"Jack" John Albert KENNY
Born 20 August 1876 [398]
Son of a solicitor by the surname of KENNY and Dairy Mary ARCHER [P497]
His mother was married for the second time to Michael SULLIVAN in 1885 in Victoria, Australia [54] [120: 8-Apr-1911]
He had a sister Eva Christina KENNY and three half-siblings Elsie, Edmund and Roy SULLIVAN [39: 13-Dec-1926] [120: 8-Apr-1911]
Married "Kate" Catherine Frances KUHLMANN in 1906 [66]
Entered the service of the Western Australian Railways Department on 18 May 1898 [398]
Railway Car Cleaner in Perth from his commencement on 18 May 1898 until being retrenched on 6 September 1898 [398]
He was re-employed by the Railways Department on 28 October 1898 [398]
Railway Porter in the Perth suburb of Cottesloe Beach 1898-1900 [398]
Railway Night Officer at Werribee in 1900, at Wooroloo in 1900 and 1901 and at North Fremantle in 1901 and 1902 [398]
Relief Night Officer in Perth in 1902 and 1903 and then Night Stationmaster at Fremantle in 1903 and 1904 [398]
Night Stationmaster at Coolgardie from 1904 [398] until 1909 when transferred to Baker's Hill as Officer in Charge [225: 26-May-1909]
Railway Stationmaster in Dowerin for seven months until resigning on 15 December 1910 to start his own business [225: 8-Dec-1910]
Commission Agent in Dowerin 1911-1919 [6] [50] [369: 6-Dec-1910]
He began his business as the Dowerin agent for H. J. Wigmore & Co (farm machinery) and W. Thomas & Co (flour millers) [369]
Member of the Dowerin Agricultural Hall Committee in 1912, which worked to have a town hall built at Dowerin [370: 23-Jan-1912]
He convened a meeting in Dowerin on 19 August 1915 that led to the formation of the Dowerin Red Cross Society [449: 25-Aug-1915]
Assistant Judge of the Dowerin Race Club's Annual Picnic Meeting held in Dowerin on Thursday 16 March 1916 [370: 21-Mar-1916]
Member of the Dowerin Agricultural Society - was Founding Secretary in 1917 and 1918 [454: 22-Sep-1917, 11-May-1918]
Newsagent in Brookton in 1922 and 1923 [392: 12-Oct-1922] [449: 26-Nov-1925]
Purchased the newsagency and fancy goods business of Mrs R. THOMPSON in February 1922 [392: 23-Feb-1922, 16-Mar-1922]
He and his wife were welcomed to town at Mrs THOMPSON's farewell at the Agricultural Hall in Brookton on 13 March 1922 [392]
Orders could be left at his newsagency for visiting expert piano and organ tuner and repairer Charles LATHWELL [392: 29-Jun-1922]
He was the Brookton agent for The Beverley Times newspaper, having it available every Saturday [391: 5-May-1923]
Member of the Brookton Race Club - was Secretary in 1922 [391: 6-May-1922]
He had P.O. Box 5 at the Post Office in Brookton [39: 23-Dec-1922]
During December 1922 he advertised in The West Australian newspaper wanting a position as a Tractor Driver [39: 23-Dec-1922]
He sold his newsagency at Brookton, which might also have sold drapery, to Arthur E. HARVEY on 1 August 1923 [449: 26-Nov-1925]
Proprietor and Licensee of the Elite Billiard Saloon at 291A William Street in Perth 1923-1926 [225: 15-Nov-1923. 21-Jan-1926] [50]
He purchased the license in November 1923 from Anthony COLLINS and sold it to Giacinto CHIAVI in January 1926 [225]
When he first acquired the license he was living on Saint Kilda Road in the Perth suburb of Belmont [225: 15-Nov-1923]
In 1925 he and his wife were living at 27 Moir Street in North Perth [50]
Land & Estate Agent, Insurance Broker and Commission Agent at 57 Saint George's Terrace in Perth for part of 1926 [39: 20-Nov-1926]
The mixed business was in partnership with James CARTER and traded as Carter & Kenny [39]
Carter & Kenny owned a Rugby car in 1926, which contained license plate 2361 [325]
They dissolved their partnership on 17 November 1926 with James CARTER becoming the sole owner of the business [39]
In 1927 he was working as a Land Agent and living and/or working from 536 Hay Street in Perth [81: 27-Mar-1927] [325]
Proprietor of a Billiard Saloon on Fitzgerald Street in Northam in 1928 and 1929 [6]
He purchased the billiard saloon license in Carnamah from Sydney H. BLAY in August 1929 [4: 31-Aug-1929]
Proprietor of a Hairdressing, Newsagency and Billiard Saloon in Mackie's Buildings at 19 Macpherson Street in Carnamah [P4]
Ran his business from one of the three shops in Mackie's Buildings, which he leased from Robert MACKIE [4: 15-Dec-1934]
Newsagent, bookseller, stationer, fancy goods dealer and distributing agent for Gordon and Gotch publications [120: 5-Oct-1933]
Within his business he was also a men's mercy, draper and boot salesman [120: 5-Oct-1933]
His billiard saloon was a large room which contained two or three billiard tables with a fireplace down the end of the room [P7]
Kept his billiard saloon open to 9 p.m. at night, charging a fee per half hour to play on the billiard tables [P7]
His billiard saloon was "the local sporting rendezvous" in 1933 [120: 5-Oct-1933]
In 1935 he had two Alcock low cushion billiard tables and was open for billiards and snooker in the day and evening [120: 17-Oct-1935]
He had to annually obtain the Billiard License with the Licensing Board at the Court House in Geraldton [5: 11-Nov-1932]
Agent for The Irwin Index newspaper in 1932 for The North Midland Times newspaper 1933-1935 [4: 4-Jun-1932] [5: 7-Jul-1933, 23-Aug-1935]
He was also the authorised seller of The West Australian,The Western Mail, The Sunday Times and other newspapers [120: 17-Oct-1935]
A barber's chair used at his store is now at the Carnamah Museum and is featured in the Business Houses virtual exhibition [P1]
In 1933 conducted a Billiard Tournament in which there were 32 competitors in addition to keen spectators [5: 26-May-1933]
Following the conclusion of his very successful billiard tournament he started a second tournament with a higher prize [5: 2-Jun-1933]
His second tournament also had 32 nominations; prizes were three guineas for 1st, one guinea for 2nd and 10/6 for 3rd [5: 7-Jul-1933]
Advertised his business in the Schedule of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society's Annual Show in 1933 [13]
"J. A. Kenny, Newsagent and Stationer. Men's Draper and Mercer, Tobacconist and Fancy Goods." [13]
"Whybrow's Boots and Shoes, Pelaco Shirts, Collars and Pyjamas" [13]
"Up-to-Date Ladies' and Gent's Hairdresser. A Trail Respectfully Solicited." [13]
He was a popular figure in Carnamah and a keen supporter of local sport, especially football [120: 5-Oct-1933]
Member of the Carnamah Race Club 1929-1931 - was a Committee Member in 1930 [4: 21-Dec-1929, 28-Mar-1931]
Member of the Carnamah Football Club 1930-1937 [4: 15-Mar-1930] [5: 19-Apr-1935, 16-Apr-1937]
Vice President in 1930, 1931, 1936 and 1937; and a Committee Member 1934-1936 [4: 18-Apr-1930] [5: 20-Apr-1934, 17-Apr-1936]
In 1933 he was listed as one of the stalwarts of the Carnamah Football Club who were responsible for its success [120: 5-Oct-1933]
Vice President of the Carnamah Cricket Club from 1930-31 to 1933-34 and in 1936-37 [4: 4-Oct-1930, 17-Sep-1932] [5: 1-Dec-1933, 2-Oct-1936]
Attended the funeral of "Father of Carnamah" Donald MACPHERSON at the Winchester Cemetery on 14 August 1931 [4: 22-Aug-1931]
In 1932 he was the owner of a Rugby car with license plate CA-199 [4: 12-Nov-1932]
During the first week of October 1932 travelled from Carnamah to Perth to attend the Perth Royal Show [5: 7-Oct-1932]
Donated a prize for Mrs Maggie KROSCHEL's Card Party in July 1933 which raised funds for the local Anglican Church [5: 21-Jul-1933]
In 1933 he was said to have been the Carnamah Football Club's best supporter and barracker [5: 8-Sep-1933]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Monster Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 2 September 1933 [5: 8-Sep-1933]
He was one of twelve local owners of wireless sets that couldn't get proper reception owing to electrical interference [5: 16-Feb-1934]
The interference was caused by Henry PARKIN & Son's power station and four electric refrigerators operating in Carnamah [5]
He suggested a round table discussion between the owners of the wireless sets, the Road Board and Henry Parkin & Son [5]
At the Road Board meeting on 28 February 1933 it was resolved to hold a conference between those he'd suggested [5: 2-Mar-1934]
He had a heart attack on Sunday 13 May 1934, but was getting around again by the following Thursday [5: 18-May-1934]
Local doctor Cecil P. ROSENTHAL drove him to Perth on Sunday 10 June 1934 to undergo an operation [5: 15-Jun-1934]
The operation took place the next day at Saint John of God Hospital in Subiaco, after which he was "progressing favourably" [5]
After ten weeks illness following the operation he returned to Carnamah on Monday night 20 August 1934 [5: 13-Jul-1934, 24-Aug-1934]
Sent a wreath for the grave of Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
He and his wife were unable to attend and were represented at the funeral by Carnamah butcher Michael J. CLUNE [4]
At about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday 9 December 1934 a fire broke out in a nearby shop and the flames soon spread to his premises [5]
The shops next door to his occupied by S. L. HIDDEN and Ivan JOHNSON swiftly went up in flames and burnt to the ground [5]
The rafters of his business premises were on fire and volunteers helped evacuate his billiard tables and stock out onto the street[5]
The fire was eventually extinguished after a hole was made in the ceiling of his premises and water poured onto the rafters [5]
Following the fire his stock was shifted temporarily into a vacant shop down the other end of Mackie's Buildings [5: 14-Dec-1934]
Placed a small notice in the next edition of the local newspaper thanking those who helped fight the fire and move his goods [5]
Began regularly advertising his business in the local North Midland Times newspaper in February 1935 [5: 22-Feb-1935, 1-Mar-1935]
In 1935 he was an agent for The West Australian, The Western Mail, Gordon & Gotch, and periodicals and magazines [5]
The hairdressing salon of his business was the only one in all of the Midlands which boasted electric hair clippers in 1935 [5]
Advertised in The North Midland Times newspaper in 1935 that he was a seller of The Australian Journal magazine [5: 19-Apr-1935]
In 1935 he was an agent for the new Fisk Radiola wireless sets, selling them at prices between 16 and 43 guineas [5: 14-Jun-1935]
Seller of Spinx bicycles priced from £6/19/6 and which came with a written ten year guarantee [5: 2-Aug-1935, 20-Sep-1935]
Suffered a relapse with his health in September 1935, as a result of which he was compelled to enter hospital [5: 20-Sep-1935]
After several days at the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs he returned to Carnamah on 14 September 1935 [5]
Attended the Annual General Meeting of the Carnamah Cricket Club on Monday evening 23 September 1935 [5: 4-Oct-1935]
Attended a meeting about Wireless Interference in Carnamah on Wednesday 23 October 1935 [5: 1-Nov-1935]
The main purpose of the meeting was about offsetting the cost of engine suppressors installed to combat local radio interference [5]
It was decided at the meeting to collect subscriptions to defray the cost, and he headed the list with a donation of £1 [5]
Attended the Ratepayers Meeting of the Carnamah District Road Board in Carnamah on Wednesday 23 October 1935 [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Donated a trophy to the Carnamah Rifle Club, which was won by Richard A. PIKE at a shoot on 24 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
In November 1935 offered the Carnamah Cricket Club a 5/- donation to go towards a net for practise [5: 29-Nov-1935]
Attended the funeral of Miss "May" Mary L. LANG of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 26 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
In December 1935 advertised his business in Carnamah as a Newsagency, Men's Mercer and seller of Sporting Goods [5]
Stocked a full range of Alexander tennis rackets which he sold at Perth prices, ranging from 21/- to 75/- [5: 20-Dec-1935]
Travelled from Carnamah to Perth by train on Thursday 5 March 1936 en route to the Perth suburb of Cottesloe [5: 6-Mar-1936]
After a holiday in the seaside Perth suburb of Cottesloe he returned to Carnamah on Monday night 23 March 1936 [5: 27-Mar-1936]
He was a passenger on the train from Carnamah to Perth on Monday 4 May 1936 [5: 8-May-1936]
In June 1936 he became the Carnamah agent for Malvern Star cycles, and had the latest models on display at his store [5]
The Malvern Star cycles were priced from £7/10/- with the option of easily arranged terms [5: 26-Jun-1936]
Donated a trophy to the Carnamah Golf Club in 1936, which was played for over 28 June 1936 and 5 July 1936 [5: 26-Jun-1936]
Vice President of the Carnamah Rifle Club in 1936 [5: 17-Jul-1936]
Donated the Cup for the two mile open handicap cycle race at the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 10 September 1936 [5: 18-Sep-1936]
He was among those from Carnamah who travelled to Perth in early October 1936 to attend the Royal Show [5: 9 & 23-Oct-1936]
Returned to Carnamah accompanied by Francis B. O'GRADY and George M. MCGOWAN on Thursday 15 October 1936 [5]
Attended the Farewell Social for departing postmaster R. Arthur LINDSAY at the Carnamah Hotel on 23 October 1936 [5: 30-Oct-1936]
Motored to Perth on Friday 26 March 1937 to attend the annual conference and dinner of wireless dealers [5: 2 & 9-Apr-1937]
Member of the Carnamah Athletic Club in 1937 [5: 7-May-1937]
Inaugural Patron of the Carnamah Cycle Club in 1937 -donated £2/2/- to the Club upon its formation [5: 21-May-1937]
Entries for the Novelty Limerick in aid of the North Midlands Popular Girl Competition in 1937 could be left at his store [5: 16-Jul-1937]
Incorrectly reported to have been a Patron of the Five Gums Tennis Club in 1937-38 [5: 13 & 27-Aug-1937]
Died 30 May 1938; ashes interred at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth (Crematorium Rose Gardens, Niche Wall, WD, 168) [2]
Following his death his store in Carnamah by was run by his wife Kate [P9]
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 8 September 1933:
Around the Shops - Goods Which Can Be Bought Locally - Kenny's Newsagency
"Apart from all the latest magazines, and books and papers, and a good range of stationary, Mr. Kenny is noted for his lines of men's mercery."
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 3 June 1938:
Obituary - Late Mr. J. A. Kenny
"A deep gloom was cast over Carnamah and district on Monday when it was learned that Mr. J. A. Kenny had passed away early that morning in the St. John of God Hospital, Subiaco. The late Mr. Kenny who was 60 years of age had been ailing in health for some time past, and although the news of his death was not unexpected it came as a great shock to all who had known him. The deceased gentleman, together with his wife, had conducted a newsagency business in Carnamah for many years and during that time he had earned the esteem of the whole community. He had always taken a keen interest in all sporting bodies in the town, and was always willing to foster sport by the donation of trophies. His activities were not only confined to sporting bodies as he was a strong advocate for any movement appertaining to the welfare of the town. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends goes out to his bereaved wife. The remains were privately cremated in the Karrakatta Crematorium on Tuesday, the Rev. D. J. Davies officiating."
From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 4 June 1938:
Death of a Carnamah resident
"Following an illness extending over a lengthy period, a well-known member of the Carnamah business community in the person of Mr. J. A. Kenny passed away at the St. John of God Hospital at Subiaco on Monday last. The deceased gentleman, who was sixty years of age, entered hospital only about ten days prior to his death and underwent a serious operation, and remaining in an extremely low condition for some days thereafter, he passed away as stated in the presence of his wife. The late Mr. Kenny entered business circles at Carnamah about eight years ago, and although failing health during the latter part of that period prevented him from displaying a particularly active part in the affairs of the community he always showed his interest in other ways, and was a keen follower of all forms of sport. He is survived by a widow, who returned to Carnamah on Wednesday last, to Mrs. Kenny we wish to join in expressing profound sympathy in her sad bereavement. The funeral of the late Mr. Kenny took place in the Karrakatta Cemetery on Tuesday last."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'John Albert Kenny' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 15 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/john-albert-kenny [reference list] |
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