Rosewood History

David Herbert BERRELL and Mary Jane HUGHES

Name: David “Dai” Herbert BERRELL
Occupation: Saddler at Colliery (1911 above ground); Blacksmith; Miner
Birth: 1890, Ferndale, Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, Wales (Reg. Pontypridd Apr-May-Jun Vol. 11a Age 541)
Residence: 1891, Home Penrhys, Rhondda, Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, Wales
Residence: 1901, 84 Lake Street, Ferndale Christ Church, Parish of Rhondda, Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, Wales
Residence: 1911, Boarder at the home of William & Clara Burrell, “Lismore,” Coronation Terrace, Drove Road, Weston-S-Mare, Somerset, England. (Saddler)
Immigration: 23rd April 1915, the steamer Roscommon arrived Brisbane, Queensland from London.  See record.
Death: 29 August, 1972 Queensland aged 82 years
Buried: Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery
Father: James BERRELL (Harness Maker, Saddler)
Mother: Margaret GIBBON

Spouse: Mary Jane “May” HUGHES
Occupation: Nurse
Birth: 1892, Blaengwynfi, Glamorgan, Wales
Residence: 2nd April 1911, Newcastle Higher and Coity Higher, Glamorgan, Wales
Immigration: 23rd April 1915, the steamer Roscommon  arrived Brisbane, Queensland
Death: 28th November 1957, Queensland aged 65 years
Buried: Ipswich General Cemetery
Father: Mark HUGHES
Mother: Miriam FRANCIS
Marriage: 1913, Registered at Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales (Jan-Feb-Mar Vol. 11a Page 985)

Children: Ewart Francis BERRELL (1920-1987) = Ruby Isabel HANDFORD

Information about Dai and May.

• Dai is the Welsh name for David.
• Dai and May immigrated to Australia during the Great War years.
• The family lived at Jondaryan 1921-1925; Acland 1927; Goombungee 1930- 1943. 
• During the Depression years Dai worked away from home at times, wherever he could find work.
• They came to Rosewood about 1944 and lived on the corner of Railway and Albert Street until 1968 (opposite Ruhno’s store).
  
• The old cheese factory buildings were on their property. Dai used the largest building, which fronted Albert Street, and “this kind old farrier” shod horses for many years.
• According to those who remembered visiting Dai, it was very dark and quite atmospheric inside the blacksmith’s shed for a young person.
• Many times, for many things, people said, “Take it to Dai. He’ll fix it!”
• Dai’s brother, Thomas Mortimer Berrell, was a miner and lived at Silkstone, Ipswich.
• Dai and May both showed poultry. Dai was a steward at a poultry show which was conducted by the newly formed Rosewood Poultry and Kennel Club in 1945. They entered many of the local Shows with Old English Game like Bantams, Spangle Cockerels, Duck Wing Cocks as well as Australian breeds like Australorps.
• Dai played the mouth organ.
• Dai bred Scotch Collie dogs. May won second prize at the 1949 Laidley Show with her cattle dog, “Kellesmere Skipper Lad.”
• Dai participated in a concert held in the Farmers’ Hall in August 1951. The concert was in aid of the Rosewood Ambulance Committee. He presented a humorous sketch. His neighbours who lived across the road, Barbara and Rodney Nation, both performed dances and Rodney sang.
• Dai was one of four experienced miners, appointed by the Mines Department, to be on a board of inquiry in October 1951. The inquiry related to an accident at Normanton Colliery when Sidney Lyle Trewick (Manager of Colliery) was injured by a fall of stone. Other members of the board were Messrs. Fred Evans, Norman Bade and J. Graham.
• Dai used to do leather work and sometimes repaired shoes for people.
• Dai was on the management committee of the Ipswich and West Moreton Rugby League in 1951and delegate to the I.R.L. for the junior minor team.

Photos above and information below: Courtesy of Dave Brown

The old cheese factory buildings. Dai used the large building facing Albert Street for his blacksmith’s activities. When the last shed on the property was pulled down in the late 1970s, there were remnants of Dai the blacksmith, an old sandstone wheel, bellows and an assortment of tools.

© Jane Schy, 2024

Sources:
1891, 1901, 1911 Census Wales
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
Queensland, Australia, Immigration Indexes, 1848-1972
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980