NAA: A659, 1941/1/5649
Moebus, Wilhelmena
Digital copy - 364247
| Occupation as written | Married woman but living apart from him |
| Standardised occupation | XX00: Other - Other |
| Application received | 24 Jan 1912 |
| Application status |
Multiple applications |
| Official | |
| Date of approval or denial | 27 Jul 1912 |
| Date of final conclusion | 13 Aug 1913 |
| If rejected, why? | 1912 rejected as convicted of offence; 1913 approved for hardship |
| Birthplace as written | Noistadt, Rade Province, Germany |
| Modern country | Germany |
| Age on application | 66 |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 30 |
| Port of Departure | None |
| Port of Arrival | None |
| Date of arrival | None |
| Name of ship | None |
| Address in Australia | Newton Street, Auburn, Sydney |
| Address State | New South Wales |
| Time at address | |
| Previous address 1 | Cue |
| Address State | Western Australia |
| Time at address | |
| Married | Yes |
| Children | Yes |
5: 4 males, 1 female. 2 males and 1 female in South Australia. 1 male Sydney. One male Bunbury, WA |
| Name of reference | John Teahan |
| Occupation of reference | Sergeant of Police (Western Australia) |
| Marginalia description | |
| Police report attached | Yes |
| Link to other applicant | |
| Literate | Yes |
| Reason | Pension |
| Other information | Mrs A. Moeburn, to AH, 24 July 1912: 'She is now living with her married son in Auburn, and has no support only what we can give her and that is very little, as we have a family of our own' |
p.10 Sergeant of Police Certificate, 23/1/1912, Teahan has crossed out 'of good repute' and written 'who was on the 17th day of February 1909 at the Cue quarter-sessions sentences to five years imprisonment on a charge of arson, and who was discharged from Fremantle last on July 1911. Nothing known detrimental to her character previous to that time, or since her discharge.'
daughter-in-law, to AH, 24 July 1912, pp.7-8: 'obliged to leave Cue, on account of the bad times over there'
AH to DiL, 27 July 1912, p.6: she isn't entitled to Old Age Pension until 3 years after naturalisation. Get her to apply again in February 1914 - not clear why then.
Applicant to Hunt, 2 August 1912, p.4: 'Ever since I cam[e] to this country I struggled hard with my husband so as not to require an old age pension I reared a family of four boys and one girl all of which are in Australia fifteen years ago I was deserted by me husband, and the struggle became harder, I helft Victoria for W. Australia And tried to make a home in Cue for a while Cue flourished but of late years it has failed & what little property I have, I worked hard at the wash tub and general domestic duties for and at present the property is valueless I can not get an offer for any of it Now I am seeking help, from you, and am unable to get it through no fault of my own You will agree with me that naturalising was not enforced, nor even necessary when I came to Australia forty years ago, Sirs it is with regret that I am seeking your help, but what am I to do, I am at present staying with my second youngest son, who is a lbaourer with a wife and family to keep, Will you kindly give me another consideration If I failed to be not naturalized through not knowing the Laws of the country surely it should not defer me the pension which I am entitled to.'
AH, Memorandum for the Minister, 8 February 1912, p.3: notes that she was German, that she was sentenced in 1909 to 5 years but released in July 1911. 'The late Minister directed that applicants who have been convicted of an offence should not be naturalized until at least five years after.' Wants confirmation from new minister of policy. Signed 12/2/12
AH, Memorandum for the Minister, 9 August 1912, p.2: puts forward economic hardship and her early release from prison and asks if Minister wishes to 'waive the objection to the woman being nat' - approved, 13/8/12