Evelyn Mabel MARTIN

Father: Michael REID was born on 24th August 1863, in Wirrabara, South Australia and died on 5th April 1924 in Innamincka, South Australia.  Michael’s parents were Adam Reid and Mary Kennelly nee Tuohy.  He married Sarah Russell on 29 June 1885 in Milparinka, New South Wales.

Mother: Sarah RUSSELL was born on 10th March 1868 at Culgoa River, New South Wales and died on 18th December 1943 in Whyalla, South Australia.  She was the daughter of John Jacob Russell and Martha Whitmarsh.

Siblings

David Reid (Mickey) was born on 23 October 1886 in Queensland, died on 2 July 1939 in Broken Hill, New South Wales and was buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery.  He married Isabella (Minnie) Elsie Lawson on 18 September 1929 at Bourke and Will’s Dig Tree near Innamincka, Queensland.  Their wedding photo is on display in the Innamincka Hotel.  Isabella was the daughter of Thomas Lawson and Elsie Louisa Taylor.  Isabella was born in 1910 in South Australia, died in October 1986 in Camden Park, South Australia and is buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide.

Martha Reid was born 1887 in Milparinka, New South Wales, died on 31 July 1959 in Whyalla, South Australia and is buried in Whyalla Cemetery.  She married Patrick Joseph O’Reilly in Quorn, South Australia on 7 August 1905.  Patrick was the son of Patrick O’Reilly. Patrick was born about 1867 and died on 25 July 1939 in Parkside Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

John Jacob Reid was born on 18 April 1889, in Thargomindah, Queensland and died on 20 May 1957 in Moorook, South Australia.  He married Marcella Maud Ferguson on 24 February 1912 in Farina, South Australia.  Marcella was born 6 June 1890 in Beltana, South Australia and died on 30 October 1968 in Barmera, South Australia.  She was the daughter of Alexander Ferguson and Catherine Smedley Shaw.  They are both buried in the Old Barmera Cemetery, near Berri in South Australia.

Dolly Reid was born on 27 June 1892 in Queensland, Australia, died 30 October 1971 in Toongabbie, New South Wales and was buried in the Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, New South Wales.  She married Hugh Gillies on 16 April 1913 in Queensland.  Hugh was born in 1883 in New South Wales, died on 13 February 1957 in Winton, Queensland and was buried in Winton.  Hugh was the son of Donald Gillies and Flora Francis Nicholson.

Adam Reid was born on 15 October 1894 in Thargomindah, Queensland, died on 26 June 1927 in Farina, South Australia and was buried in Farina Cemetery.  He married Maud Shaw on 24 August 1920 in Solomontown, South Australia.  Maud was born on 5 April 1897 in Stirling North, South Australia.  She was the daughter of Alfred Smedley Shaw and Amelia Jane Arnold.  Maud, remarried in 1934 to Horace McConnal and died on 7 March 1979 in Quorn, South Australia.

Jane Tennant Reid was born on 25 February 1897 in Queensland and died on 12 March 1974 in Quorn, South Australia.  She married Arthur John Hunt on 27 August 1916 in Beltana, South Australia.  He was the son of Joseph Hunt and Nancy Carn.  Arthur was born on 6 June 1896 in Farina, South Australia and died on 10 March 1973 in Quorn, South Australia.  They are both buried in the Quorn Cemetery.

Herbert (Fagon) Henry Reid was born on 19 August 1899 in Farina, South Australia and died on 9 July 1951 in Whyalla, South Australia.  He never married. He was buried in the Whyalla Cemetery.

Mabel (May) Reid was born on 29 October 1901 in Farina, South Australia and died on 29 October 1982 in Whyalla, South Australia.  She married Andrew Johnston on 3 February 1921 in Farina, South Australia.  He was the son of Robert Johnston and Annie Lousa Oliveri.  Andrew Johnston was born on 5 November 1898 in Farina, South Australia and died on 3 July 1979 in Whyalla, South Australia.  Both are buried in the Whyalla Cemetery.

Annie Evelyn Reid was born in 1904 in Marree, South Australia and died on 22 October 1980 in Broken Hill, New South Wales.  She married George Henry (Harry) Robertson on 10 April 1924 in Copley, South Australia.  He was the son of William Robertson and Clara Jemima Somerfield.  George was born about 1902 in Tibooburra, New South Wales and died on 29 April 1976 in Broken Hill, New South Wales.  Both are buried in the Broken Hill Cemetery.

Sarah Eileen Reid was born on 28 June 1907 in Hawker, South Australia and died in 1980 in New South Wales.  She married Robert Henry Johnston on 30 December 1926 in Farina, South Australia.  He was the son of Robert Johnston and Annie Lousa Oliveri.  Robert was born on 18 August 1891 in Farina, South Australia, died on 22 November 1957 in Tibooburra, New South Wales and was buried in  the Tibooburra Cemetery.

Michael Reid (Mick) was born on 3 March 1909 in Hawker, South Australia and died on 3 April 1980 in Whyalla, South Australia.  He married Kathleen Avon Arnold on 6 January 1938 in Beltana, South Australia.  She was the daughter of William Arnold and Rose Selina (Mary) Sherry.  Kathleen was born on 13 April 1914 in Lyndhurst, South Australia and died on 27 November 1978 in Whyalla, South Australia.  Both are buried at Whyalla Cemetery.

Children

James (Jim) Reginald Martin was born on 11 June 1927 in Hawker, South Australia.  Thomas was not James’s father but raised him as his own.  James first married Letitia Hatherley Rawlins and later he married Louise Gosden.  James died on 26 September 2009 and was buried on 1 October 2009 in Adelaide.

Geofrey Benjamin (Biffy) Martin was born on 10 February 1930 in Farina, South Australia.  He died on 13 April 1989, in Whyalla, South Australia.  He married Betty Christianson in Murray Town, South Australia.  She was the daughter of George Christianson and Katherine Harriet Tulloch.  Betty was born on 10 January 1928 in Booleroo Centre, South Australia and died on 25 July 2001 in Whyalla, South Australia. They are both buried in the Whyalla Cemetery.

Daphne Fay Martin was born on 9 March 1932 in Farina, South Australia and died on 4 August 2016 in Jamestown.  She married John William Brereton on 14 November 1953 in Jamestown, South Australia.  He was the son of William Thomas Brereton and Eva Letitia Skurray.  John was born on 7 January 1926 in Jamestown, South Australia and died on 27 May 1991 in Jamestown, South Australia. They are both buried in the Jamestown Cemetery.

Second daughter, still living, was born in 1934 in Farina, South Australia.

Third daughter, still living, was born in 1939 in Jamestown, South Australia.

Fourth daughter, still living, was born in 1944 in Jamestown, South Australia.

This Biography is a summary extracted from the full document which is available to view in the “Further Reading” tab.

Evelyn Mabel Reid was born on 1 October 1911, in Hawker, South Australia.  At this time, it was common from Mothers to go to Hawker to have their babies.

Evelyn went to school in Innamincka for a short time.  Her father Michael Reid worked on many stations in northern South Australia and central Queensland, from Hawker, Farina, Murnpeowie, Nappa Merrie and Thargomindah.  He sent his family to live in Farina, possibly from Innamincka, while he worked on Nappa Merrie station early 1920’s.

Evelyn found work as a nursemaid at the local nursing cottage.  Farina was too small to support a hospital, so the District and Bush Nursing Society of South Australia established a “Cottage Hostel” in the Old Transcontinental Hotel.

Evelyn Reid met Thomas Martin in Farina.  After courting, they were married on 19 September 1929 in Patterson’s Hall at Farina, South Australia.  Evelyn was 18 years old and Thomas was 29.

Evelyn and Thomas honeymooned in Adelaide.  They caught the train from Farina and while in Adelaide had wedding photos taken.  After they were married, it is believed that Thomas and Evelyn lived in a small building attached to the Hostel, on the right hand side for some time before moving into a house on the edge of Farina out near where the sheep killing yards were located.  After their marriage Evelyn kept house and cared for their children.

Life in Farina  was not all hard work.  Newspaper articles of the time indicate that residents of Farina and the surrounding area had a good social life.  The Martin’s were active members of the Farina Community.  They also travelled to surrounding properties.

Evelyn and Thomas moved from Farina to Jamestown in 1938.

First, they lived in a small tin house on Gloucester Road, Jamestown for a number of years.  Then they moved into a stone house on Cronin Street near the pig yard opposite Brereton’s chaff shed before moving to a house on Cockburn Road, Jamestown in 1941.

While Evelyn never worked outside of her home, she was a wonderful carer of her family.  Evelyn was a very organised lady and a good housekeeper. 

Evelyn was 62 when her Thomas died in 1973.  In 1977 she moved into the Belalie Lodge in Jamestown.   She only resided there for 12 months before her death.

Evelyn died on the 13 November 1980 in Jamestown hospital and is buried in the Jamestown Cemetery.  Evelyn was 68.  

Evelyn Martin was a true pioneer of South Australia, who worked hard to care for her family. Her family loved and admired her.

There is no record of Evelyn owning land at Farina.

Evelyn Mabel Martin comprehensive biography with documents, articles and photographs.