James McDonald & Louisa May Delves were married at the Jones Island Wesleyan Church on the 1st August 1878.
James and Louisa rented a farm at Dickson’s Creek, Moto, Ghinni Ghinni for 5 years where James worked a farm in partnership with Mr J Delves for 3 years. James and Louisa moved to “Oakdale” at Central Lansdowne circa 1883 where he was engaged in dairying. James and Louisa were among the “early settlers of this district and were well respected for their pioneering work on the outposts of settlement.”
James and Louisa McDonald were actively involved in the Methodist Church and Band of Hope. They gave testimony to their adherence to the faith in deed and loyal service. Louisa was said to have had a kind and sympathetic nature and fully supported James in church and community work.
Postal facilities were first established at Central Lansdowne on the 16th January 1897 when Mr James McDonald was placed in charge of a Receiving Office on his property not far from the sight occupied in 1972 when the Post office was closed.
It was converted to a Post Office on the 15th December 1905 when Mr James McDonald was appointed Postmaster.
Telephone services were established on the 7th April 1908 when Mr McDonald, Mr Henry Burgmann (father of the late Bishop E H Burgmann) and Mr Alexander Smith were appointed to maintain the newly erected telephone line between Lansdowne and Central Lansdowne.
Louisa held the position of Sewing Mistress at the Koppin Yarratt Public School for 12½ years.
James and Louisa raised 3 children:
- John Roderick born 1879
- Emiline May born 1883
- Jessie Ruby born 1891
On the 31st May 1915 James died suddenly from heart failure. Louisa died from bronchitis on the 9th October 1920 after 5 days of illness. Both are buried at the Dawson River Cemetery, Cundletown.
Emiline was appointed Postmistress following the death of James till 16th July 1923 when she decided to leave the district.
Her brother John Roderick was then appointed Postmaster.
Jessie was a teacher at Wittitrim, Macleay River at the time of Louisa’s passing.
Neither Emiline, known as May or Jessie ever married. They spent their retirement at Chatham.
John Roderick was born in 1879 at Moto on a small farm on Moto Road. He and his family moved to “Oakdale” Central Lansdowne where he attended Koppin Yarratt Public School until the age of 14 (6 grade) and Koppin Yarratt Methodist Church.
John Roderick was a lay preacher for 50 years until his death in 1947 aged 67. He was also involved with the Koppin Yarratt P & C Association and also the Comforts Fund during both World Wars. He was a foundation trustee of the Koppin Yarratt Methodist Church and was its secretary right up to the time of his death.
John Roderick married Naomi Ethel Emily Redman of Hannam Vale on 28 September 1905 at the Stewarts River Methodist Church. He and Naomi lived at “Edinbane”, Central Lansdowne where they engaged in dairying and farming. John Roderick and Naomi moved into “Oakdale” which was built on the flats below “Edinbane” on the same property along Central Lansdowne Road. John Roderick became Post Master on the 16 July 1923. Both Roddy and Naomi are buried at Dawson River Cemetery, Cundletown. Their children are:
Essie Beatrice May McDonald born 2 July 1906 – died 13 October 1985 (never married). Essie was officially appointed post mistress at Central Lansdowne Post Office from 1 July 1944 until it closed in early April 1972. Essie received the British Empire Medal for community service.
Eunice Myrtle McDonald born 29 March 1908 – died 26 January 1972. Married Andrew George Drury on 11 April 1928 at Koppin Yarratt Methodist Church.
Roderick James Redman McDonald born 19 April 1918 – died 15 December 1984, married Margaret Grace Cleaver on 25 April 1942 at Kundibakh. Roddy and his wife Margaret made their home on the dairy farm at Central Lansdowne. Roddy was also a lay preacher. Roddy was also on the executive of the Central Lansdowne P & C Association. He presided over the school’s 70th anniversary proceedings. When his son David and wife Trish took over the farm at Central Lansdowne, the former home of Thomas Andrew and Selina Drury, which they purchased from Ron Drury, was moved to a block of land on the opposite side of the Central Lansdowne Road. Roddy and Margaret lived in this house up until the farm was sold when David and Trish went into full time Christian ministry.
Wallace Frank McDonald born 8 August 1926 – died 11 June 2012. Married Edna Grace Lilley. Wallace and Edna went into full time ministry in 1975. They were at Deniliquin Baptist from 1975-1981.
Story and photos supplied by Glenda (Drury) Dutton