Harry Segar Pledger

Kathleen Emma Ruby Pledger

Federation family: Harry spent his early life in Casino, following his arrival in Australia in 1887 from England at the age of 18 months. Harry was educated at the St Joseph's Convent School in Casino where he learnt music and played the violin. St Joseph's Convent now replaced. Harry was a good athlete and ran in athletics meetings. He also had a show pony called 'Sandy'. Harry and his younger sister Ethel had great musical ability. Harry played violin, trumpet and saxophone.  He played in the Casino Band and in 1906 visited Sydney for a major bands competition associated with the visit of the American 'Great White Fleet'. His first job was working for a stock and station agent , then a clerk at a sawmill at Bonalbo. He then went into the cordial business with his mother from about 1906 till 1909 when the business went broke. Musical evenings were held at their Colches St  home. Married Kathleen Brown in Casino, 1913. Children: Marie (1914) Noel (died at birth) 1915?), Athol (Tom) (1917), Harry (1920), Ray (1923), Ethel (1928). Athol (Tom), Ray, Harry (Jnr.), Marie, Harry (Snr.) Ethel (Peb) Marie Skinner (nee Pledger) lived most of her childhood in the house next door 58 Colches St which was the home of Harry's sister Ethel. It was in this house, 'Carraween'  that Ethel taught music and Marie was brought up by her aunt and grandmother. Following his father's death in 1919, Harry went to Lismore and worked one day in the railways before resigning. He then went to Byron Bay in about 1919 where he worked as a clerk for the North Coast Steam Navigation Company. By 1942 he was assistant manager but wartime shipping losses caused the company to close down. In Byron Bay, Harry was a band master, competed in competitions and played at silent movies. Harry moved to Brisbane, Queensland where he worked for the American army in stores. After the war, he worked for the Lands Department till he retired. He and Kathleen lived in a flat on the lower south west corner (left corner of front verandah) of the house below on Flinders Parade, overlooking Morton Bay at  Sandgate.   Harry was a keen follower of the horse races and spent many hours  working out his tips for the weekend races. He liked Bundaberg rum followed by a beer chaser. Harry Pledger aged 89  (1974)

Kathleen was born on 23/7/1891 at Oakland, Tenterfield, NSW. Her father James Watson Brown ( born 1845 Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland - Father: Alexander Mother: Margaret ( Family were spirit merchants in Clyde St, Glasgow  (near the waterfront).  James Watson Brown came to Australia on the Trebolgan on the 28/6/1865. He was a station manager, but died 18/2/1891 at Carroll near  Gunnedah ( died of heart disease -  aged 45 yrs) in the year Kathleen was born.  Kathleen's mother, Emma Ferguson, was the daughter of James Ferguson ( born  1808, Scotland) and Marianne or Mary A Kelly (Kealey) (born 1826 Dublin, Ireland). Kathleen's elder brother Jimmy (James R Brown ) was born in Lismore on 18/5/1888. Photograph above shows Jimmy and Kathleen ( on right) probably at Coraki in about 1910. Emma Brown (nee Ferguson) later married  John Driscoll in 1896 : son Bossy ( Lionel J D ) born 1898 in Tenterfield district lived at Coraki. Kathleen worked as a housemaid for Kassane the solicitor in Casino. Emma (nee Ferguson) Driscoll had a house in Casino (near railway line half way between old and new Casino) Kathleen married Harry Segar Pledger in Casino on 29/8/1913. Kathleen had a warm generous nature. Kathleen died in Brisbane on 30/8/1968 in Brisbane. Acknowledgement: Mary Battis, Casino Museum Peb Blackwell