Kenneth Telfer

Role: Second child and eldest son of Mark Telfer and Julia Seebohm

Gravestone

Image to be added — headstone photo of Ken's grave at Tantanoola Cemetery is yet to be sourced. View the headstone transcription and cemetery records

Kenneth William John Telfer (the family book From the Borders to the Bush records his middle names as William John, not Alexander) was the second child and eldest son of Mark Telfer (1877–1946) and Julia Matilda Seebohm (1876–1939) of Tantanoola, South Australia. He was born 27 August 1906 at Tantanoola and died on 9 November 1970, aged 64, and is buried at Tantanoola Cemetery.

Verified facts

• Name: Kenneth William John Telfer — confirmed by the South Australian birth, marriage and death registrations (below), the Tantanoola Cemetery headstone transcription (Ozburials: "TELFER, Kenneth William John. 9 November 1970. Aged 64"), FamilySearch (1906–1970), and From the Borders to the Bush p.243.
• Birth: 27 August 1906, Tantanoola — SA Birth Reg Book 771/Page 420 (Genealogy SA). Father Mark TELFER, mother Julia Matilda SEEBOHM. The family book's "1904" was an error; age 64 at death and age 32 at first marriage both accord with a 1906 birth.
• Parents: Mark Telfer (1877–1946) and Julia Matilda Seebohm (1876–1939). Confirmed on his SA birth and marriage registrations.
• First marriage: Jessie Kathleen SARGENT — 4 February 1939, Presbyterian Church, Millicent — SA Marriage Reg Book 396/Page 456 (Genealogy SA). Groom K.W.J. TELFER, 32, single, son of Mark TELFER; bride Jessie Kathleen SARGENT, 24, single. Jessie died 26 June 1954 and is buried beside him at Tantanoola.
• Second marriage: Gwendoline Victoria CAMPBELL — his second wife. Confirmed by her SA Death Reg Book 17A/6787: Gwendoline Victoria TELFER, died 18 September 1966, Millicent, married, relative Kenneth William John TELFER. Her death registration precedes Kenneth's as widower.
• Death: 9 November 1970, aged 64, widower, Millicent — SA Death Reg Book 106A/Page 8861 (Genealogy SA); relative "Gwendoline Victoria TELFER (deceased wife)" [DW]. Also shown on headstone transcription + FamilySearch.

Family record

The following is family knowledge / word of mouth, as recorded in the family history book — shared as the family record, not yet independently verified against public records.

Ken and his first wife Jessie had a son, Murray, who married Susanne Maloney and had five children — Joanne, Mark (who married Maryann Harrap), John, Richard and Neville. Jessie died in 1954. Kenneth later remarried (Gwendoline Victoria Campbell); no children of the second marriage are recorded.

Stories from the family

These come from word of mouth / family history passed down (From the Borders to the Bush, p.243):

Ken played football for Tantanoola for many years. He was Captain of the team and played at centre. He also played in the Tantanoola cricket team, being a useful bat and a slow bowler. In later years he played bowls, both indoor and outdoor. He held the position of President of the Tantanoola Pastoral, Agricultural and Horticultural Society from 1953 to 1955.

Sources

• Genealogy SA (member), accessed 3 Sep 2026 — SA Birth Reg Book 771/Page 420; SA Marriage Reg Book 396/Page 456; SA Death Reg Book 106A/Page 8861; SA Death Reg Book 17A/Page 6787
• From the Borders to the Bush by Donald Telfer (1986) — page 243
• Tantanoola Cemetery headstone transcription — Ozburials.com
• FamilySearch family tree — Telfer (KH2G-L1B)