Obituary of Judith Meehan Bourke

OBITUARY.

There passed away early on Monday morning last at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Mannix, Burramine, one of the old pioneers of Victoria in the person of Mrs. Judith Bourke, mother of Messrs Michael (NSW), Patrick (Burramine), John (Youarang), Edward (Kilmore) and Mrs. Mannix (Burramine).
The deceased lady, who at the time of her death was ninety years of age, was a remarkable active woman, and enjoyed rare good health until some time back when she had the misfortune to sustain a severe fall whilst on a visit to her son at Kilmore.
She never completely recovered from the effects of this accident, and no doubt her death was greatly accelerated thereby.
The late Mrs. Bourke, with her husband, landed in Victoria from Tipperary, Ireland, in 1841, and after a few years residence in Melbourne they settled down in Kilmore as far back as 1846.
Mr. Bourke died in Kilmore in September 1853, and in 1873 Mrs. Bourke removed to Burramine where her family selected land on the River Murray where they have continued to reside almost without interruption.
The deceased lady, who was a fine type of the early pioneers, had a family connection of 46 grandchildren, of whom 31 survive, and 12 great-grandchildren, 10 of whom are surviving.
The internment took place on Tuesday in the Burramine Cemetery, the hearse being followed by upwards of seventy vehicles and a number of horsemen. The funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr. Cairnes, Yarrawonga, and the solemn service for the dead was read by Father Madden, P.P.”

- From the ‘Moira Independent’, Tungamah, September 30, 1904.

Also from the Kilmore Free Press:
" OBITUARY: At the ripe old age of 90 years Mrs Judith Bourke died at Burramine a few days ago. The lady named, who settled at Bylands in 1846, rearing a large family, left the district about 30 years ago and settled with other members of the family in Burramine district. She was well-respected, and many old Kilmore residents will bear her in kindly remembrance."
- Kilmore Free Press, Thursday 6 October 1904.