MARRIAGE OF ETHEL WILLIAMS AND KENNETH McNEILL

Ethel Williams ("Charcoal" Williams's great, grand-daughter) married Kenneth Duncan McNeill in Sydney and then they moved to a sheep property called  "Wellshot Station" (pictured below in 2001) near Longreach, Queensland. The property was managed by James Mitchell and Kenneth gained work as the book-keeper.

The New Zealand and Australia Land Company Limited had purchased the area which comprised "Wellshot Station"  in late 1860s. Wellshot was named after the Glasgow estate of Thomas Gray-Buchanan, who was a major shareholder in the company. The "Wellshot Station" continued to expand and became one of Queensland's biggest sheep stations, with over 400,000 sheep by 1906.

In 1936 there was a resumption of land at "Wellshot Station" and finally in 1948 the remaining land was divided into ten parcels for selection by ballot. Each selection was about 21,000 acres and a clearance sale was held at the station on 27 and 28 September 1948.
 

McNEILL FAMILY MOVE TO ROCKHAMPTON

After several years at "Wellshot" the family moved to Rockhampton, Queensland and Kenneth worked for the solicitors, Rees R. & Sydney Jones. He later worked for MacLachlan Brewery in Rockhampton until his retirement in 1960s.
 

KENNETH McNEILLL JOINS THE LITTLE THEATRE

The Rockhampton Little Theatre was formed in 1945. It was originally known as the Rockhampton School of Arts Little Theatre and its first funds were an advance of 25 pounds ($50) from the School of Arts Committee.

During its first year in 1946, three plays and a Children's play were performed. This pattern continued each year and in addition One Act plays were included in the program and eventually they were performing four major plays and nine One Act plays each year. Kenneth joined the Little Theatre in 1946 and was appointed to the Production Committee in 1951. He produced 3 major productions and several One Act plays. Kenneth acted in about 12 major productions as well as many One Act Plays. He also was the Stage Manager for three major productions. His first production was "Winter Sunshine" by G.A.Thomas. It was a three act comedy. Kenneth play the role of the Captain of a passenger ship.

KENNETH PRODUCES MANY PLAYS

Kenneth co-produced the play "Laburnum Grove" with Ron Phillips. The play was a three act comedy written by J.B.Priestly. The action of the play takes place in the living room of Radfern's house, "Ferndale", Laburnum Grove, Shooters Green, which is a suburb of North London. Kenneth also played the role of Sergeant Morris.

In a newspaper review of the play it was written "....Ken as Sergeant Morris of the Police Force made a lasting impression, even though his part was a minor one. His build, accent and manner were typical of what the part demanded".

KENNETH MADE TRUSTEE AND LIFE MEMBER OF LITTLE THEATRE

In 1955 Kenneth was made a Trustee of the Little Theatre and at the time he was still on the Production Committee.

On 17 March 1964 Kenneth was made a Life Member of the Little Theatre and he maintained his interest in the theatre up until his death in 1968.
 

Cast of the play "Laburnum Grove" on stage at
The Rockhampton Little Theatre, September 1953.

 

ETHEL McNEILL (nee WILLIAMS) JOINS THE RED CROSS

Ethel joined the Australian Red Cross in the late 1930s and worked in many areas of the association including the blood bank, fund raising and helping at the Rockhampton Hospital.

During World War II the Red Cross women (including Ethel) made camouflage nets from twine in the old council premises for the overseas troops.

The Red Cross members worked very hard to raise funds to build the Canning Street premises of the Red Cross. The premises, opposite the Rockhampton Hospital provides a 20 bed rest room for hospital patients' relatives, medical equipment loans, administration, a thrift shop, a cafeteria, take-away food shop, flower and gift shop and a supervisor's residence.

ETHEL RECEIVES RED CROSS SERVICE AWARD 1992

In 1992 Ethel received a Service Award presented by the Australian Red Cross Society, Queensland Division, in appreciation of her dedicated service to Red Cross and her splendid efforts in carrying out the humanitarian work of the Society over many decades.
 

Copyright © 2005, Carol McNeill, , c/- PO, Morayfield, Qld, Australia, 4506. Original content in these pages is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be produced by any process, or other exclusive right exercised without written permission of the copyright holder.