St John’s Catholic Cemetery – Kapunda: 
Burial Records: Old and Early Section:
 D-H

Researched and compiled by Peter Swann

I would like to acknowledge the support of local historian and former caretaker of St John’s Cemetery, Peter Swann for supplying the cemetery records, and his ongoing support. 

     Surname                      Christian Names                      Age            Date of Death       Row/ Location

 The Myths of St Johns

 

St John's Cemetery and the reformatory ruins have attracted a great deal of attention over the years, from ghost stories in True Barossa Ghosts (gathered with good spirit) by Valerie Laughton to documentaries by Warwick Moss, plus websites, Facebook pages, you-tube videos and newspaper stories.

Research is being conducted by many paranormal teams, genealogists, independent researchers, paranormal enthusiasts and a myriad of journalists, reporters, and authors. Many of the stories currently found, particularly on the internet, are grossly distorted, personal points of view or lies. It isn't hard to dig for the truth about the place or its people, one only needs to venture into the Kapunda Public library or the museum archives to find the facts.

 

 Sorting fact from fiction. 

It is my goal to educate the masses of people interested in this location with facts, not rumours, innuendo, or fiction.

Here are some of the rumours and fiction I have come across on the internet and through hearing stories from the public at the Cemetery.

 

·       Father Martin Murdered Ruby Bland - Myth

·       Father Martin Got Ruby Bland Pregnant - Myth

·       Babies were thrown in the reformatory furnace - Myth

·       Ruby hung herself - Myth

·       Vera was in the reformatory - Myth

·       A girl hung herself from the palm tree - Myth

·       A girl hung herself on the large tree in the field - Myth

·       The Girls were placed in the reformatory for being pregnant - Myth

·       Father Martin and nuns conducted abortions - Myth

·       Father Martin became crazed and killed everyone on-site, then himself - Myth

·       Nuns were killed - Myth

 

Obviously, some of these rumours are far-fetched, some plain ridiculous, but all fuel the urban legend being perpetuated by misinformed individuals. I believe it is part of our job as Paranormal Investigators to educate people about the truth of this, and other locations, and to instate a feeling of respect for the cemetery and the people buried within, who all once lived, and now only have a tombstone to mark their life story.

The Truth:

• FACT - Father Martin did not kill Ruby Bland - Ruby died in the Kapunda Hospital from complications of what equates today to "gall bladder stones".
• FACT   - No Girls died whilst in the reformatory.
• FACT   - Ruby DID NOT die from hanging.
• FACT - Vera was born after the reformatory had closed and was a local celebrity of sorts whose life can easily be traced in the Museum.
• 
  
• FACT - No one was hung from the palm tree - it would be mighty difficult to do so.... think about it.
• 
  
•  FACT - The large tree in the middle of the field has been estimated to not be old enough to have been there at the time of the reformatory. This rules out that tree being a "hanging tree".
• 
  
• FACT - There are no records of girls being placed in the reformatory for being pregnant; girls in such a state would have been placed in the Women's Asylum ( now the Migration Museum). Instead, girls in the Reformatory were usually in for breaking curfew and petty crimes.
• 
  
• FACT - Father Martin died of Senile Inertia, meaning, he became so senile he could no longer fend for himself, letters held by Peter Swann show that the Father lived on in the Presbytery of the Reformatory for another ten years after it closed, Former interns (girls) often came to check on him and help feed him, he died alone in his bed. He killed no one, although his state of mind is questioned in newspaper reports; it is because of his senility, not because he was a crazed schizophrenic madman; he was a man slowly losing who he was.
• 
  
• FACT - Nuns were never killed at the reformatory; however, at least one Nun is buried in the Cemetery who had worked at St John's, but she died of natural causes and also worked at St Rose of Lima and the local Nunnery.
• 
  
• FACT - Ruby Bland was not one of the 87 Reformatory Girls who resided in the Reformatory over a span of 20 odd years.
• 
  
• FACT - Ruby Bland was a NURSE in Kapunda hospital. (documented in her sister's diary).
• 
  
• FACT - The Reformatory had been earmarked to close on the date of its closure 6 months previously, as stated publicly in South Australian Parliament records!

 

If you hear of any other crazy rumours or stories, please let me know by emailing eidolon@live.com.au, and I will get to the bottom of it!

Kapunda Biographies: Ellen Benham

Ellen Ida Benham

On March 12th 1871, just outside Kapunda, in the town of Allen's Creek, was born Ellen Ida Benham. The third of eleven children born to Aimie and William Huggins Benham.
 Ellen's father was a solicitor and could afford a better-than-average education for his children. Ellen was sent to Kapunda Model School for her education, and later to The Adelaide Advanced School for Girls, where she was under the tutelage of the headmistress, Rees George.
 Ellen then went on to study at the University of Adelaide in 1889 and graduated with a B.Sc in 1892. Ellen returned to Kapunda to teach, as headmistress for the Anglican Christ Church Parish for two years, before moving to Europe in 1895 to continue her studies.

Upon her return, Ellen taught science at the Dryburgh House School from 1896 through 1900, then at Tormore House School in North Adelaide
 In 1901, Ellen was approached by the University of Adelaide's Professor Ralph Tate to take over his botany lectures as he was unwell; later that same year he died. Ellen held the position of lecturer at the University from 1902 until 1911. She also, at times, held the roles of “Head Of Department”, “Sole Lecturer” and “Keeper Of the Herbarium”.
Ellen visited England in 1908 to attend Oxford and complete a Diploma of Education, returning the following year to Adelaide to continue at the University.



In 1906, the South Australian government appointed her to reorganise the botany curriculum and to classify a major collection of flora and fauna presented to the Herbarium

In 1912, Ellen bought Walford School in Malvern and turned it into one of the most successful schools in the state. The school thrived under her leadership and became known as the Walford Church of England Girls Grammar School.
 Ellen's aim was to educate girls to “become a useful and effective woman in whatever position she may have to fill”.   Ellen achieved this by offering a well-balanced education that included hockey, tennis and cricket matches for the girls. She also incorporated a 'prefect' system, and a willingness to communicate with parents of children about how to effectively teach each child using “the right adjustment of work to the physical and mental powers of the children”.
Ellen also gave the school its motto “Virtute et Veritate.” - “With Truth And Courage”



Ellen's achievements were vast. She helped to found “The Women's Student Club” and “The Women's Graduate Club”, being the first recognised female academic in South Australia and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree.
 Ellen Benham has been honoured by Adelaide University with the naming of the “Benham Building” which houses the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and with the Benham Lecture Theatre.
Ellen is also honoured at the Walford Church of England Girls' Grammar School with the “Benham Wing”

Benham Building, University of Adelaide

Miss Ellen Benham died on April 27th 1917, of a hepatic abscess (an abdominal infection caused by appendicitis) in Adelaide and was interred in Christ Church Cemetery, Kapunda.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2012.