Cheryl Gay

Father's family lived in the Acton Workers' Cottage no. 12
Born: 1951
Maiden Name: Cheryl McNamee
Interview: Community session, April 2011; audio interview January 2014.

“My name is Cheryl Gay. I'm the daughter of Ben McNamee, who with his family of five siblings, and his mother and father William and Margaret lived at No. 12 Acton cottages. My understanding is that the family came to Canberra in about 1918. They lived in Jardine Street in Kingston in the so-called “Power House” houses while William worked in the Power House during the early 1920s. They also lived at Westlake in the late 1920s before moving to Acton in the early 1930s when William McNamee (snr) worked at the original Canberra Hospital and the new building after its completion. It is also believed that he worked at the Cotter Pumping Station. He was originally an engine driver with the NSW Railways.

When my dad went overseas during the war he met my mother Joyce in England, and brought her back to live in Acton. They eventually moved to Turner in 1946 and that's where I grew up. At least one member of the family resided in the Acton cottage until the houses were demolished for the construction of Lake Burley Griffin. Even though there is no physical evidence of the Acton my dad grew up in, when I visit the National Museum with family and friends, I always proudly tell them that this is where my dad grew up and that it was a thriving community, and of course I can show them our family's name inscribed on the memorial that is located near the Museum.”

Hear more in Cheryl's audio story about the McNamee family of Acton.