Mr, Don Gillespie. My great Grandfather. Death 1933

Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative  Thu 20 Apr 1933 

Mr, Don Gillespie
Mr Don Gillespie, a well-known Kandos business man, who has been ailing for some time, died in the Rylstone District Hospital on Sunday, and was buried in the Rylstone
cemetery. Deceased leaves a wife and one son, Don, to mourn. 

Mr Gillespie was one of the pioneers of Kandos, coming here when the Kandos cement works were in their first constructional stage. With Mr Freestone, the consulting engineer, he
came from Scotland and worked on the aerial ropeway. 

Shortly after this was finished he started in business in Mudgee as a cordial maker, and eventually drifted back to Kandos, where he remained until his death. His son is well known in the western district as an exponent of football, and has played with the Kandos team for several years. 

Two other members of the family, both daughters, died about 6 years ago.
"Don," as he was known to every-body, was very well liked and well respected by all who knew him.


Every thing about "aerial ropeway's in Kandos" link to "Kandos and Rylstone History"

Link to index

Leathem Gillespie in WW1 times.

My Great Grandfather Donald Gillespie immigrated in 1911 from kirkcaldy Scotland via London, with his wife Margaret Gillespie and daughter Margaret C Gillespie.

Wally Leathem Married daughter Margaret and she had my father John Wallace, she died soon after, and all connection with Gillespie’s gone, until I found this which tells me that My Grandfather Wally met Donald at war maybe? 

In any case Donald Gillespie was also fighting the good fight as Wally and the Leathem’s would say back then, sad to think they fell apart, being gassed in the war can’t be good for any one, but it seems he kept on keeping on until he went. 

I will find his war records etc, but we have no Gillespie memorabilia not even a photo of my Grandmother Margaret.

I will have to find out what happened to Margret My Great grandmother Donald's wife, as she seamed to be left behind alone, and if Margret was her only child she was taken a year later.

How very sad….

So that’s about it and if anyone knows anything please let me know Nancy.

The Register Adelaide

9 Jan 1928.

Mr D. Gillespie, who died st Quornon January 3, will be missed by golf enthusiasts around Adelaide.

He migrated from Scotland in 1911, when war was declared he enlisted with the Australian Expeditionary Forces.

He was invalided as result of being gassed.

On His return to Australia Mr. Gillespie was employed as caretaker of the Seaton Park Golf Links -which position he held until his health failed. : He then went to Oodnadatta, and 12 months ago. Removed to Quorn. A widow survives him.

The Sydney Morning Herald

29 Dec 1930

LEATHEM-

In loving memory of my dear wife and my dear mother, Margaret Catherine, who passed away December 28, 1929.

God's greatest gift-remembrance.

Inserted by her loving husband, Wally, and son, John.