Rediscovering Ginninderra:
John Carpenter Tickner

Born: 1881; Died: 1951; Married: Selina Halls Holgate

The Tickner family were of English origins. Peter Tickner of Guildford, Surrey (1815-1854) married Mary Ann Carpenter (1818-1897) of Leeds, Yorkshire in 1836. They emigrated to Australia on the 'Florist' three years later in 1839. The first two of their four children – Edward and Robert – were born in Kent; Charlotte and Richard were born in Camden, NSW.

Richard, the youngest (1843-1925) married Anne Emily Nettleton in 1867, and they had ten children between 1968 and 1889. Richard's passing in 1951 was reported as follows:

The death occurred in Goulburn on Monday of Mr Richard Tickner a well-known and highly respected resident of the district. The deceased was 81 years of age. A native of Camden he had lived about the Goulburn parts for over 60 years. In the early days he followed the occupation of carrier and used to drive his team between Sydney and Goulburn before the railway came to that city. Later he lived in the Bungonia district where he engaged in grazing pursuits. The late Mr Tickner was the head of the well-known cricketing family and for over a decade during which he led a retired life he had been enthusiastic of the popular summer game in Goulburn. The deceased leaves a widow and five sons and three daughters. The sons are Messrs Peter (Forbes), Joseph (Penrose), John (Gininderra), William (Goulburn), and George (Forbes). Mesdames J Calthorpe and T Calthorpe (Sydney) and C Marsh (Kangaroo Valley) are the daughters. [Queanbeyan Canberra Advocate 8.1.1925].

It was Richard's sons, John Carpenter and Willam Charles who brought the family name to Ginninderra.

A farmer, in the early thirties John was the lessee of 'Horse Park', once the Gillespie family home, and it is reported that in 1923 he was honorary secretary of the Advance Hall and District Association [Gillespie:165]. The Association changed its name in 1930 to 'Federal Capital Territory Pastoral and Agricultural Association', and Tickner became President in 1932. In 1925 he and his brother William Charles were elected as members of the Weetangera Branch of the Farmers and Settlers Association. He was clearly active in 'agri-politics' of the day. William and John were also both members of the Hall cricket team.

In 1906 John married Selina ('Lena') Halls Holgate, who was born in Crookwell in 1882. They had three children – Gwyneth Eileen (1907-1974), Thelma A. (1907-1993), and Noel Granville (1922-1975). Daughters Thelma and Gwyneth were pupils at Mulligans Flat school around 1920. Lena passed away in 1957:

The death occurred at the Canberra Community Hospital early yesterday morning of Mrs. Lena Tickner, widow of Mr. J C. Tickner. Mrs. Tickner, who was 74 years of age, had lived in the Canberra district for the past 40 years. She was born at Crookwell, and prior to her marriage lived at Ryde Park, near Boorowa.
In 1916, she came to 'Horse Park' in the Ginninderra district, where she resided until she moved to Canberra in 1927. For the past five years she has lived with her daughter, Mrs. Clyde Kilby, at Parkwood, Wallaroo.

Mrs. Tickner was actively engaged in the work of the Canberra Horticultural Society from its foundation until 1937. She was also a member of the women's organisations of the Reid Methodist Church.

Mrs. Tickner is survived by two daughters, Gwen (Mrs. Clyde Kilby, of Hall), and Thelma (Mrs. E. L. Vercoe, of Melbourne) and one son (Noel, of Sydney).
The funeral will leave the Reid Methodist Church, after a service commencing at 10.30 a.m. to-morrow morning.

Daughter Gwyneth married Clyde Redvers Kilby in 1931: Mr Selby Kilby brother of the bridegroom acted in the capacity of best man while Mr Bruce Kilby was groomsman... The reception was held in the Sunday School Hall [at Reid Methodist church]... Later the happy couple journeyed by car to Canberra Railway Station and thence by train to Sydney and the Blue Mountains where the honeymoon was spent... Mr and Mrs Kilby's future home is at Parkwood, Hall. [Queanbeyan Age 30.6.1931]

Son Noel Granville married Betty Joyce, daughter of Mr and Mrs McKee of Kingston in 1943, whilst serving with the RAAF. From 1948 to 1953 they lived at Hall; the 1954 Electoral Roll identifies him as a poultry farmer in Hall, but at the time of his mother's funeral in 1957 he was living in Sydney.

John's brother William Charles married Ida Gertrude Russell in 1932. He died in 1956 and was remembered as an outstanding cricketer:

'The death occurred yesterday of Mr William Charles Tickner 72 after a long illness at Canberra Community Hospital. His wife is also a patient at the hospital. Mr Tickner was one of the best known sportsmen in the district having been Curator at Manuka Oval for a number of years. He was an outstanding cricketer having played several matches against visiting international teams at Goulburn. A highlight was collecting Jack Hobb's wickets with his spinners when the latter was at the peak of his career. As well as representing the ACT Mr Tickner was secretary of the Southern Districts & ACT Cricket Council in its early years. [Queanbeyan Age 13.3.1956]