Laura Frances Cravigan (1865-1944)

Obituary
MRS. LAURA FRANCIS DAY

The death occurred in Toowoomba, on May 15, after a short illness, of Mrs. Laura Prances Day (78), wife of Mr. Harry Day. She was born on Tuckombil Station, near Woodburn, in 1866. She received her primary education in Woodburn, there being no secondary schools in those days. After her marriage to Mr. Harry Day, whose parents were also among Woodburn's early settlers, Mr. and Mrs. Day went to Toowoomba to live, where Mr. Day had received an appointment on the staff of Downs' Butter Factory. The late Mrs. Day is a descendant of pioneering stock, her father and mother, the late Mr. and Mrs. William Cravigan, coming to the Richmond in 1859, Mr. Cravigan being employed on part of Kyogle Station, now known as Runnymede. After being there three years Mr. Cravigan was appointed to take charge of Tuckombil Station, near Woodburn, for Mr. Clark Irving. Later the station was sold to Mr. T. E. Lance and Mr Cravigan still remained in charge. In all, 17 years were spent on this station. The life and hardships of those days can be better imagined than described. The blacks were then numerous and for 18 months at a time Mrs. Cravigan, in the early times on Tuckombil, did not see a white woman. However, the blacks were friendly and helpful. Mrs. Cravigan, senr. (Mrs. Day's grandmother) was born at Penrith on the Nepean River on October 13, 1836. She was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Francis. Later Mr. Francis moved his family into Sydney, where he kept the Square and Compass Hotel at Blackwattle Bay. Mr. and Mrs. Cravigan were married in Sydney in 1857 and came to the Richmond in 1859. Mr. Cravigan died in Woodburn in 1911. Mrs. Cravigan lived to within a fortnight of being 94 years of age, and died at "Ellerslie," Gundurimba, the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. D. W. McPhee, on September 27, 1930. Both pioneers are buried in the South Woodburn cemetery on Tuckombil Creek, about a mile away from old Tuckombil Station. In addition to her husband, the late Mrs. Day is survived by five sisters and two brothers The sisters are: Mesdames Ada Blanch (Murwillumbah), T. Klaus (Coraki), Eva Amos (South Lismore), G. E. Donaghy (Chatsworth island), and A. A. Donaghy (Chatsworth Island). The brothers are: William (Lismore) and Charles Cravigan (Woodburn). One brother died in infancy and another brother, Rubert, aged 16 years, was accidentally drowned in Woodburn.

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