Michael Vincent Whelan (Mick) b.1882
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Mick Whelan grew up in South Dunedin and about 1906 he married Jane Hepbyrn Carruthers (known as Jean), the daughter of James Carruthers and his wife. James owned a grocers and tobacconist store on the corner of Oxford Street and Atkinson Street, South Dunedin.
Jean and Mick began a busy family life, producing nine children, five boys and four girls. Mick worked first as an iron-moulder and later became a skilled bricklayer. Mick and Jean lived in Fawcett Street, South Dunedin, and raised nine children.
Sadly Jean developed cancer and died on 16 February 1935.
Mick had to look after his teenage family by himself, and passed away on 12 December 1948.
Mick and Jean Whelan had the following children:-
James Vincent Whelan,born 16 Aug 1907
Rua Margaret Whelan, born 6 Mar 1909, became Rua Gardner.
Jeanne Mavis Whelan (Jean), born 16 Jul 1911, became Jean Spencer.
Grace May Whelan, born 4 Aug 1913, became Grace Strang.
John Michael Whelan (Jack) born 14 Nov 1915, married Margaret Hanley.
William Henry Whelan, born c1917, died age 3, 16 Aug 1920.
Raymond Whelan, born 28 Mar 1918, married Phyllis Smith.
Kathleen Mary Whelan, born 7 Feb 1921, became Katherine Hay.
Allan Whelan, born 19 Nov 1924, married Mary Ellen Gray.
James Vincent Whelan (Jim)
When WW II broke out Jim joined the forces, and along with his brothers, was posted overseas. Jim didn't marry, and passed away on 4th July 1960.
Rua married Jack Gardner, and the couple moved from their Dunedin home to Pembroke, later to be renamed Wanaka, where Jack worked at Mansons Garage. Sadly Rua developed tuberculosis, and was left in poor health with a weakened heart. Rua was just 42 years of age when she died in 1952.
Jean married Matthew (Matt) Spencer. When her mother became ill Jean, Matt, and their baby Ron moved back into the family home, and Jean took over the responsibility of caring for the two youngest Whelan children, Kathleen and Allan. Jean and Matt eventually moved to New Plymouth and raised their family there.
Matt Spencer died tragically in a car accident. Jean Spencer reached the wonderful age of 91 years, going to her rest on 30 August 2002.
Jean and Matt Spencer had welcomed two sons:
Ronald Spencer
Kenneth Spencer
Grace married Robert Strang (Bob) in February 1935, and made their home in Timaru.
Bob Strang was to die in 1981. In later life Grace moved to the Home of Compassion in Timaru, where her bright and cheery personality, and her love of fun and poetry, made her a valuable member of that community.
Grace and Robert strang had three children:-
Ngaira Joan Strang, born 22 Feb 1936, became Ngaira Lindsay.
George Robert Strang, born 4 Apr 1937, married Jennifer Jill Taylor.
Michael James, born 20 Sep 1941, married Lynn.
John Michael Whelan (Jack)
Jack Whelan, served his country in the Second World War as 32291 Sapper 2nd NZEF. He was captured in Crete and imprisoned as a Prisoner of War in Italy. Jack married in later life, to Margaret Hanley, his sweetheart for 25 years.
Jack and Margaret had no children, and the patient, loving man who had survived polio, World War II and a POW Camp passed away on 2 Dec 1992.
Ray Whelan served his country in WWII with the New Zealand Army in North Africa, Crete, Italy and the South Pacific. Ray married Phyllis Smith and this couple welcomed five children to their Otago home:-
Kay Louise Whelan, born 5 Jan 1949
Neville Raymond Whelan
Kenneth Francis Whelan, born 24 Jan 1957
Julia Ann Whelan, born 24 Sep 1964
Baby Whelan, who died in infancy
After her mum died Kathleen was hoping to attend Dunedin Polytechnic College, but that was not to be. Her sister Rua had developed tuberculosis and Kathleen went to Wanaka to help care for her. Kathleen married David Alan Stanley Hay who was also born in 1921.
David passed away in September 1981, and Kathleen on 5 April 1999 in Dunedin.
Kathleen and David Hay had three sons and a daughter:-
David Errol Hay, married Barbara Kerr.
Terrance William Hay
Glenys Ann Hay (Glen), born 15 Jul 1948, became Glen Middleton then Glen Vega.
Martin Alan Hay, born 5 Jun 1956
When World War II broke out, Allan and his friend Dan Heather of Ashburton decided they wanted to join the Forces. However, both young men were under the age of 21 and therefore ineligible for enlistment at that time. Such was their desire to fight for their country they signed each other’s papers on behalf of their parents and were accepted for the Air Force. The two lads met up in the Guadalcanal for their overseas furlough. Allan was in the Air Force for two and a half years, then upon returning home to work in the printing trade.
Wedding bells rang out for Allan on 7 July 1950. His bride, Mary Ellen Gray (Betty Gray) came from the Leith Valley in Central Otago.
Allan and Betty have two children:
Neal Whelan, born 27 Apr 1955
Susan Elizabeth Whelan, born 20 Jan 1958