Person Page - 158

George Renison Bell (1840-1915), prospector and mine-manager, was born on 21 November 1840 at Bothwell, Van Diemen's Land, youngest of three children of George Bell (d.1852), a schoolmaster from Scotland, and his English-born wife Sarah, née Danby. Young Bell was educated at the Society of Friends' (Quaker) school in Hobart. In 1857 he joined his mother and sister at Dunedin, New Zealand, where he worked on a station, then joined the rush to the South Island gold diggings in 1861, beginning his lifelong passion for prospecting and mining.
Bell visited Tasmania for six months in 1864 and trekked around the island, including the unmapped west coast. Returning again in 1866 he prospected and panned for gold in the Mathinna area for three years. After consulting James 'Philosopher' Smith at Mount Bischoff, in 1874 Bell discovered payable alluvial tin at Boobyalla, which led to the tin-mining industry around Derby, Gladstone and Weldborough.
A student at the Ballarat School of Mines, Victoria, in 1876-77, he prospected on Wilsons Promontory in 1880, returning in 1882 to north-eastern Tasmania where he assisted with the development of several mines. In 1890 Bell was employed by a Launceston syndicate to prospect in western Tasmania. During six months of lone exploration he found and pegged a half square mile (1.3 sq km) mineralized zone north of Zeehan, which later became the Renison Bell tin-field. By 1893 he was in Queensland where he developed and managed the Tate River tin-mine west of the Atherton Tablelands, and he managed gold leases in Western Australia in 1895-98 before returning to Tasmania to prepare a comprehensive report on the Renison Bell tin-field.
On 13 June 1877 Bell had married Phoebe Cox, daughter of a pardoned convict; both staunch Quakers, George and Phoebe exchanged vows at the monthly meeting of the Society of Friends in Hobart. According to descendants, Bell was a domineering father and not always a good provider. During his long absences, the quiet but resourceful Phoebe often relied on support from fellow Quakers.
Bell had self-doubts. An 1893 diary entry reads: 'I wish to be more humble and contented, and not aspiring in all things to be better than others'. In 1898 he wrote: 'I see no improvement in my spiritual nature for it is still dominated by carnal desire and came very near to leading me into some serious scrapes'. He eventually left the Society of Friends but remained a devout Christian.
From 1900 Bell prospected for the Mt Lyell Mining & Railway Co. Ltd, retiring in 1908. In 1907 the State government had belatedly granted him an annual pension of £100 in recognition of his mineral deposits discovery. He was a handsome, neatly bearded man, nicknamed 'Little' because of his short stature. Bell died on 2 September 1915 at Devonport and was buried in Mersey Bluff cemetery. Two daughters and five sons, including John Renison Bell, survived him.
A number of companies and syndicates worked leases on the Renison Bell tin-field in the early years, but profitable recovery of metal from the complex low-grade ores was almost impossible with the metallurgical technology of those times. It was not until 1965, when multi-national Consolidated Goldfields Australia Ltd acquired the Renison field, that deep drilling proved an immense ore reserve. With multi-million dollar investment on underground mining and surface treatment mills, Renison Ltd became Australia's biggest tin producer. Bell's headstone was re-erected at the Renison Bell mine in 1973.¹⁵ John Renison Bell (1889-1973) and Mary Teston Luis Bell (1903-1979), air force officers, were husband and wife. John was born on 25 May 1889 at Scottsdale, Tasmania, son of George Renison Bell, mining agent, and his wife Phoebe, née Cox. Educated at the Friends' High School, Hobart, he worked as a clerk and accountant in solicitors' offices at Devonport and Launceston. On 8 January 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. After training as a signaller, he embarked for Egypt with reinforcements for the 12th Battalion; because he gave first-aid to fellow soldiers in the troop-ship, he was nicknamed 'Doc'.
Having seen action at Gallipoli soon after the first landings, he was evacuated to England on 20 August with enteric fever. Bell transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in April 1917. Commissioned as an observer in June, he proceeded to France two months later with No.3 Squadron, A.F.C. (No.69 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps). On 6 December, while artillery-ranging over Messines Ridge, Belgium, he shot down a German reconnaissance aircraft. In January 1918 he went to England and qualified as a pilot, rejoining his squadron in September. He was mentioned in dispatches and his appointment terminated in Hobart in July 1919. Bell was 5 ft 6 ins (168 cm) tall, with brown eyes and a slim build; quiet, courteous, but self-assured, he had a striking command of words.
Mary was born on 3 December 1903 at Launceston, Tasmania, daughter of Rowland Walker Luis Fernandes, a clerk from England, and his native-born wife Emma Dagmar, née Mahony, great-granddaughter of Jonathan Griffiths. Her parents separated in 1906. Educated at Church of England Girls' Grammar School, Launceston, and St Margaret's School, Devonport, at 14 she took a job with a Devonport solicitor to supplement her mother's income. Mary was a serious-looking and ambitious girl, scarcely five feet (153 cm) tall and interested in flying. She met John in 1919. Obtaining a commission in the Royal Australian Air Force on 30 August 1921, he served at Point Cook, Victoria, and at R.A.A.F. Headquarters, Melbourne. He married Mary on 19 March 1923 in St Andrew's Anglican Church, Brighton. In 1925 the Bells sailed for England. John attended the Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, before carrying out liaison duties with the R.A.F. Mary learned to fly and gained a British private pilot's licence in April 1927.
Returning to Melbourne in February 1928, John was promoted squadron leader; next month Mary secured an Australian private pilot's licence. John resigned from the air force on 8 September 1929 to join the Shell Co. of Australia Ltd; he was to become its chief aviation officer in New South Wales. Mary qualified in December 1930 to hold a ground engineer's licence. By 1939 the Bells were living in Brisbane where John was Queensland manager of Airlines of Australia Ltd. As the threat of war grew, Mary (known as 'Paddy') assumed the leadership of some forty women undertaking instruction in aircraft maintenance at Archerfield aerodrome and formed the Women's Air Training Corps on 17 July 1939. Elected commander, she organized the voluntary corps on semi-military lines. John was mobilized in September and posted to the directorate of organization and staff duties at R.A.A.F. Headquarters, Melbourne. Next year he was promoted acting group captain and made director of organization.
In February 1940, as commandant, Mary established W.A.T.C. headquarters in Melbourne; she instituted branches in other States and pressed for the formation of a women's air force auxiliary. Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett asked the Bells to draw up a preliminary plan for the employment of airwomen. Shortages of male ground-staff eventually led to the establishment of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in February 1941. That month Mary was appointed staff officer (W.A.A.A.F. administration), with the rank of acting flight officer. Considered to be a 'socialite' and to lack managerial experience, she was overlooked for the post of director and resigned from the W.A.A.A.F. on 5 June. She rejoined the service in October 1942, worked in several directorates and resumed civilian life on 11 April 1945.
John had been appointed O.B.E. in 1943. He held acting air commodore's rank when he left the air force in October 1945. The Bells farmed in Victoria and later in Tasmania until 1968. John died on 22 August 1973 in Hobart and was buried in Mersey Vale Memorial Park cemetery, Spreyton; Mary died on 6 February 1979 at Ulverstone and was buried beside him; their daughter survived them.¹⁶

John Renison Bell (1889-1973) and Mary Teston Luis Bell (1903-1979), air force officers, were husband and wife. John was born on 25 May 1889 at Scottsdale, Tasmania, son of George Renison Bell, mining agent, and his wife Phoebe, née Cox. Educated at the Friends' High School, Hobart, he worked as a clerk and accountant in solicitors' offices at Devonport and Launceston. On 8 January 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. After training as a signaller, he embarked for Egypt with reinforcements for the 12th Battalion; because he gave first-aid to fellow soldiers in the troop-ship, he was nicknamed 'Doc'.
Having seen action at Gallipoli soon after the first landings, he was evacuated to England on 20 August with enteric fever. Bell transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in April 1917. Commissioned as an observer in June, he proceeded to France two months later with No.3 Squadron, A.F.C. (No.69 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps). On 6 December, while artillery-ranging over Messines Ridge, Belgium, he shot down a German reconnaissance aircraft. In January 1918 he went to England and qualified as a pilot, rejoining his squadron in September. He was mentioned in dispatches and his appointment terminated in Hobart in July 1919. Bell was 5 ft 6 ins (168 cm) tall, with brown eyes and a slim build; quiet, courteous, but self-assured, he had a striking command of words.
Mary was born on 3 December 1903 at Launceston, Tasmania, daughter of Rowland Walker Luis Fernandes, a clerk from England, and his native-born wife Emma Dagmar, née Mahony, great-granddaughter of Jonathan Griffiths. Her parents separated in 1906. Educated at Church of England Girls' Grammar School, Launceston, and St Margaret's School, Devonport, at 14 she took a job with a Devonport solicitor to supplement her mother's income. Mary was a serious-looking and ambitious girl, scarcely five feet (153 cm) tall and interested in flying. She met John in 1919. Obtaining a commission in the Royal Australian Air Force on 30 August 1921, he served at Point Cook, Victoria, and at R.A.A.F. Headquarters, Melbourne. He married Mary on 19 March 1923 in St Andrew's Anglican Church, Brighton. In 1925 the Bells sailed for England. John attended the Royal Air Force Staff College, Andover, before carrying out liaison duties with the R.A.F. Mary learned to fly and gained a British private pilot's licence in April 1927.
Returning to Melbourne in February 1928, John was promoted squadron leader; next month Mary secured an Australian private pilot's licence. John resigned from the air force on 8 September 1929 to join the Shell Co. of Australia Ltd; he was to become its chief aviation officer in New South Wales. Mary qualified in December 1930 to hold a ground engineer's licence. By 1939 the Bells were living in Brisbane where John was Queensland manager of Airlines of Australia Ltd. As the threat of war grew, Mary (known as 'Paddy') assumed the leadership of some forty women undertaking instruction in aircraft maintenance at Archerfield aerodrome and formed the Women's Air Training Corps on 17 July 1939. Elected commander, she organized the voluntary corps on semi-military lines. John was mobilized in September and posted to the directorate of organization and staff duties at R.A.A.F. Headquarters, Melbourne. Next year he was promoted acting group captain and made director of organization.
In February 1940, as commandant, Mary established W.A.T.C. headquarters in Melbourne; she instituted branches in other States and pressed for the formation of a women's air force auxiliary. Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Burnett asked the Bells to draw up a preliminary plan for the employment of airwomen. Shortages of male ground-staff eventually led to the establishment of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force in February 1941. That month Mary was appointed staff officer (W.A.A.A.F. administration), with the rank of acting flight officer. Considered to be a 'socialite' and to lack managerial experience, she was overlooked for the post of director and resigned from the W.A.A.A.F. on 5 June. She rejoined the service in October 1942, worked in several directorates and resumed civilian life on 11 April 1945.
John had been appointed O.B.E. in 1943. He held acting air commodore's rank when he left the air force in October 1945. The Bells farmed in Victoria and later in Tasmania until 1968. John died on 22 August 1973 in Hobart and was buried in Mersey Vale Memorial Park cemetery, Spreyton; Mary died on 6 February 1979 at Ulverstone and was buried beside him; their daughter survived them.¹⁴

John Warrington Rogers (1822-1906), barrister and judge, was the son of John Warrington Rogers of London, and his wife Rebecca. His father and grandfather were solicitors. Rogers entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, in 1844 (M.A., 1854); he was a member of the Middle Temple from June 1843 and was called to the Bar on 20 November 1846. In 1848 with Henry Riddell he compiled an index to public statutes, and in 1850 published in London a work on the County Court Extension Act.
Described as having 'a character without reproach and [of] perfect competency' Rogers was offered in November 1854 the post of solicitor-general of Van Diemen's Land at a salary of £600. Despite good prospects in England he accepted, probably because of impressions of the colony 'imbibed, when a Boy from an Uncle who made a fortune there'. He arrived at Launceston on 4 August 1855 via Melbourne, took his seat in the Legislative Council as an official nominee and was admitted to the Tasmanian Bar on 7 August. On 19 December he accepted the consolidated posts of solicitor-general, crown solicitor and clerk of the peace on condition that it was a permanent appointment free of political changes; he took up duties in March 1856 but in September won Launceston in the new House of Assembly. He was solicitor-general in the Champ ministry, but in February 1857 declined office in the new government. He continued to be vocal in parliament but settled in Melbourne and in October resigned his seat.
Rogers was admitted to the Bar in Victoria and on 7 January 1858 was appointed a County Court judge and judge of the Court of Mines for the Ballarat district at a salary of £1500. In January 1878 he was a victim of Berry's 'Black Wednesday' retrenchments but in early February he was reappointed, only to resign at the end of June when the ministry refused to make the tenure of office for the County Court the same as for the Supreme Court. As a judge he was remembered as 'dignified and refined'. On 2 July he became a Q.C., practised at the Victorian Bar and in 1880 was a member of the royal commission into the constitution of the Supreme Court. He published articles, mostly on legal topics, in the Melbourne Review and the Victorian Review.
Active in Anglican affairs Rogers was also interested in education. In 1869-70 he had drafted the constitution of the Ballarat School of Mines and served as its first vice-president in 1870 and as trustee and council member in the 1880s. He was a member of the Council of the University of Melbourne in 1861-81 and in 1881-93 lectured on the doctrines of equity and the general principles of procedure. In 1881 he was appointed to the royal commission on education, serving as chairman from December 1881 until February 1884 when he went to Hobart to act as puisne judge of the Supreme Court. His draft report, submitted before he left Melbourne, was so amended by some of the commissioners that Rogers dissociated himself from it and made a separate report with special recommendations for Roman Catholic schools. Neither report was acted on.
After a year in Tasmania Rogers returned to the Victorian Bar. His public lecture at the Wilson Hall in October 1888 on imperial federation was published in pamphlet form. In September 1893 he retired to England, where he died at Ealing on 10 February 1906. He was survived by his wife Eliza, née Carter, whom he had married on 10 July 1856 at New Town, Tasmania, five sons (all then living in Australia) and four daughters.¹⁷