Thomas (Con) Conal Boyle

• Birth Notes
  • Qld Birth Cert No. 1891/C621 states that, in 1891, Thomas Conall BOYLE was born in Queensland. His father's name was Edward BOYLE and his mother's name was Maria BOYLE (nee Lovett). 

• General Notes
  • At the time of his mother's death in 1927, Con (as he was known) resided in Rockhampton, Qld.
    The following text was supplied by Kate Boyle (Con’s daughter) from “Advance Australia” the official publication of the Knights of the Southern Cross.
    CERTIFICATE AWARD OF 5O YEARS MEMBERSHIP OF ORDER
    "At a recent meeting of Rockhampton, Queensland, Branch, held in the K.S.C.  meeting room, brother Thomas C. (Con) BOYLE was present~ with Life Membership, and a Fifty Years' Continuous member Certificate., having joined the Order in September 1929.
    Con was born in Bundaberg. Queensland on 22nd May 1891, the seventh son of Edward and Maria Boyle. Because of his father's occupation of Building Contractor the family moved around the state of Queensland and Con received his schooling in Bundaberg, Mt Morgan and at St Gregory Terrace in Brisbane. He studied Mechanical Engineering, Machine Construction Drawing and Design and Applied Mechanics at the Technical College in Mt. Morgan., and qualified by Department of Public Instruction Examination in 1908. He joined the Locomotive Branch of the Queensland Railways Department where he was employed for almost 48 years. He was appointed Locomotive Inspector in 1945, and Loco Foreman A Grade in 1952, which position he held until his retirement in 1957. During the course of his career he took out a Patent No.14312  for an Automatic Retaining Valve with differential pistons rather than springs, which made it impossible for the Westinghouse Air Brake to get out of control. Due to his early training in Mechanical Engineer he was, frequently called upon to investigate failures and break-downs. His advice was often sought by Loco Enginemen, and was freely and willingly given.
    He has been a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Cathedral Parish in Rockhampton for the past 60 years. From 1920 till almost 1950 he was violinist in the Cathedral Choir during the years that it was under the direction of the late Mr. Bill O'Doherty, who was also a member of the Order in Rockhampton. For years Con was an active member of the Holy Name Society, and the H.A.C.B.S. He was Secretary of the Catholic Taxpayers' Association in the years when Catholic Schools were fighting for their existence financially because they were denied Government Aid. He was also an active member of the Amalgamated Engineering Union and had many clashes with the Communists, whom he opposed bitterly in their efforts to take control of the Union. Con has three daughters, one in Rockhampton, and two married and living In Brisbane; he has two grandsons, one in the computer science field in Canberra, and the other a teacher within the Catholic Education System in Brisbane.
    Now at 89 years of age Con no longer attends Branch Meetings, but he happily participates in social events when occasion permits. His pride in membership of the Order, and his interest in its progress have never waned.
    In expressing his appreciation of the Life Membership and the presentation to him of the Certificate, he recalled the early exploits of the Rockhampton Branch – the achievements and the difficulties. He extolled the qualities of the members whose loyalty and indefatigable efforts fostered brotherhood and service within the Catholic community."

Details of Con's family with Jane Code