Manning Valley Historical Society

Joe Cordner - Irish Immigrant

 

Joe Cordner (1899-1973)

Joe Cordner (pictured right in 1946) was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1899, the eldest of four boys and five girls. 

 

Joseph Henry Cordner Snr, with Joe (aged 5) and sister Ethel (aged 3)

Eighteen-year-old Joe (centre) with his brother Edward (aged 15) and his father, the pilot.

Joe's father was a tinsmith, carriage proprietor, a cycle merchant and an aeroplane builder.  

There have been claims that Joe Cordner Snr was the first Irishman to fly a plane in 1908,
but it is generally acknowledged that Harry Ferguson had that honour in 1909.  It is possible 
Joe Senior may have made an unofficial flight (without witnesses) in 1908.  

This matter is discussed (about 20 minutes) by Irish flight historian, Michael Clarke.  
Click on the plane photo to go to the BBC website and listen to the discussion (and scroll down).

Joe Senior flew the first airmail service in Ireland, and flew an air passenger service to Portrush, 
as well as delivering papers by air.

 

In 1922 Joe married Violet Buchanan who was born in Milford, County Donegal in Eire.  They began their married life in Londonderry, and had two daughters, Joy and Hilva.

Violet, born in 1902, was Presbyterian with Scottish ancestry, while Joe was Church of England, but also had some Spanish blood.

In the same year as their marriage, Violet's father was bashed and killed by the IRA.

With poor economic conditions in Northern Ireland, Joe and Violet, with their two daughters, emigrated to Australia (their passport photo is right).  They left Tilbury Docks on March 6, 1926 and arrived in Sydney on April 15 on the  SS Orama.  The fare was £38 ($76).  

Violet's cousin, Sam Patterson, sponsored them to Australia.  They lived briefly at Roseville and Bondi.  Joe worked for Bennett & Woods.

Violet was dismayed that homes were built with timber and had iron roofs.  In Ireland, the houses were stone and had slate or shingle roofs.

 

Joe moved to Wingham in 1926 as the foreman of Huggett’s Eclipse Garage, on the corner of Primrose and Isabella Streets.

In 1927, Joe then decided to go into business for himself, opening the Broadway Garage (pictured above) in Isabella Street opposite the Dr Kelly Memorial in Central Park.  Broadway Motors was opened for three years before the Great Depression made it difficult for customers to pay their repair bills.  With insufficient money coming in, Joe had to close the business.  Joe was the first in the Valley to be the NRMA representative.

Joe was joined in Wingham by his siblings, Edward, Thomas, Wilford and Eveline, but each later left the Valley.

Joe with his Indian Scout motorcycle in 1932.
He was an active member of the Wingham Motor
Cycle Club.

 

Joe at the rear of Broadway Motors with his Erskine Six which he used for his part-time hire car service.

 

A picnic at Charity Creek 1928. 

Joe, Violet, Joy, Hilva, Lyle James (in car), a friend of Joy, Judy James, Marjorie Moore, Mrs James, Mr and Mrs Moore.

The first child was named Josephine Henrietta, after her father, was always called Joy.  The second was named Violet Hilvardine, after her mother, but called Hilva.  The third was Maureen Yvonne, known as Yvonne and born in Wingham, then Gladys and finally a boy, Joseph Henry Marsden Cordner, but called Marsden.

 

Picnic at Old Bar.  Joe and Violet with baby Yvonne, Hilva and Joy.

Joe participating in a May Day procession in Taree.

 

Joe Cordner, centre, with Marsden (5 years old) and two customers outside his 
service station in High Street.  The business was there from 1930 to 1944.

After closing the High Street service station, Joe moved to Short Street, Taree, and built a garage next door.

Joe regularly stood as an independent candidate in both State and Federal elections, but did not actually campaign he considered it his hobby).

 

 

Celebrating Violet's 100th birthday at Wingham Court Hostel in 2002. 

Front:  Joy and Violet
Back:  Marsden, Gladys, Hilva and Yvonne.

 

Violet died in 2003.  Joe died in 1973.

 

 

 

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