Mary Lindsay

Mary Ann Josephine Lindsay (1892-1975), circus artiste, was born on 7 February 1892 at Wentworth, New South Wales, eldest of six children of native-born parents William Alfred Sole, circus bandsman, and his wife Eliza Jane, daughter of William George Perry, a circus performer known as 'W. G. Eroni'. In 1890 the four Sole brothers had joined Eroni Bros Circus as bandsmen.

In 1926, Mary married Albert Spencer Lindsay, an acrobat in the circus. Next year, 1927, after performing throughout Australia and New Zealand on the Fuller circuit, the Lindsays sailed for South Africa and thence for England.

Mary and Bert retired to their home at Manly, Sydney, in 1964. They handed over direction of the circus to their daughter Jean and her husband Joseph Perry. After Bert died, at the age of 81 Mary took up residence in a caravan on the family's 200-acre (80 ha) farm at Dunmore where she tended a range of animals.

She died on 17 April 1975 at Kiama and was buried in Frenchs Forest lawn cemetery; her daughter survived her.