Harry Townsend 1916
Harry Francis Townsend worked in Tenindewa on the wheat bins and used to ride a horse from Tenindewa to Greenough to spend time with his eventual wife, Christina Mary Kember. This is the “Chris Kember” referred to in the story about Elisabeth Shaw fainting during the hurricane in 1915. It’s a very brief story, but it’s quite a ride from Tenindewa to Greenough which shows how determined he was to foster the relationship. They married in 1919.
Photo above is of Christina “Chris” Mary Kember, aged about 16 years.
Information and photos shared by John Townsend.
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My grandparents, Harry Townsend passed away circa 1961 and my dear ‘Nornie’….Christina left this world on August 5th 1998.
Christina helped raise two of her granddaughter myself being one of them.
Christine Mary (Kember) widow of Harry Townsend went on to remarry an old flame from Moonyanooka….John Prendergast, John had never married as Christina was the love of his life and it was her or nobody to be his wife. He treated her so wonderfully and they travelled and enjoyed a number of years together on his family farm in Moonyanooka then upon returning they moved to Crowther Street Geraldton.
Christina eventually moved back to Perth to live out her most final years with one of her daughters.
**Upon retiring **