Annette Leahy, my new and quickly treasured friend, gave me a book, handwritten by her mother-in-law, Doreen Leahy (née Halpin).
It is a remarkable journal, which traces the Irish family name back to the mid-16th century and records that ‘John Halpin appears as a juror in North Meath 1541.’
Theirs is a big story of faith, achievement, community spirit — and tragedy
Doreen’s grandparents were Irish migrants to Adelaide, where they married.
However, they were attracted to Bendigo, and their son Michael was born in a tent on the minefields, in 1860.
The family moved to Rushworth, chasing a dream, but returned to Bendigo where Michael was apprenticed to a gunsmith, Julius Rae.
But Michael was a man with many interests; he studied architectural drawing and lettering at night classes, loved music and enjoyed the theatre; he read a great deal and developed a taste for good literature.
He strongly rejected repeat invitations to join Captain Moonlight’s bushrangers. (Not long after, Moonlight was hanged.)
When Julius opened a second shop, in Echuca, Michael managed the business there.
However, he was determined to have a shop of his own, selling and servicing guns, and decided on Shepparton.
His small shop was attached to the Farmers Arms Hotel, on the corner of High and Maude Sts.
It was 1884. Doreen describes the shop as having one door and one window, in which Michael displayed a few guns and, at night, lit a kerosene lamp to showcase his wares.
Some years later, Michael relocated his shop to the south side of High St, where the land ran through to Rowe St.
This later became Grays Fruit and Cakes.
The shop was in High St, and facing Rowe St was a cottage.
He housed his mother and father, with sister Lila, in the cottage.
When he married Ellen Keogh, in 1892, he relocated his parents and sister to a house in Knight St, near the church — and the newlyweds moved into the cottage.
He continued to support his parents and Lila.
High St was then the centre for trade, with many crossing the river using McGuire’s Punt and the trains at the eastern end.
In the vacant land next door to his new shop, Michael set up a shooting gallery, which was well supported by the railway workers.
Shepparton was still a very small town, and making a living was not easy.
However, the wooden bridge at the western end of Fryers St, was slowly changing things.
Traffic crossing the bridge was increasing and so was trade in Fryers St.
It was time for Michael to expand.
He relocated to Fryers St.
His family was also increasing; twin girls (Kathleen and Eileen) were the first arrivals, followed by Monica and two years later, the long-awaited boy, John.
Michael bought a larger home, on the corner of Corio and McKinney Sts.
He and Ellen had often admired the house as they passed on the way to church.
It had belonged to Patrick Hassett and the land stretched from Corio St to Orr St.
Hassett’s private college was conducted in a large wooden building at the rear of the home.
Doreen (our source of this information) was born in 1902, and she was followed by Brian, then Kevin two years later, and, finally, Bernard.
And many of us remember Bernie — as he was known by this city.
Doreen was christened Irene, but her mother eventually discovered that Irene and Eileen were just too similar.
Perhaps she called one and the other responded?
Anyway, Irene was called Doreen forever after.
At this point, Michael, Ellen and their children were all comfortably housed, and the larger shop in Fryers St was thriving with a much-expanded line of goods.
However, there was to be a lot of water to run under the wooden bridge and many challenges ahead for the Halpin family.
Join me next week.
Please take care; the weather is challenging us.
And may it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Phone: Text or call 0409 317187
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