Sellwood, Vivian GEORGE (b. 9 Oct 1900, d. 21 Nov 1982)

Note: When George Sellwood was born at Gympie on 8 October 1900 he was the last child after a family of four boys and one girl [plus one boy and two girls who had previously died at infancy]. George's father Edward was a miner in the Gympie
goldfields, having arrived in Queensland from England in 1878, aged 24 years. George's mother Mary had arrived in Queensland from Scotland in 1862 when she had just turned 2 years of age. Edward's father was an Engineer in England and Mary's
father was an Ironstone Miner in Scotland.



Besides George's father being a miner, three of his brothers were similarly employed in the goldmines at Gympie. The fourth brother became a school teacher of considerable success and George, after attending Primary and High Schools at Gympie,
joined the Public Service in Brisbane in March 1918. On the death of his father in 1920 he obtained a transfer to Gympie where he commenced specialising in Mining Warden's activities. This became the start of a succession of promotions to
mining related districts throughout his career.



In 1922 George arranged for his widowed mother Mary Sellwood to purchase by way of Miner's Homestead Perpetual Lease the block of land on which the family's miner's shack stood - 17 Shank Street, Gympie. Following this acquisition he raised
finance and arranged erection of a formal dwelling on that property. There are photographs of both those dwellings in the family's files. Regarding that property, in 1933 Mary Sellwood transferred title to her son Percy James Sellwood and on
his death in 1968 title was transmitted to George Sellwood as Executor of his estate. The Executor transferred title to his sister Agnes Sellwood in 1970 and she sold the property at the end of that year,by which time she had moved into a
Nursing Home. Assuming Edward and Mary Sellwood settled on that site at about the time of their marriage in 1882, Sellwoods had been in residence there for almost 90 years.



In 1926 George Sellwood married Constance Isabel Green who was a nursing sister at Gympie Hospital. Later that year they left Gympie and settled in Chillagoe [State Copper Smelting Works and gold mining] where George had been appointed Mining
Registrar. His next appointment was in July 1933 as Clerk of Petty Sessions Tully [sugar cane country] followed by Mining Registrar and Clerk of Petty Sessions at Stanthorpe in February 1938 [tin mining]. This transfer was from one of the
State's hottest and wettest towns to one of its coldest.



Never one to shirk a bit of hard work, at Tully George purchased a block of land in Brannigan Street on which he planned to have a home built but the block was partly covered with large granite boulders. With cold chisels and a Gympie hammer
he chipped holes in the boulders, dynamited them into movable pieces and crowbarred them to the back of the block so that a house building could proceed. Sixty years later the house still stands in good condition and the boulders still form a
rock dividing fence at the back of the block.



While at Stanthorpe George studied Law by correspondence, qualified as a solicitor and became eligible for advancement to Stipendary Magistrate. He was the first Public Servant to achieve this eligibility in that manner. March 1942 saw him
transferred to Toowoomba to fill temporary positions of Acting CPS then later Acting SM while World War II raged; but in 1945 he returned to Stanthorpe for a brief resumption of his duties there from where he was promoted to Mining Warden and
SM, Clermont in May 1946 [Blair Athol coal fields and gold mining].



In July 1948 came George's next promotion, to the new position of Public Service Inspector for Queensland Northern Division, based in Townsville. His area extended as far as Mt Isa in the West to Thursday Island in the North, which of course
necessitated considerable travel for Inspections.



During his several moves up to this time George had occupied rented weatherboard cottages except for a few years in his own home at Tully, which had also been weatherboard too. However he had always had a desire to own and live in a brick
house. Well, he achieved that in Townsville by having a brick home built at North Ward but within a year or so of occupying it he was on the move again. 1953 saw a transfer to Charters Towers as SM and Mining Warden [gold mining], followed by
SM at Ipswich [coal producing area] in 1958, then Brisbane the same year.





George Sellwood retired as No. 2 SM in the State Capital in 1966 at age 66 years but was called back for duty by the Department of Mines and appointed to a consultancy position to revise the State Mining Acts, which work terminated at the end
of 1970.



During a long and successful working life George Sellwood always involved himself in civic duties and sporting activities in the towns and cities in which he served. A position of some prominence that he filled at five of the towns he served
in was Chairman of the local Hospital Board. Although not a church-goer, he was an active Freemason for over 50 years. He was a keen and skillful bridge player [as was his wife Constance] and in sports he was a representative cricketer in
Gympie years, a tennis player in Chillagoe and Tully [where he won a championship in 1936] and a lawn bowler from Townsville onwards, but temporarily interrupted by golf in Clermont. George often served on sports committees and at Townsville he
was President of Townsville City Bowls Club.



Overseas travel was another of George's interests but he didn't commence venturing into this activity until the 1950s when his family were all "off his hands". His first trip was a tour of the British Isles where he and his wife attended a
Garden Party at Windsor Castle.. After his death on 21 November 1982 at Redcliffe QLD, George Sellwood was put to rest at Albany Creek Crematorium, Brisbane QLD.



The following is another example of uncertainty in family surname spelling. Junior Examination Certificate dated January 1917 [for November 1916 examination at Gympie High School] is in the name of George Vivian Selwood. Extract of birth dated
September 1916 shows Vivian George Sellwood. Two Certificates dated January and February 1918 [for November 1917 examinations] are in the name of Vivian George Sellwood. Appearances in Gympie Electoral Rolls commenced in 1922 and were as Vivian
George Selwood. Movement to Chillagoe in 1926/7 shows the Roll there in 1928 as Vivian George Sellwood.

Given Name: Vivian GEORGE

Occupation: Magistrate.

Change: Date: 8 May 2021
Time: 10:00

Note: Searches of shipping records have revealed that on 2 August 1878 Edward Selwood, at age of 24 years, sailed from London on "Highflyer" of 1011 tons under the command of Captain Hawkins. The ship arrived at Maryborough Qld on 2 December 1878
carrying 188 assisted passengers.



On 22 July 1882 there was a marriage ceremony at St Peter's church, Gympie Qld when Edward Selwood aged 28 years [birth year 1854?[married Mary McTaggart [aged 22 years] but the church record was signed Edward Sellwood. This has been followed
by the issue of the official Marriage Certificate showing the bridegroom was Edward Sellwood and his father was Thomas Sellwood. Edward's mother is recorded as Mary Ann Stokes.



Record of Edward's marriage was used as a basis for searching of birth records in England. His age at marriage was recorded as 28 years and his birth place as Stockport, Cheshire, England. Searches at Stockport, including census records and
church records have not found "a single Sellwood entry". Searches in London were similarly unsuccessful in locating registration of the birth of Edward Sellwood/Selwood to parents Thomas Sellwood and Mary Ann Stokes. Searches of English records
in Sydney have had similar fate. The searcher in England expressed an opinion that the birth of Edward Sellwood " was never registered".



Edward's Marriage Certificate shows his occupation as a Miner; perhaps the discovery of gold at Gympie in 1867 and the subsequent gold rush attracted him to boarding a ship sailing to Maryborough, which was the nearest sea port to Gympie.
Another activity in which he was engaged was driving through the streets of Gympie by horse and cart selling groceries, fruit and vegetables.



Confusion in the spelling of Edward's surname, which was mentioned above, extended right through his family. Also, records show several irregularities in his and Mary's christian names. Nine children were born to Edward and Mary, all at Gympie
Qld. Information obtained from various records, including the Registry of Births at Gympie and cemetery records in that town, includes the following -



-Louisa May Selwood, born 26 May 1883, parents Edward and Mary, died 20 January 1885 at Gympie, buried as Sellwood



- Thomas Edward Selwood, born 28 April 1885, parents Edward Thomas and Mary Ann, died 12 June 1919 at Gympie, buried as Selwood in the grave of his father-in-law Gaius Frederick Brown



- William Henry Selwood, born 21 May 1887, parents Edward Thomas and Mary, died 17 July 1931 at Innisfail Qld, buried as Sellwood



- Percy James Sellwood, born 22 May 1889, parents Edward Thomas and Mary, died 18 September 1968 at Gympie, adopted spelling as Selwood at some time during his lifetime "for convenience", buried as Sellwood



- Agnes Sellwood, born 29 April 1891, parents Edward Thomas and Mary, died 7 September 1976 at Gympie, also adopted spelling as Selwood "for convenience", buried as Sellwood



- Horace Sellwood, born 9 March 1893, parents Edward Thomas and Mary, died 20 June 1894 at Gympie, buried as Selwood



- Ellena May Selwood, born 11 September 1895, parents Thomas Edward and Mary, died 8 April 1899 at Gympie, buried as Helen May Selwood



- Herbert Sellwood, born 23 May 1898, parents Edward Thomas and Mary, died 24 June 1967 at Murwillumbah NSW, adopted spelling as Selwood some time after his marriage and passed that spelling on to his children, cremated as Selwood



- Vivian George Sellwood, born 9 October 1900, parents Edward Thomas and Mary, died 21 November 1982 at Redcliffe Qld, buried as Sellwood.



No evidence has been found that Edward had a second name of Thomas or that Mary had a second name of Ann.

Edward died on 9 April 1920 at Gympie and was buried as Edward T. Sellwood in the grave of Horace Selwood [birth registered as Sellwood], the sixth child of the family who died in 1894 at the age of 15 months.









Edward Sellwood and Mary McTaggart are listed on the Welcome Wall, Darling Harbour, Sydney - Panel 30, Column 1, Line 146..



Continuing efforts to find record of the birth of Edward Sellwood/Selwood have been unsuccessful. Nothing appears on ancestry.com.uk which throws any light.



Gympie Family History Society has published a Pioneer Register of people who lived in Gympie pre 1900. Information about Edward Sellwood and Mary McTaggart and their children is included therein.

Given Name: Edward

Occupation: Miner, Fruiterer.

Change: Date: 16 Sep 2021
Time: 17:24

Note: After marriage in 1923 and having sons in 1924 and 1928, the arrival of a daughter in 1933 was a delight for George and Annie Bird. Dorothy Muriel was born at Grafton on 8 March 1933 and was named after her father's sister Dorothy and her
mother's sister Muriel. She grew up in a dwelling attached to her father's mixed business shop and party line telephone exchange building at Whiporie [the only store in that small village], midway between Casino and Grafton NSW.



Dorothy's school started before she had reached five years of age. Whiporie's one teacher school was across the road from the Bird's family store. World War II saw her popular teacher Sam Proudfoot enlist in the RAAF and his subsequent death in
action was sadly felt by the residents of that small community.



At completion of Primary education Dorothy won a Bursary for three years Secondary education so her father enrolled her at Grafton High School in 1944. She boarded at the home of Miss Ruby Crispin in Jacaranda Avenue, Grafton and at weekends
she travelled home to Whiporie and back to Grafton, about 30 miles each way, in the guards vans of goods trains. Sometimes such short journeys took up to three hours.



After two years at Grafton High Dorothy enrolled at Casino High School for her Third Year School Certificate, her father having sold his Whiporie store and settled in Casino with his family. Dorothy did well academically at school and was also
successful at sports. Then most of 1948 was spent at Casino Convent studying bookkeeping and typing, following which she commenced work for Public Accountant Francis Egan and Co.



In 1952 Dorothy met Vivian E M Sellwood, a Bank Officer in Casino, they became engaged in December of that year and married on 25 April 1953. Work at Casino continued after her marriage but this terminated in 1958 when her husband was
transferred in his work to Grafton where a new life began. Daughter Kerrie Ann was born on 22 September 1959 and son Vivian Grant on 28 September 1960, both at Grafton.



The family's next move was to Sydney in mid 1961 and raising two children kept Dorothy occupied for the next five years. Then, after both children had commenced schooling at West Ryde, Dorothy commenced work as Secretary to the Office Manager
of Grace Bros Department Store at Ryde under a school hours arrangement. In 1979 she and her husband and children moved from West Ryde to Carlingford and Dorothy retired from Grace Bros in 1983 after 17 years service. Her husband retired at the
end of 1984 after 40 years banking service



Following successful sports involvment at High School Dorothy became very active at tennis while at Casino. However she hung up her racquet on moving to Grafton and concentrated on family raising and travelling thereafter. During the late
1970s and into the 1980s she and her husband undertook a number of overseas holidays - New Zealand, Fiji twice, Singapore and Hong Kong. They also travelled extensively throughout Australia, visiting all States except Tasmania and journeying to
the Kimberley in Western Australia to visit their son and his family there. Purchase of a townhouse at Kingscliff in 1997 for holiday purposes and then for continued occupancy by family added to retirement and family pleasures.

By 2007 Dorothy's and her husband's 'travel bug' had slowed down to such an extent that they retired at Alan Walker Retirement Village , Carlingford. Dorothy's last breath was taken at adjoining Wesley Rayward Aged Care Home on 23 August 2022.

At her funeral service at Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens, Sydney, on 5 September 2022 the following euelogies were added to the above - [1] by daughter-in-law Lynette Anne Knight and [2] by Granddaughter Renae Lee Sellwood.

[1] Dear Doff, I know now you are signing off, but before you go, just wanted to say, Thank You for the years, the hours and the days.
I first saw you walk into Kimberly Hotel, a visit to Halls Creek described by some as the highway to hell, I was playing pool and you, Viv and friends walked in, but was oblivious to how I appeared to you then. You told me years later how you felt that day, I didn't realise how much fun you had had and enjoyed your stay. You were full of adventure, a good laugh or two, A friend of a lifetime, so loyal so true.
Our first walk to the shops in the searing heat, the flies, we were nearly dead on our feet. We stopped at Russian Jack and took a photo or two, I still have that photo of me and you. Many trips later we still lived up there, but you always popped by with love and fun to share. Adoring Grandchildren couldn't wait to see you again, a new era, new age, you are now our Dear Nan. With the Kimberly distance we all travelled afar , When in Sydney we stayed at Nana and Pa's. Many memories were made at 12 Lyndelle Place, But the most beautiful memory was seeing your face. You always had that beautiful smile, You always wanted us to stay for a while. A happy,sad tear and the hanky came out, Oh, my dear sweet lady you are always about. Even though your worries would wake you at night, You had so much strength, determination and might. You were loving, caring, our shining light, So many memories will be guarded so tight. And now is the time for me to sign off, You,ve been a wonderful woman my dear Doff. Loving memories of our Mum, Nan, Great Nan, We thank you for being the heart and life of our clan.
Forever Loved, Lynette.

[2] Dear Nan, I miss you already and life doesn't feel the same without you.
When I look back at my life, you have always been a cvonstant shining light - a ray of sunshine in our world. So many beautiful childhood memories that have grown into a particularly special bond throughout adulthood. You are such a special lady. Equal parts grace and gentleness, with a hint of cheekiness - always radiating love and kindness. I hope that you know how much I love you and even when I didn't call or didn't get to see you, I was thinking of you every day and will continue to think of you always. I will never be able to walk past the profiteroles in Woolworths without thinking about you. Carmel Crowns, marvellous creation chocolate, frozen cheesecakes and pine orange juice will always have a special place in my heart. You loved your sweets and were always convincing us to just have one more piece.
I have missed and will miss our cups of tea and coffee. It really was the little things that meant the most. Like you coming to the door, always welcoming us with your beautiful smile and a "hello love" - probably the words that I will miss the most. You always had the plates and spoons out with the napkins folded and you always knew that I liked to drink my tea in your terracotta coloured mug. It was always ready and waiting with the teabag in it. You were such a wonderful Nan to your grandchildren and the most special Great Nan to Hudson - always letting him play with your crystals, sharing your chocolate treats and making him feel like your home was his home. Nan, you will be missed more than you know. Not a day will go by that we don 't think of you and life will always feel different without you in it. I love you Nan, I will cherish our memories forever and always. Until We Meet Again, Renae.

,

Given Name: Dorothy Muriel

Change: Date: 19 Sep 2022
Time: 18:16

Note: Connie Green was the first child of a family of four boys and three girls born to Charles Green and Jane Veitch. Her father was Manager of Yabba Station, a run of about 60 sqmiles on the Jimna Range, between Nambour and Nanango QLD. Her
mother worked in the railway refreshment rooms in Gympie before marrying in Brisbane and moving onto Yabba.



In 1908 Charles Green left Yabba and settled in Nanango. This enabled Connie, at nine years old, to commence attending a school after having been taught by Governesses at the Station. When World War I broke out in 1914 she commenced working
as a nurse's assistant at Nanango Hospital. At the same time, with her mother President of the local Red Cross branch, she learnt sewing and knitting and crocheting - making comforts for Australian soldiers overseas. This proved to be the
commencment of a lifetime of community work.



After a few years at Nanango Hospital, Connie became a nurse at Gympie Hospital, completed general training and became a nursing sister on 28 February 1924. In 1926 she married George Sellwood at South Brisbane and later that year they moved to
Chillagoe where George had been promoted to the position of Mining Registrar.



Chillagoe was hardly a suitable place for a newly married couple with a baby girl. A full day's travel West of Cairns, hot, dry,semi arid country, hilly, rocky, unsupportable of grazing and suitable only for the hundreds of goats which roamed
loose in the district. Goat's meat and goat's milk were the substitutes for beef and cow's milk.



The Sellwoods first home was basically a large galvanised iron structure, one room, plus a small kitchen and verandah. It was three or four steps above ground level. The yard was unfenced and on occasions of wild storms, particularly those at
night, roaming goats would shelter under the house. Because of the limited clearance, their horns would constantly bump against the floor boards, noisily disturbing the family's rest.



Fortunately the family's accommodation improved after some time but their stay in Chillagoe extended over a long seven years. Connie had a second daughter in Chillagoe but she died in infancy. Then there were three sons born.



From Chillagoe came a sequence of transfers for her husband which saw her living in Tully [5 years and her last child, a son], Stanthorpe [5 years], Toowoomba [3 years], Clermont [2 years], Townsville [5 years], Charters Towers [5 years],
Ipswich [3 months] and Brisbane [8 years to her husband's retirement]. After a further four years as a consultant with the Department of Mines, her husband finally retired and they moved to Scarborough QLD.



But there was one decision which Connie made shortly after settling in Chillagoe that proved to be the lynch-pin for enabling her to quickly adapt to different living conditions as the family moved from place to place - she joined the
Queensland Country Women's Association in 1927, a fledgling organisation at that time, and maintained membership, unbroken, for about 65 years. Her membership made her immediately welcome into a circle of women in each town she moved to.



From Nanango days Connie was naturally active in community affairs. Her willingness to work saw her elected into Executive Branch positions of the CWA, including Branch Presidency and even into Executive Divisional positions. She continued her
sewing/knitting/crocheting throughout her CWA years, substantially contributing to Branch fund raising activities. Her skills were recognised widely and she was enthusiastically welcomed as a teacher of handcrafts. Also, during World War II
she resumed making comforts for Australian Servicemen, which charity work she had commenced as a teenager in 1914.



The CWA was not her only interest. For example, in Townsville she was a member of The Women's Club and happily carried the work load of Secretary. She was also a prolific letter writer to scattered family members and to a very large number of
relatives and friends, close and distant. Photographs and newspaper clippings covering relative and friend events was another of her interests. After her death scores of such clippings, some dating back into the 1920s, were found amongst her
personal papers. She was an avid stamp collector, amassing a very large collection. And, regular and frequent attendance at services in her church, plus involvment in church organisations, were important to her and gave her much pleasure.



Connie and her husband saw a lot of Queensland in their lifetime. They also holidayed in Asia, USA and the UK. While in the latter they attended a Garden Party at Windsor Castle, an experience which Connie, a true Royalist, treasured.



After her husband died in 1982 Connie lived on her own in their Scarborough home for about six years then moved into the CWA's Jubilee Gardens Retirement Home at Redcliffe QLD. In 1991at age 94 years she was contacted by Judith Hosier of the
Stockman's Hall of Fame who was taping interviews for the Oral History Section of the Hall of Fame Library at Longreach. Connie's lifetime experiences in Queensland were prime material for Judith and the long tape was a valuable addition to the
Library. Not long after that interview declining health made it necessary for Connie to be moved to the Rothwell Nursing Home where she died on 18 March 1993 at the age of 95 years 9 months. Like her husband George, she was cremated at Albany
Creek Crematorium.



Children born to Constance and George were Joan Constance 20 February 1926 at Brisbane, Mavis Betty 16 December 1927 [died 7 January 1928], Vivian Edward Maxwell 8 December 1928, Clive Percival 12 June 1931 and Gordon Charles 14 February 1933
all at Chillagoe Qld [Gordon died at Townsville 19 May 1990] and John Herbert 21 May 1935 at Tully Qld.

Given Name: Constance Isabel

Change: Date: 10 Jan 2014
Time: 16:21

Note: Joan Constance was born at West End, Brisbane on 20 February 1926, just prior to her parents moving to Chillagoe where her father, George, had been appointed Mining Registrar. Her name Joan was chosen by her mother for her first child.
Constance was her mother's name.



Joan started school at Chillagoe in 1931 at age five years and revisited that school in the 1980s when on a holiday tour of that Far Northern district of Queensland. The Headmaster at that time was so interested in her revisit that he invited
her to formally address all the children.



The family endured seven long years in that semi-arid and remote district, then noted for mining and for goat herds but now, at the turn of the century, for marble quarrying and for Limestone Caves. 1933 saw the family [increased by the
addition of three sons] moving to Tully for a four year stay, during which time the town's school buildings were destroyed by fire, which necessitated transfer of classes to the QCWA Hall and the School of Arts Institute. A new brick school was
not completed and opened until 1939.



Stanthorpe was the family's next move, late 1937 [increased to one girl and four boys by then] and Joan attended Stanthorpe Rural School and High School from 1938 through 1941. Then followed Toowoomba in early 1942 where a 12 months course in
Business Principles and Bookkeeping was undertaken at the Technical College. This lead to Joan commencing work as a Reception Clerk at Norton Trevaire Photographic Studio, a position she held for over two years - June 1945.



Joan's father was transferred back to Stanthorpe at that time so she decided to return there also and she commenced Nursing Training at Stanthorpe General Hospital, following in her mother's footsteps as she had trained at Gympie Hospital over
20 years before. Training ended in June 1948 and Joan transferred to Crown Street Women's Hospital, Sydney, to acquire a Midwifery Certificate. That achieved by 1949, Joan and her nursing friend Doris Wilton accepted positions as DC Sisters at
Dorrigo Hospital. April 1950 saw them back in Sydney on leave of absence where they obtained Third Certificate [Child Welfare] at Truby King Clinic, Woollahra, then back to Dorrigo Hospital where Joan was appointed Matron in mid 1951.



After 12 months as Matron Joan married Claude Robert Summerhayes on 23 August 1952 and transferred from nursing to live on her husband's dairy farm on the Northwest fringe of Dorrigo township. In due course three children arrived - Russell
1954, Sharon 1955 and Vivian 1957 - and Joan commenced busy activity in community work, joining the CWA and the Horticultural Society, later named the Garden Club of which she was made a Life Member in December 1997.



In March 1959 Joan was approached by Chairman Peake of the Dorrigo Hospital Board to resume her nursing career as Matron of the Hospital. After agreement with her husband Claude she accepted the position on the basis of a six months duration,
mainly to assist avert imminent closure of the Hospital because of staff shortages. Her return to that responsible position and staff recruiting successes which followed saved the day for the Hospital and Joan's six month temporary involvment
extended to a successful and fulfilling period of seven years. She retired in 1966.



But Joan soon found time on her hands after returning to full time family life so in 1968 she stood for election as a Councillor on the Bellingen Shire Council and was elected. She served for two terms of four years each and for three of those
years she was Chairman of the Town Planning Committee. Towards the end of her second term as a Councillor she was planning not to stand for re-election but wished to remain involved in local town activities. Quite fortuously, in 1975, the
Dorrigo Show Society was searching for a new Secretary so Joan applied for that position, was accepted, and fulfilled the onerous duties of that position for a period of eight years.



Into the 21st century Joan remained a Steward in the Flower Section of the Show, continued membership of the Garden Club and was active as a Volunteer worker for the Dorrigo Community Day Care Centre.



During their married life Joan and Claude travelled extensively - Queensland, NSW, Fiji, Singapore, New Zealand and Indonesia. However plans to venture further were dashed when Claude suddenly and unexpectedly died on 5 April 1985.
Nevertheless, with encouragement from family and friends, Joan undertook some trips which she and Claude had planned long before. She journeyed to the UK [twice], Alice Springs and the Red Centre [three times] and caravaned around Australia
with a group of friends.



After having lived in Dorrigo for 52 years Joan purchased a home at Grange Retirement Village, Tea Gardens, in 2001 where she immediately became involved in the activities of that new community. However her health began to fail within a year or
so and after long incarcerations in Newcastle Mater and Hornsby Hospitals she died at the latter on 8 April 2003. Her burial at Dorrigo Cemetery was preceeded by a Memorial Service at St. Stephen's church where a very, very large number of
local mourners, plus friends and families from distant towns and cities reflected the very high regard in which Joan was held. She was buried beside her loving husband Claude who had died on 8 April 1985.

Given Name: Joan Constance

Change: Date: 7 Sep 2022
Time: 16:55

Note: Born shortly before Christmas, died shortly in the New Year, what a short, sad life.

In 2015 Judith June Andersen [nee Sellwood] visited Chillagoe, searched cemetery records and found the following entry -

Sellwood/ Selwood Mavis Betty
Aged 3 weeks CE Infant death
Grave 389

The double spelling of the surname is another example of the uncertainty as to which was regarded as "correct" by the families.

On visiting the cemetery Judith found a metal marker - 389 - marking the grave site.

In the absence of flowers she laid a small branch from a nearby gum tree, said a quiet prayer and took some photographs for family records.

Given Name: Mavis Betty

Change: Date: 15 Sep 2021
Time: 17:04

Note: When Gordon arrived on 14 February 1933 his parents, George and Constance Sellwood, had been living in Chillagoe for over six years where George was Mining Registrar. Chillagoe was a small mining town in semi arid country in Far North
Queensland, known at that time for copper smelters, limestone caves and goats. Pastures in that locality were unsuitable for dairying. Gordon's arrival to the family followed two daughters [one of whom had died in infancy] and two sons.



The environment of the Chillagoe District had its discomforts for the family and the World Depression was still raging but George's position in the Public Service afforded some cushioning against the difficult conditions. Nevertheless, with
four children, George and Constance felt their family had reached large enough proportions so it was decided there would be no further increase. However later events which are recorded elsewhere in the Family History happily broke that solemn
resolve. Gordon was named after his mother's brother [Charles] Gordon Green who had died in December 1919 when only 19 years of age. His second name, Charles, was after his mother's father, Charles Green.The name Gordon however is connected
further back than the 1919 death. Constance's Great Grandmother's maiden name was Julia Maxwell Gordon. Also, Constance had a cousin,Gordon Maxwell Veitch; his mother, Grace Veitch [nee White], had been a witness at Constance's wedding.



Only months after Gordon's birth his father was transferred to Tully to fill the position of Clerk of Petty Sessions. This was followed by a transfer to Stanthorpe as Mining Registrar and CPS where Gordon commenced school by enrollment at
Stanthorpe Rural School on 21 February 1938. The next move for the family was to Toowoomba in March 1942 where Gordon enrolled at South Toowoomba Boys School. During Gordon's final year at Primary School, 1945, his father returned to
Stanthorpe but the family remained in Toowoomba to avoid disrupting the childrens' schooling.



1946 saw Gordon enrolled at Gympie High School where his father had received his secondary education. He was accommodated by his Aunt Agnes and Uncle Perc who were residing at the Sellwood's old Gympie home at 17 Shank Street. His stay at
Gympie however was for one year only, as his father was promoted to a position of Mining Warden and Stipendary Magistrate at Clermont in 1946 and Gordon moved to boarding at All Souls College, Charters Towers, in order to locate him more
conveniently close to home. Gordon remained at All Souls from 1947 to 1950. He was a Prefect in 1949 and 1950 and represented his school at rugby league and cricket against Mount Carmel and Thornborough Colleges in Charters Towers. He achieved
something of a record as a spin bowler when he captured six wickets for no runs in one innings of a match against Mount Carmel boys.



When Gordon finished schooling in 1950 his parents were living in Townsville and he returned home there. He entered the State Public Service in 1951 and obtained a position in the Department of Main Roads, Townsville, where he met a co-worker,
Delma Weatherley, who later became his wife. 1952 saw him doing National Service in the R.A.A.F. at Townsville, then resumption of work with the Main Roads until 1960 when he transferred to the Stamp Duties Office.



In 1962 the T.A.B. commenced operations in Queensland and Gordon was appointed Northern Queensland Manager in which position he was responsible for opening all branches of the T.A.B. from Mackay to Cairns and west to Mount Isa. He left that
organisation in 1972 and for the next 10 years undertook various jobs, including sales representative for Angliss Foods, office duties with Tancred Meat Exports and insurance salesman for Prudential. In 1983 he purchased a newspaper daily
delivery business which he continued to operate until his death in 1990.



Gordon resided in Townsville for the last 40 years of his life where he was very active in sports, particularly Rugby League and Table Tennis. He played A Grade Rugby League for Centrals Club from 1951 to 1954, then was prominent in A Reserve
Table Tennis for at least three years. From 1955 to 1958 he was Secretary of the Townsville Table Tennis Association and served as President from 1959 to 1962.



Gordon's association with Table Tennis came through a close friendship which developed with his fellow Public Service worker Delma Weatherley. Delma was an outstanding player. She won championships in all aspects of the game from local
Townsville level through all other levels up to and including Queensland State Titles. Gordon married her in 1956 and they were blessed with two daughters - Judith June and Ann Frances.



Rapidly failing health and terrible suffering through the final stages brought Gordon's life to an untimely end at age of only 57 years. He died "young" as did the Gordon after whom he was named. Sad to say, Gordon was denied the delight of
seeing his first grandchild. She was born five months after his demise.

Given Name: Gordon Charles

Occupation: Public Servant.

Change: Date: 8 May 2021
Time: 10:12

Given Name: Claude R.

Change: Date: 22 Apr 2020
Time: 11:36

Note: A Townsville Newspaper report 3 January 1956 -

"A local table tennis star was a bride yesterday. She is Delma, only daughter of Mr and Mrs C.W.Weatherley, 22 Tenth Avenue, Railway Estate, Townsville Qld.. Delma has an impressive table tennis record, being the holder of many titles Local, State and National..............
The groom, Gordon, third son of Mr V.G.Sellwood, SM, and Mrs Sellwood, of Charters Towers is also well-known in table tennis circles, being the secretary of the Townsville Table Tennis Association."



Delma June Weatherley was born on the 22 June 1930 in Townsville Qld. She was the only child of Cyril and Doris Weatherley and grew up in the family home located at 22 Tenth Avenue, Railway Estate, Townsville. She attended Railway Estate Primary School before moving on to Townsville State High School to complete her education. On leaving school Delma got a clerical position with the Department of Main Roads where she met her husband Gordon, who also worked for that Department.

Delma and Gordon were married on 2 January 1956 and shortly after moved into their newly built home at 47 Diprose Street, Pimlico. They went on to have two daughters, Judith June born in 1959 and Ann Frances born in 1963. This became the family home for the next 55 years.

Delma was always sport minded and played Women's Cricket, Vigoro and Tennis, however her passion was for Table Tennis. Delma not only played for local teams at the Townsville Table Tennis Association [T.T.T.A.] but went on to represent Queensland on many occasions, where she was the holder of many titles - Australian Ladies Special Singles, Australian Ladies Doubles, Queensland Ladies Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles and the Townsville Ladies Singles and Doubles. At the time of her death in 2015 Delma held the record for the number of Ladies Singles Titles on the T.T.T.A. Honour Board, this being 11.

Delma was always a hard worker both whilst being employed and at home. Apart from when she was rearing her daughters in their toddler years she worked from the time she left school right through to her early 70's. Delma held 3 long term clerical positions with the Department of Main Roads, T.A.B. and Hoey Fry [an engineering wholesale supplier] . On top of this she served on the committee for the T. T. T. A. in a number of positions on many occasions.

After Delma retired in her early 70s, and never one to sit around doing nothing, she joined the Townsville Senior Citizens Belgian Gardens Division. She again took on committee member duties and used to attend 2 to 3 times a week where she joined in the many activities on offer - for example indoor bowls, hoy, bingo and her beloved table tennis.

Due to rapidly declining health Delma lost her husband Gordon [aged 57 years] on 19 May 1990. Delma never remarried and lived on her own in the family home until 2012 before selling up. From there Delma moved into a unit back in her old stomping ground of Railway Estate, Townsville where she again lived on her own for two years before purchasing a unit at Villa McAuley Retirement Village, which was coincidently located in Pimlico. Due to an ongoing heart condition and declining sight Delma sold that unit in early 2015 and moved into a Granny Flat at the home of her daughter Ann. Delma was extremely excited about that move as having lived on her own for so long she looked forward to enjoying everyday company.

Unfortunately this was short lived as Delma suffered a heart attack and passed away with her family by her side on 19 March 2015 aged 84 years. Delma was survived by her 2 daughters, 2 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Given Name: Delma June

Change: Date: 25 Aug 2022
Time: 09:17

Given Name: Sharon Elizabeth

Change: Date: 22 Feb 2018
Time: 16:53

Given Name: John Henry Napier

Change: Date: 13 May 2005

Note: Thomas Selwood's name appears as father of the Bridegroom on the church record of the marriage of Edward Selwood and Mary McTaggart at Gympie Qld on 22 July 1882. Mary Anne Stokes's name appears on that record as mother of the Bridegroom.
Thomas's occupation is listed as Engineer.



It was from that record that searching for Family Tree information was commenced. Confusion regarding the correct spelling of the surname then commenced because, on receipt of Edward's official Marriage Certificate, it was found that both his
and Thomas's surnames were recorded as Sellwood.



Edward's marriage records show his birth place as Stockport, Cheshire, England and his age at marriage in 1882 as 28 years. Searches of records in England were undertaken to seek ancestry information but these failed to achieve anything. No
record of Sel[l]wood was found in the 1851 census of Stockport; no entry of marriage of Thomas and Mary between 1837 and 1856 has been found; church records at Stockport between 1849 and 1855 do not contain a single Sellwood entry. Identifying
these two ancestors through death records has also been unsuccessful.



Sydney records of UK BDMs have been thoroughly searched without success. Besides no basic information of birth and death dates and places for Thomas and Mary Anne on which to rely, no record has been found of a Thomas Sellwood/Selwood having
married a Mary Anne Stokes. Nothing appears on ancestry.com.uk which throws any light.

Given Name: Thomas

Change: Date: 16 Sep 2021
Time: 17:23

Given Name: Mary Anne

Change: Date: 12 May 2019
Time: 12:21

Note: Edward McTaggart, Labourer, age at departure from Scotland 35 years, arrived at Brisbane on 1 February 1862 aboard the Jessie Mann. He was accompanied by his wife Ellen [Helen, a son Hugh and a daughter Mary. Three other children had died in
Scotland during the 1850s - an unnamed son, an unnamed daughter and son John, born 4 May 1855, died 1857



While settled in Brisbane two sons and a daughter were born - Edward, William and Elizabeth. It appears the family moved to Gympie in about 1867 where Edward McTaggart died on 16 January 1868.



The family is listed in the Gympie Pioneer Register Pre 1900.

Given Name: Edward

Change: Date: 22 Apr 2020
Time: 11:28

Note: Records show her as Ellen and Helen and as McEwan.

She was Ellen McTaggart when she married Lawrence Currie.



She was living at 53 Waterside Dalmelington, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1861.



Ellen gave birth to five children to Edward McTaggart in Scotland, three of whom died in infancy and two accompanied the parents when the family migrated to Australia in 1862 aboard the Jessie Munn.



Three more children were born in Brisbane before the family moved to Gympie in about 1867. Unfortunately Edward McTaggart died on 16 January 1868, leaving Ellen with a very young family of five children.



Ellen remarried on 15 August 1872 - to Lawrence Currie, to whom she bore five children. She died at Gympie on 29 October 1877 aged 41 years.



The McTaggart and Currie families are listed in the Gympie Pioneer Register Pre 1900.

1841 Census Kirklands Maybole shows Peter McEwen 10 years, Helen McEwen 8 years.
1851 Census Maybpole shows Helen McEwen 18 years, born c 1833, Maybole, servant of the Forsyth family.

Given Name: Ellen [Helen]

Change: Date: 26 Feb 2019
Time: 17:20

Note: Following the death in 1982 of Vivian George Sellwood [Mary's youngest son], a church record of the marriage of his parents was found in his personal papers. This reveals that on 22 July 1882 Mary McTaggart married Edward Selwood at Gympie
Qld. She was aged 22 years at that time, her birth place was recorded as Maybold [correct spelling Maybole], Ayrshire, Scotland and her parents were listed as Edward McTaggart and Ellen McEwen.

Subsequent searching of records found that Mary had been born on 2nd January 1860 and on obtaining a Birth Certificate it was found that her birth place was 54 Waterside Row which was in the Dalmellington District of Scotland, her father was
an Ironstone Miner, her mother's first name was Helen and her Grandfather was Patrick B. McTaggart.



After marriage in 1882 Mary had nine children over a period of 18 years. They are listed in detail in her husband's Notes. Two girls [Louisa and Ellena] and one boy [Horace] died before they reached four years of age. Her eldest son Thomas
[married with three children] died aged 34 years and the next son William [single] died aged 44 years. The remaining three sons, Perc, Herb and George, lived to ages 79, 69 and 82 years respectively and the surviving daughter, Agnes, passed 85
years. Agnes remained single all her life as did Perc.



For all their married lives Mary and Edward lived at 17 Shank Street, Gympie as did son Perc and daughter Agnes[ except for a brief period Agnes spent at Ipswich]. Their first residence was a miner's shack but soon after Edward died in 1920 the
youngest son George, with the family's help, arranged for a new house to be built on the family block.



Record of arrival of the McTaggart family in Australia has been found. On 1 February 1862 the "Jessie Munn" of 874 tons arrived at Brisbane from London under the command of Capt John Kerr. Passengers totalled almost 300 and included - Edward
Mc Taggart , Labourer, Scotland , Age at Departure 35 years; Ellen McTaggart [or Helen] 34 years; Hugh McTaggart 3 years; Mary McTaggart 1 Year.



Mary McTaggart must have celebrated her second birthday at sea and her brother Hugh must have celebrated his fourth. He was born on 4th November 1857 at Dalmellington, Scotland. Another son born to this family at the same address - John, born
4th May 1855 - died in 1857 in Scotland. Also there is evidence that another son and another daughter had died in Scotland sometime between 1851 and 1855.



Regarding Mary's parents, record of marriage has not been found nor has any information about Grandfather Patrick B. McTaggart. However a Helen McEwen was born at Ayr, Scotland on 25th September 1829 to James McEwen and Helen Grant.



There is a story about Mary Sellwood which was told many times when her Grandchildren were young. When her son George was transferred to Chillagoe in the Public Service in 1926, Mary accompanied him, his wife Constance and their baby Joan, for
a short holiday [this was about the only time Mary ever left Gympie]. While she was in Chillagoe a cyclone ravaged Far North Queensland, brought down trees, unroofed buildings, wrecked houses etc. In those days lavatories were sanitary pans in
small outhouses "down the back yard". While the cyclone was raging Mary was peering out a window to watch the devastation and was heard to call out "Oh George, there goes another dunny".



Mary Sellwood died on 26 July 1934 and was buried at Gympie cemetery in the same grave as her husband and their sixth child Horace who had died in 1894 aged fifteen months. Grave 294, C of E Private, no headstone.



Over the many decades since 1900 no explanation has been passed down for Edward and Mary's choice of the unusual name Vivian for their last-born son Vivian George [known as George] Sellwood. However publication of the Gympie Pioneer Register
Pre 1900 has disclosed that Vivian as a son's name was again chosen by another branch of the McTaggart family. Mary's nephew Charles John Robertson [Robinson] McTaggart named a son Vivian Thomas at his birth on 1 January 1911. Use of Vivian for
a male has continued during the 1900s -

- Vivian George's son Vivian Edward Maxwell Sellwood

- Vivian George's daughter's son Vivian Charles Summerhayes

- VEMS's son Vivian Grant [known as Grant]

- VEMS's grandson Brett Vivian.



Funeral Notice, 27 July 1934 -

The friends of Miss A.Sellwood and Mr P.J.Sellwood [Gympie], Mr and Mrs V.G.Sellwood [Tully] and Mr and Mrs H.Selwood [Tonga] are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of their beloved mother and mother-in-law Mrs Mary Sellwood, deceased,
to move from her late residence, Shanks Street.......to Gympie cemetery.



Mary McTaggart and Edward Sellwood are listed on the Welcome Wall, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Panel 30, Column 1, Line 146.



Gympie Family History Society has published a Pioneer Register of people who lived in Gympie pre 1900. Information about Edward Sellwood and Mary McTaggart and their children is included therein.

Given Name: Mary

Change: Date: 22 Apr 2020
Time: 12:15

Note: This member of the family is shown in birth records at Gympie Qld as Herbert Sellwood and his name is so spelt on his Marriage Certificate. However, following his marriage, he adopted Selwood as the spelling and passed this on to his children.
The change in spelling which he adopted caused considerable paper work in the winding up of his Estate after his death in 1967. The Executor of his will, who was his brother Vivian George Sellwood, was required to execute many affidavits
swearing that Selwood and Sellwood were one and the same person.



Herbert Selwood attended the Central State School in Gympie and upon the opening of the High School he was one of the original students. In 1914 he was appointed to the Central State School at Maryborough Q as a Pupil Teacher. From there he
was transferred to the Bundamba State School and later to Beaudesert. There he met Annie Caroline Le Grand who was also a teacher and they married in Brisbane on 1 January 1919; they had two children - Thomas Ralph Llewellyn and Merle Agnes,
both born at Beaudesert.



In August 1921 Herbert Selwood, his wife and two young children, left Australia for Nukualofa, Tonga Islands, to take the position of Senior Tutor at the Government College in Nukualofa. Then in 1923 the Tonga Government appointed him Officer
in Charge of Treasury. This was followed by appointment as Principal of the Government College and Director of Education in 1930, which position he held until war broke out in the Pacific. During this long period of service his wife continued
her teaching activities by establishing a separate school for European children. Then finally, on the entry of Japan into the war in 1941, Queen Salote of Tonga appointed Herbert as Civil Defence Officer in the Kingdom.



While engaged in improving education facilities in that Pacific Island nation, Herbert Selwood was also very active in developing other activities. He spent considerable time in teaching music and establishing brass bands; he organised
expansion of general sporting activities and he introduced Rugby Football to the Tongans, taught that game and coached the players.



New Zealand troops arrived in Tonga in 1942 and the Selwoods had to evacuate the Island and return to Australia. Herbert Selwood joined the American Red Cross and served with that unit in Australia, The Philippines, Japan and Korea, rising to
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He returned again to Australia in 1955 and was engaged in clerical work with the Harbours and Marine Department in Brisbane until his retirement.



In 1962 he and his wife were invited by the Hon Mahe Tupounuia, Minister of Finance, to attend the celebrations of the 70th Anniversary of the Tonga Government College. Before leaving the Kingdom, Herbert and Mrs Selwood were invited to the
Palace where they chatted with the Queen of Tonga, reviving incidents connected with the College during Herbert's term of office.



Herbert Selwood died on 24 June 1967 and was cremated at Mt Thompson crematorium, Brisbane. His wife Annie died on 4th February 1988 and was buried at Brisbane.

Given Name: Herbert

Occupation: School Master, Clerk.

Change: Date: 16 Apr 2022
Time: 09:20

Given Name: Annie Caroline

Change: Date: 9 Jun 2020
Time: 16:28

Given Name: Thomas RALPH Llewellyn

Occupation: Business Manager.

Change: Date: 21 Sep 2020
Time: 15:37

Note: Newspaper engagement announcement, no date -

The engagement is announced of Miss Merle A.Selwood, only daughter of Mr and Mrs H.Selwood, Nukualofa, Tonga, to Sergeant Walter V.Ginn R.A.E., second son of Mr and Mrs W.G.Ginn, Clem Street, Brassal, Ipswich.

[A party was held at the home of Mrs R.H.Weymouth, Strong Avenue, Graceville, to celebrate the announcement]

Given Name: Merle Agnes

Change: Date: 7 Aug 2005