James Earl Donnelly, of North Street, Casino, Drowned 1951.

Morning Bulletin Rockhampton, Qld

29 Dec 1950

Boat Swamped,

Man Drowned

GRAFTON, December 28.- A 34-year-old man was drowned near the mouth of the Clarence River this after-noon when a boat from which he and a nine-year-old boy were fishing was swamped by waves. 

He was James Early Donnelly, Casino. The boy Roger James Chandler Reeves, swam to the bank against a swiftly hawing current and raised an alarm. The police dragged for the body without success.

Northern Star Lismore, NSW

1 Jan 1951

OBITUARY

(RSL. During the war he saw service with the AIF in the Middle East and New Guinea, He was an employee of the Tomki Shire Council.)

Tribute to Casino drowning Victim

CASINO, Sunday.— A cortege estimated to include 100 cars attended the funeral of James Earl Donnelly, of North Street, Casino yesterday.

His funeral moved from the Methodist Church and was one of the largest seen in Casino for some time.

The late Mr. Donnelly was drowned, in tragic circumstances at Iluka on Thursday afternoon and his body was recovered the following day.

He was the son of Mrs. G. S. Donnelly, of North Street, and was born in Lismore 34 years ago. He moved to Casino as a lad and remained here ever since. 

During the war he saw service with the AIF in the Middle East and New Guinea, He was an employee of the Tomki Shire Council.

He is survived by his mother, three brothers, Ray (Sydney), William (Bentley) and Emanuel (Casino), and six sisters, Mesdames M. Morris (Brisbane), J. Vost (Sydney), J. Sloman (Dundee), T. Tyrrell  (Kyogle) and Bernice (Brisbane) and Shirley (Casino.)

Rev. D. F. Boorman conducted a service at the Methodist Church and at the graveside.

As the flag was draped casket left the church, R.S.L. members and members of the Buffalo Lodge formed a guard of honour and the flag of the R.S.L. was flown at half-mast. 

At the church, lodge members acted as pallbearers. They were Messrs. W.R. Imeson, L. Ahrens, G, Wright, Vince Unicombe, J. Wren and Sid Burton. R.S.L. members acted as pallbearers at the cemetery. 

They were Messrs. Jim Morgan, Gordon Walsh, E. and S. Vaughan, J. Stanfield and W. Benbow.

The standard beater was "Dad" Ray and the "Last Post" was sounded by Pat Brown. The R.S.L. was represented by the secretary (Mr. E. G. Davies) and Tomki Shire by Mr.A. R. Hodges.

Funeral arrangements were carried out by Tyrrell Bros. 

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