Jack Howe is pictured in this photograph as the Town Crier of Warwick. Mr. Howe was also the first circus clown to tour Australia attached to La Rosiere's Circus. Mr. Howe is the father of Jack Howe, the champion shearer of Queensland.

John and Louisa Howe

Louisa Chadburn(e) remarried - to John Robert Howe on 23 January 1860 at Killarney. The Rev. Thomas Kingsford, Presbyterian minister officiated. (Moreton Bay Courier 31 January 1860). They had five children. Their eldest, and only son, is listed on the Queensland Registry birth index as an unnamed male, born 26 July 1861. He was to be given his father’s names: John Robert Howe.

The father was a colourful character in his own right: a circus acrobat and juggler, overlander, shearer, town crier and reputed wit. His obituary (Warwick Examiner and Times 6 September 1913) stated that he came to Warwick with La Rosier’s Circus 65 years previously. It continued: ‘He claimed to be the first clown to travel the Australian colonies’. The Moreton Bay Courier reported the success of the circus tour in 1855 and on 21 July described the circus performance in Warwick: ‘ used their utmost exertions to please, and with great success’. It is said that Jack Howe inherited his physical prowess from his father.

John Robert Howe: more than a famous shearer

Jack Howe’s involvement with the Trade Union movement and his support for T. J. Ryan’s Labor Party reflected the concerns of the shearers of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. He had grazing and hotel interests which further linked him to the community. Jack Howe did not promote his personal achievements, a point noted by the Catholic Advocate journalist. He did not even boast to his family. His son, another Jack Howe, tried to find out about his father’s shearing record by writing to the Courier. He did however use his fame to assist his community. The party in his honour when he left his hotel is supposed to be the biggest Blackall had seen.

His wife, Margaret Alexandra Victoria Short whom he married 24 April 1890 and with whom he had 10 children, was the originator of the original ‘Jackie Howe’ short sleeved shirt. She was also the daughter of two Irish convicts and a connection to other colourful stories.

Jack Howe is a famous Australian for a number of achievements but his family and background on the Darling Downs, not just his physique, shed light on these. The State Library has newspaper cuttings, photographs, books and documents which allow the researcher to explore this further.

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