Sailing was a large part of my Grandfather’s live and he lived not far from Bulimba, the neighbouring suburb Morningside. The famous marine architect Ben Lexcen (previously known as Bob Miller), moved to the Bulimba sailing club making history with his design for Taipan leading to the design for the winged keel of Australia II – the first non-American yacht in 132 years to win the America’s Cup.
Australian Maritime Museum’s painstaking restored the late Ben Lexicon’s Taipan. Bob Miller he moved to Brisbane in 1958 to work at Norman Wright’s Bulimia boatyard.In 1959 his new 18-foot lightweight, skiff designs were roomy wooden boats, easier to manage and with a crew of five reduced to three.
William McMahon’s (Hilary O’Leary’s father and my grandfather) sister, Josie married Joe and they had a son Joe who is Hilary’s cousin and my second cousin.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”
“For the Fallen” by the English poet and writer Laurence Binyon
Dad’s father, James O’Leary
My Grandfather, Pop, James O’Leary and my Uncle Matt
John was born in Brisbane and is a descendant of the Kooma Tribe from South Western Queensland. He is a self taught artist, started painting in February 2003 and paints in the traditional manner of the desert people using a stick. John designs textiles for a Us company and has his own range of Pure Silk Scarves. The highest amount John has received at auction by Sotheby’s in 2007 was US$7,000.00.
John Weeronga Bartoo lives at Elbow Valley near Warwick Queensland. He paints Original Aboriginal Dot Paintings. John has his own Home Gallery at 50 Woods Road, Elbow Valley
My niece Katrina dancing
at the Swingsation 2012 Invitational – Ben Morris and Katrina Ostrenski
BUCK’S SCRIPT WRITING
for ‘Bogey Men’ and ‘The Art of Farewell’
with Wolsey played by my cousin Ben O’Leary in ‘Bogey Men’
The Art of Farewell’ IMDB and the Australian 2001 Tropfest Film Festival
HELEN O’LEARY
‘A VIEW FROM MOVING WINDOWS’ with cast including, my cousin, Helen O’Leary
Helen O’Leary nominated for 2012 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Actress in an Independent Production for God’s Ear and winner of the Sydney Fringe Award for My Paris 2011, returns to 505 with her brand new work Last. Helen is an arresting performer and watching her in her devised works is a very special treat.
if today was your
LAST
how would you make it ?
on the eve of christmas last december
a friend walked into the sea naked
and took her own life
mortality came crashing into consciousness
to live to die
to stay afloat to surrender
to laugh to weep
what a bag of tricks is this thing we call life
the juxtaposition of life forces and death forces
this show poses the question ‘ what’s the punchline ?’
My cousin, Christen in the Bombshells at the Opera House
and travelling nationally.
Six women on the brink. Which one are you?
Multi-award winning Australian playwright and author Joanna Murray-Smith’s highly acclaimed play Bombshells is a journey from crisis to hilarity, via the secret thoughts of a group of women all linked by more than just their proximity to the edge.
With singing, dancing, comedy and the joys of sheer honesty, this extraordinary one-woman show strips back the façade to reveal the things that sometimes, we’d just love to say out loud.
Bombshells stars powerhouse performer Christen O’Leary. A critically acclaimed stage actor, Christen is a winner of the coveted Helpmann Award and has been nominated for seven Green Room Awards, winning twice.
Queensland Theatre Company production ‘Bombshells’
17 March – 21 April Cremorne Theatre Brisbane
From the writer of Female of the Species, Rockabye, and Ninety comes Bombshells, a cheeky, insightful and salaciously entertaining look at the inner thoughts of the modern Australian woman.
In a series of vignettes we’re introduced to six colourfully complex characters who are all on the brink of falling apart. Christen O’Leary is a singing, dancing and acting dynamo who plays a housewife running on empty, a cactus-loving divorcee, an anxious bride, a Glee Club wannabe, a yearning sexagenarian, and a cabaret diva singing her last hurrah.
Bombshells is a witty, funny and intimate theatre romp, jam-packed with vitality and vivacious storytelling. An affirmation of the anxieties, emotions and fantasies of everyday heroines.
Old times with a special friend from our high school days, Paul Rogers
and have stayed in touch over the years.
Neil, Paul’s cousin, Therese, Anna and Paul at Paul’s 21st get together at his home with his Mum, Joyce in Neutral Bay. The year?? Maybe better not to say.
Laurel Vogi’s beautiful paintings
More of Laurel’s paintings can be seen by either clicking here or going to travel>asia>japan and are part of the slide show from the trip Mum and I did to Japan.
Hi my name is Deborah Reilly my mother was Elizabeth O’Leary. She passed away in 1966…I know her mother’s name was Mary and her dads name was William Werner O’Leary…are we related
Congratulations Therese i was looking for mum and her book on the web and thanks to you i found her . Thanks for that
By Christine on July 15, 2013 at 9:07 PM
Hi my name is Deborah Reilly my mother was Elizabeth O’Leary. She passed away in 1966…I know her mother’s name was Mary and her dads name was William Werner O’Leary…are we related
By Deb Reilly on September 19, 2021 at 1:53 PM
I’d like to contact Hilary to inform her that her friend Shirley Grieve has passed away.
Mike Grieve
By Mike Grieve on April 16, 2023 at 4:45 PM