Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell
23 January 1889 – 19 October 1976
Daughter of Jean or Jane Ann Dallas and Horace James Rockwell
Sister of Horace Bruce Rockwell, Winifred Jessie Dallas Rockwell, Alexander Gordon Roy Rockwell, Joseph Rockwell, William Percival Rockwell, Dorothy Eliza Annie Rose Rockwell, Female Rockwell
Wife of James Hood “Hamish” McKechnie
Mother of Joan Freia McKechnie, Charles Bruce McKechnie, Winnifred Betty McKechnie
Gladys was born on Wednesday, 23 January 1889 in Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
This photograph shows she attended Rocky Cape State School in Tasmania, Australia in 1904.
Tasmanian Schools. Rocky Cape School children in 1904 Date: 1904 Institution: Circular Head Heritage Centre
Description: The Rocky Cape, Tasmania, State School children with four adults with a blackboard in front that reads 'Rocky Cape State School 1904'. Back: Arthur Boys, Syd Boys, ----------, Adeline Brakey, Gladys Rockwell, Florence Boys, Isabel Brakey, Gladys Brakey, Blanche Boys. Front: -----, ---------, -----------, Mr Walker, ------------, -------------, Gordon Medwin, Grace Dallas, Bernie Dallas, Miss Blanche Walker, Jean Dallas, Ella Medwin
According to Australian electoral rolls, Gladys performed home duties at 186 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 1913-1914. Gladys trained to be a nurse in Bundaberg and Brisbane from 1911 to 1915. In 1915 Gladys was a nurse living at St Helen’s Private Hospital, Stanley Street, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She also nursed during World War 1 with the Red Cross.
St. Helen’s Private Hospital
State Library of Queensland Collection reference 7979 St Helen's Methodist Hospital Photographs
A telegram from Gladys’ mother Jean Ann Dallas on her nursing graduation
Gladys’ postcard of St. Helen’s Private Hospital about 1915
Prescription paper from St Helen’s Private Hospital about 1915
On Friday, 15 September 1916 she married James Hood “Hamish” McKechnie at St Andrews Presbyterian Church on the corner of Maryborough and Woongarra Streets, Kalkie, Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia.
Newspaper marriage notices pasted in Gladys’ mother-in-law’s (Annie Freia Smith) autograph book
Marriage autograph guestlist in the book of Gladys’ mother-in-law Annie Freia Smith
Hamish often referred to Gladys as ‘my nurse’ while she was studying and practicing nursing.
Postcard from Hamish to Gladys
Correspondence to and from Gladys in 1915 and 1916.
Gladys and her parents and siblings about 1916 brother William Percival Rockwell is absent
Horace Bruce Rockwell (brother), Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell, Horace James Rockwell (father), Winifred Jessie Dallas Rockwell (sister), Jean Ann Dallas (mother), Joseph Rockwell (brother), Alexander Gordon Roy Rockwell (brother)
According to Australian electoral rolls, Gladys performed home duties throughout her married life. Gladys and Hamish often called the home they were living in “Gladwyn”. In 1919 she lived at “Gladwyn” Vulture Street East, Brisbane, Queensland Australia.
Gladys with her husband Hamish, son Charles and daughter Joan at their Vulture Street home about 1919
Gladys and her children Betty, Joan and Charles at their Vulture Street home about 1921
In 1922 Glady and Hamish were living at “Ashleigh” Longland Street, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. According to Australian electoral rolls they then lived at “Gladwyn” Ridge Street, Dunellan (now Greenslopes), Queensland, Australia from about 1925 to at least 1937.
Gladys in her garden at “Gladwyn” Ridge Street, Dunellan (now Greenslopes), Queensland, Australia about 1925
Lockup bathing boxes for rent would get flooded after king tides on the beach at Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia where the McKechnie family often went for holidays. About 1930
Gladys on holiday with her husband Hamish, son Charles and daughter Joan about 1930 at Redcliffe, Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia
Gladys in her garden at her ‘Gladwyn’ Ridge Street home about 1930
Gladys with her children Betty (and doll Rosie), Charles and Joan about 1925
Standing: Jean Ann Dallas (mother), Alexander Gordon Roy Rockwell (brother), Gladys Robina Jean Rockwell, Winifred Jessie Dallas Rockwell (sister)
Sitting: Joseph Rockwell (brother), Horace James Rockwell (Father)
Gladys’s Children: Joan Freia McKechnie, Winifred Betty McKechnie, Charles Bruce McKechnie
Butcher’s Rocks, Burnett Heads, Queensland, Australia about 1926
View of Brisbane from the ‘Gladwyn’ Ridge Street house veranda
The backyard at ‘Gladwyn’ however it is unclear at which ‘Gladwyn’ home this is
Gladys and Hamish then moved to “Gladwyn” 10 Boronia Avenue, Holland Park, Queensland, Australia (recorded between 1943 and 1963) until they moved to New South Wales. During their time in Queensland, Gladys and Hamish raised their three children Joan Freia McKechnie, Charles Bruce McKechnie and Winifred Betty McKechnie.
10 Boronia Avenue about 1940
Gladys and her daughter Betty about 1939
Gladys, Hamish and their daughter Winnifred Betty McKechnie at 10 Boronia Avenue in 1942
Gladys and her uncle Alexander Charles Rockwell in the late 1940s at his home at 29 Quiggin Street, Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia
Alexander Charles Rockwell (uncle), Hamish McKechnie, Gladys, Wallace Brown (cousin), Billie Brown (wife of Wallace), Charles McKechnie late 1940s
Winifred Betty McKechnie (daughter), Alexander Charles Rockwell (uncle), Annie Rosa Rockwell (aunt), Wallace Brown (cousin), Gladys, Billie Brown (wife of Wallace Brown) late 1940s
According to Australian electoral rolls, Gladys lived at 404 Percy Street, Albury, New South Wales, Australia between 1968 and 1972. She lived there with her husband Hamish and her daughter Joan.
Hamish and Gladys
Gladys died on Tuesday, 19 October 1976 aged 87. She was buried on Thursday, 21 October 1976. She can be found at Glenmorus Memorial Garden, Plan 5, Section 5, Rose Garden Bed A, Lot 75, Albany, New South Wales, Australia.
Gravestone photo taken in October 1978
SOURCES:
Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Registration number 6382/1889
Bundaberg Mail and Burnett Advertiser (Qld. : 1892 - 1917), Wednesday 27 September 1916, page 3
Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Wednesday 4 October 1916, page 3
Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 Registration Place: Queensland, Registration Number: 001927, Page Number: 1703
Births, Marriages and Deaths Queensland, Registration details: 1916/C/1927
Births, Deaths and Marriages New South Wales, Registration number: 26769/1976
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Brisbane, Subdivision Brisbane North, 1913 page 129, 1914 page 131 & 1915 page 187
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Oxley, Subdivision Woolloongabba, 1919 page 64
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Oxley, Subdivision Woolloongabba, 1919 page 64
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Oxley, Subdivision Buranda, 1922 page 62
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Moreton, Subdivision Coorparoo, 1925 page 80
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Griffiths, Subdivision Coorparoo, 1934 page 101 & 1937 page 11
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Moreton, Subdivision Mount Gravatt, 1943 page 44, 1949 page 90 & 1954 page 157
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, Queensland, Division Moreton, Subdivision Salisbury, 1958 page 109 & 1963 page 145
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980, New South Wales, Division Farrer, Subdivision Albury, 1968 page 75 & 1972 page 20
https://www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/services/infrastructure/cemeteries/glenmorus-memorial-gardens
https://eheritage.libraries.tas.gov.au/resources/detail16c5.html?ID=CHH_01069
