Historical information
7250 Clare Kinsella born 1907 c1940
-1 Clare Kinsella in navy Signals uniform c1943
-2 Clare Kinsella in navy Signals uniform c1943
-3 William Jennings Kinsella with stationery engine at farm Maya Park Lubeck
-4 Clare Kinsella with dog Pencil at Magdala farm Lubeck
-5 Clare Kinsella with dog Pencil at Station Creek Magdala Farm Lubeck
-6 Clare Kinsella with dog Pencil at Magdala Farm Lubeck
-7 Clare with child at Magdala Farm
-8 Clare with pet cocky “Cocky”
-9 Horse at farm
-10 William Jennings Kinsella at 93 with ham radio
Clare Best nee Kinsella
Clare was born December 26, 1907 at “Eyrecourt” on the corner of Scallan and Ligar Streets in Stawell. Clare was the second child of William Jennings Kinsella and Sarah Kinsella nee Peardon. In 1910 the family moved to live at ‘Mayo Park” Lubeck. In 1920’s Mayo Park was sold and a new house was built on a farm nearby called “Magdala” after the mine in which Mr Kinsella’s family had been involved.
Clare attended Lubeck State Public School with her older brother Tom, younger sister Carmel and youngest brother Bill.
In 1941 Clare left the farm to join the Womens Royal Australian Navy.
Her WRAN service number was WR/38 and in the 4 years of service had advanced to Leading Telegraphist. Initially stationed at HMAS Harman in Canberra then Townsville Naval Radio Station Queensland and finally discharged at HMAS Lonsdale, Port Melbourne..
Clare married Keith Charles Best in 1946 also a Leading Telegraphist of HMAS Harman.
After they were married Keith was drafted up to Darwin while Clare worked at a Roman Catholic Mission on Melville Island where she had many adventures establishing a farm at the Mission. Keith was discharged in 1952 and they both worked establishing a Pineapple Farm/ General Store at Noonamah just out of Darwin. Later they moved to a remote farm on the Daily River but after 10 years and 7 years of constant floods they retired to Harvey Bay Queensland.
Clare led an active life and died in 1999, her ashes are in the Jennings/Kinsella Vault in the Stawell Cemetery.
Physical description
B/W Photos
