A mystery from 57 years ago

Ian Stewart and his brother Malcolm were at Boys' Town in 1958, after their mother disappeared from their Mt Nelson home, a mystery they are hoping to solve while visiting Tasmania.

Last year Ian's sister, Angela Armstrong, contacted Dominic College to ask about our records, as her brothers had boarded here in the late 1950s, and she was trying to detail the family history. Angela explained that their mother had disappeared while they were very young, and no one knew what happened to her. The boys went to Savio College and the girls to the nuns at St Joseph's Orphanage.

Their mother, Eileen Stewart (known as Jacquie) had been gone from home when they got back from school at Princes Street Primary 7 November 1958. The boys were enrolled at Savio, two days later, 9 November and stayed there till 9 March 1959. We were happy to give the family copies of the school files of enrolment and some of this information proved helpful as it recorded a few addresses and their previous school.

Their father, Charles Bertram Stewart, a British WW2 veteran, immigrated with the family in 1958 and worked at the Mt Nelson Signal Station. After their mother's disappearance the family returned to England in 1960, and Charles died in the 1980s.

Ian and his sisters were in Hobart last week to continue their research, and to meet with the coroners department to review the evidence. They asked if they could visit Dominic College and record some video of the school for their brother Malcolm, who was unable to undertake the trip.

DOSA Committee chairman Tony Webb, was able to meet them and show them around the old buildings. Angela, Susan and Ian were very appreciative of our efforts to help - their story is quite extraordinary and they met with a Mercury reporter to publicise their research. The Mercury's front page story can be viewed here: Haunted by missing Mum.

If you know of something which may help the family solve their mystery please let the College know!