A recent theme regarding Government officials on the Gippsland History Facebook group prompted me to post about one Michael Callanan (1832-1920) who was a Government Surveyor here in Victoria from the 1860's until his retirement in 1895. In turn, writing about Michael prompted me to write here about the ties between the Callanan family and our Pilkington family.
Here is my Facebook post about Michael:
Retrieved December 2, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171049903
A Man’s World
Ned Callanan clapped his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, lad. He’s gone, God rest his soul.”
Tommy looked at the still form of his beloved father. How could this be? Papa had always been so full of life, so indestructible. Only three days ago, he had said goodbye to his family before riding out West to check on some property. He hadn’t been expected home for some days yet. No-one imagined they would not see his laughing face again.
Late as it was when the messenger had arrived, 16-year-old Tommy had set off from Ennis with the covered car* immediately. Ned told him his father had decided to come home early because he was feeling unwell. He had stopped at the Callanan’s for a break, intending to wait only long enough to give his horse a rest. Obviously ill, and with 24 miles still ahead of him so late in the day, Ned had persuaded him to stay and sent the messenger on.
And now Tommy had arrived too late. He thought of Mama, and his four younger sisters, anxiously waiting at home for news. Baby Charles, not even a year old, would never know his father. What would happen to them all now?
With a quivering lip, young Tom took a ragged breath. “Thank you, sir” he said to the older man beside him. Squaring his shoulders he thought, I’ll have to be the man of the family now. Mama is going to need me.
*covered car – a jaunting car with oiled canvas sides to protect the passengers from the weather.
Charlotte Keane’s diary – private family collection
Obituary from Clare Journal 26 March 1838, Clare Local Studies Centre.
Fifty-two years later, in 1890 young Tom's own son, my great uncle Fred Pilkington, left Ireland for Australia. Michael Callanan was by then well-established as a Government Surveyor, and would have been a good contact for a young lad newly arrived in the colony. Fred spent his first few years in Australia working with survey parties throughout Gippsland.
In 1895, Fred's brothers Dan and Alfred also arrived in Australia. Dan joined Fred surveying, but Alfred had become ill on the voyage over and stayed in Melbourne for treatment, being looked after by Michael Callanan's family.
Unfortunately, Alfred succumbed to his illness and passed away only a couple of months after arriving. With his brothers both away in the bush, the Callanan's took care of all the arrangements, and that's how my Protestant great-uncle Alfred came to be resting in peace in the Roman Catholic section of the St. Kilda Cemetery.
Over the years, for Fred and Dan, and later my grandfather Charlie, a visit down to Melbourne would often include a trip out to Essendon to visit the Callanans.
Michael's son Ernest was a dentist in Leongatha for some years, and served as an Honorary Lieutenant in the Australian Army Medical Corps during World War 1. Sons Frank and Jack settled in the Cranbourne area, where Frank represented the community as a shire councillor for many years.
Here is another picture from the family collection, of Ernie Callanan, axe in hand and looking very much a "chip off the old block".
