The Sharry family photo. Christopher has a moustache, second from the right in front row.
THE story of Christopher Sharry, the first man to settle with his bride in the Gheerulla area,in 1891, is one of triumph over adversity. In 1893 he was flooded out, losing their hut and all the crops. Worse was to come. He not only suffered the loss of his right hand in a dynamite explosion, but later he had the bad luck to fall off his horse when it shied, breaking his right arm. The whole arm had to be amputated. Even so, he was still able to work his farm. In 1903 he selected land in the Obi Obi Valley towards Mapleton.
He employed labour to clear the land and then lived there. He was a Maroochy Shire Councillor from 1910 to 1919 and served a term as Chairman. In 1919 the first Kenilworth Show was held on part of Christopher’s property and he was district representative on the Nambour Show Committee for a number of years.
Christopher Sharry’s story appears in “People of Maroochy” , a book written to mark Q150, and is available from Genealogy Sunshine Coast’s Resource Centre in Petrie Park, Nambour.
Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to cover Centre costs and expand library holdings. The Centre is open Mondays and Wednesdays 10.30am to 2.30pm.
For other opening times phone: 5441 4266 or email genealogysc@gmail.com if you want a copy of the book.
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