Above: The birth certificate of John 'Jack' Sheridan, third child and son of Nicholas Sheridan and Bridget McGrath.
John Sheridan(pictured above) was born on December 16, 1870, at Carisbrook, Victoria, the third child and son born to Nicholas Sheridan and Bridget McGrath. His education started at Moolort, near Carisbrook, where his family lived for several years in the 1870s, then in April 1878 he was enrolled at Carisbrook State School at the age of 7 years. It was noted in the school records that John Sheridan, father Nicholas Railway Labourer, last school Private, had passed his Standard of Education, but no date was given.
He was a young boy in his teens when his family moved to Yarrawonga in the mid-1880s. John obtained work with the Yarrawonga district newspaper, the 'Yarrawonga Chronicle", on the mechanical staff.
The above photo of John (who was known as 'Jack'), which was taken in the 1890s and shows him in his full Yarrawonga Fire Brigade Uniform, reveals him to be a very handsome man. he was a cricketer, a member of the local brass band, a top rifle shot and a much-decorated member of the Yarrawonga Fire Brigade. All of which adds to the tragedy of the fact that John Sheridan died on September 2, 1900, at the young age of 29 years.
An article in the Yarrawonga Chronicle from September 4, 1900, tells the sad tale...
"NEWS OF THE WEEK.
It is our painful duty this week to have to record the death of Mr. John F. Sheridan who since September 1897 has held the chief position on the mechanical staff of the Chronicle. For several weeks past the deceased, who is a son of Mr. Nicholas Sheridan, of this town, had been invalided from work with a bad leg, the result of an injury sustained last December in the prosecution of his duties as a member of the local Fire Brigade at a fire in this town. Whether this injury was the direct cause of his death is not quite clear, but the injured leg became so bad that he was obliged to lay up with it. He appeared to be getting on very well and was on the point of returning to work when he was seized with a sort of paralysis which, fluctuating in a peculiar manner, ultimately extended right up the left side of his head. He remained in a semi-conscious condition for a little over a week, when the paralysis suddenly assumed an acute phase and he succumbed on Sunday morning at an early hour.
The deceased was a very capable workman and enjoyed the absolute confidence of his employer. He was also a zealous fireman, being the oldest member of the Brigade in the town; one of the foremost members and best shots in the Rifle Club, a prominent and valued member of the Brass band and an enthusiastic cricketer.
His untimely death, therefore, at the age of 29 years, is a source of deep regret to all with whom he had been a co-worker and an associate. Deceased had insured his life for 100 pounds in the A.M.P Society.
His remains will be accorded a fireman's funeral today, and the firemen, and bandsmen, are requested to meet at the Fire Station at 2:30 sharp and riflemen at the Athenaeum at the same hour. The cortege will leave Murphy Street at 3 o'clock. The body will be conveyed to the cemetery on the Fire Brigade Reel, and the Brass Band members, members of the Rifle Club etc, will take part in the procession."
A week later, on September 11, 1900, the following report of John's funeral was printed in the Chronicle:
"NEWS OF THE WEEK.
The remains of the late Mr. John F. Sheridan were interred in the Yarrawonga Cemetery on Tuesday last. The funeral was one of the most impressive ever seen in Yarrawonga. The body was conveyed to the last resting place on the Fire Brigade reel, the coffin being covered with floral tributes, whilst in addition were the deceased fireman's helmet and coat and sundry medals won by him in various competitions.
His rifle linked him with the Rifle Club and his brass musical instrument with the brass band. The latter body headed the procession, followed by the reel and firemen in uniform; next came a contingent of riflemen with reversed rifles, a number in uniforms and others in civilian dress. Then followed pedestrians, vehicles etc.
The Dead March was played to within a short distance of the cemetery, and the impressive cortege was accompanied by a large crowd. The burial service was read by the Rev Father Mahony, and at its conclusion Captain Cairnes called upon the riflemen to fire three volleys over their deceased comrade's grave. This concluded the pathetic ceremony. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. W.B Cairnes."
Also in the same edition of the Yarrawonga Chronicle was the following 'Bereavement Card' in the advertisement columns:
"Mr and Mrs SHERIDAN and family beg to return their most sincere thanks to those kind friends and acquaintances who sent condolences, floral tributes etc to them in their late bereavement. Also the members of the Brass Band, Fire Brigade and Rifle Club for the very graceful tribute paid by them to their departed comrade."
The above photo of John (who was known as 'Jack'), which was taken in the 1890s and shows him in his full Yarrawonga Fire Brigade Uniform, reveals him to be a very handsome man. he was a cricketer, a member of the local brass band, a top rifle shot and a much-decorated member of the Yarrawonga Fire Brigade. All of which adds to the tragedy of the fact that John Sheridan died on September 2, 1900, at the young age of 29 years.
An article in the Yarrawonga Chronicle from September 4, 1900, tells the sad tale...
"NEWS OF THE WEEK.
It is our painful duty this week to have to record the death of Mr. John F. Sheridan who since September 1897 has held the chief position on the mechanical staff of the Chronicle. For several weeks past the deceased, who is a son of Mr. Nicholas Sheridan, of this town, had been invalided from work with a bad leg, the result of an injury sustained last December in the prosecution of his duties as a member of the local Fire Brigade at a fire in this town. Whether this injury was the direct cause of his death is not quite clear, but the injured leg became so bad that he was obliged to lay up with it. He appeared to be getting on very well and was on the point of returning to work when he was seized with a sort of paralysis which, fluctuating in a peculiar manner, ultimately extended right up the left side of his head. He remained in a semi-conscious condition for a little over a week, when the paralysis suddenly assumed an acute phase and he succumbed on Sunday morning at an early hour.
The deceased was a very capable workman and enjoyed the absolute confidence of his employer. He was also a zealous fireman, being the oldest member of the Brigade in the town; one of the foremost members and best shots in the Rifle Club, a prominent and valued member of the Brass band and an enthusiastic cricketer.
His untimely death, therefore, at the age of 29 years, is a source of deep regret to all with whom he had been a co-worker and an associate. Deceased had insured his life for 100 pounds in the A.M.P Society.
His remains will be accorded a fireman's funeral today, and the firemen, and bandsmen, are requested to meet at the Fire Station at 2:30 sharp and riflemen at the Athenaeum at the same hour. The cortege will leave Murphy Street at 3 o'clock. The body will be conveyed to the cemetery on the Fire Brigade Reel, and the Brass Band members, members of the Rifle Club etc, will take part in the procession."
A week later, on September 11, 1900, the following report of John's funeral was printed in the Chronicle:
"NEWS OF THE WEEK.
The remains of the late Mr. John F. Sheridan were interred in the Yarrawonga Cemetery on Tuesday last. The funeral was one of the most impressive ever seen in Yarrawonga. The body was conveyed to the last resting place on the Fire Brigade reel, the coffin being covered with floral tributes, whilst in addition were the deceased fireman's helmet and coat and sundry medals won by him in various competitions.
His rifle linked him with the Rifle Club and his brass musical instrument with the brass band. The latter body headed the procession, followed by the reel and firemen in uniform; next came a contingent of riflemen with reversed rifles, a number in uniforms and others in civilian dress. Then followed pedestrians, vehicles etc.
The Dead March was played to within a short distance of the cemetery, and the impressive cortege was accompanied by a large crowd. The burial service was read by the Rev Father Mahony, and at its conclusion Captain Cairnes called upon the riflemen to fire three volleys over their deceased comrade's grave. This concluded the pathetic ceremony. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. W.B Cairnes."
Also in the same edition of the Yarrawonga Chronicle was the following 'Bereavement Card' in the advertisement columns:
"Mr and Mrs SHERIDAN and family beg to return their most sincere thanks to those kind friends and acquaintances who sent condolences, floral tributes etc to them in their late bereavement. Also the members of the Brass Band, Fire Brigade and Rifle Club for the very graceful tribute paid by them to their departed comrade."
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