Birth at registration of marriage was stated to be Bendigo, Victoria.

Helen May was born in 1886, at either the gold-mining town of Walhalla in eastern Victoria, or in Bendigo; then known as Sandhurst. By 1903 the family had moved to Creswick and by 1909 to nearby Ullina.

In 1908 Helen married Fernando Dennis in Bendigo.

By 1914 Helen and Fernando had moved to the mining town of Weldborough, Tasmania. The 1914 and 1922 Commonwealth Electoral Rolls noted, Fernando’s occupation: grocer’s assistant; “Ellen May’s”: domestic duties and their residence: Weldborough. In 1922 Fernando appears to have moved temporarily to Hobart before returning to Weldborough later that year. The 1922 Commonwealth Electoral Roll noted Fernando’s occupation: labourer and residence: 116 Murray St, Hobart and a Supplemental Electoral Roll for 1922 noted Fernando’s occupation: labourer and residence: Weldborough. Helen is not recorded on the roll for 1922.

By 1928 Helen and Fernando had moved to Launceston. The 1928 Commonwealth Electoral Roll noted Fernando’s occupation: lineman, “Ellen May’s”: domestic duties and their residence: Powena St, Launceston and a second Electoral Roll for 1928 noted the same occupations but their residence: 68 Mulgrave St, Launceston. They were still at the same address in 1936, 1937, 1943 and their occupations unchanged.

By 1944 they had moved; the 1944 Commonwealth Electoral Roll noted Fernando’s occupation: lineman, “Ellen May’s”: domestic duties and their residence: 61 Melbourne St, Launceston. They were still at the same address in 1949 and their occupations unchanged. After Fernando’s death in 1953, Helen remained at the same address; the 1954 Roll noted the same information.

Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1914, Electoral Roll for Portland, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1919, Electoral Roll for Portland, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1922, Electoral Roll for Hobart East, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1922, Electoral Roll for Portland, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1928, Electoral Roll for Evandale, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1928, Electoral Roll for Launceston East, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1936, Electoral Roll for Launceston East, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1937, Electoral Roll for Launceston East, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1943, Electoral Roll for Launceston East, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1943, Electoral Roll for Launceston East, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1944, Electoral Roll for Evandale, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1953, Electoral Roll for Evandale, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)
Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1954, Electoral Roll for Evandale, Tas (ref-D_Doc_#370)


Given Names: ELLEN MAY2
Surnames: DENNIS
Age: 87
Date of Death: 24/2/1974
Date of Service: 25/2/1974
Area: Monumental Cemetery
Location: C2
Number: 11
Site: EAST SIDE

Birth: Vic Cert 21884/1886. Parents: Thomas DEASON & Esther POLLARD.
Also known as Helen Mary.
!Marriage:

Acknowledgements:
• Rick Smith, Launceston Tasmania, Australia
• Joyce Tuohey, Quambatook, Victoria, Australia
• Richard (Dick) Deason, Moliagul, Victoria, Australia
• Billy Warburton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

References:
Births, baptisms, marriages, deaths & burials (Aust):
• Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Vic), 2001, Historical Index (1855-1920), extract for Deason (ref - D_Doc_#106)
Family trees & history:
• Billy Warburton, 1969, Deason Family Tree (ref - D_Doc_#014 & 015)
• probably Venus Free (nee Deason), c1940, Deason Family Tree (ref - D_Doc_#016)
• Venus Free (nee Deason), c1940, Deason Family Tree (ref - D_Doc_#017)
• Rick Smith, 2005, Deason Family Tree (ref - D_Doc_#136)
• Rick Smith, 2011, Deason Family Tree (ref - D_Doc_#408)
Other information:
• Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1903, Electoral Roll for North Creswick, Vic, 1909, Clunes, Vic (ref - D_Doc_#290)
• Commonwealth Electoral Office, 1914, 1919 & 1922, Electoral Rolls for Portland, Tas, 1922, Hobart East, Tas, 1928, Evandale, Tas, 1928, 1936, 1937 & 1943, Launceston East, Tas & 1944, 1953 & 1954, Evandale (ref - D_Doc_#370)
• Rick Smith, 2006, 2007 & 2008, Correspondence

Birth: Vic Cert 1845/1883.
!Marriage: Vic Cert 9515/1908.

Lived married life at Weldborough and 61 Melbourne Street, Launceston, Tasmania.

Birth place at registration of marriage was stated to be Rocky Lead, Victoria.

The following is from Greg Campbell’s tree:
Rocky Lead is now called Rocklyn – it is between Creswick and Daylesford, Vic. It was (and still is) a very small village. It would have been an easier trip to Creswick by horse than going to Daylesford. The railway (now abandoned) went through the village. Was originally a gold mining area. As Creswick would have been the closest courthouse to register the birth it may be better to record the birth as “Rocky Lead, registered Creswick”. Rocklyn situated approximately 15 klms South-west of Daylesford.

Fernando DENNIS

Regimental number 6727
Religion Methodist
Occupation Miner
Address Weldborough, Tasmania
Marital status Married
Age at embarkation 34
Next of kin Wife, Mrs E M Dennis, Weldborough, Tasmania
Enlistment Date 8 August 1916
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 12th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/29/4
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A56 Palermo on 30 September 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 12th Battalion
Fate Returned to Australia 12 December 1918

In 1916 Fernando enlisted for armed service in WWI:
Enlisted 8 Aug 1916 (service no 6727); 12th Battalion, 22nd Reinforcement.
A miner aged 34, resident at Weldborough Tasmania, giving next of kin as wife Ellen. Father of 4 children, 5'6", wt 11 stone, dark complexion, brown eyes, dark brown hair. Tip of right forefinger missing.
Embarked Melbourne aboard "PALERMO" 30 Sep 1916, arriving Devonport 21 Nov 1916.
Served as a Private with the 12th Battalion.
Wounded in action (shrapnel wound to arm) in France 15 Feb 1917 and was hospitalised in Northampton England, where it was found he was suffering trench fever.
Returned to France, then Belgium in October, but again hospitalised Jan 1918. In Sep 1918 treated for a septic hand and whitlow on the thumb and on 30 Sep embarked for Australia board "NESTOR", arriving Australia 12 December 1918.
Received the 1914-1915 Star, War Medal and Victory Medal. (1)

In 1919 at Weldborough Bass Tasmania, grocer's assistant with wife Ellen May, home duties. (2)
In 1936 at 6 Mulgrave Street East Launceston, lineman, with wife Ethel and daughter Ethel Kathleen, textile
worker. (2)

Death notice: "On 26th May at his residence, 61 Melbourne Street Launceston. Aged 71.
Husband of Mrs Ellen M Dennis.
Father of John (Burnie), Fred, Kathleen (Mrs Welce), Irene and Molly.
Late 12th Battalion, 1st AIF.
Private funeral at Carr Villa Cemetery on 27th May at 3pm.
CT Finney & Son, 16 Brisbane Street Launceston". (3)
(1) WW1 Nominal Roll.
(2) TAS electoral roll.
(3) The Advocate 27 May 1953.

Given Names: FERNANDO2
Surnames: DENNIS
Age: 71
Date of Death: 26/5/1953
Date of Service: 27/5/1953
Area: Monumental Cemetery
Location: C2
Number: 11
Site: WEST SIDE