OLD GREY RESIDENT CELEBRATES HER 92ND BIRTHDAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1948, Page 8

OLD GREY RESIDENT CELEBRATES HER 92ND BIRTHDAY

On. Sunday afternoon last, O’Conor Home, Westport, was the scene of an. assemblage of friends and relatives, who had gathered to pay homage to an old resident- of Greymouth, Mrs Ellen Coll, who was celebrating her 92nd birthday. The picture was one that would not be easily forgotten, as the old whitehaired lady, supported by a Sister of Mercy, stood at the head of the grace-fully-decorated table, to respond to a toast proposed by Mr Dan Malony. Mrs Coll thanked all for the kindness and thoughtfulness they had shown in honouring her declining years. Mr Tom. Coll also replied on behalf of his mother. Among those present were Mrs Coil's two married daughters, Mrs O’Leary, of Wellington, and Mrs Thompson, of Greymoutb-, Mr Tom Coll ,of Greymoutli. (a son), was also among the guests. Mrs Coll was born at Ballarat 92 years ago, and at the early age of 10 years came to New Zealand with her parents (Mr and Mrs Callaghan), the family settling at Dunstan. Her father was subsequently killed at Waikato, in the Maori War. Mrs Coll was married at Nelson Creek, and there were eleven children of the mariage, two of whom entered the Church, Sister Mary Anthony, of the Sisters of Mercy, Gore, and Rev. Bros. Stephen, Sacred Heart Cqllege, Auckland. Mrs Coll also has two grand-sons and a grand-daughter in the church, Rev. Father McDairmid, at present in Fiji. Bro. Andrew of the Marist Order, and Sister Mary de Sales, Sister of Mercy, Timaru. Altogether, Mrs Coll has 52 descendants, embracing a range of five generations.