CATHERINE FINLAY McKENZIE (1873 -1943 ) Married ERNEST EDWARD AUSTIN (1873 - !944 )
Catherine was born on the 5th December 1873 in Denny, Scotland, the first child of William and Catherine. Being the eldest child, Catherine finished her education at a comparatively young age to assist her parents with the raising of the younger children, doing housework, cooking, and other domestic chores and when time permitted, helping in the family grocery store. In addition, to earn a little pocket money, she did domestic duties (housework) for local folk. With spare time at a premium Catherine still managed to do voluntary social work assisting the sick and elderly in their homes. It was whilst doing this charitable work that she met her future husband. On the 23rd of March 1896, at the age of 22 Catherine married 23 year old Ernest Austin, a stalwart member of the Salvation Army. Their wedding service was conducted in the Salvation Army Barracks in Oamaru, their attendants being Catherine's sister Jane (Jean) and an Alice Mircheushah. It was at this time that Catherine formally devoted herself to the Salvation Army Religion.
Ernest, or Ernie as he was always known, was born on the 1st November 1873 in Swanscombe, Kent, the son of William Austin and Rebecca Austin (nee Hollands). At a young age Ernie and his family arrived in Port Chalmers from the U.K. on the ship "James Nicoll Fleming", the family settling in the Weston District on the outskirts of Oamaru. The family's first home was Sod Hut in Airedale Road, Weston. Ernie was a pupil of the old Weston School, and after leaving he undertook various types of work in the district including being a shepherd. In his early teens he attended a "Cottage Meeting" of the Salvation Army being held in Weston. It was the early days of the establishment of "The Army" in North Otago , his parents becoming active and devoted foundation members of the Church.
In January 1889, at the age of 15, Ernie enrolled in the Church and a year later applied for and was accepted to work in the Church. He was subsequently sent as a Cadet to assist at Oxford in North Canterbury prior to entering the Training Facility at Christchurch in 1891, being commissioned the following August.
Ernie's first appointment was to Inglewood and then The Coromandel after which he was appointed an officer in the Maori Mission which required his learning and appreciating the rudiments of the Maori Language. His first such posting was to Parakino Pa where he was sent to "spread love and the good word" amongst the Maori people. His mission work was later extended to embrace The Wanganui River as a parish. Ernie returned to Oamaru for family reasons and it was during this, and other brief visits, that he met and later married Catherine.
After their marriage Ernie and Catherine jointly continued with mission work with appointments to Opotiki and Tauranga, however after three years they were reluctantly forced to retire from their mission work and return to Weston because of Catheriue's ill health.
In those early days, work of this nature was truly a labour of love for even the then, so termed luxuries of life (which we now call basics), were unavailable, they were however able to return to Weston for the birth of their first child William, to them a luxury in itself. By now Ernie had learnt to speak Maori fluently and enjoyed and admired their culture and way of life, a respect that was shared by the many Maori folk he met who embraced him and Catherine as if one of their own. Such was their respect for the Maori people that they christened their third child Louis Hinemoa- Hinemoa being the name of a Maori Princess Ernie met and befriended at Jerusalem in the upper reaches of the Wanganui River.
Early in 1900 Catherine and Ernie shifted from Weston to Oamaru where Ernie worked in grain stores for several years followed by a position he remained in for the rest of his working life, becoming a well known figure and identity as the local coalman, delivering coal and fire wood in his Horse and Dray. In an obituary published in the local newspaper after his death it made reference to his work thus :- " he was for many years a well known figure in the coal delivery trade being known by almost the whole town and district for his jovial and friendly nature". This epitomized the man that his family and grandchildren knew, and even today fondly recall him as being a wonderful, kind, gentle and happy person with a lovely sense of humour. The late Joan Currie remembered her many rides home from school sitting proudly alongside Granddad on the Horse and Dray whilst another granddaughter, Kath Rennie fondly remembers a very special and wonderful man.
Catherine was remembered as being a quietly spoken, reserved, yet gentle lady, and very much the motherly figure within the wider family. A wonderful cook, her baking was always a mouth watering delight and sought after by the whole family. Catherine was however very much the disciplinarian within the home in her seemingly quiet, but firm, and sometimes unsubtle way. Granddaughter Kath recalled Granny's painful pinches to remind one of "when to be seen and not heard" and in other instances just what wasn't acceptable in her presence. Her brothers and sisters referred to her as "bossy britches" as she could be quite domineering and outspoken in their company, no doubt a carry over from her earlier years when she assisted with their upbringing.
At the time of their deaths Catherine and Ernie's respect within the community, and their work and beliefs in the Salvation Army were recorded as tributes in obituaries published both in the Otago Daily Times ~ newspaper and the "Army's" Warcry publication.
On the 26th February 1943, Catherine died in Oamaru Public Hospital at the age of 69, of Coronary Thrombosis. (She had suffered from diabetes for many years).
Catherine's obituary referred to her passing as "having removed still another of Oamaru's old Identities". It also recorded her many years as a Salvationist and to her having been in the Songster Brigade almost since it's inception, as well as her having been a Sunday school teacher and of having been actively connected with the "Army" up until her death.
Some of the extracts from her obituary read;-" the burial service last Sunday was conducted by Captain Pauling who also held a short service at the home of the deceased Lady's daughter Mrs. A. Wright, Ouse Street. The Salvation Army Band played several of the late Sister Austin's favourite hymns. There were many beautiful floral tributes, and a very large number of friends and relatives at the graveside to pay their respects to one who was so well loved and respected", it went on further to state:- "Another expression of tribute was shown by the teachers and Sunday school children who paraded in front of the Citadel with the Army flag as the cortege passed".
On the 23rdJuly 1944, aged 70, Ernest died in Oamaru Public Hospital of Coronary Thrombosis, just a few short hours after having been transported there from his daughter Catherine's residence. (He had suffered a heart attack two days earlier.)
Ernest's obituary, in addition to the earlier extract, referred to "the sudden death of one of the districts well known and respected citizens". It went on to make reference to, and highlight, his wonderful work with the Maoris as a missionary, and of his work in the Oamaru Salvation Army over many years during which time he was a bandsman, playing an E Flat Base, a Corps Sergeant Major and a Sunday School Teacher. A further extract read "he was of a deeply religious nature and well remembered by many for his sincerity and thoughtfulness for others". Ernest was a member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge for a long period, being a foundation member of Lodge Waiareka. He was a continuous visitor to the sick and elderly in the community up until his sudden death. The "Army's" tribute to him included a reference to his funeral service- "The love and esteem in which he was held was seen by the fact hat the Hall could not hold the crowd which gathered to pay their last respects. All sections of the Community and all sections of the Christian Churches were represented".
Catherine and Ernest were buried in a family grave in Oamaru Cemetery.
FOOTNOTES:- ( A ) CHILDRENS CHRISTIAN NAMES. Their son carries by coincidence the first christian name of both Catherine's and Ernest’s fathers, with his second christian name being his father's first. William Ernest Austin.
Their 1st Daughter's first christian name is that of her mother's, and her second is her father's, mother's maiden name. Catherine Hollands Austin.
Their 2ndDaughter's first christian name does not readily relate, whilst her second, as explained, was from a Maori Princess her father befriended. Louisa Hinemoa Austin.
( B ) COMPILERS COMMENT. My Father, George McKenzie recalled vividly Uncle Ernie frequently calling in on his Mother E.M.(Maggie) McKenzie at her home, in Wansbeck Street, and having a "cuppa" and chat with her on his coal delivery round. Dad laughingly recalled Uncle Ernie's Moustache immersed in the cup of tea and of his jovial sense of humour. Another memory he recalled was of his horse placidly standing waiting, with chaff bag around it's neck, and the Dray reversed into the gutter to ensure it and the horse were not dragged backwards down the very steep street. Like Ernie, my Grandmother Maggie lived and was brought up in Weston, and as it was a very small community no doubt the families were known to each other. I now find myself wondering whether it was because of the families knowing one another and through Ernie, marrying my Grandfather (Thomas McKenzie) eldest sister Catherine, that Maggie and Thomas met and subsequently married.
Children of Catherine Finlay McKenzie and Ernest Edward Austin are:
Catherine Finlay McKenzie
Notes for Catherine Finlay McKenzie: