On May 13, 1885 Stephen Maher married Bridget Catherine Ryan at St Patrick's Church in Seymour. Two years later Stephen joined the Victorian Police Force and when he retired in 1920 he was the oldest member of the whole Victorian force. Stephen and Bridget had ten children - five daughter and five sons - Rosaline (born 1886), Cathleen (1888), Florence Mary (1890), Olive Veronica (1893), Stephen Raymond (1894), John Thomas (1896), Thomas Francis (1899), Daniel Michael (1901) and Leonard Joseph (1903) Mary Monica (1905). (1)
In April 1913 Stephen was posted to Pakenham and was there until his retirement. His duties were many and varied and one of his more interesting cases was reported in April 1914 -
For the last week a man named William Mountain, alias Hill, had been wandering in the Kooweerup Swamp declaring that he had come to organise a union for potato diggers, and imagined that he was holding and addressing meetings for that purpose. As his actions and conduct pointed strongly to madness and caused uneasiness to the settlers, Trooper Maher, of Pakenham, was sent for. On arriving there late on Thursday night he arrested the man, and after considerable difficulty lodged him in the lockup at Pakenham at 1.30 on Friday morning. Having had the man examined by Dr. White, he was brought before Mr Jas. Ramage, J.P., who after hearing the evidence of Dr White and the trooper, committed him to the Receiving House, Royal Park.
On Saturday morning Trooper Maher entrained with him at Pakenham. At first on leaving Pakenham he was somewhat violent, but soon became quiet. On the train leaving Clayton he suddenly dashed at the door, unfastened it and jumped out. Without hesitating Trooper Maher also jumped out; jumping with the train he miraculously escaped injury, and shouting to stop the train (which it fortunately did) he rushed up to his charge and found him badly bruised, but savage and threatening. After a struggle he secured him, and the train having backed up willing hands helped the trooper to get the man on board. On arrival at Spencer st. the trooper soon had him lodged safely in the Receiving House.
During the continued journey to Melbourne he became a little communicative and said to the trooper,"You're too smart for me. I'll tell you who I am, I am a lawyer, my name is Hill, I escaped from Mont Park Mental Hospital three weeks ago. I have also been five months in Beechworth Asylum and in Asylums in Adelaide and Newcastle, all of which I escaped from. Now I suppose I shall be shut up until I escape again." The man's actions showed him to be a lunatic, and that he is a dangerous one was evidenced by the fact that on being searched after arrest a large table knife, sharpened and pointed, was found secreted in the lining of his vest. Too much praise cannot be given to Trooper Maher for the brave and unselfish way in which he executed his duty in this matter, and the value and credit for it will no doubt be marked by the police authorities. (2)
Another interesting article was also published about Trooper Maher in 1914 -
Retirement of Constable Maher
Constable S. Maher, who has been in charge of the Pakenham police station for nearly eight years will reach the retiring age on the 4th on next month, and is leaving the police force after having seen 33 years service. He is at present the oldest member of the whole Victorian force. He joined the force on the 2nd of July, 1887, and his meritorious work soon gained him advancement. After two years’ service he was given charge of his first station. This was at Natimuk and Noradjuha in the Wimmera district. However, after a short stay here, finding the climate unsuitable, he applied for a change. This was granted, and in 1895 he was transferred to the Gippsland district, being appointed to Buchan, where he remained for 5 years.
His next transfer was to Cunninghame, but as the sea air did not agree with the health of his family he arranged to change places with a comrade at Heyfield, where he remained for six years. His next shift was to Sandringham, but as at Cunninghame, he had to leave on account of the sea air not agreeing with some members of his family. From this station he was transferred to Fern Tree Gully, where he spent about six years. While at Fern Tree Gully he filled the dual post of Inspector of Nuisances and Summoning Officer, and on leaving he was given the following letter, dated July 12, 1913, under the seal of the Council:-
“Constable S. Maher, Pakenham.- The council of the Shire of Fern Tree Gully desire to testify to the conscientious and efficient manner in which you discharged your duties as its officer for a period of five and a half years in the capacity of Inspector of Nuisances and Summoning Officer. The council tenders you its thanks for your energy and zeal in safeguarding the interests of the council at all times, and your attention at all times to matters affecting the health of the residents within the Shire.”
From Fern Tree Gully Constable Maher was transferred to Pakenham. During his 33 years’ service Constable Maher has seen some rough times, and had had to handle many important criminal cases, amongst the number being cattle stealing, house –breaking, safe-breaking, burglary, larceny, and numerous offences of lesser degree, and in many of these cases was successful in securing a conviction. As a result of his efficiency as a member of the force he has many creditable entries on his record sheet.
Since coming to Pakenham he was offered promotion, but decided to forgo it rather than go to the City. During his lengthy service he has done his work faithfully and well and has made many friends, receiving a valuable testimonial from every place at which he has been stationed. Constable Maher intends to settle in Pakenham and take up farming and grazing in a property he has secured since coming here. He has the very best wishes of his many friends for his future prosperity their midst. (5)
Stephen died on April 19, 1931 aged 70 and is buried at Pakenham Cemetery, with their daughter Rosaline who died in 1923; and Bridget died on January 23, 1939 aged 77 and is buried at Box Hill cemetery (6).
Mrs. Bridget Catherin Maher - The sudden death of Mrs. B. C. Maher at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Sherrin, 18 Victoria-street, North Richmond, came as a shock .to her many friends and relatives. She was born at Wallan, 1861, and was the eldest daughter of the late Michael Ryan, of "Westbrook," Avenel. She was married at Kilmore to Stephen Maher, of Seymour, and lived in many parts of the State, including Ferntree Gully and Pakenham, and since the death of her husband, with Mrs. Sherrin. Mrs. Maher was the mother of five sons and five daughters. One daughter is Mother Margaret Mary de Sion, Box Hill. Four sons enlisted in the Great War, three seeing active service. She was actively connected with all charitable work in St. John's parish. The funeral left St. John's, East Melbourne,after a Requiem Mass, and proceeded to Box Hill Cemetery. The chief mourners, besides members of the family, were Mr. R. Ryan (brother), "Victoria Park," Berrigan, N.S.W., and Mrs. McCoy, sister, Middle Park. R.I.P. (7)
It was whilst Stephen and Bridget were living in the police station at Pakenham that three of their sons enlisted in the AIF and served overseas - they were Stephen Raymond (called Roy on his enlistment papers), John Thomas and Thomas Francis. Mrs Maher's obituary said that four sons enlisted in the Great War, three seeing active service so I presume that the fourth son must have been Daniel who was born 1901, but that would still have made him only 17 when the War ended, so not sure about that and Leonard would have been far too young.
Roy (SN 2228) enlisted on August 27, 1914 at the age of 20, occupation Labourer. He served in Gallipoli and France and Returned to Australia October 8, 1918. Roy died in 1976 in Western Australia and is buried at the Karrakatta Cemetery, in Perth. (8)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Thomas Francis (SN 50190) was an 18 year old student when he enlisted on October 22, 1917. Corporal Thomas Maher Returned to Australia on July 23, 1919 and was granted an 80 acre Soldier Settlement farm at Pakenham. Thomas died in 1966 and is buried at the Box Hill cemetery. (10)
.jpeg)
Roy sent a letter home to his parents in 1915, he makes it all sound rather pleasant as though he was on holiday and not just having survived Gallipoli, but obviously was restricted in what he could write. It's a lovely letter and interesting letter and is transcribed it below. It was published in the Dandenong Advertiser (where they called him Ray)
At the Dardanelles.
Mrs Maher, wife of Constable Maher, Pakenham, has received the following letter from her son Ray, who is fighting the Turks and Germans at the Dardanelles.
I received your most welcome letter a little time ago. We are back again from the Dardanelles, as there is not space to get the horses off, and the mules can do better there, as the country is very hilly and rough. We have a nice camp out from Alexandria about nine miles, with a train running right through the camp, and the tram within 10 minutes walk. Best of all, the beach is only about a quarter of an hour's walk. We go down to swim the horses now and then, but go our selves every evening, It is where all the tourists come for their holidays, and there are a lot of English and French people there, so we have a good time with them. I only wish I could speak French; I can only speak a little of it, also a little Egyptian just enough to be understood.
The people here seemed to think Australia .only a little island, but they were surprised to hear that it is bigger than Europe, and that most of the inhabitants are white, instead of black, as they thought. I am writing this in the horse lines, as I am on stable guard, taking the place of my mate, who wanted to go to the races. The sun is about 200 in the shade - that is what it feels, at any rate; and the flies would drive a fellow mad.
Most of our chaps are at the Dardanelles, but a lot of us had to come back with the horses. Many of our men who were wounded are going back in a day or two; they are getting well again.
I think Italy will make a difference when she comes into the war; she will make the war end sooner. I must bring this letter to a close, with love to all at home from Ray. (11)
The Maher family were fortunate that their three sons returned from the War
Footnotes
(1) Marriage notice - The Age, May 18, 1885, see here; Pakenham Gazette, June 4, 1920 p.3.; Index to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(2) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, April 30, 1914, see here.
(3) Dandenong Advertiser, May 7, 1914, see here.
(4) Pakenham Gazette, August 16, 1918, see here.
(6) Death notice - Stephen The Age, April 23, 1931, see here; The Advocate, February 9, 1939, see here.
(7) The Advocate, February 9, 1938, see here.
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8211787
(9) John - Service record -
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8214389
(10) Thomas - Service record -
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8211804
(11) Dandenong Advertiser, July 15, 1915, see here.
This is a revised and expanded version of a post, which I wrote and researched, that appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years.
.jpg)
.jpg)
