Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

  It's New Year's Eve so let's reflect on who has been revealed in Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries in 2023. The year has been filled with many published blogs about people who chose a life of service helping others as well as those who chose not to; tragedies that were heartbreaking and secrets and scandals that shocked us. A view of the Old Catholic section - author's own collection  My most popular blog was the one devoted to Lucy Farrow, mother of John Villiers Farrow, Hollywood producer and film maker and grandmother of Mia Farrow. The next most popular was that of the murder of Leticia Frances Cavanagh and followed by the Banka ferry disaster and slaughter of innocents. You also liked the story of the "bad" mother of Macdonaldtown, Sarah Makin. Henry Shiell, the City Coroner, was a popular read as was one about the secrets and scandals found in Section One of the Old Anglican Section. It seems I will need to find more titillating material to engage ...

  As a social media fan, I am a member of a number of Facebook Groups. Last week I noticed a photo of a painting I am very much aware of – “The Fireman’s Funeral 1894” by Arthur Streeton. Of course, I had to comment, and a long, long thread followed. So, today’s blog is about the subject of that painting who lies in Rookwood. EDWARD CHARLES BROWN Edward was born @ 1850 in Norwich England to Charles and Mary Brown. He came to these shores sometime in 1877 and met and married Rebecca Regan and they went on to have 5 children. Edward was listed on the English census in 1871 as a carpenter's apprentice but when he arrived in Australia it wasn't long before he trained as a Fireman. Edward became a member of the United Insurance Brigade and joined the Metropolitan Fire Brigade which was formed by Richard Torning (who also calls Rookwood "home") when it was established in 1884. He rose through the ranks to take charge of the Newtown Branch Station and it was said he wa...