Sarah Constance Lodge (née Leake)

Sarah Constance Lodge (née Leake, known as Connie) was christened on 1 February 1860 in Perth. She was educated in Perth (possibly for a time at The Cloisters) and later in Adelaide (where her mother was from).

She married Thomas Soutter Lodge on 15 September 1886 (her granddaughter Helen Margaret Wilson married her first husband Peter Innes Donegan exactly fifty years later, to the day ). After they were married, they lived on various farms in the wheatbelt, including Yangedan and Seaton Ross (the latter near Beverley). Their first two children, Joan and Jack, were born at Yangedan.

The homestead of one farm had a thatched roof, and was burned to the ground. The only surviving items were a crayon portrait of Thomas Soutter Lodge ("a lovely study of a serious young man") and a crested fork and spoon with no bowl. These two were joined together as a memorial to the fire.

Lived in Grass Valley, near Northam. (Sarah Constance Lodge advertising for a general servant just prior to the birth of Helen Rose Lodge.)

In about 1900 the family moved to Strelly in Busselton, where the children grew up.

Other siblings: Jane Adam, Jessie Skinner, Lady Parker, Mary Parry, Rose Clifton.

Advertised for a general servant three weeks before the birth of their daughter Helen in 1888.

Two other children: Joan and Jack.

Known as Constance (and 'Gag' by her grandchildren).



The notice of her death, published in the West Australian, was as follows: