Searching for Mary

Sometimes our research at the library gets us nowhere and we need to call on our knowledgeable History Buff readers for help. Finding information about Mary Doherty and her untimely death is another example. The enquiry originated with a question about the naming of Mary Doherty Reserve in Ruse.

There is little we know. Apparently, Mary died after visiting the Etchells family on the other side of the river to where she lived. She was supposedly at Etchell's property because the river had flooded. Mary was later buried on the Etchell's property. Her family's home wasn't far from today's Mary Doherty Reserve at the corner of Acacia Avenue and Tumut Street. Mary was only 16. There is no date of death and nothing about when she was born. This brief information comes from the Geographic Names Board records.

After an extensive search of various records, we have found very little about Mary Doherty. A search of electoral records reveal that there is a strong possibility that her parents were Robert and Margaret Doherty, who lived on Hansen's Road, East Minto in 1930. This would have been close to the Etchells house who lived in the East Minto vicinity, but still some distance from Mary Doherty Park, where it is claimed she lived close to. There are also questions about which river it is referring to if the visit to Etchells was on the other side of the river to where she was living. There is no river between East Minto and Ruse.

Please let us know in the comments if you have any knowledge of Mary Doherty.

Mary Doherty Reserve in Ruse. This place is a great spot for bird watchers.