Person Page - 15

     Marie O'Halloran married Peter Auchettl, son of Ivan Francis Auchettl and Judy Cody, in 1985.

     William O'Mara married Jane O'Rorke, daughter of Hugh Buidhe (Boy) O'Rorke and Bridget O'Rourke, in 1843 at Roscommon.

     Phelim O'Neale died at executed, high treason. He married Jean Jane Gordon Lady after 1641 at IRL.

     Hugh O'Rorke of Creenagh & Caringeenboy married an unknown person. He was born circa 1720. He died in 1781.

     (Centy) Hyacinth O'Rorke was born circa 1795. He died circa 1840.

     Anne Theresa O'Rorke was born in 1893 at Brim, Vic. She died on 31 August 1966 at Melbourne, Vic; Severe dementia over last period of life. She was buried on 3 September 1966 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Brian O'Rorke died circa 1645.

     Bryan O'Rorke died circa 1922. He was born circa 1922 at Hamilton VIC, Vic. He was buried on 4 April 1922; Funeral expenses Bryan - 5 Pounds 5 shillings ($10.50).

     Carmel O'Rorke married Robert Knowles on 13 February 1982 at Ballarat, Vic.

     Centy O'Rorke married an unknown person. He was born circa 1755 at IRL. He died in 1782 at Slain in duel, by a Perceval, Templehouse, Sligo.

     Con O'Rorke died.

     Donach (Dennis) O'Rorke married an unknown person.

     Eileen Rose [Nell] O'Rorke was born on 22 July 1906 at Lake Bolac, Vic. She died on 15 December 1986 at Willaura, Vic, at age 80; Signs of dementia over last year or so. She was buried on 17 December 1986 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Ellen O'Rorke died circa 1820 at Innismagrath.

     Female O'Rorke married (?) Fitzgerald.

     Frances Myrtle O'Rorke MBE was born on 11 October 1891 at Brim, Vic. She died on 7 January 1984 at Ballarat, Vic, at age 92. She was buried on 9 January 1984 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Frank O'Rorke was born circa 1766. He died on 2 February 1845.

     Hugh O'Rorke was born on 17 February 1864 at Stuart Mill, Vic. He married Annie O'Connell, daughter of Michael O'Connell and Catherine Farrell, on 24 April 1889 at Horsham, Vic. Hugh O'Rorke died on 3 February 1941 at Lake Bolac, Vic, at age 76. He was buried on 5 February 1941 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Hugh O'Rorke was born on 4 November 1925 at Skipton Vic. He was buried in June 1945 at Wagga Wagga, NSW. He died on 12 June 1945 at Uranquinty_RAAF, NSW, at age 19.

     Hugh O'Rorke married Unknown MacDonagh. Hugh O'Rorke married unknown MacDonagh. Hugh O'Rorke died in 1684.

     Hugh Buidhe (Boy) O'Rorke was born circa 1790. He married Bridget O'Rourke, daughter of Francis of Carronerim, circa 1808. Hugh Buidhe (Boy) O'Rorke died circa 1850.

     Hugh Hyacinth O'Rorke was born circa 1821 at Kilmactrany, Co. Sligo. IRL. He married Maria McLoughlin, daughter of John McLoughlin and Maria McLoughlin UNKNOWN, in November 1851 at French_Church, New York, USA. Hugh Hyacinth O'Rorke died on 3 January 1886 at Ballarat, Vic. He was buried on 6 January 1886 at Ballarat, Vic.

     Hugh Michael O'Rorke MBE JP was born on 6 February 1890 at Brim, Vic. He married Dorothy Elizabeth Dunbar, daughter of John Thomas Killigrew Dunbar and Margaret Green, on 26 November 1919 at Surrey Hills, Vic. Hugh Michael O'Rorke MBE JP died on 13 September 1962 at Westmere, Vic, at age 72. He was buried on 15 September 1962 at Lake Bolac, Vic.
     Hugh Michael O'Rorke MBE JP was Biography O'RORKE HUGH MICHAEL MBE JP (1890-1962) usually known as HM, was born at Norwegian , Shire of St.Arnaud, on the 6th of February 1890, the eldest child of Hugh O'Rorke, farmer, and his wife Annie, nee O'Connell.

He was educated at the Brim state school, and after finishing the eighth grade, was awarded the Merit Certificate. The disastrous drought of 1901 made O'Rorke senior decide to look for land with a more stable climate, and so, several years later, the family moved to Lake Bolac, where they settled at 'Lake View' on the northwestern shore of the lake.      As a young man, HM played football in the local team, and as well, was a prize winning rifle shot.

In February 1916 he joined the newly formed 39th Battalion, AIF, then being formed at Ballarat. HM trained as a signaler, and on May 27th of that year embarked with the Battalion for further training in England. He saw service in France, was gassed, and finally was severely wounded during the battle for Broodseinde Ridge on October 4th 1917. After convalescence in England, HM returned to Australia and was discharged in the June of 1918.

On his discharge he was awarded a soldier settlement block at Westmere, and in November 1919 married Dorothy Elizabeth Dunbar. They named their new home 'Killigrew,' and together they raised a family of five children.

HM was active in local affairs. As the secretary of the local Progress Association for over 25 years, he was a force behind the establishment of the sporting and social facilities of the town. For many years he was on the committee of both the Lake Bolac Lake Frontage and the Bush Nursing Association.

As an early member of the RSL, he held strong views about the need for just treatment for returned men and their families and also the need for a aggressive national identity, Both of these views were not shared by all of the community.

In the late 1930's it was proposed that the SEC extend its fledgling electrical network to selected rural areas, mainly as a test of viability. The original proposal was to extend the service from Terang, northwards through Mortlake, and to terminate at Lake Bolac. HM argued and lobbied that the trial would have greater impact and be of more benefit if it was extended through predominantly farming areas, with few large consumers. Due mainly to his efforts, the line was extended from Lake Bolac, through Westmere and Streatham and as far as Carranbalac in 1938. The residents of the district recognized his efforts, and at the official switching on ceremony, presented him and his wife with a canteen of cutlery as a token of their appreciation. This was the last major rural extension undertaken by the SEC before the outbreak of war.      The outbreak of war in 1939 saw a shift in community attitudes and priorities.

Those who stayed behind threw their weight behind the war effort, producing raw materials and providing the moral support for those who went to war. It was decided that the war effort would be aided by the establishment of a flax processing mill at Lake Bolac, and HM along with a few other adventurous spirits, agreed to trial this new crop. It was so successful that the mill was built, and the industry prospered through until the mid 1950's. In the dark days of 1942, it appeared that Australia would be invaded and overrun. Plans were made to utilize the training and experience of those who had served in the Great War to defend their homeland, and the ex-lance corporal was commissioned as Lieutenant O'Rorke in the Volunteer Defense Corps (VDC). He and his platoon practiced assiduously at their new trade, often to the dismay of the locals who never quite got used to having their cars 'blown up' with tin can 'land mines' as they went peaceably about their business. In one case, the local station master did not enter into the spirit of things at all, and objected strongly to being 'captured' and tied up in his own railway station. It is said that the ensuing conversation became quite heated and personal!      

Remembering his experiences in the First War, HM worked tirelessly as a committee member for the Comforts Fund, helping raise funds to supply extra amenities for the troops.      

Following the end of hostilities, H.M was elected to the State Council of the RSL, and through this means he fought for the rights of the returned men. Appointed to the Soldier Settlement, and later the Closer Settlement Commissions, he urged successfully that the mistakes made in the 1920's not be repeated, and that the blocks be large enough to provide a good living for the settlers.      

He was invited to join Ararat Legacy, and always claimed that membership and service in Legacy was his greatest privilege. He remained an active worker in this field until his death in 1962.      

HM had, like most country people, been a long serving member of his local Bush Fire Brigade, to be renamed as Rural Fire Brigades after the formation of the Country Fire Authority in 1944. The disastrous fires of that year proved that a lack of communications was one of the main problems in successfully containing fires and saving property.

Radio communication was a dream prohibited by wartime restrictions, so he collected a motley assortment of old telephones, and fitted the ends of the attached leads to empty .303 cartridge cases, each with a hacksaw cut down the middle. These acted as a self-cleaning connection to be attached to a line somewhere near the fire, and 'runners' would go back and forth between the Brigade officers and the phones.

Whilst this was a great improvement on no communications at all, great difficulties still remained in getting accurate information to and from the fire front. The often corroded copper phone lines. The phones would      In early 1946 when restrictions on the use of radio were relaxed HM saw the chance to fulfill his dream. However, existing groups and organizations fought hard to either control such a system or to prove how impractical the idea was.

In late 1946 a meeting was called by the Postmaster General's licensing division, attended by the Country Fire Authority, the Army, Police and the Wireless Institute of Australia.      The Army felt that they would be able to supply trained personnel and equipment to provide communications. The Police were not sure, but asked who would be in control of such a system, and that they had the infra-structure to provide this. The WIA felt that amateur radio operators had the technical expertise and equipment that was needed. The CFA said that the proposal was impractical, and were so strongly against such a system that they refused to insure anyone using a radio at a fire. All agreed that non service oriented, and non technical volunteers could not possibly master the intricacies of operating a communications system such as HM envisaged.      

On the open plains of Western Victoria, fires moved rapidly. To be effective, fire fighting and communications HAD to be decentralized. It is fortunate that the then head of the PMG Radio Branch, Major Hunter and HM had known each other since the first war, and he (Hunter) was prepared to back HM's judgment, and against all advice, authorized a twelve month trial period.      On December 19th 1946, the first ever authorized Rural Fire Brigade radio transmission was made from VL3KJ on a frequency of 5725 kHz. At this stage there was only one station licensed. The plan was to operate mobile at fires, and transmit information to one of four Amateur radio operators located in Terang, Dunkeld, Ararat, and Ballarat. These stations would then find an unoccupied section of the 40 meter band for reply.

The system was cumbersome, but it was a start. Before the end of the first summer, three other local brigades had seen the benefits, had purchased old disposals radio equipment, mounted them in vehicles. HM set up a base station at his property 'Killigrew,' and the Westmere Rural Fire Brigades' Group began to evolve.      Before long his dream was providing a model not only for the local area, but for all of Australia. Requests were often received from areas that had suffered devastation from fires, and, at their own expense HM and group members demonstrated their system in many parts of Australia. Visits and demonstrations were made to Ballarat and Stawell in 1948, and many other areas until 1962. The most comprehensive was in 1961, when, following disastrous fires in Western Australia, the 'Chief' and members of the Westmere Group, were invited to demonstrate, at their own expense, radio techniques in a number of towns in that state.

The present Australia wide rural fire radio systems are direct descendants of HM's foresight. It must be admitted that he was a hard taskmaster. Many young men quickly learned the meaning of reliability and responsibility under his tutelage. Whether by fear or from affection, The Chief, (as he became known to many) was held in high esteem by those in the 'Network'.      

He was awarded an MBE in the 1955 New Year's Honours list in recognition of his pioneering work in Fire Brigade Communications, and public service to the district.      He still had problems with bureaucracy in the Country Fire Authority, and so lobbied that he was appointed as a board member of the Country Fire Authority in July 1956, as one of the representatives of the Rural Fire Brigades Association. He served continuously as a member until his death in 1962, and as Chairman from July 1958 to June 1959.      

He died at his home, 'Killigrew,' Westmere on September 13th 1962, aged 72, and was buried in the Lake Bolac cemetery. He was survived by his wife Dorothy, and four children. Two children predeceased him. . between 1890 and 1963.

     Hugh Roe O'Rorke married Unknown 1st Wife. Hugh Roe O'Rorke married Jane (Jenny) Chambers. Hugh Roe O'Rorke was born circa 1760 at IRL.

     Hugh [Centy] O'Rorke was born on 20 June 1857 at Launceston, Tas. He was buried in August 1857 at Launceston, Tas. He died on 8 August 1857 at Launceston, Tas.

     Imelda Josephine O'Rorke was born in 1915 at Lake Bolac, Vic. She died on 27 April 1929 at Lake Bolac, Vic. She was buried on 30 April 1929 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Jane O'Rorke married William O'Mara in 1843 at Roscommon.

     John O'Rorke was born circa 1765. He died on 11 November 1845.

     John Hugh O'Rorke married Aileen Mary Seedsman, daughter of Thomas Edward Seedsman and Marion Grace Gibbs, on 21 June 1960 at Port Moresby, New Guinea.

     Julie Margaret O'Rorke married Richard Thomas Maloney, son of Thomas Patrick Maloney and Janet Elizabeth Slater, on 13 January 1973 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Kathleen Elizabeth O'Rorke was born on 17 October 1900 at Brim, Vic. She died on 26 November 1982 at Willaura, Vic, at age 82. She was buried on 28 November 1982 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Kathryn Jane O'Rorke married Matthew Gerard Luke McDermott, son of Michael McDermott and Claire McDermott, on 5 March 1999 at Menzies Creek, Vic.

     Kevin O'Rorke married Ellen Bernadette Glennen on 24 April 1965 at Terang, VIC.

     Leo John O'Rorke was born on 8 May 1903 at Lake Bolac, Vic. He married Janet Elizabeth Hucker on 3 September 1938 at Ballarat, Vic. Leo John O'Rorke died on 22 May 1964 at Lake Bolac, Vic, at age 61. He was buried on 24 May 1964 at Lake Bolac, Vic.

     Lisa Ann O'Rorke married Brian Roy McCormick, son of Ivan Roy McCormick and Bernice Jean Robinson, on 30 December 1989 at Mt. Gambier, SA.

     Margaret Victoria O'Rorke was born on 7 June 1897 at Brim, Vic. She married James Edward Kinnersly on 17 March 1927. Margaret Victoria O'Rorke died on 11 October 1978 at Streatham, Vic, at age 81. She was buried on 14 October 1978 at Streatham, Vic.

     Margaret [Peggy] O'Rorke was born in July 1920 at Linton, Vic. She died in 1963 at Semaphore, SA.