| [Index] |
| Marion Ellen (Mimi) HITCHMAN (1880 - 1947) |
| b. 1880 at Concord, New South Wales, Australia |
| m. 11 Mar 1902 Alexander James GIBSON (1876 - 1960) at Gordon, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 1947 at North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia aged 67 |
| Parents: |
| Thomas Joseph HITCHMAN (1855 - 1947) |
| Kate JONES (1859 - 1945) |
| Siblings (2): |
| Ida Muriel HITCHMAN (1882 - 1975) |
| Harold Roy HITCHMAN (1884 - 1970) |
| Children (4): |
| Alexander Roy Morris GIBSON (1903 - 1975) |
| Violet Marion Hall GIBSON (1907 - 1989) |
| Roger Barraclough GIBSON (1909 - 1977) |
| Kitty Desmond GIBSON (1919 - ) |
| Grandchildren (8): |
| , James Alexander Wearing SMITH (1936 - 1984), Elinor Marion BATHGATE (1952 - 1987) |
| Events in Marion Ellen (Mimi) HITCHMAN (1880 - 1947)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 1880 | Marion Ellen (Mimi) HITCHMAN was born | Concord, New South Wales, Australia | 4501/1880 | 2 | |
| 11 Mar 1902 | 22 | Married Alexander James GIBSON (aged 25) | Gordon, New South Wales, Australia | 2623/1902 | 2 |
| 18 Dec 1903 | 23 | Birth of son Alexander Roy Morris GIBSON | St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia | 15832/1903 | 2 |
| 01 Dec 1907 | 27 | Birth of daughter Violet Marion Hall GIBSON | Mosman, New South Wales, Australia | 2 | |
| 30 May 1909 | 29 | Birth of son Roger Barraclough GIBSON | New South Wales, Australia | 2 | |
| 23 Mar 1919 | 39 | Birth of daughter Kitty Desmond GIBSON | Lindfield, New South Wales, Australia | 2 | |
| 1945 | 65 | Death of mother Kate JONES (aged 86) | North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | 4433/1945 | |
| 1947 | 67 | Marion Ellen (Mimi) HITCHMAN died | North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Note 1 | |
| 1947 | 67 | Death of father Thomas Joseph HITCHMAN (aged 92) | North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | 13486/1946 | |
| Note 1: 5716/1947 Louisa Ellen Florence |
| Personal Notes: |
|
Kate and Thomas' first child Marion Ellen (Mimi) was born in 1880. Aged 22, on 11 Mar 1902 at St John's CofE, Gordon she wed Alexander James Gibson born 18 Dec 1876 at Hanover Square in London. Educated at Dulwich College he left school at 15 and began his engineering pupilage at Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Co., Blackwall, London.
Alex gained considerable experience in bridge and ship building over the years. He went to China and in 1899 was in charge of the drawing office of an engineering and shipbuilding firm in Shanghai, China where he was responsible for the design of structural work for the Chinese Imperial Railways. This was the time of the Boxer Rebellion when many European missionaries and thousands of Chinese Christian converts were murdered by Chinese Nationalists at the instigation of the Dowager Empress. When an international force was sent to establish order Alex joined the Shanghai Volunteers. On 14 Aug 1900 Beijing was taken and China agreed to pay reparation. After the tumult died down, Alex decided he'd rather be in Australia and arrived in Sydney in September 1900. He did construction and field work for Sydney Tramways, later design and construction of ferries and punts throughout NSW. But a major work for which Alex is best remembered was his design in 1901 of a huge roof over the concourse of Sydney Central Railway Station - in his own words, an undertaking of a most intricate character. And he was only 25 years of age! Sydney University was most impressed with this work and invited him to join the staff of the P.N. Russell School of Engineering where he organised and developed courses in Design in Civil, Mechanical and Mining Engineering from first year to graduation. Alex was also elected an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. From 1904 he held a commission in the Australian Corps of Engineers and was acting i/c No 1 Field Company; in 1908 he was transferred to the Australian Intelligence Corps; in 1910 was made captain. From 1914 Alex was assistant censor in Brisbane then in 1917 served as a temporary major working on a munitions scheme in England for the Commonwealth Department of Defence. Back in Australia he was acting general manager/ chief engineer of the Australian Arsenal. In a civil capacity, he was a member of the District Military Inventions Board. Alex's work and experience was remarkably wide and varied - his many glowing references make fascinating reading. Towards the end of 1910 Alexander applied for and gained the first Chair of Engineering at the University of Queensland where he designed and built the Engineering laboratories. An official photograph shows Professor Gibson as a tall, handsome man with a wide forehead, deep set eyes, straight nose and a generous mouth. Only Marion's nose, small mouth and pointed chin show below the brim of a stunning hat. She is elegantly dressed, obviously beautiful- and with the tiniest waist imaginable for a mother of three children! He resigned the Chair in 1919 to become superintendent of construction at BHP's new steelworks at Newcastle. In 1922 Alex joined with Sir George Julius and William Poole in the firm of Julius, Poole & Gibson, a celebrated firm of civil engineers, where he was senior partner for many years. In 1938 Alex went to London to discuss safety measures for Burrinjuck Dam. He became interested in politics and with Sir Sidney Snow formed the All For Australia League which later gave rise to the United Australia Party. Needless to say, he was not a great favourite with the Premier J.T. Lang! At various times he was president of the Institution of Engineers Australia; fellow of the University of Sydney Senate; Chairman of the Standards Association of Aust; served on the council of CSIRO, etc. The Archives of Queensland University were most co-operative in supplying most of this data and the photograph mentioned. Marion died at Wollstonecraft in January 1940. On 12 Oct 1954 at Chatswood, Alex wed Ann Muriel DENT of Rockhampton. He died at Carnrneray on 02 Dec 1960. In everything he did Alex was outstanding. Accolades from his colleagues included 'he was held in universal esteem'; was deemed 'a potent influence for good'; 'has an unusual power of organisation and an energy and force of character that will overcome any obstacles'. His daughter Kitty said "he did everything he wanted to in life - and was adored by everyone." The children of Marion and Alexander were Alexander 1903; Violet 1907; Roger 1909 and Kitty 1919. |
| Source References: |
| 2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Downunder, Title: Devon to Downunder, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997 |
| - Reference = 30 (Notes) |
| - Reference = 30 (Birth) |
| - Reference = 30 (Marriage) |