Born 27 June 1908 in Geraldton, Western Australia [P40]
Daughter of Charles Frederick THOMAS and Winifred BROWNRIGG [P40]
Resided with her parents on Kadathinni Farm in Three Springs [P40]
Student at the Dominican Convent School in Three Springs [98] and later at the Dominican Ladies College in Dongara [9: 30-Sep-1921]
Herself and sister Billy attended the Children's Fancy Dress Ball in Three Springs on 24 October 1917 as "The Magpies" [10: 2-Nov-1917]
Won the Children's Highland Fling Competition at the Red Cross Gala Day in Three Springs on Thursday 23 May 1918 [10: 31-May-1918]
Acted in the play "Red Riding Hood" at the Dominican Convent School's Annual Concert in TS on 20 November 1918 [10: 29-Nov-1918]
Won 1st prize for a Drawing of Australian Wildflowers at the Three Springs Day held on Thursday 25 September 1919 [10: 3-Oct-1919]
Received a Distinction in Elementary Division School Examinations at the Dominican Ladies College in Dongara in 1921 [9: 30-Sep-1921]
Member of the Three Springs Roman Catholic Church Committee in 1925 [124]
She was among the 400 people who attended the Matrons and Benedicts Ball held in Three Springs on 31 August 1928 [4: 8-Sep-1928]
Attended the Three Springs Agricultural Society's First Annual Show and Show Ball on Thursday 20 September 1928 [4: 29-Sep-1928]
Foundation Treasurer of the Three Springs branch of the Country Women's Association in 1929 [206]
Proved a good mechanic and got blackened in assisting repair her father's car on their return from Geraldton in Feb 1929 [4: 9-Feb-1929]
After a holiday in Perth herself and her sister Nora returned to Three Springs on Monday 18 March 1929 [4: 30-Mar-1929]
Following the Arrino Race Club's race meeting attended the evening Ball in the Arrino Hall on Thursday 4 April 1929 [4: 13-Apr-1929]
Attended the Ball after the Three Springs Races on Thursday 11 April 1929 in a blue satin bodice and net frilled skirt [4: 20-Apr-1929]
Attended the Anglican Church's Fancy Dress Ball held in Three Springs on Thursday 27 June 1929 as a "Garden" [4: 6-Jul-1929]
Attended the Three Springs Football Club's Welcome Home Social for two newly wedded couples on 1 November 1929 [4: 9-Nov-1929]
In a dress of lavender georgette attended the Three Springs Agricultural Society's Annual Ball on 25 September 1930 [4: 11-Oct-1930]
Attended the Carnamah Grand Ball at the Carnamah Town Hall on Thursday 28 July 1932 in a rose frock [5: 5-Aug-1932]
Attended the Show Ball following the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 15 September 1932 in a gown of apricot satin [5: 23-Sep-1932]
Attended the Farewell Evening tendered to local pioneer Mrs Blanche M. KOCH in Three Springs on 3 December 1932 [4: 10-Dec-1932]
Member of the Younger Set of the Three Springs Country Women's Association - was Vice President in 1933 [5: 2-Jun-1933]
Attended the House Party held at the home of Mr and Mrs E. SHEAHAN in Three Springs on Thursday 24 August 1933 [5: 25-Aug-1933]
Attended the R.S.L. Ball held at the Three Springs Hall on Friday 1 September 1933 in a dress of pink taffeta [5: 8-Sep-1933]
On Saturday 2 September 1933 she attended the Carnamah Football Club's Monster Ball held at the Carnamah Hall [5: 8-Sep-1933]
She attended the Ball wearing a dress of "coral pink georgette, a coatee trimmed with cream fur adding a finishing touch" [5]
Won 1st prize for Three Porkers exhibited in the Swine section of the Three Springs Agricultural Show in 1933 [5: 29-Sep-1933]
Attended the Roman Catholic Church's Ball in Carnamah on Saturday 26 May 1934 in a salmon pink marocain dress [5: 1-Jun-1934]
Travelled to Perth by car with Mrs Frances BARNHART and Mrs Elsie SAGGERS to attend the Royal Show in 1934 [5: 5-Oct-1934]
Married "Mick" Clifford Felix COFFEY on 25 October 1934 in Perth [P40]
Following their honeymoon they returned to Three Springs and were tendered a Welcome Home on 21 November 1934 [5: 23-Nov-1934]
They received a cheque from the residents of the district at the function, held at the local hall and attended by 120 people [5]
Resided with her husband in Three Springs, where he worked as a Labourer and later Tobacconist, until at least 1965 [19] [88]
Won 1st prize for a Collection of Fancy Work at the Three Springs Agricultural Show held on 19 September 1935 [5: 27-Sep-1935]
Member of the Three Springs Golf Club in 1936 and 1937 [5: 1-May-1936, 2-Jul-1937]
Herself, her husband and her father were on their way to Perth on 6 May 1936 when the steering on the car went out of control [88]
Her husband was driving and when the steering went at about 11:30 a.m. the car left the road and collided head on into a tree [88]
Fortunately none of them were injured, although her father was suffering heart trouble; the car contained licence plate TS-11 [88]
The accident, which occurred near Winchester, was said to have been caused from a radius rod dropping off the car [5: 8-May-1936]
Won a crystal set at the North Midlands District Hospital Appeal's Grand Ball held in Three Springs on 21 May 1936 [5: 29-May-1936]
Attended the Valedictory Social for Miss Rachel M. A. WALLACE in Three Springs on Tuesday 15 December 1936 [5: 24-Dec-1936]
Member of the committee that organised the very successful Annual Catholic Ball in Three Springs on 3 June 1937 [5: 11-Jun-1937]
Helped arrange the Valedictory for Minnie WATSON & Arthur MORTIMER held in Three Springs on 15 February 1938 [4: 19-Feb-1938]
Herself and her husband ran a drapery shop in Three Springs in the 1940s and 1950s [P40]
On leaving Three Springs in the 1970s shifted to Glengarrif Drive in the Perth suburb of Floreat [P40]
Resided in Floreat until 1995 when she shifted to the Saint Louis retirement estate in the Perth suburb of Claremont [P40]
Died 17 October 1995; buried Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA (Lawn, J, 552) [2]
"Rene" Irene Agnes THOMAS was a supplier of music at the following local functions:
Part of the orchestra that provided the music at the Ball that followed the Three Springs Races on 11 April 1929 [4: 20-Apr-1929]
Along with L. S. LLOYD supplied the music at the Popular Girl Dance at the Arrino Hall on Thursday 21 July 1932 [5: 29-Jul-1932]
Played the piano at the Grand Show Ball following the Three Springs Agricultural Show on Thursday 22 September 1932 [5: 7-Oct-1932]
Played the piano at the evening dance in the Three Springs Hall after the Arrino R.S.L. Sports Day on 5 November 1932 [5: 18-Nov-1932]
Led the orchestra which supplied the music at the Hospital Appeal Ball in Three Springs on Thursday 8 June 1933 [5: 16-Jun-1933]
Supplier of music at the Anglican Church Ball at the Three Springs Hall during the third week of July 1933 [5: 28-Jul-1933]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Football Club's Monster Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 2 September 1933 [5: 8-Sep-1933]
Assisted the Bing Boys Orchestra with the music at the Three Springs Golf Club's Annual Ball on 12 October 1933 [5: 20-Oct-1933]
"Miss Thomas' Orchestra" performed at the Fire Brigade Ball held in Three Springs on Tuesday 21 November 1933 [5: 17-Nov-1933]
Supplier of music at the Carnamah Tennis Club's Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 9 December 1933 [5: 15-Dec-1933]
One of four suppliers of music at the Church of England's New Year's Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 30 December 1933 [5: 5-Jan-1934]
Played the piano at the Dance conducted by the Carnamah Toc H at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 24 February 1934 [5: 2-Mar-1934]
"Miss Thomas's Band" supplied the music at the Three Springs Tennis Club's Dance in Three Springs on 1 March 1933 [5: 9-Mar-1934]
Along with her orchestra supplied the music at the Saint Patrick Day Dance at the Three Springs Hall on 17 March 1934 [5: 23-Mar-1934]
Assisted with the supplying of music at the Farewell to Miss Gladys DIXON at the Carnamah Hall on 22 March 1934 [5: 30-Mar-1934]
Part of the five piece orchestra that performed at the Parkinson Tennis Club's Dance in Carnamah on 14 April 1934 [5: 13-Apr-1934]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Golf Club's Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 21 April 1934 [5: 27-Apr-1934]
"Miss Thomas's orchestra" dispensed the music at the Arrino Tennis Club Dance at the Arrino Hall on 26 April 1934 [5: 4-May-1934]
Her orchestra that played in Three Springs and Arrino included Franz H. ARNDT and Clifford F. COFFEY [5: 1-Jun-1934]
Assisted with the music at the Dance in aid of Mrs KNAPP and family at the Three Springs Hall on Friday 4 May 1934 [5: 11-May-1934]
Part of the orchestra that performed at the Carnamah Football Club's Grand Opening Ball in Carnamah on 12 May 1934 [5: 18-May-1934]
Supplier of music at the C.W.A. Euchre Party and Dance held at the Arrino Hall on Tuesday 15 May 1934 [5: 18-May-1934]
Her orchestra supplied the music at Matron COFFEY's Farewell at the Three Springs Hall on Thursday 24 May 1934 [5: 25-May-1934]
Dispenser of music at the Roman Catholic Church's Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 26 May 1934 [5: 1-Jun-1934]
Provider of music at the social evening tendered in Three Springs to Gladys BASTIAN on Thursday 24 May 1934 [5: 1-Jun-1934]
Her orchestra provided the dance music at the Three Springs Hall after the MCHARG-BASTIAN wedding on 5 June 1934 [5: 8-Jun-1934]
Along with her orchestra supplied the music at the Arrino Hall Committee's Dance in Arrino on Saturday 16 June 1934 [5: 22-Jun-1934]
Excellent music was supplied by her orchestra at the Three Springs Anglican Church's Annual Ball on 21 June 1934 [5: 29-Jun-1934]
Supplier of music at the Dance held in Carnamah on Saturday 30 June 1934, held to raise funds for Church organ repairs [5: 6-Jul-1934]
Herself and her orchestra provided the music at the Bachelor's Dance held in Three Springs on Monday 2 July 1934 [5: 6-Jul-1934]
"Miss Thomas's Orchestra" was engaged for the Arrino Hall Fund Dance at the Arrino Hall on Thursday 5 July 1934 [5: 13-Jul-1934]
Supplier of music at the Inering School Dance at the Carnamah Hall on the evening of Saturday 21 July 1934 [5: 27-Jul-1934]
Her orchestra supplied the music at the Arrino Hall Committee's Dance at the Arrino Hall on Thursday 16 August 1934 [5: 24-Aug-1934]
Supplied the music at the Dominican Convent's Children's Concert in Three Springs on Friday 24 August 1934 [5: 31-Aug-1934]
Mrs "Rene" Irene Agnes COFFEY was a supplier of music at the following local functions:
"Coffey's Orchestra" provided the music at the C.W.A. Ball held in Three Springs on Thursday 22 November 1934 [5: 23-Nov-1934]
The orchestra consisted of her herself on the piano, her husband on the drums and Frank ARNDT on the violin [5: 23-Nov-1934]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Roman Catholic Church's Dance in Carnamah on Saturday 8 December 1934 [5: 14-Dec-1934]
Supplier of music at the Valedictory to Jack HODKKISS and the BICKELL family in Three Springs on 21 January 1935 [5: 25-Jan-1935]
Played the piano at the North Midlands District Hospital Ball at the Three Springs Hall on Easter Monday 22 April 1935 [5: 26-Apr-1935]
Part of Coffey's Orchestra which supplied the music at the Arrino Tennis Club's Annual Ball on Tuesday 25 June 1935 [5: 28-Jun-1935]
Supplier of music at the Carnamah Football Club's Opening Dance at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 29 June 1935 [5: 5-Jul-1935]
Played the piano at the Three Springs Agricultural Society's Ball at the Three Springs Hall on Thursday 4 July 1935 [5: 12-Jul-1935]
Pianist of Coffey's Orchestra which played at the Three Springs Football Club's Dance held on Thursday 18 July 1935 [5: 26-Jul-1935]
Coffey's Orchstra supplied the music at the 3rd Birthday Arrino C.W.A. Ball held at the Arrino Hall on 26 July 1935 [5: 2-Aug-1935]
Herself and her husband provided the music for dancing at a Dance held at the Arrino Hall on Thursday 1 August 1935 [5: 9-Aug-1935]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Golf Club's Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 3 August 1935 [5: 9-Aug-1935]
Coffey's Orchestra supplied the music for the Three Springs Convent School's Annual Concert on 18 August 1935 [5: 9-Aug-1935]
Her orchestra supplied the music at the Concert in aid of the Dominican Nuns in Three Springs on 15 August 1935 [5: 23-Aug-1935]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Show Ball on Thursday 12 September 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Played the piano at the Three Springs Golf Club's Annual Ball at the Three Springs Hall on Wednesday 2 October 1935 [5: 4-Oct-1935]
Played the xylophone at the Coorow Rifle Club's Grand Ball held at the Coorow Hall on Saturday 26 October 1935 [5: 1-Nov-1935]
Herself and Frank ARNDT supplied the music at the Anglican Church Dance held at the Arrino Hall on 1 November 1935 [5: 8-Nov-1935]
Coffey's Orchestra provided the music for dancing at the Aerodrome Dance in Arrino on Thursday 7 November 1935 [5: 22-Nov-1935]
She was the sole provider of music at the C.W.A. evening held in Arrino on Tuesday 12 November 1935 [5: 22-Nov-1935]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Girls Club's Masquerade Ball at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 7 December 1935 [5: 13-Dec-1935]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Anglican Church's New Year's Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 31 December 1935 [5: 3-Jan-1936]
Herself and Frank ARNDT supplied the music at the Three Springs Tennis Club's Flannel Dance on 16 January 1936 [5: 24-Jan-1936]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Girls Club's Third Leap Year Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on 29 February 1936 [5: 6-Mar-1936]
Played the piano at the North Midlands District Hospital's Annual Ball in Three Springs on Easter Monday 13 April 1936 [5: 17-Apr-1936]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Golf Club's Opening Season Dance held in Carnamah on Saturday 2 May 1936 [5: 8-May-1936]
Played the xylophone at the Carnamah Football Club's Opening Season Dance at the Carnamah Hall on 30 May 1936 [5: 5-Jun-1936]
Her orchestra, with herself on the piano, supplied the music at the Anglican Church Ball in Three Springs on 25 June 1936 [5: 3-Jul-1936]
Coffey's Orchestra played "popular music for dancing" at the Arrino Tennis Club's Annual Ball on Thursday 30 July 1936 [5: 7-Aug-1936]
Assisted with the music at the Annual Concert of the Dominican Convent School in Three Springs on 21 August 1936 [5: 28-Aug-1936]
Played the piano at the Three Springs Golf Club's Annual Ball at the Hall in Three Springs on Thursday 1 October 1936 [5: 9-Oct-1936]
Supplier of music at the Anglican Church's Children's Fancy Dress Ball in Three Springs on Friday 27 November 1936 [5: 4-Dec-1936]
Played the xylophone at the Coorow Rifle Club's Annual Ball at the Coorow Hall on Saturday evening 28 November 1936 [5: 4-Dec-1936]
Played the piano at the Surprise Afternoon Social for Rachel M. A. WALLACE in Three Springs on 10 December 1936 [5: 24-Dec-1936]
Played the piano at the Three Springs Rifle Club's First Annual Ball at the Hall in Three Springs on 12 December 1936 [5: 24-Dec-1936]
Provider of music at the Valedictory Social for Miss Rachel M. A. WALLACE in Three Springs on 15 December 1936 [5: 24-Dec-1936]
Played the piano at the Carnamah Anglican Church's New Year's Eve Ball at the Carnamah Hall on 31 December 1936 [5: 8-Jan-1937]
Played the piano at the Social Evening for local newlyweds Richard H. S. & Rachel M. A. JAMES on 5 January 1937 [5: 8-Jan-1937]
Played the piano at the Three Springs Tennis Club's Flannel Dance in Three Springs on Saturday 6 February 1937 [5: 12-Feb-1937]
Coffey's Orchestra provided popular music for the Saint Patrick's Day Ball in Three Springs on 17 March 1937 [5: 19-Mar-1937]
Played the piano at the Annual Ball of the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs on Monday 29 March 1937 [5: 2-Apr-1937]
Played the piano at the Coronation Ball in Three Springs following the Coronation of King George VI in May 1937 [5: 14-May-1937]
As part of the "Three Springs Orchestra" played the piano at the Anglican Church's Annual Ball on 17 June 1937 [5: 25-Jun-1937]
Coffey's Orchestra were engaged to provide the music at the Arrino Football Club's Annual Ball on 29 July 1937 [5: 2-Jul-1937]
Played the xylophone at the Coorow Rifle Club's Presentation Ball at the Coorow Hall on Saturday evening 10 July 1937 [5: 16-Jul-1937]
Coffey's Orchestra supplied the music at the farewell for the CARMODY family in Three Springs on 12 July 1937 [5: 16-Jul-1937]
Played the piano at the Grand Ball of the North Midlands Popular Girl Competition in Three Springs on 31 August 1937 [5: 3-Sep-1937]
Supplier of music at the Farewell for Barney & Frances BARNHART at the Hall in Three Springs on 3 February 1938 [4: 12-Feb-1938]
Played the piano at the Farewell for EK, Les & Dorine BYRNE and Merv WILLIAMS in Three Springs on 16 June 1938 [4: 25-Jun-1938]
Supplier of music at the Farewell Dance for Christopher & Mildred THOMAS in Three Springs on 11 September 1944 [4: 16-Sep-1944]
Played the organ at the wedding of John J. McCAGH and Hannah E. TURNER in Three Springs on 30 April 1946 [4: 18-May-1946]
Played the piano at the Kitchen Tea tendered to Adelaide M. BARRETT in Three Springs on Thursday 5 March 1953 [4: 14-Mar-1953]
Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Irene Agnes Thomas / Coffey' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 19 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/irene-agnes-thomas [reference list] |
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