| [Index] |
| Doris Henrietta (Dobbie) ELWORTHY (1896 - 1975) |
| Children | Self + Spouses | Parents | Grandparents | Greatgrandparents |
| Doris Henrietta (Dobbie) ELWORTHY (1896 - 1975) + Douglas Ian FREW-BROWN (1901 - 1961) |
Arthur Ernest ELWORTHY (1866 - 1935) | James Baker ELWORTHY (1833 - 1889) | George ELWORTHY (1813 - 1878) | |
| Emma BOWCHER (1810 - 1854) | ||||
| Henrietta Sophia Jane LARGE (1846 - 1915) | William James LARGE (1806 - 1881) | |||
| Mary Ann (Marianne) Caroline WRIXON (1819 - 1888) | ||||
| Leah Christian ISAAC (1865 - 1930) | John ISAAC (1827 - 1895) | John (William) ISAAC | ||
| Letitia WEBB | ||||
| Elizabeth (Lizzie) KING (1821 - 1905) | William KING (1785 - ) | |||
| Jane QUILLIAM (1792 - ) |
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| b. 17 May 1896 at Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia |
| m. 1930 Douglas Ian FREW-BROWN (1901 - 1961) at Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 21 Nov 1975 at Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia aged 79 |
| Parents: |
| Arthur Ernest ELWORTHY (1866 - 1935) |
| Leah Christian ISAAC (1865 - 1930) |
| Siblings (4): |
| Frederick Arthur ELWORTHY (1891 - 1967) |
| Eileen Christian ELWORTHY (1892 - 1956) |
| James Baker ELWORTHY (1894 - 1965) |
| John Douglas ELWORTHY (1898 - 1942) |
| Events in Doris Henrietta (Dobbie) ELWORTHY (1896 - 1975)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 17 May 1896 | Doris Henrietta (Dobbie) ELWORTHY was born | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 21934/1896 | ||
| 1930 | 34 | Married Douglas Ian FREW-BROWN (aged 29) | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 6961/1930 | |
| 03 Feb 1930 | 33 | Death of mother Leah Christian ISAAC (aged 64) | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 1140/1930 | |
| 19 May 1935 | 39 | Death of father Arthur Ernest ELWORTHY (aged 69) | Cooma, New South Wales, Australia | 6133/1935 | |
| 30 May 1961 | 65 | Death of husband Douglas Ian FREW-BROWN (aged 60) | Leeton, New South Wales, Australia | 15484/1961 | |
| 21 Nov 1975 | 79 | Doris Henrietta (Dobbie) ELWORTHY died | Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia | 107534/1956 | |
| Personal Notes: |
|
Gundagai midwife Mrs Davis brought Arthur and Leah's second daughter, Doris Henrietta into the world on 17 May 1896 and Leah must really have had her hands full with four children in five and a half years.
The world in 1896 was still at sixes and sevens. Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, died and left a large sum of money to establish five annual prizes for those who during the preceding year had conferred the greatest benefits on mankind in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and PEACE - although the initial awards were not made until 1901. On the other side of the coin, the Shah of Persia was assassinated; there were massacres of Armenians in Constantinople; Kitchener began his campaign against the Mahdi in the Sudan and France annexed Madagascar. The Klondike gold rush began in Canada, the first modem Olympics were held in Athens, Puccini's opera "La Boheme" was performed in Turin, radioactivity was discovered and 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' author Harriet Beecher Stowe died. Life in Gundagai was much more organised and orderly. Like her siblings Doris attended Gundagai Primary School, then boarded at Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School at Darlinghurst. Throughout her life she took an enthusiastic interest in everything around her and her bright, cheerful personality and infectious charm won many friends in town and district. She was a very keen sportswoman, especially enjoying tennis and golf. "Dobbie" as she was known in the family, zealously supported the Red Cross, the local hospital, St John's Church of England and was available to assist any charity needing help. The various sporting organisations to which she belonged also benefited from her unstinting support. The Gundagai Times reported on most of the town's social functions and with her very widespread interests, Dobbie almost always got a mention. In April 1916, the Misses Elworthy and Hansen provided music at a euchre party until the early hours next morning! At a tree planting ceremony in May she planted a tree in remembrance of George Putland whilst her father gave one guinea to the fund. In October a letter appeared under the heading "Soldier's Sister Writes"; "It has been said that if all the eligible young men go to fight there will be none left to provide the women who wish to marry with husbands. I believe I am right in saying that if a young man is eligible for the war and does not go, then he is ineligible for marriage, for what woman will marry a shirker when she can marry a man?" Signed A Elworthy, Gundagai in tiny letters it sounds more like Dob than Arthur. On 27 Apri11917 Dobbie and her friend Miss Ollie Hansen organised a 'Linen Dance' to raise funds for the local hospital then four days later she and two visiting Queensland cousins, Mona and Kitty Shannon, were hostesses at the Hospital's May Carnival Dance. But Dobbie was not just a good hostess and organiser. She also made a camisole which she raffled to raise funds for a 'Gundagai Cot' at the Renwick Children's Hospital in Sydney. Dobbie was very proud of her three soldier brothers and throughout the war years spared no effort in raising money for the troops. Gundagai was very supportive of its volunteers and there were many funds to provide comforts. They had a Soldiers' Cigarette Fund, a Sheep Donation Fund, Red Triangle Day to raise money for the YMCA etcetera, etcetera! Whichever organisation was active, Dobbie's name would be championing its cause, and even when the war was over and the troops back home, Dobbie was still in there raising money. She was nominated for a "Queen of the Day" competition in 1919 in connection with Repatriation Day. Her friends rallied, holding lots of functions in support of her candidature. Commenting on one event, the Times said the dance for the landowner's candidate was a great success. "People came from Cootamundra and all around. Miss O. Hansen was one of the secretaries and did a good job." A dance was held at Coolac with "motor lorries to take people from Cootamundra and Gundagai, also seven motor cars" and Bongongolong was another popular venue. At Gundagai Show, the Cheer-o-Girls, a Sydney troupe of entertainers, sold sweets to support Dobbie. After all that activity, it's a shame she didn't win. She came second but raised the magnificent sum of 450 pounds - a wonderful achievement! The names most connected with Dobbie in her activities were Olive Hansen, younger sister of her sister-in-law Vi and a Miss Stutchbury (her Christian name was never reported in the paper). Dobbie and Miss S were joint Hon. Secretaries of the Tennis Club, with Ollie on committee. During 1919, pneumonic flu was wreaking havoc world-wide and was prevalent in Sydney where Dr W Elworthy, brother of Dr Robert Elworthy of Adelong died from it in mid-April. No real connection with these Drs Elworthy has been discovered although their father William was also a Devon man who settled at Imbil near Gympie after arriving c.1866 with his brother John. Their sister Mary Ann Hawkins and husband George were early settlers in the Logan district of Queensland where some descendants still reside. The flu was extremely contagious but in early May brave Dobbie, Miss Stutchbury and two other young women offered their services as voluntary aides to the Gundagai Emergency Hospital. Maybe the flu abated locally as after six weeks of V.A.D-ing, she went to Young to assist with similar work there. The Times reported on 01 Aug: "As the emergency hospital at Young has been closed down, Miss Doris Elworthy returned home on Tuesday morning. She speaks in glowing terms of the treatment she received at the hands of everybody and is very anxious now to keep on nursing. She and her brother Fred go to Sydney this week to meet their soldier brother Jack who is expected on Wednesday." There is no indication that Dobbie was able to fulfil her ambition and she appears to have remained at home taking care of her parents and probably brother John until he was married. Without doubt she would have continued her busy charitable and sporting lifestyle. The Sheridan Street dental practice of RM. Kirkpatrick was offered for sale and purchased on 5 June 1928 by Douglas Ian FREW BROWN, BDS. Son of the Rev John Frew Brown and Agnes Finlay DOW, he was born in Blantyre, Scotland in 1901 and came to Australia as a baby. Five years her junior, "Brownie" wed Dobbie at St John's, Gundagai on 11 Jun 1930 - just two years and six days after he bought the business. Dobbie's mother Leah died just four months beforehand - but maybe it was this very fact that left 34-year-old Dobbie free to marry. Prior to the wedding "a very pleasing function was held in St John's Hall when a very representative gathering of over 100 citizens attended and presented Doris Elworthy with a substantial cheque as a token of their esteem and appreciation of her good citizenship. One and all expressed sincere wishes for her future happiness and prosperity." Many of the towns's prominent citizens paid tribute. Solicitor Mr E.E. Weekes spoke of her 'wonderful record of work assisting in many charitable movements for the benefit of her fellow citizens, both of the town and the State generally'. The Rev. Davis said she had always been to the fore in church functions and decorating the church for weddings. "Were all those brides present at her own wedding, the church would be well filled." Mr John Walsh who had known her when she was a toddler, felt unable to express adequately his appreciation of her good citizenship, whilst Mr W.E. Stribley expressed the thanks of the Hospital Board for her untiring efforts. Mr T.A Woodbridge 'spoke in eulogistic terms' of her good citizenship and said she was worthily carrying on the sterling qualities of her parents. There were many other accolades in similar vein as well as comments on her 'personality that any young lady would do well to emulate.' The Times reported in August 1931 that Dobbie underwent an operation at the local hospital and another in November. In 1934 Brownie moved his dental practice to Leeton where both he and Dob were soon devoting their considerable energies to their church, Red Cross, the hospital and other charities. Brownie also shared Dobbie's love of golf and tennis. Before long Dobbie had created a beautiful garden at her new home in Wade Avenue. In 1942 while Betty Elworthy was waiting to begin her nursing training in Sydney, she spent 12 months with her Frew-Brown aunt and uncle. In those war days the Manpower department made sure everyone worked for the good of the nation (whether they liked it not)! Dobbie and Betty were directed to work at the cannery. Betty worked among the onions until her uncle and his patients could no longer bear the pungent smell which seeped into the surgery attached to the house. Betty was urged to transfer to a less odoriferous vegetable! Brownie was a keen member of the Volunteer Defence Corps during the war years and Betty remembers her uncle having a wry sense of humour. He was also a charter member of Leeton Rotary Club and a tireless worker for its varied projects. Brownie was involved with the Masonic Lodge, the Wade Club and in later years became a keen bowler. Whatever problems he may have had were well concealed; he was well regarded by the townspeople, had lots of friends and seemed to be content with life. But tragedy struck without warning on 30 May 1961! Constable Duffy from Yanco was driving along a road near Alexander's brickworks, off the Euroley Bridge road when he discovered Brownie's body a little way off the road near a tree on the edge of the forest reserve with a bullet wound in his head and a .22 calibre rifle nearby. He had not been reported missing and the policeman was not looking for him. Dobbie, his friends and the whole town were shocked and bewildered at the grim find. It was later stated that Brownie had been worried about his health although he had maintained jovial spirits whilst among his friends. Following an inquest a large and representative funeral service was held at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Leeton prior to his remains being taken to Sydney for cremation at Northern Suburbs. His grieving friends from the Wade Club formed a guard of honour at the railway station. Dob left Leeton and bought a waterfront unit at Gosford with glorious views over the waters of Broken Bay. Her good friend Mrs McDonald, former Matron of Leeton Hospital, had a unit in the same block and before long Dobbie was secretary of the Body Corporate! They were among friends; a large contingent of ex-Leetonites resided on the Central Coast and maintained strong social contacts. Dobbie built a house at Budgewoi next door to her brother Fred in Diamond Head Drive. Not long after his death she moved to Gunnedah to be near her sister-in-law Heather Elworthy and enjoy the company of her niece Helen Tombs, her husband Peter and their four little boys. Doris Henrietta died at Gunnedah Hospital on 21 Nov 1975, just six months short of her 80th birthday. She was cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium chapel three days later. No children |
| Source References: |
| 2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Downunder, Title: Devon to Downunder, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997 |
| - Reference = 252ff (Name, Notes) |