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the family of james belcher of waterford, ireland - University of ...

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40 CHAPTER 4. FOURTH GENERATION 1869 - 1907<br />

local affairs <strong>the</strong>re. He started a local football club and tennis club. He was an elder<br />

at Thoona Presbyterian Church and was involved in <strong>the</strong> local school committee. He<br />

also ran a small Border Leicester stud on his farm.<br />

Ada Clarice Smith née Belcher<br />

Ada Clarice Belcher was born at Miepoll East on 28th October 1888, <strong>the</strong> eldest<br />

daughter and second child <strong>of</strong> William Belcher and Ellen Belcher née Jamieson.<br />

During her childhood, she lived firstly in <strong>the</strong> original selection home at Miepoll<br />

East, just over <strong>the</strong> Middle Creek. As <strong>the</strong> eldest girl, much <strong>of</strong> her time would have<br />

been spent looking after <strong>the</strong> younger children <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong>.<br />

About 1901, when she was about 13, after her fa<strong>the</strong>r had been confined to hospital,<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong> farm was rented out and <strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong> moved to Euroa, where <strong>the</strong>y lived in a<br />

rented brick house, upstream along <strong>the</strong> Seven Creeks from <strong>the</strong> Sydney Road. While<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong> lived in Euroa, Ada had lessons in painting, dressmaking, singing and<br />

piano. For a time she worked at Mr. W. H. Neville’s draper’s shop. During this time<br />

she also taught Sunday School at <strong>the</strong> new Euroa Presbyterian Church in Kirkland<br />

Street.<br />

By 1909, <strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong> had moved out to “Ro<strong>the</strong>say”, on <strong>the</strong> <strong>family</strong> farm, which<br />

her bro<strong>the</strong>rs were now old enough to manage, and Ada assisted with <strong>the</strong> house and<br />

farm duties. She too joined in many district activities, including <strong>the</strong> Tennis Club,<br />

and dances and social evenings. She was by <strong>the</strong>n a good piano player and a fine<br />

singer. She was a active member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Presbyterian Church, which held services at<br />

<strong>the</strong> Moglonemby Mechanics Institute Hall, and she was <strong>the</strong> organist for many years,<br />

from 1913 until 1927.<br />

A fair amount <strong>of</strong> time was spent away from home, including housekeeping for a<br />

while for her two bro<strong>the</strong>rs at Seaford, Harry being Assistant Station Master <strong>the</strong>re,<br />

and Jack who lived <strong>the</strong>re while studying Wool-classing at <strong>the</strong> Melbourne Technical<br />

College. She also stayed from time to time with sister Allie, who was teaching at<br />

Geelong. During <strong>the</strong> 1914-18 War, she had worked for <strong>the</strong> Comforts Fund and <strong>the</strong><br />

Red Cross to raise money for War Relief.<br />

Ada was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first women in <strong>the</strong> district to learn to drive a car. On one<br />

occasion, she and her mo<strong>the</strong>r drove to Mildura to visit her sister Allie, who lived<br />

<strong>the</strong>re after her marriage. The two women travelled toge<strong>the</strong>r by car. The event<br />

include driving over sand-hills on <strong>the</strong> unmade roads, with her mo<strong>the</strong>r pushing sand<br />

bags under <strong>the</strong> wheels as Ada drove. The trip <strong>the</strong>re and back was most successful, if<br />

adventurous.

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