In  1897,  the daughter of Isabella O’Neill Tighe, Marjorie, married Western Australian politician, J. J. Holmes. This was a significant time in Western Australia’s history, the character of which and Holmes’ prominent part in it is indicated within the following excerpts from The O’Neills of Queanbeyan. The full chapter refers to Holmes and his family in detail.

Among many actions in his lengthy political career, Holmes led a Select Committee convened to inquire into the appointment of A.O. Neville as Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia. The inquiry concluded Neville was thoroughly unsuitable for the position. Unfortunately, the government ignored the advice of its own Committee and thus began the controversial career of the man who introduced the policy that came to be called the “Stolen Generations”.

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