Clan Donnelly gathers at Lightning Ridge
The Donnelly Family Reunion was held in Lightning Ridge over 26-29 August with 23 direct descendants attending.
A Saturday morning tea party was held on the back patio of the Historical Society premises in Morilla Street, followed by smaller group activities then a planned 3 o’clock session in the Resort beer garden.
On Sunday, the Donnelly gang hired a bus to travel to Hebel for a BBQ at the Hebel Hotel, then on to visit the 1918 family property, Home View, now known as Wyralla.
The Donnelly forefathers were Michael and Bedelia, both born in Ireland but married in Victoria.
About 1908, they came to the Ridge following their only child Jack, an experienced builder working around Walgett and Cumborah. He had married at Brewarrina in 1903 – to Minnie McKenzie of Bundabulla East, a property closer to Goodooga.
‘Mick’ was a butcher and opened his shop in Old Town with a branch at Nettleton – both early settlements on the diggings.
The elder Donnellys lived at the Lightning Ridge Tank below the 6-Mile opal field on the traveling stock route. It was later known as Beckett’s Tank, then Voller’s Tank.
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