FOOTNOTES CHAPTER TEN

[1] A miner's lamp used by William at this time was in the possession of Theresa McFarlane.

[2] From the records of the Nurrabiel cemetery made available through Mr W Gill.

[3] Recollections of Frank Bond.

[4] It was recalled by Frank Bond that after the death of Mona, his mother threw a bag containing some opals down the mine shaft because opals were stones that supposedly brought misfortune. The grave at Deep Lead originally had no headstone but was strewn with white quartz pebbles taken from near the family home by Bridget before the move to Geelong. The pebbles were still to be seen when I first visited the grave. Subsequently (in 1988) Frank Bond arranged for a bronze plaque to be placed to mark the grave site. It is further recalled that one of Bridget's favourite paintings was "Bush Burial" which is still displayed in the Geelong Art Gallery, and that she would often visit the gallery to view the painting - most likely it evoked memories of Mona's burial in the bush cemetery at Deep Lead.

[5] From the "Horsham Times" of Jan 1909. Details of his estate are listed in appendix 1.

[6] It is recalled by Theresa McFarlane that the coffin was on the same train that was boarded by her father William Bond on his way to attend the funeral.

[7] Recalled by Theresa, Frank and Eileen. The first house in which the family lived in Belmont was right opposite the junction of High St and the Barwon Heads Rd. A service station was later located on the site.

[8] A gold medallion presented to William in recognition of his service is in my possession.

[9] Jessie, Frank and Eileen featured prominently in an account of a "Back to St Bernards" celebration published in the "Geelong Advertiser" of Fri Nov 12th 1982.

[10] Brian Peter Bond, born on Thursday 20th April , 1950 at Geelong. The other members of the family all born in Geelong were:- Gerald b 6th Aug 1937; Maureen (22nd Aug 1938-22nd May 2009); Margaret (5th Oct 1940-8th April 1953), buried at East Geelong; Laurence b 31st March 1944 and Catherine b 8th Dec 1952.

[11] John Charles Bond (Charlie) married Pauline McFarlane and fathered six children Marjorie (1927-1995), Leo, Dorothy (1930-2018), Rex (1933-2003), Wilma (b1934)and Max (1938-2018). At one time in the 1930's he stood as an Australian LabourParty candidate in the safe Liberal Legislative Assembly seat held by Sir Thomas Maltby. Although unsuccessful his performance was the best ever by a Labour candidate in the seat to that time. At the outbreak of World War II he volunteered for service although he would have been exempt in view of his age and through his employment in an essential industry. He served with the 2/2 Pioneer Battalian, was captured on Java and taken to Thailand where he worked on the notorious Burma Railway. He died in a Prisoner of War Camp on 3rd Jan 1944 and isburied in the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Kanchanaburai, Thailand.

Four generations. Honora Benstead photographed with her daughter Bridget Berry, grandson Charlie and great grand-daughter Marjorie

William married Helena (Nell) Healy in Stawell and later settled at Ararat where he raised four children William (1930-2005), Therese, Helena (Nell) and Michael (d1992). He had a keen interest in the training of Trotters and it was while at a Trotting meeting that he collapsed and died on 20th Feb 1960. A daughter of Therese, Gabrielle Blyth, represented Australia as a walker at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Theresa married Jack McFarlane in Geelong on 1st Nov 1930 and lived in various parts of Geelong including Loch St, East Geelong; 1 St Davids St, North Geelong; Watson Ave, Belmont and Thompson St, also in Belmont. The couple had no children and perhaps as a result Trese, as she was known, was always interested in her wider family. She was a major source of information and inspiration in the compiling of this history. She died at Geelong on 1st Nov 1994.

Jessie married Harold Parsons in Geelong in 1930 and not long afterwards settled permanently at 11 Sydney Avenue, East Geelong where she remained until her death on 18th August 1997. Jessie and Harold had three children Laurence (1931-2017), Shirley (1933-2013) and Valda (b1934).

Frank married Myra Kiddle in Geelong on Aug 10th 1935 and moved to Melbourne, living first at Yarraville then at Altona after the war. The couple settled at 20 Railway St in Altona and had three children Francis (1938-1995), Lorraine and Doreen. Towards the end of their lives Frank and Myra moved into a nursing home close to their daughter Lorraine in Glenroy. It was there that Frank died on 15th April 2004. He was buried at Altona.

Eileen married Jack Ford and lived in Admiral Place in Geelong for many years where she raised a family of nine children John (1936-2012), Beverley (b1938), Ron (1940-2015), Norma (b1941), Pam (b1943), Jan (1947-1997), Kevin (b1950), Terry (b1952) and Michael(1955-2010). A grandson of Beverley, Jack Henry, later became an AFL footballer with Geelong and was a member of the 2022 premiership team. His younger brother Oliver was drafted by Collingwood but after two seasons was granted his request to be traded back to Geelong. Eileen later moved to Venus Ct in Newcomb and following the death of herhusband married Ossie Wood. Eileen died in Geelong on 16th Jan 1985 and is buried at the Eastern Cemetery.

Photograph of William and Bridget Bond and family, taken at "Tyneside", Belmont on Nov.27th 1927. Children are from left at back :- Frank, Charlie, Eileen, Bill and Alec. In front:- Jessie and Trese.

 

GO TO CHAPTER ELEVEN

RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE