30 July 1873 Launceston Tasmania Australia John Rushfirth Claude Edward, Lois Marion & Edna Deardow (twins)

Mabel Elizabeth Julia Brooks was born in Launceston on 30 July 1873 to Edward Fawthrop Brooks (1840-1873) and Marion Eliza Flude who were married on 22 Aug 1871. Edward Brooks, clerk, died of phthisis on 13 July 1873 aged 33, 17 days before Mabel was born. This portrait is most likely to be the Miss Brooks who sang soprano in the Exhibition Choir in 1891-92.

Her mother, Marion Eliza Flude, was born on 28 Jan 1847 and died aged 72 on 6 Feb 1919. Her second marriage, on 3 Apr 1876, was to Herbert Tracey, chemist, with whom she had two children. Mary Ada was born on 19 May 1876 and Norma May, 8 May 1880. The couple later divorced. Her third husband was William Coogan, cabinet-maker and shopkeeper, alderman and later mayor of Launceston. They were married at the York St Baptist Manse. Marion and William Coogan had 5 children: Ida, born 26 Oct 1881; Arthur Flude, 1883 - 7 Oct 1941; Dagmar Flude, 1886 - 8 Jan 1972; Reginald Flude, 31 Jul 1888 and Clifford Flude, 3 Oct 1890 - 10 Aug 1960.

Mabel married John Rushfirth at Christ Church, South Yarra, Melbourne, on 18 Feb 1899. John, born in Rusbrick, Yorkshire, England, in 1873, was a son of Stephen and Hannah Rushfirth and brother of Henry who is pictured in the Family Album. Mabel and John's three children were born in Launceston: Claude, in 1901 and twins Lois and Edna, in 1904. John was the second secretary of the Invermay Bowling Club. Mabel died aged 72 on 20 Mar 1945 and was buried at the Carr Villa Cemetery. Her husband John had died 19 years earlier on 29 Jul 1926.

Adrian Morrison Aug 2005 & Marion Sargent Dec 2007