NameChopinDescriptionFrederic Charles Chopin was born in 1864 at Bombala, to Charles Michel Chopin and Mary Hughina Kyle (nee MacKay).
Frederic’s father Charles had arrived in Australia in 1854, aboard the ‘Herder’. Charles was a doctor, and had gained his qualifications in Paris. He settled at Bombala, NSW, where he worked as a medical doctor. Charles gained his Certificate of Naturalisation in 1860, and stated he was 35 years old and born in France.
Charles’ first wife, Sarah Jane Teys, whom he had married in 1857, died at Bombala in 1862,
Charles and second wife Mary had two children, Frederic and Augustin Reay b.1868, Bombala. Mary’s first husband Charles Kyle, had died in 1861.
In 1871, Charles is listed as having a publican’s licence for the Royal Hotel at Bombala.
Son Frederic Charles Chopin was the headmaster of Shellharbour Public School for over 27 years.
Frederic married Emilie Sara Elvira Mary Giles in 1897 and they had four children;
Charles FG b.1900, Candelo
Frederic Arthur b.1902, Candelo
Colin Hue Kane b. 1904, Paddington
Emilie Isabella Giles b.1905,
Sadly, in October 1905, just two months after the birth of her daughter, Emilie (mother) died from Pneumonia.
In 1914, Frederic married Rosie Whyte at Wollongong. Frederic was a widower aged 49 years, and Rosie a spinster aged 38.
Four years later, in 1918, Frederick's eldest son Charlie Chopin died as a result of wounds, received in France, during WWI. He was just 18 years old.
Shellharbour Public School 1913.