By: Desley Murphy6th Mar 2022 5:36PMJohanna Ryan born 1837 in Coolmore County Kilkenny Ireland. Johanna was the first of her family to come to Queesnsland in 1854 at the young of 17 years. Newspaper articles state that she came sailed out on the ship Ghengis Khan. Although her name does not appear on the shipping record it is believed she may have come out with the Power family who were aboard the ship. She had cousins who were Powers and this Power family lived very close to where Johanna grew up in Coolmore Kilkenny.

Her parents James Ryan and Anastasia Kennedy were parents to ten children Johanna being the second eldest. Five of those ten children came to Queensland Australia while the other five stayed behind in Ireland. Her five siblings who came to Queensland were John Ryan Richard Ryan Michael Ryan (who married Mary Watters and lived in Goodna) and Eleanor Ryan (who married John OKeeffe and also lived in Goodna).

In 1860 at the age of 23 she married in Ipswich to John Butler and they settled in Redbank Plains. They had their first and only child Bridget in July 1860. Bridget was six or seven weeks old when tragedy struck their little family. John was involved in a bullock accident and lost his life in September 1860.

With the support of her extended Butler family she found fire within to step up and face the challenges of life. She never remarried but did raise Bridget while working as a nurse at the Goodna Asylum. When the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum opened in 1865 she obtained a position on the staff which at the time consisted of two nurses. She was later offered the position as matron but declined and remained an assistant matron. Around 1880 the name was changed to the Goodna Asylum for the Insane.

After about 40 years working at the asylum Johanna retired. Her retirement years were spent with the Mulkerin family in Goodna until she passed away in 1917 at the age of 80. Anastasia Ryan who married Joseph Mulkerin was the eldest daughter of her brother Michael. Johanna was buried in the Ipswich Cemetery. Her daughter Bridget predeceased her 38 years and was also buried in the Ipswich Cemetery.

Johanna was a sacrificing hard working woman who did much good in her community.