.

Rebecca's first marriage to Michael Kirby, a local bachelor and labourer from Limerick, Ireland took place in the District Registry Office, Cunnamulla in 1897. They were married by Mr Chris Francis in the presence of Alice Kelly, and James Madden, the bride's younger brother. The bride, afflicted with blindness, signed the register with "her X mark". It is not known when she became blind but “sandy blight” otherwise known as trachoma, if left untreated, is said to be the cause. Some other siblings were also known to have suffered similar impairment—Jim and Ann Norah both contracting Trachoma. The disease is a virulent eye infection carried by flies and is aggravated by exposure to the sun's glare. It affects the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye, producing progressive loss of sight.

It is of particular interest to mention here, that although several doctors went to the district, intent on setting up medical practice, there was only one who stayed for any length of time—a Dr A.H. Murray, a native of Ireland, settled in Cunnamulla in the mid-1880s. He was instrumental in establishing the Cunnamulla District hospital, retaining the position of medical officer for 35 years. The significance of this aside is that Dr Murray is remembered for the war he waged on this dreaded eye disease, very similar to cattle blight, which afflicted many locals.

According to Rebecca's daughter Ruby Hibberd (née Raper, (second marriage)), her mother experienced considerable difficulty carrying children to full term. At least four children, including twins, were born to the first marriage, albeit only two survived to reach adulthood. Josephine Kirby, known as "Josie" was the first child, next came twins, William and Rebecca Kirby, then Frederick Kirby—all were born in Cunnamulla. Young Bill, also known as Willie or "Spider" worked there for a time as a nightsoil man. Later, when he came to Brisbane to board with the Beesley family, (Aunt "Molly"), he obtained work as a taxi driver1 and then as a chauffeur with Howard Motors. The fact that he drove a Buick car was memorable to quite a few relatives and Edna Berthelsen (later Wright), a cousin, recalled him giving her driving lessons in the famous Buick.

Willie “Spider” Kirby (1899-1926), known also as William Raper, met with an untimely death, having been shot at a party in Blakeney Street, Highgate Hill, a Brisbane inner suburb at about midnight on Saturday, 18 December 1926. The Brisbane Courier of Monday, 20 December 1926 made reference to the incident and George Ward, described as a "recent arrival from the west", on giving himself up, was charged with wilful murder. A follow-up article appeared the next day in the same newspaper concerning George Ward's appearance before the City Police Court. The accused, a labourer aged 29, stood trial in the Supreme Court, Brisbane on 14 February 1927 and after being found not guilty, the defendant was discharged one week later. Bill Raper was buried at Toowong cemetery on Monday, 20 December 1926. Twin sister, Rebecca, survived only three weeks after birth and died on 6 November 1899. Frederick, the fourth child, was a little more fortunate but still only managed a short life span of barely five months.

Josephine Kirby (1897-1984), like her mother, was married twice. Her first husband was William Henry Martin to whom she had a son—George William. He was born during World War I and lived in Mackay. This marriage ended in divorce.

Josie's second marriage in 1925 was to John William Bainbridge (1886-1979), a master butcher and they lived in Longreach, Emerald and later Bundaberg. Josie was John Bainbridge's second wife and she was mother to quite a large family:

• Walter, who served as a gunner in World War II, was accidentally killed at a young age

• John (Jack) who also served in WW II as a sapper lived in Bundaberg. Jack was twice married—firstly to Joyce Lillian Zeimer which resulted in the birth of one child, and secondly to Estelle Jealous with whom there were two children

• Frederick Percy, Josie's fourth child, was born at Longreach. After the family moved home to Bundaberg, Fred attended both the North and South Bundaberg State schools. With the onset of war, Fred, like his older siblings, enlisted with the army at age 16 and was stationed with the 26th Infantry Battalion, 11th Brigade in Dutch New Guinea (as it was then known) and later at North Bouganville. After the war Fred married a Mullumbimby girl, Berris Nerida Field, resulting in the birth of two children. Fred was engaged for most of his working life as a bitumen plant operator with the Bundaberg City Council and Boral Resources. During his retirement Fred has devoted his time to orchid growing, interspersed with driving and entertaining activities for the local aged and retirement homes

• Agnes May, born in Emerald, married Leslie Lockhart Peatey with whom there were two children, and next to Harold James Weston with whom there were another two children

• Dawn Ruby (born in Longreach) married to Glynn Patrick Bryen (one child)

• Richard Bernard (born in Longreach) married to Betty Joan Baldwin (three children)

• Blanche Rosaline June (born in Bundaberg) married to Noel William Horton (four children), and

• Neville Colin (also born in Bundaberg) married to Christina Devries (one child).

In later life, Josie was a strong follower of the Salvation Army although I believe she was baptised a Catholic, just as her mother, Rebecca was. Josie died in Bundaberg in 1984, aged 87 years. She was pre-deceased by her husband, John who died in 1979, aged 92 years. Josie had two half-sisters: Ruby Hibberd and Ivy Wilkinson-Nixon, (both née Raper). Ruby lived at the Argyle Retirement Village in Bundaberg before she died in 2001. It was while she resided there that the author had the privilege of meeting her. She enjoyed a very lively and sociable existence at Argyle and kept in touch for some time. Ivy, her younger sister, passed away in June 1988.

Rebecca (née Madden, prev Kirby) and Frederick Percy Raper

Rebecca married her second husband, Frederick Percy Raper, in Toowoomba on 10 April 1913. Fred, a Yorkshireman, was a railway fettler with the Queensland Government Railways. After leaving Toowoomba, the family moved to Longreach where daughters, Ruby and Ivy were schooled by the sisters at the local convent. Around 1932, the family moved to Bundaberg. Rebecca died at Easter of 1946 (8 April), survived by her husband, Fred and daughters Josie, Ruby and Ivy. Records show that the family home at this time was at the corner of Alice and Pitt Streets, South Bundaberg. Rebecca's death certificate cites chronic myocarditis and old age as the causes of death. Rebecca's two marriages resulted in the birth of at least nine children and of that number, five are known to have pre-deceased their mother. On this note, I mention that Bill (aka Willie or “Spider”), one of twins born of the first marriage was shot in an incident at Highgate Hill in 1926. Bill, in his adult life, went under the names of Raper or Kirby. (Rebecca's death certificate did not include the names of any of her deceased issue.)

Ruby, the elder of only two daughters to survive childhood, married Charles Wardley Hibberd of Mount Perry in 1929. He apparently dropped the name Wardley in favour of Dan, by which name he was always known to his wife. Dan was a building contractor and worked on the construction of several major shopping complexes, including Brisbane's Garden City at Mount Gravatt. The family lived for a time in Sydney before returning to Bundaberg where Dan Hibberd owned land.

Ruby and Dan had three children: Keith, Colleen, their only daughter, and Brian.

After becoming widowed, Ruby moved in 1988 to Argyle Retirement Village in Bundaberg where she had a lovely townhouse. A spate of murders in Bundaberg prompted her to sell the family home which was becoming a bit on the lonely side. At Argyle Village, Ruby continued to enjoy life to the fullest and played a very active and significant role in the day-to-day activities of the resident senior citizens. She is remembered for her spritely and effervescent personality and was always bubbling over with enthusiasm for everything she did. I had the opportunity of meeting with Ruby for the first time at Easter of 1989 and I well remember her looking forward to her 80th birthday in the following August. She recalled to me her great excitement with the planned celebrations for this special occasion and the Christmas to follow when many of the family, including Brian (residing in Sweden) would enjoy a family gathering.

Ivy, the younger daughter, was twice married—(1) to Keith Wilkinson and (2) to Thomas Patrick Nixon. Although Ivy also had a Catholic upbringing, her husband and children followed the teachings of the Seventh Day Adventists but strangely enough, she was buried following a Lutheran church funeral service in Bundaberg.

Infant mortality claimed the very early lives of three of Josie's daughters—(1) Nora Ann died from malnutrition on 1 December 1906, aged 5 months; (2) Florence May died from bronchitis on 28 December 1907, aged a mere 7½ weeks; and (3) Olive, who died from acute gastroenteritis on 9 January 1916, aged only 3 months. All three babies were buried in the Longreach cemetery together with their baby brother, Frederick Kirby who died on 5 June 1902, aged 6 months.

_____________

• Newspaper article “Affray at Highgate Hill” The Brisbane Courier 20 December 1926, 21 Dec 1926, 28 Dec 1926, 4 Jan 1927, 7 Jan 1927, 22 Feb 1927
• Photo Fred Bainbridge The Newsmail, Bundaberg 4 Feb 1992
• Photo Rebecca Raper, daughter Ivy and Fred Raper c1928

Can you assist with more information?