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family, were able to reach Echuca from Deans Marsh and Lome.
That same day, Thursday, 26 April, The Echuca and Moama Advertiser headlined the story
Distressing Drowning Case. Given a full half-column in the centre of the page, it appeared
between European News by Cable and Echuca Rowing Club. Some facts were wrong, but the
reporter covering the story had dug out some interesting background information.
He wrote: 'Miss Mountjoy... was on a visit to Torrumbarry, and was staying at the house of her
uncle, Mr Trewin, for her holidays, and apparently enjoying herself very well. She was in
Echuca during last week, and was on of the guests at a marriage ceremony that was celebrated
at a friend's, and was to have come into Echuca again yesterday to complete the remainder of
her holiday before returning home to Lome... She was in her usual spirits, beyond the regret at
leaving next day after spending a pleasant holiday... It is stated that some 18 months back Miss
Mountjoy suffered from brain fever, which for a time had a depressing effect upon her, but this
effect had long since passed away.'
The newspaper said she was 'well known and liked in the district' and that the circumstances of
her death had 'caused a painful feeling amongst the many friends of the family here.'
Rhoda was buried in the Wesleyan section of the Echuca Cemetery, behind William
Honeycombe's grave, on Friday 27 April.
The Riverine Herald said the following day: The funeral cortege, which was of considerable
length, was joined at the borough boundary by friends from Echuca, while numbers more were
waiting to receive them at the grave. The service was read in an impressive manner by the Rev
John Catterall... We understand... that some eighteen months ago the young lady's state of
health gave her friends considerable anxiety. Medical advice was obtained, and everything
necessary done, and after a time she recovered her usual tone of mind... But it now appears that
while generally bright and cheerful, several of her letters home indicated a depression of spirits,
and she complained of not being able to sleep, and it would now appear as if she herself feared
a renewal of her former experience. For she is reported to have said to a female friend, in a
pause in their conversation, and while holding her hand to her head: "Did you ever hear that I
was once out of my mind? Well, I feel now as if I were going to
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be like that again," or words to that effect. But no special notice was taken of the remark. She
looked so well and happy... '
So they buried her, as well as any secrets that anyone knew about her and her death.
In due course a small obelisk on granite blocks was raised at the head of her grave. On it was
inscribed: 'In memory of DEAR RHODA, beloved eldest daughter of Caleb & Louisa
Mountjoy, died April 25th 1888 in her 26th year.'
'Bright and cheerful' and 'Well and happy' do not sound like the descriptions of a manic-
depressive. So what really happened in Rhoda's life the week before she died, and 18 months
earlier in September 1886?
The main event in Echuca the week before her death had been the wedding of a friend. Was this
in fact the real reason for her visit? Was she in love with the bridegroom? And had he spurned
her or discontinued an association 18 months ago? She killed herself the night before she was
due to return to Echuca. Who was in Echuca or what had happened there that she could not
face? Or was there someone on the Trewin farm whom she could not live without?
The April wedding that Rhoda attended in Echuca must have been that of Arthur Trewin and
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