Granny Magnay
She isn’t my own grandmother, but I’ve heard stories about “Granny Magnay” for most of my life. Part of it was the fact she was born quite early in the history of European occupation in Australia, and part of it was that she lived for so long.
Based on the newspaper articles, “Granny” (Mary) Magnay was born on 14 December 1829.
She turned 100 years old on 14 December 1929.
Green Pigeon lies approximately 17 km south-west of the town of Kyogle (within the Kyogle Council local government area), not far from Lismore.
She is an ancestor of my 86-year-old brother-in-law, Jack Bobbin.
While going through the kitchen “third drawer”, I discovered these two photocopied newspaper articles celebrating her 100th birthday. I thought I should share them around for any of her descendants who might be interested—she sounds like she was an amazing character! I used the WordPress AI Tool to tidy them up a bit, though preserving the original look and feel.
But a warning : one of the articles contains an offensive racist slur, and references to racial violence.
LISMORE, Tuesday.
The happy verdant valley of Green Pigeon was en fete today. The Green Pigeon school children gave a party, as “Granny” Magnay turned the key and flung open the door of the new school house.
It was a memorable occasion in Green Pigeon’s history, made more memorable by the fact that the central figure in the ceremony was born more than 100 years ago. What other community in Australia has had its school officially opened by a centenarian lady—and a local resident, at that? Green Pigeon folk are immensely proud of that unique touch to their big day a week ago.
Everyone in Green Pigeon loves Mrs. Mary Magnay as “Granny.” She is modern in her outlook, which resides in the picturesque frame of a richly-wooded valley 12 miles from Kyogle.
“Granny” has lived for 75 years in Green Pigeon. That fact in itself proves to the eminent satisfaction of the local folk that those who call the North Coast unhealthful are wrong. She is amazingly alert, mentally and physically, for one of so great an age, and enjoys life as much, and maybe more, than many people 50, 60 and 70 years her junior.
When the residents of Green Pigeon reached the consummation of months of strenuous work in the erection of a new school, “Granny” Magnay was the first of whom they thought to invite to perform the opening ceremony. The children were delighted at the prospect, and it was mainly upon their persuasion that she accepted the invitation and made a promise.
The eventful day came, and “Granny” was ill with an attack of flu. Undaunted, however, she got up from her bed, and, rather than disappoint the children and their enthusiastic parents, she arrived at the appointed time and turned the key of the door of the new school. The little company acclaimed the ceremony with resounding cheers, and “Granny” responded with a small speech.
SAW TOWNS GROW
Mrs. Magnay was born at Wollongong on December 14, 1829. Most of her long life, however, has been spent at Fawcett’s Creek and Green Pigeon. Possessed of an excellent memory, she can recall the time when Casino and Kyogle were little more than isolated bush tracks. She can even recollect the time when Casino had one solitary store, owned by Miss Jessie Nicholl, whose window display comprised one bar of soap, a tin of biscuits, and a bottle of lollies.
Blessed with the retention of all her faculties, “Granny” Magnay is able to read and sew without the aid of glasses. She is a voracious reader and a keen student of current topics.
“Granny’s” youthful spirit was further exemplified on the Saturday night following the opening of the school, when a dance was held to celebrate the event. She entered into the fun of the evening with astonishing zest and enthusiasm. She stayed right through the National Anthem at midnight brought the party to an end. As she left, her parting words were: “This has been the happiest day of my life.”
GREEN PIGEON’S BEAUTIES
Green Pigeon is one of the loveliest spots on the North Coast. Surrounded by mountain ridges, the village is set amidst exquisite scenery, mostly of virgin scrub wherein is found an infinite variety of fauna and flora.
Thirteen waterfalls about their spray over a 500 feet drop, making an inspiring sight. The Waterfall mountain, as it is called, is often capped with clouds, and from its peak, which is estimated to be 3000 feet above sea level, a glimpse may be caught of the sea at Ballina, 40 miles away.
“Granny” Magnay could not have chosen a more ideal spot to spend the rest of her days. With her amazing vitality and all the big and little interests of Green Pigeon to occupy her, she finds life quite worth while in this happy valley.
Kindly Old Lady Whose History Is The History Of Her State
100 YEARS YOUNG, SHE READS AND SEWS WITHOUT GLASSES
ONE hundred years young, Mrs. Mary Magnay, of Green Pigeon—a hamlet in the hills 12 miles from Kyogle—would put many infants of 70 or so to blushing shame.
Her activity cannot be suppressed. The news of the day and the week she reads, scorning the aid of glasses; she discusses informatively the affairs of Green Pigeon and the world; and in the intervals of her little round of social engagements she sews—also without the aid of glasses—those fluffy, frilly things that are ever a delight to the feminine heart, be it aged 10 or 100.
UNDER the auspices of the Parents and Citizens’ Association, Mrs. Magnay recently opened Green Pigeon’s new school building, and the Green Pigeonians made it an occasion by plucking a wonga or two.
The history of this kindly old lady is practically the history of New South Wales. She came into the world at Wollongong on December 14, 1829, when the colony was in swaddling clothes, and, sharing in its ups and downs, watched it grow to a great State. Mary Dollard, as she then was, came to the North Coast in the early ‘forties as nurse girl in the service of the McKellar family, at Runnymede station, and the North Coast has claimed her ever since.
Her long and close association with the McKellar family was such that she accompanied them on three trips to Europe. Later, she succumbed to the fascination of an employee on the station and became Mrs. Magnay.
In a slab humpy in the heart of the bush she settled down to make a home. Her life was the hard life of the pioneer. Days and nights she spent alone while her man was away draying or working on a neighboring station; but she stuck it. By this time the abos. had learned to fear the white man’s “noise sticks,” but even so, they were not desirable visitors to a lonely white woman.
Nearest neighbor of the Magnays was Pat Keniffe, who was later hanged for the murder of a constable in Queensland. Even in those days there was a streak of outlawry in the man who, with his brother, afterwards struck fear into people in that State. Once the Magnay boys—the children had arrived—heard the report of a gun on the next selection and saw an abo. drop from a tree. And one night someone, probably Pat Keniffe, fired a shot into the Magnay home. On another occasion an abo. tomahawk thudded on the shingled roof of the home. Becoming at length tired of these neighborly attentions, the family moved to Fawney’s Creek, near Kyogle.
When Mr. Magnay died his widow with the four boys—two are still alive—managed the property, and the family shared in the general North Coast prosperity.
Mrs. Magnay speaks proudly of her 28 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren, of her long association with the North Coast, and her more recent association with Green Pigeon. And Green Pigeon is proud of her.
Up north to-day, trim farms with their paspalum paddocks have replaced the tangled scrub that Mrs. Magnay knew as a girl; roads bisecting the landscape have taken the place of tortuous jungle tracks; the chug of the motor has silenced the lyre bird, wild Abos. with shields, tomahawks, and spears, have gone to oblivion with the onward march of civilisation.
Greetings to the gracious lady who is a link between those dim yesterdays and this matter-of-fact to-day.
(Caption below illustration): Mrs. Mary Magnay.