Denis Bernard (Sunny) McAuliffe was born in Launceston on 10 Dec 1873, the youngest son of Denis McAuliffe (1831-1916) and his wife Johanna Ryan (c.1837-1910). Denis senior, born at Fail Bridge parish, Brusina, Ireland, came to Tasmania with the 99th Regiment in 1850. After serving for seven years in the Army, he bought his discharge and moved from Hobart to Launceston where he was a constable, and later sergeant, in the Police Force. He married Johanna Ryan on 9 Sep 1857. They had eight daughters and three sons.
Denis junior was a bass in the Exhibition Choir of 1891-92. He was a compositor and a member of the AOF Court Sherwood. He died on 23 Feb 1894 aged 21 from typhoid fever. He would have been buried at the Catholic Cemetery, Glen Dhu. Two of his sisters, Maria and Frances, also appear in the Launceston Family Album.
Marion Sargent Jan 2007