Individual Details
Mary Loughron MCCONACHY
(13 Jan 1914 - 27 Oct 2003)
Mary was born Mary Loughron McConachy on the 13th January 1914 on the family property, "Bellevue" in the district of Wurdi Buloc, to parents Kathleen and David. Dr Eddy travelled the nine miles to the farm from Winchelsea in horse and gig for her birth.
Mary grew up with her older sister Jess, and younger brothers Clark and Ian.
The majority of Jess and Mary's primary education was taught at home by live-in governesses. This had some bearing on the fact that both were keen and gifted horse riders as they both used to saddle up every night to ride through the forest behind the home -apparently the only way they could escape their governesses constant surveillance.
Mary went into Winchelsea for the start of her secondary schooling, then on to MLC to complete the final years. While at MLC Mary formed a friendship with Thel Burchert that lasted throughout their lives. After MLC she went back to help on the farm.
Mary's outlet was music, and the piano in particular. She started playing at the local church services and was part of a local band during the thirties called the Midnight Revellers, with Hughie Knuckey, Russ and George Mathison and her brother Clark who filled in sometimes. Mary played the piano in this very successful dance band and those who have heard her play would recognize the influences of dance and rhythm in the animated and rollicking way she played. The Revellers played far and wide in the district from Apollo Bay to Waurn Ponds, Lorne to Winchelsea and all points between and beyond.
Mary was part of the band for a couple of years until she answered an advertisement in The Age and took up the position of chauffeur to Mr Horn, a city builder, and moved back up to Melbourne living in South Road, Brighton and taking charge of a big Chrysler Sedan. She had this position for twelve months until a serious polio epidemic in the city caused her father to demand that she return home to the farm.
Mary, along with her sister Jess and her cousins, helped out at "Mountain House", Aireys Inlet. This guest house belonged to her aunties Sara and Mary and it was all hands on deck during the summer season.
It was while at the guest house that Mary met her future husband Percy Cavigan.
Percy and Mary were married on the 1st of April in 1939, and lived in 3 Birdwood Street, Regent until December 1941 when they moved into their new house at 42 Miller Street, Preston, where Mary lived the remainder of her life. The lilac bush outside the lounge room window was one of the first bushes that she planted in her new garden, and she again enjoyed its flowers in the last weeks.
Mary’s daughter Janice was born in 1944 and son Russell was born in 1948.
Tragedy struck the family when Perc " contracted Hodgkin's disease and after a long illness, passed away in 1959.
In 1952 Mary was the pianist for the Oakover gymnastic group and from 1963 to 1977 was the pianist for the Oakover Choir, a very successful church group. The choir performed with distinction throughout Melbourne and country Victoria and cut five records as well during this time.
Since 1986, up until she was no longer able to do so, Mary was a voluntary worker at Lumeah, playing the piano in her hectic inimitable style for the happy hours and every fortnight for the church service.
Mary leaves behind her daughter Janice, son Russell, son-in-law John and daughter-in-law Margaret.
She also leaves her grandchildren -Alyssa, Meaghan, Jacinta, Ben, David, Lochie and Fiona, and her great-grandchildren, Holly and Zach.
Mary grew up with her older sister Jess, and younger brothers Clark and Ian.
The majority of Jess and Mary's primary education was taught at home by live-in governesses. This had some bearing on the fact that both were keen and gifted horse riders as they both used to saddle up every night to ride through the forest behind the home -apparently the only way they could escape their governesses constant surveillance.
Mary went into Winchelsea for the start of her secondary schooling, then on to MLC to complete the final years. While at MLC Mary formed a friendship with Thel Burchert that lasted throughout their lives. After MLC she went back to help on the farm.
Mary's outlet was music, and the piano in particular. She started playing at the local church services and was part of a local band during the thirties called the Midnight Revellers, with Hughie Knuckey, Russ and George Mathison and her brother Clark who filled in sometimes. Mary played the piano in this very successful dance band and those who have heard her play would recognize the influences of dance and rhythm in the animated and rollicking way she played. The Revellers played far and wide in the district from Apollo Bay to Waurn Ponds, Lorne to Winchelsea and all points between and beyond.
Mary was part of the band for a couple of years until she answered an advertisement in The Age and took up the position of chauffeur to Mr Horn, a city builder, and moved back up to Melbourne living in South Road, Brighton and taking charge of a big Chrysler Sedan. She had this position for twelve months until a serious polio epidemic in the city caused her father to demand that she return home to the farm.
Mary, along with her sister Jess and her cousins, helped out at "Mountain House", Aireys Inlet. This guest house belonged to her aunties Sara and Mary and it was all hands on deck during the summer season.
It was while at the guest house that Mary met her future husband Percy Cavigan.
Percy and Mary were married on the 1st of April in 1939, and lived in 3 Birdwood Street, Regent until December 1941 when they moved into their new house at 42 Miller Street, Preston, where Mary lived the remainder of her life. The lilac bush outside the lounge room window was one of the first bushes that she planted in her new garden, and she again enjoyed its flowers in the last weeks.
Mary’s daughter Janice was born in 1944 and son Russell was born in 1948.
Tragedy struck the family when Perc " contracted Hodgkin's disease and after a long illness, passed away in 1959.
In 1952 Mary was the pianist for the Oakover gymnastic group and from 1963 to 1977 was the pianist for the Oakover Choir, a very successful church group. The choir performed with distinction throughout Melbourne and country Victoria and cut five records as well during this time.
Since 1986, up until she was no longer able to do so, Mary was a voluntary worker at Lumeah, playing the piano in her hectic inimitable style for the happy hours and every fortnight for the church service.
Mary leaves behind her daughter Janice, son Russell, son-in-law John and daughter-in-law Margaret.
She also leaves her grandchildren -Alyssa, Meaghan, Jacinta, Ben, David, Lochie and Fiona, and her great-grandchildren, Holly and Zach.
Events
| Birth | 13 Jan 1914 | "Bellevue", Wurdi Buloc, Victoria, Australia | |||
| Marriage | 1 Apr 1939 | Victoria Australia - Percy Frederick CAVIGAN | |||
| Death | 27 Oct 2003 | Preston, Victoria, Australia |
Families
| Spouse | Percy Frederick CAVIGAN (1907 - 1959) |
| Child | Living |
| Child | Living |
| Father | David "Dave" MCCONACHY (1874 - 1957) |
| Mother | Catherine "Kate" ANDERSON (1886 - 1966) |
| Sibling | Jessie MCCONACHY (1912 - 1998) |
| Sibling | Clarke MCCONACHY (1917 - 1993) |
| Sibling | Living |