Kathleen O’Shannessy was the elegant and dignified matriarch of the O’Shannessy dynasty. She was married to Tom (Toby) O’Shannessy, the charismatic, rotund youngest son of Patrick and Honoria, who in the early 1860’s migrated to Australia from Ireland.
Kath was the proud queen of the manor at Swanwater Homestead and the Swanwater Station.
She was my aunt and was the one and only person of the O’Shannessy clan who ever showed me any affection. I loved her! She had the extraordinary gift of making one feel special, and I had the temerity to imagine I was her favourite.
In my younger life I was 12 years away from Swanwater, spent in boarding schools in Ballarat. I had very little contact with Aunty Kath. However, between the time when I finally completed my schooling in November 1949 and commenced work at Benalla in late February 1950, I lived at the Homestead. It was a memorable time for me, and the relationship blossomed.
Toby was a violinist in his own dance band, The Spitfires, and there were regular musical evenings. With Toby on the violin and Aunty on the piano, these were wonderful times.
Toby was responsible for getting me my job with the Victorian Producers Corporation (VPC) and he and Kath helped me to settle into my new environment in Benalla.
Time marched on and I eventually married in January 1967. Toby and Kath honoured me by sitting at the bridal table.
Happy times! Until the tragedy in June.
Kath was in hospital in Melbourne and Toby was alone in the Homestead. Somehow or other, in the depths of the night, a fire destroyed the Homestead. Toby died in the fire. I heard the news on the radio in our flat the next morning.
I don’t remember the details, but somehow Kath was returned to her son’s home, also in Swanwater, remaining there for some time.
Kath was, now, a much more subdued matriarch, having lost her beloved husband and the Homestead. The Heritage organisation made it nigh on impossible to rebuild the Homestead.
Kath was the proud queen of the manor at Swanwater Homestead and the Swanwater Station.
She was my aunt and was the one and only person of the O’Shannessy clan who ever showed me any affection. I loved her! She had the extraordinary gift of making one feel special, and I had the temerity to imagine I was her favourite.
In my younger life I was 12 years away from Swanwater, spent in boarding schools in Ballarat. I had very little contact with Aunty Kath. However, between the time when I finally completed my schooling in November 1949 and commenced work at Benalla in late February 1950, I lived at the Homestead. It was a memorable time for me, and the relationship blossomed.
Toby was a violinist in his own dance band, The Spitfires, and there were regular musical evenings. With Toby on the violin and Aunty on the piano, these were wonderful times.
Toby was responsible for getting me my job with the Victorian Producers Corporation (VPC) and he and Kath helped me to settle into my new environment in Benalla.
Time marched on and I eventually married in January 1967. Toby and Kath honoured me by sitting at the bridal table.
Happy times! Until the tragedy in June.
Kath was in hospital in Melbourne and Toby was alone in the Homestead. Somehow or other, in the depths of the night, a fire destroyed the Homestead. Toby died in the fire. I heard the news on the radio in our flat the next morning.
I don’t remember the details, but somehow Kath was returned to her son’s home, also in Swanwater, remaining there for some time.
Kath was, now, a much more subdued matriarch, having lost her beloved husband and the Homestead. The Heritage organisation made it nigh on impossible to rebuild the Homestead.
Photograph of Swanwater Homestead taken in 1965: Source: Victorian Heritage Data Base - Swanwater Homestead
Then tragedy struck again! Kath’s daughter-in-law (the spouse of her eldest son) died of cancer. The five children, the youngest of whom was 8 months old, were mother-less. Fortunately, Bernadette and I were able to foster that baby for some few years until her father remarried. The father had supported the other four children on his own.
Kath’s only daughter, now living in Townsville, encouraged her to make a move also to the Sunshine State.
There, she eventually lapsed into dementia and was accommodated in a Nursing Home. Bernadette and I visited her in the Home and fortunately, she recognised me. A few loving moments! She died peacefully some short time later.
Aunty, I have wonderful memories of the great times and I appreciate the love which you always showed me. I should also say that you taught me to accept the injustices a life can present.
Ray O’Shannessy,
16th March 2024
Kath’s only daughter, now living in Townsville, encouraged her to make a move also to the Sunshine State.
There, she eventually lapsed into dementia and was accommodated in a Nursing Home. Bernadette and I visited her in the Home and fortunately, she recognised me. A few loving moments! She died peacefully some short time later.
Aunty, I have wonderful memories of the great times and I appreciate the love which you always showed me. I should also say that you taught me to accept the injustices a life can present.
Ray O’Shannessy,
16th March 2024
Postscript: One of my nephews was also touched by Kath’s love. Being a bush poet, or bard, he wrote a poem which aptly recited her journey as the O’Shannessy Matriarch.
Kathlene Mary O'Shannessy
She has been the old family matriarch,
for nigh on, seventy years.
She joined in with all the laughter,
Gave comfort, in times of tears.
To all of her large extended family,
She was, our guiding light.
Always there to advise us on,
Difference, between wrong and right.
A fine lady that was community minded,
Supported all, for much of her life.
It was never a problem to her,
To lend a hand in time of strife.
She raised a fine family of four,
With twenty grandchildren, too.
A group of fifteen great grandchildren,
She always knew, just what to do.
To the many nieces and nephews,
She provided a holiday home.
Treated all as part of her own family,
No one ever left, to stand alone.
So I as one of many lucky nephews,
To have spent time, with an aunty so grand.
Wish to say thanks for her guidance,
Now that the lord, has taken her hand.
A lucky nephew.
Peter Worthington
She has been the old family matriarch,
for nigh on, seventy years.
She joined in with all the laughter,
Gave comfort, in times of tears.
To all of her large extended family,
She was, our guiding light.
Always there to advise us on,
Difference, between wrong and right.
A fine lady that was community minded,
Supported all, for much of her life.
It was never a problem to her,
To lend a hand in time of strife.
She raised a fine family of four,
With twenty grandchildren, too.
A group of fifteen great grandchildren,
She always knew, just what to do.
To the many nieces and nephews,
She provided a holiday home.
Treated all as part of her own family,
No one ever left, to stand alone.
So I as one of many lucky nephews,
To have spent time, with an aunty so grand.
Wish to say thanks for her guidance,
Now that the lord, has taken her hand.
A lucky nephew.
Peter Worthington
Resources: Victorian Heritage Data Base Report - Swanwater Homestead -https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/69520
Some more photos of Swanwater homestead and outbuildings from the web (sources to be added shortly):
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