Catherine 'Kate' Angela O'Keefe was born on 15th October 1857 in Cooranga North via Dalby, on the Darling Downs in the Moreton Bay District of New South Wales (now Queensland, Australia). She was the daughter of Edmond O'Keefe and Bridget Streitch. [1] Kate was just twenty months of age when Queensland gained its separation from New South Wales.
Catherine married Richard Bligh, a great grandson of former Captain of HMS Bounty and Governor of New South Wales, Admiral William Bligh, on 6th November 1879 in Dalby. [2] After living on Boothulla Station in the south western Queensland district of Charleville, where their first ten children were born, the couple made their home '"Sunnyside", in Patrick Street, Dalby, where they extended their home with one further girl:
Aged 87 years and having been widowed for twenty years, she passed away on Monday, 12th March 1945 at home in Dalby. [3] She was survived by three sons, four daughters, children-in-law and a number of grandchildren. Her funeral was announced in Brisbane's Courier Mail: [4]
"BLIGH.— The Relatives & Friends of Mrs. J. Hopper. Coorparoo, Misses Ruby, Gwen, & Kit. Bligh, Dalby, Mr. & Mrs. W. Bligh & Family, Tara, Mr. & Mrs. M. Bligh & Family, Toowoomba, Mr. & Mrs. B. Bligh & Family, Warwick, & Mrs. P. J. Masterson & Family, Brisbane, are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late beloved Mother, Mother-in-law, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Sister, & Aunt, Mrs. Catherine Angela Bligh, which is appointed to move from St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Dalby, at 3 o'clock. This Day, Tuesday, for the Dalby Cemetery. DALBY FUNERAL DIRECTORS."
Mother's and Widows Badge
The Dalby Herald published a fitting tribute to a very fine lady: [5]
"OBITUARY Mrs. K. A. Bligh.
"One of Dalby's oldest residents; Mrs. Kate Angela Bligh, died at her home in Patrick street on Monday morning. Mrs. Bligh was the widow of the late Richard James Blakeney, Bligh, of Dalby, who died, in 1925, and who for many years resided in Dalby Mrs. Bligh was born at Cooranga North, being a member of the well-known O'Keefe family, and was 89 years of age at her death. She was married in Dalby and lived for some time at Boothulla Station in the Charleville district. Mr. and Mrs, Bligh with their, family returned to live in Dalby in 1895, so that for practically half a century Mrs. Bligh has lived in the home "Sunny-side," in Patrick street.
"In recent, years Mrs. Bligh on account of advancing years had been more or less retired from public activity, but in earlier life she took a very prominent part in community life in Dalby. She was a splendid organiser, and keen worker for any movement in which she held an interest, and most of the public activities of Dalby had her interest and enthusiastic support. The Dalby Ambulance, and the Girl Guides' Association were among those to which she gave much of her time, whilst she manifested her appreciation of the work of the Red Cross Society for which she worked during the last war. Mrs. Bligh's most consistent and zealous work, probably was that in connection with her church. She was an outstanding parishioner of St. Joseph's Parish, and her long and sustained efforts in connection with parochial matters, in particular the erection of the new St. Joseph's Church, and the new St. Columba's Convent, marked her as a leader among the lady parishioners of her time. Her ability as an organiser reached far beyond the confines of Dalby, and throughout the then extensive Dalby parish, her contribution was fully recognised. A touching tribute to Mrs. Bligh's work in this direction was paid by Monsignor T. J. Nolan, P.P., V.F., at requiem mass in St Joseph's Church, this morning, which was attended by a number of people, Monsignor Nolan referred to Mrs. Bligh as a great woman whose passing was deeply mourned, and one who was regarded as a true and estimable Christian lady. Monsignor Nolan also officiated at the funeral obsequies this afternoon.
"In the last war Mrs. Bligh lost a son, Edmund Parnell Bligh, popularly known in Dalby as "Ned," who served with the A.I.F. overseas. Three daughters, Mrs. T. Thomsett. and Misses Annie and Dottie Bligh predeceased her. She is survived by three sons, Messrs. W. R. Bligh, "Sussex," Tara, Maurice Bligh, Postal Department Toowoomba, and B. Bligh, of Warwick, also four daughters, Mrs. A. Hopper, Coorparoo, Brisbane, and the Misses Gwen Bligh, Brisbane, Ruby and Kitty Bligh, of Dalby, and a number, of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mrs. A. Masterson, of Red Hill, Brisbane, who recently visited Mrs. Bligh, is a sister."
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