Lilla Mary Partridge (nee Debney) (10 June 1879 - 27 Oct 1965)
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| Lilla Mary Partridge (nee Debney) |
Lilla Mary Debney was born on 10 June 1879 at Company Street, Semaphore, Adelaide, South Australia to parents Frederic Debney and Emily Harriet Stanford.
Her birth was registered by her Uncle George Haddy of Glanville, who had married Emily's sister. Mary (or Mim as she was known). Perhaps this is where the Mary in Lilla's name originated.
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| Lilla Mary Debney as a baby |
Lilla told daughter Nita that she had often spent holidays with the Edwards family at Kingston Park.
The big old house with verandah all around was rented by her Aunt and Uncle and she enjoyed her time there very much. Later this house contained the Kingston Park kiosk as Nita recalled.
In 1891 Frederic helped some people who were shipwrecked off Kangaroo Island, and as a result, contracted pneumonia, after this TB (tuberculosis) developed and he died on the 16 August 1891, leaving a large family, his age at death being 41. Some after this, his wife, being unable to cope, had to send Alf and Rennie, the two very young ones, to "Monkira" Station to their Aunty and Uncle George Debney (older brother of Frederick).
Monkira Station is found 170km NE of Birdville on the Diamantina River in Queensland and is close to Arrabury, Queensland. Her children were Ross, Rennie, Murrie, Scott and Howie.
Lilla'a house front proudly bore the name "Monkira" using a metal name plate many years later.
Lilla was 12 when her father died.
Emily was very poor as already shown, and living at Port Morrison, Kangaroo Island. Daughter of Lilla, Ione, would often tell her niece Doreen, that Emily would never know where the food was to come from and she would reach her hand down into the large wooden flour bin sitting on the floor and just pray that there was flour in it to make the bread. Many times it was empty. There was sugar bin as well and both were lined with zinc to keep out the weevils. The family on the mainland sometimes sent over a bag of flour for the family. This would be delivered right to their own beach, Debney's Beach, where their house stood above, on the cliff.
On Kangaroo Island, Lilla had a horse, Domino, whom she loved and who would always jump the gates, so that she had no need to stop and open them. She was one of the few who could ride him. One evening she had to ride into Kingscote for urgent help in a case of sickness, and, as it was dark, she was able to trust Domino to take her safety round the craggy coast at a gallop, which he did. She would have been one of the older children and no doubt had to take responsibility for supporting her mother in widowhood.
Two and half years after Frederick's death, on 1 March, 1894, Emily remarried, to a James St Pierre who had been known to them locally, but this was an unhappy liason and did not continue.
Emily raised the family and died years later on 23 November 1937 in Adelaide where had come to live with or near family.
She was buried as Emily Debney (West Terrace Cemetery).
Nita's cousin, remembers Emily as an older lady living at 245 Magill Road, Trinity Gardens, not far from Melrose Avenue. She was "stately lady, quite easy to know. Had no grey hair, don't know whether that was real or not".
Sometime before March 1903, Lilla was proposed to by Wilfrid Henry Partridge, another Kangaroo Islander.
This is a photo of Lilla's engagement ring with 5 sapphires and 2 diamonds.
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| Lilla's engagement ring from Wilfrid which is still held in the family |
On 26 March 1903, Lilla Mary Debney married Wilfrid Henry Partridge and after the ceremony, they left on horseback. They were married at the private residence of Nell and Earnest Wren ("Nell", really Ellen Susannah, was Lilla's oldest sister) at Cygnet River, Kangaroo Island. There were married by Henry Partridge, minister and Wilfrid's father.
Wilfrid, with his own inimitable chuckle, would often tell his family how Alf Bell stood outside the church and sulked during their wedding ceremony, as he had wanted Lilla to marry him! Said Nita "Father delighted after being the lucky groom". (Alf Bell later married Lilla's friend, Emmie Turner, and their son, Charlie, married Nita's sister Edith).
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| The Wisanger House at Wisanger, Kangaroo Island. |
In 1903 directory, Wilfrid is registered as a mail contractor living in Wishanger, Kangaroo Island.
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| Newly Weds Lilla and Wilfrid with Wilfrid's mother Mary Partridge nee Strawbridge at Wisanger, Kangaroo Island |
Lilla recalled that red letter days on Kangaroo Island used to be at the Church "tea meetings" when much food was taken by all (and eaten).
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| 1904 - Wilfrid on top right and Lilla holding Ione the baby |
On 24 February 1904, their first born Ione Lilla Partridge was born. Ione was named after the beautiful heroine in "The Fall of Pompeii". This was Wilfrid's idea. Lilla had wanted the name Ruth.
Moving to America
In about 14 May 1904, Lilla, Wilfrid and baby Ione (3 months) left by ship for America, with Grandma and Grandma Partridge (Mary and Henry) and the rest of their family except for Wilfrid's brother Harold who we believe might have been working with his cousin, Hartland Strawbridge on the land somewhere (maybe at Currency Creek).
In June 1904, they had gone overseas to following the teachings of a particular religious leader, Dowie, who had been on Kangaroo Island. During their time in America, they realized this was not what they wanted, that they had made a mistake and had to then work hard to save to get back to Australia. In the meantime Wilf's two sisters married and always remained in America.
- Gwendoline Myra was born in 14 March 1906 at Chico, California, USA and died aged about 4 months on 17 July 1906.
Wilfrid worked part of the time in a match factory. Lilla helped pick fruit and bottled many hundred of bottles ready for preserving.
- Wilfrid (Howard) was born in 21 May 1907 at Chico, California, USA
- Edith Mary was born in 10 January 1909 at Chico, California, USA.
A huge fire in Chico destroyed all records, including Edith's birth certificate.
Back to Australia
In 1909 the Lilla, Wilfrid and the three children travelled back to Australia.
Lilla loved Suva, Honolulu and especially Vancouver. She told of coming through the Rocky Mountains, and of the grandeur, and how a house in the valley below looked only like a pocket handkerchief. When coming down the mountains, Ione would often say "I 'mell a 'kunk'. These skunks apparently smell a very strong musk!
The Fuji Police thought Ione was wonderful, and made a fuss over her; the crew on the ship also were good to the children and actually taught Edith to walk. The ship's motor would stop periodically in the Pacific, and Lilla told Nita that it felt strange to be mid-ocean on a lifeless ship.
Kybibolite
Ione told Doreen, her niece in 1984 that when the family returned from America, they went to live near Naracoorte at Kybibolite where Wilfrid found work, probably on Debney land. There still may be a paddock called Debney's Paddock there, although Hahn's have owned it since. Lilla's brothers Alf and Oscar both worked there, both these men having had infantile paralysis or polio as it became known. [Could it have been Kalangadoo?)
Aldgate
Ione was a small school child but Lilla wouldn't let Ione go to school because she had to walk up a very high steep hill. So Ione didn't start school till they moved back to Aldgate and she went to what she thinks was Aldgate Valley School.
- Frederick Debney Partridge was born on 22 June 1912 at Aldgate, South Australia.
Back to Kangaroo Island
Four years later, Wilf had become the District Clerk of Kingscote, and they had moved the family to Brownlow Beach on Kangaroo Island where they were living at the time of Nita's birth. We estimate they lived at the Brownlow Beach from around 1914 to 1919.
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| Brownlow Beach House in 1946 on Kangaroo Island |
- Nita Doreen Partridge was born on 27 November 1916 at Maylands, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
- Philip Haydn Partridge was born in on 1918 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Cheltenham, Adelaide
1919 - 1923
In 1922, Wilfrid, Lilla's husband is registered as clerk at Railway Terrace, Cheltenham.
Zante Grove, Ascot Park
Mar 1923 -
Lived in a house on Frank Edward's property. Frank was Lilla's cousin. Wilfrid did the gardening for the Edward's and milked the cow. The family was allowed to have half the milk. The property had a vineyard.
- Lois Emily Partridge, the last child, was born 13 September 1925 at Brighton, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
1926
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| 9 January 1926 at Zante Grove - Man with Hat - Wilfrid Partridge. Ione with glasses, Edith Partridge front back, Fred on left, Nita standing at front, Haydn next to Lilla who is seated and baby Lois Partridge. Mary Partridge nee Strawbridge on far right. |
Around Mid January 1926 the below photo was taken.
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| Names as listed. |
In 1936 Wilfrid, Lilla's husband is registered as a gardener at Wood Street, Alexander Park.
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| Lilla Mary Debney (nee Partridge) |
Lindsay Avenue, Woodlands, Adelaide and then named 6 Collins Avenue, Woodlands Park
In 1939 to 1943, Lilla and Wilfrid are noted as living at Lindsay Avenue, Woodlands, Adelaide.
In October 1940 Lilla went to Tasmania on holiday.
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| October 1940 - Lilla at City Park, Launceston, Tasmania |
This photo was taken in October 1941 at Marino, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is Lilla on the right, Haydn Partridge next to her and then it says on back "two Debney boys". Does anyone know who this is?
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| October 1941 - 2 Debney boys, Haydn Partridge (Lilla's son) and Lilla Partridge |
Lilla came into some money through shares from her step cousin Stanley Turner Debney who died in 1926 so bought the property at 6 Collins Avenue, Woodlands Park. She called it "Monkira" after the cattle station her brother's had lived at. She also had land surrounding it.
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| 6 Collins Avenue, Woodland Park (now Ascot Park) |
Photo of Lilla Partridge and a grandchild?? in the 1950s. Does anyone know where this is taken? Maybe Collins Avenue, Woodlands Park.
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Lilla holding maybe a grandchild? in the 1950s
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Later, 6 Collins Avenue, became home to any of the extended family who needed a home whilst studying in Adelaide. Grandson Charles from Kangaroo Island (Edith's first born) and Lilla's brother Fred Debney's boys were some, but there was often other relations and Lilla and Wilf's own children who brought family from the country to stay. Nita's family, living next door at number 4, always had the benefit of seeing the visitors as well.
Nita's brother Haydn never married due to a slight condition of epilepsy. He was a lovely, gentle man who became a close "Unca" to Doreen and Nita's other children. He spent time as a carpenter, in his own shed or at Furness. He helped build three yachts and took to sailing with a thrill. He had travelled overseas with Howard.
Lois married her George, went to live in Mount Gambier, had three children (Bronwen, Robin and Trevor).
Nita married Harry Hendrie in 1940 at the age of 23.
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| Lilla and Wilfrid sitting on the porch at 6 Collins Avenue, Woodlands Park (now Ascot Park). |
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| The last photo of Lilla Mary Partridge (nee Debney) |
Lilla died on 27 October 1965 at 6 Collins Avenue, Woodlands Park, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia of a heart attack. She was 86. She had spent weeks lying on a bed in the lounge by the window where she could watch a particular little sparrow that sat on the creeper. She had a case of shingles, very painful and needing much rest, but her time was done. At the time is was rarely successfully treated. The creeper covered a mini pergola structure to shelter from the late afternoon sun.
Her tombstone is at Centennial Park Cemetery, Pasadena, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Wilfrid, his walking stick ever in tow since the accident on Kangaroo Island, would hobble to the "top" of the street and, with hearing aid turned on, would cry to Mrs Payne for the love of his life that he had lost. This fretfulness was lost on most of the family as they grieved for the Mother and Granny who had gone.
Wilfrid died less than seven weeks later.
Other facts about Lilla:
Medical: Heart Disease, Shingles
Right Handed
Good horse rider
Known by all as kind
Very intelligent
Taught many small pre-school children to read
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