A glimpse into the early life of my great grandmother Mary Gertrude O'Donnell, 1869-1948

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Mary Gertrude O’Donnell was my paternal great grandmother- mother of my father's mother. She was born in Coolac, near Gundagai at the family property 'Mingay', in 1869 to Patrick James 'P. J' O’Donnell and his wife Margaret Mary Hanley.

Mary Gertrude was the first daughter in what was to become a large family of ten children-five boys and five girls. ‘Mingay’ where they lived, was a large, productive property of magnificent fertile farming land on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Coolac near Gundagai. It was used for grazing cattle, breeding sheep for wool and for producing many fine grain crops including lucerne. The O'Donnell children were very fortunate to be living in such a beautiful, magical place with verdant green fields and azure blue skies. 

Mingay Homestead, Part of Family Collection, circa 1999.


The river, fields and pasturelands at Mingay, NSW. From McAlary Family collection.



PJ O’Donnell took his children’s education very seriously and both his sons and daughters equally received the best education available. In their formative years they were taught by governesses such as Miss Cummins who were employed to come into the family home. Then as the children became of school age, the girls were sent to the Presentation Sisters in Goulburn while the boys were educated by the Christian Brothers at St Patrick’s.

When at home they must have enjoyed many wonderful occasions playing outdoors in the fresh air while exploring the river banks and fields that were all around them. There is little doubt that Mary Gertrude and two of her younger sisters were inspired by their surroundings.  Their accomplishments were noted by a visitor to the town of Coolac in 1895 who spent time meeting many of the local families, and who remarked upon the creative and artistic giftedness of the O’Donnell girls. 

Using the pseudonym 'Killeevy' he wrote in the Freeman's Journal, "Mr O'Donnell's daughters have become imbued with thoughts of the sublime and beautiful in nature as the interior of the house will testify." He explained the walls of the home at Mingay were adorned with pastel artworks and oil paintings, produced by Mary Gertrude and her sisters Margaret and Susan. Further he added that the Presentation Nuns, should "feel justifiably proud of the girls they are sending out fitted, indeed, to take their place in society." (Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW: 1850-1932), Saturday 20 July 1895, page 22. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article 111109997)


While 'Killeevy's' description regarding the purpose of girls education is certainly representative of a different era, there is little doubt that Mary Gertrude’s  creative qualities extended also to her ability to write poetry. 

I am fortunate to have in my possession the remains of what was a beautiful parchment handed down to my father. On it in beautifully penned calligraphy is the poem, simply titled, 'Mingay'  containing a somewhat  romantic and idyllic view about  'Mingay' and the beauty of its natural surrounds. It was written  by my father's grandmother, Mary Gertrude O'Donnell. Spending even a short time walking around the property of Mingay, there is little doubt that Mary Gertrude has painted a truly perfect depiction of the place she called home during many happy years of her childhood. Perhaps the final verse is her farewell from childhood as she and her sisters, the 'bright eyed maids', moved into adulthood.

Titled 'Mingay' this is what remains of the beautiful poem written in calligraphy. It was written about 150 years ago by Mary Gertrude O'Donnell. Part of Family collection.

This poem was reproduced in the Gundagai Times in 1910.

ORIGINAL POETRY. (1910, October 25). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article123477246




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