Dyers Crossing pioneers, Eliza and George Stevens, had nine children. Below are brief details of three of their five sons.
George Jnr. (1899-1989) married Annie Valerie Hoad and had eight children. George and his brothers were often called upon to officiate at formal functions.1 After 52 years of living at Dyers Crossing, George and his family moved to 8 Smith Street, Taree.2 George and Annie are buried in Sandgate Cemetery, Newcastle.3
Joseph ‘Leo’, (1902-1985) was a businessman who began with a car for hire in Moree,4 before managing an established business, Walker & Wilson.5 He moved to Parkes where he owned The Commercial Hotel for 5 years6 before being elected as an Alderman for the Parkes Municipal Council in 1934.7 He was admitted as an A Class bookmaker in the ‘paddock’ at Randwick on 22 Aug 1940.8 Later, Leo managed The Exchange Hotel, Parkes and the Tourist Hotel, Narrabri.9 During these endeavours, Leo took a keen interest in sport sponsoring several Trophy Cups10 and was on a number of Executive Committees in Parkes.11 Leo married Miss Dorothy Palmer of Taree at St. Francis Xavier’s Church Moree on March 28, 1928.12 They had 5 children and are buried in Macquarie Park, Sydney.13
Mark (1910-1981) was born at ‘Killarney’, Dyers Crossing. Like his brothers, he was athletic and officiated at various shows and functions.14 He entered many local Shows winning awards with his horses and even for his butter-making cream.15 In 1939 Mark organised a Ball for the Manning District Ambulance and raised £42 10s/-. He received a letter of appreciation from the Superintendent.16 Mark married Angela Ann Mooney at Our Lady of the Rosary R.C. Church, Taree,17 and they lived at ‘Killarney’ till their deaths. They had no children and are buried in Krambach Cemetery.18
Author: Joan Holmes nee Stevens
More Stevens’ stories:
Eliza Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/10/eliza-stevens-nee-hickey/
George Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/10/george-stevens-of-killarney-dyers-crossing/
James Hickey Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2018/09/james-hickey-stevens/
John Daniel Stevens: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/02/bombardier-john-daniel-stevens/
Stevens Brothers’ Letters Home WW1: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/02/stevens-brothers-letters-home-ww1/
Eliza and George Stevens’ daughters: https://midcoaststories.com/2019/01/the-stevens-daughters/
References:
1 Northern Champion, 8 March 1930, 2.
2 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 17 February 1951, 2.
3 https://northerncemeteries.com.au/sandgate/deceased-search/
4 North West Champion, 4 March 1926, 1.
5 North West Champion, 24 February 1927, 3.
6 Inverell Times, 21 March 1928, 4.
7 North West Champion, 17 December 1934, 2.
8 North West Champion, 22 August 1940, 5.
9 North West Champion, 29 Sep 1941; North Western Courier, 1 August 1949, 4.
10 Western Champion, 11 Jul 1932, 2; West Wyalong Advocate, 9 Feb 1948, 1; North Western Courier, 18 May 1950, 4; Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser, 24 Nov 1927, 2.
11 Forbes Advocate, 23 Feb 1934, 10; Western Champion, 28 Oct 1932, 19; Western Champion, 28 Jul 1932, 6.
12 Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 24 Apr 1928, 1.
13 Ancestry.com Sydney, Australia, Cemetery Headstone Transcriptions, 1837-2003.
14 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 25 November 1942, 3; Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 21 August 1942, 2.
15 Sydney Morning Herald, 18 Apr 1940, 5; Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 3 May 1939, 8.
16 Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of NSW, 2 April 1949, 7.
17 NSW Births, Deaths and Marriage, 29491/1946.
18 https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2350558/memorial-search?firstName=Mark&lastName=Stevens.
