
James Arthur Winney was born in London on 18 July 1859. He received a musical education at the Tonic Solfa College in London and as a young man was employed as an organist and choir master. Arriving in Australia in 1880 he obtained work in a similar capacity first in Goulburn and then in Maitland, where he met and married Millicent Wilson in 1884.1
Never settling for long in one place, James and his growing family moved around NSW until 1890 when he is reported as being a journalist, first in Grafton and then in Kempsey.2 This was followed by brief stays in Queanbeyan and Sydney before arriving in Taree circa 1903 where he became a contributing journalist on the Wingham Chronicle,3 while his wife advertised her skills as a milliner.4
Millicent soon returned to Sydney while James settled in Taree and again advertised his services as a teacher of music and voice production.5 Always a supporter of patriotic causes, he was a long term resident of the Central Palace Boarding House and attended its closure in 1926.6 His death took place in the Manning River District Hospital on 5 August 1943,7 his long life attributed in part to a daily cold shower.8
Author: Penny Teerman
References:
1 www.bradleyandwinneyfamily.com
2 Ibid.
3 Wingham Chronicle Saturday 24 October 1903 Pg 6
4 Wingham Chronicle Saturday 26 December 1903 Pg 5
5 Wingham Chronicle Saturday 7 December 1907 Pg 5
6 Manning River Times Wednesday 5 May 1926 Pg 3
7 www.bradleyandwinneyfamily.com
8 Wingham Chronicle Friday 17 July 1936 Pg 4