Sarah Jane Watt

Sarah Jane Watt was born on 3 March 1878 in Brisbane, Qld, and lived there all her life until her death on 13 March 1960. She received only primary school eduction at St Brigid's, Red Hill. At the age of 14 years, remembering her father, HenryHarvey, who had died in an accident at St Stephen's Cathedral, Elizabeth St in Brisbane, she was stirred to write her first poem.. Her interest quickened, she bought books on verse and taught herself to write in this medium. Her last work was written just a few months before her death. A daughter still holds original letters her mother received from "The Daily Mail", "The Catholic Advocate", and other newspapers of the time commending her on her wrk and accepting much of it for publication. In 1983, daughters, Mrs Helen Finch and Mrs Elizabeth Stone had all the poems collectively published in a book entitled "My Mother's Poems" The following poem is taken from that book.

FATAL ACCIDENT (Henry Harvey died as a result of a fall at St Stephen's Cathedral, on 28th April 1883)

One Saturday morn in April A man resolved to try To take the bird's nest from the roof Of a church so very high.

He the ladder was ascending,

 The roof was nearly won, When sad to say, he slipped and fell

 At the feet of his youngest son.

His wife was passing near the church,

 She happened to turn around- Her suffering husband met her gaze

 Lying on the ground.

For two hours after he did live,

 The last rites he received ; And he a young man n his prime-

 Went forth to meet his God.

Five children and a wife he left

 To bear their misery ; God grant they will find a home

 Some day above with Thee.

I also have a personal copy of that book that i will eventually scan when i get time and put under documents within Sarah's profile with all her poems for the family to be able to read :-)