McConnell Beatrice (Trix) E
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Also known as: | Trix McConnell |
| Date of birth | 1901 |
| Date of death | 2001 |
Click here for photos of Trix McConnell.
Beatrice Eileen McConnell, known as 'Trix', was born in Gawler on 10 October 1901, daughter of James McConnell and nee Amelia Sweeney. As a significant Gawler identity, Trix's biography was included in the Significant Women of Gawler Project - the website for this project has been retired, but the Gawler History Team has preserved Trix's biography from the site - click here to access it.
A short biography of Trix was also included in the 'Gawler's Cemeteries' Historical Leaflet[1], as one of the significant people buried at St George's Cemetery, it is as follows:
"Beatrice (Trix) McConnell lived all of her life in Gawler. Trix was just three months old when her mother died; a she was raised by her grandmother and aunt. Trix never married and the one constant thread in her life was the community of the Transfiguration Church where she attended all her life. In her early years she was a keen photographer and stamp collector. Noting that the girls of the town needed a diversion, Trix took up the challenge of creating a Brownie and Girl Guide group at Gawler. She was involved with the group well past her eightieth year. Trix spent her last few years at the James Martin Retirement Village." ('Gawler's Cemeteries' Historical Leaflet - researched and written by Anne Richards)[1]
In 2001, Trix completed her own memoirs "Gawler Memories 1901-2001"[2] - click here to view them.
She also prepared two histories regarding the local Anglican churches:
Click here to read "The Church of the Transfiguration, Gawler South 1895-1995" by Beatrice E McConnell (1995)
Click here to read "Looking Back. Recollections of the 'Church of England' in Gawler 1846-1996" as compiled by B E McConnell (August 1996)
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Other Details
Trix worked for Rudall and Rudall for 30+ years.
In 1943 Trix (law clerk) and her Aunt Caroline Sweeney (dressmaker) were residing at 9 Twelfth Street, Gawler South.
In 1965-1966 Trix was secretary for the Gawler branch of Meals on Wheels.
Trix passed away on 3 December 2001, aged 100, and was buried in the St Georges Anglican Cemetery (plot U47).
Brian Thom and Pat Harbison were the executors of her estate and Trix left over $100,000 in her will for the maintenance of The Church of the Transfiguration. From this money, approx. $40,000 was used to construct the Toilet block, approx. $20,000 for a new Organ and at 2014, over $30,000 remained for future Transfiguration Church maintenance.
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Beatrice McConnell's Birth, Death & Burial Information
McCONNELL, Beatrice Eileen 'Trix'
b. 10 Oct 1901, Gawler, SA (Reg. Port Gawler 684/364, father 'James McConnell' & mother 'Amelia nee Sweeney')
Never married
d. 3 Dec 2001, Gawler, SA
Buried St George's Cemetery, Gawler East, SA (Plot U47)
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Sweeney Family Birth, Death & Marriage Information - Beatrice's Maternal Line
SWEENEY, Michael (Beatrice's maternal grandfather)
b. Abt. 1839, England
m. 10 Nov 1863, Manchester, Lancashire, England
d. 29 Mar 1925, at his residence Murray Street, Gawler South, SA, aged 86 (Reg. SA 336/477)[3]
Buried St George's Cemetery, Gawler East, SA (Plot U7 - with wife & children Samuel & Amelia)
NEAL, Hannah (SWEENEY)(Beatrice's maternal grandmother)
b. Abt. 1844, England
d. 8 Oct 1913, Gawler South, SA, aged 69 (Reg. Port Gawler 202/378)
Buried St George's Cemetery, Gawler East, SA (Plot U7 - with husband & children Samuel & Amelia)
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Children of Michael Sweeney & Hannah nee Neal
The children of the couple included:
SWEENEY, Mary Hannah (RIVERS)(Beatrice's aunt)
b. 1866, England
m. '1896, 'Francis Ernest Edgeo Rivers', WA (Reg. WA 487)
d. 25 Sep 1952, SA (Reg. SA 788/5416)
Buried St George's Cemetery, Gawler East, SA (Plot U46 - with sister Caroline)
SWEENEY, Amelia 'Millie' (McCONNELL)(Beatrice's mother)
b. 12 Sep 1875, Lancashire, England
m. 1900 'James McConnell', SA (Reg. Port Gawler 205/1213)
d. 13 Jan 1902, Gawler South, SA, aged 26 (Reg. Port Gawler 220/283)
Buried St George's Cemetery, Gawler East, SA (Plot U7)
SWEENEY, Caroline Beatrice 'Carrie' (Beatrice's aunt)
b. 4 Jun 1878, Gawler, SA (Reg. Barossa 489/201)
d. 12 Jun 1959, SA (Reg. SA 3849/892)
Buried St George's Cemetery, Gawler East, SA (Plot U46)
SWEEENEY, Samuel Frederick
d. 3 Jan 1882, aged 17 months
Buried St George's Cemetery, Gawler East, SA (Plot U7 - with parents & sister Amelia)
Related Articles
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Anne Richards (2008) 'Gawler's Cemeteries' Historical Leaflet. Researched and written by Anne Richards - Librarian, Reference and Research Services, Number 16 in a Series of Historical Pamphlets produced by Gawler Public Library © 2008 Gawler Public Library. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z4avrizgUjcFYnRFPmbJG9_QU3ajM0Ho/view?usp=sharing
- ↑ Beatrice E McConnell (2001) "Gawler Memories 1901-2001", unpublished memoirs. (Gratitude from GHT to Trix McConnell for recording her recollections and sharing them). https://www.flickr.com/photos/gawler_history/albums/72157647712636234/
- ↑ Death Notices (Chronicle 4 Apr 1925) https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89368089
![Beatrice E. [Trix] McConnell c1920](https://live.staticflickr.com/4256/34997056841_d58ea241be.jpg)
Memories of McConnell Beatrice (Trix) E
Rememberer::Brian Gordon Thom remembers: Beatrice Eileen McConnell was born in Godiva Cottage in Ford Street on 10th October 1901, died on 3rd December 2001, and buried on 7th December 2001 in plot U47 in St Georges Anglican Cemetery 42 Cheek Avenue Gawler East.
Please email information@gawlerhistory.com with any information you have about McConnell Beatrice (Trix) E, and we'll add your comments and information to this website.
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