KILMORE DISTRICT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Roderick (‘Rody’) MAHER

b. 1869 Lancefield, Vic. ; parents Thomas MAHER & Catherine COSTIGAN
d. 18 May 1951 Kilmore, Vic. ; buried Kilmore, Vic.
Newspaper Article: Popular Postman
Obituary

m. 10 Feb 1902 South Melbourne, Vic.

Annie BUCKLEY

b. 1879 Forbes, Vic.; parents Patrick BUCKLEY & Anne Theresa HUNTER
d. 4 Oct 1907 Springfield, Vic.; buried Kilmore, Vic.
Obituary

Children

1. Thomas Michael MAHER b. 19 Jun 1902 Goldie, Vic.; 2 Oct 1978 Kilmore, Vic.; buried Kilmore, Vic.; m. 1933 Vic. – Daisy Maud WILSON
Newspaper article: 58 Years at the Track
Interview: Tom Maher’s Memories of Kilmore
2 children
i. John Patrick MAHER b. 10 Dec 1934 Kilmore, Vic. ; d. 5 Nov 1971 Melbourne, Vic. ; buried Kilmore, Vic.
 Obituary
 ii. Patrick John MAHER b. 29 Sep 1936, Kilmore, Vic. ; d. 26 Jul 2003 Kilmore, Vic.

2. Patrick Francis ‘Tock’ MAHER b. 1903 Goldie, Vic.; d. 18 Jun 2000 Kilmore, Vic.; buried Kilmore, Vic.; m. 5 Nov 1941 – Hilda Mary ASHTON (b. 1913 Kilmore, Vic.; d. 4 Dec 1997 Kilmore, Vic.; buried Kilmore, Vic.; parents Ernest Robert ASHTON & Harriet MADDERS) – no children
Newspaper article: Anvil Chorus Ends for ‘Toc’

3. Roderick John (‘Jack’) MAHER b. 4 Oct 1904 Goldie, Vic.; d. 20 Aug 1996 Melbourne, Vic.; buried Kilmore, Vic. ; never married
Newspaper article: Jack’s Unlucky Break

4. William Bernard MAHER b. 7 Mar 1907 Goldie, Vic.; d. 17 Aug 1983 Kilmore, Vic.; buried Kilmore, Vic.; m. 1935 Kilmore, Vic. – Olive Jean HALL (b. 13 Mar 1908 Kilmore, Vic. ; parents William HALL & Janet (Jessie) McKENZIE ; d. 22 Jan 2005 Kilmore, Vic. ; buried 27 Jan 2005 Kilmore, Vic.) – 6 children

After the tragic death of their mother, the four boys were split up. Tom went to South Melbourne and was raised with his cousins (the McLeods), Tock stayed in Kilmore with his father, Jack was raised by his grandparents, Thomas and Catherine Maher at Seymour, and baby Bill was raised by his aunt Ellen Clarke (nee Buckley) at Lancefield and later was sent to Dookie. In later life, all the Maher brothers lived at three different addresses in Union Street, Kilmore.

Rody’s second marriage was in 1917 in Kilmore, Vic. to Catherine Frances (‘Catie’) MAHER (b. 1883 Dookie, Vic.; parents Thomas MAHER & Margaret Theresa SCANLON; d. 1956 Kilmore, Vic.; buried Kilmore, Vic.). Catie was a niece of Annie Buckley’s step-mother Mary Scanlon – Catie’s mother Margaret Maher (nee Scanlon) was Mary’s sister.

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Death Notice – Annie Buckley

Mrs Annie, wife of Mr Roderick Maher, died at Springfield on Friday last, aged 28 years, after a few days illness. Deceased was mother of four young children, and there is much sympathy with the bereaved husband, the loss of 
his good wife at so early an age. The remains were interred in the local Catholic cemetery on Sunday, Father Martin reading the funeral service. 
Mr James Beegan attended to the mortuary arrangements.

 
(Kilmore Free Press, 10 October 1907)

Obituary – Roderick (‘Roger’) Maher

We regret to announce the death of a well-known identity of Lancefield and 
Kilmore in the person of Roger Maher who passed away at Kilmore on Friday last, 
at the age of 83 years. The deceased was the eldest son of the late Thomas and 
Catherine Maher, of Lancefield, well known farmers in the early days, where the 
deceased was born; he was educated at the Tikiwarra State School in the Lancefield 
district and as a young man assisted his parents in farming pursuits prior to 
taking up farming on his own account for a few years. The late Mr Maher was a 
keen sportsman and was a prominent member of the Lancefield football team for 
some years, as well as excelling in foot running. He married Miss Annie Buckley, 
of Deep Creek, and there were four children of the union, she predeceased him 
some 44 years ago.
The deceased later married Miss Catherine Maher, of Kilmore. 
For 33 years the late Mr Maher was employed by the PMG Department as the mail 
contractor from Kilmore to Lancefield. Residing at Kilmore for the past 40 years 
he was a well known and highly respected resident. The deceased is survived by 
his widow and four sons, Thomas (Kilmore), Patrick (Kilmore), John (Seymour) and 
William (Kilmore), also eight grandchildren and a brother (Patrick, Melbourne).
After requiem Mass at St Patrick’s Church the interment was made in the Kilmore 
Catholic Cemetery on Saturday last and the esteem in which the deceased was held 
was evidenced by the large number at the funeral. Many beautiful floral tributes 
were received and included wreaths from Kilmore Urban Fire Brigade and Junior 
Football Club, Spicers’ staff (Moreland) and employees of Spicers’ (Kilmore).
The Rev Father Clifford officiated at the services at the Church and graveside. The casket-bearers were the deceased’s four sons, T., P., J. and W. Maher, and 
the pall was supported by Messrs T. Boran, J. Ahern, W. Freyne, J. Evans, 
O. Graham, C.J. Dillon, F.J. Walder and L. Cushen. Flower bearers: F. Glavas, 
L. Haynes, P. Nichol, A. Zoch and M. Buckley. Funeral arrangements were carried 
out by Mr G. Diggle.(Kilmore Free Press, 24 May 1951)

 Obituary – John Patrick Maher

MAHER - On 5 November at RM Hospital, John Patrick of Kilmore, loved son of Thomas and Daisy, loving brother of Patrick. RIP

LATE JOHN MAHER WAS A FIREMAN 20 YEARS
John Patrick Maher, who passed away on Friday last, had been a member of the Kilmore Urban Fire Brigade for the past 20 years, and he was also interested in the work of the Rural Brigade for a lengthy period.
Members of both brigades Turned out in force at his funeral last Sunday. They formed a guard of honour outside the church and four uniformed firemen acted as coffin bearers.
The deceased fireman's neatly folded uniform and his cap were placed on top of the casket.
John Maher - 'Boots' as he was affectionately known - was born at Kilmore and lived her all his life.
He was educated at Assumption College and then gained employment  at the Broadford Mill of the Australian Paper Manufacturers.
When Spicer & Detmold (now Spicer-Cowan) opened a paper products factory in Kilmore, John joined their staff and he continued with the firm for 15 years, transferring to their East Coburg factory when they ceased operations locally.
He recently resigned his position with Spicer-Cowan and was lately employed at the Broadmeadows plant of the Ford Motor Company.
His popularity with all he worked with was evidenced by the large number of former workmates who attended his funeral or sent messages of condolence to relatives.
One of the keenest members of the Kilmore Fire Brigade, John Maher attended regular training sessions to keep fully conversant with the latest in fire fighting equipment and aids.
Each Sunday morning he was at the local fire station for radio practice and to take one of the units on its necessary weekly drives.
He won several trophies over the years in brigade competitions
Always interested in sport - particularly football - 'Boots' was one of the most loyal fans Carlton and Kilmore (the two Blues) could ever have. His allegiance to these two teams was very strong, but he took their defeats in a true sportsmanlike manner.
For a number of seasons he was boundary umpire for the Kilmore Football Club.
He was also a member of the Kilmore Turf Club.
John Maher had not enjoyed the best of health in recent times. He underwent major operations at the Royal Melbourne Hospital last Sunday week and passed away five days later, a short time prior to his 37th birthday.
The large attendance at his funeral, despite the shocking weather conditions, is testimony to the respect in which he was held. Numerous floral tributes were also received.
Of a bright and happy nature, John was ever ready to do something for others, and his acts of kindness through the years will be remembered by many residents.
Following prayers at St Patrick's Church, Kilmore, interment was made in the Catholic Cemetery. 
Coffin bearers were Captain H.J. Chapman, Lieutenant A. Skehan, Fireman D O'Toole and Fireman E. Foster, of the Kilmore Urban Fire Brigade.
Seymour Funeral Services handled the funeral arrangements.
(Kilmore Free Press, 11 Nov 1971, p. 5)

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Kilmore Catholic Cemetery

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Place Note: Springfield, Goldie, Forbes

Springfield Shire (1871-1916) was east of Romsey and Lancefield, about 60 km north of Melbourne. It was proclaimed on 23 January 1871 and amalgamated with Romsey shire on 31 May 1916. The shire’s sole village (and administrative centre) was Goldie for several years. In 1881 a railway line was constructed through Bolinda at the corner of the shire and in 1892 another line was opened along a circuitous route across the north of the shire. It was the short lived line from Kilmore to Lancefield, which closed in 1904. Mount William overlooked the north of the shire. In 1916 the shire had Chintin and Springfield, both dairying areas, and localities bearing the names of closed railway stations at Forbes, Goldie and High Park.  (Victorian Places)

Goldie is bounded to the south by the Kilmore-Lancefield Road, to the west by the West Goldie Road and to the east by McGraths Lane and to the north by Hockings Lane. Whereis

Forbes is bounded to the north by the Kilmore-Lancefield Road, and the Old Kilmore-Lancefield Road, to the east by Paynes Road. Whereis