Rosewood History

ACCIDENTS, DISASTERS, TRAGEDIES, CRIMES

© Jane Schy 2024
Published 07/02/2024

5th September 1859 – Mr. Thomas Wyman, sawyer, of  Seven Mile Creek, was returning home from Ipswich and when within three miles of his residence he was thrown from his horse. Not feeling seriously ill he remounted and rode home. When he arrived he became worse and died the next day. The deceased was perfectly sober at the time, and had been a teetotaller for some months. He left a wife and six children to lament his loss.

20th December 1860 – Thomas Connoly (4) was killed by the overturning of a bullock-dray near the Rising Sun Hotel. Thomas and his mother Eliza were sitting on top of a loaded dray being driven by Charles Gill. Eliza was holding her youngest daughter Agnes. When going down a sideling, the dray overturned and part of the load fell on Thomas and crushed him. Thomas was asleep when the dray turned over. Constable Matthew Connolly was escorting some prisoners from Gatton and saw the incident, which was deemed to have been an accident after an inquiry.

17th November 1862 – Thomas Bentley, a carrier heading from Ipswich towards Toowoomba, passed James Conway another teamster, on the Rosewood side of the Seven Mile Bridge. Conway had a large consignment of goods for the Downs from the stores of John Murphy (the first Mayor of Ipswich). Bentley stopped at the Rising Sun Inn and James came along and they had a few drinks then left together. At the first culvert Bentley turned off to the left and Conway kept going. Bentley returned to the same road as Conway had taken and caught up with him about a mile further on. The dray was standing still and Conway was lying on the road. He went back to the Rising Sun to report it and then back to Conway, who died about 5 minutes after his return. Bentley took his body back to Ipswich. It appeared that the “off” wheel of the dray had gone over a stump and as the dray was loaded very high it tilted and James fell off. He died from a fractured skull. He was killed while crossing the “logging” between O’Brien’s public-house at Rosewood and Brandy Gully. His wife was expecting at the time. Their home was in South Street, Ipswich. Charlotte gave birth to a son whom she named James after his father. Tragically young James died aged 17 months 12 days of scarlet fever and diphtheria.

26th January 1863 – James Hugh Rose, Jackson Curry and Edward Hendrick attempted to cross a flooded gully near the Rising Sun Hotel. When Rose’s horse started swimming they realised the depth of the water. Curry, who could not swim, yelled at him to jump off and swim back. The current was too strong so Curry yelled out for Hendrick to help if he could swim. Hendrick immediately jumped in and after reaching Rose both men were pulled under and drowned.

14th  April 1864 – Joseph Platz accused John George Campbell of raping his daughter under the age of 12 years. Constable Andrew Hanrahan was charged with gross neglect of his duty in relation to the incident. The Bench took the evidence of his good character into consideration and he was fined 20s.

7th June 1910 – Master Dan. Stevens, son of Mr. L. E. Stevens of “Wycombe Lodge,” Ashwell, had the misfortune to fall on sharp piece of wood at the Ashwell school and cut a nasty gash in his leg. Mr. Stevens was sent for and drove his son to Rosewood, where the injured limb was attended to by Dr. Allen.

23 March 1911 – Fred Voigt, grandson of Mr and Mrs William Voigt of Rosewood, was amongst the crew of the SS Yongala which ran into a hurricane off the coast of Townsville. All hands were lost. Fred was a fireman on the steamship. Aboard was a crew of 70 men and 31 passengers. The wreck wasn’t found until 1958 off Cape Bowling Green.

5th April 1911 – An accident befell a young man named George Freeman. He had brought a load of maize into Rosewood, and stopped in front of Messrs. BuIcock Bros. store to have it branded. When he was getting on the load the horse moved forward, and Mr. Freeman, in falling, struck his head heavily on the dray, with the result that he received a nasty cut on the forehead. Dr. Allen, who was near by, quickly attended to the wound and convoyed Mr. Freeman to his surgery, where seven stitches were put in the wound.

10th April 1911 – Mr. C. A. Kruger, Mount Forbes, having chopped a tree nearly down, threw his axe down behind him intending to push the tree so that it would fall away from a fence. Having occasion to step backward, Mr. Kruger thought that he must have trodden on the head of the axe or in some way or other got mixed up with the tool, the blade of which cut right through boot, trouser, and flesh into the bone of the right instep. The wound was about 2in long and was exceedingly painful. Several persons who were in the vicinity did all that was possible to allay the pain, and subsequently drove him home. A few days later the injured limb was much swollen and he was able to move about only on crutches. Mr. Kruger was incapacitated for some two or three weeks.

20th June 1911 –  A very serious fire occurred between Rosewood and Thagoona, when some 1000 odd acres of grass were burnt. The owners were Messrs. Dutney, Smith, O’Shea, Dow, Madden, Dale, and Mesdames M’Carthy, and Jas. Dale. The loss of pasture was severely felt by some of these. It was thought that the was caused by the careless action of some person who dropped a match in the rifle range paddock. Had it not been for the creek aiding the fire-fighters, the result would have certainly been much more disastrous on account of the strong westerly wind blowing at the time.

22nd June 1911 – Mr. George Harding was about to get into his spring cart when one of his feet slipped, and be fell from the step, breaking one of wrists.

30th October 1911 – Jane Wright died at Ebenezer as a result of a burning accident. Acting Sergeant Allen conducted an inquiry, and evidence was given by John and Isabella Wright, Alf Bergman, and Acting Sergeant Allen. During the inquiry it was elicited thatJane was conscious to the end, and gave full explanation of the whole affair to her sister, Isabella Wright, shortly after the occurrence. The deceased said to her sister : “If I could only write a statement as to how it happened, for nobody saw it occur, but my poor hands, my poor hands, prevent me. I am dying, and I know there will be an inquiry.” The deceased expressed a desire to be buried in the Ebenezer Cemetery. Dr Caldwells certificate showed that death was due to burns, shock, and cardiac failure.  Read the inquiry

8th November 1911 – An inquiry was held before Messrs F. J. . Eichstadt and W. E. Collett J.J.P. into the circumstances surrounding the cause of the death of Jane Wright who died at Ebenezer on Tuesday October 31, 1911, as a result of a burning accident. Acting Sergeant Allen conducted the inquiry, and evidence was given by John and Isabella Wright, Alf Bergman, and Acting Sergeant Allen. During the inquiry it was elicited that deceased was conscious to the end, and gave full explanation of the whole affair to her sister, Isabella Wright, shortly after the occurrence. The deceased said to her sister: “If I could only write a statement as to how it happened, for nobody saw it occur, but my poor hands, my poor hands, prevent me. I am dying, and I know there will be an inquiry.” The deceased expressed a desire to be buried in the Ebenezer Cemetery. Dr Caldwells certificate showed that death was due to burns, shock, and cardiac failure.

22nd December 1911 – A young girl named Annie Holzwart, (from Mount Marrow) who was employed as a servant at the boarding establishment of Mrs. Habermann, Brisbane Street, Ipswich was supposed to have been murdered early that morning. At the Circuit Court, Ipswich in April 1912, at the trial of John Gottleib Jenner, he was charged with the wilful murder of Annie Holzwart. The Jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. Accused was sentenced to death.

Read the newspaper articles here.  A SHOCKING OUTRAGE    LATEST PARTICULARS    VERY LATEST PARTICULARS   THE RECENT TRAGEDY (TRIAL)

16th February 1912 – Mr. A. G. Allen, of Vancluse Farm, Mt. Walker, was bailing up a young cow, when he fell and came in contact with the horns of another cow. He sustained a severe wound on the right temple, necessitating several stitches being inserted.

17th February 1912 – A 14 months’ old child named Grant, was severely burnt by upsetting a saucepan of boiling milk. The child was attended by Dr. Wittrock. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Grant, were still very anxious as to the child’s condition two days later as there was very little improvement.

21st March 1912 – William Paidley, a single man, 28 years of age, for the past 11 months, had been employed by Mr. Charles Cross, of Ebenezer. William had got the afternoon off and had gone to a lagoon at the Seven-Mile to shoot ducks. He was carrying a double barrelled breach-loading gun, and was in the act of stepping on to a log when the trigger got caught on its surface, and discharged the gun right into the unfortunate man’s stomach. Charles Cross and young fellow named Daniel Beavis were about 10 yards away at the time, and William exclaimed “Oh Charlie, I’m shot !” Everything that was possible was done for him, but he expired half-an-hour after the accident. William came from  Brisbane, his step-father, Mr. William Kent, being a resident of Ann-street, Kang-roo Point.

8th July 1912 – A fire completely destroyed Mr. Batholomew Coveney’s shop in Albert Street.

30th August 1912 – Mr. F. Gower met with a nasty accident last night about 8 o’clock. He was pulling down the wall between two rooms at his shop, when several of the boards on which he was standing fell, and he was thrown heavily to the floor. Assistance was quickly obtained, and he was conveyed to Dr. Wallace’s surgery, and afterwards to his home. He sustained a deep scalp wound as well, as a severe shaking.

27th January 1913 – A peculiar accident happened to Mr. Henry Meier, of Gehrkevale, in company with his father, Mr. E. Meier, was out shooting hares. The father shot at a hare, missing it. At the time the son was standing about 20 yards away. The shot must have hit a rock and rebounding, struck Henry Meier, seven pellets entering his arm and side. He was conveyed to Dr. Wallace’s surgery, and the shot extracted. He was able to return home feelng none the worse for the accident.

30th January 1913 – Mr. P. Rafter, of Grandchester, was bringing a load of pigs to Rosewood when within a few yards of the pig yard, the wheel went on a small stump and Mr. Rafter was thrown from the dray, with the result that his left wrist was broken, and his face severely bruised. He was attended to by Dr. Wallace. 

5th February 1913 – A painful accident befel Mrs. J. W. Kingston at the local railway station. Mrs. Kington was in the act of alighting from the Thallon mail train. In her eagerness to get out before the train moved again, she lost her footing, and, slipping, broke both bones of her legs above the ankle. Dr. Wallace was quickly on the scene, and set the fracture, and Mrs. Kington was conveyed to the house of friends in John-street. She was on her way to join her husband, who was residing in New South Wales, and was breaking the journey at Rosewood in order to see friends before going south.

2nd May 1913 – Mr Schonknecht of Ebenezer was bringing cream to the factory, and, just as he was about to drive over a culvert on the road to town, a calf lying near it rose up and frightened his horse, which shied over the culvert. Mr Schonknecht was thrown from his vehicle to the ground, landing on his right shoulder. Dr Wallace attended. The injuries he sustained consisted of a broken bone in the shoulder blade.

 29th October 1913 –  At the Rosewood Police Court before Messrs. F. J. W. Eichstadt and W. G. Collett, Otto Dorris appeared on a charge of having deserted the German steamship “Hobart.” Constable Taege said he knew the man before the Court. He saw him in Rosewood on Saturday the 25th. He was unable to speak English and so he spoke to him in German. He said, ‘ls your name Otto Dorris?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ Const. Teage said, ‘Were you on the German ship Hobart ?’ He replied, ‘Yes ? I swam away from that boat while it was under quarantine orders at Brisbane.’ Teage said ‘You answer the description of a man wanted in warrant.’ He replied, ‘Yes, I’m the man.’  He then read the warrant to him in German and the man replied, ‘I thought they could not arrest me after the ship left Bribane. I will get from four to six weeks for this.’ On the application of the police he was remanded to Brisbane.

3rd January 1914 – Fire destroyed nine businesses in John Street including the Rosewood Hotel.  ROSEWOOD ABLAZE

8th January 1914 – Mr. Reg. Henning, carter for Mr. R. Sellars, was getting a load of wood at Woodford’s Sawmill when he slipped and fell on a sheet of galvanised iron, cutting a nasty gash in his arm. Dr. Wallace inserted three stitches.

21st May 1914 – Mr. Scott’s fine six-cylinder 45 h.p. motor-car was on the way to Rosewood about 9 p.m. When about half-a-mile from town the car ran out of petrol causing it to get overheated. The driver, Mr. Wolfe, obtained some petrol from town, and  attempted to start the car, but failed. He  tried to start the car by other means and it exploded. It is surmised that the  plugs were fused, and this caused trouble, resulting in the explosion. The car was valued at about £450, and was uninsured. It was Mr. Scott’s intention to remain in Rosewood with the car for hire at the races the next day.

1st October 1914 – A runaway pony attached to a sulky bolted from Frazer Bros’ shop up John St. The wheel was locked and the sulky had about a hundred weight of goods in it. The vehicle therefore pulled heavy, and by the time the animal reached Mr R. Sellars’ corner, had slackened speed down to a very fast trot. Several people attempted in vain to stop the animal which continued his run in the middle of street passing several vehicles. Dr. Wallace was standing at his door, and seeing the animal approaching, ran down his garden and succeeded in overtaking and stopping the animal before any damage was done. The owner had borrowed a pony standing by Mr A. Fites’s and came galloping up as his pony was stopped just past the “Register” Office.

1st November 1914 – Grandchester – Two cows, the property of Messrs. J. Ogg and W. Collingwood, met on the bank of the creek near the railway bridge. They commenced fighting. When their horns became locked together they fell into the water and both of the animals drowned. As they were good dairy cows, it was a loss to their respective owners. Mr. P. Rafter also lost a saddle brood mare, which tell over the bank of the creek into a chestnut tree. One of Mr. H. Raduntz’s saddle horses also met with a broken shoulder.

12th February 1915 – Thomas Charles Mitchell, coal miner, poisoned himself with Lysol. The unfortunate man had been suffering from depression which had worsened after their move from Riverview to Rosewood about 5 months prior to the incident.  Magisterial Inquiry

22nd May 1915 – The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Denman of Mount Forbes swallowed some carbide. It appears that Mr. Denman was filling his sulky lamps from a small tin  and, when he had turned his back to put the lamps on a shelf, the child, who was an eager spectator of the proceedings, picked up the tin, took a mouthful of the carbide, and swallowed it. The carbide at once began to form gas, which caused the child to vomit, after which her lips and face began to swell. The little sufferer was at once driven to an Ipswich doctor, who treated her. She returned home the next evening, and made a satisfactory recovery.

10th October 1915 – Mr. Geo. Dale was thrown from his horse at the railway gates and was picked up unconscious. He was carried to the Rising Sun Hotel for medical attention. After a lapse of two hours he regained consciousness and was able to proceed to his home.

25th October 1915 – Daniel O’DonnelI, of Ashwell was burnt to death when he went to attend to some cows in a paddock near his home. When he did not return his wife looking for him. She could not find him, and advised her neighbours. They searched until about 10 o’clock at night, when his body was discovered. His clothing was destroyed by a fire that had spread among a patch of lantana near his boundary fence earlier in the afternoon. From observations made it was surmised that he made strenuous efforts to save the fence from the fire, and was overcome by the flames. Daniel was born in Donegal, Ireland, ad was highly respected in the Ashwell district, where he had resided for the past 41 years. He was 66 years of age.

31st December 1915 – Mr Joe Geiger, employed by Messrs. M’Geary and Grant, butchers, was firing off crackers at his father’s residence, Ebenezer, on New Year’s Eve, when one exploded in his hands and severely injured his face. Dr. Wallace was summoned and dressed the wounds.

4th January 1916 – Mr. W. J. Freeman was driving in a sulky down a steep incline near his residence when the horse fell and Mr. Freeman and his little baby, which he was carrying at the time, were thrown out, but fortunately neither was injured.

27th January 1916 – Master Leslie Yarrow, four year old son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Yarrow of Rosewood, was swinging on a bar about 6.30 o’clock that morning, when he fell and broke his leg midway between the thigh and knee. He was attended by Dr Wallace.

2nd August 1916 – Acting-Sergt. Allen, Rosewood received advice from Const. Bradfield, at Rosevale, that the two missing men, Fred Jensen and Fred Mundt, arrived home at midnight last night (1st). The former is about 23 years and the latter 18 years of age. They left Rosevale at daybreak last Sunday (30th July) on a shooting expedition, proceeding in the direction of the Main Range. They crossed the Little Liverpool Range, and reached Mulgowie, in the vicinity of which township they spent the night. On Monday they proceeded as far as Laidley, and spent the night near the town. They left Laidley on Tuesday morning, and proceeded to Rosewood. They walked to Rosevale yesterday, arriving at about midnight.

28th October 1916 – The quietness of John Street was disturbed on a Saturday about midnight when a number of young men, bent on having a word or two with Acting Sergt. Allen, assembled near his residence in John Street. They threw a quantity of road metal onto the roof of his house and joined together in giving him a hearty invitation out onto the street. The lads eventually dispersed and went home.

24th November 1916 – William Montague Hornbuckle (15 months old) fell into a water hole at Grandchester and drowned. Acting-Sergt. Allen, Rosewood, and Dr. Wallace visited Grandchester the next day and certified that death was due to drowning. It appears that the little child wandered away whilst the mother was milking a cow 100 yards away from the house, and was afterwards found by the mother floating in a waterhole about 3ft deep, about on quarter of a mile from home.

8th December 1916 – A lad named Stanley Radunz was riding home to Mount Forbes with his father when his horse shied and threw him. The horse lashed out with both feet when the lad was falling, and struck him on the ribs and the jaw. The cheek and tongue were severely lacerated, and the lad was conveyed to Rosewood to Dr. Wallace, for treatment. A number of stitches had to be inserted in the lad’s tongue and cheek.

20th October 1917 – Miss Jessie Brown and Messrs. P. Hinkey and H. Capern were returning to Rosewood from Grandchester when the horse they driving fell, throwing them out. Miss Brown fell under the sulky with the wheel resting on her head. She was removed and taken home suffering from sever bruises and shock. The other two escaped with a severe shaking.

30th September 1917 – William Horace Springall was drowned in a dam at Mount Forbes. His body wasn’t found until the next morning. He had been with another lad swimming in Mr Zahl’s dam and then went to Mr Geiger’s dam where they found other boys swimming. William suggested going for another swim and immediately stripped and dived in, swimming some distance across the dam. On his return and before he reached the shore he appeared to be seized with cramps, called out and then sank. Attempts were made to rescue the lad, some friends using every effort but they could not locate him. When word reached his family, his father, Mr. R. H.  Springall, of Booval, drove to Mount Forbes late that night, reaching there shortly after daylight.

23rd October 1917 – Miss White, of Lanefield, was driving to Rosewood accompanied by her sister and her niece, May Evers, when the swingle bar broke and the horse bolted, throwing them out. The two little girls were bruised and shaken and it was later discovered that one had a broken arm, but Miss White was uninjured. The horse bolted down the Main Street but was caught before any damage was done to the sulky.

6th May 1918 – Mr. M. Freeman, of Lanefield, who owns a large number of poultry, had the misfortune to lose 30 of his best hens. They were killed by foxes on Monday night.

20th October 1918 – A Norwegian carpenter named Anthony Norbye was found hanging from the limb of a tree in a paddock along the Toowoomba Road by Rosewood Fruiterer, Fred Batzloff. The man was a stranger and had no relatives in the district. He had walked all the way from Brisbane and was heading for Toowoomba.

22nd October 1918 – Mr. J. P. Walsh, commission agent, was out in his car  at a farmer’s place when he came in contact with a wire clothes line, which was close to the ground and could not be seen. A large post supporting the line was pulled up and fell on the car, breaking the windscreen and the steering wheel, and just missing Mr. Walsh’s head by a few inches.

1st January 1919 – When driving his car on New Year’s Day, Mr. P. C. Hickey attempted to kill a rat which jumped from the lining of the car. As a result, that the car swerved and went over the side of a culvert. Mr. E. Fraser, one of the occupants of the car, was severely cut about by falling against the windscreen, and had to be attended by Dr. Wallace. The car was very much damgaed.

2nd May 1919 – While driving under Moran’s Bridge Railway Crossing, near Rosewood, a, lad named Cannan from Mt Walker, sustained a fractured collar bone. It appears the lad misjudged the height of the bridge girders, and was crushed between them and the top of a crate on the cart.

2nd August 1919 – A bolt causing a good deal of excitement occurred in the main street when horse and cart owned by Mr. C. Reinke, which was standing I the street, was frightened by a passing motor cycle and took off. It overturned a sulky owned by Mr. H. Embrey and ran into the nearest street lamp. Both the sulky and lamp were damaged and a child in the street narrowly escaped being run over.

4th October 1919 – Henry Dow’s bakehouse was totally demolished by fire.

4th February 1920 – Mr. W. Stewart, who was engaged at James O’Shea’s wood depot, narrowly escaped a serious accident. A large piece of timber fell on the saw, and it was thrown backwards, striking Mr. Stewart with much force. First aid was rendered by Mr. J. Erbacher, and Mr. Stewart recovered well.

7th February 1920 – While cutting a block of ice, Mrs. H. M. McLaren, of Rosewood, met with a painful accident through the axe slipping and causing a deep incision in her hand Several stitches were inserted by Dr. Wallace.

8th February 1920 – Mr. Charles Kleve, of Rosewood, was bitten on the hand by a black snake. In picking up a bundle of grass he also gathered in the snake. He was immediately attended by Dr. Wallace and was ok.

29th December 1920 – A fire occurred in the hay-sheds of Mr. J. De Vries, Rosewood, which completely destroyed all of his hay, together with a chaffcutting plant and engine. The hay-sheds and contents were insured for £500.

5th November 1921 – A dam in a place known as Evans’ paddock, about two miles from Rosewood, was the scene of a fatal bathing accident last Saturday afternoon. Three boys, Leslie James Hawkins, Ronald Caley, and Walter Hughes, were battling in the dam. Hawkins, who was 11 years of age, could not swim very well, but made an attempt to swim across the dam, which was rather deep in the middle.When he was about half-way across he got into difficulties. Caley went in and attempted to get him to the bank. His strength was not equal to the effort, however, and the lad Hawkins was drowned. He lived with his parents in Walloon road, Rosewood.

8th March 1922 – Mr. Tom Yarrow, of Ashwell, was harrowing on his farm, when the horses attached to the harrow were frightened by an approaching storm and bolted down a hill. Mr. Yarrow was thrown to the ground and a spike of the harrow caught his leg tearing the flesh away.

24th October 1922 – While attending to a woodcutting machine, Mr. C. Hopkins, of Lanefield sustained painful injuries to his head, which necessitated the insertion of several stitches by Dr. Wallace.

28th February 1923 – The gatehouse at Tallegalla, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. H. Topp, was completely destroyed by fire. The family, with the exception of a daughter aged 17, were attending the pictures at Rosewood, when the fire occurred. It was noticed from Rosewood at about 11 p.m., and Constable Clark, and Messrs. Walsh and Ogilvie motored out to the scene. On arrival they found that there was no hope of saving the building. The daughter who had remained at home, stated, about 10.20 p.m. she retired to bed, leaving the lamp turned down low on the table. She was awakened about twenty mintes later by the fire, which then had gained a strong hold. The young lady had just time to make her escape. The house, furniture, and all contents were destroyed, as well as twenty pounds in notes, which had been placed in a chest. The furniture was insured for £400, but it was not known if the house was insured.

14th July 1923 – The house occupied by Mr. Dance, in Mill-street, Rosewood, was completely destroyed by fire. Shortly before 8.30 p.m. the house was seen to be in flames, and the ringing of St. Brigid’s Church bell attracted numbers to the scene. The fire had gained a complete hold, and in a short time the house and contents were completely demolished. The house stood on high blocks and a large quantity of chaff., a sulky, harness, &c., which were stored underneath, were also destroyed. At the time of the occurrence Mr. and Mrs. Dance, with their children, were attending the pictures. The house was owned by Mr. J. Green and was insured. Mr. and Mrs. Dance were heavy losers.

13th January 1924 – Percy William, the 15 month old son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Headrick, of Mount Forbes near Rosewood, was drowned in an underground tank on Sunday 13th.

14th April 1924 – A single man named Michael Coleman, employed by James O’Shea, butcher, of Rosewood was found shot dead. Coleman left  for his employer’s slaughter yards, where he was to shoot a beast, and was found at about 8 a.m. lying near the slaughter pen shot through the head, his rifle lying nearby. It was thought that the unfortunate man committed suicide, but no reason was assigned for the deed. He came from Laidley.

21st April 1924 – A school girl, Katie Richardson, fell from a merry-go-round on Monday, and sustained a fracture of the arm.

2nd November 1924 – George Claydon of Rosewood, an apprentice at the Rosewood Sawmills, was out honey-hunting. A fox crossed his path and made for a hollow log. In an attempt to chop the animal out with an axe, he badly cut his foot and the Ambulance conveyed him to the Ipswich General Hospital.

29th November 1924 – A house occupied by Mr. L. Barnes was completely destroyed by fire. The ringing of church bells at 9.30 o’clock gave the alarm. A lamp, which Mrs. Barnes was carrying at the time, exploded. Her husband was away at the pictures with some of the children. The house was somewhat isolated so by the time help arrived it was enveloped in flames. The house was owned by Mr. J. Boughen.

28th December 1924 – Mrs. F. Ruthenberg, of Mount Walker, met with, a painful accident. She had occasion to go near the revolving bar between the intermediate and chaffcutter, and her clothes caught in the former. She was considerably shaken before being extricated from her perilous position, and her right arm was fractured. Mrs. T. A. Forbes rendered first aid, and Mrs. Ruthenberg was taken to Rosewood for medical attention.

7th February 1925 – Master Ernie Wright, who was employed by Messrs. O’Shea Brothers, butchers at Rosewood, had a serious accident. While he was riding into the shop yard the horse slipped and fell and Ernie fractured his leg. He was conveyed immediately to Dr. Wallace for medical attention. He was met at the Ipswich railway station by the ambulance, and taken to the hospital.

17th February 1925 – Mr. H. Embrey met with a painful accident when loading a wagon in Rosewood, his head came in contact with a protruding bar, which inflicted severe gashes. Dr. Wallace attended and inserted several stitches in the wound.

21st May 1925 – The Lyceum Picture Theatre was destroyed by fire.

23rd October 1925 – A collision between several vehicles took place in John-street when Mr. W. Boughen’s horse, which was tied in front of Mr. C. Williams’ shop, bolted and collided with Mrs. Mason’s sulky. Mrs. Domrow’s spring cart was over-turned in the disturbance. Fortunately, no one was injured, but Mr. Boughen’s sulky and harness were damaged, whilst the other two vehicles were slightly knocked about.

1st November 1925 – A cowardly assault was made by three men on an elderly man named Edward Burnett Wyles, at Rosewood, and £16 was stolen from him. Wyles had travelled with three other men from Laidley. He sought shelter from the heavy storm on the verandah of the Rosewood State school. The others camped in Anzac Park. About 11 p.m. Wyles was awakened by the sound of approaching footsteps, and he saw the other three men come on to the verandah. They immediately gagged and bound him, covering his head with a bag. They threatened to kill him if he made any noise. When he was rendered helpless, they went through his belongings, and took £16 in notes. The three thieves then made their escape. After some time, Wyles managed to free his hands, and with great difficulty, he crawled on his hands and knees to the school residence, where he woke the head master (Mr. W. A. Zerner) and told his story.

28th January 1926 – The ringing of the church bell, with shouts of “fire” disturbed the quietude of Rosewood. A slight explosion occurred at Miss Brook’s pharmacy in the main street of Rosewood, but the flames were extinguished without delay and before much damage had been done.

22nd February 1926 – Some excitement was caused in Rosewood when two men, whose actions had aroused suspicion, were taken in charge after an exciting chase. Two men in a motor car called at the residence of Mr. Keane and asked to be shown the swimming pool. Their subsequent actions aroused suspicion, and the police were informed. Sergeant Tighe, in company with Mr. D. O’Brien, immediately motored over to Keane’s where they met the two men leaving in the car. When they yelled at them to stop, they drove off at a break-neck speed, and narrowly escaped disaster crossing the small Bremer bridge. The police car immediately gave chase. The fugitives used Keane’s lane as a “speedway” and “stepped on the gas” to such purpose that they were unable to take the turn at the end. The car took a clean jump across the main road and came to a full stop when it hit the barbed wire fence on the other side. The occupants again luckily escaped injury, and leaving the car, made off across the rifle range paddock, in the direction of North Rosewood, where they were lost to view for some time. After making inquiries, the police got on their track again, and they eventually caught up with them at the second railway bridge above Rosewood. The men offered no resistance and were conveyed to Rosewood. The sequel was heard in the Rosewood Court before Mr. C. S, Mossom and W.E. Thomas JP’s.

10th June 1926 – Louisa Caroline Bade, aged 17 years, was murdered at Ebenezer by Alen Christopher Jeynes.
CONVICTION STANDS – FULL COURT’S CONCLUSIONS

14th June 1926 – Mr. Max Rea’s residence in Mill Street, Rosewood  was totally destroyed by fire at in early hour of the mornIng. About 3 a.m. the ringing of a church bell awakened the residents. The house was completely destroyed and only a few minor articles of furniture were saved. Though the building was insured, Mr. Rea’s loss was a severe one.

1st July 1926 – At Calvert, on the morning of 1st July, a young man who was married on 30th June was stabbed. William Frederick Lencz (27), a labourer on a railway flying gang, working at Ipswich, was married to Alice Boughen (22), daughter of Robert Boughen, at her father’s house, about half a mile from the Calvert railway station. The ceremony was performed by Pastor Rhode, of the Hatton Vale Lutheran Church. The bride’s father did not stay in the house for the ceremony, and continued ploughing all the afternoon. An argument began the next morning between the bride’s mother and father, supposedly concerning their daughter and her husband. When the dispute became violent Lencz intervened. He was stabbed in the back, the wound being deep and serious, and he also received cuts on his arms. Dr. Robert Wallace, of Rosewood, was called and when he arrived at Calvert he found the family about half a mile from the house. The women were afraid to go back. The doctor brought Lencz and his wife to his surgery in Rosewood. The Rosewood police and the Ipswich ambulance were summoned, and Lencz was taken to the Ipswich General Hospital.

At the Rosewood Police Station Robert Boughen (53) was charged with having occasioned his son-in-law grievous bodily harm. His hair was matted with blood, whilst his clothing was spattered with blood. Later he was present at the Ipswich Hospital, when the depositions of Lencz were taken. Messrs. A. Stephenson and J. Tighe, JJ.P. presided at the hospital, and Senior Sergeant M. Ryan prosecuted.

Lencz said that on June 29 accused gave his consent to the marriage of his daughter, who was aged 19 and the marriage was celebrated next day. He stayed with his wife at accused’s home that night. About 8 o’clock next morning his father-in-law came in from the hay-shed and “had a row” with his wife. When witness entered the kitchen accused said: “Leave the ___ place, I am telling you straight” to which he replied. ‘I’ll soon do that.” Accused added. “I’ll ___ soon fix you up,” at the same time leaving the box upon which he had been sitting, and going for his gun. Lencz stopped him and delivered about half a dozen punches on his head and chin. Boughen fell and stayed down about 10 minutes, but when he rose, he told Lencz he would “fix him up,” stating that he would get the butcher’s knife. He went into the room, Lencz hanging on to him, but he could not find the knife. He then took his pocket knife from his belt. Lencz threw him on his back, falling alongside him. Boughen had his right hand over him, and then forced the knife into him behind the left shoulder. His wife took the knife from accused whilst Lencz held him down and then he allowed accused to rise. Accused got a butcher’s knife and threatened to stab everybody in the house. After he threatened his wife, she left and went to the railway station. When he last saw Boughen, he was walking through the house with an axe and a butcher’s knife. Mrs. Lencz previously had gone to the station, and Lencz followed, where they  met Dr. Wallace. Apart from knocking Boughen down, when he threatened to shoot him, Lencz could not give a reason for the stabbing. He was on friendly terms previously. On the evening prior, Boughen said some awful things to the minister. He thought it was because of these that the quarrel between Boughen and his wife arose on the following morning.

(It was revealed later that the argument was over the fact that Alice was pregnant.  Robert Boughen said, “He has got my daughter into trouble and he had disgraced my family.”)

An operation was performed on Lencz that night, the injured man having received a wound in the lung. At an early hour it was learned that his condition was critical. He died of septic pneumonia caused by the stabbing at 10.20 p.m. on 3rd July.

Robert Boughen appeared at the Ipswich Police Court on 5th July before Mr. A. P. W. Tregear, P.M., charged with having wilfully murdered William Frederick Lencz at Calvert on 1st July. Senior-sergeant Ryan prosecuted, and Mr. J. Casey appeared for the accused. Constable F. R. Nolan said that Boughen was taken to the morgue and shown the body of his son-in-law. A charge of wilful murder then was preferred against him. Accused said. “Cut my throat, I am a murderer.” He took accused to the watch-house where he again charged him, accused remarking “For God’s sake cut my throat, I murdered a man I murdered a man.” Boughen, who appeared to realise his position, was remanded for eight days before appearing in the Rosewood Police Court. 

The trial before Justice Macnaughton at the criminal sittings at the Ipswich Circuit Court concluded on 9th August. Robert Boughen said he didn’t remember stabbing William Lencz, but he remembered making an attempt to get the gun. Boughen’s solicitor Mr. E. T. Real, instructed by Mr. John Casey, said that it was possible that after being knocked down for ten minutes a man would not remember anything for half an hour, implying that there was reasonable doubt that Boughen knew what he was doing.

After a trial which lasted only four hours, Robert Boughen was declared by the jury not guilty on the grounds of temporary insanity. Mr. Justice Macrossan directed that Boughen should be kept under strict custody during His Majesty’s pleasure.

Apparently Robert did not go straight home to Calvert but stayed with relatives in Rosewood.

Trial Begun This Morning                        Not Guilty

4th August 1926 – A Vulcan motor truck, the property of Robert Charles Wyatte, Ashwell, was totally destroyed by fire.  After receiving a telephone call from Robert Wyatte, Constable Lawrence George Ernst, who was on temporary duty at Rosewood, drove with Robert to John Stokes’ paddock near Mount Walker, about eight miles from Rosewood, where he found the truck totally destroyed by fire. There still remained a heap of red-hot ashes under the machine when they arrived. Wyatte told him that it caught fire about 4 p.m. while he was conveying a load of wood from Stokes’ mill. The engine backfired and stopped. He re-cranked It, but it stopped again, and when he swung the handle over, flames burst from the carburetter. They advanced through the petrol pipe and exploded the tank; the lorry becoming enveloped in flames. A strong westerly wind was blowing and made it impossible for him to get near the fire. The lorry was insured for £500 in the Mercantile Insurance Co., but he estimated his loss at £600. He had been earning from £3/10/ to £4 per day with the lorry. Wyatte also said the truck caught fire about twelve months ago, but on that occasion with assistance, he prevented total destruction, and the insurance company paid for the repairs.

26th September 1926 – A fire completely destroyed a six-roomed dwelling with a detached kitchen in John Street, owned and occupied until shortly before the fire by Henry Geiger. The fire started in one of the front rooms about 7 o’clock at night and the place was burned to the ground within an hour. Mr. and Mrs Geiger were holidaying at Redcliffe, and their son was living in the house. Their furniture was packed in the front rooms ready for removal to Ipswich. Mr and Mrs Matthew Yarrow, of Lanefield, were moving into the house. They had a load of furniture in the house and were getting another load when the fire broke out. Most of their furniture was saved. One resident, eager to warn the neighbourhood of the fire, pulled so vigorously on the rope attached to the bell at the Church of England that it broke. Meanwhile, someone had started sounding another church bell. Henry Geiger had the house insured for £600 but his losses were £1,000.

6th October 1926 – Roy Wass, a school boy, had his arm broken through being crushed between a lorry and a post.

21st November 1926 – Jack O’Reilly, a school-boy, was thrown from a horse on Sunday morning, and sustained a fracture of the right arm between the elbow and shoulder. He received medical attention, and afterwards was allowed to go home.

9th May 1927 – Jeremiah Crane, a railway guard, employed on the St. Lawrence line, was taken to the Ipswich Hospital with one of the arteries of his left arm severed. Crane, who was holidaying with his brother at a hotel at Rosewood was enjoying some sport with friends at the hotel, when, it is stated, he aimed a blow at what he thought was, the wall. However, it proved to be a glass window. His hand went through the pane of glass, and an ugly gash was inflicted on his right wrist. Dr. Wallace was called, and after applying tourniquets to stop the fast stream of blood, he called the Ipswich Ambulance to meet him, and then set off towards the city in a car. Ambulance-bearers left promptly, and the cars met near Walloon. Here the patient was transferred to the ambulance car, and, after another tourniquet was put on the arm to stop the still fast flow of blood, a quick run was made to Ipswich. Immediately Crane arrived at the hospital another tourniquet was applied. At first it had been thought that both arteries of the arm had been severed, but further medical attention at the hospital revealed that only one had been cut. That night Crane’s condition was fair.

24th May 1927 – Mr. A. J. Loveday, of Rosewood, sustained severe injury to one of his eyes. He was cutting pine at his home when a chip flew up and pierced the eyeball of his right eye. Dr. Wallace attended to the injury.

24th May 1927 – The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Lucas narrowly escaped injury. Mrs. J. Holohan was motoring down John-street, and, when the car was turning into Albert street, the child managed to get in front of it, and was knocked down. Fortunately, the girl was not injured.

27th May 1927 – Mr. Brough, in company with Mr. and Mrs. W. Snow, was driving in a sulky from the Railway Station up Albert-street at noon  when the horse found Its way onto a footbridge near the premises of W. Ruhno, and fell down, putting the occupants to some inconvenience regarding seating accommodation. The shaft of the sulky was broken, and, on getting to its feet again, the horse decided to continue the journey alone and bolted off until rescued farther on.

1st August 1927 – In the Rosewood police court before Mr. E. Collett J.P.,  Theo Sklavos, James Phil, and James Comino (of Ipswich) were charged with a breach of the Sunday Observance Act in carrying and discharging firearms on Sunday. Sergeant Tighe prosecuted. Defendants were fined £2 each.

1st August 1927 – Charles Parker was brought into Rosewood Police Station on August 1st by a passing motorist. He was found at his camp at the Seven-mile in distress and suffering acute pain. Sergeant Tighe arranged for him to be taken by the Ambulance to the Ipswich Hospital, where an operation for peritonitis was immediately performed. However, he passed away that evening. The old man was well known on the roads.

3rd November 1927 – A serious accident occurred between Rosewood and Lanefield when Mrs. Hopwood, of Calvert, accompanied by a friend, Mrs. Wassell, of Brisbane, visited Rosewood during the afternoon. They were returning to Calvert, when the horse Mrs. Hopwood was driving bolted, when opposite the realdence of Mr. H. Rafter. The occupants were thrown out. Mrs. Wassell, who is an elderly lady, received a fractured arm, and Mrs. Hopwood was the victim of severe bruises and shock. Dr. Wallace attended the sufferers, and they were conveyed to his surgery for medical treatmentl. Mr. L. H. Paten later conveyed the ladies to Calvert. The sulky, driven by Mrs. Hopwood, had both shafts broken, and was otherwise knocked about.

3rd February 1928 – Vincent Loveday, the four year old son of Mr and Mrs W. Loveday, of Ashwell, was playing with his brother Keith in the barn at their parents’ home. When they turned the wheel of the chuff cutter, Vincent’s right hand became caught between the cogs. The top of his thumb was crushed and severed almost into the bone. He healed well and no further trouble was anticipated.

29th February 1928 – Corrie Stubbs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Stubbs,  was bitten on the shoulder by a horse in the Rosewood State School paddock. Fortunately the skin was not broken, but a severe bruise was inflicted.

10th May 1928 – Mr. A. J. Hayes (postmaster) was filling the generator of a lighting plant with benzine at his home in Matthew-street, when the fumes of a small drop that was spilt fell onto the light of a hurricane lamp, about ten feet away causing it to explode. The kitchen and house were immediately in flames, but assistance was soon on the spot. Only the kitchen was damaged. Mr. Hayes’s hands were badly burned, and Mrs. Hayes had her hair singed. Their three little children bad been watching their father, and had only gone inside the house about a minute before the explosion occurred. The house was owned by Mrs. J. M. Bruce, Ascot.

17th May 1928 –  When Mrs. Walter H. Yates (of Ashwell) was preparing breakfast at her home, a spark from the stove ignited her clothing. She moved outside into the air and flames shot up around her neck and shoulders. Mr. Yates rushed to her assistance, removing the clothing, but not before she was severely burned on the neck.

20th May 1928 – Following a game against a Rosewood football thirteen, the Eastern Suburbs’ team set off in a motor lorry to the station to catch the “sweeper” to Ipswich. Towards the end of the trip in the lorry three of the footballers fell out on to the road. Two of them got up none the worse for their fall, but the third, Samuel Gillow, a young man residing at Silkstone, lay helpless, and Dr. R. Wallace had to be called. After he had given all possible attention to the patient, who was suffering from concussion, Gillow was put on the “sweeper.” At Ipswich the train was met by the Ambulance, who took Gillow to the General Hospital, where he was detained. Just a fortnight ago Gillow was injured in a game on the North Ipswich Reserve, and was in the hospital till about three days before the accident at Rosewood.

25th May 1928 – Master Victor Cover injured his wrist while playing at the Rosewood State School.

5th June 1928 – Mr. Patrick Hogan, stock-man at Hidden Vale, received an injured leg owing to his horse falling on him. Although no bones were broken, the leg was badly bruised.

9th November 1928 – While Neal Potts was playing cricket at his uncle’s place, the bit of an augur penetrated his foot horizontally for some distance. Considerable difficulty was found in extracting it, and the injured foot was very painful and swollen for some time afterwards.

18th November 1928 – A party of seven young men, all residents of Rosewood, was returning on Sunday afternoon, about 5 p.m., from an outing to Seven Mile, on the Bremer River, where they had been for a swim. The motor truck, in which they were travelling—through some fault in the steering gear—ran off the road over a steep bank on the side of the road, and then somersaulted twice. All were thrown out, and two of them escaped injury, but the other five received various injuries.  The accident happened about one mile from Rosewood.

6th June 1929 – Mr. J. N. Egan, auctioneer, of Rosewood, was thrown from a sulky owing to the horse shying and bolting, and his leg was severely twisted. The Ipswich Ambulance Brigade took Mr. Egan to Ipswich for further treatment.

25th April 1931 – Early that morning, a six roomed house owned and occupied by Mrs G. H. Kingston in William street was destroyed by fire. The flames had a good hold before the outbreak was discovered and Mr. and Mr.s Kingston escaped in their night attire. Only a sewing machine which was on the veranda was saved. The building was insured.

17th July 1931 – A break and enter occurred at the premises of Messrs. O’Brien and Yarrow.

17th July 1931 – Raiders spent a busy time in Rosewood on Thursday night (17th). They failed in an attempt to enter one building but succeded in breaking into another and stole some money. The same party, or another, attempted to steal two cars without success, but got away with a third, which was subsequently discovered in Brisbane.
The premises of Messrs. O’Brien and Yarrow, John-street, were entered and a quantity of tobacco and smokers requisites valued at betweeen £40 and £50 was taken. The thieves evidently gained entrance to the shop through the front door, where small holes had been bored opposite the screws in the lock, a small bar or chisel inserted, and the door prised open. Only 2/10 was in the till, which was also taken. 

Mr. D. O’Brien stated that members of the firm were working late in the shop last night and everything was in order when he left about 10 o’clock. The burglars evidently made their get away in a motor car as a car was seen going through the railway crossing without lights about 3 a.m. 

Mr. C. Willams’s store, John-street, was also visit, and an effort to smash the lock on the front doors was only partly successful. When Mr. A. Capern, an employee in the store, arrived to open up in the morning, he was unable to open the look, and an examination revealed that the lock, a six-lever one, had been tampered with. Evidently the lock was too strong for the burglars’ efforts and they went elsewhere. The police had the matter in hand.

Early proof of somebody’s efforts to steal a car was seen the next morning, when Mr. H. M. A. Grant’s Studebaker was found outside his garage with a case of benzene in the back seat. As the steering gear and ignition system on this car has a combination lock, all efforts to get it further failed. The thieves next turned their attention to Rev. A. E. Gilbert’s’ Chevrolet car. After taking it from the garage as far down as Cr. Gunthorpe’s house, about 200yds away, their efforts were againn frustrated and they left the car on the road. They made no mistake next attempt evidently, as Dr. Wallace, who lives nex door to Rev. Gilbert, found his garage empty and his Whippet car gone. Late the next evening Sergt. Tighe received word from Brisbane that the stolen car had been found at West End, Brisbane.

18th July 1931 – A mild sensation was caused  by a bolt on Saturday morning. Mrs. Robb sen. (an aged lady), was seated alone in a sulky in Albert-street, when the horse took fright and galloped up Albert-street in the direction of Lanefield. It safely crossed was the drain bridge and was stopped by a man on horseback, before it attempted to turn on to the Lanefield road. The occupant suffered from shock, but otherwise was not hurt.

31st August 1931 – Mr. W. Pagel’s International truck, used for the conveyance of cream between  Mt. Walker and Rosewood, was badly damaged by fire. The truck, which was driven by Mr. N. Schealler, was making the return journey to Mt. Walker.

13 June 1932 – In the Rosewood Police Court before Messrs. W. Collett and J. Evans, Justices of the Peace, Thomas Quirk, Rosewood, was charged that between May 20 and June 11 he conducted a common gaming house. On this charge the police offered no evidence and the defendant was  discharged. On a second charge of having conducted a common gaming house in John Street, Rosewood, between May 28 and June 11, the defendant pleaded guilty. Sergeant H. Tighe stated that a raid was made on the premises on June 11. The defendant was convicted for betting on licensed premises in February last. Quirk was fined £30 with 3s 6d costs of court, in default two months imprisonment.

29th September 1932 – About 4 a.m. a large barn and its contents, owned by Harry Embrey of Perry’s Knob, was burnt down. The barn was about 100 years away from the house. It was impossible to save any of the machinery which included a corn husker and sheller. The barn was not insured.

6th January 1933 – James Carmody, the 12 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Carmody met with a painful accident, when his right hand became caught in a mincing machine at his father’s butcher shop. He was taken to Ipswich for medical attention, and it was thought that one of his fingers would have to be amputated.

4th June 1933 – Report in the Sunday Mail, page 15 – At Rosewood a man named Harsey was working on a crushing plant in operation when he slipped and his left foot was dragged between the great steel rollers. His screams sent another man rushing to the driving engine, which he promptly stopped, and at great personal risk tore off the revolving driving belt.The rollers stopped, but not before Harsey’s foot had passed through well over the middle, crushing it almost to a pulp. Thanks to modern surgical skill, amputation was unnecessary, and after some months in the Ipswich Hospital the man was able to get about again. Today he is working on road construction on the North Coast.

11th June 1933 – Norman Evers, a school boy, son of Mrs. J. E. Evers, Rosewood broke his left arm near the shoulder socket while cycling down a hill. He fell off his bicycle against a rock. After receiving medical treatment he was taken to Ipswich to be X-rayed and was admitted for treatment.

5th September 1933 – Alleged to be the victim of a hit-and-run motorist, Patrick Murphy, 38, of Rosewood, was found unconscious lying in the gutter in Wickham-street, Valley. He was taken to the General Hospital, but his condition was not regarded as serious. His left hip was injured. John Milham, an employee of the P.M.G.’s Department’s garage, in Wickham-street, Valley, called at the Valley Police Station about 9.89 p.m., and reported that there was a man lying in Wickham-street, near the garage. Constable Blackadder found him lying near the kerbing in an unconscious condition. Later in the night, Patrick regained consciousness and informed the police that he was walking along Wickham-street towards the Valley, about 9 o’clock. When in front of the P.M.G.’s Department garage he went to cross the street and was knocked down by a motor car proceeding towards Breakfast Creek. He was unable to give any description of the car, which, he alleged, knocked him down.

8th October 1933 – Running in the athletic events at Rosewood on Sunday afternoon (8th), Joe Potts fell and was struck by a spike which penetrated his knee. He was attended by Dr. Wallace.

30th October 1933 – The Royal Hotel was badly damaged by fire and had to be rebuilt.

26th November 1933 – Vegetable and fruit crops were ruined and many windows were smashed in a violent hail storm which swept over the district. The storm was accompanied by a wind of gale force, vivid lightning and heavy crashes of  thunder. Hailstones penetrated the Congregational Church roof at Mount Walker just as they were beginning a service. A few hundred yards from the church a fire ball fell with a shattering detonation, and another fireball was reported to have struck the mountain near the township. Several trees were struck and splintered by the lightning, while one was hurled across the Mount Walker Rosewood-road, blocking it. For hours after the storm hail was piled 18 inches deep against fences. Rosewood was without electric light that night.

7th July 1934 – That night, Stanley Grant, farmer, of Rosewood, was taken to the General Hospital in an unconscious condition and was treated for a probable fracture of the skull, concussion, and shock. He was thrown from his motor cycle when it collided with a horse on Amberley Road. The collision was noticed by the occupants of a car on the road and the ambulance was summoned. He was still unconscious 24 hours late, but survived.

27th August 1934 –  Alfred Ernest Wale (17) disappeared from his home in Bardon. He was an apprentice in the coach painting department of the tramway workshops on North Quay. Owing to a misunderstanding, he thought he had been dismissed. Rather than tell his parents he decided to find work in the country. He travelled to Ipswich, and from there he walked to Ashwell where he found work on a farm. He did not know that his parents and the police were scouring the State for him, and he didn’t seen any papers.  Apparently a Rosewood woman bought some meat from the local butcher and it was wrapped up in a page from the Sunday Mail. She saw a photgraph of the lad in the paper and recognised him and wrote to his parents. Afred’s father drove to Ashwell on 19th September and took the lad back home. The reason Alfred did not write and tell his parents where he was is that he wanted to “make good” first.

6th November 1934 – A remarkable accident occurred at the corner of Edmund-street and the main Brisbane-Toowoomba-road in Marburg at 8.30 that morning, when two cars collided, one somersaulting and throwing its occupants to the roadway without injury, except a few scratches and shock. Albert Herdst, a farmer of Tarampa, accompanied by his wife was driving a light touring car to North Ipswich, when it collided with the rear of a car owned and driven by Ernest Setch, of Rosewood. Herdst’s car rolled sideways, turning completely over and coming to rest on its heels. It was almost totally wrecked (photo below), while the other car had its undercarriage and rear wheels badly smashed. The driver of this car received only a wound on his right knee, the only severe injury suffered by the three persons involved in the accident.

26th January 1935 – Four men were found beside a damaged sedan car near a culvert at Seven Mile on the Rosewood road. The car apparently had somersaulted down an embankment, coming to rest finally on its wheels, only slightly damaged. Peter O’Reilly was driving and his bother James (both of Rosewood) was in the front passenger seat. W. Taylor (of Beenleigh) and J. Gibson were in the back seat. The two passengers in the front seat were jammed between the controls of the car. It was found necessary to cut the clutch pedal before Peter could be removed, as his foot was caught between the accelerator and the clutch. The gear lever and handbrake effectively jammed James O’Reilly, who also was badly injured on the temple. The impact rendered Gibson unconscious, while Taylor received serious injuries. A passing motorist, Mr. E. Battle, discovered the accident and drove to Rosewood for help. Ambulance bearers at Ipswich received a call at 8.50 p.m. notifying them of the accident, but on their arrival found that Dr. Wallace, of Rosewood had been summoned and had attended to them. The men were rushed to the General Hospital, two of whom James O’Reilly and Taylor were admitted in a serious condition.The condition of Peter O’Reilly and Gibson was satisfactory. Sergeant Scanlan and Constable Turner were also on the scene. The damage to the car was estimated at over £200.

2nd June 1935 – A plane giving joy flights struck a stump when taking off from Anzac Park. It was forced to land when the pilot found a suitable place to land, which happened to be in Charles Dutney’s sorghum patch.

18th July 1935 –  Fire destroyed seven horse stalls and some packing straw, valued at £100, the property of the Rosewood Show Society. The fire  started in the grass at the show grounds and spread westward to the boxes which were built against the fence. Townspeople organised by Sergeant Scanlan formed a bucket brigade and took water from a well a few yards from the fence. After half an hour the fire was under control. The stalls were not insured.

16th December 1935 – As the result of a head-on collision between his car and a motor truck at Marburg,  Acting Sergeant J. Greenhorn (50), in charge of the Laidley Police Station, was killed instantly, and his wife was slightly injured. Sergeant Greenhorn, with his wife, left Laidley in his car at 7.30 a.m., and half an hour later, when approaching the railway crossing at Marburg, at the bottom of what is known as ‘Hospital Hill,’ where the road is narrow, the car came into collision with a motor truck laden with drums of oil, and driven by Lionel Stein. Greenhorn’s car overturned, and he was thrown out and killed. Mrs. Greenhorn suffered from a cut over the right eye, caused by glass from the windscreen, bruises on body and limbs, and shock. Immediately following the collision the truck struck one of the railway gate posts and snapped it. Both the truck and the car were considerably damaged. Mrs. Greenhorn was taken to a friend’s residence, and subsequently to her home. A post-mortem examination of the deceased by Dr. Williams, of Marburg, disclosed that his skull had been fractured in two places, and that his right thigh and both arms also had been fractured.

1st April 1936 – When returning home from school, Daryl Potts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Potts, Rosewood, was knocked down by a motor car in John Street. The car, which was travelling slowly, immediately pulled up. Medical aid was sought and the child was found to be suffering from a fractured thigh. He was removed to the Ipswich General Hospital.

10th April 1936 – Mr. James Higgins, licensee of the Royal George Hotel, Rosewood, and Mr. John Hefferan, radio salesman, of Ipswich, when approaching the curve on the road just near the Seven Mile their car failed to take the curve and ran into a gully nearby, where it struck some piles of an old bridge. John Herman was driving. The two were returning to Rosewood from Ipswich about 9p.m.. Les and Ron Williams, who were fishing at the creek nearby, heard the crash and immediately ran to the scene of the accident. They found both men lying on the ground, having been thrown out through the door of the car. A car driven by Colin Dutney came along and immediately returned to Rosewood and reported the accident to Sergeant Aspinall. The Sergeant and Dr. Wallace were quickly on the scene. The men were made comfortable until the arrival of the Ipswich Ambulance. They were taken to the Ipswich Hospital. The car, which was owned by Mr. P. Woods. of Ipswich, was badly damaged. The accident occurred at the same place where a sedan met a similar fate on Foundation Day, 1935. On that occasion four men were injured.

17th July 1936 – Mr. John Phillip Freeman, a well-known resident of Perry’s Knob, Rosewood, fell from a haystack near his home about 8 a.m. on Saturday and was killed instantly, his neck being broken.

22nd September 1936 – Soon after leaving St. Mary’s convent in Ipswich early that morning five Sisters of Mercy, who were being driven by car to St. Joseph’s Convent, Liverpool Estate, North Ipswich, were involved in a collision with a large motor truck. The car suffered damage, fortunately nobody being hurt. Frank Dineen, the driver, was approaching Bremer Street when a three-ton truck, driven by William Frederick Pagel, of Rosewood, came from the direction of the town bridge. The vehicles collided at the corner of Bremer and Nicholas Streets. The car suffered a broken rear offside wheel, and the mudguard was badly damaged, also the bumper bar. and two large rear windows were smashed. Fortunately the occupants escaped being cut by the flying glass. Although shaken by their experience, the members of the party were later able to continue the journey in the car.

18th October 1936 – Mr. Dan. O’Brien, a well known local business man, participated in the Gun Club shoot on Saturday 17th, winning the sweepstakes, and on Sunday went to the Rosewood golf course for a round of golf. He collapsed on the links with a heart seizure, and died a few hours later at his home in Rosewood. . Mr. O’Brien, who was 50 years of age, was a son of pioneer settlers of Mount Walker,  where he was born. For some years he had carried on the Rosewood Cash and Carry in conjunction with Mr. S. Yarrow.

20th October 1936 – Mrs. Ellen Fraser, of Lanefield received injuries to her chest in unusual circumstances. She was returning home by motor car along Ipswich Road with her husband, when, near Darra, a straying horse placed its forelegs on the bonnet of their car. The horse was severely injured, and the sudden jolt as the car was brought to a standstill threw Mrs. Fraser against the dashboard.

22nd March 1937 – The death occurred on Monday evening 22nd, of Crispina Alice Thomas (Rice), aged 37 years, wife of Stephen Henry Thomas of Rosevale. She was taken suddenly ill on Sunday and early on Monday morning was taken to the Ipswich General Hospital where she had an operation, but she failed to rally. An infant son (named Brian Rice Thomas), born a few hours previous to her death, only survived to the following morning, and was buried with her. She left 5 other children.

1st June 1937 – J. A. Mahoney, of Grandchester, a fettler, on the Calvert railway length, was patrolling the line on his tricycle, when he was struck by a goods train at a curve. He was thrown clear, but suffered fractured ribs and severe scalp wounds.

16th July 1937 – An unoccupied house, owned by Mr. V. Kuss, of Goodna, and situated in Railway Street, Rosewood, was totally destroyed by fire about 11.10 o’clock last night. About 7.15 p.m. a fire broke out In the building, but neighbours extinguished the blaze before any harm was done. When the fire was noticed on the second occasion the house was enveloped in flames and nothing could be done to save it. A large crowd quickly gathered and Sergeant Aspinall and Constable Baker organised a bucket brigade to be ready should any of the adjoining buildings be in danger. However, the night was calm with no wind, and no effort was needed to prevent the spread of the flames, although Mr. W. Hawkins, who occupied the house nearest to the burning building, had his furniture removed as a precaution. The destroyed house was an old single story structure of about seven rooms, and it was rapidly consumed by the flames. It is understood the house was insured with the State Government Insurance Office.

7th October 1937 – During a storm a tree was struck at Mr. J. Merritt, sen.’s residence. Mr. C. Paidley, who was watching the storm, was also struck and knocked to the ground, and as a result carried a red mark down the side of his body for some days.

1st January 1938 – Vernon Akes, 19, of Albert-street Rosewood, received lacerations and abrasions on the face when he was struck by a car on the Pacific Highway, near Surfers’ Paradise, early on Saturday 1st January.

11th February 1938 – Fire destroyed the Rosewood Sawmill owned by estate of the late G. S. H. Aitkinson.

28th April 1938 – A fire broke out in a four- roomed wooden building with a detached kitchen in Matthew-street, completely destroying both the building and its contents. The house, which was owned by Mrs. Herb. Wright, was an old place. Mr. and Mrs. Wright were in the town at the time. From the time that the alarm was first given the blaze spread rapidly and it was soon obvious that nothing could be done to save the structure. Church bells in the town were rung and a large crowd had gathered. Although a few buckets of water were thrown on the burning house they had no apparent effect. The house and furnishings were insured.

9th September 1938 – Two men were injured this morning, one seriously, when a 2-ton truck got out of control when a tyre burst and left the Brisbane-Ipswich road, overturning in a culvert at Darra. One of the men was able to extricate himself from the wreckage, but it was nearly an hour before the driver could be released with the aid of axes and hacksaws. The injured men were:- JOHN  DE VRIES, 55, poultry farmer, of Rosewood, suffering from scalp wound, injured left ankle, and possible, broken instep. DAVID CHARLES HEDRICK, 18, farm labourer, who received a possible fracture, of the skull, fractured rib face lacerations, lacerations to right thigh and ankle. His condition is serious.

17th June 1939 –  Mr. and Mrs. R. Sellars had a car accident between Goodna and Redbank on their journey home to Rosewood from Tewantin. Their car crashed through a fence, slipped 40 feet down an embankment and came to rest on its side on a railway line. It was the culmination of a series of mishaps that evening caused by flooded watercourses and foggy conditions. Members of their family drove to the scene of the accident and took their parents home to Rosewood. Mrs. Sellars suffered from shock and minor injuries and Mr. Sellars’ injuries were minor also. Both had remarkable escapes.
See a report here.

Sellars’ Accident

25th December 1939 – Mabel Alice Clayton, 17, was fatally injured when her bicycle and a car collided on the Rosewood Road at 5 p.m. on Christmas afternoon. Miss Clayton, who was employed as a domestic by Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Hall, Whitehill Road, Ipswich, was returning from her home at Tallegalla when the collision occurred at Elliott’s Hill, one and a half miles from Amberley. The Ipswich Ambulance Brigade was called, but she died from a compound fracture of the base of the skull before the bearers arrived.

5th January 1940 – A barn on Mr. Moses Freeman’s farm at Tallegalla was destroyed by fire. Besides large quantities of maize, the barn contained an engine, a chaff-cutter and a quantity of harness. All the contents, with a large supply of hay stored in the awning of the building, were destroyed. Mr. Freeman estimated his loss at £160. Neither the barn nor the contents were insured.

21st January 1940 – A violent, cyclonic storm hit Rosewood.  Rosewood’s Time of Terror

24th January 1941 – Bernard Joseph Carey (38), married, was swept from an overturned boat, in the Bremer River, near Bremer View, on the Mt. Walker Road and was never seen again.  With another man, he crossed the river by boat to move stock on the other side. The two men were employed on the property of Mr. W. R. V. Leeson, situated about five miles from Rosewood, on the Mt. Walker road. On their return trip, a floating log hit the boat, and it overturned. Carey was swept away, but his companion reached the bank. Rosewood police searched the river banks until after dark, and resumed the the next day but Carey was not found. After searching for three days they found his body floating only about 30 yards from the spot where he disappeared originally. The police theory was that Carey’s clothes became entangled in the branches of a submerged tree, and were released by the grappling operations. In the dragging, the police used about 70ft. of rope, and they were aided by a boat lent by Mr. M. Yarrow. The hole at this point in the river normally was between 20 and 30ft, deep, but during the flood the depth was about 50ft. When found, he still had a bag he was carrying when his boat capsized.

27th January 1941 – When he fell in alighting from a car at Mt. Walker, W. Grant, a bread-carter, of Rosewood, dislocated his right shoulder. Ambulance men brought him to Ipswich, where he was treated by a doctor and allowed to go home.

13th April 1941 – Miss Lottie Harding (33 years) was found dead near her home with bullet wounds in her neck and mouth. The discovery was made by her parents, Mr. and Mrs.Ernest Harding of Cabanda, about three miles from Rosewood. They had left home in the morning to visit relatives in the district and when they returned about midday they found their daughter lying  near the house with a pea-rifle and some discharged caps nearby. She had been unwell for some time.

3rd July 1942 – Glyn Pocock (18), of Rosewood, received a compound fracture of the skull, and Marjorie Freeman, a schoolgirl, of Rosewood, received bruises to the chest and leg as a result of being thrown from a milk cart. They were riding in the cart near the Rosewood school when the girth of the harness broke, allowing the shafts to fall, and the horse bolted. Pocock was treated by Ambulance bearers and taken to the Ipswich General Hospital where, he was admitted. That night his condition was satisfactory. The girl was treated by Ambulance bearers and taken to the hospital. After further treatment she was discharged.

3rd September 1942 – Cedric Ludlow, living near Stone Quarry, Rosewood Road was driving some calves when the horse he was riding fell on his leg. Ambulance bearers treated him for a badly bruised left thigh and knee. He was taken to the General Hospital and admitted.

14th October 1942 – Vincent O’Brien (16) was riding a bicycle in John Street and was knocked down by a bolting horse and rendered unconscious. He was waiting on the Mill Street side of crossing for the passenger train to pass. The horse had taken fright about quarter of a mile up the street on the town side and bolted down the street. Immediately after the train passed it swerved around it and collided with the lad who was then about to pass behind the train. Vincent was taken to a private hospital then taken to Ipswich, still unconscious, for an X-ray where it was found he had a fractured skull and numerous bruises.

29th January 1943 – Garry Edwin Greet, 18 months, wandered from his home at Ashwell, near Rosewood and was found later by his mother and sisters floating in a dam about 40 yards away. His mother applied artificial respiration and he responded. Later he was taken to hospital.

2nd November 1943 – Joan Hohnke (nine years), of Mill-street, Rosewood, received a lacerated wound on her forehead when she was hit by a bat while playing rounders. The girl received treatment from Ipswich Ambulance bearers, after which she was taken to the Ipswich General Hospital.

22nd April 1946 – After having ridden a bullock almost to a stand still at the Rosewood rodeo and peace carnival, Terry O’Reilly, of Rosewood, was thrown to the ground, after which the beast trod on his face and broke his jaw. The Ambulance car took him to Ipswich and he was admitted to the Ipswich General Hospital in a serious condition.

13th May 1946 – While stepping through a fence into the grounds of the Church of Christ, Rosewood, just before the commencement of a function there on Monday night. Mrs. F. Jackwitz fell on a glass jar she was carrying. The article smashed and severely cut her left hand. She was taken to the Ipswich General Hospital.

25th January 1947 – At midday, two young ladies from Rosewood hitch-hiked two miles to view the flood waters of the Bremer River. They had not returned at 6 p.m. and parents and friends became ansxious regarding their safety. A search party led by Father O’Rourke, Rosewood, went out to the river and located the missing pair at the home of Mrs. E. Hogan, which was surrounded by water. Signals given across the flooded waters and the fact that Mrs. Hogan’s residence was on reasonably high ground indicated that the safety of all was assured, and the search party returned to town. When the flood waters receded the girls were able to relate how they had been cut off by the flood waters, and had had to wade through water waist deep to the home of Mrs. Hogan.

26th January 1947 – Collean Bourke (11), Rosewood, accidentally fell into the flood waters of Western Creek. Her brother, known as “Boy,” and another lad, Mervyn O’Neill, dived in and attempted to save her, and also got into difficulties. Prompt action by Mr. Henry Stubbs, a strong swimmer, saved all three.

21st May 1947 – Inquest Into Accident Victim’s Death  Robert Wilson struck guide posts and rolled his utility truck at the Seven Mile Bridge.

1st June 1947 –  Many difficulties had to be overcome by a party which recovered the body of a youth killed in a fall 200ft. down a precipice at Mt. Beau Brummell, 19 miles from Rosewood. He was Gordon Thomas Meier, 17, of Mt. Mort, Rosewood district. Meier, Colin V. Manz, John Emmerson, and Roy Zahnow, were on a wallaby shooting expedition. They were walking along a very narrow ledge on the mountain and were holding hands. Meier, who was last and was holding Zahnow’s hand, slipped on some loose gravel, and Zahnow was forced to let go his hold, fearing that all four would be pulled over the precipice. Unable to descend the cliff face, the other boys returned, and Sgt. H. Wacker, of the Rosewood police, accompanied by Meier’s father and other civilians, set out for the scene. Creeks and ravines had to be crossed, thick lantana and bush traversed, and part of the cliff climbed, the journey occupying 21 hours. Twice the deceased had to be lowered by ropes, and two hours elapsed before level ground was reached.

15th June 1947 – Arthur Walter Neave, Rosewood, died from injuries received when he struck a horse on the One Mile bridge while riding a motor cycle. William Henry Hertrick, a contractor, found him lying on the bridge beside his motor cycle at 9.45 o’clock on the night of the accident. He set off for the West Ipswich police station for help, and on the way stopped to speak to a young man named Dudley Curwen. Curwen told him that he had been involved in the accident. He was riding a horse when the “chap” on a motor cycle ran into him. Hertick took Curwen with him to the police station. On the way they came across the Curwen’s horse which was being held by a man. The pair returned to the scene of the accident with Constable Rawlings, and shortly afterwards the Ambulance arrived. Arthur Neave’s body and Curwen were taken away.

6th October 1947 – The body of Edward Albert Gerber (50), married, of Marburg, was found less than 400 yds. from his home, lying on the bottom of a dam containing about 4ft. of water. He had a gunshot wound in the chest. A shot-gun was discovered on the bank of the waterhole. He told his family that morning that he intended to shoot crows on his property. He did not return for dinner, and the family notified the police. Constable E. McGrath, of Marburg, assisted by Constable McKenna, Redbank, and a couple of workmen, searched the property and found him in the dam.

10th February 1948 – Sam. Harding, of Matthew Street, Rosewood, suffered a severe laceration to the right hand when he caught it on a circular saw. He was treated at the Ipswich Hospital and allowed to return home.

9th March 1948 –  Queensland Times page 2
TWO MEN FOUND DEAD AT MOORANG – While investigating the death of Michael Joseph Sweeney (63), retired grazier, of Morang, whose body was found yesterday afternoon in a blind unused roadway near Rosevale, police were advised that his neighbour, Lawrence Thomas Grey, farmer, had collapsed and died.
Police inquiries have not yet been finalised, but both deaths are believed to have been from natural causes.
Shortly after 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon Sergeant Wacker of the Rosewood Police was advised by a resident of Moorang, a small district on the far side of Rosevale, and about 40 miles from Ipswich, that he had found a man’s body lying on a stock route. The body was identified as that of Michael Joseph Sweeney, a bachelor, who lived about three miles away.
Sergeant Wacker advised the Ipswich police and Detective Constable Geary was sent out to investigate the matter. While making inquires, and when he was just about to return to Ipswich, Detective Constable Geary was informed of the second death, once again by the resident who had found the first body.
This resident told the police that Lawrence Thomas Grey, a middle aged single farmer, had collapsed and died. Grey’s housekeeper had informed him of the death.
The bodies have been taken to the morgue at the Ipswich General Hospital where Post mortem examinations will be held.

24th June 1948 – Three men were injured in a head-on collision between a utility and a three-ton truck on the Western Creek Bridge, on the Mt. Walker-road, about a mile from Rosewood at 10.15 o’clock in the morning. All were occupants of the lighter vehicle. The driver of the truck was unhurt. The injured men were Kenneth Wrench (18), farmer, of Ebenezer, who suffered concussion, injury to the right knee, and shock; his brother, Charles Wrench (23), of the same address, who received abrasions to both legs and shock; and a passenger, James Hamilton Locke (73), farmer, of Ebenezer, who suffered a fractured nose and abrasions to the right arm and left leg. All the front portion of the utility was extensively damaged where the truck crushed into it. The latter, which was owned by Smithfield Colliery and driven by Arthur John Newton, suffered only minor damage. Newton was driving outbound and was nearly across the bridge when the accident occurred. Kenneth Wrench’s condition that night was said to be satisfactory. The Ipswich Ambulance was called to render first aid. 

9th October 1949 – Henry Charles Davidson, labourer, 34, married, with two children, was charged with the wilful murder of his father-in-law. The charge followed the death of his father-in-law, James Arthur Johnson, 70, in the Ipswich General Hospital. Police said that Johnson, a widower and miner-pensioner, lived with the Davidsons in Albert Street, Rosewood. According to police, Johnson was admitted to hospital with internal injuries. They alleged that after an incident at the home early on Saturday 8th, Johnson complained to neighbours of pains in the stomach. He alleged that he had been punched in the stomach after a disagreement over a bet. The Ipswich ambulance was called and took him to hospital. He was admitted at 4 a.m. Detective-Sergeant H. O. Cook, of the Ipswich C.I.B., and Detective Constable L. Ingram, investigated. Davidson was arrested and charged. He appeared in the Ipswich Court on 10th.

The charge was reduced to manslaughter on 24th. Murder Charge Is Cut    Murder Charge Reduced To Manslaughter  He was found not guilty.  Found Not Guilty 

25th October 1949 – What otherwise may have been a serious loss to the Rosewood Agricultural and Horticultural Association was averted through the action of an employee of the Rosewood sawmill, advising the Secretary of the association (Mr. Les. Schumann), by telephone, that smoke was coming from the pavilion under the grandstand on the Showground. Investigations showed that a short circuit in the electric wiring had occurred. Power was immediately cut off, and the fault was fixed.

1st January 1950 – Andrew Langford Fisher (20), single, of Albert Street, Rosewood, was killed instantly when the car he was driving left the road and capsized on the Ipswich-Rosewood road at about 12.5 a.m. Police inquiries showed that Fisher  was travelling alone and was driving an 8 h.p. roadster, the property of Robert Evans, of John-street, Rosewood. He was travelling from Ipswich to his home at Rosewood when the car left the road about half a mile on the Rosewood side of the Seven Mile Bridge. The car capsized and overturned several times. Its hood was torn off. Ipswich ambulance rushed to the scene and found Fisher lying about 10 yards away from the car. He was dead on their arrival. A post mortem examination disclosed that death was due to cerebral concussion, haemorrhage and shock. 

23rd March 1950 –  An elderly Rosewood motorist who usually drove down a back street because he did not like driving in the traffic in Brisbane-street, was involved in a fatal collision at the intersection of Brisbane and Burnett Streets, Ipswich. 

Constable William Llewellyn Bennett was patrolling along Brisbane-street when he saw a small utility truck jammed against the awning post of a butcher’s shop, and a larger truck with the front portion damaged. He also saw a man and a woman, whom he later ascertained to be Hulbert Gordon Munroe Hamilton and Lucy Hamilton, of Yates-street, Rosewood, lying on the footpath. The woman was then unconscious. Lucy died at the Ipswich General Hospital the next day.

Constable Bennett then interviewed Neville Gordon Davis, of 26 Gordon-street, Stone’s Corner, Brisbane, who was the driver of the truck. He said he was coming up Brisbane-street towards West Ipswich at a speed of 15 miles per hour with a load of about seven tons. When he stopped at the Burnett-street intersection he saw the utility coming in the opposite direction. It was travelling about 25 miles per hour, and was about 50ft. away from his vehicle. He then saw the driver extend his hand indicating that he intended to turn right into Burnett-street.

“I was halfway across the intersection. There was nothing to stop him from seeing me, and I thought he wanted to turn right behind me. All of a sudden I saw him coming in front of me. I hit the brakes with all I had, and the truck skidded into the near side door of the utility.” 

The Constable later interviewed Hulbert Hamilton at the Ipswich General Hospital, and told him that marks on the roadway showed that he had driven his vehicle from West Ipswich along Brisbane-street, and was turning into Burnett-street when the collision occurred. He had replied, “That would be right, as I usually drive up Burnett-street and park the truck in Limestone-street, as I do not like driving down Brisbane-street where all the traffic is.” 

31st August 1950 – Four members of the one family were injured in a collision between a car and a truck at the junction of Toowoomba-road and Chubb-street, One Mile. They were Rev. S. W. Vaham, Church of Christ minister, of Albert Street, Rosewood, contused wound above the right eye and injury to the right leg; Miss W. Vaham (16), lacerated wound above the right eye, concussion; Miss D. Vaham (18), lacerated wound above the right eye; Miss E. Vaham (15), front teeth knocked out.

All received first aid from Ipswich Ambulance bearers, and were taken to the General Hospital. Miss W. Vaham was detained for further treatment. Mr. Vaham was driver of the sedan, and George Williams, of William Street, Rosewood was the driver of the truck. It was loaded with sawn timber. Police were told that the truck, which was travelling from Rosewood, was turning from Toowoomba-road into Chubb-street when the collision occurred. Vaham was travelling towards Rosewood along the Toowoomba-road. The accident occurred about 6.50 p.m.

23rd October 1950 – DECISION RESERVED ON DANGEROUS DRIVING – George William Williams (47, miner)

6th February 1951 – About 6 a.m. a four-roomed home with verandah and kitchen at Ebenezer, was destroyed by fire. It was owned by Barry Arthur Deane, a farmer. The fire originated at the kerosene stove. Th house was insured.

5th April 1951 – A farmer was pinned to the ground by the steering wheel of a tractor which overturned while he was constructing drains on an unused road at his farm at Mt. Walker. George Hearne (39), formerly of Ipswich, was killed instantly. Hearne, who conducted a garage next to the Ambulance Centre at North Ipswich and later an agency in Down Street, took up farming about two years prior on a property in the Mt. Walker district about 10 miles from Rosewood. That morning, with a neighbour, he began constructing drains across an unused road which separated parts of his farm property. The work was done with a tractor. At the back, a small grader known as a ditch-digger, was attached. While Hearne was driving the tractor up a steep bank the grader blade dug deeply into the earth, causing the tractor to “rear up” and overturn backwards. Hearne was pinned to the ground. He was alone when the accident occurred.

3rd May 1951 – Martin Battaglene (about 20), of Amberley, suffered a punctured wound to the left side of the head, shock and concussion when he hit the rear of a parked truck while riding his motor cycle in Albert-street, Rosewood. last night. He was given first aid by the Rosewood Ambulance and conveyed to the Ipswich General Hospital for further treatment. He was later admitted.

17th May 1951 – David Morgensen (3), Just-street, Rosewood, was admitted to the General Hospital suffering from a large laceration to the head, concussion and shock. His condition was serious.The child was knocked down in Albert-street by a car driven by Percival Domrow. The accident occurred about 4.20 p.m. Treatment was given by the Rosewood Ambulance and a doctor, and the boy was then taken to the hospital. 

11th June 1951 – Maxwell Donaldson, a four year-old child, of Madden’s Lane, Rosewood, while playing inserted a peanut in his right nostril. He was taken to Rosewood Ambulance Centre, where the peanut was extracted by the officer in charge, Mr. L. Coleman, and the child was allowed to return home.

29th November 1951 – Colin Roach  of Albert-street, Rosewood, a baker employed at Evers bakery, suffered a large lacerated wound on the left thigh when he was struck by a piece of steel. The steel broke away from a splitting wedge. First aid was rendered by the Rosewood Ambulance, and he was taken to the local doctor’s surgery for further attention. 

Eric Anderson, of Ashwell, a miner employed at United No. 8 Colliery, suffered second degree burns to three fingers on the right hand and burns to the right arm last night while endeavouring to repair a motor car. First aid was given by the Rosewood Ambulance and he was conveyed to the Ipswich General Hospital. After treatment he was allowed to return home.

5th April 1952 – Malcolm Meier (11), of Mt. Mort, was bitten, on the right leg by a snake. His father gave him first aid and took him towards Rosewood. They were met on the road by the Rosewood ambulance. The boy was transferred to the ambulance car and taken to the local doctor’s surgery. After treatment at the surgery he was allowed to return home.

5th April 1952 – John Sbeghen (3), son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sbeghen, of Royal George Lane, Rosewood, fractured his left leg when he jumped off a drum. First aid was given by the Rosewood ambulance and the child was conveyed to the Ipswich General Hospital, where he was admitted.

27th May 1952 – When the engine backfired, the carburetter of a Studebaker utilIty caught fire in Railway Street about 8.30 o’clock night. The car was owned and driven by Harry Alfred Lee (Matthew Street) who was accompanied by his wife and family. The heat from the flames burst the petrol filter bowl below the vacuum tank, and the fire spread over the engine. It was extinguished. however, before it had a chance of spreading to beyond the engine. None of the occupants were injured.

2nd July 1952 – Ronald George Embrey (17), of Rosewood, escaped injury when he was thrown from his motor cycle after it had collided with a calf at 11.45 p.m. on Wednesday. The accident occurred on the Ipswich-Rosewood Road on Elliot’s Hill, about five miles from Ipswich. The machine was slightly damaged.

4th October 1952 – When she slipped and fell on a step at her home in Belmont Street, Mrs. Annie Lee fractured her right ankle.

5th October 1952 – Daryl Brown (9), Skinner Street, suffered a fractured right leg while practising jumping about 5 o’clock that afternoon. 

23rd January 1953 – Raymond Court, of Mill Street, Rosewood, a pupil attending the Rosewood State School, suffered a large lacerated wound under the left foot when he trod on broken glass while paddling.

20th February 1953 – Mrs. A. Baills, John Street, Rosewood, received a large lacerated wound to the palm of her left hand when a tin-opener she was using slipped on Friday afternoon. She was given first aid by the Rosewood ambulance. and after further treatment at a doctor’s surgery was allowed to return home.

1st March 1953 –  Harry Evans (22, single), an employee of the United No. 8 Colliery, Rosewood, had the unusual but painful experience of being run over by his own car at Fernvale this afternoon. Evans had gone to Fernvale with a Rosewood fishing party, but the car became bogged before they had quite reached their destination. Evans, who was the driver of the vehicle, set the throttle, put the car in gear, and then got out to help push. His foot slipped, however, and he fell under the rear driving side wheel of the vehicle. He suffered abrasions to the right elbow and knee, toes, and ankle, and bruises to the right thigh. Evans was brought from Fernvale to the Rosewood ambulance, and after first aid treatment was taken to a Rosewood doctor for additional attention.

5th March 1953 – Elwyn Stitz, married, of Walloon Road, Rosewood, a miner employed at Malabar Colliery, suffered a badly sprained left ankle when he slipped under an iron rail, on Thursday evening. First aid was given by the Rosewood ambulance and he was transported to the Ipswich General Hospital. After treatment he was allowed to return home.

5th March 1953 – Mrs. A. Boughen, of Matthew Street, Rosewood, had to have a crocheting hook removed from her left hand on Thursday night. She had the hook above her ear when she struck at a mosquito, and the hook became embedded in her hand. First aid was given by the Rosewood ambulance, and she was taken to the local doctor’s surgery, where the hook was removed and she was allowed to return home.

6th March 1953 – Malcom Deas (17), of Walloon Road, Rosewood. an employee of the Ipswich Railway Workshops, tripped over a bicycle at the Rosewood Railway Station on Friday evening and, in endeavouring to break the fall, put his hand through a glass window and suffered a cut vein and a lacerated wound to the left wrist. First aid was given by the Rosewood ambulance and he was transported to the Ipswich General Hospital, where seven stitches were inserted in the wounds, after which he was allowed to return home.

6th March 1953 – Patrica Potts (3), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Potts, of Matthew Street, suffered a contused wound to the right foot when she caught it in a cycle chain. Rosewood ambulance took her to an Ipswich private hospital and after treatment she also returned home.

6th March 1953 –  Mrs. Mrs. C. G. Rea. who was visiting relatives in Rosewood, suffered a probable fracture of the left hand when she knocked it on a key in a door. The Rosewood Ambulance took her to the Ipswich General Hospital for further treatment and then home again.

9th March 1953 – Laurie Horne (married farmer), of Perry’s Knob, via Rosewood, fractured bones in his right foot when he tripped over a piece of timber. He was given first aid by the Rosewood ambulance, and taken to the Ipswich General Hospital for further attention.

10th March 1953 – Sheila Lenihan, seven year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Lenihan, Matthew Street, Rosewood, suffered an incised wound to the second toe of her left foot, whilst playing with a chipping hoe early tonight. She was given first aid by the Rosewood ambulance, and taken to the Ipswich General Hospital for further treatment. She was later allowed to return home.

3rd May 1953 – A 22-year-old member of the Australian Regular Army was killed instantly when his motor cycle failed to negotiate a bend in the Mt Walker Road, about five miles from Rosewood. He was Corporal Raymond Bruce Pearsall. Corporal Pearsall was stationed at Wacol, and his home address was 19 Grafton Street, Cairns. He was thrown from his cycle against a fence, and was dead when the Rosewood ambulance arrived. John Fletcher (15) saw the accident occur while watchng from the window of a farm house. Cpl. Pearsall suffered a compound fracture of the right leg, chest and head injuries. The accident took place about 1.45 p.m..

23rd May 1953 – Trevor Alan Williams (8) was fatally injured at Rosemount Colliery. He rode a wagon down the tunnel for about 90 yards and it overturned. Trevor was the son of George and Myrtle Williams.  Boy Killed

6th January 1954 – (Q.T.) The Rosewood Ambulance Centre reports that there have been only three cases requiring transport in the past week. On New Year’s Day, Doreen Lamb (22), of Abbot Street, New Farm, Brisbane, who was visiting friends at Mt. Walker Road. Rosewood, fell from a horse. She suffered multiple abrasions to the body and possible concussion.

On Monday, Tom Purnell (63) was shifting spouting at his home in Mill Street, Rosewood, when he fell on a paling fence. A piece of wood 7½ inches long penetrated his right forearm. 

Yesterday, Gregory Domrow (6), of Rosewood, was playing at his home when a fall caused a double fracture of his left forearm. 

In all three cases first aid was given by the Rosewood Ambulance, which also conveyed the patients to the Ipswich General Hospital, where they were admitted.

25th February 1954 – A Marburg couple and their three children escaped uninjured when the Tourer in which they were traveling crashed over the side of Mason’s Bridge and fell shout 15ft to the gully below. Walter John Anderson, Marburg, was being driven by his wife, Ethel Mavis Anderson along John Street towards the shopping centre about 6.10 p.m. Ethel made a left hand turn on to Mason’s bridge and the car got out of control. It jumped the kerbing of the bridge and fell into the gully. The vehicle, an old model with a fabric hood, came to rest facing the way it had come. The crash was heard at the Rosewood Ambulance Centre and a car was sent to the bridge. Anderson, his wife, and their three children were examined for injury, and it was found they had escaped except for shock. The car later was put back on to the road.

10th April 1954 – Avon King aged 14 years, a scholar at the Mt. Marrow State School, received severe bruising to the left thigh and slight shock when she fell through a railway grid at Rosewood. She was treated by the Rosewood Ambulance and later returned to her home.

9th August 1954 – Rosewood ambulance bearers treated a married woman after a collision between a utility and a timber truck at the intersection of Waight and John Streets, Rosewood, this morning. The woman, Mrs. W. S. Blake, of Tallegalla, was travelling in the utility with her husband and three children when it collided with the truck, driven by R. Gillam of Grandchester. She suffered lacerations to the right knee and bearers conveyed her to Ipswich for further treatment. The other occupants of the vehicles escaped injury, Damage to the utility was extensive.

3rd November 1954 – One wheel of a horse-drawn cart passed over Marian Rea of Thagoona twice while she was lying on a Rosewood street after being thrown from the cart. Suffering probable internal injuries and shock, she was given attention by the Rosewood ambulance and a Rosewood doctor and transported to the Ipswich General Hospital. She made a good recovery. The accident, which occurred in Railway Street, was caused when the horse took fright.

17th July 1955 – Jim Potts, a young married milkman, rushed into a blazing building in Railway Street, Rosewood near the Catholic Presbytery, to rescue Clyde Kings (67) a partially blind man. An alarm had been given by Brain Bruce by ringing the church bell. Jim carried Clyde from the building. The weatherboard building was destroyed within minutes.

15th October 1955  – Stanley Krause of Rosewood was injured when one of the two horses he was leading shied and knocked him against a tree. The other animal became tangled in barbed wire and galloped around the tree causing the wire to injure Krause’s legs. He was taken to hospital but not admitted.

23rd December 1955 –  Hailstones the size of ping pong balls smashed windows In practically every house when Rosewood was hit by its worst storms In 20 years. Damage was estimated to be In the region of £300. No one was injured. The storm, which hit at 3.30 and lasted until 4 p.m., brought 84 points of rain.

28th March 1956 – Michael Ahearn of Mt Walker lost his life when his car collided with a Brisbane bound mail train at the Rosewood Level Crossing.

10th April 1979 – Ruhno’s Store was completely destroyed by fire.

26th May 1989 – A teenager lost his left foot and received multiple back injuries when he slipped beneath a Helidon-bound train. Matthew John Foyle, 15, of Calvert, near Rosewood, was alighting from the rail motor at Calvert Station at about 4.12pm when he slipped on the wet platform. He was transported to Ipswich General Hospital by the Rosewood ambulance and was reported to be in a stable condition.

6th January 2008 – Two men beat and kicked a chef to death in a room at the Rising Sun Hotel. Raymond John Bound, 61, of Ipswich, and Lochlan-Lee Brett Belford, 21, of Rosewood, were found guilty of murdering 28 year old Wayne Williams because he was gay. They were jailed for life for his murder, then appealed the conviction and lost.

1st December 2021 – About 1.10pm an unknown man entered the NAB on John Street and produced a firearm demanding money.

• RUHNO’S FIRE
• Rosewood Ablaze