Roseanne Rooney
Saint Josephs Catholic Cemetery Forth
20 Dec 1880
Age 16 years
William Rooney
Saint Josephs Catholic Cemetery Forth
1 May 1880
Age 27 years
Daniel Rooney
Saint Josephs Catholic Cemetery Forth
Died 26th Apr 1919
Age 98 years
Mr. Daniel Rooney, the oldest resident of Forth, North West Coast, attains his 90th year today. “Dan,” as he is familiarly called, is a wonderful man in his way and there is none of that extreme feebleness about him which usually accompanies such a great age. There is yet a glow in the old man’s cheek and a sparkle in his eye. Dan, who was born at Blackrock County, Dublin, Ireland, is about 70 years in Tasmania. He has spent about 60 years or more of that time about the Forth and the country close handy and many a tale of the old days Dan can tell with a touch of humour that is all his own. Mr. Rooney is a great favourite with the Forthites and he is sure to be wished many happy returns of the day on this his 90th birthday. Dan expects to round off 100 years and says he has no idea of dying in his prime!
The Zeehan & Dundas Herald 17th March 1913
Dan Rooney, of Forth, N. W. Coast, celebrated his 98th birthday on Monday. The veteran was born near Dublin and has been in Australia for something approaching 80 years. It is about 60 years since he “crossed the River” (meaning his advent in the Forth district), and, in his own words, “there were very few people about then.” He has been a resident of the district ever since. There is no birthday gift which Dan more admires that a national emblem and a pint of whisky. He intends to see a century out and doesn’t see why he shouldn’t.
The Zeehan & Dundas Herald 20th March 1919
DEATH
ROONEY - On April 26, 1919, at Forth, Daniel Rooney, aged 98 years R.I.P.
The Advocate 28th April 1919
FUNERAL
The funeral of the late Daniel Rooney will leave the Bridge Hotel, Forth, at 3 p.m. this day (Monday), for the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Forth. J. Dooley, Undertaker.
The Advocate 28th April 1919
FORTH
Nonagenarian Passes - The death occurred on Saturday of Mr. Daniel Rooney, at the advanced age of 98 years. Deceased was one of the oldest men on the Coast and was deeply respected by all who knew him. He came to Tasmania in the earliest days and was right through the penal settlements at Norfolk Island and Port Arthur. Therefore he had a knowledge of Tasmanian history practically from its inception. He was a keen student of Jewish history and other works for scholars, which he was able to quote in a remarkable degree. He married a clergyman's daughter and there were several children. All predeceased him. For many years he had been residing with friends at Forth. The funeral is appointed to take place at the Catholic Cemetery this afternoon. The oldest resident now on the Coast is Mr. H. Radford, of Parkham. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 1915, and therefore in his 104th year.
The Advocate 28th April 1919
A FORTH PIONEER
Passing of Mr. Dan Rooney.
Regret was expressed on al sides yesterday at the death of Mr. Dan Rooney, of Forth, as announced in our issue of yesterday. Writing in a mainland journal some years ago, a close friend of Dan's said:-
Dan Rooney is not the oldest man of Forth, but he is getting on. His age is between 90 and 100. But in some respects he is the "grand old man" of Forth. His eye is not dim, his speech, though not very vigorous, does not falter and his hearing is good. He walks with a stick about the streets. Dan was "helped out" in those bad old days when history began for Tasmania - or for Van Dieman's Land as it was then called. He makes no secret of the fact. Why should he? Better men - and worse - were likewise sent out! It was all on account of a brawl at Liverpool, that Dan was mixed up in. Perhaps on St. Patrick's Day, for it is on St. Patrick's Day, in the evening, that I am writing this - and Dan is down below (or was) among the boys, sporting his bit o' green; and when I put a bit of shamrock in my button hole and asked Dan was his eyesight good, he said it was - but he did not notice the sprig of shamrock - though it was his own growing - the real thing, too. Talking of eyesight, Dan is a great reader. Nothing comes amiss to him - from Deadwood Dick to the King of Books; which is the K. of B's? ask Dan. He had read it he tells me, from cover to cover and I told him- and it is true - that in my now long colonial experience of half a century, I had not met another man who could say as much. Think of it; it is to my shame, more than I can say myself. A truly omnivorous reader. He likewise read through Josephus (History of the Jews). Think that again. A book for scholars, the work of the great Jewish historian and even then those who have Josephus only dip into it in fragments. He could quote me its most vital paragraphs, too - "and about that time there lived a man called Jesus," etc. But when Dan got onto the days of the life in the early penal settlements at Norfolk Island and Port Arthur. Dan's language was quite vigorous enough, in a sense. I don't want to make reader's hair stand on end. Dan must be taken just as he is - and have I not written of him G.O.M. of E. Out of such a hell as he issued and became a free man the everlasting wonder is that he was not under the sod a generation ago. He must have had a constitution of iron. He tells a story of bare-backs that were so lacerated by inhuman flogging that no human eye could look upon and not shudder. Of a man who was shot in Victoria - at which convicts rejoiced. It is difficult to report Dan and not mention names; but there would be the devil to pay - and what else? if I reported Dan verbatim: and I know he tells the truth. There is a story of a man sent across to Sydney - all cases cases had to be tried there in those days. (Of course the man was innocent, you understand.) Dan knew him. It was a case of alleged cattle duffing and killing. The police had the case worked up to perfection; everything ready for judge and jury; when the case of skins was opened up, in the place of cow or sheep skins - only kangaroo pelts were opened up to the astonished jury! Dan is full of "copy" if he were only exploited. It is 60 years since he came to reside in this Arcadia. He married long ago the daughter of a Presbyterian clergyman, but his children and his wife have passed away.
The funeral took place at the Roman Catholic Cemetery yesterday afternoon when there was a large attendance of residents and friends. The Rev. Father O'Reilly read the burial service and the pall bearers were Messrs. H. Blair, P. Kenny, C. Williams and A. Dudfield.
The Advocate 29th April 1919