Kathleen Mary RYAN

1887-1976

Child No. 2 of John Gregory Ryan and Mary Anne Ryan (nee Farrell)

Submitted by her granddaughter, Cynthia, daughter of Lindley & Margaret McLean (nee Douglas)

Our grandmother, Catherine Mary Ryan, mother of Yvonne, John, Lindley and Kevin, was born in Taree, New South Wales on November 6, 1887.

The second eldest child of Mary Anne and John Ryan, she was registered as Catherine but always was known as Kit or Kathleen.

She was baptised at the Catholic Church in Taree on December 11th, 1887. Her Godparents, listed from church records, were James Schmitzer and Hanna Margaret Farrell. Her true Godparents were probably Frederick Schmitzer and Honora Farrell who were married in 1888 and subsequently farmed on Oxley Island. Honora was a younger sister of Mary Anne.

Kit attended the Oxley Island Public School and the Taree Convent School. She worked hard on the farm and became both an excellent horsewoman and rower. As their life on the farm revolved around the Manning River where the old dairy still remains today, she became a very strong sculler having to row back and forth across the river to the mainland. Other remnants still on the island today include the old jetty where they moored their boats and the old wharf where the supplies were transported via boat. Life on the farm in the 1800’s was fairly tough; they worked extremely hard in the dairy and used horse-drawn vehicles and small boats for transport.

Kathleen met her future husband, Spencer John McLean on the island. He was born on January 28, 1891 at South Woodburn to John and Henrietta McLean. John McLean, his father, was a carpenter. Spencer grew up to be a farmer and he and his father were outstanding oarsmen, the latter being a world champion sculler.

Spencer and Kit were married at the Catholic Church, Cundletown on July 15, 1913. Their four children, Yvonne, Jon, Lindley and Kevin were born in 1914, 1915, 1918 and 1921. Sometime during these years Spencer and Kit moved to Sydney where Spencer started work as an accountant and they purchased a home in Princes Street, Bexley. These were the happiest years of Kit’s life. In 1921, Spencer died suddenly, tragically collapsing after a severe bout of pneumonia followed by heart failure. Kit gained the strength to bring him inside from the backyard toilet after his collapse but he died two days later leaving his young widow with four small children to care for.

Kit suffered hard times after Spencer’s death. She was eventually forced to sell the family home with but ₤100 left to pay for full ownership. Kit did not receive any financial help and found herself living a “pillar to post” existence. Her furniture was placed in storage and she returned to Oxley Island to work on the farm. At one stage her four children were placed in a children’s refuge or orphanage. She returned to the island with bittersweet implications. She felt at home on the farm, but later in life was disappointed that she was never left a share in the property by her father whom she has worked alongside for many years.

Kit worked as a housekeeper for an Italian hotelier, named Joe Caperero, whom she subsequently married (1924). It is not known how long the marriage lasted, as she never discussed this part of her life. Kit and the children moved back to Sydney and started living in Flat C at 121 Darling point Road – “Yarranabee”. Her son, Lindley Alwyn, won a scholarship to a prestigious private school, Sydney Grammar, but did not remain there but attended Waverley College with his brother, Kevin. After finishing school, Lin joined the Public Service and eventually worked his way to become Civil Secretary/Accountant for the state of Queensland. Kevin joined the Navy.

Yvonne started her nursing career at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Parramatta and later at St. Vincent’s Hospital. She was a triple-certificated Sister and later Matron of Broughton Hall.

Kit never stopped working either. She spent time as a cook for the local golf club and at Bateman’s Bay and for a while prepared famous jockey George Moore’s meals at home.

Little is known of her son, John Spencer except that he died tragically on June 10, 1935, taking his own life. The death certificate reads carbon monoxide poisoning.

Kit was a strong, resolute, kind, generous and dominant woman. None who visited 121 Darling Point Road ever forgot her.

With her failing health she was admitted to the Little Sisters of the Poor at Randwick. She died on July 8, 1976 not long after Yvonne who died on August 14 of the same year. She is buried at Rookwood Cemetery alongside Spencer, her husband and Yvonne, her devoted daughter.

Lin and Kevin both married remarkable women; Margaret Beryl Douglas and Joyce Athena Sandstrom who raised large families. Margaret had five sons and two daughters: John, Kevin, Greg, Bruce, David, Cynthia and Fabianne. Joy had four daughters all named after their great grandmother, Maria, Maryanne, Michelle and Marita – “Mary” in four different languages.

Additional eulogies from Marita, John and Cynthia:

Marita, daughter of Kevin and Joy:

My memories if Nan McLean are of an extremely strong-willed woman who definitely “ruled the roost”. She was a very hard worker who supported her children and educated them independently, at great financial cost.

She was big-boned, tall and very disciplinarian but also a devout Christian.

I remember she made us say the Rosary with her before going to bed at night. She was a brilliant cook and a generous hostess. From cooked breakfasts to afternoon tea, sones and jams; you name it, she cooked it. She was also an excellent dressmaker, darner and mender. She made dresses for the four girls. On Saturday mornings she liked to have a bet on the horses and, as grandchildren, we had to keep quiet when the races were broadcast on the radio.

John McLean, son of Lin and Margaret:

My first memories of Nan, Kit Ryan, as a boy visiting 121 Darling Point Road in Sydney were of a strong, athletic woman who could at times be very strict; maybe as a result of her rowing skills and rasing four children on her own. Her years of growing up are a mystery to me. Auntie Yvonne was very generous to us when we were children. I remember her picking me up from Nan’s to buy my first pair of long trousers at Anthony Hordens in Sydney.

Nan was extremely fond of George Moore, the famous jockey, for whom she cooked and cleaned house for many years. She liked to have a bet on the horse races.

My other memory is of her trying to repair the old mantle-chiming clock which I had reduced to a collection of parts and pieces.

Cynthia Marshall, daughter of Lin and Margaret.

I have mixed memories of Nan. She was very straight forward and to the point. I guess as grandchildren we didn’t realise the hardships she has lived through. But Auntie Yvonne, a spinster, lived with her at 121 Darling Point Road and looked after her very well.

Dad, Lin, would organise for three of us children to visit Nan and Auntie Yvonne during school holidays and I remember Nan was always in the kitchen cooking; pikelets and porridge for breakfast on the old black wood stove and large pots of winter stew. She always asked me to help put her stockings on in the morning and she had to walk with a cane sometimes.

Yvonne spoiled us rotten. She would take us out to pantomimes, concerts, Taronga Park Zoo, Luna Theme Park and visits to the hospital or picnics by the water. The flat was like another world; and we used to play in all the nooks and crannies in and around the other units. We used to love going up and down the tiled stairs which I believe are the original tiles today.

Nan and Auntie Yvonne used to have words now and then but, upon reflection, I think they were very close and both lived and worked hard keeping a high moral standard and taught us good Christian values which I feel certain are still instilled in us today.

There was one door to a room in Nan’s flat that to this day remains a secret to all of us, but we wonder if it was her late son, John Spencer’s bedroom.

I also remember Nan and Auntie Yvonne coming to Brisbane to look after us when Mum was in hospital. Auntie Yvonne always packed lollies and treats for us and also a bottle of brandy in her clothing. Nan had a long coat and gloves in her suitcase.

We also pay tribute to our grandmother and our parents for giving us some wonderful childhood memories to treasure for life.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Kathleen with Yvonne in Sydney

Caption on Photo: "Taken at home, 1910 Oxley Island, when I used to row in the regattas"