Born 19 September 1908 in New Norcia, Western Australia [16]
Son of Michael FITZGERALD and Johannah Catherine LANIGAN [5: 14-Jun-1935] [15]
Shifted from Moora to Carnamah in 1928 [5: 12-Mar-1937]
Farmhand in Carnamah 1928-1937 [5: 12-Mar-1937] [6] [19]
For a number of years he worked as a farmhand for Roger W. CLARK on Rosebury Row Farm in Carnamah [P9]
Attended the Plain and Fancy Dress Ball held at the Carnamah Town Hall on Thursday 8 August 1929 [4: 17-Aug-1929]
He took "an active and prominent interest in local sport" and was "a keen exponent of both cricket and football" [5: 12-Mar-1937]
Member of the Carnamah Cricket Club from 1929-30 to 1936-37 [4: 14-Dec-1929, 23-Dec-1933, 22-Dec-1934] [5: 1-Dec-1933, 20-Sep-1935, 4-Oct-1935]
Committee Member in 1933-34 and 1936-37, and Secretary in 1934-35 and 1935-36 of the Carnamah Cricket Club [5: 2-Oct-1936]
Won the consolation prize at the Bridge Evening held at the home or Mr and Mrs Roger W. CLARK on 30 July 1932 [5: 5-Aug-1932]
Boundary Umpire during the finals of the North Midlands Football Association in 1932 [5: 2-Sep-1932]
Member of the East Carnamah Cricket Club in 1932-33 [5: 28-Oct-1932]
Played for the Bachelors in a 'Benedicts verses Bachelors' cricket match in Carnamah on Sunday 18 December 1932 [5: 23-Dec-1932]
Played for the Carnamah Hotel's team "Gentleman" against the "Ruffs" team at cricket in Carnamah on 5 March 1933 [5: 10-Mar-1933]
Member of the Carnamah Football Club 1933-1936 - was Captain in 1935 and 1936[5: 9-Jun-1933, 19-Apr-1935, 31-May-1935, 29-May-1936]
Social Committee Member in 1935, and both General Committee Member and Social Committee Member in 1936 [5: 17-Apr-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Church of England's New Year Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 December 1933 [5: 5-Jan-1934]
Attended the Surprise Party tendered to Mrs Eva and Miss Joyce COWDEROY in Carnamah on Friday 5 January 1934 [5: 12-Jan-1934]
One of the speakers at the Farewell Evening tendered to William E. CLARK in Carnamah on Wednesday 30 January 1935 [5: 1-Feb-1935]
Played for the victorious latter in the Married verses Single men's cricket match in Carnamah on Sunday 3 February 1935 [5: 8-Feb-1935]
Attended the Surprise Party given to John and Doris MCLEAN at their home in Carnamah on Wednesday 3 April 1935 [5: 5-Apr-1935]
Following his father's death an obituary appeared for him in Carnamah's local newspaper, The North Midland Times [5: 14-Jun-1935]
Umpired a non-association football match between country and town residents in Carnamah on Sunday 30 June 1935 [5: 5-Jul-1935]
Played for the North Midlands Football Association in a match against the Perenjori-Morawa Association on 28 July 1935 [5: 2-Aug-1935]
Attended the Annual General Meeting of the Carnamah Cricket Club on Monday evening 23 September 1935 [5: 4-Oct-1935]
Attended the Three Springs Football Club's Victory Ball held in Three Springs on Tuesday 24 September 1935 [5: 27-Sep-1935]
Following the creation of two teams within the Carnamah Cricket Club he played for "Carnamah Reds" in 1935-36 [5: 11-Oct-1935]
Elected Captain of the Carnamah Reds cricket team for the 1935-36 season at their first match 13 October 1935 [5: 18-Oct-1935]
Delegate for the Carnamah Cricket Club at meetings of the Carnamah District Cricket Association in 1935-36 [5: 8-Nov-1935]
Represented the Carnamah District Cricket Association in a match against the North Midlands on 1 December 1935 [5: 22 & 29-Nov-1935]
Attended the funeral of Carnamah agent William B. SHERIDAN at the Winchester Cemetery on 27 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
On 9 February 1936 was travelling back to Carnamah from cricket on the back of a truck when a front tyre of the truck came off [88]
At 6:30 p.m. the truck swung off the road and himself and several other players on the back of the truck were thrown off [88]
He was the only one injured and was treated at the Carnamah Private Hospital for slight concussion and abrasions to his elbow [5]
After spending the night under observation at the Hospital he was permitted to leave for Country Week Cricket [5: 14-Feb-1936]
Played for the Carnamah District Cricket Association at Country Week Cricket in Perth during February 1936 [5: 14-Feb-1936]
Played for victorious Carnamah in their cricket match against "The Rest" in Coorow on Sunday 22 March 1936 [5: 27-Mar-1936]
Spoke on behalf of his sister Josie at her 21st birthday at the Commercial Hotel in Three Springs on 20 March 1936 [5: 27-Mar-1936]
Gave a speech following the presentation of the Cricket Association Shield to the Carnamah Blues on 4 April 1936 [5: 10-Apr-1936]
Came 3rd in the 100 yards Sheffield Handicap at the Easter Sports at Centenary Park in Carnamah on 13 April 1936 [5: 17-Apr-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Repertory Club's Social Evening & Play Presentation at the Carnamah Hall on 17 June 1936 [5: 19-Jun-1936]
Attended the Plain & Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 25 July 1936 dressed as Dad of the Rud Family [5]
with Roger F. W. CLARK as Mum, George H. CLARK as Sarah, Hubert A. LEE as Dave and Edgar J. CLARK as Joe [5]
The five of them were awarded the prize for the Most Humorous in attendance in fancy dress [5: 31-Jul-1936]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Premiership Dinner at the Carnamah Hotel on Sunday 6 September 1936 [5: 11-Sep-1936]
Captained the Carnamah Football Club to a win against the Moora Football Club in Moora on Sunday 20 September 1936 [5: 25-Sep-1936]
Gave evidence at a meeting of the North Midlands Football Association's Disputes Board on Monday 21 September 1936 [5: 25-Sep-1936]
The Board ruled Arrino forfeited the Grand Final to Carnamah by playing a disqualified player and refusing to finish the match [5]
Accepted the Hunt Cup on behalf of the Carnamah Football Club at their Presentation Ball on 26 September 1936 [5: 2-Oct-1936]
Played for the Carnamah Cricket Club in their victorious special match against the "Bulk Handlers" on 11 October 1936 [5: 16-Oct-1936]
Played for the North Midlands Cricket Association in their victory against the Morawa Association on 10 January 1937 [5: 15-Jan-1937]
Himself and his sister Josie motored from Carnamah to Perth with Ivan JOHNSON on Monday 8 February 1937 [5: 12-Feb-1937]
Represented the North Midlands at Country Week Cricket in Perth during the second week of February 1937 [5: 12-Feb-1937]
Upon assembling for their first match was unanimously elected Captain of the North Midlands team at Country Week [5: 12-Mar-1937]
He was "a popular figure in the sporting arena, both for his good sportsmanship and congenial nature" [5: 12-Mar-1937]
Came from a family who produced the best sports in WA "who had never left anything unturned in regard to sport" [5: 12-Mar-1937]
Prior to leaving the district he was tendered a Farewell Social & Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 6 March 1937 [5: 5-Mar-1937]
His farewell was open invitation with admission being a collection for him taken at the door and for ladies to bring refreshments [5]
Local farmer Charles ROBERTSON was Master of Ceremonies and Mrs Millie G. LEITHHEAD played the piano for dancing [5]
Charles A. METTAM of the Carnamah Cricket Club spoke of his prowess at cricket and their sadness at him leaving Carnamah [5]
George A. BRADSHAW of the Carnamah Football Club expressed regret at the loss of their captain and a stalwart member [5]
"He considered that the guest of honour should be an object to the young men of the district who had sporting aspirations" [5]
In responding he said the evening was the biggest surprise of his life and that he was sorry to be leaving the district and friends [5]
He was presented with a cheque from those present which was followed by the singing of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow [5]
Left Carnamah on Tuesday 9 March 1937 for Perth and then a short time later shifted to Manjimup [5: 12-Mar-1937]
Married "Mollie" Mary Josephine GALLAHER in New Norcia on Thursday 1 April 1937 [5: 2-Apr-1937]
Resided in the Perth suburb of Cannington prior to enlisting in the Australian Army on 3 July 1942 [16]
Gunner WX25820 in the Australian Army's 2/3 Australian A A Regiment S/L Battery during the Second World War [16]
Discharged from the Australian Army on 12 February 1946 [16]
Resided of late in the Perth suburb of Mount Helena [2]
Died 30 June 1981; buried at the Guildford Cemetery in the Perth suburb of Guildford (Roman Catholic, C, 152) [2]
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 14 June 1935:
Obituary - The Late Mr. M. Fitzgerald
"The death occurred at New Norcia on Monday, June 3, when Mr. M. Fitzgerald, an old and respected resident, passed away at his home. Deceased, who had always enjoyed good health and had been most active, collapsed on Sunday evening about 8 p.m. and without regaining consciousness passed away at 3 a.m. next morning. The late Mr. Fitzgerald was born at New Norcia 59 years ago and had, with the exception of two years absence at the Great War, lived all his life at this centre. He enlisted in the 28th Battalion and after two years service was transferred home suffering from trench fever. Deceased was a keen footballer and a prominent cricketer, always taking an active interest in these sports, if in latter years it was only to umpire. The burial took place at the New Norcia Cemetery on Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, when a representative gathering of about 150 people from Chittering, Gingin, Namban and surrounding districts were present to pay their last respects to an old friend. Rev. Father Alcalda officiated at the graveside. The pall-bearers represented the Lanigan family. Deceased leaves a widow, and a family of four boys, Tom, Andy, Paddy, Jack and two girls, Josie and Johanna."
Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Andrew Gerald Fitzgerald' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 19 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/andrew-gerald-fitzgerald [reference list] |
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