The passing of Audrey Norma Mavin ends a family link to Port Macquarie’s earliest settlement days.
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Mrs Mavin passed away on January 6, 2018. She was aged 99 years.
Her family was very much connected to the history of Port Macquarie.
Her great grandfather William Wilson arrived in Port Macquarie in 1823 to oversee the convicts. He and his wife, Maria DeJesus DeCosta-Reis, had been married in Lisbon, Portugal in 1810.
He took up the position of superintendent overseeing the convict settlement.
William Wilson was a member of the Royal Engineers of the British Army 1797 to 1820. He was responsible for surveying the river systems in this area and named the Wilson and Maria Rivers. He also had a hand in implementing the building of the historic Anglican Church overlooking the town.
One of the couple’s sons, Henry Lewis Wilson married Elizabeth Reed in St Mary LeStrand Westminster, London, England on January 23, 1803. They arrived in Australia on the ship Guildford on July 15, 1822. They settled in Port Macquarie.
The couple had 10 children, one of whom Jane (born 1847) married Swedish seaman Ocean Carl Chelman on March 25, 1868 at Port Macquarie. This union produced a number of children including Christiana (Christine) Chelman born in 1881 in Port Macquarie. She married Joseph Dallas Rowsell in 1900 in the Church of England historic church.
One of their 14 children, Audrey Norma Rowsell was born in 1918 in Port Macquarie. She married John Charles Mavin in 1937. John was living in Telegraph Point at that time. They had eight children.
Jack, as he was affectionately known, passed away in 1974, aged 64 years.
Audrey was a loving grandmother to 29 grandchildren, 47 great grandchildren and 18 great, great grandchildren.
She was very aware of the family and connections right up until her death on January 6.
She was predeceased by two of her sons, Ralph of Kempsey and Colin who was a well known panelbeater and mechanic in Port Macquarie. Ralph had four children – Colin left two sons, Danny and Robert who are well known in Port Macquarie.
Of her surviving children, Errol lives in Kempsey; Norma lives in South West Rocks surrounded by her family; Helen lives in Manning Point with her husband Phil and is raising two grandchildren; Barbara lives in Duralong near Wyong with her family; Lyn, the youngest daughter is living at South West Rocks and Irene married Steve and lives in Kempsey with her family.
A memorial service was held on January 15. She will be sadly missed by all her family.
- Information supplied by Maureen Mavin, Colin’s widow.