Katherine was six years old when she arrived in Australia in 1873, the year the surveyor William Gosse gave the name Ayers Rock to Uluru. She’d grow up at a time when the economic conditions that had started with gold discoveries from 1850 were moving towards a severe depression starting in 1894. The economy wasn’t the only thing changing. By the time she had married in 1897 the kitchen in which she would work had transitioned from a pioneer’s open fire to better butter churns, sausage machines and one fire stoves. For a guide to the Australian kitchen’s evolution have a look at The Tradition of Australian Cooking, (Gollan, Anne. The Tradition of Australian Cooking, Canberra, Australian National University Press, 1978, ISBN 0708112298).
Read about the Children of Anton & Rosina for an introduction to Katherine.
In August 1897 (aged 29 or 30 years) Katherine married George T. Dillon (age 28). Five or six children followed.
Although Katherine is only recorded as having five children it is believed twin children Frederick and Richard died as infants in 1903, Richard probably at birth since no birth certificate is registered and Frederick died at 4 months old. Her son George died at age 29 from lockjaw in 1927. The other children Herman Richard, Douglas Roy and Frederick (and Richard) died as infants. William Thomas Dillon (1899-1978.) was the only child of Katherine and George to marry and have children.
William Thomas (aged 20 years) married Mary Patricia Maher (aged 21 years) in 1919. William, Mary and six surviving children, grandchildren to Katherine and George, farewelled first George in 1939 then Katherine in 1941.
Katherine remembered her husband on the first anniversary of his death with these words published sixteen months before she too passed away.
IN MEMORIAM.
DILLON.—In loving memory of my dear husband, George T. Dillon, who departed this life at Tuncester, 29th April, [1939].
I have lost my soul companion,
“Family Notices” Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954) 29 April 1940: 6. Web. 1 Mar 2017 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95506290>
A life linked with my own ;
As this year passed I miss him,
As I walk through life alone.
What would I give his hand to clasp,
His dear face to see.
To hear again his loving voice
That meant so much to me.
Inserted by his loving wife, K.D.
The Northern Star incorrectly shows 1929 as the year, whereas 1939 is correct. Katherine’s own obituary in this newspaper has a few odd facts.
OBITUARY: MRS KATHERINE DILLON.
After a long illness, Mrs. Katherine Dillon died in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Lismore, on Thursday, at the age of 73 years. She was born at Grafton and married the late Mr. George Dillon, in Lismore, about 45 years ago. She was predeceased by her husband two years ago and is survived by a son, Mr. William Dillon, of Tuncester. Three brothers, Messrs. Anthony, Gus and John Bibo, reside in Brisbane, and two sisters, Mesdames O’Keefe and J. White, of Lismore, also survive. There are six grandchildren, Messrs. William, George, Raymond and Gordon Dillon (Tuncester) and Mesdames M. Timson and M. Franks. There are two great grandchildren.
The funeral moved from the Roman Catholic Church, South Lismore, yesterday after a service had been conducted by Rev. Fr. Relihan. The pall-bearers were Messrs. J. and G. Dillon, R. and J. Maher, W. O’Keefe and R. White. Funeral arrangements were by Mr. James Sweeney.
“OBITUARY MRS. KATHERINE DILLON” Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954) 23 August 1941: 8. Web. 1 Mar 2017 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98667167>
It is speculation to say that the substitution of Grafton with her actual birthplace (Mainz, Germany) is related to the war. The truth of her sisters Mary and Elizabeth being born in Grafton lends credence to the substitution.
Her siblings mentioned in the obituary are brothers Anthony (Anton jnr.), Gus (Augustine) and John (John William “Jack”) and her two surviving sisters, Mesdame O’Keefe (Mary Elizabeth) and Mesdame J. White (Elizabeth Sofia). The six grandchilden by age are, Mesdame M. Timson (Mary Josephine “Tibby” Dillon), William John Dillon, George Thomas Dillon, Mesdame M. Franks (Mavis Amelia Dillon), Raymond Arnold Dillon and George Frederick Dillon.
If Anthony is really Anton jnr. then this mention might be out of courtesy and not because Anton jnr. has returned to Australia. Anton jnr. supposedly left Australia in 1903.
All of Katherine’s grandchildren and partners are now deceased.
Katherine’s first grandchild was born in 1917 the year the trans-continental railway was completed. The last grandchild was born in 1927 the year Federal Parliament finalised its move to Canberra. One grandchild Kathleen Pearl “Patricia” was born in 1924 and died at the age of 1 month. See “Family Notices” Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954) 2 October 1924: 4. Web. 26 Feb 2017 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93459133>.
Mary Josephine “Tibby” (born 1917) married Mr. Mervyn S. Timson in 1934 in Lismore and is later recorded with a different partner with whom she had children. Pte. Timson served with Australian forces in WWII and died in 1953.
William John “Jack” (born 1919), George Thomas (born 1921), Mavis Amelia (born 1923), Raymond Arnold “Ray” (born 1925) and George Frederick (born 1927) all married and gave Katherine and George 22 great grandchildren.