am & ane leary

Sam Cleary was born at Rushworth in 1897. He married Jan Ayres at Saint Mary's Church Rushworth in 1921. They lived at Waranga for a few years and then moved to Nowingi in the Mallee. They were about ten miles from the other Cleary families at Carwarp. As the Mallee farm was not successful they moved back to Rushworth in the early 1930s.

The family later moved to Mathoura where Sam was employed as a sleeper-cutter. Finally they moved back to Rushworth where Sam started a wood business. Sam was an expert axeman and won many competitions whilst in the Mallee. He was also a keen fisherman and did most of his fishing in the Waranga Basin. No doubt he many times rowed over the remains of the old family home in the middle of the Basin. Sam's fishing stories are now part of Rushworth Folk-lore.

Sam and Jane had eight children. The eldest girl, Joyce, married Peter Withington who worked at the Myrtleford Tobacco Research Station. since Peter's death Joyce has lived at Healesville. John married Joan Cummins and lived at Rushworth and later Coburg. He was a mechanic and car-salesman. Later he married Melinda Forsythe and bought a garage at Woodend. He has now retired at Woodend.

Lorna married Tom Moylan who was a Telecom Linesman. They made their home in Rushworth where Lorna has remained after Tom's death. Betty married Les Muir who was also a Telecom Linesman. They still live in Rushworth though now in retirement. Betty and Les are the proud grandparents of the first I.V.F. quads, Sam, Chris, Ben and Brett.

Bruce married Betty Quirk. They have lived at Rockhampton Queensland and now live near Newcastle N.S.W. Bruce is a fitter and turner and worked on the construction of the Dartmouth Dam. Bernard married Pat Atkins and conducts a transport business in Rushworth.

Dorothy married Gordon Calley who had a farm at Stanhope and later moved to Bunbartha where they still live. Peter married Pat Contessa. He is the youngest of the third generation of the Clearys. Peter also runs a transport operation in Rushworth.