The Muswellbrook Chronicle
Muswellbrook, New South Wales
6 October, 1950

MRS. SARAH ELLEN GILLELAND.

    A grand old resident of Merriwa, Mrs. Sarah Ellen Gilleland, died in Gulgong on 25th September at the age of 83 years. She died as she lived —without fuss or ceremony;  Dr. Marjorie Tunley, Nurse Irene Boyd and deceased's daughter being in attendance. Deceased, who had been in failing health for some time, had been devotedly cared for by her son in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. T. Amies, of Mayne Street, Gulgong, with whom she had resided in that town during the past 11 years. The deceased lady was not only loved and revered by the three members of the family and her relatives, but by all who had the pleasure to know her. When she conducted a dairy on her small farm on the outskirts of Merriwa she struck some hard times, went through untold hardship and inconveniences without complaint,
particularly in times of drought, but she faced these setbacks in true Christian spirit and had the satisfac- tion of rearing her family of three children. Her husband, Mr. David Gilleland, died 43 years ago, in his early thirties. Undaunted by the many duties with which home life was encumbered, the late Mrs. Gilleland found time to radiate her charity, patience and loving friendship, not only in her family circles, but among all with whom she associated.
    Mrs. Gilleland was the personal friend of many residents of Merriwa. Born at Armidale, deceased was a school girl when she came to the Merriwa district with her father, the late Mr. Richard Millson, who acquired the property known as "Tara Hill," which passed on to Mrs. Gilleland on the death of her husband, and is now in the hands of her eldest son, Mr. S. R. Gilleland (secretary to the Merriwa District Hospital).
    After a very impressive service, conducted by Rev. Mr. Elder, in Holy Trinity Church of England, Merriwa, during which the hymn, "On the Ressurrection Morning" was sung, the remains were laid to rest with her late husband and her late father in the church graveyard. Pall-bearers were Mr. Arthur Gilleland, of Sydney, and formerly of Merriwa, youngest son;  Mr. T. Amies, of Gulgong, and formerly of Merriwa (son-in-law); Mr. R. B. Bond, of Merriwa (grandson), and Mr. J. Rose (Mudgee).

-transcription by Kate Maynard, 2013