Some family history

Roseby Park Aboriginal Mission.

The following is information regarding members of the Moore family of the Shoalhaven. It contains historical information compiled from newspapers of the day and other archival records.

1. Death of Edward Moore (1862 - 1899)

On 26 January Edward Moore was run over by a train on the railway line between Berry and
Toolijoola.

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2. Death of Mary Moore (1885-1912)

Accounts of the death of Mary Moore nee Dixon at Roseby Park Aboriginal Station, Greenwell Point, on 3 March 1912 were reported in three newspapers at the time, due to a coronial inquiry being carried out, likely as a result of her young age and the lack of a nurse or doctor present at the time of death. Mary Moore was buried at Jerribaley cemetery, in modern-day Shoalhaven Heads. She was variously stated to be 27 or 29 years of age at the time of her death, having been born at Coolangatta in 1885 (1883).

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#1 - Shoalhaven Telegraph, Nowra, Wednesday, 6 March 1912.

Death at Greenwell Point

Coronial Inquiry

A half-caste woman, living at Roseby Park, died on Sunday last. On Monday Mr District Coroner Watson held an inquest, when the following evidence was taken: -

William Moore deposed: I am a laborer, and reside at Roseby Park; I have seen the body the subject of this inquiry; it is that of my wife; I was married about 7 or 8 years; my wife has six children; she gave birth to a male child yesterday morning, about 7 or half- past 7; I was in the house at the time; my wife's mother, Mrs Amatto, was the nurse; the deceased died about half past 9 in the morning; I did not know that she was ill before she died; no doctor had been attending her; she was washing on Saturday last and then appeared to be well, and made no complaints; she had never complained to me of ill- health; she was in the Berry Hospital about 18 months since suffering from some chest complaint; she had some trouble at a confinement about 18 months ago, but she got better without medical attendance; the deceased was born at Coolangatta, and was 27 years of age; she was a temperate woman; she never drank.

Ellen Amatto deposed : I am a widow, and reside at Roseby Park; I have seen the body the subject of this inquiry, and identify it as that of my daughter, Mary Moore; she was married 7 or 8 years ago to William Moore, a half-caste Aborigine, at Roseby Park; she has had six children; I was present at the birth of the last child before this one; she had some trouble; she got all right without medical attendance; she was ill for a while after confinement; on Sunday morning last I went to the house of the deceased, about 6 o'clock; she was then ill; she was very bad, and complained of pains in her left side, about the heart; the baby was born soon after I arrived; the deceased was lying on the floor, and the clothing was much stained with blood; it soaked right through a blanket on to the floor; immediately the child was born I put the deceased on the bed; I then went away; I have had no experience in nursing.

Evidence was also given by Lilian Amatto, residing at Roseby Park, and Emily Elizabeth Wheeler, missionary.

Thomas Ewing deposed : I am a legally qualified medical practitioner, and reside in Nowra; I have seen the body the subject of this inquiry; I made an examination of it; 'the body was well nourished, and apparently that of a healthy woman; I found that the deceased had given birth to a child, and found the umbilical cord protruding from the vulva; I could not feel the placenta in the vagina; I then made a post-mortem examination of the abdomen and its contents; all the abdominal vixera were in a healthy condition, but markedly bloodless; the uterus was enlarged, reaching to the umbilicus; on opening the uterus I found the placenta adherent almost completely to the anterior wall of the uterus, and I had considerable difficulty in freeing it; from the results of the post-mortem examination, in conjunction with the evidence I have heard, I am of the opinion that deceased died from post-partum hemorrhage, due to the adherent placenta; in such a case the services of a trained obstetric nurse, or a medical man, would be necessary to remove 'the placenta and control the hemorrhage; I am greatly surprised to find that such an institution as the Aborigines station is without the services of a qualified midwifery nurse. Such a nurse was absolutely necessary in the present case to control the hemorrhage until the arrival of a medical man.

The Coroner found that the deceased died from natural causes, to wit, post partum hemorrhage.

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#2 - The Nowra Leader, Friday, 8 March 1912.

Death of an Aborigine

Roseby Park Station

Dr. Ewing Surprised

The death of a half-caste Aboriginal woman named Mary Moore, 27, wife of William Moore, at Roseby Park, aborigines' station, formed the subject of an official inquiry before the Coroner (Mr. Watson) at the station on Monday last. The deceased was confined at an early hour on Sunday morning and died some four hours afterwards.

William Moore, a labourer, husband of the deceased, stated at the inquiry that he was present in the house at the time the deceased was confined, but he did not know that she was ill before she died. No doctor had been attending her. Mrs. Amatto, mother of the deceased, was the nurse. The deceased had been washing on Saturday, and then appeared to be well and made no complaints. She had never complained to him of ill-health. She was in the Berry Hospital about 18 months ago, suffering from a chest complaint, and shortly afterwards was very ill in confinement, but she got better without medical attendance. The deceased was a temperate woman, and never drank.

Ellen Amatto, a widow, and mother of the deceased, stated that she went to the house of deceased about 6 o'clock on Sunday morning. The deceased was then very bad, and complained of pains about the heart. The deceased was confined shortly after witness arrived. Witness assisted the deceased, and her grand-mother, Lilian Amatto, also did certain things which were considered necessary. The deceased suffered considerable hemorrhage. Witness had had no experience in nursing.

Lilian Amatto, married woman, residing at Roseby Park, stated that she saw deceased shortly after her confinement on Sunday morning. She was then sitting on the floor, and, when asked how long had she been sick, replied that it "must have been after 1 o’clock when she took bad. The deceased complained of being weak, and witness and the mother of the deceased put her on the bed. Witness noticed that certain things necessary in cases of the kind had been done, but the deceased when placed on the bed complained of certain pains, and lost much blood. Witness tried to relieve the deceased. After the birth of the child she gave deceased a cup of tea, but hemorrhage continued, and deceased's lips went white. Witness tried to render other necessary assistance, but failed.

Miss Emily E. Wheeler, a missionary, lately arrived at the station, stated that she was called to the deceased about 9.30 a.m. Shortly afterwards the deceased became delirious. There was no qualified nurse there when witness went there. Witness was not a qualified nurse, but had been present at several cases of confinement. Witness did not examine the deceased, but tried her pulse, which was beating very rapidly. There was evidence of considerable hemorrhage, and deceased sighed heavily at times and threw out her arms. The deceased died about 45 minutes after witness arrived. Shortly before death, the deceased said "Goodbye to all of you, and God bless the little kiddies." Her lips became very pale shortly before death. No doctor was present.

Dr. Thomas Ewing made an examination of the body of deceased, which he found well nourished, and that apparently of a healthy woman. He noticed certain indications of recent confinement. On a more complete examination he noticed certain abnormal conditions, and was of opinion that the deceased died from post-partum hemorrhage. In such a case as that, the services of a trained obstetric nurse, or a medical man, would be necessary to regulate certain conditions and control the hemorrhage. "I am greatly surprised," the doctor added, "to find that such an institution as the Aborigines' Station is without the services of a qualified midwifery nurse. Such a nurse was absolutely necessary in the present case to control the hemorrhage until the arrival of a medical man." The Coroner recorded the following finding :— “That the said Mary Moore, at Roseby Park Aborigines' Station on the 3rd March, 1912, died from natural causes, to wit, post-partum hemorrhage."

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#3 - The Farmer and Settler, Sydney, Friday, 8 March 1912.

No nurse or doctor

A half-caste aboriginal woman named Mary Moore died at the Roseby Park aborigines' station, Nowra, N.S.W., on Sunday, a few hours after giving birth to a child, The mother and grandmother of the deceased, as well ob a .newly-arrived missionary. attended her I but no doctor or qualified nurse was present, The Coroner (Mr, Watson) held an inquiry and found in accordance with medical testimony that death was due to, hemorrhage, Dr, Ewing, In his evidence, stated that he was greatly surprised to find that such an institution as tho aborigines' station was without the services of a qualified nurse.

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#4 - The Shoalhaven News and South Coast Districts Advertiser, Saturday, 9 March 1912.

Here and There

The service at the burial of Mary Moore, a half-caste aborigine, who died at Roseby Park on Monday last, was conducted by the Rev. W. Dobbie.

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Information contained therein

* Mary Moore, 27 year old wife of William Moore. Born at Coolangatta, 1885. Died at Roseby Park, 3 March 1912, following the birth of her child, due to complications therein. She had 6 children before her death.

* William Moore - husband of the deceased. Been married 7 or 8 years to Mary Moore.

* Ellen Amatto - mother of Mary Moore. Nurse to her daughter at the time of the birth and death.

* Lilian Amatto - grandmother of deceased. Also in attendance at the time of death.

* Miss Emily E. Wheeler, missionary at Roseby Park Aborigines' Station. Called the the home prior to the death of Mary Moore.

* District Coroner Mr Watson. Presiding over the coronial inquiry. Proclaims cause of death.

* Thomas Ewing - Nowra doctor, carried out post-mortem investigation to determine cause of death.

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Last updated: 10 September 2025