Ellen Frances (Clements) Wharton Kirke MBE (1866 - 1945)

Born 1866 in Queensland (Australia)

Descendants

Died 10 Oct 1945 at about age 79 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Ellen Frances "Ellie" Clements (later Wharton Kirke) was born in 1866 in Queensland (Australia), the fourth daughter of Isabella Clements (nee McGrerey) and John Clements. ^[1][2][3]

She married Samuel Wharton-Kirke on 15 June 1885. ^[3][4] They had five children. ^[5] The three eldest were born in Dubbo, New South Wales, and the two youngest in Armidale:

• Hazel Marie Kirke (1886–1953) ^[6]
• Errol Wharton Kirke (1887–1916) ^[7]
• Clement Wharton Kirke (1889–?) ^[8]
• Basil Everald Wharton Kirke (1893–?) ^[9]
• Hunter Wharton Kirke (1894–?) ^[10]

Ellie and her family moved to Manly early in the 1900s. ^[5]

In 1915, Ellie initiated 'Australia Day' fundraising, to support Australian men at the front in World War I. The first 'Australia Day' was held on 30 July 1915 and raised £750,000. ^[5] Ellie was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year's Honours 1st January 1936 in recognition of her philanthropic war and charity work. ^[11][5]

Ellie died on 10 October 1945 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, aged 80. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Ellen Frances Clements' birth record at Births, Deaths, Marriages Queensland: Reg. No: C1382; Reg. year: 1865. Retrieved 18 May 2017 by Clare Spring from https://www.bdm.qld.gov.au/IndexSearch.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Deaths." 12 October 1945. The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 12. Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17956041.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Marriages." 11 July 1885. The Week (Brisbane), p. 12. Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/181526964.
4. ↑ "Golden weddings." The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 14. Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17179243.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Bart Ziino (3 March 2017). "Ellie Wharton Kirke: serving the cause." Anzac: Her Story. Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from https://uonblogs.newcastle.edu.au/anzacherstory/2017/03/03/ellie-wharton-kirke-serving-cause/.
6. ↑ "Births Search Results: Kirke, Hazel M. Registration number: 15664/1886 (District: Dubbo; M - Ellen F.; F - Samuel W.)." Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?7.
7. ↑ "Births Search Results: Kirke, Errol W. Registration number: 16202/1887 (District: Dubbo; M - Ellen F.; F - Samuel W.)." Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?7.
8. ↑ "Births Search Results: Kirke, Clement W. Registration number: 15927/1889 (District: Dubbo; M - Ellen; F - Samuel W.)." Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?7.
9. ↑ "Births Search Results: Kirke, Basil E. W. Registration number: 4217/1893 (District: Armidale; M - Ellen; F - Samuel W.)." Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?7.
10. ↑ "Births Search Results: Kirke, Hunter W. Registration number: 3935/1894 (District: Armidale; M - Ellen; F - Samuel W.)." Retrieved 17 May 2017 by Clare Spring from https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?7.
11. ↑ Australian Honours: MBE; accessed 12 Apr 2022