Who Were They

Mary Mewett’s mother was born Veronica Mary Kirkpatrick, daughter of John Kirkpatrick and his wife Mary (maiden name McNamara), on 15 October 1899.

On September 26, 1927, Veronica was married to William Walsh at St Mary’s West Melbourne Catholic Church, witnessed by James Murphy and Mary Kirkpatrick (Aunty Kitty).

William was born at North Melbourne on February 10, 1897, son of Edward Walsh, labourer (later hotel keeper) aged 31 (born County Cork), and Hannah Lane aged 23 (born County Kerry). William’s grandparents were William Walsh, farmer, and Mary Sullivan, and John Lane, farmer, and Mary O’Connor.

William Walsh and sister Margaret (Aunty Peggy Phillips).

Veronica Kirkpatrick and William Walsh, West Melbourne, 1927.

William had three sisters: Mary (Mrs R.Murphy), Margaret (see photo) (Mrs H G Phillips), and Ellen (Mrs F Alcock). He also had a half-brother Thomas, born to Hannah after the death of Edward Walsh and Hannah’s remarriage to Thomas Woods.

William Julian “Billy” Walsh, died 1933

William and Veronica “Vera” Walsh had three surviving children: William Julian “Billy” who died in September 1933, aged 3; Mary Therese (Mrs A Mewett), born January 1, 1934; John Edward, born November 16, 1935. A grave at Fawkner Cemetery holds the burials of Ann Walsh, July 18, 1928; Baby Walsh, stillborn September 28, 1929; John Walsh, stillborn October 17, 1932; also William Julian, September 20, 1933 (see photo).

John and Mary Walsh, home of Uncle Jim Kirkpatrick, Brunswick, circa 1939.

William Walsh and daughter Mary, Melbourne Showgrounds.

William Walsh with his niece, Peggy Murphy.

Veronica died at a private hospital in Moreland Road, Coburg, on November 22, 1935, aged 35, from post-natal complications following the birth of her baby son John on November 16. William remarried Edith McGhee on July 14, 1938 at All Saints Church of England East St Kilda.

William died of tuberculosis on February 26, 1941 at The Repatriation General Hospital, Caulfield, hotel keeper, aged 43. He was buried with his first wife Veronica at Fawkner Cemetery, alongside the grave of their deceased children. Their surviving children, Mary and John, were orphans. Margaret Phillips (Aunty Peggy) assumed guardianship and arranged for the children to be accommodated from place to place but never in her home, her hotel.

Mary and John with their older cousins Eileen and Jimmy Kirkpatrick, Brunswick, circa 1939.