THE SERONGS

Mary Horigan, who was a cousin of Eugene Sullivan (her mother was Margaret Sullivan) married a Serong and lived for a time in Warrnambool before moving to Clifton Hill where she inquired, as was her custom, if anybody had heard of a “Eugene Sullivan”. The parish priest told her of the Preston Sullivan, and one Sunday afternoon in 1882 she was seen walking down dusty Gower Street with two of her sons, to be reunited with her cousin. She then wrote to her American cousins (Eugene’s siblings) with the news that Eugene, who they had thought was dead, had been found after twenty-six years. The Sunday visits continued for years, as was the custom in those days.

 Adrian Serong, who attended St. Patrick’s College, East Melbourne, before Joe Costigan’s boys, and who became a medical doctor, was probably a grandson. Another descendant is thought to be Bill Serong, a ‘brilliantly-talented’ Collingwood centreman recruited from C.B.C. Parade, who was runner-up to Bob Skilton and Verdun Howell in the 1959 Brownlow Medal, and was vice-captain in 1961; in 1962 he won North Melbourne’s best and fairest award in his only season with the Shinboners, but then retired at the age of 27 because of the pressure of his job in the legal profession.

Mary Horigan/Serong had seven children-

 – Joe Serong- married Julia Fitzgerald, had two children-

                            a son ,Mary Serong

– Margaret Serong- married a Mr. Booth and went to live in the Warragul district;

                            had at least a daughter- Mrs. Souter

–  Jim Serong- married a Miss McMahon, had three children-

                            Angela (Mother Rosa, I.B.V.M. of Mandeville Hall)

                            Irene Serong (died young)

                            Adrian Serong- became a doctor and married.

– Bill Serong- married Nellie Finan and had a family.

– Jack Serong- married, had three sons and a daughter

– Tom Serong- married Anne – and had 3 or 4 sons and a daughter

– Mary (Minnie) Serong- unmarried.