Marie Therese (Hennessy) Buckley (1920 - 2006)

Born 1 Apr 1920 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of William Henry Buckley — married 22 Dec 1941 in lavender bay, north sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 29 Sep 2006 at age 86 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Adam Buckley [send private message]

Biography

Marie was born on the 1st of April 1920 at The Pines Private Hospital in Goulburn NSW. She was the eldest daughter of William and Dorothy Hennessy of ‘Lakeview’ Currawang, a sheep grazing property overlooking Lake George.

In her early years, Marie lived on the property and attended the local Currawang public primary school.

In 1932 she entered St. Joseph’s catholic boarding college in North Goulburn. There, as well as academic subjects, she studied singing and music and learned to play the piano.

26th June 1935- Performed at "Old time Ball^[1]

In 1935, her mother became seriously ill, and Marie had to leave school 'and return to Currawang to help care for her and her 2 younger sisters Patricia and Lorraine.

April 18, 1936 when Miss Evelyn(Jo)McCarthy-6410, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs.J. McCarthy, of Albert Street, was married to Hugh JosephMiners-201, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Miners, of Bradley Street. ^[2]

Their mother died when Marie was only 17 years old, leaving her with the responsibility of running the household for their family. During the shearing season, she would also cook for a team of shearers. Marie was also an excellent horsewoman and was actively involved in sheep and cattle mustering on the property. She had her own special horse, a favourite pet chestnut mare called ‘Gracie’.

However, a year later about 1938, she got the opportunity to move to Sydney and board with a family friend so she could continue her studies in singing and music.

Marie obtained a part time job as a counter assistant at Wynn’s Department store while she studied at the NSW Conservatorium of Music.

On one occasion while celebrating her 19th birthday(1939) with friends at ‘Roses’ restaurant in York St. Sydney she was invited to come up and sing a couple of songs with Sam Babicci Babicci-1 band. As a result of that occasion, she was offered a job and sang regularly with the band for about a year.

From her singing studies at the Conservatorium, she was awarded a scholarship to go to London to further her career. However, because of the outbreak of the 2nd world war, her dreams could not be realized, and she stayed in Australia, working at Standard Telephones and Cables for the war effort.

Marie went back to Goulburn regularly to visit family and friends and on one of these occasions she met her future husband William Buckley (Buck)Buckley-1756. She was at a social evening at the Gordon Hotel at North Goulburn. Buck had come up from Marulan where he was working as a mechanic and fitter at the limestone quarry. He put his head around the door of an upstairs room where Marie and some friends were having a private singsong. He asked if he could come in and join the party. He was a regular afterwards up till he and Marie were married on the 22nd of December 1941.

2nd March 1940 -Miss Marie Hennessy, of Goulburn, sang several delightful numbers and held the audience spellbound with her singing of "Danny Boy." ^[3]

19th Mar 1940- Performed at the feminist Club ^[4]

17th May 1940- Performed for World Fellowship Committee ^[5]

4th August 1940^[6]

17th Jan 1942 - Soloist at Wedding Kathleen O'Brien & Isaac Brendon ^[7] Wedding 17th Jan 1942. SS. Peter and Paul's Cathedral was beautifully decorated by the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy College, for the marriage, on the 17th inst., of Kathleen Margaret, second daughter of Mrs. M. M. O'BrienSykes-1693, and the late P. F. O'BrienO'Brien-10435, of 'Clarevale,' Currawang, to Isaac Brendon, .elder son of the late Mr.' Goodwin and Mrs. I. 'Goodwin, Sydney. Very Rev. Father J. Blakeney (Adm.)Blakeney-555 officiated. Miss M. Hasler presided at the organ. The Soloist during the ceremony was Mrs. Buckley (Marie Hennessy). The bride, who was escorted by her brother, Mr. Ken O'BrienO'Brien-10437, wore a gown of bridal satin, cut on classical lines with a circular train. She carried a prayer book, given to her by the Sisters of St. Joseph, North Goulburn. Miss Sheila O'Brien, sister of the bride, and Miss Pat Bleakley, Sydney, were bridesmaids, both frocked alike. Mr. Myles Sykes was best man, and Mr. Harris KrohnKrohn-479 groomsman. Mrs.O'Brien received the 70 guests at the Fireside Inn. She was assisted by the bridegroom's motherMahar-399. The honeymoon is being spent on the Mountains. The future home of Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin will be in Sydney. .

After their marriage, Marie and Buck moved into an apartment in Lavender Bay overlooking Sydney harbour. They were there the night {29 May 1942} a Japanese mini submarine entered the harbour and torpedoed a ferry vessel housing many servicemen. There was a friend staying with them who was due to go back to the ferry that evening but decided to stay an extra night. That decision may have saved his life.

Marie had her 1st child Denis in June 1944 while they were still living in North Sydney. They moved several times around Sydney. Terry the second child was born in July 1945 while they were in Rooty Hill. Julie was next, born in June 1947 in Regentville. The next move was to St. Mary’s where Raymond was born in 1949. The family then moved back to Goulburn in 1950 and Kevin was born in September 1951.

A small house was purchased in Faithful St. where Marie was to confront the biggest challenge of her life. It was here that Buck was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease and given less than 10 years to live. Marie found herself with 5 young children, a dying husband and no source of income. She obtained a job working in the laundry of OLMC catholic convent through the day while the children were at school. In the evening, she utilized her musical training by singing and playing the piano in the lounge of the Grand Hotel.

19th April 1952 Marie sang at wedding of Lorna McCarthyMcCarthy-6409 and Ralston FitzsimmonsFitzsimmons-986

Marie also sang at many functions and weddings and she and organist Marj. Hasler many times provided renditions of 'Ave Maria’ and 'Panis Angelicus’ from the choir loft of Sts. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral.

Unfortunately, because of the cold Goulburn climate, Buck’s health was deteriorating faster. They therefore decided to move back to the warmer Sydney climate and settled in Bankstown. Buck died in February 1962. Marie never remarried although she was only 42 at that time. She often said that her children were the most important thing in her life, and she had no desire to settle with another partner. That same year, Marie also lost her father, William Hennessy and in 1964, her younger sister Patricia O’Leary who left behind 5 small children. Marie worked with her youngest sister Lorraine to help Patricia’s husband Hilary in the raising of the children.

1967 Marie sang Helen McCarthy and and Kenneth Davis @St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral Goulburn

1970 Marie sang Marie McCarthy and Wayne Spence @St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral Goulburn

She initially moved into a retirement village, but when she could no longer manage on her own, she transferred to an adjoining hostel and eventually to Lakeside nursing home in Laurieton. Early 2005 the family were successful in having her transferred to Mirambeena Nursing home in Goulburn. She resided there until her death on the 29th of September 2006. Marie’s final resting place is in the small Spring Valley cemetery with her parents, grandparents, other family relatives and immigrant ancestors.

Personal recollection of events witnessed by Adam Buckley as remembered 21 Mar 2019

Sources

1. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103384210?fbclid=IwAR1CevyESEMYZtxqo3p5uYDPb4r_le5wmpCqfXGX3kELmKBFE7GlP7PWU48
2. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/103303187?fbclid=IwAR3WNWSPGYJaNvtTwFlNjndV_YjoLvKRYZVDuVPZ0Y93wbkPfhEGF95CyB4
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221303086?searchTerm=%22Marie%20Hennessy%22%20Goulburn&searchLimits=
4. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17660092?searchTerm=%22marie%20hennessy%22&searchLimits=l-title&fbclid=IwAR05u-lDVQOnlluRG8IeuSLT_rigRJz2M346CWVmV8gTH8sgHNN7vYxfMGU
5. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17678772?searchTerm=%22marie%20hennessy%22&searchLimits=l-title&fbclid=IwAR1wPOx2DYR76M7L0-rDEuoecPbYDN7n3IIYVVZI1hNpZzaKXBq3y6fYX0I
6. ↑ Insert reference here
7. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106362341?searchTerm=%22Marie%20Hennessy%22%20Goulburn&searchLimits=

• Hennessey Hill ^[8]
• Hennessey’s Hill-https://www.mininghistory.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/3.-McGowan.Article3.V.5.2007-.compressed.pdf

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Currawang_-_Ruin_with_Lake_George_in_background_(Looking_south,_April_2021).jpg