Mathilde Ann Bright1,2

F, #6736, b. 4 March 1914, d. 3 December 2006
FatherJohn James Bright1 b. 14 Aug 1870, d. 7 Feb 1942
MotherFanny Eliza Whiley1 b. 29 May 1870, d. 17 Jul 1941
Relationship2nd cousin 2 times removed of Keith Graham Bassett
Last Edited24 Nov 2018
Birth*4 March 1914 Condobolin, NSW, Australia1 
Baptism6 April 1914 All Saints, Condobolin, NSW, Australia;
When Baptised: April 6th 1914
When Born: March 4th 1914
Child's Christian Name: Mathilde Annie
Parents' Names: John James & Fanny Eliza Bright
Abode: Condobolin
Quality or Profession: Grazier
By Whom the Ceremony was Performed: W P F Dorph3 
Married Name3 May 1938 Selems2 
Marriage*3 May 1938 All Saints Church, Condobolin, NSW, Australia;
POPULAR WEDDING
SELEMS—BRIGHT
Some people "buy" popularity, and it is generally but fleeting and fades away under test like, the morning dew under the melting influence of the sun, some gain it worthily by conduct and character, and it is of the lasting kind and just grows in intensity with the test of time. The last named is the kind of popularity won by the subjects of this matrimonial notice. The bride, Miss Mab Bright, second daughter of Mr and Mrs. J. Bright, during her career from childhood in Condoboiin and district has gathered popularity and corresponding respect year by year. Edgar Selems has, since his settling down in town after return from college, always been the cheerful, honest-dealing young man such as to bring merit to himself and credit to his parents, Mr and Mrs. Herb Selems.
Little wonder then that the beautiful wedding that took place in All Saints' Church last Tuesday evening was eagerly witnessed by an assemblage that filled the church, whilst many had to be contented to remain outside the building. Arrangements had been made for seating accommodation of the invited guests, and these, as they entered, were ushered to their seats. Little or no room was left after they had been seated. Outside, in McDonnell street, cars were lined on both sides, giving indication of the large number bent on seeing the wedding ceremony.
Entering the church, one became immediately impressed with the beautiful arrangement of the decorations and the profusion of lovely flowers, mostly rose blooms, that had been so artistically used. It was the clever work of friends of the bride and manifestly redolent of the sweetness that should obtain and be a dominant factor in the true bonds of matrimony.
That radiancy which embodies vivid brightness was the striking feature of the bride as she walked gracefully up the isle on her father's arm and took her place beside the handsome young man who was shortly to become her husband. Gowned in a frock of angel skin lace over dull crepe, with a deep V neckline and tight sleeves, she stood the cynosure of admiring eyes. A striking feautre of the gorgeous gown was the swathing from the neckline to the kness, moulded to the figure and forming a long train. The long-cut tulle veil fell from underneath the dainty unusual headdress of stiffened lace, in the form of a crownless breton worn back off the face, with the white gardenias nestled at each ear. The shower bouquet was of white camellias with trails of hyacinths and carnations.
The matron of honour, Mrs. Ron. Smith, sister of the bride, looked very nice in her simple cut gown of delphinium blue angel skin lace, with short puffed sleeves and full skirt. A finger length triple ninon veil of the same shade fell from underneath a circular halo of the same material. Her flowers were pink camellias, with trails of carnations.
Little Gweneth, sister of the bridegroom, was to have also attended the bride, but, unfortunately, she broke a small bone in her foot which necessitated the foot being placed in plaster, and thus prevented her from acting as previously arranged.
The Rev. J. S. Richards officiated.
Miss Maude Forlonge presided at the organ, played the wedding march, also appropriate music during the signing of the register.
The reception was held in the Masonic Hall. Over seventy guests were received by the parents of the bride and bridegroom. Mrs Bright chose a black sheer frock with cross-over swathed bodice, studded in turquoise blue rhinestones. She carried a posy of delphiniums. Mrs. Selems' gown was a French rust cloque embossed with silver thread, with which she wore a toque of the same shade. This ensemble was completed with a spray of sun-burst roses and berries. The Rev. Richards was the chairman, and customary toasts were honoured. Mr. Neil Dawson, best man, read a number of congratulatory telegrams from friends who could not be present. The three tier wedding cake was made by Mrs. Selems and decorated and iced beautifully by G. A. Hope, William street bakery. Catering was in the able hands of Mrs McKeough, assisted by her mother, Mrs. Good, of Sydney.
The wedding gifts (displayed on a long table) were numerous and costly. In addition to those on view many cheques were given.
The bride's travelling dress was of black French crepe studded in a panel front with multi-colored rhinestones. With this she wore a high, off the face tam with accessories to match.
The honeymoon is to be spent touring the South Coast. The future home of Mr and Mrs Selems will be Condobolin.
;Groom=Edgar Ernest Selems2,4 
Death of Mother17 July 1941 Condobolin District Hospital, Condobolin, NSW, Australia;
OBITUARY
FANNY ELIZA BRIGHT
As briefly announced in our last issue, the above lady, wife of Mr. J. J. Bright, passed away at 1.30 a.m. on Thursday last, in the private ward of the Condobolin District Hospital.
She had been ill, off and on, at times very seriously, for at least two years. Suffering from heart trouble it can be realised that there had been many critical periods when the worst, had been feared. Still, despite the illness and advanced years—she was 71 years—her real heart of brightness and courage never failed. Prepared to meet her Maker, her words were always: "When it is God's will to take me, I will go, not before, and I place myself in His hands." How beautiful such fortitude! Most of the time of the past two years, deceased had remained in her comfortable home, Bathurst street, Condobolin, cared for by her husband, sister Mrs. Martin, of Melbourne, and other occasional help. Occasionally she would go into hospital for special treatment. Born in 1870, the year of the extraordinary flood, at a home on the banks of the Belubula River, Canowindra, she came, with, her parents to Condobolin 69 years ago. She was married, in the Church of England, on the 9th November, 1908. With her husband on the farm at Brightside, on the Lachlan River, 12 miles easterly from Condobolin town, she was a helpmeet that gave of her very best, typically a faithful wife and fond mother. Her many kind actions to travellers and tramps were only best known to herself. No one was ever turned away without some help freely given. Her tender heart helped to make her an ideal nurse when it came to succoring the sick. Particularly was she noted for this away back forty years, ago during an epidemic of both typhoid and diphtheria. As a horsewoman she had few superiors, whether in the bush or the show ring. In the latter she won many prizes during her young days. After coming into town to reside she took part in many public matters of a beneficial nature. She was one of the foundation members of the local C.W.A., Red Cross, Hospital Auxiliary and Croquet Club.
The funeral cortege moved from All Saints (Church of England) at 4 p.m. on Thursday, and notwithstanding the short notice, there was a very large attendance. The Rev. J. S. Richards officiated both in the church and at the graveside, and Mr. Robert Martin had charge of the funeral arrangements. An extraordinary number of beautiful wreaths were sent by friends among them one each from the Municipal Council, the Hospital Board and Staff, the Auxiliary, the Red Cross, the Hon. H. C. and Mrs. Moulder. There are two daughters in the family, Mrs. Ron: Smith (Seb), of Sydney and Mrs. Edgar Selems (Mabs), of CondoboIin, and one adopted son (Jack Watt-Bright) was reared having been taken charge of as an infant directly after the death of his mother, the late Mrs. Watt. Living brothers and sisters are Mr. Chas..Whiley (Condobolin), Mr W. Whiley (Queensland), Mrs. E. Martin (Victoria), Mrs. T. Mitchell (Sutherland, Sydney). To the bereaved husband, family and others affected we offer our sincere sympathy.;Principal=Fanny Eliza Whiley5 
Death of Father7 February 1942 Condobolin District Hospital, Condobolin, NSW, Australia;
OBITUARY.
J. J. BRIGHT
Many are the deaths that serve to remind us of the uncertainty of human life and of the frequency of the unexpected. None more so in this respect than the unexpected passing of John James Bright after less than a week's illness. Sound, healthy looking, never sick, his was a life that one would take a lease of with more than ordinary certainty.
At the Circus on Saturday night, 31st January, feeling quite well, in good spirits and enjoying himself, the following Saturday night, at ten minutes past nine o'clock, he passed from this world. With the heavy rain of Sunday, 1st February, typical of the man that was so orderly, he was out in it for a little while attending to a water tank and may have received the dampness that led later to a chill. But it was not till Monday morning that he complained, and as the result of medical examination he was sent to the District Hospital.
Pneumonia followed pleurisy and then a further complication that vitally affected the heart. Each day, brought the conviction that there was little or no hope of' recovery, so relatives were sent for, and fortunately the patient retained consciousness to the last and recognised those family connections and relatives permitted to see him.
One sad feature was that his brother Sid could not be located in time to communicate the news, and it was not until after the burial that he had heard of the totally unexpected happening.
Born at Binda, New South Wales, on the 14th August, 1870, and the son of the late George Bright, he came to Condobolin with his parents 65 years ago. For a while the father kept a butcher's shop in Condobolin, and Jack, as a boy, helped in the delivery of the meat. Later the father gave up the butchery business and became a contractor. He carried out many big contracts, including the construction of the Wollamundry weir, up the river. But Jack did not follow at that.
He entered the employ of North Conobolin Station and proved so reliable that he was trusted more and more as time went on till he had charge of the shearing. It was then a big shed, with 26 shearers and 50,000 to 60,000 sheep shorn. It is worthy of note that he went to Condobolin Public School which was then situate on the site of the present Civic Chambers.
When North Condobolin Station was made available for settlement, he was successful in the ballot and drew a beautiful property on the Lachlan river, about fourteen miles up stream, with an area of a little more than 3,000 acres. That was in 1905. Naming it "Brightside," he set to work and finally made it one of the show properties of the district. Leasing it to Borambil Station in 1922, at a high but good value rental, he, with Mrs. Bright and family of two daughters, left the tarm and came into Condobolin town to reside, in the beautiful home purposely erected and still one of the most comfortable of the residences in town. He also acquired much property, including about 200 acres on the river, up stream, purchased from the late William Ross.
Financially, he would be well among the richest men of tne town or district.
At Condobolin on the 9th November, 1908, he was married to Miss Fanny Eliza Whiley. Her death, on 17th July last, after a happy union of 33 years, was the first real sorrowful blow of his life. Although bearing the blow without much apparent visible sign, there can be little doubt about the inward gnawing sadness that was present but hidden for the sake of others. Since that great bereavement he had the comfort of his eldest daughter Sebbrell, and her two children living with him; also Mrs. Martin, sister of the late Mrs. Bright and who help ed to nurse her for a long period. In addition, the other daughter, Mab (Mrs. E. Selems), living next door.
To write the good features of the late Jack Bright would be best done by the use of the simple words "good in every possible way." That would be an easy way for this writer, but it would fail to do justice. In a noted American book, "The Letters of a Rich Merchant to His Son," there occurs the advise of the father that "the successful business man uses nine parts of judgment to one part of speech." Jack Bright (always called Jack) was the typical personality of that. Fewest words possible but conveying the result of sound judgment. And let it be distinctly under stood that the natural inclination to avoid waste or words must not be taken as an indication of dullness or moroseness. On the contrary, there was a keenness of humour, wit and brightness, used as required. A good athlete as a boy, he never los't his love of sport, never failed to help it, remained a keen judge and good tipster in the world of horse racing. As an alderman of Condobolin Municipality for nine years, voluntarily retiring four years ago, he gave particularly good service as a member of the works committee, as well as in other respects. Patriotic to the core, his financial and personal help to the movements, he was to be found help ing; indeed so familiar a figure in the ticket box where charitable functions were being held, that 'it was looked upon as certain that he would be there. A member of the Committee of both Jockey Club and Picnic Club over a long period and a never failing attendant as a steward in the sheep sections at Condobolin Shows, his familiar face will certainly be missed. And in many other ways he will be materially missed.
The large funeral cortege left All Saints Church of England at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Rev. J. S. Richards officiated at the graveside. Following his Church Ritual that of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows was read by Officer H. L. Hughes, deceased having been, one of the foundation members of the Lodge in Condobolin. A noted feature was the great number of beautiful wreaths Mr. Bob Marlin had charge of the burial arrangements, carried out in his usual first-class manner.
To the bereaved ones we extend our sincere sympathy.;Principal=John James Bright6 
Death of Spouse20 March 1994 Hospital, Condobolin, NSW, Australia;
SELEMS, Edgar Ernest. — March 20, 1994, at hospital, late of Orange Street, Condobolin, dearly loved husband of Mab, loving father of James (deceased), dear brother of Gwen and Ray (deceased) and son of Herb and Alice Selems (deceased).
Aged 82 years.;Principal=Edgar Ernest Selems7 
Death*3 December 2006 Condobolin, NSW, Australia8 

Family

Edgar Ernest Selems d. 20 Mar 1994
Child

Citations

  1. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 10273/1914 Mathilde A Bright.
  2. [S1481] NSW Marriage Indexes, 11431/1938 Edgar Ernest Selems & Mathilde Ann Bright.
  3. [S1644] Condobolin All Saints Church baptisms 1880-1939, Mathilde Annie Bright 1914.
  4. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Lachlander, Monday, May 9, 1938.
  5. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Lachlander, Monday, July 21, 1941.
  6. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Lachlander, Thursday, February 12, 1942.
  7. [S1599] The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday, March 22, 1994.
  8. [S1553] Australian Cemeteries Index, online http://austcemindex.com, Mathilde Annie Selems 2006.
  9. [S1553] Australian Cemeteries Index, online http://austcemindex.com, James Herbert Selems 1948.