Outback Graves Markers

Jackie HETHERINGTON (more)

Cause of Death: Stroke (or Dropsy)

Jackie was a part Aboriginal cattle musterer and stockman who died about 1939-1940 after having been ill for some time.  He was being taken to hospital when they came across his mates droving and he made a dying wish to die with his mates.  They put him in a donkey wagon but he died halfway between Mt Edgar Station and Meentheena Station at Pelican Pool, where he was buried.

His grave is marked by a cairn of stones.

Humphrey O'DRISCOLL (more)

Cause of Death:

The deceased was one of the pioneers of Nullagine. He had been well and favorably known throughout the district for the past 20 years and identified himself chiefly with reefing, in which he met with more than average success. When the Little Wonder was panning it out by the hatful to the ton, Humphrey O'DriscolI was one of the partners and was likewise associated with the Barton, which for many years was the chief gold producer of Nullagine.
Humphrey O'Driscoll had been ailing for only a short period and left many friends to mourn their loss.
In the administration of his estate, Humphrey O'Driscoll left the amount of £375 10s. 9d. to Owen Connoly.
Humphrey was buried on Meentheena Station by Maurice McKenna, pastoralist, Meentheena. Witnesses present at the burial were M Doherty and G Larson.  Jimmy Gregg, who had a mine at Eastern Creek, was responsible for putting the headstones on O'Driscoll's and James Hudson Spinney's graves.  The marble headstone were transported from Perth by train and then by camel wagon and finally by pack horse.  HIs headstone inscription gives the date of death as 26.1.1918 and his age as 58 years.

James Hudson SPINNEY (more)

Cause of Death: Fever

Mr Spinney was buried on Meentheena Station near Nullagine in the East Pilbara district.  His death was certified in writing by Maurice McKenna, a friend from Meentheena Station, Nullagine River.  The marble headstone was taken from Perth to Nullagine by train, then by camel wagon and finally by pack horse. Jimmy Gregg, who had a mine at Eastern Creek, was responsible for putting the headstone on the graves of Humphrey O'Driscoll and James Spinney.

The deceased was one of the first teamsters on the road in the district.

John Hudson was the sixth of possibly eleven children born to Mary and John Spinney.  His father was born in 1829 in Dorset, England; his mother was born there 16 January 1831.  Mary and John married on 2 November 1852 at Maitland, New South Wales.  The ten known children were: Andrew born 1853; Emily born 1855; Alice Jane born 1857; Henry born 1860; James Hudson born 1862; John Bertram born 1864; Tom D R born 1866; Laura Emmeline born 1868; Edgar William born 1871; Maude Mary born 1873; Oscar H born 1875.

Their father, John Ames, died at Kurri Kurri, New South Wales on 2 August 1908.  His wife died at Kurri Kurri on 11 July 1909.

Peter TONTIE (more)

Cause of Death: Unknown

Peter was a part Aboriginal who was about 65 years of age when he died somewhere around 1944.  He was buried on the banks of the Nullagine River, two miles north of the old Meentheena Station Homestead and about 100 miles east of Marble Bar.

At that time, the Blair family owned Meentheena Station.

Edward Frederick WATSON (more)

Cause of Death: Measles

Known as Ted.

The deceased died from an attack of measles which, in the day, it was thought his death was "probably accelerated by drinking cold water".

Ted Watson was a bachelor who had lived in New South Wales for 20 years before coming to Western Australia.  He was quite a young man and at one time was in partnership on Meentheena with William Farley, John Dewhurst, Michael Doherty and Maurice McKenna.  At the time of his death, he was a partner of the firm Doherty & Co., Meentheena.

He was buried on Baroona Downs Station (now Meentheena Station, situated on the Nullagine River about 100 miles east of Marble Bar).  His burial was witnessed by Michael Doherty, John King and M O'Brien.  His death was certified in writing by William Fitzgerald, brother, from Strawberry.  Apparently his grave is marked by a mound but no headstone.

In his Will, Edward Frederick Watson left the amount of £567 1s. 4d.to Rose Matilda Watson (his sister), attorney under power of Christina Mary Watson (his mother).

Edward Frederick Watson's father, Christian Eberhard Watzelhan, was born in Hessen, Germany, on 4 May 1846 and arrived in Australia 31 March 1852.  His wife, Mary, was born in Germany on 31 October 1846.  She arrived in Australia on 27 April 1855.  The couple married on 3 January 1876 at West Maitland, New South Wales and began their family of eight.  They were Mary Catherine born 4 October 1876; Ellen born 14 April 1878; Frank Mathias born 13 February 1880; Rose Matilda born 20 January 1882; Edward Frederick; Emily Margaret born 3 July 1885; Christian Joseph born 17 April 1887; Maria May born 4 May 1889.

Christian (Christopher) died 19 March 1909 in Maitland and his wife died 12 May 1924 in Paterson.