Alexander Thomas1

M, #21541, b. 1827, d. 7 November 1894
Pedigree
Last Edited27 Apr 2025
Birth*Alexander Thomas was born in 1827 at Whitchurch, Glamorganshire, Wales.1,2 
Marriage*He married Louisa Caporn, daughter of Samuel Caporn and Ann Vaughan Eustace, on 10 August 1854 at Western Australia.1 
Death*Alexander Thomas died on 7 November 1894 at Roebourne, Western AustraliaG.1 

Family

Louisa Caporn b. 9 Sep 1837, d. 27 Mar 1910
Children
Convicted*Alexander Thomas was Convicted of manslaughter on 29 February 1848 at Swansea, Wales, and was sentenced to 15 yrs. His details are also listed at - Midwest WA Heritage Convict Register.3,4 
Immigration*He immigrated on 1 June 1850 to Fremantle, Western AustraliaG, on the ship Scindian. He was assigned Convict No. 61.3 
Ticket of Leave*His Ticket of Leave was granted on 29 May 1851 at Western Australia.3 
Conditional Pardon*His Conditional Pardon was granted on 25 August 1860 at Western Australia.3 
Story*There are detailed links to web records concerning the life of Alexander Thomas on the FHWA Convict Website.5 
Note*Thomas Alexander (61) 1828-1903--Unm turner, semi lit C/E, conv Swansea 1848 manslaughter 15yrs; arr Scindian 1.6.1850 TL29.5.1851 CP25.8.1860. Mar Louisa Caporn 10.8.1854, son of Morgan Thomas.*.3 
ConvictConvicts
ChartsCaporn Family Links

Citations

  1. [S107] Descendants, The Caporns (Perth: Descendants, 1992). Hereinafter cited as The Caporns.
  2. [S234] Shelley Tonkin Data,Perth, WA.
  3. [S27] Rica Erickson and Gillian O'Mara, Convicts in WA 1850-1887 Dictionary of Western Australians Volume IX (University of WA Press, 1994, ISBN 1 875560 44 0).
  4. [S610] Midwest WA Heritage Convict Register, online midwestwaheritage.com. Hereinafter cited as Midwest Convicts.
  5. [S667] WA Convicts (FHWA Convict SIG), online waconvicts.fhwa.org.au. Hereinafter cited as WA Convicts.
  6. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, kandalf1. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry.com.

Louisa Caporn1

F, #21542, b. 9 September 1837, d. 27 March 1910
Pedigree
Father*Samuel Caporn b. 29 Apr 1794, d. 22 Feb 1868
Mother*Ann Vaughan Eustace b. 1801, d. 2 Jan 1869
Last Edited18 Mar 2025
Birth*Louisa Caporn was born on 9 September 1837 at Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire, England.1,2 
She was the daughter of Samuel Caporn and Ann Vaughan Eustace. 
Marriage*Louisa Caporn married Alexander Thomas on 10 August 1854 at Western Australia.1 
Death*Louisa Caporn died on 27 March 1910 at Fremantle, Western AustraliaG, at age 72.1,3

Family

Alexander Thomas b. 1827, d. 7 Nov 1894
Children
Immigration*Louisa Caporn immigrated on 20 August 1842 on the ship Simon Taylor..4 
ChartsCaporn Family Links

Citations

  1. [S107] Descendants, The Caporns (Perth: Descendants, 1992). Hereinafter cited as The Caporns.
  2. [S234] Shelley Tonkin Data,Perth, WA.
  3. [S142] Family Search, online www.familysearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSN3-7K7K. Hereinafter cited as Family Search.
  4. [S55] Rica Ericson, compiler, Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians pre- 1829-1888 Vols 1-4 (Nedlands, WA: UWA, 1988). Hereinafter cited as Bic Dic Vols 1-4.
  5. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, kandalf1. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry.com.

Helen MacKenzie1

F, #21546
Pedigree
Last Edited23 Dec 2012
Marriage*Helen MacKenzie married Peter Murray.1 

Family

Peter Murray
Child

Citations

  1. [S109] Wendy Schmutz,USA.

William Watson1

M, #21547, b. 6 January 1764
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited10 Nov 2006
Birth*William Watson was born on 6 January 1764 at Ewhurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
He was the son of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Relationships4th great-granduncle of Neil James Bradley
4th great-granduncle of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-granduncle of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-granduncle of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.

Mary Watson1

F, #21548, b. 27 October 1765, d. April 1855
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited1 Jul 2018
Birth*Mary Watson was born on 27 October 1765 at Ewhurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
She was the daughter of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Marriage*Mary Watson married Joseph Clapson on 4 November 1786 at St Marys, Sussex, England.2 
Death*Mary Watson died in April 1855 at Ticehurst, Sussex, EnglandG, at age 89.2 

Family

Joseph Clapson b. 1759, d. Oct 1845
Children
Relationships4th great-grandaunt of Neil James Bradley
4th great-grandaunt of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-grandaunt of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-grandaunt of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S545] Sherrie Newman,unknown location.
  3. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, Grant McCulloch. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry.com.
  4. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, Kite Family Tree - TREREXNDOR. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry.com.

Stephen Watson1

M, #21549, b. 28 June 1767
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited27 Jan 2020
Birth*Stephen Watson was born on 28 June 1767 at Ewhurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
He was the son of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Marriage*Stephen Watson married Sarah Saxby on 16 April 1786 at Salehurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1,2 

Family

Sarah Saxby
Children
Relationships4th great-granduncle of Neil James Bradley
4th great-granduncle of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-granduncle of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-granduncle of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S376] Sussex Family History Group, Sussex Marriage Index to 1837., CD-ROM (Sussex, England: Sussex Family History Group, 2004), Marriages. Hereinafter cited as Sussex Marriage Index to 1837.
  3. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, Julie Prentis Watts. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry.com.

Thomas Watson1

M, #21550, b. 24 September 1768
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited10 Nov 2006
Birth*Thomas Watson was born on 24 September 1768 at Sedlescombe, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
He was the son of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Relationships4th great-granduncle of Neil James Bradley
4th great-granduncle of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-granduncle of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-granduncle of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.

Jeremiah Watson1

M, #21551, b. 3 November 1771
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited10 Nov 2006
Birth*Jeremiah Watson was born on 3 November 1771 at Salehurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
He was the son of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Relationships4th great-granduncle of Neil James Bradley
4th great-granduncle of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-granduncle of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-granduncle of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.

Sarah Watson1

F, #21552, b. 28 March 1777
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited3 Mar 2019
Birth*Sarah Watson was born on 28 March 1777 at Salehurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
She was the daughter of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Relationships4th great-grandaunt of Neil James Bradley
4th great-grandaunt of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-grandaunt of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-grandaunt of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.

Ann Watson1

F, #21553, b. 4 November 1781
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited10 Nov 2006
Birth*Ann Watson was born on 4 November 1781 at Salehurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
She was the daughter of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Relationships4th great-grandaunt of Neil James Bradley
4th great-grandaunt of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-grandaunt of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-grandaunt of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.

Jane Watson1

F, #21554, b. 3 April 1784
Pedigree
Father*Stephen Watson1 b. c 1739, d. c 1813
Mother*Mary Gines1 b. 1749, d. 7 May 1785
Last Edited10 Nov 2006
Birth*Jane Watson was born on 3 April 1784 at Salehurst, Sussex, EnglandG.1 
She was the daughter of Stephen Watson and Mary Gines.1 
Relationships4th great-grandaunt of Neil James Bradley
4th great-grandaunt of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th great-grandaunt of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd great-grandaunt of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.

Alfred John Britton1

M, #21555, b. circa 1875, d. 3 October 1956
Pedigree
Last Edited21 Dec 2019
Birth*Alfred John Britton was born circa 1875 at Manchester, Lancashire, England.2 
Marriage*He married Alice Rose Spencer, daughter of Edward Francis Spencer and Mary Jane Green, in 1902 at Perth, Western AustraliaG.1 
Death*Alfred John Britton died on 3 October 1956 at West Perth, Western AustraliaG.2 

Family

Alice Rose Spencer b. 10 Feb 1885, d. c 4 Jun 1971
Child
Milit-Beg*Alfred John Britton began military service on 10 March 1916 at Pinjarra, Western AustraliaG, 5666, Private, 11th Battalion, 18th Reinforcement.3
Occupation*He was a Railway Ganger on 10 March 1916 at Pinjarra, Western AustraliaG.3 

Citations

  1. [S66] LDS, Australian Vital Records Index., CD-ROM (n.p.: n.pub.), BDM's. Hereinafter cited as AVRI.
  2. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  3. [S156] UNSW AIF WWI, online www.aif.adfa.edu.au/aif. Hereinafter cited as UNSW AIF WWI.

Alice Rose Spencer1

F, #21556, b. 10 February 1885, d. circa 4 June 1971
Pedigree
Father*Edward Francis Spencer
Mother*Mary Jane Green2
Last Edited27 Apr 2025
Birth*Alice Rose Spencer was born on 10 February 1885 at Marinup, Western Australia; reg: 25950/1885.3,4 
She was the daughter of Edward Francis Spencer and Mary Jane Green.2 
Marriage*Alice Rose Spencer married Alfred John Britton in 1902 at Perth, Western AustraliaG.1 
Death*Alice Rose Spencer died circa 4 June 1971 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.5 
Burial*She was buried at Kalgoorlie Cemetery, Kalgoorlie–Boulder, Western Australia.4 

Family

Alfred John Britton b. c 1875, d. 3 Oct 1956
Child

Citations

  1. [S66] LDS, Australian Vital Records Index., CD-ROM (n.p.: n.pub.), BDM's. Hereinafter cited as AVRI.
  2. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  3. [S201] WA BDMs, online http://www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au. Hereinafter cited as WA BDMs.
  4. [S632] Find A Grave, online findagrave.com. Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.
  5. [S496] WAGS Cemetery Records,WA.

John Alfred Hepworth1

M, #21561, b. 4 September 1921, d. 24 January 1995
Pedigree
John A Hepworth
Father*Cyril James (Pinky) Christmass1 b. 22 Jun 1897, d. 12 Dec 1957
Mother*Alice Jane Britton1 b. 6 Oct 1902, d. 12 May 1990
Last Edited9 Aug 2021
Birth*John Alfred Hepworth was born on 4 September 1921 at Pinjarra, Western AustraliaG; reg: 48/1921.1 
He was the son of Cyril James (Pinky) Christmass and Alice Jane Britton.1 
Marriage*John Alfred Hepworth married Grayce Dobson Bennett in 1943.1,2 
De Facto*John Alfred Hepworth and Oriel Holland Bennett were De Facto.1 
Death*John Alfred Hepworth died on 24 January 1995 at Toorak, Victoria, at age 73.1 

Family 1

Grayce Dobson Bennett b. 26 Jun 1911, d. 29 Jun 1996

Family 2

Oriel Holland Bennett b. 26 Mar 1920, d. 30 Jun 2003
Name Variation John Alfred Hepworth was also known as Arthur John Christmass.1 
Milit-Beg*He began military service on 20 May 1941 at Paddington, New South Wales, Private, NX13686, Army - enlisted under the name John Hale Davidson.3,1
Fame*He achieved Fame as an Author - one of his books "The Long Green Shore" published in 1995 is being made into a film by Russell Crowe.. 
Note*John Hepworth moved to Perth as as a child and attended Perth Modern school. During World War II he served in the Middle East, Ceylon and New Guinea. He had been married several times, his longest relationships being with the playwright and author, Oriel Grey, with whom he had thee sons, and his last wife, Margaret. John Hepworth was a journalist, playwight and poet and was for many years editor of the Nation Review, which he helped establish. He was well-known for his column 'Outsight' in Na....

John Hepworth (writer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Hepworth (4 September 1921 – 24 January 1995) was an Australian author journalist best known for his "Outsight" column in Nation Review magazine, which he edited for several years.


He was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia and moved to Perth as a young boy. He attended Perth Modern School.

With the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted and served in the Middle East, Ceylon and New Guinea.

He wrote the regular "Outsight" column for Nation Review and was its editor for several years, then contributed to Toorak Times,[1] the eccentric weekly published by con-man and ratbag Jack Pacholli (1929-2004).[2]

He also worked for the ABC, earning the attention of ASIO as a Communist sympathiser.[3]

He died from lung cancer.

[edit] Family

He had a longterm relationship with writer Oriel Gray, with whom he had two sons, Peter and Nicholas.[4]

Peter Hepworth (1948 – ) has had a successful career writing for television.[5]

[edit] Bibliography
The Long Green Shore Pan Macmillan Australia (1995) ISBN 0330357034 written for a Sydney Morning Herald literary contest and slated to become a movie directed by Russell Crowe[6]
Lurie, Morris (ed) John Hepworth ... His Book (a collection of his "Outsight" articles, illustrated by Michael Leunig) Angus and Robertson 1978 ISBN 0207136270
The Last of the Rainbow Yackandandah Playscripts (1963) ISBN 0868050547
The Multitude of Tigers (1990)
(with John Hindle) Boozing Out in Melbourne Town (1980)
Around the Bend (an account of a 1983 rafting trip he undertook with Hindle and Patrick Amer) down the River Murray and filmed by an ABC camera crew)
Little Australian Library Dynamo House ISBN 0949266000
(with Michael Leunig) The Almanac of Unspeakable Colonial Acts Dynamo House (1986) ISBN 0949266191

For children:
(with Bob Ellis) Top Kid Puffin (1985) ISBN 0140084126 based on Ellis's television drama
(with Bob Ellis) The Paper Boy Puffin (1985) ISBN 0140084150 based on Ellis's television drama
(with Steve Spears) The Big Wish Puffin (1990) ISBN 0140144625 based on Spears' television drama for Australian Children's Television Foundation

[edit] Sources

Wilde, William; H. Hooton, Joy and Andrews, Barry The Oxford Companion to Australian Literature Oxford University Press 1985 ISBN 0 19 553381 X

[edit] References

1.^ Walsh, Richard (ed.) Ferretabilia ... Life and times of the Nation Review University of Queensland Press 1993
2.^ "A Midas touch for failure - Obituaries". www.smh.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
3.^ Posted by David at July 19, 2006 11:28 PM (2006-07-19). "Beyond Right and Left". Beyond Right and Left. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
4.^ Fiorovanti, David (3 July 2003). "Oriel Gray, 'playwright of ideas', dies aged 83". The Age
5.^ "Golvan Arts Management: Peter Hepworth". Golvanarts.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
6.^ "The Long Green Shore, Maximum Russell Crowe". Maximumcrowe.net. Retrieved 2012-06-18.4 
Relationships4th cousin 1 time removed of Neil James Bradley
4th cousin 1 time removed of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th cousin 1 time removed of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd cousin of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop
NotedFamous People
ChartsHannah Martin Line (Christmass)

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S632] Find A Grave, online findagrave.com. Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.
  3. [S63] WW2 Nominal Roll, online nominal_rolls.dva.gov.au. Hereinafter cited as WW2 Nominal Roll.
  4. [S380] Wikipedia, online en.wikipedia.org. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia.

Darrel Rose Christmass1,2

F, #21562, b. 10 June 1924, d. 25 August 2002
Pedigree
Father*Cyril James (Pinky) Christmass1 b. 22 Jun 1897, d. 12 Dec 1957
Mother*Alice Jane Britton1 b. 6 Oct 1902, d. 12 May 1990
Last Edited15 Nov 2024
Birth*Darrel Rose Christmass was born on 10 June 1924 at Subiaco, Western AustraliaG.1,3 
She was the daughter of Cyril James (Pinky) Christmass and Alice Jane Britton.1 
Marriage*Darrel Rose Christmass married Thomas Gilroy Mulholland on 28 February 1946 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia; reg: 35/1946 married as Daryl R Hepworth.1,2,4,5
Marriage*Darrel Rose Christmass married Peter James* Muffatti, son of Peter Paul Muffatti and Mary Matilda Maifre, on 15 January 1955 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia; reg: 12/1955.1,2,6 
Death*Darrel Rose Christmass died on 25 August 2002 at Western Australia at age 78.1,7 
Burial*She was buried at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.7 

Family 1

Thomas Gilroy Mulholland b. 2 Dec 1918, d. 13 Aug 1972

Family 2

Peter James* Muffatti b. 8 Aug 1921, d. 10 Sep 1995
Milit-Beg*Darrel Rose Christmass began military service on 20 July 1942 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, 103153, Corporal, 4 Aircraft depot, RAAF - enlisted as Daryl Rose Hepworth.3
Relationships4th cousin 1 time removed of Neil James Bradley
4th cousin 1 time removed of Victoria Rae (Vicki*) Barrett
4th cousin 1 time removed of William (Bill*) McElroy
3rd cousin of Thomas Anthony (Tony*) Harrop
ChartsHannah Martin Line (Christmass)

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S162] Reverse WA Marriage Lookup, online http://www.wamarriage.info/. Hereinafter cited as Reverse WA Marriage Lookup.
  3. [S63] WW2 Nominal Roll, online nominal_rolls.dva.gov.au. Hereinafter cited as WW2 Nominal Roll.
  4. [S389] Trove, online trove.nla.gov.au, Family Notices (1946, March 2). Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1950), p. 4. Retrieved September 9, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95577536. Hereinafter cited as Trove.
  5. [S201] WA BDMs, online http://www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au. Hereinafter cited as WA BDMs.
  6. [S338] Goldfields Marriages - Uniting Church, online http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~westaust/…. Hereinafter cited as Goldfields Marriages - Uniting.
  7. [S360] OZ Burials, online www.ozburials.com. Hereinafter cited as OZ Burials.

Thomas Hepworth1

M, #21563, b. 17 July 1882, d. 3 January 1947
Pedigree
Last Edited9 Mar 2020
Birth*Thomas Hepworth was born on 17 July 1882 at Thebarton, South Australia.2 
Marriage*He married Alice Jane Britton, daughter of Alfred John Britton and Alice Rose Spencer, in 1927 at Perth, Western AustraliaG; reg: 1041.1,3 
Death*Thomas Hepworth died on 3 January 1947 at Perth, Western AustraliaG, at age 64.2 

Family

Alice Jane Britton b. 6 Oct 1902, d. 12 May 1990
Milit-Beg*Thomas Hepworth began military service on 27 February 1916 at Perth, Western AustraliaG, 2173, Sapper; 3rd Motor Transport Coy, Army.4

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, karenhodge88. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry.com.
  3. [S190] WAGS, Marriage Index of WA 1915-33., CD-ROM (Bayswater, WA: WAGS, 2005), Marriages. Hereinafter cited as Marriage Index of WA 1915-33.
  4. [S156] UNSW AIF WWI, online www.aif.adfa.edu.au/aif. Hereinafter cited as UNSW AIF WWI.

Edward George Frederick Barns1,2

M, #21564, b. 20 April 1904, d. 3 November 1979
Pedigree
Edward FG Barns
Last Edited23 Apr 2025
Birth*Edward George Frederick Barns was born on 20 April 1904 at England.3,4 
Marriage*He married Alice Jane Britton, daughter of Alfred John Britton and Alice Rose Spencer, in 1949 at Fremantle, Western AustraliaG.1,2 
Death*Edward George Frederick Barns died on 3 November 1979 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, at age 75.3 

Family

Alice Jane Britton b. 6 Oct 1902, d. 12 May 1990
Milit-Beg*Edward George Frederick Barns began military service on 4 August 1942 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, WX32696, Corporal, 2 Port Construction Company, Australian Army.4

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, karenhodge88. Hereinafter cited as Ancestry.com.
  3. [S62] Metropolitan Cemetery Board, online mcb.wa.gov.au. Hereinafter cited as MCB.
  4. [S63] WW2 Nominal Roll, online nominal_rolls.dva.gov.au. Hereinafter cited as WW2 Nominal Roll.

Grayce Dobson Bennett1

F, #21566, b. 26 June 1911, d. 29 June 1996
Pedigree
Last Edited9 Aug 2021
Birth*Grayce Dobson Bennett was born on 26 June 1911 at New South Wales.2 
Marriage*She married John Alfred Hepworth, son of Cyril James (Pinky) Christmass and Alice Jane Britton, in 1943.1,2 
Death*Grayce Dobson Bennett died on 29 June 1996 at Ballarat, Victoria, at age 85.2 
Burial*She was buried at Ballarat New Cemetery and Crematorium, Ballarat, Victoria.2 

Family

John Alfred Hepworth b. 4 Sep 1921, d. 24 Jan 1995
ChartsHannah Martin Line (Christmass)

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S632] Find A Grave, online findagrave.com. Hereinafter cited as Find A Grave.

Oriel Holland Bennett1

F, #21567, b. 26 March 1920, d. 30 June 2003
Pedigree
Last Edited6 Sep 2016
Birth*Oriel Holland Bennett was born on 26 March 1920 at Sydney, New South WalesG. 
De Facto*She and John Alfred Hepworth were De Facto.1 
Death*Oriel Holland Bennett died on 30 June 2003 at Heidelberg, Victoria, at age 83. 

Family

John Alfred Hepworth b. 4 Sep 1921, d. 24 Jan 1995
Fame*Oriel Holland Bennett achieved Fame as a well known Playwright and Novelist..1 
Note*Oriel Gray


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Jump to: navigation, search








Oriel Gray



Born

Oriel Bennett
26 March 1920
Sydney, New South Wales



Died

30 June 2003 (aged 83)



Occupation

playwright, screenwriter



Nationality

Australian


Oriel Gray (26 March 1920–30 June 2003) is an award winning Australian dramatist and playwright who wrote from the 1940s to 1960's.[1] The major themes of her work were "social and political issues such as the environment, Aborigines, assimilation and bush life".[2]

Gray was born Oriel Bennett in Sydney, New South Wales. She came from a politically active family and was herself a member of the Communist Party of Australia from 1942 to 1950.[3]

She married John Gray in 1940, an actor whom she met while at the Sydney New Theatre and they had a son, Stephen. By 1947 her marriage had broken down[4] and she moved onto a long term relationship with John Hepworth with whom she had two more sons, Peter and Nicholas.[2] Gray died from a heart attack, aged 83 in Heidelberg, Victoria, on 30 June 2003.[2]





Contents
[hide] 1 Career
2 Plays
3 Television writing
4 Other writing
5 Notes
6 References


[edit] Career

From 1937 to 1949 Gray wrote and acted for the Sydney New Theatre,[5] and it was here that her first play Lawson, a play based on the short stories of Henry Lawson, was performed in 1943.[6] The Sydney New Theatre had the reputation of being left wing and avant garde and was modeled on the new radical and political theatre movement in the United States.

In 1942 Gray was appointed as the first paid Australian playwright-in-residence.[6] She was commissioned to write a weekly radio segment for the New Theatre on 2KY.[4]

In reviewing plays, L. L. Woolacott, critic and editor of the Sydney Triad magazine, described Gray as "one of the most significant and talented Australian playwrights whose work has so far been produced here".[4]

The 1955 award by the Playwrights' Advisory Board for best play was given jointly to Gray's play The Torrents and to Ray Lawler's play Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. Gray's play, with its themes of "feminism and the saving of the environment",[7] did not have popular appeal in a very conservative era, and there was only one amateur performance recorded. It was not published until 1988[6] and did not have a proper release until 1996 at the Adelaide Festival of Arts. In the sixties the play was turned into a light-hearted musical, called A Bit O' Petticoat, with music composed by Peter Pinne.[7] and book and lyrics by Ray Kolle.

Gray's play Burst of Summer won the 1959 J. C. Williamson Theatre Guild Competition.[4] The play explores the racial tensions that erupt in a small town when a young Aboriginal girl gains brief notability as a film actress. This story is based on real events when Charles Chauvel's film Jedda made known the Aboriginal actor Ngarla Kunoth, who played the title role.[3]

[edit] Plays
Lawson (1943)
Westernlimit (1946)
My Life is my Affair (1947)
Had We But World Enough — first performed 1950
"Sky without Birds" in Plays of the 50s (2007) — first performed in 1950
The Belhe And The Bushranger
Hewers Of Coal
The King Who Wouldn't — first performed 1952
Marx Of Time
Milestones
Royal Tour
The Torrents (1996) — first performed in 1954
Drive a Hard Bargain (1955) — first performed in Ballarat, October 1957
"Burst of Summer" in Plays of the 60's, Vol. 1 (1997) — first performed in 1960
The Man who Wanted to Murder Sherlock Holmes: A Play for Radio (1987)

[edit] Television writing

In 1975 a television series was proposed to be written by Australian woman writers. Grey wrote one episode of this television drama series: Quality of Mercy: We Should Have Had a Uniform (1975)[8]

Gray wrote scripts for children's shows for the ABC. She was also one of the early writers for Bellbird,[9] a long running Australian television soap opera along with Judith Colquhon, Ray Kolle, Peter Pinne and Don Battye.

[edit] Other writing

Gray published one novel: The Animal Shop (1990)

In 1985 Gray published her memoirs: Exit left: memoirs of a scarlet woman (Penguin, 1985)

[edit] Notes

1.^ "Austlit Agent - Oriel Gray". Austlit. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
2.^ a b c Fiorovanti, David (3 July 2003). "Oriel Gray, 'playwright of ideas', dies aged 83". The Age
3.^ a b "Burst of Summer by Oriel Grey". Currency Press. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
4.^ a b c d Arrow, Michelle (24 July 2003). "'Scarlet woman' put us centre stage". Sydney Morning Herald
5.^ "History of the New Theatre". Ramin Communications. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
6.^ a b c Sage, Lorna; Germaine Greer, Elaine Showalter (1999). The Cambridge Guide to Women's Writing in English. Cambridge University Press. pp. 288–289. ISBN 0-521-66813-1.
7.^ a b "A Bit O' Petticoat". Australian musical.com. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
8.^ "Filmography of Oriel Gray". ImDb. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
9.^ Mercado, Andrew (2004). Super Aussie Soaps: Behind the Scenes of Australia's Best Loved TV Shows. Pluto Press Australia. pp. 24. ISBN 1-86403-191-3

[edit] References
Oriel Gray, 'playwright of ideas', dies aged 83 (3 July 2003) The Age (Retrieved 10 March 2008)
Plays by Oriel Gray The Playwright Database (Retrieved 10 March 2008)
Agent details - Oriel Gray Austlit (Retrieved 10 March 2008)
Arrow, Michelle (2002). Australian Women Dramatists in the Limelight at Last. Strawberry Hills, N.S.W.: Currency Press. ISBN 0-86819-690-8.
Staging a reversal of fortune (9 January 2003) The Age (Retrieved 10 March 2008.)2 
NotedFamous People
ChartsHannah Martin Line (Christmass)

Citations

  1. [S110] Andrea Johnston,Victoria.
  2. [S380] Wikipedia, online en.wikipedia.org. Hereinafter cited as Wikipedia.