Catherine Rennie

(1916-2004)

Catherine ‘Cathy’ Rennie and her husband James ‘Jimmy’ Rennie were Scottish migrants who came to Western Australia in 1957. They settled in East Fremantle and made this suburb their home.

Catherine Sinclair Mitchell was born on the eighth of August 1916 to George and Catherine Mitchell in Sinclairtown, Fife, Scotland. She was the second of four daughters: Elizabeth Cunningham (1915-2011), Catherine Sinclair (1916- 2004), Isabel Cunningham (1919-2011) and Eleanor (1923-1971).

Life in Scotland was a struggle during the nineteen twenties and thirties but it was these hardships that gave Catherine the strong bond she had with her three sisters, which lasted their whole lifetime.

At the age of 23, Catherine married James Rennie (1913-1992) on the 3 February 1939 at Kirkcaldy. Eventually all of her sisters married and the four couples, Elizabeth and Eddie Gibson, Jimmy and Cathy Rennie, Isa and Charles ‘Chick’ Belford Scott and later Eleanor and Dod Laing forged a strong bond that supported them through the economic hardships and restrictions experienced by many families during second World War in Britain- and saw them all immigrate to Western Australia.

Catherine’s early married life was lived in near St John’s Kirk, Perth. Scotland. Her three children were born there: James William (b. 1940) , Irene Cunningham (b. 1943) and Ian Mitchell (b 1951).

Catherine’s sister’s Isobel ‘Isa’ Scott, Eleanor Laing and their families had immigrated to Fremantle in the 1950’s and in late 1957 Cathy and Jimmy joined them after travelling on the New Australia from Southampton.

On arrival, and for economic reasons, the family were separated briefly when Jimmy gained employment at Hoffman’s Mill, a bush sawmill near Harvey, in the southwest forest of Western Australia. Cathy accompanied Jimmy and they both became familiar with the surroundings of the Australian bush. The forced separation from her children, James and Irene was a source of anxiety but when the Mill closed in 1961, the family reunited again, and moved to 19 Fraser Street, East Fremantle, where they lived for nearly 30 years.

From 1963-1980 Jimmy’s worked as a ‘clerk’.

Catherine’s sister Eleanor Laing died in 1971 in North Fremantle, aged only 48 years old.

After Jimmy’s retirement, he and Catherine enjoyed many happy holidays with the Scotts and Gibsons. They also took camping trips around the south-west in their ‘mini’ car with their grand children. They travelled to New Zealand and for a return trip to Scotland. Both were well known players at the North Fremantle Bowling Club.

1989 They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the 3rd of February at the home of Ken & Irene d’Almeida with all of their family present.

On the 5th June 1992 Cathy’s life long partner James ‘Jimmy’ Rennie, died at the age of 78, in East Fremantle.

Catherine was determined to be independent and chose to live alone in a unit in Bicton. Later, this spirit of independence, her strong will and her courage saw her through the many problems of a person with failing eyesight living on her own. Despite eye operations she lost most of her sight but with the help of the Blind Association she continued to lead her own life.

From her children’s marriages she was blessed with five grandsons: Christopher, Steven and Peter Rennie and John and Scott d’Almeida. Catherine was particularly close to her five grandsons- who all kept a bedside vigil at the very end.

Cathy passed away peacefully on Thursday 6th of May 2004.

 In 2011 both Catherine’s remaining sisters died: In June- Elizabeth Gibson died aged 95 years old, at East Fremantle and in August- Isabella ‘Isa’ Cunningham Scott, died aged 92 years of age, at Port Kennedy WA.

“Cathy has left us now but will never be forgotten. This good woman who has been an example to us all with her courage in adversity, independence of spirit and always kind, compassionate and generous to all of us, will live forever in the memories of all who shared her extraordinary life.”

From the Eulogy to Catherine Sinclair Rennie (nee Mitchell) 8th May 2004

and thanks to Emily Parsons who made much of this material available.