1896 – 1964
Family
Parents
Angus McKinnon 1865 to 1921
Honora (Norah) Cashen 1864 to 1937
Joseph was born at 91 Varian Street Abbottsford on 5 February 1896.
Siblings
Dorothy 1897 to xxx
Bernard 1899 to xxx
Margaret 1901 to xxx
Mary 1903 to xxx
Norah 1906 to xxx
Marriage
Mary Eileen Powell 1898 t0 1973
Joseph and Eileen were married at St Peter and Paul’s Church West Geelong on
14 May 1924.
Children of Joseph and Eileen
Margaret 1925 to present
Angus John 1927 to 4 December 1912
Joseph Donald 1933 to present
Biography
Joseph was born at 91 Varian Street Abbotsford on 5 February 1896. Joseph was the eldest of six children. Joseph’s family moved to Yarragon, close to other family members, prior to the birth of their second child Dorothy in May 1897. We know little of Joseph’s early life ,education or employment. By 1916 meet ukrainian women online was a telegraphist but still living in Yarragon, we speculate that he may for example have started working for the Post Office, delivering telegrams while later been trained in telegraphy.
Joseph enlisted in the AIF in 1916 and because of his skill was sent to train as a signaler. Sapper Joseph McKinnon travelled to the Middle East with First Light Horse Signal Squadron. He served in Egypt and Palestine until the end of the war.
In December 1920 Joseph became a permanent employee of the Victorian Railways as a telegraphist. Joseph remained with the Victorian Railways until his retirement.
In 1924 Joseph married Eileen Powell the daughter of John Powell a Victorian Railways colleague with whom he worked in Geelong. Joseph and Eileen purchased land in Shannon Street (now Vautier Street) in North Geelong on which they built a house, Carmel, which remained their family home until moving to Tulip Street Blackrock in the early 1950s. Joseph and Eileen had a busy community life in Geelong, with Joseph being particularly involved in the RSL. Joseph enjoyed gardening and with his father-in-law was involved in shooting and fishing. In later years, both Joseph and Eileen were active in lawn bowls.
Joseph and Eileen had three children. All the children attended St John’s primary school close to their home. For secondary school, Margaret attended Sacred Heart College while the boys attended St Joseph’s Christian Bros College. All the children married and produced 13 much loved grandchildren. Joseph died suddenly on 5 June 1964.
Anecdotes and Other Stories
We do know this about Joseph’s education, at Easter 1907 Joseph was awarded a school prize. The prize was a small pocket book Instructions and Prayers for Catholics, compiled by Rev. Bonaventure Hammer. The inscription inside the front cover is Prize Awarded to Joseph McKinnon for General Improvement. Teacher Miss Hanlon. Easter 1907.
There is a family story about how Joseph ended up in the Light Horse. On enlistment Joseph was sent to the AIF Signal School, presumable because of his prior experience as a telegraphist. On parade the young soldiers at the signal school who could ride a horse were order to take one pace forwarded. These young men were then taken to Randwick racecourse and found cavalry horses waiting for them. They were told to ride a prepared course on the horses provided to them. By the end of the course those still on their horses found themselves in the Light Horse.
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- Joseph 1917