McAllister of Ireland
Joseph Edward McAllister, the second child of Joseph McAllister and Ethel Margaret Mason, was born on 1 April 1905 in West Street, Brompton, South Australia. Soon after he was born, the family moved to 68 Chief Street, Brompton.
Joe, as he was known, had a fascination for electronics from an early age and was always making things out of bits and pieces. His older sister, Estelle, remembered young Joseph running up the path saying “I’ve got it – I’ve got it” referring to a little crystal radio that he had obtained. He would have been able to receive Morse code radio signals transmitted by early amateur radio enthusiasts on the crystal radio. Joe's family liked to gather around the piano in the sitting room after church on Sunday evenings. Joe would play the harmonica and he was also a dab hand at the spoons and the saw. His sisters Estelle and Ethel would sing. Most often it was his sister Florence who played the piano although his brothers, Harold & Gordon both played piano as well. Harold more often would join in on the harmonica or the spoons whilst Gordon had a three-stringed ukulele. |
After a minor accident on his motorcycle in August 1927, Joe was in the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he met a young nurse, Hazel McKenzie. Just a few months later, on 30 January 1928, Joe married Hazel Christabel McKenzie, the daughter of John Cail McKenzie and Lena Annie Bales, at home in Brompton, South Australia. Joe was 22 years old and Hazel was 24.
Joe and Hazel lived at 66 Chief Street, Brompton, right next door to Joe’s parents, Joseph and Ethel McAllister. Number 66 Chief Street was owned by the South Australian Gas Company, Joseph’s employers at that time. Eighteen months after their marriage, on 8 August 1929, Joe and Hazel welcomed a son, Raymond Edward.
Joe and Hazel lived at 66 Chief Street, Brompton, right next door to Joe’s parents, Joseph and Ethel McAllister. Number 66 Chief Street was owned by the South Australian Gas Company, Joseph’s employers at that time. Eighteen months after their marriage, on 8 August 1929, Joe and Hazel welcomed a son, Raymond Edward.
Three and half years late, in March 1933, another son was born, Donald John McAllister. Donald was known as Donny. He was described by everyone who knew him as ‘angelic looking’ with a mass of curly hair. Donny was unable to ever sit up on his own and there is a possibility that he suffered from spina bifida. Just over a year later two more children arrived; identical twin daughters. Joan & Joyce McAllister were born on 26 May 1934 at the Wolseley Nursing Home in West Croydon, South Australia.
Joe & Hazel were very proud of their twins; they entered Joan and Joyce into a baby show at Semaphore in January 1935 and they were judged "The Best Twins."
Ray was old enough to remember Donny and would mention that he was a very placid little fellow. Even though he was always sick, he would never complain. Sadly, on 9 December 1937, Donny died in hospital of acute appendicitis and tonsillitis. He was just 4 years and 9 months old.
Joe & Hazel were very proud of their twins; they entered Joan and Joyce into a baby show at Semaphore in January 1935 and they were judged "The Best Twins."
Ray was old enough to remember Donny and would mention that he was a very placid little fellow. Even though he was always sick, he would never complain. Sadly, on 9 December 1937, Donny died in hospital of acute appendicitis and tonsillitis. He was just 4 years and 9 months old.
Joyce & Joan took up tap-dancing when they were about 8 years old. Joe would put both girls on his pushbike - one on the cross-bar and one on the back, and ride up a steep hill to take them to their classes.
Having left the gas company, Joe was working in a factory in Thebarton making batteries when he and Hazel purchased a block of land at 126A Chief Street; it was a former tennis court in fact. Shortly afterwards, Joe won £300 in a lottery and was able to have a house built on the land. Joe, Hazel and the three children spent countless days at the block making cement bricks with which to build the new house. Once they had accumulated enough bricks, Joe was able to employ a builder to erect the house which was completed in about 1950.
Having left the gas company, Joe was working in a factory in Thebarton making batteries when he and Hazel purchased a block of land at 126A Chief Street; it was a former tennis court in fact. Shortly afterwards, Joe won £300 in a lottery and was able to have a house built on the land. Joe, Hazel and the three children spent countless days at the block making cement bricks with which to build the new house. Once they had accumulated enough bricks, Joe was able to employ a builder to erect the house which was completed in about 1950.
It was at 126A Chief Street that Joe's interest in Electronics and Short Wave Radio saw him erect a large aerial in the backyard and set up his own radio room. The whole family used to gather around in fascination and listen to people chatting on the radio from all over the world.
Eventually he was able to get his own call sign (VK5JO) and used to spend hours in his radio room out the back. Joe was a member of the World Association of Methodist Radio Amateurs and Clubs (WAMRAC). Groups of amateur radio enthusiasts would meet and encourage the interest amongst local youths. Joe McAllister became the leader of the Brompton and Bowden Mission Boys Radio Club from about 1960 until 1967.
Eventually he was able to get his own call sign (VK5JO) and used to spend hours in his radio room out the back. Joe was a member of the World Association of Methodist Radio Amateurs and Clubs (WAMRAC). Groups of amateur radio enthusiasts would meet and encourage the interest amongst local youths. Joe McAllister became the leader of the Brompton and Bowden Mission Boys Radio Club from about 1960 until 1967.
Ray, Joan & Joyce went to Bowden Primary School; the twins left school when they were 14 years old and started work at G & R Wills as machinists. Two years later they moved on to pharmaceutical company Fauldings, where they worked until December 1957.
In about 1955 Hazel McAllister suffered a stroke. Joyce took time off from her job at Fauldings, to nurse her mother at home until she recovered enough to take up the household tasks again. On 25 July 1960, Hazel McAllister suffered a heart attack and passed away at home at the age of 56 years. She was buried in Dudley Park, South Australia.
On 7 October 1961, Joe married Laura Dardenella (Nell) Harrison , daughter of William Andrew Harrison & Gertrude Mabel Annie Jared, in Brompton, South Australia.
In March 1967, Joseph McAllister suffered a heart attack whilst visiting with his daughter Joyce in Elizabeth, South Australia. He spent some time in hospital, but had another heart attack whilst at home 4 weeks later and passed away on 29 April 1967 in Brompton, South Australia at the age of 62 years. He was buried in Dudley Park, South Australia.
In March 1967, Joseph McAllister suffered a heart attack whilst visiting with his daughter Joyce in Elizabeth, South Australia. He spent some time in hospital, but had another heart attack whilst at home 4 weeks later and passed away on 29 April 1967 in Brompton, South Australia at the age of 62 years. He was buried in Dudley Park, South Australia.
Descendants of Joseph Edward McAllister
Joseph Edward McAllister was born on 1 April 1905 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 29 April 1967 in Brompton, South Australia at age 62 years. Joseph married Hazel Christabel McKenzie on 30 January 1928 in Adelaide, South Australia. Hazel was born on 27 September 1903 in Broken Hill, New South Wales and died on 25 July 1960 in Brompton, South Australia at age 56 years They had four children: Raymond Edward, Donald John, Joan and Joyce. Joseph next married Laura Dardenella (Nell) Harrison. Nell was born on 23 May 1915 in Stansbury, South Australia and died on 18 September 1983 in South Australia at age 68 years.
- Raymond Edward McAllister was born on 8 August 1929 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 15 January 1993 in Trott Park, South Australia at age 64 years. Raymond married Judith Ann Cooper on 18 July 1959 in Adelaide, South Australia. Judith was born on 23 August 1939 in South Australia. They had four children: Kathryn Margaret, Bronwyn Hazel, Darren Raymond and Stephen James.
- Donald John McAllister was born in about March 1933 at Medindie, South Australia, died on 9 December 1937 in North Adelaide, South Australia aged 4 years and was buried on 11 December 1937 in Hindmarsh, South Australia. Donald was known as Donny.
- Joan McAllister was born on 26 May 1934 in West Croydon, South Australia and died on 24 February 1987 in the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia at age 52 years. Joan married Donald Murray McAuley on 24 December 1955 in Ovingham, South Australia. Donald was born on 6 October 1934 in West Croydon, South Australia and died on 27 December 2002 in Seaford Rise, South Australia at age 68 years. They had five children: Elizabeth Jean, Patricia Ann, Leonie Rose, Debra Joan and Michelle Jane.
- Joyce McAllister was born on 26 May 1934 in West Croydon, South Australia. Joyce married Brian William Winkler on 15 October 1955 in Ovingham, South Australia. Brian was born on 6 May 1931 in North Adelaide, South Australia and died on 16 October 2014 in Salisbury, South Australia at age 83 years. They had four children: Robyn Ann, David Brian, Anita Leonie and Anthony Paul.