Edmund (Ed) Behrens
(20 June 1890 - 21 March 1933)
When Ed was born he had five older brothers. When he was three years old, his sister Minna was born.
The Behrens family attended the first Seventh-day Adventist Camp meeting in Australia in 1893 which was held in the coastal suburb of Brighton from 29 December 1893 until 15 January 1894.
At this camp meeting, the American Adventist pioneer, Ellen G.White, preached powerfully.
Ed and his siblings did their schooling at the Doncaster State School No. 197 which was constructed c1886 at 679 Doncaster Road to replace a previous timber structure.
Ed's youngest sisters Ruth Behrens and Nettie Behrens were born on 8 July 1895 and 8 November 1896 respectively. Around this time, their father began to suffer from respiratory complications. Some relatives believe he also suffered from asthma. Respiratory ailments would affect William for the rest of his life.
Ed's father, William, died a week before Ed's seventeenth birthday, on the morning of 12 June 1907. When William was buried at the Box Hill Cemetery, Ed and his five brothers carried their father's coffin from the horse-drawn hearse to his grave.
The Behrens brothers and some of their friends were keen on science. A group of them formed the Auburn Science Club and together they shared their knowledge and fascination with things scientific.
Ed's oldest brother, Fred married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Green on 16 April 1912, at the original Seventh-day Adventist Church, Warburton.
Ed's brother Ken married Isabella (Belle) Mary Simpson (6 August 1885 - 13 October 1963) in 1915.
On 25 March 1918, Ed would have attended the wedding of his brother Tom who married Lorrie Rhoda Paine (23 Oct 1887 - 5 Dec 1969). The wedding was held in Auburn, Victoria.
34 year old Ed married Agnes Victoria Parker (22 June 1897 - 26 July 1980) at the Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist Church, Victoria, on 8 April 1925. Their marriage announcement can be found in the Australasian Record, Vol 29, No 19, 11 May 1925, page 5:
BEHRENS-PARKER.—On April 8, the
marriage of Agnes Victoria Parker, of
Box Hill, to Brother Edmund Behrens, of
Doncaster, Victoria, was solemnised in
the Mont Albert church. Two old loyal
Seventh-day Adventist families are united
by this marriage, and it is interesting to
note that nine children of the Behrens fam-
ily and ten of the Parker family are all
obeying God's last message. The young
people received the heartiest congratula-
tions of their many friends, and earnest
prayers will follow them as they begin
their united life. We are sure that God
will make this union one which shall re-
dound to His glory and honour.
F. A. ALLUM.
Ed and Agnes had one daughter:
Edmund (Ed) Behrens was born at the family home, 800 Elgar Road, Doncaster, Melbourne, Victoria, on 20 June 1890. He was one of the nine children of German-born Frederick William Ellis Behrens (22 June 1841 - 12 June 1907) and his Australian-born wife Alice Martha Powrie (5 Nov 1857 - 8 Nov 1933):
- Frederick (Fred) William Behrens (29 Oct 1882 - 5 Nov 1966)
- Ellis Behrens (16 Apr 1884 - 28 Apr 1965)
- Kenward (Ken) Behrens (16 Mar 1886 - 20 July 1934)
- Otto Behrens (29 Apr 1887 - 11 Nov 1963)
- Thomas (Tom) Behrens (25 Sept 1888 - 5 Nov 1970)
- Edmund (Ed) Behrens (20 June 1890 - 20 June 1933)
- Minna Behrens (3 Oct 1893 - 7 July 1973)
- Ruth Behrens (8 July 1895 - 19 Oct 1977)
- Nettie Behrens (8 Nov 1896 - 7 Oct 1937)
When Ed was born he had five older brothers. When he was three years old, his sister Minna was born.
The Behrens family attended the first Seventh-day Adventist Camp meeting in Australia in 1893 which was held in the coastal suburb of Brighton from 29 December 1893 until 15 January 1894.
At this camp meeting, the American Adventist pioneer, Ellen G.White, preached powerfully.
 |
| An early Seventh-day Adventist camp at Brighton, Melbourne. Photographer and date unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
Ed and his siblings did their schooling at the Doncaster State School No. 197 which was constructed c1886 at 679 Doncaster Road to replace a previous timber structure.
 |
| Doncaster Primary School pre 1900 Some of the Behrens children may be pictured. Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
Ed's youngest sisters Ruth Behrens and Nettie Behrens were born on 8 July 1895 and 8 November 1896 respectively. Around this time, their father began to suffer from respiratory complications. Some relatives believe he also suffered from asthma. Respiratory ailments would affect William for the rest of his life.
 |
Behrens family in early 1907 just before William passed away.
Back from left: Tom, Ken, Otto, Edmund
Middle from left: William and Alice
Front, from left: Ruth, Nettie, Minna
Absent: Fred & Ellis
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)
|
Ed's father, William, died a week before Ed's seventeenth birthday, on the morning of 12 June 1907. When William was buried at the Box Hill Cemetery, Ed and his five brothers carried their father's coffin from the horse-drawn hearse to his grave.
 |
| Behrens boys scooping a dam on the family farm, early 1900s From left: (possibly) Tom, Ed, Ken, Otto Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
 |
| Behrens brothers: Tom (front), Ed & Otto (back) Photographer & date unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
The Behrens brothers and some of their friends were keen on science. A group of them formed the Auburn Science Club and together they shared their knowledge and fascination with things scientific.
 |
| Audurn Science Club, 26 Dec 1908 Back L-R Otto & Tom Behrens, Front L-R Charlie Litster, Ken & Edmund Behrens. Photo taken at The Ana Studios Burwood Rd Auburn, Victoria. (Photo courtesy of K J Bland) |
 |
| The Behrens family c1909 Back, left to right: Edmund, Otto, Fred, Alice, Kenward, Ellis, Tom, Girls at the front, left to right: Nettie, Minna, Ruth Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
 |
| Edmund Behrens c1912 Photo taken at the Burlington Studios, Melbourne. (Photo courtesy of K J Bland) |
 |
| Edmund and Otto Behrens c1912 Photo taken by AINA Auburn. (Photo courtesy of K J Bland) |
Ed's oldest brother, Fred married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Green on 16 April 1912, at the original Seventh-day Adventist Church, Warburton.
Ed's brother Ken married Isabella (Belle) Mary Simpson (6 August 1885 - 13 October 1963) in 1915.
On 25 March 1918, Ed would have attended the wedding of his brother Tom who married Lorrie Rhoda Paine (23 Oct 1887 - 5 Dec 1969). The wedding was held in Auburn, Victoria.
34 year old Ed married Agnes Victoria Parker (22 June 1897 - 26 July 1980) at the Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist Church, Victoria, on 8 April 1925. Their marriage announcement can be found in the Australasian Record, Vol 29, No 19, 11 May 1925, page 5:
BEHRENS-PARKER.—On April 8, the
marriage of Agnes Victoria Parker, of
Box Hill, to Brother Edmund Behrens, of
Doncaster, Victoria, was solemnised in
the Mont Albert church. Two old loyal
Seventh-day Adventist families are united
by this marriage, and it is interesting to
note that nine children of the Behrens fam-
ily and ten of the Parker family are all
obeying God's last message. The young
people received the heartiest congratula-
tions of their many friends, and earnest
prayers will follow them as they begin
their united life. We are sure that God
will make this union one which shall re-
dound to His glory and honour.
F. A. ALLUM.
 |
| Edmund and Agnes on their wedding day, 8 April 1925. Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
Ed and Agnes had one daughter:
- Heather Jean Behrens (17 Sep 1929 - )
Agnes worked in the Sanitarium Heath Food Cafes in Melbourne.
In 1927, Ed's brother Otto, married Mabel Alma Thompson (1903 - 1959). The wedding was held in Aubury, NSW.
Ed and Agnes's daughter Heather was born on 17 September 1929 in Kew, Victoria.
On 1 October 1930, Edmund was part of the wedding party when his sister Ruth married Edmund Martin (dates unknown) at the Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist Church, Melbourne. He is seen on the far left in the following picture:
In 1927, Ed's brother Otto, married Mabel Alma Thompson (1903 - 1959). The wedding was held in Aubury, NSW.
Ed and Agnes's daughter Heather was born on 17 September 1929 in Kew, Victoria.
 |
| Ed holding his daughter, Heather, c1930 Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
On 1 October 1930, Edmund was part of the wedding party when his sister Ruth married Edmund Martin (dates unknown) at the Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist Church, Melbourne. He is seen on the far left in the following picture:
 |
| Wedding of Ruth Behrens to Edmund Martin, 1 October 1930 Mont Albert Seventh-day Adventist Church, Melbourne. From left: Edmund Behrens, Nettie Behrens, Edmund Martin & Ruth Behrens. Photographer unknown (Photo courtesy of A & N Holman) |
Ed passed away unexpectedly in Glen Waverley, Victoria, on 21 May 1933, aged 42 following an unfortunate accident. Details of his death were published as follows, in the Australasian Record, Vol 37, No 26, 26 June 1933, page 6:
Behrens.—On May 21, at Glen Waver-
ley,
Vic., Brother Edmund Behrens, aged
forty-two years, was kicked by a horse
and a few hours later passed away in the
Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. His parents
were Sabbath-keepers at the time of his
birth in Doncaster, Victoria. They at-
tended
church services in North Fitzroy,
but later the family worshiped in Haw-
thorn.
During recent years they have
attended the Mont Albert church, in which
Brother Edmund Behrens did faithful ser-
vice
as an officer. Many relatives and
friends were present at the service on
May 23 in the Box Hill cemetery. Our
brother leaves a widow (nee Agnes Par-
ker),
and a daughter Heather, aged three
years; also his aged mother, three sisters,
and five brothers, many of whom are well
known by our people. Sister Behrens
also has several brothers and sisters, a
number of whom are engaged in conference
work. Until the coming of the Saviour
our beloved brother rests; for we are
assured that life everlasting will then be
given to God's loyal children.
G. G. STEWART.
Ed was buried at the Box Hill Cemetery, Victoria, in the Methodist section, Plot MX-43 (unmarked grave).
Ed's wife, Agnes, was a widow for almost 50 years. When their daughter Heather married in 1951, Agnes was living in Geelong, Victoria. Her home in Damman's Road, Warburton was cleverly named Roggerlee after her three grandchildren.
Agnes died in Ringwood, on 26 July 1980. Agnes's obituary was printed in the Australasian Record, Vol , No , 6 October 1980, page 14: BEHRENS. Mrs. Agnes Victoria Behrens, aged eighty three years, suddenly fell asleep in Jesus on Sabbath morning, July 26, 1980, as she was preparing for Sabbath school in the home of friends whom she was visiting. A widow for about fifty years, Sister Behrens was well known and well loved in the Warburton church, and we all feel the passing of this gracious Christian lady. Her friends and many relatives gathered in the Le Pine Funeral Parlours, Box Hill, to hear words of encouragement and hope, then paused beside the grave in the Box Hill Cemetery, Victoria, to bid a fond farewell to one whose hope was wholly in Christ. Our special condolences go to her only child, Heather (Mrs. C. V. Christian). The writer was assisted at the parlours by Pastor Arthur Parker (Sister Behrens' brother) and Pastor Ross Parker (her nephew). It won't be long till the morning. R. H. Parr.
The family of Edmund and Agnes Behrens
Ed and Agnes had one daughter:
Heather Jean Behrens (17 Sep 1929 - ?)
CHRISTIAN-BEHRENS.--:The Mont
Albert church, Victoria, on September 13,
1951, was the scene of a wedding in a sim-
ple
but delightful setting, where Brother
Clemens Christian claimed for his life
companion Sister Heather Behrens. Clem
is the fourth son of the late Brother C. W.
Christian and Sister Christian of Murray
Bridge, South Australia, and Heather, the
daughter of the late Edmund Behrens of'
Mont Albert, and Sister Behrens, now of
Geelong, Victoria. As this young couple
make their home in Newcastle, N.S.W.,
where Clem is connected with the Burn-
side
mission, we wish them God's richest
blessing A. F. Parker.
Bibliography
Allum, F. A. (1925, 11 May). Wedding Bells. Australasian Record. 5. Retreived from http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19250511-V29-19.pdf Parker, A. F. (1952, 21 January). Weddings. Australasian Record. 6. Retrieved from http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19520121-V56-03.pdf Parr, R. H. (1980, 6 October). Till He Comes. Australasian Record. 14. Retrieved from http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19801006-V85-40.pdf Stewart, G. G. (1933, 26 June). Obituaray. Australasian Record. 6. Retrieved from http://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/AAR/AAR19330626-V37-26.pdf
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank K J Bland for supplying family records, and photographs for this project, and also for sharing his recollections about his grandparents. Many thanks goes to A and N Holman for sharing their years of research, and for allowing me to use many photographs from their family collection.
Last updated by K Bland on 25 February 2018
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