Rediscovering Ginninderra:
Edward ('Ted') Alfred Boreham

Born: 1872; Died: 1951; Married: Louisa Cook

Edward ('Ted') Alfred Boreham was born in 1872 in Lower Boro in the Tarago district. His parents were Peter Boreham and Susan Cook of Lake Bathurst.

He married Louisa 'Lucy' Cook (also from Lower Boro). At the time of his marriage Edward was described as a grazier, age twenty one of 'Rotherwood', Tarago.In 1893 the young Borehams moved into the old Ward family homestead of 'Nine Elms' at Ginninderra. They had at least three children there: Heric (1895-1929), Alice (1897-1979) and Clarice (1893-1949). In 1913 Boreham also briefly leased 'Deasland' when the Harcourts left the district, but he did not live there himself; instead, putting in a manager named Harris to run the station for him.

At some stage, the Borehams relocated back to Tarago. It is thought that they took over the property of his parents, Peter and Susan Boreham. However, a Canberra Times report of 1949 records Boreham's retirement after twenty-six years service as mailman 'on the Gundaroo Lane':

Mailman Retires After 26 Years

Thanks for 26 years service as mailman along the Gundaroo Lane and as good neighbour to the community of Ginninderra were extended yesterday by the residents of the district to Mr. E. Boreham, and shared by Mrs. Boreham.

More than 20 people gathered at the Boreham homestead to toast their health. Mr. E. Cavanagh, Mr. R. O'Sullivan, Mr. H. E. Curran and Mr.C. J. Shakespeare spoke of the 26 years in which Mr. and Mrs. Boreham had served the community as good neighbours in the highest tradition. Many incidents were recalled of good deeds done, not only to man but also to stock, and the fine example they had been to younger people.

Mr. R. O'sullivan conveyed a message from Mr. R. Wilson, district postal inspector, expressing appreciation of the P.M.G. on the loyal service given by Mr. Boreham. Mrs. R. R. Clayton recalled the part Mrs. Boreham had played in partnering Mr. Boreham in his mail duties. The service they gave, she said, was, unique. Weather was allowed never to interfere with deliveries, and parcels, large and small - even a bag of chaff or a turkey - came along at no extra charge.
On behalf of those served on the mail route she presented Mr. Boreham with an electric radiator and to Mrs. Boreham a reading lamp. Mr. Shrimpton [son-in-law, married Clarice-Ed.] responded on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Boreham. [Canberra Times 20 June 1949, p. 2]

Beyond his mail duties and his farming work, Ted Boreham was primarily known in the district as a trotting enthusiast, winning a number of races and breeding trotters that were sold across the country. He is reported as having a little trouble with the law for drinking and in running sheep with an 'unrecorded' brand, but he mostly led a quiet life.

Boreham died in August 1951 and is buried with Lucy (who died in 1966) in Hall Cemetery.

Daughter Clarice (1893-1949) and her husband Frederick Cecil Shrimpton (1889-1960) were also both buried at Hall cemetery. Earlier, Shrimpton was farewelled along with the Kilby brothers at Hall in June 1918 and embarked for Europe in September 1918. However he was offloaded in Fremantle suffering from gastritis and was discharged as medically unfit.

Heric also enlisted. Sometimes referred to as 'Eric', he enlisted on 28 September 1915 at 20 years of age and sailed from Sydney on 3 February 1916 as part of the 14th reinforcements for the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment but transferred to an artillery unit after reaching Egypt. He served in the 5th Division artillery with the 14th Field Artillery Brigade and the 13th Field Artillery Brigade in Belgium and on the Western Front. He was discharged on 14 October 1919.

Post-war he worked as a groom at the Royal Military College, Duntroon during 1921 and 1922. He married Mary Maxwell in Queanbeyan in 1921 and they had two sons who both served in World War 2. He later lived with his family at Russell Hill (also known as 'Poverty Gully' but nowadays as Campbell) in the late 1920s. Heric Boreham died on 29 April 1929 and was buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Queanbeyan.