Colin Judkins
Hi all,
A few weeks ago I returned to Suggan Buggan in the remote far east of Victoria. I was on a mission to photograph a lone gravesite (if I could find it) of Tom Dillon. Very few know of its existence, after reading this hopefully many more will have learnt of Tom and the region.
Tom was a ticket of leave convict (this allowed a prisoner to start to build a new life before his or her sentence had ended). He was assigned to Edward O’Rourke and when he along with his family made their way into the remote hills miles from anywhere and anyone in 1850s to start a new life, he went with them.
Right from the start of his employment it was obvious to all that he wanted to make a go of this opportunity for a new life. He was keen, a hard worker and over the years endeared himself to all he came in contact with.
In the early days access to the region was only from the north, through the Monaro district in NSW. The first run in the area was taken up by William Woodhouse in 1843, he then passed it on to Benjamin Boyd in 1845. He sold it to Edward O’Rourke (one of five Irish brothers who came to Australia in 1844) who a short time later arrived in the area with his young family in 1858 and of course Tom Dillon.
They then set about establishing themselves by building the first permanent home out of local Cypress Pine logs. Around 1860 he built a school house which still stands today. A two room building!! It had a seperate area for a tutor who had been hired by the family to sleep and the slightly larger room to teach some of their “13 children”. (Some records say 10, others 13) still a heap.
Whether all of those children were there own, we are not 100% sure. During early white settlement in far east Gippsland (and in most of Australia) there were many confrontations/conflicts with the indigenous peoples. The O’Rourkes understanding their vulnerability being so remote and exposed, at all times tried to have a good relation with the local people. However not all were so considerate, there are numerous records of massacres being carried out against Aboriginals in the area. If they were seen by some of the new comers, they were often shot on site.
On one occasion the O’Rourkes were making their way along the banks of the nearby Snowy River when they came across the body of a recently shot and killed female Aboriginal. Beside her was a young baby boy who would have almost certainly have soon died. They took him in, raising the child as one of their own, naming him Jambi. Whether he was one of the afore mentioned 13 (10) children or another one still is a moot point, as I said before they had a stack of kids!!
It was a shock to the O’Rourkes and indeed the small community when Tom was seriously hurt from a fall from a horse. He survived his serious injuries but sadly was “crippled” for life. Time has erased exactly what his injuries were and what the term crippled implied, but we do know that his working days were over.
He still tried to be useful to the family, a proud man he wanted in someway to repay the kindness shown to him. One thing he could do was wood carving, something he became quite efficient at. Many of his works adorned the main homesteads mantle piece as well as on verandah posts etc.
When he passed away the family (and community) really felt the loss. He was given a burial in a prominent position high on a nearby hill. In time a headstone was placed on his grave, true recognition of how far he had come as a person and community member from his humble convict beginnings.
Apparently his grave could still be seen, but where. There are three hills nearby, as is always the case I finally found Toms grave near the top of the third. As can be expected it was over grown with grass and weeds. 5 minutes later I had cleared those from around his headstone, it then looked half decent and what an amazing place to be laid to rest.
After 25 years, Edward O’Rourke and family moved south to Wulgulmerang where he started another station. Later he moved westward where he started the Omeo Station at Benambra.
I have tried to research more info on Edwards wife Anne, the role that she (and many like her) played in our early (European) history is mostly under played. It’s sad and a sign of those times but there is basically no info on her life would have been so tough!!
Hope you enjoyed,
Nelle's journey 