Dad's father Phillip Stanley Phelan was one of twelve children (eight boys and four girls) born to Joseph Phelan and Mary Gasperino. By the time Dad was eight years old, he had five uncles and three aunts surviving. As I have mentioned previously, I don't recall hearing much about them from him when I was growing up, and certainly not Austin George Phelan, who was the youngest of the boys in the family.
Austin was born in Benalla in 1904, lived in the Essendon area all his life, like many of the Phelan clan, and worked as a brewery employee. But it is how he came to meet his wife Sara that proved to be of most interest once I started digging.
As you can see above, Austin was listed as the 'co-respondent' in the 1931 divorce case between John Carnegie Lovick and his wife Sara Annie Lovick. In other words, he was the 'other man' who had become involved with a married woman (who would later ultimately become his wife). Officially John Lovick was petitioning for the dissolution of his marriage on the grounds that his wife had committed adultery with Austin in August of 1931. Divorce has been an extremely rare event in my extended family's past (on both sides), and with the Phelans coming from staunch Irish Catholic stock, any involvement in such 'scandal' would likely have been thoroughly 'brushed under the carpet'. I wonder then if this meant Austin was not spoken about much at the time Dad was a child and hence Dad not knowing much about him.
So what was the full story? John Lovick describes it all in the court record. John (or Jack) Lovick and Sara McKernan were married in 1923 and had been living in Glenroy until 1931, upon which Sara had "grow[n] tired of my company" and expressed a "strong disinclination to cohabitate with me". John and Sara had early in their marriage played tennis competitions together, and Sara soon began playing nights as well. John's work as a butcher meant that he was too tired to compete in the evenings so Sara would do this alone. In about 1930 Sara had met Austin (who was living with his parents in Mackay St, Essendon at this time) through "tennis parties" and had teamed up to play competitions together. While John was unhappy about this, he had been introduced to Austin and had not observed any "undue familiarity" between him and Sara. Austin, along with another mutual friend, would visit John and Sarah regularly but John was told by friends that there was 'improper conduct' going on, though he refused to believe his wife would be unfaithful. When he put the rumours to Sara she heatedly denied them, however he observed that his wife had "become cold in her manner towards me". John agreed to Sara's wish to take a break and visit family in Tatura in June, and on her return moved in with friends (the McMahons) in Aberfeldie in July.
Sara's mother was not aware of the fact that her daughter and son-in-law were living apart, and was planning a visit in early August. John did not want her to know their situation, and was advised by Sara's sister that her mother would be told unless John could convince Sara to come home. So at 11pm on 6 August, John went to the McMahon's home in an attempt to do just that. On arrival, Mrs. McMahon was heard to exclaim 'My God, it's Jack Lovick!' Once let in, he went to the room in which he expected to find his wife, but the door was locked. He demanded it be opened, which Sara did, dressed in "night attire", and when the light was put on it revealed "the Co-Respondent... occupying the only bed in the room". Sara returned to her Glenroy home three days later but was still thought to be regularly seeing Austin, and despite her husband's requests refused to move out, leading thus to the petition for divorce in September, which was duly granted in November. Austin Phelan was directed to pay costs, and the divorce was made absolute on 17 February 1932.
Thankfully for Austin and Sara there was a happy ending as they would marry in 1936, Austin at the age of 32 and Sara 36. They had no children and lived in Essendon then Aberfeldie until Austin died at the age of 74 in 1978. Sara followed in 1985 aged 84, and both are buried in Fawkner Cemetery. Speaking to cousins in recent years in the Essendon area, they certainly knew Austin and I would like to find out a bit more about him. To date I have no photos of him or Sara which is a shame. Hopefully one day some will come to light!
Update: I was contacted by my second cousin Lynne Phelan this week and she was able to provide this photo of Austin and Sara. Thanks Lynne!
Austin was born in Benalla in 1904, lived in the Essendon area all his life, like many of the Phelan clan, and worked as a brewery employee. But it is how he came to meet his wife Sara that proved to be of most interest once I started digging.
As you can see above, Austin was listed as the 'co-respondent' in the 1931 divorce case between John Carnegie Lovick and his wife Sara Annie Lovick. In other words, he was the 'other man' who had become involved with a married woman (who would later ultimately become his wife). Officially John Lovick was petitioning for the dissolution of his marriage on the grounds that his wife had committed adultery with Austin in August of 1931. Divorce has been an extremely rare event in my extended family's past (on both sides), and with the Phelans coming from staunch Irish Catholic stock, any involvement in such 'scandal' would likely have been thoroughly 'brushed under the carpet'. I wonder then if this meant Austin was not spoken about much at the time Dad was a child and hence Dad not knowing much about him.
So what was the full story? John Lovick describes it all in the court record. John (or Jack) Lovick and Sara McKernan were married in 1923 and had been living in Glenroy until 1931, upon which Sara had "grow[n] tired of my company" and expressed a "strong disinclination to cohabitate with me". John and Sara had early in their marriage played tennis competitions together, and Sara soon began playing nights as well. John's work as a butcher meant that he was too tired to compete in the evenings so Sara would do this alone. In about 1930 Sara had met Austin (who was living with his parents in Mackay St, Essendon at this time) through "tennis parties" and had teamed up to play competitions together. While John was unhappy about this, he had been introduced to Austin and had not observed any "undue familiarity" between him and Sara. Austin, along with another mutual friend, would visit John and Sarah regularly but John was told by friends that there was 'improper conduct' going on, though he refused to believe his wife would be unfaithful. When he put the rumours to Sara she heatedly denied them, however he observed that his wife had "become cold in her manner towards me". John agreed to Sara's wish to take a break and visit family in Tatura in June, and on her return moved in with friends (the McMahons) in Aberfeldie in July.
Sara's mother was not aware of the fact that her daughter and son-in-law were living apart, and was planning a visit in early August. John did not want her to know their situation, and was advised by Sara's sister that her mother would be told unless John could convince Sara to come home. So at 11pm on 6 August, John went to the McMahon's home in an attempt to do just that. On arrival, Mrs. McMahon was heard to exclaim 'My God, it's Jack Lovick!' Once let in, he went to the room in which he expected to find his wife, but the door was locked. He demanded it be opened, which Sara did, dressed in "night attire", and when the light was put on it revealed "the Co-Respondent... occupying the only bed in the room". Sara returned to her Glenroy home three days later but was still thought to be regularly seeing Austin, and despite her husband's requests refused to move out, leading thus to the petition for divorce in September, which was duly granted in November. Austin Phelan was directed to pay costs, and the divorce was made absolute on 17 February 1932.
Thankfully for Austin and Sara there was a happy ending as they would marry in 1936, Austin at the age of 32 and Sara 36. They had no children and lived in Essendon then Aberfeldie until Austin died at the age of 74 in 1978. Sara followed in 1985 aged 84, and both are buried in Fawkner Cemetery. Speaking to cousins in recent years in the Essendon area, they certainly knew Austin and I would like to find out a bit more about him. To date I have no photos of him or Sara which is a shame. Hopefully one day some will come to light!
Update: I was contacted by my second cousin Lynne Phelan this week and she was able to provide this photo of Austin and Sara. Thanks Lynne!
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