O'Dwyer

DESCRIPTION

NameO'DwyerDescriptionThomas O'Dwyer was born to Thomas and Mary, in Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland in 1823. When he was 30 years old, in 1855 he arrived in Australia aboard ‘Nabob’. His occupation on the shipping records was listed as a gardener.

In 1864, Thomas married Mary Jane Wood from Kent, England, at Stella Maris Catholic Church in Shellharbour.

Thomas and Mary had 16 children;

Patrick Myles b.1865 (married Mary Martin, died 1953, Dunmore)
Mary b.1865 (died 1865)
Phillip Augustus b.1867 (married Susan Ruth West, died 1943, Lismore)
Thomas Francis b.1868 (married Sarah Ellen Martin, died 1951, Broughton)
John C b.1869 (married Mary Quinn, died 1902, Lismore)
Vincent Paul b.1870
Mary Martha b.1872 (married John Cameron, died 1950, Sydney)
Otho Silvester b.1873 (married Annie Curtin, died 1957
Elizabeth Agnes b.1875 (married William Hore, died 1944, Wollongong)
Margaret Theresa b.1876 (married Colin Henry, died 1936, Sydney)
Leo Felix b.1878 (married Catherine Bridget Martin, died 1938, Shellharbour)
Maurice Joseph b.1879 (married Ellen O’Toole, died 1970, Sydney)
Kathleen Ann b.1880
Grace Bridget b.1882
Luke Myles b.1884 (married Olivette Robinson, died 1968, Tweed Heads)
Lucy Wynnefred b.1888 (died 1890)

Three brothers, Patrick, Thomas and Leo, married three sisters, Mary, Sarah and Catherine Martin from Dunmore.

The late Leo O'Dwyer, a grandson of Thomas, compiled much of the family history. Leo was a former Deputy Mayor of Shellharbour and officially named the town of Warilla in the 1950's.

Leo’s nephew, John O’Dwyer (son of John Vincent (Jack) O’Dwyer and Ellen Veronica McAuliffe) served as alderman/councillor for Shellharbour Municipal Council for 28 years and mayor for two years. He joined Council in 1968, after dairy farming at Dunmore.

John served on Council when the Council Chambers were moved from Albion Park to Warilla in 1969, the same year man landed on the moon. He saw the development of Croom Sporting Complex, Blackbutt Forest, and improvements to the Lake Illawarra and Shellharbour foreshores. During his term as mayor, Council made one of the first ventures into improving community welfare facilities, and opened the Warilla Advice and Information Centre. Council also appointed its first youth worker. A keen sporting enthusiast, one of John’s proudest moments on Council was setting up the Shellharbour Sports Assistance Fund and the Shellharbour Sports Star of the Year award.

John served as secretary for the South Coast Rugby Club for 40 years, honorary secretary of Group Seven Rugby League, a local cricket administrator for 50 years, and president of Southern Zone Cricket. John was president of the local St Vincent De Paul Society. John is honoured with life membership of 11 sporting bodies, and in 1991 he was awarded an OAM for his services to sport and the community.

External LinkThe Late Mary J O'Dwyer 1925Mrs O'Dwyer 1925Death of Mr Thomas O'Dwyer Albion Park 1907Mrs Thomas O'Dwyer 1931Mr Leo Felix O'Dwyer, Dunmore 1938Obituary Thomas Francis O'Dwyer 83 years 1951Obituary Mr Patrick Miles O'Dwyer 195321st Birthday Miss Mary O'Dwyer 1944

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Object

Resthaven, Swamp Road, Dunmore, c.1980. One of the O'Dwyer family farms.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesFamilyMurphyMartin (James and Catherine Branch)LocalityDunmoreOrganisationShellharbour City CouncilPlaceResthavenKyawanaAllawah Place Dry Stone Wall and Fig TreesRelated Item'Resthaven', Swamp Rd, DunmoreO'Dwyer, VinceJohn O'Dwyer OvalJack O'Dwyer, Lou Stubbs, Lorna Brown and Mayor Cec GlenholmesAld John O'Dwyer 1990Resthaven

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O'Dwyer