April A-Z Challenge – O for Olivia Tranter
The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge is a challenge put out to bloggers to publish a post from A-Z every day in April, except for Sundays. April 1 is A, and so on throughout the month. Bloggers can post randomly or on a theme. The theme I have chosen is ‘My Ancestors’. I used this same theme for the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge in 2015. This time the ancestors posted about will mostly be more distant members of the family. Hopefully, when combined this will form a full picture of my family history.
OLIVIA TRANTER was born in 1909 in at Heathcote, Victoria, Australia. Her parents are CHARLES EDWIN TRANTER and CATHERINE ANN MANTON.
On a wet wintry day in 1930, Olivia, aged 21, went horse riding at about 4pm. When she didn’t return by evening, her family went out searching for her. Her horse was found tethered to a tree on the Kyneton Road, and her hat and coat were discovered on the bank of the Wild Duck Creek, near a deep pool. Her two brother’s went into the water and found her body. Family members told the inquest that Olivia had been depressed of late.
The Coroner gave his finding of death by drowning. He said there was insufficient evidence to show how Olivia came to be in the water.
from The Argus Thursday 17 April 1930
HEATHCOTE, Wednesday. – Olivia Tranter, aged 20 years, daughter of Mr. Charles Tranter, of Heathcote, was drowned in a waterhole in the Wild Duck Creek last night. She went riding at 4 o’clock, and when she did not return by evening, search was made. Her pony was found tethered to a tree on the Kyneton road, and her hat and coat were discovered on the bank of the creek near a deep pool. Two brothers of the girl waded into the water and recovered the body. Measures taken to restore animation were unsuccessful.
The deputy coroner (Mr. J. J. Farley) held an inquiry this afternoon, when Dr.Spencer gave evidence that abrasions on the face and body indicated that the girl had struck some hard object in her fall. It was surmised that she slipped down the bank on to some rocks and fell unconscious into the water.
A finding of death from drowning was recorded, but the evidence was insufficient to show how Miss Tranter entered the water.
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How sad for the family.
Such a sad death, but at least she was found. I can’t imagine how it would be for families whose loved ones just disappear.
I agree Chris. The lack of closure would be dreadful and hard to bare
Oh, a sad ending indeed.
Oh what a sad story. So young.
It’s so important to tell the stories of those who died young and could be forgotten. There are so many sad tales like this one.