non-fictionThis is a tribute to the author's forebears who risked all and made audacious, often treacherous journeys to the other end of the world, to become pioneers of this country. John Ronan and his wife Johanna Fleming arrived in Australia on the 'Australia' from Kilkenny in 1853. Their descendants eventually settled in North East Victoria, around the Tallangatta district.ronan family, victoria -- genealogy, ireland -- genealogy, tallangatta

When Mrs Julia Ronan nee Arundel lost her husband John to tuberculosis in 1906, she quickly decided to move from their small farm into Wodonga with her 3 children. She was granted the lease of the ground she needed to establish her eating house at one shilling per year while she remained there. Two established merchants Albert Schlink and John Whan and butcher Jack Garrett agreed to allow her credit which enabled her to open Ronan's Dining Rooms at the Wodonga Saleyards. It was often a challenging environment, with drovers, and horse- breakers, auctioneers and bushmen bringing huge mobs of cattle and horses to the saleyards. Stories of the premises include the unexpected arrival in the passage of a lively bullock which finished up on the girls' bed. Mrs Ronan persevered and beat all obstacles to finally move from the saleyards to the Wodonga Coffee Palace in High Street, beside the railway gates in 1921. The construction of the Hume Weir had begun and some construction workers boarded at the Coffee Palace. Her 3 children achieved success due to their mother’s hard work to ensure their futures. Bill trained for the priesthood and was a parish priest, but died from tuberculosis 1n 1939 aged of 41. Katie became a highly accomplished music teacher, including 32 years at Albury Public School. In the 1930s she was able to buy a house at 49 High Street, Wodonga where she lived with her mother and sister Mary. Mary trained in office work at Edmondson’s solicitors and then worked on the Albury Council. After living with her daughters in the High Street house, Julia passed away on her 90th birthday in 1958. Mary died on 6 January 1983. Katie passed away in Wodonga at the age of 97 on the 16 September 1996. All members of the family are buried at Yackandandah, Victoria.A black and white image of Miss Mary Ronan, Mrs Julia Ronan and Miss Teresa Trudewind at the Old Saleyards Dining Room, Wodonga.On front of building: DINING ROOMS/ MRS. J. RONANmrs. ronan, dining rooms wodonga sale yards, wodonga businesses, wodonga pioneers

Back Row (L-R): Mr Thomas, Mr Trethewy, Mr Edwards, Mrs Hermans, Mr Sinclair, Mr Rintoul, Mr Smythe Middle Row (L-R):, Mr Philips, Mr Johnson, Mr Tong, Miss Charles, Miss Hiatt, Mrs Berriman, Mrs Cox, Mr Collinson, Mr Robertson, Mr Eddy Front Row (L-R): Mrs Menkins, Mr Ronan, Miss Williams, Mr Shine, Mr Myer (Headmaster), Miss Service, Mr O’Connor, Mrs Burt, Mr Berge, Miss Maxwell Local Eltham resident Joan Castledine attended Macleod High School in 1957. Miss Maxwell (end of front row) lived at 82 Bible Street, Eltham at the top of the hill in 1980. This was the former Taylor family residence , Sunnybrook, built c.1895."Macleod High School Staff 1957" in ink at top edge of photo. Names of staff written in ink on reverse of photo1957, groups, joan castledine collection, macleod high school, miss charles, miss hiatt, miss maxwell, miss service, miss williams, mr berge, mr collinson, mr eddy, mr edwards, mr johnson, mr myer, mr o’connor, mr philips, mr rintoul, mr robertson, mr ronan, mr shine, mr sinclair, mr smythe, mr thomas, mr tong, mr trethewy, mrs berriman, mrs burt, mrs cox, mrs hermans, mrs menkins, staff