Annie Eda (Booth) Thomas (1894 - 1984)

Ann (Booth) Thomas was born in the Colony of Queensland (1859-1900)

Annie Eda Booth was born in Ipswich, Queensland (Australia), on 25th October 1894. She was the second daughter of English emigrants, Walter Booth and Anne Eliza Waterhouse. ^[1] Annie always believed her middle name was Edith until purchasing a copy of her birth registration. She even gave her daughter the middle name of Edith. At the time of her birth, her father was then working at the rail yards at North Ipswich as a train driver. Soon after, he was transferred to the Albion yards in northern Brisbane, which brought young Annie across the path of her future husband.

(from left) Walter, Charlotte, Anne Eliza, Jack, Annie Eda

Annie married Mervyn Thomas, on 26th December 1916 in Lutwyche Methodist Church, Queensland. ^[2] They first lived at Bradshaw Street, Wooloowin, Queensland.

In 1927, her husband moved Annie and their young daughter, Gwenda, to Sydney in search of employment as a clerk of works. Their son, Owen, was born shortly afterwards. The family settled at 36 Sellwood Street, Brighton-le-Sands, on Botany Bay.

After her husband passed away in 1964 from a heart attack, Annie remained at Brighton for some years. Eventually, about 1976, she sold up and moved into the 'granny flat' that her recently-deceased sister had built on Gwenda's house at The Grange, Brisbane.

Annie was forever active in church welfare and mission work, whether at Lutwyche Methodist, St Andrew's Presbyterian, Brighton-le-Sands, or The Grange Baptist Church. Her daughter and granddaughter, Glenys, have continued that legacy, with Glenys establishing an orphanage, Hambleton House, in India. Annie seemed to be always knitting and crocheting items for sale on church and mission stalls. If not, then she was cooking for the same purpose.

Annie passed away on 5th August 1984, at Gwenda's home in Jimboomba, Queensland. ^[3] Not once in her long live did anyone ever hear Annie say a bad word about another. Always, courteous, always gracious, always helpful, always cheerful, always remembered. Her ashes have been interred beside her husband in Woronora Cemetery, New South Wales.

Although her birth, marriage and death registrations would indicate that Annie was a life-long Queenslander, she in fact lived 49 of her 89 years in New South Wales.

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Birth Index #1894/C/5805
2. ↑ Queensland Marriage Index #1916/C/2995
3. ↑ Queensland Death Index #1984/5797

• first hand information