Rosewood History Qld.

Serendipity

© Jane Schy 2025

Serendipity is the occurrence of finding valuable or fortunate things by chance, when you are not specifically looking for them.

Police Constable Ronald Ernest Nicholson was transferred to Ipswich from the Valley in February 1951, after which he was posted to Rosewood. He and his wife Beryl lived in Albert Street with their first two sons until the end of 1954, when he was posted to Injune.

Ronald and Beryl were married in 1949 at the Church of England in Beryl’s hometown of Jundah (via Longreach). Beryl was the youngest daughter of Roland George and Zillah Isted Robinson, who lived in Miles Street. Her father, known as George, was a shearer. Ronald’s parents lived at Rockhampton.

Ronald and Beryl visited Jundah in 1950, and Beryl’s parents came from Jundah to Rosewood to stay for the Christmas season in 1951. They were in town in time for the family to go to the carnival and barn dance at the showgrounds.

On New Years Day 1952, Ronald was on duty at the Rosewood police station. A Rosevale resident called in and informed him that a man named Dick Robinson was very sick at Rosevale and had refused an ambulance or medical treatment. Ronald knew that his father-in-law George had a brother named Dick, so he went home and told George about the situation. Ronald called an ambulance and George decided to travel with the bearer to Rosevale. On arrival, George found that the man was in fact his older brother, Richard William Robinson, known as Dick, whom he had not seen since 1914.

The brothers were born at Callitris Station, Yuleba, and when they left home for work, Dick went to work as a horse driver and drover at Eulo and George went shearing at Jundah. When Dick enlisted in 11th Light Horse Regiment at in February 1915, George was living at Jundah. Their father, John Robinson, was caretaker of old Burenda Station, 40 km from Augathella. He died in August that year. Two other brothers, Gordon Finlay Robinson and Angus Broughton Robinson, also served.

From a letter written by their mother, Maida, found in Dick’s service record, it was apparent that there was a falling out with her sons because she remarried a year after their father died. They did not approve of her marriage and would not speak to her. Maida was living at Longreach.

Whether this had a bearing on why the brothers lost contact, or the fact that Eulo and Jundah are 525 km away from each other, only those involved knew.

Nonetheless, by chance, after 37 years, the brothers found each other again, and the outcome was a happy one. Dick was taken by ambulance to the Ipswich General Hospital and lived on until 1958.

If Constable Nicholson had not been transferred to Rosewood, this reunion may never have happened.

Photo at top:  George is on the left and Richard is on the right.