Stories of Clara Crissie Coates

Story told by her daughter Crissie Stolz.

(Clara) Crissie, 18, engaged at the time, came to Mt. Gambier from New Farm, Brisbane, and stayed with her sister Ethel Steer in James Street. This is how she met Ern Ireland. At church one night he noticed a head of lovely hair and decided he had to meet the lady. When he saw her face he thought better of it. He want to another church next week and saw another head of lovely hair. When he saw her face he decided that he liked that one and got a friend to introduce him to her and that started their romance. He was the most considerate and gentle man she had ever met and was swept off her feet and fell in love with him. When they married they lived in a little street between Commercial Street and James Street called Short Street. That's where Keith and Cyril were born. Cyril was notorious for jumping over the fence and disappearing in town making his mother frantic looking for him. He was a tiger.

When Jean was born they moved to Eglington Terrace, near Vansittart Park. When Crissie was about three they moved to Bay Road. When she was 14 they sold that house, 1000 pounds and all their lovely 'old' furniture for 50 pounds, because Mum wanted to go modern, in their new house in Helen Street. Later built a new house in Gwendoline Street and in 1937 moved to Wyatt Street.

Estelle Barrows' version:

Ernest met Clara Crissie when he heard her sing at the Lutheran Church one Sunday night. They were living at Agnus Street when Estelle was born. Had a house built on the corner of Reginald and Gwendoline streets when Estelle was a baby. They lived there for 3 or 4 years. Estelle remembers her third birthday party there. The house was sold for a good profit so that Ernest could start his own business with the proceeds. They then moved to Eglington Terrace. Estelle first went to school from there. They stayed there for three years before moving to Bay Road when Estelle was seven. Estelle was 18 or 19 when she and Jean went to Melbourne to train as nurses; Jean had been working in the office of the woollen mills. Keith and Cyril married and with all the children gone they decided to build in Helen Street.

Estelle was married in 1937, about the time her parents moved to Wyatt Street, into the east side flat of number three. Richard Barrows was christened in that house by a Church of England priest because at that time Laurie didn't like Church. Bruce was similarly christened when he came along two years later.

The COATES family came from 'Wallington Hall', South England.

E. M. Barrows records:

Death of 'NANNA' 1954 Ireland. Clara Crissie On Aug. 20th, at 'Pine Hill', Penola Road, Mount Gambier. Loved wife of Ernest Leslie Ireland.

'the Border Watch' 20th August 1954

Mrs. Clara Crissie Ireland, Wyatt Street, Mount Gambier, who died in the home of Mrs. W. L. Barrows, Pine Hill, Penola Road, on August 20th, after an illness of several years, was a keen bridge player. She won the Mount Gambier Bridge Tournament with her partner some years ago.

She was a member of the Christ Church Croquet Club and was runner up in its tournament a few years ago. She was at one time an A grade member of the Christ Church Tennis Club.

Mrs. Ireland was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wallington Coates, and was born at Stepney, S.A. on November 17th, 1884. (corrected the newspaper date) Soon afterwards the family moved to Queensland, where they remained for a number of years.

When Mrs. Ireland came to Mount Gambier to visit her sister, Mrs. Harry Steer, she was invited by the late Rev. F. W. Matchoss, to sing solos at the Lutheran Church. There she met her husband, Mr. Ernest Leslie Ireland, to whom she was married at Christ Church, Mount Gambier, on October 21st, 1907.

She was a soprano and sang at a number of concerts and in the Christ Church choir for some years. She was a member of Christ Church and the Christ Church Mothers' Union.

Their children are Mr. Cyril Wallington Ireland, James Street; Mrs Jean Caroline Kilsby, Belmont, Geelong; Mrs. Estelle Marjory Barrows, Mount Gambier; and Mrs. Crissie Eona May Stolz, Clapham, S.A. A son Leslie Keith Ireland is deceased.

Archdeacon E. A. Codd conducted the service at her graveside at the Mount Gambier Cemetery on August 22. Funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr. Ern James.