HOWARD, Eleanore Mary

Name – HOWARD, Eleanore Mary
Born – 1876
Died – 23/10/1950
Location – No 123 Anglican Section
Mother – Mary Ann Long
Father – Christopher Martin

Notes – Eleanore was born to Mary Ann (nee Long) (1840-1911) and Christopher Martin (1832-1908) at Richmond, Victoria. Her father had been a Post Office Mail branch officer for 25 years at the time of his death. Eleanore had six siblings who were Margaret, Alexander, Christopher who died when he was six, Frederick, Cathrine and Christopher (the second).

Eleanore was known to the family as Mayne. The Electoral Roll records of 1903 show Elenore was a factory worker, living at home with her parents. At this time she was courted by Frederick (Fred) Howard and the couple married on the 6th July, 1903. Prior to marrying Fred, Eleanor was a trained opera singer who had the distinction of singing with famed Australian opera singer, Dame Nelly Melba.

The couple left Melbourne on the Bombala in 1910 with their small family, John Alexander 1915- 1967, Myna Myra 1907-1997 and Frederick William 1909-1963. Her brothers Chris and Alex Martin accompanied the couple on their voyage to Queensland. They all took up selections in the Kumbarilla scrub area and lived in tents until they built more substantial housing.

In 1921 Eleanor and Frederick moved to Tara when he secured a job as a fettler. This would have been a far cry from the life Eleanor had lived as an opera singing. Her grandson the author of this entry – They lived in the railway grounds and every day a big old goanna would come after Fred had gone to work and steal all the eggs. Grandmother took to the goanna and it would run up the railway crossing signs and laugh at her she thought. One day she borrowed a shotgun and after it stole the eggs, she chased after it and up the sign post it went. Workers come out to see what the big fuss was all about. They were just in time to get splattered with bits of goanna and the eaten eggs!

In the 1928 rolls Frederick was working as a fettler, Eleanore Home Duties. In 1947 Frederick was a fettler at Tara, Frederick William worked as a labourer and Eleanor was home duties. In 1949 she was with Fred at Mons, Duffield Rd, Margate, with Fred as a labourer and Eleanore Home Duties. Although records indicate Eleanore and Fred moved to Margate in Brisbane in 1948, they must have moved back to Tara in 1949-1950 as the newspaper reports Eleanore died in her own home in Tara in October 1950.

HOWARD, Eleanore Mary is buried next to her husband Frederick and her headstone reads – In loving Memory of Eleanore Mary Howard. Died 23rd October, 1950. Aged 75 years.

Newspaper Article – Read here

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