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Wong Hee, Hannah Christina (1872 - 1898)

Born
11 May 1872
Percyvale (Fiddler's Creek), Victoria, Australia
Died
20 August 1898
Banyena, Victoria, Australia
Alternative Names
  • Rogasch, Hannah Christina (married name)
  • Wong Hee, Hannah Christina (also used)

Details

Hannah Christina Wong Hee was the second child of William Wong Hee and Sarah (nee Reeve). She was born on the 11 May 1872 at Percydale, Avocashire, Victoria.

At the age of 17, Hannah married Freidrich Ernst Rogasch at her parents home by the Methodist Minister, William Gould. The certificate dated 1 July 1889 was issued in the District of Murtoa, Number 48 in Register. Ernie was aged 29 and his profession was recorded as laborer.

Hannah and Ernie had six children. Sadly Hannah died of Phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) approximately five weeks after giving birth to her sixth child Flora (full name Christina Ruby Florence). At the age of six months Flora was adopted by Ernie's brother Heinrich Adolph Rogasch and his wife Pauline, who had just lost their only child, a daughter, soon after her birth. It is thought that Hannah's other four surviving children were raised in very early years by their German grandmother Anna Rogasch (nee Bretag) in Tanunda, South Australia where they attended the Angaston School.

Hannah's death certificate states she died on 20 August 1898. She was buried at 4pm in the Burrum Burrum Cemetery at Banyena on 22 August 1898 in grave site number 397. She was aged 26 years at the time of her death.

In recent times there was only a small mound of earth left to indicate where Hannah's grave number 397 was located. On 20 August 1998, the 100 Year anniversary of Hannah's death, Vic and Denise Schreiber placed a memorial plaque on her previously unmarked grave from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. A small family reunion of the participating descendants in the memorial was held at St Arnaud on the weekend of October 16 to 18 to commemorate the anniversary. Attendees were Lynda Rogasch, Ken Rogasch, Mavis Pobke, Joy Beck, Esther Dahhlenburg, and Denise and Vic Schreiber.

Sources used to compile this entry: Victorian birth, deaths and marriages, 18551 (and Percydale District register 35), Married District of Murtoa 48 and 10740.

Prepared by: Lynda Rogasch

Created: 24 June 2011, Last modified: 18 May 2012