Agnes's youngest child - Lorna Mae Bisgrove (nee Woodlands) - 1914 to 1952

Lorna Mae was the youngest child of Agnes Cahill and James Woodland.  She was born at Church Street West, Newcastle on 04 November 1914.  Her birth was registered by James, on 26 November 1914, with her given name as "Lorna May".  He's shown as a baker, 42 years of age and born in Newcastle.  Agnes's family name is shown as "Kale" with her age as 38 and born in Singleton.

Lorna Mae Woodlands from collection held by her daughter, Gail
The family lived in an area of Newcastle known as "The Junction".  First in Union Street and then in Watkins Street.  The area is between the CBD and Merewether Beach.  When Jim, Lorna's brother, enlisted in the First World War on 31 May 1917, his address is "Cavan", Watkins Street, The Junction.  The family were still living there in October 1919, when Lorna's older sister, Myra, married Robert Hollyford Whitworth.

The Junction Newcastle with Union and Watkins Streets highlighted
On 09 August 1919, Lorna's brother, Jim married Margaret Essie (Essie) Gersbach at St Michael's Catholic Church in Stanmore and settled with Essie's family in the area.

Some time between 1923 and 1925, James, Agnes and Lorna moved to Sydney as well.  James set up a bakery in Drummoyne and Jim jnr worked with him for a number of years before starting a mixed business at Neutral Bay with his father-in-law, Frank Gersbach.  Lorna attended the local Catholic school and was joined there by her nephew, Frank Woodlands, in 1926.  Frank, six years younger than Lorna, was "forbidden" from telling anyone at the school that Lorna was his aunt!

Through the NSW Electoral Rolls, we know that James, Agnes and Lorna lived at 71 Renwick Street, Drummoyne in 1933.  James and Agnes had moved to 139 Victoria Road, Drummoyne by 1935.

On 13 March 1934, Lorna married Stanley Leopold (Stan) Bisgrove at St Mark's Catholic Church, Drummoyne.  Lorna was 19 and Stan was about 23.


Stan was the youngest child and third son of James Leopold Bisgrove and Teresa Victoria (Victoria) Bailey.  James was born in Collingwood, Victoria in 1879 and died on 13 December 1934 in Five Dock.  Victoria was born in Balmain in 1879 and died on 09 January 1959 in Manly.

Stan Bisgrove from the collection held by his daughter,  Gail
Stan's siblings were:-
  • James Walter (Jim) (1901 to 21 December 1954) who married Stella Victoria Alexandra Marland (1902 to 20 February 1977) on 07 April 1928 at the Presbyterian Church, Ashfiled.  They had two children Paul James and Jewel Stella.
  • Elsie Victoria (1904 to 03 March 1988) who married Septimus Alfred (Sep) Johnston (22 September 1901 to 18 April 1984) in 1937 at Drummoyne.  They had no children.
  • Joseph Henry (Joe) (1909 to 1984) who married Florence Jane Laundry (1903 to ?) in 1936 at Annandale.  They had two children Jane and Diana.
Prior to his marriage, Stan, an upholstered, lived with his parents at 64 Edenholme Road Abbotsford.  

Agnes, Lorna and Ronnie (circa 1937) from the collection held by Gail, Lorna's daughter
Lorna and Stan had two children - Ronald Stanley (Ron or Ronnie) who was born on 03 September 1935 and Gail Veronica.  The 1936 Electoral Roll shows Lorna and Stan living at 80A Chandos Street, Ashfield.   Prior to Gail's birth, they moved to 19A Fitzroy Street, Abbotsford which was their long term home in Sydney.

Ronnie and Gail - circa 1946
The Bisgrove Family - Lorna, Stan, Gail and Ronnie - circa 1946 from Gail's collection
Wedding of Frank Woodlands and Beryl Lutge - 07 May 1952
Lorna (Frank's aunt) with Gail (Frank's cousin) and Stan
Windsor Gardens, Chatswood



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