BILSON, Evelyn Ewart May

Name – BILSON, Evelyn Ewart May
Born – 1889
Died – 8/09/1916
Location – No 3 Old Methodist Section
Mother – Ann McConachy
Father – Robert Silvester

Notes – Evelyn was born in January 1889 at Cobden Victoria to Robert and Anne Silvester. Her family called her Elvie.

In 1910 she married Reginald Madill Bilson. The couple then moved with his family to their new property, Wilton at The Gums in the Tara area.

Elvie and Reginald were the parents of two children whom she doted on, Phyllis born 1912 and Robert born 1914. Evelyn was on the Tara area rolls in 1913 and 1915 at Wilton, The Gums with Reginald Madill Bilson who was listed as a farmer. Both rolls also list other members of the Bilson family as David Leslie, James Alfred, Mary Ellen and Joseph.

Serious health problems in 1916 forced Evelyn and her family to move to Cobden, Victoria where she seemed to benefit from the climate change. During this time, Reginald worked at the Terang Co-Operative Store. Worried about the effects of spending the winter in Victoria, the family once again moved to Tara.

Evelyn finally succumbed to the illness which had plagued her for eighteen months and she passed away at her father-in-law’s property Undera. Her obituary shows she was loved and remembered for her personality and bright outlook on life by everyone.

The Bilson family were highly regarding in the Tara district which was shown in the fact that when they left, the people had a public send-off, giving them money and presents to take back to the Cobden-Terang area of Victoria. However, nothing could make up for the loss of Adelaide and Evelyn.

Evelyn has no headstone on her final resting place in the Tara cemetery. She is buried beside her young sister-in-law Adelaide Elizabeth Bilson who had died five years earlier.

Newspaper Article – Click Here

War Service File  –

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.