Mary Jane Rankin was born in 1884 to parents Ewen and Anna Rankin (née Woods). She was a pupil teacher at Linton State School, and later was Head Teacher at Happy Valley State School. She played tennis, sang in the Presbyterian Church choir and was involved in community organisations such as the CWA throughout her life. In 1918 Mary Rankin married Ed Hitchins, the manager of the Linton branch of the Bank of New South Wales. "Mrs Mary (Molly) Hitchins, formerly a school teacher, who drove a mad headed grey horse in a gig some two or three miles to the local hall, was our Sunday School teacher. Although she was Presbyterian, she arranged and taught all Protestant denominations, and left a wonderful heritage of dedication to all those who came under her influence. She had married after many years as a school teacher, and had no children of her own." Jack Fletcher, in 'My Early Days' - recollections in Fletcher family file.Mary Hitchins, née Mary Rankin, 1884-1971mary rankin, mary hitchins

Sepia photograph of a young woman wearing high necked dress and hair drawn away from face."Mrs Hitchens".mary hitchins, mary rankin

The subjects of this photograph are thought to be, L-R: Vera Brown, Kate Rankin, Mary Hitchins (née Rankin), Lucy Rankin.Black and white copy of original photograph showing four older ladies wearing coats, three with hats and one wearing a head scarf, standing on a road with the two on the left arm in arm.mary jane hitchins (née mary jane rankin), vera brown, kate rankin, lucy rankin

Mary Jane Rankin, daughter of Ewen Rankin and Head Teacher at Happy Valley School, married widower Edwin Drummond Hitchins in 1918. At the time he was manager of the Bank of New South Wales in Linton. In 1923, following Ed's retirement as bank manager, they bought Allotment 20 at Mannibadar (previously a soldier settler block) and named it 'Lonetree'.Digital image of a woman with white hair, standing with her left hand resting on a farm gate, over which is hanging the branch of a tree. She is wearing a mid-length print dress with a collar, and lace-up shoes. In the paddock behind her there is a parked utility truck, and in the far background a small cluster of trees.mary hitchins née rankin, 'lonetree' [property]

Black and white photograph which was copied from the Presbyterian Church "Diamond Jubilee" booklet (see Registration no. 1645). Photograph shows members of the Linton Presbyterian Church choir with their conductor, Mr Maddock. The photograph includes the caption from the original publication. This identifies members of the choir by their surnames only. Additional names, including first names, were provided at the time the photograph was copied for LDHS.presbyterian church choir, choirs, gertrude cox, jean cox, cassie mcbeath, alex mcbeath, george bennett, mary hitchins (née rankin), miss johnston, miss gascoigne, miss maddock, miss wishart, mr maddock [choir conductor]

annie rankin (nee annie coates johnson), jack rankin (john ewen rankin), mary hitchins (nee mary rankin), lucy rankin